WingedBean

Let's start with the positives b4 I get into all my unanswered questions

1. I did enjoy how the story started. The beginning highlights what many adults, and especially former gifted kids, might go through. The unfortunate realization that all the hopes you had as a kid will not come true. The career you wanted is out of reach, your actual work life sucks, and while everyone is doing great for themselves, you are broke and drowning in debt and uncertainty about your future. The feeling that you want to simply disappear from your life (the disappointment and shame that has become your life). That part gut-punched me (is it because I can relate to it? We shall not talk about that)

2. A 2nd chance at love. This is exclusively with the main couple. I liked how people not recognizing him allowed HXY to get closer to CHW. To talk about their unresolved issues and better understand why CHW acted the way he did and said what he said back then. The barrier that was created by everyone being unable to recognize him allowed him to have conversations that he likely would've never had if CHW (and his father) had been able to recognize him

3. Xi Xi - She had this interesting goth x part witch vibe about her that I'd have liked to see explored more. Especially her connection to the supernatural. Also, the switch from her goth persona to the normal stressed writer persona should've been shown more.

4. NC scenes - I love it when NC scenes are done well and with care. The ones in this show are filmed very beautifully, and they are very sensual. Hats off to everyone involved. Episodes 8 & 12... Chef's kiss

5. The island setting, the cinematography, and the natural tanned skin tones of the cast. Beautiful

Now to the less-than-satisfactory/confusing parts

The more I think about this story, the more I'm convinced that the fantasy element should've been taken out. On one hand, I can see what they were trying to say, especially regarding He Xiang Yong. I think the overall message here was that we shouldn't try running from our problems but face them head-on. Running away may offer reprieve, but that's only temporary. You are likely to lose more than you think, than you can afford if you keep running.

However, on the other hand, a lot of the fantasy leaves a lot of loose ends, and I, the viewer, confused.

For example.
1. He Xiang Yong's punishment when the wish started backfiring was that everyone forgot him. He basically lost everything. Friends and family included. But what about Li Wan Zhe? Why was his punishment seemingly lesser? Hama-chan forgot him, for like a day, but they were back in love pretty quickly, so...? Yeah, he forgot their brief history, and he has less single-minded devotion to LWZ, but compared to HXY's punishment, this is so little.

Ps. I liked that Hama-chan became less dedicated/attached to LWZ after the wish backfired/broke. While this level of devotion and love can be cute in theory, seeing Hamachan change his life and give up his dreams, basically lose himself to be with LWZ, made me uncomfortable

2. Why wasn't the doctor ever given a chance to change his wish? Was it because, unlike HXY, he wasn't willing to die for it? Or was it because he was complacent? Resigned to his fate of never leaving the island?

3. Why did HXY's actions in the latter episodes have a positive impact on LWZ's wish but not the doctors'? Was it because HXY & LWZ made the wish on the same night/same time, and so they were sorta, maybe linked?

4. What was the overarching role of the god, his helper (Hong), and Xixi?

5. What on earth went down with HXY & CHW's jobs? One was bullied excessively and somehow ended up with life-crushing debt, and the other made bad investments, losing his clients' money, which led to panic attacks. They show these parts briefly but never fully explain them. It all should've been explained better

6. They should've found a professional to do HXY's sketches. I'm sorry, but they... They were not good


Final Thoughts
I will say that I loved the performances from the cast. The plot outside of those last 4 episodes is rather good. I liked the conversations and the lessons.

However, because so much of this plot was intertwined with the wishing, the fantastical element being so messy makes this story feel a little incomplete, confusing, and underwhelming. The drama after episode 8 - where he basically becomes fully erased from everyone's minds and lives - felt unnecessary and overly dramatic.

Rather than all that, I think it would have been better had HXY & CHW had to work together to find a way for everyone else to remember HXY, with help from LWZ and Hama-chan. Or maybe, just remove the fantasy element altogether and have the drama be a slice of life where the main character deals with not reaching his perceived potential, 2nd chance love, and all its angst, as well as trying to fix his r/ship with his dad. The 2nd couple... maybe they'd have been dealing with falling in love while navigating the potential doom cloud of a long-distance r/ship? IDK

All in all, I wouldn't be quick to recommend this as a must/immediate watch. We are currently experiencing what I can only define as the 2026 BL avalanche. You can find something else to watch. Save this when we get hit by a BL drought