jmr

It's a "bromance" which means it's a very close, affectionate, and non-sexual friendship between two or more men. Of course, your choice although you might miss a really good show by being misled. :)

I never quite understood why Xiaofan felt the need to run away. Maybe he thought he would be killed. If only LuQing had been more open abaout his plans to cut ties with his mother and gain enough financial stability so he could protect Xiaofan from harm, the story might have played out differently.

That's why I still feel that the lack of communication between these two played a major role in their bizarre relationship. I'm just happy I watched it with a critical eye, looking for the deeper meaning behind their actions. It really worked.

Don't mean to go on here but I have to share this one scene. It's in Ep 9 (close to half way through), LuQing is trying to get Xiaofan to move back in. He tried the night before when they were sitting on the sofa, watching Xiaofan's favorite movie. It didn't work then. When LuQing told him he should move back in if he liked watching the movies so much. Xiaofan leaned forward in his seat, stiffened his spine and didn't answer. LuQing dropped it until the next morning.

Xiaofan offered to make congee (sp)) for him if he wanted and told LuQing he would drop it off. LuQing set the key on the book and Xiaofan asked if LuQing wanted him to pick something up for him or have another key made. He reiterated that he would drop off the food. LuQing told him "If you leave today, don't return tomorrow." Xiaofan gave in and picked up the key.

It was at that moment in the scene where LuQing dropped his head down in victory, that he finally got Xiaofan to submit. In that moment, the background music that was playing added a sound - like a chime - and LuQing knew he won. He was getting Xiaofan back. The next night, though, Xiaofan sees him out with that woman and he's confused again.

And of course, LuQing isn't sharing his plan with Xiaofan. Even LuQing's friend tells LuQing that he's going to break his heart by not telling him what's going on. LuQing can't do it because he's afraid Xiaofan will say something to spill the beans.

Yes, LuQing had to resort to mild threats to get Xiaofan to give in (like in this moment). On the other hand, Xiaofan wanted to be with LuQing but was trying to maintain his independence from this man.

Arrrgggghhhhh. I can't even tell you how much these moments in the show just make me laugh and root for Xiaofan. I guess you can tell I'm a huge fan of this show. It's so deep and thought-provoking. I really enjoy shows that make me think. Thank you for letting me share my thoughts with you. I really do appreciate it ♥

I agree! What we see in the beginning isn't how things turn out. I didn't know what to expect when I went into watching this and there were moments when I was livid. Not at Xiaofan but his family. That Lu family! I wanted them all to fall off a cliff. Is it any wonder Xiaofan had an inferiority complex? He was basically sold off to the Bei family. At the start, I sort of felt for Mama Lu but she turned out to be almost as bad as that dip(bleep) son Xiaopeng and fruity sister. And the father? Don't even get me started on that loser.

Yeah, for me, I think Xiaofan overcame a lot of the mistreatment he got from his own family and still went on to stick it to LuQing (only because he wanted LuQing to remember him forever) and go to another country, open his own little diner and still try to stay in touch with ZhiQin (who bullied him him in school). Then, through learning, made millions in the market while his loser brother probably went back to farming potatoes. I loved that part. That guy was an opportunist loser.

I wouldn't mind having a friend like Xiaofan in real life. ♥

@NLE Excellent post and your comment at the end here: "weak at the beginning, then later reveals that he's actually incredibly smart and capable," is spot on. Xiaofan became a multi-millionaire. Not too shabby for a little country bumpkin.

Of course and I know we who read and watch these stories won't all agree. Didn't realize you continued to watch it and still felt the same after. Funny how we all differ in our opinions. Side note: I feel the same (won't watch the rest) about Double Helix. I didn't finish after the kidnapping/drugging/holding hostage episode. Mental illness or not, that guy would have spent at least 10 years in prison for doing that to another person. I didn't see this as a "love story" at all but rather a cautionary tale. But hey! It's a show, right? While others loved it, I didn't.
Thanks for the nice discussion. Have a great Sunday. :)

I agree with you about his fake wife and her actions. She was a real piece of work. I'm sorry you didn't finish watching the show though, because in a later episode, she apologized or rather explained to XiaoFan why she treated him so badly. She had a low opinion of herself and if she pointed a finger at someone else, maybe people wouldn't see her in a bad light. She was also jealous of XiaoFan's relationship with LuQing. (half-siblings? Now THAT's some kinky stuff)

As for LuQing, he had some really bad communication skills (they both did) which drove me crazy. LuQing wanted XiaoFan (I think from the moment he first met him) and yeah, he's a little manipulative. Others have said the book is much worse but I never read the book so I can't say.

I hope, at some point, you will give it another try and watch it all the way to the end. By the time you get to the end, you know how much LuQing loves XiaoFan and would do (and did) anything for him. Poor XiaoFan, though. He doesn't know all this until LuQing tells him openly in the last episode. And the music in this series is beautiful. Please give it another chance. ♥

There was no rape. Watch Ep 3 again and notice that Xiao Fan goes in for a kiss, too, giving consent. Drunk, yes and not the best time to make decisions like that but there was definitely no rape.

I loved watching them in Bittersweet Love so I'm sure I'll like this one.

Not sure if this counts but first was the show "Thee and Me" and then the sequel "Peach And Me" I guess it was a continuation of the first one. I didn't watch it. Only heard about it.

Slide over and let me sit beside you because I was bawling my eyes out during this one. I don't know what's going to happen with Tin and Phob but Tin has to have the greatest grandma on earth. Her positive attitude about what life throws at us is inspiring. I'm a little sad and frustrated for goofball Chat because he still doesn't get it. I'm not sure he ever will. Will the poor boy be able to adjust to life if he doesn't get his precious palace back? Sheesh!

But dang! What an episode!

It's one of my favorites. Yum

Fah has no business being a leader. He's an angry person who will turn into a dictator. Bad news for the group. I hope they all escape

If it isn't P'Jane, it has to be someone else who drives a luxury car (Putt's words). Dan's the likely suspect, to me. He's still bent that L Jane left him and went back to P'Jane. Besides that, we need a good mystery because having week after week of break ups and reconciliations isn't going to be much fun to watch. Now it's a "whodunnit?" Poor Putt had to get the ball rolling.

And right before that, the best line spoken was Sun giving consent when they're standing outside in the rain. "Please, make me cry again."

I melted.

Nope, not the only one. He's adorable. ♥

Funny how people who don't want to know what happens still read reviews where there might be spoilers.

This is good. Excited for Ep 2

xsofiyaa Everything you wrote, I agree with. Based on the actors starring in it, I was in. I thought it was going to a good series. Not so, though. I don't think it's the actors that are failing. They're both great. It's the script. I'm not invested but will try to finish the series.