Potato Chip

I am really enjoying the angst.😅 Both of our leads are acting well and the tears get me.

I also was very moved by mom's heartbreak when she saw her bloodied son. Why are my eyes leaking so much?

I wonder if it's possible. Both came from educated, well loved families. Both ladies are tough as nails. Ming Shu is more sunny and naive though.

Word.

WZQ has a lot of smart dramas. He knows how to pick a script (Except maybe this one, but it was partially sabotaged by editing and black marketing. This drama does have good values about female empowerment and there is an interesting character arc)

He was great as the Prince in The Imperial Coroner and he has a naturally rich air so he's plays CEOs well. He's very diverse, playing generals, professor, college student, policemen and a firefighter. He's been in almost every genre except Republican.

The recently completed Embers is wonderful. Roller-coaster mystery solving drama, detailed, genuinely female focused, full of artistic references and Easter eggs. I need to add a review to it, but I want to do so after I complete my re-watch to find all the parallels and details.

I'm looking forward to that too.

Also, this new guy for mom. Please don't be shady 🙏🏼. Mom has worked so hard all these years, she deserves a caring guy with a sexy deep voice 😂An older romance story, it's quite cool!

But did she say that in the drama? It's okay, I'm parsing a moot point now.

I think not telling her earlier is reasonable because of how danger and revenge seeking she is. The character special suggests he's right about her reaction, but we will need to see the full picture. But I can see how there's a chance she can be cautious. I'm just glad that I think this will be over soon.

I agree that it is frustrating that there's not much screentime between FL and ML. All their heart fluttering interactions and eye contact can be seen in the BTS, promos, wrap up special, trailers, character interviews, live stream re-enactments, closing credits, posters and unfortunately, the cutting room floor. Why dangle the highlights and then cut them out? Who knows? Phew, thank you for letting me vent at the drama.

They do have chemistry when drama actually allows the scenes to be shown. Last few episodes 21 & 22 have exploded. But I know it's ridiculous to defend a drama by saying "just watch from episode 20 or so on...." That's a failure. But since you made it all this way already, maybe see the latest episodes. I think it gets better now that we have powerful nemesis and the amnesia will likely end soon.

😂 Well, I guess I'm glad that deviated from the book. I heard a lot of changes were made but most not necessarily better.

Oh, do you mean he's too arrogant in the novel and the drama? Or just the novel?

That's the novel though. And mom was right. Ming Shu can't help herself. She is attracted to him before amnesia, right after amnesia, and now.

I know I have a bias, but I guess I don't see arrogance. He's always sincerely thanking her, reflecting on their past, realizing his mistakes, apologizing. His cold face to the world is his poker face, his defense needed to climb up from humble background to navigate the political world where birth right is regarded higher than ability.

But I don't think the drama portrayed this last angle that well. There are lines in the script where he competes to represent "poor scholars having value" that were cut. That's a shame. It's rare to see poor people in these idol dramas. I don't know if I like that he has a powerful father even though he's never benefited from him. He shouldn't need noble blood to be worthy.

Anyways, you are right that he will and has regret this bitterly.

Tang Li has a lot of potential to be interesting. She is full of hate (understandably so), but where is her line? It seems like she will sacrifice anything for revenge. Good thing for Lu Chang right now is that her goals somewhat aligns with his, but her extremism will get in the way. Also, I am glad yet didn't write her obsessed with him (quite refreshing) and hating Ming Shu.

Gotcha. I am looking forward to the next few episodes. Show got much better with real powerful obstacles instead of the 2 bit cheaters and rapists.

I love this rise to power. It's been awhile since I have watched a drama where the lead isn't already a prince, general or noble. WZQ plays those roles well, but it's refreshing to see status development.

I am totally for that! Calligraphy, Qin, martial arts.... All of it. 😁

I am enjoying the show, despite my many complaints in earlier episodes. It's definitely getting better and better!

Lol. People can reply to me anytime. I might be too chatty but it's nice to hear different viewpoints even though we don't always agree. Tone can be lost on the internet, but I hope mine comes across as open conversational. Questioning isn't meant to be confrontational, but a way to express opinions. 😊

No, because she would chase after the murderers. This has been shown in words and actions in the drama. Girl is a little too brave

1. Not save her, let her die?
2. Save her, leave her orphaned, hunted, and amnesiac in their hometown?
3. Say she's his friend/cousin* and ruin her reputation by taking a single woman with him?
4. Say he's her husband when he isn't in love with her yet and doesn't have her consent?

*Cousins marry each other, so society views her as a single woman to him.

He didn't tell her the truth because he knows her headstrong personality and that she would put herself at risk to find her father's murderer. This is the girl who chased after a dangerous suspect (Xie Xi) alone in the forest and almost died.

And she has said she would seek revenge and he didn't want her eaten by hate like Tang Li.

So what are the alternatives? Instead, he risked his life for a girl that he wasn't even in love with. Saying he is her brother, she's not indebted to him or at risk of mis transferring feelings to him. He's poor but easily spends money on expensive clothes for her. He takes care of her, from every little aspect - cooking her favorite foods, peeling fruit for her, cleaning and decorating her room, making sure her pillow is soft.

He got to know her better, fell deeper in love, continued risking his life and career for her, continued respecting her and valuing her decisions, empowering her, appreciating her. He did all this quietly, never claiming credit, and even telling his mom not to tell her how he was flogged and beaten within an inch of his life so that she wouldn't worry.

Because they both love each other, it's no longer great to be her “brother”, but at the time, it was the best option he had.

I see a lot of people mad at Lu Chang for saying he is her brother, with him probably being the most upset with himself. But I'm curious, what should he have done instead?

Lu Chang is fierce. His threats carry weight.

Vs Lu Wen Cai: "My hand can save you and can also destroy you". And Xie Xi was lucky.

His normally firm and steady calligraphy was trembling. Great acting detail!