Shrimpy

I want to see that. Not have everything revolve around FL2 and ML2. Is Chunsheng the ML of this drama or not? You can't tell me the focus is on him because it is very, very obviously on ML2.

The problem, for me, is that he is passive. He is the center but only in the sense that the injury happened to him. But what are we all talking about, including myself? Guohua. What are you talking about in your post? Guohua.

It is not that I have a problem with that event, it is certainly a huge issue (I think Guohua will keep the honors and I agree with what you wrote in general) but it is overshadowing the injury of XCS himself. All the talk, and it is natural because it is the focus on screen too, is about what Guohua did and will or will not do.

What I want is scenes of Chunsheng being told he can't walk, his feelings and reaction to that, his thoughts on that. Instead we got his sister telling us the audience he might not walk instead of seeing a conversation between Chunsheng and a doctor.

I don't want his accident to be a plot point for the second male lead, which is exactly what it is at this moment. Chunsheng's big life changing moment needs to be about Chunsheng. Guohua is not the ML of this story.

One last thing about episode 18.
I really need what happened to be about Xiao Chunsheng. Not about Guohua, not about Hongling.

This is a really big event but so far the focus is on Guohua. That for me is not how it should be. Even the conversation about the potential consequences isn't given to Chunsheng. It is given to his sister and friends. We hear it from them.

So where is the focus on Xiao Chunsheng and this giant earth shattering thing for his life? We get a funny scene with him but his sister tells us, the audience what is happening? Not how it should be. I am willing to wait but not for long. I hope the writer will do it justice but in such a way that it is more important for the actual male lead, not people around him.

This is basically what Chunsheng and Amao talked about and Chunsheng already told us how he would be. Even if betrayed he would think it was worth it. I think it is not too difficult to figure out HHL but at least for me personally, Guohua is a bigger issue. Best childhood friends, brothers for life and then this? That is a knife straight to the heart.

Guohua also knows his father, his whole family and knows truly what it all means to Chunsheng so taking away the credit, even if Chunsheng agrees, is not something I could ever, ever justify.

This is solely about Guohua and his character now. It breaks everything or it opens a new door.

This doesn't need spoilers - Xiao Zhan is such an amazing actor.

I have calmed down enough to say I could write some pretty terrible words about Guohua right now. It isn't just what is mentioned below in the comment by ShortCircuit, it was also terrible how he started talking about Hongling, talk about emotional manipulation.

But I am going to wait for tomorrow because this writer is known to flip things around. It wouldn't solve everything but it would solve some things. Come on Guohua, just for once in your life be a fucking human being.

I can't wait, I am going to enjoy every moment of their story (and probably cry). Nothing wrong with enjoying the romance part too!

I don't know what to say, what an episode. I feel like we have to wait for tomorrow.

No problem, I was happy to watch it again myself.

Actually if one looks closer there is a hint of a big plot point for the FL, non Chunsheng related.

OK so here is the video of XCS and FL. These are major spoilers so be careful. But it is coming so can we at least please pause the angst about the FL? Other huge things are coming for XCS

https://twitter.com/bunnyboxz/status/1666782129206988801?t=r5shUzVUQh321Lmxh3vCpQ&s=19

There is much more than that, CCTV showed a whole video about these two. This is just one screenshot, the video was at least 30 seconds, I am sure someone recorded it.

There won't be anything steamy here but development is coming which is the more important part.

EDIT it is posted above

How do you know she isn't going to have it though? This drama is very clearly talking about youth and maturation and we see things through XCS's perspective.

At the moment, Xiaomei is just a friend to him while Hongling is the girl he loves. If the writer keeps to the pattern we will switch the focus from one woman to another as he does. Two loves, one in youth, one in adulthood. If the writer doesn't flesh out Xiaomei's character that will be troublesome but we don't know yet. There is plenty of time for it.

I understand people may not be used to or simply don't like multiple partners for a lead in a drama. Let's be honest it isn't just about character development, it is about this too. That is of course everyone's preference but this show is trying to be as realistic as possible and people drifting apart from their friends, and lovers, from youth is something most of us go through. Anyway, if it is about character development, let us wait and see what happens. There is always the option of pausing the show and checking in later to see if it happened or not, therefore avoiding wasting time if romance is truly that essential to someone.

They are changing and I think it is apparent by now that their world views are fundamentally different. There is also that plot coming up in ep 17 where she needs a lot of money for her mother and Guohua is probably going to be the one to provide.

There doesn't have to be a bad guy in this break up. Sometimes it simply doesn't work out and that's ok. I can't wait to see it though I am more interested in the Guohua situation as I believe this is the key point of why they drifted apart.

I don't think it is possible to conclude anything right now because this writer likes to flip things on its head. The same problem is with Guohua, what happened and what happens with the merits Chunsheng wants to give to him. We have to see the episodes themselves. Knowing XCS's character though, I find it highly likely he is the one who breaks up with her because he doesn't feel a disabled person can give her everything she deserves. Of course, then there is the issue of her going along with that but really, we have to see it first.

It is not shoddy writing because you are not getting the romance that you wanted.

This drama is about real life, not immature fantasies where people marry their first loves and never look back. If that is your preference then you can watch a million other dramas in existence that have this as a topic.

This is not a romance drama.

This is a drama about Xiao Chunsheng, his life, overcoming obstacles and succeeding in the changing times in China. Romance is a small part of it all. Deal with the fact the FL isn't the focus of this drama or walk away. It is insulting to see this amazing piece of art reduced to a mere issue of a couple.

Not necessarily even because of the aristocratic background because sadly, in those times, anyone connected to bourgeoisie could have found themselves in trouble. It was frightfully easy to simply be purged one day and their whole family went with them. While on the topic of Qians, the father of Chinese aerospace is actually a Qian family member, Qian Xuesen.

Anyway, yes, it is absolutely understandable how Amao feels. I was in fact even more saddened by his story this second time around. It is no wonder Xiao Chunsheng is a shining Moon in his eyes because that kind of righteousness and adherence to principles even if it costs you that XCS sticks to is something he has lost faith in.

This show is full of little things that are easy to miss. I watched ep 16 again and Amao says he is a Qian. I completely missed it the first time. There is an actual famous family from Hangzhou with the surname Qian. They are an aristocratic family that traces back to 9th century and Wu-Yue kingdom. There are countless famous names in this lineage from the world of politics, art, academics and yes, economy. No wonder he is completely disillusioned. No wonder he is so smart. I am interested to see if he will stick with XCS in his future business.

Xiao Chunsheng and Guohua agreed to have a fair competition when it comes to HHL.

Not to mention, she is a person. She has her own thoughts and emotions and she gets to decide who she is going to be with. Which she does.

Subsequent events have nothing to do with her but Chunsheng's personality.

Lmao yes, because it is Li Qin who brings clout to this show 🙄I understand you are a fan but please be realistic. This is a big male lead drama. She wasn't even the first choice of this crew. Nobody is sabotaging her. She had a bout of bad luck but will still end up having a much more loved character with more screen time in the second half. Hardly a loss.