VesperBleu

Thank you for the detailed explanation!

Thanks, wonder how they'll show it in the drama given that pre- and post-face change ML is played by different actors. Admittedly, Wang Hongyi looks a bit similar to ZLH.

I've read around 90 chapters of the novel and skimmed through the rest and indeed - the romance is quite heavily one sided. All the emotional load is put on Xiao Li (ML) - it's clear he's fallen hard for Wen Yu (FL) and does everything to help her. On the other hand, the FL is withdrawn and guarded and at a certain point treats the ML like trash to drive him away (noble idiocy, basically) and she's solely focused on her revenge. It's clear towards the end that she loves him, but I don't think the novel presented the romance in a balanced way. I've read a post on X where someone who read both the novel and the script said that the romance is more balanced in the drama and starts earlier than in the novel (e.g. one of the reuters kiss scenes doesn't happen in the novel at that point).

Can't wait for this one, the reuters and trailers I've seen look promising. Hopefully, it's not dubbed, but uses sound recorded on set like Against the Current.

I had no expectations for this drama, just checked it on a whim. And WOW - I haven't been this hooked on a drama for years. What a gem in a sea of endless slop.

Also, finally a historical c-drama without dubbing! So it can be done, there just has to be a will... The voices recorded on set have a unique natural quality that even the best dubbing can't replicate.

A question for those who read the novel: how does the ML change his face? I mean, given the historical setting, I doubt he went to a plastic surgery clinic.