ennekube

Right? That was shockingly horrifying. Instant empathy for a character they'd previously set up as quite unlikable.

I don't think she does right now. But she also doesn't really "love" LY though she likes him. She's just hellbent on the marriage - the more people are against it, the more she digs in her heels.

He's good looking but the endless snark and haughty behavior is annoying. I liked him when he was first introduced but not so much in the more recent episodes.

Too funny

She got to see her mom stick up for her which was awesome!

If you watch the trailers, a lot of development should happen next week

Yes they get engaged and then break up when LBY chooses revenge. They are separated for five years and CSS gets engaged to YS when he comes back. CSS does fall in love with LBY while they are engaged

I love how they don’t neglect the side character development in this drama. QiQi is gold.

Thank goodness!

I didn’t think I’d like it based on the initial teaser but I’m totally hooked!

These are the two dramas I’m watching now too! Both great in different ways

I wonder if it’s foreshadowing? It felt so odd to me that it had YS and LBY but not LY

I want to watch ep 21-22!!

I think the drama is trying to show SS's growth over time. I do think she's starting to understand what her parents went through and why it wasn't necessarily a lack of love that caused them to leave her behind. She's just frustrated that her mom can't show a certain level of caring to her -- and perhaps she will learn that her mother does love her, even if she doesn't show it by being sweet. (My own mom is like that - very thorny and not outwardly affectionate, but it's not because of a lack of love so maybe I am more sympathetic to SS's mom). In the teasers for future episodes, it's possible that SS will grow to understand. Mom clearly knows about the Lu family, having referred to it as a "death trap," and sounds like she will introducing SS to her prospective in-laws to show what they are like. As someone with a difficult MIL, SS's mom surely knows how that will shape the happiness of married life.

If I had the patience I would do the same thing! But I bet I will end up watching and suffering anyway :)

In the conversation with her mom, SS admits she doesn't love LY. But, he treats her really well and for someone who hasn't experienced the caring of others before it must feel pretty great. Look how much LY dotes on her! It's sweet even if it makes him a less interesting character -- and it does seem to echo how her Third Uncle treats her Third Aunt, which is a role model for her. (Side note, I also really love how they're developing YS also, keeping him in the picture even if he's not currently a main part of the plot).

He was probably hoping that the daughter LY was engaged to wasn't the same as the one that LBY clearly seems to like.

I love the Emperor’s character! The support cast in this drama are all so good!

There is a discussion board for this show that includes translated novel bits and lots of spoilers

I’m watching Alchemy of Souls on Netflix. I may rewatch Story of Minglan (just my favorite bits not all 70+) while I wait for more of this show to release