I really like this drama.I’ve also seen comments saying that the FL moved on from him, which is why she dated…
I hear you, but this drama isn't like the usual C-dramas, as you can see. The FL was all alone in a foreign land with no family by her side, whereas the ML at least had his friends and the cop looking out for him.
Although we don't really know exactly what happened to the ML or what her life was like during those six years, I don't think her dating other people necessarily means her feelings for the ML weren't strong. She was deeply hurt when they parted on bad terms, and perhaps those two men she dated supported her during a time when she needed a fresh start.
If those relationships had crossed physical boundaries, I'd feel the connection between the leads would've been broken, and no amount of future reconciliation could mend it for me. But somehow, I don't get the impression that her relationships with those exes were serious in the sense that she truly loved them. They felt more like close friends she happened to date. I mean, just look at how she's treating Cen Ye. It doesn't seem like she ever had any romantic feelings for him at all.
They do romanticise ml being single for that one women way too much. Especially because its very rare in real…
If the subtitles aren't wrong, MJ asked Chen Yi how many exes he had, and he told her he met them ages ago. He wouldn't say "them" if there had only been one ex, would he?
It's funny how seeing two exes of the FL is considered flattering, but the ML remaining loyal to the FL is somehow so irksome and frustrating. How typical of C-dramas not to let the ML have a history of sleeping with women too, right? Wouldn't that be so ideal and *realistic*? How dare they portray a grown man who's remained devoted to one woman?
Art and media should imitate life. And since modern society seems to prioritize hookups and meaningless relationships while treating lifelong devotion as little more than wishful thinking, C-dramas should portray that too. As if we aren't already inundated with those kinds of stories across so much of Western media. So now the one place that still preserves the charm and beauty of staying loyal and devoted to your one and only is somehow considered nonsensical. How dare they sell young women the foolish dream that true love can be built on loyalty and devotion?!
If it wasn't obvious enough, the ML in the drama did have multiple relationships, just like the FL had two exes. MJ even asked Chen Yi about them, and he simply said they were in the past. The scene ended there. MJ also doesn't seem to have crossed any physical boundaries with her exes, just as Chen Yi doesn't appear to have done with his.
I'm genuinely glad the director chose to emphasize the idea that a heart once given to its beloved cannot be tainted, even during the darkest of times. It shows that, at their core, Chen Yi and Miao Jing remained true to who they are, despite everything they went through. I'm glad the director emphasized devotion and the idea of having one true love instead of adapting the novel's more twisted and toxic characterization of the leads. I don't think the emotional impact would have been nearly as strong otherwise, and it would've been much harder to root for them.
Why is that they showed that Miao Jing had two exes as similar to novel but for Chen Yi to didn't have any physical…
If I'm not mistaken, didn't the novel also have Chen Yi and MJ in a physical relationship before they separated? If that's the case, then portraying CY as remaining faithful to MJ during those six years isn't the only change the drama made from the novel.
ikr they are dragging what happened. we really need that info. and ive been thinking the same,why would he still…
I don't think they're dragging it, though. Given that it's a 32-episode drama, I somehow believe they're saving the biggest revelation for the climax, when Chen Yi finally confronts Zhang Bin. And I think MJ will play an instrumental role in awakening his beast mode again, just like when those thugs tried to harm her. All of his trauma will come pouring out, and then we'll finally learn what exactly happened.
Until then, I guess we'll be following the leads' present-day lives. They're taking their sweet time showing us their gradual journey as they work their way up to finally put an end to the villain's evil deeds once and for all.
It's just that I've become so impatient to know what happened during those missing six years. Lol. Even more so because Chen Yi has been acting so normal and staying on speaking terms with Zhang Bin. At first, I believed it was all part of Chen Yi's strategy so Zhang Bin wouldn't suspect he was plotting something. But he's been so astonishingly calm around him that even I've started questioning him haha. How the heck is he acting so normal around someone who ruined his life, as if that trash did nothing to him?
One thing I don't get is why Chen Yi has still been in touch with Zhang Bin after all these years. It did seem like he was his former boss, but the fact that he still offered Chen Yi a position at the company makes me wonder... Why hasn't Chen Yi been able to cut all ties with him after Zhang Bin made him the scapegoat in the arson case?
It's eating me up not knowing what happened to Chen Yi during those six years, what's going on in his mind now, and what exactly he's planning. He better be planning something with the cop because both of these men have lost all the color in their lives because of Trash Bin. 🗑️
The more I see the cop and Chen Yi together, the more I can't help but think they're mirror images of each other -- two selfless souls who bottle up all their wounds and emotions until the very end 💔
Okay, so when MJ said she really wanted him to get a good night's rest, at least for that night, I thought she was simply concerned. Who knew it would actually be his last good night's sleep before her ex came back! Ever since Cen Ye returned, he's been dropping bomb after bomb, and bruh's been sleeping with his eyes wide open. 😂
Can we please have more realistic adult romances in dramas?I understand the appeal of the “I’ve only ever…
Well, that's exactly what makes C-dramas special and keeps many of us coming back to them. They still hold on to the "I've only ever loved you" kind of romance, while so much of Western media fills the screen with one-night stands, casual relationships, and graphic intimate scenes.
There's no shortage of shows these days where the leads aren't faithful to each other or get involved in meaningless relationships despite having someone else in their hearts. Those shows may try to imitate "real life," but they often leave the soul feeling hollow rather than fulfilled. They rarely make you long for that kind of love. C-dramas, on the other hand, instill hope and kindle the desire to experience one true love, even when life turns dark and difficult.
Ironically, the novel actually includes many of the things you mentioned -- casual flings, friends-with-benefits, and morally questionable relationships -- but the director deliberately chose not to adapt those aspects for the drama. By doing so, the drama shows how powerful true love can be: even after years of separation, their hearts remain connected. It shows that no amount of pain, scars, or darkness can taint a heart that has already been given to its beloved.
It also shows that, despite enduring unimaginable hardships, Chen Yi never let those experiences corrupt who he was at his core. If the drama had adapted the novel exactly as it was, I doubt it would have had the same emotional impact or charm.
The same applies to the cop, who is still deeply in love with his late fiancée. He could have moved on and dated other women, but he chose not to. Why? Because that's what true love means to him.
It only seems unrealistic because we live in a time when this kind of unwavering love isn't valued as much anymore, and casual relationships and hookups have become increasingly normalized under the label of "adult relationships." But that doesn't mean lifelong devotion isn't possible.
For many of us, C-dramas are one of the few places where that kind of romance is still celebrated. They keep our faith in love alive and leave our hearts feeling full, even when the story itself is tragic. We'd love for that to never change, because that's one of the biggest reasons we've fallen in love with C-dramas in the first place.
Hi guys … I just want to say mdl is becoming a toxic platform day by day … I just shared my casual opinion…
When someone crosses the line of basic decency and resorts to personal attacks just because you happen to share a dissenting opinion, it's best to ignore them and not let such people affect your mood. MDL doesn't have a block feature, or else you could simply block them and move on.
that one girl from High School took offence that you don't even remember her.She is the only one who made CY compromise…
I think what Linda and Tu Li feel for Chen Yi is somewhere between infatuation and true love. But I don't think it's unhealthy obsession. If it were, Linda wouldn't have helped Chen Yi by warning him about Zhang Bin's secret plan or offered to leave that hellhole with him. She also seemed to realize there was something between him and his meimei, and she took the end of their date quite gracefully.
As for Tu Li, she knew from day one that her "relationship" with Chen Yi was transactional - in name only. She needed his protection and couldn't expect anything more from him. Chen Yi thinks she doesn't love him because she's never let him realize it. We can also see that she doesn't take advantage of him by the way she refused MJ's offer to buy the clothes and put them on Chen Yi's tab. We also saw how she treated MJ, whom she saw as a potential romantic rival. I'd say Tu Li handled it in a fairly calm and mature way.
Of course, we still don't know how she'll react if she finds out Chen Yi and MJ are actually in love. That's why I said I hope she doesn't change later on.
Compared to the high school girl, who wanted to teach MJ a lesson and bully her just for being seen with Chen Yi, both Linda and Tu Li have been much more mature about their feelings for the man they admire. They long for his affection, but they don't try to hurt him or force him to return their feelings. Since their love is one-sided and they know he'll never reciprocate, I personally wouldn't call it true love yet, but I also wouldn't call it unhealthy obsession.
that one girl from High School took offence that you don't even remember her.She is the only one who made CY compromise…
That's not love, though. It's just immature obsession -- almost like crazy-fan behavior. What Linda and Tu Li feel for Chen Yi is genuine love because they both want what's best for him and would never think of hurting him for their own selfish desires. At least, that's the impression I've gotten from what the drama has shown us so far. I just hope Tu Li doesn't change later on.
All the women who've fallen for Chen Yi are absolute 10/10 baddies and so damn fine - whether it's Linda, Tu Li, or, of course, our stunning queen MJ. I'm already feeling bad for Tu Li. The girl's sweet and kind-hearted. But CY is reserved for MJ for life. I hope she finds someone too by the end.
Man, oh man, MJ is so back - and how! CY still hasn't got a single clue why she's here. How could he? Despite being in utter shambles, he still wears his heart on his sleeve. He can't pretend to be someone he's not, no matter how hard he tries. But MJ isn't like that anymore.
And one thing he got right about her... Not a single word of truth has come out of her mouth since she came back. 😂 With every new episode, we're seeing it in action. This girl has so many tricks up her sleeve, and not a single thing she's done so far has been without purpose. It's like she planned everything the moment she set foot in her hometown.
While Bo and CY are scratching their heads, thinking she's jealous of Tu Li and looking for a job, the girl's quietly collecting pieces of information, all while feigning cluelessness, that she'll later use as weapons to protect CY and bring Zhang Bin down. It wouldn't be wrong to say that the best decision CY ever made was sending her away for her own protection. She came back as the strongest shield he could never have imagined, not even in his wildest dreams.
Miao Jing, I'm rooting for you, girl! Show them what you've got!
You’re on spot about the novel, it’s sick to the point where you’re unsettled in the scenes where the leads…
Me too! They're the sweetest and purest angels in the leads' lives. To the point that I'm afraid we've already lost one of them that night. I have a feeling Wen Jie died in the arson, and that Chen Yi witnessed her death. That could explain the PTSD we saw in Episode 1. And perhaps, over the past six years, he's gone through even more traumatic experiences because of the dark life he was forced into, all thanks to that ungrateful former boss of his.
This drama really is tragic, and I'm afraid the leads won't get a moment of respite - or any extended period of happiness - until the very last episode. 😔
And I agree! SWL suits this kind of role so well. I'm really enjoying the drama because of its gripping story and the fantastic performances from both leads! 💗
1 
Although we don't really know exactly what happened to the ML or what her life was like during those six years, I don't think her dating other people necessarily means her feelings for the ML weren't strong. She was deeply hurt when they parted on bad terms, and perhaps those two men she dated supported her during a time when she needed a fresh start.
If those relationships had crossed physical boundaries, I'd feel the connection between the leads would've been broken, and no amount of future reconciliation could mend it for me. But somehow, I don't get the impression that her relationships with those exes were serious in the sense that she truly loved them. They felt more like close friends she happened to date.
I mean, just look at how she's treating Cen Ye. It doesn't seem like she ever had any romantic feelings for him at all.
Art and media should imitate life. And since modern society seems to prioritize hookups and meaningless relationships while treating lifelong devotion as little more than wishful thinking, C-dramas should portray that too. As if we aren't already inundated with those kinds of stories across so much of Western media. So now the one place that still preserves the charm and beauty of staying loyal and devoted to your one and only is somehow considered nonsensical.
How dare they sell young women the foolish dream that true love can be built on loyalty and devotion?!
If it wasn't obvious enough, the ML in the drama did have multiple relationships, just like the FL had two exes. MJ even asked Chen Yi about them, and he simply said they were in the past. The scene ended there. MJ also doesn't seem to have crossed any physical boundaries with her exes, just as Chen Yi doesn't appear to have done with his.
I'm genuinely glad the director chose to emphasize the idea that a heart once given to its beloved cannot be tainted, even during the darkest of times. It shows that, at their core, Chen Yi and Miao Jing remained true to who they are, despite everything they went through. I'm glad the director emphasized devotion and the idea of having one true love instead of adapting the novel's more twisted and toxic characterization of the leads. I don't think the emotional impact would have been nearly as strong otherwise, and it would've been much harder to root for them.
Until then, I guess we'll be following the leads' present-day lives. They're taking their sweet time showing us their gradual journey as they work their way up to finally put an end to the villain's evil deeds once and for all.
It's just that I've become so impatient to know what happened during those missing six years. Lol. Even more so because Chen Yi has been acting so normal and staying on speaking terms with Zhang Bin. At first, I believed it was all part of Chen Yi's strategy so Zhang Bin wouldn't suspect he was plotting something. But he's been so astonishingly calm around him that even I've started questioning him haha. How the heck is he acting so normal around someone who ruined his life, as if that trash did nothing to him?
It's eating me up not knowing what happened to Chen Yi during those six years, what's going on in his mind now, and what exactly he's planning. He better be planning something with the cop because both of these men have lost all the color in their lives because of Trash Bin. 🗑️
The more I see the cop and Chen Yi together, the more I can't help but think they're mirror images of each other -- two selfless souls who bottle up all their wounds and emotions until the very end 💔
There's no shortage of shows these days where the leads aren't faithful to each other or get involved in meaningless relationships despite having someone else in their hearts. Those shows may try to imitate "real life," but they often leave the soul feeling hollow rather than fulfilled. They rarely make you long for that kind of love. C-dramas, on the other hand, instill hope and kindle the desire to experience one true love, even when life turns dark and difficult.
Ironically, the novel actually includes many of the things you mentioned -- casual flings, friends-with-benefits, and morally questionable relationships -- but the director deliberately chose not to adapt those aspects for the drama. By doing so, the drama shows how powerful true love can be: even after years of separation, their hearts remain connected. It shows that no amount of pain, scars, or darkness can taint a heart that has already been given to its beloved.
It also shows that, despite enduring unimaginable hardships, Chen Yi never let those experiences corrupt who he was at his core. If the drama had adapted the novel exactly as it was, I doubt it would have had the same emotional impact or charm.
The same applies to the cop, who is still deeply in love with his late fiancée. He could have moved on and dated other women, but he chose not to. Why? Because that's what true love means to him.
It only seems unrealistic because we live in a time when this kind of unwavering love isn't valued as much anymore, and casual relationships and hookups have become increasingly normalized under the label of "adult relationships." But that doesn't mean lifelong devotion isn't possible.
For many of us, C-dramas are one of the few places where that kind of romance is still celebrated. They keep our faith in love alive and leave our hearts feeling full, even when the story itself is tragic. We'd love for that to never change, because that's one of the biggest reasons we've fallen in love with C-dramas in the first place.
As for Tu Li, she knew from day one that her "relationship" with Chen Yi was transactional - in name only. She needed his protection and couldn't expect anything more from him. Chen Yi thinks she doesn't love him because she's never let him realize it. We can also see that she doesn't take advantage of him by the way she refused MJ's offer to buy the clothes and put them on Chen Yi's tab. We also saw how she treated MJ, whom she saw as a potential romantic rival. I'd say Tu Li handled it in a fairly calm and mature way.
Of course, we still don't know how she'll react if she finds out Chen Yi and MJ are actually in love. That's why I said I hope she doesn't change later on.
Compared to the high school girl, who wanted to teach MJ a lesson and bully her just for being seen with Chen Yi, both Linda and Tu Li have been much more mature about their feelings for the man they admire. They long for his affection, but they don't try to hurt him or force him to return their feelings. Since their love is one-sided and they know he'll never reciprocate, I personally wouldn't call it true love yet, but I also wouldn't call it unhealthy obsession.
And one thing he got right about her... Not a single word of truth has come out of her mouth since she came back. 😂 With every new episode, we're seeing it in action. This girl has so many tricks up her sleeve, and not a single thing she's done so far has been without purpose. It's like she planned everything the moment she set foot in her hometown.
While Bo and CY are scratching their heads, thinking she's jealous of Tu Li and looking for a job, the girl's quietly collecting pieces of information, all while feigning cluelessness, that she'll later use as weapons to protect CY and bring Zhang Bin down. It wouldn't be wrong to say that the best decision CY ever made was sending her away for her own protection. She came back as the strongest shield he could never have imagined, not even in his wildest dreams.
Miao Jing, I'm rooting for you, girl! Show them what you've got!
This drama really is tragic, and I'm afraid the leads won't get a moment of respite - or any extended period of happiness - until the very last episode. 😔
And I agree! SWL suits this kind of role so well. I'm really enjoying the drama because of its gripping story and the fantastic performances from both leads! 💗