x_AJ_x

I'm quite aware of the dialogue and I 100% maintain what I said. You are just choosing see it another way. Media literacy is apparently dead. Does it literally need to be spoon fed to you? She was lovingly gazing at Xiang Liu's image and sighing dreamily at the start of the episode and hid it in embarrassment when her father walked in. Yet you think she holds not an ounce of feeling for this man?

She says she's scared and in that moment, Xiang Liu, as well as the audience thinks she's referring to literally being scared of him. She then follows it up with explaining she's afraid that upon kissing him she would accidentally let him into her dreams. How can it be more clear than that? Apparently she needs to LITERALLY say she's afraid to let him into her heart for you to get it lol. She knows he's not suitable for a girl to be dreaming about. Not the right kind of guy that a girl should hold any romantic or lustful daydreams about. She's not an idiot. She knows exactly who and what kind of man he is.

I also never said that he doesn't want to be with her. He absolutely does want to be with her, but he also understands what she means in that moment. Though she is, essentially confessing her feelings, she's also telling him that because of who and what he is, he is in no way "suitable" and he knows he can't ever really be what she needs. It's the reason he never confesses his feelings to her. I think it's at this moment he decides to protect her from afar with the full knowledge that he won't ever be able to be with her. And yes it's completely understandable to say that it would be more terrifying to her than death. Falling in love with anyone is scary, but especially if you see the person you may fall for as a completely doomed notion. Why bring pain on yourself when you know it can't ever end well. It's best to avoid it altogether. This is fairly obvious to me.

In the novel she tries to recreate what happened with her and Xiang Liu by doing the same thing that he did, so Jing can breathe. It's exactly as you said. he responds "because you didn't have me in your eyes back there" who did you think that was referring to exactly? I'm pretty sure it's the man she was imitating right? When you have thoughts and feelings towards someone you know you shouldn't, you might try to recreate that thrill with someone else, especially if it's someone you already care about and someone you see as the "right" person. (Jing)

In the drama, do you really think that what just happened with Xiang Liu wasn't playing on her mind at all? That she wasn't trying to prove that she can feel that way for someone who is far more "suitable" for her. Especially when she also cares deeply about this other person and he just poured his heart out about not feeling good enough. It's not mutually exclusive. All of these things can exist at once. Her having feelings for Xiang Liu doesn't mean she doesn't also have feelings for Jing nor does it mean she doesn't want to kiss Jing. All of these feelings can exist at once.

But you know, keeping telling yourself she has no feelings towards Xiang Liu at all, if it makes you feel better.

Yes the real fang feng bei is dead but that hasnt been discussed in the drama yet. This is how it was in the novel though. Also dont think his family know that he isnt the real FFB.

No and yes. Xiang Liu as himself no. But the real Fang Feng Bei is her brother yes. Xiang Liu took on that identity and became him.

Yeah I thought that she looked different...but I can't really tell from that angle.

Or its another cast member like Mermaid says. Costume and hair looks quite elaborate lol.

Unless of course they change something. Maybe they can hint at the idea they will meet again in another life, while she ends up with Jing in the current life lol. I think if Xiao Yao and Xiang Liu had existed in different circumstances they absolutely would be right for each other and would have ended up together. I'm choosing Xiang Liu and Xiao Yao endgame for the next life 🤣 headcanon.

Lol no. That confession proved she did have feelings for him and an attraction to him. She admitted it herself. She's afraid kissing him would let him into her dreams and a guy like him is not the kind of guy a girl should dream about (who and what he is.) shes afraid that in kissing him she might fully let him into her heart and fall in love with him. It's terrifying to her because she knows she already feels something and she see's it as an impossability that will bring more pain. She doesn't know he feels the same of course...
That is why his smile is bittersweet. she basically confessed she has feelings for him and at the same time he knows that they can't be together. Had he confessed his feelings things might actually be different,instead he has to watch someone else take her away.

In the novel they actually make it quite clear that Xiao yao is thinking about Xiang Liu when trying to kiss Jing. Jing tells her he doesn't want to kiss her because he see's someone else in her eyes. It's more subtle in the drama but I think the same idea applies.

Depends on how you look at it. In the novel TTJ's soul is saved by the tiger demon and he is eventually reborn where they are reunited. In the drama the heart guarding scale saves his soul instead but the implications are the same I think. A possible future reunion. Youku basically confirmed that with their Li Susu letter video.

Not a hint of that with XL, unfortunatly.

I wouldnt necessarily say red flag, especially not in comparison to the other characters but the overly sappy puppy dog thing where he follows her everywhere gets old really fast. He's so "nice" that it feels downright dull. He doesnt seem to have a personality to me other than nice. Maybe that will change as it gets further along...

Cant lie...am a Xiang Liu fan myself. At least he's interesting to me.

I think you misintrepreted that entire scene lol. She already has feelings for him. Her looking at his captured image in her mirror proved that. She was scared to kiss him because she was worried she would accidentally let him into her dreams, meaning let him fully into her heart and fall in love with him. That he is not the kind of man a girl should be dreaming of. (Because of who and what he is) That is terrifying to her. For many reasons not limited to the fact she see's it as an impossability that would lead to more pain.

Not 100% sure. But maybe Sebrina Chen/Chen Yao? She's playing his sister in the drama and I know they're good friends. I could be wrong though.

Basically saying she's scared of him because she knows she already has feelings and an attraction for him. If she fully lets him into her heart, things will probably end badly. She was afraid to kiss him, because by doing so he might find his way into her dreams (she'd fall in love with him) and he's not the kind of guy a girl should be dreaming about. (because of his bad boy demon nature I guess) That's why he had such a bittersweet smile on his face. She was essentially admitting to feeling something for him. At the same time he knows he can't be with her.

Now, had he expressed his own feelings right then and there who knows what might have happened.

No, that was the original schedule. It's been updated. episode 21 will now be tomorrow. and episode 22 on Friday. Episode 23 and 24 on August 7th.

yeah it's not so bad. It gives Xiao Yao "shivering feelings of bliss" after all haha

Well I guess she was referring to the incident that just happened with XL but they didnt actually end up kissing and he didnt force her to.

As of this point in the drama
She definitely has feelings for him and some kind of attraction to him yes. She basically says she was afraid to kiss him because she may fall in love with him or "let him into her dreams" and that a man like him is not someone a girl should dream about.

Okay that scene with the mother's passing was heart wrenching and so beautiful. The idea of them telling her jokes as she passed away. It made me cry. Some very impressive acting from everyone in that scene. He Huan and her dad just broke my heart.....

But also Liu Yuning's performance was amazing too. I'm so impressed by him. I knew he was good after The Long Ballad, and he's only gotten better. I cannot wait to see him take front and centre with A Journey to Love and Prisoner of Beauty.

Two episodes today. Episodes 19 and 20. one episode tomorrow (21) and one episode Friday (22) then we have to wait until Monday for episode 23 and 24.

Chemistry is subjective of course, so everyone will see it and experience it differently. But for me, there definitely seems to be more chemistry between Xiao Yao and Xiang Liu and that's mainly because of the onscreen chemistry of the actors. Their scenes, good or bad, feel more loaded.

Let me put it this way. In TTEOTM Ye Xiwu beats and whips TTJ. In the novel it is made quite clear that TTJ enjoys it. Obviously they can't be overt or show that aspect (him enjoying the pain) in the drama, but the subtext of BDSM is still there and the audience has to fill in the blanks or interpret it how they choose.

I'm not saying that's what's going on here btw, but if there were hints towards sadomasochism or bdsm they wouldn't be able to be overt in this drama either. So of course it's not going to blatantly show it that way, if that was the intention.

At no point did the OP say it was necessarily sexy, they just said they're seeing the imagery in a way that could suggests BDSM and kink (at least to them). It's also kind of problematic and unfair to label someone as disgusting for noticing visual motifs or possible subtext.

You're not completely wrong - especially about the biting scenes. They are definitely filmed to be suggestive. Can't understand how anyone would see it otherwise. In the novel Xiao Yao definitely gets pleasure from him biting her. "A Shivering feeling of bliss". They can't get much more overt than that...