#ln lu chen

[wedreamedlove]

Death and the Maiden - Evan Character Study

Archiving this writing piece.

Death and the Maiden is a trope about the personification of Death (usually a man involved with darkness, death, and evil) interacting with the personification of a Maiden (usually an innocent or virtuous woman).

Fascination with death has been present throughout human history, but I believe the motif of Death and the Maiden exploded around the late Middle Ages onwards, largely in part to the Black Death ravaging Europe and forcing people to grapple with the concept of death. Artists of various mediums began to explore a fascination with mortality, desire, death, and taboo en masse [Death and the Maiden in Art and Music: A Timeless Motif of Mortality and Desire, 2024].

This tension and dance between life and death, and the personifications of Life and Death, naturally leads to romantic portrayals, with the most classic Death and the Maiden motif being the story of Hades and Persephone. Death, this overwhelming and inevitable force, abducts the innocent and nubile Maiden to destroy her, claim her, corrupt her, or seduce her. Following the progression of human society and their issues at the time (in particular the repressiveness of the Victorian era), vampires (and in extent gothic horror and romance) became another avenue of exploration for death, sexuality, and taboo targeted towards women [Gentleman Death in Silk and Lace: Death and the Maiden in Vampire Literature and Film, 2024].

Now, how does this all connect back to Evan from Light and Night? It's very obvious that the Blood Clan is analogous to vampires, but it's their customs and view of the world that seals how Light and Night's writers based the Blood Clan on gothic horror vampires. They revel in decadence and view themselves as superior apex predators to humans [6* Enticing Feast]. So, we have the connection that the Blood Clan, ergo Evan, is the personification of Death.

Evan views rabbits as symbols of purity and innocence [6* Illusionary Light] and has associated the heroine with rabbits [6* Sinful Love], and so now we have the heroine being the personification of the Maiden.

Additionally, one distinctive feature you see in Death and the Maiden is Death carrying the Maiden back to his world. This is committing raptus, the abduction of a woman to marry her. Although its meaning has changed, you can see this action preserved in the ceremonial "carrying the bride over the threshold" in Western culture; thus, when you see Death (or a monster) bridal carrying his Maiden its supposed to make you realize this trope is at play. Evan is the only one of the Light and Night men who carries the heroine as his bride over a threshold [6* Meaningful Contract]. He also confines the heroine in his world for a period of time [Main Story Chapter 17].

Now comes the best part, after establishing Evan as Death and the heroine as the Maiden, which is playing around with all the possible endings of the Death and the Maiden trope [13. Death and the Maiden II, 2024] to explore the dynamics of this relationship.

the salvation of Death

the corruption of the Maiden

the death of one (or both) parties

THE CORRUPTION OF THE MAIDEN. Throughout their relationship, Evan has always encouraged the heroine to express all sides of herself, especially her darker sides, like interrogating him [6* Sinful Love], dominating him [6* Stuporous Plunder], or possessing him [Love Makes Us One Chat Feature].

He literally tried to make the heroine his weapon in the main story [Main Story Chapter 16] and it's because of him that the heroine made her first real kill [Main Story Season 2 Chapter 6].

The most egregious corruption examples are when he makes the heroine share a sin with him so that they're bound together [6* Song of Sin and Desire], or when he mentally breaks her into becoming his tool [6* Crown of Ambition].

THE DEATH OF ONE (OR BOTH) PARTIES. The heroine has killed him [6* Elegy of Yesterday] and Evan has killed the heroine [6* Crown of Ambition].

THE SALVATION OF DEATH. I changed the order of the bullet points up there because, as an otome game with an ultimate message of hope and establishing your personhood, this is the best ending that everyone is striving for. For Death to be saved, he must open himself up to the Maiden and be accepted in his entirety, which is quite a struggle for a monster, but you can see the heroine insist on knowing everything about him, including his grief and disgust at himself and his race [6* Meaningful Contract]. She gives him her forgiveness and, most importantly, her absolute trust not to abuse his power over her [6* Prairie Fire]. Finally, the heroine has managed to convince Evan not to massacre an entire race and kill himself for now [Main Story Season 2 Chapter 9]. Evan is even starting to imagine different futures for himself [6* Yesterday's Rules].

In conclusion, this is the explosive chemistry of Death and the Maiden with Evan and the heroine. It's how they're polar opposites in many aspects but they're drawn to each other like a moth to a flame and find release in each other, be it salvation or death [6* Deepened Past]:

E: I have a deep impression of the Roche limit because the astronomy teacher back then made an analogy with it.

I looked over questioningly and waited for his following explanation.

E: He compared the two celestial bodies in the Roche limit to those in love—or perhaps two people in any type of intimate relationship. E: And derived from this that, no matter how intimate the relationship, the best state is to maintain a fixed distance. E: Once you cross that specified point of distance, one party is destined to be like a moth throwing itself into the flames, moving towards destruction.

His voice had no fluctuations, but my gaze was stunned for several seconds. Reason told me that this analogy had a certain basis, but some emotion in my heart drove me to have an impulse to deny this statement. Before I had time to sort out this inexplicable thought, Evan continued to speak.

E: But at the time I couldn't understand this and had no way of agreeing with it. E: Celestial movements can be regarded as a rule in the law of nature, but a relationship between two people can be chosen. E: How can there be someone who would approach another person, uncaring of the danger of being smashed into pieces?

Dusk sunk down and the night and lights outlined the lonely world. The noise of wind and insects thinned and so the world appeared serene. Finally, amidst this question, Evan turned his head to look at me. It was also at this time that I realized our hands that held each other were actually trembling slightly. Who was trembling? Evan or me? Perhaps it was both. Just like how, between me and Evan, it was unknown who it was that was willing to approach the other party, even if their body was smashed to pieces. It might have been both of us. I suddenly realized the reason I subconsciously wanted to reassure him earlier but didn't know where to start—it was because what Evan needed wasn't reassurance or comfort. He needed the forgiveness and reconciliation from this even less. What we both needed was to die a violent death together. We needed to fall together. The rims of my eyes stung so much they burned and, before the tears fell, I did my best to spread my arms into the largest embrace and hug Evan. Evan also hugged me. There was still crushed grass and small gravel on our bodies and when we hugged it inevitably made us feel pain; however, we still hugged each other tightly, in this heartbeat and in this pain. When I spoke again, my voice was a little choked up.

[MC]: I remember you once said we were like Charon and Pluto, always facing each other. [MC]: But Evan… [MC]: I don't want to just stand in the same place, separated by a set distance from you and face you— [MC]: What I want is that, even if I become pieces at the end, I'll cross all the distance in the world to walk to your side. [MC]: Maybe I'll turn into shooting stars. In that case, you can make many, many wishes on me. [MC]: Or, if I'm luckier, I can become your planetary ring and protect you forever and ever. [MC]: In short, I will walk towards you, I will stand at your side.

So, you don't need to go beyond your own trajectory, you don't need to be scared of losing control, and there's even less of a need to keep yourself tense and apply one program patch after another on yourself. I will walk towards you. Or, it's also alright if we walk towards the other person together. We'll both be smashed to pieces and we'll both turn into fragments or shooting stars. It doesn't matter. What's important is that we're together. The night finally flooded in, like a downpour or a light gauze, and it hid everything in the world inside of it, seemingly able to let people temporarily avoid the quake of the years. In this moment, in the night sky, a shooting star seemed to streak by. The torn up celestial body plunged towards the ground, and we held each other.

E: Thank you, [MC].

The curtain of night descended and the noise of the school turned calm. Gradually, the breathing in my arms also became even. I quietly lowered my eyes to look at Evan's sound-asleep face and his relaxed expression made my heart soften. The street lights of the school suddenly lit up and the incandescent lights made him furrow his brows slightly. I unconsciously copied how he blocked the sunlight for me, but that furrow didn't smooth out. A breeze blew through and all the dusty chaotic bits and pieces in my heart were blown away. My eyes curved and I lowered my head to gently kiss Evan's lips—his brows relaxed.

[wedreamedlove]

The text that came with the post:

How does one define hormones? It’s the roar of a speeding motorcycle, it’s the flickering of candlelight, it’s the whisper of wind passing trees and grass, it’s the spill of clear and bright gold speckles, and it’s the focus of stage lights.

There’s no need to exhaust the possibilities of a heart-throbbing moment, right now, everything is just right. With distinct flavors, they re-interpret what romance means.

[L&N] Upcoming collaboration with Marie Claire Magazine

[hikoorie]

Tempted Heart PV

[cancersfakianakis1]

Delineation of neck clinical target volume specific to nasopharyngeal carcinoma based on lymph node distribution and the international consensus guidelines

Publication date: Available online 8 November 2017 Source:International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics Author(s): Li Lin, Yao Lu, Xiao-Ju Wang, Hui Chen, Sha Yu, Jiao Tian, Guan-Qun Zhou, Lu-Lu Zhang, Zhen-Yu Qi, Jiang Hu, Jun Ma, Ying Sun PurposeTo establish regional lymph node (LN) distribution probability map and draw neck clinical target volume (CTV) specific to nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).Methods and MaterialsOne thousand patients with pathologically-proven NPC between January 2010 and December 2011 were enrolled. Center points of LNs with a minimal axial diameter (MID) ≥ 4 mm were marked on one single treatment planning computed tomography scan. Neck node levels I – X based on the 2013 updated international consensus guidelines were also contoured. LN distribution probability maps and distribution curves were established. Relationships between LN distribution and consensus guidelines were analyzed to propose modifications for CTV boundaries specific to NPC.ResultsA total of 10651 LNs from 959 patients were marked. Based on the distribution of LNs and consensus guidelines, the majority of node levels defined in the 2013 updated consensus guidelines were confirmed to be comprehensive and applicable for NPC. However, for level Vb, 13.3% (11/83) cases had LNs beyond the posteromedial border; for level VIIa (retropharyngeal LN), 1.5% (12/819) cases had LNs above the cranial boundary and 5 cases had LNs emerged in the medial group. Moreover, we confirmed that no LN had been detected in certain areas of level Ib, II, IVa and Vc. Accordingly, a new level VIIc was proposed to include medial group of retropharyngeal LNs, and moderate extended boundaries for levels Vb and VIIa were recommended, while reduced boundaries were possibly adaptable for levels Ib, II, IV and Vc.ConclusionThe majority of node levels in the 2013 updated consensus guidelines are comprehensive and applicable for NPC. While, we propose a new level VIIc to include medial group of retropharyngeal LNs, recommend moderate extended boundaries for levels Vb and VIIa, and suggested that boundaries for levels Ib, II, IV and Vc might be reduced.

Teaser

Neck node distribution probability maps and curves for NPC were established based on 10651 nodes from 956 patients. Relationships between node distribution and international consensus guidelines for delineation of neck node levels were analyzed. Our findings demonstrate that the majority of node levels in the 2013 updated consensus guidelines are comprehensive and applicable for NPC. We propose a new level VIIc to include medial group of retropharyngeal LNs, recommend moderate extended boundaries for levels Vb and VIIa, and suggest that boundaries for levels Ib, II, IV and Vc might be reduced. http://ift.tt/2iHnA41

[wedreamedlove]

Special Exhibition Guide | L. O. V. E. Coranso Special Exhibition

Welcome to the “City of Heaven” and step into a thought-provoking exhibition: wrath, gluttony, pride, greed, envy… The concealed “original sins” are made public here, and the deeply hidden love of life can also be seen at a glance.

Now, let us follow the introductions of the specially invited tour guide—Professor Wang Jiehong of the School of Arts at Wuhan University, and step into these intriguing original realms and begin a unique visual feast.

WRATH

Wrath, an intense and almost uncontrollable emotional state.

Blood splatter turns into streamers and out-of-control bullets are suspended in the air. A bloody, cruel, and violent scene created by wrath, through artistic processing, has been transformed into a beautiful and impactful visual presentation, providing the audience with a unique aesthetic experience and room for thought about the “aesthetics of violence”. Guns and bullets, elements that carry violence, blend with formal attire and streamers, elements that carry decorative meanings.

“Wrath” is often seen as a negative emotion, generally accompanied by extreme conflicts and destruction. When we try to go beyond this intuitive understanding, we abstractify “wrath” and transform it into a visual and emotional resonance. This is not a romanticization of “wrath” but rather a reinterpretation of this complicated emotion. Just like how Osborn’s love and commitment to you is engraved in the depths of his wrathful and burning soul.

Thank you for your visit, and we hope you can enjoy a fiery and complex sensory feast that transcends life and death in “Scorching Fantasies”.

AESTHETICS OF VIOLENCE

“Violence” is rooted in human nature, especially the natural state that is opposite to human sociality. Under the discipline of civilized society, violence is often stigmatized as “barbarism” or “demonism”, but in art it may be presented as a kind of affectation, exaggeration, or visual form and aesthetic style of “turning ugliness into beauty”. The term “aesthetics of violence” mainly refers to the formalized artistic treatment of violent scenes, aiming to pursue a unique visual charm and aesthetic pleasure. Its core lies in transforming elements such as violence and blood into a pure visual experience and to highlight formal beauty through carefully designed scenes of gunfights, fighting, killing, etc., so as to achieve a dazzling and extreme visual effect.

GLUTTONY

Gluttony, a deviation from reason and piety and a short-term indulgence under the domination of desire.

A grotesque and variegated indulgence arouses a deeper and insatiable hunger—for food, and for a deeper desire. The “human body” crystals made of flesh and blood gleam with temptation in the dark and the plates are no longer filled with food. The limitations of traditional narrative and expression techniques are broken, creating a unique visual experience with postmodern aesthetic characteristics for the audience.

“Gluttony” is often understood as an excessive desire for food but, in essence, it’s an unrestrained indulgence of desire. Food is to the hungry as blood is to the Blood Clan and as your love is to Evan. Try to extend the literal meaning of “gluttony” to the realest and most basic desire. His craving for your love will never tire.

Thank you for your visit, and we hope you can enjoy a gluttonous banquet in “The Rules of Yesterday” where reason is banished and desire is served as food on a plate.

POSTMODERNISM

“Postmodernism” is a mainstream thought and culture that emerged in the United States after World War II and then spread to the world, and which is still popular today. Postmodernism originates from post-modernism and anti-modernism, with its prominent feature being “anti-traditionalism”. It emphasizes the deconstruction of traditional aesthetic concepts (such as unity, depth, and grand narrative) and focuses on pluralism, fragmentation, and superficiality. Postmodernism rejects absolute truth and grand narratives and advocates the use of collages, parody, and hybrid forms to display multiple aspects of culture, society, and personal experience. Combining the elites with the masses, high art with popular culture, and history with contemporary elements, postmodernism attempts to break the boundary between art and everyday life.

PRIDE

Pride, an arrogant sight like a sharp blade slices open the curtain of ordinary daily life.

Unconventional “intruders” swagger into this originally peaceful life, like the opening of an absurd farce. Furry monsters that would never appear in reality have broken into the most ordinary fashion office. Through the use of surrealist elements, the boundary between reality and fantasy is broken at this moment and the transformation of space is now complete.

This depiction of “pride” is not straightforward. The protagonist of the scene takes the center in an unquestionable manner, displaying “pride” with his posture, eyes, and presence itself. “Pride” is often interpreted as “arrogance and contempt for others” but it can also be self-affirmation and self-confidence. It is not a derogatory term, but rather a manifestation of inner strength. Don’t run away. Run towards him warmly, furrily, and with unbelievable yet incredible power. Just like the little monsters invading the office.

Thank you for your visit, and we hope you can appreciate an extraordinary feast dominated by pride and full of impact and shock in “Overturning the Noise”.

SURREALISM

“Surrealism” originated in France in the early 20th century and gradually spread to the world, affecting literature, painting, drama, movies, and other fields. Surrealism is guided by Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, and its creations have classic characteristics such as “exceeding reality”, “dreamlike narratives”, and “stream of consciousness”. These works often feature illogical combinations of objects and unreal effects that are beyond reality. Not only do they break the logic and conventions of reality, but they also create a dreamlike and unreasonable visual effect, triggering imagination and thought.

GREED

Greed, gather the longing gazes and project it into a vortex of desire.

A “good show” performed by the planner himself raises its curtains here. The pomegranate heart, which has been pecked to the point of dripping with blood, and the eagle statue, gilded like bloodstains, together form the footnote of the myth in the form of a symbolic metaphor. The bound “Prometheus” returns to the mortal world in flesh and blood and interprets a new story about “greed”.

The protagonist of the story not only expresses greed, but he also carries your greed. It even becomes the concrete manifestation of a pure and primitive desire—namely the essence of greed. Look at Charlie, face him, and face your “greed” caused by him. No need to criticize, let us face it, and face this part of human nature.

Thank you for the visit, and we hope you can enjoy a tireless and endless feast created by greed in “Insatiable Tide”.

SYMBOLS AND METAPHORS

Symbols and metaphors are important methods and means of artistic creation. They express abstract concepts through concrete images, which not only deepen themes but also enhance emotional resonances, and they also enrich the interpretation space of a work through ambiguity and openness. They give an artwork greater cultural influence and universality, while also transcending the limitations of language and regions in cultural exchange, and allow a work to present deeper ideological connotations and emotional appeal.

ENVY

Envy, a hidden and corrosive undercurrent of emotion, quietly surging in the depths of the soul.

Resplendent lights, a magnificent stage set, and gorgeous curtains, a grand play is about to begin. The reference and tribute to the classic Broadway stage design has set the dramatic tone for this “performance”. Illusory reflections sway in front of the eyes and puppets stretch out their hands to the stage, like a bizarre dream full of absurdity.

Thousands of incarnations of his inner “him” are envious of “him” only because “you” choose to stand beside “him”. The interpretation of “envy” in this scene, turning it into a resonance of visual and emotional intertwinement, is a deep analysis of this complex emotion. Is it a weakness of human nature, a “sin” committed, or another expression of love?

Thank you for your visit, we hope you enjoy this confusing and profound drama feast ignited by envy in “Echo of Souls’ Desires”.

VISUAL INTERTEXTUALITY

“Intertextuality”, also known as “relationship between texts”, means that a text is not self-sufficient and must have other texts existing in various recognizable forms at different degrees. Its meaning can only be generated through mutual reference or cross-referencing other texts. The “reference” and “tribute” of a visual text are all manifestations of intertextuality. It enriches its own connotation and meaning by drawing upon and referencing other visual forms (such as the classic Broadway stage). This practice not only refers to drawing upon and imitating elements, composition, or overall styles of classic works, but also reinterpreting and innovatively using classic elements in creation to pay tribute to the original work or creator, including ridicule or even criticism.

[wedreamedlove]

【Light and Night Lunar New Year Event - L. O. V. E.】

On the photoshoot set, the flash bulbs brighten and darken. When everyone's line of sight converges, all the restless noise suddenly stops. This moment waits only for you to explore with him—the inspiration of intermingling light and shadow, and the profundity of art. If instinct can be called a sin, and if desire could know to satisfy itself, then love has never left a trace in this world.

Now we know why Light and Night was so confident in releasing this on 1/18 LOL. For All Time and Tears of Themis also do not want Love and Deepspace to have a happy anniversary.

[wedreamedlove]

The way the horizontal post-evolutions are basically classical Chinese paintings, wow.

The heroine (us) is Sun Wukong.

Lu Chen (Evan) is King Yan. Qi Sili (Sariel) is Ao Guang. Xiao Yi (Osborn) is Erlang Shen. Zha Lisu (Charlie) is the Bull Demon King. Xia Mingxing (Jesse) is the Six-Eared Macaque.

[wedreamedlove]

【Light and Night 4th Anniversary PV - Heralds of Tomorrow】

When the country overturns, a long road is the way home. May I wield my pen as a sword, to take new learning from all over the world as a sharp blade, and recite war songs with songs of education. May I turn into a shield, to hold a bright lamp in the long night, and to soothe the flames of war with my blood. Frost and rain go together, and my heart lies there too. To guard the stars in books, to keep the clear light on music strings, to store this heart as the light of a firefly, to accompany the new greenery in my hometown, and to wait for the return of spring year after year—

[wedreamedlove]

【Light and Night: Scorching Golden Canopy】

Behold the beloveds, in a courtyard full of flowers, the fragrant breeze brings congratulations on this auspicious day. Today, the lanterns are bright, the feast is magnificent, and the eaves are decorated and adorned with silk. A golden canopy is a haven for two mandarin ducks, their nestled shadows chirping in harmony. Beyond the flickering red candlelight, the nuptial wine cups are warm and tie an eternal bond between soulmates. —The auspicious time has arrived, welcome to a happy marriage!

Special Thanks: Suzhou Silk Museum

Intangible Cultural Heritage Wedding Certificate Embroidery: Zou Yingzi, Chinese Arts and Crafts Master and Inheritor of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Suzhou Embroidery

[wedreamedlove]

【Evan ・ Six Feet Under | Live2D】

[wedreamedlove]

【4th Anniversary Video Call — As If Seen in a Dream】

This call makes me so emotional because there are callbacks to this 4 year journey we've had with Evan, all the dates, the main story, the chapter cards, etc. He's changed so much because of love but, most importantly, because he was willing to try, to believe, and to save himself again.

[wedreamedlove]

【Light and Night: Odysseys of Eternal Love | Message From Him on 4th Anniversary】

Flowing clouds sweep past the horizon and train tracks stretch the morning and evening long. On this road, only love fills the journey. That stream which has rushed for 1461 days and nights, thise pounding heartbeats which want to be expressed, those confessions hidden between pen strokes, they merge into the breeze and brush over the eyes that meet between you and "him". Crisscrossing train tracks interweave the past and future, and the passed through wilderness will bloom a bright and warm sun. In this journey, each other is the destined direction. Up till the steam whistle rouses the distance again, love will be condensed into endless lines of poetry still with the heartbeat of the first meeting.

[wedreamedlove]

【Light and Night: 4th Anniversary Livestream Assault Office】

The 4th anniversary livestream is tomorrow night, but Bluestar's proposal has not moved a single word... Just when his inspiration runs out, five great Guang Qi City saviors descend like godly soldiers and bring him "excellent" proposals. Just whose proposal will stand out? Go inside the Assault Office to check it out right now—

[wedreamedlove]

【Light and Night Season 3 Chapters 3-4: When the Foghorn Roars】

Go forward, even if it's towards the old world. You must know, how could the new life you strive for with your utmost not be covered in the fingerprints of reincarnation? Without waiting for eyes to open, destiny has long flown quietly over the window sill. So, follow the foghorn in your ears, and pray it will ferry tomorrow to the shore.

[wedreamedlove]

Among the MLs who do you think the great kisser as per your preference?

I bet Boss Xiao will be the best as Ajie is his VA🫢

But I don't know the other man style.

Would you mind summarise their style please?

haha, i think it's a moot point to ask me who i personally think is a great kisser because i'll only have one answer. if we're talking about voice actor skill in making those noises, then i personally rank them as Ajie > Gu Jiangshan > Zhao Lu = Wu Lei > Liu Beichen.

we do have canon descriptions of the men's kissing style though and, perhaps to no one's surprise, Osborn is a kissing demon LOL.

OSBORN. he has two styles, depending on if he's caught up in the moment or teasing. if he's teasing, then he likes to rub his lips against yours for a while before entering and gently wrapping his tongue around yours and pulling back, like a challenge but also like a tentative exploration. if he's caught up in the moment, then his kisses are described as plundering your breath and there's an urgency and tide of passion behind them.

EVAN. his kisses don't get much description and they're generally described as being gentle at first before deepening. what actually stands out is that he's trained you to shiver and get turned on whenever his hand brushes your cheek and touches your ear LOL.

SARIEL. unfortunately, nothing stands out in his kiss descriptions. usually you're the one who initiates it and then, through natural progression, it deepens.

CHARLIE. his kisses are usually described as passionate, but other than that nothing else stands out. what's most noticeable is probably that kissing is a daily thing for him, comparable to Osborn and Jesse's relationships, because it's now the common way for you two to show intimacy towards each other.

JESSE. he's a little biter! he's canonically described as someone who nibbles on your lower lip whenever he's kissing you, haha. i don't think his kisses have ever been described as gentle and he always goes for the hot passionate style if it's not something like a kiss on the cheek or forehead or something.

[wedreamedlove]

To thank the citizens for their contributions to the construction of Guang Qi City over the past three years, tonight, Guang Qi City is holding a large-scale awards ceremony, Guang Qi Star. Guang Qi's Peacekeeper Award, Guang Qi's Professional Dedication Award, Guang Qi's Outstanding Entrepeneur, Best Contributor... Who will these major awards fall to? Come to the awards ceremony to find out!