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notacatdown · 1 month ago

Text

Ahhh, this was such a nice surprise to wake up to! Thank you for posting this! I read it so many times, and I like all the details that you added that bring their characters to life, especially the stuff that gets dropped over the course of the drama.

"his warm body, the scent of sweat lingering on him, and the tense muscles beneath his hanfu. Was this what it meant to call someone home?" I really like how you connect these physical sensations with Miaomiao's feelings. How Miaomiao becomes aware that she finds comfort in Mu Sheng's presence.

"She was lucky enough to have a sort of cheat code" Nice to see Miaomiao giving the system credit =).

"She reached out to grab it and was intercepted by his fingers curling around her wrist. Something akin to fear started to course through her, but it was washed away at his words" Is Miaomiao having ptsd about someone going near her wrist?

"The air was quiet except for their breathing, and the sound of her heart beating in her ears. Even with the calming aroma from the flowers surrounding them, goosebumps danced on her skin," I like how you incorporate all the senses.

"Is calling him her knight in shining armor too much? Well, this was a story after all.

One that she was so caught up in that it even evolved to this. When it came time to leave, could she find a way to stay behind?"

"Oh, she didn't realize she had been thinking that hard about it. Stupid! How embarrassing.

She busied herself with drawing more patterns on his hand, puckering her lips. "Nothing," she lied. Badly."

I love this so, so much! It feels like a return of Miaomiao from the early episodes.

"It was a bit disappointing, but she didn’t think either of them were ready for that."

"His body relaxing had her sinking into him, but it was welcome. Like this, it was now his heartbeat that pounded against her cheek."

I think you did a great job balancing progression of their physical relationship and not going too fast.

"Despite the unknown of what the future held, she was ready to hold his hand through it all, even if at the end, she’d have to let go anyways."

What a beautiful way to end the story. Feels both hopeful and bittersweet. Thank you again for writing this and sharing it! Super delightful read.

P.s. I think you might like this Miaomiao's original response to the marquis's confession in ep 18 and her romantic advice to Mu Yao from the script. I understand why it doesn't work for that scene, but I wish the drama had reworked it into a later scene.

I'm so curious what was BBJ's original vision for Miaomiao and Mu Sheng. There's such a big shift after ep 20, and only the first 20 episodes of the script was leaked.

we've waited so long for this time to love

summary:

filling in for the missing moment in ep 20 after ziqi finds miaomiao.

notes: this was sitting in my drafts for a while because i wasnt sure if it was decent enough to post. but i wrote it, so may as well! unsure if thisll be my last contribution to lgief, as i havent found much id like to write for them outside of canon compliant scenes. regardless, hope you enjoy. cross-posted on ao3 here.

With hands clutching each other tightly, they stayed like that for a long time. MiaoMiao took in every part of him; his warm body, the scent of sweat lingering on him, and the tense muscles beneath his hanfu. Was this what it meant to call someone home?

Silly to think, but Ziqi and all that there was to being here was more real than before, especially in this moment. She had truly fallen for him, and now she couldn’t stop crying from not accepting what was right in front of her all along.

She was lucky enough to have a sort of cheat code, but didn’t realize what she was missing until the bracelet came off. The whole time, something felt wrong, especially her feelings. How could she deny herself of the love that was building, when it could so easily be taken away like that?

At the motion of him detaching himself from her, she clung on harder, wet eyes blinking up at him when he stared back in concern. His hand reached up to cup her cheek and wipe away at the tears that blurred her vision.

“MiaoMiao,” he murmured softly, searching her face for something. Maybe to make sure she wasn’t going to burst into another crying fit. When she sniffled, he took in a breath and ran a finger down the slope of her nose and tapped the tip. “I think you feel worse about this than I do,” he said.

She frowned, sticking out her bottom lip. “How could I not?” She retorted, loosening her hold and sliding her hands down his arms.

He took her left hand and held it, bringing her over to the swing and sitting down, the dreamcatcher jingling around his wrist when it fell onto his lap, capturing her attention. He was quick to follow her eyes.

She reached out to grab it and was intercepted by his fingers curling around her wrist. Something akin to fear started to course through her, but it was washed away at his words, even as he tucked it away under his robes, hidden from her sight.

“After you’ve gotten changed and had a nice meal, I’ll give it to you.” He gave her a look of sincerity, one she arguably rarely saw from him, but knew he was serious, so she retracted her hand slightly, enough for their fingers to interlace.

Of course she hadn’t wiped the pout from her face yet, and she could feel the tears that stuck to her eyelashes even when she blinked. It was probably so pitiful looking that Ziqi pulled her close, his other arm wrapping around her, guiding her to rest comfortably against him.

With her head laying on his shoulder, MiaoMiao traced a finger languidly along Ziqi's hand that held firmly onto hers. The air was quiet except for their breathing, and the sound of her heart beating in her ears. Even with the calming aroma from the flowers surrounding them, goosebumps danced on her skin, and she was sure the sweat would leak out of her palm soon.

This had to be no different than middle school crushes, although she was experiencing it in her early twenties. There was a feeling of apprehension lingering over her, but the rush of excitement was far more intense. Regardless of dust demons with their numbers floating about to keep her on task, she still felt surprised at what had been happening right in front of her.

She closed her eyes, taking in his gentle scent of spice and sweat. Briefly, she wondered why he came to find her, and where he was when he made the decision. At times like these, when she needed him most, it was as if she had an alarm bell that only he could hear, that made him come running. Is calling him her knight in shining armor too much? Well, this was a story after all.

One that she was so caught up in that it even evolved to this. When it came time to leave, could she find a way to stay behind?

A thumb pressed against her the space between her eyebrows, sliding up her forehead. She glanced up to him, shy.

He looked nervous, head tilted. "What’s got you still looking upset?" He asked.

Oh, she didn't realize she had been thinking that hard about it. Stupid! How embarrassing.

She busied herself with drawing more patterns on his hand, puckering her lips. "Nothing," she lied. Badly.

Ziqi hummed, clearly unconvinced. "If you don't tell me, I'll get up and leave."

MiaoMiao pulled her head away and gawked at him. "Nooo!" She exclaimed, wrapping her arms around him, making him jump. "Don't go Ziqi," she whined.

He huffed out a small chuckle and patted her. "Alright, alright. But I still want to know," he said, stroking her hair. The sensation put her at ease, making her shut her eyes and snuggle closer.

There was a lot on her mind, and she didn’t want to outright lie to him, so she settled for a partial truth.

“This all feels too good to be true.” Her voice was quiet in her admission, afraid of sharing something related to her other world when it had been so long since they spoke about that. After he stopped suspecting her, it hadn’t come up since.

His hand froze suddenly, like a record scratch. Did she ruin the moment? She shouldn’t have said anything, but she couldn’t not answer! Was he going to get suspicious again?

Rather than anything she thought up, Ziqi instead pulled her away to look in her eyes, a smug grin on his face. “Are you saying I’m the perfect suitor?”

MiaoMiao tilted her head as she processed his words, leaning all the way back once she understood. She smacked her lips and acted annoyed, grumbling, “You’re ridiculous.” Ziqi’s humming and reentering her personal space easily had her laughing, the moment quickly turning tender when he pressed his forehead against hers.

She shut her eyes as he did so, unsure if he was going in for a kiss, but she didn’t want to seem opposed to it. Several seconds went by without any activity, so she opened her eyes, met with his locked on her lips.

She pursed them together, drawing his attention up. She watched him swallow and start glancing around.

“I- I- wh-” He stared at her dead on, then at her still attached hands, licking his lips. “I wasn’t…” going to kiss you, her mind unhelpfully supplied.

It was a bit disappointing, but she didn’t think either of them were ready for that. Although, she was hoping he’d take the lead on this when the time came around to it.

He was still shy, and, well, so was she, feeling especially foolish for her mistake, so she ducked below his chin and nestled herself back to how she was before.

To save them from any further awkwardness, she hastily changed the topic. “You know, this is the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me.” She wasn’t lying. The whole setup was grand and beautiful, and she had never met somebody who cared enough to go to such lengths.

His body relaxing had her sinking into him, but it was welcome. Like this, it was now his heartbeat that pounded against her cheek. He went back to brushing her hair with his hand.

“You better appreciate it. Do you know how long this took?” He replied, voice lacking any typical bite and replaced with a gentle fondness. “I was running back and forth, carrying pots, arranging flowers. All for you to show up when I wasn’t even here to see your reaction.” He conveniently left out the part where she was put under the bracelet’s spell to fall in love with Zhao Ruoshi, but that’s fine, it was going to be a sore spot for a while, wouldn’t it?

MiaoMiao rubbed her head against his chest. “But now you’re here. And you gave me a beautiful gift.”

Ziqi made a sound of consideration. “So, you like it?” He asked with hesitation, and she knew he really still had his doubts. As unfounded as they may be, she didn’t mind having to tell him.

She nodded. “Yes, Ziqi, of course I like it. I like it all. And… I like you,” she tacked on shyly, tapping his chest.

The tensing and loosening of his muscles was to be expected, along with the embarrassed silence. Though she knew what was going on in his head, and knew the answer, she couldn’t help but ask herself.

“Ziqi. Do you like me?” Her voice piquing at the word “like.”

He scoffed. “Do you have to ask?” Though he tried to sound surly, his mumbling gave him away.

She moved back enough to make eye contact, putting on a full pout, wordless.

He blushed, eyes glancing to her lips, only moving when she tilted her head. He swallowed and let out a dramatic sigh, staring her down now with handsome confidence.

“Yes. I, Mu Ziqi, like you, Lin MiaoMiao. Before I even knew it, I liked you.”

Joy overwhelmed her, unable to help a wide grin from spreading across her face. “You should’ve told me this once you did. Do you know how much trouble that would’ve saved us?” She scolded.

“Well, when I went to you, you…” he vaguely gestured to her current appearance.

“Hey! That wasn’t my fault. I wouldn't have ever… especially if I knew you were waiting for me.” She whined, already sad again at the thought of choosing someone besides him.

Ziqi hugged her resting his chin in the crook of her neck and rubbing her back. “Let’s put it behind us, hm? It’s alright now.”

MiaoMiao nodded, happy to be comforted by him like this. She wanted to stay like this all day if she could. After having spent months in this world, regardless of whether or not it was a dream, it was still a place she would consider her own, and she would never forget this love she had for Ziqi.

Despite the unknown of what the future held, she was ready to hold his hand through it all, even if at the end, she’d have to let go anyways.

#love game in eastern fantasy

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notacatdown · 1 month ago

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The Tyrant Empress and Her Favored Lover's Vengeance

Original Link: https://www.douyin.com/video/7471137949229288731

FMV created by: y_黑鲨麦旋风

—

FL: Did you ever love this empress?

ML: If you die

ML: I'll collect your corpse for burial

—

FL's mother: Imperial Mother doesn't care about eternal infamy

FL's mother: I've pulled out this thorn from your side

FL's mother: This world will be yours

ML: From that day on

ML: my life

ML: was subsisted on hate

—

Male voice: A member of the Xuan family greets the empress

FL: What's your name?

—

Male voice: In this palace, in the span of a night,

Male voice: a person soaring to the top as the empress's favorite

Male voice: I've seen that too often

Male voice: It'll depend on your luck

—

Male voice: Who sent you?

Dying prisoner pointing at ML and saying: It's him

ML: Your majesty

FL holding ML's hand: Rest well

FL: This empress will personally deal with the matter

—

Female voice: You recognize a thief as your father

Female voice: And assist a villain

—

FL: They all say

FL: you're a vixen that beguiles your master

FL: Is that true?

ML: Your Majesty, are you going to send me away?

—

Male voice: In the palace

Male voice: Some people's intentions

Male voice: surpass that of Baosi's (an infamous beautiful consort)

—

ML: I've already the son of a criminal

ML: Why would I be afraid of those unspeakable things?

—

Woman wearing a black hood: Two grams a day

Woman wearing a black hood: taken over a few months

Woman wearing a black hood: and the mind will break down

—

Official: You brought him to court

Official: It's beyond absurd!

FL: You're so audacious

FL: Punish him according to the strictest standard

—

ML: Your Majesty

ML: My heart

ML: The heavens are a witness

—

Male voice: Now is the best time for you to strike

ML: This time

ML: I'll be the one winning

—

ML: You did that on purpose

FL: I thought you would have feelings

FL: Doesn't feel good, right?

FL: You didn't even dare to show your tail

FL: Did you think I didn't know what you were up to?

—

FL: At the moment between life and death

FL: Pain is only momentary

FL: What's there to be scared of?

—

FL: It's a pity

FL: You can't kill this empress

FL: Since that's the case

FL: then go to hell

FL: with me

—

FL: Did you ever love this empress?

ML: If you die,

ML: I'll collect your corpse for burial

FL: This empress will wait

—-

ML: I'll fulfill your wish

FL: Just this pitiful skill

FL: and you want to take my life?

FL: too lacking

—

ML: You didn't die from the poison

FL: What's the use of poison?

FL: I practice the extreme yin method

FL: It'll counteract poison

ML: I'll remember this

—

FL: Your sword is slightly off

ML: You're really not afraid

ML: of dying too soon

—

FL: This empress

FL: is eagerly waiting for that day

—

FL: Death

FL: is a punishment

FL: It's also a kind of liberation

—

FL: This place of imprisonment

FL: Alone in the world

—

FL: What I want the most… is freedom

ML: Why are you crying?

FL: I'm free

ML: Me too

---

List of translations for Douyin and other stuff

#List of translations for Douyin and other stuff #looking for recommendations for other videos that tell stories #rough translations of what if/story douyins #Esther Yu #Ding Yuxi #my journey to you #melody of golden age

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notacatdown · 1 month ago

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Multiple Lifetimes AU

Original Title: Half of the dreams I hold have not yet returned

Original Link: https://www.douyin.com/video/7492813357104270602

FMV created by: 寻头启示

OST: Dreams Come and Go/梦回还 (Fox Spirit Matchmaker/狐妖小红娘's OST).

---

Male narrator voice: 900 years ago

Male narrator voice: The Resentful Woman, the queen of demons, appeared

Mu Yao/Female narrator voice: She can appear anywhere in the world

Mu Yao: in anyone's heart

Mu Yao: anyone can become her puppet

Mu Yao: and do her evil bidding

—

FL: Your life and mine

FL: One rises when the other falls

—

First Life:

FL: I'm Orchid

FL: A fairy immortal

FL: These aren't ordinary leaves

FL: They're Destiny Books

—

Authoritative female voice: The keeper of the Destiny Books

Authoritative female voice: can't interfere in anyone's fate

Fragile female voice: Otherwise

Fragile female voice: the keeper will be destroyed

—

FL: He's not only the strongest person in the Three Realms

FL: He's also the dream lover of all the fairy immortals in the Immortal Realm

—

FL: How could this happen…

FL: He's in fatal danger

—

FL: Don't get up!

FL: You're too heavily injured

FL: Unfortunately, my cultivation is low

FL: I can only staunch your bleeding

—

FL: As long as I die,

FL: Then will he really be safe and sound…?

—

FL: There was no one protecting you before. That's okay

FL: I'll be the first

—

Second Life:

FL: As long as I complete this task

FL: Just give me my freedom

ML: If you die

ML: I'll collect your corpse for burial

—

ML: Indulging in feelings of love

ML: That's the behavior of idiots

---

FL: What I want the most… is my freedom

ML: As you wish

—

Third Life:

Longtan: I'm Longtan

FL: Longtan, located in Guixu

FL: Legend has it that Longtan can bring back lost ones

Longtan: I can't bring back the dead

Longtan: It has to be an exchange

—

Narrator voice: Although people born with a linglong heart have innate divine powers,

Narrator voice: they're destined to die young

Narrator voice: The only cure

Narrator voice: is to obtain another linglong heart

—

Underling: Sir

Underling: It's confirmed. She has a linglong heart

ML: Keep her in the Shengling Sect

—

ML: From now on, she'll be by my disciple

FL: Master!

---

FL: Master, may you live a long life

ML: Oh you

—

(Flashback scene)

FL: Is it tasty?

—

ML: I don't want you to know anything about the linglong heart

ML: I hope you'll live a happy, peaceful life for me

—

Longtan to FL: At the cost of the your existence

Longtan to FL: I can fulfill your wish

—

FL: In the past, it was always you protecting me

FL: In the future, I want to protect you too

—

Fourth Life:

ML: Miaomiao

ML: I hope that we'll have a good ending

—

FL: No matter what price I have to pay

FL: I have to save everyone

FL: Ziqi can't die

FL: No one can die!

---

Fifth Life:

ML: A Heavenly Demon Master can open an illusory world

ML: and reverse time

---

Liu Fuyi's Master: In the same timeline… there can't be two people

---

FL: If something happens to me one day

FL: Don't come here to exchange yourself for me

FL: I don't want to forget you

---

Sixth Life/Modern-day:

The white text are dialogue lines from their past lives

---

FL: Peace is the greatest wish of ordinary people

---

List of translations for Douyin and other stuff - Love Game in Eastern Fantasy

#List of translations for Douyin and other stuff - Love Game in Eastern Fantasy #looking for recommendations for other videos that tell stories #rough translations of what if/story douyins #Esther Yu #Ding Yuxi #moonlight #love you seven times #Sword and fairy 6 #love between fairy and devil #my journey to you #melody of golden age

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notacatdown · 1 month ago

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Modern-day Siblings AU

Original Title: My brother is a pet, a lover, and even a lunatic

Original Link: https://www.douyin.com/video/7459374392649305384

(Includes scenes from Moonlight, A Romance of the Little Forest, Just an Encore/Eight Minutes of Warmth, etc)

---

Male voice: Formal introduction

Male voice: He's going to be your older brother

ML: We're going to be a family

---

(ML leaning on door and slowly looking up with an innocent puppy look)

FL: Are you going to keep staying here as an unwelcome guest?

---

(FL pointing knife at ML)

FL: Especially, a person harboring evil intentions

---

FL: He hasn't done anything wrong

---

FL: This is yours (pointing at beans in a saucer)

---

FL: As a person living in someone else's home-

FL: Enough

(Fl knocks glass cup over after ML fills it with water)

FL: -You should have self-awareness

—

(FL pour tea/coffee over phone, ripping notebook, clapping her hands)

FL: Promising

FL: Such a small matter. Is it worth crying over?

(FL gleefully smiling as ML looks at his ripped notebook)

—

(FL pulling ML towards her by grabbing his collar)

FL: I'm very hungry right now

FL: I'm in a terrible mood

ML: Satisfied?

FL: Scared?

FL: This the price you have to pay

—

ML: Your hand is hurt

FL: I want to see, what exactly are you up to?

—

Female voice: His feelings for you don't look simple

Female voice: He likes you

—

FL (talking to someone on the phone): Isn't this just Stockholm Syndrome?

—

ML: Stop drinking

FL: No way. You're not my boyfriend. What right do you have to tell me what to do?

—

ML: I want to be closer to you

—

Female voice to ML: I bought you a drink

(FL sees this from the side)

—

(ML dabbing medicine at FL's cut finger)

FL: Has no one told you to not pick the wild flowers outside?

—

Jiang Yu Cheng/SML: It seems that you're quite concerned about him

FL: What do you mean? Why would I care about him?

—

FL: You're just a pet

ML: I've gotten used to it a long time ago

—

ML: My parents have been quarreling a lot since I was a kid

ML: My mom would take her anger out on me

FL: What's scary about her?

—

ML: Will I go crazy in the future too?

ML: Like my mom?

FL: I'm sorry (draping blanket over sleeping ML)

—

ML: Mom! Mom!

—

Male voice: He witnessed his mother taking her life

Male voice: He has PSTD from it

—

FL (on the phone with ML): Why aren't you talking? Are you crying?

—

ML: No matter how difficult it is, I'll come back to your side

—

ML: I only continue to live on for you

—

FL: I'm willing to pull you from the past

FL: Together, we'll walk to a future with light

—

Female voice: He's not a good person

Female voice: Actually, he's been lying to you from the start

—

FL: For so long, you've been working so hard to deceive me.

FL: Is it fun messing with me?

FL: You want to keep playing this game

—

ML: From the first time I saw you

ML: You were like a puffed up, wild kitten

—

ML: Your every word

ML: Your every look directed at me

Little kid: Is that big brother your boyfriend?

ML: I would contemplate them, countless times

ML: I couldn't help myself

ML: Those thoughts were uncontrollable

ML: I want to be closer to you

ML: I'd think-

FL: You're just a pet

ML: -Am I really the person you think I am?

---

ML: Mom!

—

ML: I only continue to live on for you

—

FL: It would be good if you're normally this obedient

ML: I'll listen to you about everything

---

ML: Do you like?

---

^ The lines on the left are Chinese subtitles for the background song (Super Psycho Love by Simon Curtis.)

List of translations for Douyin and other stuff - Love Game in Eastern Fantasy

#List of translations for Douyin and other stuff - Love Game in Eastern Fantasy #looking for recommendations for other videos that tell stories #rough translations of what if/story douyins #Esther Yu #Ding Yuxi #moonlight #a romance of the little forest #just an encore #eight minutes of warmth

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notacatdown · 1 month ago

Text

Orchid x Fu Ling (LBFAD x Moonlight Mystique)

Original Title: Little Orchid, come to hell with me

Original Link: https://www.douyin.com/video/7462705012515409204

Note: Fu Ling's lines were interesting enough that I gave Moonlight Mystique a try. Apologies if any terms or wording doesn't match iQiyi's English subtitles.

---

Orchid: Hurry up, let me out of here.

Orchid: You dislike the sight of me and give me a hard time. Why?

Fu Ling: It's because I feel your happiness is a jarring eyesore

Orchid: You're crazy

Fu Ling: Crazy? To me, that sounds like a compliment

Fu Ling: The first time I saw you, you were so high-spirited and carefree

Orchid: First place?

Orchid: I got first place in the immortal competition

(Orchid happily twirling in a forest)

Fu Ling: At that time, I thought, such a carefree person deserves to suffer more

Orchid: You're hurt. Let me help you

Fu Ling: Master often says that Immortals can't accomplish anything great.

Fu Ling: I understand now. You went through so much trouble to save me, a stranger you met by chance.

Fu Ling: What a fool

—

Orchid: You're awake

Orchid: It's time to drink medicine

Fu Ling: I don't need it. You shouldn't have saved me to begin with.

Orchid: If you behave by drinking the medicine, I can make you flower cakes.

Orchid: Sure to suit anyone's taste buds.

Orchid: It has honey in it

–

(Fu Ling watching the sleeping Orchid)

Fu Ling: Since I'm in hell

Fu Ling: Then come join me!

—

Danyin: It's her! She took the Contemplation Stone

Male voice: Where is the Contemplation Stone?

Female voice: Orchid, tell him! If you don't, you'll die

Orchid: I really don't know

Male voice: Cut out her immortal bones

Male voice: Cast her down from Shuiyuntian (Immortal Realm)

—

Fu Ling: The Immortals are so cruel

Fu Ling: You've merely made a minor mistake, and it erased your past merits

Fu Ling: They tossed you out

Orchid: Why is it you?

Fu Ling: Are you incredulous?

Fu Ling: I've told you early on that you shouldn't have saved me, but you insisted on not listening.

Orchid: Why did it have to be you?

---

Fu Ling to Bai Shuo: How dare you show disrespect to my guest?

Bai Shuo: Are you going to kick me out?

Fu Ling: Wrong, I'm going to kill you.

Fu Ling There are a lot of ways to kill someone

Fu Ling: What I said before still stands. If you're willing to come over to the demon side

Orchid: Just kill me

Fu Ling: It'd be so boring to kill you. Do you think I can't do anything to you?

Orchid: What have you done?

Fu Ling: It's my demonic protective flower

Fu Ling: Our lives are tied together now

---

Male voice: Keep looking

Fu Ling: I've told you, every move taken in the Cold Spring Palace

Fu Ling: Can't escape from the grasp of my Master

Fu Ling: How dare you break into my Master's room?

Fu Ling: You came to Cold Spring Palace to spy, right?

Orchid to Fu Ling's Master: If you're going to kill someone, then just kill me

Fu Ling: Don't!

Fu Ling: Let her go

Fu Ling: I beg of you. Let her go.

Fu Ling: Master, please show mercy. Spare her.

Fu Ling: I'm willing to bear the punishment alone

Fu Ling's Master: You've fallen in love. You've lost your mind

Fu Ling's Master: What I want is your absolute loyalty

—

Fu Ling: Leave here? Where can I go?

Fu Ling: I'm a demon that's committed atrocities

Fu Ling: If I go to the Immortal Realm with you

Fu Ling: They'll kill me on sight

Fu Ling: Just go. Not everyone has the freedom of choice

---

(Flashback scene)

Fu Ling's Master: Once you take this drug, you'll have to keep taking it

Fu Ling's Master: If you stop taking it, you'll die of poisoning after a month

---

List of translations for Douyin and other stuff - Love Game in Eastern Fantasy

#looking for recommendations for other videos that tell stories #rough translations of what if/story douyins #Fu Ling #Orchid #love between fairy and devil #moonlight mystique #Esther Yu #Dai Luwa

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notacatdown · 2 months ago

Text

Alternative ending to ep 18 and 19 (uses scenes from Xia Qiji's photoshoot)

Original Title: A yandere-flavored meal (includes Tan Jianci's Sima Zhao's lines from The Advisors Alliance (2017))

Original Link: https://www.douyin.com/video/7439643670925643049

The lines in quotations are ML's thoughts.

---

^ "Why does the person I love not belong to me?

---

ML: Sister-in-law

ML: ??? (I can't tell what he's saying)

---

"Oh, it was only a dream"

FL: Ziqi, why did you drink yourself to such a state?

"Is it really you? Are you really in front of me?"

ML: Sister-in-law

Marquis: Yu-er

Marquis: Yu-er, sure enough, you're here

Marquis: I'll take you back.

"This isn't a dream"

---

FL to Marquis: Let's get married.

---

Marquis to ML: You and I… we have the same father

---

FL: Please stay and come to my wedding

(A flash of the wedding at the temple)

---

"I forgot. You've already married my brother."

"Why aren't you mine?"

ML: Leave with me, Sister-in-law

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^ "I wish the person sitting across from her is me."

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"As long as you disappear, she'll be mine"

ML: Disappear from her sight

"I can't hold back, Brother"

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^ "Are you finally going to be mine?"

ML: Sister-in-law

ML: Leave with me

ML: To a place that no one recognizes us

"The talisman will make you forget everything"

List of translations for Douyin and other stuff - Love Game in Eastern Fantasy

#looking for recommendations for other videos that tell stories #love game in eastern fantasy #永夜星河 #ling miaomiao #mu sheng #rough translations of what if/story douyins #Xia Qiji #夏弃疾 #photographer's name

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notacatdown · 2 months ago

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Your post reminded me of a scene in the novel/manhua. Mu Sheng kills the dowager consort, and he's brimming with self-loathing and worry that Miaomiao will be scared of him now. This is how Miaomiao respond.

She follows up with, "Are you afraid of me now?"

Then, she pretends to looks at him for comfort before cracking up. She points out that she's seen him kill plenty of demons, so why does he views killing an evil human differently? He's doesn't think there's anything wrong with her killing a demon that was trying to kill him, so why does he have this double standard for himself?

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In older stories like Inuyasha, the female protagonists will say humans and demons are equal, but its a hollow feel-good statement that doesn't ring true. When humans kill demons, they get a slap on a wrist. When demons kill humans, the protagonist group will kill those demons. It was great that the novel didn't do this. Mu Sheng kill the dowager consort after he finds out the truth.

That drama changes the dowager consort's ending. She is responsible for so much suffering and death, and she still gets to live out her days in a comfortable gilded cage unlike her novel ending. There is no justice. If someone is rich and powerful enough, then he/she is above the law that everyone else has to follow.

one thing I find kind of funny about lgief is that Mu Sheng, from the very beginning, is very openly pro killing people and has expressed to Miaomiao several times that he would like to kill her, but then when she find out that he's half-demon he's suddenly like "are you afraid of me?"😿

like bro based off your past behavior she should already be validly afraid of you🤣🤣

(but when I think about it too hard I start crying because he's mean bc it's like he's giving people reasons to hate him so that it hurts less when they hate him for being a half demon and he doesn't want to get close to anyone bc he doesn't want to get hurt😭😭😭)

#love game in eastern fantasy

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notacatdown · 2 months ago

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I don't want to spoil anything specific for you, so I'll just say ep 7 and 8 have Miaomiao and Mu Sheng's best romantic-ish moment together in the show. The later episodes are... umm... Either Cuicui or someone else is literally standing in between them (middle of the show) or Miaomiao alternates between feeling like an AI where only keywords can trigger a response from her and an idealized vessel for Fu Zhou's infatuation of a middle school girl (last third of the drama).

After the show deviates from the novel's plot, it becomes aimless. It's propped up by Ding Yuxi and Esther Yu's chemistry to entertain the audience, but after ep 18, it won't even give us that. In ep 24, Mu Sheng points out he and MiaoMiao hadn't had a good talk in a while, and I realized they hadn't had a private conversation that's over two lines to each other in 6 episodes.

I haven't watched Kill Me Love Me, but I heard the early episodes were really good, and then it detoured into something else for the rest of the show.

I just started watching love game in eastern fantasy as my long overdue venture into xianxia dramas and I have so many mixed feelings?? but one thing I'm not mixed about is that this mu sheng guy is hot? but also what an ass? it's my first time being tested by a real face and voice (which i learned is apparently not the actor's??) and not a drawing on a page from my beloved trashy OI webtoons

anyway I feel like i'm just... like kinda too western for this lol I just can't stand the cutesy bits that they make lin yu do but I know this is a super standard and common archetype for e. asian FLs in general... I tried to start with love between fairy and devil and could NOT get even halfway through the first episode bc I couldn't stand the overly cutesy shit. lgief is better in this regard but still has those moments

I mean it's still adjacent to my general interest in rofan OIs with a lot of the same tropes so it's not like I hate it, it's just that the type of acting that comes with putting these things on screen with real people (instead of me just reading them on a page) isn't really my cup of tea

I'll see this one through bc mu sheng is hot and mu yao is so gooorrrgeous (even tho her character is flat af so far) but I feel I'm gonna be on a long journey finding a cdrama that fits my tastes 🤔

#love game in eastern fantasy

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notacatdown · 2 months ago

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Have you seen the photos and/or bits of video from the photoshoot they took after the show ended? It's a mix of photos inspired from the last two story arcs from the novel. There's also a bunch of photos for Lin Yu and original! black lotus. The photographer is a big fan of the novel.

youtube

"She could see through the reflection in the mirror that the youth had a soft expression; no, a loving expression as he carefully caressed her hair. She felt as if she were sitting on pins and needles, and she took the next opportunity when he leaned in to kiss her hair again to solemnly remind him: "Ziqi, brush it properly."

Mu Sheng froze abruptly and then raised his head. He looked at the mirror with eyes filled with grievance. He saw a beautiful girl in the reflection, the tips of her ears peeking out from the soft strands of hair just like an elf's. Her face was ruddy with color and he could clearly see that she was putting on a strong front to face him with an unperturbed expression. Immediately, he felt like there were cats lightly scratching at his heart.

"Miaomiao." His tone was calm and collected as he made a proposal, "In the future, can you leave your hair down while you're in our room?"

"… why?" Ling Miaomiao's lashes trembled for a moment. The feeling of sitting on pins and needles seemed to intensity even more, to the point that she felt like speaking was very difficult.

"I like you a lot like this…" He could no longer maintain a placid tone and as his soft voice came out, he also slowly bent down and kissed her forehead.

Ling Miaomiao made a hidden sigh in her heart but didn't dodge him.

Forget it, she would just let him be this time. She absolutely could not let him brush her hair in the future."

- translation is from chapter 89 https://secondlifetranslations.com/tgcbl/tgcbl-chapter-89/

This isn't the last time 🤣. Miaomiao is weak to his pitiful puppy act. During one of Mu Sheng's rare happy childhood memories, when his mom is brushing his hair, she mentions that she used to brush his father's hair.

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These two have got to have one of the best on scream chemistry I’ve ever seen in a cdrama cause why did they get me to finish the whole thing in a day and a half without batting an eye? I mean I loved the show but goddamn did it drag. These two really did hold it all together in the later half. 😭

#love game in eastern fantasy #esther yu #ding yuxi #novel snippets i wish was shown in the drama

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notacatdown · 2 months ago

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I agree that the plucky, bubbly heroine is pervasive in xianxia dramas, and Esther Yu is known for her cutesy roles, so I recommend trying out xianxia dramas with different actresses. I think Chinese female idols are more likely to get typecast.

During an interview, Esther Yu said, "I definitely don’t want to act in such a cute role anymore (referring to her role as Orchid). I want to take on different types… then I went for teacher Huangbo’s masterclass and he said, don’t take on a different role when you’ve only just shaped one type of role. This type of char hasn’t been solidified in the audience’s hearts and you’re wanting to change into another type of characteristic. That way the audience can’t remember you. You might as well be in the area that you’re good at and perfect it. If everyone thinks cute, quirky, and the first person they think of is you, that's also a type of success."

- from https://www.reddit.com/r/cdramasfans/comments/1gmz7a1

#esther yu

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notacatdown · 2 months ago

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The dubbed voice in LGIEF is very similar to his real voice. I had to listen to a video that compared him saying the same lines in a BTS to that scene in the drama to hear the difference. I think Ding Yuxi could probably do the dubbing himself, but it's cheaper to have a voice actor do it.

If bubbly balls of sunshine heroines aren't your thing and you want to give another xianxia drama try, I suggest in no particular order:

Till the End of the Moon (first 25% was amazing, but then it becomes a trainwreck of misunderstandings. And by the 3rd story arc, FL becomes someone that relies on ML's love to forgive her when she betrays him. In the novel, even though he's the emperor, she's a cultivator, a warrior at her core even if she doesn't have full access to her powers. A mortal emperor is nothing to her, and she's outside of his sphere of authority.)

Back from the Brink (super fun to watch until ep 16 when one of the screenwriters left. Once ML gets over that lengthy patch of not talking (ep 16 to 18), it goes back to being funny, but pacing is not great as early episodes)

Fangs of Fortune (has a super attractive cast. 10/10 in eye candy. It's group of friends cracking jokes, but has a very slow-moving plot)

A Moment But Forever (read good things about the characters and the plot, but its called xianxia for the middle-aged i.e. no eye candy)

If you don't mind angst upon angst and want to see Ding Yuxi in a high ponytail again, he has a guest role in Love in Pavilion (a collection of short love stories) for a few episodes. I think you can start watching from ep 19 or 20 without being confused.

Not xianxia, but fits your requirement of non-cutesy heroine:

Go Go Princess (a playboy that transmigrates into crown princess. I love that the show doesn't take itself seriously)

Summer's Desire (2010 version) Can watch it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJobG0rx2eA (It's a super entertaining trashy melodrama. Huang Xiaoming's screen presence is so intense that his romantic scenes feel like an uncomfortable predator and prey situation, but Barbie Hsu can bring the same level of screen presence when the role calls for it. They feel like two wolves circling each other. So fun to watch them interact.)

How Dare You?! (an OI donghua. The animation is janky and takes a while to get used to, but ML's voice is soo good. I simply looked away from screen and listened to their voices.)

#love game in eastern fantasy #go go princess #how dare you?!#summer's desire (2010)#a moment but forever #fangs of fortune #back from the brink #till the end of the moon #love in pavilion

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notacatdown · 2 months ago

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Opposite Personalty but Same Alignment* Characters Played by the Same Actor: How do they feel about each other?

Duke Su, The Double vs. Zheng Zhe, Story of Kunning Palace

Feeling: Permanent mutual hatred

Duke Su: He sees Zheng Zhe for the first time and he can't believe his eyes: there is a man who looks like him (magnificent) but he's squandering it by dressing like a beggar. Then he learns that ZZ does not scheme; does not enjoy plays, banquets, or anything really; and worse, has faith that hard work will pay off in a corrupt system. But it's the fact that they look alike that keeps Duke Su up at night. He even tries to send ZZ better clothes but they are given away because "maybe it's a bribe". Disgusting.

Zheng Zhe: Learns that there is someone who looks like him, but who is detatched, vain, and ostentatious. His approach to politics reminds ZZ too much of Xie Wei. He intensely dislikes this man. He's suspicious of him. It bothers him less though as a person who always leaves a party at 9pm.

Prince Xiao Lin, Till the End of the Moon vs. Su Yishui, Love of the Divine Tree

(this picture is the clam version of Xiao Lin but I think it's pretty)

Feeling: One-sided hatred (improved over time)

Xiao Lin: he's met a Demon Child before, he was nice about it. Princes should treat other princes with respect and decency. It's a bit weird that they look so similar but it's not a big thing.

Su Yishui: He thought he hated Su Yu the most (after himself), but here is a prince who is not only loved by his family but looks Iike him? And can use magic? And is nice??? Mu Quingge is definitely going to leave him for Xiao Lin. (Hatred/jealousy calms down a bit when he learns Xiao Lin is in love with someone else)

Zhuo Yichen, Fangs of Fortune vs. Gong Yuanzhi, My Journey to You

Feeling: Best Second Best Brothers Forever

They're both sad little orphans with brother obsessions. Zhuo Yichen has a proven ability to tolerate any personality as long as it's roughly on the side of good. Gong Yuanzhi would need some time to adjust to having two brothers that he would die for, but I'm convinced it would happen eventually. The doppelganger thing would be fine after ZYC checks to make sure GYZ isn't a shapeshifter.

Orchid, Love Between Fairy and Devil vs. Yun Weishan My Journey to You

Feeling: Enemies to sisters

This is kind of cheating because Yun Weishan starts as a villain, but Orchid is as competent at melting cold-hearted villains as Gong Ziyu. She'll be so excited for a friend (who cares that they look alike!) and YWS cannot resist a cute little sister. They are both so desperate to be loved.

Xie Wei Story of Kunning Palace vs. Chang Heng of Love Between Fairy and Devil

(I found a picture of Chang Heng looking pissed off in front of a qin so maybe these are actually the same personality and same character. Lol, no, joking)

Feeling: the fairy monarchy is corrupt and has betrayed the trust of the people, therefore it must be overthrown

Xie Wei learns that the king of fairies allowed one of his subjects to be thrown into eternal prison (Orchid) and he is pissed off, it reminds him too much of his childhood trauma. The innocent should not be sacrificed. He begins to plot against the corrupt. Chang Heng has been a loyal subject for a long time, he's the God of War, but Xie Wei makes some persuasive arguments about how Orchid saved his life and therefore he owes her eternal plotting and perhaps some murder... The look-alike thing only matters in that it allows them to confuse people and carry out complicated plans

*I am being generous with same alignment, but if the show generally has them on the side of good.

**I can only do shows I've watched and characters that are really different. Maybe I'll add to this as I do more.

#so awesome!#my current favorite tumblr post #had no idea that Xiao Lin and Su Yishui were played by same actor #the beautiful wavy hair wig deserves an award

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notacatdown · 2 months ago

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[Placeholder]

Differences between The Guide to Capturing a Black Lotus's novel and manhua

List of translations for Douyin videos + missing scenes from the leaked script (mostly for Love Game in Eastern Fantasy)

Cute fanart from Xiaohongshu and Weibo

Similarities between The Guide to Capturing a Black Lotus and Scum Villain Self-Saving System

The black lotus I wish we could have seen in the early episodes

Mu Sheng's favorability drop in ep 6

Favorability required to get bunny apples from Mu Sheng?

Ramblings about how demons and love are depicted differently in novel and drama

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^ Eagerly waiting for When Destiny Brings the Demon/献鱼. Hope it finally airs this year.

#looking for recommendations for videos that tell stories

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notacatdown · 2 months ago

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It makes even less sense when its already been established that this is magical world where 1) a single talisman can make someone execute a complicated action and 2) one person has the power to alter the memories of an entire village for years on end, and there's no magical way to check. An experienced demon hunter like Mu Sheng should have basic safety protocols. If any friend or relative isn't acting like themselves, the first step should be to strip them of any possible magical item.

What was the point of testing the bracelet? He should have just yanked the bracelet off. It's like seeing people on fire and not wanting to get close to them to throw water over them because they're naked. In an emergency situation, there is an exemption for everyday politeness.

In the novel, Miaomiao breaks out of the love puppet spell in a day when Mu Sheng mentions her dad. This is suppose to be Miaomiao's moment and to show the strength of familial/platonic love.

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As Love Game in Eastern Fantasy progresses, there is this unshakeable feeling that the original protagonist group are the stepchildren and the new characters (Cuicui, Guo Xiu, the marquis, Liu Fuyi's master, and Liu-niang) are the biological children. For example, a scene meant to show a shift in Miaomiao and Mu Yao's relationship and their characterization is replaced with shining the spotlight on Guo Xiu.

^ This scene is about him being funny, and how he's going against the rules to save the day. It does nothing for Mu Yao's character.

The screenwriter's new characters are like pretty markers, and she draws a pretty palette with each of them, but what I want to see is a multi-colored drawing. How they're blended together how they contrast and highlight each other. For example, it would have been interesting for Mu Yao to rethink her idea of what a hero is after meeting Guo Xiu.

In the novel, the group doesn't split up. Originally, this is a scene where Miaomiao and Mu Yao are together. Liu Fuyi is out of commission. Mu Sheng is separated from them. Mu Yao has no confidence that they will make it out alive, but she pushes those feelings down. She goes into big sister mode and wants to get Miaomiao to safety even though that will make her own situation worse.

From the comments on the webnovel and manhua sites, this is a moment that the readers collectively cheer for Mu Yao. This is the best of Mu Yao. This scene reminds us why Miaomiao admires Mu Yao. Its not because Mu Yao is a heroine that has already conquered her fears. It's Mu Yao's acts of altruism and heroism inspite of her very human qualities of insecurity and negative feelings.

As for Miaomiao's side, she doesn't have goddess-level powers in the novel, but that's the point of Miaomiao. That she changes the plot and has a positive impact on the Mu siblings as an ordinary person in an extraordinary world. Her warm presence and her joking around during this dire situation is what lifts Mu Yao's spirits.

(The fox demoness arc originally shows how similar the Mu siblings are. For example, their first thought is to send Miaomiao away and handle everything on their own because that's what they're used to. And Miaomiao will not have any of it. They're so much happier when Miaomiao is around.)

After going through this experience, Mu Yao treats Miaomiao as a friend that she can emotionally rely on versus her friend that she has to protect. We also see this in the drama where Mu Yao babies Mu Sheng and Miaomiao and places unfair amount of responsibility on herself, but the second part of this would have been that she realizes its okay to seek comfort from her friends. Instead, the drama gives us Mu Yao's two bouts of noble idiocy. So frustrating!

If Guo Xiu can teleport to Mu Yao, then surely Miaomiao with her goddess-level powers that can transcend time and parallel worlds can

It would be super fun to have Guo Xiu as a coworker, and his monologues are entertaining, but his character and the other new characters are not written to share the spotlight.

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More of a comment for how Cuicui and the marquis is written. The drama reminds me of how some fanfiction writers pour their love into their newly created characters in fanfics at the expensive of the actual protagonists from the original work. They create problems (love bracelet) for the actual protagonists and have their new characters solve them for the protagonists.

Neither Miaomiao nor Mu Sheng can remove the bracelet because that would take away the marquis's moment. Mu Sheng has to give up on Miaomiao and leave. Otherwise, Cuicui can't deliver the letter to him.

I don't think its entirely the screenwriter. All the changes from the original script dilute Miaomiao's character. For example the ones in ep 18: https://www.tumblr.com/notacatdown/778955556356538368

https://www.tumblr.com/notacatdown/769410748395995136

Ziqi trying to see if Miaomiao is under a spell (and being heartbroken that he can't find anything) ( ;´ - `;)

Love Game in Eastern Fantasy 永夜星河 (2024) | ep. 18

#love game in eastern fantasy #guide to capturing a black lotus #novel snippets i wish was shown in the drama

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notacatdown · 3 months ago

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Starring Miaomiao/Yun Weishan as the Resentful Woman and her tragic love story

Original Title: Tale of the Resentful Woman; the unfilled wishes of lovers

https://www.douyin.com/video/7464814696365935906

I saw this amazing fake trailer that blends scenes from LGIEF and My Journey to You. I like how the end of the video loops back to the beginning, and FL, Mu Yao, Mu Yao's dad, and the dowager consort's words take on a different meaning. Not sure if it needs a summary.

Bonus, it adds back the element of Chinese ghost stories that was removed in LGIEF. The contrast between Miaomiao's sweet voice and the tragedy is great. It feels like she's gone bonkers.

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Miaomiao's sweet voice: Today is a rare, auspicious day. You have to stay.

Miaomiao's sweet voice: Drink some wedding wine before you go. (While carnage is happening in the background)

Mu Yao: The Resentful Woman

Dowager Consort: I dreamed of that demon woman again.

Mu Yao (voice-over): She's the most powerful -

(FL looking at her blood-stained hands in the cold light of day)

(Mu Sheng and Miaomiao holding the wedding ribbon with unhappy faces)

Dowager Consort: She's here to take my life

Mu Yao: - the most evil of demons

Mu Yao's dad: Using human lives and flesh, she's created-

Dowager Consort: She's here again

Mu Yao's dad: - an indestructible demon body

Mu Sheng: Young Lady

Female voice: Whose dream is this? Female voice: So bitter

Different male voice: The prophecy has come down Different male voice: You're the new guardian deity

Woman in white: The person they're going to sacrifice, it's you.

FL: I can't help, and I don't want to help. FL: If things go wrong, I might even lose my life if I help

FL's brother: Don't you have someone you want to protect. You will in the future.

Older man: She's always been soft-hearted.

Evil demon hunter: Little girl, are you trying to be a hero?

Older man: She'll definitely choose to save him.

FL: What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare? FL: You look like you're crying

Vendor: A fated love bracelet can ensure a happy, harmonious marriage

ML: Young Lady ML: You're the only person I care about ML: No matter what your mission is ML: I want to stay by your side

Flashback to FL's brother: Don't you have someone you want to protect.

Female voice (from a memory): Do you have any wishes?

FL (original answer): To live a peaceful life away from others

FL (new answer): To spend the rest of my life with him (while besottedly watching ML decorate the room with flowers)

Dowager consort: Are you willing to risk everything?

FL: Yes

Guo Xiu: If this happens, won't all the credit for saving the world go to one person?

Male voice: Everything is going according to plan

Miaomiao's sweet voice: My only wish is for you to have a happy life

White-haired man: The heavenly catastrophe-

Miaomiao's sweet voice: For your life to stay happy and peaceful

White-haired man's voice: -is upon us

Dowager Consort: Raze this demon mountain to the ground

ML: Young Lady

Dowager Consort: Not even one demon can be spared Dowager consort: She's the head of the family, but she doesn't have her priorities in order.

Dowager Consort: She colluded with demons Dowager Consort: I was eliminating evil for the good of the common people

FL's brother: You've exhausted magical power FL's brother: Let me send you on your way FL's brother: That child is waiting for you down there FL's brother: He's all alone. He must be so lonely FL's brother: Don't keep him waiting

Grey-haired man (Not Guo Xiu): Young master, take your place as the head of the family

Grey-haired man: Kill her

Narrator voice: After the heavenly catastrophe, the Resentful Woman, the queen of demons, appeared out of nowhere

Dowager Consort: I dreamed of that demon woman again. Dowager Consort: She's here to take my life

Miaomiao's sweet voice: Today is a rare, auspicious day.

Dowager Consort: Demon!

(Miaomiao smiling while wearing a wedding veil.)

Dowager Consort: Help! Guards, save me!

Mu Yao's father: The Life Absorbing Formation Mu Yao's father: It's the most evil formation in the world

FL: You're here

Mu Yao's father: Using human lives and flesh, she's created- Mu Yao's father: -an indestructible demon body

ML: Young Lady

FL: The world after the sun sets is warm, it's what I wish for

ML: Today, you're so pretty

FL: When the sun rises, everything turns to ice and darkness

Background voice: Husband and wife, bow to each other

Mu Yao: The Resentful Woman Mu Yao (voice-over): She's the most powerful -

ML: Today, you're so pretty

Mu Yao (voice-over): - the most evil of demons

Miaomiao's sweet voice: Today is a rare, auspicious day. (While carnage is happening in the background)

Miaomiao's sweet voice: Fortunately, we'll stay together forever.

(Mu Sheng fading as he and Miaomiao hold the wedding ribbon with unhappy faces)

Miaomiao's sweet voice: Life and death can't separate us. We'll be together forever.

(Fade to black)

Miaomiao's sweet voice: You have to stay. Drink some wedding wine before you go.

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List of translations for Douyin and other stuff - Love Game in Eastern Fantasy

#looking for recommendations for other videos that tell stories #love game in eastern fantasy #永夜星河 #ling miaomiao #mu sheng #rough translations of what if/story douyins #yun weishan #esther yu #chinese ghost story #my journey to you #cdrama #ding yuxi

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