#TENCENT! WHEN I CATCH YOU TENCENT!

[inthefaceofadaffodil]

L I S T E N

[accio-victuuri]

to clown or not to clown…. 💅🏻💅🏻💅🏻

episode 1 of the docuseries is out and i really hope that the premiere with discovery channel with english subs will come to us sooner. this is what i was frustrated with when i learned it’s tencent video exclusive. but whatever, still thankful since they made this possible along with discovery. and congratulations since it’s #1 in tencent documentaries! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

i think the cpn highlight will be yibo and the bone necklace. we know how personal it is for him but just seeing it against his skin and bring it along in the wilderness gets me. it’s so special for him and i hope it remains the same for the years to come. it’s such a thoughtful gift cause he can literally take it anywhere. he always has a piece of xz wherever he goes. it’s so romantic! and seeing the hardships he experienced in this episode alone — i’m comforted that he has that with him. 🦴

it is on hot search now actually but people are saying to pay more attention to his body too. lol. it’s so eye catching this way!

there was a bit when he was packing his things and you can see that he brought his leica camera with him. you all know how much we went cray over that cpn and looking at him bring it along to this adventure made me so happy. i also love how he shared photos over at his weibo account, i wish he would do it every time an episode comes out.

i have to say the one with the starry sky stood out. it’s too beautiful! pretty sure that was sent to a certain someone as well. 👀

he did take a sleeping / relaxing tea packet(s) with him for the trip and it reminded people of xz doing the same ( bringing tea ) when he was fixing his luggage for a show ( unreleased video was leaked of this ). 🍵

some coincidental similarity in these shots:

others are pointing out the similarity in where they are in life right now. it’s still a struggle, but they are learning to be more calm and relaxed about it. and that’s what i always say. why is it always them? camping, tennis, spending time outdoors, hiking, leica cameras, etc. it’s not copying each other. it’s because they are spending time together that their hobbies merge 😂😂😂

their state of mind too. trying to live their lives in the middle of their chaotic celebrity status! their peace of mind always comes first.

finally, this lovely edit ⬇️⬇️⬇️

it looks so real!

that’s all. nothing much and no groundbreaking cpn going on which actually made me question whether i should even make a post but whatever. i needed a space to ramble about my bjyxszd feels so yeah. and i’m planning to make one for each episode. hopefully!

-END.

[vyvesvi]

just started asia super young 😅 funny how a show can seem super popular when you're out of the loop but when you finally start watching it's crickets

this is my first time watching a youku show, i like the pacing BUT I HATE the fact that they cut so much from the free eps (free is 1 hr vip is 2.5+ 🫠). so like the irresponsible working adult i am i committed to monthly subscription (that i WILL remember to cancel the day the finale airs 😁). the other thing that i find really disappointing is that free voting on the youku app doesn't count towards their rank, it's just for extra promo 🫠 apparently you need to pay separately through their site or have a weibo associated with a mainland # (acc to fans based in hk w weibo accounts they can't even vote. when the show is filming in hk. and conducted half in canto.)

but i WILL be tuning in even though im desperately confused about everything. i watched eps 1 - 3 using the free version so im gonna do a quick recap and hopefully start catching up with the extra content tomorrow 🙏

ASY PICKS (based on ep 1 - 3)

ults: gemini (hoàng huệhùng/huang huixiong) & albert (aihe)

these two...how could you not say cunt. gemini is a 99 liner from vietnam, a short king, his nose is pierced, his dancing is clean, and his vocals are great. does he speak chinese? no. but does he serve face? like his life depends on it (because it does). he's already on my list of survival show contestants who will live on in my brain in perpetuity. aihe is the other main slayer from the same audition group (medusa). just look at him. he walked out and i went bitch???? he's like if hu yetao and xue bayi had a baby that was mad as hell. he's an 03 liner from xinjiang, pretty good vocals, and great dance skills. had to use that shitty laptop pic bc it just radiates his whole vibe.

i like you!: vic (zhang shengxi), orenda (shuhao), walker (wang kun), kong sonhei (jiang xinxi), & karl (ting tzelong)

vic is a 2000 liner & and member of enone. his rank is so oddly low bc he gets pretty good screentime and is very talented?

shuhao is a 2000 liner. he wasnt a pick until he did his solo rap but he's the best rapper, undisputed, on this show. plus he composed & produced & wrote & arranged their group's whole audition song? kingie.

walker is an 05 liner with a musical theatre background. to me he has a very broadcaster type face - kind and open. i noticed him mostly for how he was taking care of his younger audition partner, it was very very cute 🙄(🥹).

xinxi is an 02 liner & a member of the yuehua brigade. member of the bg boyhood (all of whom are competing) and i believe the theme song center. but more importantly, he's my birthday buddy!😁🥳 i'll admit to noticing him first bc of the bday thing - i was actually pretty unimpressed by boyhood's audition. still, he's a very good/solid boy group member to have.

karl (ting tzelong) is a 97 liner with roots in canada & hong kong. he's a Fantastic singer and was the runner up in the mr. hong kong contest? don't think he can dance but that voice, singing or speaking...

i know you & ur fun: ollie

ollie (06, under yuehua) was on boys planet so im very familiar with him (side note but this show has so many former iqiyi show contestants but none from tencent 😭). honestly he's not a pick for me but i like his energy, he's a great variety member. also i don't want to see him lose so 😭 that said i've always thought he raps like he's reading a children's book but he's graduated to slam poetry🎉

hmmm: sky (zhao tianyi)

so. sky's audition was iconic. this 14 y/o kid sang, rapped, played the piano, synths, talkbox, did streetdance, and jumped into a split. he clearly loves music & is very intense about follow this passion. but 1) he's 14. 2) he clearly wants to be a soloist, thus far i can't see a single team player bone in his body. these things combined have put him lower on my list (i especially didn't really care for how he interacted with gemini during the team selection but we'll see if that continues in ep 4). but he's here currently for his talent.

keeping an eye out: archie (sin ching fung), hugo (wong singcheuk) & service (sun xiaowei)

archie (98) is a singer, he sings! but honestly so many ppl on this show are good & he can't really dance so...we'll see

hugo (03, apex member) ...in his audition he looked like a member of my token bg POW lol. he has a lot of potential i just need to see more

service (03) i saw some star potential in his audition, we'll see

[naruto-ol-protags]

(forum anon) The screenshots you put are super low quality so I ended up tracking down and using the original press release videos, but this doesn't let me add links or images, would it be easier for you if I de-anon and then used the submit function?

re: mobile preservation, yes, no problem! There's a current food event rerun, wind main likes 莲蓉月饼（lotus paste moon cakes) and 西瓜（watermelon), dislikes 烤鱼（spicy grilled/oven fish dish), water main likes 冰皮月饼（cold mochi-skin moon cakes）and 葡萄（grapes), dislikes 莲蓉（lotus paste). I have put screenshot in the gdrive.

re: reposters, imo if you can't beat them join them XD, if it is crediting issue, it is not much work to make deviantart account too and post to group, or just include in your own post caption "render made by me, originally posted here: ". But of course it would be best if they can link back to sources.

On glass half full look at things, some part of me thinks it's not too bad a thing, because it wasn't for reposting, a lot of old content we are looking at now wouldn't exist (like the press release videos - original tencent page was gone, news articles with video and the reposts of news articles gone, conference live/archive videos were made private - the only trace was someone personal reupload). Maybe in five, ten years someone else will be looking for these guys too *staying optimistic*

re: plushies, new clothing posts, they look awesome!! It's making me wanna draw these guys all over again, seeing your hard work making these references :DDD

Hi, please use the submissions option! I'd really appreciate any extra materials you could get. And PLEASE leave a link to the original press release video🙏 I'm so excited about what you could find since it's been not much of a successful hunt on my end, haha.

Thank you for confirming the food items translations! I'm also documenting Azure's and Breeze's responses to the likes/neutrals/dislikes in this edition so I've been wondering if you've ever seen the fruits being available for cooking? But yeah, otherwise all text lines should be completed. Speaking of which, do you have any of the missing lines from the summer cooking event? I've been trying for 2 years now but the rng has not been on my side. BUT! Either way I'm very grateful for your support and would love to credit you properly.

When it comes to the reposters - it's simply about the politeness, you know? I'm not mad that the images are shared, I'm just frustrated bc the way it happened doesn't even share the better parts of the archive, and I say this as someone with DA who just doesn't think it's worth the headache without the tagging system like on here.

And I agree about the reposts contributing in the long run to content preservation, you wouldn't catch me complaining about the things you've mentioned. I personally regret being too young back in the early 2010s to do the archiving work, it's just that crediting doesn't take that much work. Plus, it still feels weird when the archive is up and running (and if you knew me from other socials you'd know that I have backups of backups bc I'm paranoid like that).

This is all to say, thank you for your time and involvement. Your drive folder has helped me a lot with tracking down content back in the day. And I'm really happy that you're getting sth positive out of this page and the fanarts! If you ever decide to draw the mains again please let me know - I'll make sure to boost it and show to anyone who'd be remotely interested >:D

[musicinfooy]

Under the current “pro rata” model held true in Spotify and Apple, money from your dedicated fans goes into a giant pool that’s paid out to artists based on their share of total streams. This mostly benefits mega stars.

Spotify figures out how many streams came from a given country and then calculates the portion of those streams that went to specific artists. This causes smaller artists who might not have such a massive reach, but have a dedicated loyal audience, not getting much money because they share a smaller portion of the overall streams.

Effectively, if The Weeknd or Harry Styles gets 5% of all streams on Spotify in any given period they and their labels will get 10% of your monthly subscription fee, even if you never listened to any of their songs.

Rolling Stone reported in 2020, that the top 1 percent of streaming artists end up getting 90 percent of the revenue.

If you were to take the more than 1.6 million artists who released music to streaming services in the past year and a half and ranked them by their total streams, you’d find that the top 16,000 of those artists pulled in 90 percent of the streams. And it doesn’t take more than a basic grasp of math to realize that this leaves 1.6 million artists with just 10 percent of the streams.

FYI the current number of artists on Spotify has now grown to about 9 million, this means more share less.

This “pro rata” model typically benefits the major labels and the most popular artists. When you listen to music on the streaming services what do you hear on these platform generated playlists, radio stations and suggestions: More of the same top artists represented by the biggest labels. This has changed very little if at all over the last 3 years.

Obviously this is not acceptable. Not only from the view of the music creator, independent label and self-publisher but also from the fan’s’ point of view. It too sucks knowing that these superstars are taking money away from your choice artists.

Yet, I cannot feel too bad about using streaming services. The subscription fee is for using the service. No longer do I need to carry around all my CDs or be limited to the storage capacity in my device. And new releases are automatically available. But there must be a better way to focus user and fan activity and payments in a more meaningful way.

Lets see how the biggest record labels will get their fingers into the new payment models. We’ll take a look at the most recent deal with Universal and Deezer, as well as the first change in the “pro rata” model founded by Soundcloud and Warner.

Micropayments and Tips: A Better Way to Pay Your Artists

If only there was a way for a fan to pay directly to the artist. Wait, hold up there is. Though Netease and Tencent in China use the “pro rata” model, they calculate the accumulated streams of a given artist and pay out according to the type of user: free, subscribing, or VIP. So the pay per stream varies from user to user. Already there is a distinction between users. But even, is the possibility for the listeners and fans to give gifts directly to their artists.

Yet another advance in China that the western services are lacking and struggling to “catch up to”, if that is even a tangible consideration for the streaming services to implement?

Micropayments and digital tips are common in China. There are apps that allow people to tip or give monetary gifts. However, many platforms have this function built into their system as they do in the music platforms in China like QQ and Netease as well as Douyin and others. And you can always use a 3rd party app to send a gift to the ones you choose. How awesome would it be to go to Spotify or Deezer or Apple and leave your thoughts and show your love as comments to your artist as you listen to their music, as they do on Netease and QQ. And also showing your support by giving them a tip or virtual gift.

Moving Beyond Pro Rata

Universal has struck a deal with Deezer or is it vice versa? Deezer CEO Jeronimo Folgueira says that the deal is the “most ambitious change” to the economies of music streaming since it first started.

Focusing on artists who have a minimum of 1,000 streams per month with a minimum of 500 unique listeners will get a “double boost.” Is that 2x per stream?

They will get another “double boost” if the song was actively searched for by the user rather than suggested by the system or on a playlist. Is that 4x times per stream?

This Artist Centric streaming model is definitely a move forward. It seems though that the ones it benefits the most are the artists who are already taking the majority of the royalties. So any artist who has more than 1000 monthly streams and 500 different listeners will now be taking double of what they are already taking. Where is this coming from?

Denis Ladegaillerie of Believe, expressed his concerns that this 1000 streams/500 listener threshold will increase over time. Essentially squeezing out any upcoming artist with fewer than the threshold.

Jeronimo Folgueira of Deezer has addressed a very sore point in the streaming world, “There is no other industry where all content is valued the same, and it should be obvious to everyone that the sound of rain or a washing machine is not as valuable as a song from your favorite artist streamed in HiFi.”

Deezer is planning to replace non-artist noise content with its own content as functional music which won’t be included in the royalty pool. And of course tackling fraud by driving a better new and improved fraud detection system, making it less attractive to fraudsters and protecting the royalties.

So at least we can count on 2 things: Artists will receive a smaller payout if their songs play as part of an algorithmic playlist and will not need to compete with background noise tracks. Please remember this is only on Deezer. And how about all artists that are not part of Universal Music Group do they share pro rata of whatever is left over?

As of now Spotify is not on board, “We are willing to make the switch to a user-centric model if that’s what artists, songwriters, and rights holders want to do. However, Spotify cannot make this decision on its own; it requires broad industry alignment to implement this change. The research we’ve seen to date suggests that a shift to user-centric payments would not benefit artists as much as many may have originally hoped.”

Another possibility implemented by Tidal is their Direct-to-Artists payment model established in 2022. As a listener and subscriber your monthly fee will be allotted to a pool of royalties based on your subscription tier. As a premium HiFi plus subscriber it is estimated that 10% of your fee will go directly to your artists you listen to.

At the forefront we have Soundcloud and their Fan-powered royalty model since 2021. This is only available to independent artists who monetize directly with SoundCloud. The more time your dedicated fans listen to your music, the more you get paid. So a user paying $10 a month only listens to five artists, those five artists will get a split of that $10, after SoundCloud takes its cut, no matter how many times the user listens to each of them.

This model that seems to benefit independent artists is a collaboration with Warner Music Group, having cut a licensing deal with SoundCloud to adopt the streamer’s Fan-Powered Royalties system. WMG is the first major label to adopt the system, and its embrace of the model could signal a larger shift for the industry. Warner and independent artists are like oil and water, could there still be a light at the end of the tunnel for independent artists?

Conclusion

The structure of payments between streaming services and labels or independent artists are in need of change.

There is an inability to distinguish premium content, any stream over 30 seconds in length counts the same. This means that the music that has a higher value is not recognized.

An alternative is a more flexible artist-centric model that seeks to distribute payouts based on the value an artist creates and provides for the platform.

Fan-powered royalties means a subscriber’s subscription fee or advertising revenue will be shared among the artists they actually listen to, rather than going to a big pot and being split up among the platform’s most popular artists.

Streaming platforms have more pricing power than they have demonstrated in prior years as several major music streaming platforms have increased their prices on their standard services; however, the average revenue per user on paid streaming music services has fallen by 40% since 2016.

Apple Music and Spotify have essentially lowered the value of their catalogues by introducing family plans and smaller prices for bundled users, but maybe they are preparing for the next generation of users.

Musicinfo Newsletter Signup

[shijiujun]

i feel kinda bad for shl cos all the fans of hyx and spl are blaming shl since their dramas are being delayed :(

LMAO I really don’t get that altho i can see that the timing might be a little back to back, and i’m not a SHL-only stan by any measure but:

For HYX especially,

Firstly it was already having problems since the end of last year with censorship and review. This is mostly due to the reason that 2ha is a pretty big fandom and is the cult fave in the danmei industry - what this means is that there are three types of fans basically right, (1) Normal fans who love the novel + show (2) Those who fanatically love the novel in some extreme ways haha (3) Those who hate it and/or are HYX-onlys - so you get it all in a bag. 

The first type of fans is definitely the easier ones to deal with, but unfortunately in big fandoms you get a lot of (2) and (3). It’s not something that’s exclusive only to 2ha/HYX but because it’s a cult fave, and a controversial one at that, problems definitely arise.

(2) are the ones who head down to the filming scenes, take photos and footage despite crew telling ppl not to do it, not to sneak around filming sites and definitely not to leak photos or footage. They do it anyway. Yeah sure of course it’s a couple of photos every few weeks or a tiny video every few weeks but word gets out. They’re inevitably hurting the show and the fandom with their actions, because shit trends on Weibo really fast, and the censorship committee (not just for the film industry or shows) is always lurking on the site to catch any sign of you know, hate speech for the country etc. and more. Not related, but the point is that social media is watched very closely. It’s not a myth or an exaggeration, you really just got to be careful, and HYX is a show that, despite not having been broadcasted, has consistently trended on Weibo over the last few months. Not always because of leaks, but yeah, HYX is in everyone’s faces. Fans themselves put a fucking huge spotlight on the show BEFORE we even have any content at all, and of course this isn’t enough to like create huge trouble for the show but then we have-

(3), which I believe creates the most trouble - the thing is 2ha and meatbun who wrote the book, has a long line of haters and antis, way before HYX came into the picture. I shall not go into details of how I’ve seen some big accounts on Tumblr here spit vitriol at the book without even reading it just based on the content/trigger warnings and playing the morality card (and I think most ppl who’ve followed me for a while know just what I think about that). Like this was way before any footage or leaks or even HYX being a thing came about - as a cult fave it has its share of haters, and this share is a huge. There are those who get off on their moral high grounds XD and I think especially these ones are the most troublesome, all they have to do is report that HYX is immoral, bad for culture etc. etc. hahaha and yeah the censorship team is always ready to step in on reports, especially on BL stuff.

And of course the larger part is the change in censorship processes - honestly even way before SHL came out in end Feb, HYX was no closer to getting passed by the review committee than it is now. Maybe yes, SHL scenes may be now used as reference for comparison but seriously? People are deluding themselves if they thought pre-SHL HYX was going through the review process smoothly and only hit roadblocks after. I mean, we’ve all seen the leaks, some of them are truly like god-tier scenes that may be hard to explain away. It’s not like they can repackage the script especially because they have to submit everything to the review committee.

I mentioned this in a post yesterday but how SHL passed reviews is due to the fact that they didn’t have to submit a full script. They only had to submit a partial script, and that makes a world of difference. Basically a team, under these requirements, can repackage the script to include the more het looking parts even I feel, and of course some heavy misdirection by the team, it could work. Now that you have to put an entire script up for scrutiny.. I mean, it’s hard. This is just a game of probability.

And the last reason I think is still Tencent. Honestly, I’ve never seen a huge ass MNC like this handle a show this terribly.

1. No control over leaks - This is honestly the dumbest shit to do

2. Terrible crisis management response time - When fans leak footage, it’s standard and practical business sense to control it IMMEDIATELY. They shouldn’t just leave it up to the crew to put up notices and as the company that owns the rights to the show, it’s up to them to possibly threaten legal action as well. Basically a sterner stance would have helped a lot, but Tencent is a motherfucker of a company who only cares about free marketing and publicity without any considerations over impact to the show itself 

3. Terrible at communicating with fans - Seriously, I’ve never seen a company or team that’s been this bad at confirming delays etc. and providing updates about a show. I understand that it’s mostly due to them not wanting to affect the review process or create more chaos within the fandom but lmao Tencent allowed the hype to build so much and then goes absolutely silent at crazy rumours. I mean we had to find out about a delay from Cai Bao, their cat mascot, like??? In a really veiled and poetic message that didn’t outright say the word ‘delay’ like damn these ppl have a lot of time

As for SPL,

Lol we don’t know anything about this show. We don’t know if they took out or left in the Yifu part that would supposedly make it less gay or whatever, we don’t know anything about how gay it should have been or could have, so this one might be a tad more ridiculous. I mean none of us have seen any good leaks, and we haven’t seen any of the script, we got ZERO idea about this. Maybe they really went hard on the bromance, how would any of us know hahaha so all the more it’s like people have zero basis to go on, to say that it’s because of SHL. Seriously, everyone’s shooting in the dark.

Technically if laws didn’t change last Feb, I think SPL/WIK should have been passed in the same way as SHL did, but it’s just inopportune time for them.

===

- So tl:dr HYX already had tons of problems, that I doubt were going to go away just because SHL didn’t air, honestly. For SPL, it’s really hard to tell what failed the review, because none of us know what’s going on in the script.

No one cared about SHL, even I only realized the show was airing on the day itself and then made a rec post after I watched the first 4 eps. And if it truly was anything to do with SHL, I’m telling you that the first thing the censorship committee will do is basically shut SHL down, get Youku to take it off sites etc. until it’s reviewed again etc. etc. That hasn’t happened yet, at least not before HYX and SPL were stalled.

===

ALSO!! Don’t have to feel sorry for SHl fans hahaha I’m telling ya a lot of us definitely weren’t OG SHL or TYK fans, seriously! All the bigger accounts I see on Twitter are a combination of CQL/SHL or MXTX/SHL, SPL/SHL and I am personally 2HA/HYX/SHL. The fight is all out on Twitter HAHAHAHA but it’s not that bad, we’ve all got practice. Seriously WHO ACTUALLY is an SHL only stan I’ve honestly not seen much?! HAHAHA the point is we’re all yelling on behalf of SHL as a cross fandom fan, easier for us to do so as well. We’re talking about 2ha/HYX/SPL/Priest dedicated accounts that delved deep into SHL championing for no-nonsense in the space hahaha

[theji]

28 Days BJYX Challenge

Day 10: Favourite BJYX Moment (outside CQL)

Without a doubt, this will forever be etched in my mind. The legendary 'smile that felled cities'.

I love any moment that GGDD are together. All the interviews, the bts etc. But my absolute favourite are the softer, more candid moments, moments that show them looking out for each other, because those really highlight their relationship dynamics. Moments like DD reminding GG to watch his step, GG clearing DD's seat so he wouldn't sit on random objects, DD alerting GG that his shoelaces have come loose, etc.

There was also a fleeting moment during the Tencent office livestream that stood out to me when I first watched it. GGDD were walking down a corridor. For context, earlier during the livestream with Zheng Fanxing, DD exclaimed aloud "You are mental" and GG made a shocked face. DD apologised immediately and covered his mouth. Personally for me I didn't think it was rude but perhaps in the culture over there, it's still considered not very good to allude to someone being (mentally) ill, especially not to colleagues or in front of the camera, hence GG's shocked expression.

DD: (softly) 大佬 (which translates to Boss/Big Guy)

GG leaning over: Mmm (in the most gentle tone, so naturally, as though that was what DD usually calls him in private) (CPN CPN)

DD: I said something wrong earlier.

GG: What did you say?

DD: ''You are mental''

GG: Aiyah that's not too bad...at least it's not that other one.

You can view the clip here. I find it endearing to see how much DD values his GG's opinions, and that GG tries his best to reassure DD. This little private exchange shows the mutual trust and respect they have for each other, the support they offer to each other, which goes beyond that of regular colleagues.

Another moment that I really love was during the Sina interview. As usual, they were complimenting each other.

GG: "Wang lao-shi is so mature and steady, even though he's a '97 little kid but he's able to pull off such a [couldn't catch what he said].....role. And then he's also athletic, knows skateboarding and skiing. What else do you know?

DD: Nothing else.

GG: He's good at dancing and rides the motorcycle very well. Perfect! The role model of the contemporary young men.

DD: 瞎胡吹 (something like exaggerating baselessly)

Throughout the exchange you can see DD obviously feeling pleased but embarrassed. He even had his head tilted down at one point. When he said 瞎胡吹, it was in such a gentle, soft tone. So very different from his usual reaction. This is Wang Yibo, who eats compliments for breakfast. Why is he suddenly so shy? I see pink bubbles all over the screen. Do you? 🥰

Challenge Master List

[betweentheracks]

We*bo Night Style Review

The following is my insight and perception as a professional stylist and is subjective to my position and role. 

Long post is long. 

Starting from the first I saw, I will address Yibo's blue Chanel number. This look pulls directly from Chanel's Spring 2021 Ready-to-Wear line. It is paired with Jimmy Choo Mocca loafers and a beret which has a badge on it bearing "my own private planet" on it. This is a cute accessory for the The Little Prince homage alone. I won’t go into how fitting it is for Yibo to pull from this beloved book as it would make this post needlessly gushy and too long, just know that I have had loud feelings about it all day. 

Honestly, I was underwhelmed upon first impression when I saw this fit. Setting aside my own personal dislike of Chanel, the overall feel of this look didn't catch nor meet what I would have expected to see. It held a cute air of youth to it and played upon the boyish charm Yibo simply cannot be rid of thanks to his facial structure and features. It is jarring for me to write about Chanel in conjunction to "youthful, boyish charms" as Chanel caters near exclusively to women with deep pockets that enjoy looking as if they corner the ideal of being a Stepford Wife, no matter the age. 

However, Yibo has always successfully turned Chanel's overt "Emily Gilmore" aesthetic on its head and has singlehandedly returned Chanel to being in the ranks of fashion which are aimed at younger to middle range adults. Tonight is no exception to this as he did look wonderful. The accessories and the shirt are all also Chanel and initially debuted in as an ensemble when this Spring 2021 Ready-to-Wear line was trotted out at the end of last year. In my opinion as a professional and critical eye, Yibo wore this look better than the original model. The way his hair stylist did his hair with micro extensions and false locks to give him that additional length and furthering the ideal of youthful leisure really made this style snap off. 

Some notes on the pieces in play: 

This is not the first time Yibo has worn this specific collection of Chanel’s. His styles from Tencent Star Awards were also from this range. 

This collection was inspired by actresses of the vintage screen. Virginie Viard has commented that she wanted to capture the duality of modern actress lifestyles - high production value and quality of the red carpet service styles, to the staged nuance of being off screen and therefore off duty while waiting in line for coffee - framed by classic lines of the bygone Hollywood era. Yibo specifically seems drawn to the separates-based mix of the set, which were all styled from the draw of the 1980s - hence the shoulder pads and candy colors of pink and now blue. I feel it is worth mentioning that when this line debuted the runway many comments flew about how the collection felt very reminiscent of looking at Regina George inspired couture. Mean Girls, but make it Wang Yibo. 

The mini purse around his waist is actually a necklace, not a belt. 

He is wearing the Coco Crush ring. This item is peak comfort item material as he seems incredibly keen on wearing it whenever possible and is unabashed to have it called to attention. There is a story behind this ring, of this my professional chimes are ringing loudly in certainty. 

My impression of this style changed drastically the more I looked at it and marveled at the almost pale vulnerability the look managed to pluck upon. The color is flattering despite it being candy-bright and almost too pigmented to think of as a functional red carpet choice. Also, I strongly suspect the play here was to highlight the duality of Yibo himself since the style he served up immediately after this completely overwhelms the fawning spring of this style. 

Wang Yibo 2.0

This second look features Fendi, Patek Philippe, and Louboutin. The blazer is a Fendi black wool piece and the shirt, also Fendi, is from their lovely Spring/Summer 2021 collection. The watch is Patek Philippe and further showcases Yibo’s taste for expensive and bold watches and it’s actually incredibly admirable for him to use watches as an accessory which seals the deal on an ensemble. There aren’t many that can pull this off due to how often watches remain hidden by the cuffs and sleeves of jackets and shirts and therefore go unnoticed or are seen as bulky obstructions and are being slowly and steadily phased out from being considered staples of style. Of course the shoes are Louboutin, which is just a nice choice no matter what. Solid footwear; sleek and stylish no matter what. 

If I was initially underwhelmed by the previous fashion choice then this look did more than simply overwhelm me; it devastated me and left me gaping. The! Hair! The black on black silhouette! The way he flawlessly transitioned from being youthfully boyish and bursting with charm to a domineering presence of matured angles and sharp zeal!! Wang Yibo with an undercut and draped in matte black Fendi is enough to score through my bingo card of styles I was unprepared for and yet thankfully blessed by. 

Some notes on the pieces in play:

While the Fendi blazer isn’t altogether spectacular and one of their more run of the mill items, the shirt beneath and the collection it was pulled from are interesting. The Spring/Summer 2021 Fendi line caters to the celebration of love and the surreal intensity of what a domestic experience quarantine and lockdown was like. The menswear was notably designed as “boardroom to boudoir” meaning that the concept was embellished loose linens which could be tucked into a business or formal setting only to later be tugged free and worn sweetly casual, bordering intimate. 

This is the shirt in it’s full glory. It isn’t something you would expect to be expertly tucked into the slim lines of Yibo’s stature and one can imagine how it must appear when it left to fall loose around his lean frame. It is a bed shirt in essence and was utilized in such a way that it looks like an entirely new garment on him.  

And now we move along to Xiao Zhan and his timeless and classic style.

A man of brand/designer solidarity, he is decked from head to toe in Gucci. I won a bet on this as I wagered he would absolutely be in his chosen favorite. The brooch is another staple in his fashion repertoire and is a Tiffany & Co. item. 

He appears very timeless in these classic and clean lines. This is a straight fit wool suit which Gucci favors in tailoring to accentuate slim and tall builds and as such drapes over Zhan’s body as if it were an extension of his body itself. The fit is that perfect. He strikes me as looking very refined and noble in this suit; mature and aloof. 

Some notes on the pieces in play:

Gucci has a reputation for constantly improving the way they tailor suits and as such this “relaxed straight fit” is exclusive to their label. Any other fashion house has slim fits, which are the original frame for this style, but entirely different in how Gucci has renovated the way it all fits and hangs. They alter jackets to be comfortably loose along the back of the neck while remaining pleasantly tucked to accentuate the lines of the shoulders, arms, and chest. The pants are brought in at the waist to make slim appear sleek, and the fall straight through the legs to provide the air of being relaxed. 

The brooch he is wearing, “Four Leaves” by Jean Schlumberger via Tiffany & Co, is an antique item as Schlumberger was alive from 1907 to 1987. Schlumberger is only one of four designers ever given allowance to sign their work to Tiffany & Co. He created the collection the “Four Leaves” brooch hails from at behest of a friend and fellow admirer of nature’s glory, Rachel “Bunny” Mellon. The irony of Xiao Zhan, resident rabbit,  wearing a piece created on the request of someone called Bunny is not lost to me and hopefully not any of you now that I’ve made mention of it. 

The gemstone in the brooch is blue-green tourmaline. Tourmaline has many different correspondences depending on the color at hand. Blue-green rouses luck and success and is often used to manifest goals, notably of a creative nature. It is also a crystal of peace and encourages the release of past hurts by bringing them to the surface to be healed via honest and heartfelt communication. Tourmaline can evolve as it is worn and will adhere to the wearer’s conviction, rousing the idea of living a life of integrity and accountability; inviting the wearer to accept any perceived flaws and weaknesses with easy tolerance. I am making this mention because every bit of this seems so incredibly in line with where Xiao Zhan is in life and in his career, especially in light of what he so graciously said on we*bo yesterday as we made it to a year since hell came for him. I am always very moved by this man. 

Here is the brooch just so you can have a proper look:

And that’s a wrap on We*bo Night’s lookbook! 

This is a bit of a messy post and I do apologize for that, but nevertheless I hope it was enjoyable and gave you some new insights on the way fashion fits together at every turn. 

[bigg-city-riders-au]

Do you possibly have any headcannons / scenarios on Sunshine or Tencents having a human crush that works down at the docks but is kinda hesitant with going around the tugs after the curse?

Sure! Why not do both?

Ten Cents:

He just kinda developed a crush on you as you spent time together. Whether it be you loading up the barges, or just chatting in general, he has grown to have a rather strong liking for you. When the curse was first cast, and he had been changed, it really broke his heart when he saw you so afraid of him.

He made sure to put some extra effort into keeping himself under control, not wanting the curse to take over and make him snatch you up and devour you, but even then you were likely really hesitant to get anywhere near him, which really hurt him more than the transformation itself.

Once the curse was “fixed”, he felt confident to try and look for you. However, he was really disheartened when you didn’t come anywhere near him. However, he knew that it would likely take a lot of coaxing to get you to trust him again, or even get near him.

He would at first try to talk to you, but you would likely keep your distance still, even when he invites you to climb aboard, which you understandably turned down. He would try different means of coaxing you closer.

He learned that humans like his purr, so he has started to purr whenever he sees you as a means to tell you he’s harmless, and happy to see you. This seems to help calm your nerves. The deep purring is relaxing to listen to.

He then started chirping, and chuffing when he saw you, calling for you, and greeting you. This may actually help to lower your guard because when he does any of those, he looks absolutely adorable, and who wouldn’t want to approach him and give him scricthes?

Over time, he notices you getting closer, this encourages him to keep doing what he’s doing until you’re brave enough to get very close to him. He can easily reach out to you, but he doesn’t want to risk scaring you, so he simply talks to you. He doesn’t confess his crush on you right away. He believes it would be pretty awkward and more likely he would be rejected if he said it so soon.

As you talk with him, you get to know even more about him, and he’s even more sweet and gentle with you than other humans, which did catch your attention. You eventually ask him, and he confesses his crush on you to you.

It’s a bit of a surprise, considering you're a human, and he’s a tug, but the more you think about it, he has always been rather sweet on you, and you should have known this earlier. However, he is adorable, and rather protective of you.

He growls at any Zed-Stack that looks at you, or any tug that looks at you in general. The deep sound probably took you off guard with it coming from a switcher. You definitely can’t say you’re not protected in the port.

As you get to know him more, you start to fall for him too, but aren’t sure how to say it. Ten Cents would likely sense something is wrong, and pull you aside before asking if you’re okay.

You may take up the chance to confess your crush to him. Ten Cents is absolutely delighted, but keeps his excitement on the down low because he doesn’t want to startle or hurt you on accident.

He loves for you to just be there, just relaxing with him. Sometimes he’ll take you to the outskirts of the port so you can see the stars in the night sky with him. Over all, he’s a happy soft boi.

Sunshine:

This adorable little switcher has developed a crush on you, but the curse is simply getting in the way, making you reluctant to approach him, which is hard for him. He wants to talk to you, but he’s afraid he may frighten or hurt you by accident. However, he eventually tries to give you gifts, mostly shiny things he has found. If this doesn’t say he loves you, I don’t know what will.

He will be sure to chat with you when he can, keeping his fangs hidden of course. He knows the curse can make him seem scary, so he takes it slow.

Over time as he gains your trust, he encourages you to get closer, which sometimes works. Other times it doesn’t, but he’s okay with it. He understands he can be intimidating with the curse.

He is always concerned with your well-being. If he senses something is wrong, he will always be happy to be there to listen to you if you need it. He encourages you to take care of yourself, and to take breaks.

As he gains your trust, he kind of hints at his crush, giving gifts to you and no one else, chirping at you, and purring the moment he sees you. When you figure it out, you think it’s adorable.

Eventually, you get the courage to climb aboard and Sunshine is absolutely delighted, immediately snuggling you, and purring away. You find this to be absolutely adorable.

He finally confesses his crush, and is embarrassed when you tell him you already figured that. He looks even more adorable than before.

When you have the day off, Sunshine sometimes takes you to the river where you and him can have some time alone, which is nice considering how quiet and peaceful it normally is.

He is an absolute snuggle bug. If he’s not talking with you, he’s snuggling you, that’s it.

The more time you spend together the more you realize how much he really cares about you. It’s truly touching to have someone keeping an eye out for you, and making sure you’re okay.

He always makes sure to be as gentle as possible with you. He is very adamant at making sure you’re safe and sound when you’re with him.

He is warm as can be, and he knows it. He will make sure to keep you warm. The moment he sees you shiver or if he sees any other signs that you’re cold, he will ever so gently hold you close to keep you warm.

He’s just a big cuddle bug… with fangs.

[sirmedicknight]

Hello! I wanted to ask if you have any Isaac/Isaak headcanons (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)

I do! I wrote some (here || here || and here) but i can add more.

-Manga Issac is colored with pale hair and skin, so I assume he is Albano. So I imagine that he has health issues.

-Also I think that he probably asked to be knighted alone with only Julian as witnesses. I think it's the guilt of switching but also I think he tried to catch Kanon by surprise.

-Also I think he and Kasa were scheming to take out Kanon too. Cause I think Kasa would confirm his suspicion since he can read hearts and all that.

-I quite explain why, but Sorrento spoilers Isaac much more than Julian. Idk I think him finding out he's an orphan made Sorrento pity him. Then it became genuine care and love. So when Isaac dies he gets the idea to play at benefits.

-This one just stems from them being a good comp in Awakening/ Tencent but Isaac is good friends with Alone in the underworld. Also that friendship is how he keeps coming back to life whenever the plot needs-, I mean whenever Hyoga needs him.

-He also at the end of the day does dumb stuff with Hyoga like air fights and other sibling things.

-His hands are already rough and Calais from his training. Sometimes Camus catching himself staring.

-uhhhh He also likes punk rock or at least if he heard it. 🤔

[delicioussshame]

Look, I want to say this isn’t an AU where LBH is Lestat and SY is Louis, but... this is totally an AU where LBH is Lestat and SY is Louis, sans vampires. I just hadn’t realised this is what I was channelling when I started this forever ago.

“Shizun… It’s Shizun, isn’t it?”

Shen Yuan turns towards Luo Binghe, for who else could it be? “Yes.”

Luo Binghe, is, obviously, still as devastatingly handsome as he ever was. He didn’t lose anything by switching from the traditional style to more modern fashion. Maybe, Shen Yuan despairs, he even gained from it. Those jeans are literally stopping traffic.

He might miss his long locks though. Short hair suits him, but it wouldn’t feel the same under his fingers.

Shen Yuan shakes himself back to reality. The feeling of Luo Binghe’s hair under doesn’t have anything to do with him anymore.  “Binghe seems like he did well for himself.” He has no doubt on the matter. Managing their wealth through time was a challenge, but nothing an array of trusts, shell corporations, insider knowledge and skilled lawyers couldn’t arrange. Shen Yuan has been living lavishly for decades. He’s sure Binghe did the same.

“So does Shizun.”

The appellation brings a smile to his lips. It’s so ridiculous. Shen Yuan and Luo Binghe had spent centuries together. In comparison, the time Shen Yuan taught Luo Binghe was infinitesimal. The title is meaningless.

Luo Binghe used to say that Shen Yuan taught him something new every day. That they could spend eternity together and he’d never learn enough from him.

That was long ago now.

“This must be similar to the era Shizun came from, isn’t it?”

“Pretty much.” It’s not quite the same. Some events went differently, some didn’t, but daily life is almost indistinguishable

Investing in Tencent still proved profitable though.

Luo Binghe is wavering, obviously wondering if he’ll dare to say whatever he’s thinking of saying.  

It’s probably not a good idea. “Well, it was nice seeing you. I’m sure you have things to do.” Shen Yuan departs.

Or tries to. He’s hindered by Luo Binghe’s grasp on his arm.

“Binghe. Let go.”

Shen Yuan almost stumbles from the shock of seeing Luo Binghe’s eyes swell with tears for the first time in forever. His heart squeezes like Binghe was still his young and eager husband, crumbling under the slightest disapproval. Without his consent, his hand reaches up and wipes those tears away gently, the gesture so familiar it hurt.

“A-Yuan, please, don’t go! Give this disciple a day, no, an evening to catch up! I will take him to the best restaurant, pay for the grandest hotel, whatever he wants, as long as he spares me a fraction of his time.”

Shen Yuan knows better. He can’t falter here. He can’t let Luo Binghe charm him into a nice dinner where alcohol flows until, both of them tipsy, they fall into bed again and Shen Yuan finds himself spending another decade in Luo Binghe’s embrace. Not when his ex-husband’s character obviously still hasn’t changed. “When was the last time this charade worked? You’re just proving why we should stay apart.” The waterworks were cute when they were a hundred. Now, it just reminds him how little Luo Binghe minds being openly manipulative when it suits him.

The tears stop flowing almost as soon as Shen Yuan speaks. “Shizun is so cruel, calling out his husband after so many years spent apart.”

“Then maybe we should remain apart.”

“But I missed Shizun so much! Can he honestly say he didn’t miss me?”

He cannot. Of course there were days where he felt like half of his soul was missing.

There were also days where his freedom made him soar. “Almost as much as I relished being separated from him.”

Shen Yuan thinks the hurt on Luo Binghe’s face is real.

If you were to ask Shen Yuan, he would tell you that in this moment, Luo Binghe probably sincerely thinks he loves Shen Yuan still. If Shen Yuan welcomed his advances, he would probably continue to think so for, oh, at least a few decades. But then the novelty of having him again would fade. Flaws that were once charming would become irritants. His eyes would start wandering until he found a pretty new mortal to keep him occupied for a while. Maybe he’d try to teach this one cultivation, hoping this time, it would stick. Not that it ever did before.

Either way, he would try to convince Shen Yuan that said mortal was a mayfly he shouldn’t bother himself with, and that his jealousy was unbecoming.

Shen Yuan would end up leaving to nurse his broken heart for the nth time.

He’s not going through this again. Luo Binghe had his chances.

They were good enough for each other to last a few centuries. That’s better than most. Shen Yuan and Yue Qingyuan lasted barely three decades before their mutual bitterness killed anything that might have existed between them. No matter how much Yue Qingyuan wished, Shen Yuan couldn’t be Shen Jiu for him, and Shen Yuan had only so much patience for requests to be someone else.

Shen Yuan and Liu Qingge, that might have lasted longer, if Qingge hadn’t died. Shen Yuan had expected it to happen sooner or later. The former peak lord of Bai Zhan wasn’t made for immortality. He needed to be challenged to live. He couldn’t survive in permanent status quo. He had to find the obstacle that ended up being his end.

Shen Yuan hopes his next lives were more to his liking.

Not that it is relevant right now. “Binghe, our time has passed. Return to the place you call home and forget me.”

“I could never forget Shizun.”

Shen Yuan could never forget Luo Binghe either. “I know. This would be so much easier if we could, wouldn’t it?”

The look that crosses Luo Binghe’s face, a mix of melancholy, longing and pain, is probably something reserved for people like them, for whom the passage of time is different.

What would it be like, if they were meeting for the first time, without all the baggage weighing them down? What if Shen Yuan was still a normal human, and Luo Binghe, the dashing immortal bent on seducing him?

He’d probably fall in seconds. He would have no shield against Luo Binghe’s… everything.

He hasn’t been that Shen Yuan in eons. He can barely remember what it was like to be this innocent.

What he was like before Luo Binghe.

Maybe if he lives long enough, he’ll rediscover what it is like, to be Shen Yuan without Luo Binghe.

For that, he has to leave alone. “Goodbye, Binghe. Whatever you’re doing, I hope you’re enjoying it.” He turns to leave.

“You’re really going?”

The heartbroken, begging quality of his voice almost stops him.

It doesn’t. “Yes, I am.”

The faintest brush of his hand on his. “If Shizun is this certain, then who am I to stop him? I can only hope that he’ll be happier alone than he would have been with me, not that I think it likely.”

“I’ll try my best.”

Shen Yuan leaves.

[takeoffphilippines]

Upcoming BL Series 2022: What you need to Watch Out for?

I would say one of the good things when we are forced to stay at home during this Pandemic was we’re able to catch-up on our favorite movies and series more often from drama, romance, horror, documentary et al. 

One genre also that bloom unintentionally during this time was the BL genre or they called it “Boys Love”, the reached of Boys Love movies and series globally paved way to popularity of Asian Boy-to-Boy relationship in drama/series.

Today, As we are nearing to end the 2021, still BL conquers the heart of our audiences. Here are some of the newest BL Series that we should look forward into:

Cutie Pie The Series

The sons of two companies were engaged to each other. One doesn't want an arranged marriage while the other wants to win him over! Meet Gilayn Wang and Kuea Keerati soon. Source: https://mydramalist.com/695279-cutie-pie

KinnPorsche The Series

Pongchaiphat Sethanand's KinnPorsche is an upcoming Thai action television BL drama series. It will premiere in Thailand on GMM One and Tencent Video's original network, as well as internationally with English subtitles.

On January 8, 2021, the first teaser for the KinnPorsche BL series was published. Initially, several sources stated that the series had been canceled, but according to a new report, it would be aired again in the future.

Synopsis of KinnPorsche

The KinnPorsche BL series recounts the narrative of Kinn Anakinn, the mafia's second son, who is assaulted by an adversary, forcing him to escape until he meets Porsche Pitchaya, a young student employed as a part-time waitress at a nightclub. The situation in the entertainment institution caught Porsche's eye, but he didn't give it any attention.

As a result, Kinn made an offer to defend him from his adversaries in exchange for a specific sum of money. Porsche, who holds the highest martial arts degree and is a national judo champion, decides to assist Kinn escape. Kinn wants to employ Porsche as his personal bodyguard because of his impressive combat skills.

Porsche was opposed to Kinn and had rejected him, but after being frightened by Kinn's adversaries, he would do everything to obtain what he desired. Porsche didn't want to be a part of this violent society because he was worried his only brother, Porche Pitchaya, would be injured. Porsche agrees to Kinn's ludicrous terms and moves in with him.

Bad Buddy The Series

Bad Buddy is a forthcoming Thai BL television series helmed by "Backaof Noppharnach Chaiwimol" that will premiere in 2021. The series will air on GMM25's own network in Thailand, as well as on the "GMMTV" YouTube channel.

Synopsis of Bad Buddy

The narrative is about two kids named Pran and Pat, whose dads have had a deep and burning rivalry since they were children, attempting to one-up each other on everything. The same treatment was given to their boys. When it came to comparing their boys' accomplishments and qualities, whether academic or extracurricular, both dads went to great lengths to outshine and gloat in front of the other. It was almost as if competition had been passed down through the generations, and the two boys had become rivals as well. Eventually... they became weary of one other and became friends, but their relationship had to be kept hidden due to their fathers' antagonism, so they embarked on a path of covert friendship and, possibly, a lovely secret romance as well.

–

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[accio-victuuri]

GG’s double standards

He may be more subtle than our aggressive lion, but his interaction/s with Web is very different from everyone else.

✹ GG is known to be very polite, to the point that even Antis know this and claim that he is fake. I don’t think I need to put videos on here to show just how polite he is. He even went on to say that this is how he was brought up. We can only see him (mostly) being a troll to Web. He hits him all the time on and off set. On interviews, he speaks his mind more and does not hide his “irritation”.

     (this is his i’m gonna kill you later face)

 ✹ He freely hugs people who are close to him when he sees them but never Web. They have “bro hugs” and the weird hand holding thing they do (hint: DDU) but never the soft hug he gives to others. Some bxg view this as him being extra careful with Web and how he touches him in public. I think the way he looks at Web is enough- he really doesn’t need to hug him in public. Video of how GG hugs others.

 ✹ GG once said that people can’t stare at his eyes for more than 3 seconds then they have to look away. He was also known to be good at staring contests. But when it comes to Web, he breaks out laughing or just looks away quickly when Web catches him. In the 160 minute interview last CQL anniversary, he also mentioned that he doesn’t know why they both end up laughing when they look at each other.



✹ In the subject of politeness, GG is know to keep a certain distance to his co stars. In the Jade Dynasty premiere, he kept an equal space between him and two female co stars ( could also be his obsession with centering things ). However with Web, there is no sense of personal space. Or if they have some space, they gravitate towards each other at some point ( see: Tencent Awards )

✹ can’t scroll and go back to GG’s weibo post because of the limitation on his account. But Web is the only co star that he posted a birthday message for on his Weibo.

✹ GG is more playful/childish when he is with Web. On the 9-minute boat video he mentioned that him and Web treat each other like same-age people do. GG is almost (always) the oldest in the group and has to act a certain way, but with Web, he can be more free and joke around. You can just see how relaxed he is when he is with Web even in public events. This is why We/bo night was so 👀 because of how different GG was with him.

✹ I can only remember one video of GG looking surprised that he took a different person’s water bottle (xnine days). In the BTS, you see them sharing his Green tea and those are the only ones caught on camera. There are accounts of them sharing food too. Web eating eggplants (which GG hates) from his plate. Sharing food does not mean they are in a romantic relationship, rather it just means they have that kind of closeness where you can eat off of the same plate. I’ll also put here the scenes in the BTS where they share each other’s cellphones. So it’s like, what’s yours is mine between them.

✹ This is similar to Web’s double standard of not holding people’s hand. with each other, there’s no problem to hold hands. even unconsciously.

For people that know GG just from his CQL era, it’s hard to appreciate how he changed and how different he is with Web. You really have to go back on his other works and see how he is. I’m sharing this translated comment below from a GG longtime fan (2015-2016). If you think that’s because of Web or not, it’s up to you. 

 For reference and credits:

9 minute boat video

GG fan translated comment 

XNINE staring game 

A good double standards video but mostly Web

Tencent Awards moments 

My favorite BJYX Fan video, come cry w/me 

[potteresque-ire]

Hello, Happy new year! Im sorry to bother but can you please explain how Wen Qing and WWX thing was a backup plan? Being around for only 4 months and I'm still trying to catch up with everything, mostly about the whole chineses censorship and politics regarding things like this.

I’m a new fan too, Anon, and my knowledge is retrospective as well! 

As far as I’ve figured out, during the filming of The Untamed, there were rumours about the script “promoting” Wen Qing from a minor character in the book to the lead female character, and pairing her up with WWX. The rumours were spread by netizens who claimed to have read the script, and they took root as the posts were often specific about where the changes were made (which gave credulity), and as book fans were already deeply suspicious about how their favourite work would be adapted, and how their favourite CP (WangXian) would be broken up to suit censorship rules. Journalistic practices in China (or, the paucity thereof) also means rumours tend to carry far more weight there than, for example, in the US. The rumours were persistent enough that unhappy book fans nicknamed the drama Wen Qing Ling (a pun of  The Untamed’s Chinese name, Chen Qing Ling), and the actress who played Wen Qing was cyber-bullied. Later on, the official Weibo of The Untamed cleared the name for the actress, but did not address whether she would be paired up with WWX. It said it would consider the wishes and concerns of the book fans. 

All would have stayed a rumour. However, a month or two ago, a BTS audio leaked in which Gg protested having to shoot bunny scenes with Wen Qing. As  bunnies are symbols of the love between WWX and LWJ, that audio added weight to the rumours that the production team might have shot an alternate / backup version that paired up WWX and WQ, in case the intended version couldn’t get through the censorship board. It’s a decision that makes sense ~ while it may seem now that adapted BL dramas (”dangai”, drama in which the queer element is changed to friendship/brotherhood) like The Untamed are hotly anticipated, it wasn’t the case then. The first adapted BL drama that achieved popularity, The Guardian (2018), had yet to air when The Untamed starting filming, so the project was considered a risk and the production team had to consider the possibility that Tencent might decide to shelf the product if it’d cause too much trouble.

(If I remember correctly, Gg’s birthday wish that year was that The Untamed would be aired, a very humble wish in retrospect!)

[candicewright]

The rumor of Tencent not allowing gg to sit at front doesn’t seem right to me. I mean, why to invite him, let him perform, give him vip award but not let him sit in the front? That would be really weird and doesn’t make any sense at all actually. I rather choose to believe gg himself decided to stay backstage, to rest and avoid unnecessary drama and dd chose to accompany him because they had a lot to catch up with. It’s just my opinion so you can choose to ignore it I just don’t like the fact that we make gg a victim of someone’s malicious behaviour all the time.. I want to see him as a young strong independent man who decides his own fate. As for dd being in “a bad mood.” I think people tend to forget his schedule is crazily packed, he must be so tired! I don’t know how about you guys but I am super annoyed when exhausted.

This could also be the case, yes!💜

[mgsapphire]

C-drama recommendation list part 1/?

I'm not sure some of you are aware, but I'm also into c-dramas, and when I did the k-drama recommendation lists, my beautiful online friend suggested we do a C-drama one together, but it grew out of control, so I'll be publishing a lot of recs sparingly through the next two weeks.

Collab with @ill-behereforever

Romantic 

My Mr.Mermaid (2017) The story of this drama was beautifully done, from beginning to end The story is about A young swimmer  who is trying to stage a comeback three years after a scandal, he meets rookie sports reporter Yun Duo, who is assigned to cover the competition but has a fear of water.They cross paths again and again, eventually falling in love with each other.Episodes 36, Available on Viki, we tv and youtube.

I hear you (2019)This one tells the story of a musical prodigy and a striving voice actress who pretend to be together on a reality show but eventually become smitten with each other. Slow burn Romance.Episodes: 24. Available on Netflix

Accidentally in love (2018) tells the story of an idol who decides to go to university and the girl he meets there. 30 episodes long, available on Netflix. 

Dating in the kitchen (2020) watch only if you are okay with the age gap. Our ML is the CEO and soon-to-be boss of our FL, who is a chef. Story takes a turn when the hardcore foodie ends up tasting our FL's dish. And the rest is history. Episodes 24. Available on Viki

Here to heart (2018) Wen Nuan is a successful career woman who meets a man from her past once again, Nan Xian, who is the owner of a successful company. 46 episodes long, available on Viki.

Romantic fantasies

My girlfriend is an alien(2019) This drama had a cute, fun, and catch-worthy storyline! Our FL is an alien from Cape Town Planet who gets lost here on Earth and meets the overbearing CEO ML who forgets women everytime it rains. U read that right it‘s an Interspecies Romance! Episodes:28, Available on WeTv and Tencent.

Love of thousand years(2020) This is one epic romance! In this an immortal deity falls for a mortal woman and he ends up following her for a thousand years and 10 different incarnations. Episodes 30, available on viki.

Legend of the white snake(2019) Another story about immortal and mortal beings. It’s Based on a legend. In this the FL is an ancient snake spirit who challenges ML to a contest of skill but  they both end up  losing their hearts to each other. Episodes 36, Available on Netflix and Viki.

Rattan (2021) The story of a reincarnated half demon and the man who helps her make sense of her life. 31 episodes long. Available on Viki and Youtube. 

And the winner is love(2020) This is a martial arts story between our FL who is banished from her home and hunted for a secret and the imposing ML who helps her survive and their journey to find love while battling evils to keep everyone safe. Episodes 48, available on Youtube.

Destiny's Love(2019) This is a short and sweet romantic drama. Our ML is the  guardian of the stars but when he loses the key to his powers he’s forced to go to the mortal realm. There he falls for a strong female general. But trying to keep her with him he loses everything. His love is lost.He is imprisoned for 3000 years. Once he is free he goes to find his love and correct the wrong but the woman he loves is no longer the same. And this is the story of their love. Two Star Crossed Lovers. Separated by fate, united by love. Episodes 36, available on viki.

Underrated Shows

Go Ahead (2020) The story of 3 siblings of a found family, and their growing pains and love life. You may want tissues for the tears and a pillow for the anger. 40 episodes long. Available on Viki and Youtube.

The Best of you in My Mind (2020) A cute university love story of a vet student and an archer who have been friends since childhood, but grew apart due to misunderstandings. 

Arsenal Military Academy (2019)  A period drama about a woman who decides to pass her brother in order to join the military academy. Growing bonds with the recruits in it. Honestly, the visual of this drama is what first drew mgsapphire in. 48 episodes long. Available on Viki.

My Love, Enlighten me (2020) A man who is capable of remembering everything unexpectedly forgets a very important detail in his life due to a fever, and ends up hurting his savior, this is the story of his quest for Redemption. Available on Viki and Youtube.