#zhao lusi is so good at this

[dramaism]

"hidden love" is soooo cute!!!! it's sweet, heartwhelming and warm. i love both leads, peak sibling energy and their slowly developing chemistry. and ML is so goooood! he's gentle, VERY caring and sweet - i'd fallen in love with him too if i were her lol. i can see that it'll be a short nice drama with slowburn romance and healthy relationships and i'm here for it!

also look at these special posters!!! can't wait for the rest of the eps to drop 🫠🫠🫠

[mejomonster]

OK so while it's totally cool if you want to see The Legend of Anle (I heard it's like Nirvana in Fire but instead of the main prince it's the girl? Also probably a bit less Complex cinema than NiF or else NiF wouldn't be so many people's favorite I'm guessing)

But I'm not a very big fan of diliraba so ill be holding off. If anyone is really impressed with her or gong juns acting though, I may check it out at some point (I guess similar to The Ballad etc show with Diliraba where i watched about 1/4)

[theapplehairgirl]

每一次心动的原因 全部都是因为你.

[i99zhuo]

Can you make a guide on Zhao Lusi ? She is a Chinese actress. She is wonyoungism coded meaning if u look at her u can feel tjay She takes great care of herself ukwhim ?? She was in hidden love

How to live like Zhao Lusi ₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚✧ ﾟ.

This is a guide on daily routines inspired by Chinese actress Zhao Lusi! Thank you for the request, I hope you enjoy it!

content list (routines):

morning

study

workout

shower + self care

night

(_ _ ) . . z Z⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚୨ :★: ୧ ∗  ˖࣪ ໒꒱  ˚₊·

✸ ꒰ morning routine ꒱⋆ ࣪.* ࣪.⋆

🐈‍⬛ Lusi’s morning starts her mornings washing her face with a foam cleanser and doing her skincare, emphasizing in using products to protect her skin from the sun as much as she cans, using a whitening cream, however you can use a moisturizer with vitamin c to help with hyperpigmentation instead! always finish your skincare with a lot of sunscreen. She also put on her contact lenses around this time.

Then get dressed and do your makeup, Lusi has a super feminine style! wearing dresses, skirts and blouses with muted colors, plus, she also does her makeup really natural that makes her look like a pretty girl next door! You can also style your hair with some waves to complete the drama protagonist style.

🪨 Lusi never, EVER skips breakfast, she even says that breakfast is the biggest meal she has in the day! so make sure to have a big, well balanced breakfast to have a lot of energy during the day.

Before getting out of her house, Lusi puts sunscreen again, especially on her neck, arms, hands and legs. 

✸ ꒰ study routine ꒱⋆ ࣪.* ࣪.⋆

🍙 Since Lusi is an actress, she must have very advanced memory skills! you can practice having a better memory, it's going to be useful especially for tests and presentations! Also, her job requires her to manage multiple skills to play different characters, you can try to play an instrument or do other artistic stuff!

After a hard working session, Lusi likes to reward herself with a delicious meal!

✸ ꒰ workout routine ꒱⋆ ࣪.* ࣪.⋆

🏐 Lusi exercises even if she's on her period, doing yoga to help with cramps and debloating.

She’s also very flexible since she practices gymnastics, but she usually just watches follow along videos of pilates or hiit and use a resistance band on her legs!

✸ ꒰ shower + self care routine ꒱⋆ ࣪.* ࣪.⋆

🗻 First, she takes her makeup off with an oil based cleanser, she takes her usual shower and puts on a lot of body lotion all over her body.

Then she washes her face with a foam cleanser and after drying it she uses a serum and cream for her skin.

💻 She does all this routine while watching variety shows on her iPad!

✸ ꒰ night routine ꒱⋆ ࣪.* ࣪.⋆

Lusi then has a lot of fun cooking dinner for herself and her loved ones! you can try new recipes to try with your friends and family, enjoy your meal!

🪮 After dinner she goes to the bathroom to do her oral health routine! She brushes her teeth, uses some whitening strips to take care of her beautiful smile and finally wears her retainers to keep her teeth in place!

And before going to sleep she uses a massager to massage her scalp, you can use your fingers, massaging our scalps helps a lot with hair growth, so you should totally try it!

Good night!

(_ _ ) . . z Z⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚୨ :★: ୧ ∗  ˖࣪ ໒꒱  ˚₊·

heyyyyy this was my first time writing about someone I didn't knew before, but it was so fun anyways, I found most of the info on xiaohongshu but I still couldn't find much, so sorry if this is too short :(

also thanks everyone bc I didn't spect my last post to blow up :o!!

anyways that's all

toodlezzzzzz!!!!

[dangermousie]

Some recently released cdrama posters that caught my eye.

Love of the Divine Tree - I shall remain from making “woody” jokes and am just gonna say that this is a ridiculously pretty poster and Deng Wei’s wig is ON POINT!

I am so excited for Blossom (which just got its license! Pls air asap before someone doesn’t pay their taxes or visits a Japanese shrine or hires hookers or whatever!) and the poster is just gorgeous. Also I adore Meng Ziyi and am excited for LYR to finally get to be a leading man.

Speaking of excited - just seeing a reminder that Zhao Lusi and Liu Yuning are reuniting in a costume drama and this time as the MAIN couple is making me so incredibly giddy! Come on The Story of Pearl Girl, air already!!!

Speaking of Liu Yuning, A Dream Within a Dream is the other drama I am so excited for - the small but delicious subgenre of authors/readers falling for the villain of the story speaks to my id! Too bad he ain’t wearing that sexy mask from the promo shots but we can’t have everything!

This poster is kinda awkward tbh but I put it here because Love of Nirvana trailer was SO good that I pathetically yearn for any crumb from it. It’s rumored for September and I so hope it’s true and I so hope it’s good!

Song Yi’s latest outing was meh but I adore her anyway and every time I see Cheng Lei finally getting to be a leading man, I get happy. Also Shadow Love is based on JLFX novel - haven’t read this one but I tend to love most of her stuff!

Feng Ying Ran Mei Xiang poster. Not a fan of WCR but she plays an assassin and I am weak for that. Plus with Guo Jingming involved you know it’s gonna be gorgeous and I have a huge soft spot for Li Hongyi.

Speaking of Li Hongyi, I know nothing about this drama but it looks pretty! Flying Up Without Disturb is an awful name though!

That is what I call a lazy poster and I am still puzzled as to why they renamed it to Long for Fish as as if it’s some sort of a seafood restaurant but I loved the novel and am ridiculously fond of Chen Feiyu so here we are.

[renewedmotionforjudgment]

Youku Trailer Review, Lightening Round

Because I did the same for Iqiyi. But it should be shorter because Youku isn't release that much new stuff. But overall, a line up that I am thoroughly looking forward to.

The Double - Wu Jinyan returning to the role she does best -- looking murderous and ready to slap everyone who wronged her. I'm gonna enjoy Wang Xinyue's character this time (full offense, Zhang Zhe). This looks great!

Kill Me Love Me - i have no idea what this drama is actually about other than Liu Xueyi saying that this is most unhinged MC he has ever played, and there's that image of him in a fur cloak on a sedan looking unhinged. Also Wu Jinyan looking ready to slap someone, part 2. COUNT ME IN!

The Princess Royal - I have probably 5 other posts dedicated to how much I am looking forward to this, so I'm not going to say more. Okay one thing -- the size difference makes me feel things NGL.

Legend of Jewelry - I will admit that Zhao Lusi dramas are hit and miss, but this looks really good! And Liu Yuning's character looks like he might ... survive? this time around? so yay!

The Eternal Fragrance - It might be the only clunker here. Listen, I'm a bit of a Song Wei Long apologist (is he a great actor? no, but he's enjoyable in the right project), and I can watch Ju Jingyi in the right drama. That said, if there are 2 actors that probably brings out the worst in each other's acting, it's these 2. I'll probably still check it out, but I do not have expectations.

[lovenonymously]

My good people of Tumblr! You know when you love something so much, you just have to share it?

Niché fandom fanfic rant incoming, you've been warned:

Writing fanfics for a smaller fandom is 100% self indulgence, but despite how small it is an it's been since the show came out, the Love Like the Galaxy fandom is pretty active on AO3!

Recently, Infinity by the talented MoodyScorpio got completed. It's a fix-it sort of fic that enhances the canon in ways I didn't think were possible despite the many hours I've dwelled over LLTG. I was surprised in the best way!! Speaking of which, they started a new fic today called Splendid Stars which I'm very excited to read!

One of my all time favourite LLTG fics is Just a Dream by the amazing raileypink. This is probably my most favourite fic on AO3. It offers themes of time-travel and chances of do-overs yet doesn't make the story a repetition of canon. Instead, the sweet moments are sweeter, the tense moments are filled with twists. Every time this fic updates, I leave everything I'm doing to go read it!

Then we have KimberlyA's reimagining of LLTG called Reverse Love Like the Galaxy. Apart from the writer being one of the biggest supporters for anyone who writes for the LLTG fandom, they've crafted quite the intriguing story! It's not just a gender-swap, the characters are more than just put into gender-defying roles that would make a mess of the time period the show is set in. No, it offers a refreshing take with a "what if?" factor where the characters keep their strengths and depict their flaws; both known and original plots entwining quite well. I'm looking forward to seeing where this fic goes!

And lastly, if you're still here, I too am writing a fic that's a crossover between Love Like the Galaxy and Who Rules the World. Cheng Shaoshang and Bai Fengxi are two characters so brilliantly played by Zhao Lusi are two of my all-time favourite female leads. When the time called for it, Shaoshang chose to put herself before the volatile nature of Huo Buyi. Her saying "He is my most beloved person in the world. But I am still me." both surprised me and changed my perspective fundamentally. It explained so easily how selfish and self-preservation are not the same.

But I needed something more. I needed her to get a chance to grow up, to know what freedom tasted like, to know what it is like to love herself before she loves others or is loved by others.

And so, The Wind of Fire was born, where Cheng Shaoshang becomes Bai Fengxi. Shaoshang is certainly younger and more faminine than Bai Fengxi, who has a regal aura about her while holding up as one of the most powerful people in the Martial Arts World. But in essence, they're the same. They're both courageous and mischievous, stubborn and steadfast, both very capable young women.

It's ongoing and updating, you can find me on AO3 as aprilrayne. Below are some edits I made for the fic!

Apart from the fics I've shared, which are all ongoing there are a hundred more fics to go through. Some with happy endings, some with characters going their own ways. Whatever your preference, there is something for everyone!

[night-rider-lily]

This is now one of my new go to dramas if i want a feel good drama. Hidden Love is such a happy feel good drama that is mature yet childish enough.

Zhao Lusi is so beautiful and Chen Zheyuan is the GREENEST GREEN FLAG in cdramas as Duan Jiaxu! SWOON WORTHY.

Also!!! VICTOR MA AND ZHAO LUSI ACTING AS SIBLINGS WAS REAL ASF-

[thestormthatrises]

#Moshang

The day An Ding stood still.

Now, everyone knows that the Lord of An Ding does not stop. If SQH isn't on his peak, making sure it's running perfectly, he's running around the other peaks of CQ trying to get his Martial siblings to do the same (or just Do their jobs), helping out his Martial nieces and nephews and generally carrying the sect on his back.

(Or he's out. Namely on missions, sure, but really he's in the demon realm keep MBJ's kingdom and LBH's empire in check too)

So it's weird, one day, for one of his Head disciples to not see his shizun up and early for morning rounds.

He waits.

And waits.

And waits.

And nothing.

Was shizun on a 'mission' and no one told him about it?

Concerned that he got his schedule wrong, Quan Peilun goes to Sqh's leisure house. Just to check.

There he finds... Shizun.

A sleeping shizun.

It's both a sad and endearing sight, to see his Shizun sleeping so peacefully surrounded by piles and piles of work.

Shizun is so diligent, so caring, so smart... No one but the disciples of AD and *him* truly See how good and virtuous and important SQH is. No one knows what he sacrifices for everybody. No one cherishes his hard work.

It's sad and frustrating but Shizun never gets actually mad about it. It's just the way things are, he says with a resigned sigh. A sigh of someone Who tried and failed so many times to change things. 'Just... Do no evil but take no shit, yeah?' Shizun colorfully says.

Shizun is so strong. His disciples can't help but be mad. Can't help but ressent. Can't the poison that seeps into their hearts with each disrespect to Them and theirs. CQ had no right to treat them as badly as they did. Had no right to mock and insult their hard working shizun as they did!

Specially when Shizun was this exhausted all the time...

Peilun sighed and made his way thru the towers of papers and maps and trinkets To wake SQH up.

"Shizun" He called out. "Shizun, forgive your disciple but it's morning" he explained, gently shaking his master. "Shizun, please wake up. Today is a busy day, like you said and--"

But SQH did not wake up.

Peilun frowned, concerned. "Shizun?"

He shook him harder. Again. Harder. Again. The young cultivator felt panic rush up his blood stream.

"Shizun?"

Asking forgiveness to all gods that praised filial piety, he struck SQH across the face.

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

"Shizun!!"

This was a crises. An absolute nightmare situation.

Never, since the war with the great demon emperor (that took away most of CQ's cultivators, leaving only inexperienced disciples under the leadership of the Qing generation), had AD been without SQH.

Even when He was kidnapped by *him* (and none of the other peak lord's tried to save SQH like they tried for SQQ's corpse), shizun had always managed to send messages, warnings and advice.

Thru thick and thin, Shizun had been there for them and now he was...

He was...

No.

They wouldn't name it.

The head disciples closed ranks. There were four of them. There needed to be four of them because shizun was a god and did, on a good day, the job of four people all it once.

So he needed four head disciples. One for AD, one for CQ, one for the Other sect, and one for espionage.

Two boys and two girls.

And yet, even with four of them, no one could keep a level head.

"Oh Shizun" cried Zhao Lusi as they huddled over his bed. "Please wake up"

"Stop crying! He's fine! He's sleeping!" Insisted Han Shuo. "They Have been running him ragged. We've been telling him again and again to take a break. His body must've given out" the boy decreed, firmly to squash his own doubts.

"We should call *him"* Chen yuanyuan said, causing horror in the other three.

"Not *him*!!!"

"are you crazy?? *He* will take shizun away again and I doubt anyone *here* will want to fight to bring him back!"

"They'll just let him to freeze over *there* or worse become --"

"And *he'll* be SO disappointed in us" Lusi cried again. "Oh shizun, shizun, what do we do?"

"we can't ask *him* for help. We just can't. It'll just make everything worse!"

"Then who?? We can't let the peak know. It'll be chaos."

"*They* won't care"

"Wait... We don't know that"

"Are you joking? They would rather see him dead in a ditch than ever help shizun"

"But maybe not them... Maybe just Mu Qingfang?"

Han Shao and Zhao Lusi nervously giggled, unsure if Peilun was being serious.

"Have we all taken stupid pills today? Remember when shizun asked for a resident medic for our peak and MAF said he couldn't spare a single person?"

"because they were 'too busy'"

"Shizun had to send a whole class outside the sect to learn how to be healers because he refused to even teach one of us basic aid" Lusi lamented. "Oh shizun..."

"Yeah but... Maybe time's have changed?" Yuanyuan tried. "They begged him to return"

"I'm writing a letter to Zhao Hua Temple. One of the monks owes Shizun a favor"

"Well, I'm going to call on Mu-shushu"

"You're going to waste breath!"

"Then it will be my breath wasted, Han Shao!" Yuanyuan exclaimed. "It's better than to do nothing!"

"I'm not doing nothing!I just don't want waste time!" He huffed. "We need tobe quick and the best... Shizun he..." He huffed. " They won't do the best. Not for him."

"...We have to try."

------------

Mu Qingfang didn't do his best. He didn't even try. He didn't come.

Of course, there were excuses. So many excuses. But no matter how much the girl pleaded, on her knees, her head stuck to the ground... The healer would not come.

'when he wakes, tell him to come to me'

Yuanyuan could barely breath at the insult. Rage. Liquid rage and hurt and disgust ran a storm thru her being.

How could he??

How could they!

It was all she could do not to scream at the Healing Lord's face.

'Dont show them you're upset.' Shizun had taught her.

'Some people live off of making others miserable. Don't feed the trolls' Shizun had such a funny way of speaking. She missed it so much.

And only because of that, she contained her bitter tears.

'Dont get upset, Yuanyuan' Shizun had also said. 'get even'

-----

Peilun crumpled the letter from Zhao Hua Temple in his hand.

They told him they would send a healer but only in a fortnight's time. Excuses were had, of course. Excuses, excuses...

It was funny. Nobody liked Shizun's excuses when he legitimately couldn't do something

They all just made him work harder and harder until they got their wishes met.

Fury. Cold and unrelenting fury took over his heart.

What were they,these good and noble cultivators? Useless, ungrateful piles of secrets and degeneracy!

None of them had been worthy of Shizun's help. Not then and never now, never in the future!

'Dont be upset Peilun' Shizun's calm voice echoed thru his aching heart. 'This world is a rotten place. Where the beautiful, the strong and the rich fount their treasures and rest Their feet in the the poor and weaks' necks. That's why we must stick together. We are An Ding first, anything else second' Shizun had said.

'Take that rage to protect and care for our own'

---------

The final straw for Han Shuo came in the form of a shattering kick to the back from a Bai Zhan disciple.

"Hey, duckling" the brute said, pulling at his yellow robes. "Liu-shifu wants to know where the new training dummies are at?"

Heaving thru the blinding pain Han Shuo said: "...They are delayed" through his teeth.

"Again?!" Came from his assailant

"Can't anyone in this stupid peak do their job?" Came from one of his goons

"How long will we have to wait this time?" Another said.

"A peak as useless as its lord"

And that was it.

He snapped.

Han Shuo couldn't, for the life of him, remember what happened next but, in moment, he has been kneeling on the ground, papers scattered around him as he struggled to breathe and then....

His hands were bloody.

He was holding a Bai Zhan boy By the throat.

His cheeks were hot and wet

He was screaming. Screaming as loud and as menacing as he could.

The words didn't seem his own.

"FUCK YOU! FUCK ALL OF YOU! I'LL KILL ALL OF YOU, YOU ENTITLED, USELESS LITTLE SHITS!'

'Senseless violence leads nowhere, Shuo-er'

That's what Shizun had said.

'But sometimes, just sometimes, bitches get stitches'

------

All of them converged back to Shizun's room, fire in their heart and thunder j. Their gaze.

Zhao Lusi had been the one that volunteered to stay behind and care for the unconscious peak lord.

Her tears had yet to stop. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't Keep her sorrow in check. Just looking at her precious shizun like that, so soft and vulnerable and... Motionless.

Forced into a peace similar to... To the dead.

Her heart ached and tore.

Shang Qinghua didn't deserve this, whatever it was.

He deserved rest, for sure.

He deserved a long, well deserved rest. And pampering. And honors. No one in this world deserved it more than he in her eyes. But he deserved to be awake to enjoy them. He deserved so much more. So much more than his mere disciples could give...!

"Oh Shizun..." She silently cried, gently combing his long curly hair, working away the knots of neglect as the other head disciples raged on.

"--I CAN'T BELIEVE HIM!"

"--I CANT BELIEVE THEM!!"

"--THE NERVE IF THOSE LITTLE PRICKS"

"AFTER EVERYTHING SHIZUN DID FOR MU SHUSHU!"

"Shizun..."

"--I SWEAR! I COULD KILL ALL OF THEM!"

"--UNWORTHY, GREEDY... SWINE!"

"--And they have the nerve to call themselves siblings! I would never have abandoned one of our own like that and--"

Eventually it all became too much.

"Gods! Stop!" Lusi demanded. "Just stop!"

She repeated, catching the other three's attention.

"This isn't helping! This isn't helping Shizun!" She continued to chastise. "Shizun... Needs us. We need to come together and stop and... And fix it!" Her voice wavered just by looking down at SQH. "An Ding first, damnit"

Silence finally reigned between them.

She was right.

SQH *was* An Ding.

No matter how mad and justified they were, none of those feelings was waking SQH up.

And he needed them.

Lusi went back to her self appointed task, her tears gently falling from her sweet, round face

"The world should stop to" She whispered, running gently oiled fingers thru Shizun's brown curls. "It doesn't seem right" Shizun carried the world on his shoulders. Why did it keep going when SQH could not?

Yuanyuan's came alight with those words.

"That's it!"

"what's it?" Han Shuo asked, tense and heart heavy.

"That's what we'll do!"

"...What are you talking about?" Peilun sighed, tiredly.

"We'll stop!" Yuanyuan announced. "An Ding is going to stop everything until the medic from Zhao Hua Temple comes"

"W-what?"

"Think about it, guys!" She was almost manic in her explanation. "*They* need us for everything. From their badic food and administration to their little comforts and trinkets. The Sects need An Ding for commerce and goods-- to say nothing of the protection of our regions! We can't do our job without Shizun's final say!" She smiled, wickedly please. "If we stop, if we all just stop, they'll be without! They won't know what to do without us and Shizun! They'll--"

"They'll have to come"

"They will ALL have to come" Yuanyuan corrected.

"And they can't force us to work either because of *him*"

"By all the gods in Heaven!! That's brilliant!!"

"We need an assembly. Everyone has to be on board but I think they will be and then we'll strike them where it hurts!"

"Yes! We'll strike!!"

[alloveydovey]

Hellooooo, dramas from this past month :) I had a lot of fun watching most of these, which hadn't been happening lately.

The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract, 2023 (kdrama) 7.5/8

A woman from the past travels to the future where she meets a man who resembles her deceased husband. In need of a wife, he strikes a contract with her, and blah blah blah, you know what happens next.

The chemistry was there 100%, the comedy too, but overall, I think it was just a mid watch for me. I was three episodes away from finishing but was struggling big time because I was getting bored.

The Romance of Tiger and Rose, 2020 (cdrama) 8

A scriptwriter ends up inside her own creation as a side character who dies early on in the drama and has a really bad reputation.

This was hilarious. Laughing out loud alone type of hilarious. It didn't make any sense at all, and it was extremely silly and sometimes even frustrating, but both actors were so great with the comedy (Zhao Lusi the actress that you are), so everything was just fun and romantic and cute... and weird enough, emotional af as well. I love these types of dramas where, after watching, you kinda feel empty inside lol. Comfort drama material? 100%

My Demon, 2023/24 (kdrama) 8

A demon becomes powerless after crossing paths with a cold heiress (who he obviously knew in their, guess what? Yes, past lives)

Kim Yoo Jung and Song Kang (his character is everything) were so cute in this! Their chemistry was definitely chemistring. I loved the concept and all, but for some reason, I couldn’t put my whole heart into this drama, which resulted in me being a bit disappointed. I’d get bored sometimes. I still don’t know if it’s my problem though. Maybe it wasn't the right time to watch it since I had been watching so many dramas with similar storylines. I’ll give them this, though, these two were truly a comedic duo™️

My Man is Cupid, 2023/24 (kdrama) 8

A love fairy accidentally shoots himself with an arrow and ends up in love with a human, condemning him and his group of cupids to 500 years on Earth. In modern day, he gets entangled with a veterinarian who might be connected to what happened in the past. Also! Murder mystery.

This one just goes to prove that liking a drama is all about vibes for me. Is this different from what I’ve been watching? Nope. It’s not better than the other ones above with similar premises. Yet somehow, unlike the others, it got my attention way more, and I totally binged it. Even when this particular one had some very confusing, probably so-so writing, moments. Granted, it has Nana in it. Nana makes everything worth it (Jang Dong Yoon was cute as well lol).

My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, 2010 (kdrama) (rewatch!) 7.5 ⭐️

A cute gumiho saves an irresponsible rich kid who wants to become an action star by giving him her bead. Both of them gotta stick together while he heals.

Like I said back when I first saw this, COMFORT!! And I was in the mood for something silly and sweet after the same themes over and over again. I can't get over how cute Shin Min A and Lee Seung Gi are in this.

Falling Into You, 2022 (cdrama) 9

A student-athlete wants to do high jump but doesn't have the required height for the sport, so a postgraduate student-coach decides to take him under her wing and train him. Noona love story ensues.

So... I have a lot of mixed feelings about it because, all in all, I think this is one of the best cdramas I've watched. It's beautifully shot, the music is incredible, and the pacing, story, characters, and acting are all impeccable. Aside from Meet Yourself (fav ever) it's truly one of the most naturally acted cdramas I've seen so far as well. Even outside the romance part, everything was really good.

Now, was it inappropriate? For me, at least, I think it was. This young student is supposed to be 20, and his coach is said to be about to turn 28. They are both consenting adults (let's put it that way), but the power dynamics thing is still there. Overall, it was a nice surprise, and I completely binged it.

Welcome to Samdal-ri, 2023/24 (kdrama) 9

After a scandal, a famous photographer runs back to her hometown. Her ex, with whom she had an intense fallout (childhood friends to lovers), is there, and it seems like neither of them has moved on. (Also about family, and grief)

From the moment I saw Shin Hye Sun and Ji Chang Wook's pictures next to one another on a tweet saying they were going to be in a new drama together, I knew this was going to be a 10/10 in my books. Maximized joint slay. Add the hometown cha cha cha vibes, and you have an amazing tear-jerker drama. The rest of the cast is a great complement as well; their acting and their stories just make everything really emotional (I cried a lot lol), but it is 100% worth the watch. I'll be honest about one thing, though. As much as I loved it, it took me a while to finish the last two episodes cause I feel like they dragged the story a bit.

Princess Hours/Goong, 2006 (kdrama) 8

In a reimagined modern SK, a girl from an ordinary family gets hitched to the crown prince because of a promise both of their grandparents made in the past. A Diana x Charles x Camilla drama ensues (but like, with a happy ending).

This is what I like to call DRAMA™️. The type you hate everyone's behaviors, and you laugh, and you hate the ML, but you also want him to get with the FL, and you start hate watching, and then you giggle when they share moments and completely forget ML is a really shitty person lol. I started this cause I got sick, and I got way into it. ML being a major asshole and the FL having no self-respect (like the good old dramas and telenovelas) aside, I enjoyed binging this, and I can see why it was so popular. Their romance, though deeply flawed and a product of the time the drama was made, had some great moments, slow burn and natural as well. I was lowkey hoping for a happier ending, tho, but it was cute enough. Also, music bro, that main song is never getting out of my head. Comfort drama material: 100%

Playful Kiss, 2010 (kdrama) 5

FL confesses to ML, and he rejects her harshly. When her house collapses, her father moves them in with an old friend, who ends up being ML's father.

So after Goong, I thought I'd probably be able to watch this. Wrong. Shin's got nothing wrong in comparison so Seung Jo. Seung Jo is probably my most disliked ML ever lol. I binged this, hoping it'd get better, or just like Shin in Goong, he'd change a bit after getting together with FL. But nope, he remained an asshole throughout the whole thing. Gotta love that consistency. Comfort drama material: 1% (I saw the comments on Viki, and I don't know how people rewatched this, lol.)

[rainbowsky]

Hi RBS. Have you noticed a trend in c-dramas where the FL is portrayed as clingy, childish, jumpy, needy, desperate for attention etc. I haven't even listed all the adjectives here. So I began watching The Longest Promise and I am predicting the same characteristics. Other examples, to name a few: Bai Feng Jiu in TMOPB, the FL of Love and Redemption, Little Bone in Journey of Flower, Lin Xi in Love and Destiny.

Do directors and producers think how they portray FL is romantic, socially accepted of ladies? Sometimes the good acting of ML is washed down by the portrayal of the FLs. Of course I have seen some FLs being strong and independent minded like in A Dream of Splendour. Liu Yufei did a fantastic job there.

Is it a cultural issue when females are portrayed like that?

Kindly share your thoughts on this.

Hi Kathomi! 😊

This is a topic I feel incredibly underqualified to comment on. I don't know enough about it, and I don't have anywhere near enough experience with C-dramas or with women's issues in China (or with how these characters are received by audiences in China) to be able to have any sort of intelligent response.

However, I asked my sister who has watched dozens and dozens and dozens of C-dramas, and this was her response:

There are several different genres and I don't know enough about the different categories (I am just not a category nerd) but there are definitely distinct genres that span a "coming of age" storyline for the FL. The ones mentioned here are good examples.

In these, the FL is adorable and mischievous and naive at the beginning, and her quest leads her to grow and become formidable in her own way. Bai Fengjiu is actually less this way than say, Orchid in Love Between Fairy and Devil.

The adorable, cute FL is pretty much the equivalent, in my mind, of Manic Pixie Dream Girl (RBS note: she's talking about this). It's really present in every culture's media, as far as I can see. It's just one of many tropes out there.

There are loads of dramas out there with kickass FLs.

Who Rules the World has a strong female lead and she's played by the incomparable Zhao Lusi, and the ML is Yang Yang, so there's one to watch. Also Lu Zhao Yao and Xu Kai in The Legends. Legend of Fei has a strong FL too, of course.

If there's anything that I personally can say about this topic I know nothing about, it is that it is never a good idea to paint with too broad a brush. I think that actually it's always wisest to narrow our statements/assumptions down as much as we can.

For example, instead of saying "It seems like Chinese dramas tend to have these kinds of characters, and it might be reflection of Chinese culture" it is better to say, "It seems like the Chinese dramas that I have seen so far have these kinds of characters. Perhaps I'm watching dramas that have characters that are incompatible with my interests."

I think that it is almost always a good idea to avoid assuming something is cultural that could be explained in some other way. When we make cultural assumptions, that begins to rub elbows with stereotyping or worse.

Not to say that is where you were coming from or that this isn't in fact a cultural trope - like I said, I don't know anything about the particular issue - but it's something that came into my mind when I read your ask.

I'm going to sound like a broken record here, but I've been watching The Youth Memories and the story is outstanding. There are characters with real depth and who face struggles that are realistic, interesting and emotionally compelling. The acting is great, the writing is great, and the women are strong and interesting.

So maybe try watching a different story if you're not into the one you are watching.

[theapplehairgirl]

✩ 我猜你也想靠近吧

直到你睫毛轻刷着我脸颊

直到我低头就闻到你长发

这想法

只需要你一句话 ✩

---------

[ 靠近 ]

[randomingoftherandomness]

Your top 10 c-actors and top 10 c-actresses?

Oooo hm. I'll be honest with you and say that I don't actually watch as much Chinese dramas as people might think haha... It takes a very special premise to pull me in and even then, I usually don't end up liking 70% of whatever is on and abandoning it by the 3rd episode.

That said, I'm going to limit my picks to the top 5 off the top my head in each category. These are actors and actresses who, by virtue of their names being attached to a project, will get me interested in making it to episode 5 and of whom I have watched more than 2 projects that they've been a part of.

Actors

Leo Wu

Our family's Fei Liu 🥰 I know, I know. Didi is the furthest thing from Fei Liu these days, but in my mind, he'll forever be Fei Liu and there's a huge part of me that will always adore him for that. Throughout the years, his projects have been a hit or a miss with me. Either I'll like them or I won't. Which is what I like. I don't want to like everything my faves are part of.

Joseph Zeng

(Look at that happy baby hahaha)

I can't remember which project I first saw him in, or how he even pinged on my radar. But before I knew it, I'd watched three of his dramas and I was about to watch more.

Qin Hao

THIS. DUDE. He's such a powerhouse of an actor and I AM--

He chooses some of the most intense projects and I'm so, so here for them. There's this magnetic quality to the way he acts and every time I get to see him onscreen, I'm absolutely mesmerised. I also have to be honest and say that I haven't had a change to work through his body of work, but I think it's just a matter of time (and mental space) before I do.

Liu Yuning

I believe some moots on this hellsite have had front row seats to my thirsting of this tall, thin, sassy da ge and I won't apologise for any of it. 100//10 would climb him in a heartbeat.

I fell for his voice first before I even knew his face (花开早 天知晓 天莫笑 天亦老~~!!!) and then I saw his face and BAM. Goner. Goodbye ovaries. You might be thinking, oh Gab you're just horny on main for him, to which I will say, yes, yes I am. Isn't that reason enough for me to have gone watch the variety show he was on WITHOUT SUBS. My banana ass went through a lot for this man ok? That's love.

Zhang Linghe

HIM. Saw him in Maiden Holmes. Watched how he acts with his eyes. Okay. Sold. Over the last couple of years, the one drama I really wanted to see him in was the TGCF live action adaptation, which as we all will know, won't be seeing the light of day any time soon. He was actually on my fancast list for Hua Cheng and I was pretty gratified when they announced that he was taking on the role.

He's been doing well for himself and I've liked him the dramas that have caught my eye, and I look forward to what he will bring to the table next. Even if he had been, unfairly in my opinion, saddled with this perception that his dramas have a difficult time getting to air.

Actress

Zhao Liying

Zhao Liying is someone with a face that is so sweet that you'd go into her projects thinking that she's going to portray one type of character then getting body slammed into a spiral of a drama length like The Story of Minglan.

Zhao Lusi

This woman is on track to being the best actress of her generation. Period. You can't fight me on this because you know I'm right.

She's an absolute powerhouse and there's this sense about her that she isn't afraid to get ugly, go roll in the mud and get dirty just to portray a character. I love that about her. There's just this sense of joy to watch her act because she's not just embodying the character, she IS the character. I wouldn't be surprised if her international audience reach is really big because it's what a Queen like her deserves.

Tian Xiwei

Now, she is someone that I never thought I would be into. But I think the dimples should have been a good indication that I was gonna get suckered into her projects and for that, I'm glad. I've only seen bits and bobs of three of her projects, but if the way that I am actually intrigued by the projects she takes on is any clue, I think I'll be sufficiently entertained.

Liu Mintao

Every time I see her, I wanna just be on my knees and call her Mother.

She is absolutely fantastic in every role she takes on. The gentle but steely Consort Jing in Nirvana in Fire? The nurturing and protective Ming Jing in The Disguiser? Check and Check. Love her. I low key think she's a chameleon. Her body of work speaks to the quality of her acting.

Esther Yu

(listen. LISTEN. I HAD TO INCLUDE ONE OF THE HOTTEST KISS SCENES IN CDRAMALAND THAT ISN'T A DEAD FISH LIPS SITUATION OK)

The first time she ever pinged on my radar, it was because of her antics with Lisa from Blackpink during her Produce days. Found her cute and endearing, but that was it. And then came Love Between Fairy and Devil. Without knowing, I fell in love with her charms. She is another actress I think isn't afraid to own being neck deep in the nitty and gritty and not looking perfect. I'm very interested to see what sort of projects she takes on, and judging by her Yun Weishan in My Journey to You, I think there'll be much to anticipate.

[whenthegoldrays]

Actually Zhao Lusi would be my second pick for Fanny in an Asian Mansfield Park. My first is now Shin Eun Soo because well,, her portrayal of Cheong-ah in Twinkling Watermelon practically was Fanny already (albeit more rage-filled), and she was so good. Put her in a book-accurate adaptation with an accurate characterization of Fanny and people may actually start to value book!Fanny

[baifengxis]

What are some of your fave cdramas that you would highly rec? I’m looking for something to watch and I would be grateful if you can share some. Thank you!!

Oh, thanks so much for this question, I love recommending cdramas haha!

LEGEND OF FEI [2020] Gotta start with the obvious, because I'll recommend this drama forever even to everyone who has started and can't get into it, I'll always be like, please try again lol It's feminist, fun, feel-good but with very nicely done heavy moments every few episodes, important messages about life and about becoming who you want to be, it has my, at this point, favorite cdrama ship ever, yunfei my beloved!! relationship goals! friendships, funny dynamics, siblings, AMAZING characters and...so much more, I won't continue because I'll never stop lmao

UNEXPECTED [2018] Such an underrated Drama! I don't know why it's so underrated, especially because it's made by the same writer as a very popular drama (The Romance of Tiger and Rose) and the stories are very similar, which I know can be boring but they also have differences that make each drama unique, there's just the same premise of a writer traveling into their own story.

I'VE FALLEN FOR YOU [2020] The perfect rom-com historical drama, with a very fun plot and with plot twists you don't expect, such good characters and two amazing ships! Comfort drama for sure!

THE LOVE BY HYPNOTIC [2019] If you love palace romance, arranged marriage turned true love, a few crazy (but very entertaining) villains and a love story for the ages! Even though it has some very heavy moments, it's one of my comfort dramas as well, because it also includes some VERY FUNNY moments, like I just love dramas that can somehow balance comedy, romance and serious moments so well!

THE QUEEN OF ATTACK [2021] There's so many short dramas nowadays and 80% of them have the same plot of someone traveling into a story lol and yes, this is one of them BUT it's such a good drama like it's insane, I'll wish forever it was a normal length one, but it's still so good, the episodes are 9-10 mins each but there are two seasons, and the episodes have been combined, so eventually it's like having a normal drama with 12 normal length episodes (6 for s1 and 6 for s2). It's so worth it and the two actors are so talented and have such good chemistry, plus the story is unique too, yes this premise has been done many times but I think they still made it so unique and different from others.

THE STARRY LOVE [2023] A recent drama and quite popular, but I'll still recommend it always. Other than the last episode that was a bit disappointing and rushed (still a happy-ish ending though), it's my favorite Xianxia and it was just so good, the story, the cinematography, THE OST, the actors, the ships, the friendships, the sisters, ALL THE WOMEN, youqin literally making all other MLs take notes from him on how to be the best ml out there, so many reasons to watch this drama, just ignore the last part and pretend we saw what they forgot to show us lol

LOVE LIKE THE GALAXY [2022] Where do I even begin??? (This is the first Zhao Lusi drama i recommend in this list, but I just wanna mention, I recommend almost all of them.) Anyway, LLTG is by far my favorite political drama, and non wuxia/xianxia historical cdrama. It's so different and unique, there's literally nothing like it. It's a slow paced drama, with very long scenes (you might only have 3-4 scenes in one episode for example) and it's the reason why It got me a while to get to it, but now I'M SO IN LOVE WITH IT!!! There is not an episode I don't enjoy, it's pure art. Cheng Shao Shang is one of my favorite girls ever and her and Ling Buyi???? I'D DIE FOR THEIR LOVE. Their chemistry is so so so good, now Zhao Lusi can have chemistry with a tree, it's true but still, one of the best cdrama ships out there. Even though I never truly watched classic cdramas like Nirvana on Fire and those "older" ones, I think LLTG somehow is the closest to those except it also loves its characters and focuses on romance more than any older political cdrama did but it works so so well.

LIGHTER AND PRINCESS [2022] Favorite modern drama! I gotta be honest I'm not verrrryyyy into modern cdramas, I like a few, even love some, but generally it's hard to find a modern cdrama I'll go crazy over...but L&P changed that. Or well, it's still hard, maybe even harder now, to find something that tops it, but L&P is just so so good. Again, a quite popular drama, maybe it doesn't need the recommendation, but I have to mention it anyway 'cause it's my baby and I just cannot make a favorite cdramas list without it! Some reasons to watch: One of the best love stories out there, with such good angst and just everything you need on a ship, two main characters so unique that you'll definitely relate to (at least in some aspects), one of the best OSTS ever, perfect cinematography, directing and writing and one of my favorite endings on any show ever!

Some more dramas I recommend but I won't dig deeper (I talked a lot already):

Couple of Mirrors [2021]

Who Rules The World [2022]

Love Between Fairy and Devil [2022]

Young Blood [2019 - S2 starts tomorrow!]

Wait, My Youth [2019]

Zhaoyao/The Legends [2019]

Arsenal Military Academy [2019]

There's probably more but I think that's good for now, I hope I helped you find something to watch and I'm always here for more recs if you want :P <3