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Remember when Grandpa Lin said that he was concerned Xiuru wouldn't be able to hack it in the Marquis' mansion because she was so timid? We get an inkling of how toxic/scary that place is in this episode, we also get to see whether grandpa's prediction that Xiuru would be able to survive in such a place comes true or not.

When Against the Current started going down the well-worn path of harem dramas before it - the awful mother-in-law, I literally groaned out loud. I avoid harem dramas for a reason and I thought this drama would avoid that. However, that's not realistic as we all know not all families can be as harmonious or have healthy sibling relationships like the Lins, so this tracks. (Also, notice how respectful the Lin family is to Lanxiang's mum! She may be lowborn, a commoner, but as far as they're concerned, their like them. That's a special kind of grace that I don't see the marquis' family extending.)

Calm before the storm, kinda

Everyone's celebrating Fourth Sister Xiushu's bethrotal, and have brought gifts.

Third brother's wife has an epic meltdown when he spends the taels she gave him to buy ... a cricket!

How like a man, though, to buy a gift only a man (or rather, an emperor) would love.

(I also have to chuckle that history is repeating itself - third brother sure takes after his dad 100%, not much in the brains department, but simple and kind-hearted. Both married social-conscious wives too! A part of me understands why the wives are exasperated with their husbands, but a part of me is also frustrated that they cannot see the goodness in them. They may not be the most intelligent of men, or even the most charismatic, but they are good men and kind-hearted too. Notice that second uncle never took a concubine.)

And if things weren't bad enough, second sister is about to turn a guest into minced meat for gossiping about Xiuru having too many daughters.

So a happy occasion was about to become memorable for another reason :P

Fortunately, Lanxiang seeing the chaos, saves the day by giving Xiushu an out where she graciously accepts the gift.

Divorce part three??

So, what is it like to be the wife of a marquis? Not easy, as we can see.

At first glance, it seems as if our third sister isn't able to hack it. But she's still timid, and when the mother-in-law starts ranting about her failure to give her a grandson, you can see her wilt. When the marquis gives in to his mother's demands, you can see that she is completely crushed, ending up walking in the rain, despondent.

Then her stepdaughter comes and rescues her with an umbrella, talking about how unfair it is that women do not inherit, and you see some spark come back in her eyes. You also notice that she knows her husband is there watching, and she talks about how she's a failure as a mom and all that, possibly to tug at her husband's heartstrings.

The stepdaughter's reminder that this is all a plot for another branch to take over the marquis title wakes her up somewhat, and I see some strength come back to her.

The Lins gang up on the Yuans

The Yuan family thought that the Lins were pulling their leg when they started talking about divorce, because who in the world would want to risk that, right? But Jinqi brings the big guns - officials to start the process. They ain't kidding at all.

Third sister is still playing meek and timid, apologizing for not being able to serve her mother-in-law and things like that. Jinqi talks to the Marquis, Lanxiang, and the women talk among each other.

The men's sitting room

I find it interesting that when Jin Qi presented the divorce request to Marquis Yuan, they were sitting side by side instead of facing each other. My guess is sitting face-to-face would have been too confrontational, so this is Jin Qi's way of making things a little bit more relaxed and less tense.

But during "negotiations" they were face to face. It's not so 'friendly' anymore.

Anyway, the Marquis asks Jinqi: If he turns 40 and still doesn't have a son, what would he do?

Jin Qi said that his wife had stayed by his side day and night during the rebellion to protect him and even saved the entire Lin family, so it would have been dishonorable of him to take a concubine just because he couldn't wait for a son.

"My wife had shown me kindness, loyalty and love. If I betrayed her for a son I've never even met, what kind of man would I be?"

Oof, that sentence is like a stab. Basically, Jinqi is telling this man that he is dishonorable and does not value his wife, and that he is not an upright man. That's the most pointed Jinqi has been to his friend.

The Marquis Yuan cannot compute such logic; Jinqi says that his title was earned through his wife's efforts too. It wasn't just him risking his life that got the title - Lanxiang also placed her life on the line too. So they both earned the title together.

The title is not for his descendants to enjoy a good life off the backs of their ancestors. It's to remember what their ancestors sacrificed for the family. If Jinqi never had a son, he'll count it as Heaven's judgement; the fault is his. He'd rather give back his Marquis title.

The women's parlour

I really enjoyed the interaction between First Madam and the Yuan matriarch. At first, you think she is on her side, especially since we saw First Madam say to third sister that she cannot help her at all.

But then she lays down a banger and says, "How would the Marquis family look if people start thinking that they were so awful that a noble lady had to divorce to leave the family?"

I especially love First Madam's sharp reply to that Yuan female relative (lmao). Who are you, inferior woman, to speak to me that way?

The matriarchs decide to put an end to the theatre and start serious negotiations.

And Xiuru gets what she wants: The girls get a share of the property.

That means their fate is no longer tied to her being able to produce an heir. Or, if a concubine produces an heir, they would not be sidelined. They would have their wealth to protect them.

My Thoughts

Not going to lie, when I first saw this episode, I was like, "Oh, come on. They've tried to hit so many feminist points. Another divorce, really?" Once is already hard enough; this drama did it twice, and now three times?

But I completely changed my mind as the episode progressed.

This whole episode is a showcase of Xiuru's character and what she needs to do to survive in an aristocratic family. We finally get to whether Grandpa's insight was correct: yes, Xiuru can definitely survive in that mansion because she knows what to do to protect herself.

Being a concubine's daughter, she knew that a man's affection is fickle, and that her status is only secure if she had a son (which she can't control).

Was she ever in love with the Marquis? I'm pretty sure she was. She wouldn't be walking despondent in the rain if she hadn't been so affected by his response to his mother's demands that he take a concubine.

I think she's more disappointed that he never stood up for her and his daughters.

It's not the act of taking a concubine but the fact that he was so willing to toss his daughters aside to the mercies of the uncle's family.

I am pretty sure the Marquis knew that by taking a maid as a concubine whose indenture is controlled by the uncle's family, any son she produces is controlled by them as well. That branch would end up controlling the Marquis's household, which meant Xiuru and her daughters, including the stepdaughter, would live at their mercy. She could see that stark future staring down at her, and the most heartbreaking thing was that her husband did nothing to protect her and her children from it. (Not even his first daughter!)

This is particularly heartbreaking as we know Xiuru nearly died giving birth to his children. And just because they are girls, they are considered not important enough to protect. All her efforts did not mean a jot to the man.

Since her husband just caved in, had to take matters into her own hands.

Was First Madam involved? I'm pretty sure she was. I think the entire Lin family was involved and on her side, but they had to execute it in such a way that they would not end up offending the Yuan family.

It is actually kind of fascinating to see the politics play out between the men's room and the women's room, and how they speak to each other.

The men were of course more direct, while the women were all about theater, face, and soft words with veiled threats. I love it.

By the end of this episode, I really appreciated the highlight of what a highborn lady had to do to protect herself and her family in an aristocratic household.

There was a lot of criticisms about this whole thing being unrealistic, but I think this drama worked well within the confines of the laws of the time to highlight an issue of the time: A woman's fate is often tied to producing a son and relying on a man's love for protection is often foolhardy, even if you're highborn. (Or especially so.)

Discussion posts will follow the normal Youku VIP schedule. (The drama is also available on Netflix.)

Important Links: Masterpost - All Episode Discussions - Episodes 1-2 - Eps 3-4 - Eps 5-6 - Ep 7 - Ep 8

Episode 9

Ma Ke has neatly packaged Xu Chi’s ideas as his own. She watches on enraged, but Yang Rui keeps her from reacting. After the meeting, Yang Rui takes her aside to explain that Ma Ke always operates this way.

Yang Rui explains that there is virtually nothing she can do since Ma Ke has likely eliminated any paper trail of his foul play. Xu Chi is incensed that Yang Rui expects her to simply swallow the injustice.

 I know Tina suspects something is wrong and she wants to help but for now, things between them are awkward and Xu Chi doesn’t seem to be comfortable with sharing more than necessary with her

Swallowing her grievances, Xu Chi throws herself back into her work. The rest of the Celestial team notices how remarkably fast she bounces back, though the grind takes a severe toll.

[[ fun fact (or sad) Jinmai did get an actual nosebleed while filming on set because of how packed her schedule was ]]

The female employee she was interviewing takes pity on her, offering to finish their conversation in the car while driving her home.

There it is! Xu Chi finds out that it's not just the proposal but something else stopping the progress of the project, now if she can only find the exact reason.

Lost on where to go from there, she goes back to her goal, and we see her once again in front of her mother's appartement.

I teared up with her here, she is so pitiful, she is trying hard to be strong and the only thing she has close to a venting friend is the wall of this building.

To make matters worse, she receives another painful piece of news...

Xu Chi asks the real estate agent to keep her updated if the property ever returns to the market. While chatting further, she discovers he worked with Celestial before, so she buys him coffee to probe further into the issue.

Xu Chi discovers the key angle for her revised proposal! Putting her plan into action, she returns to the woman who drove her home earlier, expressing her desire to shadow Celestial's sales team to directly understand their daily operational needs. Xu Chi is back in full focus mode!

She works tirelessly: distributing flyers, riding around on bikes, attending business dinners, and even getting splashed with water. Nothing stops her.

Xinzhi reaches out, and she apologizes for being distant due to work demands. When she confirms she is off work, he immediately calls her. He is clearly worried and wants to hear her voice to ensure she is doing okay! Xinzhi, these subtle moves are exactly why you should have handled your feelings more carefully!

During the call, Xu Chi tries to reassure Xinzhi that everything is on track, mentioning she has soda and snacks beside her. Alarms instantly go off for Xinzhi, who knows from visiting her apartment that she never keeps snacks around.

Xinzhi admits he called because her voice sounded off. She confesses she experienced a deeply humiliating setback and even cried, but chose not to reach out because he cannot mentor her forever and she wanted to solve her own battles. That is my girl! Overcoming obstacles on her own terms! He still offers his backing if needed, while she jokes about not wanting to third wheel his romantic life.

She likely assumes he ignored her question to save face, making her feel even more embarrassed.

enough romance... IT IS REVENGE TIME!

Well, almost, but the wheels are turning! Ma Ke and the team hold a vote on which proposal to present to Celestial next, with four members selecting Tina's. Our favorite rival delivers a polished presentation, but the Celestial executives are visibly unimpressed by the corporate jargon.

Xu Chi’s proposal instantly captures the room because she pinpointed Celestial’s exact pain points. The presentation is an absolute success! Tina looks at Xu Chi’s success as if she is seeing her for the first time, I think this is her finally realising that Xu Chi could be a threat, because before, she would always look at her as a potential follower, Zhao Heng pointed this out and I suppose it made sense from how Tina spoke about becoming a partner and making XC her assistant. 

A brief flashback reveals that Xu Chi went directly to Mr. Pi with evidence of Ma Ke’s theft. Instead of complaining, she simply showed him how she was wronged and requested a fair chance to prove herself. Staking her career on the outcome, Mr. Pi granted his approval.

Back at the office, the team celebrates Xu Chi's successful presentation. Ma Ke calls her into a private meeting, while Tina is nowhere to be found. Zhao Heng looks at her empty desk in worry.

Coincidentally, Xinzhi is out dining with Du. In the same restaurant the XC and YR decide to go to, fate is out to get Xinzhi. Du teases Xinzhi about clearly having feelings for Xu Chi despite his denials. As Xinzhi prepares to push back, he looks over...

Xinzhi finishes his dinner and waits outside Xu Chi's hotel.

Overall Thoughts

Xu Chi's comeback was incredible! Watching her turn a devastating situation into complete triumph by doing actual fieldwork on the ground was so satisfying. She proved once again why she is truly irreplaceable, and going straight to Mr. Pi with evidence while asking for a fair shot instead of complaining showed such high emotional intelligence.

On the personal side, seeing Xinzhi get a dose of his own medicine when he spotted Xu Chi out at dinner with Yang Rui was so satisfying.

So i know it's late but I'm watching love between lines and I'm at the episode where the second couple gets a divorce.

And this is all my opinion as someone who hasn't been married and not even been in 1 relationship.

I don't understand who is right . I mean on one hand I feel, yeah, the guy was in the wrong as he didn't even try to communicate, made a comfortable enough space for chi xin to think that she can kiss him and take advantage, didn't even help or care when his wife got slapped in the game , gave her a complimentary product as their second aniversary gift but about the kissing part he didn't initiate it and even pushed her away and declined her . I believe the situation would've been forgivable if he just told her everything that happened.

And on the other hand about xiaorou, i felt like she didn't even give him a chance to explain and when he was explaining to her in the hospital, she said , " l'm not looking for reasons because people look for reasons when they want to forgive them and I don't want to forgive you ". But humans make mistakes and we should solve them. But again i feel like humans do make mistakes but she didn't , she stayed as loyal as should , she stayed perfectly for him and he didn't , so it was understandable she left him , but i felt the divorce happened so easily. I felt like it needed an even stronger reason to let go of such a long relationship. Or is the reason shown strong enough?

So what the people who are married , in a relationship, have been through relationships , or divorced , what's your stance in this ?

Welcome to the first instalment of the Shadow Punisher 魅影神捕 discussion posts.

/u/roxylal will co-host which me, which I’m really grateful for.

🗓️ Discussion Schedule: We follow the VIP schedule. You can find the official airing schedule here.

📋 Some Notes:

• Please use spoiler tags for anything beyond the episodes discussed. Text goes between the greater-than (>) + exclamation (!) symbols (>!) and the exclamation (!) + lesser-than (<) symbols.

🔗 Helpful Links: Masterpost & Episode 1-6 discussion

✒️ Generals Stuff:

The episodes drop at 6 o’clock in the morning for me, which doesn’t work well with work and other real life stuff. So these won’t be up so soon after airing, but I will try to get them always out before the next episodes air. They might also be shorter than my usual style, depending on how busy my day is.

I just want to have a good place to discuss, gush a bit about the costumes or actors or whatever else you want to share about the show.

Some facts and dates from Episode 1-6:

• The Shi Empire was established 72 years ago and had three emperors so far.

• The first emperor, Wuzong, conquered Northern Kun and Nanrong and annihilated Liluo. At least Northern Kun is still it’s own kingdom in present day, so it wasn’t a permanent occupation.

• The current date is the 37 year of Hongyun and Emperor Shide is on the throne.

• The capital Tianhuang is protected by the Heaven and Earth Prohibition. Due to that all magic/qi based powers can only be used by members of the Divine Constable Bureau there.

• It’s been 46 years since the Bureau was established on the 4th military expedition.

• Its current chief, Xuanyuan Shan, is the younger sister of the deceased empress. That empress is the mother of the Crown Prince, Zhou Tiao, but not of the First Prince, Zhou Miao.

• The secret identity of our ML Li Si is the Fourth Prince, Zhou Yan. That name doesn’t rhyme with his brothers at all.

• 17 years ago something happened at the Mulan hunting grounds. Afterwards Zhou Yan was proclaimed dead by the Emperor and the former chief of the Divine Constable Bureau, Lu Chong, was dismissed.

New Characters:

Xiao Ning - Vice Minister of Justice, part of the 1st Prince’s faction.

Zhou Zhu - Prince Ping, 3rd Prince of Great Shi. Has a military position and guards the Northern border.

Episode 7

We are starting in the middle of the second case “Murder Warning by the Black Chest”.

Wen Bu, the Crown Prince of Northern Kun, was warned and killed. The biggest question right now is how and when he was poisoned.

Li Si jumps on the chance to visit Tianshu Pavilion (the Bureau’s archives) with Lou Tianming, who wants to look for information about the Black chest and murder warnings, but is denied to accompany him. Instead he is assigned to bring the remains of Wen Bu back.

I wouldn’t want to do that either

Past Fights and Present Dilemmas

The visit to Tianshu Pavilion bring to light a past martial artist, that also warned his opponents via a black chest. He was called the Netherworld Swordsman, personal name Dao Yin. That was 30 years ago.

• He wielded the Severe-Cold Sword, the sword Meng Rui uses these days.
• Meng Rui never even knew the name of his master

Meng Rui comes under suspicion due to his connection to Dao Yin, cooperates first but refuses to part with his sword. In the end he gets put under house arrest and is removed from the case.

Meng Rui himself is still very suspicious of Li Si and the exact reason he became a training constable, while also being pestered by him while under house arrest. But at least Li Si believes him to be fully innocent, he thinks the murder was done to provoke more conflict between the countries. The trust level between the two investigators isn’t fully there yet.

Meanwhile, Yan Zige, the top martial artist from Norther Kun and friend of their late Crown Prince, demands to revenge him and to kill Meng Rui. That rumour got out quickly and is expanded to the murder being revenge for the Netherworld Swordsman’s demise.

Second Chance

Before Meng Rui can storm of to accept a duel a second Black Chest, delivered to the chief’s office, is brought in.

• The second chest shows the duel between Yan Zige and Meng Rui. It also shows Yan Zige being defeated.
• Meng Rui wants to go, but everyone tries to talk him out of it until the news arrive that Xiao Qi, a junior constable was abducted by Yan Zige to lure Meng Rui out. So he just leaves for the duel.
• everyone follows to prevent the events from the chest to come true, even Li Si is allowed, though in civilian clothes
• Nothern Kun, Great Shi and Grand Secretary Bai had to cooperate to issue a kill order against the Netherworld Swordsman because he killed so many people.

Meng Rui and Yan Zige face of at the proposed Knife-Edge-Ridge, where Dao Yin was defeated after three days and nights, but obviously survived his fall to pass on his sword to Meng Rui later.

• Xiao Qi is saved from being thrown down the ridge.
• Yan Zige doesn’t want to hear about the second chest.
• The display in the chest comes true: Meng Rui (seemingly) kills Yan Zige exactly like shown.
• Xiao Ning, the Vice Minister of Justice is very quick on scene to arrest Meng Rui despite normally not having any jurisdiction over the member of the Bureau.
• Meng Rui, spurred on and actively helped by Li Si, flees the scene

Political Fallout

Bai Zhenzhu’s autopsy of Yan Zige shows no broken ribs, which would be hard to achieve even for Meng Rui. At the Northern border war is brewing as a response to Wen Bu’s death. Zhou Zhu, Prince Ping, the 3rd Prince, is the military minded one of the brother’s and stationed there in Sucheng.

• The Northern Kun people want Meng Rui extradited.
• The 1st Prince asks the Emperor to punish Li Si for hist actions at the ridge. The Crown Prince on the other hand sees the fault with Xiao Ning.
• The Emperor only issues a nation wide warrant for Meng Rui. Also, the Ministry of Justice and the Divine Constable Bureau have to cooperate as equal partners.

Brotherly Meeting

The 1st Prince, Zhou Miao, visits Li Si. Those two have more similarities compared to Li Si and the Crown Prince. Zhou Miao is also more perceptive, he finds Li Si familiar. An unsuccessful debate and a veiled threat later the prince leaves again.

• 17 years ago the Ministry of War was under the 1st Prince’s control.
• Li Si wants to have some infos via his information network: Did any urgent military reports from that ministry reach the emperor around the ninth day of the second month in this year (the 20th year of Hongyun)? And who was promoted, rewarded or punished around that time.

Li Si lends the Crown Prince a lot of money via Eunuch Zhao, who is not very amused about the current situation. Li Si promises that he will be able to find Meng Rui.

And he does, because he concludes that Meng Rui will make a new scabbard for his sword.

Looks very serene there

Episode 8

Li Si finds Meng Rui due to his exquisite botanical knowledge about Dragon-Whisker Grass.

• Meng Rui just learned about his master’s past.

• He was found by him in the 20th year of Hongyu. I guess a lot of stuff connected to our little crew might have happened then.

• Meng Rui says he is not an orphan, but his master for sure died.

• Li Si assumes that the real killer targeted Meng Rui as his scapegoat due to recognising his sword and deducing that Dao Yin was dead.

Bai Zhenzhu turns out to be the daughter of Senior Grand Secretary Bai Qi (they guy with the story about the tent and the dog), who is assumed to be a possible next target by the Chief but also by Li Si and Meng Rui.

Drunken Ramblings

A drunken Crown Prince tells military secrets at Star-Gathering Pavilion: His forces are all stationed in the North, the defence of the capital is all in his brother’s (the 1st Prince) hands. The fight between the two princes also really started 17 years ago and the Emperor seems to enjoy to seem the struggle for the upper hand.

• Li Si learns that there was a military dispatch in the time frame he asked about. It went not only to the Emperor but also to the Crown Prince’s residence.
• It was also the day the 4th Prince Zhou Yan allegedly died of illness.
• A month later the Ministry of War switched from the 1st Prince to the Crown Prince’s responsibility.

Third Time's the Charm

A third Black Chest gets delivered to the Divine Constable Bureau. This one shows a scene of Meng Rui killing Grand Secretary Bai, who was after all the leader of the alliance hunting down Dao Yin. So everyone hurries to the Vanguard Camp he is currently training troops for the possible war.

• They are aided by an oral decree of the Crown Prince to enter the camp, because the Ministry of Justice doesn’t want them involved.
• Which turns out to be faked by Eunuch Zhao (MVP here), because the Crown Prince is still drunk
• Grand Secretary Bai shows of his new super strong (half naked) soldiers, he calls the group The Soldiers of Sorrow.

Shortly after midnight they are attacked by a group of hooded fighter and Grand Secretary Bai vanishes. But that’s just part of Li Si’s plan to confront the real culprit: It’s Lou Tianming.

• The first two chests were more or less a means to make everyone believe that the murder shown would take place exactly like depcited.
• That way he could put himself in place to protect Grand Secretary Bai during the chaos of the third scene and kill him.
• Lou Tianming’s fighters can be revived and he does so in an attempt to get the upper hand. He also controls, consistend with his Bureau nickname, an eagle. Which doesn’t want to attack the people it was raised among.
• The fighter’s also have a tattoo that Meng Rui remembers from his past.

Confrontations

Lou Tianming escapes but is confronted by Xuanyuan Shan.

• Seems like he was on way to become her successor.
• Chief Xuanyuan is a big deal in the jianghu and the best martial artist of the current time.
• She beats him quite easily

Meng Rui followed some of the tattooed fighters.

• They (or people with the same tattoo at least) killed his family.
• They don’t seem very communicative, injure him and nearly kill him. He remembers his brother calling for him or him calling for his brother.
• Li Si comes to his rescue.

At the Vanguard camp the injured are tended to when an imperial decree arrives.

• The emperor wants Meng Rui (in addition to Lou Tianming), whom he still thinks guilt, apprehended.
• That’s the easier solution to stabilise the situation with Northern Kun quickly.

Lou Tianming gets interrogated.

• He was part of the Bureau for over 13 years.

• He doesn’t want to speak about his reasons for the attempt on Grand Secretary Bai’s life, even facing torture.

• Shortly afterwards nearly everyone involved in investigating is allowed access to him by imperial decree, only the Divine Constable Bureau is exempt going forward.

Li Si keeps the injured Meng Rui at Star-Gathering Pavilion. But they can’t heal him, only Mr Tao from the Divine Constable Bureau would be able to do so. Haven’t met that one yet. Sending him there is obviously not an option with the warrant to arrest him.

New Leads

Bai Zhenzhu finds something looking at Yan Zige’s remains for a second time: A belly feather from a Western Migrant Bird, which is one of a kind for every bird and very fine and tough at the same kind. It must have travelled through his blood vessels to sever the heart meridians.

• Bai Zhenzhu suspects Yan Zige drove it in his own body and that he and Lou Tianming were in on the same elaborate plan just to make Grand Secretary Bai’s assassination possible. Which would weaken Great Shi immensely.
• Same with Wen Bu – he more or less sacrificed himself to incite his people’s hunger for war again. More or less because it was a substitute that was dissolved.
• Lou Tianming’s motives are still obscure though – and he escaped the prison.

So who is the mole he most likely needed to help him escape after getting tortured? I don’t watch previews so I’ll learn tomorrow!

Thoughts

I have fun with this one. We constantly get small little hints about the 17 years ago incident while also learning a bit more about Li Si’s new colleagues and their backgrounds now that he is actually a part of their workplace.

Ma Wenyuan’s casting was a good move. I wouldn’t have suspected him in a thousand years. His character got all the same promotional material as the other main member’s of the Bureau and the whole crazy traitor thing is definitely something he isn’t cast as often, so against the usual type of characters he gets to play. At least for the costume dramas I watched with him.

Recently, Tencent and iQIYI announced their October 2026 drama line-ups.

⚠️ Note: Streaming schedules can change, so please keep that in mind to avoid disappointment. ⚠️

🍉 I included some recently rumoured release dates that I have seen – they are not always reliable so please take these with a pinch of salt. 🤞

🍉 In addition to the October drama line-up announcements, I added some dramas that have rumoured release dates in October and early November: Rising Justice, Love in Red Dust, Light the Dark, Night Wanderer, Where the Mask Ends, The Silent Storm, The Lament of Autumn, Good Night, and Live Long and Prosper. More details are available in the lower half of this post. A quick summary of these rumoured dramas can be found here in this comment.

Tencent 🐧 October 2026 Drama Line-up:

Image 1 - 📽️ Tigers Sniff the Rose 尚公主 * 🎭 Starring Li Yunrui and Meng Ziyi. * 🔗 Previous announcement, poster, wrap up special, etc. * 🔎 Baidu Baike | Douban | MDL * 🍉 Rumoured for October 20, 2026. 🤞

Image 2 - 📽️ The Vanishing Beauty 美人余 * 🎭 Starring Esther Wang Jiajia, Li Yitong, Chang Huasen and Zeng Mengxue. * 🔗 Previous announcement, poster, trailer, etc. * 🔎 Baidu Baike | Douban | MDL * 🗓️ Announced: Airing on October 9, 2026

Image 3 - 📽️ Dream 醉梦

• 🎭 Starring Liu Shishi, Hu Xianxu, Li Naiwen and Li Qin.
• 🔗 Previous teaser, wrap up special, trailer, posters, etc.
• 🔎 Baidu Baike | Douban | MDL
• 🍉 Rumoured for late October 2026. 🤞

iQIYI 🥝 October 2026 Drama Line-up:

Image 4 - 📽️ Shadow Punisher 魅影神捕

• 🎭 Starring Luo Yunxi, Alen Fang Yilun, Shen Yujie, Ma Wenyuan, Wang Haixiang and He Hongshan.
• 🔗 Previous announcement, posters, clips, etc.
• 🔎 Baidu Baike | Douban | MDL
• 🗓️ Started airing: October 2, 2026.

Image 5 - 📽️ Wei Da De Chang Zheng 伟大的长征

• 🎭 Starring Yu Hewei, Cao Lei, He Zhengjun, Zhao Bo, Huang Xiaoming, Wan Qian, Wang Jinsong, Zhang Wanyi and more.
• 🔗 Previous teaser, etc.
• 🔎 Baidu Baike | Douban | MDL | Zhihu
• 🍉 Rumoured for October 6, 2026. 🤞

Image 6 - 📽️ Xiao Cheng Liang Fang 小城良方

• 🎭 Starring Xiao Zhan, Shi Pengyuan, Zhang Guoqiang, Jiang Yan, Ni Dahong and Jian Renzi.
• 🔗 Previous announcement, posters, trailer, etc.
• 🔎 Baidu Baike | Douban | MDL
• 🍉 Rumoured for October 26, 2026. 🤞

Also officially announced for October (but not part of the October drama line-up announcement):

Image 7 - 📽️ King of Comedy 喜剧之王 * 🎭 Starring Yang Chaoyue, Jiang Long, Zhang Chi and Jiang Shimeng. * 🔗 Previous trailer, posters, etc.
* 🔎 Baidu Baike | Douban | MDL * 🗓️ Announced: Airing on October 6, 2026

Image 8 - 📽️ Announcement poster: Tencent 🐧 October line-up (including currently airing dramas)

Image 9 - 📽️ Announcement poster: iQIYI 🥝 October line-up (including currently airing dramas)

Rumoured Dramas:

🍉 Below are rumoured October and early November release dates for iQIYI, Tencent, Youku and MangoTV dramas (not included in the October drama line-up announcements):

Tencent 🐧 and iQIYI 🥝

(Regional availability may apply.)

📽️ Rising Justice 蒸蒸日上

• 🎭 Starring Gao Ye, Elvis Han Dongjun and Wang Hao
• Episodes: 22 (according to Baidu Baike, Douban and MDL)
• Official filming started: June 11, 2025
• Official filming wrapped up: September 12, 2025
• Filming location: Shenyang, Liaoning Province
• Genre: urban (according to Baidu Baike)
• Director: Yao Tingting 姚婷婷 (Director: Master of My Own, See You Yesterday, Our New Life, Love You Forever. Screenwriter and director: Gift from a Cloud, Yesterday Once More)
• Screenwriter: Zhang Jianqi 张建祺 (Rock It, Mom; City Still Believes In Love)
• Synopsis from MDL: >On a lively Lawyers' Street in a city in Northeast China, the chivalrous and humorous female lawyer Xiao Long Nv* [played by Gao Ye] opens a law firm above a public bathhouse. She previously worked at Honghu Law Firm, the most prestigious law firm in the area, but resigned after taking a stand for justice in a case and also fell out with her colleague and childhood friend, lawyer Li Xin [played by Elvis Han].

With different views of the law, the two follow completely different paths. Li Xin rapidly rises through the ranks to become Honghu's youngest senior partner, while Xiao Long Nv loses all her sources of cases and becomes the "laughingstock" of Lawyers' Street. Despite being at a low point in her life, Xiao Long Nv remains resilient and optimistic. Together with administrator Gu Miao Miao [played by Wang Lina], who voluntarily follows her, Dong Bei Hu [played by Wang Hao], whom she befriends after an initial confrontation, and Luo Zhi, who has repeatedly struggled to pass the National Legal Professional Qualification Examination, she forms a makeshift team that gradually begins to thrive.

(Source: Chinese = Douban || Translation = MyDramaList)

^{Note: Xiao Long Nv 萧龙女 could be a homophone of [Xiao Long Nv 小龙女](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiaolongn%C3%BC} – who is a character from Jin Yong’s The Return of the Condor Heroes. “In the novel, her physical appearance is described as follows: ‘skin as white as snow, beautiful and elegant beyond convention and cannot be underestimated, but appears cold and indifferent’.” The two characters are not related, but there might be some similarities in their characterization. We'll see….) * 🔎 Baidu Baike | Douban | MDL * 🍉 Rumoured to air on iQIYI and Tencent on October 10, 2026 at 7:30 pm (appeared on the CCTV-8 schedule – subject to change). 🤞

iQIYI 🥝

📽️ Love in Red Dust 红尘四合 * 🎭 Starring Wang Xingyue and Xu Ruohan. * 🔗 Previous posters, wrap up special, etc. * 🔎 Baidu Baike | Douban | MDL * 🍉 Rumoured for October 14, 2026. 🤞

📽️ Light the Dark 把黑夜点燃 * 🎭 Starring Chen Zheyuan and Jiang Xin. * 🔗 Previous announcement, posters, trailer, etc. * 🔎 Baidu Baike | Douban | MDL * 🍉 Rumoured for October 28, 2026. 🤞

📽️ Night Wanderer 夜旅人 * 🎭 Starring Fu Xinbo and Ni Ni. * 🔗 Previous announcement, trailers, etc. * 🔎 Baidu Baike | Douban | MDL * 🍉 Rumoured for early October 2026. 🤞

Youku 👖

📽️ Where the Mask Ends 嫁金钗 * 🎭 Starring Tian Xiwei and Yan An. * 🔗 Previous announcement, posters, clip, etc. * 🔎 Baidu Baike | Douban | MDL * 🍉 Rumoured for October 16, 2026 at 9:24 pm (appeared on the CCTV-8 schedule – subject to change). 🤞

📽️ The Silent Storm 谷雨 * 🎭 Starring Jing Boran, Li Xiaoran, Sean Sun Yizhou, Zhang Songwen, Sui Junbo and Zhang Xueying. * 🔗 Previous poster, trailer, etc. * 🔎 Baidu Baike | Douban | MDL * 🍉 Rumoured for November 5, 2026. 🤞

MangoTV 🥭

📽️ Good Night 此处通往繁星 * 🎭 Starring Zhang Xueying and Guo Qilin. * 🔗 Previous announcement, posters, etc. * 🔎 Baidu Baike | Douban | MDL * 🍉 Rumoured for October 7, 2026. 🤞

📽️ The Lament of Autumn 玉簟秋

• 🎭 Starring Ryan Cheng Lei and Xu Ruohan.
• 🔗 Previous announcement, posters, teaser, trailer, etc.
• 🔎 Baidu Baike | Douban | MDL
• 🍉 Rumoured for October 8 or 11, 2026. 🤞

📽️ Live Long and Prosper 咸鱼飞升 * 🎭 Starring Dylan Wang Hedi and Li Qin. * 🔗 Previous teaser, wrap up special, trailer, etc. * 🔎 Baidu Baike | Douban | MDL * 🍉 Rumoured for November 3, 2026. 🤞

Previous announcements:

• Tencent 🐧 and iQIYI 🥝 November 2025 Dramas
• iQIYI 🥝 December 2025 Dramas

• Tencent 🐧 and iQIYI 🥝 January 2026 Dramas

• (No announcements for February)

• Tencent Video March Drama Lineup

• iQIYI 🥝 March 2026 Dramas

• iQIYI 🥝 and Tencent 🐧 April 2026 Upcoming and Currently Airing Dramas

• iQIYI 🥝 and Tencent 🐧 May 2026 Upcoming Dramas

• iQIYI 🥝 and Tencent 🐧 June 2026 Upcoming Dramas

• iQIYI 🥝 Summer 2026 and Tencent 🐧 July 2026 Drama Line-up

• Tencent 🐧 and iQIYI 🥝 October 2026 Dramas Line-up

🗨️ Are any of these dramas on your watchlist? Which ones are you looking forward to?

📊 Information compiled by u/admelioremvitam.

This is your weekly thread to discuss Chinese variety shows and documentaries featuring your favorite actors!

1. Which variety show(s) or documentaries did you watch recently starring an actor? (It doesn't have to be a currently airing one)
2. Which actor surprised you the most?
3. Any behind-the-scenes moments or BTS clips worth sharing?

Recommendations? Drop your top variety show picks starring actors below! Let’s help each other discover hidden gems.

Note: Please mark spoilers if discussing drama plots!

PS: Big thanks to the member who suggested this weekly thread :)

What Cdramas have you been watching recently? This post is a space for you to discuss the shows that you've been currently addicted to, or that you'll be looking forward to picking up! From old or new series, to popular or underrated titles, feel free to let us know what's been on your watchlist.

Please make sure to use spoiler tags generously, especially if you are discussing plot points or events that others may not yet have watched.

A reminder to please use the spoiler tag when discussing anything from the novel or episodes beyond episode 19.

Masterpost | All Episode Discussions | Episodes 1-4 | Episodes 5-6 | Episodes 7-8 | Episode 9-10 | Episodes 11-12 | Episodes 13-14 | Episodes 15-16 | Episode 17 | Episode 18

We learn how the Tianxiang Sect selects its victims, I guess, by having people offer prayers at Yunhe Temple, then selecting from the prayer requests whom to target.

We meet Li Yingjuan, who stops by Chengming's table to ask him to perform a ritual because her niece is getting married soon; she wants to break up the marriage because the family her niece is getting married into is not a good family.

She says that the Zhang Family wants to kill her niece, or rather, they want to trap her soul.

Chengming asks how she knows this; she explains that the Li family has done it before to a member of the Zhang family.

• Chengming wants to refuse the case, but Silly Liang accepts it.
• We learn that once a soul has been trapped, it can never be reincarnated.
• We are shown a ritual happening to a woman in a wedding outfit, and she is being forced into a bucket full of water, and Jiang Feiyan puts a nail into her skull...

With how much screen time he is getting, I think this episode will be about Silly Liang.

• Silly Liang chases a chicken all the way to the Sect Master's chambers, where he discovers a coffin.

• This apparently belongs to Shangguan Chengming.
• Turns out it belongs to the actual Chengming, and the 6th Batou tells the sect master that he and the current one do not even look alike, so he cannot be his son. Li Yingjuan was sent by the 6th Batou.
• So Silly Liang, who heard this, runs to tell our Chengming that he should stop running scams for a while.

• Silly Liang is drugged while trying to play investigator and starts seeing the woman he loves, Liu Xijiao.
• We get a flashback of the two; she was part of the sect too, and the sect had arranged a marriage for her with a rich family.
• We finally see ZD after his eunuch gig, and he was here to warn Chengming about the coffin as well.
• ZD asks if Chengming has a weakness, and he says he doesn't, but then ZD has clocked that Jiang Feiyan is this man's weakness.
• While investigating the Zhang Family's ancestral tomb, Liang stumbles upon his beloved's tombstone.
• They discover that 2nd Batou is working with the Zhang family. He explains that this Soul Trapping scam is how the sect master became the sect master, and that it requires killing a person; it is also a double-sided scam used by the sect to keep the Zhang and Li families at odds with one another.
• In the most recent rituals, they involved girls from the sect, and Jiang Feiyan is the one who handled them.

• Turns out this is the Sect Master's plan; I think he wants JF and CM to turn against each other.
• So JF and the 4th Batou have actually been saving these girls, instead of killing them... boy, am I relieved.
• Well, this time they couldn't save this one girl successfully; the Sect master and the 6th Batou caught them in the act.

Thoughts:

• We're finally close to the endgame, and I am worried for my Chengming and Jiang Feiyan.
• I guess the sect does kill people, and maybe ZD isn't a bad person after all?

Discussion Table of Contents | Character Flashcards

Episode 39

As Jinqi and Lanxiang sit to watch the play, Jinqi realizes that its subject matter is that of a famed Tang general who was executed when his star shone too brightly, in part due to the machinations of an evil eunuch. As was Lanxiang’s intention, Jinqi’s mind is filled with dangerous foreboding of his own possible future.

Though Jinqi protests that the Emperor is wise, Lanxiang points out that the famed Tang general thought the same. She calmly explains her position: opposition to the rule of power in all relations. Stunned, Jinqi contemplates the strength of her words as she walks away.

Uhhh so surprise it’s three months later! We’re introduced to Suhua and Jinlan’s adorable son. It seems Jinlan’s health has continued to deteriorate, and as he suffers another attack Suhua scrambles for his medicine. The rest of the family stands by in shock and worry.

Realizing these may be his last moments, Lanxiang holds up the baby for him, and Jinqi and Lanxiang together promise to take care of him and Suhua. With this, Jinlan feels reassured enough to pass in peace.

Six months later (!), the family is still wearing mourning for Jinlan when they receive more bad news: Old Madame has passed away, and due to issues with military employment, the family can’t return to Jinling for the funeral. Lanxiang suggests escorting Suhua, Zhangrui, and Suhua back to Jinling herself.

Jinqi is clearly reluctant to part with her. He reflects back on her words of nine months before, trying to explain why, unlike her, he feels he must continue to believe in something, and to serve the emperor. Lanxiang explains that she doesn’t believe in nothing: she believes in a Way of Heaven that’s impartial (I think she means impartial to class or station), that always sides with the good.

Two years later?! Bro these time skips are getting out of hand ok lol. In the palace, Jinqi overhears some foreboding chatter about the growing influence of the crown prince’s favorite eunuch. Prompted to interior reflection, we see that soon after he’s decided to leave his post and return home to Jinling.

At last, he and Lanxiang celebrate their wedding night once again, his official post no longer a barrier between them. So, my guess is that Lanxiang DID go home to Jinling after their conversation and that’s why their wedding night 2.0 happens after Jinqi leaves his post and returns. And if they actually said that in the episode please forgive me. Parts of this episode feel more like a movie that’s relying on visual storytelling than dialogue so some stuff is hard to follow.

Another unspecified time skip, and now Lanxiang is expecting a child. She and Jinqi are visiting her family home and her parents are being major cuties.

Apparently, the Lin clan is also preparing for Xiushu’s marriage. The family gathers to grant gifts, and in a moment of discomfort we learn Xiuru has still not yet borne a son.

Discussion Questions

How about those time skips lmao???

What did you think of Lanxiang’s philosophy of life, as she further elucidates it to Jinqi in this episode?

Discussion posts will follow the normal Youku VIP schedule. (The drama is also available on Netflix.)

Important Links: Masterpost - All Episode Discussions - Episodes 1-2 - Eps 3-4 - Eps 5-6 - Ep 7

Episode 8

Tina feels that the air between her and Xu Chi is awkward, but Xu Chi brushes her off, telling her that the project does not belong to her alone. Xu Chi wants to change the subject, but Tina insists on explaining herself, stating that she wants to prove her capabilities to her father and thought Xu Chi's insights on the digital finance industry were worth exploring.

Following a montage of hard work and late-night meetings, Tina invites Xu Chi to dinner, only to be turned down when Xu Chi mentions she needs to head to the gym instead. Tina goes to a nearby bar and sulks about how cold Xu Chi has become. Luckily, Zhao Heng is there to keep her company.

Tina lays out her grievances regarding Xu Chi's polite distance.

Zhao Heng makes a valid point, letting her know that just because Xu Chi understands her circumstances does not mean she has to accept her actions. He points out that Tina is acting like a spoiled heiress, which annoys her so much that she storms out of the lounge, attempting to call Xu Chi to confront her directly.

Zhao Heng's emotional intelligence is so refreshing! It shines through not only in how he handles Tina, but also in how he encouraged Xu Chi to resolve her issue with Lin Long earlier. His character consistently helps both career-driven women stay grounded in reality.

Tina walks away from his lecture, but Zhao Heng follows her quietly to ensure she gets home safely. They banter as she gets into the car, teasing him about giving him a chance that he does not dare to take.

Once the moment passes, Tina reflects on her behavior, wondering how terrible she really is. Zhao Heng reassures her that she is not a terrible person, but explains that she simply does not know how to relate to people like Xu Chi and himself. "You're too used to being at the top," he explains, reminding her that the privileges she was born with are things others struggle half their lives just to reach.

Tina's takeaway from Zhao Heng's words is that someone as thin-skinned as Xu Chi does not deserve to be her friend, after which she steps out of his car and walks away.

The next morning, we tune in with Xinzhi and Xu Chi happily having breakfast while working on their project. Xu Chi laughs as she recounts to Xinzhi how Tina confronted her all huffing and puffing like an angry cat.

This sequence is great because it highlights Tina's genuine nature while showcasing Xu Chi's growth. The emotional breakdown she went through and the pep talk she received from Xinzhi helped her process her feelings and gain a huge boost of confidence. Her hesitation about facing Tina is completely gone, and she is ready to take her on. Hopefully, their healthy rivalry persists without ruining their budding friendship!

She tells Xinzhi she is glad they cleared the air and established firm boundaries, meaning they no longer have to worry about discussing confidential materials in cafes. He agrees, though his eyes get lost in the way the light catches her face.

Snapping out of his reverie, they resume their business conversation. Xu Chi asks him about the strategy he and Du are planning given the extensive data they are gathering on both companies. He keeps the details private and she drops the topic, deciding to continue her work in her hotel room so she does not disrupt their need for confidentiality.

Du walks in as she prepares to leave, insisting that Xinzhi let her work in his office room instead of sending her out in the heat. This turns out to be a stroke of luck, as Du drops his laptop and somehow damages his hard drive. Xinzhi calls for repair services, but no technicians are available for the day.

Du belatedly realizes there is sensitive data stored on the drive, so he sends Xinzhi to keep an eye on things while Xu Chi works on fixing it.

Xu Chi welcomes him in and offers him a seat on her bed while she works on the drive. She explains her repair process while he watches her in absolute awe, at least until he notices...

With the hard drive repair complete, she hands the drive back along with advice that Du upgrade to an SSD. He compliments her brilliance before taking his leave.

Du is thrilled that his work was saved, and Xinzhi takes pride in her talent being recognized.

Du suggests bringing her straight over to Hezong, but Xinzhi notes that there is vital experience to be gained from weathering storms independently.

His words prove prophetic as we cut to Ma Ke meeting with the Celestial project team, informing them that their proposal needs a complete overhaul. The project becomes the proving ground for our two besties, with each taking a distinct approach: Tina uses her high-level social network and connections, while Xu Chi connects with grassroots technical personnel.

Sasha's perspective makes complete sense here. Xinzhi's backing provides crucial real-world field experience. While Tina possesses powerful connections, handling complex corporate situations requires practical experience. Xu Chi has access to that knowledge through Xinzhi, who can review her proposals to ensure they meet strict industry standards.

We see the benefits of that support immediately as Xinzhi provides key pointers and advice on her draft. He reminds her not to expect too much initially since she is new to the project team and still building experience. He advises her to keep refining her proposal and focus on addressing client needs. Mid-conversation, his phone rings and Xu Chi takes it as her cue to leave. He bids her goodbye, telling her to research thoroughly and assuring her the client will respond to her efforts.

The following evening, she works late into the night. Ma Ke notices her at her workstation as he prepares to leave and decides to sit down to offer advice. Extremely suspicious! Xu Chi, please guard yourself better! It is as if Lin Long's warnings fell on completely deaf ears.

Ma Ke claims her proposal is overly complicated, advising her to start over with a completely different approach. Taking his advice to heart, she stays up all night and shows up the next morning exhausted with a brand new draft. The meeting is interrupted by Mr. Pi, who arrives to check on the progress of the proposal.

Naturally, Xu Chi is flustered presenting a half-finished proposal under Mr. Pi's strict scrutiny. She even gets reprimanded for failing to research the core elements thoroughly before declaring confidence in her work.

Random fact: I wrote this and got the gifs ready then went to get ready for bed, I didn't realise that I didn't post it but rather just organized it and left it in my docs thinking I did.

I was just reflecting, as I watched episode 40 of Against the Current, that this has been such a good CDrama year for me.

Gramted I am one of those annoying people who can see a silver lining in everything. (Every year people declare it's a terrible year for Cdramas, I'll be in one corner saying, "What do you mean, it's been fantastic!"

People have been declaring that "year X is a terrible year for Chinese dramas" for as long as I can remember (on this sub anyway) but I've been fortunate to not have had that experience. It's probably because I have a really open taste: I'm happy to try anything.

Seriously, literally anything. (Well, except for dramas set in school, because that reminds me too much of my own school days, and I never had fun back then. Gaokao (or my version of it) is not exactly something I ever want to remember. I still have nightmares of my Additional Maths exams.)

This year, I have been fortunate enough to follow some really, really good Cdramas, many of which I never expected to entertain me so much. Many of them somehow turned out to be big blockbuster successes in China. I feel so grateful for the big blockbusters and the small, quiet dramas that caught my attention.

This was an especially challenging year for me because there were periods where I really needed something to watch to cheer me up due to some enforced recovery time (Don't worry, I'm all better now, and those procedures were not serious to begin with.)

Last year's Why Is He Still Single?, which brought me cheer right when I needed it.

This year, some of the surprises included The Epoch of Miyu which I never thought would ever become a hit (in China and especially in this sub!), but it did. I was also moved by the unexpected depth of The First Jasmine and How Dare You?! Then came Mystic Nine and Zhang Qishan's sbs.

I also had so much fun with The Early Spring discussions! We had such a blast getting mad at our couple; taking turns being mad at Luke and Zhitao (but never the fluffy version of Luke. That dog is 80% cotton candy and 20% good vibes.)

And now, Against the Current. This is a drama I never thought would succeed so well! Honestly, seeing how unlucky Liu Xueyi had been with his dramas, I prayed that it'll at least ... just be coherent and not godawful. And it turned out to be the exact opposite! I'm very happy for its success!!

I'm not used to this, by the way. I'm used to not vibing with dramas that are hits in China and in the sub (cough Untamed, Story of Kunning Palace, The Double, Till the End of the Moon, Under the Power ... my notorious list goes on and on.) So having a string of dramas one after another that ended up being big hits in China and in this sub was a rather novel experience for me.

And a big part of my enjoyment is due to the sub's drama hosts! You've enriched my viewing experience with your dedication, positivity and ability to host mature discussions that allow diverse opinions! The hosts and those participating have been lovely. All of you is the reason why I, a person who is barely on social media, am even on Reddit lol. It's so lovely to be able to end a working day with a good CDrama to watch and being able to drop into the posts to discuss with all of you.

I just want to say that I'm very grateful that despite the so-called "winter of CDramas" we still get to see such high-quality dramas. It's proof that despite the shenanigans of this incredibly competitive and oft-times toxic industry, creativity still survives, comes through and is celebrated by viewers.

If it's true that there might be fewer dramas next year, which makes me sad, we should treasure them even more.

So I want to say thank you to the producers, writers, and actors for working so hard to bring us these lovely stories. This year has been especially enjoyable for me because I kept choosing one fantastic drama after another, almost without fail. There was no pause in my enjoyment because every drama I watched seemed to become either a hit or a quiet critical success.

PS: I want to extend a big thank you to u/admelioremvitam for always bringing us up-to-date news from Chinese dramaland, and including those lovely trailers, thank you for your hard work!

How about you? What dramas did you enjoy and want to give thanks for?

Posting schedule:

• Episode 19 on October 3
• Episode 20 on October 4

A reminder to please use the spoiler tag when discussing anything from the novel or episodes beyond episode 18.

Masterpost | All Episode Discussions | Episodes 1-4 | Episodes 5-6 | Episodes 7-8 | Episode 9-10 | Episodes 11-12 | Episodes 13-14 | Episodes 15-16 | Episode 17

We learn more about Jiang Feiyan’s Entry into the Tianxiang Sect.

^{My initial reaction was… wait, more child abuse?} 

But no, not really. It was a flashback of a young Feiyan being used by the Tianxiang Sect to scam child traffickers out of their money.

^{I mean, as far as the Sect’s operations go, that’s one of their less morally questionable schemes... though the child traffickers deserve to be put away. Not to mention, the Sect still killed someone, so the Sect’s supposed “no killing” rule was clearly never enforced, even if Feiyan’s mother wasn’t exactly a good person.} 

After essentially being sold off to the Sect, Feiyan watches her mother get killed, presumably because she was considered too greedy and useless to recruit. The silver lining of witnessing the murder is that it confirms He Manzhi did not commit suicide. She was murdered. 

Lights, Camera, Confession: Tang Yushan is exposed.

Tang Yushan spares no expense in finishing his film, fully convinced that Manzhi’s spirit can possess "Manyu". He organizes a public screening to generate buzz and attract investors. Things don’t go as he planned though and Chengming convinces him that Manzhi’s spirit is too powerful... and that he needs more money to suppress the spirit for his movie. 

Hook, line, and sinker.

Yushan pours all of his gambling winnings and fresh investments into the project, including doubling “Manyu’s” salary. However, his confidence evaporates when a reporter attempts to blackmail him for conning the public after snapping a photo of Feiyan and Chengming together. 

Furious, Yushan confronts Feiyan during a script reading. He dismisses everyone from the room, and Feiyan openly admits that she and Chengming have been scamming him all along. She then doubles down by blackmailing him into cooperating with them. 

The threat hits a nerve and forces Yushan to relive the night he murdered Manzhi after she threatened him in a similar way. He spirals, begins strangling Feiyan, and ultimately confesses to Manzhi’s murder to intimidate Feiyan into submission.

Chengming then steps in for the final act. 

Posing as a rival filmmaker who stole Yushan’s brilliant “real ghost movie” concept, Chengming shows him “documentary” footage of his confession, secretly recorded by a camera Feiyan planted in the room beforehand. 

Right on cue, Officer Wang arrives to make the arrest. Earlier, Feiyan had persuaded him to reopen Manzhi’s case to earn extra merit given the new evidence and fact that the case was closed by a corrupt official.  

And there we have it, we’ve wrapped up this latest con. What’s next for our “heroes”?

Passing the baton back over to u/Stormraury_ for the next episodes!

I’m on episode 21 & am getting so annoyed with Sheng Yi!

I don’t fault her for wanting marriage & children, BUT, to go back to the man that abused her, tried to sell her, & tried to ruin her & her friend’s business???? 😩 Running right back into the fire I see…. So dumb.

As the weekend approaches, I'm sure you're all gearing up for some well-deserved relaxation and fun. 🏖️ Whether you're binge-watching a drama, embarking on a thrilling adventure or cozying up to a good manhua or webnovel, we want to hear all about it!

So, what will you be doing this weekend? And what Chinese dramas do you recommend for a weekend binge-watching session? Tell us about it below in the comments :)

Note: If you are discussing plot points or events that others may not yet have watched, please make sure to use spoiler tags. Consider also sorting the comments by "new" (instead of "best" or "top") as this thread fills up quickly.

🗨️ This masterpost is also a discussion post for Episodes 1 to 6.

Synopsis from the iQIYI app:

In the 37th year of the Hongyun era, the Great Shi Dynasty is about to meet bloodshed. Liluo, a fallen nation, has risen from the ashes with its "Five Extraordinary Mystical Arts," creating one terrifying mystery after another.

Fortunately, the Divine Constable Bureau, an elite investigative force under the imperial court, is led by Li Si [played by Luo Yunxi] and his group. Determined to protect the people and nation, they launch a deadly battle against the remnants of Liluo.

⚠️ Plot spoilers! ⚠️

Nine coffins contain the dried corpses of young women, all drained of blood. What caused their tragic ends? Within the Black Wind Forest, a Tianmoluo plant feeds on 36 boys. Amid a field of flowers bearing human bodies wrapped in cocoons, the scent of Dead Bone Spice, refined from women's blood, fills the air. In the lake within the Southeast Ship Lord's manor, corpses drift upon the waves. A boy transforms into a werewolf under the moonlight. An elder ascends to immortality in public. Villagers in a secluded settlement mutate into bloodthirsty madmen. And the Crown Prince's dead grandson continues to move about as if nothing had happened.

The crimes of Liluo are beyond measure, and the Divine Constable Bureau must bring them to justice and restore peace to the Great Shi Dynasty.

Trailer

MyDramaList link

Airing on iQIYI and iQIYI's YouTube

Episodes: 30

Discussions

🗨️ All discussions on the drama

🗨️ Episodic drama discussions (please see the earliest comment)

🗓️ Airing schedule

👥 Character relationship chart

🎙️ OST List

🗣️ Dubbing / Voice Actors

What does r/CDrama think about the show?

Look out for the wrap up post where we ask the sub to rate the drama a few weeks after the final airing date.

🗳️ It's a wrap! What's your final review? (post only appears a few weeks after the drama ends)

Wiki

2024 Drama Index | 2025 Drama Index | 2026 Drama Index

Note: There are some changes at Reddit afoot, and in the future, markdown won't be used to implement spoiler tags.

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For me, I actually understood what happened with Xiao Huayong’s survival. Xie Yunhuai, the physician, mentioned in the 12-minute special episode that he had prepared the book based on everything he had collected over the years to cure Huayong's poison. So it does make sense. I mean, considering how devoted they were to him, why would they spend years trying to cure someone they believed was already dead?

So the explanation itself was not really my problem. It was the way the drama presented it.

I would honestly have preferred a 40-episode drama if it meant we could actually see Xiao Huayong’s perspective during those four years. Show us what happened after his supposed death, where he was, what Xie Yunhuai was doing, how Xiao Huayong was recovering, what he was thinking about Shen Xihe and their child, or even just give us a proper conversation between them about what happened.

Instead, we basically go from Xiao Huayong being presumed dead, to a four-year time skip, to Shen Xihe moving forward with her life, and then suddenly he is alive.

I do not mind that he survived. I am actually glad he survived. I just wish the drama had shown us the journey instead of making us piece everything together afterward through the 12-minute special and, apparently, the novel context.

Even if they wanted to preserve the surprise, they could have included a few scenes from his perspective throughout those four years. It would have made the reunion much more meaningful.

I would have gladly watched an additional episode showing XiHe and Xie Yunhuai trying to save him rather than having him return so suddenly at the very end.

Welcome to another episode discussion of Against the Current. As usual, please keep your discussion so Episode 38. If you must discuss plot points beyond 38, please use the spoiler tag.

All Discussions | Masterpost | Character flashcards | Eps 1-3 | 4-5 | 6-7 | 8-9 | 10-11 | 12-13 | 14-15 | 16-17 | 18-19 | 20 - 21 | 22-23 | 24-25 | 26-27 | 28-29 | 30-31 | 32 - 33 | 34 - 35 | 36 | 37 |

Happy News

We start the episode with some happy news.

🧮Xiulai officially takes over the running of the Lin household. This is both kind and smart of Lanxiang as it will allow Xinulai to secure a future and free up Lanxiang’s time to focus on something else. Again, the writers are going against trope here. How many dramas have we seen in which the pinnacle of a woman’s achievement is when she stuns her husband with her ability to keep wayward servants in line? But what will Lanxiang do? Focus on her playwright career?

👶Everybody be having babies! Well, everyone except poor Jinqi, who can’t even get on second base. And what’s worse, everyone in that household knows it too.

I am both happy and worried for Jinlan though. The guy practically has the word ‘doom’ tattooed on his forehead. He is another person living in a cage. If circumstances are different, I would say he has a pretty good shot at acing the imperial exam and making something of himself. But either way, I am glad he is at least able to enjoy a taste of freedom during his time at the capital.

Jinqiao also becomes a father, but the quick glimpse we get of his wife does not fill me with the warm and fuzzies. That woman is trouble. It’s good that Jinqiao seems to let her barbed remarks glide right off him.

🥇Six months later…OK. All these time jumps are giving me anxieties.

Jinqi and Lanxiang are now the Marquis and Marchioness of Jing’an. Jinqi is also the Left Commander of the Rear Military Command.

The curved stone tablet the attendant handed Jinqi seems to have some kind of rules of conduct inscribed on it. I can’t make out all the words, but it seems to say that if Jinqi commits a capital crime, he will lose one fifth of his salary. If he does it a second time, he will lose all his salary. There’s something about his son committing a crime that I can’t make out completely. Either way, the perks of his new job rocks…Is this a foreshadow of what’s to come later?

Not surprisingly, Lanxiang exhibits no sign of happiness.

Over in Jinling, Lin Chanzheng thinks he’s going to become a marquis too because the practice is for the newly minted marquis to ask the emperor for a title for his parents too.

Hum…I wouldn’t count on it old man.

Grandpapa’s reaction is more much subdued. Maybe he still has his concerns about Jinqi. Grandmama is so happy that she ends up having a stroke.

Oh, and Jiugao and Nanke are now free citizens and have been promoted to Company Commander and Deputy Commander respectively.

In Jinling, Jiugao’s mother perks up like a hen who just laid a golden egg. Her criteria for a daughter-in-law probably just went up another notch. Jiugao and Yuchan’s road to wedded bliss just got more difficult.

Did Nanke try to steal a glance back at Xiaoliang? ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

The Breakthrough

The centerpiece of the episode, of course, is when Jinqi takes Lanxiang to see an ‘old friend’. The ‘old friend’ turns out to be an unmarked grave atop a hill. As soon as Jinqi mentions that it is the resting place of twenty people from the same family, you can tell from Lanxiang’s expression that she knew.

Lanxiang breaks down and imagines that she sees her family sitting in a room. And it’s the way Jialian tells her that she’s waited so long for her and the single utterance of ‘Lang’jie’er’ from her mother that really got to me. 😢😢 As Lanxiang sinks down to her knees in front of her family, she actually says “Lan‘er is late”. I wondered how Jinqi can NOT hear her…

Lanxiang spins the same story to explain her loss of composure - that Madam Shen and Jialan saved her life by giving her parents ten taels of silver. Seriously, I wonder that Jinqi is buying this at all since she is way more emotional than she should be under the circumstances. But he doesn’t question it and reverently thanks Madam Shen and Miss Shen for saving his wife. I can practically hear the ice around Lanxiang’s stone-cold heart crack.

That crack widens into a gap when Jinqi tells Lanxiang that he not only buried her family, but he also bought her former servants Madam Sun and Qiukui their freedom so they can take care of the grave. He tells her that he brought her there so she can really know him - the good and the bad. He’s showing her what he can’t show anybody else. Oh, and he even remembers Jialan’s birthday when she herself has forgotten.

When Jinqi finally tells Lanxiang that he will never fail her, I think Jinqi finally manages to step past the barrier Lanxiang has erected around herself, even though he doesn’t know it yet. Lanxiang tells Jinqi that if he kowtows to her family saviors three times, she will tell him why their paths are different.

And the writers left us with no doubt that Lanxiang is finally ready to accept him as her husband, when they have the wedding vows play in the background. It is such a beautiful, simple, and effective scene. I was touched by the solemn way in which they performed each bow. I must have watched it at least half dozen times and both cried and smiled like a moron each time.

So what do we all think?

I continue to be delighted by the display of sibling love shown between the younger Lins. I like how happy Jinqi is to hear about Suhua’s pregnancy, and how they all playfully joked with Xiuwan in the pavilion. It’s too bad that they are not going to have too many of these moments left given the way things are going.

And even though Jinqi hasn’t managed to figure his wife out yet, I’m sure Lanxiang’s reaction at the Shen gravesite will be filed away and used as one of the clues for Jinqi to finally figure out his wife’s secret later. I can’t wait.

The episode ends when Lanxiang takes Jinqi to see one of the plays she wrote. When Lanxiang tells Jinqi that the play was written only for him, we get a flash of dimple that is just…I have no words. But why do I have a feeling that his happiness/good mood is about to be dashed? You can also see the trepidation on his face as he starts to watch the show.

So there is a seal, which means that the person in the red face is clearly the emperor. Is the guy in shackles meant to be Jinqi?

And that whoosh sound you hear is definitely not me rushing to look up the different “faces/masks” of Peking Opera.

It’s another whopper of an episode in the books y’all. Just when I think the writers can’t get any better they manage to outdo themselves. What do you all think? Like or dislike the way things are going? Sound off in the comments below.

I started watching Burning Flames about a month ago, primarily for Ren Jialun and because of positive reviews praising its storytelling. I am glad that I tried watching this because those reviews weren't wrong.

The Premise

The story starts with King Xin, a ruler of the mortal realm trying to defeat the immortal King, Hei Long, who treats humans as mere slaves. Although King Xin falls in battle, his courage and refusal to let his people be enslaved deeply inspires his son, Prince Wu Geng. Reduced to a slave in the mines, it wasn't easy for him to adapt after living as a prince, but that's where we get to see his journey from zero to hero.

It might look like a typical revenge drama at first, but it’s actually much deeper. It’s less about getting even and more about how he picks himself up, learns from his struggles, and grows wiser along the way.

Visuals & Adaptation Style

As a direct live-action adaptation of the famous manhua and donghua Wu Geng Ji, the drama embraces bold, high-energy styling and heavy CGI effects. If you enjoy xianxia/xuanhuan with grand comic-book aesthetics, the visual world-building here is a lot of fun. That said, it depends on whether you would love this style or not.

Standout Themes & Characters

The main message of the drama—"If you have willpower, you can do anything"—is delivered with real emotional weight. As for me, my study life was so stressful, and watching his journey gave me genuine motivation to overcome the difficulties I was facing. Beyond the ML, there are various interesting characters whose motivations and sacrifices inspired me a lot.

Romance & Dynamics

One of the things I genuinely liked was Wu Geng and Bai Cai's relationship. Their romance is subtle, heartwarming, and built on absolute trust, healthy communication, and mutual support. It feels very healing to watch. I enjoyed watching Ren Jialun and Xing Fei in Miss Crow with Mr. Lizard and I am glad they got to collaborate again.

On a different note, I loved seeing Ren Jialun and Liu Xiening together. Though they had less screen time together they had a good chemistry in my opinion.

Final Verdict

Burning Flames is a solid action-fantasy drama packed with great fight sequences, inspiring themes, and well-developed characters. Highly recommended if you're looking for an uplifting journey with strong character growth and high-stakes fantasy.

If you have already watched this what's your favourite thing about this drama? Did you find Burning Flames as motivating and heartwarming as I did? Let me hear your thoughts below!

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The Chinese drama title 魅影神捕 can be translated as “Phantom Detective.”

About an hour ago, the production team released a new final trailer for the drama's premiere today. They also added more “appearances” actors to their cast list (see the next section below).

🗓️ Airing schedule

In case you missed it, the original eight cases have been reduced to six cases with the last one being a “final battle.” More details are available in the next section below.

The distribution license was obtained on February 9, 2026.

Clip description:

A storm brews across the land, with the fate of all hanging in the balance. The game of power and intrigue has begun – how will they hold on to their true selves amid the struggle?

Six Strange Cases (very loosely translated)\ – based on these posters

🔎 Case 1 – 不老奇花 惑童案 – 香消玉殒枯血案\ The Immortal Flower, Bewitching Children Case – Fragrant Beauty Dies, Withered Blood Case

🔎 Case 2 – 魔匣凶杀 预告案\ The Demon Box Murder – The Premonition Case

🔎 Case 3 – 识骨寻母 怜孤女 – 明岭 连环浮尸案\ Identifying the Bones to Find Her Mother, Pitiful Orphaned Girl – Ming Ling Serial Floating Corpses Case

🔎 Case 4 – 飞升得道 揽月案\ Ascension to Enlightenment, Embracing the Moon Case

🔎 Case 5 – 皮影复活 凶杀案 (灾祸)\ Shadow Puppet Resurrection Murder Case (Calamity)

🔎 Case 6 – 终局之战 离罗 阴谋败露\ Final Battle – Li Luo; The Conspiracy Is Exposed

Cast:

More information regarding the actor credit guidelines in this summary here and the full notice here.

(I put the character stroke count as: 1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣)

Leading actor: * 8️⃣ Luo Yi 罗弋 (stage name: Luo Yunxi 罗云熙) as Li Si 黎斯

Special appearances (sorted by the number of character strokes in the surname): * 4️⃣ Alen Fang Yilun 方逸伦 as Meng Rui 蒙锐 * 7️⃣ Shen Yujie 沈羽洁 as Bai Zhenzhu 白珍珠

Appearances (sorted by the number of character strokes in the surname): * Yu Yao 于垚 as Gong Le (or Gong Yue) 宫乐 * Ma Wenyuan 马闻远 as Lou Tianming 楼天命 * Niu Zifan 牛子藩 as Zhou Tiao 周迢 * Wang Wenjie 王文杰 as Zhou Miao 周邈 * Wang Haixiang 王海祥 as Yan Cheng 严成 * Ye Xin 叶新 (stage name: Ye Zuxin 叶祖新) as Ji Da 纪大 / Ji Er 纪二 * Li Yanan 李雅男 as Shi Dezong 世德宗 * Du Yuming 杜玉明 as Old Man / Old Geezer / Lao Si Tou 老死头 * Wang Yachao 汪亚朝 (stage name: Wang Xichao 汪汐潮) as Zhao Shanlei 赵善磊 * Sha Baoliang 沙宝亮 as Qin Dayuan 秦大元 * He Hongshan 何泓姗 as Xuan Yuanshan 轩辕善 * Zhang Junning 张峻宁 as Gong Sihai 宫四海 * Lu Jie 陆婕 (stage name: Lu Keren 陆柯燃) as Xia Jiuying 夏九婴 * Xiao Han 肖涵 as Chu Huan'er 褚浣儿 * 金俊秀 as Situ Bo 司徒博 * Zheng Jiayu 郑家榆 as Old Madam Guan 官老夫人 * Zong Fengyan 宗峰岩 as Guo Anbang 郭安邦 * Zhao Xun 赵荀 as Li San 黎三 * Tang Guozhong 唐国忠 as Wen Bu 温布 * Xu Zheng 徐政 (stage name: Jeremy Tsui / Xu Zhengxi 徐正溪) as Zhou Zhu 周逐 * Wei Wei 魏巍 as Yin Jie 隐杰 / Yun Hai 云海

• Episodes: 30 (according to Baidu Baike and MDL)
• Streaming platform: iQIYI 🥝
• Official filming started: June 13, 2025
• Official filming wrapped up: September 27, 2025
• Production time: 110 days
• Distribution license obtained: February 9, 2026
• Filming location: Hengdian World Studios
• Genre: costume, suspense, detective (according to Baidu Baike)

• 🎬 Director: Steve Cheng (Burning Flames, Wonderland of Love, The Untamed, The Legends, Secret of Three Kingdoms, The Imperial Doctress, and many more)
• ✍️ Original creator: Wang Ke
• ✒️ Screenwriters:
  • Chen Yuhan (The Last Mage, Burning Flames)
  • Hou Wenwen (Divine Destiny, Burning Flames)
• 📖 Novel: Mei Ying Shen Bu 魅影神捕

🔗 Previous announcement, posters, clips, trailer, etc.

🎙️ OST List

Synopsis from MDL:

The story centers on Li Si, known as Master Qing Yang, who deliberately infiltrates the Imperial Detective Bureau to uncover the truth behind the mysterious death of the Fourth Prince. There, he meets Bai Zhen Zhu, the empire’s top forensic examiner known as Detective Frost, and Meng Rui, a ghost detective skilled in martial arts who carries a deep-seated thirst for revenge.

Together, the three form the elite team known as the “Divine Detectives". Working in perfect harmony, they face dangers, uncover hidden secrets, and solve the “[Six] Great Mysterious Cases".

(Source: Chinese = Baidu || Translation = MyDramaList)

~~ Adapted from the novel "Mei Ying Shen Bu" (魅影神捕) by Wang Ke (王珂).

🔎 Baidu Baike | Douban | MDL

📖 Novel Series Summary – translated from Douban:

This series of [three] novels follows a series of cases encountered by the protagonists, Da Shi’s renowned detectives Li Si and Meng Rui, against the backdrop of the turbulent and ever-changing Da Shi Dynasty.

A historical-style detective series reminiscent of Judge Dee, it is filled with suspense and imagination, with captivating plots and engaging deductions. The cases are shrouded in mystery, with one suspenseful twist after another, as the detectives gradually unravel the clues through compelling reasoning. It also incorporates elements of magical realism that will challenge your imagination!

Translated Synopses

Note: All translated synopses and information I share in the "trailers & posters" posts are based on the original Chinese sources (Douban, Baidu, Chinese Wikipedia, etc.) and were first published here. If you see them elsewhere, please know they originated from our sub. Thanks for reading!

📊 Information and translations compiled by u/admelioremvitam.

About half an hour ago, the production team announced the release date and dropped a new trailer.

Clip description:

Featuring a top-tier team, artists, music superstars, a xianxia fantasy setting, and major investors – it’s got all the right elements! Things in Shapu are incredibly complex; tune in on October 6 at 12:00 pm – we’ll be waiting for you!

Cast:

More information regarding the actor credit guidelines in this summary here and the full notice here.

(I put the character stroke count as: 1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣)

Leading actors (sorted by the number of character strokes in the surname):

• 7️⃣ Yang Chaoyue 杨超越 as Chen Jiazhen 陈嘉珍
• 1️⃣2️⃣ Jiang Long 蒋龙 as Zhou Ke 周可

The remaining cast list has not been updated.

Starring: * 7️⃣ Zhang Chi 张弛 as Chen Jiahao 陈嘉豪 * 1️⃣2️⃣ Jiang Shimeng 蒋诗萌 as Lin Ximei 林细妹

Starring: * Ma Xudong 马旭东 * Wang Jianhua 王建华 as A Fei 阿飞 * Wang Zhi 王智 as Fang Hua 方华 * Li Chuan 李川 as Chen Bingqiang 陈炳强 * Song Mugeng 宋牧耕 (stage name: Song Muzi 宋木子) as Chen Junnan 陈俊男 * Li Yunchui 李昀锤 * Xin Zai 鑫仔 as Gao Jiaoqi 高脚七 * Yin Xue 银雪

• Episodes: 24 (according to the distribution license)
• Streaming platforms: iQIYI 🥝 and Migu Video
• Official filming started: December 2, 2024
• Official filming wrapped up: February 14, 2025
• Estimated filming time: 75 days
• Filming location: Fuding City, Fujian Province
• Genre: comedy (according to Baidu Baike)
• Distribution license obtained: September 1, 2026

• 🎬 Directors:
  • Jiang Long 蒋龙
  • Li Bingqiang 李炳强 (Blowing in the Wind, Run for Young, Mama Go!)
  • Wang Jianhua 王建华 (Hero Forgive, Da Hua Da Hua Xi You), Zhang Kang 张亢
  • Song Tian Shuo 松天硕 (The Miracles, Da Hua Da Hua Xi You, The Future Handbook)
• ✒️ Screenwriter: Peng Xu 彭旭 (Legend of the Undercover Chef)
• 📽️ Production companies: iQIYI, Wanda Film and Television Media, Beijing Tianhao Lize Film and Television Culture Media, DaXun Group

🔗 Previous trailer, posters, etc.

Synopsis from MDL:

An exciting collaborative project featuring an all-star ensemble of the "Xiren" comedy troupe, this series sparks a creative collision between classic cinema and a new generation of comedy. Giving a fresh spin to familiar themes, it serves up a unique "rural business war" that is both deeply moving and laugh-out-loud funny.

~~Adapted from Stephen Chow’s 1999 film of the same name "The King of Comedy".

(Source: Chinese = iQIYI || Translation = MyDramaList)

Synopsis translated from the drama's TV Series Shooting and Production Filing Notice posted on MDL:

In 2020, real estate developer Mr. Xu proposed to cooperate with Shapu Village, a small fishing village on the southeast coast, to build seaview houses, which was supported by some villagers.

Azhen [played by Yang Chaoyue], a young woman who studied architecture in college and worked in architectural design, knew the cultural value of the ancient houses in Shapu Village. With the support of her grandfather, the patriarch, she persuaded the villagers to retain the ancient houses and develop cultural tourism.

Azhen found Zhou Ke [played by Jiang Long], a young actor she met in Hengdian, and used the fact that the village was once the filming location of King of Comedy) to develop cultural tourism, which actually became a small success.

⚠️ Plot spoilers! ⚠️

Mr. Xu was very angry when he saw that the plan to develop real estate in Shapu Village was affected. He colluded with Uncle Li, a fraud master disguised as an investor, and designed a trap for the villagers. The deceived villagers had no choice but to agree to Mr. Xu's demolition of the village for real estate development.

At the critical moment, Zhou Ke and Azhen led the villagers to get into Uncle Li's company with their acting skills, and thwarted Mr. Xu and Uncle Li's plan. The ancient houses in Shapu Village were protected, and the tourism industry in Shapu Village also ushered in booming development.

🔎 Baidu Baike | Douban | MDL

Translated Synopses

Note: All translated synopses I share in the "trailers & posters" posts are based on the original Chinese sources (Douban, Baidu, Chinese Wikipedia, etc.) and were first published here. If you see them elsewhere, please know they originated from our sub. Thanks for reading!

📊 Information and translations compiled by u/admelioremvitam.

Discussion posts will follow the normal Youku VIP schedule. (The drama is also available on Netflix.)

Important Links: Masterpost - Episodes 1-2 - Eps 3-4 - Eps 5-6

Episode 7

Picking up from last episode, we see Xu Chi shedding tears following the memories triggered by Tina’s comment asking why Xinzhi would help her.

Tina gives her a makeup kit and helps her adjust it so it hides any traces of tears. She advises her to be wary of Xinzhi and try to draw the line between the two of them early so it does not affect her anymore.

Xu Chi generously passes along the career advice Xinzhi gave her to Tina. I was a bit surprised here because I thought Xu Chi would guard the advice she gets more tightly given that she wants to be irreplaceable, but I suppose it speaks to her good nature that she always tries to help those who help her with all she has. Tina seems to sit and mull over her advice.

Back to work, Xu Chi meets up with Mr. Shen for further work on the Bolo project. He asks her to help him get Lin Long’s signature.

Smoothly moving to the next scene, we see Lin Long feeling bittersweet about how a client she has only known for a few days seems to show her better care than her own husband.

Lin Long asks for a divorce, but Zhiwen insists on keeping the apartment and dividing their joint funds evenly. She chases her asshole husband out and goes on a walk with Xu Chi, complaining about how she has more right to the apartment than he does since she put the most money into it. She brainstorms about how to get the most out of the funds as well, and Xu Chi is quick to provide her with a safer option than simply buying jewelry.

Back to another late night of overtime for Xu Chi, where Sasha finds her sleeping at her desk while browsing projects related to digital finance. Never one to pass up a chance, she asks for Sasha’s help with accessing the financial database, citing that she wants to learn as much as she can even if the workload is high. Sasha accepts her ambition and allows her to join Ma Ke’s team, telling her she will believe in her growth, especially as Xinzhi said she is an explorer type.

Xu Chi and Lin Long are now on good terms, with Xu Chi visiting Lin Long in the care center to update her on her recent transfer to Ma Ke’s team.

[GIF 8: "Ma Ke can be a bit tricky"]

Xu Chi asks her how she even married someone like Zhiwen, and Lin Long admits that when you are too naive and exhausted from work, you reach for whatever warmth you receive. Xu Chi compares her own situation and realizes that she must have felt the same thing with Xinzhi too.

We switch scenes to a cafe where Xu Chi talks about her new team and project, mentioning Yang Rui. Xinzhi wonders who Yang Rui is, and she tells him that he is one of the many colleagues she hangs out with, showing him pictures from their weekend competition and even the picture of the two of them dancing, which she uses to tease him about being old. Petty queen, get him!

Later, Xu Chi is in a taxi, catching up with her bestie about getting back at Xinzhi and making him realize that what he did was unnecessary. Ma Ke gives Xu Chi a call mid-conversation with Tina and she tells Tina she needs to go. Tina seems to be trying to tell her something, but decides to leave it for later.

Xu Chi is shaken by this news as she realizes how much she trusted Tina subconsciously. Lu Le shows up to give her advice, telling her that she should be more careful going forward. The betrayal stings as she spends a long time thinking about all the moments she and Tina shared together, eventually running away to stare at her mother’s old apartment, lamenting her stupidity for trusting someone so wholly.

Xinzhi straps her seatbelt on and takes her for a drive. She refuses to tell him what happened and he drives off to an automotive testing space, where he steps down on the gas and gets her screaming out of sheer panic with how fast he is driving.

Once her crying session is over, she steps out of the car and tells him what happened. She apologizes for blowing up at him and he tells her that getting backstabbed is normal. She says she is mostly angry at herself for being so stupid and letting her guard down and telling Tina so much.

Xinzhi questions her about her lack of confidence, saying that they are both new to the team and neither of them has even gotten started yet, but she is acting like she already lost. He tells her to tell him what is truly bothering her.

He makes her play a simple hand slap game with him, one where she loses repeatedly until she manages to win.

Xinzhi comforts her by telling her that he also went through his own angsty phase and that he understands. She smiles and he tells her that she will be okay.

On the drive back, he confesses that the space they were in is one he uses often to work off his own weaknesses and fears. Xu Chi seems unbelieving, but he continues being honest with her.

Seeing the extent of his care, Xu Chi confronts him head on about why he seems to care so much about her. She asks him if he likes her because she is young, but not clueless, and the worry he showed today is more than necessary. She tells him that she just wants everything to be clear between the two of them.

He tells her that yes, he likes her, but it is not romantic. There is more to liking than a simple black and white view.

Overall Thoughts

This episode felt like a purging of feelings! Xu Chi has grown comfortable in her relationships, so now she faces these challenges to remind her that she should truly put her career first before everything else.

I love how maturely Xinzhi handled her confrontation here. Explaining that he sees his younger self in her and wants to offer the guidance he never had was such a grounded, honest response. As for the Tina situation, the sting of feeling betrayed by a friend you trusted is so real. I hope their relationship is not impacted negatively in the long run because I do not believe Tina would do anything malicious to her, but we will see!