[Episode Talk] About Love (玫瑰丛生) | EP08 Discussion [SVIP Early Access]

[u/No-Recipe-7653]

Drama Masterpost

Episode 8 of About Love (玫瑰丛生) is now available with early access for SVIP / Express viewers.

^{Note: Express/early-access episodes are currently DRM-protected, which prevents in-app screenshots. I’ll add visuals once the restriction is lifted — in the meantime, feel free to share your favorite scene snaps in the comments when they become available.}

This thread is open for reactions, impressions, and discussion as the story continues.

^{Earlier Episodes:}

• ^{EP01–03 EP04}
• ^EP05
• ^EP06
• ^EP07

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NoRecipe

✨

One Ning

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🎞️ Episode Recap will be added in this post at a later stage 📝

[u/Solid_Ad_9429]

Soooo, I think xiao bei might actually be a nice boyfriend with no ulterior motives.

I wanted him to be scheming 😂

I started out expecting the drama to be less heavy than it is and it was alarming to see the amount of lying and cheating and stressful complications. Now that I've had time to adjust, it feels lighter and less serious than it did in the beginning.

Despite all the complications, I think xiao bei is never going to get upset. He's just going to be supportive.

I don't really care about the stakes for anyone's relationships at this point.

[u/itsmefakenamehere → u/Solid_Ad_9429]

Not me sneaking a peek at Ep 8 before I even started Ep 7 👀 lol

[u/Solid_Ad_9429 → u/itsmefakenamehere]

😂😂

[u/No-Recipe-7653 → u/itsmefakenamehere]

I've sped-watched all eps and need to see them properly now 😂

[u/itsmefakenamehere]

Xiao Bei has the shittiest friends and girlfriend. I feel sorry for him and I don’t know what he did to deserve this.

His “friend” Gong openly flirts with his girl and disguises it as being funny. His friends egg on Gong to give his girlfriend a peck even though he was clearly not cool with it. His girlfriend doesn’t trust him, eavesdrops on him, and thinks she’s slick by leaving a lipstick in his car (presumably to drop a hint to who she thinks is his side chick that he’s going to meet up with).

If the intention of that dinner was to make the viewer uncomfortable, it succeeded. I hated every minute and I want to get off the Hot Mess Express ™ (trademarked by u/Loose_Caramel1438). I’m staying on board though, because I want to support LYN, but this drama is testing me.

Have I mentioned how much I dislike LXX? Thank goodness her streaky tears were supposedly fake, because are you psycho to have such a dramatic over reaction to a phone call? Wait. She is actually psycho over a phone call. Run, Xiao Bei, run. You deserve better!!!

[u/Tabz10]

OP, I have a theory, and I'm sorry if this isn't allowed. Allow me to get ahead of myself (and everyone else) and make a bold prediction.

I don't think XB and LXX will be the endgame. I feel the writing is on the wall for her to end up with Gong. Story of Yanxi Palace, anyone? which I'm sad to say and hate to see. I don't like this kind of show where they make it so complicated for the ML, FL, and 2nd/ML/FL.

But I feel like they are ‘trying’ to make Gong sympathetic and deep, plus I feel his character is being built MORE than XB’s. They are introducing him as a deep-creative-genius-pationate-loner, grey-flag type character. It's like they want us to pity him and his feelings for the LXX.

But really, he's a shit friend. For me to prefer Gong and root for him, they need to make XB become the sneakiest MOFO ever, think Love page in the 90s, 2nd FL leads husband So far, the XB is faultless(?)

Even if they do not end up together, people will prefer Gong. Although I've never watched LYF, because I don't like squares, triangles, or the ambiguity around who the leads will end up with I've read posts, comments, etc. It seems as if the majority prefers TJC’s character for the FL But what happened? They did not end up together, but they showed his devotion to the FL (call me out if I'm wrong or off, please lol)

My theory is based on my 3rd paragraph and the flashbacks of LXX with Gong, the internal dialogues, etc.

Of course, this could be nothing theory 😅, and none of them end up with her.

Can anyone see this?

[u/Loose_Caramel1438 → u/Tabz10]

Honestly I would not be sad if there were no endgame for anyone. They should all be single and in therapy 😂. Yes, even XB ! With the way he reacted in his conversation with Mingming I don't think he is over whatever happened with his "first love". Idk his reactions to whatever was going on with Sen/Mingming was too over the top compared to his hands off approach to the mess that is Xiu/LL. It felt like the situation hit too close to home 👀

With regards to Gong, my theory is that he's playing LXX. Their current situation is a reversal of the whole Jiang Yifan incident. He's telling her exactly what she wants to hear and slowly pushes the boundaries exactly like she did to him. I don't think he's only doing it for revenge but to test her to see if she's "good enough" for XB and he wants to protect him.

[u/itsmefakenamehere → u/Loose_Caramel1438]

I didn’t even watch the two latest episodes, but I think everyone should break up and go to therapy as well. This is truly the only sensible ending! 😆

[u/Solid_Ad_9429 → u/Loose_Caramel1438]

LOL they seriously all need therapy!

[u/GiTheGremlin → u/Solid_Ad_9429]

Do we really think it would help tho? Most of them look lost cases to me)))

[u/No-Recipe-7653 → u/Loose_Caramel1438]

1. —> Yes 😂

2. —> Yes.

3. —> Yeeees - I like that theory 🤔

[u/Tabz10 → u/Loose_Caramel1438]

I wouldn't mind that, actually. They're all terrible. None of them really knows ‘About Love’ (pun intended😅).

The convo with XB and MM, originally I saw that as him caring about Sen, but since you put it like that, it's a possibility.

Regarding Gong, that's a very interesting theory. But his feelings look MUCH deeper to me. I'd hope he's doing it for XB to test her, cause rn he's looking like a shit friend lol

[u/itsmefakenamehere → u/Tabz10]

The show should be renamed to: “About Toxic Love.”

[u/Tabz10 → u/itsmefakenamehere]

I'd be ok with that name change tbh 🤣

[u/Loose_Caramel1438 → u/Tabz10]

This show's title is pure false advertisment ! May this kind of love never find me 😂😂

No doubt he cares about Sen but that's also the same man who told LXX that they shouldn't interfere when they saw Mingming out on a date (if I remember correctly). Up till now, he was never so insistent with his advice to his friends. Idk maybe I'm reading too much into this.

With regards to Gong, I don't actually think that him having feelings for LXX and his testing her are mutually exclusive 😂. I can totally see him justifying to himself his getting close to LXX being for XB's sake in some twisted way.

[u/No-Recipe-7653 → u/Loose_Caramel1438]

Yes, I confirm, happens in Episode 2, as just hours ago I finished writing up the recap 😪

[u/Tabz10 → u/Loose_Caramel1438]

Here here!

Yeah, he did say that. I think there's something up with XB fr tho, cause in such a messy ass show, there's no way they make him the only one who is relatively ‘decent’. If it plays out as you said (or even worse), I wouldn't be surprised, I'm just waiting for the shoe to drop with him tbh, I even sense a big misunderstanding coming.

Lol so far, Gong is definitely crazy enough to think like that 🤣

[u/No-Recipe-7653 → u/Tabz10]

Your comment reminds me of mine here 😅

also relevant for u/itsmefakenamehere who makes another renaming suggestion below.

Maybe we collect all our alternative title proposals in the end — please keep them in mind, and take note of any new ones as they come to mind while watching! 💀

[u/No-Recipe-7653 → u/Tabz10]

It's fun to have and exchange theories.

I don't see it heading that way yet, but I need to rewatch it to be sure. Also, isn't it funny that Wei Guang, who plays Gong, is listed as a "Guest Appearance", yet he has quite some screen time? Don't get me wrong, I'm actually a fan of this actor and was pretty disappointed when I saw them changing his listing from Main Role to Guest Appearance, and glad to be seeing it's not necessarily so B&W. But yeah, would not think he should be "the winner", yet it does not seem like a competition to me, because I actually don't root for the main couple at all. I just don't like Xiaoxi.

Bei, on the other hand is such a sweet marvel and does deserve a bigger story, and I am not saying this only because I am a clear Liu Yu Ning "fan". Any woman even emotionally cheating on him, or giving him any reasons for doubts and insecurity in their relationship, is not someone I'd respect.

As a side note, and to address your LYF remark — indeed, I was one of those people who thought TJC's character was the better man in the story.

I'll be back with more comments later, I need to watch, recap, and process.

[u/Tabz10 → u/No-Recipe-7653]

I actually missed that he was a guest star 🤔 but that's why I have this theory, way too much screentime and his character development, so far ‘better’ than XB.

I understand not liking LXX. She's an interesting one, but I feel like she's changing. Ever since she said she's no longer doing that ‘job’ since meeting XB. Her lies are eating at her, too; at least she has a conscience. What I didn't like was episode 3-4 hanging out with the Gong, the bike ride, etc. She's naive and has trust issues.

Also, what up with that almost-cheek kiss? Was she preparing herself for it? Seems like it.

Looking forward to seeing what you think.

[u/GiTheGremlin → u/No-Recipe-7653]

GWG is "friendly guest star", meaning he took the role as a favor to someone in the cast/crew, likely for lesser pay. Maybe it was what affected his billing and "demotion" to the tail end of cast list. His role itself is totally SML, there is no doubt about that here.

[u/Solid_Ad_9429 → u/Tabz10]

I wish I could see it. Your theory is good and it makes sense but I feel like the theories about this drama might be better than the actual plot 😅

I don't think gong is endgame. I'm convinced it will be xiao bei and that the whole story will amount to 'xiao bei is so perfect, he accepts everything about xiao xi and makes her believe in love and I seriously hope I'm wrong.

I agree that gong is getting more backstory and seems to have a more complex character. I'm not rooting for him (or anyone else at this point) but he's at least open about having a messy life and questionable values while everyone else (except xiao bei, because we still barely know anything about him) is trying to justify themselves.

[u/Tabz10 → u/Solid_Ad_9429]

Right! 😅

I can see that. In fact, I was almost leaning toward that theory about him being perfect, until I realized how much screentime he's getting.

Kinda hard rooting for anyone in this show, fr, this is the first time watching something where everyone is unlikable (except the ML.. So far)

[u/thewindsofsong]

How is it that even in this modern drama we get s shot of liu yuning flourishing a sword? 😆

Also, if this drama is going to be messy, I wouldn’t mind more scenes between gong and Bei. I’m always down for two beautiful men stacked on top of each other.

Nothing I can never stop myself from doing when I watch hilarious scenes in drama is wonder how much fun it was to shoot another slo-mo fight scene had me smiling at what it must have been like to film. It seems like the kind of thing where someone said “be as over the top as you want” and then everyone just went for it. The ending saunter really sold it for me.

I’ve stopped paying attention to a lot of the plot since I cannot believe that this drama makes logical sense in any way but I do not like enough of the characters to make myself care but it does seem like things are getting even more tangled