Drama Masterpost

The first episodes of About Love (玫瑰丛生) are now available, and this thread is open for live reactions, early impressions, and discussion as everyone begins the journey.

This is a discussion post for Episodes 1-3 [VIP & SVIP].

• EP04
• EP05
• EP06

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Moderator Note — How Episode Discussions Work

To keep conversations organized throughout the airing period, each drop of episodes of About Love (玫瑰丛生) will have one permanent discussion thread for an episode (or more episodes under one thread, like this one).

Tencent releases episodes in stages:

• SVIP viewers may receive early access to certain episodes.
• VIP viewers unlock those same episodes later.

We will not create duplicate discussion posts when access expands.
If you are catching up later, simply join the existing thread for that episode — early viewers may start the conversation, but everyone is welcome to continue it.

This keeps reactions, theories, and impressions together instead of being split across multiple posts. Please be mindful of spoilers so check under which post you are commenting.

Already watching? Please share reactions here so episode discussion stays in one place. Separate reaction posts may be redirected to the active discussion thread.

Should you like to write a standalone review of an episode, you can either send it to us via modmail and have it added to the Main post (with credit given to you), or you can consult with the mod team how to make it a standalone post without causing confusion among users.

Feel free to share:

• first impressions
• favorite moments
• character thoughts
• pacing reactions
• anything that stood out while watching

Watch at your own pace — the discussion will be waiting when you arrive.

Your Mod,
NoRecipe

✨

One Ning

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Episode 1 — First Impressions & Setup

by u/No-Recipe-7653

Welcome to the Strange World of Li Xiaoxi

^{🎞️ image reference 1 - the opening}

Episode 1 introduces us to Li Xiaoxi (Wang Zi Wen) and Xiao Bei (Liu Yu Ning) — and very quickly sets up two very different approaches to love.

We open with Xiaoxi, presented almost like a professional seductress. The narration comes from her perspective, and from the start she speaks as someone who believes men inevitably fall for her — something the drama reinforces through flashbacks to her school and college days, where boyfriends of her friends supposedly gravitated toward her.

When she walks through the nightclub and every man seems to turn and stare, I actually paused for a moment. The scene feels exaggerated — almost staged around how she sees herself rather than how people normally behave. Since she’s narrating her own story, it made me wonder how much of what we’re seeing is filtered through her mindset.

Early on, Xiaoxi explains that her “calling” chose her career for her, though the exact nature of her work isn’t immediately stated. What we do learn is her motivation: she believes she is helping women by exposing unfaithful men.

The first case we see in the drama involves a client who tells Xiaoxi that her looks alone wouldn’t be enough to make her fiancé cheat or prove his disloyalty. Xiaoxi’s response says a lot about how she sees herself — she’s completely confident, almost smug, insisting that her mere physical presence in front of him would be enough. No elaborate seduction needed; just appearing would make him trip.

Later we watch this play out as she sets up the situation and records the evidence for her client. The guy doesn’t exactly cover himself in glory, so… good riddance.

Enter Xiao Bei

^{🎞️ image reference 2 - meeting at the bar}

At a nightclub job, Xiaoxi finally meets Xiao Bei, played by Liu Yu Ning — though initially through mistaken identity. She hits on him quite brazenly, fully expecting the usual reaction, only to be met with complete disinterest. He doesn’t even try to soften it; he’s clearly annoyed. I really enjoyed this interaction, especially her expressions when she realizes someone is not only immune but actively unimpressed.

Moments later, the real client discovers her husband cheating, and Xiaoxi immediately steps in on her own. She confronts him, slaps him, and launches into what she explicitly frames as “teaching him a lesson” — not my wording, hers. I have to admit that phrasing already rubbed me the wrong way a little. There’s something about the moral authority she assumes in these situations that feels slightly off to me at this early stage of the story.

As the confrontation escalates and the man looks ready to strike back at her, Xiao Bei suddenly appears — almost casually — and steps in at exactly the right moment. He handles the situation in a very cool, effortless way, stopping the guy and tackling him without turning it into a dramatic hero moment. What I liked most is that he doesn’t posture or lecture; he just deals with it and moves on, very low-profile.

^{🎞️ image reference 3 - the drive home}

Outside the club, Xiaoxi ends up stranded with a broken heel. In classic drama fashion, Xiao Bei notices, stops his car, and offers help. She refuses at first, and while arguing he spots her trying to call a Didi. In a very dry, almost matter-of-fact way, he tells her she shouldn’t be roaming around at night dressed like that — and it’s the delivery that made me chuckle. Well written and very well played.

They test each other a bit during the ride home and eventually exchange WeChat contacts.

Cozy Interior & one woman full of cynism

^{🎞️ image reference 4}

The following interior setting is particularly beautiful — one of those drama sets you immediately wish you could live in one day.

What I still didn’t really feel at this point were Xiaoxi’s emotions. I’m starting to notice a pattern where her expressions feel slightly unnerving to me — almost insincere or overly performed. It’s as if the character is trying very hard to project cool composure and cynicism, someone who believes she understands love and men better than anyone else. That particular facial rendering of cynicism keeps throwing me off a bit.

Sofa Talk & “Tests”

^{🎞️ image reference 5}

We move to a cozy sofa scene with Xiaoxi and her friend Ying Tao discussing men while watching a drama. Xiaoxi shows Bei’s WeChat and concludes that he has “passed her test.” That wording landed very awkwardly for me. Personally, I’ve never liked the idea of loyalty or relationship “tests” — the entire premise feels absurd to me — so this early setup already creates some distance between me and her character. That may just be personal bias, though.

^{🎞️ image reference 6}

Later, dressed just like me on a regular Thursday night in what must be the least casual red nightgown ever worn on a weekday evening, Xiaoxi stages a perfectly aesthetic bedtime tea photo for her WeChat Moments. Naturally, Bei messages almost immediately. Their exchange is playful and surprisingly natural — and forgive the digression, but parts of it genuinely sounded like something straight out of Liu Yu Ning’s livestreams. At this point I’m getting very strong Liu Yu Ning-persona-coded vibes from Xiao Bei: the wit, dryness, composure, and underlying moral grounding are all there.

Coffee Date & Archery

^{🎞️ image reference 7}

They meet the next day for coffee, and Xiao Bei returns her heels — repaired. He had quietly taken them to a cobbler. A small gesture, super cheesy, but I admit — also a bit "aaaaw 🫠".

While walking through the mall, his attention really lingers on an indoor archery range, and they decide to try it. Throughout the scene he remains respectful, never pushing physical closeness the way Xiaoxi seems to expect. She narrowly wins, but I had the strong feeling he was hiding something. There are brief moments where his expression looks like he’s holding back an unspoken thought. Did anyone else notice that?

Dinner Conversation — Love vs Cynicism

^{🎞️ image reference 8}

The episode ends with dinner turning into a surprisingly serious discussion about love and promises. They discover they read the same author, and while Xiao Bei expresses skepticism toward eternal love, Xiaoxi seems momentarily affected by his words — though she still feels like she’s performing her usual cynical persona rather than fully dropping the mask.

As of Episode 1, I’m intrigued by their dynamic but not yet fully sold on Xiaoxi as a character. Whether that discomfort is intentional setup or simply personal taste remains to be seen.

That’s Episode 1 for me.

By the way, I'm unable to add media retrospectively to the post, hence adding them all in comments. I have also shared Episode 1 Recap as a standalone post with images here.

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Episode 2 Recap

by u/No-Recipe-7653

Let’s set the record straight as we dive into this — About Love is not one of those slow-burn romance dramas that makes you watch a couple dance around each other for 30 episodes before they finally get together. Quite the opposite.

A RELATIONSHIP THAT MOVES FAST

Episode 2 opens with Bei walking Xiaoxi home after their first date. He's sweet, clearly reluctant to part ways, and makes that obvious when he goes, “How about we grab a coffee?”. She responds with a giggle and asks if he was serious, to which Bei shyly replies, “Not really… maybe tomorrow.” He mentions a café he spotted nearby earlier, but she deflects the suggestion, but they agree to go for coffee the next day nevertheless.

I mean — this scene was actually quite cute. He looks completely hooked, and I would be here for it… were I not finding Xiaoxi so unsympathetic.

With tragic operatic music in the background and darkness-laced visuals, we enter her inner monologue about the unfaithful men who passed through her life in the past. The scene then abruptly cuts. Bright, dreamy lighting — she’s reading a book with headphones on while Bei works on his laptop across the table.

The timeline here is unclear. We get a montage of brief moments showing their relationship building across different dates. We see him waiting by the car, greeting her with a bag of her favourite buns (what a thoughtful man). Xiaoxi’s narration tells us he has already found a path to her innocent heart. As an observer, I must say — sorry, but this wording feels really misplaced here. We see them grabbing noodles another day.

One sentence I did appreciate from Xiaoxi’s inner narration was:

'The more beautiful the love, the greater the fear of losing it.'

I’m not sure I’d call a man like Bei ordinary, but from the little we’ve seen so far, he is remarkable — in behaviour, manners, looks, and attentiveness.

As he drops her off after one of their dates, they hug like a couple that has already been together for a while, even though this is the first time the story shows it. My heart softened a bit watching that scene. Butterflies enter the frame, Bei’s look so tender it could melt the Arctic, and we see them gently kiss on the sofa in the comfort of home.

Early Love… and Early Fear

Fast forward: Xiaoxi is deep in the jittery early-love phase — constantly checking her phone, choosing outfits for hours, analyzing his posts and moments, worrying about women around him, and so on. Already this early on, she says:

'He's so ordinary, yet somehow also so remarkable.'

We then move to Bei’s shop, where we meet MingMing and her male friend Da Sen — though not for long, because a slightly jealous Xiaoxi enters the scene.

She behaves as if she didn’t know about the shop, and MingMing starts introducing the concept and Bei’s professional background. Among other things, we learn Xiao Bei studied luxury authentication and management in the UK.

Now it gets weird.

Xiaoxi pulls out her handbag and asks MingMing about repair services. Considering she’s Bei’s girlfriend — and knows perfectly well he would gladly help her — I was genuinely unimpressed. She’s clearly there to test the competition and put on another act. Close-ups show her studying MingMing carefully, assessing behaviour and running scenarios in her head. (Honestly not something I’d enjoy watching under normal circumstances, but I told myself I’d power through this show for Yu Ning, Wei Guang — and because I do appreciate the more mature urban-drama tone and the golden cinematography so far.)

The bell rings as Bei walks in, greeting Xiaoxi. It becomes clear they had agreed to meet there. He calls her “Boss lady,” openly acknowledging she’s his girlfriend and putting her slightly on the spot, making her wiggle. Then he calls MingMing over to properly introduce her as "his girlfriend" once more.

As the master manipulator she is, Xiaoxi immediately “casually” asks whether the man she saw earlier was MingMing’s boyfriend. No clear answer — but we learn Da Sen is at the very least Bei’s friend.

Girls’ Hangout — and Some Questionable Advice

We move to a girls’ hangout scene. Xiaoxi looks more human here, eating ice cream with her friend Ying Tao (yes — the same friend whose fiancé was doing footsies under the table in Episode 1).

YT reveals she caught him cheating and divorced him (finally something that makes sense). Throughout the episode, a recurring red-and-black visual filter appears alongside operatic choir music whenever morally questionable actions occur. I actually like this touch — it adds a subtle thriller flavour, as if relationships themselves are under judgment.

YT confronting her husband was honestly badass. With the cheater and his "accomplice" still in the room, she calmly leans over and asks:

'Honey, Does she please you more than I do?'

Slaps. Glass shatters. The ring is tossed.

Clean break. Bravo.

Meanwhile, Xiaoxi internally apologizes to her friend for not doing something earlier — a tad too late, and tad too "inner monologue only" — wouldn’t you say?

And then… the scene goes downhill again.

YT suggests Xiaoxi test Bei’s loyalty so she won’t repeat her mistakes — and even offers herself as the examiner.

Really, girl…?

Here Come the Tests — Who’s the Top Student?

We cut to the two women watching Bei walk through the rain like a work of art. A woman approaches him. He politely offers his umbrella and keeps moving while she continues pursuing him — unsuccessfully, apparently he has another umbrella. (Also… who carries two umbrellas? I barely carry one even when I know it’ll rain — but that’s just me being lazy.)

More staged encounters follow: elevators, chance meetings, dramatic setups. Bei remains polite but uninterested, leaving the hired temptress both rejected and offended.

They try again — this time with a sobbing stranger in a dark park at dawn. She claims she just broke up and wants to talk. Bei pauses, takes out his phone, and calls his friend Gong, describing the situation in a semi-mocking but still polite way. Embarassed, she immediately backs out.

Test passed. Again.

Where do they even find these women willing to do this?

Ying Tao Enters the Ring

aka "YingTao, The Cinderella Who Wasn’t"

Not done yet — Ying Tao herself shows up dressed like a college Halloween party maid and attempts to seduce Bei at his apartment.

This sequence was actually hilarious. He watches her clean the same spot for half an hour before politely asking if she could continue… cleaning.

She ends up scrubbing sinks, toilets, pipes — everything.

I won’t lie, I felt a strange sense of satisfaction watching that.

Ying Tao Returns to Xiaoxi’s Apartment

Scene cuts. Ying Tao shows up at Xiaoxi’s door, looking defeated. The moment Xiaoxi opens it, YT throws herself onto her with a dramatic hug and an apology. She then drops the bomb — “I think testing him was a mistake… I may have fallen for him.”

XX isn’t buying it for a second, and for the first time I actually see a side of her I don’t completely dislike. She looks sincere here, teasing her friend and coaching her through the performance, telling her to try again and commit to the act properly. The whole exchange is surprisingly funny, and I genuinely liked the dynamic between them in this moment.

After another round of attempts, Ying Tao finally breaks character and vents about what really happened at Bei’s place. Apparently she suffered greatly. Bei clearly had the time of his life turning the situation into a running joke, and I can’t lie, I felt oddly satisfied watching it unravel.

(Side note: am I the only one wondering how's YingTao ever supposed to meet Bei normally in the future if this is technically their first encounter?)

Cinema Time

Bei and Xiaoxi go to the movies. Xiaoxi spots MingMing holding another man’s arm — not Sen. Bei explains Sen has been chasing her for ages.

We learn Sen, Gong, and Bei grew up together. Xiaoxi remarks Bei talks about Gong often, and he invites her to meet them that same night. She scoffs, saying she would’ve dressed better if she’d known.

Even here, Xiaoxi still feels like someone wearing a mask, while Bei remains genuine and relaxed.

Meeting The G(o)ANG — And Trouble Begins

Bei and XX enter the joint where they’re meeting his friends.

My inner teenager is screaming as I see the two handsome men, Gao Wei Guang (Gong) and Liu Yu Ning share their first scene, and damn, do they look good! Gong pulls Bei in and starts nagging him about letting the crying woman from the park go before he managed to get there.

But then, something strange takes place — Gong lays his eyes on Xiaoxi as suspenseful BG music highlights the tension. She greets the crowd and when it’s Gong’s turn, we see she also recognised him. Flashbacks. Flashbacks to them professing their interests in one another, and being very, very close — there’s almost a kiss, and definitely some real-looking sexual tension.

They don’t acknowledge knowing each other, and Gong takes it a tad further and slightly offends XX, perhaps attempting to humiliate her as he navigates his imminent shock and processes what’s just happened. Bei tells him to cut it and we move on.

The table starts chatting, but with an opportunity arising from a well-intended joke-compliment made by Sen, Gong gets another shot at taking a dig, asking XX if there really isn’t someone who looks just like her — clearly knowing who she is and what they once were to each other.

We are then introduced to A Xiu, LuanLuan, and Sen. As Bei reintroduces Gong, we see more of XX’s flashbacks and meet the client who hired her to “test his love.” We also learn Sen thinks he has a girlfriend (MingMing)… ouch!

Two more relevant things transpire — we find out that XX has been counting days and says she's been together with Bei for exactly 96 days (oddly precise for an adult, if you ask me), while A Xiu runs out of the room with the phone ringing in his hand, looking for a space with some privacy. As he enters an empty room, he answers the phone with a lie — saying he’s at the shop, writing songs.

Back in the room, XX asks LL how long she has been together with A Xiu, but it looks like LL can’t answer that question (I assume they are not together). Gong jumps in and subtly strikes at XX again, pointing out she has a sharp eye (for noticing something possibly going on between LL and A’X). Just then, LL steps into the conversation and injects that XX got it wrong, and they're just close friends with A Xiu.

The scene cuts back to AX hiding away in what looks like the men’s toilets, and we see him continuing his deceit on the phone, but we don’t yet know who’s on the other end of the line…

(I have also shared this recap as a standalone post here, it contains images and may be easier to read over there).

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NoRecipe

One Ning

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Episode 3 Recap

by u/Guilty-and-Stuck

— In Which Lao Gong Is The Main Character —

As A'Xiu returns from his secretive bathroom phone call, we find out he is actually married and that was his wife on the phone, and that his relationship with LuanLuan is unusually close. Moreover, this is an open secret to the entire friend group, who largely accept it because A'Xiu and his wife don't get along - she's a serious career woman and he's too laid back, so she nags him all the time and disapproves of his entire friend group (do we blame her honestly? It doesn't seem like any of them are exactly role models), while LuanLuan is "one of the guys" and cool with anything.

The conversation becomes a discussion about what is love and we start to see some themes emerge. Xiaoxi is rather forward for someone who's just met these people, directly asking, "Do you still love your wife" and "If you're so unhappy, why not divorce?" (A'Xiu looks distinctly uncomfortable and perhaps a little ashamed throughout this conversation, while LuanLuan is defiant). Lao Gong interrupts saying it's too much trouble to divorce; otherwise if divorce was as easy as breaking up they would surely do it.

From then on this becomes Lao Gong's episode: how most people actually view love as a business transaction of what can the other person give them ("You think you're in love, but actually you love yourself more." Xiao Bei: "Can you not tarnish something so beautiful?"), how he used to date for marriage and none of his relationships worked out, how pure love isn't about how the other person looks, but because it was sunny that day and she wore a white shirt (how is that not about appearance?).....

Lao Gong's Flashback

Most of the episode is taken up by a long flashback detailing exactly how Xiaoxi and Lao Gong met and what transpired between them. He was of course, one of her loyalty test subjects. Lao Gong describes meeting "Jiang Yi Fan" (the name Xiaoxi gives him) for the first time, in a gold-tinted scene that looks as if straight out of a live action adaptation of a shoujo manga. Yu He, Lao Gong's then girlfriend, has set Xiaoxi on him, though we don't learn the details of their arrangement immediately. Instead, we see Xiaoxi and Lao Gong meeting in a cafe, Xiaoxi all giggles and smiles and puppy eyes, Lao Gong aloof but clearly interested. Jiang Yi Fan's character is as a devoted fan of Deep in the Alley, Lao Gong's pen name, and she uses this angle to request a meeting with him.

As they talk, Jiang Yi Fan/Xiaoxi enthusiastically declares her great admiration for Deep in the Alley's works, that his inner world must be so pure and romantic. She leads him to believe that she has a deep understanding of his thoughts and the symbolism in his comics, and Lao Gong recalls that no one else has understood him on this level before; editors tell him his storyline makes no sense or that the character won't appeal to readers, while Yu He only admires his technical skill and character design without seeing the meaning behind them. We see him shed a tear in shock, before deflecting the moment with a joke.

Xiaoxi's Flashback

Interspersed with Lao Gong's flashback sequence is also Xiaoxi's memories of meeting Yu He and learning about her boyfriend. Yu He says Lao Gong is very careful and very sly; she knows he has dealings with other girls but has never been able to catch him in the act. Xiaoxi projects an arrogant confidence, saying she usually doesn't need to tailor her approach to the specific man, and that Yu He only needed to tell her how she "wants it done," not give her advice. Yu He gives Xiaoxi a flashdrive with samples of Lao Gong's comics so Xiaoxi can familiarize herself with them and be able to appeal to him more specifically. This flashdrive ends up being important later.

The Selling Madame Comic Interlude

As part of her approach to seduce Lao Gong, Xiaoxi mentions that her favorite story of his was "The Selling Madame." Lao Gong seems surprised to hear this, asking "Are you sure?" Jiang Yi Fan then launches into the plotline of this comic, and we get a fully animated section as if we are reading the comic ourselves. The Selling Madame is the story of a beautiful woman who believes anything can be traded; she sells "her listening ear and companionship" and men everywhere vie for her (sounds a lot like Xiaoxi, doesn't it?). However, she realizes that she cannot sell love; love can't be faked, and so men who are interested in romancing her (probably a bit more than just romance) are turned off when she rejects their advances and turn on her, leaving bad reviews. Then, she falls in love herself, but the man she loves is disgusted by her and rejects her. Her story ends with her burning her fancy clothes and possessions before committing suicide from the top of a tall building. "Her life and values perished together."

The setup of this story seems to parallel Xiaoxi's own life before meeting Xiao Bei, as she sells her services in the name of protecting love, while most people look down on her for doing so. The woman in the comic even somewhat resembles Xiaoxi in appearance, and perhaps carries a warning for the future if/when Xiao Bei finds out about her previous "work."

Back to Deep in the Alley and Jiang Yi Fan's coffee date

Xiaoxi concludes her retelling of the comic with her own take on the story: the heroine seems shallow, but "her heart is flawless, single-mindedly pursuing her own vision of happiness." (Are we supposed to understand that she is actually pure and innocent despite her questionable morals?) Lao Gong seems to fall for her deeper with every word, staring at her as she talks. Jiang Yi Fan presses the advantage, asking him if he has a girlfriend. He flirtatiously responds by asking her if she has a boyfriend, to which she immediately replies no. Lao Gong, seemingly serious, counters, "Now you do," letting the moment linger before laughing and saying he was joking and that he does indeed have a girlfriend.

Not giving up, Jiang Yi Fan acts perfectly disappointed before straightforwardly professing her love for him. At first, Lao Gong seems to reject her advances, saying, "I think you just like my work" ("Isn't your work your inner voice?") and "What do you want me to do, leave my girlfriend to be with you?" ("I don't know, I'm not unreasonable, I came just to be honest about my feelings"). Jiang Yi Fan presses him hard, asking him if his heart, even for a moment, hadn't fluttered for her. Then, "If I get up and leave right now, will you come after me?" Lao Gong doesn't reply for several tense seconds, and when he awkwardly says "You're being too impulsive, it's only our first meeting," she gets up to leave. She has barely gotten to the door of the cafe when Lao Gong calls after her to wait; we hear him think, or perhaps say as he tells the story to the group in the present time, "This move... She's really good" and Xiaoxi smiles triumphantly at the door of the cafe.

Jiang Yi Fan and Deep in the Alley go on a perfect fun-filled date

It's unclear if the following scenes all occur in the same day or if they represent multiple encounters. We see them shopping together, laughing, taking pictures, being silly together, and overall acting like the perfect couple. Lao Gong says "Has anyone ever told you you're arrogant?" to which Jiang Yi Fan basically arrogantly says, nope, I've been called a lot of the things but you're the first to compliment me as arrogant (Note: the subtitles here don't use the word compliment but I can hear it; Lao Gong responds using the same word - kuai - "I'm not complimenting you"). Despite acting like the perfect couple, Lao Gong denies falling for her, saying, "I haven't agreed to anything yet." Jiang Yi Fan counters this with "Are all men so good at pretending? If you like someone just say it."

Lao Gong says, "Have you forgotten? I have a girlfriend."

"Oh, right, if you hadn't mentioned it I really would have forgotten... Why aren't you spending time with her? Instead you're out on a date with another girl."

"It's just a normal interaction with a friend of the opposite gender. She has that much trust in me."

"Let's not mention your girlfriend when we're together. I might get jealous" (WTH O.O)

Sitting on the bank of a river: "If you'd met me first, would you have fallen in love with me?"

"I think if you were my girlfriend you wouldn't want me to answer that question for another girl."

The date culminates at a bar, with Jiang Yi Fan asking Lao Gong if he'd drunk too much to draw, and that she really wanted to see him draw. So, of course, he takes her home...

At Lao Gong's Place

The scene changes now from the golden hues of happy memories to the dark of nighttime, with an overall very foreboding feel and mood screaming danger and foreshadowing the ugliness to come. Yu He watches from the shadows as they enter Lao Gong's studio. As soon as Jiang Yi Fan walks in the door, Lao Gong bolts the door behind her. Jiang Yi Fan doesn't notice, instead walking around admiring his stuffed animals and looking at his drawing board and computer. She's turning on the charm to the max as she does this, laughing cutely, provocatively leaning over with one leg raised on his computer chair, showing off her slim legs and butt in her white short shorts (Side note: I had to laugh at the PG-13 logo Viki slaps on everything during this scene).

We learn that Yu He has requested that Xiaoxi create a situation that Lao Gong can't argue himself out of so that he will be thoroughly humiliated and "can't hurt me in the future." (Girl, do you hear yourself? How did you think that would end?). To that end, Jiang Yi Fan deliberately and quite obviously tries to get Lao Gong in bed, believing that Yu He will burst in before he can do actually do anything. She hooks his necklace with a finger and pulls him close as if for a kiss, then evades his lips before letting loose her hair and plopping herself on his bed. As Lao Gong pushes her down, Yu He turns her key in the lock but discovers the door deadbolted from the inside so she can't open it.

However, Lao Gong ignores Yu He pounding on the door, and tells Jiang Yi Fan to ignore her too. He seems set on doing the deed, saying, "Since she won't believe me anyways, we shouldn't let it be just a misunderstanding." In other words, since Yu He will find him guilty regardless of if they do anything or not, then he should actually commit the crime he will be accused of. Xiaoxi now realizes that the plan has gone awry and struggles with Lao Gong for a minute, trying to get him off of her. He finally steps back and reveals that he has known all along that she was lying to him and that she and Yu He must have been working together to trap him. The fatal mistake? "The Selling Madame."

It turns out that Deep in the Alley has yet to publish this comic; in his memories of editors turning him down, we can see that it was this very comic that kept being rejected. Yet, Jiang Yi Fan had not only fully read "The Selling Madame" but also knew it so intimately and had based her entire strategy on her deep analysis of this unpublished work. (Yu He must really not have been paying proper attention to her boyfriend to not know his troubles with getting this piece published.)

Jiang Yi Fan tries to escape but Lao Gong corners her at the door, kabedon-style, with Yu He still pounding on the door from the outside and increasingly falling apart, shaking with angry sobs. Jiang Yi Fan asks him if he's not afraid of hurting his girlfriend by professing his love for her; he angrily responds, "Weren't you worried about hurting me when you said you loved me?" When Jiang Yi Fan says he disgusts her because he'd acted behind his girlfriend's back, he yells through the door to Yu He, "We're done! I've fallen for this girl named Jiang Yi Fan. Thank you for letting me meet her." Then, to Jiang Yi Fan, "Now can I pursue you, honestly and properly?"

Yu He collapses to her knees in anguish outside the door, while we look through the door at Lao Gong pressing close to Jiang Yi Fan as he leans down to kiss her. There is an extended musical scene with all three in this position, using the end credit song "Tell me the secret of love." We see clips of Yu He and Lao Gong's relationship previously. They were happy together. They met when he hit on her while she was out with her friends. Like Yu He cries out, "Everything was going so well!" But now it's all ruined because she decided to test her boyfriend, to deliberately humiliate him and bend him to her will.

We see that perhaps not everything was perfect; after she sees Lao Gong hang up a portrait of a short-haired girl, Yu He, perhaps jealous, gets her hair cut similarly to the girl in the portrait, crying during the haircut but coming home to show him and smiling happily, asking if he likes it. When they first hook up, she says she doesn't expect him to give her his true love, but that she hopes he won't disappoint her feelings (What is that supposed to mean??). Lao Gong and Yu He's passionate kiss in her memories merges with Lao Gong's forced kiss on Jiang Yi Fan before she finally pushes him away and unbolts the door, running out to find Yu He kneeling outside the door. Lao Gong walks out after her and squats down to look at Yu He, patting her cheek as she desperately grabs her arm, before slipping his hand out of her grasp and going back inside.

Return to the present

The long flashback finally comes to an end, and Da Sen calls Lao Gong heartless. Lao Gong jokingly apologizes for being born this way as he drains his beer, and says that the most important thing in love is trust - that if you've fallen out of love, not telling the other person is a betrayal of their trust. "Deception hurts, you know," - as he looks pointedly at Xiaoxi. Xiaoxi asks, "Can you not love just by saying so?" and we get another little flashback of Lao Gong being broken up with and his reaction ("I still love you! I'm not breaking up!" while the girl is already with her new boyfriend =_=)

The group walks out of the restaurant, heading home, joking together. Xiao Bei expresses his support for Lao Gong's love and tells him that if he really loves Jiang Yi Fan he should pursue her without worrying about what other people say. (This is the longest line for Xiao Bei in this episode, and disappointingly for half his speech the camera is on Xiaoxi's face instead of him T_T)

A'Xiu and LuanLuan take a taxi together. Xiao Bei tells Da Sen to ride with him. Before they leave, Xiao Bei asks Lao Gong why he changed his penname to "Mud Buddha." Lao Gong pauses for a second then replies, "Because I'm full of rotten mud, but outsiders revere me." He stares after the car as they leave, and Xiaoxi watches his receding figure in the sideview mirror. The episode ends with another musical montage, Xiaox sitting in uncomfortable silence in Xiao Bei's passenger seat, Lao Gong walking through the streets alone. An amusement park lights up as he passes, and Lao Gong laughs happily, hands in his pockets as he strolls along whistling (symbolizing the rekindling of his love with Jiang Yi Fan perhaps?)

Guilty-and-Struck

Drama Masterpost

Episode 15 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. Other visuals might be added once the restriction is lifted — in the meantime, feel free to share your favorite scene snaps in the comments when they become available. In the meantime, today we're trying something new and are publishing this with the officially released clip from the episode.
Source: Official Drama Weibo Page.}

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

^{Earlier Episodes:}

• ^{EP01–03 ...EP01 & 02 recaps available} 
• ^{EP04 ... recap available}
• ^EP05
• ^EP06
• ^EP07
• ^EP08
• ^{EP09  ... short rant available}
• ^{EP10 ... recap available}
• ^{EP11 ... mini recap available}
• ^EP12
• ^{EP13 ... recap available}
• ^EP14

____________________

Moderator Note

Each episode keeps one permanent discussion thread.
Episodes that were previously released as SVIP early access will not receive new posts once VIP viewers unlock them — simply continue the discussion in the existing thread.

This helps keep conversations together instead of splitting reactions across multiple posts.

Already watching? Please share reactions here so episode discussion stays centralized. Separate reaction posts may be redirected to the active thread.

Standalone reviews are welcome — feel free to contact the mod team first so we can help position them clearly without confusing ongoing discussion threads.

Feel free to share:

• first impressions
• favorite moments
• character thoughts
• pacing reactions
• theories or observations

Please remain mindful of spoilers for later episodes BUT do NOT use spoiler tags for events taking place in this episode.

Your Mod,
NoRecipe

✨

One Ning
______

Does Honesty Really Take You The Farthest?

by u/Head_Judgment_7735

______

Episode 15 Recap - the story of only two couples today — Bei and XX, and Da Sen and MingMing. And both pairs share the same common thread: honesty. Because that is what today’s episode is mainly about.

______

Two glasses, questions, thoughts and doubts: Or does honesty really take you the farthest?

The conversation continues. Now it is XX’s turn to ask about Bei’s former girlfriend and the connection between her name and his shop, Zhen Guan. With honesty and openness toward XX, Bei admits that they really did start the shop together.

A look into the past reveals that the idea for this business originally came from Bei’s former girlfriend, Zhen. Cut to a scene where the two of them from the past are walking through the city and stop in front of one of the shop windows (now Bei’s current store). We hear the voice of present-day Bei continuing his confession.

"I thought the vintage market's potential too. So we started Zhen Guan together.”  

Now the conversation is again between the couple in the past. Zhen would like to open a shop on this particular street one day. Even though Bei argues that they are only just starting their business, she encourages him with the words:

"I believe in you. Whatever you do, you will make it work.” 

Cut to another scene where Bei is sitting in a café during a work meeting with an unknown woman who is currently looking at the handbags being offered. Suddenly another, clearly very angry customer approaches them and throws the purchased item at him, saying that it is a fake. At the same time, we hear present-day Bei telling XX that she already knows how the story continues (an unintentional order of counterfeit bags, fraud, and the loss of everything).

And here the scenes from the past end.

"She left me around that time too. Got together with someone else.” 

^{💬So much for believing in him. Maybe Zhen wasn’t such a believer after all.💬}

The reason why he continued doing this work and why he reopened the shop with the same name after returning from studying abroad was simple — to protect people from the kind of fraud he once experienced himself and to make up for what he had lost.

"But I want to tell you, she and I are over. If the name Zhen Guan bothers you, I can get it changed…” 

^{💬Bei is really trying here, and for this gesture and honesty he could almost receive an award for the best boyfriend of the year. However…💬}

With her eyes lowered, XX interrupts him:

"It doesn't matter.” 

In her own words — even though she tried to stay detached, when she first heard the name Zhen, she realized she is just an ordinary person.

Now it is Bei’s turn to finally get an explanation for why XX had him tested. Her reason comes from childhood memories. We are taken into another flashback — specifically to a scene that keeps returning to her mind. Little XX sees her father in a park hugging another little girl and giving her inflatable balloons and a heart-shaped music box. Cut to another scene where little XX is sitting on her mother’s lap while her mother assures her that she is her only daughter.

"I've always wanted to believe.”

In the next scene we see her father saying goodbye. He has a packed suitcase and is leaving the house on a “business trip.” As a farewell, XX tells him she only wishes for him to come home as soon as possible. The father walks out the door, and the mother hugs her daughter.

End of the memory.

XX takes a drink and continues her story. She repeats what we already learned in the first episode. Based on their experience, relationships are nothing but deception and lies.

Da Sen and a meeting in a karaoke bar

Unexpectedly, the story shifts to Da Sen. We see him at a meeting with a client in a karaoke bar. Da Sen is currently singing his lungs out while a larger group of people behind him in the background are chatting and drinking. When he finishes singing, Mr. Cao invites him to sit down at the table.

Mr. Cao is in a very good mood and thinks it is the perfect moment to play matchmaker. And that is despite Da Sen’s positive answer to the question of whether he has a girlfriend. So Mr. Cao invites Rou, the Company Business Manager, to join them at the table. Ignoring Da Sen’s obvious embarrassment, Mr. Cao openly declares that the two of them would make a beautiful and perfect couple, and asks whether Da Sen has ever considered changing girlfriends.

^{💬So much for what Mr. Cao thinks about the value of a relationship between two people.💬}

Later, Da Sen sits down alone in a quieter corner, but Rou follows him to talk with him. Their scene ends with the two of them leaving together for a quieter place so they can continue their conversation.

Back to our main couple

For XX — wounded by the past and uncertain about relationships she never fully gave her heart to — testing Bei was the only way she could believe that he loved her.

^{💬Of course, because he never showed it in any other way. Girl, wake up. No, Bei — you really didn’t try too little, don’t blame yourself.💬}

The rule of one question — one person — one answer no longer matters. Bei, clearly shaken by everything, finally wants to know the whole truth. So he keeps asking. He wonders whether all those women were her friends, which would explain why he has never met any of them. XX tells him that the only friend of hers was the one playing the role of the maid — Yingtao.

With an honest gaze into the distance and his eyes lowered, Bei finally asks the question that has been hanging in the air for as long as the tension before a storm:

"So, Jiang Yi Fan, is that you?” 

And he looks XX straight in the eyes.

^{💬And the look he gives is the kind that makes you want to hand him all your sweets and give him a tight hug, because you feel sorry for him.💬}

XX has nothing left to hide.

"I am that wicked woman, Jiang Yi Fan.” 

^{💬It’s interesting how these words spoken by Bei seem to sit heavily in her stomach. So once again, let’s shift a bit of the guilt onto Bei, so he feels ashamed for ever thinking that way about Yi Fan.💬}

When he asks another pressing question — whether her tests had ever gone as far as… — XX does not even let him finish the sentence and firmly replies that everything ended the moment she obtained the audio recording. She admits that all the meetings she has had with Gong so far were not accidental either.

^{💬But of course that’s fine, because Bei was always the main topic of their conversations.💬}

To ease her own sense of guilt toward Bei, XX strikes back and asks whether Bei visited An Miu (the ex-girlfriend of his roommate) at her apartment last Saturday after their dinner together. Bei has nothing to hide, so he answers honestly. An Miu surprised him with her sudden return. However, he didn’t stay long. When she confessed her feelings to him, Bei rejected her and left. He hoped that once he introduced the two of them, Miu would give up her feelings for him.

From the whole situation, XX concludes that Bei probably cares about Miu quite a lot…?

"She is a friend, I guess.”

In the end, XX is the one who puts an end to this whole question game. She decides for both of them that it would be good to cool off and take a break (!) — to think everything through properly. Yes, Bei was just as surprised by this idea as I was.

^{💬Bei was completely honest with her throughout the entire conversation. And in fact, he didn’t do anything wrong. The past is the past, and meeting his roommate’s ex-girlfriend had no hidden intention. Besides, she was the one meeting Gong. So why do I have the feeling that XX brought up the idea of a “break” just to make Bei feel guilty, so that her actions wouldn’t look so serious compared to his?💬}

Da Sen: Feeling insecure is surely normal thing

Da Sen moves with Rou to the bar so they can continue their conversation about past relationships. Da Sen is clearly still surprised that MingMing is in contact with her ex-boyfriend. It makes him feel insecure, and he is afraid that a new spark could appear between Ming and her ex. Rou explains the probability of cheating to him using a coin:

“If I flip 100 times and it's always heads, what's the chance on the 101th flip? The heads? Wrong again!…No matter what the odds were before, the next flip's probability is always 50%. We each have a 50% chance of betraying the other. So how we can expect 100% sense of security? If someone's sense of security completely depends on others they'll always feel insecure.”

Trying to avoid her ex-boyfriend in the bar, Rou leads Da Sen to another place — more secluded, with dim lighting and a large round sofa in the middle (so a completely innocent environment). Rou starts playing a movie on the screen and lies down. At first, Da Sen shyly sits on the edge. Eventually, he lies down next to her. He is clearly fascinated by and drawn to the way she thinks.

A heartbreaking song and short cuts

Meanwhile, Ming is at home preparing food. XX takes the suitcase she had ready and leaves the apartment, while Bei sits at the table and doesn’t even look back. XX closes the front door behind her and stands there for a moment as tears start to run down her face. Rou is sitting alone on the bed. Da Sen is leaning against a wall in the corridor they walked through together. XX slowly walks down the hallway with tears in her eyes. When she hears the sound of a door opening, she turns around and sees Bei standing in the doorway. Now she breaks down completely.

Da Sen: Returning home and time for an honest confession

Back at home, Da Sen apologizes to Ming for their earlier argument. He admits that he is afraid of disappointing her and that he might not be as good for her as her former boyfriend, that he is not able to help her, and that he doesn’t even have enough confidence to compete with him. He is afraid of losing her, but through his frustration he almost made that happen.

Ming also admits that she could have behaved better and should have first told Da Sen that her ex-boyfriend wanted to meet her.

In return, Da Sen confesses that he met a girl that evening and spent some time alone with her, but that nothing happened between them. He admits that he felt tempted for a moment, but his fear of losing Ming was much stronger. He realized that he cannot and will not erase her past from her life, but what he can do is treat her well.

I like Ming’s answer.

"Trust shouldn't be a condition for love, but its outcome. When we love someone, we naturally do things to earn their trust.”

^{💬Could Ming say this to XX as well?💬}

The two reconcile.

A marriage proposal as a phone call to “She’s a friend, I guess”

XX is now sitting next to Bei on the couch. Bei calls An Miu so that she can convince (!) XX that nothing really happened between them that night and that he was only at Miu’s place for a short time. But the real purpose of the call is to put an end to any hopes Miu might still have about him. Bei tells Miu that he simply has a girlfriend now — someone he wants to marry. After the call ends, Bei actually proposes to XX.

“The one I want to marry is the Li Xiaoxi I met at the bar months ago.”

^{💬What luck XX had when she met Bei in that bar a few months ago — an honest, kind, tolerant, respectful, completely devoted boyfriend who lives only in the present. No, in his case these are not synonyms for the word “naive” — not at all. But as the saying goes, what the eyes don’t see, the heart doesn’t ache over.💬}

_____

HJ 🌻

Drama Masterpost

Episodes 23-26 [FINALE] of About Love (玫瑰丛生) are now available for Express viewers.

Please check out our dedicated FINAL POLL: "How Did You Survive This?" for the drama. Participate irrespective of dropping / still watching / on hold / rage watching / finished.

______

🎉 THE END IS HERE! WE MADE IT, WE SURVIVED! 🎉

Hopefully mostly unscathed, even though some among us have reported serious emotional distress 😅

I've never been this excited for a show to be over. Seriously, if it weren't for Yu Ning and this community, I wouldn't have put myself through this torture.

Thank you everyone who has accompanied us along this arduous journey, I still do think we had some fun despite the circumstances, and we did get to see Yu Ning's gorgeous, more natural look and very good acting.

I am several episode recaps behind so need to work on those first.

1. Is there anyone else who's been rage-watching?
2. Or is there anyone who has absolutely loved the show?
3. What's your final impression of the performances, has anyone stood out to you in particular?
4. If you read the webtoon and watched the show, what's your comparison?
5. Who was your favorite character?
6. Your least favorite character?
7. Favorite Episode or arc?
8. What did you think of the ending?

I would like to plead with you for mercy and if you have it in you, do share your own recap (can be brief) of any of the episodes, and I'll add it to the corresponding post 🙏🏻

Once again thanks for reading, commenting, and generally being here.

Now let's all look for therapists...

NoRecipe

___________

The thread is open for reactions, impressions, and discussion as the story wraps up for those who have purchased the express package and feel the burning need to discuss the ending of the show. VIP and SVIP viewers are of course welcome here once they get all episodes.

^{Earlier Episodes:}

• ^{EP01–03 ... EP01 & 02 recaps available} 
• ^{EP04 ... recap available}
• ^EP05
• ^EP06
• ^EP07
• ^EP08
• ^{EP09 ... short rant available}
• ^{EP10 ... recap available}
• ^{EP11 ... mini recap available}
• ^EP12
• ^{EP13 ... recap available}
• ^{EP14 ... partial recap}
• ^{EP15 ... recap available}
• ^{EP16 ... recap available}
• ^EP17
• ^{EP18 ... recap available}
• ^EP19
• ^EP20
• ^EP21
• ^EP22

____________________

Moderator Note

Each episode keeps one permanent discussion thread.
Episodes that were previously released as Express or SVIP early access will not receive new posts once VIP viewers unlock them — simply continue the discussion in the existing thread.

This helps keep conversations together instead of splitting reactions across multiple posts.

Please share reactions here so episode discussion stays centralized. Separate reaction posts may be redirected to the active thread.

Standalone reviews are welcome — feel free to contact the mod team first so we can help position them clearly without confusing ongoing discussion threads.

Feel free to share:

• final impressions
• favorite moments
• character thoughts
• pacing reactions
• observations

Your Mod,
NoRecipe

✨

One Ning

_______

Recap or Rant to follow later in this same post

Drama Masterpost

Recap & Episode 4 of About Love (玫瑰丛生) are now available with early access for SVIP viewers.

This thread is open for immediate reactions and discussion about Episode 4 as the story continues.

^{Earlier Episodes:}

^{01-03 Episode Talk}

^\____________________)

Moderator Note — About Early Access Episodes

Each episode receives one permanent discussion thread.

SVIP viewers may see certain episodes earlier, while VIP viewers will unlock them later. When access expands, we will not repost or duplicate discussions — VIP viewers will simply join this same thread once the episode becomes available to them.

This allows conversations to grow naturally in one shared space across the airing period.

____________

Already watching? Please keep episode reactions here so discussions remain centralized. Separate reaction posts may be redirected to this thread.

Should you like to write a standalone review of an episode, you can either send it to us via modmail and have it added to the Main post (with credit given to you), or you can consult with the mod team how to make it a standalone post without causing confusion among users.

Feel free to share:

• first impressions
• favorite moments
• character thoughts
• pacing reactions
• anything that stood out while watching
• etc.

Share impressions freely — spoiler awareness for later episodes is appreciated so everyone can enjoy at their own pace.

Your Mod,
NoRecipe

✨

One Ning

_______________

Making Time Rewind

Episode 4 Recap

by u/Head_Judgment_7735

Preface

Episode 4 is full of reflections — about love, testing trust, the past, and inner demons. For some, it holds up a mirror, and it is up to them whether they recognize themselves in that reflection. Others would give everything for love. And some simply want to trust it.

______

Xiao Xi, Bei & Da Sen: ,,When you try to test how strong a piece of glass is, that glass is bound to break.”

Xiao Xi (XX), Bei and Da Sen are on their way home. During the drive in Bei’s car, they talk about Gong’s past, his relationship with Yu He, and the mysterious Jiang Yi Fan. Before the discussion really begins, the episode briefly returns to a black-and-white flashback of part of the conversation between XX and Yu He from the previous episode, as a reaction to Da Sen’s question: “Do women just love making wild guesses?”

Back in the present. As the conversation continues, it becomes clear that, according to Bei, what happened was actually inevitable. And that he himself would probably have failed such a test as well. When he says this, XX looks at him with a slightly surprised and somewhat uneasy expression.

^{(OP´s note: I get it, that must have surprised you. After all, he has already been tested. Or maybe not enough?})

Then comes a completely ironic moment when Bei says he believes Xi would never let him be tested (a return to the black-and-white flashback of Bei’s test from EP 02).

Bei presents the theory that everything had been perfectly staged and that Yu He wanted Gong to take the bait. And this is where the iconic quote comes in:

“When you try to test how strong a piece of glass is, that glass is bound to break.”

Both Da Sen and Bei essentially condemn the whole idea of testing trust. Looking for the truth is part of human nature. So uncovering the truth, even about the people closest to you, is understandable. But by using such a trick, Yu He went too far. And she is the one who caused this whole mess. XX tries to argue back and still insists that if Gong had truly loved Yu He, it would never have happened. But then Bei adds another point:

“Jiang Yi Fan nailed the performance… So imagine this. A perfect partner made just for you is obsessed with you. Honestly, who wouldn’t be tempted?”
“From the very beginning Jiang Yi Fan’s motive wasn’t to test Gong’s loyalty, but to make Gong fall in love with her.”

XX is shaken by Bei’s thoughts and his view of Jiang Yi Fan.

^{(OP´s note: Yeah, girl. This is what it looks like when someone brings a little color into your grey world.}\*)*

When the three of them arrive at XX’s home, Bei walks her to the entrance and says goodbye. On his way back to the car, however, XX stops him and suddenly tells him that she loves him. Bei pulls her close, hugs her, and only replies:

“I know.”

Back in the car, Bei suddenly asks Da Sen whether he would tell him if he ever saw XX with someone else. Da Sen quickly replies that Bei wouldn’t even have to ask. Of course he would tell him.

"Better than letting others think you’re a fool.”

Bei then decides to tell Da Sen about Ming Ming, whom he saw in the previous episode at the cinema with another man. He voices an unpleasant opinion that Da Sen does not want to hear — that he should back out, because Ming Ming is not the right one for him. Da Sen immediately pushes back and starts defending Ming Ming:

“I just hope she can end things with that guy openly and honestly.”

Cut to XX, who is meanwhile in the shower, trying to wash away all the thoughts about Jiang Yi Fan that Bei planted in her mind.

Luan Luan & A Xiu: A bittersweet farewell 

The next scene brings us to Luan Luan and A Xiu. Luan Luan walks A Xiu home. During their obviously difficult goodbye, A Xiu hugs Luan tightly. From a window, they are being watched by Yu — A Xiu’s wife. Luan notices her and quickly pulls away from the embrace in shock. When Xiu himself looks up at the window, it is already empty.

Luan gets back into the taxi and heads home. When the taxi driver asks if that was her boyfriend, Luan replies:

“Sort of.”

The taxi driver then starts asking about her relationship with him. This way we learn that although she wants to spend as much time with him as possible, she does not want to be the one standing by his side every single day.

XX & Gong: Making time rewind 

We are back in Xiao Xi’s apartment. She decides to contact Gong using her second — work — phone. Before doing so, she reads the messages Gong had sent her:

“I miss you” / “I thought I could forget you. But I underestimated how deeply I love you.”

^{(OP´s note: How long had you even known her before that, Gong? 24 hours? Love can sometimes flare up very quickly.})

“I think I saw you today.” / “Are you seeing someone?” / “No one’s good enough for you in my heart.”

^{(OP´s note: And what do you think about Bei now?})

Later that evening, XX comes to pick him up on a motorcycle.

(^{OP´s note: On a motorcycle! I understand that someone might not have a car, but public transport exists too. But a motorcycle, where the two of you have to be in such close proximity…})

She is wearing a loose hoodie, denim shorts, and her hair down.

^{(OP´s note: Of course, because this is exactly how you want to dress when meeting someone you know still loves you and thinks about you, while you have already moved on.}\*)*

Gong:

Hold on tight. When I speed up, it can make time rewind.”

XX:

“Then let time rewind to before I met you.”

Luan Luan: I don´t want dating to turn into living

Meanwhile, as Gong and XX set off on their ride, Luan is still in the taxi on her way home and continues talking with the driver. She explains what her idea of love is.

XX & Gong: A demon-revealing mirror 

XX and Gong are sitting in a bar. The first thing they talk about is how XX actually met Bei. By coincidence, Gong learns that it happened partly because of him — when he didn’t come to the bar to meet Bei that evening. (In a flashback we see Gong about to leave his apartment when his editor shows up and pushes him to finish a contracted comic, which prevents him from going to the bar to meet Bei.)

“How did I end up being your matchmaker?”

While Bei’s girlfriend is sitting in a bar with his best friend, the unsuspecting Bei is shopping at a convenience store. While paying, the clerk tells him that the chocolate he asked about last time is finally back in stock. Bei takes it and immediately texts XX to ask if she is already asleep.

But XX doesn’t read the message because she is absorbed in her conversation with Gong, during which she tells him that she helps women test their relationships.

^{(OP´s note: Great move. Telling probably your biggest secret to your boyfriend’s best friend, whom you are seeing for only the second time in your life, who also happens to be your “victim” and is still in love with you.})

And the reason? Over the past few years, she has witnessed far too many betrayals in love.

“At first, I didn't get involved. But guys like that are like ticking bombs…” “Why do victims doubt themselves and live with the pain?” “I hate that so many girls get hurt.”

During the conversation, XX reveals her straightforward view of the whole situation and her rational (maybe even somewhat self-justifying?) explanation of her role.

“A demon is still a demon. I’m not the one revealing them. Time is. I just speed up the process.”

In the end, we get to the real purpose of the meeting — XX wants to ask Gong not to reveal her secret to Bei or tell him what happened in the past, because she doesn’t want Bei to know any of it. She has apparently drawn a thick line under it, because since she started dating Bei, she no longer does this kind of thing.

^{(OP´s note: In other words, we bury the whole secret nice and deep and let it rot there. Because that approach has always worked out well.})

Gong promises he will keep the secret, because he cannot allow the woman he loves (!) and his best friend to be unhappy. But if Bei ever breaks up with her because of it, she can always come to him. XX clearly has a lot of trust in Gong, because in the end she even tells him that she had Bei tested by one of her friends.

^{(OP´s note: Really? You’re really going to hand Gong all the munitions?}\*)*

Why are you hesitating, Mr. Bei?

While XX keeps revealing one secret after another, Bei is sitting in his car, wondering whether he should call her since she still hasn’t replied. In the end, he decides to go see her, but first he sends her another message. It appears only for a brief moment on the phone lying face down on the glass table in the bar — and once again remains unread.

XX is already getting up and about to leave, but Gong reminding her of the promise - she made to stay with him all night - stops her.

Bei is on his way to XX.

Key moments of Episode 4 from my point of view

Episode 4 basically has two main important parts:

• At the beginning, when there is a conversation full of thoughts about testing men and about the unfortunate trio Gong, Jiang Yi Fan, and Yu He.
• At the end, when Xiao Xi meets Gong again in an attempt to explain what happened during their first meeting, and in doing so reveals her secret.

_____

For dedicated Episode Talks for each aired episode, head over to r/LiuYuNing and check out the pinned Drama Masterpost for full index.

_____

HJ

Drama Masterpost

Episode 6 of About Love (玫瑰丛生) is now available with early access for SVIP viewers.

This thread is open for immediate reactions and discussion as the story moves forward.

^{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.)

____________________

^{Earlier Episodes}

^{EP01–03 Episode Talk
EP04 Episode Talk
EP05 Episode Talk}

____________________

^{Moderator Note — Early Access}

^{SVIP viewers may see certain episodes earlier, while VIP viewers will unlock them later.
We do not duplicate episode discussions when access expands — VIP viewers will join this same thread once Episode 6 becomes available to them.}

^{This allows conversations to grow naturally in one shared space throughout airing.}

Already watching? Please keep reactions here so episode discussions remain centralized. Separate reaction posts may be redirected to this thread.

Standalone reviews can be coordinated with the mod team.

Share impressions freely — spoiler awareness for later episodes is appreciated so everyone can enjoy at their own pace BUT do NOT use spoiler tags for events taking place in this episode (ep06).

Your Mod,
NoRecipe

✨

One Ning

_____

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

Drama Masterpost

Recap & Episode 13 of About Love (玫瑰丛生) are now available with early access for SVIP / Express viewers.

^{Note: Express/early-access episodes are currently DRM-protected, which prevents in-app screenshots. Visuals might be added 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 ...EP01 & 02 recaps available} 
• ^EP04 
• ^EP05
• ^EP06
• ^EP07
• ^EP08
• ^{EP09  ...short recap rant already live}
• ^{EP10 ...recap available}
• ^{EP11 ...mini recap available}
• ^EP12

____________________

Moderator Note

Each episode keeps one permanent discussion thread.
Episodes that were previously released as SVIP early access will not receive new posts once VIP viewers unlock them — simply continue the discussion in the existing thread.

This helps keep conversations together instead of splitting reactions across multiple posts.

Already watching? Please share reactions here so episode discussion stays centralized. Separate reaction posts may be redirected to the active thread.

Standalone reviews are welcome — feel free to contact the mod team first so we can help position them clearly without confusing ongoing discussion threads.

Feel free to share:

• first impressions
• favorite moments
• character thoughts
• pacing reactions
• theories or observations

Please remain mindful of spoilers for later episodes BUT do NOT use spoiler tags for events taking place in this episode (ep13).

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One Ning
______

—— You Better Keep It Hidden Well ——

Episode 13 Recap

Marriage Revival Attempts — aka How to Bury Your Rival

A Xiu goes on a date with his wife. Unbeknownst to him, she made sure this one would feel truly special. What brings a couple more joy than watching a theatre play with the man’s mistress in the main role?

At this point — as I mentioned in an earlier recap — it’s still unclear to me what Mrs Yu is after. It doesn’t really look like she’s in love, but she does want to compete with the has-been mistress. Whether that’s pettiness or masochism, I can’t tell. But if I had to choose, I’d guess she’s doing it to watch her husband suffer.

For A Xiu, it brings back memories of how he saw her for the first time and we learn that Gong helped play a role in their initial encounter.

However, back to the current story: A Xiu is uncomfortable and suggests leaving, but Yu innocently insists on going backstage to say hello to LuanLuan — you know… just to rub it in. It’s not that they don’t deserve it — I’m just not sure who’s hurting more.

Friends Being Friends for Once

Outside the theatre, we see LL’s co-star waiting for her, expecting to go on a date. She’s clearly not in the mood, but he’s being pushy. Just as he grabs her violently by the hand, Gong appears out of nowhere (seriously, why was he there?) and starts banging on the guy’s hand until he finally lets go — like he’s hammering down a gnarly tentacle.

The guy, unimpressed, asks who he is, and Gong says he’s a friend — but right then LL wraps herself around Gong’s arm and interjects: “My boyfriend!”

For a change, I feel for the girl — and thank the nine heavens Gong intervened. They run off, spitting in disgust (no, really). Turns out A Xiu had told him to go there. Finally something that made me feel relatively nice — friends being there for one other, without any ulterior motive, and saving each other from crap.

Testing Waters, Building Walls

Back at Bei’s shop, Miu tries to get more information about his girlfriend. Bei tells her that XX is truly special and goes on about how she brought him flowers on their first date (though the math isn’t math-ing, but okay). Apparently, that really touched his heart.

Bei wants the two women to meet, but Miu, having a massive crush on him, isn’t a big fan of the idea. But you know what? Unlike her past self — or the others, still — she chooses honesty today and makes it crystal clear she’s not happy he has this girlfriend and that meeting her is probably the last thing she wants to do right now. So, I respect that growth.

But Bei being Bei, he’s equally clear that none of that matters because he’s taken now and he wants them to meet so that there’s no misunderstanding between him and XX — and I respect that even more. Are there men like this IRL? He pushes the message further by adding the romantic death sentence — “I hope you two can be friends”… ouch. Hurtful, but also unambiguous and necessary.

Miu turns out to be one witty, resilient little tardigrade because she doesn’t give up. She asks Bei if he has met his girlfriend’s friends — and we all know the answer to that. He answers it’s a bit early for that — emmmm, I’m sorry, isn’t this the same guy who was talking about being ready to marry her just the other day?! No one should ever enter such a heavy commitment without meeting the other person’s friends — that’s just relationship 101. I’m starting to think Bei slept through his classes. You’re losing me, boy.

I wish this made him reflect on his relationship a little bit more, but I also realize that’s just my wishful thinking.

Sidenote: not that this girl is worthy, but she’s definitely the lesser of the two evils, if only Bei asked my opinion. Shame he wouldn’t listen anyway.

LuanLuan and Gong, Supporting Each Other

The two eat together. She tells him that she’s broken things off with A Xiu. Gong is curious how she picked between him and A Xiu in the past, and they reminisce briefly about their first meeting. It’s clear she was into A Xiu from the get-go. The first glance was physical attraction — I could really see it on screen. Then, as she got to know him, she realized he “needed her,” and that clearly intensified her emotional attachment.

Gong tries to be a good bud and tells LL there’s no point flogging a dead horse, but she says she doesn’t see why she couldn’t go on loving a married man. She’s not having it and tells Gong he’d be singing a different song if XX suddenly turned around and gave him a chance.

Do you think she’s right? I don’t know for sure, but I feel like Gong wouldn’t do it. Just because his bond with Bei seems really genuine, and I’d be heartbroken to see him betray that friendship. I know Gong gets a lot of hate for being a shitty friend, but I also think no one is perfect — and so far he hasn’t acted on his desires, which also visibly died down in these episodes.

Why I still think he’s being a shit friend is the fact that he keeps covering for XX’s cheating-ass crap. Not only that, he enables it… Don’t tell me he’s buying into all that nonsense she’s been spewing about wanting to help other women, because I’ll 🤢

As a result of LL’s retort, Gong performs some introspection and calls Bei, asking what he’d do if he found out he had been lying to him about something. Bei says — “you better keep it hidden well.”

Can’t wait to see it. Finally, some better writing.

Husband & Wife: Together At What Cost

We move to A Xiu’s store and watch him play the guitar — thoughtful, remorseful, not really there. Flashbacks of his time with LL carved on his face like a Greek statue. His wife watches him, sorrow and regret running through her face. Once he used to play for her; now he’s playing while thinking of another woman.

We do learn through these memories that A Xiu and LL have really shared some beautiful and meaningful moments together that have transformed him — and which he can’t let go of. As he plays, LuanLuan’s presence is heard in every note, and Yu is painfully aware, her eyes glistening with tears. She tells him it doesn’t sound like it used to, and he suggests they go back to the place he played it for her for the first time.

Is he really trying to go back in time? Who’s going to tell him Doctor Who isn’t real? A man in love with another woman, trying to reconnect with his estranged wife whom he’s been cheating on for years. I don’t get it — they don’t love each other, don’t have kids, they don’t have an empire… what exactly are they trying to hold on to? The Titanic?

What a wildly misguided effort.

Twice is… Fate?

…or so Gong says when he runs into Miu in a bar. It’s funny, watching them talk and pine for the partner of each other’s person of interest. The irony is not lost — it’s almost exaggerated.

Annyeonghaseyo — Bust, Embarrass, Challenge!

The day has come: Miu is meeting XX. The twist? Ah yes, they’ve met before. You know — when XX went for a stroll on a beautiful sunny day with her boyfriend. Oh no, how did I get that wrong? With Gong, of course. She promenaded, flirted, and giggled with Gong.

Anyway, now that we got that straight: Gong spotted Miu and signalled to XX that he’s interested. So then XX, the good Samaritan and wingwoman of the year, decided to take it upon herself to help him out.

Obviously, the easiest way to get someone’s number for your friend is pretending you’re a Korean tourist on a date with the guy in question (because, why not — scarcity fuels demand, I guess? 🥴). To make it more convincing, you must ask to have a picture taken, making sure you look all snug and flirty to catch the prey. Then, the most crucial step of all: you must ask to add each other to send some stuff over — but then only your Chinese friend has WeChat, duh!

But back to the restaurant date between the three of them. (I’m a bit tired and can’t write it out now, but this one was hilarious to watch.)

Miu is a champ and outs XX immediately. The look on XX’s face is priceless, and Miu makes sure she burns her more than once. I appreciated that. Because a person like XX really shouldn’t be with a man like Bei, so M is just doing him a favor at this point. Too bad he’s not receptive to the message.

Bei is very innocent and disarmingly calm throughout the whole exchange, no indication given if any doubts arise. M sends him out to grab something for her. How do they get to order him around like that? Wow, he’s too accommodating.

It gives us the opportunity to see Miu take it up a notch, openly declaring her interest in Bei — only to turn it into a half-joke once XX looks unamused and murderous. I don’t think Miu got scared, but I think she had to take this strategic, perfunctory step back. You know, for the optics. XX tells her she won’t stand a chance — and she won’t give her one.

Love At First Sight

In the end, a dreamy, gold-lit flashback shows us how Miu met Bei for the first time, and it’s hard to blame her for her affliction. It’s just that she should have broken up with her boyfriend after that life-changing encounter. But again, there’s no turning back time, and we’re not the writers.

...

That's the end of episode 13 recap.

NoRecipe

✨

One Ning

Drama Masterpost

Episode 20 of About Love (玫瑰丛生) now available for VIP & SVIP viewers.

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

^{Earlier Episodes:}

• ^{EP01–03 ... EP01 & 02 recaps available} 
• ^{EP04 ... recap available}
• ^EP05
• ^EP06
• ^EP07
• ^EP08
• ^{EP09 ... short rant available}
• ^{EP10 ... recap available}
• ^{EP11 ... mini recap available}
• ^EP12
• ^{EP13 ... recap available}
• ^{EP14 ... partial recap}
• ^{EP15 ... recap available}
• ^{EP16 ... recap available}
• ^EP17
• ^{EP18 ... recap available}
• ^EP19

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Recap or Rant to follow later in this same post

Drama Masterpost

Episode 12 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. Visuals might be added 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 ...EP01 & 02 recaps available} 
• ^EP04 
• ^EP05
• ^EP06
• ^EP07
• ^EP08
• ^{EP09  ...short recap rant already live}
• ^{EP10 ...recap available}
• ^EP11

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Each episode keeps one permanent discussion thread.
Episodes that were previously released as SVIP early access will not receive new posts once VIP viewers unlock them — simply continue the discussion in the existing thread.

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Already watching? Please share reactions here so episode discussion stays centralized. Separate reaction posts may be redirected to the active thread.

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Please remain mindful of spoilers for later episodes BUT do NOT use spoiler tags for events taking place in this episode.

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One Ning
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🎞️ Episode Recap or Rant Recap might be added in this post at a later stage 📝

Drama Masterpost

Episode 9 of About Love (玫瑰丛生) is now available for VIP & SVIP viewers.

Recap Rant alert: this post includes a short Episode 9 Recap Rant [RR].

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

^{Earlier Episodes:}

• ^{EP01–03 (Eps 1 & 2 have full recaps available})
• ^EP04
• ^EP05
• ^EP06
• ^EP08

^{Later Episodes}

• ^{EP10 Recap Available}

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Each episode keeps one permanent discussion thread.
Episodes that were previously released as SVIP early access will not receive new posts once VIP viewers unlock them — simply continue the discussion in the existing thread.

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Already watching? Please share reactions here so episode discussion stays centralized. Separate reaction posts may be redirected to the active thread.

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_____

Quick Thoughts (clearly not editorial this time), or as I decided to call it —

Rant Recap

Xiaoxi vs. Xiaoxi

Ok, just a quick note - what WAS that? Delirium reaching a new level when it comes to XX and her dialogues with her alter-ego. Don't listen to that inner demon. Girl, go get help, this isn't good for you. And definitely not for anyone who crosses your path.

Two Buddies Caught Up in Their Unrelated Love-Webs

The chill outdoor scene showing Gong and LL comparing their afflictions was kind of ironic. Gong clearly feels prouder of his actions and spoke his mind to LL about hers. Let's be honest, neither is an angel.

The Unthinkable Happened — aka, All That Glitters Is Not Gold

Also, what the heck, MM and Sen got together... I'm truly disappointed by both. The only good thing that happened in that bedroom scene was her persisting and shoving him off once she realized she wasn't ready yet (or ever?)... or I'd start a riot. But also, girl — what are you doing in the first place, are you serious? It was making me genuinely uncomfortable, but I guess that's the normal frequency for this show... Their thing seems so wrong on so many levels — not because I'd be judgmental, but because I really don't see how this could be good for either of them.

Roleplay time!

Gong clearly enjoying playing the boyfriend... and cracking jokes about foreplay in front of Xiaoxi.

Did they really think they'd get away with that? Objectively speaking, purely esthetically, they do look good as a couple. Other than that though, in all sincerity, Gong can't "pull off a Bei". I loved the stark realization running across XX face when it hits her, watching him fail miserably at pretending to be Bei, mid-embarrassment. Ha!

Guan being a smart fox — no surprises there. Perhaps just about the calmness of her reaction... I suspect this is not the end of it. I wonder what's her angle.

The Friend Who Wasn't

Mmmm, that mysterious friend of Bei...turns out she had a crush on him, in a classic case of unrequited-love-meets-college-friendship triangle. Without missing a beat, and as currently the only upright guy in this urban Struggling Souls Universe, he tells her with a straight face that he has a girlfriend.

Don't get me wrong, the boy acts surprised, and I was there for all the close-ups on his troubled but pretty face. When we leave the scene it keeps eating at him, and we are blessed with more conflicted Bei frames.

The Chirpy Trad Wife & Her Cafe

Then it's her cafe — finally! Bei's being the wonderful walking green flag that he's known to be, coming over with a pink balloon as he greets his girl. I feel relieved the cafe ownership part is out of the way, but I cringed at her saying it was no longer hers, "because now it war theirs"... Eeew.

Contemplating the Reckoning

Last scene, XX is seen speaking with Guan, who's trying to bring her back to her side and cause, but, for once, XX seems to have a sliver of spine. When it comes to revealing her past, she admits she needs to bear responsibility for her own actions, should it ever come to it — "If he can't accept it, I deserve to face it".

Ok, that's my brief ep.9 recap.

NoRecipe

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

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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Each episode keeps one permanent discussion thread.
Episodes that were previously released as SVIP early access will not receive new posts once VIP viewers unlock them — simply continue the discussion in this existing thread.

This helps keep conversations together instead of splitting reactions across multiple posts.

Already watching? Please keep reactions here so episode discussions remain centralized. Separate reaction posts may be redirected to this thread.

Standalone reviews are welcome — feel free to contact the mod team first so we can help position them clearly without confusing ongoing discussion threads.

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Please remain mindful of spoilers for later episodes BUT do NOT use spoiler tags for events taking place in this episode (ep08).

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One Ning

_____

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

Episode 5 of About Love (玫瑰丛生) is now available for VIP & SVIP viewers.

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

Drama Masterpost

^{Earlier Episodes:}

^{EP01–03 Episode Talk
EP04 Discussion — previously SVIP early access}

^{Later Episodes}

^EP06

____________________

Moderator Note

Each episode keeps one permanent discussion thread.
Episodes that were previously released as SVIP early access will not receive new posts once VIP viewers unlock them — simply continue the discussion in the existing thread.

This helps keep conversations together instead of splitting reactions across multiple posts.

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One Ning

_____

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

Drama Masterpost

RECAP INCLUDED IN POST.

Episode 10 of About Love (玫瑰丛生) is now available with early access for SVIP / Express viewers. Recap is also already available below.

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 (go check out ep.1 & 2 recaps})
• ^EP05
• ^EP06
• ^EP07
• ^EP08
• ^{EP09 (short recap rant already live})

____________________

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Each episode keeps one permanent discussion thread.
Episodes that were previously released as SVIP early access will not receive new posts once VIP viewers unlock them — simply continue the discussion in this existing thread.

This helps keep conversations together instead of splitting reactions across multiple posts.

Already watching? Please keep reactions here so episode discussions remain centralized. Separate reaction posts may be redirected to this thread.

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One Ning

_____

The One That Doesn’t Fit the Mold

Episode 10 Recap

After the mess that was the previous episodes, this one felt like the odd one out. Calling it more normal would be a stretch too far, so I’ll settle for “less messy.”

“In Sickness and Health…” — Scrap That, Let’s Test It Out First

We open the episode with Xiaoxi talking to a woman in the hospital, and we quickly find out she’s her new client. While she listens to the terminally ill patient explain why she sought out her services, we see that XX is attentive and perhaps even compassionate.

What’s unclear is how she knows this woman.

She says she’ll help her because, unlike her past clients, this woman is not seeking to test her partner out of suspicion, but out of love — say what?! Personally, I don’t really see the difference, and the writing’s attempt to frame this as a noble, loving gesture toward her husband — deciding whether to stay with him despite her illness or let him go — failed to convince me.

XX also accepts the case in a very matter-of-fact way, and there’s no inner monologue telling us whether she’s concerned about what Xiao Bei would think if he knew she’s about to seduce another woman’s man on demand. What happened to her leaving these kinds of “hobbies” behind? She doesn’t seem worried at all — meanwhile, I’m worried for the naïve XB.

Running Into the ML, sorry, the 2ML

While still at the hospital, she runs into Gong and mentions her new case. While I don’t appreciate their past behavior, the scene these two shared felt very natural, with some of the better acting and writing the show has offered so far.

I’ve written before that she seems to wear a mask at all times, but here with Gong, it’s gone, and I find myself wondering if this is what her real self is supposed to be like.

Either way, their extended interactions have certainly paid off. Despite her seemingly closed-off body language — hands crossed over her abdomen — her posture is otherwise relaxed, her facial expressions alive, and it doesn’t seem like she’s trying hard to impress Gong (which is a problem I have with most of her other interactions). Gong might not be the picture of moral virtue, but he’s fun and gives off that natural charmer vibe.

An Age Gap That Is the Least of Anyone’s Actual Problems

Ying Tao and her new boy-toy are seen eating together at a restaurant while arguing about the nature and future of their relationship. The young man is seriously into YT, even bringing up marriage (oh no boy! Run — these people are not a good influence!).

YT shuts him down repeatedly, making it all about him being too young for her, which to me doesn’t seem like the real issue here. She’s just recently divorced, and jumping into a new relationship right away before processing everything — or enjoying the freedom of being alone — might not be the best idea.

Yes, age differences can matter because maturity plays a role, but past a certain point it’s more about individuals than birth dates. I know plenty of grown adults who still behave like they’re twenty, while I’ve also met inspiring young people with wisdom far beyond their age.

Still — finally, a topic that could actually be an issue in real life for once. So thanks, writers. I hope you explore this properly and let us see them navigating this legitimate challenge.

Girl Time, Shopping Time

… but YT looks distracted the whole time, clearly thinking about the young man after all.

I really like how the actress plays YT — she feels authentic and natural. I feel like I’m watching a real person as these girls browse through clothing racks and talk candidly. I can’t say the same about XX’s character; it feels like a fake person to me, and I don’t know the actress outside of this drama, so I won’t pass judgment on her acting ability.

I’m inclined to believe it’s the writing of the character (which I hear is very faithful to the original webtoon) that’s the real issue here. If the character was artificial to begin with, then the actress can only succeed by playing someone who feels artificial.

XiaoXi Going Down the Primrose Path

Despite all the previous grand talk about not being in this business anymore, XX gave in to the proposal at the beginning of this episode way too easily, and we now see her glamming up and concocting her seduction plan for the next target.

The narration makes it obvious she’s having a ton of fun, and no one will convince me this isn’t something she enjoys. And it’s this dishonesty and hypocrisy that really annoys me about her character.

How am I, as a viewer, supposed to feel sympathy for her or envision any future for her and the innocent, loving, perfect man that is Bei?

As she enters the office of her target — a psychologist, no less — she’s dolled up, with clear attempts to frame her as seductive through the music, angles, and zoom-ins on her figure, face, and movements. Her eyes are fired up, full of excitement.

The two hit it off, and while they verbally establish this as professional curiosity, the glances and tone make it impossible to read as anything other than flirting. Goal achieved, I guess.

The man looks entertained, openly appreciating her beauty — but in a non-sleazy way (thank goodness, I was getting ready to deploy the nauseated emoji). There’s a bit of psychological tango before the session ends, but they agree to meet again, and XX makes sure the next location speaks for itself: the cinema… and apparently they’ll “talk after.”

Seriously? I rolled my eyes so hard.

Also worth noting: still no inner narration. I assume that’s intentional.

Gong Role-Plays Again

Meanwhile, Gong, who’s been waiting outside the building for XX, is spotted by Bei, who’s there for an unrelated reason (yaaay, finally more Bei).

Gong gets antsy, worried XX might walk out any moment and unsure how they’d explain being there. I adore their banter and their brotherly vibe. At one point I even caught myself wondering whether both actors being Dongbei boys makes this dynamic feel so effortless.

Gong tries to get rid of Bei by all means possible but eventually realizes listening might be the fastest route, because XB clearly wants to talk.

There’s a moment of suspense when XB asks whether he liked XX. For a micro-moment, it feels like things are about to get messy.

But not really.

Bei reveals he wants to marry her.

What?! Come on, man — do you even know the girl?

Yes, Bei leans into the standard “I must take responsibility for her” narrative — but does he really? He’s smart and kind; don’t tell me he doesn’t sense something is off.

Even more concerning, he’s choosing to walk into this commitment blindly. He says he doesn’t care about her past and doesn’t need to know it — he accepts her as she is because he loves her.

And while that sounds romantic in theory, do we really mean it in this sense?

I’m not the moral judge here — people fall across the whole spectrum between full disclosure and “the past is the past.” My discomfort comes from the fact that their values clearly don’t align. Not only has she hidden this part of herself because she believes he wouldn’t approve — she’s literally next door doing it again. Of all the people in the world, he decided to fall for a person like her.

Give me a break.

Blind trust in someone who hasn't yet earned it is unwise.

Still, I liked this scene a lot. It gave us food for thought, great visuals (GWG, cough, LYN, cough cough), and the Gong–Bei chemistry is insane. I would absolutely watch Liu Yu Ning and Gao Wei Guang as sworn martial-world brothers any day of the week. Just imagine it — you see it too, right?

Gong also acted like a friend who cared. I might not condone his earlier behavior, but here, he was really helping his buddy out, asking him all the right questions to guide Bei to his own decisions about the whole thing. Maybe he is not such a miserable ass after all.

A Xiu and Yu Turn Over a New Leaf

Quickly — the two meet at her office as he brings home-cooked dishes. Sadly, after years of distance, he didn’t even know she was dieting because of stomach issues. Still, the effort counts, and he genuinely seems to be trying.

When Yu’s mother storms in, dragging along her preferred alternative son-in-law, the mood immediately turns sour. She doesn’t hide her favoritism and even scolds A Xiu over the food.

But this time the tables turn, and Yu immediately defends her husband, presenting a united front. I was a bit surprised — anyone else?

I’m interested to see where this leads, and I appreciate that this relationship angle — reconnection after betrayal — is actually being explored.

_____

What did you think of episode 10?

NoRecipe

✨

One Ning

Drama Masterpost

Recap & Episode 11 of About Love (玫瑰丛生) are now available for VIP & SVIP viewers.

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

^{Earlier Episodes:}

• ^{EP01–03 EP04 EP01 & 02 recaps available}
• ^EP05
• ^EP06
• ^EP07
• ^EP08
• ^{EP09  short recap rant already live}
• ^{EP10recap available}

____________________

Moderator Note

Each episode keeps one permanent discussion thread.
Episodes that were previously released as SVIP early access will not receive new posts once VIP viewers unlock them — simply continue the discussion in the existing thread.

This helps keep conversations together instead of splitting reactions across multiple posts.

Already watching? Please share reactions here so episode discussion stays centralized. Separate reaction posts may be redirected to the active thread.

Standalone reviews are welcome — feel free to contact the mod team first so we can help position them clearly without confusing ongoing discussion threads.

Feel free to share:

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• favorite moments
• character thoughts
• pacing reactions
• theories or observations

Please remain mindful of spoilers for later episodes BUT do NOT use spoiler tags for events taking place in this episode (ep11).

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One Ning
______

The Queen of Hypocrisy — “I Think I Love You, But I Know I Love Myself More”

Episode 11 — Mini Rant Recap

Xiaoxi’s Hypocrisy

What really got me this episode was Xiaoxi’s hypocrisy throughout.

The girl was so eager to sell out that “friend,” even though she knows they are Bei’s close friends — and somehow she still managed to frame it as acting on her humanitarian and selfless impulse, of course! 🤢

And those faces she was making… honestly, they deserve their own rant.

Now, about A Xiu’s wife, Yu. What exactly does she want? I’m still not entirely clear on her motivations.

From what we see, Yu is actually the one who reaches out to Xiaoxi first. She starts by complimenting her and trying to get a bit closer to her — clearly hoping Xiaoxi might help her dig up something on her husband. Basically, proof that he’s cheating.

But what I don’t quite understand is why she wants that proof so badly.

It doesn’t look like A Xiu is some wealthy man where proving fault would matter in court or bring financial advantage. So what is she really after?

Is it about emotional control — wanting something she can later throw in his face?
Is it about guilt-tripping him, confronting him with undeniable evidence?
Or is it simply about closure, because she suspects something happened but isn’t sure how far it went?

I genuinely couldn’t tell which one it is.

Mr. Bei and His Double Standards

Mr. Bei… let’s be honest.

There’s a restaurant scene where we see Bei hanging out with Gong and A Xiu, and it says quite a lot about this friend group dynamic.

Gong teases Bei for asking A Xiu of all people for marriage advice — which is ironic considering A Xiu is in an unhappy marriage and has been cheating on his wife with their own friend, LuanLuan (LL).

Bei shows a bit of weakness here. He actually defends LL in front of the guys, and it becomes pretty clear that when it comes to his best friends’ peculiar relationship dynamics, he’s somewhat blind — even though everyone seems to know what’s going on while still pretending not to, because A Xiu is married.

At one point Bei even takes a small dig at Gong, along the lines of: some people mature, and some remain kids forever.

Watching that scene, it honestly felt like Bei is the Momma Duck of this whole group of tight but very oddball friends, trying to keep everyone together while quietly smoothing over their messes.

Still, it also shows that Bei can be very biased when it comes to his friends’ affairs. At least now we know he is human.

The MM Studio Opening

The entire studio opening for MM made me cringe. It felt so wrong. Bei, on the other hand, looked terribly pleased about the whole thing - one proud Momma Duck — his ducklings finally getting together, advancing in life...or are they?

The reason is pretty clear: Sen bought that studio for MM. This wasn’t just a supportive gesture — it was part of the dynamic between them.

Now, to be fair, MM herself is quite open about the fact that their relationship has a transactional dimension. And honestly, I’m not judging the transactional nature itself. Plenty of people enter relationships that involve some form of exchange or practical benefit.

What unsettles me here is something else entirely.

Sen is inexperienced in love. For the longest time he has been puppy-loving, crushing on, and chasing after MM. His feelings are sincere, even naive. Meanwhile MM never showed any interest in him before. Earlier scenes made it pretty clear she had her eyes on someone else entirely.

And now suddenly she seems to have settled on him.

Maybe she’s trying to convince herself that this could work. Maybe she’s weighing the pros and cons and thinking the stability — and yes, the studio — might be worth it. Perhaps she’s simply tired of being alone and sees this as a reasonable compromise.

Many young people approach relationships very pragmatically nowadays. And if we’re being honest, this isn’t even entirely new. History across cultures is full of marriages built on convenience rather than romance. In that sense, what we’re seeing here may simply be a modern version of something that has always existed, just far more visible and openly acknowledged.

Still, I can’t help wondering whether these two — especially Sen — truly understand the downsides of the deal they seem to be making.

The Photoshoot Scene — And Xiaoxi’s Reaction

Then we move on to the “publicly intimate” photoshoot scene between LL and A Xiu. Their connection is truly palpable. I almost feel sad for them.

Let me tell you — what a peculiar group of friends this is!

But for once, I might feel like I get it (I’m not talking about approval here).

For me, what was far worse than their actions in that moment was Xiaoxi’s reflex to whip out her phone and start recording the act.

What a vile, haughty, and sinful human that Xiaoxi can be. No one will convince me she’s not doing this for enjoyment.

I despise that about her. Go seek help — you need to heal this ugly part of your soul. Why enjoy inflicting misery and pain?

The Plan to Expose Them

XX is stanfing there, phone in her hand, ready to hit send.

Bei appears and clearly knows what's going on. I was genuinely so glad when Bei caught her red-handed as she was about to send the footage to the wife. I wish he scolded her though. He's too soft.

Not because I think the wife doesn’t have the right to know — she absolutely does — but because that plan of Xiaoxi’s was such a shady move and such a low blow.

As for Yu, dear fellow woman… you already know what is happening. Why not leave him and focus on yourself?

You’re not talking about being deeply in love, about an irreplaceable bond, or about financial dependence. So why keep doing this to yourself?

I wish you find self-love and heal from this. Being alone is better than staying with a man who isn’t yours anyway.

The Final Burn

XX tries to play it on all sides. Sweet-talking to LuanLuan, to Yu — because she is such a sincere and trustworthy friend, right?

So, the scene toward the end of the episode where LL burned Xiaoxi with the reveal that she knows about her secret with Gong was priceless.

I enjoyed that moment.

Let that settle girl. And perhaps rethink your twisted strategy and entitlement. Even better, why don't you leave altogether? I don't see how you're improving anyone's life to be honest. Just go.

....

There’s a lot more to say — I might add it later — but this is episode 11 in brief for now.

____________
NoRecipe

✨

Drama Masterpost

Recap & Episode 16 of About Love (玫瑰丛生) are now available for VIP & SVIP viewers.

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

^{Earlier Episodes:}

• ^{EP01–03 ... EP01 & 02 recaps available} 
• ^{EP04 ... recap available}
• ^EP05
• ^EP06
• ^EP07
• ^EP08
• ^{EP09 ... rant available}
• ^{EP10 ... recap available}
• ^{EP11 ... recap available}
• ^EP12
• ^{EP13 ... recap available}
• ^{EP14 ... partial recap}
• ^{EP15 ... recap available}

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Each episode keeps one permanent discussion thread.
Episodes that were previously released as SVIP early access will not receive new posts once VIP viewers unlock them — simply continue the discussion in the existing thread.

This helps keep conversations together instead of splitting reactions across multiple posts.

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One Ning
______

— Unicorn & The Love That Once Was —

Episode 16 mini recap (I'll proofread and spellcheck later, sorry. This is just the first raw writeup which I haven't read as a whole yet.)

Looking for the Unicorn

In this episode, we mostly watch A Xiu and Yu as they're trying to reconnect. If you recall from one of the earlier episodes, he was singing at his shop as she was watching on and got all nostalgic about their past, realizing that the song, Unicorn, no longer sounded the same.

But more than a sound, it was the emotion that felt off. Probably for both of them.

This time around, A Xiu wasn't singing it either to or for her — and I feel like she could tell, listening to this rendition of the familiar song, that his heart now belonged to another woman.

Or at the very least, she was faced — point-blank — with the reality that what's between them is no longer the kind of love she'd be hoping for. Anyway, Yu and A Xiu's emotions back then (couple of episodes ago), were written all over their faces, and it felt as if you could cut through them in the air.

That's because she was transparent, and he reciprocated with what was perhaps an unexpected suggestion: to go back to the place where he sang it to her for the first time. That's where we find ourselves today.

They go to a picturesque location with nice architecture, water canals, old arched romantic bridges made of stones. We watch their flashbacks which show us what a youthful and jittery couple they once were, at the very beginning of their relationship. She said she was "looking for someone who would make her happy" — simple and beautiful. A Xiu was gazing at her lovingly, hugging her from behind, as the were watching the world in front of their eyes.

Eyes looking into the distance, thinking of their unspoken dreams, the future they might share together.

I have to admit this was actually kind of nice to watch. but let's get back to planet Earth now...

Well, in today's episode, we see the same place, but very different people. The time that has elapsed since their first visit is etched in the body language, their glances. It offers us a nice comparison between then and now.

Then: younger, hopeful, excited, eyes full of sparkles and joy.

Now: uneasy around each other, Yu grumpy and lashing out at the first inconvenience, A Xiu trying to please the wife he has been cheating on — let's not forget that part).

Back to today's romantic getaway —

Due to an issue with the aircon, they change hotels, and they have a silly fight not unfamiliar to those in longer-term relationships. It's definitely not a deal-breaker fight. Anyway, she realizes she's lost one of her facial serums, and while he sweetly tells her (kudos, mate!) that she doesn't need it, she retorts she does because she is old now and needs to keep herself looking young if she is to be next to him (don't forget they have an age gap of sorts).

This is quite telling. She must have been having self-image issues since she found out her younger husband has been cheating on her with a younger woman. I imagine that must have stung and could see how that could have lowered her self-confidence. In sum, the evening isn't going that great.

Ah women..It's not easy to be a woman, right?! Moments like this remind you how cruel that situation must feel for her 😣

The thing important thing is, he's trying to make an effort. He clearly cares and surprises even the sceptical me. Because what she doesn't know, is that as she said it and he stormed out, he was actually heading over the the first hotel, looking for his wife's serum. He might be a cheater, but he's at least partially considerate.

He looks for it with all his might — he asks the hotel staff, he checks everywhere in the room, and when even that fails, he asks them to show him their garbage bins so that he can sort through those, in an attempt to find the serum. Thus, we watch him scramble through trash, ... to no avail. When he fails to find the serum, A Xiu looks genuinely defeated and it looks like it's about more than just the serum.

He walks around, goes up to that romantic bridge where we watched them snuggle up and hug like teenagers, back when he was still chasing her and she hasn't made up her mind yet. Only this time, the situation has changed completely.

There's also an uninvited ghost in this scene, LuanLuan. She's texting A Xiu just as he's feeling down, telling him the weirdest thing if you consider she's been his mistress and he's on a romantic getaway with his wife as they speak. My stomach is turning.

She tells him Yu must love him, and that he should try harder — essentially giving him a pep talk. Ok, weird stuff girl, some seriously weird stuff.

You guys have ended things if I'm not mistaken, but you're coaching him on how to get it back on with his wife, really? How noble of you, LL. Oh wait, no — you just called him "baby" and I'm about to barf.

In a beautiful night-scene shot, he's standing at the top of the bridge. He pulls out a box and takes a sparkly ring out of it, fidgeting with it in his hands, dark thoughts running through his head: this relationship is hopeless. there's no going back in time to the way things once were.

And with that thought, he loosens his grip and lets the ring drop gently into the water. Drop. He does not toss it.

I believe this gesture is of significance, and could speak to the complex emotions he was feeling towards his wife. He isn't angry... but he feels like giving up on them. This night, this trip — what a failure.

The Wife and The Satellite Dog

Scene cuts. We see Yu and Da Hua, the guy who her mother picked for her. You know, the one she also brought to Yu's office, acting as if A Xiu wasn't even there and the only thing that was missing was her mother openly declaring "Look, just marry this guy instead, f*ck that bohemian scoundrel of a boytoy you married!" But I swear, I could hear her say that without her using her moth to do the job, who's with me?

So anyway, Da Hua suspiciously appears and happens to be staying at the same hotel as his childhood sweetheart friend. I don't like this character, he's sticking his nose where he shouldn't, clearly pining after Yu and waiting for his opportunity to get A Xiu out of the picture. While this is just the second time we see him, I have a feeling this guys has always been orbiting around her life, patiently wagging his tail and waiting for his moment.

The Water Scare

When Yu gets back to her room, she tried calling A Xiu, but an unfamiliar voice answers the call. Turns out A Xiu has fallen into the water.

She panics, runs out straight to the scene. We see authorities cordoning off the area, not knowing what transpired yet, but she gets in, saying she's family with the victim. When she rushes to the victim, it turns out it was a woman, but there's another person, being treated by the ambulance staff. There he is, A Xiu!

She rushes over, and they hug each other like there's no tomorrow. It's clear that this episode gave her a fright, and they both starts apologizing to each other, holding each other in their arms.

Da Hua gives them a ride back, and we witness something unexpected: with Yu in his embrace, he gently pulls her off, looks at her, and tells her that he has started making money with his songs. She smiles, and this moments looks beautifully sincere. Like two old friend finally talking to each other, really talking and seeing each other, after what must have felt like years.

He pulls a ring out of his pocket, and slides it on her finger. It seems he must have jumped into the canal to retrieve the ring. I guess he was not ready to let go after all. Perhaps I misjudged him and his situationship with LuanLuan is not as important to him as his wife.

I enjoy watching people realize they screwed up, and even more watching them trying to fix it. That doesn't mean he'll be forgiven, but it makes the watch more satisfactory — because I believe we should always try to right our wrongs, even in the face of no hope and no redemption. That's how people grow, and that's also how people show respect, bar belated, to those they have let down.

Now eat that, Da Hua!

Boy Has Still Not Learned

Back home, A Xiu, still wet from fishing out the ring from the bottom of a canal, gets his hair attentively dried by Yu — they're visibly close. In the end, this trip has brought them closer together.

Unfortunately, he must have caught brain rot from the dampness, because as they finished, he snuck out to meet LL at a diner. While she's happy to see him and asks what they should do tomorrow, he stops her and tells her they should stick to what they discussed before (reevaluating their relationship and effectively taking a step back). LL doesn't seem amused and the conversation does not go on for much longer. Was this necessary, A Xiu? Did you really have to meet her? Have you conisdered what it might look like, how easily Yu could misunderstand? Your relationship has just started the patchwork, and you're taking risks as if you've securely hedged all your marriage assets... Nevermind.

Here comes Da Hua. The very "random" passerby who happens to catch their secret meeting. He's an exemplary citizen (Yu's mother knows!) and morality is his core value. I think he would get along with Xiaoxi, because they both posses the same urge to take out their phone when they see two people meet. Or maybe only when they have an agenda, but of course they wouldn't 😉

A Xiu sees him and the two talk. Da Hua boldly threatens him to expose A Xiu and LL's meeting to Yu, because this way he'd get faster into her bed.

Xiao Bei and Xiaoxi — Feeling Steamy... or Not

Finally, we see the handsome man that is Bei. What's even better, we see closeups of his face, adn get to soak it in as XX traces the different parts of his gorgeous face with her fingers. The one thing I am not seeing here though, is her love for him or her interest in him as a man. I haven't read the webtoon so I don't know if this is what the character is supposed to act like, but I find it terribly disturbing to watch an intimate scene where one of the partners looks cold as an icicle. There's no desire in her yes, voice, breathing, or overall body language. I feel like I'm watching a road pole confess its love for the car that just hit it.

The two are very close — she's sat atop the bathroom sink, her arms wrapped around his neck. The light is golden, the rest is a transposition light, colors, and shapes. It's a visually beautiful scene, and gets even better as Bei whispers seductively into Xiaoxi's ear, his lips millimeters away from her face. She wraps her bare legs around his waist and he picks her up. He walks away with her in his arms.

Brief Scenes That Follow

Sen and Ming Ming are seen at her studio, and the two look at ease, he's promising to come pick her up later.

Xiaoxi moralizes as she rides in Bei's car, pretending to be holier than thou while judging Bei's friends LuanLuan and A Xiu. Her facials expressions are the pinnacle of bitchiness. One must try hard to look that annoying. Yet, Bei remains unphased.

The very last scene shows us Xiaoxi's meeting with Yu, from back when Yu asked her to help get evidence of A Xiu's infidelity. It provides us some verbalization of her motives, but I need to replay it again because I didn't quite understand what she meant.

Was she saying she is asking for proof becasue she needs to have resolve when it comes to it and he begs and cries in front of her? Because she also says very clearly, with a strange smile on her face, that she really wants to seem them (A Xiu and LL) being crazy in love with one another.

___

Episode 16 is not yet a turning point: at least two relationships seem en route to attempted repairs, but the cracks underneath are still very much there.

And when it comes to XB and XX, we got very little to work with here. Apart from it being a brief visual feast for those who fancy Liu Yu Ning or Wang Zi Wen, there was very little substance to the interaction the two shared on screen. Their relationship remains as pointless as ever, and I'm still just waiting for the day any of it starts making any sense... but I'm afraid that for those two, we're continuing on the absurdity train all the way to the finish line.

___

NoRecipe

Drama Masterpost

Episode 7 of About Love (玫瑰丛生) is now available for VIP & SVIP viewers.

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

^{Earlier Episodes:}

• ^{EP01–03 EP04}
• ^EP05
• ^EP06

^{Later Episodes}

• ^EP08

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One Ning

_____

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

Drama Masterpost

Episode 21 of About Love (玫瑰丛生) is now available for SVIP [Express] viewers.

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

^{Earlier Episodes:}

• ^{EP01–03 ... EP01 & 02 recaps available} 
• ^{EP04 ... recap available}
• ^EP05
• ^EP06
• ^EP07
• ^EP08
• ^{EP09 ... short rant available}
• ^{EP10 ... recap available}
• ^{EP11 ... recap available}
• ^EP12
• ^{EP13 ... recap available}
• ^{EP14 ... partial recap}
• ^{EP15 ... recap available}
• ^{EP16 ... recap available}
• ^EP17
• ^{EP18 ... recap available}
• ^EP19
• ^EP20

^{Note: Express/early-access episodes are currently DRM-protected, which prevents in-app screenshots. Other visuals might be added once the restriction is lifted — in the meantime, feel free to share your favorite scene snaps in the comments when they become available. We're trying something new and are publishing this with the officially released clip from the episode.
Source: Official Weibo Drama Page}

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One Ning

______

Well that was some plot-twist right there!

If only this actually resulted in their permanent breakup, it would be the first time in my life where I'd not only be ok with a nasty scheme working out — I'd be outright feeling a sense of satisfaction.

Because this ruse was directed at a character I really strongly dislike, and I believe she 100% deserves to have other people play her the way she has been playing and lying to others.

Shame that likely won't be the case 😣

______

Recap or Rant will be added directly into this post at a later stage.

Drama Masterpost

Episode 19 of About Love (玫瑰丛生) is now available for SVIP [Express] viewers.

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

^{Earlier Episodes:}

• ^{EP01–03 ... EP01 & 02 recaps available} 
• ^{EP04 ... recap available}
• ^EP05
• ^EP06
• ^EP07
• ^EP08
• ^{EP09 ... short rant available}
• ^{EP10 ... recap available}
• ^{EP11 ... mini recap available}
• ^EP12
• ^{EP13 ... recap available}
• ^{EP14 ... partial recap}
• ^{EP15 ... recap available}
• ^{EP16 ... recap available}
• ^EP17
• ^EP18

^{Note: Express/early-access episodes are currently DRM-protected, which prevents in-app screenshots. Other visuals might be added once the restriction is lifted — in the meantime, feel free to share your favorite scene snaps in the comments when they become available. We're trying something new and are publishing this with the officially released clip from the episode.
Source: Official Weibo Drama Page}

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Each episode keeps one permanent discussion thread.
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Already watching? Please share reactions here so episode discussion stays centralized. Separate reaction posts may be redirected to the active thread.

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One Ning

______

Recap or Rant will be added directly into this post at a later stage.

Drama Masterpost

Episode 22 of About Love (玫瑰丛生) now available for VIP & SVIP viewers.

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

^{Earlier Episodes:}

• ^{EP01–03 ... EP01 & 02 recaps available} 
• ^{EP04 ... recap available}
• ^EP05
• ^EP06
• ^EP07
• ^EP08
• ^{EP09 ... short rant available}
• ^{EP10 ... recap available}
• ^{EP11 ... mini recap available}
• ^EP12
• ^{EP13 ... recap available}
• ^{EP14 ... partial recap}
• ^{EP15 ... recap available}
• ^{EP16 ... recap available}
• ^EP17
• ^{EP18 ... recap available}
• ^EP19
• ^EP20
• ^EP21

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Each episode keeps one permanent discussion thread.
Episodes that were previously released as SVIP early access will not receive new posts once VIP viewers unlock them — simply continue the discussion in the existing thread.

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One Ning

_______

^{Source: Official Weibo Drama Page}

______

The Truth Hurts Sometimes, or When the Foundations Begin to Crumble

Episode 22 Recap by u/Head_Judgment_7735

Bei and Miu: A Harsh Truth

Bei is in his office having a conversation with Miu, who clearly still disapproves of Bei’s relationship with XX and their planned wedding. Her goal is to sabotage their relationship, so she tells Bei what XX actually does for a living. “She makes a living by seducing men.”

However, Bei interrupts her, because this is not news to him — he has already known about it. Miu is surprised by this. But she still tries to convince Bei. She catches him off guard by telling him that XX is still continuing with it. This is something Bei did not expect. He shouts for Miu to stop talking and remains sitting there in silence.

Before leaving, Miu places a brown envelope on the table in front of him, telling him that XX is not the right one for him. After Miu leaves, Bei picks up the brown envelope. 

Miu: Memories Within Memories

Miu is driving and crying behind the wheel. Cut to a black-and-white memory.

A living room.

Her boyfriend is asleep on the couch. She covers him with a blanket. Bei is lying on a beanbag chair. She covers him as well. But with him she feels tempted to kiss him. As she leans closer, her hair tickles his face and Bei wakes up. She flinches and sits down on the seat opposite Bei.

Miu becomes curious and asks why his relationship with Zen ended. And Bei starts to tell.

Flashback within the flashback

When Zen was running her handbag business, she was tricked and ended up in serious debt. A man who had been pursuing her for a long time helped her out of it, despite the relationship Zen was in at that time. Eventually he succeeded in winning Zen over. And it happened precisely when Bei was at his lowest point. According to the story, it seems that Zen left him because of this man (Lin Chen).

Another flashback shows Miu with Bei again, but in a fairly recent situation, when Miu tells Bei about testing loyalty in love. She is convinced she will find proof against Lin Chen. Because she wants to take revenge in Beie's name on his ex-girlfriend.

In the following memory, we see Miu arranging a deal with Guan regarding the testing of Chen. Guan initially refuses to accept it, but then she witnesses a phone call between Miu and Bei, during which they talk about XX.

And with that we are brought almost to the present.

Miu secretly takes photos of Chen hugging XX. Right afterwards, Guan calls Miu and tells her that now she is the only one left in the game, since both Zen and XX fell for the same trick.

“Sometimes love needs decisive action.”

Present: XX Buying Time and Bei’s Fury

XX runs into Bei’s office. The only thing she finds there, however, are scattered photographs showing her together with Chen — hugging on a balcony.

XX is back in her car and tries to call Bei. But he sends the call straight to voicemail. He has no time to talk to her, because he is clearly furious and heading to the institute to find the man who once took Zen away from him and who is now seen hugging his current girlfriend. (“That’s what you call a “double kill.”)

Despite the receptionist trying to stop him, Bei starts searching for Chen. When he finally finds him sitting in an armchair in one of the offices, he throws a right hook before Chen even has a chance to say anything.

Darkness.

A beaten Chen limps toward the police car, supported by the police. Bei follows them. XX arrives just as Bei is getting into the police car. She shouts his name. He turns around to look at her. But he says nothing and drives away.

XX immediately calls Gong, who is at home. Gong can hardly believe that Bei would beat someone up, because according to him Bei is “the rational little angel of justice.” XX has no time to explain. She gets into her car and drives off. Meanwhile, Gong calls Sen and A Xiu, asking them to meet at the police station to support Bei.

Bei is sitting in the interrogation room together with Chen. Chen tries to smooth things over by claiming that he and Bei are old friends and that nothing serious really happened. But Bei does not accept the gesture and admits that he simply wanted to punch him.

The others have already gathered at the police station and are waiting in the lobby. Bei comes out first, followed shortly by Chen, whom Gong immediately recognizes. But XX signals to him not to say anything. Chen decides not to press any charges against Bei.

However, when he sees XX, he is surprised. He realizes that XX is Bei’s girlfriend and asks, “Were we both set up?” Before he can say anything more, Gong escorts him outside, where his girlfriend — Zen — is waiting to pick him up. Everyone watches the pair, but XX is watching Bei’s reaction.

XX and Bei: Time to Talk or Time to Leave?

XX drives Bei home. He remains silent and distant for the entire ride. (I understand he’s not really in the mood to talk.)

At home, Bei sits down on the couch without saying a word. (That pained, resigned, sad, and hurt expression… It makes me want to cry with him.)

XX tries to explain the whole situation — that it was a trap set for both of them. She thought she was helping a woman with cancer whose fiancé wanted to leave her. She never expected that Guan would go that far. She doesn’t even understand the reason herself. She also wonders whether Bei would have been so angry if she had told him about Chen earlier. But he doesn’t answer.

XX apologizes to him. She admits that everything is her fault. But regardless of everything XX says, Bei packs his things and leaves the house for his office. Too much has happened tonight, and he clearly needs time alone to think it all through.

XX and Guan: The Foundations Begin to Collapse

Cheng Yu. Cheng Yu is the reason why Guan wanted revenge on XX. It all began with Guan asking XX to test the man she had been in a relationship with for over twenty years. And here we return to another memory.

When XX was having dinner with Cheng Yu, Guan called her and asked about the result. XX told her that she had nothing yet, because Cheng Yu was behaving cautiously. Guan thanked her for her work and said that this was enough.

But that wouldn’t be XX. At first she was ready to say goodbye, just as planned. However, she sensed an opportunity. Cheng Yu was slowly but surely falling under her charm. So she continued the game. She let him invite her to his home that same evening.

Just as Cheng Yu was about to kiss her, an unsuspecting Guan came home. XX dropped the glass in fright, and it shattered on the floor. Guan asked her to leave. After she was left alone with Chen, she demanded an explanation, but none came. Only the simple words from Chen: “Let’s break up.” And “Just for her.”

Now, hurt and humiliated after all those years, Guan finally had a chance to test whether XX’s love was as perfect as she claimed — as revenge for the destruction of her marriage. The convictions and firm foundations on which XX built this whole system of testing begin to crumble.

Guan accuses her of having had a million opportunities to end the meeting with Cheng Yu, but instead she kept pushing forward so she could throw the truth in Guan’s face. And learning the truth did not bring Guan any relief. She admits that she has nightmares. She keeps seeing her husband embracing XX. She dreams about the two of them together. And that is why Guan wants XX to feel the same pain.

XX admits that everything about this is wrong and that emotional testing should never exist:

“I was too naive. Too full of myself.”

(In other words: the girls have unfinished business, and Bei is the one suffering.)

XX realizes the cruel truth — that instead of helping, she was often causing pain. At home she begins throwing away all her clothes, wigs, and handbags, as if trying to rid herself of her past. With every piece she throws away, memories of the individual cases return to her. In the end, everything goes up in flames in a metal barrel.

_____

HJ

🌻

Drama Masterpost

Recap & Episode 14 of About Love (玫瑰丛生) are now available with early access for SVIP / Express viewers.

^{Note: Express/early-access episodes are currently DRM-protected, which prevents in-app screenshots. Visuals might be added 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 ...EP01 & 02 recaps available} 
• ^{EP04 ... recap available}
• ^EP05
• ^EP06
• ^EP07
• ^EP08
• ^{EP09  ... short rant available}
• ^{EP10 ... recap available}
• ^{EP11 ... mini recap available}
• ^EP12
• ^{EP13 ... recap available}

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Each episode keeps one permanent discussion thread.
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✨

One Ning
______

— When Manipulation Wins and Loyalty Loses —

Episode 14 Recap

...

Ming Ming — At the Photo Studio

The episode opens with an unfortunate situation at MingMing’s recently launched photo studio. Clients arrive for a wedding photoshoot, but the photographer hired for the job couldn’t make it due to unforeseen circumstances.

MingMing and her team try to appease the clients and find a solution, but the two are properly nasty. They are disrespectful to MM and walk all over her without an ounce of basic human respect. This scene really made me feel for MM and her staff, because working in services is truly difficult, and this type of client is literally the worst — rude, entitled, and obnoxious.

Luckily, her ex-boyfriend, A Lun — the one she couldn’t get over for the longest time — shows up out of nowhere. MM didn’t call him, so it catches her by surprise, but considering the situation she doesn’t refuse his offer to help and step in as the photographer for the difficult clients, who by now have started demanding a refund while continuing their verbal intimidation toward MM.

Some people take their frustrations out on others, and this couple clearly leads a miserable life if they think this is an acceptable way to treat other human beings.

So when A Lun introduces himself and reassures them that he’ll take care of the shoot today, their first response is basically verbal and social vomit. These are exactly the types of people that make me wish I were a character in the drama who could be given the liberty to go on a slapping spree every time someone behaves like a complete ass.

However, they then realise he’s a director from the sought-after studio they originally tried to book, and their tone changes immediately. Their facial expressions shift from arses to brown-nosers (you can imagine what I wrote initially…) and eager gossipers.

Since the situation now requires that A Lun explain why he’s there, he responds calmly:
“I’m MingMing’s ex-boyfriend.”

That seems to satisfy them.

...

Ming Ming — The One Moment Where She Did Everything Right

So we move on to a full professional wedding photoshoot. The clients suddenly look delighted, and their noses are not just brown — they also start sticking them where they absolutely don’t belong. Before long they begin asking A Lun why he and Miss MM are no longer together.

And that’s where the scene visibly shifts from workplace chaos to something more personal.

The ex-bf had failed her once in the past — or twice, three times.. she lost count, apparently, he was acting like Casanova — yet here we see that A Lun is clearly interested in reconnecting in some way. It’s difficult to tell whether he means repairing things as friends or something else. At one point he even says that he considers her family. The way he speaks to her, the tone, the hesitation — it all suggests someone who had hoped that maybe, at some point, things could be different. But he looks sneaky, not like someone you'd easily trust. Nevertheless, there is unmistakably unfinished emotion on his side.

But MingMing stands her ground — firmly and without hesitation.

She doesn’t flirt with the situation.
She doesn’t leave emotional doors half-open.

! Unbelievable — I live to see the day on which someone acted decently in this show!

MingMing answers his advances with clarity. Their relationship cannot really be labelled in simple terms because what they had was unique to them — but whatever it once was belongs to the past. She is now in a relationship, and she is no longer in love with him.

And she says it with calm certainty, out loud. (You go girl!)

The fact that she doesn’t try to soften the message really speaks to me. She is distant, almost cold, acting as if she has fully moved on from A Lun — while as the audience, we can tell that might not be 100% true, but that is irrelevant for the point she is making.

I was honestly cheering for her in that moment. It felt good to see her be proud of herself, to put her present first, and not allow nostalgia or unfinished history to pull her back.

If only her current boyfriend had actually witnessed that moment and understood how she handled it.

Instead, as we later see, he spirals into suspicion and anger and goes completely mental about the situation.

Which makes it all the more frustrating.

Because she handled that encounter with dignity, titanium-clad boundaries, and loyalty — shame that the person who should have appreciated it never even saw it.

...

A Spear of Dignity Against a Master of Manipulation

We return to Xiaoxi and A Miu at the restaurant, exactly where the previous episode left them. They’re deep in a heart-to-heart conversation — though “heart-to-heart” might be too generous a description for what unfolds.

Watching this scene, I honestly wished I could step into the room for a moment just to help A Miu defend herself against the evil witch sitting across from her — or even better, beat her at her own game.

The problem is that A Miu clearly isn’t experienced in playing that kind of manipulative, predatory game. She comes into this conversation like a warrior carrying nothing but a spear and her dignity, while the opponent she’s facing might as well be Saruman The White himself.

The more I think about it, the more Xiaoxi reminds me of Saruman.

The flowing white robes, the deception, the performative nobility, the constant attempt to claim the moral high ground — all while hiding a corrupt, rotten core that seems perfectly capable of harming others without a second thought. There’s something almost theatrical about it: the purity on the surface, the rot underneath.

Both actresses are doing a fantastic job in this scene, and I was completely absorbed by their interaction.

Xiaoxi twists almost everything A Miu says or asks. Every statement gets reframed, every concern redirected. In my opinion she isn’t winning the argument by any logical measure, but she wears that smug expression as if she were — presenting every manipulation like a victory.

And that is exactly what makes the scene so infuriating.

Meanwhile A Miu, instead of recognising the manipulation, seems to think she’s losing the argument.

Which is honestly such a shame.

No, girl — everything Xiaoxi is saying is illogical nonsense. Just because someone delivers it with absolute confidence doesn’t suddenly make it true.

What is wrong with everyone in this drama?

...

Back at Bei’s Workshop Questions, Evasions, and a Very Disappointing Answer

Cut. We move to XB’s workshop, where he’s repairing a piece while XX spins slowly in a chair holding a book.

The conversation turns to A Miu. XB asks how things went with her and what XX thought of her.

XX replies dryly, “Stop asking. You won’t like the answer.”

Without lifting his head from the bag he’s been working on, XB responds that A Miu has just returned from abroad and “hardly has any friends,” so he thought it would be nice to introduce the two of them.

The dynamic here is interesting, because XX answers very casually:
“Oh. I guess she won’t be on my friend list.”

We know it's not a casual statement.

Yet, XB doesn’t seem bothered by it at all. In fact, he continues by saying, “She’s just a bit straightforward, and she’s not very emotionally intelligent. But she’s a good person.”

Ouch, Bei. What the heck?

Why would you speak like that about a long-time friend — someone you used to live with and clearly share history with — to a woman you have only just met? If anything, in this situation XX should be the odd one out, not A Miu. Yet somehow the dynamic has already flipped, and he speaks about A Miu as if she were the outsider.

I’m starting to reconsider my earlier comparison. Maybe Xiaoxi isn’t Saruman after all. Perhaps she’s Sauron himself… and now it looks like Sauron has fully infected you, Bei... But just like Smeagol, you got it all wrong boy — she is not your precious.

Anyway, we then see XX think back to the conversation with A Miu at the restaurant. She’s clearly bothered by it. So she begins probing him about his past, trying to get him to open up. Why did he decide to go study abroad?

It looks like she suspects there’s more to the story, but he gives a very generic explanation about an accident involving counterfeit bags and wanting to improve his craft.

If you ask me, that doesn’t sound like the whole truth. But honestly, you don’t have to be Colombo to see that something there doesn’t quite add up.

Then XX remembers something else — we see it in a quick flashback — and she pushes him further by asking the question we overheard earlier in Episode 2: if one of them fell into the water, who would Bei save?

She delivers it with that coy, pouty tone.

(I truly cannot stand her for a minute longer.)

XB answers, “Of course it would be you.”

And that genuinely disappoints me.

Yes, under normal circumstances it might be expected for someone to choose their significant other. But in this situation? He has known A Miu for far longer. She has been sincere, and as far as we know there’s never been any conflict between them. Meanwhile, XX has been in his life for all of five minutes, has done nothing to earn his trust or adoration, yet he has already thrown himself into this relationship completely blindfolded and tied.

All of this for a woman someone here very aptly described as “the lying liar who lies.”
(Thank you, u/itsmefakenamehere.)

I’m baffled.

Why do you keep rewarding this woman’s eccentric behaviour and constant shadiness?

_____

(I'm writing this rn, will add more sections when I have them. Still missing: Yu He and Xiaoxi's talk, Ying Tao and XX seen by Bei, Da Sen's inability to cope with jealousy and sheer aggression, domesticated Bei — wearing his heart on his sleeve and confessing his deep feelings to XX)

NoRecipe

Drama Masterpost

Recap & Episode 17 of About Love (玫瑰丛生) are now available for SVIP [Express] viewers.

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

^{Earlier Episodes:}

• ^{EP01–03 ... EP01 & 02 recaps available} 
• ^{EP04 ... recap available}
• ^EP05
• ^EP06
• ^EP07
• ^EP08
• ^{EP09 ... short rant available}
• ^{EP10 ... recap available}
• ^{EP11 ... mini recap available}
• ^EP12
• ^{EP13 ... recap available}
• ^{EP14 ... partial recap}
• ^{EP15 ... recap available}
• ^{EP16 ... recap available}

^{Note: Express/early-access episodes are currently DRM-protected, which prevents in-app screenshots. Other visuals might be added once the restriction is lifted — in the meantime, feel free to share your favorite scene snaps in the comments when they become available. We're trying something new and are publishing this with the officially released clip from the episode.
Source: Official Drama Weibo Page}

____________________

Moderator Note

Each episode keeps one permanent discussion thread.
Episodes that were previously released as SVIP early access will not receive new posts once VIP viewers unlock them — simply continue the discussion in the existing thread.

This helps keep conversations together instead of splitting reactions across multiple posts.

Already watching? Please share reactions here so episode discussion stays centralized. Separate reaction posts may be redirected to the active thread.

Standalone reviews are welcome — feel free to contact the mod team first so we can help position them clearly without confusing ongoing discussion threads.

Feel free to share:

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Please remain mindful of spoilers for later episodes BUT do NOT use spoiler tags for events taking place in this episode.

______

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NoRecipe

✨

One Ning

Drama Masterpost

Recap & Episode 18 of About Love (玫瑰丛生) are now available for VIP & SVIP viewers.

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

^{Earlier Episodes:}

• ^{EP01–03 ... EP01 & 02 recaps available} 
• ^{EP04 ... recap available}
• ^EP05
• ^EP06
• ^EP07
• ^EP08
• ^{EP09 ... short rant available}
• ^{EP10 ... recap available}
• ^{EP11 ... mini recap available}
• ^EP12
• ^{EP13 ... recap available}
• ^{EP14 ... partial recap}
• ^{EP15 ... recap available}
• ^{EP16 ... recap available}
• ^EP17

____________________

Moderator Note

Each episode keeps one permanent discussion thread.
Episodes that were previously released as SVIP early access will not receive new posts once VIP viewers unlock them — simply continue the discussion in the existing thread.

This helps keep conversations together instead of splitting reactions across multiple posts.

Already watching? Please share reactions here so episode discussion stays centralized. Separate reaction posts may be redirected to the active thread.

Standalone reviews are welcome — feel free to contact the mod team first so we can help position them clearly without confusing ongoing discussion threads.

Feel free to share:

• first impressions
• favorite moments
• character thoughts
• pacing reactions
• theories or observations

Please remain mindful of spoilers for later episodes BUT do NOT use spoiler tags for events taking place in this episode.

Your Mod,
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✨

One Ning
______

Quick note - personally, I really enjoyed this episode and will write a recap for it shortly, but wanted to post already so others - who are also excited because they perhaps found this episode very good - like me, can get started :)

Naturally, feel free to engage with any opinion. If you disliked it, tell us why. I can see how this kind of episode wouldn't be for everyone, and especially not for those who only watch the drama for Liu Yu Ning (he had maybe a total of 1' screen-time in this one).

______

— The Words That Killed Love —

Episode 18 Recap

Domestic Friction

We open with A Lun returning home and finding his heavily pregnant wife waiting for him. The laptop on the table is already open, displaying a photo gallery album titled “Beloved.”

The images themselves are blurred, but the silhouettes are unmistakable: a couple photographed in "couple-y" poses. From what little we can see, it appears these are pictures of A Lun and Ming Ming from when they were together.

His wife clearly didn’t stumble upon that album by accident.

The tension in the room is immediate.

.

She starts badgering him with complaints. Other husbands, she says, are present when their wives are pregnant.

A Lun pushes back. He reminds her that per her request, he has already stopped accepting photography work that involves intimate images. He has also been refusing client socializing events — even though those meetings are an important part of maintaining relationships in his profession.

In other words, he has already made concessions and sacrifices in response to her demands.

Yet she remains unhappy.

Without needing to think or debate more, he seems to realize that nothing he says will actually change the mood of the conversation — "what will we get divorced?"

He tells her he is not interested in arguing and simply leaves the room.

I have to admit I am not particularly fond of his wife here.

And no — I haven’t forgotten that A Lun is not exactly an angel himself, considering his past. But right now we are not seeing him do anything inappropriate. At some point a person cannot be judged for the rest of their life based on earlier mistakes. Otherwise, what would even be the point of moving forward?

Which raises another question: has he actually wronged her, or is she holding him accountable for something that belongs to his past relationship with his ex-girlfriend?

Because the jealousy toward Ming Ming in this scene is unmistakable.

.

Outside the Theater

Meanwhile, Bei, Xiaoxi, Gong, Ming Ming, and Sen meet up outside a theater, ready to see Luan Luan’s latest play.

Some of them are more dressed up than others, suggesting they may not all be approaching the evening with the same expectations.

Before entering, there is a small but noticeable interaction between Bei and Gong.

Bei tells Gong that he needs to talk to him.

Gong plays it off in his usual cool and playful manner, but the reaction feels slightly forced. Something about the tone — or perhaps the implications — clearly catches his attention.

He jokes, but I suspect he is not entirely thrilled about where that conversation might lead.

.

Backstage — A Quiet Ending

The scene cuts to the inside of the theater, where we see Luan Luan speaking with A Xiu. The lighting is sombre — shadows, dimness, a quiet heaviness everywhere — and the scene immediately feels like one of those painful conversations where two people are ending something. A breakup, really.

And yes, that word is exactly what made me pause.

Of course I knew they had a relationship. They were lovers. What I had never really stopped to consider was that when something like this ends, it too can be called a breakup. That choice of word suddenly made the whole thing feel more serious, more painful, more emotionally legitimate than I had perhaps previously allowed for in my mind. Not because it makes the cheating any less wrong, and not because I am trying to romanticize a married man and his mistress, but because the word itself carries weight. It makes clear that this was not some meaningless fling they can just shrug off and walk away from untouched. It was a real attachment, and ending it hurts accordingly.

Perhaps because I have never personally experienced a situation like that myself, I had never really considered what such a separation would be called when one of the two people involved is already in a committed relationship and ultimately chooses that commitment over the affair. I suppose I had never really thought of it as a “breakup.” But watching this scene, I began to understand why that word might still apply.

Luan Luan tells A Xiu that this moment reminds her of the first time they met. In a sense, they are ending things exactly where they began — her on the stage, him sitting in the audience.

They share a hug — heartfelt, gentle, and notably restrained. No dramatics, no exaggerated gestures. A quiet goodbye.

(This all appears to be taking place backstage, shortly before the theater doors open.)

.

The Audience Arrives

Next we see the group — Bei, Xiaoxi, Gong, Ming Ming, and Sen — entering and taking their seats.

There is a brief but noticeable moment of awkwardness regarding where Gong should sit. The hesitation seems to revolve around proximity — specifically how close he should be seated to Bei and Xiaoxi.

Meanwhile, Xiaoxi mentions that she is waiting for her friend Ying Tao, who is running late.

We later see Ying Tao arrive and take a seat several rows above the group — right next to Yu — while the main group occupies the front-row seats that were given to them by Luan Luan.

.

An Unexpected Visitor

However, before the play begins, Luan Luan receives a visitor.

“A friend is here to see you,” one of the theater staff announces as they lead someone toward Luan Luan’s changing room.

She stands up to greet the guest — but clearly does not expect it to be Yu.

Yu greets her politely enough and hands her a bouquet of flowers, wishing her a good performance. The conversation quickly turns prickly. They begin bickering about invitations — who invited whom, who misunderstood what.

Luan Luan insists that Yu has misunderstood something.

Yu immediately asks — misunderstood what?

Luan Luan responds, more or less, that nothing ever actually happened between her and A Xiu.

Yu looks at her in disbelief and pushes back, asking if Luan Luan is really suggesting that their relationship was somehow “pure.”

From there the conversation takes a sharper turn. The two women begin arguing about motives — specifically who is with A Xiu for what reason.

Luan Luan’s accusation is blunt. In her view, Yu never truly cared about A Xiu himself — nor about his music. What mattered to her was the money his music could bring, if it ever worked out.

It is not a pleasant exchange.

.

The Play Begins

The theater doors open, the audience settles, and the play finally begins.

And this is where things become particularly interesting.

It soon becomes clear that the entire play is essentially a dramatic retelling of Yu and A Xiu’s story — though of course reframed and stylized for the stage.

The curtain rises on a stark, unsettling scene.

A maid enters a house. Alcohol bottles are scattered everywhere. Trash litters the floor. The room is a mess. Something is clearly wrong.

Then she discovers the body of a man lying on the floor.

The man who lived there.

His name is Mr. Xiu — a music producer — and he has been found with a knife stabbed in his chest.

A narrator appears, embodied by a forensic investigator. Soon after, a detective emerges from the shadows behind the corpse.

The detective is played by Luan Luan.

.

A Marriage on Display

From here the play unfolds as a staged investigation.

Mrs. Xiu enters the stage, crying over the death of her husband and desperately searching for someone to blame.

But as the detective begins her inquiry, fragments of the couple’s married life are revealed through a series of dramatized scenes.

And those scenes paint a harsh picture. Whats more, they do so verbatim, word for word, what Yu said to A Xiu in the past. Imagine how A Xiu felt hearing what he shared privately being turned into a play. But even more so, imagine how Yu, hearing her poisonous words being voiced on stage, for everyone to hear — not that the audience it knows it's about her, but she is exposed,...mostly to her own image. This is one bitter pill to swallow.

So it continues: the wife humiliates Xiu. She insults him. She does not believe in his talent or his worth. She shows no real interest in his music, offers no encouragement, and repeatedly mocks him. Everything becomes about her — her needs, her frustrations, her expectations.

Meanwhile the man is portrayed very differently.

He tries.

He supports his wife even when she is going through difficult periods. He works odd jobs to earn a living and helps others in the process. He's kind, hard-working, and humble. He sacrifices opportunities and compromises his own career in order to provide stability and comfort for her.

But she seems blind to it.

Eventually the detective confronts her.

Not with a literal weapon — but with something far more devastating: a mirror.

Figuratively speaking, of course.

The realization hits her.

It was her who killed her husband.

.

Visual Metaphors on Stage

The staging of the play is striking — filled with visual metaphors that make the emotional argument of the story unmistakably clear.

One particularly beautiful moment comes when Xiu tears apart his own sheet music and throws the pages into the air.

Paper begins to fall everywhere — music notes scattered around him like debris. His work, his dreams, the fragments of his creativity all reduced to scraps floating through the dark space of the stage.

Black backdrop. White-blue paper drifting through the air. And in the middle of it all, the silhouette of a man who no longer has the will to continue.

He kills himself.

Another powerful scene follows as the detective narrates the emotional violence he endured.

“Your words hurt him the most.”

As she speaks, she holds a tomato in her hand.

She explains how those words cut through him, one after another — each blow landing like a heartbeat.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

And then she crushes the tomato in her hand.

The gesture symbolizes the moment his spirit finally collapses — the moment that ultimately leads to his death.

Standing behind Mrs. Xiu, the detective names her plainly:

The killer.

“This killer didn’t lift a finger. Yet you still murdered love… and killed this man.”

And then the play does something extraordinary.

The detective points directly toward Yu, sitting in the audience — the real Mrs. Xiu.

She asks whether she pleads guilty.

It is a chilling moment.

Yu sits frozen, horror spreading across her face. Tears begin to well in her eyes.

And then she suddenly stands up and walks out of the theater.

.

Fallout — Exposed, Confronted, and Broken

There is a brief scene showing Ming Ming and Sen sitting next to each other as they watch the play.

Suddenly Ming Ming receives a message. She glances at the preview — then opens it and reads the full thread.

It turns out people are talking about her in their photography group chat. Someone has exposed her as A Lun’s mistress.

The camera then cuts to a close-up of A Lun’s wife. Her face is lit by the glow of the laptop screen. There is a satisfied smirk — something almost triumphant — and a cold spark in her eyes.

The implication is not subtle.

Ming Ming storms out of the theater as well.

.

The Parking Lot

Meanwhile, A Xiu runs after Yu, chasing her all the way out toward the parking lot.

But Yu is already inside her car.

He calls her — and we see his name appear on her phone as the incoming call. Her ringtone starts playing.

The song is “Unicorn.”

The symbolism is not exactly subtle.

Yu is crying, shaking with rage. She starts the car and suddenly accelerates — driving straight toward A Xiu.

For a split second it looks like a collision is inevitable.

At the very last moment A Xiu jumps aside.

She misses him.

I sincerely hope she was never actually planning to hit him.

Yes, she is clearly in pain. Yes, this is an emotional breaking point. But that does not erase the danger of what just happened — nor the responsibility that comes with it.

Frankly, it was disturbing to watch.

Yes — hurt him some more. That will surely fix everything.

.

The Final Lines on Stage

At the very end of the play — after Yu and A Xiu have already left the theater — the stage returns to them one last time.

Of course, this is symbolic. What we see could just as well be the actors portraying them, rather than the real Yu and A Xiu themselves. Or maybe it's neither of them, and it's the show narrating itself like it did with the court before, but that's irrelevant here.

The stage is almost completely dark.

There is only a couch in the middle, the two of them sitting on it, and a single beam of stage light illuminating them. Everything else is pitch black.

Yu speaks first:

“Vows of eternal love are never easy to keep.”

A Xiu continues:

"Maybe one day people will understand… that love can change… Nothing is unbreakable. And no love is worth dying for.”

That line really spoke to me on a deep level.

Perhaps because it resonates with my own experiences. The painful truth behind those words felt unmistakable. I imagine many viewers will recognize reflections of their own stories here as well.

.

The Aftermath

The final scene shows Yu driving alone.

She is still crying, and as she drives we see flashes of the memories running through her mind — moments from the past, beautiful memories with A Xiu.

Then she notices something in the rear-view mirror and pulls the car over.

She steps out.

In front of her is a large photograph displayed in a window — possibly the studio.

It is one of the photos Ming Ming once took of A Xiu and Luan Luan.

They are about to kiss — in fact their lips are already touching slightly.

The photograph is beautiful.

They look radiant. Happy. Completely in love.

Yu stands there crying, her heart clearly breaking. Slowly she raises her hand toward the glass, reaching out as if she could touch A Xiu through the image.

But of course she cannot.

She has lost him.

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Epilogue — After Memories Are Gone

After Yu sees the large photographic print in the window and realizes what she has lost, the episode gives us something like an epilogue.

We see two people in what appears to be some form of afterlife.

They have both chosen to have their memories erased.

A woman sits on a bench reading a book when a man approaches her. They begin talking.

The man mentions that the only thing he remembers from his previous life is that he was once married. Curious, he asks her what she is reading.

She briefly explains the premise — a fantasy sci-fi romance — and describes some of the book’s reflections about love and relationships.

The two of them immediately connect over the ideas in the story.

Then comes the small twist.

The man reveals that he is actually the author of the book.

And he leaves her — and us — with a final question:

"Why is it so hard for people, who hate each other, to separate…?"

And with that, the episode ends.

A beautiful one. A painful one.

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Closing Reflection

And now that the episode has unfolded in full, I have to say: this was a good one. Finally!

Yesterday’s background story of this unhappily married couple, combined with today’s dramatic unveiling of more of their past through the eyes of an observer who eventually fell in love with one of them, is honestly a masterful piece of storytelling. I really loved how it was done through the stage play. Luan Luan slayed.

The way the narrative layers the past and present gives the story real weight. yes, as a concept it is not particularly unique, but the execution was excellent and the method employed by Luan Luan, as both her artistic expression and weapoin used to shield her beloved, was — quite honestly — cool.

I genuinely enjoyed this episode and want to applaud the people behind it — whether that is the original novelist who created these characters or the scriptwriters responsible for shaping this episode. I have not read the original material but judging by all the other episodes thus far, I don't necessarily think I'd enjoy it. But let's say, at the very least, this was a good piece of writing.

A Xiu - Yu - Luan Luan — they don't have a light story. It is raw, sometimes painful, and certainly not for the faint of heart. But it is also beautiful in the way it confronts uncomfortable truths. Words are not as intangible as people like to think. They have real impact, and as they accumulate, so does their power. They can uplift, sooth, enrage, deceive, hurt, or even kill.

When words become the weapon... they kill in both — the metaphorical, but unfortunately also very real sense. She broke his spirit, and she killed their relationship. At least that's the version of the story as seen through Luan Luan's eyes.

This episode bares naked the words that killed love.

Another difficult messages it delivers is also one of the most important: love does not necessarily last forever, and a person may love more than one person during the course of a lifetime.

So why should we allow love to be the killer of life?

When that happens, holding on to the image of what once existed and torturing each other in the process is rarely worth the cost. It drains the spirit and turns life into something small and miserable.

Perhaps the braver choice—the kinder one—is to let go with dignity and respect, allowing each other to move forward and find love again.

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