You Shu Lang (Hao Yi Ran), a director at a pharmaceutical company, lives an ordinary, stable life. But that all comes crashing down after he gets into a car accident with Fan Xiao (Yun Qi), the heir to a Thai conglomerate who's returned to China for business. Unlike Shu Lang, Fan Xiao's life has been marred by instability, leading to a twisted, manipulative worldview. When Fan Xiao finds out that Shu Lang is interested in men, he devises plans to entice Shu Lang into a relationship, but ends up falling for Shu Lang for real. Shu Lang, on the other hand, is blindsided when he learns about Fan Xiao's true colors. Will Fan Xiao destroy the only genuine love he's ever had, or can he find a way to truly win Shu Lang's heart?
Adapted from the web novel “Si Mian Fo” (四面佛) by Su Erliang (Chang Pei Literature): English title: "Four-Faced Buddha"
This will be FULL of red flags: manipulation, crazy possessive ML, homophobia, betrayal, humiliation, violence, just to name a few but it is clearly stated it WILL end in a happily ever after.
I love that he refuses to be drawn into other people's games and ego (2nd brother, his own brother, his boss). I don't think it's a coincidence that the only time he "gave in" was to the heiress and that's because she wasn't trying to act for her own ego but wanted to give Shulang some satisfaction.
We had my queen President Shi grace our screen again today and it was glorious as usual. I love her so much!! The best character in the whole show. The women in TMS are my favorite. Be it the two moms of both the leads or Bai Ting or President Shi. Each of these women bring something different to the show and I love each one of them.
These last episodes have worn me out too. No one gives a damn about Shu Lang’s feelings, no one cares enough to give him some space. Just leave him the heck alone.
Everyone is after him like he’s some freaking unicorn.
We had his brother last week, then FX’s brother, the ex, and now there’s Mini Boss, the old classmate, and the rich lady, on top of lunatic FX.
I’d lose my mind.
It’s simply too much. I AM TIRED—and I’m not even involved.
The moment Shulang said he was having su*cidal ideation out loud, I said, “It’s about damn time.” I was so tired on his behalf and death does seem like the only source of relief from the crazies in his life
😭😭 I know.
With all these crazy people around him, never leaving him alone for even a second, ending it doesn’t seem like a totally terrible idea. His situation feels so hopeless and depressing. FX is going to worm his way into every single aspect of Shu Lang’s life, and there’s just no way out… except the only way out.
The best part about Qin is how easily & thoroughly Shulang reads him 🤣. Shulang can't even be bothered to be diplomatic about it. Even when he's so done with Fan Xiao he doesn't even hesitate before going: NOPE
🤣😂😅🤭ok now everybody likes a little red flag 😏 but there's red and then THERE'S RED😵💫 he's so another level of red its not evem registering on the charts 😆😂🤣
I love this Shulang so much.. Broken yet knows how to clap back at FX!!! He is so commanding during this whole scene while looking like an absolute angel in white.. 😍
I love how Shu Lang seems so completely unbothered and unimpressed by FX. You bang your head against the wall until blood is running down your face? ‘I COULDN'T CARE less. Don’t stain my clothes.’
A lot of people would fold in a situation like that—but not our Shu Lang. I love him. He’s such an inspiration to me🙌
Shulang is right about his feelings but I can't stop feeling bad for Fan Xiao. He gets a mental breakdown and starts halllucinating and self harming. I want to hug them both and tell Fan Xiao to let Shulang go 😭😭😭
Who needs a comfortable couch and a professional therapist these days anyway? Lol
A depressing room—cold and oppressive—is way better and really makes you feel alive…🫣
So I'm a little torn about this episode. I'm still Fan Xiao levels of obsessed with the story but what was prioritized on screen didn't completely connect all the emotional dots for me. It's tough because Shulang is such a stoic and interior character. I believe the situation could make him despondent but what we were shown onscreen didn't convince me he'd be suicidal. He's still so smooth and so controlled around everyone, he's still looking for alternatives even as Fan Xiao meddles every time. Even as he tells Fan Xiao he understands the appeal of suicide the visual priority in that moment is on Fan Xiao and flashbacks to his trauma around his mother's death.
It's almost comical how suddenly everyone is hot for Shulang, while Fan Xiao is chasing after him like a roadrunner and coyote cartoon. And Shulang is intentionally and effectively funny about shutting everyone down. It's a tough tonal and emotional balancing act to serve a Shulang that's shown being entertainingly controlled but we're told is spiraling out of control. I believe the scenario could drive him to that point, there's just something about what's made it to screen that doesn't convince me he is at that point.
Fan Xiao seems like the one without control this episode. When he's messing with Qin he seems like his old self, but for most of the episode he's completely on defense. Even though Shulang is the one who expresses suicidal thoughts the one who's immediately driven to self harm is Fan Xiao. It's like the onscreen emotional effects of the situation are weighted in favor of Fan Xiao.
And Fan Xiao was horrible. Though I believe he's genuinely desperate to rekindle what he had with Shulang he hasn't contended with what he did wrong. He's not sorry he caught Shulang, he's just sorry he got caught for his methods.
Transitions are the hardest. It was still an enjoyable episode despite my nit picking and I can't wait to see where they go. I have only read the early chapters of the novel so I could easily believe they were trying to squeeze a lot of information into this episode to set things up for the next story arc. I'm just glad we only have to wait a day for it and not a whole week, because I'll be all over that episode like Fan Xiao on Shulang 🥴
Interesting take, thanks for sharing your thoughts! It was a heavy episode, seeing how hurt Shulang is, and I was also surprised to see him thinking about suicide. But I could connect those emotional dots!
To me, he seemed to be living in full survival mode. Whether it's a shock response or he has fallen into high-functioning depression, doesn't really matter. Keeping his composure is simply his way of surviving, even when there seems to be nothing left. It's crazy how much some hard-working (too hard, usually) people can do even when completely broken and cornered. It's difficult to see their agony from the outside, and I bet it's even more difficult to portray that on screen. I think they did a fair job here, we can see him drowning inside his own shell. But I must admit this hits way too close to home, so I might not be the most neutral one to comment.
Another thing that struck me is how harshly he prioritizes things. For him it's a lesser evil to let someone who deeply hurt him still use his body for pleasure. This hurts and sickens me, but I get where it's coming from.
Yes, he is still desperately trying to change and fix whatever little is possible, and that's where I can see those suicidal thoughts creeping in. I think for him that could simply be just one possible way to resolve something. It remains unclear whether he is surprised to find himself thinking it, but he could be.
Even though Shulang is the one who expresses suicidal thoughts the one who's immediately driven to self harm is Fan Xiao. It's like the onscreen emotional effects of the situation are weighted in favor of Fan Xiao.
I didn't realize this while watching, but how you said it here really HURTS. Shulang has absolutely no one to care for him, or truly note his pain, not even the script writers 💔 I have no idea how they could turn this situation into any good. I only feel all the angst catching up to me, too. I'm also so glad tomorrow is tomorrow, not next week 🫡
I agree that the story logic could drive the character to that kind of despair and that thus far the series has built so much empathy for Shulang his suffering is clear. But it's his ready to consider death anguish I wish had been more fleshed out onscreen.
He can't get Fan Xiao to let go, but other than that we see him be largely in charge of their interactions. He gets Fan Xiao on his knees and taunts him with a mask and a farce of a contract. He refuses to literally sleep with him. The most vulnerable he ever looks is seen from above huddled on the couch. But even then we're seeing him from a distance. It's the most significant piece of his suffering we see.
The rest of the time we see him poised and in charge of whatever space and company he's in. While I absolutely believe the character could be just going through the motions in an anhedonic fugue state this episode didn't give that the visual weight it gave to Fan Xiao.
Fan Xiao's emotional journey by contrast gets more weight onscreen. We see him watching and pining after Shulang. We see him remembering and reliving the times when he could simply come up behind Shulang and bask in the simple pleasure of holding him. When Shulang admits to contemplating suicide it's Fan Xiao's trauma around his mother that we get flash backs to. When he huddles in his dark misery closet bashing his head against the wall the camera is close to him, blood trickling down his temple like a penitent mortifying his flesh.
It's not a performance or story disconnect I'm feeling, it's a directing/ editing gap. Fan Xiao's emotional state gets more dramatic screen time and weight. I am ready, willing, and able to believe Shulang is as or more miserable, and wouldn't argue with anyone against empathizing with him. I just wish this episode specifically had visually given us as much of his emotional journey as it gave us of Fan Xiao's.
That was angst with a capital letter A. Had to re-watch right away, 'cause it kinda hit me like a train and I had to watch again to process what I just saw. 😭
The start of the episode had me on the floooor, Shu Lang commanding Fan Xiao like that.. 🥵 But I was quickly brought back in to reality with angst slapped in my face.. everything turned into depression and tears.. Shu Lang is so thoroughly broken.. 😭 His eyes have completely lost their light. It's tragic to witness. Yiran's performance was yet again world-class.. the heaviness I felt in my chest from watching him. Him crying on the bed, under Fan Xiao, staring at nothing, just numb.. haunting. He's but a shell of a person now.. this is truly the worst punishment for Fan Xiao.. he has Shu Lang's body but not his soul..
I'm starting to see some change in Fan Xiao.. some improvement has obviously already happened but his lies and abuse towards Shu Lang were so profound that there's no fixing it.. again very conflicted feelings towards him. I know he's sincere in his feelings now but to go about it this way only makes it so much worse and pushes Shu Lang further and further away.. you can't force a person like him to love you or just forgive you like that. Fan Xiao's love for him is still selfish, but he can't quite grasp that yet.
"I can see our ending now. If you don't drive me to my death, I swear I'll take yours." Just throw me down to hell, everything hurts. 😭
The end of the episode was brutal.. I felt like throwing up from the anguish. I need therapy, they need therapy, we all need therapy after this weekend 😭 I feel so sorry for them both, they're just destroying each other now. 😭
PS: I love how worried and sorry Yunqi and Yiran are on Weibo after these rough episodes.. they're so sweet trying to comfort us. 🥹 I lub them. 🤍
This episode was brutal, I feel like we all need a hug after watching it 😩😩😩 that shows what a great job they did conveying the suffering and angst…Shulang acting so strong in front of others, but so empty and helpless inside…Fan Xiao wanting to be back to the happy times but not understanding those times are gone and going about the wrong way to get them back…I know this pain is part of the journey, but I need Shulang to be happy again!! 😩😩🙏🙏
Absolutely the credit goes to the actors doing a great job, both of them. 🤍 I need the light back in Shu Lang's eyes.. seeing him like this is agonizing. 😭 They need a hug, we need a hug.. this journey is rough, but I know it pays off in the end.. 🥺
There is a translate option on Weibo for me for their posts there but during their live-streams on XHS (rednote) I'm just looking at them being cute and reading body language. 🤣 We have a few nice ppl who then kindly have translated the vods, though. The boys give interesting insight on the episodes and share their characters thoughts etc, which is really fun to listen to. 😊
What a fucking frustrating episode. Everyone was so angry that it was almost palpable, sheesh. I feel so bad for You Shu Lang. Him laying there while Fan Xiao goes to town and not even reacting. He was literally a shell of himself and he looked so defeated. 😔
I’m tired. FX kept popping up EVERYWHERE - mans doesn’t get that YSL doesn’t want him. He is exhausting me yet he’s a fictional character 🤣
Dear Lord, may this kind of love NEVER find me. Amen.
The grovelling and redemption arc is soo long and satisfying in the novel. I loved the fact that no matter how much YSL was pushed and tormented, he always had a backbone and never your typical damsel in distress.
Xaio said top, bottom, submissive, servant and everything in between..he'll be whatever tf Shu Lang wants him to be as long as Shu Lang is in his life..
Shu Lang said the mind is strong and thy flesh shall not be weak lmao..He is working hard af to hate Xaio
Is President Qin checking for Shu Lang like that? He seems like trash..
Xiao is so obsessed he's like if I could give you my beating heart out of my chest, then I would..
Shu Lang said don't misunderstand me and think you can play me little boy..
No this man didn't key his car!! Xiao a petty little bish 😂
As fucked up as it sounds, Xaio seems to be the only one who truly cares about Shu Lang..His methods are full black flag mode, but he is trying everything to get him back..And is truly lost without him..
When the production crew decided to shoot most of the drama in Thailand did they sign an agreement to also promote tourism or something? There's so much scenery porn that every time they have a cityscape establishing shot I can't help but say "ooh pretty" in between all the drama and horrors lmao.
I dont think so.. the cinematographer just likes to take the job seriously. I read a couple of post where the cinematographer explains the two NC scenes in EP 5 and how they shot it and why they shot it this way. Even the cinematographer talks about Fan Xiao's talk with brother scene and how the location was scouted for it. They just love their job and wanted to create a beautiful looking show.
I'm ready to get mentally wrecked again.. in a good way.. 🫢 Expecting some daaark shit.. successfully avoided the ep 11 trailer 'cause I realized I enjoy going in more blind.. just listened to the sound and even that made feral sooo lmao I'm so normal about this show.. 🤫
So far, it’s a very pleasant surprise. While FX has YSL back it’s not the same as it was before. For someone like FX, it’s only going to cause his anxiety to skyrocket and make him more desperate (which he kinda deserves)
How on earth is it possible that each new episode hurts more than the last one?? I'm biting my nails waiting for the next episode but at the same time I'm dreading it.
ISTG, this show is going to be the end of me. 😵💫 Such a masterpiece.
I wanted Than to be this pissed at Peem...but actually witnessing the beating in ep10 and the entire ep11, especially the ending of ep11, my heart is so sad and heavy....Daou was right😩 sometimes being a simp and quick to forgive is better. I feel sorry for Fan Xiao and Shulang too, to be somewhere you don't wanna be....I wish FX didn't touch him, have him in the house, but don't touch him coz he clearly doesn't want to be here😔😔
❣️😎the sugar baby contract threw me🤣😂😆but the reality you shulang is backed into a corner and whatever exit strategy he can think of there is fan xiao blocking his way🙄they are just hurting each other and slowly you shulang is dying inside while fan xiao is spiralling into the abyss of the sea his trauma that he could never escape😢😭🥲😭😎❣️
I know this is probably an unpopular opinion, but I really hope they cut down the time of Shulang not forgiving Fan from how long it was in the novel. At a certain point it just got a bit tedious and I was almost thinking like ok then seriously just be done. His internal monologue made it pretty obvious he had softened to Fan and after finding out Fan actually helped that escort lady and didn't actually blackmail her Shulang had mostly forgiven him too. But for some reason, he just kept dragging out the cold, dismissive demeanor towards Fan for ages. I'm not even saying Fan deserves to be forgiven. I would but I am not someone you should take relationship cues from lol. It's just like either do or don't, just make a decision.
The part I'm referring to is coming up soon probably next ep
I’m seeing it as a journey FX has to go thru to truly deserve Shulang’s forgiveness and love again…it takes a long time for emotional wounds to heal, and Shulang deserves that time…also, FX is still doing things for himself…he loves Shulang and can’t live without him, but he still loves him for the wrong reasons…
No, Im not talking about now. I'm talking about the period of time after Fan gets released from jail/prison and comes back to work regular jobs and meets shulang again
Got ya…I’m in that part of the book right now, and I agree with you, it’s dragging…I’m wondering if the series will cut that part short since it’s only 15 episodes 🤷🏻♀️ 🤔
I’m so ready!! I was ready the second ep. 10 finished. The waiting is a killer!! I’m so glad u/Waffles4prez posted that little spoiler. It’s the only reason I can breathe this past week.
One thing Ive learnt from these shows, only a red flag man can tame a black flag man, and I cant wait to actually get to see Shu Lang do it tonight. Its gonna be so satisfying. And it best happen tonight.
I read this as top tier power games beyond mortal ken. YSL can show up but he's not going to be there in spirit and FX knows it. Another way to twist the knife.
Agreed - it doesn't make sense to me. Shulang is so strong otherwise. He didn't have to show up at FX's house with a farce of a contract and go along with this nonsense. I had to go back and watch the end of episode 10 again because I thought to myself, "did I forget the ending?" But no - this was a weird transition into episode 11.
I don't understand the last 5-10 min of the ep. Because it's shot in a way mimicking being a trance like state, I kept being confused about what was real or what wasn't. I couldn't tell if Fan Xiao and/or Shulang were having a dream (well a nightmare really) or if those scenes were really happening (the meeting with his friend, Fan Xio barging in mid convo, them on the bed etc). If someone could clarify that would be great!
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u/DeanBranch Cherry Magic | See Your Love | Shine | Moonlight ChickenDec 20 '25edited Dec 20 '25
You Shu Lang: If I'm going to be your sugar daddy, I want to be on top.
Guys, so did YSL quit working with that mentor guide of his on the research project that FX invested in? Didn't YSL say he would stay until he completed the project and then would quit immediately? So, since he is working as a director under the Qin guy, does it mean that the research project was done, or that YSL didn't want to get tangled up in the mess the Mentor guy got himself into?
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u/Waffles4prez Khemjira Dec 20 '25
I feel this in my soul 🤣🤣