one thing i enjoy about chasing jade that i didn't fully realize from the webnovel is how objectively, it's silly that changyu always insists on protecting xie zheng (because he's a war hero and general, is as absurdly strong as she is, is incredibly skilled in martial arts, and is prone to violence/is always 10 seconds away from that delicious phrase c-webnovels use, "a murderous/killing aura" asdfghjkl--like it's silly in terms of dramatic irony because we know he's not really a weak scholar refugee, not because changyu's not up to the task; she very much *is* able to protect him)--and yet it's her determination to protect him and take care of him that's framed as the root of his attraction and devotion to her. and so he does need her protection, not physically, but like spiritually/psychically/emotionally. her protection offers him an essential nourishment he's lacked since his parents' unfair and fucked up deaths and which he's never expected of anyone since--and which she offers without his asking.
i also really like that for all xie zheng's violent inclinations, he's basically a decent person, like changyu pointed out to song yan. he's good with changning; he makes sure the comic relief thugs don't steal the deed of her house; he takes note of the ways people demean and cheat her and prepares in advance to argue against them; he's rich and basically clueless about the daily lives of the vast majority of people, but he doesn't treat her with contempt when he realizes she's not fully literate; he's patient, shows thankfulness, is helpful around the house, and willingly fits into changyu's life.
