#hou minghao

[fiftysevenacademics]

Hnngggh...

[7xx-7]

[stellarflex]

[dreamingsnowflake2013]

Awwwwwwww!!!! Him watching her bandage his hand with a scrap of her dress and quicky shifting his gaze away when she looks up but continues looking at her the moment she looks down.

Ai Mi's age during the filming doesn't allow them to do kiss scenes or bed scenes, but instead of an impediment they turn it into an advantage, as it makes them be creative and include all kinds of old school book romantic gestures and moments most dramas and writers skip altogether, don't bother with anymore or have completely forgotten about - furtive glances, fleeting touches, closeness without touching being the ultimate intimacy,... And the fact that Wuyi is in forbidden love with JY, having to hold himself back and hiding his own feelings because being in love with her means betraying his best friend actually suits the whole set up perfectly and even elevates it.

His little smile! He might be starting a secret collection of her accessories and making them a family heirloom.

His first reaction at the bandage being 'what is this even supposed to be' because she adorably tied the bow on his hand so intricately, exactly how she would tie it on her dress or hair, to smiling and literally holding onto it as he closes his eyes. Also, I adore the symbolism of him being covered in dirt and blood, wearing dark and black clothes and her pure white bow covering his wound, healing him, serving as parallels to them and their relationship.

[naorende]

[alipeeps]

[dreamingsnowflake2013]

Is Key to the Phoenix Heart the smartest drama out there? No, 90% cdramas aren't either. Is it fun and entertaining? Hell yeah, something 90% dramas definitely are not. The story is simple and even though it's got its flaws, it's effective and executed well because it does many things others dramas do no longer dare or have given up on.

For instance, we are past the half point of the story, but Xiao Wuyi never stops being the ruthless, bloodthirsty lunatic he was at the beginning of it. Flaming spear, sword or no sword, this man is a killing weapon made flesh. Other male leads would be mellowed down and softened by now.

When he almost kills his imposter uncle with his bare hands, there is no reason left in his eyes, just violence and madness of a man who has been killing since childhood and bathed in more blood than water. He never changes, except for some softening around the edges, because the world doesn't allow him to change. Changing himself would off him even sooner than his injury would. Even the FL can see that.

On the other hand, Xie Jiayu truly changes (for the same reason he can't, to survive, in her case not changing would kill her) and grows, especially her world view. She hated killing and loathed Wuyi for it, but now she accepts the world needs a perfect killer like him to strike fear into the hearts of the enemies and eliminate them.

I particularly like the paralell of her watching him kill another man for the first time, fake fainting to avoid the sight of the body and admonishing him for it later, to how she can't take her eyes off him when he fights for her and his life in the cell, having complete trust in his ability to kill and basically praying he would.

He wins the fight and then he, the total lunatic he is, actually smiles because he heard he cries and saw her tears, making him realise she cares enough for him as to not want him do die. Scraps yes, but to him they mean the world.

[fiftysevenacademics]

Shirtless, blindfolded accupuncture with a perfectly slutty ponytail is medicine tailored to my specific ailment. It's also funny the way Xie Jiayu is trying to comfort Xiao Wuyi by telling him the story how she and his best friend fell in love while Ruisheng is like... Ummm... that is not making him feel better.