I think one of the reasons why I find Li Lianhua so relatable is bc I was, too, a talented gifted kid praised by adults, who couldn't waste talent so I had piano lessons, singing lessons, two acting classes (one outside school, one with school), artistic gymnastic lessons, volleyball, dance, theater shows in the summer, and let's not forget studying bc you're so smart of course you'll be a good student (and you can't bear to disappoint the teachers and the parents). So I also participated in philosophy Olympics, Italian Olympics, maths Olympics and every science competition organised by my school, while also signing up for P.E. extra activities bc I was the only student my P.E. teacher (her words) said had some life and passion for gymnastic in all her classes.
Then uni times, went to live outside my childhood house for the first time, and also outside the town I grew up in where everyone knew me and automatically put expectations on me (and my siblings sadly)
And suddenly I just want to have long walks with my friends, spend my free days laying in bed, cook and eat my food, read books lazily, drink warm tea in late afternoons, and let time pass without feeling guilty. All the while learning to accept to live with the constant exhaustion (and finding out my constant headache and being almost always in some kind of constsnt pain of is, in fact, Not Normal) and slowly understanding myself and having epiphanies about my gender and sexuality.
Truly, Li Lianhua and his tired gifted kid burnt out chronically ill constantly exhausted self who just wants to water his plants, wander in the Jianghu, scam people and sleep conquered me in ways young heroes of the Jianghu of other c-dramas couldn't (no shade intended)
Or, citing my amazing roomate (who I dragged in the fandom) wise words: "He's so damn relatable it should be illegal"
