Love a Lifetime | Recap and Review

Will a search for a prized pearl make our couple star-crossed lovers? 

Notable Actors/Actresses
Ren Jia Lun: Na Lan Yue / Lin Jing

Zhang Hui Wen: Rong Hua

Chinese Title

暮白首

Genres: Wuxia, Romance

Network: iQIYI, Youku

Year: 2020
Episodes: 31/50
First Impression: 2.4/5

[Dropped]

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Mini Recaps

[Ep1] Lin Jing and Rong Hua's first meeting is on a boat. He saves her life. She doesn't trust him so she escapes in the middle of the night through the window. He sees her falling. Unable to escape, she can only lie that she fell because she wanted to watch stars. He takes her star gazing and asks, "Do you know what stars like?" She doesn't know. He answers his own question: "Stars like it when your eyes have them." He also tells her that if she likes stars that much, he might as well guard by her window so she won't have to fall the next time she wants to star gaze. This is their first meeting. He's putting on the sweet move on her because he's investigating his father's death. She doesn't trust him completely either though. Before the night's over, her attitude completely changes on him as she suspects him of aiming for her "Chi Hua Pearl".

He dares her to search his body for "Chi Hua Pearl". Ren Jia Lun's eye acting is back. This Chi Hua Pearl is the most sought-after item that belongs to her family. Rong Hua's sister, Rong Su, is also secretly after it. Her father also wants it for himself. Lin Jing's motives aren't apparent but he follows her home and claims to be her master's master, therefore her Great-Master.

[Ep2] Rong Hua's father wants to kill Lin Jing because he finds his motives unclear. Better to be safe than sorry. Meanwhile Rong Su is slowly killing Rong Hua with poison. The purpose of all these killings are to possess Chi Hua Pearl that has yet to make its appearance. Our CP each take a turn to save each other. He was injured and as she's taking care of him, he shamelessly uses the excuse of his injury to hug her. Her jealously from hearing about his arranged marriage (that he's currently running away from) dissipates. He assures her that the lady he's betrothed to isn't the one he wants to spend the rest of his life with, hint hint. When it's her turn to be sick, he's tending to her and has to expose a bit of her shoulder to apply medication. Fortunately or unfortunately, a doctor arrives. She's a very young doctor who seems very suspicious at the moment. She does heal Rong Hua and leaves a mysterious message for Lin Jing that his cultivation although high has reached its threshold. To improve he can only die and then be reborn. 

Chi Hua Pearl comes from a flower that only blossoms twice. The first time it's bloody red and inside the pearl is produced. The second time it's white and that's when it can be used as medicine. Once the pearl is used on a human, it is like a parasite. It will heal the organ that is injured but all the other healthy organs will soon wither because the parasite will suck the host of all its life. Chi Hua Pearl belongs to Long Yin City (Rong Hua's city) and only Rong Hua's father knows how to harvest the antidote. 

[Ep3] Rong Hua has always known of Rong Su's ambitions to overcome her to become the heir but she never exposed her sister. However, this time she does expose her otherwise her father will punish Lin Jing for murder. 

Second romance: Rong Su and Lu Yi Zhou have a past that we don't know yet. Perhaps Rong Su isn't just "evil". She probably has a "good" reason and that's why he's helping her. Lu Yi Zhou is in the same sect as Lin Jing. He's here to drag him back so that he can marry. 

[Ep4] Lin Jing's motive to save Hua Rong initially was to investigate his father's death but now he's in love with her. His poor fiancé is still waiting for him. She's Mei Xue Man. Her brother, Mei Ying, currently owns the Chi Hua Pearl. 

We also see a glimpse of Rong Su's past: as a child she was always chained up. Her master brainwashed her that anyone who approaches her all have a motive. 

[Ep5] The doctor's identity is revealed. She's Mo Huan, who disguised as the doctor. She is the notorious leader of Ling Jiao Sect. Rong Hua's father, Rong Jing Feng, is her disciple. I love her expressions. Deliciously evil. She's hunting down the pearl but arrived at Long Yin Chen to get a bit of revenge on him for betraying her. She poisons him. 

Mei Xue Man hears of Lin Jing's mother's dire health and escapes with her brother's pearl to save Lin Jing's mother. Thus the pearl is now at Lin Jing's home (Ling Xu Ge). Initially, the pearl wasn't entering the mom's body with just Mei Xue Man's cultivation so mom uses her own powers to push it in. The Chi Hua Pearl is now in her heart. Mom doesn't seem simple at all. 

  

[Ep6] Mei Xue Man and Rong Hua meet. It's an awkward moment with Lin Jing being caught in the middle. Rong Hua jealously leaves the two alone. Lin Jing learns that Mei Xue Man loves him but he rejects her. He tells her that the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with is Rong Hua. Am I the only one who thinks this is way too soon?

Mo Huan makes her appearance to retrieve the pearl. It turns out that Lin Jing's mother, Lin Ruo Han, is also a disciple of hers. Not only that she also betrayed her. Mo Huan threatens them that only one sect can survive: Long Yin Chen (Rong family) or Ling Xu Ge (Lin family). Her appearance is only to scare them as she doesn't do much and leaves. Lin Ruo Han tells Lin Jing of her past. She had fallen in love with his father but because she was part of Ling Jiao Sect, she cannot be with his father so they eloped. Mo Huan had sent Rong Jing Feng (who was also a disciple back then) after them but he had secretly stolen Lin Jing's father's Chi Hua Pearl and killed him. He also locked up Mo Huan. Therefore Chi Hua Pearl had originally belonged to Lin Jing's father. And therefore Lin Jing and Rong Hua are (will be) star crossed lovers because her father killed his father. 

Rong Hua learns of Lin Jing's real identity: he's Na Lan Yue, the heir to Ling Xu Ge. She's hurt from his lies and points a sword to his chest. He walks into the sword and injures himself. He tells her that he had no intentions of lying to her. She's angry but his honesty does make her waver. She also chooses to control the poison in his mother instead of retrieving the pearl in her body when Lin Ruo Han gave her the chance to take it. 

[Ep7] Lin Jing cancels the marriage between him and Mei Xue Man. They're now god-siblings. Rong Hua isn't mad at him anymore. Together they return to Long Yin Chen to retrieve the antidote to save his mother (who's body isn't accepting the pearl well). She wants a win-win-win plan to heal his mother, retrieve the pearl, and take down Mo Huan. 

More of Rong Su's past is revealed. Rong Su is also Mo Huan's disciple. Mo Huan has so many disciples. She plans to kill Mo Huan in her gimmicky castle. She manages to injure Mo Huan but she ends up trapped in there too. Lu Yi Zhou makes a timely appearance to save her. The exit is closing in on them and she pushes him away to the closing doors so that he can survive. She gives him a peck on the cheek before bidding farewell. He doesn't leave her though and almost dies waiting for her. They manage to survive. This second couple gets all the pretty music. 

[Ep8] Although Lin Jing still loves Rong Hua, in his subconsciousness he's thinking about his father's death. He's also investigating the mystery of Mei Xue Man's father's death. The Mei siblings think that it's Rong Jing Feng's fault their father died. However, it was a misunderstanding. Rong Su uses this misunderstanding to manipulate Mei Ying into helping her retrieve the Chi Hua antidote. 

[Ep9] Rong Su's plan to steal the antidote goes awry because of Lin Jing and Rong Hua. Now they have Mei Ying as hostage and as long as he is alive he is a threat that will expose Rong Su. Rong Hua helps Lin Jing retrieve the antidote to send it to his mother. 

[Ep10] Mo Huan has spies all over and her people gets their hands on the antidote. Meanwhile Mo Huan is at Ling Xu Ge taunting Lin Ruo Han. Mo Huan temporarily saves her to use her as a weapon against Rong Jing Feng. 

Lin Jing is jealous this episode. Mei Ying had fallen in love with Rong Hua and challenges Lin Jing to battle it out for her. 

[Ep11] Mei Ying doesn't actually battle Lin Jing for Rong Hua. Bummer. He just warns Lin Jing to cherish her unlike what he did to his sister. 

[Ep12] There's a witness to Rong Jing Feng's crimes. He claims Rong Jing Feng killed Lin Jing's father and the entire Na Lan family. Lin Jing and Rong Hua hears this story. It's Rong Hua's first time hearing it and she's disappointed in her father. It doesn't make it any better for dad when he kills the witness.

 

[Ep13] Lin Jing and Rong Hua promise their life to each other. They want to marry. 

[Ep14] Lin Jing asks her father for Rong Hua's hand in marriage. Dad approves. Dad's garden is burnt down by Mo Huan.

[Ep15] Lin Jing and Rong Hua pack their bags and leave Long Yi Cheng hand in hand. They're going to his home. He shamelessly tells her he wants five children with her. 

[Ep16] Rong Hua has to duel with Na Lan disciples to get her acceptance. What does winning a fight have to do with forgiving someone for killing an entire clan? She wins but she had cheated because she took a pill that can level up her powers. The risk for taking the pill is her life though. She could have died. But it's a drama so she's okay.

 

[Ep17] Rong Hua and Lin Jing become cupids for Rong Su and Lu Yi Zhou. These two are in their happy bubble caring about someone else's relationship when they don't know Na Lan sect is adamant on destroying their marriage. 

[Ep18] Lin Jing wants a farewell hug from Lu Yi Zhou. Lu Yi Zhou backs off at his sudden warmth but Lin Jing wins. He slams his hand on the wall behind Lu Yi Zhou to get his hug. 

It's pretty col that Rong Hua can fight the move Lin Jing had taught her once. She escapes death but falls into a hidden cave with Lin Jing. 

Rong Su is being a nice sister now. She left everyone to protect Long Yin Cheng on her own. She didn't want to put anyone else in danger. 

[Ep19] Rong Hua's powers level up. She almost defeated Lin Jing. Is Lin Jing that weak?

[Ep20] Rong Jing Feng sabotages Lin Jing to protect Long Yin Cheng. No one believes him except Rong Hua. When all evidences point against Lin Jing she will still use her life as a shield to protect him. 

[Ep21] Lin Jing feels betrayed and turns cold on Rong Hua. Despite that, she still loves him and frees him from imprisonment by her father. 

[Ep22] Mo Huan helps Lin Jing and Rong Hua escape from Rong Jing Feng. Although Mo Huan is the baddie her underlings are all good people. The real evil one is Rong Hua’s father. Rong Hua practically disowns her father. She and Lin Jing are about to be married. 

[Ep23] The wedding ceremony is barely complete and it’s interrupted by Mei Ying who has colluded with Rong Jing Feng to infiltrate their Lin Xing Ge. Rong Hua is captured by her own father to be hostage to life Lin Jing. Although Lin Jing saves her, he’s shot by an arrow and is almost dead. Rong Hua leaves him in the care of Lu Yi Zhou while she walks back to her father to buy time for them to leave.

[Ep24] Two women are dying for Lin Jing. Rong Hua stabs herself with the arrow that killed Lin Jing to distract her sister from chasing him down. Mom is using her Chi Hua Pearl to save her son. Ah, so this is what Mo Huan meant about coming back to life (and then leveling up). Rong Hua is in quite the pickle. She’s the daughter of Rong Jing Feng and wife of Lin Jing. She has duties to protect both sects. 

[Ep25] I'm going to call Lin Jing "Na Lan Yue" from now on. Na Lan Yue is the third owner of Chi Hua Pearl and it has metastasized into a new being consuming Na Lan Yue. This was Mo Huan’s goal all along. She wants both the pearl and his life. Na Lan Yue is to seclude himself to cultivate the Pearl before his life is devoured by it. 

Rong Hua is saved by Na Lan sect’s disciple who hated her guts but now he’s grown fond of her and can’t hate her despite knowing he should hate her. 

Na Lan Yue and Rong Hua almost meet when both arrive at Mo Huan’s territory. Na Lan Yue hides from her. Despite not seeing him, she seems to sense him hiding behind the mirror. 

[Ep28] Na Lan Yue captures Mei Ying but instead of killing him, he inserts the second Chi Hua Pearl in him. He wants him to suffer as long as he lives for the crimes he's committed. Rong Hua is no damsel in distress. She's quite capable at getting what she wants. She still hasn't met up with Na Lan Yue yet. He's hiding from her. Knowing he's around, she shouts that she's his wife. There's no response from him. Thus, she uses a knife to kill herself since he won't see her. There's no point in living anyways. That's when Na Lan Yue reveals himself. There's blood in his palm as he holds back the knife she's using to kill herself. 

[Ep29] Rong Hua teases Na Lan Yue by giving him a sour fruit. He doesn't trust her the next time she says the fruit is sweet. He makes her eat it first. As she bites in, he gives her a sweet kiss on the cheek. They both acknowledge the sweetness. 

[Ep30] Rong Hua learns of Na Lan Yue’s deadly Chi Hua Pearl. He tells her the reason he was able to survive was because of her hairpin that reminded him of her. Rong Hua reveals she had wanted to give him this hair pin after their wedding because it is her mother’s memento. He makes her promise to kill him if he ever loses control because of the Pearl. But she cannot. She vows that she will not because she can’t live if she kills him. There’s tears in both their eyes. He hugs her and both of them are solemn. That night, they complete their wedding night. 

[Ep31] Mei Ying kills Zi Yan (Rong Hua’s auntie) but the blame is on the innocent Na Lan Yue. Rong Hua doubts him too. There are a lot of evidences pointing at him, can’t blame her. However, he’s disappointed she doesn’t trust him. Not long after he leaves, Rong Hua has calmed down and finds Zi Yan’s death suspicious. She’s back at Long Ling Cheng with her father to investigate her death. 

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Remarks

[First Impression (Ep1-12)] I've seen Ren Jia Lun in this order: Under the Power, Glory of Tang Dynasty, and Autumn Cicada. Seeing him here completely throws me off. All his previous characters were serious. This one is more like his TV personality: talkative and playful. The first episode went straight into the CP meeting and having romantic interactions. I don't even know who these people are and they're already in love.

As for the story, it's the same type of jianghu story whether they're looking for a painting, a mantra, or a pearl. The main difference between these types of  dramas is how the story is told. I don't think this one is executed very well. Instead of a normal introduction it felt like the drama started in the middle. Then the romance happened in a snap. By episode eight I was losing interest in the story. I think it's being too stingy with the details of the past. I will still keep in check because of one reason: Ren Jia Lun. By the way, those bangs in front of his face aren't doing his visuals any justice. Show, how can you cover his eyes? 

[Actors/Actresses] It feels like Ren Jia Lun is acting like himself. Frankly, I had wanted a Lu Yi 2.0 but I'm happy he gets to have a different personality here to show his acting versatility except I'm hesitant to say I'm impressed with his acting here. On the other hand, I'm quite impressed with the actress for Mo Huan (Lin Yuan). I love her evil smile. Such a contrast from her character in "Listening Snow Tower". 

[Episode 13 Update] I'm done with the story. I'm just going to watch for Ren Jia Lun. 

[Episode 21-24 Update] Ever since dad has turned obviously evil the story picks up its pace. I’m not quite in it for the chemistry between the leads but I do like how strong and independent Rong Hua is. 

[Dropped] Sorry, Ren Jia Lun. I love you but I don’t love this.