Notable Actors/Actresses
Bu Guan Jin: Chen Mei Ru
Rhydian Vaughan: Murong Jie Lun
Chen Mei Ru (24yo; date: 2019/09/22) is the type to watch the last scene when starting a movie, read the last page when starting a book and look for safety exits when entering a mall. At weddings she doesn’t smile; at funerals she doesn’t cry. She likes to keep everything under control – never too high, never too low and everything within predictability. However, she loses all her control when her diary comes to life. When Chen Mei Ru was 12yo (2007/09/21), she wrote a story in her diary of a Babylonian Prince who only loved her. Her birthday wish was for her Prince Charming to celebrate her next zodiac birthday. Twelve years later, her Babyloniann Prince materializes! He is Murong Jie Lun. He’s kinda like an ancient caveman falling into modern society.
Chen Mei Ru, I am your prince.
Being with me is your destiny.
You must accept my love and my protection.
Jiang Hui Zhen and Ouyang Wen Shan
The author's Bestfriend and Prince Hunk Charming's Rich Lackey
(I think his name should be Cooper, but he also looks like a Richie).
Ouyang Wen Shan’s lines:
I already bought this place and now it is yours.
Meeting you is my destiny.
I will use my wealth to make all your dreams come true.
(I love the HK soundtrack whenever he flaunts his wad of bills)
Duan Shui Liu and Jiu Tian Long Nu
A longtime fanboy meets his goddess, Princess Naively Beautiful.
Duan Shui Lui's lines:
Actually, I didn’t catch his lines, but he’s got a tattoo of her name on his left chest over his heart. He’d also voluntarily break his leg for her. His actions do the talking. He's also a bit obsessed with her feet.
Note: I'm shortening some names.
- Murong Jie Lun = Murong
- Ouyang Wen Shan = Ouyang
- Jiu Tian Long Nu = Long Nu
[Yes, I'm cutting out the Jie Lun and Wen Shan which are derived from the superstar Zhou Jie Lun (Jay Chou) and Fang Wen Shan's (Vincent Fang)]
Mini Recaps
Moving onto the ‘compensation’ part of the apology, Chen Mei Ru asks for a wallet, a card, a phone, anything. Not getting the right response, she starts touching around his waist for any of those items. Pause, My Lady! Murong can do it himself. Piece by piece, he strips. We're down to the last piece of clothing: his pants. Chen Mei Ru stops him. On behalf of him, Chen Mei Ru explains to the ladies that he's got nothing but a naked body. He can't compensate. The drooling faces of the house-cleaning ladies look compensated to me.
And then the phone rings...
And hell breaks loose.
*Cue dramatic music*
Murong surgically slits the phone in half with a samurai move. The TV is his next target! With a spin-move he plunges at the centre of the screen. Anything that dares endanger his Chen Mei Ru needs to die. Hahaha. The housecleaning ladies flee. It's okay, they don't want their apology anymore.
Murong is now drinking water from the fish bowl. Then he drops the bowl to the ground. The fish! Shocked, Chen Mei Ru is like, Are you sick? He mumbles his explanation. I'm already laughing at the captions. There's no way to audibly understand him without those xD.
Murong's captions: Keeping the water in my mouth will warm it to room temperature, suitable to wash your feet so my precious Mei Ru will not be cold.
Chen Mei Ru shivers in disgust: Are you sick?!!?!Murong: I am willing to surrender to you [..] I, Murong, am your prince. *Smouldering gaze*
[Ep2] Chen Mei Ru recognizes Murong's name from her diary. She thinks it's a prank. Running away from him, she meets Long Nu who is another weirdo and has the power of the wind which will blow at her demand. She's furious at Chen Mei Ru who stole her Prince's love and for being so ugly. Murong protects Chen Mei Ru but is this really protection? Chen Mei Ru thinks they're crazy stalkers.
Chen Mei Ru tries to ditch Murong, but he's like a ghost, haunting her. Surrendering, she pushes her food to him to let him eat. He stares at the food, motionless. He's waiting for the rest of the dishes to be served. Where he's from, he’s only allowed 5 spoonfuls of each dish to prevent others from knowing his favourite. Ahahaha. Anyway, he eats at her command and it's a scary amount he ingests.
Eventually, Murong and Long Nu are arrested by the police for being weirdos. In prison, he takes shoelaces, hooks the ends around both his toes and cycles his feet to burn the rope that's cuffing his wrists. That's ... smart... but what happened to metal handcuffs?
Duan Shui Liu meets his goddess, Long Nu (in prison) and he's in love.
[Ep3] When Chen Mei Ru almost walks into the path of an oncoming bus, her Prince Charming saves her. She's a little drunk and admires Murong up close, she touches his face, and then they teleport to an eerie mountain. 12yo Chen Mei Ru had written in her story: at the height of their romance, they will teleport to Mount Wu for a sexy night. Ou~ Our 12yo has quite the active imagination. But in reality, it's kinda scary.
Murong and Ouyang meet. Ouyang pledges his allegiance. Hm. It seems Ouyang was here in this world before Murong... Chen Mei Ru and Jiang Hui Zhen realize their story came to life. Before they can react, the ladies are up in the air. Our Richie (Ouyang) is taking them all on a helicopter ride but a strong nefarious wind sends them off course. It's Long Nu who's jealous of Chen Mei Ru. At the driver seat, struggling to keep the helicopter from crashing, Ouyang looks over to Murong to say: "I only have money, I can't help much." Pft. Murong is like Follow my smoldering gaze. He looks behind at his precious Chen Mei Ru, who smiles back, desperately hiding her fears. Then the next second, she jumps off the helicopter into the ocean below. Jiang Hui Zhen was supposed to jump together but she chickened out. Meanwhile Murong dives after Chen Mei Ru. (They’re okay.)
Duan Shui Liu realizes Long Nu is also from Chen Mei Ru's story. Knowing her ending, he tries to rewrite Long Nu's story (which means he has the diary). However, his scribbles keep vanishing. The story can't be changed. Cool!
[Ep4] 12yo Chen Mei Ru was mortified in class by her homeroom teacher (who is also her Aunt!) for her diary/story. Her classmates bullied her. In tears and anger and embarrassment, Chen Mei Ru wanted to burn her diary. Jiang Hui Zhen volunteered but she was pained from losing their precious story too and so she gave it to Duan Shui Liu to destroy it. But he kept it for all these years.
Jiang Hui Zhen hires a paranormal expert (also Chen Mei Ru's long lost Uncle who has chosen to live on the mountains instead of living with his wife.) to cleanse Chen Mei Ru's home of spirits. However, he tells her to accept her fate. Murong is her man. He's not a spirit but a temporary glitch in the time-space universe that brought him here. The girls complain that Uncle didn't solve anything. He only burned garlic.
Meanwhile Ouyang buys regular human day clothes for Murong. I think our Prince prefers to be naked. I think our Richie prefers that too. Murong also gets a haircut. So the purpose of our rich guy is to spoil the Prince and not the princess(es) xD.
Long Nu is obsessed with being hospitalized. She thinks she needs to injure herself just like Chen Mei Ru so that Murong will care for her. Duan Shui Liu calls her an idiot and volunteers to break his own leg. He’s undecided on which leg to break LOL and so with Long Nu hugging him from the back (to cover his eyes), he smashes down on his leg.... Hurrah! Long Nu can stay in the hospital now! These idiots, lol.
Crows caw ominously outside the hospital. Murong recalls an elusive memory of a bloody battle in his world.
[Ep5] Murong cries. He can't remember where he came from. Is he not supposed to exist? Chen Mei Ru pities him. Of course he doesn't know who he is or where he's from. He's her creation. She sympathizes with him and takes responsibility of him. She will teach him about this new world. After all, he is hers.
Chen Mei Ru's boss gives her a holiday and tickets to a fasting getaway. A kind boss? Nope, it's deducted from her bonus. And a fasting getaway of all getaways? Cruel. Boss says it's to cleanse her spirit and change her luck. Well, Chen Mei Ru is cleansed and famished. She's desperate to eat but she's imprisoned in the temple without her phone or money or any way out.
Chen Mei Ru breaks down. It's more than just from hunger, although it has made her more sensitive. It's her entire life coming down on her at this moment. She can't stand people: her aunt, her boss, the security guard, the kid at the hospital. She hates this world. She has always pretended to be happy in front of others. The real her disappeared at 12yo when she was mortified at school. Murong tries to hug her but she refuses to be touched. She wants to be alone. She doesn't like answering her phone; she doesn't want to receive no wedding invitations; she doesn't want a conversation with her neighbour in the elevator; she doesn't want to meet her relatives over the holidays; she doesn't want to be asked about her work. Chen Mei Ru paces back and forth, tears falling. She doesn't want to talk to anyone because she wants to stop pretending. She doesn't want to tell people she's sad. And now, just why is she here starving herself? Just what did she do wrong? Omg. She has been traumatized since 12yo. Her heart has been wounded all these years. I never noticed her depression(?), social anxiety disorder(?) but it was there in Ep1. When Jiang Hui Zhen wished her 'Happy Birthday', she added that Chen Mei Ru needed to be "happy", "happy like a normal person would". T_T
Murong looks pained. He walks away. But he shows up with eggs! Eggs are making me cry! T_T What is this. Chen Mei Ru brightens up but how did he get them? Did he steal? No. He told them (the organizers) that his Mei Ru is famished and so they gave him eggs. But then she learns he let the organizers (girls) touch his face in exchange for the eggs. Chen Mei Ru lectures him to never do that again. His face for eggs? How dare they take advantage.
[Ep6] Chen Mei Ru and Murong go to a sauna to boil the eggs. However, she slips. Chen Mei Ru slapping the water reminds him of his elusive past. Worriedly, he holds her in his arms as if he'd lose her if he doesn't. A romantic mood!! *Zap* We're back on Mount Wu. Lol. Hahah. I love this. Well, at least they can escape from the fasting temple. Back home, they both finish showering (individually). He walks out half-naked. She tells him to scram back inside for some clothes. Murong doesn't get it. He wants to be honest with her and where he is, showing honesty is being naked, otherwise how will she show that he doesn't have any weapons. Here's Chen Mei Ru's reply: "Your hunky body is a weapon too" LMAO. He's killing her heart.
Jiang Hui Zhen’s clothes are all torn and Ouyang has already left. She can't leave the mall without proper coverage and so Chen Mei Ru is on her way with clothes. In the taxi, she recalls the sweet conversation at the temple with Murong. If she hates the world, he'll love it for her; if she hates talking to others, he'll talk for her; if she hates smiling, then he'll smile for her. She cries and smiles, calling him silly. Then he apologizes. He's going to touch her without permission. It's a hug ~ Aw, touch all you want! Chen Mei Ru looks up, tears falling from the corner of her eyes. She confides in him, "I don't know how to be happy. I also don't know how to make others happy." To Murong, she is fine the way she is. In fact, she is the world's most beautiful Chen Mei Ru. Aw! She calls him "Silly" again. As she's recalling this conversation, Chen Mei Ru has a smile the whole time.
[Ep7] The loving relationship between Murong and Ouyang strikes again, and this time hurting Jiang Hui Zhen. Ouyang is on a business trip for Jiang Hui Zhen to get her these ancient manuscripts that will give her new material for her theatre troupe. She told him not to call her, but learns he's been calling Murong every day.
At night, Chen Mei Ru gets up to go to the washroom. Murong, who's sleeping on the couch, turns on the light for her. She tells him not to be so caring. It burdens her. I translate this as: if he's too nice, she'll be greedy. She's trying to keep in check. Never too high, never too low. She might just be resisting to love him and she's feeling it. She tells him their current relationship is enough.
From the Ancient Man, Ouyang gets the copyright and a present: a candle. Jiang Hui Zhen doesn't like the flowery scent on him even if the present is from another man. She throws it in the fire pit. However, once it burns, it calls forth crows that attack Murong in sleuths. The Ancient Man who gave the candle is out to kill Murong. I am a believer that Ouyang isn't involved.
While Murong is busy fighting crows, Chen Mei Ru and Long Nu are arrested for sleeping together and rustling in the mountains. I swear I'm telling the truth. Anyway. They have a girl-to-girl talk in prison. Chen Mei Ru envies her beauty. She wrote Long Nu as her love rival because in her story world, she can go against the rules (I don't think Long Nu has the capacity to understand that she's a character in a diary). Chen Mei Ru can have a Prince Charming too even if she's not a princess or a beauty. From young, Chen Mei Ru had known she was average. Deep in her heart, she wanted to be like Long Nu.
Hearing the full story, Long Nu says she wants to be like Chen Mei Ru, though, and have Murong's love. Chen Mei Ru doesn't believe Murong loves her. He's just fulfilling his duties to protect her. But then again, Chen Mei Ru doesn't even know how to love. Long Nu asks what it feels like to be loved. Chen Mei Ru can only bring up an example: Duan Shui Liu loves Long Nu. Despite this heart-to-heart talk, Long Nu is back to herself: she wants to kill Chen Mei Ru. Our Chen Mei Ru really did write very 2D characters xD.
And then Murong and Chen Mei Ru have a 'sexy' dance party. Auntie is downstairs listening to the ruckus. She smiles at her niece. Aw. I wonder whose shoes she's cleaning. Uncle's?
Long Nu prohibits Duan Shui Liu from loving her. She thinks it's a betrayal (of hers) that he loves her when she loves Murong. Long Nu has made another logical breakthrough. She thinks working like Mei Ru will attract her Prince. And so Duan Shui Liu introduces her to a job that will earn money – playing mahjong, I mean working mahjong... Long Nu is a natural. She's earning big bucks!
[Ep9] Duan Shui Liu manages vloggers in his company. These vloggers barge into his home to complain that their accounts are suspended. They're annoyed and jealous that their boss has been neglecting them and spill all the tea on him to Long Nu. Now Long Nu believes Duan Shui Liu has only been treating her like a Barbie doll to use her. Teary, she asks him if he lied to her that he loved her. Dude, your chance to your dream girl is here! But of course we're focused on the "lying" part. He doesn't deny the lying; he can't (he lied about not loving her and he withheld the fact that she's a character from a book). His pitch: everyone lies to protect others' feelings. But not everyone. Long Nu has never lied.
Duan Shui Liu: Yes. You never did. That's why your life is easy.
Duan Shui Liu leaves Long Nu to sort out the problem with the vloggers. They do take priority, their work and life depends on their accounts. He bulldozes into Chen Mei Ru's office (IT security and it's her team's job to crack down on usage/access to illegal videos). Duan Shui Liu and the ladies argue they never violated any cyber-law. Chen Mei Ru is cool headed and is going by evidence that they should restart their accounts, starting from zero. Duan Shui Liu is seething. He's like Restart? Did you restart? It's been twelve years and you're still stuck at the same place. Aw, he knew too.
Chen Mei Ru scoffs: Start all over again? Will it take another twelve years? Oof.
It's been twelve years and she's back to where she is. Correction: she never truly grew up from that trauma. Chen Mei Ru believes she's punished for imagining. She's punished for being in love. A heart filled with love will only turn to ugliness. Whenever she takes a step forward, she's destined to be miserable.
Duan Shui Liu has heard enough of her self-pity. Has she considered Murong's feelings? Long Nu's feelings? Are they not pitiful? No one is telling them the truth that they're just characters to her story. He yearns to tell Long Nu but he's afraid she'd turn crazy. The more naive she is, the more guilty he is. He knows that he's selfish. To keep her at his side, he will continue to lie. This is his spiel that Chen Mei Ru isn't as pitiful as he is. T_T.
Chen Mei Ru visits Jiang Hui Zhen at work. She's back at it with the I-don't-deserve-happiness speech. The night she dreamed of sex with Murong is the day she's fired. It's the world telling her she doesn't deserve love. Jiang Hui Zhen changes the topic and asks if she ever considered her feelings. Tomorrow is Jiang Hui Zhen's first solo performance. Shouldn't Chen Mei Ru congratulate her? Chen Mei Ru quickly apologizes and clarifies that she is ‘happy’ for Jiang Hui Zhen.
Jiang Hui Zhen: Chen Mei Ru, my solo performance is more important than that rotten job you lost. Do you know why?Chen Mei Ru shouts the answer as if that will make it true: Because your solo performance is more important than that rotten job I lost!Jiang Hui Zhen: Are you a copier?Chen Mei Ru rests her head on hers: Because you're important.Jiang Hui Zhen: Duh! And you are important too. T_T. These twelve years, I've been trying to prove that the diary will bring (you) fortune [...] Because of the diary, I met you. You are the most important person in my life. I also met Ouyang; he's the man I chose for myself. Most importantly, in the diary, I was going to be famous so I must live up to it and prove that the diary isn't a nightmare/curse.
Chen Mei Ru rests her head on her shoulders, wanting to believe her. She apologizes for being selfish, thinking only about herself, and neglecting her best friend. Chen Mei Ru smiles – a real, heartfelt smile! Then she finds a present that Jiang Hui Zhen had prepared for her. Aw. This girl prepared a present when she should receive the congratulations!! What a precious friend D: Inside there's a card:
"Chen Mei Ru, when my dream comes true, you have to be with me to thank the diary for allowing me to be a better person. You will also be better and better. From Hot Celebrity Jiang Hui Zhen."
This friendship <3 Jiang Hui Zhen is giving all the credit to the diary because she knows that's Chen Mei Ru's trigger point. If Chen Mei Ru can learn to love her diary then perhaps she can learn to love herself and to love others.
Long Nu runs away from home. Auntie finds her sitting alone by the river. When she hears Chen Mei Ru's name from Auntie, her anger simmers. She raises her hand to summon the wind, but Auntie Chen casually drops a basket into her hand, interrupting her air flow. LMAO. Why is this Auntie so funny? I can't hate her. Long Nu is confused, her hand still outstretched, holding the basket. Auntie casually takes her hand and walks her back home. Auntie complains that she doesn't get the trend with girls taking selfies by the river looking sad and depressed LOL.
Auntie makes food but Long Nu doesn't have an appetite. She's "heartbroken" because of Duan Shui Liu. Auntie misunderstands and thinks Long Nu is in love with Chen Mei Ru. LMAO. Well, they were sorta arrested for sleeping together xD. She tries to dissuade Long Nu from loving her niece so she digs out childhood pictures of Chen Mei Ru, describing her like this: "She's like us, two eyes and a nose. But she can't grow taller." Lol. In the pictures, Long Nu finds the one who makes her smile: Duan Shui Liu. At the mention of him, Auntie is like Oh yeah, him, he used to chase after our Chen Mei Ru all the time! And now Long Nu believes Duan Shui Liu loves Chen Mei Ru. Everyone is using her, and leaving her for Chen Mei Ru.
[Ep10] The episode starts with Chen Mei Ru's dream. She tells her boss she hates surprises. Rules exist to control the unpredictable and to keep order. This is why she loves her job – she can surgically excise content that incites desire. Like her job, she believes life as adults should be self-regulated. However, there is something that cannot be controlled. This is love.
"If one doesn't know how to love then they will only grow old and will never grow up."
The current Chen Mei Ru wants to learn to love and she will embrace surprises and the unpredictable to love. She wants to put down her surgical knife. Chen Mei Ru is quitting her job.
Suddenly her dream world collapses and floods.
Mei Ru wakes up.
Chen Mei Ru is quitting her job. She walks into the lobby, her gaze lingering on the girl eating a sandwich (I don't why we're focusing on this sandwich girl). Then she passes by a janitor and the yellow cautionary sign reminds her of her dream/nightmare.
Long Nu is at Chen Mei Ru's office. She abandoned her shoes that Duan Shui Liu gave her. Murong is on his way but vicious crows are swarming him.
Duan Shui Liu wants to tell Long Nu the truth about the diary. Jiang Hui Zhen is against this. She doesn't think this truth will be good for any of them. She threatens him not to ruin Chen Mei Ru's happiness. But Duan Shui Liu is determined to make everything right.
Duan Shui Liu finds Chen Mei Ru and Long Nu. He tries to stop Long Nu from killing Chen Mei Ru, which is only making things worse. He wants to show her the diary but Long Nu will no longer believe a word from him. With her hands, she calls forth the wind. Duan Shui Liu and Chen Mei Ru are blown away. The diary sinks in the fountain. Our Babylonian character's names are disappearing from the diary! One by one they collapse! Long Nu faints before reaching Duan Shui Liu. Murong falls before saving Chen Mei Ru. Ouyang drops right before the curtains open for Jiang Hui Zhen's solo act. Jiang Hui Zhen runs off her stage without performing. Chen Mei Ru, who collapsed from Long Nu's wind, reaches out to Murong who's too far from her. Duan Shui Liu has already fainted in the water. (The evil foreign guy who wants to kill Murong is drowning too)
Everyone is sent to the hospital. All are in critical condition. They look like they're unconscious,but in their unconsciousness, they're drowning.
In Chen Mei Ru's unconsciousness, blood drips on her diary. Then she enters an ancient world, the setting of her diary and meets the story version of herself.
The real Chen Mei Ru is awake. The hospital is out of power. She finds Jiang Hui Zhen who explains that our Babylonian characters' condition is like drowning, intoxicated by water. Then they find Duan Shui Liu for the diary but he lost it. Duan Shui Liu and Jiang Hui Zhen finally locate the diary at Chen Mei Ru's office. It was in the fountain, but it's dry! This diary is certainly magical. However, the drop of blood on the page expands! Back at the hospital, Murong, Ouyang, and Long Nu simultaneously vomit blood.
With the diary, Duan Shui Liu and Jiang Hui Zhen are on their way back to the hospital. There's a red light but Duan Shui Liu doesn't look like he wanted to stop. Jiang Hui Zhen had to scream for him to slam down on the breaks. He's frustrated too and exposes her that she's just as worried as he is. She always pretends to be strong, but she's just as weak if not more. Duan Shui Liu looks like he's careless but he's the most perceptive of them all. I never knew how insecure Jiang Hui Zhen was until now.
Chen Mei Ru receives the diary and informs her friends their loved ones are hemorrhaging. If the book is drowning, they're drowning. If the book is bleeding, they're bleeding. Alone, Chen Mei Ru opens her diary to the page with the blood. She recalls the younger Jiang Hui Zhen reading her story out loud, "The grand love story needs to be annotated by death. I close my eyes to quietly wait for this moment." Jiang Hui Zhen complimented Chen Mei Ru for writing such a marvelous and brave love story. Our little girls were a little drunk because they ate wine chocolates. Tipsy, Chen Mei Ru wishesd out loud that she can be 24yo right now and meet her prince. Then a soccer ball hit her head (is it the Boy who kicked the ball?) and drops of blood from her nose landed on the page. This was the origin of the blood.
The current Chen Mei Ru cries. She brought them to this world but she couldn't protect them. The little girl who was once brave with her love is no longer here. Chen Mei Ru knows everything is her fault. She shouldn't have rejected them. She should accept all the responsibility for creating them. She makes a wish: "Please wake up and I am willing to suffer all the consequences." Chen Mei Ru, your wishes are scary in that they come true. D: Clouds that look like crows engulf the sky. The full moon glistens white.
I already think the drama is really good, but these episodes are getting even better!
I also notice Duan Shui Liu and Jiang Hui Zhen are sorta in showbiz, except Chen Mei Ru. She would have been too if she wasn't traumatized. These three are friends because they share the same passion.
[Ep12] The episode opens with Murong drowning. He saves Babylonian Chen Mei Ru. However, it seems Murong pushes her away after realizing she's not his Chen Mei Ru (or was he pulled away? I can't tell). This little girl is bleeding from the chest. And then the real Murong wakes up!
Let's rewind a bit. Chen Mei Ru prays to the sky, begging whoever that if she was given another chance, she will be like when she was 12, willing to believe in love and in miracles. She'll treat them like they're blessings. She will take any punishment. Then the glowing moon flashes red to her prayers. Chen Mei Ru opens the book again. The blood mark is diminishing. Our Babylonian characters are recovering! I like how the diary actually looks like it's written by a kid.
Chen Mei Ru and Murong
Chen Mei Ru waits for her Sleeping Handsome to awaken.
Little Chen Mei Ru's voiceover: "Will someone think this is impossible? If so, then it is only because of the lack of faith in love. Love will make us simple and ordinary. Love will make us splendid and brilliant. My prince was born for me. He vowed to always protect me.
Murong: But you are my woman.Chen Mei Ru: And you are my man. Ahhh~
It's the first time Murong heard anything this lovely from her. Chen Mei Ru awkwardly explains that protecting isn't just the duty of a man's. A woman can do it for her man too. However, it doesn't seem like Murong likes hearing that. He seems conflicted.
Alone in the park, Chen Mei Ru reads her own diary to remember her story. Cute and significant. Chen Mei Ru can sit down peacefully to read her own story again. She exclaims at her own writing when she reads that the ML will have to suffer through obstacles to love her. LOL. We exclaim all the time for our MLs too!
Jiang Hui Zhen and Ouyang
Jiang Hui Zhen becomes self-conscious. She's far from being the famous actress she aspires to be. She doesn't think she's a match for Ouyang (?) and so she leaves before he wakes up. Did he know she visited? His eyes open right as she leaves. I think she also left to change her clothes. She doesn't want him to see her in her performance clothes. She doesn't want him to see how much she loves him. Is love a weakness to her?
The next day, Jiang Hui Zhen properly visits Ouyang. She overhears the nurses complaining about their incontinent patient. Jiang Hui Zhen reprimands them for their lack of professionalism. When Ouyang is back, he's shy about sitting back on the bed. Jiang Hui Zhen has a small smile. She's curious and reaches under the blanket to check his incontinence or what?. He laughs at her. He's fine. It's not him the nurses were talking about. I kinda like that he's very casual about seeing her. I'm pretty sure he knew that she left the hospital last time and he didn't bring it up out of consideration for her.
Duan Shui Liu and Long Nu
Duan Shui Liu is re-bandaged for his head contusion by the same nurse who's annoyed with him. When she leaves, she slides the curtain and Long Nu is there. She's calmer now and asks him if there was something he wanted to say to her. He tells her the truth! She is special because she is a character from a book. Compared to everyone else, she is different and unique.
Duan Shui Liu vows to Long Nu he will never lie to her again. He explains that he only chased after Chen Mei Ru as a kid because he liked the Long Nu in her story. From the beginning, he was only interested in her.
Duan Shui Liu tries to explain to Long Nu her origins by showing her how eggs can become chicks. He's not saying Long Nu is either of those. He's telling her how miraculous life is. Then he brings up another example: there is also this girl in Westeros who is the Protector of the Seven Kingdoms and the Mother of Dragons and apparently now The Incubator of Eggs. LOL. Basically, he explains to Daenerys Jiu Tian Long Nu, our Dragon Lady, (the First of Her Name and Protector of the Nine Skies) that the origins of mankind are unknown to this date. If you get the flow of this conversation from my writing, congrats, 'cause I barely do.
We're back to the egg as an example. He asks Long Nu if there is a black dot on this egg. There isn't. He's like, "Oh, I guess this egg isn't fertilized. No chicks can be hatched from this one then. It can only be eaten."
Duan Shui Liu: I was living fine but I didn't know the meaning of my existence until I met you [...] Where life originates from doesn't matter. What matters is how we live from this point forward.
Long Nu is finally convinced. She will raise the tamagotchi and bestow the (dragon) egg with a name: Duan Shui Ji. LOL. She named it after Duan Shui Liu (段水流) which "Shui Liu" is pretty lame of a name already because it means "river" or "water running". By changing it to Duan Shui Ji (段水鸡), it's even funnier because Ji itself is chicken. Shui Ji means frog. xD.
The friends: Chen Mei Ru, Jiang Hiu Zhen, and Duan Shui Liu
Jiang Hui Zhen and Duan Shiu Liu have a private chat. Jiang Hui Zhen wants to know how he'll explain to Chen Mei Ru about keeping the diary. Duan Shui Liu identifies her real fears: How will they explain they secretly dated. !!!. This conversation isn't very private. Chen Mei Ru hears it. Jiang Hui Zhen explains it started because they shared a secret (burning the diary).
Enough about the dating (but I want to know about the dating! How serious was this relationship?)! Who shall keep the diary? Everyone wants it to protect their loved ones. Alas, Jiang Hiu Zhen makes the convincing argument. Murong can't know of the diary's existence because he has to regain his composure and be the confident prince he was. Long Nu is too reckless and too dumb so the diary can't be in Duan Shui Liu's hands either. Therefore, the diary has to be with Jiang Hui Zhen, who claims she doesn't love Ouyang (or so she says) and is therefore the calmest.
The origin of the diary
In a faraway cave, the Ancient Bearded Man (his name in pinyin is Xin Mubalite which should be Sin Muballit) is awake too. Oh my. They actually found an actor to look like Sin Muballit o_o. Google says he is "the father of Hammurabi and the fifth Amorite king of the first dynasty of Babylonia". A godly voice awakened him, telling him his time is limited. He was brought here in a time-space distortion.
A flashback tells us how this happened.
The Babylonian Chen Mei Ru had made private engravings as a historian which is a capital offence. She was arrested on the night of the red moon. It's the same night Sin Muballit ordered for his bastard son (Murong) to be killed. Chen Mei Ru sacrificed herself to protect Murong. So Babylonian Chen Mei Ru bravely died for love. Before she dies, she tells Murong to remember that he is special, different from all others. She falls to the ground. She believes there will be a girl in this world who will love him for her and who can show him compassion. Her blood seeps into the tablets with her engravings, and her words come to life.
The godly voice continues to narrate our story that another young girl, also under the red moon, brought life to this story. Her blood also seeped into the diary. This allowed the time-space distortion to bring the Babylonian characters to this modern world. Our characters are real then. Sin Muballit's mission is to find this girl (Chen Mei Ru) and sacrifice her to the gods on the night of the red moon to restore everything to order.
5/5 for this episode. From a wacky premise to this mind-blowing one. A fantastical drama about self-discovery to a time-space adventure with kings and princes and princesses. Everything intertwines. And in this episode, it's the three friends who own the spotlight.
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| Chen Mei Ru is doing her part in expressing love to Murong (I think). She has garlic, a sword, and a basin of water. It's love. Right? xD |
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| Girl, choose a sword your size. Her arms are too short to unsheath it xD |
Long Nu and Duan Shui Liu move back to their home. She's overly conscious of Murong's presence across the building. Duan Shui Liu is depressed, thinking she still loves Murong. He doesn't know she's protecting her life, not her love. Still, he loves her.
Jiang Hui Zhen is penalized at her theatre troupe for skipping out on the performance. She's willing to step off stage for three months and do all the menial tasks as long as they let her stay. Ouyang wants to solve it with money, but Jiang Hui Zhen doesn't want to be supported like that. He's insulting her with his money. Who is he to buy her dream? This is a deserving punishment for her to take, for her passion for acting. Moreover, she makes it sound like she regrets betraying her dream for a man who only has "money and the least bit of warmth". Ouch. This is technically Ouyang's character. Jiang Hui Zhen, you didn't mean to say that ): . Our girl is desperately keeping the secret of the diary deep in her heart. Poor Ouyang is hurt. He will disappear in front of her but tells her she isn't the least bit "cool".
Ouyang: Continue to be a hypocrite and a coward. You neither believe in miracles or in sincerity. I neglected Jiang Hui Zhen. The diary from 12 years ago, she was equally hurt. She loved the diary as much as Chen Mei Ru. Jiang Hui Zhen was traumatized too. All this time, she was healing herself along with Chen Mei Ru but no one knew.
Sin Muballit is in town.
Murong leaves Chen Mei Ru not because he understood Long Nu's words (that they are "fictional" characters) but because he wants to protect Chen Mei Ru. He believes he's the one bringing danger to Chen Mei Ru. Alone in the woods, he takes off his shirt, smears dirt over his abs (where his liver is), he takes his sword – cliffhanger. Murong, please don't sincerely apologize. Keep your organs.
Chen Mei Ru, who can't find Murong, barges into Jiang Hui Zhen's home to look for the diary. She sees that Jiang Hui Zhen is upset but our Chen Mei Ru is just as depressed. It's Jiang Hui Zhen who gathers herself first to cheer up Chen Mei Ru. Omg. Jiang Hui Zhen is a giver, putting others before herself. She hides her own insecurities more than anyone else.
At night, Chen Mei Ru dreams of this man (Sin Muballit) at her door. A phone call wakes her up, It's from Auntie, telling her to save her boyfriend from Uncle. Aha, so Auntie always knew Uncle lived in the mountains. She was cleaning his shoes! Or maybe her shoes to hike up the mountain.
While Chen Mei Ru is on her way, Auntie is punishing Uncle for "punishing" their future-nephew-in-law. He's carrying a bucket of water over his head in a squat (but he's cheating and leaning against a wall and I doubt there's water in that light bucket). It's like he's her misbehaving student xD. Uncle worriedly tells her to stop yelling and hurting her throat or he'll have to search the mountain for herbs again. Aw! This is why he's in the mountains? Then Auntie complains that he's roaming about with his bad legs. Ah, what a loving couple! Auntie asks about the blisters on his hands. Instead of answering, he shoves his hand in her face for her to check but it's too close for her ageing presbyopic eyes. For him, he says he can't see if it's too far and then he sits even closer to her, nudging their shoulders. Oh, Uncle, you're flirting now? xD.
Auntie: You need to see your own hand? You can just touch it.Uncle takes her hand: I'm used to touching your hand more than my hand.
Murong is inspired by Auntie and Uncle's love. He won't leave Chen Mei Ru again. He misses her every passing second.
Murong: When she smiles, she's very cute like a...small animal! But she's easily scared and it looks like...a small animal!
Auntie laughs at his ability to articulate his feelings. Unlike him, Mei Ru was the best at writing. Ya Auntie! I wonder what happened!
Murong: She is very light, hugging her is like hugging a feather. When she talks sincerely, her eyes glimmer. When she hides her emotions, her eyebrows will draw together. She doesn't eat a lot but she's often hungry. She's different when she's at work and off work. I really like it when she's drunk (really? lol) and her cheeks are rosy. And then when she's on the bed –Auntie and Uncle: STOP!! LOL. They were so focused on listening too xD.
Uncle reminds Murong that he is no ordinary man and therefore he and Mei Ru will have to face extraordinary obstacles. What does Uncle know? Auntie takes Murong down the mountain. She asks Uncle to come down too and attend a wedding but Uncle says he'll go back after Auntie's birthday. Auntie smiles like a little girl in love. Murong leaves behind his sword for Uncle to keep. With one move, Uncle pierces the sword deep into a rock. This sword. It's the one Chen Mei Ru brought to the hospital, isn't it?
Long Nu is this close to realizing she's in love with Duan Shui Liu. The vloggers tell her that if she can't stare Duan Shui Liu in the eye for more than five seconds, then she's in love. She tries it and he guilelessly stares back. He doesn't know what this is for but then a movement from across the building catches his eye. A foreign man (Sin Muballit) is in Mei Ru's building. He dashes to her house and catches the man leaving the building.
Episode thought: Uncle and Auntie stole the limelight ~
[Ep15] Chen Mei Ru was practicing her speech to lecture Murong but when she sees him (looking hawt), her eyes melt and her lips turn upward. Her lecture was sweet too. She just doesn't want him to disappear like that. It's not the reunion we're all looking for though, because she's pulled to do wedding prep which includes peeling garlic – A LOT of garlic. Mei Ru runs away to hide in her room. Murong, who was sitting silently behind her, follows her. He sits on the edge of the bed where she lays down. Mei Ru doesn't talk to him. She just pushes him with her feet (but it's so soft, she doesn't want him to leave at all). He catches onto her small ankle and apologizes. Mei Ru gets up, tears in her eyes, and complains about her hand being numbed from peeling the garlic.
Chen Mei Ru: It's all your fault. Not the garlic. The numbness in her heart and the pain that's leaking through her eyes. He's responsible for that.
Murong apologizes. He promises to never leave her again. Distracting herself, Chen Mei Ru shifts in bed to smooth out the wrinkles. She did something like this in Ep1 too. When Jiang Hui Zhen wanted her to be "happy" on her birthday, she was scrubbing the sink. It's her way of trying to resist her feelings when she knows her desires are surfacing. She tells him he can't leave again. He's close to crying, still worried that he's the one bringing danger to her. Chen Mei Ru is different now. She's ready to face her consequences for her creations but the only thing she isn't ready for is his disappearance. Chen Mei Ru has never been so honest.
Murong hugs her: Without you, time passes by slowly, very slowly. I think of you over and over again and a day hasn't even passed by yet. If there isn't you, I would be afraid of time. This line! From the same guy in the last episode!Chen Mei Ru: You speak like you're an expert in romance but you act like you're an idiot.
She makes him vow to never leave her. His vow: "From now on, I won't randomly (隨便) leave Chen Mei Ru. Scriptwriters had to add "隨便" eh.
Night falls. They lay in bed, romantically in this awkward angle. Their lips touch and it's a kiss. The height of romance! And poof! We're on Mount Wu, the height of sexiness. LOL. Chen Mei Ru doesn't think this is funny. Murong likes it, though. They can run away from Auntie. For the night. Because in the morning they're back to attend the wedding. Murong is enthralled. Chen Mei Ru isn't.
Chen Mei Ru: Weddings are clearly 柴米油鹽 (firewood, rice, oil, and salt), 雞毛蒜皮 (chicken feathers and garlic skins) but it's embellished into a ceremony like a prince and princess are entering their castle. Hypocrites.
Recapping has made me appreciate the Chinese language. These are idioms (that I don't actually use, lol, but I know of and I never truly made sense of it). 柴米油鹽 means nothing out of the ordinary, just the boring essentials in life that no one is grateful for, y'know things like firewood, rice, oil, and salt. 雞毛蒜皮 means the trivial stuff, nothing important – not the chicken but its feathers, not the garlic but its skin.
And then the hypocritical Chen Mei Ru is pulled onto stage to deliver her blessings as she reads these statements: "Love – many have it but many more are chasing after it. A wedding ceremony – a promise between one husband and one wife to never leave each other – is the final destination for lovers."And after that it's the grave. Sor-ry. Chen Mei Ru shyly peeks at Murong. Hypocrite, lol. She wants a wedding, a marriage, a promise between lovers.
Murong is fascinated with weddings (especially the vows of being together in life and death and offering all of himself kinda thing – it's very Murong). He wants one with Mei Ru too, haha. What is this? A proposal? I also love how he's entertained with clinking his shot.
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| It’s the same actor! xD |
Duan Shui Liu is worried about this Sin guy. When a vlogger tries to explain all the 'sin' she found (sin and cos, Singapore, etc.), Long Nu gets a notification from her tamagotchi (LOL. Show, you are amazing). Eventually, Long Nu believes this Sin is a love rival. And for a brief moment it's related to Ouyang. Ouyang sure is popular, boy or girl. Taking Duan Shui Liu's motorbike, she's on the search for Sin. She finds him and he offers her wine, telling her they're of one kind.
Episode thought: I think it's pretty much confirmed that Chen Mei Ru's inspiration for her Prince Charming stemmed from the crush she had on The Boy. But now I am no longer interested in The Boy xD. The fantasies have all disappeared, ha. Chen Jin Xin's appearance is actually pretty accurate. Childhood friends turn out like that and not like Murong xD.
I also love how the drama revisits little details (e.g. straightening the wrinkles on the bed). There's also a broader theme connecting these two episodes with the opening segment in Ep13. Chen Mei Ru brought in a sword, a lot of garlic and a basin to wash hands (or feet), hoping to restore the relationship between her and Murong. In very indirect ways, the drama used these three things to bring them back together: the sword that Murong was going to apologize with brought him to uncle; the loads of garlic that pained Mei Ru's hands (which is incomparable to the pain in her heart); the little feet grasp (which will always remind me of Murong washing her feet to show that he will always surrender to her).
[Ep16] The meeting with Chen Jin Xin is more catastrophic than it is humorous. He brings up the diary and asks if Chen Meir Ru's her inspiration. And now Murong learns the truth that he is a character in her diary. The most upsetting part is that he is her replacement for the boy she liked. Chen Mei Ru tries to explain she was only 12. The boy was only a starting point for her to imagine. These twelve years, she has long forgotten the boy, but never has she forgotten about Murong Jie Lun. Oh, this is true. The boy's face never showed up in her memories!
Chen Mei Ru: The diary isn't fake. You're not fake. My feelings for you aren't fake.Murong: Murong Jie Lun is fake! [...] In this body, there's nothing. How can this be considered to be living? To be real?Chen Mei Ru: Murong J-Murong: Don't call me by this name!
He leaves her. Chen Mei Ru is left all alone. What happened to his vows? The scriptwriters added did not randomly add in "randomly"!
Chen Mei Ru shouts to the empty night: Murong Jie Lun, If you want to leave then leave! The one who should be depressed is me. I, Chen Mei Ru, am just an average girl. I dreamed of a prince I'm unworthy of. Now that you know the truth, all my beautiful memories have turned to bubbles. You're right. I am selfish. I am very selfish. In my heart – voice breaks as she shouts –I've apologized to you a thousand and million times over but I couldn't let you know the truth because I'm afraid! I'm afraid of losing you! You have blood and flesh; you have tears and laughter. Does where you come from matter? The time we spent together is the most beautiful moment in my entire life. I don't regret writing about you; I don't regret having you. You can give up. It's okay. It's not okay ): But I won't give up. Never.. Chen Mei Ru, you've changed!
Chen Mei Ru wanders alone on the dark streets. Guys try to pick her up and then her Prince Charming is here to save her and send those dudes crashing. He picks her up without a word. Still mad? When he settles her down he's like The character description you have me is too overpowering. I couldn't not protect you. Aw. Not mad.
Murong: I can't tell what is artificially designed anymore – he tears up – but is the pain in my heart (organ) designed (by you)? – Mei Ru shakes her head – Right now, I want to leave you and I want to hug you. Is that designed too?
Voiceovers:
Chen Mei Ru: From now on, my life is your life. My story is your story. All my experiences, I want to share with you. Murong Jie Lun and Chen Mei Ru, connected by flesh and blood.Murong: One husband, one wife; to grow old together and never leave each other. Ah, the line from the ending song. Is this considered like a marriage?
Other couples:
Duan Shui Liu saves Long Nu from Sin but it doesn't look like she needs much saving. She won't be controlled by anyone. She puts a hand behind his neck and pulls him close for a hug to assure him she's in control of herself and will only do what she loves. Duan Shui Liu is dazed from the hug. His heart, under his Long-Nu-tattooed chest, must be rumbling.Then she drives him home (with his motorbike) while he's sitting in the passenger seat. Cute.
Duan Shui Liu meets with Ouyang to ask him about Sin, but he almost leaks the secret about him and Jiang Hui Zhen "dating". And now be brings up the diary which Ouyang doesn't know about! This is why he's called Shui Liu, eh. Water (shui) keeps running, secrets keep spilling. Anyway, Duan Shui Liu is slightly suspicious of Ouyang for his connections with Sin. Meanwhile Ouyang is seriously peeved at the amount of times he has mentioned Jiang Hui Zhen. These two men are like water and oil ($$ = Ouyang). Because of Murong and Jiang Hui Zhen, these two just don't mix. Haha.
[Ep17] Chen Mei Ru takes Murong on a tour around her town. They’re back at the school where she was bullied. For him, she can face her fears and revisit her childhood. For him, she will learn to love this world. And for him, she will no longer be afraid. While Murong is thankful for the existence of The Boy for inspiring the creation of Murong Jie Lun. Aw, these two are embracing themselves for who they are. Chen Mei Ru hugs him, noting his warmth.
Murong: It is because the 12yo you was so warm that you taught me, who didn't know what love was, how to love so that I could take care of the 24yo you. The ear touch!
Ouyang's real name from Babylonian time is Ji En (= Keene?). With the clay tablet, Sin makes him remember Murong as the killer of his brothers, his family, and his people. Sin wants Ouyang to retrieve the diary, the door to their world. Ouyang knows the diary is with Jiang Hui Zhen. He visits her...
Long Nu is having fun with her smart watch, especially the tracking function. She loves playing hide and seek with Duan Shui Liu until he's not finding her. Currently, he is confronting Sin and Ouyang about the diary. When Long Nu finds Duan Shui Liu, he's attacked by crows. While protecting him, she accidentally touches the clay tablet and her memories return. Angry tears flow down as she remembers being incarcerated. I am quite surprised with her acting here.
[Ep18] Jiu Tian Long Nu's real identity is the Princess of Hittites. Through the tablet, she remembers her past. Everyone is her enemy, including Murong. She won't obey them nor work with them. She will make sure no one will get what they want.
Murong is the last Babylonian to learn from Ouyang his real identity (he just needs the tablet to awaken those sealed memories). Ouyang even attempts to kill Murong.
Seven years later. 1792 B.C. The Princess of Hittites arrived in peace but she was imprisoned by the Babylonians. Around this time, Babylonian Chen Mei Ru met Murong. He accidentally left his hand print on her clay tablet that has yet to dry. (This is the tablet that's recovering all our Babylonian character's memories.)
The Babylonian King (Sin Muballit) believes in prophecies (this mysterious voice) and sacrificed young girls in these brutal killings for his kingdom. The voice also tells him he will not be the king forever. His bastard son, the warlord, will overtake him. Thus, Sin ordered Ouyang (Keene) to kill Murong. Ouyang obeyed because he had always wanted to seek revenge; he lived everyday wanting to die. Thus, in this one night, Murong was betrayed by his comrade he trusted and his father. During the duel, Murong could have killed Ouyang but he spared Ouyang's life once again. Ouyang falls unconscious.
Long Nu (Princess of Hittites, currently imprisoned) watches the betrayal with a dark smile. Murong, who's weary from the battle, says she's no better than him. Her people sent her here to marry him when they knew he would never take her. This was meant to be a death trip orchestrated by her people. Long Nu isn't fazed. She had long embraced the fact that she was hated while Murong was naive enough to believe he could be loved. He won all those battles, placed his life on the line, but what did he win? Not love or trust. Who is more pitiful?
Frail and injured, Murong returns to his father, wanting to hear the truth from him. His father is determined to kill him but Babylonian Chen Mei Ru saves him. The king is offended that a lowly girl like her is in his way. Chen Mei Ru admits to being lowly but she carved a tablet with the blessings of the gods. Before her death, she tells Murong, the Moon God is her witness to the prince she created in her engravings – this prince is matchless and special.
Then crows swarm the skies.
Murong makes his way to the dying Chen Mei Ru. Ouyang wakes up but he turns to dust, fading away. Soon, the other follows: Long Nu, Sin, and Murong all fade away into dust. Babylonian Chen Mei Ru has died. In her voiceover she tells us that in this world there will be a girl who will love Murong for her. At the end, this voiceover overlaps with Little (12yo) Chen Mei Ru's voice. Loving the voice transition.
Back to the present. Murong's memories are unsealed. Pain is written all over his expression. Aww!! Come here for a hug!
This entire episode is in a different language. I had to read subtitles the whole time. So painful, lol. Does anyone know if they're at all accurate with the language that they're speaking...?
[Ep20] Uncle Chen is here! He points to all three friends that they are responsible for the diary: Chen Mei Ru wrote it, Jiang Hui Chen touched it up, and Duan Shui Liu kept it until recently. If the Babylonian characters can return to their world during the Blood Moon, then time will be restored to the right order. For this to happen, there needs to be the sacrifice of blood – the death of Chen Mei Ru. If Chen Mei Ru doesn't die then all the Babylonian characters will disappear in both worlds. Uncle tells her she is not to volunteer to be the sacrifice. Although she wrote them, she was caught up in the works of fate too. Uncle tells them to think of this as a dream. It's time to wake up.
The Blood Moon is scheduled to appear this Sunday.
Both Chen Mei Ru and Murong know the truth but when they see each other at home, neither of them reveal it. They pretend to be happy and that everything is still the same. He was cleaning up the house but ended up breaking the mirror. I wonder what actually happened. He's in his pajamas as he tells her that from now on, he'll do all the chores. Liar!! Chen Mei Ru smiles. But who will earn the money? Our modest Murong admits he's a little poor. He suggests they can always borrow from the super rich Ouyang. Chen Mei Ru laughs but rejects the idea. All she needs is for him to make her happy everyday. He promises. Everyday. Ugh. So many lies! Chen Mei Ru shoos him away to complete the chores before the tears that are glistening in her eyes leak out. T_T
Ouyang visits Jiang Hui Zhen. She's also pretending nothing has changed. However, he tells her he's leaving soon and places an envelope on the table without another word. She had to stop him from leaving. She cries but laughs it off. She opens the letter – it's the business contract they signed. Jiang Hui Zhen cries uncontrollably. Is all that's left of them a contract? A piece of paper? Ouyang wipes away her tears, reminding her she's "cool". She shouldn't cry. She's not cool!!! Jiang Hui Zhen replies that she didn't cry all these years probably because her tears were meant for him all along. She regrets not giving him anything. She's weeping now and Ouyang hugs her tightly. Finally, there's some emotion from this man! He counters that she gave him a lot. He recounts, "Your fragrance, your voice, your smile, and your anger. I will remember everything." Jiang Hui Zhen doesn't want him to leave and so Ouyang takes her to a place.
Long Nu bandages Duan Shui Liu's hand wound. She mutters that if he knew her life as the Princess of Hittite, he wouldn't want her to go back. However, Duan Shui Lu can only hear Uncle's warnings in his head. A flashback to when all three friends learned the truth, Duan Shui Liu had remembered his vows to Long Nu: he promised to change Long Nu's fate, to not let her live alone for the rest of life without love. He smashed the hour glass, leaving the glass shards and sand scattered on the ground.
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| The design of this scene is sublime down to everyone's spots, their angles, the levels, and their actions Chen Mei Ru: Not looking back but at the mirror, accepting her reality and looking forward, no matter how broken that reality is. Jiang Hui Zhen: Hugging Ouyang's mementos, unwilling to open her eyes nor accepting the reality in front of her; she's stuck in the middle, not knowing which way to face. Duan Shui Liu: The only one in motion, dropping the hourglass, wanting to change fate and wanting to deny the reality |
Gosh. Every single one of them made me tear up in this one episode. They're all facing different choices:
- For Chen Mei Ru, it's either her life or Murong's life – it's an "easier" decision for her. She'd choose Murong.
- For Jiang Hui Zhen, it's either her best friend or her lover. Who can she choose? How can she even choose? It's a loss at both ends. She's stuck.
- For Duan Shui Liu, it's either Long Nu dies or she returns to the place where it's like hell for her. Which is worse?
Jiang Hui Zhen cries angry tears: All of you only know to apologize to me! All of you think you're cool, leaving with your back facing me. Am I oxygen to you all? I'm the one who appears brave but at the critical moments, you all choose to abandon me. All of you don't have to care about my feelings, is that right? All of you are looking at the big picture. All of you think you're heroes, eh?
Chen Mei Ru can't answer but she believes Jiang Hui Zhen will understand her. Jiang Hui Zhen always does but Jiang Hui Zhen shakes her head. Not this time.
Jiang Hui Zhen: Ever since we were young, I only ever wanted you to be happy.
Chen Mei Ru shakes her off without a trace of a smile. She leaves Jiang Hui Zhen because she can't argue with Jiang Hui Zhen.
With a smile, Chen Mei Ru picks up Murong for their date. They're back at her elementary school. She writes on the board "A new day, a new beginning." She reminisces about her diary and regrets giving him such a mouthful of a name. He likes Murong Jie Lun, though. She begins reciting her story. Murong is like I only remember the Mount Wu part, haha. He asks about the ending and Chen Mei Ru's smile fades. The ending is to sacrifice. She wrote a sad ending when she was humiliated by Auntie. However, Mei Ru lies to Murong that the ending is their marriage. She writes on the board again, "To tie the knot, to be happy forever." Since she wrote about him on the night of the Blood Moon, she will also give herself to him on the night of the Blood Moon. He agrees with the saddest smile. They will marry tomorrow. They both know it's their last day together and neither of them are saying it. This Blood Moon is not romantic at all D:
Chen Mei Ru makes Murong follow the rites. Newlyweds cannot see each other until the wedding day. Whyyyyyy!! There's only one day left! Screw the rites!
[Ep22] Jiang Hui Zhen, our theatrical actress, opens the episode, summarizing the three tragic love stories. She had thought sad endings were classy but now she despises them.
Long Nu and Duan Shui Liu are headed to Mount Wu too. I guess that's the place everyone has agreed to meet at. He flags down a taxi but Long Nu wants to ride the subway instead because only slaves ride in suffocating small sedans. LOL. Smart girl. However, he's carrying her scimitar. so they can't take the subway either (because of security). Long Nu suggests they take the big cars, the ones that can roam through all the intersections and allow them to admire the landscape with every stop – the bus. But the bus stops are too far. And so Long Nu offers to walk (which is even farther!), after all, walking is the marker of freedom. LOL. By now, Duan Shui Liu knows she’s messing with him but Long Nu tells him he is the only person she trusts and if he lies to her again, she will believe in him. Duan Shui Liu regrets lying to her, though. If everything can restart, he'll choose to tell her the truth right from the beginning. Long Nu shares a different perspective: he gave her a home and lots of love. Everything was worth it. Duan Shui Liu's regret remains the same. If he had been transported to her world instead, he knows she'd never lie to him. Long Nu holds back her tears and counters him: she's sure she'd toy with him too.
Sin prohibits Duan Shui Liu from entering the premises any further. Duan Shui Liu refuses to obey and so Sin throws a javelin, piercing Duan's chest. Long Nu vows to kill Sin. However, Duan Shui Liu, who's bleeding profusely, reminds her to not hate, to not seek revenge, and to remember their promise to live on. He throws away the scimitar but loses his balance and falls off the cliff. Long Nu catches onto his hand – the wounded hand of their blood oath. He wants her to live on and then his death will be worthy. Duan Shui Liu falls down and down. He's gone. He's dead?! Long Nu hikes down the mountain to search for him.
Meanwhile Chen Mei Ru and Jiang Hui Zhen are still hiking up the mountain. Chen Mei Ru knows Jiang Hui Zhen will make the same decision as her if it was for Ouyang Wen Shan.
Jiang Hui Zhen: I won't!Chen Mei Ru: You will!Jiang Hui Zhen: Fine, even if I will, it's because I'm an actress, I have a desire to experience these heightened, dramatized emotions. You're diff–Chen Mei Ru: Because I'm destined to be average (and nothing).Jiang Hui Zhen: Because you're supposed to be like all the other girls, to be cared for, to be protected, to be normal and happy. And you, Jiang Hui Zhen?Chen Mei Ru: But right now I am the happiest I can be. If you ask me if I want to live forever or die with love, then of course I'd choose the latter!Jiang Hui Zhen: That's because if you die, you won't even have a chance to regret it!
Silence.
Chen Mei Ru: Isn't this (situation) already pretty good?Jiang Hui Zhen: Chen Mei Ru. Are you really happy right now?Chen Mei Ru nods with a faint smile.
The girls hug.
Jiang Hui Zhen: Alright. As long as you're happy then it's fine. After all, the people who leave won't know how painful it is for those who are left behind – Jiang Hui Zhen hits Chen's back – You owe me for life.Jiang Hui Zhen walks away (up the mountain) without looking back.Chen Mei Ru whispers: I'll pay you back in my next life.
At the mountain top, Ouyang gives Murong the knife that is to kill Chen Mei Ru. Murong takes the knife and assures he will handle everything. He won't let his father down. Murong takes Chen Mei Ru to the tent he decorated for their wedding. Ouyang approaches Jiang Hui Zhen and touches her hand, which repels against his. He asks for her cooperation – this will be the best solution for all of them. What are our boys planning! Sin lays his eyes on Jiang Hui Zhen. Dude is planning to kill her too! But the boys don't let him kill her.
The rites begin.
Crows gather.
Kay. Hold up. Did Duan Shui Liu really die??
[Ep23] Chen Mei Ru is drowsy because of the drink. When she opens her eyes, she’s in Babylon. Murong is there too. He asks her if she’s willing to marry him. Firstly, she tells him she loves him, something she has never said in her life. For this love she will do anything for him and so, “I do.” She will marry him (and she will sacrifice him). We’re back in reality. I guess the Babylonian setting was a dream? Not sure. They’re hugging and he’s shirtless (but he’s got his pants on. Lol, I feel like Drama wanted to be more daring but didn’t think it fit. Not sure either xD. They are on Mount Wu, though).
Blood Moon.
Murong takes the knife that Ouyang gave him to kill Chen Mei Ru but he kills himself instead. Chen Mei Ru screams.
Ouyang stops Jiang Hui Zhen from running to Chen. He wants her to remain cool forever, to fulfill her dream to be a famous actress, but in his heart, she will always be a superstar. Jiang Hui Zhen's gaze is fixed in Chen Mei Ru's direction. Refusing to look at him, she says he's cruel. Her eyes are filled with tears as she tells him to disappear from her sight. Ouyang agrees that forgetting him is the best. If he disappears, he will be the night sky guarding her. If he can restart, he will find her again no matter what consequences he has to suffer.
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| This might be a spoiler for Ep24 (a very minor one) but is there a pattern in the sky behind him? On the left. |
And Murong is dying.. He can’t reply to Chen Mei Ru with “I do”. He can only say “I’m sorry.” In the end, he did kill himself to sincerely apologize..T_T Drama, this joke ain't funny anymore.
Murong and Ouyang planned this together. Murong was going to sacrifice in Chen Mei Ru's stead. Murong knows that Ouyang will approve of the plan because Ouyang would never let Jiang Hui Zhen lose both him and Chen Mei Ru – two of her most precious people. In the flashback, Ouyang wishes the current Murong Jie Lun could have been the Babylonian Prince back then. Murong replies that before they can think of protecting the country, let’s protect one person first.
With Murong’s imminent death, the Babylonian characters are disappearing (sans Sin). Each of them are with their true loves. Long Nu is with Duan Shui Liu who has died. She tells him she has her shoes on. Ouyang is able to tell Jiang Hui Zhen he loves her. Murong is in Chen Mei Ru’s arms. As the Babylonian characters fade away, the sword in Uncle’s cave disappears too.
One year later. 2020.09.12
Jiang Hui Zhen rings Chen Mei Ru’s doorbell, urging her to recover and move on. Jiang Hui Zhen is still chasing her star dream, looking bright and optimistic (appearing "cool"). She gives Mei Ru tickets to Paris for her birthday present.
Mei Ru is at Louvre Museum and sees the Code of Hammurabi. A docent describes the tablet and says the scripture that’s recently been transcribed sounds more like vows – it’s Murong’s vows to her. Then she hears a familiar voice and sees a familiar silhouette. Could it be Murong?
Miscellaneous Details. The night before the trip to Paris, there's a moon nightlight that Mei Ru doesn't turn off. Is it to remind her of Murong? Although I'm reminded of the Blood (red) Moon, I'm mostly thinking of the way Murong would turn on the lamp for her. The scene then transitions to the red sunrise, which I think symbolizes "A new day; a new beginning" (Ep21). Also, while she's away on her birthday trip, Jiang Hui Zhen is cleaning Mei Ru's home for her. Can I sign up for a Jiang Hui Zhen? The way Jiang Hui Zhen loves her makes me cry. So precious.
Our Chen Mei Ru doesn't find Pilot Murong. Later, on a phone call with Jiang Hui Zhen, Chen Mei Ru reveals she found out Murong’s real identity. He's Hammurabi (the sixth king of the first Babylonian dynasty). A newly recovered line from the Code of Hammurabi is revealed to be the one Murong always said to her. It was his vows: "Mei Ru ah, Let us marry / As one husband, one wife / To grow old together and never to leave each other.” It is also his love letter to Chen Mei Ru transcending millennia to reach the current Chen Mei Ru. Poignant. Romantic! Jiang Hui Zhen snaps at her to wake up. They’re no longer twelve. Love can end tragically. Chen Mei Ru hangs up on her and cries. Jiang Hui Zhen looks up to the night sky, asking, “Those who disappeared will never return. But we who are alive, have to live on. Isn’t that right?”
At the airport, Chen Mei Ru picks Pilot Murong's notebook – she knows because there are the same vows written on it. Is it Babylonian Murong creating another miracle and sending her the physical love letter?? Guys, am I nailing the actual intention or grasping at straws?
Mei Ru returns to China and eats at the noodle restaurant. A man orders 20 bowls of noodles. Chen Mei Ru grabs onto the man’s hand and looks up. It’s her Murong and she cries. But Pilot Murong laughs at Chen Mei Ru for being so emotionally moved by his handsomeness. He cancels his order and tells Chen Mei Ru that she’s not his type.
Auntie and Uncle are happily in love together. Uncle is clingy until he spots an artifact. He runs off with it and tells Auntie to pay for it. She looks worried, wondering if Uncle will leave her again. He won’t. His life’s mission is already complete but there are still those who are looking for their happy ending. He’s off to send a parcel to Jiang Hui Zhen. Uncle is confusing. What is his life's mission?
At night, Chen Mei Ru writes in her diary. She believes in miracles more than ever. Although the words from the original diary disappeared, the love was real.
Babylonian time.
Murong and Ouyang return to their time. The real portal was Babylonian’s Chen Mei Rui’s death. She is the real creator of this story. She is the sacrifice on the Blood Moon to restore time as it should. Which means everything that happened between Murong and Contemporary Chen Mei Ru was during her "dying" moment. The longest ongoing death in Cdrama history.
Murong became (or is) Hammurabi and created the Code of Hammurabi. It is the first legal code recorded in history. It serves justice and punishes the wicked. Our Murong was a fair king! But actually, the Code of Hammurabi is quite brutal. One law stated: "If a man puts out the eye of another man, his eye shall be put out." and hence the saying we have now: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
The boys remember Long Nu and free her from her prison. However, Long Nu lost the reason to live when Duan Shui Liu died. Ouyang tells her to at least be free from the place she hates. Don't die here. Mu Rong reminds her to not forsaken the man who loved her, who wanted her to live. Long Nu takes slow steps out of the water. She embarks alone.
As for Ouyang, Murong also gives him the opportunity to leave. He has already given his people freedom. Ouyang chooses to stay with Murong. He also makes the mask for Jiang Hui Zhen. He visits the meadow, staring up at the sky, knowing that Jiang Hui Zhen doesn't yet exist but he misses her nonetheless. He wishes for a possibility, a slim chance, a way for her to know that he misses her. The mask is his promise that he will be her starry night sky and accompany her thousands of years later. T_T
One year later. 1791 B.C
Long Nu walks across the desert with no desire to live and no direction in life. She faints. In her dream she sees Duan Shui Liu. She doesn't want to wake up. But it's not a dream! Duan Shui Liu survived and is in her time! Is it because of the javelin (Sin's staff)? Duan Shui Liu took Sin's quota? Now that they're together, our girl is true to her words. She toys with him the way she said she would. Long Nu and Duan Shui Liu have a happily ever after. Aw! But I'm very sad Ouyang and Murong are stuck in their time without Chen Mei Ru and Jiang Hui Zhen respectively. At least the boys have each other?? T_T.
Present time.
Chen Mei Ru finishes writing her story. She knows there are thousands of Mei Ru out there and believes there will be a miracle for them too if they believe in it. Our Mei Ru believes in miracles and love. This is the ending for her character. She's no longer stuck in time.
The end.
That was Chen Mei Ru's ending. Chen Mei Ru wonders what Murong's story would be like if he had a chance to tell it.
It's Ouyang who narrates the story in the Babylonian time. Murong protected his people just like how he protected the one person he loved. Murong is always true to his words. Although he could not be with Mei Ru as he vowed, he inscribed his vows in his Legal Code: one man can only marry one woman. This rule transcends across societies, across generations, and across time. It is Ouyang's glory to accompany Murong in creating their new world but it is also his regret to never see Jiang Hui Zhen again. Ouyang knows Murong feels the same regret. Murong (Hammurabi) lived each day, thinking of Mei Ru. She allowed him to believe in love, and he believes this love can cross time and space. It will never disappear.
Murong: I will always protect you, never put you in harm's way. Even if you don't aggregate well in this word. It doesn't matter. I will smile for you. I will interact with the world for you. I will love this world for you. I will do everything (I promised). I will take the love you gave me and bring it all back to you just in a different type of existence. At that time, you will see a better world, a brighter sky and galaxy. You will feel the wind at its freest. Go and do everything that we haven't done yet so that when I'm back to your side you will know that it is me.
The more I think of the above monologue from Murong, the deeper the love is. Chen Mei Ru hated this world, the people in it and the unpredictability of it. She was on the IT team to secure digital space for this reason. It gave her a sense of control. Murong knows her and so he, being Hammurabi, created a civilized world for her, starting with society’s first recorded Legal Code. He kept the world in order so that when she was born she could live in a world she could love. He also kept his wedding vows to her for thousands of years.
The end.
[Extra Ep] Jiang Hui Zhen barges into Duan Shui Liu's house which now is home to her acting buddy and his girlfriend, Gigi, who was Duan Shui Liu's vlogger. Since Jiang Hui Zhen paid half the deposit, she has the keys. She replaces Duan Shui Liu' s flowers. I don't know how this couple can live comfortably in this condo with Duan Shui Liu's picture sitting on the table. Jiang Hui Zhen asks Gigi, our guru in finding people (remember Sin and how she found out about sin and cosine), to find Pilot Murong. With Gigi's help, Jiang Hui Zhen discovers Pilot Murong's itinerary and that today, he is meeting with a broker to find a place to rent.
As Jiang Hui Zhen is lurking in a corner stalking Pilot Murong, a red-haired man taps her, thinking she's a weirdo. He's Ouyang! There's even the HK soundtrack! But he's not our Ouyang. He's Red Hair Ouyang with no memories of Jiang Hui Zhen. Jiang Hui Zhen's innate reaction is to hunt him down. Red Hair Ouyang flees but Jiang Hui Zhen is too ferocious. He starts crying that other than his mom, no one has touched his face. Aw, so you were waiting for Jiang Hui Zhen, eh? He cries even more as he doesn't know why she's attacking him. Jiang Hui Zhen cries too. She doesn't know what she did to deserve this and threatens him to stop crying with Ouyang's face. Lol xD. And then Mom comes into the picture. Omg, Red Hair Ouyang has a mom! And she's the house-cleaning lady from Ep1! Jiang Hui Zhen needs time to absorb all this info. For some reason Mom is carrying swords around the neighbourhood and Jiang Hui Zhen accidentally snatches them. Mom wails on the floor and so Jiang Hui Zhen offers to compensate. Ka-ching. Mom stops wailing.
Chen Mei Ru is on the way to save Jiang Hui Zhen and bumps into Pilot Murong who's headed to Red Hair Ouyang's condo too because he has an appointment for a showing. When Mom sees Pilot Murong she freaks out and wails again. Chen Mei Ru swears Pilot Murong is not her boyfriend.
When Pilot and Red Hair meet, the boys immediately connect. Red Hair Ouyang shares that his hobby is playing video games. His favourite map is the one with the starry sky. It reminds him of home, his oasis.* Murong shares his hobbies too: visiting Louvre which is like another home to him.* He loves ancient relics. Jiang Hui Zhen and Chen Mei Ru exchange shocked looks. * = hints that they are the reincarnated Murong and Ouyang.
Red Hair Ouyang is excited to have Pilot Murong as his tenant (Ouyang is still semi-rich in this life, he's got a condo!) but first they have to get rid of this "crazy lady". Jiang Hui Zhen is offended and attacks him again. This creates a domino-effect and all Red Hair Ouyang's family charge through. The house is down. Again, lol.
One of the sisters attack Chen Mei Ru. Pilot Murong protects her. They end up in an awkward pose where she's on the couch and he's on top of her like he's the princess. He clarifies that he's not the type to butt in someone else's business (but for some reason he just had to protect her and now his butt is on her). It's okay. It's the Murong inside you who is born to protect Chen Mei Ru :D. I get it. Chen Mei Ru politely thanks him and then asks him to get off of her. It's him who wants to know her name but Chen Mei Ru says her name isn't important. While she's saying this, I think the broker and one of the sisters are hooking up in the background LOL.
The TV suddenly turns on and it's Sin competing on a Chinese singing show. Oh, so he gets a happy ending too... Chen Mei Ru bursts out laughing. Her erratic behaviour scares our wimpy Red Hair Ouyang. Then the screen changes and now it's a couple walking in a desert. It's Long Nu and Duan Shui Liu.
Chen Mei Ru's voice-over: Every story has a different version.
The end end.
Remarks
[First Impression (Ep1-6)] Blew my expectations. I never thought I'd want a Babylonian Prince to zap me to Mount Wu too.
I was ready for a lowbrow comedy with a lousy story, but my gosh, the jokes are cleverly hilarious, and the story – guys, I was already surprised there is a story! – is so well thought out and intriguing that I am staying for the plot. Among the comedy and the romance, our drama is also an adventure with self discovery.
Chen Mei Ru 's diary/story is an atypical fairytale. The Prince Charming doesn't fall for the Gorgeous Princess but for the Average Girl: Chen Mei Ru. She's the average girl and the ugly duckling. I'm not calling her appearance ugly. It's her heart that is "ugly". From a mortifying childhood experience, Chen Mei Ru (24yo) is deeply afflicted. For twelve years, she only grew older, she never grew up nor grew out of her pain from when she was 12. Our FL lives everyday protecting herself from experiencing the same trauma. Bu Guan Jin in Ep5 stunned me with her emotional performance. Her pain hurt me.
I'm eager to find out how the Babylonian characters materialized, what happened to Murong Jie Lun before he arrived here, why can't he remember his past, how come Ouyang Wen Shan appeared in this world earlier than everyone else and who is that little boy in Ep1! So many questions and thankfully, there aren't too many episodes to drag this out.
As for the romance, I think it works. I was not a believer that Rhydian Vaughan and Bu Guan Jin could be a pair but I think it really works...? xD. Oh and I love the selection of men we have in this drama:
The hunky protective prince
The rich pampering boyfriend
The clingy devoted fanboy
I’m also impressed with the quality of the production. The settings are flavourful, even the dingy police station has an aura to it. The drama sometimes feels like a movie bringing me into an enchanting fantasy world. The animated scenes (e.g. the crows) look authentic for a drama. The ending song is good too. There's two, which alternate in this pattern that I haven't bothered to figure out. I like the one that starts off with a man (Murong Jie Lun?) saying "Mei Ru, Let us marry / As one husband, one wife / To grow old together and never to leave each other". I like it so much that I let it play to the end and then I'm stunned to see the multiculturalism in the rolling credits. There are Arabic and Korean names among many others. Cool.
Lastly, the humour! Mount Wu teleportation is such a creative plot – it's clever and hilarious. There's also soft bromantic moments between Wang Rui Chang and Rhydian Vaughan that makes the girls in this drama jealous xD. Just a whole lot of fun stuff.
[Actors/Actresses] Perfect casting choices! For the three Babylonian characters, we have exotic-looking actors: Rhydian Vaughan, Tiffany Hsu, and Wang Rui Chang (who is arguably exotic-looking, but he does look good with long hair, I think The Long Ballad recognized that). Visually, they already look like their characters – fairytale princes and princesses.
The three regular human beings are acted by very talented actors that balance out the craziness with their raw emotions, especially Bu Guan Jin (my bias, but I do think she deserves the praise). There's also Zhu Yan Man Zi (as Jiang Hui Zhen) who I love from Unrequited Love (2019). These two actresses have synergy, making their friendship/sismance quite emotional at times. Lastly, the actor for the fanboy is Zhou You. He was in Run For Young (which I dropped) and for the bit that I saw, he left a good impression. All in all, good actors!
(From the casting choices, this drama was gunning for quality. How did I overlook that? Tsktsk)
[Behind the Scenes]
[Behind the Scenes]
[OST] 焦邁奇 (Mao Qi Jiao) – 當傾盡所有感同身受
- I don't know if there's an official English title. The meaning of the Chinese title = Spending /Sacrificing everything to empathize (with you). It's the ending song that opens with Murong Jie Lun's soliloquies. I sometimes follow it and end up saying "Mei Ru ah, husky." Just me? If you replace "Mei Ru" with your SO's name, you're saying pretty romantic stuff.
[Ending (Ep24)] Happy with a caveat.
(I'm aware there is an Extra Episode which I haven't watched yet but these are my thoughts that I had already made notes of before I knew there was another ending episode)
“Happy ending” might be a little subjective. It’s happy for me because everyone is safe. Chen Mei Ru has learned to love the world and Jiang Hui Zhen believes in miracles again. As a self-discovery type of drama, this ending is a happy one for everyone.
As for the romance...
Duan Shui Liu and Long Nu are happy together. How he managed to time travel, I got no clue. Why did it take a year later, I also got no clue. The other couples are separated by time but what's really romantic about them is that the boys' love lasted through millennia to reach them and it's poignantly romantic. Ouyang gave her the night sky in a never changing form like his love is everlasting. Murong changed the world for Mei Ru so that she who despised the world could love it. He gave her wedding vows that would last forever. The more I think about their actions, the more romantic it is.
It's also heartrending that the two couples were separated by time. Pilot Murong's appearance makes me bitter that he's not the same Murong Jie Lun. However, with Babylonian Chen Mei Ru's little cameo in the background, I'm almost certain he has to be. It's a comforting hope. As for Jiang Hui Zhen and Ouyang, man, this ending makes me think that their love is over and that he'll only exist in the mask and in her heart. I have this tiny hope that the person reconstructing her theatre is this certain super rich dude ....Yes?
[Glossary]
柴米油鹽 Chái mǐ yóu yán – Firewood, rice, oil, and salt → Life’s daily necesisties (nothing out of the ordinary)
雞毛蒜皮 Jī máo suàn pí – Chicken feathers and garlic skins → Trivial matters
[Ending (Extra Ep)] Happy for everyone and all the couples (no caveat, I think).
Jiang Hui Zhen and Ouyang have hope too! Why is his hair red, though? And why is he such a wimp! xD. It’s witty that Show brought him back as the son of the house-cleaning ladies.
Overall, I find Ep24 more romantic of an ending. The extra episode brings us back to the silliness and gives everyone a happy ending or at least a more concrete hope that Red Hair Ouyang and Pilot Murong are reincarnations of the original Babylonian characters. I'm still a little sad they're not the original guys.
[Review & Rating]
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