A strong man needs a frail doctor, healing him every other episode.
Notable Actors/Actresses
Director
Chinese Title
七夜雪
Seven Nights of Snow
Cast
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| Zeng Shun Xi: Huo Zhan Bai |
Li Qin: Xue Zi Ye |
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| Wang Hong Yi: Miao Feng |
Chen Hao Sen: Tong |
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| Zeng Ke Ni: Miao Shui |
Jin Ze Hao: Zhang Wu Jue |
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| Shao Yu Qi: Qiu Shui Yin |
Mini Recaps
Introducing the very cute actor, Xue Yao, the hawk, and her plus-one: Huo Zhan Bai.
Huo Zhan Bai takes the blame for killing his shixiong, Xu Chong Hua, when he actually committed suicide after being defeated by Huo Zhan Bai. The shixiong leaves behind his wife, Qiu Shui Yin, and newborn, Mo'er, who is sick and dying. Huo Zhan Bai takes them to the world's best doctor. They say that shixiong betrayed, but if there's a person who looks evil it's the old shifu. By the way, is there a corpse for shixiong? Y'all know about Cliff(ords)...
Huo Zhan Bai: Rumour says [that she's] greedy and perverted. I don't know about greedy, but perverted doesn't seem false, except I didn't think that a person in dire straits like me would please the eyes of Master Xue. Way to go, sir, calling her perverted to her face. So this is why she's got an attitude whenever he's around xD.
Xue Zi Ye harshly shuts the door at Huo Zhan Bai but that doesn't limit him nor do all her traps. Our ladies brace for a physical battle, but Huo Zhan Bai steps out the doorless door frame. He bows respectfully. She's aware of his intentions. His aggression was only to let her know if he wanted to intrude he can, but he won't.
The mother and newborn finally arrive. Xue Zi Ye assumes Huo Zhan Bai is the father, and confirms he isn't. Yup. Man is single. She agrees to treat him.
Baby is ok! Mo'er will need 3 more days of isolated recovery.
On the same night, both Huo Zhan Bai and Xue Zi Ye reminisce about the dead – or the frozen. Him about his shixiong, and Xue Zi Ye about Xue Huai. She kept him in ice to persevere his life (or dead body). He risked his life to save her just like Huo Zhan Bai is risking his to save Mo'er.
Xue Zi Ye has a mystery Go-pal (Miao Feng). Every once in a while she visits her oversized-Go-board to make a counter move.
Oh wait. Baby is not okay. It's because Qiu Shui Yin breast-fed Mo'er. I knew her face was trouble. I don't like her either, but would it not have been better to be open and transparent about the treatment? It's already traumatizing that a baby died, but to know that he died because of breast-feeding.... Xue Zi Ye transports the un-breathing baby to an ice cave for emergency acupuncture.
Mo'er is saved! But Xue Zi Ye faints from hypothermia – extreme cold is dangerous to her frail body. She's treated in a therapy spa where Huo Zhan Bai transfers his qi to her underwater. When she's slightly conscious, she notices he's touching (a faraway corner) of her chest. She knocks him off, but he pulls her back to finish the treatment. People above the water are like, "Isn't he saving her, why are they fighting?" Ask your master, ladies. When she recovers she slaps him, and then thanks him, but overall, she's still mad.
Huo Zhan Bai: I [helped] you, and didn't get a thanks, but got a slap from you – a slap is fine, but calling me ugly too! LOL.
Alright, this baby. He's okay now, but he won't be okay in the future, and won't live long.
O' Molly. The mother commits suicide. What a pair of parents you got there, Mo'er. They keep ditching you! Qiu Shui Yin knows Mo'er's illness is her fault even though Xue Zi Ye took the blame for it. And what a pair we have here: Huo Zhan Bai and Xue Zi Ye silently taking blames.
Huo Zhan Bai couldn't save his shixiong, but saves his shixiong's wife. Now he falls down on Clifford. Lady...you nearly took down 3 people! Baby, FL, and ML. And she's so weepy, no wonder her name has Shui (water) in it. Huo Zhan Bai wouldn't have been so susceptible to Clifford if he hadn't transferred so much qi to Xue Zi Ye (who wouldn't have needed qi if not for Weepy Lady). To make it worse, he's trapped in his unconsciousness because of the guilt from the couple who likes committing suicide in front of him. Xue Zi Ye clutches his hand and lies about a treatment for Mo'er. Huo Zhan Bai finally wakes up with a will and purpose to live.
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| The hair on these grandpa-dogs feel so authentic. They need grooming. |
Huo Zhan Bai leaves the Medicine Valley to gather the rare ingredients to treat Mo'er. Xue Zi Ye laments on how long it'll take. 3 years? 5 years? Miss him already? It hasn't even been 10 minutes.
Tong! Who are you? As long as the three looooooong needles stay penetrated in his head, he cannot remember his past and will obey Zhang Wu Jue forever.
Xue Zi Ye bows to an entire cemetery. Her Mojia Village was annihilated. It was Xue Huai who risked his life to save her. He kept her afloat on a glacier as he supported it from underneath. She only has one clue behind her clan's obliteration: a poisonous dagger.
Beautiful ladies and powerful men square-off respectively. Xue Zi Ye wins Qing's trust to "cure" her in order to hypnotize her. The poison on the dagger is a speciality from Qing's clan, Shiyue Sect. Meanwhile at Shiyue Sect are Tong and Huo Zhan Bai, and whew, a footstep from afar and they can sense the each other's aura. They walk by without a word or a glance that is until they meet again, duelling for this Mushroom Branch.
I say Huo Zhan Bai is the winner of the duel, but it's technically undecided because They're both poisoned. Miao Feng gives Tong an antidote and orders him to retreat and accept his punishment back at the Temple.
As for the ladies, Qing thinks she conquered Xue Zi Ye –who really was responsible for Qing's slow-release-poison, luring her into her valley – but Xue Zi Ye was only pretending to be vulnerable so that Qing would be unguarded about the truth. Xue Zi Ye confirms Qing's Shiyue Sect had nothing to do with Mojia Village's extermination and releases Qing, but she returns. She respects Xue Zi Ye who could have killed her, but instead chose to release her. Girl, she poisoned you first.
She promises to provide her intel on Mojia Village. Xue Zi Ye is grateful and reveals the truth. She never gave her poison. It was all medicine that just made her feel bad.
The ladies exchange hearts (info). After Qing promises to update Xue Zi Ye about Mojia Village, Xue Zi Yi reveals she never poisoned her. It's medicine with pronounced side effects. She also shares that she isn't born from Mojia Village but was adopted after her mother died. Qing has a story about a man too who she lost four years ago, the same time Xue Zi Ye lost Mojia Village. Qing's clan members – in order to make her their Saintess – killed her lover because she wasn't supposed to have family, friends, or even a name of her own.
Just when Qing and Xue Zi Ye become sworn sisters, Huo Zhan Bai returns with the Mushroom Branch he stole from Qing's clan. Fortunately, Qing trusts Xue Zi Ye, but as the leader of Shiyue Sect she still needs to punish them. She makes them pick their poison: a fatal one or a chronic one. Huo Zhan Bai drinks both! He also trusts Xue Zi Ye can cure him. That is both manly of him and clever of him. But uh oh, he's still poisoned from the other poison. That's 3. To save him, Xue Zi Ye uses one offshoot from the Mushroom Branch.
Who would have thought that Huo Zhan Bai loves being called handsome, or maybe he just loves being handsome to one person: Xue Zi Ye.
Xue Zi Ye charges Huo Zhan Bai 200 000 gold for curing him. He stutters. "Is my life that expensive?" No. Her skills are that valuable. LOL. For his astronomical debt that he cannot pay, she makes him stand in as her human model. (Xue Yao is laughing too!) Compared to being a model though, he's a better student. He learns all the acupuncture points and applies it back on her. She's now frozen and on mute, and absorbing some good Vitamin D.
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| Villain paradise |
Miao Feng is forbidden from emoting for the martial arts he's practicing, all to enhance Zhang Wu Jue's powers. Every month he will suffer heart-splitting pain.
Xue Zi Ye desperately searches at night for her hairpin from Xue Huai to no fruition. It's dark and cold when they return, but Huo Zhan Bai has lit the way with lanterns.
Huo Zhan Bai misunderstands that Xue Zi Ye used the Mushroom Branch on her "lover" (i.e. Xue Huai) instead of keeping it for Mo'er. He confronts her, and calls her Xue Huai a dead man. Ouch. Enraged, she tells him she used a piece on a "dog" (i.e Huo Zhan Bai). Thankfully, the misunderstanding doesn't last too long. Feng Lu tells him he's the dog.
Huo Zhan Bai realizes the gravity of his mistake when he called Xue Huai dead to Xue Zi Ye's face. Everyone knows the truth, but no one tells her because she won't admit it herself. Four years ago, to stop her from harming herself in search of a cure, her shifu had "lied" – just as Xue Zi Ye "lied" about Mo'er's treatment – claiming the cure was hidden in the tree's roots. Ever since, Xue Zi Ye waters the tree daily with dew, holding onto hope.
Huo Zhan Bai and Xue Zi Ye are trapped in a cave by a snowstorm. She tells him to strip, leaving him dazed. She wants his clothes to keep warm, knowing he can handle the cold, especially after taking the Mushroom Branch. After some tit-for-tat exchanges, they finally settle their issues. He apologizes for misunderstanding her and she apologizes for not telling him the truth. He then tells her how it all started: Qing! If she hadn't told him that Xue Zi Ye used it on her lover, none of this would have happened. I say Qing is innocent and correct.
Xue Zi Ye takes an extra glance at Huo Zhan Bai wiping the lip of his bottle before giving her his alcohol. Considerate, isn't he? :) He's also meticulous. He picked up on her words that the Mushroom Branch is a "heated" medicine, which means he can take her special alcohol, but she was just petty and wouldn't share. Freaking Chinese sorts food as "hot" or "cold" and in between, e.g. pineapple is hot and grass jelly is cold, and watermelon is "wet-hot". Unlike her though, he'll let her take all his alcohol. She warns him she won't be grateful. Oh, but he'll make sure she's grateful. (She is.)
Xue Zi Ye: If one day you need me...Huo Zhan Bai: What? You want to give me your body?Silent.Xue Zi Ye: ...your medical bill won't be discounted for even one bit.
Xue Zi Ye makes Huo Zhan Bai take a sip of alcohol too. He refuses until she tells him that he if collapses too, she definitely can't make it home safely. To better protect her, he takes some. (She also wipes the bottle-lip).
Huo Zhan Bai sat by the cave opening the whole night to block the blizzard cold from entering (this is the one time I think romcom tropes are more realistic. Surely, hugging her would be more effective? Throw in some qi and you two would be hot, hot, hot), but Xue Zi Ye is still not okay. She's barely breathing. He takes her on his back to take her home, but in his haste, he slips and falls and they roll down the mountain like snowballs. She's still unconscious. Desperate to keep her alive, he lies that he found her hairpin. She's still unresponsive, and so he swears at her "Wretched Woman!" Haha.
Xue Zi Ye is timely treated by her medical squad. After she recovers, neither she nor Huo Zhan Bai visit each other, at least not openly. They may be far from sight, but never from connection. He's been upgrading her dew collection and she knows why he's avoiding her. He's guilty for lying about the hairpin. But that's not all, she says. She knows that he called her "Wretched Woman." Lol!
Huo Zhan Bai leaves to collect the second ingredient (a flower). Xue Zi Ye shares with him her speciality alcohol (Laughing Red Earth). She also warns him that if he comes back severely injured, it's better he doesn't return. Translation: "You better come back in one piece". He understands what she means precisely.
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| Another man collecting dew :') |
To ship or not to ship, that is the question:
Huo Zhan Bai made a wooden hairpin for Xue Zi Ye. Aw! That's why he was struggling with the wood when he had no problem setting up the dew machine. And he's too shy to even give it to her in person! Aww.
Baby update: Baby is no baby. It's only been one year and he's like 4?!
There's a guy, Qin Tian Cheng – he died. He betrayed his sect, Baiyun Temple, for Yuanyi Temple (the villains). Huo Zhan Bai is accused of killing him because of Tong's disguise. Huo Zhan Bai was actually busy disciplining a roaring, dumb brute, Miao Huo. I love their exchange the most when he indirectly called Huo Zhan Bai handsome. This show makes everyone call Zeng Shun Xi handsome ^^".
Huo Zhan Bai immediately returns home to Xue Zi Ye after retrieving the Flower. He has stories to tell her like how he isn't interested in the pretty ladies there whatsoever. *Hint Hint* She tells him to cut the crap, lol.
Our couple's reunion is interrupted when Baiyun Gong's Lin Tian Bao wants revenge on Huo Zhan Bai because he murdered his disciple. Looking ominous! Don't worry, Xue Zi Ye promises to clean up Huo Zhan Bai's corpse. Except there's his debts... and so for only that, she will accompany him in confronting his enemies. What a sweet lady.
Huo Zhan Bai doesn't dodge when Lin Tian Bao strikes him. Xue Zi Ye understands Huo Zhan Bai's intentions before his bro gets him. He wants to prove his innocence and has nothing to hide, so why would he dodge.
Huo Zhan Bai #2 shows up. It's 4th Bro, Xia Qian Yu, with a mask on. Despite holding a grudge on Huo Zhan Bai for killing their shixiong, he still investigated the truth for him. The human-mask and Liu Fei Fei's (Tang Min) testimony are evidence that Huo Zhan Bai is innocent.
Huo Zhan Bai receives permission from Lin Tian Bao for stealing his Flower. I see the pattern now. He always gets permission after stealing.
Xia Qian Yu cries and hugs Huo Zhan Bai like all big men do. He realizes that for the past year Huo Zhan Bai has been risking his life to save Mo'er. Now he insists on tending him = failing as wingman because now Xue Zi Ye can't take care of him. He wants to feed him too, "Ahhhh (open your mouth)." He doesn't take no for an answer, "Ahhh!". But he does take alcohol. For alcohol, he won't feed his buddy. Man is grateful.
Xia Qian Yu might be infatuated with Xue Zi Ye, but he's still a good bro, assuming Huo Zhan Bai's debt responsibility. While Xue Zi Ye naturally accepts for her philanthropy.
Huo Zhan Bai('s jealousy) is talking: gold hairpin is trite. But he is sincere that a white jade suits Xue Zi Yi more. It is the colour of snow, the brightness of clouds and the shine of the moon. The hairpin should be plum-shaped because they bloom when it's cold – naturally vigorous. Then he tells her not to move as he leans down to visualize how the plums (in the background) would be beautiful on her. A romantic mood like this, of course has to be interrupted by Xia Qian Yu.
Huo Zhan Bai vs. Copper gege – 0:1
But hey, she finally said you're pretty, Huo Zhan Bai!
Xia Qian Yu wants to help Huo Zhan Bai win the girl he loves but it doesn't seem the idiot realizes he's in love??! How does he not know he's in love. Xia Qian Yu though, what a true bro, and he still doesn't know Huo Qi didn't kill shixiong.
The 8 bros. 7th bro is Huo Zhan Bai (That's why they call him Huo Qi (7), btw). 6th bro is the shixiong who died (with no corpse). 5th bro is someone who retired from jianghu to have a family and disappeared into thin air. 4th bro is Xia Qian Yu. 8th bro is that other guy who tags along.
Huo Zhan Bai left his alcohol behind. On purpose? Xie Zi Ye shakes her head at his forgetfulness and then smiles just recalling the night she drank with him.
One night, Xue Zi Ye stares wistfully out in the snow. She sensed Huo Zhan Bai before she saw him aww, and of course this big idiot returns to her at the brink of death once again. He is always either poisoned, bloodied, or unconscious, and always for someone else (Mo'er). Huo Zhan Bai wakes with a strained voice, but his first concern is his shifu, followed by the ingredient, and only then his own wellbeing. There’s a lilting, almost sing-song quality to Xue Zi Ye tone as she breaks the news to him that he might be mute forever. Before he can rasp out his next question, she already knows and answers him that he can't retrieve the next ingredient anytime soon. She critiques him that he's more distressed by this than the prospect of losing his voice forever. He puts himself last, but there's someone who places. him first.
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| I can't be an actor. I'd die laughing doing what she's doing. |
Huo Zhan Bai's heart races uncontrollably with Xue Zi Ye so close, weirdly plucking his Adam's apple, lmao. Gripping the gwa-sha stone, he massages his throat, gagging himself, lol. She snatches it back, chiding him that it's not about brute force. Then she strikes him forcefully. He spits out thick, black poisonous blood, and his voice returns. The first thing he says is this: "This woman." I'll finish: "This woman .... making my heart go crazy." She shoots him a glare and he quickly lies that his throat still hurts. She sees through the lie and, without missing a beat, returns the favour, telling him that recovery will now take a half a year. Nope. No pain at all. Lastly she hands him medicine with one last instruction, and just like how she knows him, he knows her too: he's not to practice qi.
Qiu Shui He (Master of Tianshan Sect) is Huo Zhan Bai's (real) shifu, and Qiu Shui Yin's father. He plans to retire for a list of reasons: concerns for his health, maybe some lingering guilt, and his reputation perhaps tarnishing the sect. Since he "exploited" the rare ingredient, the Grass, a public resource, for his family, he feels retiring is the best way to protect the sect's image. This cascade effect from Qiu Shui Yin for breastfeeding...!
Xue Zi Ye is overwhelmed by the weight of her past. Huo Zhan Bai isn’t sure what’s troubling her, but he somehow finds the perfect words to lift her spirits.
The next night, Huo Zhan Bai shares wedding wine with Xue Zi Ye. It was a gift to them after he used her medicine to treat a friend. On her suggestion, they play a game of Truth (and no Dare). He goes first: Was she waiting for someone the day he returned? You. This idiot took two rounds to finally get an answer from her: yes, she was waiting for a foolish deer. His eyes widen, head swivelling on his neck, thinking about this deer he's never seen around here. Try a mirror!
Xue Zi Ye finally wins a round and she's dying to ask about – his debt, lol. But actually, it's a facade. Her real motive is to know more about Huo Zhan Bai's shifu who lost his jade four years ago. She suspects him of using Qing's poison in the Mojia Village genocide. We also learn more about Xue Zi Ye via Xia Qian Yu's investigation. She's Prime Minister Xue's daughter, but her family was punished – men were beheaded and women were exiled. It's unknown how she ended up in Mojia Village.
Huo Zhan Bai's hunch is right. Xue Zi Ye, who always makes him stay longer than necessary~, is rushing him to leave. He circles back and discovers that she has hypnotized his shifu. Huo Zhan Bai asks her to give him a day. He doesn't plan to stop her, but he can't watch her manipulate him. He's also concerned about her safety after his shifu wakes up (oh right, does she have a backup plan like she did with Qing?). Huo Zhan Bai vows he'll give her an answer. Xue Zi Ye agrees. My emotionally stable (future) couple (': In the face of a misunderstanding that could break them apart, they have faith in each other.
Uh oh, Qiu Shui He shifu is the culprit. This Qiu Shui family... Did our ML and FL owe them in their past life? He orchestrated the genocide in search of a special child capable of enhancing his powers.
But wait. The first murder and the fire weren't Qiu Shui He's orders. He was set up! However, silencing the village to protect his clan's reputation was his doing. He then used the Poison to frame Qing's sect, and now, he's after the last witness. He is undeniably guilty. He accepts all of Xue Zi Ye's terms except exposing his and his clan's wrongdoings, but that is Xue Zi Ye's only term. Unable to agree, Qiu Shui He, the deluded moralist, decides to kill her too. Huo Zhan Bai intervenes, and his shifu flees – but not far as Tong almost kills him. Tong.....you the special kid?
Does Xue Zi Ye save shifu? She does. She's guilt-ridden, though. Grandma Ning comforts her that her family would be proud of her. Grandma Ning also relays Huo Zhan Bai's concern for her. Xue Zi Ye is aware that he cares but neither of them know how to face each other right now.
By the way, Tong found the hairpin (the one Xue Huai gave Xue Zi Ye).
Qiu Shui He will publicly admit his clan's wrongdoings to Mojia Village. Meanwhile Xue Zi Ye and Huo Zhan Bai are so considerate of each other ~ She knows how hard this is for him – Qiu Shui He is, after all, his shifu, making it emotionally complex. Huo Zhan Bai is even more grateful for her graciousness. When did my bickering couple stop bickering!
Huo Zhan Bai buys a hand warmer. The owner assumes it's for his lover. He stops for a second and says she's a friend, but more important than a friend. So tell me what that is, silly Huo Qi.
Miao Feng is the real culprit behind Mojia Village's genocide! Well, it's Yuanyi Temple, but he led the mission, and it was him who pursued Xue Huai and Xue Zi Ye to the glaciers. Miao Feng, you killed your romance before you fell in love.
Xue Zi Ye asks Huo Zhan Bai to stop his search. She isn't even sure if her remedy will work, yet each trip risks his life. Huo Zhan Bai smiles reassuringly and tells her he has absolute faith that she'll bring him back from death's doors every time. Xue Zi Ye's silent tears fall. The room grows too quiet, and Huo Zhan Bai reaches out, his hand nearly bushing hers. Flustered, she swats him. LOL.This is so her. To distract him, she complains about his debt and if he really plans to use his (dead) body to repay her. At the mention of debt, he's like "My ears can't hear anymore either." LOL.
Huo Zan Bai will need three months to recover. However, he finds three months too long. Xue Zi Ye tells him there is a faster way except it's only temporary, and if he injures himself again then the clot in his brain will dislodge. At best he will forever lose his vision, at worst he will lose his life. Choose. Three months it is!
Huo Zhan Bai is improving! Huo Zhan Bai still returns to Xue Zi Ye 90% dead, but no longer asks when he'll recover. Instead, he looks for the hand warmer he bought for Xue Zi Ye. Ok, fine. Classic Huo Qi still putting others first, lol. Our girl, though, wouldn't be Xue Zi Ye if she didn't give him – the man she loves – a hard time for buying her a present, and reminds him of his debt too. Dejected, Huo Zhan Bai takes it back, but she clutches it – no take-backs! Despite already having a room full of hand warmers, she doesn't mind having one more ~
When it was dark, Huo Zhan Bai made a lantern path for Xue Zi Ye. Now when it's "dark" for him, she makes wind chimes to guide him. Awwwwww! This drama barely has physical intimacy (except the slap to the face....lol), but the emotional connection really hits.
Later, Huo Zhan Bai overhears Xue Zi Ye purposely chose a slower way to heal his eyes. He confronts her, wanting to know the reason, but it's not like she can admit she wants to him close for three month ~ She finally fully cures him, and the first person he sees is her ~
Xue Zi Ye overhears something too: Yuanyi Temple is behind Mojia genocide. Omg, our medicine ladies aren't too bad at fighting!
Xu Chong Hua – dead shixiong – is not dead. He's in a cloak, hiding his face. His shifu has been in touch with him all this time (and letting Huo Zhan Bia take all the blame!)
Huo Zhan Bai picks on the persimmon = Miao Huo because he's too easy! Also, the reason he hates brothels is because his mother was a prostitute. This brute is sweet.
After finding out that Yuanyi Temple is involved with Mojia massacre, Huo Zhan Bai is like 5% alive now. He can't even drape over the horse and so Xue Yao brings Xue Zi Ye to him! But her hands are trembling too much to perform acupuncture, and so she takes medication, fully aware of its severe side effects. Despite her sacrifice, Huo Zhan Bai remains unconscious. Frustrated and in tears, she sobs that she won’t share her wine with him.
"Silly woman."
Huo Zhan Bai wakes up! But Xue Zi Ye collapses. After her treatment, Grandma Ning assures Huo Zhan Bai that Xue Zi Ye is no longer in immediate danger, but her illness has worsened. She can no longer leave the valley.
For as long as Xue Zi Ye remained unconscious, Huo Zhan Bai kept himself busy chopping wood, despite his own injuries. When she finally wakes, he rushes to her but pauses at her door, only letting her know he’s nearby. She sees him at night, and the first thing they're concerned about is the other's injuries. Huo Zhan Bai grows especially sad, realizing that Xue Zi Ye is denied the simplest joy like eating her favourite food because she can't leave the valley.
Huo Zhan Bai: Nothing stirs the heart more than the blooming of the Queen of the Night.
Xue Zi Ye laments how fleeting happiness and beauty can be. Huo Zhan Bai comforts her, saying that as long as beauty is etched in the heart, it will last forever. Flowers bloom and wither – this can’t be changed, but if we cherish their beauty in our hearts, there’s no regret. Oh no. Why does this sound like a tragic ending is coming! The title also sounds sad now. "Snowy Night, Timeless Love".
But maybe there is something that rivals the cactus's bloom in stirring the heart: the love that's blooming between Huo Zhan Bai and Xue Zi Ye as they gaze at each other at this very moment.
Huo Zhan Bai and Xue Zi Ye lock eyes for too long and she thinks he must be sick. LOL. Is she allergic to love.
It’s the Mid-Autumn Festival, and Huo Zhan Bai notices Xue Zi Ye using his hand warmer of all the hand warmers she has ~ After dinner, she sends her disciples to explore the district and bring back fun souvenirs (because she can't leave, awww).
And so Huo Zhan Bai brings the city to her! :')
Huo Zhan Bai also has a batch of hawthorn candy sticks (tanghulu) – to pay for his enormous debt, you know, and even quotes Xue Zi Ye, "積少成多", many little things add up to something great. I feel like this is the exact description of their romance. Xue Zi Ye, amused, buys more candy and requests to have it look like Huo Zhan Bai = monstrous and hideous.
The gifts keep coming. Our "monstrous and hideous" Huo Zhan Bai brings her fresh sticky rice cake, still hot from the stove. As she blissfully takes a bite, Huo Zhan Bai asks if it tastes like the ones from her childhood. Even better. He used his alcohol money to buy her this sweetness.
The grand finale: fireworks!
Trigger warning at Yuanyi Temple: Zhang Wu Jue r*pes Miao Shui. D: Foreplay is cutting her neck, and if he went deeper, that's her artery. Her scars appear to be all from him. I think I understand why she hates Miao Feng. He's suffering just as much as her or more, and he's always disgustingly smiling.
Xue Zi Ye has accepted that Xue Huai is truly gone. She asks Huo Zan Bai to take down the lanterns and dew bottles. He once lit her way home, but she no longer needs to collect dew. She looks up towards the sun and finally understands her shifu's intentions. She wasn’t meant to look down, gathering dew, but to lift her gaze toward new beginnings.
Xue Zi Ye moved on from Xue Huai because she realizes her stubbornness almost killed another (e.g. Huo Zhan Bai). Grandma Ning is proud of her. The remedy her shifu prescribed finally healed the person she was treating, which was never Xue Huai, but Xue Zi Ye.
Xue Zi Ye and Huo Zhan Bai, wine jugs in hand, wander around looking for each other to drink together. My alcoholics! No wonder you two end up on death’s doorstep every other episode.
It’s another farewell. Huo Zhan Bai asks her after he comes back to tell him what she wants to do the most – he wants to repay at least a few of his debts. Xue Zi Ye rather him focus on the mission and take care of himself. Aw. Always thinking of each other. And it's another missed-glance trope. They just can't look back at the same time.
Qiu Shui Yin reflects on her misfortune, lamenting what she did in her past life to suffer like this. And what did our ML do in his past life to deserve you.... To make things real awkward for Huo Zhan Bai, she asks him to stay with her long-term after they save Mo/er. Delusional. Saving Mo'er because of her is already intervening his life's goals, but of course Huo Zhan Bai doesn't say it like that.
Remember 5th Bro who married and vanished? He's Wei Feng Xing married to Liao Qing Liang, Xue Zi Ye's shifu! This sword-master cannot plant, but hey, he can fish with his mastery swordsmanship.
Liu Fei Fei, who has no hometown, tells Huo Zhan Bai that the people she cares about are her home. When she asks if he has a place like that, Huo Zhan Bai immediately thinks of Xue Zi Ye.
Yuanyi Temple's five evildoers receive their next missions. Miao Huo – the roaring, soft-hearted brute –bursts into tears because his task is the hardest. Tong helps Miao Huo complete his task – and ensures Miao Kong fails his, leading to Miao Kong’s demotion. In his spot, Xu Chong Hua is promoted!
Xu Chong Hua is a spy for the good guys! Man is ambitious and wants to be promoted after this. Since he's inferior to Huo Zhan Bai's swordsmanship, this is the only way to surpass him as heir??. For his glory, who is his wife and son anyway, right.
Tong helped Miao Huo because they have the same goal: overthrow Zhang Wu Jue. Miao Shui joins them!
Xue Zi Ye paces back and forth at night, waiting for any signs of Huo Zhan Bai. How is it not obvious she’s in love with him? Finally, she receives a letter from Huo Zhan Bai via Xue Yao. It’s blank. She smiles. "Sometimes saying nothing surpasses a thousand words." Because the clearest meaning is conveyed. He's thinking of her and no words are needed. How is it not obvious he's in love with her too? But he also wrote her at least a thousand words. He did both, lol.
Zhang Wu Jue (and especially Ming Li) are killing babies now. >_>
Xue Yao leads Xue Zi Ye to a frozen Huo Zhan Bai again. She also finds Tong, and recognizes his blue eyes. He's the kid who attacked her at Mojia Village.
Huo Zhan Bai is speechless again – thanks to the meds. Now he can't ask when he'll recover ~ He turns away when Xue Zi Ye tends to his facial injuries. She jokes that these scratches may be minor but his body cannot be compared to his face. What doe he think has been covering his hospital bills for 8 –eight!– years! His face, duh.
"死女人" Wretched woman. He calls her vicious too, lol.
Then he asks if he please her eyes now. "Reluctantly so," she replies. I love that he asked the question, but he also has the answer in his eyes. His eyes are filled with love just staring at her.
Huo Zhan Bai, now more thick-skinned than ever, casually whines as Xue Zi Ye checks him over, suggesting he should get to write off some debt for letting her feel him up. With the ingredient-hunt behind him, he’s finally able to relax, but the weight of stress has shifted to Xue Zi Yi. Just as she’s about to admit that Mo’er’s remedy might be useless, Huo Zhan Bai cuts her off, and says they must try everything.
Huo Zhan Bai is so adorably annoyed that Xue Zi Ye hasn't visited him as often as she usually does. She’s busy with another patient, hehe. When she finally does come by, she urges him to leave, gently pushing him away because she can’t bring herself to face him about Mo’er. But he's like "Why wouldn't I come anymore? Didn't I already use my body to repay my debts?" Awww.
Man is all action. Huo Zhan Bai dances for the girl he loves because she's sad. Sword-spinning is dancing, ok. He wants to help her, but she keeps throwing suggestions he can't do (like pay up or give her Xue Yao). Then he offers to be the valley's security guard and handyman (when he's the top swordsman of jianghu!) but she keeps deflecting his kindness because of her guilt towards Mo'er.
Huo Zhan Bai: At this moment – he looks at her and silence falls.... – there's warm wine, flowers, snow, and you. That is enough. *Melts* In this vast world, just her is "enough". This is a confession and she has to know that he loves her.
Xue Zi Ye asks Huo Zhan Bai if he'll regret risking his all for Mo’er. Before he replies, he asks her the same for Xue Huai. Their answer is the same: No regrets.
Huo Zhan Bai – once again calling Xue Zi Ye “this woman” – quietly scolds her for neglecting her health while she’s drunk and asleep. You’re the last person to lecture her on this, Huo Qi! He gently touches her hair and wipes the tears that pooled between her eyes and nose. Aw. He muses that it's been eight years and he never noticed how this peaceful valley, under this white plum tree, has become the only place he feels he can finally rest. When he picks up Xue Zi Ye to put her to bed, she snuggles right into him. These two lonely souls have found a home in each there (':
Huo Zhan Bai wants to stay hugging Xue Zi Ye like this forever.
Xue Zi Ye's disciples have never seen her sleep so still. She would always wake up at night, pacing back and forth (thinking of who?).
Huo Zhan Bai stares directly at Xue Zi Ye. He wants to know if she must save Tong. Yes. Even if Tong will hurt her, she's isn't afraid. Huo Zhan Bai understands it's impossible to convince each other, and so he changes his mind. He will help Xue Zi Ye save Tong. She's shocked. Why?
Huo Zhan Bai: Because I believe in you.
Tong is too strong to be held captive and overtakes Xue Zi Ye but spares her life. Huo Zhan Bai burns with silent frustration at Xue Zi Ye who knowingly put herself in danger. To her though, it’s enough that Tong showed a shred of conscience by not killing her.
Before Tong left the valley with the Pearl, he cracked the ice where Xue Huai rests. The sight of Xue Huai peacefully asleep enrages him when he endured indescribable pain. Xue Zi Ye mourns at the cracked ice for both her childhood friends.
Xue Zi Ye also can't be peacefully happy in Huo Zhan Bai's arms because she's mentally strangling her own happiness over Mo'er. JUST TALK TO HIM. Then she reminds Huo Zhan Bai to leave for Mo’er tomorrow. He nods, disappointment settling heavily in the air between them.
"Huo Zhan Bai!" She called to him!
His heart leaps, hope flaring in his chest as he runs to her face (lol), but he reins himself in, taking a step back.
The path to the Northern Lights is blanketed with snow. Huo Zhan Bai leaves large footprints for Xue Zi Ye to follow. She's practically beaming at them, amused that it's so clumsy in contrast to his strong and controlled movements. He reflects that everyone should leave traces behind or it will be covered by snow as if it never existed. Xue Zi Ye offers a different view. Some things are meant to be fleeting, like falling snow. Forgetting can sometimes be better. She's scared of being too happy and then losing it would hurt her more. It's like how she's not letting herself enjoy her time with Huo Zhan Bai, afraid he'd be mad and leave her.
Instead of the Northern Lights, they spot the “Three Stars” of Orion’s Belt. In Chinese folklore, they represent Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity. Let's hope these stars do bless them exactly these. As they stargaze, Huo Zhan Bai pours warm wine for her, the steam curling around them. So prepared, so warm ~
They sip the wine, and their conversation drifts to memories. Huo Zhan Bai remembers everything, even the taste of every wine they’ve shared. He also notices she's actually drunk tonight. Xue Zi Ye teases him, saying that getting drunk is easy if you allow yourself. In fact, she was drunk the moment she asked him to watch the Northern Lights together. She starts coughing, and he edges a little closer, concerned about her health. Aw, but you need to be closer for your body heat to work!
When the Northern Lights still don’t appear, Xue Zi Ye is done waiting. Nonchalantly, she says there's always next time with him. Aww! And she just called him thick-skinned for suggesting the same thing. He gives her a piggyback ride down the mountain, both of them unaware that the Northern Lights have finally arrived. There's still next time, right D: Right?!
The next morning, Huo Zhan Bai sees Xue Zi Ye at his door. He asks, "Isn't it cold waiting for me?" She says she's not silly and if it were cold, she knows to warm herself up. "Ah, so you really were waiting for me." Hehe. It's his last day, and he brings up the promise he made beneath the plum tree – to become her
Huo Zhan Bai: It's not my home, but it's more than my home.
Huo Zhan Bai: If you want to back out now, it's too late.
Xue Zi Ye clutches her aching heart as the door shuts on Huo Zhan Bai.
Huo Zhan Bai follows Xue Zi Ye's instructions precisely and meets Shifu Liao, only to learn the bitter truth: he wasted eight years on a remedy that cannot save Mo’er. Xue Zi Ye just passed the baton to her shifu, giving her the tough task, lol. Hou Zhan Bai's hand trembles. Eight years! Shifu Liao explains that Xue Zi Ye had experimented with the ingredients, it's just as she feared, they were useless. He spent eight years hunting and she spent eight years with him researching. However, Shifu Liao would have never guessed that Xue Zi Ye used her hairpin for a child completely unrelated to her. She thought it would be for Xue Huai. And the truth is, she used it for Huo Zhan Bai.
Huo Zhan Bai doesn't blame Xue Zi Ye. :') He understands how she feared the truth would crush his hope because that hope was his crutch, his lifeline through the blizzard. He reflects that even if he knew the remedy was futile, he would have searched just the same. Huo Zhan Ba's only thought right now is that "Zi Ye" should have told him sooner so she didn't have to suffer alone. Awwwwww!
Huo Zhan Bai finds 5th Bro. And Shifu Liao has a newborn. Please let this be Huo Zhan Bai and Xue Zi Ye's future!
Xue Zi Ye wants to go to Yuanyi Temple – for Tong. Grandma Ning insists she stay. What about Huo Zhan Bai? Xue Zi Ye questions if he'll really come back.
Grandma Ning: "Silly child, you know he will, and he will be hurt a thousand times more (than anyone else that you chose to risk your life)."
Xue Zi Ye speaks her feelings! She does know he will forgive her and wants to share wine with Huo Zhan Bai, but she also must save Tong.
Shifu Liao is grateful to Huo Zhan Bai for saving her stubborn disciple, Xue Zi Ye. With a smile, Huo Zhan Bai mentions he wants a rematch to beat Xue Zi Ye in drinking. Shifu Liao cackles. Impossible. She taught Xue Zi Ye to drink and play games and even her husband lost to her. Laughing, she predicts that Huo Zhan Bai will face the same fate. Huo Zhan Bai doesn't think that's too bad! "也挺好!" He writes Xue Zi Ye a letter, but doesn't include what he says here:
Huo Zhan Bai: I've already lost (myself) to you a long time ago. (I) really miss you.
Miao Feng unsettlingly helps Xue Zi Ye remove Xue Huai from the ice so he can rest in peace at Mojia Village.
Mo'er's in a coffin too! Huo Zhan Bai did not arrive in time.
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| This sword-water-dance is so refined, 精緻. I quite like the BGM guitar they chose for Huo Qi's action scenes too. |
Xu Chong Hua watches his son’s funeral from a distance, muttering bitterly about Huo Zhan Bai’s broken vow. Excuse me. These are YOUR wife and child, dude. He wonders what he truly gained after sacrificing so much just to defeat Huo Zhan Bai.
The flute that Miao Feng always plays isn't a flute. It’s a hichiriki. He only knows how to play one tune because that's all his sister, Shan Mi, taught him. His real name is Ya Mi.
The flute that Miao Feng always plays isn't a flute. It’s a hichiriki. He only knows how to play one tune because that's all his sister, Shan Mi, taught him. His real name is Ya Mi.
Qiu Shui Yin took poison to commit suicide (again). Huo Zhan Bai is supposed to save the world from Yuanyi Temple and have forever with Xue Zi Ye and he has to stop everything to protect Qiu Shui Yin from herself.
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| Long distance romance. |
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| This sick pair, lol |
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| Like dying power banks charging each other. |
Miao Feng lost his powers. His resting face is no longer smiley. Xue Zi Yi wants to treat him, but he stops her, telling her she'd regret it (because he's the one who killed her loved ones). She agrees that she may regret saving a murderer, but that's for the future, and right now she's not a doctor who neglects the vulnerable.
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| This eye move was pretty cool – if only it worked! |
Miao Feng wants Xue Zi Ye to save her energy to treat Zhang Wu Jue despite his own suffering. Dude needs serious help. She surprise-pokes him. His wide-eyed shock is soon followed by a genuine smile. Xue Zi Ye wants to properly treat him, though. Miao Feng refuses with his best fake smile. Too bad Wang Hong Yi ah, your acting....leaves a lot to be desired! It seems, though, Xue Zi Yi might already be curing Miao Feng – he didn't kill the driver (when he normally would have?).
Miao Feng instinctively saves Xue Zi Yi from the dogs right in front of Zhang Wu Jue and even begs his master to spare her life after she cures him. Zhang Wu Jue flogs him, but accepts his request. (Even Miao Feng should know Zhang Wu Jue can't be trusted, right?)
All this while, a blinded, bloodied Tong lies sprawled on the ground. Zhang Wu Jue gauges Xue Zi Ye's reaction. To mask her pain for Tong, Xue Zi Ye almost digs a hole in her hand with her thumb.
Huo Zhan Bai (7th Bro) and Xia Qian Yu (4th Bro) visit Wei Tian Xin (5th Bro). 4th Bro is still fuming at 5th Bro for ditching him without a word. 4th is always so clingy with his bros, haha. Anyway, they're here to persuade 5th Bro to join them in their world-saving-business. 5th Bro is only focused on protecting his small family. Huo Zhan Bai presses him that there is no family if there is no country. Then he has the audacity and says, "we won't force you if you insist on not going." This level of hypocrisy! ^^""" I didn't expect that from you, Huo Zhan Bai.
Xue Zi Ye learns it was Miao Feng who killed Xue Huai.
Xue Zi Ye confronts Miao Feng about the Mojia massacre, but she can also understand that he is a victim as well. He's tortured and abused by Zhang Wu Jue yet continues to worship him.
Miao Shui collaborates with Xue Zi Ye to kill Zhang Wu Jue. She takes her to see Tong, but first, Xue Zi Ye spots the baby-lock first. I missed the fact that one of the kidnapped babies was Meng da-ge's :( !!
Ming Jie: Must you force me like this? Why did you come? I left because I didn't want to burden you. Your Ming Jie died a long time ago. He died already!
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| For those afraid of needles, here you go. |
Huo Zhan Bai envisions his life with Xue Zi Ye: strolling with her every Mid-Autumn Festival, watching flowers bloom with each season, and standing together as snow falls, greeting every sunrise and sunset by her side. He wants to share wine with her at her pavilion beneath the plum tree. All quiet, beautiful moments.... Xue Zi Ye is also thinking about Huo Zhan Bai tonight, and cries. She apologizes to him. She can't keep her vow. T_____T.
Zhang Wu Jue is killed by our ladies, Xue Zi Ye and Miao Shui. During the battle, Miao Feng actually protected Xue Zi Ye over Zhang Wu Jue.
Miao Shui is shaken, utterly shocked. How could Miao Feng be her younger brother? The one she remembered was a coward—how could he now be a cold-blooded assassin?
Miao Feng kept his silence because he thinks he deserves death. He rather die with the cruel truth that he worshiped the tyrant who killed his family and enabled him to abuse his sister. These tragic siblings T_T Miao Shui and Miao Feng, Xue Zi Ye and Tong.
Zhang Wu Jue – this undying old freak – attacks them. Miao Feng protects his jiejie and then she dies to protect him. Why is this window a cliff. Zhang Wu Jue is finally taken down but before he dies he manages to slap Xue Zi Ye's face. >_> Miao Feng wants to jump down to find Miao Shui, even if it's just to pick up her remains. They just reunited....!! Xue Zi Ye comforts him that death might be a way to free Miao Shui (Shan Mi) from the cruel truth. Isn't that why he concealed his identity in the first place? Xue Zi Ye also knows that Miao Feng didn't kill the driver, otherwise giving him money would be unnecessary. She wants him to know he deserves to live, and not die with his sister.
Xue Zi Ye is really dying! She wants to go back to her Medical Valley. Maio Feng takes her on his horse, and the whole time she clutches onto Huo Zhan Bai's hairpin. She wants to go back to see him.
Xu Chong Hua offers Tong a deal. He will be his kingmaker at Yuanyi Temple (since he only cares about being the master of the good sect). He wants Tong to help him kill the 7 Swordsmen. ?!?!?!?!
Huo Zhan Bai blocks the ambulance Miao Feng who's transporting a dying Xue Zi Ye. ARRRGHHHH!! Fortunately, he lets him go, but doesn't notice Xue Zi Ye is reaching out to him. She even drops the wooden hairpin to draw his attention. Don't tell me he won't get to see her last moment! Don't let Ep24 be their last scene together T_T
Omg, yes! Shifu Liao is in the area (because she received the letter from Xue Yao). But, no! It's useless. Xue Zi Ye already died four hours ago WAHHHHHHHH!!! She's only warm because Miao Feng kept giving her his qi. It was the needle! Xue Zi Ye committed suicide. Shifu Liao says she must have been an arrogant girl, unwilling to be debilitated by the poison that would eat her flesh and sanity. Then finally, Shifu Liao brushes her hair aside and realizes the arrogant girl is her disciple, Xue Zi Ye. Shifu Liao yells at Xue Zi Ye who will never respond again. "Who told you to leave the valley? Don't you know your own body!" Miao Feng stops playing his hichiriki. Lol. *Cries*.
Huo Zhan Bai arrives at the valley. You're too late. I still can't believe our FL died before the last ep and that our ML never saw her. Xue Zi Ye also never knew he forgave her. She may know deep down but not from him directly. Waaaah!
Huo Zhan Bai faints at the sight of Xue Zi Ye's gravestone. He doesn't even see her corpse T_T. Was he that late. And he also never saw that she wore his wooden hairpin. And where 's the white plum jade hairpin, Huo Qi!!!!
When Huo Zhan Bai wakes up, Shifu Liao gives him the details of her suicide. Xue Zi Ye chose to leave before her body and mind decayed from the incurable poison. She wanted to keep her beautiful memories, and she wanted to return home because of her promise to see Huo Zhan Bai. In the end, she did see him!! It was brief, but maybe that was enough. T_T
Shifu Liao blames herself for being late, but she is also grateful that she didn't have to choose to save Xue Zi Ye because living would have been worse than dying. Xue Zi Ye made her decision and sacrificed herself to save others.
Tong receives the letter and is devastated at the news. Ultimately, he's the reason Xue Zi Ye chose this path. He thought everyone abandoned him, but his jiejie was always there.
Everyone asks if Huo Zhan Bai blames them: Xu Chong Hua's shifu (for Xu Chong Hua), Miao Feng (for taking Xue Zi Yi out of the valley), and Tong (for being the reason she left the valley). Huo Zhan Bai doesn't answer yes or no, just that he's let it go. T_T. For Xu Chong Hua, regardless, Huo Zhan Bai would have taken care of his family. For Xue Zi Ye, he asserts to Miao Feng and Tong that her biggest wish was to save her didi from the hands of the demon.
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| L-R: Tong, Huo Zhan Bai, Miao Feng....and Xue Zi Ye. |
As for the future, Huo Zhan Bai will roam jianghu and help those in need instead of becoming the Grandmaster. Miao Feng is the new doctor of the Medicinal Valley! Tong is no longer Yuanyi Temple's leader. He walks up to the light, smiling, knowing that this is what Xue Zi Ye would want. This is what Xue Zi Ye did too when she let go of Xue Huai: looked up towards the new at new beginnings. All 3 men were inspired by Xue Zi Ye T_T Her legacy lives on.
Many years later. Huo Zhan Bai's hair is white. He brings her favourite sticky rice cake for Xue Zi Ye. He drinks with her and boasts that she can't beat him anymore.
Remarks
[First Impression (Ep1-5)] I always thought it was obvious if you've been here, but in case you aren't aware, I love wuxia for the grand romances. How they (un/realistically) fight doesn't matter to me. Why they fight matters, though. With Snowy Night, I am happy with both. ML is fighting to save the child of his sworn brother.
The romance matches the show's vibe so well. It's cold on the surface, but there's a quiet, steady warmth that's simmering. I love that Huo Zhan Bai knows everything Xue Zi Ye did for him even when her top lip is stubbornly locked to her bottom lip sometimes.
And cheers, there's finally a female version of the Sickly Fur-Coated Beauty! Li Qin looks the best she's ever been. While Zeng Shun Xi will always be the noble fighter who wears his heart on his sleeve.
The "villains", I haven't seen much and don't know what their deal is, but the evil people sure look sumptuous with one exception: the despot.
[Cast&Crew]
Crew
- The director, Ren Hai Tao, has worked on Mysterious Lotus Casebook (co-director), Immortal Samsara (co-director), Love and Destiny (assistant director). Liang Sheng Quan seems to be the veteran director perhaps guiding Ren Hai Tao who mostly been a co-director.
Cast (after finishing the drama)
- Li Qin's best drama for me. Her crying and sobbing hits me so hard. She's always holding these carefully composed poses, but she makes it look natural with unforced elegance.
- Zeng Shun Xi is the same guy all the time....lol, but he really is in sync with this role. I love how he's so good at randomly popping those funny lines. He's humorous when you least expect it.
- Wang Hong Yi ah, Wang Hong Yi, he's really not that good! He's passable here because the role is written well. On reflection, he should be the most tragic character, but it wasn't conveyed with his acting, although I definitely pity him.
- (Shoutout to Mr. BGM. You're particularly the scenery. Always there, unfortunately, lol)
[Glossary]
積少成多 jī shǎo chéng duō – Many little things add up to something great / Many little drops make an ocean. [Ep17]
此時無聲胜有聲 Cǐ shí wú shēng shèng yǒu shēng – At this precise moment, no sound surpasses sound (because that’s when the sound of the heart is clearest). [Ep19: "Sometimes saying nothing surpasses a thousand words"]
[Ending] Sad
[A Highlight] I thought about the blank paper or the wind-chimes, but I think I’ll settle with the hug in Ep21/22 where she snuggles into him. These two lonely souls have found a home in each other (‘: and it’s the hug that Huo Zhan Bai wanted to stay forever in. Me too.
[Review & Rating]
[A Highlight] I thought about the blank paper or the wind-chimes, but I think I’ll settle with the hug in Ep21/22 where she snuggles into him. These two lonely souls have found a home in each other (‘: and it’s the hug that Huo Zhan Bai wanted to stay forever in. Me too.
[Review & Rating]
Recommendations
| Author | Wuxia | Jdrama |
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