cyn lynn : Love Between Lines

A game of jubensha leads to love, cohabitation, and family drama.

Notable Actors/Actresses

Chen Xing Xu: Xiao Zhi Yu

Lu Yu Xiao: Hu Xiu

Director

Mao De Shu (Cat Tree)

Screenwriter

(Author: Zhang Zu Le)

Chinese Title

軋戲

Double-Booking Roles

Genres: Contemporary, Romcom, "Fantasy," CEO, Contemporary Romcom

Network: iQIYI

Year: 2025
Episodes: 28

Jump to Remarks | Reviews | Recs | Comments

Cast


Chen Xing Xu: Xiao Zhi Yu Qin Xiao Yi	Lu Yu Xiao: Hu Xiu

Dai Xu: Pei Zhen	Ma Si Chao: Gong Huai Cong

Li Ting Ting: Zhao Xiao Rou	Ren You Lun: Wang Guang Ming

Guo Zhe: Li Yue	Chen Tian Ming: Sun Yi Fei

Romcom/Romance Checklist

How much of the plot is angst/romance?

0 / 1 / 2.5 / 3 / 4 / 5

The ML:

Cold–Lukewarm–Warm / Timid / Tsundere / Falls in Love First / "Reborn" / Noble Idiot / CEO / General

The FL:

Bold / Cute / Cool & Independent / Falls in Love First / Better than ML / "Reborn" / Noble Idiot / Business-woman

Describe the Relationship (the tropes):

Annoying Love (F/M) Rivals +++ / Bickering Start / Childhood Connection / Cohabitation / Contract Marriage or Fake Couple / Enemies to Lovers / Hidden Identity / Healing Love / Harem / Love Triangle / Married Couple (Real) / Opposites Attract / Pinning Love / Second Chance / Secretly in Love (F/ML) / School to Adulthood / "Star-Crossed Lovers"

Relationship Progress (officially together; first (official) kiss; breakup*):

Ep 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24* / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28

# of CPs (including main CP):
0 / 1 / 2 / 3

Ending:

Happy / Sad / Open Happy / Open Sad / Bad / Rushed+++

Drama Overview & Review

[Drama Info]

If you look up Mao De Shu (Cat Tree), it means soft nostalgic youth romance. (Trust me!) Generally with this director, we’re expecting soft lighting, lo-fi colours, and a focus on small, fluttering heart moments (e.g. When I Fly Towards You, Lovely Us, See You Tomorrow). Except this one feels less simple plus a Republican setting.

It’s not Lu Yu Xiao’s first Mao De Shu drama. He was the producer for her See You Tomorrow where she was FL’.

Adapted from Zhang Zu Le's novel of the same title. She also wrote Smile Code.

The Chinese title, Ga Xi 軋戲, refers to actors who take on multiple projects at the same time, something criticized as unprofessional. The drama is being meta because the characters juggle multiple identities as they’re “acting” for their murder mystery game (jubensha 劇本殺).

Wrapped on June 17, 2025

[Ending] Happy. Remember to stay for the cute ending credit.

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Romance & Aesthetics. Mao De Shu (Cat Tree) really knows how to make the romance look gorgeous and feel organic, but also fluttery. 5/5 on this front. [Top | Skip »]

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Scene Stealer: Pei Zhen. Dai Xu blew up from this role. [Top | Skip »]

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Others. (!!! Spoilers in 2CP section !!!) [Top | Skip »]

Guo Zhe (from When I Fly Towards You) playing ~~Guan Fang~~ Li Yue. Still very much Guan Fang – blissfully oblivious to all the couples xD

2CP. (!!! Spoilers !!!) They could be absent from the plot and it wouldn't have made a difference. Actually, it would be better to cut Ren You Lun's Wang Guang Ming entirely (like my ss section lol) – he was meant to be a foil to elevate ML. Our ML was going to be better than that: truthful, keeping his promises, including the FL But nope. Instead, it elevated the double standards: they punish WGM but excuse the ML who can use all the force he wants to reap all the rewards. Spectacular writing.