"My world is like this alley.
You just walk past and then leave."
This drama hit me really hard in quite unexpected ways. It had me falling for the tragedy, the hurt, and the love itself.
Firstly, it starts, very unexpectedly, with a side-character's story. This was an amazing choice as this groundbreaking scandal is significant for the main characters' paths in lives and their decisions as adults. Additionally, it creates quite a dramatic, tragic atmosphere.
Later on, the tragic twist of fate makes it all the more clear how important this scene actually was, how driven, how regretful, and how tragic choices chosen can be.
This introductory story has you hoping, from quite early on, that these past events will be a good lesson for Tian's father as he witnesses what his reaction back in the day has set in motion.
Secondly, the admirable brotherly love - shown in the way the brothers maintaine a close relationship despite the intrigues - drew me in.
Thirdly, the love stories are each scandalous (for that time) and so very beautiful while also very different compared to one another which makes more interesting and realistic.
Tian's love story is really dramatic, although, when he is with Jiu, there is this calamity that has you swooning from the dephts of your heart knowing they are just right for each other. The brutal twist of fate concerning Jiu's motive is yet another tragic hit Tian has to suffer from.
His brother Yang's love story is rather cute as he falls for Tian's fiancé - it combines an enemies to lovers trope with a forbidden love element.
Anyhow, Yang having Tian's full support concerning Yang dating Tian's fiancé is quite funny from an outside perspective.
To sum it up, this drama is very layered, spiked with lots of secrets, many changes of places, and an over-all very well done production with amazing acting, and a admirable attention to details as much as subtle portrayals of feelings.
I absolutely loved it. This is a great work of art!
