So...I just finished the show and... - I'm confused.

[I will warn when spoilers appear]

First of all, I am somewhat disappointed since I started viewing this one since it was hardly recommended on Advance Bravely's page (and I adore that one despite de chinese censorship since it still has the essence and the feeling in between the leads is undeniable) so I was hoping for something different than what it came out to be.
My expectations for BL content weren't too high because, once again, this is mainland china, there's obviously gonna be a whole wave of censorship. However, I was still disappointed that there weren't even any hints, any kind of connection in between the characters which in all aspects was a relief for me due to Yuan Yang's character but I will get there later.

Before that I really wish to commend the actors. The story isn't the best, the characters are a bit all over the place due to some things being changed from the novel to the series. But the actors did an amazing job. Especially the two main actors, Shang Bai (Gu Qing Pei) and Gao Ming (Yuan Yang), despite not having overwhelming chemistry (something that could have happened with other cast), the two actors when seen individually aced the show. Shang Bai did a great job portraying Gu Qing Pei and his business manner whereas Gao Ming did amazing portraying such a difficult character that is Yuan Yang. So I must really congrat them for that.

[SMALL SPOILER WARNING]

Now onto the characters. Gu Qing Pei is okay, he's likeable and a great businessman. My only problem that I have with his character is that he's too forgiving. It's okay to be a forgiving person but it's not shown well enough why he decides to forgive everything others do to harm him. Without a proper explanation, he just comes across as forgiving for the sake of it, and it's a huge contrast to an otherwise intelligent character. It makes no sense that he let people toy with him the way they did, especially Yang, not with how his character is portrayed for the most part of the show - it's contradicting and poorly written.

Now, Yuan Yang, how much I dislike him. And I don't really wanna like him. He's such an awful character and person. I love flawed characters, they're super intriguing and interesting when well done. But my problem with Yuan Yang is that he has no reasons to do what he does, there's no catalyst, it's just him being an awful person for the sake of it. And then we're just supposed to get over it because he's forgiven? What he did to Gu Qing Pei, the fact that he drugged him and did all that regards him as an awful person and I'm sorry but having daddy issues doesn't make it any less bad, there was literally no reason for him to do what he did. He does have problems with his father but he never really deals with them, just takes out his anger on other people in the most outrageous way. He's like a child throwing tantrums, but his tantrums seriously damage other people's lives. Only starting from episode 11 or so did I start disliking him a bit less due to the forced redemption arc but even then, for me to like him I would either have to forget all he had done till then or he would have to very well explain why he did those (which he would't be able to because there was virtually no reason for it).

What really irritates me as well is the fact that he hated his father so much that he wanted to destroy his career but the moment the later goes to the hospital he is all freaked out and calls him dad with a super soft voice. HIS DAD ALSO. I dislike the man so much. And I dislike his character development. After everything, at the end, he just ends up all nice and smiley to Yuan Yang and suddenly changes to a better person and actually starts caring about his family. There's no explanation, no story there, just a shift like day and night. I'm sorry but no, that doesn't happen that easily. You can't just make a character be bad and mean for 14 episodes and then just turn him into a super caring father and person on the last episode.


AND EVERYONE FREAKING FORGIVES EACH OTHER
(pArdOn mY irOny)

Gu Qing Pei to Yuang Yang - "yeah you almost killed me, almost ruined my career, made my life a living hell and all but since you're cute and did help me a few times after u urself screwing up I'll let it go and I'll help you with your spoiled project"
Gu Qing Pei to Wang Jin - "yeah u betrayed me and I told u that I considered u my friend and would never work with u again but u know what? It's okay it's all business so how about we work on a lot of other projects just because? oh but I don't want to have anything to do with your company" - *proceeds to let everyone get the idea that he is working for Wang Jin's company and can't tell the guy a NO*
Wang Jin to Yuang Yang - "we don't really know each other but yeah, u screwed me and my company up, you're a snake and you've hurt my friend. I have the means to confront you but u know what? I'll just forgive u cause that would be too much screentime for a support role"
Yuan Yang to his father - "okay so, u've been controlling me my whole life, made me do things I hated or didn't want because u only care about yourself and I hate you and I'm gonna ruin you cause no one opposes me! Oh you're in the hospital? You know what? nevermind, you deserve father of the year, #bestfather"

AND THERE'S A LOT MORE
LIKE ??????

[END OF SPOILER]

Overall this series wasn't a super great experience. Story could be better, development could be better, music is bad and could use some serious work. I won't rewatch it probably.

This series is a devastatingly good example of bad writing. You could do so much with flawed characters like this but instead they're just terrible people with no reason for it.

So why am I ranking it a 5? Well, because, although all this exists, I still enjoyed it and quite a lot actually so I feel like it deserves at least a positive rating. My google sheets suggested an overall rating of 5.5 acording to my ratings on different areas but because my high ratings have to do with enjoyment and acting, not the actual thing in itself, I don't want to give that extra 0,5.
When I had time I watched up to 5 episodes and only stopped because it was already too late. And right now it's 1 am while I'm writing this review. So yeah, it is intriguing and unhealthily adicting.

If you're looking not for a great show but for a hardly decent one, with good actors, enough fighting scenes, business world theme and a bunch of scenes to boil your nerves this is your show!~
Honestly though, you might want to give it a try, it's not perfect (far from it) but it's still an okay(ish) watch ^^ depends on ur mood however.

- eve ~