Episode 1 recap: Jin Xia moved into an ancient mansion and encountered ghosts.
Nan Hua, a celestial being who had existed for thousands of years, was a close friend of Li Chuchen, the crown prince of the human race. As Li Chuchen was about to go on an inspection tour, Nan Hua wanted to accompany him, but Li Chuchen, considering his dissipating spiritual power, advised him to rest in the Taiping Mansion and agreed to return after two months. Princess Li Xiuning witnessed this scene, listened to their conversation, and wore a cold smile, firmly believing that the crown prince's journey would be dangerous and he might not return.
Time flew by, and a thousand years passed in an instant. Jin Xia, an assistant designer, spent a large sum of money and took out a loan to purchase an ancient mansion named "Taiping." When she moved in with great joy, she noticed that the peach tree in front of the door was withered and in a state of decay, looking extremely unattractive. While sighing, she reached out to touch it, unaware that the tree seemed to have a spiritual response. Chen Auntie from next door came to visit and informed her that the mansion often had strange phenomena. It could repair itself even without anyone living in it, implying the presence of ominous forces.
Although Jin Xia felt eerie and hair-raising, as a materialist, she staunchly claimed that she never believed in ghosts and supernatural stories. Chen Auntie found her response uninteresting and decided to help Jin Xia check the drainage system. While moving her luggage, Jin Xia almost fell, but Nan Hua appeared in time to support her. Because of his handsome appearance, Jin Xia couldn't help but develop a crush on him, even though she assumed he was a door-to-door salesperson.
Nan Hua discovered that touching Jin Xia triggered his spiritual powers, which puzzled him. Under the pretext of renovation, he hoped to get to know Jin Xia. During their conversation, Nan Hua's words and actions were particularly strange, but Jin Xia temporarily overlooked it and focused on the design fees.
Feeling embarrassed, Jin Xia mentioned her financial difficulties, but she didn't expect Nan Hua to directly offer to provide the renovation plan for free. After saying that, he got up, bowed, and took his leave, planning to bring the plan on another visit. On the night Jin Xia moved into her new home, she had a video call with her grandmother and couldn't escape various marriage pressures from her.
Grandmother always felt that it was unsafe for Jin Xia to live alone, and Jin Xia pointed out that there was a police station on the next street. However, in the next second, the video signal was disrupted due to the appearance of Nan Hua.
Nan Hua remained invisible in the room, observing Jin Xia's every move. When he saw the earring design pattern hand-drawn by Jin Xia, his eyes lit up with delight, and he immediately revealed himself.
On the other hand, Jin Xia was terrified and mistakenly thought Nan Hua was a voyeuristic pervert. She refused to listen to any explanations and made a phone call to summon the police. Obviously, only Jin Xia could see Nan Hua's true form, so the police thought Jin Xia was having a mental breakdown. After the police left, Jin Xia realized that it was not safe to stay there for long. She hurriedly walked towards a dark alley, wanting to find a hotel to check-in as soon as possible.
However, Nan Hua played a prank on Jin Xia. She ran through the alley multiple times, only to end up back at the starting point, and every time she looked up, she could see Nan Hua's elegant smile. Jin Xia became infuriated but was physically exhausted. She had no choice but to agree to have a cross-dimensional conversation with Nan Hua. Nan Hua admitted that he had lost his original memories. He had been accompanied by the ancient mansion for thousands of years and vaguely remembered that he was waiting for someone, but he had forgotten the person's surname and name.
Jin Xia was skeptical but decided to escape from the ancient mansion to avoid any unforeseen circumstances. Just as Jin Xia was about to escape through a window, she reached the central courtyard and suddenly saw a meteorite falling from the sky, heading straight towards her. The surroundings immediately became dim, and her body uncontrollably fell backward. When Jin Xia opened her eyes again, Nan Hua was standing in front of her, using his physical body to shield her. His blue aura, representing his supernatural power, clashed with the golden light of the meteorite, leaving her in awe.
Since Nan Hua didn't have enough spiritual power, he couldn't guarantee complete resistance. Luckily, Jin Xia unconsciously emitted her spiritual power, which allowed him to recover his long-lost abilities and successfully shattered the meteorite. However, Nan Hua suffered greatly from the ordeal and fell in the courtyard, with his clothes in tatters.
Deeply shocked, Jin Xia calmed down and rushed to check on Nan Hua's condition. She saw him reaching out to touch her face before losing consciousness, expressing relief that he had finally waited for her.
In ancient times, women's marriages were mostly arranged by their parents or matchmakers, and women's opinions were often ignored. However, in modern times, women have more autonomy in choosing their marriages, and many women prioritize their own feelings and values.
The marriage concept of ancient women was deeply influenced by Confucianism, which believed that women should bear children for their husbands, serve their husbands and families. This concept has led to many women being unable to choose their own partners and lacking self-worth and self-fulfillment in marriage.
However, there are also some women who can withstand the pressure and choose the person they love or reject unsuitable marriages.
With the progress of modern society, women's views on marriage have undergone significant changes. Women have started to pay more attention to their own values and careers, becoming more selective in their choice of marriage.
Many women prefer partners who respect each other, promote equality, and grow together, rather than marrying solely for the purpose of procreation. At the same time, many women choose to remain single or marry later in life, placing greater emphasis on personal freedom and independence.
Overall, there are significant differences in the views on love and marriage between ancient and modern women, but both are based on the choices driven by their own values and self-realization.
Whether in ancient times or in the present, women should be respected and treated equally, having the right to independently choose their own marriage.
The greatest difference between ancient and modern concepts of love lies in their emphasis on different aspects. Ancient society focused on the outcome, as marriages were often arranged based on the matchmaker's words, and divorce was rare.
On the other hand, modern people prioritize the process, engaging in free love and marriages, which ironically increases the likelihood of divorce.
Among spouses celebrating their diamond, gold, or silver anniversaries, a common characteristic is mutual respect.
Modern life is hectic and leaves little room for sentimentality and romance. Society operates like a big wheel, with everyone seeking progress and efficiency in everything they do. Everything, including love, is scheduled and regulated, leading to a disciplined yet standardized life.
Modern individuals harbor doubts about love, just as they doubt everything around them. While material conditions have improved and freedom has increased compared to the past, individuals have become fragile and prone to suspicion. As society's structure has grown more complex, so have human relationships, given that humans are adaptable beings by nature.
In both modern and ancient views of love, in any relationship, as long as both parties understand the importance of compromising and taking turns to yield, they won't drift apart.
There are no naturally perfect matches in this world, it's just that one person knows how to be tolerant and accommodating, while the other knows when to stop. Perhaps the best kind of love is when I make your heart flutter, and you make me feel secure: you understand my grievances, and I empathize with your hardships.
It doesn't require being online 24/7, nor does it rely on deliberate and frequent conversations to maintain the relationship. It's simply hoping that when the other person is busy, they're dedicated and hardworking, and when they have free time, they immediately think of each other.
I hope it's a mutual longing for each other, so that the days can be better, longer-lasting, and filled with happiness and fulfillment.
In ancient times, love was more restricted, and individuals had limited freedom in choosing their partners. Marriages were rarely based on personal choices. The emphasis was on social status and the will of parents and matchmakers.
Due to these factors, many lovers were unable to be together. In modern times, romantic relationships are more free, and individuals have the autonomy to make their own choices. Moreover, men and women are in equal relationships, without any notion of male superiority or female subservience.
Love that is characterized by freedom and equality is the foundation of a happy relationship.