冷莫凡

Or to be more precise, in the thirty-fourth episode, Dongfang Bubai's separation from Lan Fenghuang at the seaside, which lasted just a few minutes, Yu Xi's admirable performance perfectly interpreted the complex emotions of the character, making this character truly rich and profound, and creating a radical character that I am deeply attracted to.

In just a few scenes within a single episode, the ultimate essence of this character is achieved. Without such strong inner conflicts that reveal multiple facets from a new perspective, the previously purely positive character, Shaoshi, or the later reversed image of the leader of the negative faction, would not have been so well-developed.

I repeatedly watched those short ten minutes over and over again.
I really like the expression and body language that Yu Xi displayed, as well as the psychological state of Dongfang Bubai portrayed in that moment.
So lonely, helpless, and desperate.
Like a very young child, holding onto oneself tightly, trying hard to curl up within oneself.

In my opinion, it was Lan Fenghuang who let Dongfang Bubai down. It was Lan Fenghuang who forcefully pushed Dongfang Bubai into the framework of a demon.
I love the scene where Dongfang Bubai buries his head in Lan Fenghuang's waist. Like a young child yearning and needing to be tightly embraced by their mother.
It feels like it's piercing my heart. I almost wish I could hold him tightly in my arms.
Dongfang Bubai's demeanor suddenly turned sinister, but what I saw was an extremely fragile, desperate soul in the process of falling apart.
And Lan Fenghuang did not reach out to embrace him. Lan Fenghuang abandoned Dongfang Bubai, allowing Dongfang Bubai to exhaust all his courage to timidly reach out and try to believe, only to end up shattering into pieces.

Lan Fenghuang personally verified the illusion of love for Dongfang Bubai.
The seemingly deep and sacrificial Lan Fenghuang probably didn't even give Dongfang Bubai a fraction of the love that Dongfang Bubai had for her, and Lan Fenghuang herself may not have even realized it.
Dongfang Bubai's love was naturally for himself. I believe that people naturally love themselves above all else, and Lan Fenghuang is no exception.
Once Dongfang Bubai protected her, she would treat him as "one of her own" and take care of him; but when she realized that the other party was not as united as she had imagined, she would cut him off and label him as "other". Compared to Dongfang Bubai, I feel that Lan Fenghuang never truly loved others, only herself. She based her "self-proclaimed" love for Dongfang Bubai on her own "self-proclaimed" image, so when she felt that Dongfang Bubai was different from what she had imagined, it was equivalent to her being attacked. She never truly saw Dongfang Bubai, but rather created her own tragic imagination. It is more accurate to say that she cruelly killed someone who had always looked at her differently.

I can't bear to see Dongfang Bubai like this. Aside from deliberately letting Lan Fenghuang's sisters be harmed, I can hardly see where Dongfang Bubai did wrong to Lan Fenghuang.
I even seriously thought about what I might have missed. I haven't watched this drama in its entirety, only focusing on Dongfang Bubai's appearances, but even so, I should have a grasp of at least eighty percent.
Dongfang Bubai is cunning, but there is also sincerity within. Dongfang Bubai truly wants to bring peace to the martial arts world. He has repeatedly been injured for Lan Fenghuang, and if it were all fake, it would be too much of a gamble. It seems more like a mixture of truth and falsehood, going with the flow, and when the flaws suddenly appear like a broken mirror, he still tries to piece it back together.
I think Dongfang Bubai may not have never thought about fulfilling the promise he made to Lan Fenghuang in the end, to live freely together, but he was afraid. Just as the lines indicate, Dongfang Bubai is actually afraid that his belief will dissipate, so he subconsciously pushes it away. But that is also the proof of his inner struggle. It's just that Lan Fenghuang didn't intend to see it.

The scenes of Dongfang Bubai alone in the water and sitting alone on the cliff deeply touched me.
I truly love that kind of vastness. Looking at Dongfang Bubai like that, I can't bear it.
In my opinion, Dongfang Bubai reaffirmed the illusion of love and the loneliness of people, and finally took a seat in that empty hall that can only accommodate one person.

This Dongfang Bubai's life is full of sorrow. It pains me.

Yu Xi played this role when he was still so young. But the sadness and confusion in his eyes, the frozen smile, the guarded posture, all felt real and moving.
I think his appearance is another kind of advantage given by his talent. His left and right faces are not quite the same, so when you look at him from the front or from the sides, you get slightly different feelings, which makes the impression he gives more rich, as if it's a blend of various emotions.
Especially his eyes are particularly bright, seemingly filled with sorrow and tenderness, as if there is always water inside.
His portrayal of this kind of twisted and proud character is extremely impressive.

I like his portrayal of Dongfang Bubai even more than Han Shuo. XD Han Shuo is great, but I just love the qualities of Dongfang Bubai. I always love that kind of socially deviant character. I can't bear it, I can't let go.

By the way, in the sixth episode when Dongfang Bubai appeared to save Lan Fenghuang, dressed in black and standing on the eaves with a bow, in my heart, I still shouted: "It's my Lucifer¹!"
I really like this look, and I think the attire of the members of the Sun Moon Sect is also quite nice. The disguise as a member of the sect in the twelfth episode is also well done.

One more thing: I have even seen works that depict the tragic love between the black and white Han Shuo twins, but has no one attempted to create something for little Dongfang as well? XD I think it could even be a love triangle, with the beautiful leader of the Red Flower Sect, the ink-black and pure white Shaoshi. Or perhaps a genuine love story, how wonderful would that be!

Postscript (June 20, 2022):
Later on, I actually found works that depict the black and white Shaoshi twins. XD
And I even created one myself: "Rulix". XD