Love Game in Eastern Fantasy- Mini Recap Episodes 13-16

Episode 13:

Poor Miao Miao just can’t catch a break with that traditional medicine—she’s nosebleeding like crazy! Turns out, these herb daemons are super potent and come with a side of social anxiety, which is why Zi Qi spent the whole night wrangling them for her. Even little Cui Cui can see just how much Zi Qi cares for her, which leads Miao Miao to question her own feelings about their “love mission.” Has she really been thinking about it at all?

Meanwhile, our bamboo buddy, Cui Cui, is hiding from Mu Yao by pretending to be…an “old people’s product.” (Yep, he’s posing as a bamboo backscratcher!) Not as convenient as a hairpin, but he’s doing his best. Mu Yao’s already onto him, though, and finds his disguise hilarious and a bit of a hassle.

Then, the game malfunctions, looping them around a panda statue and glitching just enough to show Miao Miao the tragic ending. Shaken by the reminder, she blurts out the ending spoilers to everyone—but no one takes her seriously. Classic Miao Miao!

Back on track, our team’s headed for the Holy Capital, where Consort Dowager Zhao Qin Ru (the same Dowager who made Mu Yao’s family life so complicated) has summoned them. Miao Miao’s hoping she can find out more about Zi Qi’s mysterious past. He has hazy memories starting around age seven, with only brief, blurry images of a woman giving him a hair-tie. Is she his mother? Who knows.

And then we get a cute cultural exchange with Cui Cui! When Miao Miao tells him to "be more mindful" (literally, "grow a heart"), he hilariously misunderstands, saying bamboo can’t grow anything inside because they’re hollow. Leave it to Cui Cui to put his own spin on things!

Later, when Miao Miao seems troubled, everyone’s quick to point fingers at Zi Qi—even Zi Qi himself! When he’s instructed to cheer her up, he’s adorably lost on what to do. Luckily, Cui Cui steps up in his own way, crafting her a little bamboo dragonfly. When he innocently asks, “Did you make that, Zi Qi?” you just want to defend him. He’s still a sprout, after all! But in his own way, he’s trying to “grow a heart” by cheering up Miao Miao and supporting our lovebirds’ budding romance.

Episode 14:

Miao Miao has news—she’s officially dubbed the group "The Four Martial Artists of the Bamboo Forest," which, of course, leaves little Cui Cui pouting. He feels left out until Miao Miao reassures him, reminding him he’s the “bamboo” in the forest. When he grows up, he’ll be one of them, too. Aww, but does Miao Miao even need to complain about Zi Qi’s “sandbag” with a team name this cute?

Mu Yao tries to hand her badge to Liu Fu Yi, who’s already proudly wearing it! She insists on giving it to him officially, but when Miao Miao playfully pops it onto his head, he can’t help but smile. Then, just as our “Four Martial Artists of the Bamboo Forest” The fearsome 4 step into the Holy Capital, something magical happens. Mu Qing Shi's sword—possibly Mu Yao’s mother’s—starts glowing. Could this be a sign of their second god-level demon hunter?

Meanwhile, Mu Yao realizes she’s third-wheeling hard as Zi Qi and Miao Miao grow closer. She heads off to find Liu Fu Yi, and Zi Qi barely reacts, showing he's laser-focused on Miao Miao now. When she falls for a pricey dream-catcher accessory, Zi Qi doubles the price just to get it for her. Then he loses sight of her, asking everyone he meets if they've seen “a silly, laughing, loud girl who's actually kind of cute.” Ah, young love!

The Holy Capital, however, reveals a darker side to daemon life. It’s a hub of cruelty, where daemon blood is harvested for beauty products, and their flesh is woven into luxurious fabrics. The highest-end clothes come from skinning daemons moments before their death. Some are even sold as powerless pets, with nails driven into their hearts as the final seal. Does this exploitation remind anyone of another species? You know, maybe… humans?

Miao Miao warns Liu Fu Yi of a potential “calamity brought by love. But it turns out the one destined to bring calamity is with her—Zhao Ruo Shi, a marquis, is smitten with Miao Miao at first sight. The twist? He’s already set to marry Li Song Min, Princess Zhao Qin Ru’s daughter! The plot thickens as Miao Miao spots someone in the Holy Capital who looks suspiciously like a parent from her past.

As the group reaches the capital, Mu Yao is summoned to exorcise the princess. Yet, to her surprise, there’s no daemon possessing her. The only reasonable conclusion? This princess might just be certifiably… dramatic!

Episode 15:

Miao Miao’s got breaking news: the team finally has a name! She dubs them "The Four Martial Artists of the Bamboo Forest." But, oh no—did she forget little Cui Cui? He’s pouting, wondering if he got left out. Miao Miao reassures him; he’s the bamboo mascot, naturally! After all, he's still "growing up." As for Zi Qi’s infamous "sandbag," Miao Miao playfully pokes fun at it—she can’t resist a little teasing.

In the meantime, Mu Yao, in an adorably clueless way, tries to pass her badge to Liu Fu Yi. But when Miao Miao places it on his head, it’s impossible to miss that rare smile creeping onto his face. Looks like our 4MAoBF (aka The Four Martial Artists of the Bamboo Forest) are ready to make an entrance into the Holy Capital, just as Mu Qing Shi’s sword glows—a majorly auspicious sign! Could a new god-level daemon hunter be on the horizon?

A Glimpse of the Capital

The Holy Capital is a dark place beneath its glamour, a twisted marketplace of demon cruelty. Demon blood is harvested for beauty products, their flesh woven into exquisite fabrics. Some demons are sold as pets, de-powered, or nailed down to control their hearts. This eerie parallel to human practices is haunting. It's a stark reminder that not everything that glitters in the capital is gold.

Sweet, Suspicious Romance

Zi Qi’s tunnel vision for Miao Miao is showing—he only has eyes for her now! When Miao Miao spots a whimsical dream-catcher, he jumps at the chance to buy it for her, paying double and asking around for a "silly, laughing girl" while losing himself in thoughts of her. Can he get any cuter?

But, things are heating up in the capital. Miao Miao warns Liu Fu Yi about an impending love-related calamity. It turns out that Marquis Zhao Ruo Shi has his heart set on Miao Miao, though he’s supposedly engaged to the princess, Zhao Qin Ru’s daughter. As if that weren’t enough, one of our heroes (or perhaps the whole team?) seems to have caught the eye of someone high up. Who knew love triangles would be part of the journey?

The Marquis and the Massive Hairdo

Marquis Zhao Ruo Shi’s sense of style is...well, “extravagant” is an understatement. His hairpiece looks like it could support an entire pavilion! He’s clearly trying to impress Miao Miao, who remains unimpressed. Meanwhile, Zi Qi’s so busy being jealous he misses every hint. The Marquis, though, manages to spill a bit too much, practically admitting to poisoning his fiancée, Li Song Min. Just a “mild” poison, he says. How considerate.

The Hallucinatory Twist

What a plot twist! The team isn’t just dreaming; they’re under the influence of whale blood aroma, which brings their deepest desires to life in vivid hallucinations. The dream sequences are so seamless it’s easy to get lost in them (I almost did!). But the dreams turn out to be a wild tease as Miao Miao and Zi Qi end up sleeping close—only to realize it’s Cui Cui doing the snuggling!

Guo Xiu’s Sneaky Return

And then, the ever-sly Guo Xiu takes credit for “capturing” the Water Demons. Classic Guo Xiu—cheeky as ever, but still somewhat lovable. He even claims it’s a favor to keep Consort Dowager from knowing the truth about our heroes freeing the demons. You’re welcome, team!

Meanwhile, Li Song Min’s mysterious “mania” turns out to be excitement after finding out one of our 4MAoBF members is the person she’s been searching for all along. Could this lead to another tangled web of relationships?

Episode 16: 

Zi Qi can’t help but smile at Miao Miao’s excitement over Guo Xiu’s (clever) compliment, but when Guo Xiu brings up Qilin Mountain, it triggers something in Zi Qi—a rush of memories and a realization: that’s his home. And if that wasn’t enough intrigue, Guo Xiu is back to uncover why Zhao Ruo Qin has plans to destroy the mountain and its demons so that he can “meet” his victims in the afterlife. Dark, right?

As for the Marquis Zhao Ruo Shi, he’s trapped in the shadow of his family’s loveless marriage, and Zhao Ruo Qin isn’t thrilled about him being her son-in-law either. But, sadly, he’s the only Zhao male around. When the Princess spots Liu Fu Yi, her supposed “dream prince,” she’s practically casting love spells with her eyes. Miao Miao’s CP radar goes off—she’s glaring daggers at both the Princess and Liu Fu Yi, while Zi Qi is also in stare-mode, glaring at Zhao Ruo Shi who’s busy beaming at Miao Miao. Talk about a complex love web! This is one intense game of stare relay.

Our Mu siblings are each fuming, but Miao Miao especially hates how the Princess clings to Liu Fu Yi like bubblegum on a hot sidewalk. Meanwhile, she’s clueless that Zhao Ruo Shi is equally sticky but aimed at her! These royal cousins are nothing but a headache for Mu Yao and Mu Zi Qi.

Then there’s our precious Cui Cui, who gets the typical bullying from Miao Miao and Zi Qi, but it’s all in good fun. From his 900-year experience, he’s learned a thing or two about love, knowing Zi Qi’s feelings for Miao Miao are genuine (all thanks to his smelly but loyal grandfather who fell in love with a heath and still hasn’t moved on). Cui Cui’s bamboo wisdom even has him teasing Zi Qi about his affections, but we all know this bamboo mascot is becoming a beloved member of the squad.

And, in a truly heartwarming moment, Zi Qi orders a meat bun (just one!), and though Miao Miao is practically drooling for it, he insists he doesn’t like it. Lies, lies! Mu Yao’s knowing smile tells us everything—we all know Zi Qi wants Miao Miao to have it. But as he watches her, that question Cui Cui planted in his heart echoes: “Do you like Miao Miao?” And the answer, uncontrollably, is yes.

Finally, Miao Miao has a new mission. Forget the demons; she’s now Mu Yao and Liu Fu Yi’s personal love bodyguard, dedicated to making sure this ship sails smoothly.

DramaZen's Opinion

I’m absolutely loving the unspoken language between Zi Qi and Miao Miao. He might say he doesn’t like anything he can’t control, but is there anything less predictable than falling in love? The way he subtly reacts to Miao Miao is everything—whether he realizes it or not, his heart is way beyond his control.

And let’s talk about the comedy gold that is Cui Cui! His endless disguises to stay close to Miao Miao crack me up every time. From hairpins to bamboo back-scratchers, this little guy will do anything to stay by her side. What’s even better? Zi Qi has finally warmed up to Cui Cui, shifting from fierce protectiveness to a soft acceptance. They’re practically a family at this point, with Cui Cui as their adorable little “kid.” 🥰

As for those love rivals popping up left and right...they don’t stand a chance! Miao Miao and Zi Qi are clearly meant for each other. Their connection is unshakeable, and no Marquis or princess is going to mess with that.

Speaking of rivals, that dream sequence was pure comedy! Watching Zi Qi, under the influence of his own deepest desires, think he was with Miao Miao—only to wake up snuggling little Cui Cui? Priceless. I couldn’t stop laughing. 😂 It’s these little moments that make their bond so unexpectedly sweet and hilarious.

And the new group name for our foursome—“The Four Martial Artists of the Bamboo Forest”—has such a cool, brotherhood vibe. Poor Cui Cui felt a bit left out at first, but being dubbed their cute bamboo mascot made up for it. Honestly, I’m starting to see him as Miao Miao and Zi Qi’s adopted little sidekick, bringing the trio even closer together.

On a darker note, the demon cruelty in the Holy Capital is brutal and disturbing. It’s a powerful reminder that not all demons are evil—some are just trying to survive, while humans are often the real monsters here. It feels like the story is telling us that compassion should be extended to all beings, regardless of appearances.

And, oh my goodness, can we talk about that Marquis with the insane hair? It’s like he’s got an entire pagoda perched on his head! If he thinks that flashy hairdo can compete with Zi Qi’s quiet, smoldering intensity, he’s seriously deluded. Boy, take a seat! 🤣