Nicky Wu and Liu Shi Shi Confirmed for Bu Bu Jing Qin, Kevin Cheng and Yuan Hong Reportedly Out

I always thought that there could be no genuine Bu Bu Jing Xin 2 (步步驚心) without the involvement of Tong Hua either writing the script or approving it. Yet here it is, with her going on record on her weibo page stating that she is not involved in upcoming so-called sequel in any way. I think the clearest indicator that this is simply a completely different modern drama using a few of the same character names and perhaps a overarching construct from the original story is the fact that the new drama has a different name of Bu Bu Jing Qin (步步驚情) and the synopsis submitted to SARFT for approval earlier this month I have translated here. The drama is slated to start filming at the end of February and the latest developments have 4th Prince Nicky Wu and leading lady Liu Shi Shi confirmed but the news reports are saying that 8th Prince Kevin Cheng and 13th Prince Yuan Hong are out. This comes as no surprise since both Kevin and Yuan Hong have said they have never gotten a script nor officially been asked to join the drama, despite Tangren mouthing off repeatedly that the entire cast of BBJX will be back. Kevin and Yuan Hong are scheduled to begin filming any day now the drama adaptation of the Tang Qi Gong Zi novel Hua Xu Yin (drama is called The City of Devastating Love) with leading lady Jiang Xin. The news reports are adorably saying that Ruo Xi and 4th Prince are getting back together while 8th Prince has eloped with Consort Hua (Jiang Xin’s scene-stealing character from The Legend of Zhen Huan). Tangren has been freezing 14th Prince Lin Geng Xin for the past few months (poor baby, I hate that agency with a passion these days) so if he goes get out of his contract and goes to Hua Yi Brothers (as rumored), then I’m all for him giving Tangren the middle finger and saying no to BBJX 2 as well. Which leaves 9th and 10th Princes possibly joining, though both are on a hot streak and I’m not sure they want to or have time for this pointless exercise either.

The filming for BBJX 2 is slated to take approximately 10 months and won’t be released until 2014. It won’t involve time-travel and will simply be the story of a modern white collar working girl getting embroiled in a corporate successor battle between two hot guys that work with her. Yawn. While I am happy that Liu Shi Shi and Nicky are reuniting for a project, I have no expectations for BBJX 2 being any good mostly because the script written without Tong Hua’s lyrical hand is just a run-of-the-mill C-drama workplace/love triangle production. Despite loving the sizzling chemistry between Kevin and Liu Shi Shi in BBJX, I’m fine with him being out because I think the drama adaptation of Hua Xu Yin will be my next C-crack. I just finished the novel (HOMG, so so SOOOOOOO good) and am eagerly waiting for it to start filming. But I read the leaked entire 30 episode drama synopsis and it is nothing like the novel. Characters are the same but almost everything else has been changed to the point I take it as a completely different story. Not as good as the novel, but interesting enough that I still want to see it. The novel is something else – utterly mesmerizing. Just out of curiosity, does anyone want me to write about it? Based on the leaked detail drama synopsis, Kevin Cheng will be playing Mo Yen/Prince Su Yu, Jiang Xin is Princess Ye Zhen/Jun Fu, and Yuan Hong will be Jun Wei.