Petals of Love (2025)

Simple XianXia, Great ML, Awful FL

Love of Petals is a simple, easy-to-follow xianxia drama that’s perfect for a casual watch. It’s not trying to reinvent the wheel—just a straightforward story about love, sacrifice, and a world where humans, gods, and devils live side by side without any fuss. The drama dropped all 24 episodes at once, which is great if you’re the binge-watching type. But while the story has its charms, it’s held back by one big problem: the female lead just doesn’t fit the role.

The Story
The plot revolves around Gu Qing Cheng, a sweet little gardener who has a special talent for bringing plants back to life. Her dream is to become a flower goddess so she can go to heaven and see her parents again, who passed away when she was little. To do that, she needs to heal 9,999 dying plants. One day, she finds a dying peony in a graveyard, takes it home, and nurses it back to health. What she doesn’t know is that the peony is the original form of Lv Geng Yun, a half-god, half-devil who’s been through a lot. When the peony transforms into a man, they fall in love—but there’s a catch. His soul is now tied to hers, and if he takes it back, she could die. And without it, he could die too.

This creates a sense of urgency as Gu Qing Cheng goes through trials and tribulations to find a way to save Lv Geng Yun without losing her own life because Lv Geng Yun wouldn't let her to. Along the way, there’s an antagonist stirring up trouble, making their journey even harder.

What’s interesting about this drama is how casual the relationship between humans, gods, and devils is. Unlike other xianxia stories where humans are terrified of gods and devils, here they all just kind of live together. It’s normal for humans to bump into a goddess or a devil on the street, which gives the story a laid-back, almost cozy vibe.

The Characters and Acting
Here’s where things get a bit messy. The casting for the female lead is... not great.

Gu Qing Cheng (Li Lin Fei)
Gu Qing Cheng is supposed to be this cute, sunny, slightly naive girl who loves plants and has a big heart. But Li Lin Fei just doesn’t fit the role. She looks too mature for the part, and her acting doesn’t help. Her crying scenes feel awkward, and her overall vibe is more “serious adult” than “charming flower girl.” Her styling doesn’t do her any favors either—she often ends up looking like a Holland maid instead of a budding sweet flower goddess. There’s only one scene where she actually looks the part as a snobbish goddess, and it’s a dream that lasts about two minutes. It’s a shame because the character had so much potential, but Li Lin Fei just doesn’t bring it to life.

Lv Geng Yun (He Chang Xi)
Lv Geng Yun’s backstory is one of the more compelling parts of the drama. He’s the son of a flower goddess and the king of the devils—a union that was forbidden and ultimately led to his parents’ execution. Growing up in the heavenly realm, Lv Geng Yun is constantly bullied and ostracized because of his mixed heritage. The heavenly gods see him as an abomination, a living reminder of his mother’s “shameful” love for a devil. He’s punished regularly, treated like an outcast, and forced to endure the hatred of those around him.

When the heavenly realm finally condemns him and leaves him to die on earth, it’s almost a relief for him. He’s tired of the cruelty and hypocrisy of the gods, and he finds solace in the human world, where he’s free to live without judgment. That’s where he meets Gu Qing Cheng, who saves his life and shows him kindness he’s never experienced before. He Chang Xi does a fantastic job portraying Lv Geng Yun’s pain, anger, and eventual softening as he falls in love. His chemistry with the world and the supporting cast is great—it’s just a shame that his chemistry with the female lead is so lacking.

Supporting Cast
The side characters are actually pretty good. The second couple has a nice little storyline, and their chemistry is way better than the main couple’s. The villain is your typical meddling antagonist, but they do their job well enough.

The OST
One of the standout aspects of Love of Petals is its soundtrack. The OSTs are absolutely beautiful and perfectly capture the emotions of the story—love, longing, and separation. The songs are melodic and haunting, with lyrics that reflect the struggles and heartaches of the characters. Whether it’s the tender moments between Gu Qing Cheng and Lv Geng Yun or the bittersweet scenes of sacrifice and loss, the music enhances every emotional beat. It’s one of those soundtracks that stays with you long after the drama ends.

Final Thoughts
Love of Petals is a decent drama if you’re looking for something simple and easy to watch. The story is sweet, the concept of humans, gods, and devils living together is fun, and He Chang Xi is a great male lead. The urgency of the soul-sharing dilemma adds some tension, and Gu Qing Cheng’s efforts to save Lv Geng Yun give the plot some emotional weight. Lv Geng Yun’s backstory as a bullied outcast adds depth to his character, making him one of the highlights of the drama.

But the miscasting of Li Lin Fei as Gu Qing Cheng really drags the whole thing down. She doesn’t look or act the part, and it’s hard to get invested in the romance when the female lead feels so off.

If you can overlook that, it’s a nice little xianxia drama to pass the time. But if you’re looking for something with strong leads and great chemistry, this might not be it.

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