Lost You Forever

Lost You Forever is a 2023 Chinese television show based on the novel Lost You Forever, the last part of The Books of Mountain and Sea series by Tong Hua. The series is directed by Qin Zhen and Yang Huan. It stars Yang Zi, Zhang Wanyi, Deng Wei, Tan Jianci, Dai Luwa and Wang Hongyi in the lead roles.

The first season premiered on Tencent starting 24 July and ended its run on 16 August. The series was a commercial and critical success both domestically and internationally.

Season 1
Humans, deities and demons coexisted in ancient time under the rule of three kingdoms: Xiyan, Chenrong and Haoling. Xiao Yao grew up in the royal family of Xiyan with her cousin Cang Xuan at a time when Xiyan and Chenrong were at war against each other. Her mother, the adopted daughter of the King of Xiyan General Xiling Heng went to the war and defeated Chenrong army at the cost of her own life. Chenrong lost and was conquered by Xiyan. After her mother's death, Xiao Yao was sent to the Jade Mountain. When no one went to get her back, she escaped from there, experienced many hardships and difficulties for many years, lost her royal heritage and forgot her own appearance. 300 years later, she disguises herself as a man and start to live in Qingshui Town while running a clinic under the name of Wen Xiaoliu. Here she saves a man named Tu Shanjing who is the future leader of Qingqiu Tu Shan Clan. Tu Shanjing discovers she is a woman and begins to fall for her. She also meets Chenrong's military advisor General Xiang Liu, a nine headed snake demon who takes interest in her because of her disguise and her blood's healing power but gradually falls in love with her. Later Xiao Yao and Xiang Liu shares the lovers bug. Cang Xuan also comes to Qingshui town looking for her. After many twist and turns, he discovers her identity and takes her back to Haoling. Xiao Yao regains her true appearance and her identity as the Eldest Princess of Haoling.

Season 2
Fangfeng Bei disrupts the wedding of Xiao Yao and Feng Long.

Main

 * Yang Zi as Xiao Yao / Wen Xiao Liu / Haoling Jiu Yao / Xiling Jiu Yao
 * Wang Motong as Xiao Yao (young)
 * Ma Yirui as Xiao Yao (young)
 * Eldest princess of Haoling, daughter of Xiling Heng and granddaughter of King of Xiyan. Grew up in Xiyan with her cousin Cang Xuan. She was sent to Jade Mountain after her mother's death but escaped from there. Enduring many hardships and difficulties for 300 years, she posed as a man and started living in Qingshui Town as Doctor Wen Xiao Liu. Here she saved Tu Shanjing, the future clan leader of Qingqiu Tushan clan and crossed path with Chen Rong's military advisor Xiang Liu. After being discovered by Cang Xuan, she went back to Haoling as the eldest princess.


 * Zhang Wanyi as Xiyan Cang Xuan
 * Li Zhenzhen as Cang Xuan (young)
 * Son of Xiyan Zhong Yi, grandson of King of Xiyan and the only legitimate heir to the throne. Grew up in Xiyan with his cousin Xiao Yao. He visited various places in central plain in order to find Xiao Yao and gain experience. After finding her in Qingshui Town, he took her back to Haoling. He wanted to ascend to the throne by any means to protect her. He loves Xiao Yao but married Chenrong Xin Yue, Haoling Yi and Tao Shuhui to make alliance with their family. He unified Xiyan and Haoling as one kingdom.


 * Deng Wei as Tushan Jing / Ye Shiqi
 * Zhang Jingyi as Tushan Jing (young)
 * A nine tailed fox, the second son and heir of Qingqiu Tushan Clan and Xiao Yao's lover. He was kidnapped and tortured by Tushan Hou and was abandoned in Qingshui Town. After being saved by Wen Xiao Liu (Xiao Yao), he stayed in Huichun Hall as Ye shiqi and fell in love with her. he inherited the position of Tushan Clan leader after regaining his status and identity. He was framed by his fiancée Fangfeng Yi Ying and had to leave Xiao Yao to marry Yi Ying. He is cunning but trusts his family easily.


 * Tan Jianci as Xiang Liu / Fangfeng Bei
 * A nine-headed snake demon and Chenrong's military advisor. Has nine head and nine lives but only one heart. Because of curiosity and to heal his wound, he kidnapped Wen Xiao liu (Xiao Yao) sevaral times. He loved Xiao Yao but never expressed it. He stayed with her for 37 years and gave up his lives to save her from death. He took the appearance of Fangfeng Bei as the real Bei died and asked him to take care of his elderly mother before his death. Taught Xiao Yao archery for self-defense. Xiao Yao discovered his identity.


 * Dai Luwa as Ah Nian / Haoling Yi
 * Second princess of Haoling, Cang Xuan's wife and daughter of Concubine Jing'an. Because of her and her mother's resemblance to Xiling Heng, she was pampered by King of Haoling and Cang Xuan since childhood. She didn't like Xiao Yao at first and made things difficult for her but later became close with her. She was made Queen of Xiyan by Cang Xuan.


 * Wang Hongyi as Chishui Feng Long
 * Son of Chenrong Yi, the lord of Zhiyi City, Chenrong Xin Yue's twin brother, Cang Xuan's friend and a descendant of Chenrong Royal Family. Uses his mother's surname. Has a very sunny personality. Values career and friendship over love. He first liked Xiao Yao because of her identity as a princess but later got attracted by her wisdom and courage and became her fiancée.

Xiyan Royal Family

 * Hou Changrong as King of Xiyan
 * Father of Xiyan Zhong Yi, adoptive father of Xiling Heng and grandfather of Cang Xuan and Xiao Yao. He always wanted to pass the throne to Cang Xuan. So he waited for Cang Xuan to return to Xiyan after his training.
 * Wang Zhen as Chenrong Xin Yue
 * Daughter of Chenrong Yi, the lord of Zhiyi City, Cang Xuan's wife and Chishui Feng Long's twin sister. As she was a descendant of Chenrong Royal Family, she was monitored by the King of Xiyan since childhood. She fell in love with Cang Xuan at first sight.
 * Wang Lejun as Ruoshui Chang Pu
 * Head of Ruoshui Clan, wife of deceased Xiyan Zhong Yi and mother of Cang Xuan. Committed suicide after avenging her husband and was buried with him.
 * Feng Xiaoli as Xiling Xie
 * Queen of Xiyan, mother of Xiyan Zhong Yi, adopted mother and teacher of Xiling Heng. She died after the death of Cang Xuan's parents.
 * Wu Hong as Xiyan Yi Peng
 * 9th Prince of Xiyan. Was stabbed to death by Ruoshui Chang Pu.
 * Gong Zhengnan as Xiyan Yu Yang
 * 7th Prince of Xiyan.
 * Sun Wei as Xiyan De Yan
 * 5th Prince of Xiyan.
 * He Shankai as Xiyan Shi Ran Li Lingye as Shi Ran (young)
 * Son of Xiyan Yu Yang.
 * Wang Luetao as Xiyan Yue Liang Zhou Yuchen as Yue Liang (young)
 * Son of Xiyan De Yan.
 * Li Shuman as Xiaoxiao
 * Cang Xuan's subordinate and secret guard.
 * Liu Binglu as Ling Lan
 * Chenrong Xin Yu's maid.

Haoling Royal Family

 * Zheng Guolin as King of Haoling
 * Nominal father of Xiao Yao and father of Ah Nian. He regarded Xiao Yao and Cang Xuan as his own child. He entrusted the Kingdom of Haoling and Ah Nian to Cang Xuan and lived in Chaoyun Palace in Xiyan Mountain.
 * Jin Feng as Xiling Heng / Concubine Jing'an
 * Mother of Xiao Yao, ex-wife of King of Haoling and the adopted daughter of King of Xiyan. Died in the battle between Xiyan and Chenrong while leading the Xiyan Army as the Princess General. She was in love with Chi Chen.
 * Concubine of King of Haoling and Ah Nian's mother. She is deaf and mute. King of Haoling married her because of her resemblance to Xiling Heng.
 * Ding Jiawen as Ru Shou
 * Descendant of the Qinglong Tribe of Haoling, Ah Nian's cousin and bodyguard.He and Ah Nian grew up together. He is loyal to King of Haoling for generations.
 * Shang Xuan as Hai Tang
 * Ah Nian's maid and bodyguard.

Qingqiu Tushan Clan

 * Ye Xiaowei as Tushan Hou Luo Zishuo as Tushan Hou (child)
 * A nine tailed fox and the oldest son of Tushan family. Due to his illegitimate birth, Tushan Jing's mother despised him which fueled his jealousy and hatred towards Jing. He kidnapped and tortured Jing, seduced his fiancée Fangfeng Yi Ying and framed him with her help. He was killed by Yi Ying.
 * Huang Cancan as Fangfeng Yi Ying
 * Eldest daughter of Fangfeng family, Fangfeng Bei's half sister and Tushan Jing's fiancée. Because of Tushan Hou's scheme, she mistook Hou as Jing and fell in love with him and helped him frame Jing. After she realized the betrayal of Tushan Hou, she died with him. She was very good in archery.
 * Tang Qun as Mrs Tushan
 * A nine tailed fox, Matriarch of Tushan family and grandmother of Tushan Jing and Tushan Hou. She raised her two grandson with her daughter in law. She drugged Tushan Jing hoping he will marry Fangfeng Yi Ying.
 * Gao Rong as Jing Ye
 * Maidservant of Tushan family. Grew up with Tushan Jing. Loyal to him.
 * Jia Boya as Lan Xiang
 * Maidservant of Tushan family. Grew up with Tushan Jing. She was used by Tushan Hou to frame Jing.
 * Deng Shiyun as Xuan Zhou
 * Fengfeng Yiying's maid and secret guard.
 * Chen Ruoxi as Lan Mei
 * Tushan Hou's wife but was a maidservant of Tushan family before. She discovered Tushan Hou and Fengfeng Yiying's relationship and hinted Tushan Jing about this. She was killed afterwards.

Qingshui Town

 * Chen Chuan as Lao Mu
 * The clerk of Huichun Hall, a low level deity and a deserter from Xiyan Army. Wen Xiaoliu regards him as his brother.
 * Gao Xuanming as Chuan Zi
 * Human orphan raised by Wen Xiaoliu and Lao Mu from childhood. Studied medicine with Wen Xiaoliu in Huichun Hall but didn't make any progress. Fell in love with Sang Tian'er and married her.
 * Pu Tao as Sang Tianer
 * Chuan Zi's wife and a human. Worked in a brothel before marrying Chuan Zi. Studied medicine from Wen Xiaoliu. When Xiao Yao visited Qingshui town after many years, she was sill alive.
 * Sun Kai as Ma Zi
 * Human orphan raised by Wen Xiaoliu and Lao Mu from childhood. Studied medicine with Wen Xiaoliu in Huichun Hall but didn't make any progress. Fell in love with Chun Tao and married her.
 * Peng Doudou as Chun Tao
 * Ma Zi's wife and a human. Daughter of Buther Gao.
 * Chen Jianan as Rabbit Spirit
 * Owner of food shop in Qingshui town. Wen Xiaoliu's patient.
 * He Yunwei as Mr Stone
 * Storyteller and the stone spirit of Qingshui town.

Production
On 28 March 2022, Lost You Forever began filming in Hengdian. It officially wrapped up on 25 September of the same year. The series focused on using real locations rather than green screen. The simple yet beautiful Qingshui town was completely built by the crew. It took them six months to built the town on an open space of 20,000 square meters. The crew also worked very hard to build the royal palace.

Reception
The series was commercially successful, placing first on all the audience data chart during its broadcast. The series was praised for its well-constructed storyline, the fusion of historical and fantasy elements, compelling narrative and visually appealing scenes as well as the excellent performance of the actors. It also received positive reviews, scoring a 7.8 on Douban.