Escape With Me

1. Disrespecting Little Jane’s boundaries at every turn. Little Jane said he didn’t want a relationship but Big Jane pushes his way into meeting his family, charms them and establishes himself as an important person so he has the parents on his side.

2. Avoids every opportunity to take accountability or be honest and does not apologise for lying. He distracts or deflects everytime Little Jane questions him.

3. Physically, he pushes boundaries (walking into the studio topless, kissing Little Jane during tutoring). Saying “we won’t do anything you don’t want to” is a manipulative red herring as he already knows Little Jane cannot refuse him and can’t enforce boundaries (he tested that already).

4. Isolating Little Jane from the friend who knows the real him. Sowing suspicion about Little Jane’s friend and damaging his bike was a way to create distance so Little Jane does not have anyone around him who does not believe in his persona of the ‘good guy’ (the persona he deliberately showed Little Jane’s family).

5. Ensuring to instil unease and fear into Little Jane at the same time as seducing him. He does this by withdrawing affection, his presence and being threatening if Little Jane does not obey him, ie; the snooping that found the lockets. This ensures that subconsciously Little Jane knows he cannot say no even if he feels uncomfortable or scared. And that was the cognitive dissonance referenced in the latest episode. The lying and the persona are the classic ways to instill that dissonance and then push through to the victim (Little Jane) no longer trusting their own judgment - which is the point at which an abuser has complete control.

TIAN JIARUI as ZHUO YICHEN

—Let me recommend a writer, Edward Hoch. His detective stories are famous for plot twists on top of plot twists. You never see the next move coming. —“In a world full of riddles, time starts to lose all meaning.” Edward Hoch. I read too, you know. —Respect. Didn’t expect we were all Hoch fans. —I’m more of an iQiyi guy. Big fan of Detective Conan.

云之羽 My Journey to You

Gong Yuanzhi's outfits

+ honorary mention:

TIAN JIARUI as GONG YUANZHI

Lan Zhan: I see. And the so-called "Pool of Blood"?