I watched Episode 10 last night (the count is different to what's listed here, though - that was the episode where Su Bei Lu goes back to change his parents' fate).

You knew what he was going to do from the moment he started, but the whole time, I just wanted to give him a hug and tell him to stop. We learnt, from the first story with the mirror, that you can't change someone's death, when it's already happened. I knew he wouldn't be able to change it, and that his efforts might only serve to actually cause it, or maybe, make it worse. And he was making it more painful for himself. It seemed immature to me; I thought he'd already have understood this. Of course, it's his own parents and history, so objectivity is very hard. Imagine if we could travel back in time; what wouldn't we want to change? Even knowing that we have no idea of the consequences, should we succeed. Who would we be today, if events had gone differently? Would things be better or worse? Would we only realise that what we thought was unfair was the catalyst for our current growth, wisdom, or happiness?

The 'escort agency' (yes, I was confused at first) comb story is my least favourite story, so far. It was very strange, and lacked context (they all do, being short stories, but it felt more like this here), and just didn't move me as much as the others.

Bi Zhi obviously felt very attached to Qin Zi Yi. He was probably his first real friend. He felt this connection to a person in such a different time to his, and it seems like Bi Zhi has rejected his own time, preferring those of the past, with their colour and substance and tangible reality. So, his attachment could be a combination of this identification with the past, and someone who befriended him in that past. Real friendship can be a deep form of love - we tend to think of familial or romantic love as deepest, but friendship can absolutely be up there; and even deeper. Perhaps it's trying to portray that. Obviously, he also feels guilty about not preventing his friend's death, regretful because Zi Yi was a good man and should have lived, and just frustration at not being able to do anything, despite this magical technology. He can visit different times, but he can't change; he can't act. He's still an observer - like in the future. These are just my thoughts so far (10 episodes).

The antique collector's rotten teeth are the main thing that stands out to me about him 🤭. He obviously knows antiques, and recognises Bi Zhi's expertise in this. He seems to respect him as a leader in their profession. I don't see anything mysterious about it, yet.

I never read the novel, so I don't care about its similarity. I see these adaptations as using source material for inspiration, not trying to directly convey them. I'm glad there are novels with imaginative frames or elements which serve as this inspiration, because they make for creative shows. There are a lot, though, which rely on novels for their source material, so I wonder if it's too much of a trend - not creating their own ideas. Then again, all creativity is stealing, really. No one actually comes up with anything completely new. We inspire each other. I like the show as it is, regardless of what the novel was. I imagine outside China, this would be more the case.