For fun (and to kill time before this was posted) I rewatched your reaction to episode 10- and it was a goldmine! I'll maybe a little weird and quote your comments:
"Do crazy-guy and this new cultivator have a kind of like hate to love 200k slow burn thing going on? Cause that would be fantastic."
(on Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan) "Or do they have a thing going on? I’m just looking for any angle I know. But like- blame me?"
"I love him. I love him. Head full of cats. I love him."
"Ooo, are we going to get hot-guy back story? Are we going to get hot-guy back story? No! we are just going to get hot-guy mystery. God damnit!"
(points to Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan) "Friends to lovers 200k slow burn?"
"Ok? I kinda love them? Just a couple of lone gays just out there trying to do good? We stan!"
I love that so much of this was you kinda throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks- and surprise! surprise! it all stuck! :)