The classical story of painted skin by Pu Songlin tells story of a fox spirit who falls in love with a already married general. In this rendition Xiao Wei (Ding Chengxin) the fox spirit is a boy. Pei Rong and general Wan Sheng are married but Pei Rong, the lady is the general here.

Amongst a beautiful setting, and exquisite cinematography is a story that is sure to tug at heartstrings. The melancholic theme of this short film manages to get you attach to the characters in just thirty minutes, something regular length dramas often struggle to achieve.

General Pei Rong (Wang Churan) finds a abandoned boy and brings him home where she lives with her wounded husband Wang Sheng (He Changxi). Unbeknownst to them, this boy is actually the heart-eating fox demon Xiao Wei. He wants to replace his own heart with Wang Sheng's, let him take the blame so he can live with Pei Rong.

“It took Xiao Wei thousand years to learn how to fall in love, but he did not know it takes two people to be in love”

There is grey area in this film. All the stolen glances and longing gazes makes you wonder who is actually love with whom. At the end Xiao Wei gives Wang Sheng a lock of hair supposedly Pei Rong's so they can be together in the next life. But this lock actually belongs to himself. So who is it that Xiao Wei loves? And why would Wang Sheng let him have his own heart? The film does not explicitly tell you that. But that is the beauty of subtlety, you have to watch to find out by yourself!

Ding Chengxin is truly the most beautiful person I have ever seen in my life (and I do not say this lightly). He has a pair of eyes that seem to hold oceans in them. Like upturned peach blossoms falling in the air and eyebrows like swords. Really beautiful as if an ancient painting. I'm waiting to see more of his dramas, especially xianxia/Wuxia