LayarHijau – Discussion surrounding a possible tragic ending for Against the Current (兰香如故) suddenly gained traction on Weibo on September 25. The hashtag #兰香如故BE# (Against the Current Bad Ending) even made it onto the trending list as Weibo users discussed the rumored fate of Xu Lanxiang and Lin Jinqi.
Spoiler warning: This article discusses the rumored ending of Against the Current currently circulating on Weibo, as well as the ending of the original novel. The drama-ending information discussed here has not been accompanied by a clear source.
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Xu Lanxiang and Lin Jinqi’s Tragic Ending Sparks Discussion
According to the discussion circulating on Weibo, Lin Jinqi is said to live only until the age of 50. After his death, Xu Lanxiang is reportedly left to spend the remaining 34 years of her life alone.
The most heartbreaking detail being discussed is the claim that “Lin Jinqi died when Lanxiang loved him the most.” If the information is accurate, the main couple would not be separated because they stopped loving each other. Instead, Lin Jinqi would die while Xu Lanxiang’s feelings for him were still at their deepest.
That would mean Xu Lanxiang spends the 34 years following Lin Jinqi’s death still loving someone who is no longer by her side. Weibo users have described this kind of heartbreak as more painful and long-lasting than a story in which two people part ways because their feelings have changed.
The discussion also highlights Xu Lanxiang’s journey from a cautious servant to the principal mistress of the household. She is said to have gained confidence, found love, and experienced the life she had fought for, only to ultimately lose Lin Jinqi.
One Weibo user summed up the rumored ending simply: “This is really too painful.”
Where Did the Drama Ending Spoiler Come From?
There is an important reason to be cautious before treating this information as an official spoiler for Against the Current.
As of September 25, the drama has aired only 31 of its 47 episodes. The drama adaptation also differs in several ways from the novel on which it is based.
The claims that Lin Jinqi dies at 50 and Xu Lanxiang then spends 34 years alone also come without a clearly identified source. It is unclear whether the information originated from promotional material, a production leak, an upcoming episode script, an internal source, or an interpretation by Weibo users based on material that has already been released.
So where did Weibo users get these details?
That question matters because the novel’s ending cannot automatically be used to confirm the drama’s ending. Against the Current is adapted from 兰香缘 (literal English translation: The Fate of Orchid Fragrance; not an official English title), but the drama has changed both character names and elements of the storyline.
What Happens at the End of the Original Novel?
The female protagonist in the novel is Chen Xianglan. She is actually Shen Jialan, the granddaughter of Grand Secretary Shen. After dying in her previous life, Shen Jialan is genuinely reborn in the same era as Chen Xianglan in the Chen family. She later becomes a servant in the Lin family.
The novel’s male lead is Lin Jinlou. In the drama adaptation, Chen Xianglan becomes Xu Lanxiang, while Lin Jinlou becomes Lin Jinqi. The changes extend beyond their names, with differences in the characters’ backgrounds and storyline as well.
For that reason, the novel’s ending and the rumored drama ending need to be considered separately.
Xianglan and Lin Jinlou’s Marriage
At the end of the novel, Chen Xianglan and Lin Jinlou learn that Xianglan is pregnant. During the pregnancy, Xianglan reveals to her husband that she is actually Shen Jialan. She then tells him about her past connection to the Shen family and the life she lived before being reborn as Chen Xianglan.
Shen Jialan was the granddaughter of Grand Secretary Shen. Her family was found guilty amid a power struggle. Her grandfather and the men in the family were executed, while her grandmother, mother, and several other women in the family chose to end their lives.
When the Shen family was punished, Shen Jialan was already married. She and her husband were sentenced to exile. Her husband died of illness during the journey, while Jialan eventually died after falling into poverty and suffering from hunger.
During her exile, Jialan swore before Guanyin that if someone properly buried the Shen family, she would be reborn in her next life as a servant and serve that person.
After her death, Jialan was indeed reborn as Chen Xianglan in the Chen family. She later became a servant in the Lin family and eventually married Lin Jinlou.
The novel ends with Xianglan and Lin Jinlou saying goodbye to the Shen family. Their story therefore concludes after they marry and learn that they are going to have a child.
How the Drama Ending Differs
The drama changes the names of the main characters, with Chen Xianglan becoming Xu Lanxiang and Lin Jinlou becoming Lin Jinqi. The adaptation also makes changes to the characters’ backgrounds and storyline.
Because of these changes, the novel’s ending cannot be used on its own to confirm how Against the Current will end. This is particularly significant because the ending currently trending on Weibo describes a dramatically different fate: Lin Jinqi is said to die at 50, leaving Xu Lanxiang to live alone for another 34 years.
At the same time, the source of those specific drama-ending details has not been identified. As of September 25, Against the Current has also aired only 31 of its 47 episodes.
For now, #兰香如故BE# (Against the Current Bad Ending) is better understood as an ongoing discussion or unverified spoiler rather than a confirmed ending. The question that remains is where Weibo users obtained those details if they did not come from the novel, given that the drama itself has already made significant changes to the original story.
