Fans of Desire The Series can rejoice — Eliot Huang (XingQiu) and Kipuka Qiu (Qiu Ding Jie) will reunite in the live-action adaptation of the Chinese BL novel “Tenacious Illness 顽疾”, a story that blends soul-crushing angst with a dangerous, obsessive romance.
Based on NongJian’s novel, the drama follows Chu Jianglai (top) — a calculating genius with a dangerously unstable mind — and Dr. Chu Qiubai (bottom), a strong-willed general surgeon hiding his own fractured psyche. Scarred by family tragedy, bound by secrets, and pulled into each other’s gravity, they spiral into a psychological battle between love and destruction.
Chu Jianglai doesn’t mask his intentions. “Yes, I am indeed mentally disabled. Chu Qiubai, you will be my prosthetic limb,” he says without hesitation. His affection is not tender — it’s possessive. “Your desires are mine. Instead of praying to Buddha, pray to me.”
From car accidents to kidnappings, Jianglai dismantles Qiubai’s world. Yet he clings to both Qiubai’s love and his hatred, embracing every emotion with equal intensity. His love is tangled with burning resentment, blurring the line between devotion and destruction.
The title Tenacious Illness mirrors Jianglai’s choice to live with his mental scars rather than heal them. Like a stray dog full of thorns, he carries wounds that never close. Qiubai may appear rational, but beneath the surface, his own madness lurks. Together, they push each other deeper into obsession, where salvation and ruin look dangerously alike.
During a recent livestream, author NongJian hinted that Eliot Huang’s next modern project would be Tenacious Illness 顽疾, sending fans into a frenzy. Known for its “soul-crushing” angst, the novel is one of the most anticipated BL adaptations of the year.
With the Desire The Series leads — Eliot Huang and Kipuka Qiu — back on screen together, viewers can expect explosive chemistry, morally complex characters, and a romance that tests every limit.