The Promise of the…

Kenji Fan and Martin Wang star in the latest Taiwanese BL series The Promise of the Soul, adapted from the beloved web novel by Hsu Ci, which celebrates its 20th anniversary.

The story follows Cha Xia, an older man (some sources list him as 69, others as 59), who is shocked to discover that his grandson plans to undergo gender transition surgery. As fate would have it, the two fall down a flight of stairs—and their souls switch bodies. Now inhabiting his grandson’s young body, Cha Xia must navigate not only the challenges his grandson faces but also the complications of his grandson’s adorable crush, adding emotional tension to an already surreal situation.

The series also features a side GL couple, played by Kelly Liao and Okubo Mariko, and another BL pairing portrayed by Hung Wei and Li Ting.

Episodes are expected to run around 24 minutes each and will likely stream on GagaOOLala and Vidol, an iQIYI partner platform.

The Promise of the Soul is generating global buzz within the BL community for its unique blend of supernatural and generational twists, heartfelt storytelling, and emphasis on character authenticity. The inclusion of both BL and GL representation further highlights the series’ commitment to fresh, inclusive pairings and emotional depth.