[SHORT REVIEWS] #24

Some finds, on-going stuff and future reads.

Recently I cleaned my bookmarks and the progress was great. Although to some may sound silly but the tactic of pending works for me.

What I do for any type of book. Since the array of books seems endless it feels inevitable to want to read more, but is there a way to filter them? I found that the following works for me. 

1. Read summary, read available chapters (self-publishing, online), read available excerpts (trad. publishing). Summaries almost always do not correspond to the content. It's not false advertisement, it's mostly how a synopsis tries to lure you into reading and making it sound like the best book you've ever read. Even for Chinese online novels I read so much, where authors try to put the content and idea of the novel into the title, sometimes the content may not correspond to the way synopsis painted the story.
2. PENDING period. When I have too many things pinned I basically let them pend for some time. You can't read everything at once anyway, so let those books wait for you. You will find that by the time you return it's easier to make a choice and sift through titles. 
3. Reading first few chapters (or some recommend 50 pages rule). Is to gve yourself enough time to asses if you want to proceed reading. I usually just read a bit if I want to decide how far the book will end up on the waiting list. Sometimes the story can grip you from the first passage (usually in regards to trad. publishing), while few chapters are needed to have a feel of style and story when it comes to online reading (if you noticed many don't try to reach for the first passage hook when it comes to online novels).

Because I don't follow any trends or recommendations, I tried, not my cup of tea. I have no need to rush and it is easy to just scroll and search for yourself. After all you're reading for yourself.

Now onto the novels.

绿茶穿进虐文后[穿书] by 日光融融

(mtl: Green tea persona transmigrates into a tragic novel)

[BL] On-going. Summary: An Yu had a prosperous career as an actor, he suddenly transmigrates into a novel to become a cannon fodder. Original An Yu was ostracized by his own family not knowing that it wasn't his family at all, he was manipulated into marrying a person but was actually accused of stealing a groom from his own brother, followed by infamy original An Yu never knew affection.

Newly arrived An Yu is a master of green tea, a pro, a Green Tea Lux. Although he follows the same pattern of marrying someone according to the storyline, but his own fate is not as tragic. For him this marriage is only a temporary stop before he leaves with money, leaving evidence of his family not only framing him left and right but most likely finding the evidence how all the fortune that is now squandered by the An family was originally An Yu's.

Xing Zhan (ML) was aiming to marry An Shi, the eldest brother of the An family, he did it to make his grandfather feel better and not worry about his grandson, but at the wedding saw absolutely different person. His first impression of An Yu - absoluetly worst. But day after day he figured that not everything is black and white and there is something behind the story of the An family that is not on the surface.

This one so far is the best from this whole bunch, thus first mentioned :)

    Really liked the beginning, it's fun and up-beat so far. Read ch 1-26 and it has a lot of progress in general. An Yu is indeed a higher class of green tea, at least not so obvious. I'm hopefully waiting for its' development. It's interesting to see that ML and MC don't start all mushy, but actually some hostility was involved, even if Xing Zhan changed his mind later, but he still did not truly accepted An Yu because of the wedding and stealing groom incident.

无间 by 二月竹

(mtl: Internal Affairs)

[BL] On-going.

I think I menioned this before? Anyway, this comes from the author of Backtracking / Looking back that I liked a lot.

Lu Yan (ML) is a captain of criminal investigation team, that discovered connections between murders and a person named Shen Qiao. Investigation uncovered that Shen Shao was currently entangled with three men who pursued him. But these three men, like the victims, had their own connection to a high shcool student who committed suicide 18 years ago due to bullying.

    According to author's notes this is a revenge story. Lu Yan will be living in close proximity with Shen Qiao (according to the summary). That's all I know, like with Backtracking I want to wait for the entire novel to be over to start reading it. Especially knowing this is also a revenge story. Also I know it's wrong to hype myself up, but still.

当死对头变小了 by 故筝

(mtl: After my archnemesis shrunk)

[BL] Completed. THIS ABOMINATION. Lol, but I honestly was weirded out.

I thought it's going to be a fn read, before it became weird. MC Chi Xi has a nightmare that he is a cannon fodder, but the only one who survived for almost entire book is his nemesis Wen Jichen (why he is nemesis, well mostly his sister competes in business world). But one day this President Wen disappears and appears as a 6yo boy in front of Chi Xi. Who finds nothing bad about taking a kid along on a show. What I found really a trashy turn is how the whole transformation was treated, that it had something with Wen's reaction to Chi Xi. And even if there is an adult soul in a young boy's body to me their attempts at inappropriate jokes were too trashy. Like are you seriously talking about erections? Even with an adult person you don't go around talking about this stuff.

Also Chi Xi is portrayed as this silly goose who is likable. Though mainly lacking brains for business and he is not completely clueless. But still...

And later I found out that this author also wrote this - 我和六个Alpha匹配100% - a story about matching of one person with 6 Alphas. I remember reading it before (dark history) but I dropped it soon enough since it was just... a mess. But after realizing who this author is, I realized that I basically wasted time, good thing not much.

与神明的恋爱法[快穿] by 暮时夏

(mtl: The way to fall in love with a deity)

[BG] Completed. Summary: A blue bird that was the first creation of the deity asks to come along when He travels to mortal worlds. She has her own ulterior motive, she fell in love with her creator and maybe she can get close to him in those worlds. But her memories as promised will be sealed and everything is left to fate.

    This novel is almost truly soft, if it wasn't for some sudden thrill here and there that poses no threat. I read a bit of it. As far as I can understand unlike many transmigration novels in this one ML is indeed the He who we know is a deity that created everything and the blue bird is his first creation, she was scared he will completely forget about her and will spend millenia in sealed space waiting for him, this is why she asked to accompany him, but she will remember nothing and he won't be a regular ML like a CEO or even a man, He will always be some kind of deity. Like the first arc he is a mountain god that was awakened because the little reincarnation of blue bird brought him from the brink of extinction. She still falls inlove with him as if it's the most natural thing for her.

就不能当咸鱼吗 by 青梅酱

(mtl: Can't I be a salted fish?)

[BL] On-going. 

I want to try this one, since I rarely touch Interstellar stories. This author I admit I tried before but never managed to finish the story, it was also on-going at that time and as per usual I got distracted by a hundred of other things. And I had several 'horror' type of stories with entities.

The premise of this story is about two people who live under an alias just to have a leisurely life, nothing more. While actually both of them are two bigshots that managed to fatefully meet on a desolate planet. MC is a founding Marshal who others search for, because they do not believe he died.

This author always has some fancy covers btw. And they wrote an e-sports novel (several actually), I'm pretty sure it's on NU, but I forgot which one. But I was attracted to these type of stories more. *hates e-sports*.

婚后浓情 by 若诗安轩

(mtl: Deep love after marriage)

[BG] Completed.

This should be a love after marriage story (obviously). I couldn't read passed ch18, FMC annoyed me so much with her irresponsible of words.

Wen Qian had a one-night stand with Shang Mo. She is a pampered princess of the Wen family (of course beautiful and sweet) and he is the current head of the famous Shang family (a head above Wen family, men are always more CEO than others). But even with precaution she got pregnant. She decided to keep the child, but did not tell anyone about it at the beginning, not planning to say to Shang Mo as well. I could understand her panic etc. She tried to wringle out of this (the joke became old since it was used at least three times).

And I hate this type of shit. It's good that others decided for her to enter a marriage when they found out. And I know this sounds harsh, but I want to be realistic, it's her body and she wants to do whatever she wants with it that's totally okay, but having a kid is a responsibility, not only to give birth to it, but also make their growth healthy and happy. Imagine the kid being a "wild child". Do you want your kid to be labeled that? Even if they're a wealthy family and they can provide everything the kid needs, but that part won't change.

And I could understand if ML was a complete douche, many women are single moms for the reason that men are irresponsible scumbags. But he proposed, admitted it was his fault and went on to arrange everything like marriage, in everything ML is always responsive to her. When she asked - What will our relationship be after the marriage? And he answered - It's up to you. He, the powerful and mighty, actually already loved this girl for who knows how long, she doesn't know about it of course, but she found herself in a situation that it's impossible to simply walk away. But she has the power in this relationship, he gave it to her openly.

Maybe I'm emotional because I watched a video of a review on that divorce show 'see you again' or smth, the most famous 4th season (?) with the most exhausting wige ever named Mai and the scene where her husband broke down talking about their daughter. Like in many situations I'd be on the side of the woman. But when kids come into picture it becomes different for me. And I don't like how some the situations are painted in a dark way. Wen Qian acted so dramatic because she had few nightmares. While she is a rich woman, with her entire family behind her, her future husband is sincere, I can't sympathize with her since she is not in a bad situation. To me she just acts willful and immature. This is why I got annoyed by her. All she does is pouting and sulking. Sigh, I guess it's the favorite type of FMC that acts like that. That's why I DNF'd it.

❧

I added some Korean novels to the list, but considering I mostly DNF'd the whole bunch I previously added I didn't want to mention them here. I'm just surprised at what high rate I dnf them, they're really not my cup of tea, but because of Windburg I at least rekindled a bit of faith in them, it's just not going good so far.

❧

Goodreads is not bad for digging in recommended pile.

A Grave Gift by Christy Carlyle

Electra Poole Mystery Series #1

Official synopsis:

Electra Poole has spent much of her life hiding her abilities, fearing the same fate as her mother—labeled mad and locked away. But in order to survive on her own, she plays into London’s obsession with spiritualism, offering carefully crafted séances to those desperate for answers. Yet when she foresees the death of a wealthy noblewoman and chooses to stay silent, the guilt is suffocating—and the danger is very real.

Lady Becknell is murdered that very night. And someone might know what Electra saw.

As threats close in, she has no choice but to seek help from Scotland Yard’s Detective Inspector Gideon Pierce, a man tied to her past—and to the father she’s never forgiven. But the killer is watching, and with each step closer to the truth, Electra’s own life hangs in the balance.

To outwit a murderer, she must embrace the very gift she’s always feared…before she becomes the next victim.

I always get caught when it comes to couples exploring mysteries. Can't help myself it became one of my favorite things in books. This sounded interesting and this is why I added it to "want to read".

Although having a gift may sound like a cheat code, usually it's not that easy.

A Murder in Mayfair by Magda Alexander

Rosalynd and Steele Mysteries #1

I admit I was caught by a pretty cover and that lovely redhair beauty, I read a bit and the style is okay to me. Despite it being a 1st POV. The premise is someone a man, a toff, hires someone for a murder, it's in the prologue. The next part is we meet Rosalynd, she is an eldest among her siblings, excluding her brother who inherited the title. Their parents gone and Rosalynd was like a mother figure to her siblings and spent years to bring them up, she is also a fervent fighter for women's rights and does not plan to marry, ever. This is basically the content of first chapter. As for the murder, it casts suspicion on her beloved cousin and this is where things start from (according to synopsis). 

Again, couples solvingmysteries, I'm in.

The Place Where They Buried Your Heart by Christina Henry

This is what I picked up as recommended by Gab Smolders (@YT). Usually I skip on recommended, but I watch Gab because she is a gaming channel instead of a book channel and her preferences are mostly in horror. I was attracted to description of this one that this should be a good and interesting take on a hounted house novel.

A Deadly Affair by Carla Simpson

Angus Brodie & Mikaela Forsythe #1

Another mystery book, another couple. I honestly read first few chapters. It's quite dynamic I think and the stakes are high from the get go. Mikaela Forsythe (one of my nieces is also called Mikaela) finds that her sister is missing, someone like her sister who would never disappear without a word has been missing for days and things get even worse when police finds a dead body of her maid. Knowing how unreliable police is, not to mention her sister's husband also wants to do things discretely without a noise, Mikaela decides to take things in her hands and finds a private investogator, Angus Broodie, someone who doesn't look like he will get his job done, but her aunt promised he is the best at what he does.

Not always chasing pretty covers. Also attarcted to the FMC of this novel, she is someone who preferred travel to balls and tea parties, she is a writer and has adventurous spirit. She also have seen enough to not be scared like any other lady would and nothing will stop her from finding her sister. I saw this recommended on Goodreads many times but I kinda skipped it. Who knew that it sounds promising.

The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson

Eternal Path Trilogy #1

Usually, I would skip a book others are raving about, but many people praised it, so I put it aside too. The shortest reasn to read a book ever. 

[ANIMATION] Haunted Hotel (2025)

It says, from minds behind Rick and Morty, but honestly I find it not needed, it only serves as advertisement to attract attention of those who might have watched Rick and Morty, but in how many cases when something is said to be done by someone who did this and this we rely too much on that information and in many cases expect something similar, but to me who actually watched both I'd say it's not a good publicity.

Rick and Morty to me is like a bad trip. Haunted Hotel has a bit of the unexpected vibe to it too, but it's a pretty tame show, I'd even call it cute.

Telling the story of Catherine who inherited a haunted hotel from her brother, whose ghost still lives in it, She and her two kids move in. Oh yeah let's not forget the demon Abaddon locked in a boy's body that her brother found in the woods. The story throws you right into action. It's basically ironic horror.

It's colorful and fun. It has some famiy conflicts going on, but interestingly always involving something paranormal as means to show it or solve it.

Was surprised to find so much fanart on Tumblr and it was all about Abaddon, I agree, he is special. And a pretty interesting character, his antics are funny. It's great that the entire family has something distinctive about them.

I'm usually pretty skeptical about things that are "Netflix Original", but this time I zoomed through the show in no time and it was pretty fine. It doesn't pretend to be something bigger than it is. Just a small show to have a little bit of good time.

[MOVIE] Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Doctor Strange teams up with a mysterious teenage girl who can travel across multiverses, to battle other-universe versions of himself which threaten to wipe out the multiverse. They seek help from the Scarlet Witch, Wong and others.

-IMDb

I'd say this description is so false. Because the main confrontation is between Strange, the girl (the best background board type of character) and Wanda. To know why Wanda got crazy you need to watch the TV show they created, which of course I didn't care about because I don't care about her character.

This is a downside of the MCU, they include things that were mentioned somewhere, elsewhere, which basically means you need other sources to fully feel for the characters here.

I can honestly accept that I liked the special effects. Because I recently watched the Hitchhiker's galaxy guide some of it was reminiscent. The plot is a totally different thing though.

I like how to make the character totally bad Wanda refuses to peacefully ask the girl who can travel the verses to help her, no, she is now paranoid and wants the power for herself.

Meanwhile the girl is completely flat as a character, she is so insignificant and acts as a took I'll be honest. Like we should care about her.

This is why they escape and Wanda chases.

She chases relentlessly, so much so we find that in one universe there is a whole bunch of heroes of alternative versions. I love how ridiculously imbalanced the powers are. Like Wanda arrives at their temple and starts pew-pew-pew with her powers, before she fucks up someone's head, just one person and it basically creates an opening (l = logic). Later she is with her dark book, which I think had a pretty short but nice scene of a woman sacrificing herself  to destroy the book. But I laughed so hard when in very next scene Wang tells cliche stuff like "better kill me" but yields under the threat of his comrades' deaths. I thought they should protect secrets with everything they had, I guess I was wrong. But even more ridiculous thing when they find that temple and Wang almost acts as a tour guide. My question is - how does he know when he is forbidden to go there? Do they get a brochure of secret places?

Anyway, she had her way, a full-blown altar to use to steal the power (how convenient), while Strange connects from another universe. Ngl the thing they thought about as using a dead body in original world to connect was campy.

But this is it. Simple message to the girl, which is flat as the ground - believe in yourself.

But what Wanda got was far worse, but honestly only this part, very last part of the movie was okay.

Again, the special effects were great, some operator's work was really good. And overall it was okay. It's just those silly things to forcefully stick the story together that got to me.

[Chinese BG novel] 好孕快穿：娇软女主在位面被团宠 by 啃一块酱大骨 / Easy pregnancy system: the heroine is pampered in every world

*title is mtl'd in a free-wheeled manner by me and is not an official one, I just thought this title was fitting to describe the story.

Maybe the title will make you think this is not worth reading and I don't insist. But it managed to be a sweet cookie type of story with love and kids. Many novels actually have the same vibe, but it's because they don't have primary goal of having kids, which draws the line between this and that.

Summary: Su Zhiruan who used to be a common worker, pretty resilient and adaptable is picked up by "easy pregnancy" sustem for a task to save the bloodline of Sons of Destiny and become a mother of their children. With the promise of getting back with enough money and assets to live a leisure life she embarks on the path of completing her mission. But with each new world it becomes evident there might be something more to Zhiruan herself and her targets.

It's 1vs1, it won't feel like that at first but you'll get the gist soon.

#QT, children, group favorite, *Qidian

This is an easy-going type of novel, but actually is pretty sweet. I found it randomly on Qidian and actually thought it was nice, pretty calm type of reading with FMC being pampered by her husband (love of family and husband's family is optional, author started liking more melodrama in last few worlds). But tbh beyond the initial setting of her needing to give birth to his children there is no explanation of why and what is significance of this. Partially my own guess was to continue the bloodline of Son of Destiny who without her would be childless and because the world depends on him will lead to plane's collapse. But my own theory was often sabotaged by FMC's action, since in several arcs she did not inform ML of her pregnancy and he was unaware of becoming a father (see the arc spoilers). Which is one of the parts of FMC that I personally did not like, because I consider it cruel towards the children and the father. And another part of the reason is that it's kinda illogical in a way (since the children and father meant to be reunited, because father searches for Ruan, meaning he will find about children). She also does some contradicting shit. Back to the reason why babies. I have no idea, I know that ML is only one person and he wants Ruzn to remember him in those worlds and remember herself.

After reading 6 worlds I do have my problems with FMC though. She is a pretty good character overall, you can feel she is full of light, strength and gentleness. But sometimes she strikes me as oblivious at points when it is illogical.

To explain it plainly she often feels oblivious to feelings of ML when she supposed to have lived several lives and is an "old driver" when it comes to feelings, why sometimes it feels like she is new to this. And because of this sometimes she makes stupid decisions which do not make her look good? I'm currently reading the 6th world and it is most apparent here.

Again, including short world descriptions and spoilers and my own thoughts like what I think is quite wrong.

1. Emperor x Palace maid. Since there is a Son Of Destiny and Ruan needs to get close to him, she often expresses things she does not mean actually. Here she is a maid near the Emperor, silent and hard-working. The palace had no descendant for 5 years. Emperor is filial and is under pressure from each side, while his mother always expresses her desire for grandchildren. Also Imperial concubine is her niece from Empress' family, so she gets a pass more often. Emperor started to take a note of this silent maid and she was a comfortable silent and gentle companion, when a chance arrived after a bit of drinking the curtains were dropped and the spring has come. In other words hot night was there. Ruan refused to become a concubine and stayed as a maid by His Majesty's side. Which she did for the mission, not because she was smitten by him (it will happen, but later). You can guess that a bit later she became pregnant. From here on changes occured in the harem. The Emperor's past is described shortly, like his father had many offsprings and he wasn't exactly favored, so he had to survive in this harsh environment, while only few survivors remained, he became benevolent ruler but was averse to women. In consequent worlds ML is always the lonely person always averse to marriage before meeting Ruan, but the most boring part is that his loneliness is often described shortly and almost in the same manner. Back to Emperor, this childhood experience explains his rare going to harem. When Ruan appeared he stopped going completely. When Ruan was found to be pregnant the one among happiest was Empress Dowager, she treated Ruan nicely and cared for the future child. The one most vicious was Imperial Concubine who considered herself the biggest winner because of her birth and connections and wanted to become the next Empress, she always oppressed people in the harem and punished if she was jealous, here she was driven mad (she even wanted to hurt the born prince). After Emperor fell for Ruan he kept her close, slowly promoting her. All other women were let go with money or became female officials. I forgot how many children they got in the end, but many. One heir, one loved martial arts, one poet, monk, businessman and I think there is another one, also they had a daughter who was the youngest. The palace was empty of concubines but full of children, Emperor got his happiness of having a home and family. Empress was ecstatic for grandchildren. And Ruan was basically the winner in life, their family was recorded in history as one of the most benevolent rulers who had a strong loving bond and whose children never fought. This fashion of letting their kids do what they want continued into next worlds.
2. Disabled boss x student in need. Actually he is pretending to be disabled (explained, but not in detail to care much). ML found Ruan to become a mother for his child(ren), he didn't want to get married due to his childhood experience. His father was more romantic in his youth, so he sired some illegitimate children who were sweet-mouthed, later he realized the faces of others, but his own son was distant and it became a pain for the old man (later relationship was mended a bit because of Ruan). ML is a domineering type who pretended to be disabled to lure out his half-brothers who were vying the fortune of their family, even if ML actually had his own company. Ruan in the script needed money for her grandma, so she signed the contractual relationship. ML pretty soon was quite territorial about Ruan but was oblivious to it. When she was done recuperating she indeed left him and children. This is the part that baffled me but also contradicts consequent worlds where she is afraid ML will take her children away. I wondered why during their relationship she never probed him further, while he dropped hints to his feelings, but she was so stoic about doing things according to the contract and always reassured she won't cling to him, which of course broke his heart. I side-eyed this because relationships changed and this could have played on it. Then she left, this girl even got the man drunk so he could sleep while she was off with her grandma to another city. He later found her and expressed his feelings and she eventually accepted, also thinking about children. But she did not give up her career of becoming a civil servant so they had a bit of long-distance relationship with children going back and forth before officially reuniting when she was transferred back. Well, many things can happen. But still want to know her motivation of leaving her children and never raising any questions about the ML. Note: Ruan gave birth to triplets, so yeah, I have questions.
3. Young master x peasant girl in the 80's. In this script the difficulty should be that OG Ruan could never get close to someone of ML's level, but you never feel the difficulty for once and ML is clearly interested in FMC quite early on every time and FMC is accimplished herself which impresses the ML every time. Originally she wakes up to find out very delapitated house, her mother who is weak-willed and almost famished siblings. Their father who is a local scoundrel chose a wealthier widow to get along with and abandoned his family. With such a son and husband there is also a vicious mother-in-law, who brought a lot of hardships to wife and three children. But one who is more vicious is the daughter of that widow (Either Caihua or Cuihua, pretty average and normal name for a village girl). OG Ruan never even crossed her path, but because she was prettier it made the girl jealous, but because her scheming was horrible from young age it could easily manipulate naive people resulting her getting away with a lot of stuff.  She also likes to stay behind the backs of others. The fate of OG Ruan was really bad. Now Ruan seeing it's the period of economic growth in the 80's there are oppurtinities everywhere dabbled in everything she could, clothes, writing and opening a snack shop. Her business was successful, she even managed to send the evil MIL away early on to the widow's house (they were not wealthy at that time) and when MIL and widow came to make trouble they became known to all people around and became infamous. Ruan let her siblings go to school and got ready for Collage Entrance Exam herself. ML is a teacher in the sibling's school, his secret identity is the heir of the Qin family from the capital, he was pressured by parents into marriage, they were afraid their only son and grandson will be lonely, but instead he decided to travel far for a bit. This is how they met. ML used the idea of helping her for the exam as means to get close. Ruan also avenged the OG Ruan (since the above-mentioned widow's daughter still continued to make trouble and ended up doing the same things, trying to knock her out and send to a house of a cripple). When Ruan passed the exam (it was also a face-slapping type of scene where she had to stand aside and wait for results to be announced while others thought it's the widow's daughter who got high score, since both have same last name Su) she then travelled with her siblings to the capital. Her mother stayed behind to watch after restaurants with her new husband. Her mother's transformation maybe is the most significant. From cowardly and unaware she was now facing more knowledge and new ideas. It's great to see such transformation. After arriving Ruan became a star since she was a new student of physics department but also her boyfriend is a popular person. His family also were ecstatic to find he has a girl, later were conquered by her abilities, since Qin mom was into fashion business, Qin father read Ruan's writing and Qin grndpa was the professor of her department. So yeah pampered life with a lot of loving relatives. I think they had twins, her son united all the businesses under the helm of Qin group while her daughter decided to travel (inspired by their travel in their childhood) and later filmed documentaries becoming famous in this field. In several worlds so far when time comes ML and Ruan delegate power to their children and basically spend their time togther. Three successes, I would start suspect something about myself. While this girl is kinda oblivious. But do not fret, she will get to it later.
4. Crown Prince x Medicine girl. In OG plot the prince is saved by fellow villager, but the forces later annihilated entire village in retaliation. Now it is Ruan who took care of the prince, her idenity is a medicine girl, but strangely she decided to give him an identity of her childhood sweetheart (fake) and they lived basically like an old married couple. To me this only brings confusion (like he feels she loved the guy and it hurts him) and she did it only to get closer to him. Maybe because it is deception it felt kinda meh. They indeed married according to village traditions with Crown Prince being on board with it. Later he was found according to plotline and before leaving asked if she wanted to be with him, to be concubine, she did not want to enter the palace again..although his was empty, but she thought he might marry one day and she will be below others and not free like she is now, but she already knew she was pregnant, which is the thing I found cruel about her. Like she gives birth, children grow up in ancient times without a father (kids later mentioned being called nasty things) and she also deprives their father of knowledge about their existence. Not to mention when she took entire village away they burned it down, since they knew the dangers of forces behind the assassination. Few years later she became a big business lady. Crown Prince stubled upon his own kids by sheer chance, later investigated and came to Ruan to face off. You know what I find strange is that kids' reaction is not only the ability to accept their father and how they stand for their mother, but how it portrays ML as someone bad, when he did nothing wrong. "If you make mom sad" the dude had no idea you existed. Why make him sound like a bad guy, the scumbag of the situation is actually FMC to me haha. Anyway, the later part is kinda dragged out to me because it feels like she is hard to get (not in a coquettish way, she just acts like a stone). Later on because she asks for slow progress of pursuit (I mean girl, you already married, you did the deed, what slow pursuit do you want?). They came across people who assassinated Crown Prince years prior, but they both were fine, they faced the situation of forced proximity (falling off the cliff and spending a bit in a cave). Tbh  I always feel weird at the points when Ruan decides it's okay to be together. She married the Crown Prince, later it was also revealed that she had a hidden identity, lost daughter of a general. Another point is that sometimes author feels like she forgot what she wrote priorly, you know how information is repeated is one thing, but when times passes and someone mentions the same thing and another person acts as if hey hear it for the first time. Not to mention the repeated passages that bear the same information are abundant.
5. Ascetic heir x love-brain heiress. This one had some tragic OG plot. The OG Ruan is a love-brained lady, she decided to marry an ordinary person who impressed her with few sweet words and ability to cook for his woman, but who did not really conceal his ambition (honestly, he was almost blunt in his speech always saying - when I become the boss of the company and you will stay at home as a happy housewife raising our children). He also cheated on her early on, drained the entire Su family so she would depend on him, she was tortured, framed by mistress for killing her daughter and OG Ruan ended up torn apart. Ruan later asked herself how guarded the OG was to believe this man, what she found in him, he often said some foul things and he was so obvious when it came to greed, ambition and his affair. Ruan at first pretended to be the same love brain, but devised a plan to reveal all his deeds and his mistress so they will bear the stigma for years to come. Also she accidentally saw her target added him and chatted about her own gossip with ML. She confessed to her parents about the cheating and asked her parents to move this guy away but never let him to the core power. While he was appeased and worked to the bone thinking he was important and almost gleaming, the guy did not forget his mistress, as a chauvinistic bastard as he is. Ruan mentally stimulated both parties, which also sowed discord due the guy's ambition and the mistress' greed and misunderstanding. She knew the mistress was pregnant now. The plan proceeded well. Later she had to move it fast-forward because she saw them together in a bar by accident and of course she couldn't turn away and pretend to be blind. She still acted heart-broken in public and instigated the guy to leave the mistress and ask for forgiveness in front of her parents, he really bought this bs not realizing Ruan slowly changed, while people watched live the whole process of him kneeling in front of their house, admitting mistakes, later his mistress arrived with her belly and acted pitiful thinking she will get her way but the scumbag ended up pushhing mistres down creating a whole mess (mistress lost her first child). Thanks to the push by Ruan these two became notorious and famous on the Internet. He was kicked out of course from his position and the house they lived in. He still though she was the same love-brain girl and was confident in getting her back, while Ruan took over her company and accepted Zhou's pursuit, the prince of the capital who holds immense power liked the girl who gossiped about herself and slowly came to like her emotionally. Another trap Ruan laid down for the scumbag is her jewellery she bought in the presence of this scumbag but he took part of it for "safe-keeping" which he gifted his mistress. When they lost everything and lived together, the scumbag, mistress and his mother thought of those jewels. Interestingly the mistress now became the love brain of the story, no matter how poorly she was treated she was brainwashed slowly too, but she never left (at first she barely restored part of her health, but because she did not get any good rest after losing her babe she became thin and weak, completely unable to resist physically). When the trio eyed selling the jewellery they thought of doing it silently, but Ruan was always watching them, when they started selling she collected evidence. After all this was new jewellery not released yet, so here's a trap, either he is a thief or a spy. Their family had to return the money to settle it down. But netizens now knew about their deeds. Using public opinion Ruan made this family famous. Later she used her platform to post about herself which further stimulated both her ex and his mistress. For example her marriage process and her wealthy life. While these two married in simplest way and now as a wife she continued to be tortured. Among other things lost second child to a beating. Several times they did not allow her to rest and recuperate, they bossed her around and she always had to do things by hand, which was so tiring and always listed to the MIL who berated her etc. Even if the guy had some leftover contacts and started a business, Ruan tripped him many times. Later the mistress eventually got pretty mental. She gave birth to a girl, whom entire family hated. And she herself hated, since she has been brainwashed for months now. Although her husband got back on track a bit it allowed him to philander again, while she loved him and had no idea how to keep him, before got an advice from a commentator online. She bought some illegal drugs that made her husband paralized, so she was found guilty and sent to prison. While she was away her daughter was dumped by MIL near a dumpster, good thing a good-natured grandpa picked her up, but when she was three and grew up the MIL found her back as a free labor. Also accused poor man of abducting kids. When she was five she met Ruan, Ruan wanted revenge on the family of three, but she was kind to the girl (the mistress in og plot threw her own daughter out of the window, and because she acted like a heart-broken mother and ppl around would never believe what Ruan said, she successfully framed Ruan for this act, Ruan had no evidence to prove otherwise) and said if she needed help she should call. When the girl found that right after returning home her mother wanted to sell her she called Ruan and was taken away. Driven to madness the mistress actually chopped her paralized husband, poisoned MIL and jumped from the building herself, which partially mirrored what happened in OG plot. The little girl was adopted by Ruan. The girl always remembered this grace of kindness. Together with her husband they had four kids, twins at first (son inherited the Su family, daughter became an actress), later they adopted the little girl and years after gave birth to twin boys who later inherited the Zhou business. The adopted girl was always kind and greatful to Ruan, never wanting to accept anything from the both families even if she was offered to. She was like an older sister to her siblings, since she was more mature due to her past experience. Although the fate of these three villains is hardcore, but they did a lot of atrocious things to Ruan in OG plot and actually would do the same if chance allowed and never change their ways.
6. God x Demon rabbit. This is the one that I have most questions about or it just made me mad. In OG plot Ruan is sent to the God realm to serve, but she was refused and sent back but they did not survive. She is a demon rabbit, the weakest clan among demons / mosters. Her target is the God Changqi, so she had disguised herself as a man to serve in his palace, because she heard that he is not close to women. Otherwise she would be turned around. But I truly didn't get her idea of running away from him afterwards. The way I say it is because he may have an aloof temperament and looks rather cold, but he was never violent. On the contrary he treated her well, even as a page boy. She feared she would be dead if her mascarade would become known. But honestly... the girl treated it like as if he's some moster. To me that was unfounded. This time she had to use the system mall to buy pills and to first use pill to get one time result and one to confuse him, so he would think it's a dream. I truly felt sorry for him because she drafted this fake identity where she has wife and children at home, while Changqi basically had no idea what to do with his feelings. Another point of his kindness is that he openly said she could go home if she missed her family. he liked her she drugged him okay? I'd be scared for this instead of crossdressing. Well, they have the night and she can't decide where to go to escape, she decided on mortal realm. Having a pretty pain-free birth (easy pregnancy is called that for a reason, she feels almpst no pain or has no usual perks of pregnant women, she feels fine, gives birth easily and also restores her beauty afterwards) she comes down the mountain. Here she was approached by some dude (I have no idea why author several time wrote a situation where FMC is approached by someone and they say they're not bad people and if they can talk for a bit, it always sounds sketchy), this man happened to be a prince, who asked her to pretend to be his lost sister to appease his parents, while he wants to become a demon hunter. Very convenient. Just for the sake of becoming famous and be found. Later her children described their mother having a hard time...bitch, what hard time? She never truly suffered in these planes, even here, she came with treasures and pocketful of spirit stones, she'd be a wealthy lady living incognito, she could protect herself because she was a practitioner. They may not know it. She used the idenity of Princess so she and her kids could live well in the palace and be among other people. She became famous for bringing their kingdom back to life and almost rivaling with bigger countries. She was considered a deity who came to save their kingdom. And then Changqi found her. She was afraid he will take her children away (you were not afraid previous when you left them in arc 2) and also does he look like that type of person? When will she start reading tpeople? At other times she is found to be quite smart, eloquent and with high EQ. But with ML she becomes oblivious to the guy's feelings that reek - I love you. ML has practically written it all over him. The children asked him to explain why he never came, best answer would be - ask you mother why she got pregnant and decided to escape, but of course he will bear the blame of the situation. They also said - if you make mother sad we will be on her side. Filial wonderful kids, but have no idea it was their mom who patted her back and escaped. By the descriptions she brought back to life a whole country, she is respected and loved, people make statues to pray to her. The one at fault in this specific situation to me is definitely FMC. Her choices. Changqi looked for her for all those years, she deprived him of seeing his own children to grow up, it's not only her children, he has the right to know. Again dropped the confusion on the entire giving birth setting, like if you need to give birth, why take children away, like what's the point. Even if author draws only one path for you, it doesn't mean there was only one path. Sigh. This part about kids and how they met their father and questioned him made me kinda mad. Again ML is the one remorseful and of course regretful that he hadn't seen his kids. The two eventually relegate the power to the royal family while they decided to return to the god realm. And also they agreed to be together. Later on their kids were once again talented in what they do, becoming apprentices of the higher gods despite the fact that they are rabbits. In this life she lived a really long life of course, cultivation baby.  
7. Heir to the group x abused daughter. This one is insane, but actually I heard of someone in real life who acted like that. Let me explain. Ruan has an absolutely mental mother here. She always brainwashes and gaslights her own daughter to be kind, to never grab or fight, to admit her mistakes etc. The picture is pretty much Ruan living in the smallest room despite being the young lady of a wealthy family, is malnourished and riddled with ailment. Her mother made her stand as a kid to let other people take her sit, which made her freeze. She admitted that her own daughter stole something even if she didn't do it. She would push her out everywhere to basically say - you're such an ungreatful daughter and I as a mother have hard time *cries pitifully*. While Ruan is being abused at home. And her mother is more patriarchal than anyone, her brother is living a life of luxury, but she has to live in a small room to get the feel of common people. Her father became estranged from the family because his own wife always makes him lose face outside to outshine her persona, also always reminescing of their past which wore off long time ago. This time their father already had a younger mistress and was oblivious that she just wanted to find a rich husband and for her kids to inherit the business. OG Ruan seeing her mother crying acted for her, but her mother still accused her for being cruel, reversin the story one eighty. This time around Ruan made her mother aware of the illicit relationship early on, while she herself dealt with her health issues and bullying at school. By accident the doctor who treated her was ML and they eventually got closer, his mom helped the most. While the Su family was a total mess at home, Ruan acted in front of her mother according to her teachings - Mom, you taught me not to grab and fight and be kind, how great would it be to have half-siblings. To continue to hold up her persona she still only wept and accused other to feel sorry for her, she wanted to use Ruan as a pawn but this Ruan is new Ruan. She kept the entire family occupied, acted like a good daughter to get some starting capital money from her father and didn't care for the rest. Thanks to ML's mom, Mrs. Xie, she was able to secure the spot for the capital university, which she lost thanks to refusal of her mother in the og plot. She still kept it a secret, otherwise knowing what her mother will do. You might think this is crazy, but such people exist for real. Shocker. Anyway things go on for a while, the mess of the Su family is not unknown, but the Su father cares for his mistress and unborn baby, so he wants everyone to settle, but his wife and mistress are always clashing. The final drop is how during entrance exam her mother took her to a different place and again pushed the blame on her daughter in public for not saying where the exam took place and making her cause disruptance on the road, but Ruan recorded her monologue in the car. Being surrounded by police, by-standers and live cameras everyone heard what this woman said in reality. Shocker. But her mother even during her breakdown said she still managed to ruin Ruan's future and she will be some low class who finished a low-class school. The Su father who arrived (I love how everyone arrived at the scene lol) actually didn't bother with his daughter's education or well-being since he got news of his mistress' pregnancy. But then the Xie pair appeared and even principal with homeroom teacher who found it (well, this exam is a big deal like anywhere else with same unified exam) and announced Ruan got an admission spot for the uni due to her successful olympiads etc. From then on Su family divorced, while Ruan not caring about this family which actually forgot about her. She came to uni, ML confirmed his feelings for her and they decided to date. She recuperated her health well and she was loved by his parents. The only trouble was granda Xie who uniliterally announced he will be engaged to some other woman and since Ruan is weak and sickly and can't produce heirs. ML refused and stepped down from his position continuing being TMC doctor instead of juggling both sides. Ruan opened some company and joked that ML is now supported by her, which he never minded. They lived like this before she graduated and they got married. While ML's stepping down caused a lot of trouble for the company, grandpa Xie was overwhelmed and decided to finally compromise. During the banquet Ruan was approached by the supposed-to-be fiancee who actually assaulted her and almost threw her down in a dramatic fashion among people who came to the party. It was a mess. Grandpa Xie was shocked. Later they had a bigger wedding and a bit before it she became pregnant. Grandpa Xie passed away not long after kids were just few years old, he regretted his choices a lot and left a lot of his inheritance to the kids. I think last few worlds have a bit of more melodrama when it comes to families.
8. Amnesiac ML and resourceful girl in a disaster. This one is apocalyptic but without zombies, this has only weather cataclisms. Original owner is the second daughter of patriarchial family, she was made to drop out to earn money, while her family lives in a good house she is bullied and lives in some delapitated house. All her money are drained by her family with not a single word of goodwill. In og plot she won lottery and this ticket was taken away. She later suffered with no good food during the harshest winter and was even chopped by her own family. Partially I appreciated that setting don't involve some superpowers and zombies, but honestly just the human desperation. But this world is actually more of a cooking show and this is why I skipped it in big chucks, I don't care about the gourmet content. The thing is Ruan never said anyone that she won money, then she unrealistically bought thing in big bulks, this time system provided a lot of convenience. She found an abandoned mental hospital which was perfect to make it as her safe house, she had only few days before the official apocalypse. What type of instant delivery this world has and how much she bought. Later the story was like (oh, she actually did not forget to buy this and this, especially shocked me she had NY goods). When she was settled system prompted her that ML is near, ML was in a car accident so she took him home, he was amnesiac and Ruan had no idea what his identity is. But because she was stocked for yearthey lived a life of cooking a lot of watery text about how they cooked. While she was doing fine her family who never cared for her was not doing well. Anyway she installed surveillance equipment which managed to survive for months later. She wanted to see this good family turning on each other without a common victim. Basic chauvinistic dad and brother in several days when they ate everything leaving mother and daughter scraps told them to go outside, even hinting to lay back and ear food if needed. Which they eventually did, while these two spent time at home saying how without men what would they do but they depended on women to survive. Mother and daughter in the end killed both. While Ruan was spending her time with ML, it was the period of blizzard and cold. She eventually thought to do something with her knowledge of the future. She found people and offered to provide food but they need to build shelter base. From here the work of thousands started, slowly the base was built and people realized that the fog that came around will soon end but not the disaster. Thanks to this base many people survives, they broadcasted not only their implementations but also other suggestions etc. She became the hero of this base, since after the fog they had a sveltering heat which lasted for years. A year before the end she became pregnant, she was okay thanks to the system. But everyone else were worried. Also this was like one and only child born in years. It's not covered in details how exactly they survived, but Ruan collected all talent and allocated food and work tasks. ML also helped alongside, we also find that he was once a celebrity who later retired early and joined his parents' company, but only his grandparents survived. They came to Ruan's base and stayed for a while. After the heat another period of continuous showers began. And this was the last phase. Later because of her intervention at least the virus breakout did not happen. She truly became a hero. People returned to their homes and things returned to how they used to be. Because son and father clamored for a daughter Ruan indeed gave birth to a daughter a while after the disaster was finally over. Su mother and sister who survived actually came to the base as refugees, they did not dare to clamour about their relationship with Ruan and regretted their life choices. Ruan did not make things difficult for them, but did not approach them either.
9. Regent x Princess. Before Ruan asked once or twice if ML was the same, but actually her words were not so direct, it's before this arc started she was more or less sure. ML also appeared in the system space so we knw he follows her. In this plane Ruan is a Princess sent for arranged marriage between two countries, her entourage is ambushed and she fell down the cliff (og died, she survived), she was found by a hunter who happened to be by the stroke of fate her fiance, the Regent, who now lived a secluded life. He did not want to be involved into politics and chose to stay out of it, especially when the marriage was arranged. Now he saved Ruan without knowing she is his fiancee and she acted as if he is just a hunter. They got closer while she recuperated. And they lived like this in seclusion being pretty happy, if someone wasn't sent in search of the Princess. The fellow village girl found her jade pendant and took it as adorement, but later was recognized as Princess and she chose the life of silks and golds instead of rural life, so she concealed her identity (find this stupid because she and her mther when being taken away basically screamed at each other mother and daughter, why no one asked the question). Anyway, Ruan didn't care if her place was taken, this little girl Cuihua decided this was a life she will never get a chance to experience, so she will take this chance. meanwhile Ruan and ML were getting ready to be married but a day before Ruan was kidnapped and brought back to her original kingdom. This harem was full of infighting and the Emperor was an old leech. She became a small person acting as a maid, after all the fact that she was replaced will be known. Instead of staying idly by Ruan decided to act swiftly and sow discord among princes. So they will be occupied with infighting even more. Some time passed before the conflict grew and all princes rebelled. Ruan on the other hand got the Imperial Seal, using the gun she got from the system just got rid of princes and some officials who tried to oppose, she soon proclaimed the youngest child as Emperor and from then acted as a Regent, revitalizing this kingdom. When the enthronement ceremony was held the neighboring country sent envoy, ML included. He finally reunited with Ruan and voluntarily became her Prince Consort. He didn't bother his identity to be changed. They got married, she soon gave birth to twins, she brought up her children and educated the Emperor whom she brought up from childhood to the days when she relayed all power. Her children stays in this kingdom to help new Emperor since they grew up so closely, Ruan and ML traveled back to the same village and lived a retirement life. Even Emperor who abdicated joined them in this life. They just lived day by day like a common rural family.
10. What is behind their identities? ML is the Heavenly Dao and she is the Mother Goddess, thus the whole kids situation. They are very ancient deities coming from a divine realm. Once when Ruan came to experince the small world she passionately fell in love with a young man, but when they returned to their realm she was flustered to find out he was Heaenly Day, so she escaped, later she sealed her memories and now she unsealed them. And they can be together for real.

Ngl at times I felt my brain catching on some of the details, but the general impression is okay. It's sweet at first, in later arcs more melodrama is added. Has quaetionable parts.

Part of me still thinks there is not enough when it comes to feelings and chemistry.

But for a novel from Qidian, this already achieved a greater degree of success in comparison.

RATE: 3,75/5.

[Chinese BG novel] 酒色撩人[快穿] by 三分流火 / Wine and seduction

Actually the MTL says "Wine and sex", not kidding, but to me it sounds a bit vulgar so I decided to change for 'seduction' instead.

Summary: The story follow Yu Jiu, a demon (red lotus) who because of her origins was repulsed by the Heavenly Dao, she now travels the worlds preparing for her tribulation and tries to make plans how not to disappear, but there is a second news, fairy Lianyan she had a feud with came to mortal worlds. A perfect chance for Yu Jiu. But she was prevented from succeeding again and again, before she finally managed to take away the precious artifact - Kunlun Mirror - and with its' help maybe finally turn the tables.

#QT, crazy plots

That's my personal summary of things.

This is the type of trashy but entertaining type of novel. It's not completely bad, few parts that I liked, but unfortunately suffers from bad writing style overall. Fore example, arcs feel sketched out, they start at random point and may end at random point. Not enough details given to care or build a foreshadowing. If you want to know more you need to reach the last arc. The character growth is zero, this is why it just reads as a "revenge" story that repeats itself. The longer it goes on (316 chapter+extras) the more incoherent it felt. What I mean is:

Aims established:

1. Yu Jiu prepares for her tribulation. How she is going to do that is not explained. The first chapter we read she basically digs out the special artifact - Kunlun Mirror - out of Lianyan's reincarnation. We know from the first chapters that she tried to win Lianyan in this worlds many times, but luck of Heavenly Dao was on Lianyan's side all the time, before she finally succeeded. Kunlun Mirror helps her see the "plot", so she can prepare for it and slowly try to drain Lianyan's luck/halo. Spoilers: of course it is obvious that she succeeded from the first arc, eventually she was even able to infect one of the reincarnations with inner demons (I think it was around Urban Psychic arc, which is ch140). What was weird to me is that, she is is so unscrupulous in her actions, if it was any other cultivation novel with basic established laws, she'd have her karma -10000000, but in few last arcs she "does good deeds", I don't think it would offset anything tbh, in the apocalypse arc one guy was able to see the bloody aura on people and Yu Jiu's was the heaviest that almost "covered the sky", so yeah. This is why it's hard to navigate the story that doesn't establish a thing.
2. Feud between Yu Jiu and Lianyan. For the entirety of this novel we have no idea why the feud happened. Just because Yu Jiu is repulsed but Lianyan is favored by Heavenly Dao? Who knows? This is what I was thinking while I was reading. It was evident that Yu Jiu is connected to being a lotus flower, meaning she is not a human cultivator. We find out she had suffered from inner demons for hundreds of years, somehow it is connected to Lianyan. This info came about only in the arc of "Two beauties of the capital" where she taught the Crown Prince who according to her suffered from something similar and she taught him her technique, since she saw her past self in him. I wish I was kidding when I said that details of the feud are sparse and there is no foreshadowing. I needed the story to elaborate, because otherwise it felt like Yu Jiu was just taking revenge. We know she hates Lianyan, I guess we should have concluded the weight of the feud from that only, but that's not enough for me. And Lianyan is not a good person either, of course we need a foe, but she makes it easy for a reader to dislike her. SPOILERS the truth that is revealed in the last arc is not detailed, but basically when Yu Jiu only gained consciousness Lianyan was born and was praised as a cultivator (she did not ascend yet), she killed Yu Jiu and Yu Jiu was thrown into the river. For some reason this river was filled with desires from women (maybe they offed themselves who knows) and somehow Yu Jiu survived in it and eventually transformed into what later will be called Demon King of Thousand Faces, she is the epitome of the desire she absorbed from the river, she also destroyed a dragon vein for her foudation with beaty this is why she is so perfect and could wreak havoc. tbh details are so disorganized and random. This ability indeed came because of Lianyan. But she could not avenge herself since by that time Lianyan ascended and she came to lower worlds only when she heard that Lianyan followed the Heavenly Prince to reincarnations she decided to go to lower worlds and try her luck.

Path to immortality. Spoiler or not, but the Heavenly Prince came to lower worlds and needed to reincarnate many times for his cultivation. Since Lianyan came after him she basically did the same thing. Yu Jiu interrupted the successful reincarnations of Lianyan. Inadvertantly she did the same to the Heavenly prince.

These are the main points of the story in general. The next section should be dedicated to how flat the characters are:

• Yu Jiu. Was and stays the same. There is no development or change whatsoever. She is rough and unscrupulous in her actions, she does not need help from others. Has a strange taste of choosing men to flirt and have a relationship with but never gives her heart (this is why ML of the story calls her heartless later on). To me her relationships were random and outside of her having fun they held no purpose. It felt like she did not want to give either her heart or be controlled (no explanation on these). Next is her beauty. Tbh if it wasn't for the explanation about her beauty, you'd be tired of her in few sentences, because she's one of those FMCs whose beauty is emphasised a lot and is the type to attract attention wherever she goes. This is why first few arcs felt weird to me before I realized it is her cultivation that helps her achieve this. This is explained by the fact that Yu Jiu cultivated in such a way specifically, which of course causes many people to fall for her and it also causes conflicts wherever she goes. One of the arcs demonstrated it fully, it was a transition type of arc where Yu Jiu was injured and she arrived with her body close to real one, and when people saw her they started to act like crazy, the only person who was unefected was Lianyan at the moment and supposed ML of the story. Outside of her beauty she is also multi-talented, since she brings with herself all of her experiences and this helps her to often steal the limelight in the story (that originally should have belonged to Lianyan).
• Lianyan. Outside that she appears in every arc it's very hard to pinpoint what she actually is, what is her true nature. In general I had the impression that she is not perfect at all, all of her reincarnations thought of harming Yu Jiu even if yu Jiu basically did nothing. Only from this I can conclude that even if favored by Heavenly Dao she may not have had a good personality. Although Yu Jiu does lead Lianyan's reincarnation to the direction that promises demise, but Lianyan herself can't let Yu Jiu go each time and is haunting. In her plans she is sometimes no less insidious or even more. Like her later reincarnations may have been called main characters in her own story, but she had inflated ego as well, she might have received some sort of golden finger which would help her suceed, but because Yu Jiu was always stronger she eventually failed at her initial plans. Example from the top of my head, in Eternal Goddess arc, OG was an e-sports pro who was about to retire, Lianyan's reincarnation had a chance to become pro in PC gaming and emerging holographic gaming thanks to a cheat. She used the final farewell match to defeat OG Yu Jiu and step on her, used it for PR and become famous in holographic games, againd efeating OG Yu Jiu in those too. Also exposed her scarred face to the public eyes as a tactic to compare her beauty. Which led to cyberbullying. Although I describe it like this, but it also reads like this with little details and no depth. So yeah Lianyan's inflated ego and making up her own mind actually felt old too. Like she would have no evidence but accuse Yu Jiu of anything and everything that happened to her, even if Yu Jiu really did nothing,s he would make up her mind on it and not let it go. All her troubles she doesn't change but blames on Yu Jiu too. That's a fairy for you.
• Unknown male character. At first (I forgot the first chapters lol) it was mentioned that Lianyan came to lower worlds for him (she followed him with the Kunlun Mirror and even managed to have a relationship in reincarnations), but later it never appeared again. Speculative to me that she mentioned him, but actually never bothered to find him, since she didn't know how to identify him, in my opinion this person and ML are basically the same person.
• ML. The story does have a male lead, but hoenstly... you can't pinpoint or be sure if it's the same guy before he shows the same type of characteristics and eventually (pretty late in the story) starts telling Yu Jiu that she forgot everything and she is heartless. She flirts and dates men almost in every arc, but outside her "choosing a handsome guy" it's hard to tell her criteria of choosing a person, because we don't know the backstory most of the time, we don't know if these men appeared in original timeline. And if not but it's the same person how do they manage to find each other... Tbh I was puzzled by it, from one point Yu Jiu feels like she remembers everything that happened in past lives, at other times she claims to filter and forget a lot of things. This happens in several last arcs when ML tells her she "forgot". She dismissed it many times as if these men had a beau previously. But did she forget him or the original him (if he is a reincarnation of someone). Only in the last arc she lays out her guess that he is the Crown Prince of Heaven and all those men were his reincarnations and she interrupted his cultivation. While he has feelings for her she is not the same (thus heartless)). All this supports the fact that he was mentioned in the beginning but never again before the reveal.

It's funny that after reading this I don't sympathize or feel for any of these characters. Yu Jiu is simply a revenge machine, Lianyan is often manic psycho and ML is just there tbh.

• Romance. I find that it was weird. Although we have only one designated ML in the story it's one of the few times when FMC has so many previous liasons. But also there is no saying who is ML and who is not in those arcs before later half when it became more apparent through actions. Yet I still found the way they met sometimes pretty weird, since they simply crossed paths out of nowhere, it may seem like a fate to others but I still think it's kinda truly random.

1. Arc 1. I skipped after first few chapters since it's about reorganized family and I hate this type of story. I only know that Lianyan was caught bu Yu Jiu in a scandal.
2. Arc 2. Industry Gemini. Yu Jiu is a singer, Lianyan is an actress who rode on popularity and stepping on Yu Jiu as well. Unknown if ML appears but Yu Jiu had a relationship with CEO of their company, who later used Lianyan to make Yu Jiu jealous and was dumped and Yu Jiu never returned.
3. Arc 3. Dreamer of Deep Palace. Skipped because in the settings the one she had a relationship with is new Emperor and she was made Empress Dowager by previous Emperor despite her young age. Lianyan is one of the concubines.
4. Arc 4. Game Lover. Another arc where Yu Jiu had no relationship. Lianyan used the photo of OG to send to a person she had online relationship. This person recognized the wrong person but Yu Jiu was talented and outstanding. Because the man hesitated back and forth Yu Jiu never considered him. Lianyan here was also involed in a scandal of leaking the game they were developing.
5. Arc 5. Gold-digger. Yu Jiu was openly a gold digger after arriving. Lianyan according to logic was a fiancee of the man she was dating. Again involved in a big scandal because she couldn't get her priorities straight and used the project between the companies to frame Yu Jiu, but failed. Since Yu Jiu is always short-lived she once disappeared. Should I mention that all men stayed calibate for her afterwards and were scarred by love? Honestly girl left so much mess.
6. Arc 6. Deduction Method. Honestly weird arc, since no intro and explanation. She became a school punk and got involved with a good student from her class. Lianyan was a good student classmate who eyed this young man too. One day Yu Jiu changed her tune and started studying putting all pressure on unknowing Lianyan, who eventually failed to get into same uni with her crush, while Yu Jiu joined med school of the same uni. They dated for a bit, the weirdest part is that he asked her to teach him how to fight and agreed to date in exchange. They broke up (just because) and made up in uni. Some possessive tendencies started to appear for the first time.
7. Arc 7. Two beauties of the capital. Yu Jiu is a swapped baby. Empress feared manic Emperor who had attacks, so she sent her own child to her family. Yu Jiu should disappeare under the halo of this girl. Now she is overshadowed by the brilliance of Yu Jiu's beauty and talent. In this arc there is obvious ML but they're not in a relationship, she is Crown Princess and he is a Crown Prince, he had same attacks as Emperor and she saw herself in him so she taught him cultivation. As we know it is the reincarnation of Heavenly Prince and she intervened with his reincarnations causing him to fail in tribulation. She died in an ambush but also because Kunlun Mirror revolted against her. We don't really see the end of Lianyan, but the Empress plotted the ambus but I suppose Yu Jiu framed Lianyan, so all evidence directed at her. Since Yu Jiu is short-lived she may frame Lianyan even by dying, like in the first arc.
8. Arc 8. Flower shop girl. Transition world. ML is a special assistant with revenge against family he works for, Yu Jiu opens a shop nearby and gets into contact. She is injured since last time and appears in mostly her own body, which makes her being rejected b the world, before that everyone who saw her were fascinated to the point of madness. After tribulation she disappeared without a trace. For the first time after she disappeared the timeline corrected and only ML remembered her (my assumption from few final phrases). This is different from previous arcs and won't last long.
9. Arc 9. Urban Psychic. Lianyan is a master who came from the mountains and was blinded by the glitz. Yu Jiu is the eldest granddaughter of a renowned family. Because Lianyan acted outrageously someone gave an order not to let her rent a place. She thought it was Yu Jiu and was always haunting after her. Later Yu Jiu showed her the difference between money and power, but when Lianyan gained some she realized it's incomparable to true power and gave up cultivation. This is the world that planted inner demons in Lianyan's heart. ML was Yu Jiu's fiance. When she disappeared her story was again corrected as if she's never been there.
10. Arc 10. Lady of a Wealthy family. My assumption Lianyan is the best friend of OG who had a relationship with OG's fiance. She plays big breasts small brain here. Yu Jiu used them both as pawns in the bigger scheme of getting the hand of the company she got from her father (honestly, it's one of those moments when you think what is the point of so many actions, but otherwise how she will get her revenge right). ML should be a popular young musician who met her by accident.
11. Arc 11. Eternal Goddes. World that enter holographic gaming. Lianyan used OG to step on her as new goddess of e-sports. With Yu Jiu her momentum wasn't as great. ML was some rando guy who is from another planet and it's from his place Lianyan got a communicator which helped her train and enhance. Yu Jiu might have destroyed Lianyan's reputation in this world, but the one who offed her was ML. I hope it's ML, otherwise a rando.
12. Arc 12. Puppeteer of the Apocalypse. Strangely Lianyan's identity may be good but not entirely great. Here she plays some ruthless woman who will try to reach the top of apocalypse. But she meets Yu Jiu who comes in her real appearance and is a puppeteer suddenly (although like the concept). She treated Lianyan as a free labor, but eventually she was chased out for her offence. Later Lianyan found another backer and thought she had it all figured, but the guy who appeared (who suddenly had a system) was nothing in comparison to Yu Jiu. This is a tactic of few last arcs, Yu Jiu seemingly gives Lianyan direction and Lianyan thinks she will win eventually but all her hopes shatter. ML was quite a random ordinary handsome man in this one.
13. Demon Cult. Weird arc where she is a saintess with unimaginable looks who had previous relationship with several bigshots. ML is probably the leader of their demon cult. Tbh this one was so random. Like she was basically snatched a hundred times since she had no cultivation. Lianyan here is some prominent cultivator lady, beauty is pampered but after Yu Jiu appeared she heard her mother crying and thought Yu Jiu seduced her father. Not true. So she made a big scene. Later they framed Yu Jiu's son (the only child ever), but eventually Yu Jiu turned the tables and made Lianyan's family being hunted.
14. Magician. Weird era with mini skirts but magic  tricks are not developed. Yu Jiu belonged to a theater, Lianyan was a magician's assistant. Lianyan fought for the man as if her life depended on it (in last arcs she always has something like this going on) like she seduced him and even got pregnant made a scene etc, while Yu Jiu just added fuel to the situation. ML is some wealthy guy from abroad whom she met by shere accident. She saved him in in a ship wreak, because author decided to play Titanic. Lianyan died there on the sunk ship.
15. Best ex-wife. Yu Jiu is an ex-wife of a CEO, Lianyan is a mistress/assistant. Yu Jiu became known for her charity foundation after divorce, but prior the scandal of mistress became known, so their dirty underwear appeared from time to time. ML was a young master / hacker type of guy. Honestly, including hacking suddenly felt unexpected. 
16. Vampire Duchess. Apparent which role Yu Jiu played. Lianyan was a commoner girl with sweet blood who got attention from a Vampire Duke. Yu Jiu just added to their turturous love more hurdles and misunderstandings. But Lianyan was devoted no matter what and did many things for him, since in the story he was injured and had a long recovery and was no match for others. Lianyan died at the hands of this man too. ML was their Vampire Emperor who suddenly awakened. He began asking Yu Jiu if she forgot him. Building something for the finale. But also first time Yu Jiu did "good deeds" but honestly what can offset her karma.
17. Holy Maiden of Light. Big nope because the age was weird. Yu Jiu had teh holy body of light, perfect for cultivating. Lianyan one of the candidates for Saint's position, but plotted against everyone to get to the top. Also on the opposite site was the Empire. ML was the young Pope. Yu Jiu's body was needed to be sacrificed to restore the seal on the demon world. She was pushed out by Lianyan and eldest Princess who eyed the Pope, but at the last moment Yu Jiu took them with her and also used them to sacrifice along herself.
18. Inner demon. Final arc where we suddenly concentrate more on ML who happens to be Heavenly Prince. Since Yu Jiu interrupted his cultivation, but he was willing. Now we know the origin of the feud between two women. Lianyan was so insignificant in this one... like you spent the entire time to emphasize it but now this. ML used his body to protect Yu Jiu from Heavenly Punishment. But she finally promised him to be together if they survive. They did. But it's not easy for her to grow a heart and he knows it. They eventually will go together to the lower worlds again since he still need to survive the tribulation.

Things I appreciated. There were some, surprisingly.

• The idea of infecting someone with inner demons when they are in their reincarnation form. This happened when Yu Jiu constantly fucked Lianyan over and made her go down the wrong path. In one of the arcs where Lianyan was a promising master (honestly her character in each arc is baffling) who came down the mountain, Yu Jiu made her feel the disparity between their statuses and eventually made Lianyan care not about the cultivation but status (which somehow indeed was mirrored in later worlds, but not entirely). Thus Lianyan was infected with inner demons in that arc and Lianyan doubled down in every arc.

Yeah this lonely thing is the only thing I truly liked 

Because other things feel like they don't matter. I read this for fun to give me at least something. A bit of something was delivered, but overall not recommended.

Note: forgot to mention one of few reasons I think author overstepped. The settings. Starting from the first arc with reorganized family and non blood related pair. Another arc had Emperor and Empress Dowager. So ew.

RATE: 1.5/5.

[MUSIC] Madison Beer - yes baby

 

[Chinese BL novel] 一篇狗血虐渣文[快穿] by 润莹 / Bloody and tragic story

Summary: He Xuezhen was sent to the worlds to experience a hundred years of loving someone who is hard to love and when he finally woke up it was now the path of him to re-live his lives and get rid of his feelings. So in each world he had someone he loved deeply but who did not reciprocate his feelings with the same passion with a lot of misunderstandings and hurt.

#QT, chasing wife to the crematorium (each world has an "ex" Cui Zhi that MC loved in the previous life, who is also reborn in this life and of course finds many things that he missed to realize in the previous life); ML is He Jingshu (appears in the second world); old-school bloody script.

I've read only 2 arcs and will not continue reading, the reason is basically the whole bloody script. Why did I have this in my bookmarks, how old is this even.

Cui Zhi is someone Xuexhen loved deeply, but only got hurt in return. Cui Zhi is the type of toxic jealous and possessive type but with total lack of trust.

He Jingshu as the designated ML is actually a green tea person, what is his deal is unknow at the point where I stopped.

My main problem lies with the MC. So his goal is to get rid of emotions, I bet main ones should be love. But in general his personality feels weak and gullible. I prefer those with a bit more sass.

Like World 1 is a cultivation setting. He and Cui Zhi are a Taoist couple, they've been so for a hundred years, but there is an illegitimate son of his father Fan Xueping who joined their sect and rose to prominence under the guide of his father. Cui Zhi protects Xueping even from Xuezhen because he believes the guy saved him, the world starts from Xuezhen self-destructing together with Cui Zhi because that guy fed his last saving medicine to treat Xueping's wounds which did not need such a precious medicine.

Throughout the years Cui Zhi got used to the dynamic of Xuezhen loving him and forgiving him, but still protected Xueping and believed what the guy sad.

What I don't like in these novels is how low the average IQ characters have, such a low-level tactic from Xueping's side, but Cui Zhi never truly protected him.

Another thing is that the new life has a lot of bit from the past to showcase how bloody their misunderstandings are, but the timeline felt off a lot of the time.

Andhonestly Cui Zhi saved Xueping so many times that he long should have returned the debt of the saving grace, but he continued to support the guy, without realizing how misleading Xueping acted and how he allowed his own partner to misunderstand.

The thing is misunderstanding got so deep that Xuezhen truly believed that his partner did not love him back, while Cui Zhi actually loved him, but his path of cultivation did not allow him to have karmic debts like the one to Xueping. Another part I don't like in such plots is the lack of trust from both sides. Maybe Xuezhen also was in the clutches of going through trubulations this si why he never actually left. Another side of this is how do we know what is true and what is not then.

Not everyone could guess that Xueping not only is a lying sack of shit, but loves to claim what others did for himself. Like Xuezhen was the one who saved Cui Zhi, but Xueping claimed it as his own, Xuezhen never cleared this part.

Also a funny thing about "love" that Cui Zhi claims to have - he never knew that Xuezhen suffered from demonic poisoning and the pill he fed to Xueping in last life was the last. Of course he found out.

Because Cui Zhi is reborn he finds that things do not move as they previously had. He also agrees to break the engagement, being all proud and thinking it's a tactic of Xuezhen... what a dumb thought. But later figures Xuezhen is ready to marry someone else to deal with his father.

The situation of Xuezhen's sect is that his father was helped by his mother's sect to rise to the highest sect leader position, but he betrayed not only their family and brought Xueping to let him be under his guidince, while he dealth with Xuezhen's maternal family with the help of demons with whom he colluded with, which in this timeline led to a big confrontation. Which wasn't exciting tbh.

Cui Zhi first broke the engagement then regretted it but it was too late. Xuezhen married someone for convenience, but I always thought - why he just didn't stay alone? His partner not only loved his sword spirit but even had a child with it. Becaus ethe spirit was killed by Cui Zhi in the fit of anger because he thought Xuezhen's partner cheated, Xuezhen felt guilty and did a lot of things to make up for it. Like he did not marry for convenience and his husband agreed to it himself. This is one of misunderstandings that Cui Zhi had and Xuezhen of course never cleared. That his marriage is fake, child is not his and he never was close to his husband. Xuezhen honestly felt like a marginal figure in entire story.

Cui Zhi on the other hand went through a lot of mental regret and suffering, also making some bad decisions, like marrying Xueping thinking Xuezhen will pay attention to him... dude, are you serious?

A lot of it felt like a forced conflict just to make things worse.

I don't want to say that Cui Zhi deserves forgiveness, I believe in this story this character had the same relationship with Xuezhen in the upper realm, Xuezhen was chasing and this guy did not feel the same, but now his reborn clones go through regret. Same pattern over and over.

I want to say that I basically don't like the chasing wife plot because people often don't write it well. For example they make MC pitiful while MC might have been at fault too, ML is always made a jerk, he always is made into a rag to wipe MC's shoes with. I personally thnk that some relationships can get pretty bad, it's not all sunshine and flowers and I think it would be cool to show more how two characters can work though if they truly love each other and still have feelings (not including this novel, I'm just talking in general). 

World 2 has a deposed Emperor (Xuezhen). Cui Zhi is the male Empress in this one that defected to the opposing prince and he also poisoned Xuezhen to death in previous life.

While Xuezen saved his entire clan by the only thing he could think of, making his the royal family, otherwise his entire family would be offed by the Regent who was the ruling party at that time. Cui Zhi didn't even know that his father managed to cuckold the Regent with his concubine.

Another world full of misunderstanding. Xuezhen lived his entire life as a puppet Emperor, while Regent and the Queen were the ones ruling. Xuezhen did not live a prosperous life but one of constant humiliation and being controlled. Cui Zhi did not understand that before entering the palace.

Although their life was harmonious for some time but he couldn't change his jealousy of the guy who used to be close to Xuezhen. Another streak of misunderstandings.

But tbh I was asking myself, why people are not being honest. The answer is - where would misunderstandings come from. 

Cui Zhi for whome this position was always a humiliation eventually went to another Prince to serve and the previous person whom he thought was the love Xuezhen could never forget also deflected to this Prince, the entire company rebelled and dethroned Xuezhen, while Cui Zhi fed him poison believing that Xuezhen poisoned his brother. Which was a complete misunderstanding and no matter how many times Xuezhen claimed he did not do those things it never did anything.

So yeah Cui Zhi is not a person who really deserves forgiveness, he can spend a lot of time atoning for what he did though. But honestly even by the second arc it becomes tedious to watch that he has the same action pattern at all time. Regretting and going crazy. Now in this life nothing else matter like Xuezhen who is unreachable.

As for Xuezhen to continue his weakass act, even if he took the cultivation to this world with him, he welcomed a new male concubine He Jingshu. But this guy always acted with him and was getting closer to the edge. And what makes me question it is how Xuezhen acts in return, as if he did not recollect that he lived so many lives and the previous one, as if he is untouched virgin who knows nothing. Even the simple difference between Jingshu and Cui Zhi made him surprised time and time again... the guy should get rid of love and says he will not love Jingshu, but acts the opposite.

Oh yeah, another thing that surprised me. Okay Cui Zhi and the other person stayed to serve the Emperor, but they almost did the entire job for Emperor, as they should of course, but Xuezhen felt like hands-off boss who doesn't matter in this plot as well. He just changed the perception of people around him to think he is a chosen one while using some Taoist tricks.

So yeah, same pattern through two arcs. We see Cui Zhi suffering from regret and getting crazy. Xuezhen tries to live a new life, but honestly he doesn't sound like an MC. As for Jingshu, they lived together in this life and in perfect harmony, so you can guess where this will go. But Xuezhen describes it as also feeling like he owned Jingshu something. Maybe there is a secret about it, I don't know, don't plan to find out. I've been pretty strict with filtering what I saved through years in the category "for later" and it's hundreds of titles, so I thought why I still need them to pile up. This type of story does not inspire me to continue, it's been a long while since I realized how I dislike this type of crematorium chase story, so I don't gravitate towards them.