[NOVEL] King of Pride by Ana Huang

Reserved, controlled, and proper to a fault, Kai Young has neither the time nor inclination for chaos—and Isabella, with her purple hair and inappropriate jokes, is chaos personified.

With a crucial CEO vote looming and a media empire at stake, the billionaire heir can’t afford the distraction she brings.

Isabella is everything he shouldn’t want, but with every look and every touch, he’s tempted to break all his rules…and claim her as his own.

***

Bold, impulsive, and full of life, Isabella Valencia has never met a party she doesn’t like or a man she couldn’t charm...except for Kai Young.

It shouldn’t matter. He’s not her type—the man translates classics into Latin for fun, and his membership at the exclusive club where she bartends means he’s strictly off limits.

But she can’t deny that, beneath his cool exterior, is a man who could make her melt with just a touch.

No matter how hard they try, they can’t resist giving into their forbidden desires.

Even if it costs them everything.

Kings of Sin. Book 2

Well, I'd say it was tame. This is my main impression.

With the world of billionairs and so much wealth you'd think there will be something crazier, but there is actually nothing. So sometimes I wonder why take such settings.

And with how I read a lot of fast-paced online novels that have crazy twists at every turn now books like these feel tame.

Anyway, I'll be honest that I started this book a long time ago, maybe right after I finished the first one, but later I got swept into online novels again and finished it only these two days after I got the online novel fatigue / nothing to read (actually I do but that thing is massive now and terrifies me, it needs my full attention). But I had this gap not because the book itself is boring, it is decent, I just had the mistake of finding that the character I'm interested in (Sloane) is the FMC of the 4th book. I was thinking about her too much while trying to read (you know, something similar to "I have to finish this one and the 3rd before I start the 4th, becuase reading not in order is devastating to me").

And the book itself is kinda, well, it's okay I'd say. Nothing crazy.

On one side we have lively Isa, who is beaming with energy, but actually feels insecure because how unaccomplished she is compared to others. She jumps from job to job and can't find her aspiration.

On the other hand we have Kai, who is so polished and proper. The epitome of high education, proper etiquette and translating books into Latin as a hobby.

Isa considered him boring, he considered her a danger.

But then he heard how she plays piano and it all spiraled from there.

The main "conflict" between them is that "they're not fit for each other". But actually it's not that they don't fit, it's the timing's problem. And the timing of them coming together was right before Kai took part in elections for the future CEO for his family company. That's right, no nepotism and backdoors, he is too prideful to fall below and use any means that are below him.

And of course him dating a girl with purple hair and tattoos who worked as a bartender (even if the establishment was as prestigious as famous Valhalla club that served only to the elite group) became the means to attack him personally. And Isabella was attacked by tabloids as well.

But the thing is, where the pride part kicks in. Kai was too full of himself to asess the situation calmly and realistically, he was too sure of his position and prosects, but then nothing came what he planned. The big deal was postponed, his candid photos with Isabella made a splash and he had to do PR crisis. Only after finally coming back to earth and turning the IQ back online he realized where the problem is.

This situation also put pressure on their relationship. But mostly Isabella. As mentioned she is pretty insecure about how she is unaccomplished compared to her brothers. Her family is actually wealthy, but they're too low-key and they have a policy for their children - do whatever you want, but if you have a dream you have to make it a career, unlike Isa who jumped from job to job and never stuck to anything. her only goal was to write a book, but the most crutial moment of her finishing was when shit hit the fan. And later at the family gathering she did not bring the finished manuscript as she promised. Which was a critical hit. So seeing Kai again who was "revitalized" (he figured out the problem with elections by that point) and her being so... with nothing, she broke up. But of course they did not spend too mich time separated, they were too hurt and too in love to leave each other, so by the stroke of luck when they met they reconciled. And that was it.

Oh yeah and Isabella was published of course (who is surprised), but the sweet part is that Kai sent her manuscript before she finished, the book was her biggest shackle, but when she got the boost of support from the third party it accelerated her creativity. Sometimes you don't need a full book to strike the deal, but she was too timid to let anyone see it, only Kai (like many authors sign to write a trilogy, but the above-mentioned trilogy does not exist yet except the idea and framework).

So in general the story was okay.

My biggest criticism would be following two things:

• Just because of the word "pride" in the title there was no need for the such extensive use of the word in the book.
• It's another example of "tell, not show". In many pieces nowadays the things are told to the viewer/reader instead of being shown through some actions for example. For example MMCs often say a phrase like - She is the most *blank* woman I have ever known. But we don't see this recreated in actions.

RATE: 3,75/5. 

[Chinese BL novel] 别惹他！！ by 沙舟踏翠 / Don't mess with him!!

Summary: Ji Anzhi agreed to fake marry his female classmate who helped him a lot during his toughest times. Mu Yanyun needed a fake husband for her baby conceived out of wedlock and she planned to divorce Ji Anzhi soon after, but wanted to keep the cover for the period she is pregnant. Ji Anzhi had to play unreliable husband, but in his situation it was pretty easy, he's a workaholic.

Although Father Mu and Mother Mu looked at him with side eyes, the one with the biggest opinion should have been Mu Jingsen, Yanyun's younger brother, a successful CEO, broody looking and pretty tough. But who knew that is attitude was an attempt to cope with the feelings he had for his "brother-in-law". Not knowing that his brother-in-law is actually gay through and through and seeing a handsome and reliable man all the time tempted him to flirt innocently from time time.

Actually really liked this novel. It may not be ground-breaking and Jingsen's character is a bit typical, but what saves the day is Anzhi and their relationship.

And because of the settings this novel is not a drama. Well, there are some family "conflicts", but they're not part of the picture.

What we know from the get-go is that this relationship is fake, the couple doesn't even try to build-up a facade, they act very little, don't have the needed affection and sleep separately where noone looks. Yanyun chose Anzhi because she knew him for years as her classmate, but also because this guy won't covet her, she knows he is gay though he never was in a relationship before.

And while they stayed in the villa of the Mu family Anzhi had several interaction with Jingsen. But unlike others he doesn't treat Jingsen as someone special. Anzhi had his own set of logic to evaluate Jingsen as a person. Mu family always felt to act too cautious, Anzhi could even go and beat the guy if needed.

The changes happened slowly and Anzhi who was several years older started to catch some instances that made him think - does he like me? The thing is, with time he started to like Jingsen too.

At first they had little interaction, but later due to the company's higher-up almost pimping him to a guy they had dealings with Anzhi resolutely resigned and chose a younger company but with great prospects. Who knew this new ARM company fully belonged to Mu Jingsen?

At first he worked in a different department and their paths did not cross that often, except late night interations in the kitchen. But later because Anzhi is actually a good worker (not nepotism) he was transfered to a secretary department next to the CEO. And became somewhat a star among other workers, all because others are always nervous around Jingsen, but he treated him like everyone else. he could talk to Jingsen to act more like a human, pull him back when Jingsen was about to scold employees during the meetings. He was not afraid of educating Jingsen.

Surely, Jingsen allowed himself to be bossed around because of his feelings, but Anzhi was always good-natured and explanatory about it. To others Jingsen is this mean boss, but Anzhi always thought that Jingsen is better than bosses outside, who care so much about saving their faces and you need to beat around the bush before saying what you need, while Jingsen is always efficient and straight to the point, what a great boss!

Being together, Anzhi actually picked on Jingsen from time to time (flirting too) they become closer. Actually the part where Jingsen is acting like he is repressing something happened often and it could be felt a lot. It's only after Anzhi confessed to the fake marriage they soon came together (by this time Yanyun already had given birth and was finishing her confinement).

But tbh I really liked them as a couple, they fit together well and balance each other. Especially Jingsen, whose life was a typical work-home situation. Except exercise he basically was at work or worked at home. Anzhi was also like this, but at least he tried to bring something into that dull type of life.

Why I say Jingsen is a typical character, because his settings are like that. A child with a lack of empathy and his family who thinks he has antisocial tendencies. They sent the child away when he was young, so Jingsen grew up mostly alone and lacked connection to his family (explaining why he is so cold to his family and his sister and newborn baby). Outside of that only Anzhi managed to get close to him in this way. 

Anzhi I think is the enviable very social and outgoing type of person. It's not really clear if he likes it or it's a necessity and became part of his life, but socializing comes very easy to him. You can feel how lively his is (comparing to Jingsen he is practically beaming). He pretty much knows that it's an important part of work and life and unlike Jingsen has a pretty high EQ. So after he became a close secretary to Jingsen and whenever Jingsen showed his character Anzhi was there to smooth things. Nothing critical, but it's something that would make life easier.

It's appealing that Anzhi is a smart and lively type of person. But I don't mind that Jingsen is less talkative, but he is reliable. Don't think his type is bad, but in life, someone who can do things like him is pretty good.

The novel is 88+1 chapters long. Though I think it was okay to finish it around 80. They come together in the middle, so there is no need to wait for long. It's a very fast read, quite light, any conflict is bypassed.

Although I mentioned a lot of stuff I don't really re-tell the story. It's hard to do it when it comes to one with lots of daily interactions. But I found them pretty cute. 

RATE: 4,5/5.

[Chinese BG novel] 快穿女配之反派BOSS有毒 by 墨泠 / Quick Transmigration of female supporting role: The Villain BOSS is poisonous*

*mtl'd title which I did not even bothered to change

Summary: Shi Sheng is bound to the system to play a supporting role. She has a mission, but she can't touch male of female protagonists of the story, she can only move things behind the scenes. But the system doesn't know where the host actually came from. He believed Shi Sheng was an author who liked to write books, dig holes in her own stories but not fill them. But then they travelled the worlds and she started taking out things out of thin air and the system never provided her with those, so where sis they come from?

Along the way she has a mission and a hidden mission and hidden mission is connected to a person who seems to be the same person.

This should be world hopping, 1vs1 (ML is one person).

What attracted me at first was the fact that she took out things that did not belong to the plane to deal with the plot. So I started reading it. After two arcs it was obvious that the novel is trashy AF, but was at least trashy and entertaining a tiny bit. Maybe Shi Sheng's ruthless character was entertaining etc. But it all went downhill from then on.

Let's start from Shi Sheng as FMC. She has no redeeming qualities to like her. Although she should be high quality when it comes to strength, but in general I had the feeling like she was simply lazy and indifferent. She is highly indifferent, always repeats a phrase "Why should I help you?", this phrase appears so often that become annoying or why should she do this or that if it doesn't bring her anything. And I don't mean the situations where someone is morally kidnapping her, she is basically like this all the time. Simply egoistic. Although this part is strange, sometimes she can treat others well, mainly some cute girls that find her appealing and cool, sometimes it feels like she doesn't touch a certain category of people like women and children, but from another point it isn't that true? (like one time especially she could watch coldy like an innocent girl lost her life in the hands of some scumbags in front of her and she never helped her even if it was easy for her, maybe just because she was connected to protagonist group I have no idea, this novel does not explain shit). And the thing is, the summary promised some changes, to me she doesn't change at all. I read almost 500 chapters of this (the novel is 2k chapters total) and basically the soup tastes the same. She arrives at the plane, knows the plotline. Because she can't do anything to the protagonist group, while she wants to chop them she basically doesn't involve actively if protagonists don't touch her, or she uses other characters to pit protagonists if they touched her reverse scale. She basically does nothing, has no aspirations except destruction maybe.

Then several arcs in she meets Feng Ci in an immortal cultivators article. This is the first time she accepted the advances of the hidden mission man and they lived for a long time, she had no idea it's the same man. Because his significance was the most ML got stuck with the name Feng Ci to identify him in consequent arcs.

But honestly the ML basically falls in love with her rather quickly in all consequent arcs, as if his soul remembers her, she has to confirm it's him though at first, later this step is skipped. But generally they kinda stick together in a shallow way. What did they like about each other, who knows.

The plots are shallow and not very exciting and simply reetitive. And the summary can be said to be bs, because the promised taking out some bigger props not belonging to the plane does not happen. She mostly takes out unimaginable amount of thunder balls she collected in the 3rd arc when the Heaven's will was punishing her. Or she takes out just the cultivation stuff. There are no quirks to follow, no unexpected tricks, but author acts as if they did something great. Although the system always gets involved because she can't touch protagonists I thought it was a nice idea to see how she could deal with them in a roundabout way. But honestly it's just all convenient and choppily described and she doesn't do that much. From another angle at some point her own situation could be explained as "I have a hidden plot about me", but it honestly isn't that great either, since it is so shallow and author does not bother to explain anything. Like there is a secret about her identity, but then she acts like she knows nothing and at the end she says like she knew those things all along. As if her high IQ allows her to guess everything.

Quick note about the protags and how she can't touch them. Basically, I think this is the biggest loophole. Or just omitted when it's convenient. In general she literally cannot touch them/kill them. She can beat them up, but when it comes to killing she can't do it. The plane will also collapse if she does that. That's another weird point, she will be punished with her points deducted, the system promised if you reach a certain level you will be wiped out, of course Shi Sheng acted like she wanted and she reached that point, but the resut is nothing happened. Also despite her actions she always has her points deducted as if she always makes things worse, it's not like in all arcs she brought chaos and destruction.

Btw her identity. Half the time I forget that Shi Sheng is an "author", tbh I have no idea why she writes in some of those arcs as a hobby, and it's just mentioned in the passing like in one sentence as if author herself only now remembered the setting of her own FMC and decided to remind everyone as well. But honestly it doesn't add anything to FMC or the story. It's such a random thing. basically when she analyzes the plot and how it works she relies on her experience.

But the Plot is acting in the direction of bringing FP and MP together, but really... again author never explains why they come together, it just happened behind the scenes and FMC comments - Plot is at work, while that connection is illogical. At other times FP and MP do not come together, so it's all a matter of convenience tbh.

I also wonder myself why I read this far. Because I spent several days on it. These days I keep a planner to track what I read and what I watch and sometimes put short summaries since my memory may fail me. So I actually started this on 18th, which surprised me as well. But my only drive was to see if there will be any changes, but no, 1/4 of the novel and it's still same old routine like an outline with whatever comes to mind and not appealing FMC.

And my problem is, I like hardcore characters, I like the tougher ones, but they still need to be logically tough and not plainly cruel. And FMC is plainly cruel tbh.

Arc 1. Shi Sheng is a fiance of male protag who is in love with white lotus girl. Whenever something happens they think it's Shi Sheng, which is annoying af. Here comes the scene where I was surprised about how Shi Sheng suddenly has weapons. It turned out she has her own space bound to her soul. Girl full of mystery and we know nothing about her. Since female protag (FP) wanted to depend on the wealthy male protag (MP) she stayd with him although was ambiguous with others. Shi Sheng dug a pit for MP by supporting others in the heir fight. Also his behavior with FP brought him a lot of negative points. ML is a guy who asked her to earn at least 1/10th of his own wealth. Sheng was asked to pursue him but she had no feelings about him and she was basically forced into this.

Arc 2. Entertainment article. Sheng was used by a big boss as a shield, while he loved FP. Sheng opened a company with FP and they became bosses, while she also appeared here and there. Well, it showed that not all protagonists are unsavable. Some had normal IQ. Sheng's mission was obviously about revenge on ppl who used her in previous life, MP and his fiancee. So there were a lot of news flying around when Sheng dug out a lot of dirt on them. After all her hacking skills that appeared out of nowhere are unparalleled. 

Arc 3. This is where Feng Ci appeared. In this arc FP is a reborn person with high cultivation and looks down on everyone. But she framed Sheng several times and everyone believed her (power of halo). While one disruption from FMC made FP bind a demon who was actually behind all the incidents. And another instance where FP killed a girl and MP became suspicious of her and thus they were not on good terms afterwards. Anyway this is why FP was dealt with in the end. Sheng and Feng Ci lived a long time while she was wrecking havoc around cultivation world. She creates so much chaos and destroys people indiscriminately all the time. Not good quality.

Arc 4. Is a zombie apocalypse, here we start having a secret plotline. Which involves FMC's identity. Sheng plays a heroine whose golden finger was stolen by a traverser girl. Sheng's power was changed, she also met her hidden mission who was a zombie king, but actually like a patient 0 of this story. In the end FMC created a new era of zombie kingdom where zombies evolved and became new species. 

Arc 5. Campus story. FMC playes adopted daughter. Her nominal brother actually likes her but he uses childish means to push her away. Like he treats the maid at home well (FP) and eventually dates her, as if trying to get a reaction out of FMC. But since Sheng is here he won't get anything. Sheng did only one thing, she somehow made FP's father win the lottery and they became wealthier. Now FP showed off her wealth and her relationship everywhere. But she was still not accepted by upper class kids of their school. She also used despicable means when it came to few disagreements with other girls. I don't remember if it's this one or probably another arc where MP woke up, dated a girl who stood by his side (not FP) despite opposition of others and they actually were happy, while FP ended badly after the break-up. ML in this one acted like ancestor pissing FMC off.

Arc 6. Was online gaming arc, which is always empty to me, I almost hate it. Author is bad at it, why she bothered to write. FMC just spent most of her time online like others and had a gaming character that was like a legend, hated by everyone. They also hacked the game and had bugs all over the place.

Arc 7. Another martial arts world. FP here is an ex assassin. While Sheng plays as a girl from a famous sect. Forgettable. Like I remember that Sheng left the school and her own family because she didn't want to bother with anyone. ML was a sickly beauty who was cursed and she searched for cure all over. But they had BE.

Arc 8. Paranormal. Another arc where Sheng helped FP and FP actually became a disciple of ML. FP in this one has a spirit body and MP is a ghost king who uses her for cultivation. In OG story they might have fallen, but FP was blindsided. Now she knows the truth and sticks to ghost sister Sheng. Honestly why this story bothers to release some hidden tasks while FMC never bothers to do them seriously.

Arc 9. Messy cultivation (?) story. ML is not present. Sheng is someone from god realm who need to pass tribulation, but her red thread was messed by FP who got drunk and made mistake by connecting several lines to MP. FP came to earth to make things better but Sheng prevented her from doing it, basically tied FP and MP together from the beginning, but because of entangled threads MP will be attracted to the girls he is connected with. He failed to pass. Sheng succeeded. She became a supreme god and did not bother with others. MP lost his memory and had no idea why he failed because of FP. Villai is not ML but someone else. Sheng accidentally led mosnters from another realm who started to dominate it. When she came back she realized that her thread was maliciously conncted again by FP who played "I didn't mean to" card. But she was protected by several people. The backstory is messy, as if FMC's father also had affair with FP's father and they should be half-sisters? Anyway those who protected FP were connected to her mother, the holder of red threads and this is how FP got FMC's. Anyway FP died in the hands of monsters, while FMC tried to severe the red thread but couldn't? I think she ended this world because she had not found ML and did not bother with the rest.

I reached arc 16? Anyway I finished at ch491. And I can't be bothered with this story anymore. It's same old every time. 

I'm amazed I reached this far, but actually at some point I was skipping a lot and reading diagonally, since the premises are same and FMC is the same and it's just a pile of bs. In the end the FMC's cool overlord attitude got boring, it lasted at least longer than the boring plots. But actually here and there things appeared that made both FMC and ML worse and worse. Like some dropped phrases that should be a joke, but are not funny. I won't repeat them.

I just wanted to RANT ahaha

[Chinese BG novel] 顶级流量她决定发疯[娱乐圈] by 露水沾金 / Top traffic star decided to go crazy

Summary: Shen Jiao was reborn. She was hit by the light fixture. Although she was pretty popular at the beginning of her career but soon she became ridiculed because of her agency, because of people who wanted to hype CP with her, because she thought that because we all are in this industry there is no need to make things difficult. But others happily stepped on her, while she was enduring.

Haha, I know the cover is not the best.

Shen Jiao wakes up, realizing that she is reborn, looking back at her life she regretted that she didn't push back and was always "tolerant" towards others, was influenced by the comments online and opinions of other people, while others wantonly danced on her head and never bothered to be civil. This is why she suffered several setbacks. Although she is not a completely poor person, on the contrary, her parents are scholars, while her brother is a rising star in business and her family has money, her friend are really rich people, but she never wanted to use these connections. Now she said to herself - fuck it, I'm not going to be a softie for others.

The greatest point is that she does not go crazy mindlessly, you know being rude just for the sake of being rude. She acts the way she wants, but if other person tries to act up, she has her own ways to deal with it. Just to give an example, the novel about truth system I reviewed recently makes the host tell the truth regardless of the occasion, but here Shen Jiao knows what to say and when to say it.

This is a refreshing entertainment novel, very fast-paced and I'd say short. To me the ending was wrapped quickly. But in general it dealt with everything that was mentioned in the beginning.

It also has a pretty strong commentary on men in the industry, which I could understand, because it reminded me of some male users on TT who acts as pretty boys just for the sake of fame and vanity and then we hear some scandals about them that they slept with fans etc. All stories are taken from life.

But this novel is quite short (61 chapter) and has a bit of the same structure. E.g. the scandal happens, Shen Jiao figures out who did it, she has black material on the other person and strikes back. And because the other person has more to hide than her, they all leave entertainment industry in disgrace. This happened 3 or 4 times in the novel.

The only person who was left for the most part is Qin Fangzhi, daughter of the Qin family who always considered herself Shen Jiao's rival, but she had a higher starting point, promoted herself as this pure person, pearl in the ocean etc. But in reality she bought so many black hot searches for Shen Jiao like no one else did. She wanted to trample on her, she looked down on her but was also envious and she proved to be too proud and conceited to find she was set up when she decided to film in ancient idol drama like Shen Jiao did (which made Shen Jiao the most famous). Also Fangzhi is the only one who woke up at the end. Most of the "villains" ended up banned by the industry.

The relationship is with Pei Yinghuai. She and him are what is called childhoow sweethearts who liked to pick on each other, they are always mean about each other in a friendly way. Though I'd say Pei is a good person who has a crush on Shen Jiao, but the romance is quite flat in this novel.

Well, it's a quick read for an evening if you search for something of this kind.

RATE: 4/5. For what it is in its' own category of short, slap back, entertainment.

[MOVIE] The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec (2010)

An adventure set in the early part of the 20th century and focused on a popular novelist and her dealings with would-be suitors, the cops, monsters, and other distractions. (IMDb)

I feel sorry for this movie, I think I heard it did not do well in the box office. But actually it feets to make a series of adventure movies. Adele is a novelist and quite popular in her field, she writes and researches for one single goal, to save her sister. For this she travels to Egypt and wants to steal a mummy of the most famous doctor close to Pharao. She wants to bring him back to life.

Although it has a light-hearted tone of a comdey, but when it comes to her sister you can feel the guilt and despair of doing anything, including believing in supernatural.

Directed by Luc Besson, most knows for The Fifth Element.

I've seen the original comics, I couldn't read it (it was in French) but must say they picked a gorgeous actress to be a female lead and also adapted the comics well. Although of course they brought up their own work into it.

The movie has elements of mysticism, which is quite interesting. But I personally like that they gave it a bit of a comic look (just looking at the detective with his big fake ears and nose). It reminded me how Adventures of Tintin from 2011 looked like.

Adele is fearless in what she does because she has a strong motive.

The plotline isn't anything complicated, although a bit unexpected (I mean dinosaur egg hatching, of course it's something unexpected). Also.. French totally do not beautify, I think the only truly pretty part are women.

Actually, I forget to post about movies I watch here, I just remembered about this one. 

[Chinese BL novel] 金丝雀他删号重开了[重生] by 惗肆 / Canary deleted his account and opened a new one

Summary: Jing Shun spent several years in an unloving relationship after an accident on the set. He was bound to a wheelchair, his legs couldn't be healed and his "lover" slowly showed his true side. He was simply used by Chi Sheng and what seemed like a salvation was actually a slow and deathly trap. At the last moments of his life he heard a person he never saw, but who became a close friend shouting his name on the phone.

Chi Gui is the patriarch of the Chi family, he lived his life in struggle, but the only thing he regretted the most - is that he was too late.

This is double rebirth and healing type of novel. MC's legs will be healed.

I recommend to just read it. This novel is well-paced, dots of the storyline are well-connected. Not to become depressing it doesn't dwell on the negative side of this story and there are a lot of sad stuff to think about. It has a very loving couple that were fated together.

Interestingly, although it has an entertainment element, but it doesn't go that way much. because Jing Shun has to go through surgery and rehab a lot of it is more about relationships and some family drama (since the Chi family is the wealthy type).

Now, want to talk about why I liked it so much, but this needs spoilers.

Random note: This is probably the only novel so far that shows more of family connections and nepotism in the industry which could be pretty true. Many characters are connected to entertainment because their parents take position in film and television companies etc.

/~SPOILERS~/

JS wakes up on the day Chi Sheng confessed to him. This scum ruined JS's life in the previous life, he not only bound himself to him, but slowly isolated him from the world. As we later find out he never even cared to help JS heal his legs, this is why the best time for surgery was missed and he became truly disabled. But Chi Sheng did not stop here, he found it fun to watch JS fall and crawl. Although JS lived in a luxurious flat, JS never took money from Chi Sheng and was basically poor. For his "safety" Chi Sheng installed cameras. While he was often time away having fun. But he was the one who coldly left dying JS.

But why did he confess to JS?

The answer is simple - Chi Gui. And good reputation.

JS is a child star, he was loved by people and worked really hard. Behind him were two blood-sucking parents who exploied their child for gains. But when he came of age they informed JS that both had already divorced and started new families, but no one wanted him. And although he was quite famous, he had no connections because his family was the one who were his "agents". Especially his mother. Both his parents were connected to the industry, but they were small people, but their child was beloved everywhere.

Because of this he had no resources and eventually he decided to take on his own project. He filmed a movie with the help of a sponsor - Song Yu (Chi Gui, yeah the same person, about this later). This movie may not have been bit at box office, but it won international award and JS once again entered the viewfield. And after that he got the chance to film, but this role brought his the accident where he fell from wires and the next thing he knew, he was in a wheelchair.

JS now finds himself reborn at the party where Chi Sheng announced his love - which consequently earned him admiration and good reputation among his peers, because he was so "loyal".

But now JS refused and exposed Chi Sheng's debauchery from an early age, where he would spend so many night with different people. He doesn't want to be with such a dirty person thank you.

At this time Chi Gui unexpectedly appeared and JS offered him a deal.

But Chi Gui (who we later find out was also just reborn) took the opportunity to make an agreement, JS serves as his lover to shield from unwelcomed proposals and Chi Gui provides best medical treatment.

How devastating it was to read when JS realized that his legs could have been cured in the last life, but Chi Sheng most certainly misled him on purpose, making him lose the chance to stand again (don't worry, Chi Sheng is with the toughest ending, even if during first few chapters Jing Shun stabbed this asshole in the thigh for his attempted r*).

After examination it was proven that JS can get the surgery, but first he needs to recuperate.

During this time JS also signed with a new agency and was led by Yu Xiuzhu, in the industry he was infamous for his previous agency being shut down for money laundering (but as we find out, it was done by the partners, he was the one who collected evidence and sent the bunch to jail). He himself was acquitted, but his new company still did not get any new people, except JS.

JS even in a wheelchair got a job as observer on a variety show where he met a popular actor Fu Chanting, who recommended the job, actually he had a story with JS helping him when he was new to the industry, now his popularity is higher and he helps JS in return.

The first family drama comes from JS's father, who took his compensation money in the name of his father and the film company responsible for the accident was happy to do so to get rid of the problem. But since the family of his father refused to give back money JS decided to be ruthless, he may have been silent but he collected evidence of his father getting kickbacks / illegal gains. While his wife's company all got the video with their treatment of JS when he visited to ask for money. This is why she was sent home for a while. But she found that her husband was cheating with a woman from a company, yeah a shocker I know, a man who once cheated is cheating again.

Btw the video comes from a watch that Chi Gui specially made for JS, after all he is inconvenient in many ways.

The show he took part in only had one scandal episode that belong on hot searches, when one actor who gained popularity and refused to film this "crappy" variety show (which actually became popular) used the news as if his place was taken by JS. Well, he later was exposed in return. Although JS led such a life before, but now he is not forgiving and soft-hearted.

JS was living with Chi Gui in the villa while recuperating and getting ready.

He also had a chance to meet the family. Short explanation of the Chi family.

Chi Hong, grandfather, is gone but often mentioned in the novel, he was the one who took Chi Gui back from outside and trained him as heir. Chi Hong had one son and two daughters. Two daughters are not mentioned, since they were described as separated after marriage and only one son was left Chi Renpin.

Chi Renpin is Chi Gui's biological father. He was married to the first wife, this marriage brought daughter Chi Ting (or 1st room as they call it), she had a son-in-law married into the family and she is the moter of Chi Sheng. Then Renpin had a relationship with a woman from the company Song Ningke, but after that he banned her from the industry making her return to her hometown where she died in giving birth. meanwhile Renpin married a second wife Sun Liman, with whoom he had a son Chi Yuan and a daughter Chi Ying. Chi Yuan died in a car accident abroad, this is why Chi Gui, who was previously named Song Yu was taken from outside at the age of a college student.

Although Song Yu lived with his grandparents in poverty but he was hardworking and got a chance to be accepted to a film and television uni with a dream of becoming a director, he was talented, but dreams were ruined by the sudden illness of grandpa and no money, this is why he agreed to the deal.

And this is why he as Song Yu/Chi Gui could emphasize with JS's work.

This family is important in the long run.

Back to JS. He had the first round of surgeries and the prospects were very positive. So JS lived with Chi Gui and a new dog Gou Bao (Baby Dog? :) Dog treasure?) in the villa.

JS also got a role which was changed to match his condition, So he spent some time filming.

I was actually thankful that author did not bring too much of awe from the surrounding people, you know how they do it in these how people amrvel at beauty etc. In this novel we acknoledge how many actors have good skills.

Also in this TV show we meet an actor Jin Yulin which has some inexplicable hostility towards JS. Just because they're same age. And if he wasn't in a wheelchair he'd be a rival.

Funnily JS actually is more open-minded, he acknoledges other people's acting skills, their popularity etc. and is not jealous, if he can have a good cooperation he'll gladly have it.

Sudden;y can't remember if his second surgery came before or after filming. I have a feeling it was after.. ah my memory and I just finished it.

Anyway after the second round of surgery he started to recuperate and do the rehab, after all the dynamics of the previous surgery were all positive.

In the meantime by the middle of the novel I think the two got together. The confession was during the birthday.

We need to roll back a bit and start with the family drama lama.

Since JS agreed to become someone beside Chi Gui he never experienced anything bad from this man, on the contrary he received only care and love. He was ingulfed in these feelings, but was insecure and self-conscious by the time he realized that he fell in love with Chi Gui, by accident during their trip to Hong Kong (I believe?) he may find that CG holds someone deep in his heart and he felt as if he was a substitute. But a friend he found during this trip actually supported him to confess, who knows he may become the one in CG's heart? This gave him courage. 

And this trip was actually eventful. CG had a project here, but every land is occupied by local snakes, although many are represented as elegant people, but Zhang Aode who got into trouble is more the real representatie of businessmen in the world, yeah they're vulgar like that.

Zhang Aode is a local person from one of the welthy families and wanted to get the same project as CG after knowing that Chi family wanted to enter the city. They met on a cruise ship where CG was invited and came with JS.

Also we find a secondary couple during this trip, heir to casino business Qin Ye and his lover Yu Zhen. They appear a lot more. Each novel from this author has a couple like this I think. Yu Zhen and JS met accidentally on the path where JS took a walk with GouBao. His dog met another one and they became friends. So the owners met each other like this.

During the cruise Zhang Aode showed off himself, but he actually lost in cards where he himself cheated. But he backed away, although he was the one who proposed the agreement - whoever loses will leave this project. So he left the place with shame and backed down on his word.

CG actually got the project and helped Zhang Aode's daughter who was suppressed by her father and they had worst relationship to take over the family.

In desperation Zhang Aode planned the kidnapping of JS and YZ was taken away because they were together. But both of them had tracking devices, so they were found quickly.

Because Zhang Aode did not clean after himself he was taken aways with his son who also took part in this.

It felt not significant but during this trip JS also meets another person from wealthy families actor Xie Congjin. Who has a story with his agent Yu Xiuzhu.

As JS later find out they had a bit of falling out, but basically Yu Xiuzhu acted to protect master Xie, after all he was his agent and good thing he did not sign contract directly with his company, but negative news when they appeared touched upon people briefly. But master Xie still had feelings for YXZ and he used his status as an actor to get JS a role in exchange of being unblocked y YXZ ahaha These two later got together again, so no worries.

JS took part in an audition of a very big director thanks to master Xie for quota. He won the role among four candidates including himself. One was a young student, another was a popular actor and another one was Jin Yulin.

Jin Yulin was dissatisfied and refused the smaller role offered by the director, producer and screenwriter trio. He was eager for success and felt that he is such a big star and surely could win. So he took opportunity of this audition to promote himself during a banquet, but due to his bad luck JS arrived with master Xie and producer of the crew who exposed him lying that he got a significant role in the movie. Jin Yulin was ambiguous in his words, but after it was exposed who is so naive to believe his quibbling.

The role was taken by Jiang Bufan and this is someone Jing Shun knows.

Backtracking again.

Some time ago JS was contacted by his mother. He has confusing feelings about her, he did not wait for motherly love because Chi Gui gave him all the love he needed, but he still came along.

Here we find out that Xu Jia's (mother) new husband went bankrupt and was in debt. She was sentimental about the past and did not ask for money. But it still felt off.

Some time later she asked him to visit for her b-day dinner where he met Jiang Ci his half-sister and Jiang Bufan, Jiang Keshan's (husband) son from the first marriage. he acted quite arrogantly as if he knew he was better. Jiang Ci was actually the most sincere.

It was also because of her that conspiracy of Xu Jia and her husband was revealed.

Jiang Ci asked him to visit her performance, Jing Shun took the mother and daughter home but they were approached by loan sharks. Who were subdued by bodyguards. JS did not chase to pay his mother's debts, after all he was not of this family and his mother didn't care for him before, he left after promising contacting her with more serious money landers.

But he forgot that he got Jiang Ci a present and returned, so he listened to Xu Jia and her husband discussing that their plan failed. Jing Shun let them know that he heard everything and left.

He contacted the loan sharks who had agreement with Jiang Keshan and told them that the guy has money to pay back, you could do it better. Neither CG nor he wanted to let Jiang Keshan prosper for his ulterior motives, so they sent loan sharks his way. And during a live broadcast where short-form video/drama association was having a big meeting Jiang Keshan was exposed for not paying back debts. Which was true btw. His career over. Xu Jia who came to propose peace, after all she was dependant on her husband like once she depended on her son to earn money, but saw a young actress with her husband. During a scuffle both were burned by a hot water from boiling kettle.

We don;t hear about it again, but after exposure that Xu Jia divorced her husband and took Jiang Ci, Jing Shun found Jiang Ci in time, he knew his mother only cared about herself and she was not in the right mind after being almost disfigured, she drank and spent her time in bed, while Jiang Ci tried to get by. She was taken away by Jing Shun who later got her custody.

As mentioned entertainment does not go into detail, so after landing the role somewhere in the background several things happened. Of course by this time JS was of course walking steadily. Later he joined the training. They were visited by Yu Zhen (who came much earlier and worked as JS's assistant) and Qin Ye who came months later when he dealt with the Qin family and let go of power in his hands, after all to him his lover was more important than the family who constantly paid attention to his weakness and wanted to use it against him. Both of them later traveled around and came back for New Year.

This New Year was not like previous ones. More lively, with people we love and friends.

Unlike Chi Renpin who once again failed to show his majesty.

Also during the talk about the Chi family they had an intuitive thought that Chi Yuan may have died not in a simple accident, but a man-made one. Qin Ye offered his help.

Second to last big scene. Chi Renpin's b-day banquet.

Before it we find out that Chi Yuan indeed died in a man-made accident. Chi Gui gave the collected evidence to Chi Ying. Previously she was approached by Chi Ting many times so Chi Ying would give her shares and the first room will be able to rival Chi Gui in business.

Through months their family was suppressed. Chi Sheng switched to entertainment company (Jin Yulin's) but was still under serveilance. This time they tried to woo people and Chi Renpin to give his shares, which he promised btw.

During the banquet Chi Ying exposed their family, but even if they wanted to quibble the irrefutable evidence was the jade necklace that was given as payment. It was unique in the world.

Sun Liman who lost her son and was often mentioned as spoiling her child leading to his death could not swallow this sorrow and anger, after Chi Ting and her husband was arrested she stabbed Chi Sheng in the open as her form of revenge.

Chi Renpin who was one moment in the glorious center of attention fell into quigmire, he suffered a stroke from which he never recovered.

Chi Sheng's life was saved but not his manhood. Btw during his stay in the hospital they found he had AIDS. Because Chi Sheng got a feel of sleeping with men, he could not get JS, he was resentful about that stab, so he used other men to have sex and beat them up.

His parents testified against each other, while he sold his shares, got money and fled abroad. Where he was still a wealthy man, but got not long to live and also got addicted to d*.

Because his life was ruined, he didn't blame himself but blames Chi Gui and Jing Shun, so he hired someone to create an accident during the last days of filming.

Because Jing Shun had a trauma because of falling, the scene with wires was moved to the very end of filming while he tried to overcome it. He also noticed a man in the staff who looked familiar.

During the last day of shooting an accident happened but Chi Gui saved the falling Jing Shun in time grabbing the wire. They acted swiftly because his assistant remembered tha the man must have been the younger brother of the woman JS's father remarried, after all the two were sent to jail and the younger brother who depended on his sister all his life was cut off. He hated JS, so he was used.

Thankfully everything was okay, they guy was caught. But Chi Sheng could get away since he used others in this case. So Chi Gui set a trap, let Chi Sheng lose all his money, sent him a mocking message and basically led him back to the country where  during a birthday banquet they arrested Chi Sheng for attempted injury, drug posession and drug abuse.

Finally without this last obstacle we could have a happy ending :D

This is basically the plotline. But of course I still missed many parts, it's impossible to write everything, but the general direction and events are here.

Jing Shun was quite extreme in the beginning, like he stabbed Chi Sheng and later dealt with his father in such a ruthless way. But maybe he won't become soft-hearted towards people who want to harm him, but at least he got better with Chi Gui's help.

Since Chi Gui is also reborn he has a lot to fear himself, he was late to save Jing Shun, so when it came to his safety he was always worried and guilty.

Only almost at the very end they discovered that they were both reborn and it allowed them to confide in each other. It wasn't something like "I don't mind", but "I love you and you were indeed late, I did not have a good life without you".

They together fall deeply in love.

It's interesting to see that some characters cuold change their ways, while others don't. For example Xu Jia was selfish through and through, even when Jing Shun came along to take away Jiang Ci she was ready to sell her daughter. Jiang Bufan on the contrary had a conversation with JS where JS told him about his self-righteous thoughts etc. which allowed Bufan come to his senses. Another actor who although acted arrogantly also changed his ways.

GuoBao actually takes a great role of being a smart and lovely dog during entire novel, he also helps Jing Shun to heal emotionally. But did not prevent Jing Shun from being bad at naming.

He and Chi Gui actually met fatefully several times. Once when he was lost as a kid and was sent to police station by then Song Yu. Later when they were older and Song Yu worked in a crew where Jing Shun filmed, the boy helped to get Song Yu's salary that was withheld. And another time when Jing Shun turned 18, he and Chi Gui actually have birthday on the same day, so when his parents told him they were divorced it was that day, he went to a banquet held by Chi family and got drunk where he met Chi Gui again but did not recognize him.

Both had their own reasons for not appearing in each other's lives sooner and recognizing each other (mostly Chi Gui).

But it was very satisfying to see such fateful lovers come together.

Emotionally it's a good book. Pace-wise and content-wise this novel was quite good. There is enough of exciting drama, things move fast, but they're not illogical. All in all I was completely satisfied and think it was worth waiting for its' completion.

/~/

RATE: 5/5.

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