Knowing that he has little time he decided to live his life as he'd like to, working and just living. But it did not only start his career in acting, it also made him more and more cross the path with the movie emperor Ji Yao, the boss behind Xingyao, his supposed-to-be ex-husband. And during that time the progress of his task he never took a look at was no longer zero.
This is a slow burn (both MC and ML share a bit of enmity in the beginning, justified), there is also a topic on mental health (Ji Yao's severe mysophobia, Qiyuan's life as an orphan), found family trope.
This is actually a re-read for me, I suppose I've read this before, probably before getting the blog, but I somehow remembered the plots along the way.
Let's start from all the good things, because I do consider this novel a good work.
The Characters. What you need to know as the main point. Ye Qiyuan is orphan in both lives. In previous life due to his work, he always wore this noble and mature facade, etiquette almost engraved in his bones. The polite mask that does not offend anyone and can survive anywhere, but inside he's actually a truly kind person who is capable of forgiving and letting go (several cases happen in the novel). But behind that maturity there is also a kid who has not grown up, he is not aware how to treat people who become much closer to him and this side appeared only due to his relationships in this life, since they are way different from what he had or witnessed in the fashion circle. The best way to describe is the quote from the novel itself:
In fact, in Ji Yao's eyes, Ye Qiyuan is a very interesting person, who often arouses his curiosity inexplicably. This person seems to be able to talk and laugh, and often gives people the feeling that he knows how to live.But in reality, his life was almost equal to work. Everything outside of work was crumpled into a small ball and stuffed in a corner. In essence, Ye Qiyuan was an even more serious workaholic than him.For example, Ye Qiyuan seemed to be very good at handling interpersonal relationships. But he only handled interpersonal relationships at work or superficial relationships. He had no reference materials for real intimate relationships, nor did he need to organize them. Because he had always been alone.
Because he did not have a family to grow up with, all of his relationships were quite superficial, especially witnessing the chaotic fashion circle it did not make him wish to grow closer to someone. As he said himself, even when he was sick and people visited him, he knew they would be sad for a little bit, but then go on with their lives, he might have never influenced someone that much, unlike Ji Yao. But his origins made him this careful with relationships. It doesn't mean he's faking his own kindness, he's a truly warm person, he will treat you well, but this doesn't mean he allows you into his heart.
Ji Yao on the other hand is a stoic person, but his life fell into a routine, for others he is a cold-faced boss of his company or a great actor that is immensely popular for others, but has severe case of mysophobia in real life. It started from his childhood, since he didn't completely grew up with love and care, when he was little his father, who left the Ji family, died in accident, his mother decided to concentrate on her career and sent Ji Yao back to the Ji family, aka den of wolves. When Ji Yao was old enough he moved out and decided on his career as an actor and later opened Xingyao as his company, he single-handedly changed the environment of entertainment industry and cleansed the stench of unspoken rules. His comany was a heaven for those who did not want to exchange themselves and wanted to work and thrive. But his mysophobia, although has quite an extreme description, is a thing. He actively participates in treatment, but it doesn't have results, since it's mostly like a routine for him, since deep inside he finds nothing bad about it too, all before his life has a glimpse of life and that is Ye Qiyuan. Unlike him Ye Qiyuan is quite messy, he may not leave garbage on the floor, but he's simply messy, "breathe of life" as Qiyuan calls it.
Two unlike personalities come together and balance each other. But they also share the vulnerability of having no really close person beside them. Ji Yao meticulousness helps Qiyuan with things like eating on time, taking care of himself etc. And Qiyuan actually made Ji Yao adapt to things he was too rigid about or realize things he took for granted about himself.
Other secondary characters include, most of the time, Yan Dai, Qiyuan's agent, who is like a guardian to his unprotected and naive cabbage. Shen Rui, Ji Yao's agent, who would love to say a few things to Ji Yao, but still has no guts. There are many others, like people from their agencies, other actors and of course parents will appear :) The heart knots must be undone and the mystery of Qiyuan's birth must be uncovered.
The Relationship. Is actually one of the biggest points to me. They don't like each other at first and have all reasons for that, later fate makes them come closer, either work or just interact. With time they become friends and get close. But because they're both pretty mature people in work, but absolute noobs in love or just close relationship, they do not notice the attraction they feel towards each other, so they don't really treat each other like any other "friend", but considered themselves as such. Or better to say they do notice, but more like entangled not to ruin what they have now. For both it's actually the first deep and heartfelt relationship that is not bound by interests or agenda. And it is also hard to come by. They deeply like each other and find each other very good in many ways. Ji Yao may look like a block of ice, but is very responsible and persceptive, not without a note of bad humor. He is not a block who can't read people, but he always found Qiyuan fascinating. Ji Yao's love is simply love, in some ways he might have no high demands for the partner and is ready to make many changes about himself for his partner (btw his sexual orientation does not magically change for Qiyuan, once in a blue moon ML is gay from the get-go), he loves Qiyuan because it is Qiyuan. But his path is not without thorns, because he is one of participants of that first incident and he deeply regretted his attitude towards the incident and Qiyuan himself. He accepts that he did not do good at that time and doesn't know if he deserves forgiveness and good attitude from Qiyuan. Qiyuan treats relationships with high demand for purity. One of the quotes to showcase the hearts despite of maturity of their everyday life:
But people like Ye Qiyuan are very simple at heart, and they are not born to do things like hunting for flowers and squandering other people's feelings. Moreover, when they see too much love mixed with various impurities, they will be flustered and don't know how to react when they suddenly receive a heart full of unreserved and passionate love.
Qiyuan saw too much during his supermodel career, too many people come and go, the love is often bound with career. Like one person can say they love their muse but sleep with others. He sometimes has a recollection of those things while he meets people in the fashion circle, like a designer who is deeply fascinated by him or a teacher who openly proposes things. Entertainment circle might not be better. Ji Yao did not seek love, he might have lived his life like that, almost like a robot, before Qiyuan showed up. They both did not treat each other like other people in their lives would, they also pushed boundries before figuring they are what they want for each other. And then they finally decided to be together, so they went through quite a path.
The System. I want to address the system here. Because it has influence on the plot and doesn't have it at the same time. I personally find that this novel could have survived perfectly fine without the system bs. It says it is a saving marriage system, but mainly it plays a soy souce that disappears for forever. I find that characters have enough on their plate to add another conflict. The life experience of Qiyuan and Ji Yao, their relationship, all this was enough for me. And they had to go through initial impression from each other, overcome the hurdle in their hearts and then come together. They could just come together naturally without adding system mission to equation. The one thing that pushed Qiyuan back was the system, as you may guess. The kind heart as he is, he didn't want to mix true feelings with the need of doing tasks as the system "demanded", so he tried not to get too close to Ji Yao. Because what would he do if one day he has to say "I actually really love you, but I also did this task that said to love you, will you believe me?" Tbh the system just muddied the water to me, it was weird. Although it played some role in the end, but it could have been played in a different way too, not necessary how author used it. It just served to play as a conflict that Qiyuan doesn't want to fall in love, but ends up with Ji Yao and is a bit tormented by questions like what will happen if he fails the mission, if he leaves, which sounds bad tbh, these parts were unnecessary to me.
The Plot. The plot goes through several stages. First role, acquaintance, the first interest. Second role, playing together in a movie, getting to know each other. Third role, TV show, becoming friends, not realizing growing feelings. Fourth role, foreign debut, pursue of love, truth of Qiyuan's birth. And final role, coming together, found family.
If you expect spoilers, yes, these are spoilers :)
Qiyuan wakes up in the body that is exactly like his own, but young and not riddled with sickness.
He refuses the system prompts and decides to live however much time he's left with to the fullest, just working and living life.
But because the point of his timing is crucial, he is now taking part in the casting of a small role for a big budget movie, he actually manages to impress the director, after all the professionalism of the top supermodel kicks in, and he snatches the role for himself. The original plan in which he commits suicide by swallowing sleeping pills and having an accident that will be pushed on Ji Yao's head is completely ruined. The company can't do anything to him, so despite the fact that Qiyuan never acted he still gives it a try. And finds that it is actually quite joyful.
This is where he crosses paths with famous Ji Yao for the first time, Ji Yao came to make a cameo appearance and was surprised by Qiyuan's amateur but spiritual acting. This is where the inner small struggle comes in, Qiyuan is the one who took part in blackmailing him, but now acts like nothing happened and he's all cool.
Also unlike many people surrounding Ji Yao, Qiyuan doesn't give him face. Qiyuan, for you to know, is the most polite and noble-like person, kindest soul, but he also manages to deliver his hidden indifference or rejection even with the most polite smile. He gives zero fucks about Ji Yao for a simple reason. Qiyuan, original one as Qiyuan believes, was used as a spear against Ji Yao, but the waver was the information about his biological parents.
In both lives Qiyuan is an orphan. In his previous life he also looked for his parents (a bit murky info, but basically family becoming unhappy, parents meeting an accident, maybe one parent is gone, another sends the boy to orphanage and dashes off), in this life Qiyuan makes it clear that he doesn't care (after the first fail and possibility that Ji family would manipulate results). Both Ji Yao who goes against Qiyuan's company, don't consider the life of Qiyuan. So you can guess where the negativity comes from. Qiyuan doesn't blame Ji Yao, since Ji Yao is a victim of blackmailing of original Qiyuan, but it doesn't mean he's completely on his side too. Ji Yao doesn't have the best opinion of Qiyuan due to blackmailing, but this Qiyuan acts too different from usual. He doesn't address it as changing cores btw, they're not that close to notice.
Here we also meet another character important to the story, Qiyuan's agent, Yan Dai. He is a former golden agent, but after having a falling out with the current chairman Zhan Qiyu (the one who orchestrated the entire incident with Qiyuan), his ex-lover, he is feeling betrayed and decadent, only Qiyuan brings him out of his slump. He is an honorable protector of Qiyuan as his soft cabbage that everyone wants.
After his first small role Qiyuan is invited for a magazine shoot, but before that he is invited to a celebration. Qiyuan agrees, nothing is as simple as charming people from fashion industry to him, he is their muse. Although this sounds pretentious and there are a lot of exaggerations along the way, they're not critical, but beauty is maxed out in this novel, so you can guess how charming and captivating our noble boy who is not noble at all is.
Mind you, the first day Qiyuan arrived, he signed the divorce agreement, sent it out and moved out. But Ji Yao did not proceed with divorce yet. So all this time Qiyuan thinks he's a free man. Naive sometimes.
Ji Yao's interest actually peaked during a photoshoot that Qiyuan had for his first magazine, but the past blackmailing still prevailed him from having a good opinion.
They both live their lives before Qiyuan is cast in the new movie where Ji Yao is the male lead.
It is worth to take a note that during the very first filming (him playing the mermaid prince) Qiyuan showcased his superb interpersonal relationship skills, he truly can speak to anyone, he doesn't make a fuss, always keeps a polite smile and acts very maturely, he makes people feel good about him and themselves, a seasoned person. So he captivated the entire crew with his mature look, but almost lovely nature in the eyes of surrounding people, acts mature but others find him cute, like a precious polite child kind of thing. But it is also due to newly built relationships that finally when he is attacked online there are different opinions about him that resolved the first major PR crisis for him. After the filming one of the actresses posted an ambiguous post making it sound as if Qiyuan added drama. But when the time for the movie to be released came, her fans were slapped back, because the duration of this guy's role did not exceed few minutes. I still remember the scene where a fan of this actress came with a stopwatch on his phone just to prove a point. I also remember I thought why someone thought it was a good idea, because when movie comes out people will call you out.
Actually, this actress has a bit of a story and follow-up in this novel, she is called Jiang Yun, comes from another company that is famous for being shady. She acts big but others know her fake image outside. After the movie came out her post backfired. She was also discarded by her "fiance/boss" who has weird hobbies, she is scorned and abandoned by the company and her agent, due to whom the crisis rises in the first place (Qiyuan witnessed their affair, mostly he saw the agent, and agent decided to "strike first" and ruin Qiyuan's rep before anything else, so he won't speak out (-_-)). After her fall she crosses the path with Qiyuan and this episode showed the glimpse of the kind heart of Qiyuan, he may know it's a trap, but he can't leave the girl on the road, helped her out and contacted her family for her and it also showed that he has a touch of envy in him for that family connection, since he doesn't have a family of his own. But for the girl it was a salvation and for many other characters Qiyuan is a sort of warm light. The novel may not dwell on the darker things, but for many Qiyuan is indeed the person they needed so much to come out of shadows.
This episode passes by. But the fame of Qiyuan is on the rise. The small role he played made people pay attention to him. The fashion magazine he took part in sold out like hot cakes.
Coming back to the second movie he auditioned for. Here he plays a secondary character, but against Ji Yao who is a main lead. Following the previous dive into fake noble character of Qiyuan who has etiquette engraved into his bones, but actually he doesn't come from aristocratic family, he plays a noble person, so it was easier for him, but he makes a progress through teachings, watching and constant work that happens in the background. We don't really concentrate on his progress but we see and feel his progress. He has a talent, but it's like hidden in the rough.
Again, Qiyuan manages to charm many people around him and become the crew's mascot, he is a young boy for others, has a calm and maturity but also cuteness of a child.
But the work together makes both Ji Yao and him have conversations on acting.
And I can't say there is any closeness to them, Qiyuan will definitely avoid Ji Yao as much as he can, but we have a glimpse of Ji Yao's first attraction through the the magazine Qiyuan shot, because it lacked a photo Qiyuan thought would definitely be included, but we know that Ji Yao has it in his private area. Interestingly, when Qiyuan was doubtful if feelings of Ji Yao what he thought he came across this photo later in the novel.
But because of acting Qiyuan and Ji Yao have a bit of friction due to final scene. Qiyuan's character has family, but Qiyuan himself doesn't, so of course he is oblivious to what to play, but eventually decides on his own version.
During filming of this movie he meets a movie queen, Tang Yu, she is one of few who were helped by Qiyuan. Although Qiyuan is all noble and collected most of the time, but he is particualrly sincere when he met Tang Yu devastated in the midst of her divorce and unable to play and tries to lift her spirits up the way he can. It created a connection between them and eventually Tang Yu invited Qiyuan to play in her TV series she produced, to which he agreed.
He was basically airborn, so after he finished the movie and moved out from being a mascot in his previous crew, he prooved to the new director that he is worthy of his role (this has a scene / audition that stuck with me from first read, now I know where the scene comes from, Qiyuan plays a doctor, and his audition is just a walk along the corridor, meeting extras and reacting and the way he did it flawlessly and then used elbow to press buttons is what impressed the director). Unlike previous crews, because each crew is different, this one is more "chaotic", because it's all mix and match and not everyone understood why Qiyuan came to play in TV series. But Qiyuan didn't care, he wasn't running around making friends anyway, so even if some treated him with question and others ran to him for benefits, he dismissed both. He also plays a doctor who is a main suspect actually, this role became really popular and the show aired prior the release of the movie he played with Ji Yao.
By this time due to acquaintance he and Ji Yao actually knew each other more, to the point where he asked Ji Yao to teach him how to race for the final scenes in the TV series. This is one of few episodes when in interactions Qiyuan inadvertantly made Ji Yao realize that for example his racing is not simply something he keeps doing just because of formed habit, but something he enjoys.
The friendship grew stronger from that point, Qiyuan may dismiss with some polite phrase, Ji Yao may take it as a straight ball instead. Like the eating, for example. Qiyuan due to his growing environment has small appetite and can't gain weight. Ji Yao took his passing phrase and turned around and supervised Qiyuan's eating. Stuff like that. Warm relationship? Definitely.
Interestingly, while not realizing Ji Yao made some moves like some domineering president. But it's kind of cute and awkward. Like due to accident he let Qiyuan live with him (where no human was allowed to come in), while he slept on a couch. He already eased boundries he set for others. But also the way others viewed or chased after Qiyuan made Ji Yao a bit possessive. It's funny how he can't put two and two together and dismisses the words of his doctor that they should start a relationship and meet it openly. But later it's what they end up with.
Work together, shows, auditioning for another (foreign) movie, spending some time together because Ji Yao provided the foreign residence. Of course they grew closer through this period of time. They have their own uncertainties, since they are nto sure if the other person loves them or treats them as a friend, should they make this step or stay as they are and not ruin what they have.
But during their foreign travel this is where he meets a person named Ye Shenglin. And this is from where he finds his true story of birth in this world.
Rewinding back. His agency, Zhanhua, made him set up Ji Yao, he refused, the main point being him wanting to find biological parents. Qiyuan (original) sent two samples. His and the other person from same orphanage. What was his name, Mu Yun or Mu Yue, let's call him that. This guy took part in the plan. Later discredited when Jiang Yun blacked Qiyuan on the network. Later was out of the question before he was used for blackening again. But later laboratory sent news that the match was found, but it's not Qiyuan's, but Mu Yun's. It was evident that Zhan family with someone who plotted from the Ji family, wanted to use it to manipulate Qiyuan. Although part of Qiyuan was envious of such simple family, but he calmed down afterwards. And the next time he got news he wasn't as "excited".
Back to Ye Shenglin. He is the head of the Ye family, also a big family like Ji, and we find out that he was married once to a common girl (Qiyuan's mom). Later Ye family was in a dire situation and he made a decision, he divorced his first wife, left her with the child and married again, business marriage with warm feelings. But now twenty years later for some reason he wants to find the child (already forgot why), but he also finds out that the child was left alone for 20 years, his ex-wife died long ago and who knows where to look for the kid, but remember laboratory and gene bank? It gave results.
Meanwhile Ye Shenglin thought him crossing path with Qiyuan has other meanings, sort of scheming from Qiyuan's side. Especially he was furious when people called him Qiyuan's dad, because the two took photos during event and it was posted online, but because they looked alike people started making comments like that. Mr Ye even publicly unfollowed Qiyuan, which led to haters mock Qiyuan. And Qiyuan himself had no idea what he did wrong (nothing), yet he did not care. But Mr Ye was too sensitive about the word "son" in that situation. He was slapped in the face soon enough, because Qiyuan was the son he was looking for.
He thought Qiyuan would be happy like he was, but he was met with indifference, after all Qiyuan did not wish himself to come into the den like Ye family. He lived his life well. Also he was prejudiced, Ye family is so powerful, why it took Mr Ye 20 years to find his missing son.
Ye family soon found about it too and they wanted to sow discord, after all the Ye couple only had daughter, but who is Qiyuan, he doesn't want this cabbage from Ye family, he has his career and life. He refused Mr Ye and Mrs Ye too, who came to probe.
Unlike other stories Qiyuan is not a son of a mistress, he is a legit child of the first marriage. his birth is not shameful. So there are no hard feelings between Mrs Ye and Qiyuan. But both Mr Ye and Mrs Ye actually felt bad that due to their decisions in the past the boy had to grow up outside in such cnditions. Despite everything, due to some events Mrs Ye liked Qiyuan a lot. Qiyuan doesn't aim to please people, it's just his small actions that he does inadvertantly make people feel good about him.
They managed to come together and grow closer after that and Qiyuan also met his half-sister, who was actually a fan of his. This is the found family trope line.
Their relationship is actually pretty sweet. Because Mrs Ye and Zhiqiu can see that Qiyuan is kind by nature, he is not pretentious and has no idea about the Ye family. To them he is a wonderful son/brother, a truly warm and mindful personality. He treats them just like everyone else, with time even better. For Mrs Ye he is a son she always wanted (like they want daughters to be cotton-padded jackets, he wanted a son like that), due to upbringing of their child and Mr Ye's busyness Zhiqiu became quite detached from her parents, but Qiyuan managed to bring the family together with his presence. Even at some point make Mr Ye change for the better and realize that what he was striving for is like a baggage, but what he has, his family, was left neglected by him and might fall apart one day. I really liked the transformation of this family for the better. Finding unity they've lost along the way, along the interests or changes. Realize some of the things they always wanted to do.
The last part of the book is basically how Ji Yao and Qiyuan came together. That Ji Yao was almost openly chasing people, almost being fearless. But it's the care for each other and the fact that they couldn't leave each other that Qiyuan eventually proposed to be together. No matter how much time he got, he wants to be together and not regret it.
I forgot at which point Ji Yao's mom appeared. No, I actually remembered. During the Award Show for the movie when Qiyuan wore jewelery given to Ji Yao by his mom, she arrived to figure things out (after all she knows her son, giving his things to wear is a really big thing). She thought they were together, but they weren't at that point. Later because both mother and son have cold personalities it's thanks to Qiyuan both were linked back again. Funnily Mrs Ye and Yao's mom know each other and boasted about half a son and adoptive son as most polite, most mindful boy in the world and it happened to be the same person.
Because of the Ji family affairs their relationship became known to others, but it wasn't a big crisis, since they kept appearing together a lot anyway and their CP group grew bigger and stronger, many supported them as a result. Ji Yao actually took most of the weight upon himself. Another episode also helped, was quite a funny actually, how several actresses Qiyuan helped came out and whailed how their cabbage they wanted to chase, their little angel, was snatched already and is already married! Some designers and other people also came out, so no one thought Qiyuan rose to fame thanks to Ji Yao, but realized that Qiyuan is such a hot commodity ahahaha
In Conclusion. I really liked it. Although it felt like it's long, but it had its own stages and development. I liked that some parts had reappearance throughout the novel.
Of course it is not without a flaw, but it's subjective. I think it could do without the system. Also I am still a bit puzzled about the rebirth part, because at first it's like rebirth but as a different person, at other time it actually his own life, so there is no other Qiyuan, it's all him.
But skipping these parts, it had a great development, of characters and relationships, it made you genuinely feel good at the end.
RATE: 4,5/5. Because of the system involvement, otherwise a good read.
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