[SHORT REVIEWS] #19

I have two novels that I feel optimistic about, they're currently being published, so I have no idea how it goes, but I'm hopeful?

One of the two came a surprise.

The first one comes from the author of many novels I've reviewed in the past. 惗肆.

金丝雀他删号重开了[重生] by 惗肆

(mtl: Canary deleted his account and opened a new one)

It's a rebirth story. Jing Shun was a child star, unknowlingly becoming a cash cow for his parents who started to have new families behind his back, only waiting for the right moment to divorce. When the child became an adult the career of many child stars is over, the same happened to his family. They divorced, taking everything with them, what was earned through years and left the popular child star a small apartment as a consolation. 

Living half his life as unwanted child Jing Shun wanted to work hard and when he had a chance in the industry again he had an unfortunate accident which left him in a wheelchair, he thought everything was over but was pursued by a dear friend. He decided to believe in this love, but after several years he couldn't deny the fact that all this is just a hazy dream, his partner is all words and no actions, he is used to being neglected, plus the inability to stand up again took a toll on his mentality. Then he finds out this is all a joke for his so-called "lover". He has no idea why the other person was so cruel.

His deteriorating health was the end of him.

But then he opened his eyes several years later, only months after the accident, the day when he was confessed to in front of the public. But this time he refused the lying cheater, he chose someone in power. He made a deal. Now that he knows that there's a chance for him to stand up, he is ready to help Chi Gui ward off any evil. 

One the other hand Chi Gui regretted so many times that he wasn't first and could only look at his sweetheart in the distance.

It's a double rebirth novel.

Jing Shun tries to secure place in entertainment industry, but his main priority is to get healthy. Chi Gui is the one responsible for connecting him to doctors and covering all costs, only asking to play a part of lovers.

The reason behind Chi Gui's inaction will be explained later. But from what I've read it's partially because Jing Shun went along with Chi Sheng and they were portrayed as this dedicated couple. Plus you can't openly rob a partner, right? At the end of his journey Jing Shun had almost no contact with anyone.

So far it's quite emotional and promises to continue to be that. Jing Shun needs time to heal (there are some scenes that honestly surprised me) and process and Chi Gui needs time to make Jing Shun come out of shadow and show him there is someone who truly loves him.

别惹他！！ by 沙舟踏翠

(mtl: Don't mess with him!)

Ji Anzhi makes a deal with Mu Yanyun (f), they get married, since Yanyun needs a husband (she is pregnant, we have no idea who is the father), then after a while they will divorce for being incompatible.

But the problem is Yanyun has a brother Jingsen. They didn't get along with Anzhi from the get-go. Jingsen called him a pretty boy and didn't believe in their relationship. Always acted repulsed and weird.

Anzhi didn't really care, since he was a workaholic. It was rare for him even to meet this family, he was out of the house early in the morning and returned late at night. Waiting for the day he could leave, but will he be able to?

I tell you, the dynamic between this couple is something I haven't seen in a while! First of all it's nice to see Anzhi's personality, it's very bright, strong and partially flamboyant. But in a kind of sassy way. He is actually a bottom, so he can't help but notice his nominal "brother-in-law" looks. But the other party is so disagreeble at every turn. 

On the other hand Jingsen is so repressed. It is obvious that soon enough he starts to have feelings or at least is physically attracted to Anzhi, but he can't do anything about it since they're brother-in-laws.

Anzhi worked for a compay for some time, but the encountered a set back, someone wanted to bed him and he knew that the top of the company will not care about the small employee. So he resolutely resigns and chooses another emerging company with good prospects. Then he finds out that his company belongs to Jingsen. You'd expect the power dynamics to shift, but the don't. Anzhi still acts strong and almost walking on edge of what is allowed.

Have no idea where this will go from now on, but right now he is basically invisible in the Mu family, simply works hard all the time. They stage some fights with Yanyun, but generally it's the cold treatment that works best. As for Jingsen, they both spend much more time together than with anyone in the Mu family, so fatefully happened.

But honestly it's hard to resist their chemistry. They're kinda fun.

[Chinese BG novel] 遛猫的那对夫妇 by 板栗子 / The couple walking the cat

The latest from Chestnut. I needed to do something with myself, so I read it (it's short). And I'm not in a reading slump, I'm in the slump of life, so I hoped for the easy and uplifting.

Like anything from Chestnut this is very easy-going novel, with a bit of twist to it, but nothing serious or outrageous. Although the topic is open for debate.

I won't be putting summary and simply describe it. The summary is told from the perspective of a neighbor actually, you will meet this neighbor in the novel. They describe their meetings with the couple. First they noticed a beautiful couple walking the black cat. Next he saw the man who was dressed differently and gave him hush money. Then he accidentally saw the woman being greeted by a row of bodyguards, and again received hush money.

The couple walking the cat are Yang Youchu and Qi Xuan. Yang Youchu is a heiress to two businesses, but now she helps her mother in a newest location with lowest turnover. She went to know how it is at grassroots. But before that she got into a lot of trouble and thought she had something dirty on her, so she went to a master and asked what to do, master didn't ask for much, his price was cheap, but he told her:

- You must suffer a bit more to accumulate blessings.

Meaning she must be cut off from her luxurious life and feel how it goes for normal people.

Youchu meets a woman on this day, they don't know each other. The woman approached the master and asked how she could help her mother who is now in a critical condition. The master said:

- You must suffer a bit more, someone from the younger generation, so they would accumulate blessings for the grandma recovery.

The same day Qi Xuan, despite being a CEO, is told that he will be cut off finncially and must move out, so he could help his grandma. Qi Xuan didn't quibble although thought it's strange and moved to a small apartment.

Youchu and Qi Xuan met on a random day, Youchu found a wounded kitten in the bush and was approached by a handsome guy who wanted to help. The two of them had not enough money on them, but they wanted to help the cat, so they shared the account.

The cat was treated and became the link between the two.

Now, the novel actually moves a lot faster than you'd expect, the love period (dating) is actually skipped and is shortened to a paragraph, but basically they both cared for the cat, since the cat was so active she was called WangWang (because she was more like a dog than a cat), Youchu won the chance to keep the cat since her apartment is 2 square meters bigger, but he is free to visit and thus they walked the cat a lot. This led to them going on dates, confessing and they soon actually got married.

The married life was blissful, bu the only thing bugging both of them is that they don't know how to confess to the other party that they're actually rich. What will happen if their status changes etc.

I think this is the rare case where something else is going on in the background for the entirety of the novel that could be called a conflict and premise for the reveal between the two.

SPOILERS

Unknowingly, Qi Xuan was in talks with Youchu's father. They had a deal hanging. But he wasn't the only one and the rivalry company is the one who caused a lot of damage in the process.

Because of the class reunion meeting and consequent encounters Youchu's ex-pursuer saw her with Qi Xuan, so they reported it to the company from where they basically had a watch and report attitude after the couple. Oblivious two had no idea what is going on, until they were set on going to a party (there were few encounters before, but they still believed the other person is either with a client or a friend) where they meet and it becomes clear the other party is part of this rich ppl world, so they have a confrontation. Although both feel betrayed and say hurtful things, very impulsive thing to do, they're too deeply in love with each other to separate. Also their marriage comes to the surface and both families are shocked.

Of course the rivalry company gets reported for what they did. Qi Xuan asks for forgiveness, he acts very persistently when he wants to save the relationship and they make up.

The novel at the end cuts so quickly to the marriage and WangWang being the ring bearer girl.

/-/

Overall a sweet and short story to have a good time. 

The dating period can be found in extras, which I haven't read.

But this novel is very "love at first sight" type of story, with strong feelings of affection.

RATE: 4.5/5.