[Chinese BG novel] 假千金她只爱钱[万人迷恋综] by 夹心饼干123 / Fake heiress only loves money

I saw this and inexplicably thought of author who created "All Villains show" an dthe whole "Three rebellious brothers" drama.

But I must warn anyone that they should not expect the same level of entertainment or drama or depth. It has some good parts, you can feel the author trying to do better, but there are many parts that are lacking. So in the end I have such conflicting feeling about it, I liked parts that I liked and I can criticque parts that I find flawed.

I will skip the summary and explain the premise as shortly as possible: Yu Qingzhi is the "fake" heiress of the story who is thrown out at 24, because she's not needed anymore. Very dramatic. Then to make money she is offered to play a foil in a dating show with the original heiress where she promised to get all the hate.

But things didn't turn out the way she planned.

#reverse harem, true/fake heiresses, melodrama, open ending

With such an overly melodramatic settings we start the story.

But the part that made me feel of that author is the feeling of some conflict and deeper drama that hides behind the initial impression we get.

The beginning is very tame, everyone gets to know each other and before you know it almost every male guest at this show in one way or another expressed an interest, even if they did not, they will later.

Yu Qingzhi may be beautiful and her face is imeccable, so she gets a lot of questions about that. But those male guests knows that she has more depth to her character than what she tries to show.

This is how she starts by trying to act like a douch, but eventually becomes a heartthrob. 

Her reputation at first positive is slowly erroded by none other than bad marketing and the face behind it is none other but her adoptive mother. What kind of grudge do they have for her to almost seethe with the desire to destroy her adoptive daughter?

The true heiress starts from the bad start, good thing is that this story is not a cliche type where they continue to oppose each other, eventually they learn more, especially the true heiress who still doesn't know what kind of fire pit is the Yu family.

With the errosion of her reputation thanks to marketing campaigns she is now known more as vain, Yu Qingzhi herself openly claims that she loves money, but while netizens claim her as a gold digger the men who now know her more refuse to believe she is so shallow.

Because it's a true reverse harem, these men do vie for her attention. Author really balances between different pairings and I had the impression that I'm getting into it. Like why a girl should make a rash decision, everyone is so good, it's so hard to decide. because everyone goes through different accident which showcases different sides of these characters. They may not start from the point of liking her, but some go through the process of seeing her good side. The bad part is how it felt unreal.

Eventually, even with women she builds a good relationship, except the true heiress no one had ill feelings towards her, also women came with their own agenda instead of falling in love, though I say there was not enough of female friendship, it was changed for more content about interactions between Qingzhi and the male guests. This is how it's not only a reverse harem, but they developed a friendship after this show.

Good points: developing relationships takes a lot of space, but eventually you feel for the characters. there is no obvious male lead and this is done for the open ending, because she doesn't choose anyone. although it does feel like they're ready to give her anything, she may not reciprocate feelings, but she can do other things for them. her teasing and playful parts have reasoning behind them, same as her reluctance. I didn't have the nasty feelings as if she was playing with the human hearts when I was reading it. at times it was more her giving in, because male guests knew she has a kind heart.

Bad points: all come from technical level ofthe world I suppose. Like what is the time and level we're living in, because they included some VR technology and they presented it as if they were in full virtual reality. technical stuff like the bungy jump of three people or a dance of several people. and by everything I mean the description, I stumbled because of descriptions many times, like who is acting how, that type of technicality. Story-wise the build-up for the past or any sort of explanation behind Qingzhi's unhappy time with Yus took too long. there is a lot of small stuff I think author did not think through. Like the true heiress almost instantly mentions how Qingzhi "stole from her" but no one dug that family drama or dragged it to light, though it was a juicy gossip, the internet articles were too one-sided most of the time, which felt too convenient. The part before ending is truly insane. The melodrama was turned to the max.

SPOILERS:

Lin Yanhan. He is the CEO of his own company. Because of his status he must ve very rigorous when chosing a wife. But from his assertive nature he slowly develops feelings for Qingzhi. She talks back to him few times because he acts quite arbitrarily, while she doesn't like him imposing his own ideas on her. Only later he realized that she's not really vain. He is like a representative of logic and reason (before they fail).

Zhou Chengyu. The youngest of the bunch, but actually not just a student. He represents the vigor of youth and passionate feelings. He is attracted to Qingzhi instantly and plays the role of green tea puppy, in front of her he is like a pitiful cub, but when others try to take her attention away he starts digging holes for others.

Chu Youze. Known photographer, but also not a simple personality. he is more frivolous and a playboy, but something in Qingzhi attracted him. His initial interest might have been shallow and later when he found her more and more inetersting this is how he got hooked.

Ju Jingchuan. Might sound like a simple lawyer, but he's not. He has an interesting arc because he has a talent for seeing visions of future (sudden, I know) where he saw himself being madly in love with Qingzhi, but he didn't like the aspect of it, since he saw her interest in money and shallow attitude and he didn't want tobe manipulated. Those visions sent him into a panic mode, so he tried to stay away from her. Worst first impression along with Lin Yanhan. It's only later visions and reality mixed together.

He Yanqiu. He is a forensic. Actually a half-brother of Lin Yanhan and they share some past together involving Yanqiu's biological mother, who left him and his father for the wealthy Lin family (both hate her). Because of his mother he developed a severe trauma that grew with time, he tried to see psychologist but it didn't help, so he decided to do something drastic. He never planned to fall in love, but Qingzhi was there for him when she noticed his condition, she never asked questions or acted disgusted, instead she made a lot of small moves that made him feel better and eventually he realized she's the one.

Zhu Yuqian / true heiress. If only she knew she lived with the lie of her parents. Because of her conviction and belief in those words she was partially manipulated to hate Qingzhi, only with getting into contact she realized that the image she sees and the one she was told to have a strong dissonance.

Mother Yu is actually a pretty abusive and hateful woman, you can sympathize with her, but she is vile. From childhood she brainwashed Qingzhi, before later they basically paraded her like a prized pony waiting for the highest bid to win. When Yuqian appeared they saw a better opportunity.

But there is a catch about these two sisters, because they're actually indeed half-sisters. I know, very dramatic.

This is where the last part comes in, from dating show to almost a suspence.

That's why I am very 50-50 about it. Like I realize all its' flaws, but still kinda felt the potential?

RATE: 3/5. Despite my enjoynment I had a ot to criticize when it came to connecting glue of the story that happened in the background. A lot of it was simply unreal (like stuff that was dangerous). But the relationships, despite the lack of real depth were balanced to make a reverse harem work.

[SHORT REVIEWS] #29 (with a bit of ranting)

Well, I feel a bit off and must emphasize that my opinions this time around, if identified as such, should not be taken too seriously. After all the characters I discuss did not do anything substantial, but this won't stop me.

Also, random, I have no idea what exactly creates the noise upstares, it feels like a high-pitched screech (I hope it's a door), I can't help myself I am gossipy, I am nosy and I don't like my neighbors for dropping a lot of heavy shit on the floor, that's in case if they're not falling themselves (I guess they have a kid and like to do martial arts.. or in other words wiping the floor with their bodies), since I hear everything. I want to give them a carpet tbh.

NOVELS

CHN

[BL] 绿茶男配只想咸鱼[穿书] by 第五熙 *JJ

(mtl: Scheming supporting male character just wants to be lazy)

Status: Completed

#ch: 90+4

Year: 2024

Progress: 1-25 (DNF)

Summary: Gu Zhen transmigrates into a world of a novel where everything is revolving around a young man Ye Cheng, the shou of this story, he is handsome, has good greats and a great personality, his smile attracts the people surrounding him (protagonist halo buff). But Gu Zhen is not in the picture, since he will be ruined by another protagonist gong, for some underhanded moves he did. So Gu Zhen tried really hard to stay away from both protagonists, which proved to be really impossible and tried to not spread any negativity or make any moves, he really wanted to survive.

WHY I DON'T LIKE SUCH CHARACTERS OR DEVELOPMENTS all caps yeah

My new pet peeve is how MCs in such stories overdramatize their own situation. Gu Zhen should be young, but not dumb not to even consider a possibility that his fears are baseless. It's teh OG Gu Zhen who will be retaliated against, not him. He didn't do anything remotely deserving such harsh retaliation, not to mention he should know better than anyone that the future is dynamic and not statis, he is not forced by the plot or some outside forces. Ye Cheng is a really good guy, he doesn't have a system or anything, he's just a protag with halo buff. Gu Zhen did not continue pester him or anyone else and started to change. But weeks and weeks later he is still afraid of ML because he figured he is original gong of this story. This wuss annoyed the hell out of me. He has no qualities to him to be honest, some may find his actions funny, but I don't. Another side of him that annoyed me is how devotedly he believes that both gong and shou are meant together and they are "taken" because story told him so, he sometimes thinks so patronizing, sounding like a jerk really. Don't these characters proved they have their own free will? 

The ML of this story is Ji Tingyu, the OG gong of the supposed perfect match, handsome and super accomplished senior that lives next to Gu Zhen and his roommate Chen Qi. This circumstance allowed Gu Zhen plotwise get closer to Tingyu without knowing his real identity at first. OG Gu Zhen is described as a bit of a sleazy person, which I instantly don't like because it puts down the OG character so much and elevates Gu Zhen who arrived without him doing much.

Gu Zhen realized he knows nothing about his major and decided to concentrate on his studies, very motiovated young man, thus he meets with Tingyu who helps him, thus the connection. We feel the attraction that Tingyu feels, though he doesn't say anything, but tbh.. what did Gu Zhen actually do? Was hardworking? Who is not? He is handsome? Others are too. It felt like Gu Zhen got the attention out of nowhere and for no particular reason.

I bet this feeds into the idea of - you know, you don't have to do anything, your other perfect half will feel for you even if you do nothing.

The plot, which actually doesn't exist (since it's all daily life and interactions) moves at a slug pace. I just looked back and thought to myself - wow, I read 20 chapters and nothing substantially happened, wow. Why am I here?

Anyway I will read a bit more and then I'll decide. I know such romance books should not be anything more, but I want them at least do something for me than be average. And this feels okay at all times (can't judge the overall story), but it also feels like many other stories too.

[BG] 这个男人能谈吗 by 东风吹来 *JJ

(mtl: Can I really date this man?)

Status: Completed

#ch: 81 + extras

Year: 2025

Progress: DNF

Summary: Tang Zhaojing received a message from her mother with a profie of a man who is too good to be true. As an "expert" in this (after watching someone's else analytical video of blind date market) she deducted that this man probably lied at least about something or everything.

This was before Tang Zhaojing met with Xie Yanzhou, all those specs of of age, height and muscles seem to be true, graduate who returned home from abroad and started a business.

There definitely must be something wrong.

I'll be honest, this Tang Zhaojing can go fuck herself. 

I am aware that the fraud marriage that involves gay marrying heterosexual women because of many issues like parental and social pressure, the need to produce a heir etc. But this is the first thing she thought when meeting this man and knowing he has no dating history is that he's actually gay and she repeats it several times as if she is so sure about it. And it's the first date. The number of women who were swindled into this type of marriage is approximately in millions (compared to billion population indeed feels like not much, but it is a lot), but I think the modern problem of loneliness and no dating history is pretty spread phenomena too. 

Yanzhou did nothing for me to criticize him, from the summary he had a crush on Zhaojing since school (me wants to ask - why?)

Zhaojing is also described as a humorous girl, but the only humorous part before she turned nymphomanic in front of a handsome guy but still thought he was a fraud is how she was lying on a couch and scrolling videos and laughing. had no idea such a criteria existed of judging humorousness..

Yeah I know I'm nitpicking, but I opened it and closed it. I don't care since nothing hooked me up.

Honestly, I feel like these authors could do better than writing an average, forgettable story, at least make the old story interesting.

[BG] 大佬拒绝恋爱脑[快穿] by 蓝海i *JJ

(mtl: The boss rejects romance)

Status: Ongoing

#ch: 

Year: 2025

Progress: arc 1-5 (DNF)

Summary: Well, aren't we surprised? I am not. Also, false advertisement for romance, because girl, what romance? This is like no CP

I honestly wonder why authors tag it in romance category whenever it has such anti-romance sentiment. I understand that romance is more popular than no-CP tag, but this honestly feels like fraud. FMC doesn't understand love and helps those whose life were destroyed by love to salvage their fates, but despite her saying love is possible, you should not lose yourself in it, we never see her in a relationship, she will be girlbossing.

This story has nothing bad for me to say about it. I just have nothing to say at all. It's unfortunately plain with too many things that were done before and a lot of nonsense that is not even funny.

This is a basic transmigration novel, but there is a part that left me question the intention.. Luo Yi (FMC) is a transmigrator with excellent score, she also doesn't understand love, at least losing yourself in loving someone, before she receives a task of saving someone who regretted being too in love and losing the best opportunities their life gave them. So in her hightened state she accepted the task instead of having a leisurely retirement.

One good point is how some OGs tried to salvage the situation, but unfortunately it was futile.

The bad part to me is how to elevate the main character of Luo Yi there is always subtle comparison in the text, it's not that vivid, but it's everywhere. I love when women are women, but this comes at the expense of someone else.

Luo Yi starts to work out, having a regular schedule and sleep, routines and healthy lifestyle and in between it's a dig at the OG of this body to me for dieting, staying up late etc. Even visually. You know the gist, like she's so OP, even if OG is pretty with her aura she is a fairy that makes even women bend into mosquito coils.

Author, I get it, she's so good. Please stop.

But also your story is THIS boring, author. I just couldn't get hooked on it and I opened it for the sake of reading some senseless stuff, since I have such a lousy mood these days. But no. The writing style lacks soul, it's more like an explanatory rampage and has this reiteration of the same information over and over which drives you nuts. There is nothing to lament about, everything is pretty basic. Even beyond basic, if it's even possible.

One good thing is this novel is free. 

At least at the moment of me typing this it has free access. I know some may post free novels, but others post free for a while and then lock under vip access.

[BG] 我没想捧红他们[娱乐圈] by 柯四六 *JJ

(mtl: It wasn't my intention to make them popular)

Status: Ongoing

#ch: 

Year: 2025

Progress: 19

Summary: Jian Yao is a Transmigration Bureau worker, she has only one world left before her retirement and only one point away from her goal, The next world is D-level entertainment / showbiz, she is a CEO of a company on the verge of bankruptcy, while her bdy was in a coma, the vice president took away the core staff and jumped the ship. With only few employees left for one or another reason.

Achieve the goal and become the legend in the entretainment world - reward 100 points.

Failing mission - Bankruptcy within a certain period - rewarded 1 point.

Seeing this Jian Yao of course decided to... bankrupt the company, it's the retirement on the line.

But who knew that all her plans to sabotage the projects will turn into great successes.

 Well, I noticed the plot and decided to try and so far it's good and deservedly fun, though a bit silly. The plot reminds me of that novel where a wife wanted to bankrupt her husband and spent so much money on everything, but she achieved unpresedented success. This is why I thought I might like it, the idea is similar (of course it's not a copy-paste story).

我都要死了，打你怎么了！ by 千萌

(mtl: I'm about to die, so what if I hit you?!)

Status: Ongoing (should be, this novel is free btw)

#ch: ~39

Year: 2026

Progress: 39

Summary: Qi Qingzhu walked out of the hospital with a diagnosis of liver cancer, she doesn't have much to live, so she looks back at her life and it's not like she is oblivious to why it got to this point, because for the sake of future she always was forebearing. In her weird family where her father is a complete selfish scumbag, submissive mother who for some reason favors adopted daughter over her biological, a brother who protects the adoptive daughter and all four are oblivious to white lotus / green tea adoptive daughter whom she really wanted to beat up for a long time, who always stole her things, not to mention the affection of her entire family. Even thinking of this made her blood boil and her liver ache.

Not to mention her always problematic best friend who became a love-struck fool for abusive man and her filandering fiance with whom she thought she had a deal and used him as a shield, but still it came with a price.

All of it can go to hell, she doesn't care anymore.

  I actually liked this one a lot. It is melodramatic in a sense, but it also is more layered than average tropey book.

SPOILERS: 

The ML of this book is Tang Jingyun, step-brother of her best friend Tang Ya, he comes into the picture early on and we see his love and care for her, even if no one knows her diagnosis, but with him she feels at home, loved and needed. Even if she says she doesn't care, she strives for a good environment for herself because she doesn't really want to spend all of her time on the hypocritical family at home.

Her best friend Tang Ya gave her a lot of headache but despite not much description you can feel the relationship and the feeling of helplessness when Qingzhu finally realizes that despite the help and trying to free Tang Ya from her toxic relationship Tang Ya chooses her abusive boyfriend because she is so starved for love, that she almost has a perverted feeling of satisfaction when this man cries and calls for her to come back.

As for her family it is even more melodramatic. The adoptive daughter Qi Shilin is actually an illegitimate daughter of her father and his first love, but she has no idea about her origins, so she misinterprets the actions of both parents and thinks she is not worthy to marry into wealth in their eyes. Her half-brother is actually in love with her (yes orthopedics) and has no idea she is his half-sister. He only knows that both parents treat him as scrudge when it comes to Shilin. What no one knows is that all kids have to step back when it comes to Shilin, their father will choose to side with her above anyone else. While their mother is a submissive wife who listens to her husbands, since she has nothing to herself apparently. She treat his illegitimate daughter better than her own, knowingly forgives everything including obvious cheating etc. All beacuse her lifeblood is her husband.

These details is what Qingzhu figured out but stayed silent about it. But now she doesn't care to reveal it, she wants Shilin who obviously aims for a place as a young mistress of some wealthy family to seduce her own half-brother unknowingly and let the situation become messier.

This is, you may expect that she wil go crazy, but I don't think it's the right course of action. It's not like she continues to endure, but she chooses her steps. Let's not forget she is sick (as she thinks and as we assume), I honestly think author might pull 180 on us with this one.

At first you might think that he situation with her fiance is also on the list of things, but actually it's an open agreement between the two to play the role of meeting up, faking some sort of connection to appease both parents and wait for a better moment to annul the engagement, since both see nothing in this business marriage.

So there are a lot of characters, a lot to unravel. This is why I think it's such a pity that author did not update for some time.

And the last webnovel will get a separate post, it was a nice and weird find, because it is kinda likable from one side, but still has a lot of parts waiting for improvement.

MANHWA

빙의했더니 괴담이 돼 버렸다 / My possession became a ghost story

OMG Have I never mentioned this one? It's insane.

You may find the FMC annoyingly oblivious at times, but the overall story is just crazy.

Basic idea is that FMC wakes up after a funeral, she possessed a body of a young noble woman, sh ehas no idea if it's one of those novels or not and who are protagonists, so she makes up her own mind, especially when staff around her shivers when they see her, so she assumes she was really bad, having absilutely no idea in what everyone around her actually sees.

Fantastic idea, really wins from being a manhwa and has a striking artsy execution, really stands out as a story and visually.

SPOILERS:

But this is actually revealed only with time that how FMC sees the world and how others see FMC is two different points of view and they are very different. This is how we get the idea that FMC is actually not simple, but who is she and what is she doing here is a whole different story we yet to find out (I knwo there is a novel this is based on, not reading, because I loved the visual representation).

(I added both manhwa and novel covers, because look at that cover, damn~)

To the perfeck Duke / 완전무결한 공작님께 

I feel like I mentioned this one, but I will repeat, this is good. I consider it's good so far, it's on-going and relatively new.

I like the idea that FMC is not a transmigrator or a reborn person, she grew up and felt with her body what it feels like to live under a roof with abusive family, where your mother was schemed against and died with bad reputation and now FMC also lives with ad reputation, not a single soul knows what she went through or what her suffering is really like. All they see is her beauty that can't be described.

Until one day she strikes a deal with a Duke, he needs a partner, he s pragmatic, she needs a cover and a person who can protect her from this hell. 

Before she can stand so high and finally unleas her vengeance.

Although some see FMC as "weak", but I don't think so. She is pretty strong to play this game and not turn completely submissive, although she has some inevitable consequences that generated from her trauma, but I'm sure future years with her duke will help her deal with it.

ML (the Duke) is actually such a sassy character at times. He is the epitome of perfection, but he is not dull at all. It's the type of man when you feel like you're about to swoon when he shows his other side under all that prim and proper image. Woohoo. But he is actually reliable and is quite protective and active with FMC, so you can feel his good heart.

TV

KDRAMAS

My Royal Nemesis

I saw this randomly and was attracted to the premise of a famous figure traveling to modern times. The premise is not new overall, but I want to know the KDrama take on it. Good old stuff never gets old to me, it can still be good if it's a good story.

Though I'll be honest I have low expectations. I keep them low so not to be disppointed. I think it will premier in a few days of me typing this.

Had never seen anything with these actors (I think). So I'm intrigued by this aspect too.

Typhoon Family

Just from the main actor Lee Jun Ho, just look at him, this is what I call when the charm is on, it's the moment when I feel the connection. 

(just look at him~)

I had no idea what this was about and still mainly don't, it's my plan before watching it, I took a peek at the first episode and I liked it. Surprised it was set in the 90's but the vibes were great.

Gyeongseong Creature

Well, I really should watch it, for Park Seo Joon. And the premise sounded interesting. The drama with him (abuot Secretary Kim) revived my interest in KDrama, so props to him. 

US

Severance (Season 2)

I really need to get my shit together. I was so impressed by the first season, liked it so much, that I am actually kinda afriad of touching the second season.

I always wanted to write a separate review for season 1, but what's the point except gushing out and repeating what was said so many times - I love the concept, I loved the story, I loved the twists, I loved the visuals.

It's such a good show, that I honestly felt like I am watching the perfect version of backrooms (even before the movie came out, I am pretty sure the movie itself won't beat the feeling I got from this show when I watched all those endless corridors that feel like a maze that will never end and with unknown corners).

Such a fantastic and almost dystopian concept of separating your life into two lives that have no idea about what you do outside and what you do inside. How each part develops a sense of self. What will happen if one side rebels?

There are so many things about this show that make it great.

ANIMATION

The Summit of the Gods

I just saw a post on YT shorts and it looked great and the story felt intriguing.

I think I never watched something about mountains. Except for that manga from Sakamoto Shinichi I guess. But I always had small interest in the topic. Doesn't mean I'm not open to it if the story will happen to be good.