Qi Yingjun's fave danmei dynamic is definitely young caring shou who's definitely gay and attracted to their gong's good looks x good looking older arospec gong who's aware of their shou's good looks but what attracted them the most is they feel they have strong emotional connection with them and they are rich because they work for it
Can you recommend contemporary setting danmei with heart-touching romance? I mean any heart-touching danmei that take place in our regular every day world and not sci-fi/fantasy/xianxia/wuxia/ABO/historical ancient/rebirth/transmigration.
Sorry for being fussy, it's just so hard to find interesting danmei since i've been stuck in reading slump.
Hello!
To me, the kind of romance that really touches my heart are usually the ones that help the characters grow out of their insecurities or move on from their trauma, so there is some level of angst in the background. If you are looking for something else, let me know and I'll be happy to recommend something different!
My list:
有名 木更木更 – In Name Only
网恋翻车指南 酱子贝 – Guide on How to Fail at Online Dating
粉黛 七世有幸 – Concealed and Blended: Fendai
FOG【电竞】 漫漫何其多 – FOG
心眼 北南 – The Eye of the Mind
我只喜欢你的人设 稚楚 – I Only Like Your Made-up Persona
楚天以南 大风不是木偶 – Under Clear Skies
燎原 不问三九 – Wildfire
(I'm copying & pasting some text I wrote in other posts on this blog)
有名 木更木更 – In Name Only
[actors/celebrities, fake relationship, mature characters] – Two award-winning actors fake a relationship to quash a scandalous rumor, and gradually get to know the real person behind the other’s accomplished career and polished public persona. The tone of the story veers is mostly sweet and funny, with a splash of angst that they conquer together. It’s really comforting and relaxing to read about the love story of “mature men” in their early 30s who know how to communicate productively, take care of the people they like, and really accept and empathize with each other’s imperfections.
网恋翻车指南 酱子贝 – Guide on How to Fail at Online Dating
[online gaming, college-setting, cat-fishing, mistaken identities] – Jing Huan poses as a girl in an online game to catfish the famous player who tricked and hurt his cousin. Meanwhile, Xiang Huaizhi notices photos from the "girl" who keeps flirting with him in an online game can only be sent by one underclassmen at his school. There is plenty of comedy in Jing Huan’s effort to pose as a girl online, and also plenty of hurt when the truth and deception are laid to bare, but overall this is a sweet college romance with just dash (or maybe a spoonful?) of angst and plenty of humour. (PSA: No knowledge of gaming is needed (I don’t have any) to follow the story.)
粉黛 七世有幸 – Concealed and Blended: Fendai
[entertainment industry, actor x makeup artist] – I really like this novel because it presents acting and art as skills that the characters must practice and develop; the main characters are not geniuses who can take their careers for granted. The gong is a makeup artist, who considers himself straight but cross-dresses as a branding gimmick to advance his career. The shou is a retired E-sports player-turned-idol actor, who is secretly gay and has no real passion for performance. The novel starts off with funny interactions between “straight pretending to be queer” vs “gay pretending to be straight.” Eventually, they develop a deep bond after collaborating on a series of projects, and help each other discover their true career aspirations.
FOG【电竞】 漫漫何其多 – FOG
[E-sports, (sort-of?) reconciliation] – (it’s a fictional game so no prior gaming knowledge needed). Yu Sui brought Shi Luo into the industry, but within the year, he broke up the team, went to an elite club in Europe, and sold Shi Luo to a different club in China. What will Shi Luo do when Yu Sui comes back? As an E-Sports novel, FOG does a great job of portraying the camaraderie between teammates and the youthful passion of the players, while also touching on the cynical and exploitative side of the industry. There is an extremely sad and infuriating backstory that explains why the main couple had to be separated for two years (it’s not their fault), but their relationship is otherwise very sweet.
心眼 北南 – The Eye of the Mind
[unsure about translation status][reconciliation, (eventual) step brothers, hurt/comfort, slice-of-life ] -- Liang Cheng enters Qiao Yuanlin’s life three times, as a stranger who saves his life at 13, as the mysterious tenant renting his grandmother’s extra room when he was 16, and as his step-mother’s adopted son six years later. However, there is another hidden thread connecting their histories together. In many ways, this is a coming-of-age story for Qiao Yuanlin, who is born with a serious congenital heart defect that has permeated every aspect of his life, but he still manages to grow up with a very realistic blend of good nature, naivete, and bratty-ness. He has to cope with his heart condition and his parents' divorce in adolescence, and later develop his own identity and values as a young adult and professional. This novel also has the most satisfying illness-comfort-recovery arc I have ever read thanks to Qiao Yuanlin’s heart (and of course Liang Cheng is his doctor).
我只喜欢你的人设 稚楚 – I Only Like Your Made-up Persona
[Official licensed and fully published in English as "Rose and Renaissance")] [entertainment industry] -- Xia Xiqing is a professional artist who also draws fan art for Zhou Ziheng, the nation's most beloved young actor. The best part of this story is the clash of "personas": Zhou Ziheng (gong) is a serious and hardworking star actor and college student; while Xiqing (shou) is a rebellious art school grad who was a bit of a playboy in his past. After an accidental encounter, Zhou Ziheng immediately dislikes Xia Xiqing, but they unexpectedly become neighbours and also star on a reality show together. Then, they get to know the real person behind each other's superficial persona, develop a deep bond, and even help Xiqing heal from his childhood trauma.
More...
There two are very popular stories I read partially, and I hope to revisit and finish them someday. They have very compelling romantic arcs, but the main story lines are more heavy and less "fairytale":
楚天以南 大风不是木偶 – Under Clear Skies :: on a site visit to a rural village, young professor Tang Heng meets his ex-boyfriend from grad school, whose life has taken a turn completely unlike his own. It's a story that digs deep into inequalities, privileges, family dynamics, and abuses of power, and love that survives despite all that.
燎原 不问三九 – Wildfire :: A tattoo artist begins a relationship with his blind younger brother's optometrist. The main draw of the relationship is that both characters older (mid-30s) so they are more mature, but that also comes with a different set of challenges.
For today's recommendations, I left out
angst-heavy romances that break your heart but somehow you (or the characters) still want it to work out
super-light stories that are sweet and fluffy or funny all the way through
stories that are completely untranslated
But if those types sound interesting to you, I'm happy to recommend some!
He's also Christopher WHATTTT. I know a character with that name, from well off family and he's an artist too. Li Boxi from Fendai(AS IN THE SONG FOR FENDAI AUDIO DRAMA IS CALLED CHRISTOPHER HIS ENGLISH NAME BECAUSE HE'S HALF FROM WHAT I REMEMBER). He's more like a makeup artist though but he also paint. By the end, he focus on portraits after retiring from entertainment industry. Kit is better artist probably since Li Boxi is never fan of competition.
A second subjective list of favorite danmei’s I read in 2023
ABO
Miraculous Love (aka "Evil Love Appears") :: 邪门的爱情出现了 by 丧心病狂的瓜皮
Why Is It Possible For This Type Of A To Also Have An O? :: 为什么这种A也能有O by 图南鲸
老婆是顶级Alpha，我该怎么办 by 海藻大王
Entertainment Industry
内娱第一花瓶 by 三三娘
Concealed and Blended: Fendai :: 粉黛 by 七世有幸
Flower Vase :: 花瓶 by 困倚危楼
可一可再 by 反舌鸟
Modern (Miscellaneous)
Poison of the Heart :: 心毒 初禾
Surrender (Book 1) :: 臣服 I by 墨奈何/墨青城
交易沦陷 by 在下小神j
Historical
Fei Ping Ying Qiang :: 妃嫔媵嫱 by 七月侯
穿成苏培盛了 by 一渡清河
九千岁[重生] by 绣生
ABO Novels
Miraculous Love :: 邪门的爱情出现了 by 丧心病狂的瓜皮
[ABO (A/O), romance, sexual awakening, reconciliation] -- This is one of those novels that leverage the ABO setting to explore topics like relationships, marriage, and sexuality. Late-bloomer Omega Fu Xiaoyu and recent divorcee Alpha Xu Jiale connect and build a relationship based on their intense sexual chemistry and attraction. Sex allows Fu Xiaoyu to feel loved, desirable, and unashamed of his own sexuality for the first time, but this new relationship forces Xu Jiale to confront his own misconceptions about marriage as well as the difficult reality of parenting a young child after divorce. Every Omega in this story has complicated histories and attitudes toward relationships because of society's prejudice against their gender, and every major relationship in this novel involves a divorcee, a cheater, or both. But life still goes on for them, after they learn, grow, make amends, and heal.
Why Is It Possible For This Type Of A To Also Have An O? :: 为什么这种A也能有O by 图南鲸
[ABO (A/O), transmigration, abuse recovery, political activism] -- This novel uses the ABO setting to explore gender-based oppression. A surgeon transmigrates to an ABO universe, into the body of a horribly abusive Alpha, whose partner is terrified but powerless in their oppressive society. They work hard to help each other heal from deep-seated trauma, and join the work of advocates for Omega's rights. This is the most political danmei I have ever read, that shows civil disobedience and structural changes can be good and necessary. The advocates network, organize, protest, and they get threats and pushbacks. Prejudice is systemic, generational, and almost normalized in society, and it takes a massive wave of disruptive protests to finally bring about rudimentary legislative protections for Omega. It comes too late for many and is far from any semblance of equality, but it's hope and a start.
老婆是顶级Alpha，我该怎么办 by 海藻大王
(Title roughly translates to "My Wife is a top-level Alpha, What should I do?")
[ABO (A/A), "rebirth", space/interstellar, mecha, college, political conspiracies] -- Now, for an ABO novel that just wants to have fun as a OP Mary-Sue sci-fi-ish Young-Adult Action-Adventure. The protagonist is a super-soldier reborn to the early days of his military career with skills, knowledge, and an AI assistant from the future. The love interest is a prince who is rich enough to buy entire planets. Together they become the most popular power couple at the military academy, and work together to foil a conspiracy that targets talented Alphas. They get fake-married, and later discover they are each other's secret online crush. It has plenty of humor, a cute "college" romance, and the kind of dramatic "cool" characters my teenage self would could only dream of in a wish-fulfillment fic. Save it for one of those days when you just want to relax and revel in the joy of ridiculously attractive and competent teenagers who are killing assassins, saving the empire, and acing their exams!
Actors and Celebrities
内娱第一花瓶 by 三三娘
(Title roughly tra. nslates to "Top Flower Vase of the Mainland Entertainment Industry")
[entertainment industry, film-making, reconciliation, elite society ]-- Most entertainment industry novels focus on the fun parts of glamour and fame, but this story puts the focus on the creative work, with a main couple that has marvelous chemistry as great artists who inspire each other. Over the 900K words of this novel, they meet, fall in love, bond over film-making, break up, and later reconcile. It's one of those rare stories where the shou has to chase the gong after breaking up, and you can sympathize with the hurt on both sides while understanding that no one is intentionally being scummy. The novel really goes into the details of film-making and the entertainment industry -- the styles and visions of the directors, the practice and preparation of the actors, the logistics and finances of running a crew, and the strategic calculations to manipulate the media narrative and public discourse.
I have a love-hate relationship with this novel because of some of its narrative choices. Some arcs seem to just fawn over the "wisdom" and "classiness" of the ultra-rich, and conflate privilege with virtue. (The gong, whose family of casino owners once helped him pay off hundreds of millions in gambling debt, is the one making an awarding-winning movie about a regular person succumbing to gambling addiction ... ) But to be fair, I'm holding this novel to a higher standard than a typical danmei because of how good it is and how much I like it.
Concealed and Blended: Fendai :: 粉黛 by 七世有幸
[entertainment industry, actor x makeup artist] -- This is also a story about two artists who inspire and help each other develop their crafts, but a much shorter and lighter take. The gong is a makeup artist, who considers himself straight but cross-dresses as a branding gimmick to advance his career. The shou is a retired E-sports player-turned-idol actor, who is secretly gay and has no real passion for performance. The novel starts off with funny interactions between "straight pretending to be queer" vs "gay pretending to be straight." Later, they develop a deep bond after collaborating on a series of projects, and help each other discover their true career aspirations. Despite being celebrities, the main character feel like normal people because we see them learning and practicing their professional skills. Fame is a fickle and cruel game that they must play in their profession, but does not define who they are.
Flower Vase :: 花瓶 by 困倚危楼
[entertainment industry, contract relationship, scum gong crematorium, reconciliation] -- This story is a classic in the scum gong crematorium genre. Wealthy business man gong pays actor shou for a sexual relationship; the shou is secretly in love with the gong, who is pining after a "white moonlight". The shou is smart, resilient, knows what he wants and isn't afraid to go after it. The gong has already started falling for him, but he hasn't moved on from his "White moonlight". Their peaceful breakup mid-story is suffocating, because they both have feelings for each other, and they almost got it to work, but the feelings are just not quite right yet, so this relationship has to end before it festers into something truly unsalvageable. But don't stress too much, the "crematorium" is so friendly it almost feels like an kiddie obstacle course the shou has set up to help them transition into a better relationship -- didn't I mention he is a very smart guy who knows how to get what he wants?
可一可再 by 反舌鸟
(The title is a reference to an Eason Chan song. I can't find an official translation of the song title, but it roughly translates to "Once and Again")
[entertainment industry, rebirth in another body, reconciliation] -- Controversial actor Jiang Yu dies in a traffic accident, and returns in the body of a D-list Idol. It's very fun to follow a POV character like Jiang Yu, whose internal monologue is dripping with pettiness, insecurity, jealousy, and adamant insistence that he is *fine* with his hard-working and well-intention-ed nature always being misunderstood in bad faith. His love interest is his foil in this: an award-winning actor with an impeccable reputation and a unflappable personality. As the story explore their histories, relationships, and grief over Jiang Yu's death, it also deconstructs these initial perceptions. In this second life, Jiang Yu gets a more measured view of his relationships and artistic legacy, while his "perfect" boyfriend faces his own flaws and the critical mistakes he has made in their relationship. With this clarity and honesty, they rekindle their relationship, and Jiang Yu starts a new life and career.
Misc. Modern
Poison of the Heart :: 心毒 初禾
[mystery/police procedural, (sort of) social commentary] -- Instead of uncovering some mastermind criminal conspiracy, this police procedural is famous for its down-to-earth cases, so realistic it sounds like it could have been in the news. Most of the cases see normal people gradually lose their best selves after suffering excessively under systemic social issues like poverty, misogyny, and prejudice. Their misfortunes, emotions, and reactions feel very realistic and relatable. However, since the discrete cases do not build up to a coherent arc, they also don't do much to support the development of the main characters -- a detective and a cybersecurity expert; they are fine but I just don't find either of them or their slow-burn romance too interesting. (Their slacker co-worker who becomes more motivated in his career has a more memorable character arc imo.) Personally, I think this novel is a good read for the mysteries, but maybe not so much as a romance or character drama.
Surrender (Book 1) :: 臣服 I by 墨奈何/墨青城
[BDSM, power differences, mob/gang drama] -- Young businessman Xu Ye, who has only dabbled with BDSM, stumbles into one of the most skilled dom's in town, who is also a mob heir. This dom finally gives Xu Ye the experience he wants from BDSM. But as their chemistry in the playroom soars, their personal and professional relationship in the real word grows more complicated. I love that this story shows the communication and work that goes into building a relationship, albeit one within BDSM parameters. The story repeatedly emphasizes that both partners are equals outside of play (but this rule is sometimes broken by the main couple for "drama"). Although Xu Ye is a sub, he has more agency than most shou's I see in danmei. He is experienced with sex, knows what he wants and likes, and is fairly independent from Chu Ye professionally and personally. He feels like a reasonable adult who has chosen a relationship that brings him joy and pleasure.
交易沦陷 by 在下小神j
(Title roughly translates to "fallen in transaction")
[romance, (sort of) prostitution, family relationships, healing and forgiveness] -- This a Haitang story with lots of humour and sex, but also a surprise tear-jerker full of heart. An Li's life has been ruined by a criminal record, taking the fall for his cheating ex-wife so she can look after their ill daughter. While desperate to find work to support his young daughter's medical treatment, he is mistaken for a male escort by young CEO Xu Shaoqing. Xu Shaoqing is angered by An Li's borderline homophobic reaction to the incident, and pressures An Li to sleep with him for money. Xu Shaoqing himself is struggling with the distress his sexuality causes his homophobic and ailing father, who has sent him to conversion therapy and still pressures him to go on dates with women. An Li and Xu Shaoqing eventually form an unlikely connection, as they help each other process the hurt caused by the people they love, and salvage the good from those relationships.
Historical
Fei Ping Ying Qiang :: 妃嫔媵嫱 by 七月侯
[male concubine, imperial harem & court drama, age gap (initially 15 vs 20)] -- As an unfavored shu son, Xiao-Qi is "gifted" by his family to his brother-in-law, a prince who is known to like men. Though he has no choice in the matter, he eventually falls in love with the Prince, who has shown him more kindness than anyone else in his life. The prince (gong) has a "realistic" and gradual shift from accepting period-typical polygamy to wanting to build a life with the one partner who really loves him, but it's a messy situation because he has already married and sired children with multiple women, and his position really requires him to have an heir. However, Xiao-Qi learns a lot and grows up with the gong's help, and together they overcome political and social obstacles for Xiao-qi to be recognized as his partner.
穿成苏培盛了 by 一渡清河
(Title roughly translates to "Transmigrated as Su Peisheng", referring to the name given to Yongzheng Emperor's senior personal eunuch in the popular cdrama "Empresses in the Palace".)
[historical transmigration, Qing Dynasty/Kangxi Era, political intrigue, prince x (real) eunuch] -- Lovers of long, complex, character-driven political novels will probably enjoy this 2-million-words epic. It's not only a battle of wits, but also a examination of personal values and emotional priorities of many well-crafted characters who live in a complex political environment, including the largest and most active female cast I have ever seen in danmei. The protagonist shou is a transmigrator, and it shows mostly through him being very mature during his younger years, and having a sense of self-worth unexpected of slaves of that era. The gong is Fourth Prince Yinzhen (future Emperor Yongzheng), and he is married with children just like in history. The main couple have a bittersweet secret relationship, yet they love each other enough to be able to live with that imperfection. The plot seriously downplayed the darker implications of the shou' role as a eunuch and slave, but their idealized romance is a much-needed relief from the intense and tightly-paced political content, which is inspired by real history.
九千岁[重生] by 绣生
(The novel title literally translates to "Nine Thousand-Years-Old", which is a title occasionally given to excessively powerful eunuchs, comparing them to royals, like emperors who are said to live to "Ten thousand years".)
[ (eventual) "double rebirth", political intrigue, prince x (fake) eunuch] -- In his first life, Crown Prince Yin Chengyu is deposed after falling for political traps, and only returns to court after making a "indecent proposal" with powerful eunuch Xue Shu. Despite working together to help Yin Chengyu win the crown and govern the nation, their relationship remains complicated and contentious until Yin Chengyu's untimely death from illness and overwork. Waking up as his younger self, Yin Chengyu immediately puts a metaphorical leash on Xue Shu's neck while the latter is still young and impressionable. While they work to strengthen Yin Chengyu's political position, the prince also tries to come to terms with his feelings for Xue Shu across the two lifetimes. Xue Shu eventually recovers his memories of the first lifetime, and their second-chance romance gets a happy ending.
As a serious political novel, this story lacks depth and suspense, but as a feel-good "rebirth" novel, the plot feels a bit too slow and heavy. It doesn't stand out in either categories, but it feels unfair to completely ignore it, especially because it kept me company for weeks while I was struggling with a reading slump.
I'm surprised that my immediate reaction after finishing 内娱第一花瓶/Top Flower Vase of the Mainland Entertainment Industry is going back to re-read 粉黛/Concealed and Blended: Fendai like two times in a row. Both stories are about an actor struggling with performance meeting a talented artist who helps him make a breakthrough, though Fendai is shorter and arguably fluffier ... arguably.
(Audiodrama cover art, on Mao'er)
Fendai has a premise rife in misunderstandings: self-proclaimed "straight" guy Li Boxi uses cross-dressing as a personal brand to stand out in the professional makeup industry, and lets people assume he is queer to fit in. He meets actually-gay retired E-Sports player Cheng Ping, who stays closeted so he can work as a celebrity actor. Before the secrets come out, they totally misinterpret each other's intentions. Meanwhile, Li Boxi is so done with the superficiality of his industry and Cheng Ping has a hair-trigger temper, which make for some hilarious antics and internal monologue.
Despite the text describing him to be 'deep in the closet (深柜）' , Cheng Ping seems fairly secure with his homosexuality. He isn't ashamed of developing crushes on guys and even takes steps to pursue relationships with them. Cheng Ping is set up like a straight-passing "manly" type, but he is at ease with Li Boxi's flamboyant cross-dressing, and is even low-key jealous of his audacity and self-expression.
The main couple starts their relationship with imperfect intentions and understandings of each other, but they try their best for each other and quickly lean into the best parts of their relationship.
Fendai treats both acting and visual arts as serious crafts that require hard work as well as inspiration. Cheng Ping lacks the former and Li Boxi the latter, and over the course of the story they help each other make important progress in their professional lives.
[Spoilers ahead]
The thing that made me feel "meh" about the novel the first time is the cynicism of the resolution to the climax of the novel. Li Boxi and Cheng Ping's relationship is maliciously outed, and Li Boxi saves Cheng Ping's reputation by claiming to be an gay admirer harassing an unwilling straight man. It works, but it's also one lie to reinforce another lie to keep a gay man in the closet. The crisis is averted but not truly solved.
The novel proper ends with the two of them getting back together three years after separating for the aforementioned PR crisis. They choose to move forward together, but it's unclear where they -- and their careers -- will go from there. But I guess part of the message is that this is a risk they are willing to take to have each other.
(The Extras shows that Cheng Ping continues working as a respected actor, and they do not publicly acknowledge their relationship despite being out among family and friends.)
Li Boxi's affections for Cheng Ping has always been laced with guilt and responsibility. He feels guilty for having misled Cheng Ping about his sexuality and persona, for loving for Cheng Ping because he is his muse, and even for swooping in when Cheng Ping is vulnerable after a history of rejection. He is the protagonist and POV character, and it's easy to get lost in his inner struggles and grand gestures.
I noticed more details about Cheng Ping between the lines during my re-reads. He knows he is a muse, and is insecure about Li Boxi's attraction beyond that. He is drowned by guilt and heartbreak when Li Boxi self-destructs his career to save him. He feels unworthy next to Li Boxi's immense sacrifice, and insignificant next to the new muses and inspirations Li Boxi has found from his years traveling. He is the one who falls faster and harder, even though he has always had much less power in this relationship and seems to have done much less for it.
The narrative is full of paradoxes, starting from its premise. In the end, Li Boxi is the force driving the key changes in their relationship, but it's Cheng Ping who holds onto it like a lifeline. Cheng Ping gets through those three years telling himself that their relationship hasn't ended, while Li Boxi isn't even sure about resuming anything until he learns of this.
But what I find so compelling about this novel and this relationship is exactly this: that they know their positions are unequal, and their prospects are imperfect, and they are not yet loved like they hope and deserve to be loved, but they go on anyways with an unspoken belief that this can become something good. Love isn't the reward for perfectly deserving people or sufficiently difficult journey. Life, love, career, and people are all works in progress that can change for the better.
P. S. There is a completed comic/manhua adaptation based on the series. (See images above.)
P. P. S. There is also a completed audiodrama adaptation, featuring :
Ma Zhengyang (donghua VA for Hua Cheng) as Li Boxi, and
Lu Zhixing (audiodrama and live action VA for Wei Wuxian) as Cheng Ping
Writing up my thoughts on these 10 danmei titles (out of 15) that I read in the first three months of 2023.
相见欢/Joyful Reunion
天官赐福/Heaven Official’s Blessing
督主有病/Governor’s Illness
日落大道 /Sunset Boulevard
我成了虐文女主她亲哥/I Became the Older Brother of the Heroine in an Abusive Novel
魔尊他念念不忘/The Demon Venerable’s Wistful Desire
唇齿之戏/The Plays of Lips and Teeth
粉黛/Concealed and Blended: Fendai
妃嫔媵嫱/Fei Ping Ying Qiang
铜雀春深/Tong Que Chun Shen
(audiodrama cover art for Joyful Reunion, Governor's Illness, Sunset Boulevard)
I don't have a good reason for the cheesy song lyrics except that my mind was very preoccupied by Taylor Swift songs when I was writing this up ….
Famous titles: "I got a list of names, and yours is in red, underlined"
I finally got to four widely-recommended titles that has been sitting in my personal to-read-list for nearly a year. And honestly? Yeah, I think they are worth the hype.
相见欢/Joyful Reunion -- In a crumbling empire plagued by foreign threats and an impending succession crisis, young Duan Ling learns that he is the crown prince who needs to take on the burden of saving his nation. He eventually meets a love interest who gives him the exact type of warmth, strength, and security that he needs on this journey. Joyful Reunion stands out to me for a supporting cast that act like people who want to live and thrive in their society, not characters rounding out someone else's story. There are no chess masters who can see three steps ahead or control the entire board, but each party moving their own pieces end up creating a Gordian knot for the protagonist anyways. On top of all this, Duan Ling still manages a very satisfying coming-of-age arc.
天官赐福/Heaven Official’s Blessing -- No introduction needed of course. I'm not the biggest fan of Hualian, but MXTX, as usual, wins me over with a universe full of people, relationship dynamics, and themes that can stand up to dissection under a microscope: there is just SO MUCH going on. To me, TGCF is a story about power, self-concept (including moral values), love, and the sacrifices people make for them. It's very similar to MDZS in that it exposes systemic flaws in the world and society that remain (mostly) immutable, but still gives individual characters (mostly) happy endings, and arguably at the character-level it's a bit happier than MDZS … I think?
督主有病/Governor’s Illness -- On his first trip off the mountain at twelve, Xiahou Lian saves a young master around his own age from assassination and learns what it means to be born and raised in Qielan, a mysterious assassin organization. Everyone he knows is meant to eventually die for Qielan, but that little young master, the titular future Governor, gives him hope and faith in the potential of life. I have never met two characters who like each other so much who are so bad at getting together. This feels like an old-school wuxia story about sects, secrets, honor, and growth, but it's also a brutal deconstruction that highlights the dark side of this way of life, and the practical and psychological cost of wielding the power to kill.
日落大道 /Sunset Boulevard -- Zhang Jue breaks Chen Boqiao out of prison when the latter is framed for a crime. Chen Boqiao barely remembers them having attended the same high school, but Zhang Jue has been secretly in love with him for a decade. Ka Bi Qiu's writing style is smooth like fine silk; it elicits vivid imagery and emotions with deceptively simple language. I think its one relative weakness is that the plot feels very thin aside from the relationship arc, but its only around 160K words long and the relationship arc has earned a reputation as one of the most well-known "insecure one-sided secret pining" stories in all of danmei.
(audiodrama cover for I Became the Older Brother of the Heroine in an Abusive Novel, The Demon Venerable’s Wistful Desire)
Rebirth and Transmigration: "I think I've seen this film before and I didn't like the ending"
I read four novels in this category, though the two I really like at the moment are straight-forward novel transmigration stories -- kinder treatment from a transmigrated "canon fodder" turns scary "boss" character into a puppy-like love interest.
我成了虐文女主她亲哥/I Became the Older Brother of the Heroine in an Abusive Novel -- Cannon fodder in palace intrigue novel tries to change his family's ending by befriending the "villain", who decides he'd like to be more than friends. It's soft and fluffy because the love interest never gets close to his supposed darker persona after the protagonists' intervention. I really enjoyed the part with them temporarily living in the palace as teenager, a very heartwarming process of kindness begetting kindness. The "hidden main plot" in the story is also very engaging.
魔尊他念念不忘/The Demon Venerable’s Wistful Desire -- Teen transmigrator ends up in the body of the boss's canon fodder nemesis in a Xianxia novel, and becomes very committed to avoiding or being nice to the future Demon Venerable. The original novel plot completely veers off track because the (future) Demon Venerable is now only interested in find his missing cultivation partner and dual-cultivating with him. There is a subplot about the hypocrisy of the so-called righteous sects, but this story is mostly a feel-good romantic comedy in the xianxia setting.
P. S. Is there some unwritten rule that novels in this genre must have very long titles???
(audiodrama cover art for The Plays of Lips and Teeth, and Concealed and Blended: Fendai)
Pleasant surprises: variations on familiar themes
Entertainment/celebrities: "The camera flashes make it look like a dream"
This genre often makes us think of idols, musicians, and actors, often A-lister who are secure in their fame and talent. This quarter I read two different takes with this setting:
唇齿之戏/The Plays of Lips and Teeth actually tracks very similar to other celebrity stories, in which the fame and talent of the main characters are never challenged. However, focusing on more specialized careers like that of a host/producer and a comedian/xiangsheng performer is a refreshing change; needing to worry about things like bosses and management makes their careers feel a bit more down-to-earth.
粉黛/Concealed and Blended: Fendai explores the intersection of artistry, identity, sexuality, and fame, also through a story about atypical individuals in the industry: a "cross-dressing" celebrity makeup artist and professional gamer-turned-actor. Both main characters are uncertain about their purpose and the personas they put on to stay in the industry, and it's a story about their personal growth as well as professional achievement.
Concubines and consorts: "But it dies, and it dies, and it dies a million little times"
The concubines, aka non-official spouses, are among the most widely vilified demographics in cnovels, even though they are often the most powerless people in that dynamic. They are given the spotlight in two HE stories I found this quarter. (Warning: the "husband" in both stories are intimate with other members of his harem.)
妃嫔媵嫱/Fei Ping Ying Qiang tries to do a realistic take on the male concubine, who needs to clear significant personal and political hurdles to stand next to his prince. The concubines, male and female, do not enter their marriages intending to become manipulative usurpers of the wife's affection, in a narrative that shows it's only human that they hope to have affection in their family and survive this life with dignity.
铜雀春深/Tong Que Chun Shen makes a protagonist out someone who would usually be a failed romantic rival. Contrasted with the reserved and stubborn foreign prince, its the character who does not guard his sexuality, who leans into his partner's expectations, and who does not come from noble origins or have the political capital to fully assert himself, who finally gets to have his feelings and dignity put in the spotlight.
So Fendai AD main couple actually have the Hua Cheng donghua VA and Wei Wuxian AD VA lol Their VAs sure are everywhere... I thought Li Boxi is A-Jie. He sounds like A-Jie's Gu Yun or maybe I'm just not good yet in figuring out his voice.
Li Boxi is Hua Cheng if he's actually a healthy artist. Not questionable one. Because Li Boxi decided to separate away from Cheng Ping before he became super codependent and obsessed with Cheng Ping as an artist. He's the type of gong who's like "I'll fix myself first so I hope you can wait for me. I don't want to enter relationship when I'm not mentally stable because I don't want to hurt you."
