How to Survive As a Villain

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Xiao YuAn transmigrated into a novel as the homos*xual young Emperor imprisoning the Male Lead of a Stallion Novel.

This is indeed miserable, and sad.

Because of this, Xiao YuAn began to work hard to survive.

But!

“To those cannon fodders, even if you want to treat the Male Lead bad, can you stop sending him to my bed?” Xiao YuAn thinks that there’s nothing wrong in pampering the Male Lead, but that’s just because he wants to bathe in the Protagonist halo!

Xiao YuAn: “Don’t abuse the Male Lead ever again!!! You guys aren’t afraid of death, but I want to live!!!”

A story that starts out with the Shou taking care of the Gong, and then, the Gong takes care of the Shou.

Associated Names
One entry per line
Chuanyue Cheng Fanpai Yao Ruhe Huoming
HSAV
This Villain Emperor's Gotta Charm the Male Lead to Survive! (manhua)
To Be or Not To Be (manhua)
Xuyên Thành Vai Ác Phải Sống Làm Sao
บทตัวร้ายช่างยากนัก
穿成囚禁男主的反派要如何活命
穿越成反派要如何活命
Related Series
The Rebirth Of The General Who Always Sees Himself As A Replacement (Same Franchise)
Recommendations
The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System (14)
After the Disabled God of War Became My Concubine (10)
Transmigrating into a Mob Character to Rehabilitate the Villain Plan (5)
The Husky and His White Cat Shizun (4)
Pulling Together a Villain Reformation Strategy (4)
The Reader and Protagonist Definitely Have to Be in True Love (3)
Recommendation Lists
  1. wtr!!
  2. Read it
  3. Want to Read
  4. All BL Novels I've Read part (2)
  5. Chitau

Latest Release

Date Group Release
11/27/21 Foxaholic c236
11/26/21 Foxaholic c235
11/20/21 Foxaholic c234
11/19/21 Foxaholic c233
11/06/21 Foxaholic c232
11/06/21 Foxaholic c231
10/30/21 Foxaholic c230
10/29/21 Foxaholic c229
10/23/21 Foxaholic c228
10/23/21 Foxaholic c227
10/15/21 Foxaholic c226
10/13/21 Foxaholic c225
10/02/21 Foxaholic c224
10/02/21 Foxaholic c223
09/17/21 Foxaholic c222
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223 Reviews sorted by


Flying Jade
Flying Jade
August 22, 2020
Status: --
Woah, so many five stars...

Well, this has an epic opening chapter, epic enough to forgive the abrupt brainlessness of the rest. After an epic opening that points fingers at cliche romance settings that had me reeling in laughter, it takes an abrupt dark turn, like the book switched to another author in the middle of a chapter. I joke not.

The book goes on to portray the very shallowness it made fun of in the first chapter. There is no thought, rhyme or reason to the book.

The world building... more>> is a gaping zero. Let me explain, royal settings usually have a structure, culture and authority hierarchy. This book doesn't. Is the common protocol when they see the King to bow or not? I don't know, some do, some don't. It all depends on how the writers wants to input comedy into the scene.

The hierarchy is shaky.
Spoiler

At the start, it is made clear that the teen emperor should have not much actual authority. But, BUT, he should not be so useless to the point that a mere eunuch managing other servants can disregard the favour the emperor has shown towards a certain person. Do these people not fear or respect his position? This kind of illogical undermining of the emperor's power in order to push the plot happens often.

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Third, culture. The book is based on Chinese dynasty themes but... It doesn't depict anything to show the palace life, other than borrowing the titles and such. From their dialogues, to their settings, to eve the food, nothing depicts an oriental flavour.

That aside, the protagonist uses phrases that make him sound strange to the other characters. It can even be diagnosed as borderline madness if you look at things from their point of view.

Oh, I have to ask, what exactly are the daily duties of the emperor in this novel? He only ears cake and lousily sneaks around all day.

It's exactly because the book had such an amazing start that the quality dropped drastically due to not following u afterwards. <<less
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Fanbinbin
Fanbinbin rated it
July 2, 2020
Status: c64
Dont drop the book too early coz its getting better and better. I can feel the plot is getting thicker and sh*t about to get down. Prepare for a wild ride ?

edited- this is some scary sh*t im not gonna lie...?its better to wait until it is fully translated or die suffering waiting for the new chapter. The angst and the killing.. doesnt discriminate.
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SugarBunny
SugarBunny rated it
June 9, 2023
Status: c55
I can't. I just can't. This novel started out so promising, but it steadily sunk into a bottomless pit of sludge. The fact that the MC was so unnecessarily fixated on pairing up the ML and his harem made absolutely zero sense to me. It had nothing to do with him, and it had nothing to do with the plot. He had already derailed the plot from the very moment he ... more>>
Spoiler

prevented the old general from returning to his hometown to farm and fish. Even more when he brought Yan He Qing into his male concubines' pavilion and later made him his imperial bodyguard.

[collapse]
There's a lot more he did that didn't happen in the original novel. So how do you turn back from all of that? That's right. You can't. Which is why the MC's actions of matchmaking ML and harem members for the sake of "plot" is absolutely moronic.

Not to mention the fact that if the MC dies in accordance with the original novel's plotline (which is unlikely to happen by this point), any activities in the ML's harem have ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with him. Nothing. At. All. In fact, I can't even classify the development of the ML's harem as plot. Even the readers of the original novel would agree on that.

There are a bunch of other things that ticked me off, but none so much as the first point. I also find it hilarious that there was another reviewer who dropped this book in the exact same chapter as me. The reason? (For me, at least)
Spoiler

Literally SECONDS after MC makes up his mind to not care about the plot changes his actions might bring about (and therefore gives ML a gift), he goes ahead and tries to matchmake his sister with the ML. Again. For the sake of plot.

[collapse]
What, do you have the memory of a goldfish? Were your thoughts wiped seven seconds after you had them?

This inevitably made me recall the unpleasant experience I had with The Reader And Protagonist Definitely Have To Be In True Love, where this infuriating plotline was repeated over and over and over again. I really felt like I was going to puke blood from the flashback. And so, to preserve my mental health, I decided to drop it. Sure, maybe everything will make sense or will get better by the half-way point or towards the end of the novel, but I have zero intention of torturing myself just to get to that point. Adios. Have fun if you still intend on reading this. <<less
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SkyFlakes2
SkyFlakes2 rated it
July 15, 2022
Status: c210
It's a good read! I was skeptical at first because of the first few chapters and how silly and childish the MC seemed (even though he's supposed to be this CEO in his previous life). I didn't really get into it until the first *cough* death *cough*. After that, it was just a roller coaster of emotions.

... more>>
Spoiler

Everything from - MC's attempt to save the Northern kingdom, the slow & painful misunderstandings between the MC and ML, Taoyuan Village's residents, MC finding out about his true feelings, MC and ML returning to the Imperial Palace, and of course, the final climax - was just *chef's kiss*.

[collapse]

I was a bit disappointed with the final 25 chapters (Ch 185 to 210). It felt forced, like it was just trying to make ends meet to create a happy ending.

Spoiler

After MC commits su*cide again, the MC is reincarnated for the 2nd time in XPY's brother's body. During this time, the ML was grieving for MC and was tormented by nightmares about MC's su*cide. Everyone around him was convinced that he would never love anyone else other than the one that was buried (MC's first reincarnation).

When MC returns and convinces ML that he's back, everyone around them thought that MC's current reincarnation was just a substitute. Even when they did get married in the end, it just seemed more like a transactional marriage rather than out of pure love.


As readers, we know it's pure love because were aware of MC's reincarnations. But to an outsider's POV, it feels abrupt and doesn't make any sense.
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It's a slow start, really strong middle and ehh ending for me! But I would still recommend this novel for its tragic parts and heart-wrenching scenes. 4/5 <<less
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HoneyMilk180
HoneyMilk180 rated it
October 26, 2021
Status: c228
Okay so I made an account just to write this review because I was so mad reading some of the 1 star review reason. So excuse me for my lame ass review since its my first time writing one.

The story is very refreshing considering its an isekai story of modern person to ancient environment + reborn as villainous that fated to be killed (where almost every other similar novel is just repetition of each other).

Personally I really like the MC. He is bright and funny (there are quite a... more>> heavy use of chinese pop culture and slang words in writing MC funny personality).
Spoiler

I read review saying MC knew he is in ancient china but refuse to act like he is in one. That is because MC isnt trying to. Since first transmigated he never feel as part of the new world he is in especially knowing its a novel world.

Also MC never want to be the replace the existence of the body he is in. Unlike some isekai where they try their best to replace their new body existence and even incorporate some of the previous body personality, MC is living his own life. I mean he literally said to the ML on their first meeting that he is transgmigated and have no relation to the body he is occupying.

[collapse]

I get why some might feel frustrated at some point of the story since as the tag has suggested the MC in early chapters can be dense. But there also some logical reason to that.
Spoiler

MC thought he was straight and also MC has consider ML as the straightest person to ever existed since dude sleep with every girl he see (in the novel). Not to mention the were scheming from the other side. MC always thought he had good brothership with ML until the northern kingdom fell. That is why MC began questioning if ML truly see him as himself or as the body of northern emperor that ML hate.

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If you are like me and despise MC/ML that too black bellied then this novel might suit you well. Since the story focus almost entirely on MC and ML relationships. There is no common isekai side plot such as MC having future knowledge of events and build esteemed company that make him rich af or MC born being super talented and he use that talent to build himself a name.

I also love how the author write the side characters. They are not just a mob character that either existance only to praise MC or to harras MC. The side characters have their own unique personality and story.

Anyways read it. 99% sure you wont regret it <<less
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aedrian9
aedrian9 rated it
November 20, 2020
Status: --
If you want to have misunderstandings then do it right and make a good one so that it can be used as a spice for the book and hook the readers.

If your a former CEO and then turn into an Emperor then do a proper job in having that character act like one. If you don't want a character to be the cliche cold-stoic CEO turn to Emperor to someone, who is relatable where they mess up sometimes but bubbly but still respectable and charismatic then do it well by... more>> having a character where he can act serious when it calls for and be laid back and have a fun moment when he wants too.

If you want him to be an idiot or dumb then have a few scenes where it makes sense why he's dumb or an idiot, but don't make it where common sense is there already but still, have your MC idiot just to be funny then that makes it harder to like it and make things awkward as hell.

Anyway, All in all, this could have been done a lot better. <<less
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NamGi
NamGi
June 15, 2020
Status: v1c26
The translation is fine, some mistakes here and there but at least it's readable. The plot had good potential and the setting was also good. However, the MC is a f*cking dumbass. He's supposed to be a former CEO but he literally acts like a 14 year old boy. He isn't smart or mature at all despite the prologue. He's so irritating. Dropped it.
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Ra04
Ra04
June 11, 2020
Status: --
The story seems good at the beginning I felt that I was going to like it. But then no even 20 chapters I felt like my heart was hurting. The MC can’t behave like an emperor and his character seems too childish and silly. I feel like I’m going crazy with the MC. I can’t stand his idiot behavior. I really can’t. If you like reading about a MC Does not have common sense then this is for you.
All in all the thought for the story is great I... more>> just can’t stand the MC I feel sorry for the ML. I’m dropping this story. Next <<less
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dday0425
dday0425 rated it
January 4, 2020
Status: c225
I cried a lot.

The sweet part is so sweet, while the sad part is so sad that I cried my eyes out.

Great experience.
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avatrenai
avatrenai
November 26, 2019
Status: c179
Don't do it unless your the kind of person who likes your angst with sprinkles of humor. My God I finally tapped out, I can't take the pain and tears anymore. I just can't take all of it anymore, at the very least it is a pretty good representation of war and politics but mine God, why does it hurt so much. If you are a total masochist and emotionally strong beyond most zoomers then please ignore my warnings and continue reading. The story is well written and is totally... more>> worth the emotional scarring. I just can't take anymore sadness man and where I am in the story I can feel in my nonexistent balls that something really bad is coming.

The first chapter is a very good representation for the rest of the novel. Trigger warning for the main characters su*cide. <<less
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Aurinne
Aurinne rated it
March 28, 2023
Status: c214
Well, I shouldn't have jumped into this blind. It's not my kind of novel.

Constant angst and a "happy ending" that could barely be called one, coming at the expense of so much and with so much sacrifice from the MC on order to gain a compromised form of happiness.

It's well-written enough that I read to the end and definitely became invested in the MC but, even acknowledging my dislike of angst, the amount of character and reader abuse in this novel didn't feel justified. In fact, the whole story felt... more>> a little bit pointless - just why was the MC even brought into this world? What was the point of all he strived and suffered and sacrificed and died for? By the end of the story, the outcome didn't feel like it had needed such an epically heart-wrenching saga.

But, you know, if you have high tolerance or even enjoy being emotionally abused by the author for the sake of it, you'll probably enjoy this because you won't need a perfect, epically-joyous and triumphant ending to make up for it like I had required (and didn't get).

This sounds harsh, I know. I'm genuinely not saying don't read it, it kept me engaged and invested. I'm saying I regretting spending time on it considering my personal dislike of angst and character torture. For me, personally, the ending was not enough to have made it feel worthwhile; if the position he ended in was his form of happiness, it made all he had strived for and lost or suffered in the process seem pointless as in the end be achieved very little of that and had to abandon those roles. But if you tend to enjoy those angsty epics and all you need is the CP to be realised, then you will feel differently to me. I can only honestly say how this story made me feel. <<less
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brexic
brexic rated it
May 8, 2022
Status: Completed
I really don't like miscommunication and misunderstanding trope. But on this novel, I can finally appreciate that trope.

The comedy and drama are both well matched in this novel. I don't like tragedy/drama genre in a novel most often because I have a hard time coping with it. But in this one, the angst are so satisfying and the comedy is also well done.

Thanking author and translator for enabling me to read this 💖
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Fisukisuki
Fisukisuki rated it
September 24, 2021
Status: Completed
Spoiler

I THOUGHT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE COMEDY!!?

[collapse]

Anyway this.......... Beyond Any Expectations....

The Whole thing is Emotional Rollercoaster. It has Everything that makes you feel Everything.

The MC and ML is Absolutely Flawed, but Gosh You Will Love Them So Much! I LOVE THEM SOOOOOOO FCKING MUCH!!!

ML Love MC so much but he won't force him. MC has Carefree attitude and Kind Personality, Cheerful, but with Fragile Heart.

And I have reason not to talk about the side characters. Just, read it!

I'm still Emotional. This Novel is truly unlike what I had imagine. But the Ending is so Safisfying! And the first arc of the Extras is Absolutely LOVABLY AWESOME!!! I pray so hard the rest of the Extras is as Good as it. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

For your information, I don't read the manhua first, and technically I haven't read the manhua, but skimming them just so I could see what some Important Characters look like. I really suggest you to read the Novel first before the Manhua, but you could also do what I did. The Manhua have quite difference in Time Setting, few added scenes, and few Characters's background. And of course the Hair color. Lol. Novel's all characters' hair is Black, but Manhua draw them with colorful hairstyle.

Anyway, I Love the Novel Sooo Much for the Eternity and Beyond!!! And I'm sure the Manhua is as Lovable. I'm Gonna read it sooner or later. 😉

Finished at 31 August 2022:

Bruh.... How could the Author write the Ending so Perfectly??? Like... Is there any author who wrote Dog Blood Novel with Perfect HE without being Weird or too Out of the World. Like it's Perfect in Details... Perfect in Emotional moments... In Emotions... Perfect in Reunion... Just truly so many Perfection!!!

Im so happy and Emotional.
In a way thank god I chose to finally continue read the rest of the extras today when my mood and mental was in the lowest, so this novel bring me Joy and Happiness... And now I'm literally want to cry in happiness...

Thank you Author...
THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH TRANSLATOR FOR THE HARDWORK IN FINISHING THIS NOVEL TRANSLATION WITH AWESOME TRANSLATION!!! IM FOREVER ETERNALLY GRATEFUL!!! 🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇xEndlesslove&gratefulness

Yes, my Love for this Novel is Eternal. I Love this with my Eternal Love for the Eternity and Beyond!!! My Love should Exist in Every Universes I Exist!!!
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KshinT
KshinT rated it
June 29, 2021
Status: c150
This novel is quite hard to digest. It was going okay at first but the misunderstandings keep snowballing and the MC is so damn s*upid even though he was a CEO like how the hell does he not have the adequate IQ and EQ of his position. Also btw I see people being like "omg, it's similar to MDZS or HOB" and I'm like no. They may be so over rated right now but at least they had compelling MCs who specialises in the skills they are supposed to specialise... more>> in, with proper developed emotional awareness for people. Back to this disaster, the MC was so thick headed and dense and dull and annoying after a while with all the misunderstandings that would have been solved if they had just talked like rational people would. Also even though he's possessing an emperors body he doesn't act like it. And really he doesn't have much feelings for the nation he supposedly rules over. He's so irresponsible and bratty I really despise him. He doesn't care about the world the only thing that's on his mind is always the ML which is so bloody unrealistic. Aghhhhh I hate him. <<less
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PossumBaby
PossumBaby rated it
December 16, 2020
Status: c10
Hello? OP? We can see the man behind the curtain? Please tell him to hide better....I can only suspend my disbelief by so much before I go into orbit bro...

Now I try not to jump the gun on forming an solid opinion based on the begin, so I'll try to continue reading in hopes it gets better and hopefully I can edit my review then? But for now I'm sorry to say that this novel disappoints me (so far). I love a good transmigration story. I give this genre the... more>> fattest benefit of the doubt and all the bias I can hold in my heart. And transmigrating into a villain?? Even more-so! But I really dont vibe with this so far...

The beginning like 2? to 4? chapters are a super fast tonal whiplashing summary of whats up w/ our MC. I enjoyed the humorous stuff about him not really clicking with any of the tropey "meet cutes" and just noping all these archetypical 2D characters. And that I was perfectly fine with, it being summarized up really fast cause that's kinda what makes it humorous??? Also yea, I get it bro, we're trying to speed our way to the juicy part, the transmigration and all that.

But then it takes a turn to cancer and su*cide, both of which are handled.... not great.... and when I say this I'm not referring to how delicately or how much care OP handled those topics with (even though they didn't handle it with much care, but I usually don't expect much care to go into these topics unless I've heard otherwise). What I mean by "handled not great" is as narrative devices they were wasted, that when we reach these points I have no emotional connection to our MC and these elements do nothing to help me connect with him either. So as heartless as it sounds I don't really feel for this guy, and I'm not all that sad for him. Like right before all of the serious stuff, all I've gotten is "haha oh no! our big powerful company president! he might be gay! haha oh no! Hes a shou??" then bAM! Surprise b*tch! You have cancer! No time to think on that tho cause now hes hella into webnovels, quickly quickly lets get into learning about the lucky story he's gonna be transmigrated to! Drum roll please... Oh sh*t wait no... what's this? We're back to serious stuff? (I won't say what happens cause idk how to spoiler tag on this site but its mentioned above anyways, so you can probably guess.) But we aren't given much reason (whether emotional or logical) as to what leads to some of MC's decisions. If the OP wants to unpack this all later in a heart-to-heart between MC and his love interest, or during some character growing introspection, thats super f*cking cool, bro I love that kind of shit! But they still need to give us something to work with so that we care enough to stick to this protagonist and want to unlock The Dark Secrets of His Heart and Tragic Past (TM). And they still need to give us enough to see that theres a road that led to his decisions, and let us know that we'll be able to see it with enough time.

Just having dialed-up tragic things happen to your protag isn't enough to build a solid foundation of interest for your character, especially if these are gonna be brushed over super fast and be this heavily underutilized, especially x2 if it feels like all your character's decisions are being made because it's what the story demands. Nothing breaks the emotional connection between the reader and a story than to constantly see the strings being pulled by the author, and I'm sorry to say these strings are **shining**. At the moment, it feels like these elements were added in primarily to make you feel bad for the MC, but it doesn't even do that right man!

This takes us to the transmigrated parts I've read, and this is what really made me want to write this review. Cause I was whatever and willing to give the start a pass like starts are so hard to write man, especially if the start is like so faaarrr from what you and your readers really want to be paying attention to. Like I said before, I get it bro, we're just trying to get to that transmigration.

But hhhhhhh was I expecting too much??? I feel like maybe I was?? I just have to double down on the fact that the main character's actions dont seem organic?? The logic our MC uses to make decisions isn't good emotional or reasonable logic?? Now I see that "schemes and conspiracies" tag and I'm the one staring at the MC suspiciously. Are you sure about that one fam? Haha okay I feel a bit bad about saying that (but not enough to delete it lol) But back to my point, it's just it feels like there is an objective set in stone by the writer and they will write the logic around it to make sure this writing objective is accomplished even if it doesn't make reasonable sense for the MC to act this way/do these things (or it could make reasonable sense but the writer takes a shortcut and just says "well our MC just for some reason thinks this was fine to do"). And I dont think I have to explain this, but if the MC is going to do things that any average reasonable person wouldnt do, we need to know how he got there or the suspension of disbelief gets harder to hold. (I should also add that for me the payoff for these leaps in logic havent really been outweighing the wear down of the immersion ive been experiencing while reading, so I can't even be like "but yo this moment was so tender/funny idc that how we got there makes no sense haha") And we dont actually know a lot about the MC's character or current mindset to really understand or excuse his actions (aside from the typical "i dont want to be brutally killed by the ML" but come on man we've all seen it done a hundred times you gotten give us a littlemore than that, also its just not a good placeholder for all reason) and it doesnt really seem like we're gonna get much out of him. So what I'm left intuiting is he just lacks basic foresight (the basic actions-have-consequences concept) in a lot of his actions. And maybe that'd be alright if that was the writer's intention, but I don't think thats really a trait OP is going for with this character???

Also unrelated but I see that "misunderstanding" tag and I am worried these will be the type of frustrating misunderstandings that are just there to cause conflict and could be easily resolved, and if thats the case I'm probably not gonna get very far with this novel haha... still I wait for the ML to be awake and speak.

But please read this review w/ many grains of salt, I' ve only reached chapter 10 and I've been wrong many times before. Beginning are hard and maybe this writer just needs some time to really get comfortable before really spreading their wings and taking us on a ride. <<less
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kireida23
kireida23 rated it
September 2, 2020
Status: c88
The novel started out really good. The MC understood that in order to survive, he would have to change his own role from villain to helper to the ML. He successful accomplished this, but the flow of the story essentially remained the same.... This is fine, and character development and plot were extremely good. However, once the MC ... more>>
Spoiler

lost the war and became a prisoner of war

[collapse]
the plot stagnated. The problem was that the relationship between the MC and ML was stuck in a bad circle of misunderstandings. I normally dislike stories that are based on misunderstandings, and this novel really became annoying because the misunderstandings were so s*upid that anyone could figure out something was not right... except the dumb MC and ML. And worst of all, the misunderstanding were based on worst-case scenario assumptions, that no normal person would automatically jump to. Maybe even worse is that these misunderstandings seriously would have been resolved simply by asking 1 or 2 simple questions. It became really irritating... and I think I can't take it much longer lol. <<less
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readingaddict1
readingaddict1 rated it
January 31, 2024
Status: Completed
5 happy stars!

I must say, I have never read a novel where every single loose end was beautifully, perfectly, and completely tied. This author did an amazing job in the extras. I am sad that this novel came to an end, but I am also glad that everyone who deserved a happy and content ending got it.
This novel is worth the read. It is well written, filled with so much emotion that drags you into the novel and keeps you there. Everyone had such hardships that made me worry,... more>> but in the end, I was given such happiness from their happiness.

I LOVE READING. <<less
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Saphie
Saphie rated it
December 24, 2023
Status: Completed
Okay. The first half was very engaging. I couldn't stop despite the dog blooded miscommunication and misunderstanding. At this point of the novel, the misunderstanding hurts so good I loved it. The characters, main or or not, antagonist or passing characters, they so had depth. The patriotism is strong. I loved it!

Then we get to the second half. I was like... okay it's getting more dog blooded. BUT the misunderstandings were getting RIDICULOUS! I started to skim as I read and only slowing down when the scene was kind of... more>> important. At this point of the novel it started to come off as a scum gong x cheap shou. Okay okay, ML is not really a scum and MC is not really cheap... but on god, the vibes was very strongly like that.

Spoiler

towards the war arc:

MC healing ml's country soldiers (his country's enemy)..... uhm me personally... like ion care if I wasn't the original body or somebody else would've died if not mc's servants who died by the enemy soldiers.... like those people still close to MC!!! personally becoming a physician for the enemy soldiers who killed yo close servants and generals!? and you being a previous emperor at that!? STAND UP!!!!!!!!!! like ion care if ML didn't know or something but like knowing he the enemy emperor!?!?! naur...

I mean, I do get that MC is helpless against the protagonist halo but it was really very cheap of him to be healing the soldiers who killed his.... like idk ion care if he a modern person or nah.... its kinda low idk. I mean you do you but being a virg*n mary for the people who killed yo people... uhm....

: this is my view btw lol

[collapse]

Now there's another plot twist: MC's real body is the clue. To be honest if I wasnt so pissed at the dog blood scenes that happens again and again and again, I would've clapped my hand and think the twist is so f*cking incredible but the unreliable narration of MC coupled with his action made me so pissed that I thought: f*ck, that's f*cking annoying

Now at the near end. We should've gotten the happy ending right? NO! More dog blood! At this point im skimming more than reading! But anyway happy end. Everything made me so passed that I didn't even read the extra. Their lovey dovey scenes also hurt my liver. All I wanted to do was finish it as quick as I could. Didn't even read the full extra.

Now I won't go around disregarding the ending feeling it made me feel from the first half because it really is good... just turned more annoying. Thus, the four star instead of lower lol <<less
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Leviathan.James
Leviathan.James rated it
August 25, 2022
Status: c210
Disclaimer: this review pertains only to the novel proper, not any of the extra chapters.

I did enjoy this novel quite a lot, however I couldn't give it a higher rating because there are too many plot holes and unanswered questions. These really cropped up towards the end of the novel and left the impression that the author got tired of writing the story and just wanted to rush to the end as quickly as possible.

That being said, the main character is hilarious, the side-characters are well-written and dynamic, and the... more>> antagonists have clear motives and you just can't hate them because you understand them too well. This novel made me laugh out loud and cry unashamedly as I journeyed through the angst and joy with the MC and ML. There is a happy ending and the translator is very good at listing trigger warnings at the beginning of potentially distressing chapters.

Summary: If you don't mind unanswered questions and plot holes, I absolutely recommend this story. If that will drive you up a wall like it does me, this may not be the book for you. If you're interested, I've detailed the plot holes and unanswered questions that irk me the most below.

    • (Not a plot hole/unanswered question, but something that still bothered me a great deal.) The first s*x scene was anticlimactic and disappointing. Considering how much lead-up there was to the first time between the MC and ML, I expected the scene to at be at least somewhat spicy. Instead, it was so vague, I didn't even realize they were having s*x until the ML "touched the place where they were connected." My reaction was, "um... when did that happen?" If you're going to build up to something so strenuously, at least give us a decent payoff!
    • The author went to great lengths to let us know that there was a character in the book-within-the-novel with the exact same appearance, name, date of birth, horoscope, etc as the MC. However, the author never told us why this was or how it happened. My best guess is that maybe the MC knew the author in his original life and the author wrote him into the book. However, we were never given any reason (not even a vague hint!) as to why this was a thing.
    • Spoiler

      After the MC body-hopped into Xiao Wangye's body, we learned that the Western Shu Kingdom had become divided after the country was hit with famine, barbarian attacks, etc (pretty much the same stuff that happened to the Northern Kingdom before it fell) but we never learned if Princess Yongning was safe/alive/okay. Considering how much the MC cared about her in the beginning of the book, the fact that the MC never once thought "is she okay?" came off as out-of-character. Plus, I want to know if she's okay!!

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    • Spoiler

      After the MC was captured by the Eastern Wu Kingdom, I expected the narration to switch over to the ML for a while. However, it didn't. This was the thing that bothered me the most and here's why: shortly before this event, we learned that General Huang's Deputy General was a spy for the Eastern Wu Kingdom. That's a pretty big deal. Did the ML ever figure that out?? Did General Huang know about it? Was he in on it? Since the MC was framed as the spy, did anyone investigate to see if there was another one? How did this affect the rest of the war? Of course, the Southern Yan Kingdom won the war, but a spy in the camp should continue to make things difficult going forward. There was so much that should have happened, that we should have been shown, and we just straight up skipped over it like it didn't matter. I thought that once Chen Ge and the MC were reunited in the capital, we would at least be given this information retroactively by CG. However, we weren't. There was no mention of what happened regarding this matter AT ALL! It felt like an entire chunk of the book was missing.

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In conclusion, perhaps I will transmigrate into this book and fill in the plot holes and answer the unanswered questions on my own. <<less
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erhu
erhu rated it
June 18, 2022
Status: Completed
Yiyiyiyi could write Romeo and Juliet but Shakespeare could NEVER write something to the caliber of How to Survive As a Villain. This is genuinely one of the most compelling lovers-from-opposing-factions/star-crossed romance stories I've ever read and I STRONGLY urge anyone still hesitating to start now. If you have reservations due to my 4 star rating, let me explain in the most needlessly verbose and dramatic way I am capable of. (Do be aware that this review has slight spoilers for the tone of the novel and that I actually... more>> recommend going into it completely blind because... [redacted screaming]. I'm so serious, exit the tab and start reading NOW!!!)

I had decided to read HSAV on a complete whim, on some random uneventful day when I had a bit of time to spare. I had no expectations and no standards and I only wanted something light and sexy and funny for me to briefly escape the burdens of life—this mortal coil!!! As you may have guessed, escape I did. I became utterly enthralled. I could not put the phone down. For a whole week, these characters and their circumstances entirely occupied my thoughts while their actions weighed heavy on my soul. I even contracted a cold halfway through that was exacerbated by the painful, snotty tears I shed as a result of certain chapters that will not be named.

So yeah. I adore this novel. Xiao Yu'an is ridiculous, Yan Heqing a #boss. Every single side character is so bewilderingly nuanced and well written that you WILL get caught lacking and become invested in them even when you know you shouldn't. It's no exaggeration to say that while reading this I probably experienced every imaginable human emotion in existence and then some, it was that good. However—one of those emotions was also disappointment.

Since 90% of this novel contained the greatest love story my humble eyes have borne witness to, the mediocrity of the ending infuriated me to the greatest degree as well.
Spoiler

Namely, beginning when Xiao Yu'an transmigrated for the second time. From that point on, all previous nuance was thrown out the window to focus on a quick ending for the couple and wrap it all up. Any logic flaws or unanswered questions were left for the extras to deal with which proved extremely unsatisfying to the reading experience.

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Thus I cannot in good conscience rate HSAV the five stars it deserves, though I would not trade the incredible time I had reading it for the world. I honestly can't wait for some more time to pass and revisit this novel again and again and again.

I'd also like to add that while I love HSAV, I don't believe it should be anyone's first danmei. There are many self-satirizing tropes and clichés that simply will not make sense to the uninitiated. Once you are familiar though, I promise you will lose your shit.

Happy reading! <<less
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