I really liked this novel !

But I would recommend reading the first 20 ch and then start reading from ch 70. The mid chapters are tidbits about their daily life, those are cute too, but the real plot starts from ch 70.

This is a slow burn romance novel. I didn't know the MC liked the ML till he kissed him in ch 90. MC actually acts his age, a mature and elegant man. I liked his complex character, secretly caring about his family and he's surprisingly scheming, he's not the... more>> type to easily forgive those who aggrieve him.

Even the ori!ML (the baby - reborn) was not entirely forgiven by him. Even though he takes care of him, he's slightly hostile towards him till the end. I like that the ori!ML wasn't whitewashed either. (Don't pity him, he's quite a scum in the extras, an incredibly foolish and selfish guy)

Spoiler

according to the deal with MC, he lives the family and sets up his own business and unsurprisingly goes bankrupt. Later he starts working as a waiter and meets his wife from the previous life (he cheated on her with his crush) and asks the ML to arrange a marriage between them and gets rejected by both MC and ml. And so he starts repenting.

[collapse]

The families are quite realistic too. They fight with each other for the property but not to the point they are indifferent to each other. They care for each other in subtle ways and always stand up for each other. Even the ML cousin who was shown to be scheming, gives up his succession rights after losing to ML in a fair fight and learning of his grandfather's worsening condition. <<less

finally a family in a Chinese novel that doesn't demonize step-relatives and adoption. If I read the raws correctly then the wang family consists of an adopted older sister (though she doesn't know this nor does the Mc) the child of the first wife MC and a younger step-brother, and they all act like a real family. The wang dad is old fashioned and stubborn but all he does is out of concern for his kids, the step-mother is nice and loves both her child and the children from the... more>> previous wife, though she often gets disappointed by her son, the eldest sister has a misunderstanding about the MC because he ended up taking over the company but when he encourages her job choices and opinion on getting married they repair their relationship, and the youngest is an adorable idiot once he's taught a lesson by his older brother and ends up finding a career that he loves. Its quite heart warming overall.

In terms of the original Mary sue plot, the oMC is rebirthed as a 1 year old and has absolutely no power over the course of the story except to see things wrap up nicely at the end of the plot and to see him suffer through kindergarten level training courses with no spoiling or slacking allowed, its a subtle but effective revenge.

Apparently they are in a world where gay marriage is legal and commonly accepted in the 90's to 2000's judging by the technology level, so not the real world. <<less

It's an okay story if you don`t expect much.

The romance has significant issues, I don't buy their love for each other.

ML falls in love with MC based on gratitude and dependency, he still knows basically nothing about MC by the time they get together.
He's a h**ny teenager with serious emotional problems, has severe violent tendencies and is obsessed with the MC. He's borderline Yandere, the kind that's going to kill everyone who looks at MC for more than a second and would kill himself asap just to prove his love.

Due to the writer's style, we get no insight into MC's own feelings for the ML, all we see is that he's trying to save himself and his family no matter the cost.
Nothing indicates that he has genuine romantic feelings for the ML, it looks very much like he uses ML's obsession for his own gain.

It's not a pro that ML is constantly compared to a puppy, it just highlights how wrong his feelings are and how MC truly sees him.

Characterisation is a mixed bag, but at least cannon fodder aren't completely braindead, most of them back off when they realise that messing with MC/ML is a death sentence.

The structure is a cycle of conflict – resolution, like most webnovels, it's just that the later drama is very forced and nonsensical.

It's lazy writing to deliberately ignore easy fixes to drag out the story.

2 stars for the business aspects, which are decent enough, and cannon fodders with believable IQ, the rest is questionable.
Personally I can't see myself finishing this solely because of the forced drama that's obviously going to continue for the rest of the story.

I love this!

At first, reading the description I was unsure, but as I kept reading it showed its beautiful storyline. I really liked the complexity of the MC's family relationships and how the family gets along despite their very different personalities.

The funniest part was when the stepmother found out that her husband, who always scolds their son for being a video game addict, used to be highly competitive at arcade games. She just gave him this look of 'ah. It all makes sense now.'

I really liked how the MC and... more>> ML navigated their relationship. It was very mature. There were no long silly misunderstandings or 'I must be cruel to him to ensure his future, none of that!

In the end I had a lot of respect for the ML's opponent.

Just gotta say, I love the wolfdog ML. <<less

My only critique is that you don't get enough of the MC's pov especially when interacting with the ML.

The ML is very affectionate and you read a lot about how much he loves the MC, but not the other way around.

The first half is mainly about the MC and the second is focused on the ML, which is when they really get together.

I feel bad for the original MC. He's an idiot but not a bad person just too naive/spoiled to be handling that much money and power.

Surprisingly good and funny. The characters are developed and I especially liked how shamelessly clingy the ML is LOL

Although I would have preferred that the author gave Dabao's redemption arc a proper closure.

Wow MC is one smiling manipulative elegant gentlemen, ML is one scary Yandere loyal shameless husky.

But hell I love them both. MC just does things with class and a smile. I am all for that gold glasses wearing and then when he takes it off that gives off the POW effect.

ML grew from an innocent street puppy to a tamed loyal husky for the MC, the transformation is so interesting to read.

The revenge story is all worth it, Novel MC using one sentence to make MC's life so miserable for... more>> no reason but because the weather? Sh*t I would tear him apart and do everything in power to make sure he suffer a miserable death in my rebirth. Ha the revenge is so much sweeter when he's in the baby form having his memories, it's so funny. I felt bad for the baby Novel MC when MC manipulated ML (baby's little Uncle) to slap him on the bu*t countless time. But I don't really after finding out more how he use one sentence to destroy so many people's lives. The baby really deserve a beating when he does more self things. He's actually very dumb so much for the high IQ he had. Well he deserve what's coming to him that's all I have to say.

I think I can get why ML fall so hard for MC, for someone never tasted love, it was love at first sight how MC looked and how he helped him from the first moment. The combination fit in the weirdest way. It is a suprising harmony relationship through out the novel, a large chunk of it is, MC pmapering ML for everything he's done and make sure he suffer no grievance, ML grew more and more obsessed to the point of offering up everything to the MC

I do wish we get more of MC's thinking POV of ML, usually it's smiles all around and describing him as a husky. Sometimes I felt he doesn't mind ML, just the love is not equal, he goes along with it because why not? It's not like he can find someone who loves him more, he can't be bothered with relationships, He'll have a companion and get it over it to enjoy his life.

I find it really fascinating how MC is so pampering of ML with his creepy behaviour, he just let it go with a smile every time. If that's not love I don't know what is, the believe is that ML will never do nothing to hurt the MC. Though I didn't know MC did really love till the kiss in the half way mark. I though he was always just using ML's obsession for him in way to turn him against the baby.

MC is also a positive influence on ML setting up guidelines and educates him in the right way. Everyone who use to hurt him can go to hell for all he cares , ML can do whatever he wants as long it's legal.

The funniest moments is when ML using Novel MC little baby as shield to block cream thrown from a villain to avoid the shirt bought from MC getting dirty and also kicking the little baby aside to fawn over MC. MC looks at all these with a smile hahaha the revenge is so good.

Also the MC's family redemption arc is so heart warming, I like to read the parts when MC reborn the family can start over instead of just the revenge troupe.

Recommend to read Smiling manipulative gentleman MC x Yandere Obsessive husky ML <<less