More of a 3.5 (heavily influenced by the later impressions and sweetness at the end).

Short piece, generally standard showbiz, but without an OP protagonist or ML. It's feels a lot more real and down to earth than other novels of this genre- don't read if you want a pretty little fairy tale with perfect or exaggerated leads. Or with a bunch of dog-blooded plots- this one has some conflict, but it's all pretty reasonable. It starts off a little slow- the MC and ML have quite different outlooks towards life... more>> and society, and I actually found both to be annoying at first. The interactions get a little better as the novel progresses - or I got used to them, I don't actually know. But they grew on me and I was enjoying all the little exchanges in the last third of the novel. Novel has quite a bit of unmet potential- one of the few cases I think it could be fleshed out a tad more (specifically character interactions) but overall, the pacing and content is good for the length.

The translation I read didn't have racist comments, so I cannot comment on whether it exists and the outlook. Only thing I can say is that (NOT saying this is right nor that it makes the situation ok at all) - is that focus on lighter skin, especially for but not limited to women/shous, should be taken with a slight shield. It doesn't mean to (again, am fully aware that this is still not ok) demean darker skin, but lighter skin is associated w/ the upper classes and hence beauty simply b/c it's historically associated to ppl who were rich enough to stay out of the sun and maintain their skin. Darker skin is associated w/ the exact opposite, so when they talk about ppl being dark, 99% of the time they mean dark and rough (from overwork/sun/etc). Not sure if the original text in this case was this innocuous or took things to a more inappropriate level in the words used. <<less

Writing and concept are good but that MC and ML....

To be honest, this novel is readable but I would not read it a second time. ML is without restraints, beeing awful to MC. He shouts at him, ridicules him all the time and even got physical.

MC is just accepting everything cause he is making good money and a fan of ML. He just curses in his head and is done.

There was not much character development throughout. ML gets a bit more peaceful but that's it. MC seemed to just... more>> have accepted and changed his personality to a door mat.

The story itself is just OK. Unrealistic in a lot of ways. It was OK to read once and the 50 chapters are more than long enough. <<less

Let me just start saying this: it's really slow in terms of romance

but actually

Let me also say it's a really cute novel. I read a good portion of the raws, but because it's 5 am in the morning, I decided to put it aside for now.

the translator "polarbearadise" website seems to no longer exist. You can still find this on wattpad by "Btsnamjoonie" tho.

So far very cute.

Xiao Yi's first meeting with film star Luzhou is hilarious.

This has developed really well! I was a bit reluctant to read this at first, since I wasn't sure how this would turn out, as it's about the entertainment world. But Golden Assistant has gone above my expectations, and the relationships are not rushed or too slow either, the characters are given a lot of time to develop. Other readers may think it's too slow, but I, personally, appreciate the way the author has written the story so far, as it's very clear. The humor is also bearable (I don't... more>> really like cheesy comedies). Even though there haven't been many chapters released, each one is long. The translator has done a wonderful job, and the grammar is very smooth. Every chapter is a top quality translation, and very easy to read. Polarbearadise (the esteemed translator) 's explanations of the phrasing and Chinese cultural references are excellent as well, so foreign readers are always in the know-how. All in all, a great story so far! <<less

This was great and pretty easy to MTL. Like other reviewers have said, it's a bit more realistic than other entertainment circle BL but still very cute and funny. There's no love at first sight, and both the MC and ML feel like real people. MC is this hapless but sincere and loyal normal dude, and ML is an arrogant, hot-tempered movie star who's actually quite kind to those he cares about. They've both had girlfriends before! No purity trope here.

Reading this story makes me imagine a lazy Sunday afternoon, if that makes any sense. There's not much in the way of romance so far, and the plot isn't particularly action filled, but everything -from the minor changes in the characters' way of speaking to the author's descriptions of a gaze that lingers just a bit longer than usual -flows naturally. As you read on, you get to watch the friendship between the MC and ML develop while the MC (very) slowly grows a backbone and the ML becomes less... more>> of a colossal dick. But nothing feels fake or written in just for the author to have something to do. The humor also isn't forced, which is a big worry for me when it comes to novels set in modern times. It's mostly some lightly funny situations, along with the occasional line/scene that has me laughing out loud. Overall, I'm looking forward to how it progresses. <<less

This was such a wild and unexpected read.

It kept surprising me, over and over. Nothing really went the way I thought it would, but somehow it still fit the story and left me satisfied.

There's something so human about this novel, I don't know if I can explain it. The characters feel like actual people, not like that distanced from humanity feeling you get from anime characters, or those wuxia novel protagonists and the like. They have flaws and highlights, good and bad. They're messy, like real people are.

Even though there's,... more>> of course, the suspension of belief that always comes with reading, it still felt realistic. The characters aren't OP people who can get whatever they want, or incredibly pitiful to the point that no one has it worse; they're not incredibly evil, or paragons of moral goodness.

The writing was great too; there were scenes that utterly captivated me, that were enthralling. The character development was great, they really grow a lot both as individuals and in their relationship. They change, which is something a lot of characters don't do. Xiao Yi's growth from a newbie who didn't know anything to a competent assistant, the progression of their relationship, and how they came to care about and love each other, it was all amazing. And unlike a lot of other romance stories, I can really understand why they fell in love.

Also, can I just say that I think Xiao Yi's point of view, from which the story was told, was really well done? I could really feel his emotions and understand his thoughts. And of course, you have to keep in mind his bias and that he doesn't know everything. I really love it when unreliable narrators are well done.

The way the author wrote about the entertainment industry was really interesting to me, and I think a lot closer to reality than what I usually see in entertainment circle novels. It's not condemning or super judgemental, and it's not unrealistically great either.

I saw the translator saying that the author's writing was kind of disjointed? Which to be honest I didn't really feel, but you might.

This has the 'Possessive Characters' tag, which I'm usually wary about, but there really wasn't anything crazy. By the end they have a pretty healthy relationship.

There's no smut, but I'd still say that this is an 18+ novel.

It's not perfect- it does have some problems, some things a good editor could fix and some actions that might be questionable in real life; but in my opinion this story was still good enough to deserve 5 stars, and I really think if you're interested you should give it a try. <<less

(aug19, 2019)

f*ck, It's good. I love how both ML and MC became bent because of each other. Romance is slow burn, love it?. I like the way both cultivated feelings for each other, both did not fall in love because of a shallow reason such as beauty (unfortunate for me, there're alot of danmei/bl novels that have main characters falling for the ML mainly because of looks) MC is an ordinary straight guy, that's the type of shou I love the most. ML was an as*hole at first,... more>> but I seriously loved how he slowly began

to really care for the MC. Their experiences together are what makes them fall in love and I think that's really heart warming

1. Personally, I like the comedy. This is just the type of story I love. I hope that future chapters would be just as good.
   (dec 12 2020)
   Edit: f*cking hell I finished this..I just got chills. The side Characters and the world is not very fleshed out but the main cp development between Xiao Yi and Lu Zhou is definitely a highlight, their antics lol. They feel so realistic?the mains I mean, Lu Zhou especially, he's not that typical ML that falls for face etc. He's complex. There's so much that should've been explored, like the side characters and the world. Unfortunately, the author didn't do so, wasted characters ; (
   Love the pairing though, the development is just *chefs kiss* I'm gonna miss this tbh.
   3 stars in terms of plot flow and overall world but the main cp was fun, so, 5 stars in terms light reading

<<less

This is good read for when you have nothing to do.

Around chapter 9ish I sort of got bored while reading and wanted to stop cause nothing interesting was going on. And I feel that even as the novel gets translated I will get bored of reading it.

Soooooooo....... I'm not sure of I should continue to read or drop it as nothing big is happening and the ML is not my cup of tea.

Hey I didn’t expect I’d like it so much.

I read it with a just-try attitude since I keep seeing this and decided to trust the ratings and it really did not disappoint.

Truthfully, I almost turned back at the first few chapters. I was kinda turned off by ML’s rough mouth and MC’s a lil dullness. But as I read on, I got to understand the characters more and I just found them so endearing in their own ways. Sure, they got flaws (which interestingly, combined is my very embodiment. Crie)... more>> I can only say it’s more realistic that way and I can empathise. Especially with Xiao Yi.

Doing well in college but drowned in the harsh and hurried waves of society. World weary soaked the passion, losing confidence, becoming indecisive, and losing the way.

I forgot who I heard/read it from; they said success comes from grit. Of which Xiao Yi didn’t have at the beginning but Lu Zhou has.

Lu Zhou can be d*mned rude but it’s also true that he’s worth looking up to. I, as someone very similar to Xiao Yi, honestly once yearned for someone like Lu Zhou. Literally. Someone who’d f*cking scream some sense in me because the enemy most of the time is my own head. He can be a d*ck but I’m still jealous of Xiao Yi.

As for the narrative, there’s basically no fillers or any dragging. Altho there were some parts I wished were longer. The plot is also very good. Ya’ll I couldn’t have expected any of them twists, it was a fresh ride.

Overall really deserving of the high ratings.

Really wish there were more extras. <<less

Slow romance but its so worth it omg. MC and ML are gay for each other and their love is so good.

I like this so far. The story is slow paced but well written. Every character has enough depth. I like the chemistry between the MC and ML. It's not forced and in the face. It's subtle but gradual.

Not for people who like dramatic stuff.

I can really feel the growth of Xiao Yi as a character. At the beginning of the novel, you can tell the looming depression of Xiao Yi, also his lack of self-confidence, experience, and sensibility. But as time goes on, he become much better in those aspects. Luzhou also has a nice character growth. He became more vocal about his feelings and more peaceful also.

The two of them were very hardworking individuals and their encounter gradually developed into romance sparks something in their lives. After winning the big lottery of... more>> love, they became the winner of life through their love for each other. <<less

I was really impressed with how well-written and realistic this story was! There is humor sprinkled throughout the story but it’s a more serious novel with some unexpected twists. The most unique feature of this novel is that it gives you a deeper insight into the entertainment industry compared to most other danmei entertainment novels. You see the grueling filming schedules, the difficulties of negotiating a production team, and how social media is manipulated.

The character growth in this story is another strong point. The MC was a singer/musician with a... more>> bright future while in school but has been working as a video editing drudge after graduation. He is hard-working and good-tempered but has lost his self-confidence. His best friend helps him out by recommending him for a personal assistant job to a big-named actor. The MC’s boss is the ML, a bad-tempered but popular actor who is highly sensitive to his image on social media. (Warning: the ML starts out unlikable.). As they work together, the two also learn to grow and change together. The pacing is more slice-of-life, slow but steady, and the romance is slow-burn. But ultimately, the MC and ML are really good together.

At the time of this review, the last few chapters have not been translated yet. The first half of the translation is rough on the edges, but Translator K does a wonderful job when they pick it up in the later half of the novel. <<less

I up-rated it a bit because I thought 4.1's a bit low for what it's worth. This was my first FTYX novel, and it was a pretty decent experience- definitely had more insight on the entertainment industry than a lot of other popular danmei in the same genre. For once, I wasn't skimming through the filming process.

In terms of characters, the ML's an obnoxious piece of sht, but at the same time, it was great because he developed as you read more and understood him as a person. He got... more>> plenty humbled by various unfortunate circumstances, and his romance with the MC developed very naturally as well. A bit more complex than the typical overbearing gong. I don't disagree with the negative reviews about MC's mild personality, nor do I agree. I think it's important to note that the MC found the celebrity side of the entertainment industry too superficial and money-hungry to fully invest himself into it. He rather use his time and energy to foster a loving relationship while doing music as a hobby instead. Pretty valid take imo.

Spoiler

Rather than saying he gave up his career for the ML, it's also fair to assume that he saw the dark parts of the industry during his time as the ML's personal assistant, and decided developing as an artist just wasn't for him. It's evident he picked the right path for himself, as he had much more fun doing behind the scenes production work than the talent show.

[collapse]

I think the only part I didn't like is

Spoiler

The ML constantly reminding him that other people's goodwill towards the MC was due to the ML's influence. Like yeah, the MC knows, no need to repeat it over and over again.

[collapse]

It took a bit of searching, but the translation I read was trinity's, and she did a great job. It flowed a lot smoother than polarbearparadise's, which was severely under-edited. She also removed whatever racist part was mentioned, so my perception of the novel might be different than someone else's. <<less

cute but the MC is a tad bit dense. You know the typical scenario, overbearing ML who's never been in love despite his age and dense and naive MC. Only this time the MC is an assistant and he actually seems a little bit competent, so he's not a total idiot. If you like this type of couple combination than you'll like this story as well.

LOL I laughed so much. I love how the feelings were slowly progressing for both MC and ML and how the ML was not omnipotent goldfinger gong that succeeded in everything. MC is very laid back and caring. They are a perfect match.

rating: 4/10

-3 for author racist comments

-2 for making the storyline too blant

-1 for making the MC "useless" without the ML

Review

• ok la at first got to admit the story was quite funny but then later on after the ML faced something then had to drop outta acting then they make the MC look to dependent on the ML like he cld have just quitted the company bah but NOO such a pushover like idk what the author thinkin also
• like u in entertainment industry and promising you wont do this or that like how naive like the MC so naive that its literally annoying and so much forced humour inside
• Also what's with the author flaunting and being obsessed with light skin like da hell #gethelp and so racist literally was so pissed when I read tht part
• thats tht im dropping this novel bye

Fun read! Though the end wasn’t as satisfying as I wanted it to be, it was still a nice ending. I would just say that it is was a typical HE.

MC and ML were very funny together, and you can feel their chemistry pretty right rafter like 5 chapters. Tag says it’s a slow romance, but I didn’t feel like it was. Since they pretty much interact in every chapter, it was actually very nice to see how they developed characteristically, and their feelings actually developed pretty quickly.

The story itself... more>> was good though in some parts (movie scenes recording) I found them a bit confusing, or the way the author try to describe the script for the movie. Translator-nim did an absolutely great job in translating this novel! Also I believe they also said that the original text was quite confusing in certain parts.

lastly, this novel is from 2014. So certain thing might seem cliché right now, but it was written many years ago. Still totally enjoyable though. Give it a try guys!

if you want the smut part, there are only 2 chaps, but translator K did an amazing job! Thank you! <<less

pros:

This is a really good story, main plot is very good.

I have read two or three showbiz novels before. And in all of them half of the words in the story is netizens comments (with the ammount of thumbs up included). And the other half was about how good the main characters looked and how there was no one that could resist them and the conquered the heart of china's entire population. But this one is not like that.

ML is handsome, but not in exaggerated way and people don't faint... more>> upon seeing him. Characters are very well-written, very realistic. Both with flaws and strength of their own. I loved ML in particular. He was neither a bad-tempered controlling person with rage disorder nor a devoted idiot who can't think about anything but MC. He is a normal person just like any other character we see in real life.

The character growth and changing of their behavior happens little by little. It is very well-written.

it is not love at first sight, and it isn't over idiotic or childish reasons. They grow to like each other.

cons:

although the main plot is good. The details and side plots isn't. There isn't much going on. And it gets quite boring. I am in this chapter and I think not much has happened in the last 15 chapters. It is a good story, it had the potential to be more complicated. But I am not sure if I want to continue.

It is very sad. Finally, I found a novel that didn't have one of those cliche storylines, with simple minded cliche characters. But it had another issue. Nothing is happening. <<less

Ah ah ah ah! What an amazing ride! Although sometimes confusing because of how the author write it, its really a good read. It stands out in the genre of entertainment danmei as the concept is fresh and somehow feels real.

Although ML is really punchable, he feels human and he doesn't belong in the stereotyped MLs. MC is so frickin funny and I love him hahahaha. Story is slow burn and no dog blood (maybe just a bit) but got an angst in the middle. I like the idea when... more>> they asked each other why and when they like the other person, both answered they don't know and that makes their progress quite real. You really sometimes wouldn't realize when you started loving someone.

I'm too lazy to write a long review so I'll just say that I super highly recommend this story. Not perfect but gives you a feeling of fulfillment and the couple hits different hahaha.

I honestly ship LCZ and Duma too bad author didn't include any side CP that is clear 👀👀👀 <<less