Turning Back Time

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A beautiful but sad story about a woman divorcing her husband.

Associated Names
One entry per line
若只如初见
Related Series
N/A
Recommendations
Paper Rose (1)
Recommendation Lists
  1. Tragedy short BGs
  2. Tear-inducing (?) Maybe. You be the judge.
  3. Cry your heart out
  4. death by a thousand cuts
  5. deep dark abyss

Latest Release

Date Group Release
03/17/15 Hui3r c3
03/16/15 Hui3r c2
03/15/15 Hui3r c1
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27 Reviews sorted by


Kaylee
Kaylee rated it
April 13, 2019
Status: --
In this world, who is willing to share her or his spouse with 2nd person or even hundreds of hundreds fans. When you read how a ML gets so possessive and demanding, you'll say it's so cute and normal, but when it's FL people will say it's too s*upid, selfish, life is not all about rainbow etc.

Are you for real?

The husband in this story says sorry coz his wife finds out his affair, one name, but who would say there is only one affair? Yes, one affair coz the wife... more>> finds out only one. Who would know what the wife doesnt know???

The husband says he only loves her. Then I ask those who know love and alr experience marriage, is LOVE the only thing needed to pull a ship calls marriage?

He only loves her, but his body, his mouth, his eyes, see other beauty, touch another, eat other meat, speak such sweet words and promise hundreds of promise to some other for whatever purposes.

Will it acceptable if the wife also willing to do the same? Find other meat outside to fill the empty promises? If the husband turns a blind eye to it, then what'll be come of the marriage? It'll become empty shell of 2 people. It'll become a thorn.

Waiting is always hard and difficult, especially when it's involved with love. A wife will not feel hurt, pain and desolate if she doesnt love her husband who never comes home, late for every promises. I wrote wife, but it can be husband too.

My point, the story is not about selfishness or understanding. For those who feel it's s*upid, maybe you never think of how other might wait for you with all their love and willingness. Unless you tell them, dont give me your whole heart, just give me a quarter of it.

Here, divorce is not to punish whomever. It's to give them a chance to find out, to seek and to grasp more (husband), and to find another chance of happiness (wife). A woman has expire date is she wants to, like to be a mother. She's smart. She doesnt want to wait anymore. She wants to find another chance where she can fly again, and see someone to wait together the night. If she stays with her celebrity husband, when will she get the chance? 10years? 15years or 5years? No one knows. But, what's the difference? The difference, the husband will get everything he wants, and when people will forget him (popularity also has expire date), he will go back to his wife who spend the same years waiting ALONE.

Everybody has the right to find another chance of happiness with their hands. They can let go one happiness that's difficult to grasp and try another.

It becomes a rant ehehehehe

Aaahh, now Im feeling regret that the author didnt give us any epiloque or some closure of this story. <<less
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sharlnina
sharlnina rated it
January 31, 2017
Status: Completed
I really love on how she chooses herself. For having the courage to end their relationship even if it hurts. Some women stays in a relationship even if they feel that the relationship is irreparable or it turns into a destructive one because of the efforts and time they invested in that relationship. So kudos to her and to all the women who chooses their selves!
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smeilia
smeilia rated it
February 9, 2016
Status: --
I usually don't like romance genre, since it generally contain unrealistic cliche story where love will conquer everything. But “Turning Back Time” successfully change my perspective regarding this genre. Instead of following the mainstream with love story about girl and her prince charming, the author beautifully describe the struggle of girl when she lost her prince charming. Sometimes love is not enough to conquer everything and sometimes love don't last. It's sad but it's the reality and I know it's not really commercial, that's why most author prefer to write... more>> happily ever after kind of story. That's what makes “Turning Back Time” special, because the author brave enough to think out of the box. The other thing which I don't know whether I should love or hate is the fact that this story has so much potential for developing.

I kinda feel the author rushed the ending in order to fit the idea of short story. In one side I'm kinda happy because it give the reader power to determine their own ideal ending, but in another side it's also killing me because I keep asking what happens next, did the girl find new love? Or she finally able to find peace? Or she maybe end up being depressed? Arghhh...

All in all the unique way of author in portraying and choose the story make me rate it 5/5. <<less
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Raizel_Pendragon
Raizel_Pendragon rated it
September 17, 2022
Status: Completed
This might be the first time I read a review so ridiculously misogynistic while failing so spectacularly at trying to claim a non-existent logical supremacy. Or so it seems from what I could decipher from the rabid ramblings of @RabiezMonkey. The poster appears to believe that choosing what's the best for you- getting away from an adulterous spouse who caused you emotional pain, trying to move on from that pain and healing yourself is both selfish and S.T.U.P.I.D.

I can't really comment on what love should be like because it's a... more>> very subjective concept and there's no single definition on what it should be like, but I do agree that love alone cannot sustain a marriage. And while life is not always sunshines and rainbows, there is a limit to the pain, neglect and difference in values that each person can tolerate. Past a certain point, holding on will only become increasingly suffocating for both parties. Idk if we've been reading the same story because this is a story with quite the positive message that sometimes moving on is the best option for everyone. And the FL is a victim of a broken marriage and chooses what is best for her. It may not have been a loveless marriage, but the moment the spouse chooses to break the vows of fidelity and companionship that he/she promised while marrying, the marriage loses its meaning. Personally, loyalty in any relationship is most valuable to me so adultery is something I cannot comprehend people condoning. And by statistics the probability of a cheater cheating again is very high. I read this recently "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." and I wholeheartedly agree with it. What is the point in forgiving and trusting someone who's, in all honesty, not worth your trust, time or energy.
Spoiler

Not to mention that she did stand by him for 6 whole years while initially dealing with the pressure and disapproval from her parents and poverty prior to his rise to fame AND the neglect, online violence, media rumours and name calling from crazed fans simply for being married to him, after his rise to fame. She isn't weak at all imo. She's just smart enough to decide with certainty when enough is enough.

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Oh btw, frankly, I'm not very interested in reading the infidel's pity party POV or attempts at gaslighting the victim into taking their profligate a$$ back. That's just your karma. Deal with it~ 🤷🏻‍♂️ <<less
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lacerem
lacerem rated it
December 19, 2017
Status: --
I'm only giving it 4 star because it broke my heart. It's a really well written sotory that makes you want to know more and wish you can see happy ending of female lead.
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RabiezMonkey
RabiezMonkey rated it
February 15, 2019
Status: Completed
S.T.U.P.I.D

Personally, I thought that writing is a way to 'share' your ideas, personal values nd etc to the readers positively.

But this story is so s*upid and selfish that I hate it so much after I read it.

... more>> Divorce is indeed become common nowadays. Mostly because of adultery, gaps in personal interest, and etc.

People say that love is selfish. But the fact is : that's nothing like that! Love is about acceptence. And giving. Wholeheartedly. And when there's mistake, is about to forgive...

The positive aspect about this story is how the author able to picture the characters well. About the differences between the female lead and the male lead.

I dont quite understand about the author's purpose here. Since the story is based of female lead's POV, I could only say how negative it was for readers. Why? And based of what?

As I mentioned above, love is not selfish. not at all. But here, we could see how strong is that urge to have someone for yourself. only for yourself. That's how selfish the female lead in this story was.

Life, in fact, is not only about rainbow, flowers, and smooth sailing love stories.

Readers may say that : " how s*upid dude, this is just fiction. if ya dun like it, just dun read!"

Then you dont know that they have made a fatal mistake.

Our brain, is not something simple. Whatever comes in, it will stay there. Except you're mentally sick. Even if you've got an amnesia, your memories will stay. For more, just read those thesis about neurology or whtever.

This story you read, indirectly, created an image that : female is a weak victim and male who has ambition is just an unfaithful and insensitive creature. Thus, divorce is a good thing. As a way to save yourself and to punish the jerk...

It will create a 'value' in every reader's mind. Creating another selfish persona... Is this the purpose? If yes, then you should have one night stand and don't ever married instead...

Everything have to be balanced. We had read the female lead's POV. Then the male lead's POV is necesary here.

Considered that most of the readers are females, creatures whose 70++% emotional, we need to spend more efforts carefully choose what's good in the end for ourself... <<less
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dysry
dysry rated it
May 10, 2016
Status: --
A short story of a marriage falling apart, with the MC reflecting on how happy they used to be and how they ended up drifting apart. It’s not bad and I do respect her for sticking with the divorce, but as with most first-person dramas, it falls into the trappings of being to self absorbed and melodramatic – reasonable for someone’s inner thoughts but not the most riveting read. Anyways 6/10, including the extra points for actually divorcing. While the story did a great job with releasing just enough details... more>> for us to understand their married life and what they’ve lost. <<less
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anonareus
anonareus rated it
August 5, 2018
Status: c3
Spoiler

I like how this is not like the typical romance drama where the FL always takes the ML back. It shows that you can love some and still let that person go when he no longer loves you.

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makenai89
makenai89 rated it
January 28, 2016
Status: --
In this world, where there are meetings, there will be separation. But when separation is inevitable, could you actually take the first step? In reality, there are many ways to love someone, and sometimes, separation happen exactly because of love.

“Turning Back Time” is a very short story, but also very deep. It’s a romance without ‘romance’ which will make you cry and be strong at the same time. There's not much in regard of plot though, as it deals mainly on the MC's psychological conflict and monologue.
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Emeilia
Emeilia rated it
November 20, 2019
Status: Completed
Its so good im gonna cry. This short story is perfect for those women who dont know how to handle toxic relationship. The MC is truly the best example of strong and independent woman. And I truly respect her for that.

Although, I wish to see the ML suffer a bit more and how he realize he just lost something precious. But then again, totally recommend this for those who search for angst but with satisfying ending
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Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus rated it
August 1, 2021
Status: Completed
I regreted reading this story 😭😭😭

No!!!

This is beautiful story indeed. But I am gonna have psychological shadow from now on! Won't read this a second time!
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kuri94
kuri94 rated it
July 30, 2021
Status: Completed
This story is a short and delicate study of an individual's experience of a failed relationship, excellently written and translated. In some ways one can interpret the actions of the female lead as a courageous decision to end a relationship that is dysfunctional despite continued and lingering affection. In such a situation, however, in addition to regret and sadness, the end of the relationship must also be accompanied by a certain degree of relief, a sentiment which is patently absent in the final line: `If only time could stop at... more>> the moment when we first met.' This almost morbid fascination with the moment at which only the potential of future happiness existed---a moment which has become beautiful due to the a posteriori imbedding of meaning and sentimental belief in the cliche of love at first sight, and a moment which lacks any appreciation of the no doubt real happiness the female lead experienced---betrays the sad fact that this story has ended up oh so conventional: another woman let down by a self-indulgent man, who sacrifices herself so he can pursue a totally trivial sense of success which she will at best forget and he will no doubt end up regretting and appreciating in roughly equal measure. In this way, there is nothing to recover from this story: no brave pursuit of happiness in the face of a genuine but broken love, and no difficult but didactic experience which the female lead will eventually look back on in nostalgia. Just another pathetic woman who loves a scumbag and continues to demean herself in doing so. We don't need complexity and sensitivity in this scenario any more than we need to know that scumbags, in fact, have a rich and complex inner psychology. This is for the simple fact that (a) this is obvious when we go beyond the crudest stereotypes and (b) because such complexity only functions as a retrogressive defence of indecency (contrary to popular belief, decent individuals can also have multifaceted emotional experiences). At any rate, I would suggest that the crudity of most work accessible on this site and the relative sophistication of this work have mislead several readers into seeing in this work something that is entirely absent. <<less
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Missy2894
Missy2894 rated it
September 21, 2020
Status: --
For being very realistic, I must give the 5 star, the story is very neat and well written, the idea is really related to experience in real life

I read one of the review saying this author idea is s*upid. Well, I must say that my impression is totally the opposite. This story is very very realistic compare to nonsense romance outside there

While I don't agree with divorced but I can understand why woman choose this ending and it is totally up to the character of each person to decide

Indeed your... more>> "feeling" is not enough to sustain marriage

Actually before you get married, "feeling" is not the first thing you must consider, it is your partner characters, feeling can change, but character never. But sadly this couple never consider it in the first place, they believe that "being in love" is enough for them to sustain the marriage. BIG MISTAKE, after marriage you still need to work on it in order to survive. After marriage, there is a part if you you must sacrifice for your spouse happiness

There will be issues that they must consider before getting married. And there are many area that you need to pay attention after marriage in order to stay in love

Even before the marriage, you must understand that the moment you take the vow, you need to take care of your spouse physically and more than anything, take care of them emotionally

The husband did not do his part. He didn't take care of his wife emotional well being for the past six years and ended up in adultery. He ended up being in adultery is because of the "character", he cannot control his s*xual desire and give in to the temptation. This makes her wife cannot feel secure enough about their relationship. Moreover she is not always with him, the chance for him to fall into temptation again is very big. The trust is broken

The wife in the other hand did not love the husband enough to forgive him or give him a chance to work on their marriage. Love is always forgiving and understanding. When she first married him, she did not set her expectation that he will become a busy husband and will not always be there for her. She also never consider that someday his husband will fall in to temptation and hurt her. She never had the scenario in mind. There are people who can forgive their partner's affair, but some just cannot give the second chance.

But what I like about her is she doesn't stay as a hypocrite wife who pretend to be strong, she was honest to herself that this man doesn't honor his marriage enough, and she herself doesnt want to stay with man that doesnt honor his wife. <<less
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cookie_monster007
March 2, 2021
Status: Completed
Good decision, she will find her own happiness one day. Falling in love is easy but staying in love.... that's the real deal. She will find someone who will cherish her and will stay in love with her for a lifetime. (Although it's just a fictional character, but protagonist like this do exists in real life.)

Anyway, what a nice decision, previously I've read the short chinese story called Falling leaves without a trace and omg! The female protagonist was horribly living! (Although she willingly got herself in that situation)... more>> in comparison with this, this is 100× more better. <<less
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crimsoniv0j
crimsoniv0j rated it
May 23, 2017
Status: --
This one is really good. Its like an open ending, you can just fabricate its continuation until your satisfied. I really wish it ended with husband realizing he can have all the fame but without his wife he is nothing then kneeling or crawling his way again to get back with his wife. Then they live happily ever after. How I wish it ended like that. This short novel is a great ground for a longer and better novel.
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Kerbasi
Kerbasi rated it
March 23, 2016
Status: --
I honestly thought I was strong enough to survive my crying instincts, but it turned out I was too weak and too affected by this novel as a whole. It's short and simple, but beneath it all is an honesty that really touches a cord. It's heartbreaking but true. It's a depiction of reality.
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looongdogs
looongdogs rated it
October 17, 2021
Status: Completed
That was super sad and bittersweet. They had a beautiful love story that was erroded by time, fame, infidelity, and his lack of effort to maintain their relationship. She is a brave woman for choosing to let go. Now if only the author can write a sequel of her getting back up after the divorce.
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simplymess
simplymess
November 30, 2020
Status: c1
It was okay, a bit sad but not to emotional.

But I dont get those who said the FL didnt do enough or love him enough or selfish enough & the like.

Because this story is really short there isnt much being told. But the most obvious to grasp is about how FL feels that she's being ignored/abandoned emotionally that when she finds out about him cheating she just snap, snap and snap.

... more>> All these anecdotes about love while it's true, it's not the universal truth for everyone.

Maybe if the author elaborate more we can speculate further, (it's not like we cant but the information given is too vague & imagination can be wild), but then again 6 years is pretty long time to spend with someone especially if most of that time you're treated like you're invisible by the person you love.

This FL is quite realistic (at the cost of 6 years or more emotional investment) to realise she's not up for this kind of life & love anymore. Who can judge anyway? Everyone lives for their own happiness. <<less
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Xiu_er
Xiu_er rated it
October 1, 2020
Status: Completed
Anyone who reads this and likes it must be a masochist and as you can see from my star rating I seem to be one, too.

If you like torturing yourself emotionally or just really like to cry, go ahead and read this. People who read my review are probably not sure whether I am complimenting this short novel or bashing it when in fact I quite like it. I might be biased since I have once written a short story with the same theme before in my youth (talking like... more>> I am a granny already).

I have never been married, divorced or even in love before, but I still felt heartache, remorse and relief for/with the fl.

I hope the FL will find her own happiness someday... and the ml, too, even if I feel a bit bitter about him... <<less
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kookienotbaby
kookienotbaby
July 22, 2020
Status: --
I cry a little but the sadness of this story remains in my heart. How love could blossom into something can also withers in the end. This is such a sad story but I know in my heart that her life will get better.. Their is nothing holding her back now I know she'll have her happy ending.
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