typical but it's the family drama. I knew it the moment XTZ asked his mum what if he didn't marry at all and she responded super negatively to it. It's not even like what if he was gay but if he DIDN'T MARRY. Like, there's people of different orientation that don't marry right? But his family is super traditional, they want him to marry and have kids the traditional way. Major red flag of what will happen down the road. Of course sh*t hit the roof later on and there was major angst but fret not for the happy end.

author decides to sprinkle some dash of possible side CP that goes unfulfilled. No seriously, that ship doesn't sail. It's with XTZ's friend CX and another guy. CX has an unrequited love with a childhood friend that gets married and he gets super upset but there's another guy (YZ's sort of friend) who seems interested in him and vice versa. But said friend (who is sort of a playboy and knows it himself) says he's no good for CX and that CX will find someone good someday. CX asks him if he is someone good and he replies no. So ship sank. WHAT. They just part like that. They kind of had good chemistry vibes? But I suppose it was realistic? Because friend felt like he wasn't good for CX and he wanted the best for CX? But then argh, so bittersweet. I want an extra for them but alas nothing.

I chose this novel because I thought this would be a very light experience just something to detach myself from reality. AND WHAT I GOT WAS THIS HEARTACHE. At first I thought the main conflict would be the reluctance to get together, and yes I considered the parents..... but xtc was so firm in not leaving yi zhe and I really believed they'd keep going despite the opposition, which I liked, but that was hurting xtc too. And I couldn't understand why would yi zhe let xtc go, JUST WHY???? until xtc explained it to his mom, that's when I got it and I cried so hard bc how can someone love so much? how can you just let the person you love the most not even sure if they will forget you, if they will move on, if they will stop loving you. but that's the point, Yi Zhe trusted and loved xtc so much. [hold on I will cry] and at least, this break helped yizhe grow so much as an individual, stopped depending completely on xtc to stand as an equal the next time they met, how is this not so beautiful. they are now better versions of themselves and have a better relationship than in the past. it was so much in such a short novel that I'm feeling so dumbstruck right now, it held a lot of topics and developed them really well.

on the other hand is chengxu, he was so adorable but even as a side character he showed a great development and growth, I felt so proud of him, but also sad? I want him to find his person and be happy with someone that can accompany him. will that person be zheng yikun?? idk :/// they'd have made a lovely couple but zyk also needed to grow up and live on his own to know what he really wants, if they meet in the future I also hope it's a better version of each other ;;-;;

the chapter where MC's family found out the truth, I used TWO days to just finish it for I was so scared and worried for our MC and ML😭 I needed to warn myself from time to time that it's a HE, HE, HE (HAPPY ENDING) My heart ached so many times for how deep they love each other oh god please spare me for being a single dog〒▽〒 I can't even count how many times I cried over the last 10 chapters😭 The way the author describes love and family affection through daily lives is so emotional and delicate that you can't help but deeply moved.

that we build up all this reasonable tension on whether Tancheng will like him back, stop avoiding him, like him despite of society and it honestly broke my heart for them, that before he ever clearly apologizes for his cowardly behavior and confesses, he does that yes but after drinking a lot in a hotel room seducing li zhe to have s*x with him at that very moment. Did you feel that? How all that reasonable tension crashed down into nothing?