Black-bellied vs. Black-bellied: Ultimate Showdown

Description

Links are NOT allowed. Format your description nicely so people can easily read them. Please use proper spacing and paragraphs.

In order to help his father investigate the true situation at the group’s clothing company, Qi Yu was almost involved in an economic case. Fortunately, he was able to get away because of “an old hand” who had selflessly been providing him with help.

But as his interactions with this old hand grew, Qi Yu gradually began to discover that all this was far less simple than it seemed. He began to have his doubts about the other’s true identity and his purpose for appearing at his side…

“There is only one true heroism in the world: to see the world as it is, and to love it.”

——Romain Rowland

Associated Names
One entry per line
The Hunter Behind the Scenes
The Ultimate Showdown of Black-bellied and Black-bellied
การปะทะกันของคนตีสองหน้า
幕后獵手
腹黑和腹黑的终极对决
Related Series
The Daily Life of Being the Campus Idol’s Fake Boyfriend (Shared Universe)
Assistant Architect (Shared Universe)
Recommendations
The Daily Life of Being the Campus Idol’s Fake Boyfriend (3)
Assistant Architect (2)
The Perfect Relationship (1)
Assigned CEO (1)
Recommendation Lists
  1. Chef's Kiss
  2. Chrysanthemun (Translation Completed)
  3. divine danmei
  4. BL Reading List
  5. <3 ...

Latest Release

Date Group Release
08/09/22 Chrysanthemum Garden c187
08/08/22 Chrysanthemum Garden c186
08/01/22 Chrysanthemum Garden c185
07/26/22 Chrysanthemum Garden c184
07/25/22 Chrysanthemum Garden c183
07/11/22 Chrysanthemum Garden c182
07/08/22 Chrysanthemum Garden c181
07/06/22 Chrysanthemum Garden c180
07/04/22 Chrysanthemum Garden c179
06/28/22 Chrysanthemum Garden c178
06/27/22 Chrysanthemum Garden c177
06/24/22 Chrysanthemum Garden c176
06/21/22 Chrysanthemum Garden c175
06/20/22 Chrysanthemum Garden c174
06/16/22 Chrysanthemum Garden c173
Go to Page...
Go to Page...
Write a Review
33 Reviews sorted by


SilentWatch83
SilentWatch83 rated it
November 17, 2021
Status: c50
I like it so far!

MC who is used to being the one in control over his emotions and relationship are slowly being led by the ML into being more spoiled and artless, despite him actually teaching the MC how to be more calculative.
1 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Wuwuwu5
Wuwuwu5 rated it
January 15, 2024
Status: --
Qi Yu is said to be the cool mature type of character at first but he doesn’t really feel like it. The vibe that he gave off from his brother’s novel was totally different from the way he acts in this novel but maybe that was the intention of the author. I also don’t like Fu Yansheng I think he’s weird and a bit stalkerish. Normally it wouldnt be a deal breaker for me though (it sounds horrible saying that lmao). Ever since he said that line “I want you... more>> to grow up quickly” my opinion of him has dropped 10 fold accompanied by what the author says in the little theater because it sounds an awful lot like a grmer saying that even though Qi Yu is not a minor. Either way it’s weird and it’s a shame because I liked the author’s other works but I won’t be finishing this one. I’ve read novels that are way more morally deranged than this but for some reason I just can’t handle this. Maybe there’s character development later on but I won’t stick around to see it. <<less
0 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Inkscreamedmo
Inkscreamedmo rated it
May 19, 2023
Status: Completed
Updated ratings: 3.2–Stars.

It'd be great if I could change my ratings but this site doesn't allow that. It may not be a five-star read, but it's definitely worth more than one-star.
I rated it too low based on my evaluation of the MC till ch 61. He was exceedingly annoying, obnoxious, and ignorant of other people's feelings, and his penchant for creating unnecessary misunderstandings truly ticked me off. But going forward....I'm glad to see his character growth. The MC truly matures both as a person and a businessman under the ML's guidance. And personally, the flaws in his temperament and his journey of growing out of them made him seem more human to me compared to the "godly main character personas" we come across in most novels.

As for the ML, well.. he was perfect. I see some reviewers calling him manipulative, but I'd like to ask... did they read the same novel I did? Yes the ML does does keeps secrets and often has to lie but that's not because he is manipulative or toxic but rather because of the nature of his job.
Spoiler

He is a secret agent working for the government. He has been posted near the MC to investigate a fraudulent businessman who happens to be the MC's business partner.

[collapse]
And he does everything in his capability to keep the MC safe, nurturing and cultivating him along the way in the most loving and respectful manner possible.

I'd agree it can get a bit boring at times given the financial jargon and the business intrigues, but I still enjoyed it.... and you can always skip some parts when it gets too much.

Another problem many reviewers pointed out was the inapt title for the novel? Well I'd say while they were both black bellied to some degree... the ML definitely outshone the MC. As I mentioned before, the MC takes time to grow as a character. In the beginning he is an inexperienced, somewhat naive child with a minor black-bellied streak (mostly annoying at this point) that mostly flares up in front of the ML or the MC's twin brother (whom I personally felt bad for. I felt the MC's treatment of him was rather rude). But he starts to grow out of it half-way through the novel, and becomes much more understanding, compassionate, and shrewd.
0 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Winterrz
Winterrz rated it
April 17, 2023
Status: --
Ok my opinion might be a little biased because I'd read some many negative reviews before starting on the novel itself.

Ok so, I find the first meeting of the main couple really really cute; but honestly that's as far as I've gone in enjoying the book. Nothing else after that is exciting to me. I don't want to call this a boring novel, but I'd say it's sort of like a documentary. Day to day life of a college student who also has a twin. I'm a college student myself,... more>> if you know of any college students, then you know our lives are really really boring. Yet the author drags that on chapter after chapter; only deviating to rub it in our faces that MC has a twin...

Gone nearly halfway through and my face has remained blank so I'ma just end here. I've ever read the other work of the author about the twin fake dating some guy or stuff like that and that too was boring. Didn't know there was a sequel! <<less
0 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Pezwitch
Pezwitch rated it
April 6, 2023
Status: Completed
This novel is a sequel to The Daily Life of Being the Campus Idols Fake Boyfriend and, in my opinion is not as enjoyable

However, if you have read and enjoyed Assistant Architect, you may enjoy this novel more

My review of AA mentioned it being "the boring novel about architecture", and likewise this novel is "the novel about finance". The reason one is boring and the other isn't may be because I have a business degree so I understood more about the subject, but both AA and this novel are low... more>> on romance and high on workplace details

I'm giving it 3 stars, I won't read it again. Fake Boyfriend, on the other hand, is a novel I've read more than once and it still makes me groan and laugh <<less
0 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Solivagant
Solivagant
March 29, 2023
Status: Completed
I skipped this novel for so long despite it being on my reading list because of some reviews said that this novel is heavily focused on business.

But then I notice that this novel has the same author as Assistant Architect and decides to give it a try (since I love that novel so much) and I'm really grateful I give this a try!

This novel is similar to Assistant Architect in aspect that the ML being MC mentor and guides his growth throughout the novel but with more heavy and dark... more>> side of the story.

Yes, there are a lot facts about bussiness, investment, etc, but it is a necessary part of the story, and the fight between the characters for those things is intriguing.

It has several angsty part due to ML secret identity and responsibility. But both MC and ML deeply love each other and you can see it.

The only thing I'm not satisfied is because there's no extra!! <<less
0 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
harshu_uily
harshu_uily rated it
December 27, 2022
Status: Completed
So, finally finished another BL novel that is just one of many that I read...

Well...

I would be lying if I said this was just another one because...

... more>> This easily took its place as one on my top places after I compelted the novel!

This plot has been one of the most intriguing and fascinating one I have read in entirety. I really liked the setting because this was the first ever novel I read that was in this kind of business setting. Even though most of the time I didn't understand everything, it still kept me up on my toes and made me anticipate everything. To be honest, I felt kind of ashamed that I had to reread some finance and corporation stuff in order to fully understand them, but that's what made me like this story even more. Seriously, at some point I was like, I would not even mind if this story didn't have romance as its main plot and only revolved around the MC and his business empire. I would have even been satisfied if there was no romance and just the MC, growing up and become this tycoon, and making this big empire or something like that. Even if the relationship between Teacher Fu and Little Fish was platonic (siblings or friends?) this story would have still captured me. I literally love the author for this because even though the mainplot was the relationship between them, the suthor still took time to pace everything else and actually made the setting interesting. This also made me like the different arcs and other things in the story. So, instead of you reading me just repeat everything again and again, let's move on to the characters.

All the characters were 3D and even the side characters were fully fleshed out and developed.

MC - Qi Yu: I feel like out of all the novels I have read, he was the one of the only characters that actually feel like somebody real out there and not just made up. I really related with him at many points and even agreed with a lot of his decisions as he grew up and become more mature. He did not feel like just some 2D character in a fictional novel (this also goes for the ML). The way he made mistakes, but still learnt from them and made better decisions really grew my love for him. Yes, he is prideful and doesn't communicate his feeling directly, but he knows and always does something to not do that. I love that even though he loved FYS too much, he still put forward reality and rationally sought out the trust between both of them. He literally applied so many things he learnt straight from FYS on finding out who he really was, lol. The author made his character really well and also paced out his growth so good. The way he did not know a lot about human relationships and interactions at the start of the story, but as he learned, he grew and made himself mature and only followed his own rational decisions even if it was dorwnright risky. He was independent, but still relied on other people at times. He made his own decisions from his learnings and suggestions from FYS. He did not blindly follow everything FYS said just because he respected and admired him, later loved him.

ML - Fu Yansheng: He is also really good character and I, who became a mother of Qi Yu, approve of him being his partner! I accidentally became yuyu's mother because I am proud of his growth and maturity! I always, from the start, felt the he was in a more higher place regarding IQ, EQ, and so many things compared to MC. But, he still patiently taught him everything. He looked at everything rationally and had this whole schloarly (calm and cold) temperament in the early stages. But, after MC matured so much, even become more cunning and black bellied then ML, his whole temperment was thrown into chaos. That was os fun to read though, him being flustered every second. AT some point, ML was shadowed by the MC during negotiations and other stuff. I thought FYS would just be this calm, really intelligent (kinda unrealistic, but who cares) and cold the whole novel, but the way MC made hims flustered and made him run with the tail behind him was just really fun to read.

I would say the relationship between them was also the same. At the start, they were def not in a even relationship where they were equal, but MC soon grew up and matured, which led to him gain a equal footing in the relationship. He even overwhelmed ML in terms of IQ, the relationship, and so many things. Sometimes, yes, I had to question if the things FYS did in the back was truthful to their relationship and was really anxious. But, I loved the way MC came to terms with it and used his own resources to find what's going on. Because that's what FYS taught him and he just applied the learnings on it.

Spoiler

FYS was def a sus character from the start until MC actually found out everything because QY had a valid reason to doubt him from the start since he was extremely mysterious. I would have loved some communication between them, but I did at the end of the day, feel like this was upto the character of both the main characters. FYS had valid reasons to not disclose stuff since he was actually investigation the MC's father's company. QY, ath the same time, had valid reason to suspect him because that's what he taught him. That is to not blindly trust and believe people and to actually find their real intentions before forming a relationship between themselves. This may not apply in the normal common world, but in the business world filled with treachery and betrayal at every step, this is def necessary.

[collapse]

I also like the twin brother and no I didn't read the other book with Qi Feng because it wasn't my style. But, I really loved the interactions between both the brothers and also Ke Ke (づ ᴗ _ᴗ) づ♡. I also like the mother, she was so cool!!!! The father, was skeptical at first, but slowly warmed upto him.

But, bruh characters like Zhang and Xu Jing made me flip everything over. I did not know whether to put my trust in them or not because they were so sus verytime!!!!! When I want to trust them, they do something sus, and If I want to vigilant, they do somehting nice ;_;. But, oh well I understand people have different views, and I dont' really have the right to decided whether the decisions they made were correct or not. Because it doesn't matter what I think, at the end of the day, somebody made a decision because they either felt good about it or it was their own opinion and belief.

and finally...

f*ck SI ZE

Spoiler

I don't f*cking care if he loved spx or not, at the end of the day he was f*cking obsessed with him. si ze infliced torture, forced consent, and everything in existense to have control over the other on spx.... IDC AND I HOPE HE GOES TO HELL.

[collapse]

Lastly, I really loved the novel and the translator also did a really good job on it. Sleepy little mushrooms, Kudos to you!!!!!

Finally, I rate this novel around 4.6/5. <<less
0 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Lostindreams
Lostindreams rated it
October 24, 2022
Status: Completed
Thank you dear translator for making this available for us to read to this beautiful story in English.

While writing this review I am overwhelmed with all sorts of emotions. I really really love the Author- Xi He Qing Ling. I have read three novels so far novel and none of these failed to impressed me. It's a beautiful ride, be it Waiting for you online, Assistant Architect and now this it gives of the same feelings- like the satisfaction of achieving some thing with hard work, these are all full... more>> package stories filled with struggle, hard work and achievements, such a positive and feelgood stories I have ever read.

What I love most in all these is the character growth of MCs and the in- depth background layout of the workplace and subjects the novels are based.

And talking about this novel it is such a full-filling ride, I love the power dynamics, their banter, their emotional conflicts, their sensibility, the author has created a perfect character initially with flaws but gradually works towards polishing their character, some might say idealistic character and yes it is but I love them.

Go for it you will never regret❤❤❤ <<less
0 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Yonachii
Yonachii rated it
September 24, 2022
Status: c187
im done reading.

the black bellied vs black bellied title doesn't match the story especially the " ultimate showdown." there's nothing showdown happen here. Its only interesting until chapter 5,

the only black bellied I can see here is that ML counter attack when he's talking to MC but all in all nothing much. Nothing happen like how that titled as black bellied. MC is s*upid and naive. The only focus here is about business and how ML become his teacher and taught everything to him. Its full of ML teaching... more>> and how he become a lowkey cheat to have ML teach everything to him. The interaction is ok but some are not, the business topic is good but overall is not.

Spoiler

there's so many things that left me unsatisfied in this novel.

1. The MC is already in his 20s but act like 13. He was exposed in his early and mature at a young age and yet I dont see any maturity in here. In all of his past yr they treat him like a child so he grown up to his age acting like a child.

2. Xu jing is already in his 30's and yet he is acting like a child here. Its confusing how MC called him a mature person when he is not

3. Emotional manipulation. MC knowing that ML loves him and know that ML depends on what he say in everything and yet he acts like a child and say some s*upid words that he act like he don't know it.

4. Im unsatisfied with how author pull so many characters but they didnt have proper ending like what happen to si hang x secretary xu, xiao ye team, that tang who likes him, zhang chengxuan (his classmate), what lei hong do after in the laters when su jing becomes successful and become a proper person who do his job diligent and to what happen to secretary song after getting depression. They don't have proper ending on what happen to them after.

5. Lin huan (forgot his name) I dont get why his name is always dragged everywhere. I feel pity for him because author make him such a cannon fodder while he doesn't do anything bad to MC. He's like an enemy in business world and yet its zhang family fault to everything. So I dont get that part how he's always in the bad side

6. Author makes all person beside MC getting them to betray or being dissappointment of his trust except the ML and the one he poach.

7. It always end up with ML being a godlike brain and everything is scope with his knowledge

8. The jealousy part. Im always dissappoint when that happen. He already knows ML loves him the way he treats him but his s*upid brain conquer to act being a child

9. Im unsatisfied how everyone Called the MC and ML an matured relationship when there's so many red flag

10. The ending is not satisfying enough. Its lacking. No extra

[collapse]

<<less
0 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
The_yiling_patriach
The_yiling_patriach rated it
September 6, 2022
Status: Completed
After a very long time completed the novel without skipping any chapters or dropping it....

5/5 in story, characters, translation everything is superb and there are some business terms here n there but it is no problem our translator explains it by the end of the chapter
0 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Moocakey
Moocakey rated it
September 5, 2022
Status: Completed
Loved this novel and the bickering between ML and MC! If you had read The Daily Life of Being the Campus Idol's Fake Boyfriend, this novel is about QF's older brother. This novel addresses more business aspects and talks about more mature themes than the other novel but it's definitely a good read. MC has good growth and and the author's little notes at the end of the chapters are so hilarious.
0 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
shuulys
shuulys rated it
August 31, 2022
Status: Completed
The plot greatly satisfied me. It was interesting and attention grabbing tbh! There were alot about the business industry but it wasn't all that hard to really understand. Plus such a plot made the whole story even more interesting and meaningful.

Though it might seem that through the story, the writer may be a little of an idealist. Although there were times I thought of the MC's thoughts and actions to be a little too 'naive/idealistic', I have to say such a character does make the story more unique. It was... more>> the MC that added the extra flavour to the story.

I personally loved the interactions between QY and FYS both before and after they became a couple. Super funny, cute and sweet. I couldn't stop laughing every time the FYS insinuates the QY being dumb, naive or s*upid 🤭

Though I would prefer to have a longer ending.... feels rather short tbh. I need a little more 🥲 But overall, I love the story :) <<less
0 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Angel_wx
Angel_wx rated it
August 26, 2022
Status: Completed
Loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This novel is quite unique compared to the other novels I read. I don't know anything about the business world, but it seems at least professional to me. It is written in detail. That was interesting to me even though I don't understand some of them as I'm not smart lol.

I like the dynamic of the MC and ML. The ML guides the MC but doesn't make the decision for him. No matter what decision the MC makes, the ML will support him. Also, their bickering with each other... more>> esp MC's internal thoughts is quite funny.

Anyway, this novel is so good! Highly recommended! I wish there was more. <<less
0 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Leave a Review (Guidelines)
You must be logged in to rate and post a review. Register an account to get started.