Concealed and Blended: Fendai

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Once upon a time, there was a makeup artist who possessed outstanding skills and top-notch aesthetic judgement. When he did makeup for various stars, he could embellish sharpness onto the smooth vases that lacked edges, and he could make models who exceeded the boundaries of aesthetics to appear delicate and soft, more approachable to people.

Male stars loved to request him, for he had a thorough understanding of masculine charm in particular, and the makeup he did was never garishly slathered in oils or powders, instead exuding a natural, dashing air of elegance.

Female stars loved to request him, for not only was he excellent in his skills, he was also everyone’s closest confidant; when they chatted, he could easily hold any conversation, and his mouth would be tightly sealed, never allowing anyone’s privacy to slip out.

Although this person was quite young, after getting by in the makeup industry the past few years, he was virtually considered as a distinguished personality in his profession, and would be referred to as a ‘master’ wherever he went.

But he had a terrifying secret. He needed to carefully tread on thin ice and couldn’t expose even the slightest traces; otherwise, nobody would invite him to work ever again, and nobody would apply to the classes he led anymore.

—He was a straight man.

Associated Names
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粉黛
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Latest Release

Date Group Release
08/25/24 Veyrithele extra 5
08/25/24 Veyrithele extra 4
08/16/24 Veyrithele extra 3
08/16/24 Veyrithele extra 2
08/16/24 Veyrithele extra 1
08/15/24 Veyrithele c49
08/15/24 Veyrithele c48
08/15/24 Veyrithele c47
08/15/24 Veyrithele c46
08/15/24 Veyrithele c45
08/15/24 Veyrithele c44
08/15/24 Veyrithele c43
08/15/24 Veyrithele c42
08/15/24 Veyrithele c41
08/15/24 Veyrithele c40
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9 Reviews sorted by


SuzanneM4Y
SuzanneM4Y rated it
April 21, 2023
Status: Completed
Overall rating: 4.7 stars

This story is set in the entertainment industry. The gong is a makeup artist who have to cross-dress because of his line of work. The shou is a closeted gay artist who cannot come out because of his line of work.

They met due to circumstances and the shou admired the gong because of his courage to be 'true to himself' without caring for others' opinions. However, the gong was actually a straight man (he only liked girls before) putting on a façade just to be able to... more>> keep on making a living with his beloved makeup profession.

And for info, the gong had ex-girlfriends, but they all broke up on good terms. The shou was his first boyfriend, and his ultimate partner.

Some bits of drama and miscommunication, but yeah, no heavy dog blood. All in all, a bittersweet story of two lovers who helped each other to embrace their true self. <<less
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Hats4Days
Hats4Days rated it
September 1, 2024
Status: Completed
This is one of the strongest characterizations I have read in a novel. The author seems to refuse to use stereotypes as references and crutches. Instead, our main characters feel like people living in a reality, reacting, growing, and changing. Both characters have a central core that is challenged and they end up developing because of that challenge. I can’t say enough how much I love this. The characters are the biggest selling point.

Some additional things I love, the plot feels like it has a purpose. There is a little... more>> face slapping, but there wasn’t a point where I was wondering what the point of a scene or arc. There was movement throughout that keeps you interested. The universe also feels real. Consequences exist and not everything is sunshine and roses.

The smallest complaint is that the antagonists could have been the slightest bit more developed. The junior feels like they have a good reason to be the antagonist, but the actor is shallow. Having said that, there is at least reasoning behind their actions. I find it better than the reasoning of “I want it so therefore I will be EVIL” that many villains of this genre have.

Overall, this novel is amazing because of its evolving characters existing in a realistic universe. I can’t speak its praises highly enough. <<less
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mewuser
mewuser rated it
October 20, 2024
Status: Completed
Really cute. I appreciate there wasn't really a huge crisis about the MC's sexuality more of a "oh well guess I'm not straight after all."
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KartKid111
KartKid111 rated it
August 25, 2024
Status: Completed
Damn, this is actually a really good novel. Its pity that it's too short, or maybe it's just right? It's been awhile since I've made a review so I'll make this quick.

This is a hilarious, sweet and yet sometimes bittersweet HE danmei about a makeup artist × a former esports player and now an actor. Their ship dynamic being 'straight pretending to be gay × gay pretending to be straight'.

In this novel, you could say that the MC has been bent by the ML, but I dare say otherwise because...... more>> this novel actually made our MC realise that he might just be bis**ual! I'm saying this because most BL/danmei with a straight MC or ML follows the theme 'straight to bent' with no in-between, which is honestly really disheartening sometimes. It feels oddly heteronormative, though I've gone used to it throughout the years, it's still refreshing to see actual representation.

Honestly, I'm surprised I didn't see a bis*xual protagonist tag on this, since I do remember the MC strictly believing he's straight throughout most of the story until realising that he's probably bi instead. (Edit: oh yeah, it might conflict with straight seme tag[edit: wait... what if its the straight seme tag conflicting with the bis*xual protagonist tag])

Though this story is short, its better than some of the longer stories I've ever read. It's hilarious at times, with funny misunderstandings here and there (which eventually get cleared up), but also unexpectedly bittersweet and moving moments (especially at the end), and I'm glad that it ended as a HE instead of a BE (which the painter and japanese muse movie almost foreshadowed[you'll get what just I mean once you read this]).

But thankfully, just like the MC said, he and ML are different from Hiro and that painter.

I have absolutely no complaints about this novel other than it being too short. Also, did I not yet mention that the MC is a gong too? I absolutely love it! Instead of the already paved layout where the MC is a famous makeup artist, who crossdresses really well (shou material) and the ML being a troubled hot-headed, direct and forward former esports player (gong material), the author completely subverted that and made the MC the gong while the ML is the shou! And it just fits!

Well, one more thing. Though personally the novel being too short is a con for me, it may also be a pro for those looking for a nice, sweet light read with small bits of bitterness~ Highly recommended, you've struck gold!

- one other minor complaint, the last few chapters, (ch. 46~49) are NOT in order, ruining the experience (if only I saw that last part in the review by @blessedcruis because the reading experience felt a bit thrown off TvT)

-ANYWAYS, this is a must-read. <<less
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auraizen
auraizen rated it
August 27, 2024
Status: Completed
love love love both the main characters and wished there was more

except the brief angst at the end took my off guard and put me through the wringer I won't spoil not a bad end dw but I was not expecting it so it took me off guard sobbing

brings the story alive more and makes it more realistic than general op faceslapping can never lose

also after ch 47 links can be a lil finicky so doublecheck titles to makes sure youre on ch 48 next etc --- novelupdates also links... more>> an extra 4 and 5 by accident but thats a completely different novel I was so confused and then disappointed cause I thought we got more haha (not sure how to fix that I couldn't find a report mistake button or anything please do if you can) <<less
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blessedcruisader
blessedcruisader rated it
August 24, 2024
Status: Completed
My gosh, this is the best danmei I've read in months (though I'm pretty selective with what I read), but this was just so good.

I really love how the author decided not to follow norms and make the flamboyant, make up artist be a coquettish shou, but instead made him a strong gong that breaks the norms we might have for someone like him. We might make assumptions of someone by what we see for ourselves, but whats reality behind closed doors can be really different. Li Baixi started off... more>> as someone that moulded himself to be what others expected of him, but ultimately learned this that is not the way one should live life, and if someone thought you should act and look a certain way, screw them.

The romance in this was also top-notch, with Li Baixi convincing himself that he's a straight guy for most of the story, but ultimately realizing that he might just be bis*xual (also love the fact the story acknowledges bis*xual people exist, which I don't see often in danmei, seems characters switch from straight to bent overnight, and that there is not in- between). Things moved slowly, with Cheng Ping, the 'gay' seemingly straight ML and the 'straight' seemingly gay MC not seeming to be an appropriate match. Things do work out for them in the end, despite so much obstacles they face regarding petty drama and rising in the entertainment industry. This is a HEA people. I repeat, this is a HEA people.

It definitely threw me off that the last 4 chapters were not in order and that I was reading the last chapter and not the 46th which kind of ruined the experience at the end. There did seem to be something missing, and I was going to see if I could MTL the raws, but luckily found out what must have ended up happening quickly. Dear translator, thank you so much for all the work you've done here, but if you're reading this I was wondering if you could maybe fix the order to the chapters? Thanks!

Hopefully this author has more works that are up my alley, this book has definitely rekindle my love for danmei. <<less
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yuminnn
yuminnn rated it
August 21, 2024
Status: Completed
So I was obsessed in the author's previous morally ambiguous work, You Yao. Also known as Are You OK. It has a donghua. I'm looking something similar to it so I tried this since it has a nice concept. Self-proclaimed Straight pretending he's gay x Gay pretending he's straight. As expected, I'm not disappointed! This is exactly what I'm looking for!

It seem this author's work usually are only short stories so I recommend it to casual readers who want something funny and don't like complicated long story but it does... more>> have compelling characters and relationships that will entertain you. I really enjoyed the main characters and development of their relationship. They started as coworker then became friends who recommend each other for jobs, they inspire each other and later we found out that they admire each other when it comes in self-expression. Li Boxi accepted to wear a mask for his work while Cheng Ping refuse to wear a mask. I'm a sucker to "fake that became genuine" or "despite all of the masks they wear they still manage to see one's true self" trope so I really like it. The downside of this is the supporting/antagonist characters are just painfully flat!!! Supporting characters are likable though but they don't have more depth unlike the author's earlier works You Yao where I find myself looking out for everyone. Maybe because I used to read Skip Beat so I have this high expectation that supporting characters will have depth as well?
Spoiler

I feel bad for those newbie actors (especially the last one who warned Li Boxi) who became lovers to influential actor Zhang just to get by in the industry. They deserve better. Like I wish Li Boxi's stepdad and Actor Lu helped them for new projects. It really shows that having connection is everything. I hate that only Cheng Ping is protected because he has someone like Li Boxi to protect Cheng Ping but what about others? It make you think like that. Its all about connection.

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Don't also expect a deep dive toward the works (tv drama, movie, events) they are doing. It felt like it just mirrored the phases of their relationship or serve as metaphor but I highly recommend to read the author's "Crane Umbrella" short story because this story play a big part as parallel to Li Boxi and Cheng Ping's love story. Yes, the story about a painter and his muse. The is the only role that stands out for me because it shows the difference between obsession for art and healthy love life. Good thing the author didn't take the sad*st route this time so they didn't follow that example for their story and Li Boxi realized Cheng Ping is not his muse but more like his romantic inspiration. The reason why he's still picking up his brush while trying out different models in his soul-searching journey after their separation. I'm never into entertainment industry but I appreciate seeing a glimpse of behind the scene of celebrities where they use public relations and underhanded tactics to protect their public image.

It give you a lesson that celebrities only show a part of themselves in their work. Some are lying bastard who deserve to suffer (Actor Zhang) but some just see it as a job and they are selling a particular image so they are careful about their image but it don't mean they are bad people instead they just prefer to separate their work and private life (Li Boxi, Cheng Ping).

Lastly, I believe this main pair's prototype is literally LouZuo from You Yao. From personality, dynamic to being separated for years. It has the same formula and pattern I swear! If you're a LouZuo main from You Yao, you'll love them!! <<less
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Zeruuuu
Zeruuuu rated it
August 20, 2024
Status: Completed
So, this one's quite good despite being short. Annnnnd I gave it 4 stars. 4 stars!

Both characters had their own flaws and not perfect and that's what makes this story even more compelling. Their story felt real life related. Their struggles to keep their love life and professional life. But you can't have both and that's real. Sometimes, choices are to be made.

Our Gong MC is a self-proclaimed straight makeup artist (former painter) who later got bent by Our Shou ML actor (former e-sports player) lol.

I found both of their... more>> family is unreliably funny, don't ask me why.

I cried when they didn't fvcking met for three whole years even though it wasn't that emotional.

Overall, I liked this story very much and recommend this piece to the fellow readers. Every professions has its own ups and down that's why I'm still unemployed here and reading novels etc. To pass time cuz I'm too introverted to become a social butterfly. At this rate I'll never get a job and I'll wholly depend on my family lol

I liked how they helped each other to find their true self and embrace it. BTW Every character is entertaining. Good read. <<less
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shuulys
shuulys rated it
August 21, 2024
Status: Completed
A sweet snd short story between a closeted gay and a closeted straight 🫣 already sounds so interesting right at the start.

Anyways, loving the romance and the realness of it, especially the tough times they had to go through because of their relationship. But then im glad to say that its a happy ending and damnn they are so cute together (づ ̄ 3 ̄) づ~

... more>>
Spoiler

I'm just very disatisfied with the fact that they didnt take revenge on that actor zhang that exposed their relationship and created all sorts of misunderstandings. It was because of him that they weren't able to meet each other for 3 whole years and I think it's only right if he falls from his position or get shamed the same way :< so angry!!

Also, I want more extras about them and their relationship!! Especially the part after they come out to the public :" (

hais... it's too short to enjoy properly...

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