Fanservice Paradox

Description

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Kaleido, a talented but unpopular boy band, shot to fame by chance because of a video shot at the airport. In the video, Pei Tingsong, the youngest and most gong member of the whole group, pinned Fang Juexia Gege against a wall as he gently patted his face with a ticket. Yet Fang Juexia just took the ticket away, biting it as he tidied up his clothes. A “bullying” incident within the group thus transformed into an intense flirting exchange, and the TingJue CP was born.

Netizen: holy sh*t that’s so gong! Kabedon AND a bayonet fight! (internet slang for lovey dovey actions between men)

And thus, the abandoned trump card burdened by rumours of having had sold his body and the legendary rich member with a strong backing were bound together. They had clearly never gotten along since their debut, yet they were now forced to embark on an endless path of selling their fake ship together.

Pei Tingsong was famous for being ‘real’ in the circle, and he had offended many people from his lyrics alone because they were overly ‘real’. But he stressed again and again that he and Fang Juexia were only providing fan service.

CP fan: [Someone who has never been fake is selling a fake ship.] May the philosophy students please explain the paradox to this young student Pei here.

Young Pei: Fine, you guys win.

Juexia: (seriously considers the logic) If B is true, then A is also true; but if A is true, then B should also be true…it really is a paradox.

Young Pei: Fang Juexia, you’re heartless.

Associated Names
One entry per line
Doanh Nghiệp Bội Luận
FP
Nghịch Lý “Câu Fan”
ying ye bei lun
YYBL
營業悖論
营业悖论[娱乐圈]
Related Series
Lovely Allergen (Shared Universe)
I Only Like Your Made-up Persona (Shared Universe)
BE Crazy Demon Survival System (Shared Universe)
Manhattanhenge (Shared Universe)
Recommendations
Deep in the Act (2)
Agreement of Being Gay for 30 Days (1)
Fake Dating the Amnesiac School Prince (1)
I Ship My Adversary X Me (1)
Have You Ever Met Such a Cold Author (1)
The Idol Group and the Crown (1)
Recommendation Lists
  1. Danmei Recommendations
  2. All BL Novels I've Read Part (1)
  3. Have Read Pt. 1
  4. yaoi 2
  5. Quero ler

Latest Release

Date Group Release
05/11/20 DMlations c1
Write a Review
76 Reviews sorted by


Michelle-08
Michelle-08 rated it
July 1, 2022
Status: Completed
Before reading the novel please know that

1st, this is a password protected novel, so you need to email or send the translator a message on discord to open the chapters.

2nd, there's smut BUT you need to pay

... more>> About the novel, probably I read better ones so I feel that this one is good but definitely nothing extraordinary. Don't get me wrong it's a good read probably if you haven't read other top notch BL stories or if you wanted typical "cinderella" story BL style then this will definitely fit your taste.

I love the main CP pairing as well as the side CP (extra chapters), but in between the story I kept on skipping the netizen parts most of the time. Some parts becomes a little draggy and repetitive. I think this should be 80 chapters max in my opinion and 10 more for extra chapters and that's it.

By the way I love Ling Yi so much and he makes me laugh with his antics most of the time. <<less
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Sora_star
Sora_star rated it
February 26, 2022
Status: c90
Not the type of story you wanted for binge reading..

OMG.. it took me more than two months to read it until it reaches to chapter 90 and I feel like its a chore to finishing it for the sake of completing the novel. (Remind me of high school textbooks.)

The story is very slow pace and fluffy in early stage of chapters which two main characters trying to understand each other... after hitting the mid stage I feel like the story is even more slower pace than the early... more>> stage and it became too wordy and greasy. There is nothing up and down in the story. Like, in the early stage, you two are working with each other for two years as a group. Why there is so minimum communication involved? It’s not like you won’t be seeing each other after completing one album. (Remind me of university group projects, when people skipped out the process and come in only at presentation day)

This novel is right for you if you enjoy entertainment idol storyline but I tell you, there are better novels than this one. <<less
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Raizel_Pendragon
Raizel_Pendragon rated it
September 28, 2021
Status: Completed
This is so cute! A Gentle Winter (cold mature yet stubborn older shou) x Rebellious Spring (unruly little wolf cub gong) story. I love the characters (main& side), their growth throughout the story, their relationships and the romance. How the main cp's relationship slowly developed from dislike and disapproval to acquiescence and camaraderie and then finally to passionate love and yearning was honestly gratifying to read. It was quite a slow burn but the build up and return makes up for the wait. The characters and occasions were so vividly... more>> portrayed. I also liked the philosophical undertones and references.

The author-nim is so protective of their characters. (S) he watches over their growth alongside the readers and really don't take people throwing unnecessary shade at her brain-children❤️ I really loved how author-nim took the trouble to actually sit, think and pen down lyrics for their performance and not just the beginning two lines followed by two rows of............. And some end lyrics! So dedicated!! The translator too! They've taken so much effort in trying to keep the original structure and meaning while translating. That's not an easy feat. They've also added additional info as drop-downs into the references (philosophers, theories etc) made throughout the story. 10/5 ⭐ for effort

The MTL is understandable. I really recommend giving this a go if you want a good BL romance with entertainment industry background. <<less
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qeesa
qeesa rated it
August 8, 2021
Status: Completed
No words, definitely one of the best modern showbiz danmei I've ever read. I'll try to write a better review once I've stopped crying, but here are the gists so far:

First of all, here's some trigger warnings, under spoilers just in case:

... more>>
Spoiler

1. Non-explicit mention of r*pe (not to MC, ML or any of the group members but to a character relevant to the story)

2. Stalking by black fans (not sure if I'm using the correct terms, I'm not really in the idols fandom, sorry in advance)

3. Child abuse by MC's dad (physical and verbal, ngl it was kinda triggering for me too so I skimmed through it a bit when MC described it in his mind)

[collapse]

The romance developement is really good. Both MC and ML mature as a person together once they've gotten rid of their prejudices about each other and it was fascinating to read.

Their friends' acceptance towards the reveal of their relationship was also very comforting for me to read. I know it's not "realistic" that all your friends would support you when you come out (especially in Asia) but I want to read this to escape from reality, so I love this part especially.

Another thing that I really like is how MC managed to fix the relationships in his family by the end of the novel, and ML managed to gain a new family in form of his bandmates and MC's family.
Spoiler

Well, mend the relationship with everyone except his dad, which was deserved. I'd literally rage-quit reading this if MC forgives his dad just like that. Say no to domestic violence guys.

[collapse]

Reading this while listening to those iofi songs in youtube was also really comfy, I'd recommend it LOL. Not much to say because other reviewers already mentioned stuff that I loved about this novel, do give it a try and enjoy! <<less
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Solivagant
Solivagant rated it
February 18, 2021
Status: Completed
Okay, this is my favourite BL showbiz novel! It's not just about the romance, but also the growth of the band, the bonds between the band members, their impromptu stage shows, all of them are so touching!! Especially their tour at the end of the novel!

As for the romance, it is a top notch too! The ML first give off the air of a brat, but believe me, eventually he grows to become a really gentleman, romantic, an understanding boyfriend, who literally is the MC's knight in the shining armour.... more>> He is the spring that melt the icy winter world of the MC!

I really love the ML character. Imagine, he is a rapper, who study philosophy, & could write romantic poems and song lyrics!!! And what's more, I love his straightforward, decisive, and brave personality.

As for love rival, or conflict, there's none in this story. It's just that at the beginning, the MC & ML is distant towards each other just because they hv misunderstanding about each other personalities.

Oh, btw, the mtl is easy to understand. <<less
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damnmei
damnmei rated it
September 26, 2023
Status: Completed
A well written entertainment genre novel, which makes sure to touch on a lot of darker themes carefully, and puts a lot of love in each character's design. The two main characters start off not necessarily as enemies, but definitely don't get along well. MC is a cold and seemingly unbothered by anything kind of person, while ML at first seems like he's just another hotblooded youth, but as the story progresses, they are revealed to be so much more.

As members of a six member boy band, the two of... more>> them are forced to be at least civil with each other for the two years as a group before the novel begins, but after a little incident at an airport, they're made to collaborate together to push their CP, which slowly allows them to put their differences and biases against each other aside and truly begin to open up and understand each other. The ML is quite forward with his feelings, which makes for a good contrast with the MC who is much more taciturn and introverted. It really surprised me the amount of depth to their characters, and both of them stayed very consistent in their character development as well.

The overall plot worked as a backdrop to the two main characters, allowing their relationship to slowly grow and for both of them to mature. It's not a very plot heavy novel, but the main plot points are well executed and carry the story forwards well. The emotional development is very natural over the course of the novel, and the author does a fantastic job of maintaining the essence of each character despite how much they change by the end of the novel.

I really enjoyed the group dynamics of the band together, and all the boys got their own individual plot lines and character development, making the story seem much more real and touching. You really get to see the love and support that the band members have for each other beyond just the main couple's relationship, though the focus of the novel is definitely on our two main characters.

The romance is wonderfully written, but would definitely call this a novel where the love story is the main driving force behind the plot, so it really depends on what you're looking for out of a novel! <<less
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Arenaphrodite
Arenaphrodite rated it
August 12, 2022
Status: Completed
10/10. What an amazing beautifully written novel!!

I honestly couldn't control my tears in the last chapter. It was just so beautiful and precious. I regret not reading this novel before as I wasn't a fan of super lengthy chapters and this author is exactly famous for this. Nonetheless I'm glad that I finally got read this amazing novel and participate in the journey of Kaleido reaching to the top! Each member is just so precious. I think Ling Yi will be my favorite aside from Juexia and TingSong. Oh wait!... more>> Can't forget Miao Miao too. Also the s*x scenes were cherry on top hehe. (But you can't read the translation of the smut as you have to buy the novel and show the receipt to the translator for that. I had to read MTL and even though they aren't the best you can probably guess what is exactly going on so yeah!) <<less
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Ritsuka
Ritsuka rated it
March 12, 2022
Status: Completed
At first, I thought I didn't need to write a review because I think the other reviews have perfectly expressed how good this novel is! But I might as well write it for myself, in order to put this amazing reading experience into words and I hope I can convince someone to read it along the way!

The Author, Zhichu is fairly popular in China and after reading her novels, I have no doubts on her abilities.I came here after reading her Lovely Allergen (for which I bawled my eyes away,... more>> a truly beautiful masterpiece no doubt) and Fanservice Paradox didn't let me down.I'm not really a fan of Showbiz novels, because of too much weibo stuff in it and the descriptions of the MC acting, singing smoothly without even involving the reader in it so honestly, I was really scared.I thought this would be like those too, but I am so glad to be wrong! This was such a unique and good reading experience. Totally worth it!

The thing I love about Zhichu is how she writes her characters really well. Whether it be character development or character settings, its all *chef's kiss*. Lets not forget about the character's feelings and thought process. She makes us aware of it all and all of the Characters totally end up being so real and 3D. The character setting and development of Fang Juexia and Pei Tingsong was just amazing, awe inspiring even. This is gonna be long, so buckle up your belts guys!

First, lets talk about Fang Juexia, in the start he came off as a pushover (no offence) because he just wasn't doing anything. Not speaking up for himself, not clarifying any incident and being indifferent while the world roasted him. And then slowly but surely, the reason for his actions and characters were revealed just like layers. And oh boi I am so in love with this boy! He was such a tenacious and stubborn person who lived by his own rules, slowly working towards his goal with determination, like braving a storm no matter what malicious stuff was sent his way. I loved how the author showed us his view on what an idol is, and that is just totally such a fresh look on it that it just took me by surprise.I loved how he had his own way of working towards his dreams.I loved his outlook on romance.I loved how he took certain actions, that made no sense and may even paint him as a pushover a lot of times, but how they were just according to the rules he set, as to not change himself. Heck, Zhichu shaped out his character so perfectly! And then his development? I was bawling my eyes, seeing him change and become more open, having a temper, slowly revealing all of himself, showing more of his different sides, becoming courageous and not caring about other people. It was so good that I can't put it into words! (I'm not explaining more because I don't want to spoil you guys, but its even more amazing than what I am saying!)

Pei Tingsong came off as a rude dude lol but we got to see his point of view real soon and I admire how brave and outspoken he was, never backing down if anyone was slandering him baselessly online, he would always fight back and slap their faces with evidence and skills! More than his character settings, his character development is just literally off the charts! We see how his prejudiced self learns of the world, he learns how people can have different ways and means but still have the same dream as him! He came to appreciate different point of views and opinions than him. From a reckless rude young guy, he became a considerate, gentle mature guy who would show his cute childish side sometimes too! This character development was just WOW! If I love Fang Juexia's character setting, then I totally adore Pei Tingsong's development! It was so amazing to see him change his thinking slowly, willing to communicate more, admitting his wrong, falling in love, learning to be gentle and considerate and learning to take care of others!I think he has literally one of the best character developments I have seen in novels/anime.

And ofcourse, you can expect the romance to be a masterpiece with such well developed characters! They both literally couldn't stand each other in the start. Fang Juexia didn't want anything to do with PTS while PTS was prejudiced against FJX. But a fanservice opportunity, allowed them to interact more and gave them the chance to interact with each other! They started to see each other's good points. Started sharing their opinions and view of things, communicating about things and clearing off misunderstandings! It was a treat to see PTS' prejudice slowly clearing away and him appreciating FJX way of living.I loved how they talked about a lot of stuff till they started to get along really well. And oof PTS' gentleness had me squealing! I loved how he didn't back out when he realised his heart and took the initiative to chase FJX! And when they got together? I was just melting into a puddle of goo!

Now coming to the plot, it was more romance based, so I don't think you have to worry on the romance aspect. Even the show-biz part of the plot was super exciting! Because unlike other novels, this decided to showcase the struggle of our boys! How they handled difficult situations to the whole picturing of the photoshoot and album making.I loved how the author showcased the cute supporting weibo comments rather than the negative ones! It was such a rollercoaster ride to see the Obscure K stepping into popularity! This was unlike any entertainment industry danmei and it was a treat to read!The author even wrote such amazing lyrics of their songs! (The lyrics of Night trip was so beautiful!!) Plus she depicted the dance moves in their dance performances really well that we could picture the whole thing! She worked really hard for us!

Zhichu writes words heavy novels, so if you are not up for it, then its not for you.I've seen people complaining about the explanation of the main leads words and actions written by the author but in my point of view, I think they were totally necessary to make the characters feel real! So we could have a total grip on the thought process and feelings of the leads and enjoy the story much more! This added so much depth to the characters and her writing! Plus her writing is just really beautiful! I loved her use of different beautiful words, prose and imagery. Plus the character quotes and the topics which were discussed in this were just so perfect! From idols, ways of working towards your dream, romance, conforming to the world and regrets.I love how perfectly these topics were discussed and what views our leads had on them. Its not wrong to say that I even learned a lot from this novel, no kidding.
Spoiler

Fang Juexia saying that idols were people who showcased dreams and show the world that yes dreams can be achieved and that he wanted to be a famous idol to prove that was just wow. It took my heart away! And I love how PTS came to take pride in being an idol after slowly understanding his point of view.

[collapse]

The dialogues and quotes were even more amazing. Let me quote one here:

"Whenever I feel regret over something simply take this memory out and think about it."

"In fact, we are all a collection of
experiences. One by one, things happen in a sequence, all of which shapes us into the people we are now. If any of these links were changed, I may not be who I am now."

Beautiful, isn't it? In fact this book is filled with such amazing lines and I quoted just one of them! And its even amazing that the author properly studied up philosophy and math theorems in order to write these amazing lines by PTS and FJX so she wouldn't break any character!

What makes a novel even more amazing than it is, is well developed side characters! I've only seen a handful of novels developing the side characters and I'm glad this is one of them. We got to see the development of Kaleido as a whole! The other four bandmates:Jiang Miao, He Ziyan, Lu Yuan and Ling Yi weren't just there to fill up the numbers. They had their own stories, their own goals and dreams. These rather unfortunate people came together to form Kaleido and wow I totally adore their bonds! They were so wholesome and sincere! Hilarious and totally not idol like xDD I think there fans were right they were fake gay cross talk group! I totally enjoyed this novel, because of their interactions! Do idols like this really really exist? If so, I'mma go follow them because I'm just SOLD! Hahaha these guys were even shipping their bandmates in secret, secretly chomping on fluff and dogfood while betting on their love life xD Their reactions to everything, their cross talks/banter and their games! I'm just so in love with them! Plus their reactions when PTS and FJX came out to them were priceless. And ofc what I love the most was the loyalty, sincerity and determination they showed whenever any of them faced a problem, they were always supportive! Ling Yi was such a cutie! And I always love Lu Yuan and He Ziyan's clownish reactions xDD Miao Ge was so caring!!! (I still ship waterfire!!)

I personally enjoyed this a lot! I'm a big fan of beautiful writing and this novel was super beautifully written! The climax was great with the extras giving us some extra fluff and showing us future events! Honestly, I'm a person who enjoys both plot based and romance based novels but I'm still a bit inclined towards plot based so I did get a bit tired and took breaks reading it because yes its really long and wordy but nonetheless I still love it! And think that it needs more recognition! I 10/10 recommended it to you all. Worth all the time spent reading it!

P.S:Shout-out to the translator Juurensha and The editor Noks for bringing us this beautiful story. You guys did marvellous work!Without you, I wouldn't have been able to enjoy this masterpiece! <<less
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asami78
asami78 rated it
January 16, 2022
Status: Completed
Reading this story, I felt as if someone was constantly hugging and reassuring me, telling me throughout the chapters :

See,

Injury and pain are regretful, but life couldn't be polished without struggles, breakthroughs, stubborness and pain.

I hope you can be happy forever, that you can be carefree after every decision you make.

But only when you let go of the past can you face that kind of futur.

So don't block your way. You can't ever be sure who you will fall in love with.

This story is hidden gem, love it.
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Ninjagal
Ninjagal rated it
December 6, 2021
Status: Completed
A must read.

I am left in awe.

This pulled so many emotions for me. The author is brilliant and great. I love the growth of both MC and ML. Plus the bits and pieces of the other characters in the story were really great.

The way they gradually overcame their initial perceptions of each other and grew fond the more they found out about the other person made the whole journey worth it.

Smut is also good. Buying the raws to unlock them is an extra step I'm willing to make.
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pHantomRJ
pHantomRJ rated it
August 26, 2021
Status: c23
Just one senttence "amazing work-" I love the author's writing style and I am impressed with the writer's philosophical depth, had done good research on it, ma~

I love Socrates, Plato & his pupil Aristotle.

if you ask me, how was it? I am a miser with words so I will only say, I'm a picky reader the story that catches my interest is 5/100 of my reading list. To me, it has something that kept me going on and there is the depth of this plot that I would like to... more>> see. The finale!

Character development is so stable, it does not happen like the tap of a finger, it happens naturally & vividly and you will be able to imagine it in your mind. Well, that was the case with me. Love the Kelaido Band each one of them actually.

What I like about this story more is even if it's an (entertainment circle) it was not too exaggerated. It felt good.

Lastly, Kudos ~ translator-samas~~~~ Thank You so much, <<less
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RoseAngel16
RoseAngel16 rated it
May 24, 2021
Status: c60
This is the first time I leave a review on a story but this one is worth it. I let out all my thoughts in my 10/10 recc list that I have so I'm just going to paste what I wrote on there here. It might be spoiler-territory on some parts~ |

So so good! This author is so freaking smart and her style of writing is very unique and intelligent. I love a healthy couple with great dynamics and emotional maturity despite the scars each of them has. It's a... more>> story that focuses on growth between two very different but compatible people. The main couple aren't afraid to not agree and stick to their own views on life but also learn and absorb the ideas the other person has. Ultimately it's just like the author describes we need different methods to approach a problem. This is a story that shows us that through this couple especially in regards to things such as dreams and love. There so many great quotes and ideas in this story that touched my heart.

My favorite quote has to be from FJX, "Dreams are the sort of things that can't be divided into high or low, but only realized or unrealized". One of my favorite scenes is the interview they have for their first photoshoot it really explores their different approaches and similarities you feel like your learning and attending a debate of ideas, it was so fun to read.

Everyone in this story has not just a high IQ but also EQ which is rare in any novel. I was hooked right from the first chapter. Also the chemistry between our main couple is just *chefs kiss*. I'm so glad I found it and it didn't slip my radar for too long. It's at 60 chapters right now and I can't wait for more, its already added to my fave 10/10 novels on this site list <<less
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Everglyn
Everglyn rated it
March 15, 2021
Status: Completed
This is on the list of my top favorite novels. Please don't look at the description- it's so much more then that!! First I'd like to say thanku to the people who wrote such good detailed reviews- they describe my thoughts so well!!! Overall this is fluffy, serious, and adorable. There were so many moments where I was screaming internally! I simply could not put it down! This is a story about someone who never gave up and kept on moving forward regardless of people telling them it's impossible. I... more>> look up to the MC and hope that one day I can be even a fraction as hard working and overall absolutely amazing as he is. <<less
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redeyereprisal
redeyereprisal rated it
May 8, 2022
Status: Completed
Fanservice Paradox is a beautiful novel. If you want fast romance, an easy read, or prefer BL with lots of genre tropes (face-slapping, characters with set/specific archetypes, high-stakes drama, etc.) this is not the story for you; don't come in expecting any of that. It took me two months to finish Fanservice Paradox, despite the fact that I can usually demolish a BL novel of similar length in around three days. It is dense. It is still worth every second spent reading, and in many ways, I think having the... more>> time to savor its details makes it even more enjoyable.

The MC and ML are probably the two most "real" feeling characters I've ever encountered in a modern-setting BL. They have flaws, contradictory personality traits, tics, and they grow. Seeing the closed-off, cold-mannered MC blossom into a compassionate and caring person with almost childlike love for the world is incredible. It's the same watching the rough-edged, inexperienced ML come into himself as a philosophical and tender-hearted man prone to introspection and romance. It helps that the translation is stellar.

If you like character development and slow-burn, can't recommend this highly enough. Easily a 5 star novel. <<less
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auraizen
auraizen
February 16, 2022
Status: c30
Not bad so far

A bit difficult to read — I kinda had to force myself to read through some parts because they were dull. There's so many better entertainment industry novels so reading this one felt like a chore at times

The chapters got locked though so I can't keep reading lmao

And the discord which apparently has the passwords has been closed for over several weeks too so I've lost hope of ever finishing this rip
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yiboyibo
yiboyibo rated it
February 7, 2022
Status: Completed
I feel like my words cannot bring this novel justice so I just beg you to read this.

The main couple is so intelligent and they are so self-aware. I found myself moved to tears a lot throughout reading. I would like to praise the author (and the translators for doing such a great job).

I cannot recommend this novel enough.
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FrostyDragon
FrostyDragon rated it
January 8, 2022
Status: c105
4.5 stars - slow pace because it's slice of life, but the quality of the writing and the characterization are top notch!

Must admit that I'm a bit stuck on the last handful of chapters, because there's less at stake after the CP got together. Still, this is a very well-written story. It's rare to come across romance stories where the author takes time to properly develop the relationship of the couple step by step to make their falling in love gradual and completely logical. There's none of that 'love at... more>> first sight' or randomly falling for the other person just because he's hot.

The couple (it's multiple POV so not really MC and ML) are band mates in a boyband, but at first they're at odds because their personalities clash. Juexia is a bit introvert and standoffish so he seems cold, while Tingsong is a rich brat with an attitude. Both have baggage despite their young age, and as they're pushed into promoting a fake celebrity CP to enhance their popularity, their gradually grow closer, open up to each other and slowly fall in love.

It's a slow burn, and the story isn't the most exciting, since it's slice of life. But when the two characters fall in love, it's makes complete sense and the romance is developed in a way that is very believable. It's a very sweet and healthy relationship, where they support each other and help the each other overcome adversity and past traumas.

The focus of the story is the entertainment industry, and while people in the story are probably a little too kind and righteous compared to real life, the author still shows the ugly side of the industry and of celebrity and fan culture. We get everything from obsessed fans to s*xual exploitation and an industry boss who abuses his power. We get to see how quickly the smallest misstep by an idol can lead to online hate and harassment. The author seems to have done a lot of research on the various topics.

The band members are sweet and funny and basically the best friends/brothers you could wish for, even if they're in the background most of the time.

The chemistry between the leads is evident from early on, and Pei Tingsong is a contender for the prize 'best boyfriend ever'.

There's smut scenes (you have to buy the raws to get access to the translated versions or you can MTL, but please buy to support the author) that are very well-written - hot and sweet/poetic at the same time.

Some parts were a bit boring to me, like the Escape Room and all the philosophy and math stuff, but I salute the author for having obviously done her research, and using these elements to show how the CP work as a team and make an effort to understand each other.

Good for a slow read, worth the effort. <<less
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nitan
nitan rated it
December 31, 2021
Status: Completed
It's a great story! Highly recommend everyone try it out -- I'm the type to enjoy learning new things, so getting to hear about different philosophies and the type of literary romanticism the character builds their relationship around is quite satisfying. 5* because of this, I really like the element of learning and growing based on theories and concepts, elements of real world stuff is really good!

At first I was amused and unsure if I'll keep reading because the author is very protective of the characters. I thought it was... more>> kind of adorable and hilarious? But it also made me nervous that there's alot of forewords regarding the character, as if making up for some insecurities or inadequate story-telling/writing. I'm glad I didn't drop it -- I actually think the characters are quite strong.

They are flawed but not in a way that comes from bad characterization or weak writing. They're well thought-out, intentional and the deliberate decision of the narrator being FJX is really really interesting. I can see how the narrative would be different if it was set to a third person, or even if we just become a little more omnipresent to see the netizen comments abit more. The choice to really cling onto FJX's back and follow his thoughts/feelings really made the whole romanticism part of the story more vivid. I'm really glad with the direction the author went with, and all the creative construction that went behind it is really good. I'm really satisfied!

The novel itself is fluffy all the way through. I think taking a break once in a while when you read is good, because taking the time to digest you can imagine what it's like outside the perspective of FJX. To me, besides the narrative being followed -- I can also see that if I were to pick any member of the boyband to follow their perspective of this CP -- it would be tooth-decaying fluff all the way. Even if I pick the ML to follow, I'm sure it wouldn't be as slow as what we've followed. It's only because FJX's character is written like that that he keeps his cool and is insanely sober all the time. And then when he's Not Sober, the state of narration becomes a little drunk, a little slowed down and slow-motion, excruciatingly detailed and over-thought for no particular reason. Again, I attribute it to the character.

That said, I really really like how the characters in the stories aren't just excitable, dramatic or simply in-your-face about who they are. The characters tells their own stories, they run the story. A good story is simply well-constructed characters who can weave the stories themselves. And they do it well -- Slowly, thoroughly. Each element of who they are gets explored and tasted carefully, the progression is quite slow - but this story is a really good example of characters that aren't just one-dimensional or forgettable.

They're characters who've probably had pages of character sheets behind them. And I do think they can be quite cringe -- especially 20 something years old talking about philosophy and mathematic as if they know what they're doing. Some parts are thoughtful, but some parts are idealistic and very chuuni of them, and I'm not gonna deny that it has it's appeal of being adorable in an immature way. My fault tolerance for how drawn-out the writing style is, how the characters are a little cringe, a little chuuni, how the lyrics are a little embarrassing -- I love it all. I think these are small stuff, I'd look at my little siblings who act very chuuni the same way.

What's more important is that I love when I can answer who each of these characters are without feeling distressed or disappointed that they lack personality. I love that I don't have to feel like I can only describe them with surface level stuff, but can actually talk about them because they have dimensions to them that is actually expressed in the story, not just told and move on. It's demonstrated carefully and with concrete evidence, proof of action along with the words/thoughts they carry with them. It's manifestation of their idealism, and I love that it's not cheap or weakly touched on before everybody in the story is just hyping them up. I like that they're confined by their characters, and have to navigate through their own lens.

Oh, and unrelated to the story itself, but I think the translator's (who did such a good job with this!) choice to put the sexy scenes behind a receipt-collecting wall is really a good idea. It's realistic and commendable, a practical solution to handling second-hand resources. I know there's been debates about redistribution of danmei and how it should be handled because these are essentially paid goods. While most people would buy the novel if they really enjoy the translation, I think the appeal of the s*x scenes itself is high enough and attractive enough that people will see why supporting the author is important. It's a great strategy, I really like how effective this solution is because it appeals to the target audience which is different from first-hand readers who can read mandarin themselves. Second-hand readers would usually be more disconnected from the source material, but drawing them in through s*x appeal is really effective. I think this is good marketing, and I hope more people find solutions that can help expand the market. This is the best and most practical solution I've seen so far, and I think it's really great.

My favourite chapters are 108 and 109... these two really sealed the deal for me to add this novel to my absolute favourite. If you've read through the entire story, I think the climax and resolution here is really satisfying. It has a warm feeling to it, and what's most important to me is how meaningful it is to the narrative, and being true and rewarding to the characters. I'm very very satisfied. <<less
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secondthots
secondthots rated it
December 12, 2021
Status: c110
I don’t want an ending, I want right now.”—c64

AH Zhichu, you notorious thing you! This novel is probably my danmei pick for December & I’m happy to close off the year with this story. This is my late night rambling because I have a bad habit of finishing novels well into the night. It’s almost 2am but before I rest, I need to release out my two-cents before I retire.

In simple words, this novel is a clear standout from its respective subgenre. The entertainment industry as a backdrop can either... more>> mean two things: drama or drama. It’s a pretty abysmal setting, but one of my guilty pleasures. So while I was expecting fluffy dog food & entertainment drama, I was rendered speechless when I fell for the idol group. For one, they were fictional. But the characters were fleshed out & developed to the point where I was able to empathize & love them. It’s not just about the main CP, but about Kaleido as a whole journeying up the ladder of success whilst battling injustice, stalker fans, & prejudice. It’s a really good story even without the romance, but we all know we came for that (y’all know there’s smut already so don’t deny). Same author as Lovely Allergen, so I was well aware of her capabilities >:)

Pei Tingsong- never in my life would I imagine myself mentally noting down a philosophy-major, poetry addict, rapping genius onto my list of ideal male leads. Darn you Zhichu for solidifying the fact that my standards for men have again reached heaven’s peak. This quibbling master has wormed his way into my heart with his unsurpassable quips, romantic ad-libs, swoon-worthy black knight approaches. Props to the author for being such a genius with words because WOW I was blown away.

As always, I love the polarity between the two main leads. Opposites attract is probably one of my favorite dynamics in couples. One is a Pythagorean Theorem enthusiast, the other quotes Aristotle and recites poems. It’s very refreshing to see pretty quirky main characters for once; they definitely do stand out from your typical cold shou & fiery gong. They have weaknesses & strengths, dreams & aspirations- they’re incredibly human. The romance also started off as an ENEMIES TO LOVERS route, I think that’s clickbait enough. We all know that’s one of the best ways to kickstart a romance.

TL;DR Passionate romance, inspiring idol group, idealistic but moving plot. TL’d by the same queen who translated PUBG (one of my all-time faves). The smut is locked, therefore y’all gotta purchase before feasting. Some beg to differ, but I really like this incentive of promoting the original novel & supporting the author. It’s not a ludicrous price anyways, so I consider it money well spent. <<less
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ImaginativeN
ImaginativeN rated it
July 9, 2021
Status: Completed
I've read this a year ago but I come back to their intimacy whenever I wanted because not a lot of novels give you healthy reationships. Some so abusive, I wanna cleanse my eye and imaginative brain..... this novel does the job.

Fang JueXia and Pei TingSong's interactions felt like two souls merging and blooming together. Their thoughts, emotions, and actions are grasp in such a good way that makes their scenes colored and made me feel flustered at how good their actions flow into.

The plot was well written, the characters... more>> (main and side) are 3d to me (they have stories and backgrouds to tell which made up the whole story detailed in a way), and their scenes are written in the way that makes me imagine it vividly (some words are filled with knowledge because one character likes reading philosopy and the other likes math even though both of them are idols).

The performance looks like something I can watch in a boygroup video, the photoshoot I can somehow see the picture depicted, and the gameshow (mystery type so it is a game of hiding and capturing the killer) felt so exciting but their actions and words made me feel like yeah.... if you do not feel the love your not human.

Spoiler

The hidden kisses are heart pounding and will leave them yearning for more. The touches and hugs contrast greatly the darkness they performed it in.

And the sex- no it should be called love making scenes.... I looks so hot and fitting for their growing intimacy. I love the fact that the both of them enjoyed their time and worked hard to pleasure one another.

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This is one of the couples in stories that I will remember by name. The idols---- Math geek Fang JueXia of winter and eloquent rapper Pei TingSong of spring~ <<less
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