finally got together at this point and there's A LOT of dog food which I would normally enjoy but...

especially after they get together, the PDA normally would make me giggle and smile, but every time I remember their ages, I feel really grossed out

Otherwise, by anggr291's definition, I'd say that anyone who owns a dog or likes dogs is a gross, egoistical narcissist, which is just not true.

I'm paraphrasing the boyfriend's insecurities, but I've also included the original MTL.

The boyfriend wants ML to provide him with the best everything, but doesn't want ML to interfere or control (I'm interpreting this as advise, like "this isn't a good role" or "don't go to this party, that director's not a good person"). The boyfriend lets his insecurities hold him back. He wants to stand next to ML, at the same level, because he feels insecure and wants to defend his fragile dignity. Meanwhile, ML never meant to insult his boyfriend (Lin Leyang) and always treated him as an equal on the same footing. It's LL who's perceiving everything as a slight to his dignity.

You have admitted a lot of mistakes recently. Can't you answer my question? Then I tell you what you want. You want me to provide you with the best everything, yet Don't want me to control you and interfere with you. You are enjoying my efforts, but you can't move forward. You want to stand at the same height as me not to consolidate our feelings, but to maintain your ridiculous dignity. Lin Leyang, I never meant to insult you, I always put you on an equal footing, you are underestimating yourself. Dignity is indeed important, but it is too much about self-esteem, is it not a manifestation of inferiority?

For example, I think his father's family think his mom was involved in the death of the previous wife, but it later turns out to have been a misunderstanding because it was someone else. Also, the dad feels really guilty b/c MC once ended up kidnapped. The mom doesn't get together with the dad, but the grievances are laid to rest and they've more or less at peace. Not reconciled, but willing to let things remain in the past.

The MC also is really nice. Not pushover-nice, but nice. If I had to give a reference, think the MC in Very Happy (a very good feel-good story I would recommend everyone to check out). He helps ML's boyfriend (Lin Leyang) when LL ends up catching the eye of a really sleazy guy at a party LL attends in an effort to gain something through his own actions, only for LL to insult him. ML drives over because someone else called him, and says that spiel I pasted above. ^

Towards the end, the mom actually disagrees vehemently with their relationship, which I think was an interesting addition. One, it showed that the mom wasn't perfect, which I think is important. For another, it was really cool how the two resolved it--MC and ML work together to get MC and mom casted for a movie, which ML also is in (but that's a bit of a surprise). ML spent a lot of effort on the script, and the ending for the movie is quite Romeo-and-Juliet-esque, but with fire and less poison. ML's character dies (due to misunderstandings) and MC chooses to die with him. Mom is very caught up in the acting, realizes how it parallels life, and might end up with psychological trauma because ML wrote the script and drama too well. Whoops? Either way, it's pretty entertaining.

(Except pretending to be gay. He did it because he liked ML and was grateful to him but at the end it was lying and deceiving someone and overall a despicable thing to do.)

The lead actress in 'Apostle' (forgot her name) asks if the bruise on her face looks okay (i think). The villain replies with it looks better than last time. The MC replies it looks bad. Someone thinks the MC isn't good at interpersonal relations because beauty and face is very important to girls and they should always be flattered in this regard. However it turns out she actually wanted the bruise to look bad so she compliments MC for being honest and indirectly mocks the ML's boyfriend for being flattering and two faced. The whole problem with this is even ignoring the fact that a stranger would've said it out of courtesy (that it looked better), the actress herself has risen to her postion through her blood and sweat with same circumstances as ML's boyfriend. In an earlier scene, It was even shown that she went to MC to flatter him because he was a big shot and she HAD to treat him with respect because the waters of entertainment circle are very muddy. So this just made me cringe that since she had so much in common with the 'villain', she should've sympathised with him more because she had to do the same in her newcomer days but no the MC's halo is too strong so he is doted on for something that if the villain did everyone would berate and criticise him.

Rather than be lovers, they should be rivals. Xiao Shu works and acting seems to be too dependent on whether the ML is acting with him or not. From first film, to the end, all of them reeks ML "might" & "influence", which somewhat diminish Xiao Shu so called talents.

And the fact that Xiao Shu survive 10 years alone in the US while already having his Master degree in business at 20 which means he should has some mad skill in business or decision making in general somehow slowly forgotten. And the fact that for 20 years he always live under everyone dictation and finally find his passion in the from of acting, but at the end it's just somewhat just a tool to connect him to the ML got me screaming. I got so frustrated with the overly sweet PDA too, and the fact that ML has the power to read all of the people mind including Xiao Shu, combined with ML all controlling tendency, put their should be equal relationship to be a hierarchical relationship, with the ML holding all the rein while Xiao Shu is just a cute pet.

I'm kinda bored with this stigma that shou shouldn't be stronger or more talented than the gong and at the end all the shou just cute, pretty, must be pampered mary sue.

I love Xiao Shu, I truly do. But I think ML ruined his character. I really think Xiao Shu should just get over him when that ML ex-bf made him believe that ML and him still dating (which is weird, cause with his should be intelligence and his so called 10 years of experience living alone, also his trauma after his bestfriend death, Xiao Shu shouldn't be this naive and trusting to everyone, which happened in more than just one occasion, or at least, his mad perception skill should give him some clues in those situations). And Xiao Shu would be free of the shackle of "love" (i think it's infatuation, it's not love) then meet more sincere people in the industry, and live happily with his brother and mom, as the Movie King, surpassing the ML.

Jiamen has a lot of elitist attitudes toward his current BF even though he's in an advantageous position. I felt like all the things his BF did or thought at the time were all very understandable, especially in light of the fact that he didn't read minds. His BF did have an inferior complex, but you can't really blame him as he didn't have any assistance and didn't grow up with protection from his family. So of course he would be more complicated and have more selfish thoughts. If Jiamin had been more vocal and explained things better to his BF, his BF might be a lot more understanding. The reason our other main lead, Jiashu has such an innocent personality is because of his upbringing. He never had to worry about money. He placed himself into challenging circumstances as dedication to his work, but all of that is temporary. He was never in any true danger; he even had hidden bodyguards, for godsakes, how much danger did he really have? I don't think Jiamin was very sympathetic to his BF's situation and wanted to toss him aside for someone more innocent like Jiashu because he was less complicated. That's his prerogative, because he prefers simple-minded people. But I couldn't detest his BF for his actions... it was all very human the way he reacted. For that very reason, this novel didn't jibe with me. I can commend Jiashu's ethics, but he is only the way he is because he had the backing of his rich and powerful family. He doesn't have to struggle and calculate every step of the way, unlike Jiamin's BF.

But first: 3 cons

1. 1. the author tried too hard to be philosophical. It's hard to explain but you'll know what I mean when you come across it. It's like she tries to be deep... but it doesn't really work out and only comes off as unpleasant stereotyping. Like when MC had to dress as a 'tramp' (as in the text) and he decided to wander the streets and join the homeless. And then it says how he starved for food and water for three days and lived on the streets and was beat up by kids. Then it was all "oh! this signifies his dedication to acting! look how hard he works", as though a 'homeless tramp' was some sort of glorifying caricature and an homage to acting. It was cringe, and blatantly ignorant to read.
   2. There are many times where I was like, author... is it necessary to write so much pointless inner monologuing? I get that that's the point of it all, but nobody just stands in place in front of someone who they're talking to, and think three paragraphs worth of fleshed-out thoughts before speaking.
   3. the ending was a whole f*cking dumpster show. It was completely unnecessary. All the author had to do was tie it up nicely and sweetly (kiss-kiss smile-smile if you will), but she decided to bust out that dog-blood, cringe dialogue+drama last minute.
      Spoiler

      It came out of nowhere with no rhyme or reason; suddenly there was a whole hidden conspiracy and multiple entangled relationships involving the MC's family. A bunch of completely unnecessary emotional drama.

      [collapse]

attacked by aliens... yeah...

to the point where the professionalism they pride themselves on compared to other actors is basically thrown out the window and they're making out and serving dog food while in the middle of shooting a movie. the cast is supportive, but it annoyed me that they were holding everyone up and got away with it due to their wealth and status and talent. other characters could never.

I think anyone who lives away from the family at a very early age and mingles and is exposed to a different culture for ten years would pick up some behaviors and mindset from said culture. So in this regard, I think the author kind of overlooked this aspect or maybe not, but for me, it's like the MC's experience while he was in the US really did not do anything for him except give him a little prestige and the parts where he kind of used the experience he "acquired" during that time did not do this prestigious background justice. I'm guessing it's because the story did not want to focus on the intellectual aspect of the MC and just his innate talent for acting and the love plot. I guess that explains why the MC was painted as such, in a sense he has the intelligence but his childish innocence overpowers that especially when he rediscovers his passion for acting and falls in love with the craft as well as the ML.

the ML here was in a relationship when he met the MC. They started off on the wrong foot until he acquired the ability to hear what the people around him were thinking. The ML was like the ideal boyfriend, willing to protect his lover, and was actually quite devoted. Helping alleviate his lover's situation by helping with his school and so on. And once he had the ability to hear other people's thoughts, he actually made a lot of adjustments for his lover, which (although not explicitly mentioned) I think he had been doing since they started their relationship. He was willing to wait for his bent boyfriend, willing to understand that it wouldn't be easy for his bent boyfriend to truly be affectionate. And for this alone, I'd give the ML full marks. He didn't cheat on his boyfriend, if anything he continuously tried to reassure his bent boyfriend that he was loved. But like any other person, he is human too and will eventually reach a breaking point where everything will be exhausted, especially if you can hear other people's thoughts and feelings, and see that it's completely different from what they show you.

that he can hear people's thoughts, I think it was okay that he did not confess this. That was the advantage that was given to him by fate (aliens) so that he'll experience the love that he deserved. Note that he did not take advantage of the MC or any other character in the story, and he was aware that having such an advantage is unfair and was conflicted, but I'd like to think that he deserved to be selfish and make full use of this ability to pursue his own happiness. If anything, it allowed him to correct his initial indifference to a lot of things and to realize his feelings and give himself the love he deserves.

he was half-hearted. So the author did not deliberately just pile on the bad behaviors and shortcomings just so the ML would break up with him. It was only magnified because the ML started hearing his thoughts. I can understand the resistance he had whenever the ML wanted to be intimate with him (because he originally identified himself as a straight man), and they are in the entertainment industry and subject to public scrutiny, but in my opinion, he was treating the ML unfairly. Yes, he agreed to be in a relationship with a gay person and was willing to kiss and f**k once in a while, but he was never truly committed to the ML. Yes, he loves the ML but his love had a lot of reservations, always cautious, and was rooted in his gratitude towards the ML - there's a difference between wanting to be with someone and being with someone out of gratitude. He became complacent and full of himself actually, thinking that the ML would always give in to his every request to the point that his treatment of the Chen brother and sister outweighed his half-assed love for the ML. Yes, he loved the ML, but his love was half-hearted, complacent, selfish, and insecure, regardless of the countless times that the ML tried to reassure him. Yeah, he's worked harder than the MC, but as with real life, rich people and geniuses (especially when they are both) always have the advantage, especially in an industry where looks, talent, and background outweigh hard work (that's how it is in real life). But I don't hate this side character, if anything, I felt that the author could have given this character better treatment in the story.

But again, the ML deserved someone better than Lin LeYang, especially since they had been together for a long time, I think if you identified yourself as straight initially and then decide to go into a homos*xual relationship, I think by the third year (at least), you should have made up your mind whether you still want to be in a gay relationship or not, by that time you should have either resolved to become gay 100% and commit to your partner or just leave and end it. Because if you continue to have reservations and resist the type of relationship then fck it you are being unfair and insincere, and do not deserve the love that your partner is wholeheartedly giving you.

The ML actually was in a relationship in the beginning of the novel...... good thing that his ex wasn't a green tea b*tch, but just an insecure fellow (inferiority complex).

@Arisana, are you sure that MC was straight? I'm sure that his 1º love was his childhood friend, and just like with the ML, he didn't notice.

That brother is a doting and slight flexible overbearing CEO~