Yes they do get separated. SIXTEEN YEARS. And they were already a thing during that time. With MC not knowing if ML is still alive... and ML having strength because he promised MC that he will return to him no matter what, no matter where goes, and no matter how long he might be gone. He will always return to him T_T

many points in the novel, you'd see them expressing how they're willing to let the other go if they'd be happier without the other yet they won't stop loving the person. And in crucial times, when they have to do their own responsibilities to save their galaxy, even when they could get separated again and they could even die, they didn't become dramatic with some "stay with me, don't leave me, let's just leave and be happy on our own"... they knew what they had to do. I like to believe they trust in each other that much that they don't have to be around each other 24/7. Really healthy.

I thought MC was a shou because of emotional issues. And while it is true that MC being unable to take care of others is part of the reason, the main reason is that MC could have broken ML with his inexperience. I mean, MC honed himself into a human weapon and if he accidentally lost control or did something s*upid out of his inexperience, pleasure could easily transform into a bloody freaking nightmare. So, to save themselves from trauma during their precious first time, MC decided to handover the pleasure department to Professor Lu who enjoys creating fun experiences out of nothing anyway. It was the most unexpected reason I could've imagined before reading this. OwO

In the beginning, due to a misunderstanding, Lu Bixing thinks Lin Jingheng is in love with him and shamelessly flirts with him. Even though Lin Jingheng doesn't reciprocate, when he finally grasps the idea that maybe Lu Bixing likes him he politely declines and gives him real expectations. Lu Bixing takes it in the most mature way possible and never gets mad at the other for not liking him, and doesn't force LJH.

There is a part in Book 5 where Lin Jingheng and Lu Bixing have to spend a great deal of time far from each other. Even though the loneliness they feel is because of how much they miss each other, watching them grow during this period of time makes your heart melt. You see Lu Bixing spiral into his worst and you can't help him heal, while Lin Jingheng is being literally ab*sed by fate, but they both learn to take care of themselves before meeting each other. Even though they need to work out many things after they finally meet, they become a couple that both can rely on each other in every possible way. The growth in Lu Bixing's character is substantial, and even though there's a lot of trauma involved in the aftermath - creating one of the most beautiful scenes I've ever read of an "argument" between two people trying to make a relationship work - the emotional payoff is HUGE.

When you finally get the big picture about the projects, without the biological enhancements that the Nuwa Project did, the Biochip would not efficiently work. When both the projects walk separate ways, it's almost as if she was showing us that we often focus on one aspect when dealing with these types of fiction.

We see this problem in Sha Po Lang, where the story is all about how power corrupts people, yet after 18 on the throne Chang Geng willingly steps down. In the same fashion, Lu Bixing makes stern and harsh decisions while being the Prime Minister of the 8th Galaxy and holds too much power, yet is able to step back down and not hold onto the position. Even though the power goes up almost every secondary character's head, the main protagonist never struggles with it. I feel that it's not really a big deal, considering that Lu Bixing was exhausted and wanted to retire, but seems like a recurring theme in her works.

I also feel that she relies too much on military prowess and violence to make society work. While I agree it would be probably the fastest route to achieve the goal she was looking for, I sometimes wonder how the 8th Galaxy managed to stabilize in 16 years without the people there feeling extremely oppressed by the government. Now, this is a sociology major job, not mine nor Priest's, and the whole work feels very cohesive in the end so I really don't mind. If you're not picky about your politics, you will also barely notice.

it is a slow burn but not too slow. Lu Bixing (ML) is a shameless flirt right off the bat. The first time Lin Jingheng (MC) saw Bixing he was having a nosebleed due to reading smut to wake up Jingheng from his coma 🤣

There are 7 books and around book 3 (c59-c84) our MC and ML get together. There's plenty of kisses and a couple of fade-out s*x scenes. Plus, it's HE.

Not every time you run away from home meant that you could go back.

- from end of c23

This line really hit me hard 😢

our MC and ML had to deal with (1) a robot-human hybrid megalomaniac, (2) space pirates and space purists, (3) a deadly virus, (4) a painfully long separation but equally powerful reunion, (5) crazy siblings with a god complex, (6) out of control AIs on a rampage. nevertheless, they both make it out in one piece at the end AND save humanity on the side :)

in short it's a mix from Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu (military space opera) + No.6 (dystopia - utopia) + dot hack (AI rampage). the dystopian world later in novel is also a mix between Orwell's 1984 and Huxley's Brave New World. come to think, I should read those before lmao.

Lin Jingheng = Sige = B4 (means fourth brother, as he's the fourth mafia bro)