I'm happy because their relationship is healthy and good. I'm a little sad because of the ending, but I think they will be happy because they will still be together.

I thought I wouldn't cry because this is fictional and I'd read something worse.

Turns out, I still cried like a baby. 🤧 This story is tragic, yet also very sweet. The narrative is mostly about their good times together, and the author skipped most of painful moments and parts where they argued (well, it's ten years male-male relationship in China after all, there's no way it's smooth sailing). The cp is loving and understanding. They are very strong in communication. It's already a blessing that they can held each other's... more>> hands for so long,

Spoiler

and that in their last moments, they can still leave this world together without worry and long separation. I hope their accumulated good deeds can make them reincarnate together in their next lifes.

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It's a sad, but happy end to me. 🥺 Probably between 4-4.5 stars. <<less

This is my very first time to be the first reviewer 😁

⚠️WARNING MAJOR SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW⚠️

One of the things I really love about this story is that the ML cries. Frequently at that according to the MC. It's a huge breath of fresh air from all of the "cold and distant" MLs most commonly seen (not like I can complain tho).

I like how the h*mophobia in the MC's father was handled as well. Homosexuality isn't something that older generations can easily accept since they want their children to succeed in ways that they (the parents/older gen) are familiar with.... more>> Especially since the MC and his family comes from the countryside of China. Based off of other novels I've read, countryside China doesn't have satisfactory facilities for children to succeed in education compared to those in cities.

Then there's the ending. Depending on how you interpret it, it could be a BE (bad ending) or a HE (happy ending). For me it's a BE. Their deaths being related to a real world event hit me like a semi truck. You hear and see news of this stuff a lot but you don't worry too much about it since it's not hurting the physical health of those around you/hasn't taken the life of a person close to you and you've taken the necessary precautions. But this story slams over your head with how painful this event has been to those who are/have been affected. It's painful and can happen at anytime, anywhere. <<less

In My Opinion,

A simple, short and sweet story. Vocabulary used is evocative yet basic, and the story flows well, showing the passage of time and the main characters’ relationship smoothly enough, while it is also used to forward the character mindsets and/or personalities of the various side cast.

If one is unfamiliar with various Chinese terminologies and culture, like “7-year itch”, or the emphasis on college for the rural-origin MC, or even what some might see as excessive praise of the great “motherland” of China, it could turn them away... more>> from the story. But this alienation is also what makes this short story so poignant— written simply, weaving in common traditions unique to Chinese culture and their respective meanings, even the rampant patriotism so amusingly prevalent to Chinese literature, it is a plain story that can be read and understood by anyone.

Written from the perspective of the MC, ‘Mister Ran’ (Ran Qing), eponymously referred to as ‘Mister’ by his partner, ‘Mister Tang’ (Tang Boxian), each chapter is relatively long, relying on increasing notations of numbers to denote each individual passage in each chapter. Chapters end and begin usually with a time skip or momentous event, and time skips are often in the range of months to years. Although brief, the author still does a decent job in exploring h*mophobia in a Chinese context, especially that in the ‘traditional’ or ‘conservative’ views from that of parents. Filial piety and the family unit is one of the most venerated aspects of this culture, and some concerns parents/caregivers commonly have about homosexuality are showcased here too.

More than anything, this story is one of growth and quiet acceptance. ‘Records’ is apt a name as any other, as the growth of most characters in general is recorded quite well, especially in response to the MCs’ relationship. Frequent identity struggles, struggles with family and public perception are introduced, but the MCs’ grow through the years to overcome such obstacles, as well as the people around them, who learn to be supportive gradually as their love for their children/friends erode away the prejudices they have, realising the MCs’ happiness is really just that, happiness. It’s a very down-to-earth story, the MC coming from a underprivileged, single parent family, while ‘Mister Tang’ comes from a middle-class, relatively stable and fortunate family background. As the characters grow in their love for each other, this affection is shown also in the MCs’ volunteer work, this compassion towards others bringing them back together and also ultimately being their end. A clever plot point on part of the author, showing how sympathy can bring people together, even if that kindness eventually may lead to their harm, it doesn’t erase the effects of that compassion given to others, and most ultimately themselves, as the MC finally allows himself to confess his feelings as a result of this at some point.

Incorporating common real world experiences also gives that sense of authenticity to the story. The unmentioned disease that crops up in 2019 is almost certainly Covid - 19, among other additions, this one is the most important. Whatever impression one has of the pandemic, it was definitely a intriguing choice on part of the author to involve Covid-19 and consequently write its enormous impact on the fate of the MCs’.

I personally see it as a HE, though it can definitely be interpreted as a BE. If the MCs’ had been a traditional heteros*xual couple, would they have had to go through such separation, suffering and heartbreak? But there are no ‘if’s’, there are only people. They met each other in their best age, and died together at the age they loved each other most. In joy, uncertainty or pain, they held through and stuck together. A more precious vow than any a simple marriage ceremony could give.

Life is short, and people even more fleeting. Give compassion, have sympathy, be kinder, so that even when we die, we die together, and loved.

At least that’s what I got from this story. Translator did a stellar job, linked all the Og works, grammar was great and translation overall fantastic, so big thanks to Translator 先生 for the hard work. Kudos to the author too for the effort. The story was short, but it clearly had thought and heart in it, so much appreciated. And hope this review helped you, reader. <<less

I cried. I really didn't expect to shed real tears. I knew this was gonna be a tragedy but

They had a good relationship. Too young to die. Why do plagues exist.