Author Jing Wu knows how to play with your heart, just when you think it's going smoothly and good. She'll throw in a shock factor that will leave you hanging, frustrated, angry and peeved.

There are a lot of red flags here and there especially in the earlier part, it just depends on where your moral bottom line lie, I guess it goes with most CN novels. It touch up on some social issues about homosexuality, corruption in the academia, gender inequality, child rearing. Self-awareness. Though I don't agree with some,... more>> it's nice to have a glimpse taken from a different perspective.

Both characters are imperfect, which is both a charm and a turn off, it makes it more realistic. And their growth through out the story, especially Lu Zhiqiao is extremely satisfying. The romance factor is a bit long and winding, but you will not be deprived of sweetness here and there.

What I hate about this is how the author stuff two moods (?) two contrasting events that will bring you contrasting emotions in one chapter, I don't mind a cliffhanger but I want to enjoy a happy full chapter, I want to drown in angst or wallow in sadness in another chapter. Because if you pack it in one chapter it kinda cancel both mood and spoil the experience of enjoying the chapter.

It is a good read, it will make you both uncomfortable and frustrated and happy at the same time.

PS. I picked this up because of a news that this is going to be adapted in a Manhua, so if you are a Manhua reader too, watch out for that. <<less

tldr: I would definitely binge read again. One of the good slow burn novels here that I haven’t read/seen in a while!

Loved the story! While people’s tastes do differ from one another- this is a great story nonetheless. Although, it is quite the slow burn type novel, it isn’t necessarily bad because you see how they grow with each other, I never felt frustrated with the scenes or the story because it has been established from the start that the MC would need to be patient/take some time to make... more>> FL like her. Fluff and angst sprinkled here and there also make it more interesting. The slow burn makes it worth it when they end up together because it doesn't feel rushed, forced, or even sudden. Great read! <<less

Unlike the previous comment (ers), I quite like this story (so far). Perhaps my expectations aren't quite as high? Lol Anyway, I appreciate the rather quick updates and the story, although very slow burn, is quite enjoyable to read. There's a lot of push and pull and that's fine by me, because I'm not the "wham, bam, thank-you-ma'am" type person. Lmao I'm only on chapter 54 so I can't say for sure that my opinion will change or stay the same.

Thanks to the writer and of course, the translator of... more>> this story. Much appreciated! <<less

as much as I would love to continue reading this (around chap 40 - 50 ish), I can't stand it anymore. Started off good but then the FL is starting to get on my nerves. I dont know how the MC can keep chasing the FL. FL has mood swings, one second she wants the MC, another second she denies the MC and im over here thinking that that has got to stop. I would be okay with that but this happens repeatedly in ALMOST every chapter. Its annoying.

and dont... more>> even get me started on their s*xual tension the author keeps slapping in, using repeated words such as "her face flush, blood rushes up" etc in almost every chapter like come on. Oh and repeatedly mentioning her bad history but not actually touch up on it (if you're going to mention her history so much, as least add a bit of detail each time but no. Its legit the same shit). I understand that her past may be dark but no need to remind me every other chapter in paragraphs at a time about that. I KNOW. I GET it. Either move on or give me more details about her past urgh lol

after reading up to the chapters I mentioned above, I can say the plot of this novel is not worth drooling over (the plot is basically MC chasing FL, legit. No other actions). FL is not staying true to her character either. I have not gotten to the point where her history is revealed but I can honestly say I dont even care anymore. After 40+ chapters of the same old "her face flush" I think im done. I like novels that resembles roller coasters, not lazy rivers.

im going to go back to sticking with their shared world of "Forbidden To Be Tempted." I wrote a review in that novel that this MC and FL deserves their own novel but now I change my mind lol. If you only want to read one of the novels and wondering which one- "Forbidden To Be Tempted" hands down.

and we always appreciate translated novels so thank you to the translator! <<less

I loved this novel. The characters are so real that even in unreal situations they still pop off the page. The complaints of other reviewers are somewhat justified, but even though it's frustrating, there are deep and legitimate reasons for the characters acting the way they do.

This one is a good read. Characters feel realistic. MC is cute and horrifically related to me. Maybe because I'm also a Teacher in Asia (Used to be). So I understand where she stands and why FL is so worried about their relationship.

... more>>

Spoiler

Later on, MC quit being a teacher. Yeah, Part of the reason is FL and her daughter but other reasons are hitting me so hard. I almost cried just reading it.

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The novel is slow it took like 50 chapters (or more) before anything (really) meaningful started to happen but after that, it was so good. You can feel every character's growth at the end of the novel all characters have changed some may grow more than others some might slightly some even get worse.

the best part about this novel is the fact that all characters feel like real people, we aren't perfect, so fragile, so contradicting, and flawed. Action does not feel like it just happened because it has to happen but happened because of the flaws they have.

Yes, I know there are still a lot of Bullsh*t scenarios. But at least the characters's actions make sense. (At least for me who kind of understands their position.)

BTW the author plays with our emotions very well and almost makes me want to punch her badly. <<less

Closer to 3.5 - this is my second read (I forgot the plot of the story) and I had a better understanding of the characters once I recalled their backgrounds, but I also remember being very annoyed during the first read. There isn't much of a plot here, just their relationship story as they went from one night stand to eventually a couple. The story might be a rough read if you don't like a slow burn with mainly one side doing the chasing and the other seemingly stringing them... more>> along. More review on the characters below, which may include minor unmarked spoilers.

Qi Yan is a largely likeable character, someone we can root for. She's charming, a free spirit, rich with life experiences, has the vibe of your single, rich, and cool aunt/teacher. But she also appears a little bit pushy and can't take no for an answer, almost giving stalkerish vibes, seeming to almost regard her chase a game before Lu Zhiqiao would eventually fall for her.

Whereas Lu Zhiqiao is a harder character to like and understand. She can be rather mean, repressed, appears to be stringing Qi Yan along due to her indecisiveness, a bad (imperfect) mother to her daughter. But she is also protective with her people (basically her daughter and later on, Qi Yan), determined, headstrong and independent.

In short, they both feel very human with their strengths and flaws, and I like them for that.

There are certainly some red flags with both of them but in the second read, I realize that despite Qi Yan seemingly not being able to take the "rejection" from Lu Zhiqiao seriously, Lu Zhiqiao also actually never really strongly enforces her boundaries and firmly pushes Qi Yan away. If she does, I'm sure Qi Yan would try harder to get over her as the author emphasizes a few times that Qi Yan respects consent. The situation is just more nuanced than that.

Lu Zhiqiao has a rather complex personality due to her upbringing and background which contrasts Qi Yan's happy and safe childhood. She appears to be a neglectful and abusive mother and that's really bad, don't get me wrong, but also she barely has any support system around her, relying on mainly herself and her daughter, which is unhealthy. She represses herself too much and only with Qi Yan's persistent chase and coaxing, she slowly comes out of her shell. Again, not an easy character to like but I hope if you give the novel a chance, you'll eventually understand why she does the things she does, even if you (and I) disagree with many of them.

I reread this again because I want to know about Jiang Yu's character, since I believe she's the lead for the next novel in the series but I'm not interested in her character, so I probably won't be checking that out for a while.

Please also note there are moments of child ab*se (physical and verbal) in the novel, instance of su*cide, moments of racism against black people (mainly by the author in their description of people and place background, but not uttered directly by the characters iirc). Pay attention to the TWs shared by the translator and take care while reading! <<less