There Is No Observatory on Xiaotan Mountain

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In Haishi, there’s a common saying: Tan Dashao’s (Young Master Tan’s) arrogance, three parts are the Tan family’s fault, seven parts are Shen Zongnian’s.

Tan Youming had long held the title of the island’s most coveted playboy. TCB magazine once famously wrote, “When Mr. Tan smiles, even a typhoon over the island seems to clear.”

But a dazzling butterfly is impossible to catch.

No one knows that the amount of money Tan Youming has spent on Shen Zongnian is a thousand, ten thousand times more than all the gifts he’s ever given to his female companions, female friends, or blind dates combined.

When a date invited him to dinner, Tan Youming glanced at his watch and said, “Next time. Shen Zongnian’s about to get off work.”

“……”

At an auction, when a date said she wanted a painting, Tan Youming smiled and said, “That one’s no good. My friend likes it.” He added, gentlemanly, “Why don’t you pick another?”

“……”

Shen Zongnian, cast out by his own family, was sent to the Tan household at twelve, where he lived under their protection until he came of age. With iron-willed determination, he clawed his way to the top in just a few short years—stepping over the bones of kin, sparing no one: the parents who abandoned him, the cousin who framed him, the uncles who threatened him, and anyone who took advantage of him when he was down.

But now, he’s decided to release the butterfly that was never his to keep.

Associated Names
One entry per line
The Sea Breeze Knows My Heart
小潭山没有天文台
소탄산에는 천문대가 없다
Related Series
A Letter from Keanu Reeves (Shared Universe)
Recommendations
A Letter from Keanu Reeves (2)
Recommendation Lists
  1. top gongzicp / changpei novels
  2. gem alert!
  3. .tbrs
  4. BLs I'm reading once exams are over~(>.<) PT-2
  5. I believe I will read it someday.

Latest Release

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12/15/25 Zaww’s TLs c63
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fengqing
New fengqing rated it
May 12, 2026
Status: Completed
"So the sun really did have a heartbeat. The sun's heart beat for him."

I am rating it 5/5 because I wish to raise the rating. Realistically, to me, it is a 4/5 read.

I just finished this book and gave my brain absolutely no time to marinate in the feeling of it because I got very upset looking at other negative reviews. This book is good. Very good. Much, MUCH better than other webnovels people over here rate a flawless 5/5. In all honesty, I am convinced it is being given... more>> bad reviews purely because of the bandwagon effect. One, two, three people will rate it low, and everyone else will follow suit in hopes of fitting in and being part of the group. I wish readers would grow mature and discover their ability to critically analyse texts for themselves before taking on longer novels, especially when planning to review them online.

Another thing that maddens me is people rating books they have not finished. What gives you the audacity and elan to scrutinize someone else's work so confidently when you didn't even muster up enough respect to finish their work?

With that being said, I will share my opinion on this novel. First of all, if you are not a fan of dog-blood, slow burn, drama, and angst, then this is sadly not for you. The couple gets together only around 70-80% in the book, but given the nature of their relationship, it does not feel boring or tiring.

I, however, am a die-hard fan of everything I listed above, so this novel felt like a cup of tea finally catered to my preferences after reading a bunch of shallow novels (that readers seem to thoroughly enjoy??). The slow burn is slow and painful, to the point you can feel it in your stomach just reading about it- to me, this means good writing. I usually read novels that include relationships progressing from Strangers to XX to Lovers, so Shen Zongnian and Tan Youming felt like a breath of fresh air. Their co-dependency from the beginning develops such a tender emotion towards them as you go on, and in the end, it feels as if two of your closest kins have finally found happiness. After finishing the book, that emotion stays with you far longer than the feelings evoked by more common tropes.

Other than that, through this entire novel, I never knew what was going to happen next. The author did an amazing job of making the book feel unpredictable, yet somehow still tenderly cliché. I usually struggle with losing interest early on in the books (so I never end up reviewing them, KHM), but in this story, I was never ONCE bored. The angst levels are high, but it is nothing compared to other sad novels I loved; it is bearable. You know it will pass, so you empathize with the character in the given moment, and then anticipate what romantic and hopeful will happen next.

I feel like their relationship was written very realistically. Two people who grew up together and were inseparable to the point of developing severe, clinical separation anxiety are bound to have a story that stretches out in misunderstandings and sadness. Shen Zongnian is my baby, so naturally Tan Youming is too. They are so nicely written, it really makes you feel for them. What I also liked is the time the author set aside in order to create satisfying and unique side characters. It makes you feel a sense of belonging.

When it comes to the business plot, it infuriates me that I am a little ignorant about it. It made me want to sit down and learn more business phrases and regular situations so I could understand the plot better. Still, it was not boring. If anything, I managed to learn a lot from it.

As someone who has read 'A Letter From Keanu Reeves' a bit over six months ago, I think of myself as fully qualified to compare these two works. To me, 'Reply to Keats' is one of the best books I have read. However, I strongly believe that in the long run, 'There is No Observatory on Xiaotan Mountain' will leave a bigger impact. I felt it deeper. I got to relate to and meet the characters better, as well as understand the nature of their personalities and relationship better. I feel like I know Shen Zongnian and Tan Youming personally, whereas in 'Reply to Keats', the two main characters feel more like celebrities or "plain" characters. Even more, when I first started reading 'Reply to Keats', I was tempted to drop it because it felt very boring and unprogressive. Luckily, I did not. I have to disagree with other reviewers saying this book's writing feels stagnant and worse than its prequel's; to me, it is the opposite. The writing is so beautiful and pure, without much sugaring and sh*t eating.

Here are a couple of quotes I highlighted; they are not really spoilers, but I will flag them as such. Please read them if you are discouraged from reading this book because you saw someone say it lacks desire, poetic writing, or deep emotions. I wonder if people read this book with their eyes rolled to the back of their heads.

Spoiler

"He opened his other palm and held it out before Tan Youming's mouth, waiting for him to spit the pit out. The lychee pit was smooth, full, round - still warm from Tan Youming's tongue. In Shen Zongnian's hand, it felt like a syrupy, beating heart."

"Shen Zongnian's whole body still. So the sun really did have a heartbeat. The sun's heart beat for him."

"Tan Youming felt awful. His face was cold, his movements gentle, but he didn't know the thing rotting in Shen Zongnian wasn't the hand - it was his heart."

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Shortk
Shortk rated it
November 3, 2025
Status: c29
Update (ch. 29) : guys I cannot believe what I'm reading. This book.. I feel like the author of this book and the author of the Keanu Reeves Are two different people!!!! It's crazy. This book is so cliche and basic. It is so angsty and it's so dog blood. It's just like unbelievable. It's not justified enough in my opinion to justify this level of angst. It's just mind-boggling especially if you come from reading the original book. I think the only way to enjoy this book now is... more>> to have never read the original book because then you have nothing to compare it against and you just think oh this is a basic angsty edge lord I want him but I can't have him and misunderstandings and like lack of communication because fear or like misunderstandings whatever. The amount of sh*t that has happened within only 25 chapters and the amount of bullsh*t I feel like I've read is unsurmountable. Considering I loved like genuinely loved this author's writing in the original book. I fear this is a basic book. And if you like basic possessiveness drama drama Mama book then you will love this. But as someone who came from the original book with all of the nuances and the literary flair and the detailed like amplification of feelings and detailed description of the setting... Then no hello? I'm like this close to dropping it but I'm still probably just going to give it a two.

What is it with edge Lord Chinese novels and the abyss???!?! Can we stop referencing that novel like it's meaningful because every Chinese novel references the abyss okay. It's not deep anymore!!

I'm actually flabbergasted. This book is so bad (It's just basic but it's bad because the author's writing potential is completely different than this if this is the same author that wrote the letter to Keanu Reeves because it doesn't feel like the same author but that's my expectation and that's your fault for having good writing skills that you're not using or.... you're a fake?!? I don't know LOL). Okay when you have one dramatic event after another that feels like it just randomly happened in a way because.. Even though you know they set it up But the setup is not detailed enough or makes sense enough or built up enough because.... You feel like it's been set up to just progress their relationship because their relationship is so dramatic and so angsty that it needs very dramatic events in order to progress it or the author cannot think of anything else or do it in a way that's softer or more intelligent. That's kind of the feeling I get. I literally cannot emotionally feel anything for them because it's just too dramatic. And it feels too dramatic for no reason other than to push them to be together. I might actually drop this

----

I'm really happy that someone picked it up and that the author started on their story... Because I really liked this particular couple who we weren't quite sure was a couple in the original story which was the Keanu reeves book But they were always still like interesting and had that like mysterious like attraction and reason for being connected. I really liked how they were portrayed in that book. So I'm not going to lie as I'm reading it now in the beginning at least.. I feel like they are different.

Actually I feel like the author is writing is completely different. I loved about this author's writing was the literary style that they wrote with where the nuances between the lines were what mattered the most. And like the feelings you felt between the lines were the most poignant. I feel like the author had a lot of requests to write this couple's story because potentially of the success of their original book from the Keanu reeves. And this is just pure speculation but I just don't understand why the writing is so different. It's just not literary style. Someone for the keanu reeves book gave a bad review saying that the story was angsty... Which I obviously disagree with because I've read a real angsty book before and it's really dependent on how forced events around them and how out of character the characters feel.

And I think this book is angsty. Just for the beginning that is. I have not read the whole thing obviously. But right now they just feel like totally different characters but it's also possible that we never knew how they acted at their most intimate moments so it's possible that of course the glimpse that we saw them in the previous book may not have been fully done but that glimpse we saw in the previous book original book was what attracted me to them. So I feel like we should not stray so much from that character setting.. which I'm not saying that the author did here but I do feel like they are different. They are something something they are different. The author's writing style is much more blunt and not really like literary in the sense that I feel like The author is just a lot of exposition... It's not really subtle. It's just kind of basic. Which I was not expecting from this author is all I'm saying.
Spoiler

I actually expected Tan to chase Shen but Shen didn't need to be chased but there wasn't so much emotional turmoil (angst lol) For him to want to be with Tan. This isn't so much a spoiler as my like expectation from the couple from the original book. So I just didn't expect kind of stereotypical archetypes to be pushed onto these characters. Yes I know that Shen is supposed to be really cutthroat and that was the implication although he never was up to par in my opinion to the male lead of the original book of Keanu Reeves. Because that guy's like the Pinnacle or something so shen was just implied to be cold and scary in the business world but we never saw that. But like the aura was there you know I liked it. Obviously he was really like willing to go anywhere Tan was but also just like came back but also like Do whatever he asked. And was like chill.

Obviously now that we know that emotionally he had these a lot of ups and downs and that's fine but I don't know because then Tan yes I know he was also a really good businessman but he's also a really good socialite. And I feel like the social activities were a lot more focused or written in detail in the original book but this time despite Tan being a known socialite and having been to many social events in the original book, the social events here are basically glossed over with barely any detail and I'm not asking for that level of detail but I'm asking for events and scenes to play out where we can feel immersed and we can feel like okay so this happened and therefore this relationship is working this way and these others characters exist. But that's why I'm saying that the writing feels different but I'm also just reading like the first several chapters right. Because it just feels like every other character besides the main characters are like secondary characters whereas the original book didn't feel like that. The original book felt like every single character was a fleshed out character and there was a very literary style that was being written in. I'm telling you I think this is... Fan service?

I understand why the social events were being glossed over but at the same time I don't understand because I feel like the author used to be able to find meaning anywhere and in any event that they wrote.... So I know that for this particular archetype and dynamic between the two of them... Which is really angsty.. really requires more dramatic events than normal social events so but even those dramatic events do not feel compelling. They just feel like they have to happen in order for the male lead progress from his restriction on himself obviously. Yeah it's just interesting the way that the author decided to go about these two when I didn't feel like they would be like this, which is probably my bad I guess for maybe not expecting this.

I think that Tan has been written into kind of a stereotypical like charming boy of course he has a serious side but a charming boy who is like very very spoiled and like like clingy which we did not see I feel like in the original book which is fine. I mean we didn't see their intimate life and so that could have been hidden from us. That's possible. I just think like they had a very particular dynamic that was really intriguing and I felt also not stereotypical that that is why a lot of readers like them in the original book. So I feel like we're losing that flavor when they are being boxed into somewhat very similar archetypes of like provider and someone (Shen) who who is like really possessive and like has a dark past and like wants to be with Tan by can't because he loves him and his found family too much / social rules with the other guy (Tan) being like charming effusive and good with every body and also but so spoiled and will love to order the other guy around and be spoiled by him and cling to him. I mean I know he was like definitely you know ordering Shen around in the original book but it was like a different flavor I don't know how to describe it to you. But it was a different enough flavor for it to be new and interesting to me... questioning like how does their relationship really work? But here it's written out in a way that oh it works in a very stereotypical way that I've seen play out in many other types of books this kind of dynamic. So it's a bit disappointing. But it's okay I guess. Lol I guess it's my fault for having expectations. I guess sometimes you shouldn't do fan service lol if you're an author And you don't have a fully fleshed out idea or full story you want to tell in my opinion but like I said I have not read the whole thing and the author is still writing it it's still being written as we speak right now in terms of my review. And yeah I've only read a dozen chapters so far as I have written this. But I just felt like yeah I just wanted to share my thoughts.

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I feel like this book was written for the fans and therefore the author did not have a complete idea about this other than trying to figure something out. And therefore everything kind of took a hit in quality in my opinion. Or it's just that that the letter to Keanu Reeves book is just the best that they've written so far. That could be the case. Anyways just slightly disappointed but I mean it's still good ? it's just different. Just different.

I feel like the world doesn't even feel that fleshed out like it was in the original book.. I feel like this is definitely a companion book. If you read the original book, you can enjoy this book but I feel like if you really want to see high quality writing then you should read the original book. Like because it's so well written you understand the reasons why things are happening whereas you know why things are happening in this book because you know the setting already because it was described in the original book lol. The aura from the original book is assumed in this book but it's not actually carried over in terms of writing LOL in my opinion <<less
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OrangeKoi37
OrangeKoi37 rated it
January 29, 2026
Status: Completed
3.8 stars (spoilers ahead)

What to do I loved these characters so much from 'A Letter from Keanu Reeves', I wanted them to have a happy ending so bad. And that's exactly what they got.

The journey to get there however was not as smooth, but still not as much angst filled as I had imagined. Which is good.

... more>> There has been a downgrade in the overall quality, in comparison to 'A Letter from Keanu Reeves', like many have pointed out, the writing style seems completely different.

One of the main points of contention was the pace of the novel which felt to be dragging quite a bit. The misunderstanding trope is in full play.

In my opinion, the novel could have been shorter. They had too much build up already, by the time we reach the mid part of the novel, we just want them to get together already.

I might just set fire to the Eagles club, the cause of 90 percent of all misunderstandings in this author's world. Seriously.

And another point is that the events to push their relationship is way too dramatic. We are taken to such a high point of angst and drama that we are waiting for the dramatic fall, the rush the exhilaration and passion. Which unfortunately never came, we are teleported to the ground and that's it.

They are childhood sweethearts who have loved each other with their very being. One knowingly and the other unknowingly. But both raw and honest. What they have is pure and unadulterated.

I feel that the novel failed to capture the full essence of that. Too much business jargon also effected the immersion, losing the flow of the story. The random interspersed flashbacks also got annoying after a while.

The premise and the build up could have been utilized much more beautifully, it was a great opportunity.

Their feeling after the big reveal fell flat. Even the friends' reactions felt off. They have been a point of controversy for so long, are they romantically involved or not? That SZN was hopelessly in love with TYM, that TYM the so called straight playboy was actually innocent and reciprocated SZN's feelings. For people who have known them for so long, have been through highs and lows with them, shouldn't they have a few more lines to say?

If not anyone else, what about Zhao Shengge? Isn't he supposed to be a confidant for SZN? Haven't they been discussing their relationships all along? Shouldn't there be a scene where they discuss everything that has happened? Zhou Zhixuan has always felt complex about their almost romantic but not relationship. Now that it's confirmed, shouldn't he say a few more words? He's close to TYM, treated him sincerely and is a chatterbox by nature. Shouldn't they have a moment?

And the buildup to only be amnesia kind of felt unbelievable. And to be stranded so close by for a year with no detection? It doesn't feel like SZN. Their meet up didn't feel like SZN meeting TYM after a whole year.

TYM is his baby. His lifeblood. Leaving him alone to suffer without knowing SZN's life or death, left to shoulder all responsibilities alone, their reunion fell really flat for all they have endured.

Playing the health card, if TYM has separation anxiety, shouldn't SZN have some kind of sequelae from his various bouts with almost death? It would have been nice to have a scene to TYM taking care of SZN. Caring in an honest way, not unknowing, not under the guise of friendship, but as a lover, a partner, someone whom SZN could lean on without wondering if he's showing too much affection or if TYM only considers him a friend.

The ending felt way too sudden as well. After everything they didn't even go to the conservatory in the end. It would have been a nice touch if SZN rekindles his interests from his youth, as if bringing back a part of him he had lost that was carefully preserved by TYM.

Honestly, the author could have done so much with their characters. A misunderstood so called playboy with amorous eyes from a strict family and an outwardly reserved inwardly passionate silently suffering head of a twisted conglomerate family. These two vastly different people, full of cunning, full of ambition and drive, yet close childhood friends and now something more with nothing but a paper window between them. Two souls navigated vastly tangled interests. It could have been more than some generic angst.

All that said, it is not a bad novel. The only reason for such criticism is from the high expectations I had of the author. In a pile of dog-blood novels with a plot barely held together by kindergarten glue and emotional development like a mall roller-coaster, this author's work had shown like a ray of warmth. A novel worth savoring again and again.

This one while not bad enough to cause constipation, is clearly not the limit for the author skill level.

One has so much to say because one cares.

I will still cherish this novel for these characters that I adore but it could definitely have been better by a whole margin. <<less
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run run run
run run run rated it
April 11, 2026
Status: --
Wishing for more readers to regonize and love this novel.

This novel may not be a lovey dovey type of novel, but the care, affection and tenderness is actually there from the beginning.

What I love more about the novel is the realization of someone psychological condition, someone who really close to you and you yourself might not even realise it. Which is totally normal, and people need a turning point event of life.

The angst is just right to makes me keep going, and as not an expert in business... the business... more>> terms and phrases feel more logical than the previous novel. <<less
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Staringatastar
Staringatastar rated it
January 25, 2026
Status: Completed
I'm going to voice an apparently unpopular opinion, but I could not for the life of me get interested in A Letter from Keanu Reeves - the writing (or translation of it at least) was beautiful and lyrical, but the characters just did not fit my taste. But I realized it was a matter of taste, so I didn't leave a review.

I started this story because I was intrigued by the synopsis, despite my opinion of the other story in the series. From the beginning, the story has pulled me... more>> in fully, in a way the other novel couldn't. I love the delicious feeling of seeing into a relationship that is closer than most lovers (including the one in the other book), only held back by the very web of familial love and respect that makes it so strong. The flashbacks are so poignant, building a portrait of the ML's childhood, how pivotal the MC was to him, and how unconsciously meaningful this relationship was to the MC. The dilemma the ML faces is so much more tangled and real to me than the idolizing angst in many crush-to-romance stories. The romance in this story isn't the explosive romance of a new relationship, but the warm taste of one that has stewed since childhood. There's so much subtle love and pampering from both sides, and so much give-and-take and support between the two.

Honestly, I like the story of characters a lot. But it is indeed a slow burn, which might be frustrating considering the ML and MC are pretty much acting like an old couple from the very beginning. Perhaps you have to not have read or enjoyed the other book in order to appreciate this one. I also personally like the business intrigue - the translator has done a good job summarizing the business maneuvers. Considering this story is about two business tycoons, showing their busy lives and work seems pretty appropriate.

I also love how warm the MC's family is, showing that even a family that has to think about its interests can guard them with a bottom line. There are contrasts to this family throughout the story, one in particular, which is the warning example that makes the ML especially cautious of revealing his feelings.

The ending does feel a bit abrupt - I wish there were more extras, but based on the translator's notes, it seems like the author got some hate for this story for some reason.

My gripe is how the author presents medication (as well as hypnosis and even electroshock therapy?!) as the best initial solution to mental health issues. It feels like leaning into the strong family support, and helping him find hope/meaning in life might have been a more sustainable initial response. <<less
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prioriincantetam
prioriincantetam rated it
January 2, 2026
Status: c1
Totally agree with the other reviewer. While "A letter to Keanu Reeves" was completely like a breath of fresh air. This novel feels stale. I was really drawn to the characters - Tan and Shen initially in the main story, but in this story I'm not so sure anymore. Partly because the angst & misunderstandings are stretched beyond measure. In the main story, the boys would often go have fun, but in this one it's just business angst business angst. No fun actually. In the main story, there were misunderstandings... more>> too but they were resolved quickly, allowing the story to progress & characters to act. But here, it's just misunderstandings atop misunderstandings - too much actually. Moreover, after the most loved trope of amnesia when they do end up together, it's so LACKING. I feel no desire between them. In the original novel we saw how happy and content Chen Wan was when his over a decade long crush was accepted. But here Shen is still quite indifferent. I don't see him happy or sad. We know he is sad, cuz author says he is sad cuz he read Tan's medical report and that is it. By all means, he can be a bit happy when his love is reciprocated but nope.

Also really annoyed by the abrupt flashbacks. Like bro, write it all at once bro. No, don't torture me like this. <<less
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pirateillusion
pirateillusion rated it
March 31, 2026
Status: Completed
I really liked this book, and how it started. I just personally think that they had very little time to be boyfriends before the book ended, because shen zongnian spent a long time loving tan youming I hoped we saw more of their love story as a couple and maybe the challenges they'd face. I still believe that the first book is better (I'm reply to keats biased) but this was a very exciting read anyway. Lots of emotions, lots of frustrations. Lol. Torpe is not the way, wag tularan... more>> si zongnian! :P <<less
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Ohranger77
Ohranger77 rated it
March 23, 2026
Status: Completed
maybe because I read the reviews before I read the book so I went into it with low expectations - but I enjoyed it! I actually preferred it over Letter to Keats BECAUSE the world building re the business stuff actually made more sense to me, whereas in Keats it was a bit... ridiculous at times.

I would say this book still has flaws - especially with the way they treat mental health, and the numerous typhoons (recurring character at this point), and then how amazing and skilled all these characters... more>> are (wow good looking and shooting and driving and fighting and business acumen). but I like the dynamic and I went in knowing there would be a misunderstanding trope. The start is deffos too slow though and then the amnesia / disappearance part goes by too fast. Does feel like the author kinda gave up at the end. <<less
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Lonely_floweer
Lonely_floweer rated it
January 28, 2026
Status: c78
I liked the story, I just wish it didnt end that abruptly. Besides, things got slow in the first part bcz of all the bussiness stuff. I know it's part of the worldbuilding but I didnt care that much 😭

... more>>
Spoiler

I get that the amnesia trope is cliche but it was just mentioned so I didnt mind. What I dont get is wht Tan youming never thought about liking Shen Zongnian, he's not s*upid as to need a life or death situation to think abt it, he spent over half the novel being possesive over him dkdhdksjw

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That being said, I enjoyed the pain and the drama. I must admit that this pairing got me into caring about their relationship even more than Chen Wan and Zhao Shengge (I love them too).

That's why I wish there was extras or something else. <<less
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