Winter Begonia

Description

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In the 1930s, a Beiping opera actor named Shang Xi Rui rose to fame because of his strong skills and talent, but because he was not from the city, was suppressed by the locals. In order to keep his foothold in Beiping and fulfill his original promise to carry forward with opera, he persevered and committed fully to his art.

During this process, Cheng Feng Tai, a new wealthy businessman who had never watched Peking Opera before, grew deeply impressed with Shang Xi Rui after seeing his performance. Feng Tai intentionally sought out Shang Xi Rui, and became increasingly obsessed with Peking Opera under his influence.

With the help of Cheng Feng Tai, Shang Xi Rui overcomes many obstacles, rebuilds the Shui Yun Tower in Beiping, and trains a group of outstanding Peking Opera talents with far-reaching influence.

Associated Names
One entry per line
鬓边不是海棠红
Related Series
N/A
Recommendations
Killer and Healer (1)
Love is More Than a Word (1)
Till Death Do Us Part (1)
Living to Suffer (1)
Recommendation Lists
  1. good stuff (BL)
  2. Emotional Investment Needed
  3. Worth re-reading webnovels
  4. Adapted to Chinese Dramas / Movies (Includes all g...
  5. Danmei

Latest Release

Date Group Release
12/10/20 JiaLing2 c77 part2
12/10/20 JiaLing2 c77 part1
12/10/20 JiaLing2 c76 part2
12/10/20 JiaLing2 c76 part1
12/10/20 JiaLing2 c75 part2
12/10/20 JiaLing2 c75 part1
12/10/20 JiaLing2 c74 part2
12/08/20 JiaLing2 c74 part1
10/03/20 mianmian2020 c73
10/02/20 mianmian2020 c72
10/01/20 mianmian2020 c71
09/17/20 mianmian2020 c70
09/14/20 mianmian2020 c69
09/09/20 mianmian2020 c68
09/09/20 mianmian2020 c67
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Review
6 Reviews


PeonyDancer
PeonyDancer
Aug 23, 2021
Status: --
GUYS LISTEN: do NOT go into this novel with a modern mindset, or the first few chapters of the novel are going to REALLY put you off - rather like how it did for me. If you've come here after watching the drama, do NOT expect the sunshine and rainbows you witnessed there - when I say China censored, they REALLY censored this novel: for both straight AND gay relationships.

But when you understand the cultural context, you'll find it an amazing, insightful experience. 'Winter Begonia' really is a beautiful novel,... more>> and I'd hate for someone to drop it because of misunderstandings. Which is why I wrote this review, hoping people might read it as a forewarning.

Always keep the cultural context in mind. That it was common for married men and women to have affairs outside of their arranged marriages. That your spouses and children were simply props to show off to others that you were successful in life. That to the wealthy and upper class, people within the entertainment industry were nothing more than highly-educated prostit**es, and were treated as such. That MANY of these entertainers, have been groomed since being 'sold' to provide s*xual pleasure for others.

Cheng Feng Tai was content living his life without money - philandering for fun, and looking after his beloved younger sisters. But with an ambitious older sister, he was forced into a marriage he did not want. Forced to wear a cunning, sly mask around the rich people he now must mingle with. Now a successful businessman with children, CFT struggles to find any real meaning to his life - his affairs outside of marriage compound this idea. Living life like an aimless jellyfish, throwing money he did not even want all over mahjong boards... although we see CFT as disgusting because of the toxic culture he indulges himself in, remember that everyone in life is striving for happiness. And happiness, defined by the upper-class of 1930s China, was to indulge in the licentious customs of the wealthy.

Shang Xi Rui was sold into the entertainment industry at an awfully young age - pursuing his passion for singing, yet simultaneously groomed to provide s*xual pleasure for both men and women. It's awful when you hear about all the high position men he's been 'concubines' for, and how normally everyone, even CFT treats it. It makes you squirm, especially when you realize that SXR is just an innocent teenager, who barely understands a thing about TRUE love. The second someone shows him a selfless love, SXR wants to monopolize that affection and keep it all for himself - inciting rumours of him being a crazy, jealous 'mistress'. He just wants someone who'll love him and care for him, without expecting anything in return.

These are the two people that find themselves crossing paths. They're characters that make you feel like real people - that this is simply a memoir of someone who'd truly lived in those bizarre days. I hope you'll give this book a chance - believe me, you will not regret it!!!! <<less
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Isritase
Isritase
Jun 05, 2021
Status: c131
Wow. I'm baffled this barely has any reviews. I put this novel off for a while ever since I saw it was completed because I googled it and came across the television adaptation. I didn't want to read a bromance. The summary is vague and I wasn't sure what to think. Honestly I just gave it a go because it was completed and had 132 chapters and had smut apparently.

It was not at all what I expected, but god was I satisfied. This novel gave me everything I could ever... more>> want. It's been a minute since I've read something this great. I cried a lot. It's a mature and sophisticated love story, with memorable, lovable characters with so much dimension. It's beautiful, it's heartbreaking, it's everything in between.

It's essentially about two men who end up falling in love, one is an opera singer, the other a businessman. They try to be together despite so much trying to keep them apart. One is married with children, the other has been deeply hurt in the past, there's a war brewing, there's responsibilities, family that disagree, it's a very realistic story. Yet it also has time to be witty and you'll find yourself laughing at their antics.

I don't think I'll be forgetting this novel in a very long time. The ending is open to interpretation.

OKAY BUT PLEASE GIVE MY BABY SHENG ZIYUN A SPIN OFF NOVEL, poor thing was abused throughout the whole novel <<less
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Cobrachan
Cobrachan
Apr 18, 2020
Status: --
This is a very good drama! One of the best! So I'm really excited for the novel!! Thanks for taking the time to translate it!!
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Firelight_exol
Firelight_ex
Jun 07, 2020
Status: --
I am currently watching the drama and I really really like the relationship between the main leads. As I watching, I wondered how their relationship in the novel is. I don’t wanna spoil so I will just ask this, is Sheng Xi Rui’s ending in the novel the same as the drama? I am really hoping the novel at least has a different ending so that I can relieve my heart after watching the drama.
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Michelle-08
Michelle-08
May 31, 2021
Status: --
Again, another novel that I've watched first before coming here to compare. The relationship of the ML and MC in the drama was very different from the novel. I, of course understand it since it's done in China. In the drama, they are more soulmates and nothing "physial* happened between them although you can feel the love (subtle) but here in the novel it's different. There's a "real" relationship and both characters love each other so much, it's a little toxic. The ending is open ended. Smut is 8/10, story... more>> 9/10. <<less
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Umma_ely
Umma_ely
Jul 26, 2022
Status: --
I don’t know if I could read this since I’ve watched the adaptation as it’s just bromance though I cried very much while watching series cried with my eyes mouth full of saliva damn🤢 and snot so am afraid of reading this and seeing it full of bromance again and another tears to be shed
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