Neither Good Enough to Enjoy Nor Bad Enough to Drop 食之无味弃之可惜

1. 1 实 A Pragmatist’s Love 实用主义者的爱情 Meng Zhong De Yi孟中得意Romance468k WordsCompleted The final installment of the print edition of "A Pragmatist’s Love" is now available for preorder, with an additional 8,000-word bonus story. A preview of the bonus story appears at the end. If you’re interested, you can purchase the book from online retailers. To Fei Ni, a house was far more dependable than love. If marriage hadn’t been the only way to get assigned an apartment, Fei Ni would never have married Fang Muyang. Those who didn’t know the full story assumed Fei Ni had chosen Fang M 238.5kFavorites345.8kClicks/ch146.8kGifts

   Curator note

   Reading experience: The later chapters felt tiring, and the daily plot was too bland. The side story was engaging, but the back-and-forth between the two was dragged out for a long time, with the ending focusing on waiting for them to come back, and there were also short side stories that could only be read in their entirety in the physical book. Strengths: The character is vividly portrayed. The female lead is described as pragmatic, but in reality, she's a genuinely kind person who repays even the smallest kindness tenfold, always afraid of being indebted. She's ambitious and shines when striving for her goals, and she's incredibly caring and devoted to those around her. She repays even the smallest kindness tenfold. When the male lead lent her money, even though she was slightly annoyed when he broke his promise, she still saved up money to "lend" him when she saw him in trouble, even knowing he couldn't repay it. Later, she often noticed his winter clothes were too short and realized he was starving and thin, so she would give him extra food. The male protagonist is more of a romantic about life; he can squeeze out money to support himself through painting, even if he's hungry, he wouldn't trouble his family or borrow money from the female protagonist that he can't repay. He's easygoing and open-minded, content and adaptable to any environment, just like his paintings—even the hardships of farming can find moments of peace. He's like the piano in his impoverished home, a person who finds life in simply existing. Even more precious is that he's not just a man who's nice to the female protagonist, but a good person in himself, who happens to fall in love with her. After their relationship officially stabilized, it became less about the male lead's one-sided affection and more about the female lead's struggle between choosing and acknowledging her true feelings. It's a shame that the two people involved were unaware of some of the sweet moments seen from an omniscient perspective, but it seems the author doesn't plan to include them. Due to a misunderstanding, the older sister and brother-in-law try to win her over, but their pride prevents them from being a substitute and keeps their feelings closed. The brother-in-law is attracted to her advances, but his cleverness allows him to detect her resistance, leading him to mistakenly believe she is only using him. Later, the struggle between them is a constant back-and-forth between the brother-in-law, who knows he's being used but tries to win her over, while the sister's feelings are mixed with uncertainty and bitterness caused by the misunderstanding. Only after the older sister's situation stabilizes does she regain her former pride. However, the epilogue ends with their only act of kindness (facing their own feelings). I feel the physical book's epilogue will officially resolve their misunderstandings. Since I don't plan to read the physical book, there's no need to read their epilogue; otherwise, I won't feel satisfied. For me, the reading experience would be 3 out of 10, but the characters were so vivid and natural.

2. 2 全 The Entire Esports Scene Is Waiting for My Revival 全电竞圈都在等我复活 Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes独家花絮Danmei (BL)513k WordsCompleted [Celebrating 99~ Beibei, could you leave a five-star review?~~] Coming up next, Yu Li's next book: Swapping Bodies with My Archrival [Esports]. The one after that: I Went Viral Across the Internet by Hearing the Thoughts of Plants and Animals. Please pick me! At the S3 Global Finals, XK regrettably fell in the quarterfinals. After returning home and disbanding, the team members went their separate ways. Assault player Bai Xi was left destitute and eventually died of illness in a cramped rental 6.7kFavorites5.9kClicks/ch3.7kGifts

   Curator note

   The copywriting is attractive (5 points), the actual plot is 3 points, but the way the foreshadowing is handled shows the design's care, so I give it 4 points. The free chapters aren't very appealing. The business rivalry is so dramatic and the plot is so captivating. A child gets 60 out of 100 on a test, and the parent says, "That's amazing! You're number one in my heart!" However, some parts of the plot don't quite live up to the expectations set in the story. Moreover, it's particularly frustrating, like the feeling of a country bumpkin entering the city only to find his relatives are all rich and powerful, making him feel out of place. (Not to mention the hurtful attitude when he didn't recognize them. The protagonist's perspective evokes the frustration of being a subordinate, and his interactions with old friends feel like the lower class facing the upper class. This might be intended to create a contrast before his true identity is revealed, but it doesn't provide a good reading experience.) The esports experience as a whole wasn't exciting enough, the psychological trauma was repetitive and lacked depth, and upon finishing the story, it felt like it was just rehashing the same old hurdle (the writing was also homogenous). The romantic subplot influences the ensemble cast, and the author may be trying to blend them all together. The author wants the thrill of being a heartthrob, yet also harbors a fiercely loyal and devoted lover, leaving the protagonist caught in the middle, neither here nor there. A group of beloved characters often features a familial bond where everyone except the love interest is family, creating a strong sense of community and indispensability between the main character and their teammates. Beyond the intense focus on family ties and protection in the romantic storyline, the core appeal lies in how the main character gains acceptance and support from their family. Another type is the one who controls the romantic feelings of everyone, and after the fierce competition erupts, they return to the group, either letting go or changing their attitude (highlighting the sense of belonging to the group after love is the core, how to break the fierce competition, and how friendship is more important than love). This story initially saw everyone vying for the affections of the main couple, but halfway through, everyone except the official pairing backed down, hoping to simply move on to familial ties. The transition was too swift, and the shift in dynamics felt abrupt. The team felt weakened, with supporting characters offering heartfelt blessings, transforming from childhood friends into stereotypical, devoted male supporting characters, strictly adhering to not interfering with the main romance. Even those who only ship the main couple were angered by the other members' defense of their beloved character after it was stolen, unlike the protective actions of family members. Imagine the CEO's doctor, who gets woken up in the middle of the night, is actually secretly in love with the protagonist, suddenly transforming from a bystander and office worker into a victim of this unfortunate situation. It's perfect for those with slightly unconventional tastes to enjoy the bittersweet feeling of NTR (though this story doesn't actually have that). (Aside from the somewhat haphazard plot developments and the strange reactions from the oblivious protagonist, you'll get a general idea of what the author enjoys, but it falls somewhere between something you can ship and something you might find objectionable; it requires a similar level of appreciation.) Some people with social anxiety watched the show's plot, where they were publicly suspected of having hickeys, had to rip open someone's clothes to reveal the hickeys, and awkwardly acted out a part-time job diary. Those who weren't interested in the earlier segments for comedic effect might find it cringeworthy. The side story mentions the protagonist has a angst fetish, which seems to be the author's preference. Many scenes involve torturing the protagonist to emphasize their brokenness; if well-written, this could have a cataclysmic, almost agonizing effect. However, the overall delivery feels somewhat lacking. The angst is excessive, while the satisfying moments don't quite hit the mark. Those who enjoy sickly characters might want to give it a try, but it's not particularly enjoyable. My impressions after reading the whole article: I bought a back scratcher because my groin was itchy, and it was specifically labeled as a groin scratcher. Thinking it was such a niche product, I was skeptical but still bought it. However, it was too mild. It didn't completely tickle, but it just didn't feel right. I wanted to read more reviews of similar products, but then I remembered it's a niche hobby. Not scratching doesn't actually make it itchy; scratching makes it itchier. Even if I liked the synopsis again, I wouldn't click to read it, but the author's interest in esports and revealing secrets really resonated with me. I hope that one of his future books will improve to the point where he can accurately evoke emotions, which would be a great way to keep the readership going.

3. 3 恶 The Vicious Beauty Faked Her Death Three Times After Entering a Book [Book Transmigration] 恶毒美人死遁三次后[穿书] Sleep at Ease眠自在Danmei (BL)568k WordsCompleted Check out my advance notice, After the Foolish Beauty Pretended to Be a Villain and Faked His Death Three Times. Lin Qinghan transmigrated into a book. He'd landed in a harem novel from a male-oriented site, a story about a broken engagement and a hero's rise to power, which he'd only read one page of. He'd become a disposable character who was destined to be a stepping stone on the protagonist's path to success. The good news: The overpowered hero's life was full of twists and turns, and he 11.5kFavorites7.4kClicks/ch3.7kGifts

   Curator note

   The writing is too simplistic, and the conflicts and plot points are unconvincing. The sense of setting out outweighs the sense of story; it feels like it's following an outline. The characters are one-dimensional, all the mutual torment feels like plot devices, and the supporting characters are clearly defined as good or bad, not like real people. The emotional impact is also dull. The protagonist initially acts all high and mighty while suffering huge losses, yet manages to maintain a sense of even balance—it's very subtle. The development of different timelines in the middle is unclear and quite chaotic; trying to organize the settings completely diminishes any anticipation for the plot. The synopsis and setting are interesting, but the execution is really poor.

4. 4 将 The General Was Pregnant with the Emperor’s Child 将军他怀了龙嗣 A Lamp With No Flame残灯无焰Danmei (BL)368k WordsCompleted 20.9kFavorites14.2kClicks/ch6.4kGifts

   Curator note

   The wife I've met so far who respects freedom of commentary the most. Samsung (not bad, not to say it's bad. After all, I could subscribe to all of them) helped with the appeal after the comment section was deleted, and I give them five stars just for the freedom to comment. The novel itself has good character development and early plot, but it gets a bit bland later on. However, the interactions and ambiguous relationships have a good atmosphere. It's best to read and subscribe to the parts you like at the beginning, and then see what suits your taste later on.

5. 5 被 After the Darkly Obsessed, Bewitching Princess Took an Interest in Me 被阴湿美艳公主盯上后 Sweetheart Skeleton甜心骷髅Danmei (BL)313k WordsCompleted Su An was merely a conscientious young guard at Jinyun Hall, but somehow he ended up spending a night of passion with the hall's owner, Princess Xinping, the most beautiful woman in the imperial harem. Princess Xinping became pregnant and demanded that Su An take responsibility. That night, someone had plied Su An with alcohol, and when he woke, he remembered nothing. All he saw was a beautiful woman beside him, her eyes brimming with tears, and red marks covering his own body. He had been the o 14.2kFavorites9.7kClicks/ch6.9kGifts

   Curator note

   It's a pity it wasn't as good as the written description. The honest, cross-dressing seme is somewhat palatable, but even the boiled version is a bit bland.

6. 6 深 Has the Devoted Male Supporting Character Fallen Apart Today? 深情男配今天崩了吗 Jimo Yao即墨遥Danmei (BL)794k WordsCompleted [Follow the author's Weibo, @Jimo Yao, for updates on the print edition] Almost every melodramatic novel has a devoted male supporting character like this. He's wholeheartedly and unwaveringly in love with the protagonist Shou. When the protagonist Shou is hurt by the protagonist Gong, he comforts him. When the protagonist Shou is abandoned by the protagonist Gong, he shows him kindness. When the protagonist Shou is betrayed by the protagonist Gong, he stands up for him... As a catalyst for the 194kFavorites624.3kClicks/ch158.7kGifts

   Curator note

   3x is not very smart. Putting aside moral considerations, the multi-party relationships before the real relationship is even started are quite enjoyable and acceptable. You can skip to the wealthy family setting; the original owner's tragic situation makes the story more convincing. 12 is not good; 34 is okay; 5 is awkward in the beginning but the original owner becomes pitiful later; 6 is okay. You can watch if you like melodramatic love triangles. The real-world aspect is bad; it's nonsensical, with tropes of mental decline and amnesia, childhood sweethearts, and the uke even dating an NPC without recognizing the seme for credits. The seme is symbolically jealous, and the uke jokes about breaking up. 3456 are okay. After finishing, I realized I'd seen it before; there were no memorable points. All the love triangles rely on my imagination. If you ignore the details, the middle part is quite enjoyable; it's a multi-party love triangle + wallpaper (a euphemism for a dramatic scene).

7. 7 在 Fixing Bugs in a Series 在系列文里修bug A Lifetime of Splendor一世华裳Danmei (BL)358k WordsCompleted An accident brought the Transmigration Into a Book department, once the hottest division in the Bureau, crashing down. The Main God had gone missing, every worldline had shifted, and bugs were popping up everywhere like they cost nothing. The Bureau was in chaos. With a wave of its hand, it sent Jing Xi to the world with the most bugs. When the news got out, all the Systems panicked. None dared take on this troublesome partner, so in the end they had to draw lots. Jing Xi: “How many bugs are in 124.3kFavorites266kClicks/ch95.9kGifts

   Curator note

   The story, initially thought to be a body-swapping/fake-knife tale, is actually a typical comedic tale with multiple identities. All the side characters have distinct personalities, but the plot itself is rather dry. The main character is somewhat devoted, while the other character has a rather eccentric personality (making it difficult to fully immerse oneself in the story). I got very sleepy towards the end; it's a good read for falling asleep. Overall, it's rather bland, with the past of the two main characters glossed over, and their romance unfolding slowly and steadily. The characters are all vividly portrayed, but the story is average. There are many satisfying moments of revenge, but it's too far-fetched. Those who like this kind of thing will enjoy it and find it amusing; those who don't will find it just okay. I won't reread it.

8. 8 回 Back to the Immortal Venerable's Youth [Book Transmigration] 回到仙尊少年时[穿书] Concubine in Shanyang妾在山阳Danmei (BL)590k WordsCompleted [The physical edition of Volume 2 goes on sale June 1. Its published title is Knowing You.] Yan Qing transmigrates into a melodramatic cultivation novel as a child: the most popular villain, a beautiful, tragic figure. As an adult, the villain is a peerless genius of breathtaking elegance. As a child, he is pitiful and nearly starves to death in the bitter winter. The cultivation world is full of dangers, and to survive, Yan Qing has to pull out every trick in the book. He can act sweet and inn 578.5kFavorites828.4kClicks/ch524.8kGifts

   Curator note

   The romance is great, but the plot falls apart in the mid-to-late stages (it veers into dark, didacticism and doesn't wrap up well). This is definitely not a sweet romance. Like the writing style, the plot has a grand theme and unconsciously emphasizes its "highlights." However, the descriptions are not vivid or expressive, but rather focus on creating a "sweet" and "exhilarating" effect. When there is plot content and character emotions are being portrayed, the descriptions are neglected. The first few chapters, which mainly use internet slang, show that the descriptions are too detailed, giving a feeling of forcing new words to express sorrow, which makes it feel awkward and creates a difficult period. The two characters develop a sweet and loving relationship, and the ancient Chinese BL setting facilitates emotional investment. This story features a dominant male lead and a love-obsessed female lead who is also a devoted lover. The male lead's fragile heart, his cautious approach to emotions, his fear of making a mistake and his willingness to love despite despair are all very appealing. The initial clashes between the two as teenagers, followed by their eventual understanding of love and their partnership, create a wonderful atmosphere. The romance is well-developed, and the supporting characters are also well-developed. The story of the twin sisters and its ending are decent (they are well-integrated with the main plot in the beginning, but become repetitive later on, losing their sophistication and becoming ordinary). The plot is well-crafted and complete, but it's too vast. The constant "meticulous design" and the frequent re-emergence of supporting characters' stories, which sometimes overshadow the main plot, make the later revelations lengthy and confusing. Essentially, it's about the inherent evil in human nature, which, if left unchecked, becomes rampant. The story is poignant, but feeling that way more than three times becomes sentimental. The protagonist transmigrates as a child, dies twice, and returns to reality. He awakens the Heavenly Dao Time Return and transmigrates again to unfold the story. In his memories, he grows up in reality and his identity is changed three times after the transmigration. The plot becomes rather tedious in the later stages. From chapter 100 onwards, there are long stretches of parental love stories, and it's a classic melodramatic tragic ending; it's difficult to skip chapters just by looking at the titles. Chapters 110-111 feature deeper interactions between the two main characters, which is worth watching, but the plot becomes increasingly chaotic afterward. (Before chapter 100, you can simply see the two characters expressing their feelings for each other.) The storylines involving the parents' generation are the kind of stories I usually avoid reading, but I subscribed to the entire series and read it anyway for the sake of the plot's completeness. After finishing it, I felt it was completely unnecessary; there was really no love, and even the woman's love was rather subtle. However, the mother's character is undeniably wonderful (she's a bit stronger in the epilogue, but I wouldn't recommend reading it).

9. 9 男 The Supporting Male Character Goes Broke [Book Transmigration] 男配破产后[穿书] Spring Breeze Afar春风遥Danmei (BL)493k WordsCompleted [Signed for publication in simplified Chinese] After transmigrating into the role of an impoverished male supporting character, with no money for utilities, blacklisted across the internet and unable to find work, Chen Zhan decided... to write an autobiography and make his fortune. He recalled the life of a vicious male supporting character and wrote a trilogy: Confessions: The Budding and Downfall of a Rebellious Teenager, The Years I Tormented the Movie Queen, and Striking Rocks with an Egg: H 229.1kFavorites587.8kClicks/ch196.4kGifts

   Curator note

   It gets boring after chapter 100. There are some jokes, but they're not as good as the beginning. The protagonist's new stories gradually become less interesting. Five stars for the first half, four stars for the second half; it's a decent read for killing time.

10. 10 白 The Self-Cultivation of the White Moonlight [Book Transmigration] 白月光的自我修养[穿书] Ling Tong'er灵通儿Danmei (BL)206k WordsCompleted A moonlight in the heart is someone who has everything except a life, and can only leave their best self behind in the protagonist's memories. As a moonlight fated to die on Christmas Eve, Yu Xiao spends every day patiently waiting for death. No ambitions, no stirring up trouble, no desire to survive. The kind of person who says, "If I'm going to die, then let's die." But on Christmas Eve, he doesn't die. Instead, he encounters the protagonist, who is on the brink of death. Having lost too much 5.1kFavorites19.1kClicks/ch1.3kGifts

    Curator note

    It's very flat, and it gets flatter and flatter as it goes on. I fell asleep several times while reading it, especially later on when the friends from the time-traveling group became like a meeting of sparrows—lively but not very engaging. When the protagonist was still unwell, the people around him were very warm and comforting. The whole story is like a fairy tale; everyone is positive and optimistic, creating a warm and dreamlike atmosphere. I didn't find it particularly sweet; it was more about the warm and interesting atmosphere of everyone's interactions. However, it became a bit tedious when the villain used low-IQ tactics and the protagonist group repeatedly tried to reform him. It was okay before the surgery, but it became really difficult later on. The epilogue was alright, although its placement in the main story was a bit awkward. The writing is quite good, with a gentle, flowing quality that is quite heartwarming.

11. 11 就 Just Waiting for You to Come Online 就等你上线了 Xi He Qing Ling羲和清零Danmei (BL)486k WordsCompleted When He Jin was fifteen, he found himself a "husband" in a game. They were sweet and loving, but because it was interfering with his studies, his parents forcibly cut off his internet access. Without another word, he left the game. Eight years later, the online game was about to be revamped into a full-dive virtual reality game. By a twist of fate, He Jin logged in again, only to discover that his "husband" had become the number-one player on the server, and they were still married! However, the 158.6kFavorites378.8kClicks/ch55.8kGifts

    Curator note

    Subscribing to the whole thing is a waste of money. Just get a feel for the synopsis in the first half. The protagonist becomes increasingly spoiled later on. Although it keeps emphasizing that some inner conflict is normal, it feels more like it's forced by the plot. The "School Heartthrob" book had a vaguely cheesy feel to it, but I subscribed to all of the author's other works... And they're all hard to rate. The synopsis is interesting, but the content suddenly shifts towards a documentary-style portrayal of a period of suffering and value.

12. 12 穿 Reincarnated as the Violent Big Shot’s Little Mermaid 穿成暴戾大佬的小人鱼 Xian Sanqian弦三千Danmei (BL)424k WordsCompleted [A sister-story is coming soon: Can a Violent Little Merman Be Healing, Too? Synopsis at the very bottom~] Jun Qingyu was following a novel. Its protagonist had risen from humble origins to the rank of marshal through sheer effort. After being injured on the battlefield, he could only be healed by a mermaid, but his injury had made him violent, so the mermaid refused to treat him. The protagonist's family took the opportunity to steal his token and start an interstellar war. His friend kicked h 206kFavorites562.4kClicks/ch78.5kGifts

    Curator note

    The story is a sweet, mindless romance between a seemingly perfect couple, but the premise is okay, though some characters are essentially just tools. The protagonist (uke) is a typical early-stage character in a "beautiful, strong, and tragic" novel, trying to heal his fallen lover. His initial attempts to win him over rely entirely on this drive. It doesn't feel like a romantic relationship; it's more like a story of a strong, tragic, and redeemed protagonist meeting a seemingly innocent but actually strong and compassionate mermaid-like uke who comes to heal him. Aside from the premise, all I remember is ice cream. The early daily interactions are quite lighthearted and good for passing the time, but the later plot becomes too weak and unreadable. The lack of a synopsis makes it difficult to skip plot points, so I recommend dropping it from the beginning when it gets boring. The information kept secret in the synopsis is just a shell of the premise and has a weak connection to the characters.

13. 13 马 After Every Secret Identity Got a Bad Ending, I Was Forced to Mourn Myself 马甲全员be后我被迫吊唁自己 Falling Waterfall落瀑Danmei (BL)459k WordsCompleted [Completed. Extra chapters are collected in the author's column.] [Blurb] Just as Nishinomiya Tsukishiro, a graduate of the secret identity System, is about to retire after a job well done, the System suddenly disappears. One after another, the secret identities he used to play the roles of friends and family are exposed, then die unexpectedly. And he has to take on the role of a “friend” and arrange their funerals himself. Faced with countless sympathetic and affectionate gazes... Nishinomiya 24.9kFavorites54.8kClicks/ch5.9kGifts

    Curator note

    The beginning was alright, and the writing was very promising. The first reveal of the hidden identities was quite satisfying, but the subsequent series of revelations was just so-so. With such a long hiatus, the ending will likely be sporadic.

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