Don’t Pretend to be Poor with Me - Reviews

Wow, just, wow. Sighhhh~

It’s been a long time since I last read something like this. Initially, I didn’t expect much depth in characters and emotions. I was looking for a light read, full of comedy, something to pass the time. But from start to finish, it got me hooked so sweetly and bitterly. This was such a journey, so down to earth. The feelings were very well portrayed; their inner thoughts and concerns were so relatable. It makes you sigh at the sweet romance. You look at them and honestly believe they are meant for each other. What a pair!

Seriously, the story touched on themes like depression, insomnia, insecurities, love, and trauma. These weren’t the main focus, and it didn’t fall into the trap of "love can conquer all, so let's just elope while being underage without a penny and still get a happy ending" because, no, things aren’t like that. They faced some drama (the issues weren’t between them, but with their parents), but they still found ways to support each other and move forward, promising each other a future together no matter what. This demonstrates that puppy love is just as pure as any other love. Just because teenagers are impulsive and not as mature as adults, it doesn’t mean it’s any less genuine.

For those unsure about the drama:
- If you’re looking for something filled with angst, this might not be for you. There is drama that will make you cry, but in every chapter, the sweetness of the couple reassures you that everything will be fine in the end. So rather than being purely angst, it’s much more of a bittersweet feeling. Some scenes were literally something you’d see in a romantic movie.

In any case, I don’t usually enjoy modern dramas like these because they make me cry. Since they’re set in modern times, you can relate to them sometimes. So I typically stick to comedy or light novels, but this one was worth all my time and emotions. It had me reading and crying at 3 AM because I just couldn’t stop without knowing the end. You read and really feel that these kids deserve so much happiness. Thank you to the author for writing this masterpiece, and to the translators for bringing it to us.

I'm at chapter 55, and I'm really struggling to finish this novel. It has become a chore to read through it. The first few chapters were promising and had the potential to be a sweet, romantic, teenage novel. However, as the chapters progressed, the author bombards the reader with endless misunderstandings and repetitive plot lines.

I think the reason it has become such a drag is due to the progression of the main character (MC). At the beginning, the MC had a lot to offer. He was kind but also a tsundere character, making him quite likable. His actions showed that he had a soft heart. He was a repressed, passive individual who, despite being hated by his father, remained kind to others and struggled to find love. However, as the novel continues, the author repeatedly emphasizes that the MC is kind, cute, and likable, primarily through the main love interest’s (ML) perspective. While the MC is indeed kind, he is becoming increasingly unlikeable. He has transformed into a hissy, violent, aggressive, stubborn, jealous, and narrow-minded individual. He still shows kindness occasionally, but the story drags on due to his constant misunderstandings. The entire plot revolves around them misunderstanding each other, the MC throwing a tantrum, physically assaulting the ML, the ML thinking the MC is cute despite the abuse, the ML coaxing the MC, and them making up, only for the cycle to repeat. This predictability makes the story tedious because I know another misunderstanding is coming, followed by the same reconciliation pattern.

As for the ML, he is just average. He’s a do-gooder, handsome, smart, and exudes a lazy vibe, though he isn’t actually lazy. He’s also dependable, yet for some reason, he lives in poverty despite being wealthy. He consistently finds the MC cute, even when he is being beaten and mistreated. I guess that’s just his thing, but there’s not much else to say about him.

I don’t think I can go through the next 40-plus chapters when the plot is so predictable. I can already foresee that the MC will be furious when he discovers the ML is rich. The ML will try to coax him, the MC will reluctantly forgive him, and their dysfunctional relationship, filled with the MC hitting the ML, will continue.

This is the captivating story of how two boys with vastly different personalities ended up deeply in love with each other. One boy finds it challenging to articulate his feelings, while the other is entirely open about his desires. Their lives intersected at just the right moment, fitting together like pieces of a puzzle.

Both MC and ML faced personal challenges before they met, drifting through their days without a clear sense of direction. It was heartbreaking to see the transition from joyful moments to forced separations, which were inevitable due to MC’s strained relationship with his father.

The story introduces an unconventional stepmother who adds a unique element. She never complicates things for MC and always takes the time to show her affection, proving that he is not alone. Though they share no blood, she cares for him with the same warmth and love.

The cast and humorous scenes bring a special charm to the narrative, particularly the small group of protagonists who embody the typical fun and carefree spirit of adolescence.

Despite its moments of sadness, the novel is highly entertaining and enjoyable to read.

This is a really enjoyable story!! I loved the MC and ML's relationship, and the side characters were also really cute!

ML enjoys teasing the MC into losing his temper, but he also dotes on the MC a lot. The MC is... extremely tsundere! But I think he's cute! There are a bunch of silly misunderstandings that keep happening, but it's not really an angst factor, I guess?

The MC has depression (?), PTSD (?), and an extremely low self-esteem due to his family issues. His stepmom tried to help, but it's also hard for her since she has to protect her own biological son. However, she cares for the MC and really steps up near the end of the novel.

The angst also made me cry... a lot... even parts not meant to be angst made me cry.

(Spoilers for angst + extras?)

It's that whole "parents find out, couple gets separated" type of thing. But I really felt like this plotline was handled well in this novel because often in other novels, the main couple gets separated and never contacts each other until well into adulthood. In this novel, they have people on their side helping them stay in contact with each other, as well as both putting in so much effort to be there for one another despite the obstacles that the MC's abusive father and the ML's overbearing grandfather put in the way. They are also reunited fairly quickly compared to other novels. The author really describes how the separation affected them in a very tear-jerking way. I won't say more... orz.

The extras also made me both laugh and cry... Some of the extras included ML's diary after the events of the novel, an alternate universe where ML and MC were neighbors and childhood sweethearts, the POV of the dog they adopted as the couple and friends grew into adulthood, and more!!

So this novel was overall really good, IMO!! 5 stars!! Would want to read it for the first time again!!

The MC and ML complement each other well. Their character development throughout high school is satisfying to read, especially as the MC heals from his traumatic childhood.

Spoiler
The part where it's revealed that the MC was framed for pushing his classmate down is absolutely perfect.

I really liked this story. Song Yang is such an endearing character who managed to retain his kindness and warmth despite being raised by a terrible father and a mother who, unfortunately, became a bad parent to him due to her own misfortune in marrying his father.

Song Yang and Xia Zhiye's relationship is incredibly adorable. They are perfectly matched and share many cute and funny moments together. I also appreciated the side characters, who were all well-developed and added depth to the story.

One aspect I didn't enjoy was the portrayal of Xia Zhiye's grandfather. Initially, he seemed like a good, loving grandfather, albeit strict. However, it became clear that he was a poor guardian. His homophobia ultimately outweighed his love for Xia Zhiye. The excuse given was that he kept the main characters apart to protect Xia Zhiye from a difficult path, but this reasoning doesn't hold up. He had no issue making Xia Zhiye's life difficult by cutting off his financial support as a form of punishment, claiming it was for his growth. This shows that his actions weren't driven by genuine concern for his grandson, but rather by his outdated and "traditional" beliefs masquerading as love.

My favorite character was definitely Song Yang. I felt a deep connection to him and understood his cold exterior. Despite the immense trauma he endured from both his parents, he couldn't entirely hate his mother and continued to visit her grave. He recognized that the true villain was his father, who had victimized his mother as well. While this doesn't absolve his mother of her actions, her tragic end was a result of falling in love with a terrible man. Regarding his father, Song Yang couldn't forgive him, but even when his father received his just desserts, Song Yang couldn't bring himself to hate him. Despite his seemingly cold demeanor, Song Yang is a deeply compassionate person. As a child, his father forbade him from crying or showing any emotion, fearing it would make him like his mother, who had emotional outbursts. His father's infidelity led to his mother's suicide, and he treated Song Yang as less than human. I will never understand how a parent can treat their child in such a way. Having children comes with the responsibility to treat them with respect and dignity, regardless of their age.

, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the relationship between the main characters. Both Song Yang and Xia Zhiye are positive influences in each other's lives, demonstrating more maturity at 17 than their guardians ever did.

I laughed so hard, especially in the first few arcs, with the way the main character (MC) kept digging holes for himself, while the male lead (ML) willingly jumped in to help. Truly, the most devoted ML out there, willing to cater to MC’s every need and take the fall to protect his tsundere's fragile ego. , it’s a humorous novel with some moments of pain as MC's trauma is revisited, but there isn’t much actual healing. MC doesn’t grow much as a person, and ML coddles him to an excessive degree.

I didn’t like how MC’s past was handled, as it’s mostly revealed to ML by other characters without MC’s consent or knowledge—whether it’s doctors or his best friend oversharing. I would have preferred to see MC open up to ML himself, rather than having everything relayed through a third party. This kind of storytelling makes sense for why MC doesn’t undergo much lasting character development, as every other character tends to baby him and shield him from any emotional vulnerability.

There’s also too much domestic violence in this novel for me to fully enjoy it. MC is always trying to beat up ML, and the dynamic is often glossed over. As one of their friends puts it, they’re a “violent tsundere and trembling M” pair. While ML doesn’t seem to have a problem with it, I personally don’t like when a tsundere is this physically violent. I prefer a more verbally tsundere MC, like in "Fake Slackers" or "Wait For Me After School," where the MC is harsh with words but respectful and never physically retaliates against their love interest.

Am I perhaps overthinking this lighthearted high school romance novel? Sure, I’ll admit it, so I’m giving it a decent four stars for the comedy. It’s a toxic relationship masquerading as a healthy one, and I just didn’t like these two as much as I had hoped. It reads like a fantasy of “would someone love me if I was a huge a**hole,” and the honest answer should be no, but fiction prevails.

Also, don’t get me wrong, I’m always here for a toxic relationship, but the issue here is that both characters and the author pretend it’s not one. While MC does open up to ML near the end, his character growth kind of reverts by the actual end. I’m mildly disappointed, but I guess I should have paid more attention to some of the more negative reviews.

Just wrapped up reading the story, and I can’t believe it’s already over uwu.

The tags are limited, making them somewhat unreliable, but overall, I think it’s worth your two nights and one morning. There are a lot of things I enjoyed about the story, though I’m not sure if it’s a lot or not, but here goes:

1) First off, the characters. Song Yan (the main character) is a well-developed character for me, and it was quite a fun journey watching him become more self-aware of his inner thoughts. He’s many things: a cold, rude guy, partly tsundere, partly depressed with a lot of mental anxieties and breakdowns. The story weaves these aspects together to create a protagonist who, under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t particularly like, but he grows on you. This is because, despite his flaws, he’s fundamentally a good person. It can get tiring to watch him jump from one misunderstanding to another, and his way of helping others while refusing to admit it isn’t out of humility but rather due to his trauma and insecurities about forming attachments with others.

**Spoiler:**  
I also appreciate how he becomes more open to his thoughts. Later in the novel, there are dialogues he wouldn’t have bothered to say in the earlier parts, and it’s incredibly fulfilling to see this development. Song Yan grew up without any emotional support. His mother went insane after being abandoned by her husband and treated Song Yan very harmfully. His father is a hopeless case and views Song Yan as an asset rather than his own child. His stepmother is decent and helps him later in the story, but overall, these experiences led Song Yan to develop a hopeless longing for family, coupled with a harmful aversion towards it.  

Xia Zhiye (the male lead) is also a fantastic character. You’re probably familiar with the spectrum of male lead archetypes, ranging from cold to teasing, and clingy to more withdrawn. Xia Zhiye is an extreme case of teasing and clingy, and that’s a good thing. However, as I write this, I’m probably dead from the excessive secondhand embarrassment on Song Yan’s behalf. The author is pretty cruel to Song Yan, but I’m a seasoned reader, so it’s bearable. I think that’s what makes Xia Zhiye’s character appealing to me. If you’re obsessed with tags like ‘love interest falls in love first,’ ‘clingy lover,’ or ‘devoted love interest,’ then this novel is definitely for you. Personally, I loved it.

When I talk about characters, I mainly mean the main couple, but the side characters are also well-written. I loved how Xiaopang teaches Song Yan to be more considerate and understand Xia Zhiye’s feelings better, or how the stepmother helps Song Yan, or how their friends support and help them stay in touch during their separation. It’s all pretty nice.

2) Moving on to the relationship dynamics. Song Yan is ruthless and struggles with handling emotions, so most of the time, he’s just too thin-skinned and channels his embarrassment against Xia Zhiye. Xia Zhiye accepts it with grace. The novel also reminds me of "Fake Slackers," which is why I’m a sucker for the cold MC and clingy ML type of story.

3) But the best part of the story is the comedy and angst. The genre tag doesn’t include the comedy part, but humor is subjective. My parents are probably sending me to a mental hospital for laughing all night for no reason. I guess it’s the exposition, dialogues, and character interactions that make it work. It’s not just Song Yan’s nth embarrassing moment (those can be tough to read), but the overall flow of the story with its light and sincere atmosphere. As for the angst...

I don’t know, guys, it’s just a story, why am I bothering to write this much? But I guess it’s the surge of the moment, just like how it’s written in the story. The moral is to treasure the present because it’s where you can live in the moment.

This story began lighthearted but concluded with a deeply poetic touch, addressing the challenges of sustaining a long-term relationship while still offering an optimistic and hopeful ending. The Father's character was marked by clear flaws that remained consistent throughout the narrative. Though we never learn the reasons behind his controlling nature, this doesn't detract from the story. His own actions, which were both inexcusable and inexplicable, led him to a dead-end, actions that might never be forgiven.

The Stepmother offered a refreshing departure from the typical evil stepmother trope. She has her own selfish tendencies but refrains from harming her stepson and even provides protection in her own way. The Grandfather, on the other hand, adopted a hands-off approach to parenting, yet the character of his children suggests he is of good moral standing and genuinely loves his descendants.

A subtle but effective element was the handling of the business competition, which occurred offstage. As one elder put it, "Let the adults worry about this." The students focused on their role as learners, treating the gaokao as their dream and a path to adulthood. This BL story conveys a powerful message about the importance of hard work in the face of overwhelming obstacles, as well as the value of enjoying one's youth, a time of unwarranted confidence and passionate nostalgia, regardless of where life leads.

, it's a compelling work with a climax that kept me on edge, preparing for a potentially tragic ending. At times, I genuinely believed Song Yan might not survive. The abuse he endured was severe, pushing many in real life to dire ends. His reliance on his lover intensified after his father forced him back into the darkness he had just escaped. This makes it difficult to assert that Song Yan is fully healed, but he must not endure such helplessness again. Song Yan breaks free from his burdens and moves toward an ending of his own choosing. Even if their relationship doesn't endure, I believe he won't regret it, as a failure born from personal choice is far easier to accept than one imposed by external forces.

5/5

Wow, I went into this with low expectations, but it turned out to be an absolute gem!

This BL took me on an emotional rollercoaster, from the giddiness of watching the characters fall in love, to second-hand embarrassment, to the heart-wrenching trials they've faced. It's been a long time since a romance has made me want to kick my feet up and smile uncontrollably at the screen, but this novel did exactly that and more.

I devoured every chapter, and I think the pacing was perfect. While a part of me wishes there were more chapters, any additional content might have felt too drawn out. The main lead is such a positive presence, and I just wanted to wrap SY up in a giant fluffy blanket and shower him with all the good things in the world. I wasn’t expecting the depth of the darker themes explored in the book, but I appreciated seeing SY’s healing journey.

I absolutely loved this BL, and while others might find flaws, I don’t see any.

Can't wait for the side stories to be translated!!

Re-read likelihood: 5/5

It's a pretty decent story with well-developed characters. Song Yan's tsundere behavior is understandable; while he can be rude, he's mostly quiet and genuinely helps those he cares about. Xia Xieye is the active, friendly, and doting type of lover that I really enjoy.

If I were to nitpick, it would be the sudden disappearance of Little Mahjong at the amusement park—everyone just seemed to forget about her. This made it hard for me to fully enjoy the confession scene, and I lost interest afterward. I might give it another try when there are more chapters.