MTLed the entire thing. It MTLs really well. There is almost 90% clarity.
One of the most intense crematorium novels I have read.
I like that the MC (Li Shuyi) and ML (Bai Jing) are both competent. That was a refreshing change in this genre of novel. We get a powerful and ruthless MC, however, no matter how tough and cold he might be, his weakness is the ML. The ML, on the other hand, is undoubtedly scum but is also somewhat dignified. He is not promiscuous; he is cold like an iceberg, and the only one who can get him to lose his temper and reserved nature is the MC. Basically, he is cold but definitely not a brat.
This novel has all the usual tropes of a novel of this type but becomes marvelously interesting because of the MC. He is an all-around badass. It is mentioned many times and even accepted by the ML, Bai Jing, that they are equals in every way. If they were not on the same team, Li Shuyi would make a formidable opponent for Bai Jing. But as I mentioned above, his weakness is the ML. The reason for that is the MC's childhood, which was absolutely traumatic (and dramatic, but come on, it's a dog blood novel, not a realistic slice of life). He has been hurt many times since his childhood, which has hardened him and made him cold-hearted, but his core is soft, which the ML manages to touch because he is there for him in ways no one else is, especially when the MC was at his weakest. Oh yes, there is a white lotus, and yes, he is annoying too. But he is not allowed to become too much of a problem. He is a problem to some extent, sure, but the main problem is between the couple. The core issue is that the ML thinks he can only love a gentle flower, not a sharp knife.
In his indifference and callousness, he does something extremely cruel to the MC, and when the MC finally finds out about it three years later, it breaks him completely. He literally gives up all hope. But the author had me sobbing. The MC is so dignified even when he has completely lost all hope.
I think the author chose the right way because, after what the ML had done, only his utter devotion could redeem him.
**Spoiler**
Li Shuyi (MC) took a bullet for Bai Jing (ML) three years before the story begins. The two were in a physical relationship with each other at the time. But it was also a turbulent time because the ML's engagement was fixed. The MC, being the stubborn man that he is, found this unacceptable, so he threatened the ML to break off the engagement. His threat would be pretty damaging because he was the ML's business partner and right-hand man. However, as the MC says later, what would he have actually done? His only weakness is the ML. His reason for threatening was not just for himself but also because the girl whose engagement had been fixed with the ML wholeheartedly loved someone else. So he wanted to help her out too. He knew it would be a completely empty marriage if the ML and she got married.
Anyway, because he takes the bullet aimed for the ML, Bai Jing feels guilty and breaks off the engagement, and they decide to stay together. So, the MC thinks it's because of the guilt and not love. And the foolish ML thinks the same, that he is staying because of the guilt. But there is an additional layer to Bai Jing's guilt. His guilt is so deep because he had planned an assassination too. He had planned to "take care" of the MC and had even mentioned this to someone else. Even though he says he did not assign anyone to carry it out, he definitely thought about it and might have done it if the MC had not taken the bullet for him (we will never know).
The cruelty lies in the fact that he wanted to kill him after the ML and MC had known each other for so long. It is the ruthlessness that he has been taught since childhood. Even the MC, with a similar personality, agrees that he would have done the same if someone threatened him and told him what to do like he did to the ML. But it hurts because they had known each other for more than a decade by that point. They worked together, built the company together, and were together.
Also, this novel shares a universe with the novel "Muted." I liked Bai Jing more than Yi Tian (the ML from "Muted" who makes an appearance in this novel). Although we can argue that Bai Jing is even more cold-hearted and ruthless than Yi Tian, what I like about his character is that he is essentially cold to everyone. He does not bully Li Shuyi (also because he can't; he would die. Lol. Like did I mention how much of a badass Li Shuyi is), but I like him because he loves a man who is his equal and is just kind of cold and emotionless to the world, with only one man being able to stir his emotions, whether it be negatively or positively.
I enjoyed the redemption arc. I also like how the author handled things after they sort of reconciled. Not a lot of face-slapping but protecting one's heart. That's how it would be for a mature person handling the situation.
The second couple is pretty much the classic crematorium trope. It's not great but it's not bad either.
, a fun read, I would say!
