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Kaleidoscope of Death #4
Kaleidoscope of Death Vol. 4
Open the wrong door… and you may never return.
One ordinary day, Lin Qiushi discovers a black door in the corridor outside his flat—a door that shouldn’t exist. When he steps through, he finds himself in a world governed by a deadly set of rules, where cryptic villagers speak in riddles, and the only way out is to take their obscure “tests”. The reward for passing: a key. The penalty for failure: death.
From haunted villages to blood-soaked puzzles, Lin Qiushi must solve increasingly strange and grotesque mysteries just to live another day. But he’s not alone. Enter Ruan Nanzhu—gorgeous, enigmatic, and unexpectedly lethal—who shows up in his room one night and whisks him into a secretive organisation of seasoned door-crossers.
With each door they pass through, the truth behind the world grows darker, and the line between ally and monster begins to blur.
Grim, gripping, and laced with razor-sharp banter, Kaleidoscope of Death is a danmei survival thriller where logic is your only weapon, trust is your greatest gamble—and laughter might be your last defense.
One ordinary day, Lin Qiushi discovers a black door in the corridor outside his flat—a door that shouldn’t exist. When he steps through, he finds himself in a world governed by a deadly set of rules, where cryptic villagers speak in riddles, and the only way out is to take their obscure “tests”. The reward for passing: a key. The penalty for failure: death.
From haunted villages to blood-soaked puzzles, Lin Qiushi must solve increasingly strange and grotesque mysteries just to live another day. But he’s not alone. Enter Ruan Nanzhu—gorgeous, enigmatic, and unexpectedly lethal—who shows up in his room one night and whisks him into a secretive organisation of seasoned door-crossers.
With each door they pass through, the truth behind the world grows darker, and the line between ally and monster begins to blur.
Grim, gripping, and laced with razor-sharp banter, Kaleidoscope of Death is a danmei survival thriller where logic is your only weapon, trust is your greatest gamble—and laughter might be your last defense.
Paperback
Published January 5, 2026
7 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
About the author
Xi Zi Xu
66 books55 followersAssociated Names:
* Xi Zi Xu (English)
* 西子绪 (Simplified Chinese)
* 西子緒 (Traditional Chinese)
* ซีจื่อซวี่ (Thai)
* Xi Zi Xu (English)
* 西子绪 (Simplified Chinese)
* 西子緒 (Traditional Chinese)
* ซีจื่อซวี่ (Thai)
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 5, 2026
4.6/5 🌟
"If you'll let me"-the man's gentle voice grew firm with put pose-"if and only if you will, I will protect you for as long as you live-or at least as long as I live.
"What do you say?" Ruan Nanzhu tilted his head slightly. "Just say the word, and-"
"No. I'll go by myself." Lin Qiushi spoke firmly.
"It's not that I wouldn't like it, but I don't want it to be this way." His eyes were once again drawn to the scar on Ruan Nanzhu's collarbone, "I don't want you to get hurt any more. Had I been stronger... we could have both come out unscathed. Besides, your body hasn't fully healed yet..."
( ˊo̴̶̷̤ ̫ o̴̶̷̤ˋ)
Such a well rounded beautiful theme(s) that has just been so solidified in this volume. It's so so SO good! The themes of:
🔹 Wishing to protect the one you cherish— the one you love.
🔹Fear of the unknown, death, anguish, loss, and the fear being too weak.
🔹Willing to sacrifice everything for that person, even if it means your life.
🔹Believing in your ability to escape these dangers.
🔹Wanting to feel wanted.
🔹Not wanting to be a burden.
🔹Desires to be stronger.
These are the feelings Ruanqiu have now developed and Ruan Nanzhu knows he loves Qiushi... It's just our Qiushi is a little clueless. Not even all the cute flirting in the world could get this man to know just how much he means to Ruan Nanzhu. (ㅅ´ ˘ `)
Everyone could be going blue in the face and he will be so confused!
This man... Can Have his super human hearing ears pressed up to Ruan Nanzhu's rapidly beating chest, and still have zero clue as to what is happening!
Oh baby... You clueless little thing! (ᵕˆヮˆ)
We never go easy on people who do this kind of business. Lin Qiushi, remember-I, Ruan Nanzhu, am watching over you."
If he'd heard this on a normal day, Lin Qiushi might not have thought anything of it. But today, he felt inexplicably embarrassed, and so played it cool as he gave Ruan Nanzhu his thanks.
But Ruan Nanzhu's gaze fell on the tips of Lin Qiushi's ears. "Hm? Are you shy?" With an outstretched finger, he tapped once on Lin Qiushi's ear tip. "Hey, it moves."
Lin Qiushi, "..." Please, will these people let his poor ears live!
The flirting.... The flirting!!!! Oh my god!!!! Qiushi.... Flirting back? WHAAAAAAAT!!!! 🙈 STAHP! THEY'RE SO CUTE TOO!
Qiushi calling him baby and sweetheart in cosplay!
Gawd!
They're killing me!
The roll playing is so scrumptious!
( ˶˘ ³˘(ˊᗜˋ*)!♡
_(:3」∠)_
⚠️ SPOILERS FROM HERE DOWN ⚠️
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The two kept walking and walking. They chatted while they walked, until all conversation topics were nearly exhausted, and Ruan Nanzhu was complaining that if they didn’t get there soon, he’d have to start on his kindergarten stories. It was then that finally, they saw some different scenery—the path beneath their feet took a turn.
“We’re finally here!” Ruan Nanzhu sighed, saying, “or I was really about to start telling the story about fighting a kid for candy in kindergarten and getting scolded by the teacher.”
Lin Qiushi thought, I actually kind of want to hear that… But he didn’t say it aloud.
They're so unserious! Hehe. Walking in the death rain, under an umbrella, while carrying Ruan Nanzhu on his back... How. Freaking. Cute!
( ˶˘ ³˘(⋆❛ ہ ❛⋆)!♡
BUT! they're not the only thing that's funny!
"So I'll be wearing a blue crop top, a white miniskirt, and a canwot hair clip," was how the "high school girl" had described herself. "When we meet, our secret code will start with me saying pika pika, and you reply pika pikachu~~ okay~?"
"Pika pika!" muscleman repeated.
Lin Qiushi had thought the girl was kind of cute, but now...
The muscleman probably recognized his outfit too, and came bounding forward to say, in a gritty baritone, "pika pika!"
Lin Qiushi, "....." The moment he heard this pika pika he could almost feel himself sway on his feet.
The muscley man's accent carried a bit of a northern lilt, and made him seem even more masculine-if it weren't for the outfit, he'd truly be a fine man.
Lin Qiushi heard himself choke out a reply: "pika-Pikachu..."
“Sup, brother!” Muscleman slapped a palm on Lin Qiushi’s shoulder and cheerily said, “I’m Gu Longming! You are?”
ꉂ(˵˃ ᗜ ˂˵)ꉂ(˵˃ ᗜ ˂˵)ꉂ(˵˃ ᗜ ˂˵)
哈哈哈哈哈
The way this man made me cry while laughing is insane!!! .·°՞(≧ᗜ≦)՞°·.
For real! Him telling Qiushi to "FUCK HER!!!!" When giving relationship advice to Qiushi to his "girlfriend" aka Ruan Nanzhu, that kissed him!!! hahahahaha!! EEEEEEEK!! (>/////< " )
I neeeed Gu Longming to meet Cheng Qianli! They will seriously become besties and play with Toast and Chestnut!
Omg! Speaking of Chestnut! He's so cute omg! He's finally being a good fur baby and letting Qiushi pet him and love on him! Qiushi is so cute! (ㅅ´ ˘ `)
But back to serious, the trust these two love birds (Nanqiu) have beyond -within- the doors, is insane! But the lack there of outside of the doors is very sad because Qiushi doesn't see his worth and it's hurting Nanzhu.
Nanzhu may be so mysterious in so many ways, but he's like an open book so many times and I like how the author writes his petty, jealous, hurt self. Especially when he's jealous.
Let's not forget to mention he sees the good in Qiushi and that's originally what drew him closer.
Lin Qiushi sighed. "Am I being too kind?"
"If you weren't kind, I wouldn't have invited you to join Obsidian," Ruan Nanzhu said. "Some bottom lines can't be crossed. Once you do, you can only keep falling, and who knows when you'll end up hitting the ground." In the first door, had it not been for the way Lin Qiushi treated him, he and Lin Qiushi would not be having these stories today.
The parts about getting revenge— accomplishing on bringing justice to those that were done wrong, was one of my favorite parts of this volume! I love how Ruan Nanzhu did everything he could to help Qiushi through that. Hand-in-hand, too!
Ruan Nanzhu... Your unconditional love is amazing. I can't wait until Qiushi sees it!
It is scary, however, just how fast time is ticking for them... Will the lovers have a happy ending in the impossible to survive the never-have-been-defeated doors?
｡°(°.◜ᯅ◝°)°｡
CON
The doors themselves are still creepy, but I wouldn't say that the world building for them was 100% well thought out or well rounded.
It's hard to explain what I'm feeling. I just feel like they lacked something. And maybe it's because some things were left unsaid or not explained.
I'm sad we got two arcs without Ruan Nanzhu. I miss him! I suspect him to be the little cutie pie at the end: Ai Wenrui! Maybe?
Please, be him?! (ㅅ •᷄ ₃•᷅ )
Read 01/27/26
"If you'll let me"-the man's gentle voice grew firm with put pose-"if and only if you will, I will protect you for as long as you live-or at least as long as I live.
"What do you say?" Ruan Nanzhu tilted his head slightly. "Just say the word, and-"
"No. I'll go by myself." Lin Qiushi spoke firmly.
"It's not that I wouldn't like it, but I don't want it to be this way." His eyes were once again drawn to the scar on Ruan Nanzhu's collarbone, "I don't want you to get hurt any more. Had I been stronger... we could have both come out unscathed. Besides, your body hasn't fully healed yet..."
( ˊo̴̶̷̤ ̫ o̴̶̷̤ˋ)
Such a well rounded beautiful theme(s) that has just been so solidified in this volume. It's so so SO good! The themes of:
🔹 Wishing to protect the one you cherish— the one you love.
🔹Fear of the unknown, death, anguish, loss, and the fear being too weak.
🔹Willing to sacrifice everything for that person, even if it means your life.
🔹Believing in your ability to escape these dangers.
🔹Wanting to feel wanted.
🔹Not wanting to be a burden.
🔹Desires to be stronger.
These are the feelings Ruanqiu have now developed and Ruan Nanzhu knows he loves Qiushi... It's just our Qiushi is a little clueless. Not even all the cute flirting in the world could get this man to know just how much he means to Ruan Nanzhu. (ㅅ´ ˘ `)
Everyone could be going blue in the face and he will be so confused!
This man... Can Have his super human hearing ears pressed up to Ruan Nanzhu's rapidly beating chest, and still have zero clue as to what is happening!
Oh baby... You clueless little thing! (ᵕˆヮˆ)
We never go easy on people who do this kind of business. Lin Qiushi, remember-I, Ruan Nanzhu, am watching over you."
If he'd heard this on a normal day, Lin Qiushi might not have thought anything of it. But today, he felt inexplicably embarrassed, and so played it cool as he gave Ruan Nanzhu his thanks.
But Ruan Nanzhu's gaze fell on the tips of Lin Qiushi's ears. "Hm? Are you shy?" With an outstretched finger, he tapped once on Lin Qiushi's ear tip. "Hey, it moves."
Lin Qiushi, "..." Please, will these people let his poor ears live!
The flirting.... The flirting!!!! Oh my god!!!! Qiushi.... Flirting back? WHAAAAAAAT!!!! 🙈 STAHP! THEY'RE SO CUTE TOO!
Qiushi calling him baby and sweetheart in cosplay!
Gawd!
They're killing me!
The roll playing is so scrumptious!
( ˶˘ ³˘(ˊᗜˋ*)!♡
_(:3」∠)_
⚠️ SPOILERS FROM HERE DOWN ⚠️
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The two kept walking and walking. They chatted while they walked, until all conversation topics were nearly exhausted, and Ruan Nanzhu was complaining that if they didn’t get there soon, he’d have to start on his kindergarten stories. It was then that finally, they saw some different scenery—the path beneath their feet took a turn.
“We’re finally here!” Ruan Nanzhu sighed, saying, “or I was really about to start telling the story about fighting a kid for candy in kindergarten and getting scolded by the teacher.”
Lin Qiushi thought, I actually kind of want to hear that… But he didn’t say it aloud.
They're so unserious! Hehe. Walking in the death rain, under an umbrella, while carrying Ruan Nanzhu on his back... How. Freaking. Cute!
( ˶˘ ³˘(⋆❛ ہ ❛⋆)!♡
BUT! they're not the only thing that's funny!
"So I'll be wearing a blue crop top, a white miniskirt, and a canwot hair clip," was how the "high school girl" had described herself. "When we meet, our secret code will start with me saying pika pika, and you reply pika pikachu~~ okay~?"
"Pika pika!" muscleman repeated.
Lin Qiushi had thought the girl was kind of cute, but now...
The muscleman probably recognized his outfit too, and came bounding forward to say, in a gritty baritone, "pika pika!"
Lin Qiushi, "....." The moment he heard this pika pika he could almost feel himself sway on his feet.
The muscley man's accent carried a bit of a northern lilt, and made him seem even more masculine-if it weren't for the outfit, he'd truly be a fine man.
Lin Qiushi heard himself choke out a reply: "pika-Pikachu..."
“Sup, brother!” Muscleman slapped a palm on Lin Qiushi’s shoulder and cheerily said, “I’m Gu Longming! You are?”
ꉂ(˵˃ ᗜ ˂˵)ꉂ(˵˃ ᗜ ˂˵)ꉂ(˵˃ ᗜ ˂˵)
哈哈哈哈哈
The way this man made me cry while laughing is insane!!! .·°՞(≧ᗜ≦)՞°·.
For real! Him telling Qiushi to "FUCK HER!!!!" When giving relationship advice to Qiushi to his "girlfriend" aka Ruan Nanzhu, that kissed him!!! hahahahaha!! EEEEEEEK!! (>/////< " )
I neeeed Gu Longming to meet Cheng Qianli! They will seriously become besties and play with Toast and Chestnut!
Omg! Speaking of Chestnut! He's so cute omg! He's finally being a good fur baby and letting Qiushi pet him and love on him! Qiushi is so cute! (ㅅ´ ˘ `)
But back to serious, the trust these two love birds (Nanqiu) have beyond -within- the doors, is insane! But the lack there of outside of the doors is very sad because Qiushi doesn't see his worth and it's hurting Nanzhu.
Nanzhu may be so mysterious in so many ways, but he's like an open book so many times and I like how the author writes his petty, jealous, hurt self. Especially when he's jealous.
Let's not forget to mention he sees the good in Qiushi and that's originally what drew him closer.
Lin Qiushi sighed. "Am I being too kind?"
"If you weren't kind, I wouldn't have invited you to join Obsidian," Ruan Nanzhu said. "Some bottom lines can't be crossed. Once you do, you can only keep falling, and who knows when you'll end up hitting the ground." In the first door, had it not been for the way Lin Qiushi treated him, he and Lin Qiushi would not be having these stories today.
The parts about getting revenge— accomplishing on bringing justice to those that were done wrong, was one of my favorite parts of this volume! I love how Ruan Nanzhu did everything he could to help Qiushi through that. Hand-in-hand, too!
Ruan Nanzhu... Your unconditional love is amazing. I can't wait until Qiushi sees it!
It is scary, however, just how fast time is ticking for them... Will the lovers have a happy ending in the impossible to survive the never-have-been-defeated doors?
｡°(°.◜ᯅ◝°)°｡
CON
The doors themselves are still creepy, but I wouldn't say that the world building for them was 100% well thought out or well rounded.
It's hard to explain what I'm feeling. I just feel like they lacked something. And maybe it's because some things were left unsaid or not explained.
I'm sad we got two arcs without Ruan Nanzhu. I miss him! I suspect him to be the little cutie pie at the end: Ai Wenrui! Maybe?
Please, be him?! (ㅅ •᷄ ₃•᷅ )
Read 01/27/26
Read
February 5, 20264.7/5
I need to know more about Ruan Nanzhu!
Spoiler warning! I had questions!
.
.
.
.
.
🌹What happened in Ruan Nanzhu 10th door!?
🌹How does Ruan Nanzhu know where everything is places??
🌹Is he in the door 5 with Lin Qiushi and Gu Longming??
🌹I need to know Ruan Nanzhu partner! Is this why he's scared to move forward with his feeling? Because these door are unpredictable?
I need to know more about Ruan Nanzhu!
Spoiler warning! I had questions!
.
.
.
.
.
🌹What happened in Ruan Nanzhu 10th door!?
🌹How does Ruan Nanzhu know where everything is places??
🌹Is he in the door 5 with Lin Qiushi and Gu Longming??
🌹I need to know Ruan Nanzhu partner! Is this why he's scared to move forward with his feeling? Because these door are unpredictable?
November 1, 2025
The ending ????????????? idk if I am sad or happy
October 4, 2025
139 kapitol a 8 extras... tenhle svět se mnou zůstane ještě dlouho.
August 20, 2025
door 10: umbrella, shrine
door 11: sculpture
door 11: sculpture
October 28, 2025
”Lin Qiushi looked up, and met Ruan Nanzhu's eyes.
Those eyes that were brimming with grief, like a quiet lake deep, deep in the woods.
Lin Qiushi thought for a while, before lifting his head and leaning closer. On Ruan Nanzhu's cold lips, he left a soft kiss, and said, "I don't want to think about that much. All I want to think about is right now."
Ruan Nanzhu and Lin Qiushi watched each other.
"And right now, I want to be with you." Lin Qiushi spoke earnestly, with a touch of caution. "Are you going to keep avoiding me?"
Ruan Nanzhu knew he could no longer escape this. He didn't want to. And so he said, "no," and leaned down, and deepened the kiss.”
Oh my god, we finally got some real profound development between the main leads. Except for that everything else pretty much stayed the same; walking through doors to gain experience and side characters doing nothing out of the ordinary. One thing that I really dislike so far is how the author is dealing with character deaths. I don’t really care much about NPC:s and other minor characters, but those who actually are important to the story or played an important part in other emotional ways. They’re being brushed past in a really unemotional way and then soon forgotten like they never existed. At the same time that emotional punch is not hitting in the way it could, since we still know and knew so little about them. That’s why I wish the author would have spent more time focusing on developing depth in her characters and relationships. Don’t get me wrong, I love the stories, I just wish there was more beneath the surface by now.
Those eyes that were brimming with grief, like a quiet lake deep, deep in the woods.
Lin Qiushi thought for a while, before lifting his head and leaning closer. On Ruan Nanzhu's cold lips, he left a soft kiss, and said, "I don't want to think about that much. All I want to think about is right now."
Ruan Nanzhu and Lin Qiushi watched each other.
"And right now, I want to be with you." Lin Qiushi spoke earnestly, with a touch of caution. "Are you going to keep avoiding me?"
Ruan Nanzhu knew he could no longer escape this. He didn't want to. And so he said, "no," and leaned down, and deepened the kiss.”
Oh my god, we finally got some real profound development between the main leads. Except for that everything else pretty much stayed the same; walking through doors to gain experience and side characters doing nothing out of the ordinary. One thing that I really dislike so far is how the author is dealing with character deaths. I don’t really care much about NPC:s and other minor characters, but those who actually are important to the story or played an important part in other emotional ways. They’re being brushed past in a really unemotional way and then soon forgotten like they never existed. At the same time that emotional punch is not hitting in the way it could, since we still know and knew so little about them. That’s why I wish the author would have spent more time focusing on developing depth in her characters and relationships. Don’t get me wrong, I love the stories, I just wish there was more beneath the surface by now.
December 5, 2025
i love Ruan Nanzhu and Lin Qiush relationship sm
January 25, 2026
Actual Rating: 4.25
February 13, 2026
З кожним томом все краще і краще💙✨️
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews