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病案本 [Bing An Ben] / Case File Compendium (Novel) #8
Case File Compendium: Bing An Ben (Novel) Vol. 8
TWISTED PASSION
Now assisting the Dreambreaker task force, Xie Qingcheng has steeled himself to oppose the man who was once his lover. He has watched the long-missing He Yu triumphantly return as the head of He Pharmaceuticals, but he knows that He Yu is secretly working for the Mandela Syndicate—the shadowy organization whose machinations have underpinned every crisis he and He Yu have faced.
Xie Qingcheng knows his betrayal has broken He Yu, and he’s all too ready to believe He Yu’s love for him is a thing of the past. But when Xie Qingcheng finds himself trapped on the Mandela Syndicate’s hidden island, he has no choice but to put his fate in He Yu’s hands.
Now assisting the Dreambreaker task force, Xie Qingcheng has steeled himself to oppose the man who was once his lover. He has watched the long-missing He Yu triumphantly return as the head of He Pharmaceuticals, but he knows that He Yu is secretly working for the Mandela Syndicate—the shadowy organization whose machinations have underpinned every crisis he and He Yu have faced.
Xie Qingcheng knows his betrayal has broken He Yu, and he’s all too ready to believe He Yu’s love for him is a thing of the past. But when Xie Qingcheng finds himself trapped on the Mandela Syndicate’s hidden island, he has no choice but to put his fate in He Yu’s hands.
376 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 12, 2026
About the author
Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou
76 books1,900 followersAssociated Names:
* Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou
* 肉包不吃肉 (Chinese Profile)
* โร่วเปาปู้ชือโร่ว (Thai Profile)
* Meatbun Doesn't Eat Meat (Unofficial English Profile)
* Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou
* 肉包不吃肉 (Chinese Profile)
* โร่วเปาปู้ชือโร่ว (Thai Profile)
* Meatbun Doesn't Eat Meat (Unofficial English Profile)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
May 15, 2026
this is a rant, not a proper review, at least not the kind i usually write. whatever this is, i’m writing it for myself, for my own peace of mind. i don’t have good things to say, so if you’re a die-hard bab fan, maybe don’t read this. and don’t come here telling me i “missed the entire point” of the story. if that’s the case, i’m fine with it. my opinions are my own, and i'm entitled to post it here.
i do believe stories are dynamic and grow with people. when i first started reading this, the premise completely hooked me, but unfortunately that effect gradually fizzled out, especially after the last volume. whatever the author is trying to say, i either don’t understand it or i do understand but simply don’t want to read something like it. and no, nobody is forcing me to read this book. i’m doing this to myself because i don’t value my time and can’t leave anything unfinished.
for so long, i tried in vain to see beyond what is written on these pages. i tried hard to read between the lines, and all i found was one plot hole after another. the entire story feels like a superficial hot mess where shock factors are added purely for the sake of it. it’s as if the author challenged herself and said, “i’ll write the most unhinged book possible.” i’m sorry to say it just didn’t work for me.
rant with heavy spoilers
this volume picks up right where the last one ended. xqc in he yu’s house, getting treatment and atticwifed. and that’s where the never-ending series of absurdities begin. during his stay, xqc steals data from he yu’s devices. now you’re telling me world-class hacker he yu left everything unprotected for his ex-doctor? normal behavior for them, i guess.
then anthony shows up and insults xqc. after seeing the cctv footage, he yu asks him about the encounter because there’s no audio. but later we find out mandela org. has technology that records audio too. couldn’t they lend some of that to he yu for his house surveillance? then chen man enters, and he yu basically goes, “arrest me when homosexuality becomes a crime.” kind of iconic, honestly, but at this point i’m exhausted by whatever is happening.
project dream breaker sends an entire battalion to the island, but that thousands-strong force gets immobilized within seconds. so very naturally, they decide to send xqc, a professor with no military training whatsoever because he has the “power of adaptability.” then superhuman xqc enters with his super hearing alongside zheng jingfeng, an old cop who’s about to retire. couldn't they send someone better? before they leave, the team leader gives xqc a police uniform and an id number made from his dead parents’ badge numbers. highly unethical, but i guess “special circumstances require special solutions.”
on the way to mandela, instead of strategizing, our veteran jingfeng starts telling xqc stories about his parents and their first mission together. is this really the time for that? they’ve known each other their whole lives, but suddenly, right before the most dangerous mission imaginable, grandpa pulls out his bag of tales. dude, conserve your energy.
now for the highlight of the story, combative robots carrying the consciousness of xqc’s dead parents, and they know how to salute properly like policemen. marvelous. our team of two fights for their lives and gathers data that a team of thousands couldn’t. brilliant. those battle scenes gave me chills from disbelief.
then he yu enters the scene riding our star, dear pegasus, which turns out to be a modified helicopter. yeah, i feel cheated. where’s my winged unicorn? at this point the “helicopter helicopter” meme started playing in my head and i could physically feel another headache coming.
i feel like i’m just writing down a summary of this book, so now i’ll skip a few things.
our little devil captures xqc and atticwifes him again, but now we learn that he yu is actually part of project dream breaker, working as an informant. bingo. what a brave 23-year-old silly little dummy. duan wen’s chips and serums apparently don’t work on he yu’s super special blood toxin, yes we have another super man, so he can send intel whenever he wants. extremely convenient for the plot.
to maintain their “enemy” facade, hexie are having sex everyday, while duan wen’s subordinate checks the bedding for 'semen', what a pervert!! also, there are cameras in the bathroom because apparently duan wen loves watching people shit. wonderful. marvelous. life-changing.
and we’re still not done. let’s talk about xqc’s pregnancy. our 36-year-old man injects himself with a special serum for superpowers and somehow ends up with pregnancy symptoms. now he’s throwing up and lactating. truly the pinnacle of fiction. the funniest part is that he yu genuinely believes that his uncle oops lover can actually get pregnant. sir. please. spare me.
oh, and i almost forgot the cameras in he yu’s mandela room can record both audio and video, but apparently the audio only works when people talk loudly. that’s a massive security flaw for a futuristic organization experimenting with all kinds of advanced technology. naturally, our super duper clever 'loid-level' spy hexie exploit this by whispering their plans nonstop.
mandela island itself is actually pretty interesting. we got zoya a maniac scientist raising pigs. what’s next? a mango garden? an apiary producing organic honey for the residents? to top it all, the island even has an ice cream parlor. again, how convenient!
and all this chaos started because the island’s leader, one hag who just refuses to die, keeps transplanting her brain into different bodies (bitch die!). we basically have a fake god chasing immortality. at this point i’ve entirely lost it. even my own thoughts sound absurd to me.
spoilers end here
another very important thing, now we finally know why that organization is so desperate to find the first emperor, and honestly i’m scared for xqc. if they find out, they’ll definitely do unspeakable things to him.
despite all my complaints, i can still acknowledge some good qualities. for example, the entire concept of mandela and this insane organization is trying to reshape the world order, which is pretty interesting. the premise is good, but the execution is not.
you can’t paint with a broad brush because inevitably you’ll miss the finer details. that’s exactly what happened here. the author tried to cram in so many shock factors that the story turned ridiculous. what even is this book? dystopian? sci-fi? thriller? romance? or just something made for unhinged people? it feels like a heterogeneous mixture. the repetition turned beyond redemption. i refuse to believe this was written by the same author who gave us masterpieces like yuwu and erha. i’m no one to tell an author what they should or shouldn’t write, but this story doesn’t even come close to those two epics.
this time i won’t even discuss the so called “romance,” but i will say it’s nice that they’ve finally started communicating with each other. it’s been long enough. please wrap things up already, i see no reason for this unnecessary angst just for the sake of it. eh, i think i’m still forgetting one or two points. when i remember them, i’ll come back again and whine. i'll edit this so-called review.
bottom line, i think meatbun’s grocery list would have more substance than this, and i’d happily read that. anyway, secretly looking forward to the next volume. final verdict, interesting, somewhat overindulging, but still bad.
p.s. he yu and chen man should fuck. i'm rooting for a threesome. ★: 1.75
i do believe stories are dynamic and grow with people. when i first started reading this, the premise completely hooked me, but unfortunately that effect gradually fizzled out, especially after the last volume. whatever the author is trying to say, i either don’t understand it or i do understand but simply don’t want to read something like it. and no, nobody is forcing me to read this book. i’m doing this to myself because i don’t value my time and can’t leave anything unfinished.
for so long, i tried in vain to see beyond what is written on these pages. i tried hard to read between the lines, and all i found was one plot hole after another. the entire story feels like a superficial hot mess where shock factors are added purely for the sake of it. it’s as if the author challenged herself and said, “i’ll write the most unhinged book possible.” i’m sorry to say it just didn’t work for me.
rant with heavy spoilers
this volume picks up right where the last one ended. xqc in he yu’s house, getting treatment and atticwifed. and that’s where the never-ending series of absurdities begin. during his stay, xqc steals data from he yu’s devices. now you’re telling me world-class hacker he yu left everything unprotected for his ex-doctor? normal behavior for them, i guess.
then anthony shows up and insults xqc. after seeing the cctv footage, he yu asks him about the encounter because there’s no audio. but later we find out mandela org. has technology that records audio too. couldn’t they lend some of that to he yu for his house surveillance? then chen man enters, and he yu basically goes, “arrest me when homosexuality becomes a crime.” kind of iconic, honestly, but at this point i’m exhausted by whatever is happening.
project dream breaker sends an entire battalion to the island, but that thousands-strong force gets immobilized within seconds. so very naturally, they decide to send xqc, a professor with no military training whatsoever because he has the “power of adaptability.” then superhuman xqc enters with his super hearing alongside zheng jingfeng, an old cop who’s about to retire. couldn't they send someone better? before they leave, the team leader gives xqc a police uniform and an id number made from his dead parents’ badge numbers. highly unethical, but i guess “special circumstances require special solutions.”
on the way to mandela, instead of strategizing, our veteran jingfeng starts telling xqc stories about his parents and their first mission together. is this really the time for that? they’ve known each other their whole lives, but suddenly, right before the most dangerous mission imaginable, grandpa pulls out his bag of tales. dude, conserve your energy.
now for the highlight of the story, combative robots carrying the consciousness of xqc’s dead parents, and they know how to salute properly like policemen. marvelous. our team of two fights for their lives and gathers data that a team of thousands couldn’t. brilliant. those battle scenes gave me chills from disbelief.
then he yu enters the scene riding our star, dear pegasus, which turns out to be a modified helicopter. yeah, i feel cheated. where’s my winged unicorn? at this point the “helicopter helicopter” meme started playing in my head and i could physically feel another headache coming.
i feel like i’m just writing down a summary of this book, so now i’ll skip a few things.
our little devil captures xqc and atticwifes him again, but now we learn that he yu is actually part of project dream breaker, working as an informant. bingo. what a brave 23-year-old silly little dummy. duan wen’s chips and serums apparently don’t work on he yu’s super special blood toxin, yes we have another super man, so he can send intel whenever he wants. extremely convenient for the plot.
to maintain their “enemy” facade, hexie are having sex everyday, while duan wen’s subordinate checks the bedding for 'semen', what a pervert!! also, there are cameras in the bathroom because apparently duan wen loves watching people shit. wonderful. marvelous. life-changing.
and we’re still not done. let’s talk about xqc’s pregnancy. our 36-year-old man injects himself with a special serum for superpowers and somehow ends up with pregnancy symptoms. now he’s throwing up and lactating. truly the pinnacle of fiction. the funniest part is that he yu genuinely believes that his uncle oops lover can actually get pregnant. sir. please. spare me.
oh, and i almost forgot the cameras in he yu’s mandela room can record both audio and video, but apparently the audio only works when people talk loudly. that’s a massive security flaw for a futuristic organization experimenting with all kinds of advanced technology. naturally, our super duper clever 'loid-level' spy hexie exploit this by whispering their plans nonstop.
mandela island itself is actually pretty interesting. we got zoya a maniac scientist raising pigs. what’s next? a mango garden? an apiary producing organic honey for the residents? to top it all, the island even has an ice cream parlor. again, how convenient!
and all this chaos started because the island’s leader, one hag who just refuses to die, keeps transplanting her brain into different bodies (bitch die!). we basically have a fake god chasing immortality. at this point i’ve entirely lost it. even my own thoughts sound absurd to me.
spoilers end here
another very important thing, now we finally know why that organization is so desperate to find the first emperor, and honestly i’m scared for xqc. if they find out, they’ll definitely do unspeakable things to him.
despite all my complaints, i can still acknowledge some good qualities. for example, the entire concept of mandela and this insane organization is trying to reshape the world order, which is pretty interesting. the premise is good, but the execution is not.
you can’t paint with a broad brush because inevitably you’ll miss the finer details. that’s exactly what happened here. the author tried to cram in so many shock factors that the story turned ridiculous. what even is this book? dystopian? sci-fi? thriller? romance? or just something made for unhinged people? it feels like a heterogeneous mixture. the repetition turned beyond redemption. i refuse to believe this was written by the same author who gave us masterpieces like yuwu and erha. i’m no one to tell an author what they should or shouldn’t write, but this story doesn’t even come close to those two epics.
this time i won’t even discuss the so called “romance,” but i will say it’s nice that they’ve finally started communicating with each other. it’s been long enough. please wrap things up already, i see no reason for this unnecessary angst just for the sake of it. eh, i think i’m still forgetting one or two points. when i remember them, i’ll come back again and whine. i'll edit this so-called review.
bottom line, i think meatbun’s grocery list would have more substance than this, and i’d happily read that. anyway, secretly looking forward to the next volume. final verdict, interesting, somewhat overindulging, but still bad.
p.s. he yu and chen man should fuck. i'm rooting for a threesome. ★: 1.75
Want to Read
January 31, 2026so I had to quickly jump in as a Goodreads librarian to upload the just released cover because WHAT IS THAT.
May 27, 2026
✦ he yu's and xie qingcheng's relationship is like a trainwreck i simply can't look away from. they both test my patience in their own ways. he yu especially - this man is a straight up lunatic.
"The love and hate between them was so complicated, tainting even simple joy or anger. He wanted to delete each and every memory of Xie Qingcheng, but he also wanted to engrave his everything onto his own bones and blood. It felt like he’d forgotten how to love him, but he couldn’t learn how to hate him. Hadn’t he also been torturing himself while he had tortured Xie Qingcheng?"
✦ this series is messy, painful and toxic as hell, but i can't help but love it.
✦ i truly can't wait to read the next volume, it really looks like shit is about to go down. what do you mean i have to wait until the end of august..?💔
"The love and hate between them was so complicated, tainting even simple joy or anger. He wanted to delete each and every memory of Xie Qingcheng, but he also wanted to engrave his everything onto his own bones and blood. It felt like he’d forgotten how to love him, but he couldn’t learn how to hate him. Hadn’t he also been torturing himself while he had tortured Xie Qingcheng?"
✦ this series is messy, painful and toxic as hell, but i can't help but love it.
✦ i truly can't wait to read the next volume, it really looks like shit is about to go down. what do you mean i have to wait until the end of august..?💔
October 4, 2025
ohhhhhhh this goes crazy... i feel crazy..
edit after cover reveal: this cover out of context is soooo funny im sorry (like wtf is bab even about)... it makes sense having read the novel completely but compared to the previous volumes this is fr out of nowhere
edit after cover reveal: this cover out of context is soooo funny im sorry (like wtf is bab even about)... it makes sense having read the novel completely but compared to the previous volumes this is fr out of nowhere
June 7, 2026
Burh!? You can't have a big cliffhanger and then SPOIL PART OF WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WITH THE COVER OF THE NEXT VOLUME!
Anyway, 80% exposition dump. Nice to finally get clarification and stuff, but still... exposition dump kind of boring, and then sex scene in the middle of it, so people won't lose interest, or whatever (?)
Anyway, 80% exposition dump. Nice to finally get clarification and stuff, but still... exposition dump kind of boring, and then sex scene in the middle of it, so people won't lose interest, or whatever (?)
May 14, 2026
Fucking hell, it took me a few hours to finish that and what do you MEAN I have to wait till book 9??? I might as well just implode. And Jesus Christ FINALLY the goddamned miscommunication trope is finally getting solved.
May 15, 2026
AAAAAAAAAAAA FINALLYYYYYY 😭😭😭😭😭😭 MY BELOVED HEXIE 🥹🥹
August 2, 2026
Now we anxiously wait for the next one.
January 31, 2026
beautiful. wonderful. but wayyyy too short :/
this has to be the shortest volume. i did like most of the story but the mandela plot is just. a little boring to me idk. i appreciate meatbun's views on future ai technology and human cloning and stuff though, it's just that something about the sci-fi bit just isn't interesting enough anymore.
one more issue i had with this book was, ahem ahem, the LACK of communication. oh my fucking god. these two are oh so smart normally but they are just so, sooo clueless about each other's feelings. but anyway, their chemistry had me HOOKED. i especially loved the way they slowly started to revert back to their old passionate ways and i just absolutely adore he yu's devotion to xie qingcheng.
also it's so funny to me that the only other character who ever appears on a bab volume cover is literally just zoya. but also this book didn't even have any great plot twist moments to put on the cover so i get how the cover is just random mandela-island core. BUT THE INSIDE ILLUSTRATIONS,,,, i'm in love :P
all in all, this was the non-freakiest (except for the illustrations. and whatever fake-mpreg stuff was going on. even then it's not as freaky as the other books can you imagine meatbun's brain) and least angsty bab volume ever but i still loved how it was just really sweet. it almost felt like the calm before the storm (because it is). volume 9's cover is so messed up.... please let me hexie be okay i pray 3
anyway, i will rate everything meatbun writes five stars. and i will go to sleep happily thinking of xie qingcheng's smile in that final illustration :)
this has to be the shortest volume. i did like most of the story but the mandela plot is just. a little boring to me idk. i appreciate meatbun's views on future ai technology and human cloning and stuff though, it's just that something about the sci-fi bit just isn't interesting enough anymore.
one more issue i had with this book was, ahem ahem, the LACK of communication. oh my fucking god. these two are oh so smart normally but they are just so, sooo clueless about each other's feelings. but anyway, their chemistry had me HOOKED. i especially loved the way they slowly started to revert back to their old passionate ways and i just absolutely adore he yu's devotion to xie qingcheng.
also it's so funny to me that the only other character who ever appears on a bab volume cover is literally just zoya. but also this book didn't even have any great plot twist moments to put on the cover so i get how the cover is just random mandela-island core. BUT THE INSIDE ILLUSTRATIONS,,,, i'm in love :P
all in all, this was the non-freakiest (except for the illustrations. and whatever fake-mpreg stuff was going on. even then it's not as freaky as the other books can you imagine meatbun's brain) and least angsty bab volume ever but i still loved how it was just really sweet. it almost felt like the calm before the storm (because it is). volume 9's cover is so messed up.... please let me hexie be okay i pray 3
anyway, i will rate everything meatbun writes five stars. and i will go to sleep happily thinking of xie qingcheng's smile in that final illustration :)
May 13, 2026
4.9/5
Meatbun truly has a PhD in making me "ugly cry" while begging for more.
Where do I even begin?! These novels really know how to make me cry! These two make me cry, their situations make me cry... I just cry! I honestly just want this suffering to end for both of them. Also, the Volume 9 cover already has me worried and scared!
In this volume, you learn so much more about what’s going on with Mandela Island, RN-13, Duan Wen, and the others on the island. We also get deep into He Yu and Xie Qingcheng’s relationship. That cliffhanger was absolutely rude, by the way!
There are a lot of politics involving VR—it’s hard to explain, but let’s just say there is a lot of info-dumping and the plot is definitely plotting! You see both of their struggles and their small moments of comfort. I want to say more, but I’ll save that for the spoilers below.
Happy reading!
SPOILERS FOR FUTURE VOL IN COMMENTS = AUTOMATIC BLOCK
⚠️ SPOILER WARNING ⚠️
Xie Qingcheng stays with He Yu for a while. He technically has the freedom to leave whenever he wants, but he chooses to stay. However, He Yu has guards following him everywhere, so it doesn't exactly feel like he can leave freely. It isn't until Anthony (who I hate so much) causes issues that he is finally able to get away.
After letting Xie Qingcheng go, He Yu figures out some things Anthony said to him... and let’s just say He Yu was PISSED! He decides to head back to Mandela Island.
Meanwhile, Xie Qingcheng goes on a mission to the island to retrieve data from a weapon. While he’s trying to secure it, his partner Zheng Jingfeng has to fight off robot dogs with the help of robots that have the personalities of Xie Qingcheng’s parents! (My heart? Shattered.)
Afterward, He Yu and Zoya take them both away, only for He Yu to reveal his biggest secret to Xie Qingcheng. After the reveal, He Yu explains everything happening on the island: the intel, the Mandelaverse, Mandela’s plans for the future, and how they will kill anyone to get results.
We also finally see Xie Qingcheng have a flare for the first time, and let me tell you... TEARS!!! Full-on ugly crying! He Yu helped him calm down and did everything he could for him. But seriously... WHERE IS THE CONFESSION?! 😭😭🙏🙏
Meatbun truly has a PhD in making me "ugly cry" while begging for more.
Where do I even begin?! These novels really know how to make me cry! These two make me cry, their situations make me cry... I just cry! I honestly just want this suffering to end for both of them. Also, the Volume 9 cover already has me worried and scared!
In this volume, you learn so much more about what’s going on with Mandela Island, RN-13, Duan Wen, and the others on the island. We also get deep into He Yu and Xie Qingcheng’s relationship. That cliffhanger was absolutely rude, by the way!
There are a lot of politics involving VR—it’s hard to explain, but let’s just say there is a lot of info-dumping and the plot is definitely plotting! You see both of their struggles and their small moments of comfort. I want to say more, but I’ll save that for the spoilers below.
Happy reading!
SPOILERS FOR FUTURE VOL IN COMMENTS = AUTOMATIC BLOCK
⚠️ SPOILER WARNING ⚠️
Xie Qingcheng stays with He Yu for a while. He technically has the freedom to leave whenever he wants, but he chooses to stay. However, He Yu has guards following him everywhere, so it doesn't exactly feel like he can leave freely. It isn't until Anthony (who I hate so much) causes issues that he is finally able to get away.
After letting Xie Qingcheng go, He Yu figures out some things Anthony said to him... and let’s just say He Yu was PISSED! He decides to head back to Mandela Island.
Meanwhile, Xie Qingcheng goes on a mission to the island to retrieve data from a weapon. While he’s trying to secure it, his partner Zheng Jingfeng has to fight off robot dogs with the help of robots that have the personalities of Xie Qingcheng’s parents! (My heart? Shattered.)
Afterward, He Yu and Zoya take them both away, only for He Yu to reveal his biggest secret to Xie Qingcheng. After the reveal, He Yu explains everything happening on the island: the intel, the Mandelaverse, Mandela’s plans for the future, and how they will kill anyone to get results.
We also finally see Xie Qingcheng have a flare for the first time, and let me tell you... TEARS!!! Full-on ugly crying! He Yu helped him calm down and did everything he could for him. But seriously... WHERE IS THE CONFESSION?! 😭😭🙏🙏
June 9, 2026
“In this world, is it flesh and blood that makes one human, or is it the human thought?”
I don’t even know where to start with this volume because my feelings were all over the place. At first, I honestly thought the whole thing was ridiculous. I kept reading like, what is happening right now and why am I still turning the pages? Then Mandela Island started to make more sense, and I actually got impressed. The idea behind it was strange, unsettling, and way more interesting than I expected. I went from side-eyeing the plot to being curious about what the island really meant for the story. Then that intimate scene happened and I was mindblown. It was so intense and personal, but I was also laughing. LAUGHING!!! I don’t even know how to explain that reaction, but wow, this book is bold.
This volume really does not hold back. It touches certain topics and ideas that made me pause for a second because I couldn’t believe the story actually went there. Some parts felt dramatic to the point of being almost too much, but I also couldn’t look away. I’m exaggerating, of course, but there were moments where it felt like 20% plot and 80% porn. The physical tension is very present here, and sometimes it felt like it swallowed the actual story a little. At the same time, I can’t pretend I wasn’t entertained. The emotional mess between Xie Qingcheng and He Yu still got to me. They frustrate me so much, but I’m invested in them. There is so much guilt, anger, attachment, hurt, and longing between them that every interaction feels heavy. I don’t always agree with their choices, and sometimes I wanted to shake them both, but I still love them.
My biggest issue is how thin this book is. The story feels short, so everything moves fast, and I wanted more room to breathe with the plot and the characters. Just when I felt like things were getting serious, the volume was already ending. And that ending? I am nervous. We still have two volumes left, and I have no idea how I’m supposed to feel calm after this. This was messy, bold, emotional, ridiculous at times, and honestly kind of exhausting, but I was never bored. I didn’t love every part of it, and some scenes were a lot, but I still had fun reading it. It left me stressed, entertained, confused, and curious, which pretty much sums up my whole experience with this series so far.
Date Read: 2026.06.09
I don’t even know where to start with this volume because my feelings were all over the place. At first, I honestly thought the whole thing was ridiculous. I kept reading like, what is happening right now and why am I still turning the pages? Then Mandela Island started to make more sense, and I actually got impressed. The idea behind it was strange, unsettling, and way more interesting than I expected. I went from side-eyeing the plot to being curious about what the island really meant for the story. Then that intimate scene happened and I was mindblown. It was so intense and personal, but I was also laughing. LAUGHING!!! I don’t even know how to explain that reaction, but wow, this book is bold.
This volume really does not hold back. It touches certain topics and ideas that made me pause for a second because I couldn’t believe the story actually went there. Some parts felt dramatic to the point of being almost too much, but I also couldn’t look away. I’m exaggerating, of course, but there were moments where it felt like 20% plot and 80% porn. The physical tension is very present here, and sometimes it felt like it swallowed the actual story a little. At the same time, I can’t pretend I wasn’t entertained. The emotional mess between Xie Qingcheng and He Yu still got to me. They frustrate me so much, but I’m invested in them. There is so much guilt, anger, attachment, hurt, and longing between them that every interaction feels heavy. I don’t always agree with their choices, and sometimes I wanted to shake them both, but I still love them.
My biggest issue is how thin this book is. The story feels short, so everything moves fast, and I wanted more room to breathe with the plot and the characters. Just when I felt like things were getting serious, the volume was already ending. And that ending? I am nervous. We still have two volumes left, and I have no idea how I’m supposed to feel calm after this. This was messy, bold, emotional, ridiculous at times, and honestly kind of exhausting, but I was never bored. I didn’t love every part of it, and some scenes were a lot, but I still had fun reading it. It left me stressed, entertained, confused, and curious, which pretty much sums up my whole experience with this series so far.
Date Read: 2026.06.09
May 27, 2026
‘𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩, 𝙇𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝘿𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙡? 𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜.’
WOW. this volume was so info dumpy that sometimes i wished that it would just end already. putting that aside though we made some real progress towards hexie revealing their feelings towards each other, with the last chapter being an unsaid confirmation between the two of them that they loved each other.
i’m very scared for the next volume, i can’t believe we have to wait so long. it’s not looking good for xie qingcheng and i cant help but think that duan wen has found out that he’s the first emperor and is gonna lock him away. not only would this postpone the confession that we were promised at the end of the last volume, but it also prevents the frost laser from being destroyed. which is a key for the final battle to go the way we want it to.
one of my gripes with this volume that it felt like the characters were a little bit ooc? i wanted he yu to be more obsessive and possessive over xqc, he seems less unstable now which is good for him but i kinda liked him more before. i feel like xqc has also become more lenient and less set in his ways. you can argue that these things are good or bad, but it’s just my personal preference.
thoroughly enjoyed the omegaverse coded smut though, and i can’t wait to see how meatbun’s smut reads in her other novels. if only xqc could actually get pregnant… now that would make my day.
IM SO HAPPY THAT HE YU NOW KNOWS XQC NEVER DATED CHEN MAN, BUT WHY DID IT HAVE TO END BEFORE WE KNEW HIS THOUGHTS ON THIS 😭😭
WOW. this volume was so info dumpy that sometimes i wished that it would just end already. putting that aside though we made some real progress towards hexie revealing their feelings towards each other, with the last chapter being an unsaid confirmation between the two of them that they loved each other.
i’m very scared for the next volume, i can’t believe we have to wait so long. it’s not looking good for xie qingcheng and i cant help but think that duan wen has found out that he’s the first emperor and is gonna lock him away. not only would this postpone the confession that we were promised at the end of the last volume, but it also prevents the frost laser from being destroyed. which is a key for the final battle to go the way we want it to.
one of my gripes with this volume that it felt like the characters were a little bit ooc? i wanted he yu to be more obsessive and possessive over xqc, he seems less unstable now which is good for him but i kinda liked him more before. i feel like xqc has also become more lenient and less set in his ways. you can argue that these things are good or bad, but it’s just my personal preference.
thoroughly enjoyed the omegaverse coded smut though, and i can’t wait to see how meatbun’s smut reads in her other novels. if only xqc could actually get pregnant… now that would make my day.
IM SO HAPPY THAT HE YU NOW KNOWS XQC NEVER DATED CHEN MAN, BUT WHY DID IT HAVE TO END BEFORE WE KNEW HIS THOUGHTS ON THIS 😭😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2026
Bei gott Meatbun lass das
March 15, 2026
First reread August 2-3, 2026
I self destructed my way whilst reading this book because that was the only way i could survive through reading this book. Coming out of it, i realized with distinct clarity… book 9 is going to be soooooo much worse.
I never felt more sick to my stomach while reading this book and yet i never self destructed so effortlessly splendidly as i went on with this book.
I hate this book, i say as i laugh love and cry in the crevices of its pages.
(ps quote below is apparently not from this book so the doom that is coming my way—- COMING EVERYONES WAY—- watch me he yu laugh because we are all so utterly fucked
—-
💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔
chapters 210-244
I like to think i knew what hell was and what lay in for me in that special place.
But this series is set on proving me wrong.
Because this series is far worse than the most cruel version of reality.
I self destructed my way whilst reading this book because that was the only way i could survive through reading this book. Coming out of it, i realized with distinct clarity… book 9 is going to be soooooo much worse.
I never felt more sick to my stomach while reading this book and yet i never self destructed so effortlessly splendidly as i went on with this book.
I hate this book, i say as i laugh love and cry in the crevices of its pages.
(ps quote below is apparently not from this book so the doom that is coming my way—- COMING EVERYONES WAY—- watch me he yu laugh because we are all so utterly fucked
—-
💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔
chapters 210-244
I love you in silence.
Love you in the guilt, love you in the ridicule of the common people, love you in the long wait.
I love you in regret, I love you in apprehension, I love you in dare not easily tell, I love you in tears.
I love you where you are and where I am, I love you in never going away, I love you in the embrace of war and fire.
I love you more than an apology, more than waiting for you for a long time, more than just being safe.
- Xie Qingcheng to He Yu.
I like to think i knew what hell was and what lay in for me in that special place.
But this series is set on proving me wrong.
Because this series is far worse than the most cruel version of reality.
May 18, 2026
This honestly could have been way sadder and that scares me for the next volume
May 18, 2026
Who was it that refused this romantic drama its ending? Who had yet to wipe their face clean of makeup? Who was still standing by the edge of the stage with longing in their eyes even after the music stopped and the crowds dispersed? The false couple had acted so convincingly that even after the lights dimmed, the drums fell silent, and the cheering spectators left behind their mess of leftover food and drink, the Hegemon-King was still wearing his armor and Consort Yu was still twirling her sword.
Who was unwilling to have this play come to a close, incapable of putting an end to the game? The act carried on until the paper covering the window became as thin as a cicada’s wing, to be shredded by the merest breath—but who was it that refused to tear through that final barrier?
this series, man…sigh 🚬
it’s just all so fascinating to me. and the deep dive into the true intentions of the Mandela Syndicate threw my brain haywire in a way i love.
i truly admire the author for putting her all into this surreal kind of plot and never letting the story stray away from it since the beginning. hexie’s tumultuous relationship is a huge page-turner, but i personally think the story itself is incredible. it’s all very ambitious and works so well. characters from previous volumes are tied back into this volume and connections start to flow more smoothly, which got me hooked. plus, once i got the full context of this cover, i was aghast and very pleasantly surprised.
there was a lot of plot for a good chunk of this volume, which gave my heart a nice break from all the hexie trauma. then when they returned, i was left an emotional wreck as always. and then i get to the last chapter and am left even more devastated bc what’s all this talk about hope??
still….every time i think i can’t take any more pain, i keep reading on and am reminded why meatbun’s storytelling hooks me every time.
it’s an amazing reward :’)
Who was unwilling to have this play come to a close, incapable of putting an end to the game? The act carried on until the paper covering the window became as thin as a cicada’s wing, to be shredded by the merest breath—but who was it that refused to tear through that final barrier?
this series, man…sigh 🚬
it’s just all so fascinating to me. and the deep dive into the true intentions of the Mandela Syndicate threw my brain haywire in a way i love.
i truly admire the author for putting her all into this surreal kind of plot and never letting the story stray away from it since the beginning. hexie’s tumultuous relationship is a huge page-turner, but i personally think the story itself is incredible. it’s all very ambitious and works so well. characters from previous volumes are tied back into this volume and connections start to flow more smoothly, which got me hooked. plus, once i got the full context of this cover, i was aghast and very pleasantly surprised.
there was a lot of plot for a good chunk of this volume, which gave my heart a nice break from all the hexie trauma. then when they returned, i was left an emotional wreck as always. and then i get to the last chapter and am left even more devastated bc what’s all this talk about hope??
still….every time i think i can’t take any more pain, i keep reading on and am reminded why meatbun’s storytelling hooks me every time.
it’s an amazing reward :’)
May 17, 2026
The Mandela syndicate plot was kind of going everywhere in this volume and losing me a little but let’s be honest, we aren’t really reading this series for the plot! HeXie’s character and relationship development in this deserves 5 stars alone. I love that we are seeing them slowly come back together. Both are such complex characters. This slow burn really is 🤌.
(Spoilers below - my commentary and thoughts on what happened)
I love that we finally saw Xie Qingcheng have a mental breakdown/flareup and cry. XQC has been through so much and has been suppressing his emotions all this time. Reading how He Yu was there to comfort him was beautiful ❤️ Those couple scenes of them emotionally opening up under the covers in the bed, holding hands, touching each other’s faces, etc, were so sweet and I wish we got an illustration of that! 😫
I’m glad He Yu apologized again for the horrible things he did to XQC in volume 7, even without XQC clearing anything up. I was wondering if it would be due to more than just the abandonment trauma and hate, but that still makes sense given his illness. I hope his promise to not hurt him ever again sticks this time 😅
Proud of He Yu for fighting against his bloodlust to kill Chen Man ❤️ And even openly admitting that struggle to XQC.
I also love how it ended with them agreeing to have a personal talk with each other but not before XQC saying that he never dated Chen Man at the very end! I celebrated that being cleared up! 🎉
I love that Meatbun has been taking her time with the relationship build up and suspense and is slow dripping it. 😆 It still stays realistic to the characters imo. I’m so excited to see XQC confess I could explode 💥 but this volume left on a note that was still satisfying enough that we can wait a little easier for the next volume.
(Spoilers below - my commentary and thoughts on what happened)
I love that we finally saw Xie Qingcheng have a mental breakdown/flareup and cry. XQC has been through so much and has been suppressing his emotions all this time. Reading how He Yu was there to comfort him was beautiful ❤️ Those couple scenes of them emotionally opening up under the covers in the bed, holding hands, touching each other’s faces, etc, were so sweet and I wish we got an illustration of that! 😫
I’m glad He Yu apologized again for the horrible things he did to XQC in volume 7, even without XQC clearing anything up. I was wondering if it would be due to more than just the abandonment trauma and hate, but that still makes sense given his illness. I hope his promise to not hurt him ever again sticks this time 😅
Proud of He Yu for fighting against his bloodlust to kill Chen Man ❤️ And even openly admitting that struggle to XQC.
I also love how it ended with them agreeing to have a personal talk with each other but not before XQC saying that he never dated Chen Man at the very end! I celebrated that being cleared up! 🎉
I love that Meatbun has been taking her time with the relationship build up and suspense and is slow dripping it. 😆 It still stays realistic to the characters imo. I’m so excited to see XQC confess I could explode 💥 but this volume left on a note that was still satisfying enough that we can wait a little easier for the next volume.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2026
4.25 stars - took them 8 books but at least they’re finally somewhat happy?? (Please let me relish in this I’m fully aware this happiness is getting ripped away immediately because of that cover for volume 9 cheers Seven Seas😭) He Yu still finding the time to be jealous of Chen Man was so funny to me though very begrudging alliance at the end.
I do think my favourite things were when Meatbun depicted how they both felt after they made up and how they felt when they finally decided it was time to stop dancing around the feelings they knew they still had. It felt sweet and tender and while also frustrating, it was also realistic to me for them. They’ve spent so long going between different things, hurting each other, caring for each other, I feel like how their relationship finally bettered by the end of this made the most sense.
Also what do you mean Xie Qingcheng stoped watching jellyfish videos because he was so traumatised thinking about He Yu drowning TvT
I do think my favourite things were when Meatbun depicted how they both felt after they made up and how they felt when they finally decided it was time to stop dancing around the feelings they knew they still had. It felt sweet and tender and while also frustrating, it was also realistic to me for them. They’ve spent so long going between different things, hurting each other, caring for each other, I feel like how their relationship finally bettered by the end of this made the most sense.
September 22, 2026
Not only does Xie Qingcheng struggle with Stockholm syndrome, I do too
Read
June 2, 2026j'arrive pas à détester, mais en même temps je peuypas dire que j'adore... j'ai l'impression de m'être fait manipuler pour que je lise tout jusqu'au bout 😔
May 16, 2026
Okay, so many things have happened here, the info drop was heavy, probably too heavy at times but that's okay ig.
He Yu and Xie Qingcheng relationship truly puts my patience to the test, but nonetheless, the last few chapters have made me realize how deeply they love each other, even though Xie Qingcheng has yet to say how he really feels. Anyway, I'll try to not pull my hair out while waiting for the last volume.
He Yu and Xie Qingcheng relationship truly puts my patience to the test, but nonetheless, the last few chapters have made me realize how deeply they love each other, even though Xie Qingcheng has yet to say how he really feels. Anyway, I'll try to not pull my hair out while waiting for the last volume.
July 9, 2026
100000⭐
Lo BONITO que ha sido este libro a nivel de la relación de He Yu y Xie Qingcheng 😭😭no puedo más porfavor, necesito su felicidad, que se casen y se vayan a una casita en el campo
Me da TANTO miedo el siguiente libro solo por la portada, todo apunta a ser la calma antes de la tormenta 🥲🥲
Las escenas de mimitos debajo de las sábanas 🥺🥺🥺esas confesiones...✨✨✨✨
Meatbun déjame ser feliz porfa
Lo BONITO que ha sido este libro a nivel de la relación de He Yu y Xie Qingcheng 😭😭no puedo más porfavor, necesito su felicidad, que se casen y se vayan a una casita en el campo
Me da TANTO miedo el siguiente libro solo por la portada, todo apunta a ser la calma antes de la tormenta 🥲🥲
Las escenas de mimitos debajo de las sábanas 🥺🥺🥺esas confesiones...✨✨✨✨
Meatbun déjame ser feliz porfa
September 4, 2026
3.5 to be exact
My feelings are all over the place at this point. At one part I'm so invested on these two but the plot is really dragging the weight of this book all over the place. Can't lie that I was skimming for a good 50% of the book. I couldn't, for the LIFE OF ME, hang on that the theme of the book majorl SHIFT INTO mecha-robotics animal war out of nowhere . (It’s not because I hate the genre, it just felt it happen OUT OF NOWHERE, with no precedent from the volumes before), everything that's been implanted since the beginning until maybe Vol 5? Felt useless cause it's all answered in one-go in the previous vol, and it's SOOO FAR OUT OF A STRETCHED to kick-off on what's going on in this vol.
Right now, I'm just enjoying and accepting that this is one of those "guilty-pleasure", trashy toxic romance kinda series. Cause many of the dialogues is just cringy that I can’t help but laugh it off 😭😭. And for the love of God, we've gotten this far IT’S ABOUT TIME BOTH OF THEM TALK DON'T Y'ALL AGREE? 🙄 Can't believe it gotten dragged on for SOO LONG and still we couldn't get that. I'm still gonna finish this series just because I just wanna see what kinda ending these people have 🤷♀️.
My feelings are all over the place at this point. At one part I'm so invested on these two but the plot is really dragging the weight of this book all over the place. Can't lie that I was skimming for a good 50% of the book. I couldn't, for the LIFE OF ME, hang on that the theme of the book majorl SHIFT INTO mecha-robotics animal war out of nowhere . (It’s not because I hate the genre, it just felt it happen OUT OF NOWHERE, with no precedent from the volumes before), everything that's been implanted since the beginning until maybe Vol 5? Felt useless cause it's all answered in one-go in the previous vol, and it's SOOO FAR OUT OF A STRETCHED to kick-off on what's going on in this vol.
Right now, I'm just enjoying and accepting that this is one of those "guilty-pleasure", trashy toxic romance kinda series. Cause many of the dialogues is just cringy that I can’t help but laugh it off 😭😭. And for the love of God, we've gotten this far IT’S ABOUT TIME BOTH OF THEM TALK DON'T Y'ALL AGREE? 🙄 Can't believe it gotten dragged on for SOO LONG and still we couldn't get that. I'm still gonna finish this series just because I just wanna see what kinda ending these people have 🤷♀️.
May 17, 2026
This volume was everything. It was so bittersweet, brutal yet, so beautiful. I loved how the different emotions were portrayed. He Yu and Xie Qingcheng's relationship is getting more and more into a healthier manner (still, it has some issues, but a bit better than before). The development is definitely noticeable.
June 2, 2026
PERFECT 💯
May 16, 2026
Out of context, seeing this cover, I was convinced it would be the most ridiculous and insane volume of bab. Meatbun on drugs, one might say, completely unhinged and unrestrained. However, as it turns out, it's not meatbun that's on drugs. It's the rest of us.
If you told me before a cover with flying mechanical horses in a modern danmei would be the absolute best choice, encompassing the soul of the book, I would have thought it bonkers. And it seems, that's the point.
In a true Meatbun fashion, volume 8 still has plenty of smut and kink (more than the previous ones, I dare say), but the story is coming together, the wisps of plot she has been building up blooming into what was her intention all along. Is Case File Compendium a self indulgent, toxic yaoi of the highest caliber of problematic? Yes. Is it a commentary on discrimination against the mentally ill, the sanitization of art, and a stance against AI, as well as too rapid advancement and spread of technology? Also, yes.
I did not expect to sit here in existential dread after reading my daily dose of toxic gay fiction, and yet here we are.
Meatbun, you did it again, and I can't wait what you have in store next.
If you told me before a cover with flying mechanical horses in a modern danmei would be the absolute best choice, encompassing the soul of the book, I would have thought it bonkers. And it seems, that's the point.
In a true Meatbun fashion, volume 8 still has plenty of smut and kink (more than the previous ones, I dare say), but the story is coming together, the wisps of plot she has been building up blooming into what was her intention all along. Is Case File Compendium a self indulgent, toxic yaoi of the highest caliber of problematic? Yes. Is it a commentary on discrimination against the mentally ill, the sanitization of art, and a stance against AI, as well as too rapid advancement and spread of technology? Also, yes.
I did not expect to sit here in existential dread after reading my daily dose of toxic gay fiction, and yet here we are.
Meatbun, you did it again, and I can't wait what you have in store next.
August 17, 2026
This novel is so dramatic like so many unnecessary plot twists. Can't take both mcs seriously, they both seem so childish and the romance between them feels so forced.
August 4, 2026
Despite some of the surreal, unbelievable aspects, this volume was still the best in terms of pacing. It was action-packed; I never once felt that it was dragging. Finally, probably because the story is nearing its end, we are getting closer to resolving the conflicts both between the MCs and the villains. So, overall, I felt this was the most interesting volume because things happened, and the plot was moving forward at last. The fact that, for the first time, He Yu wasn't hellbent on forcing himself on Xie Qingcheng and harassing and humiliating him at the same time was also a bonus.
However, the misunderstanding between them dragged on for too long and was literally only resolved at the last minute, when Xie Qingcheng finally realized that if he didn't clear the misunderstanding, he might not have another chance to do so in the future. Long after He Yu told him the truth about Anthony. This was beyond frustrating. But at least Anthony got what he deserved after He Yu found out that he lied to Xie Qingcheng and realized that must be one of the reasons for Xie Qingcheng's behaviour toward him.
It was actually sad and devastating to read when Xie Qingcheng outright told He Yu that he is "already tired of living", but I also felt a weird sense of satisfaction knowing what He Yu must have felt upon hearing this while knowing full well just how much he contributed to Xie Qingcheng feeling this way.
I'm glad that finally more emphasis was put on the investigation and the police operation in this volume. This was probably the most interesting and exciting part of the book. However, while I understand the meaning behind Xie Qingcheng wearing a police uniform with that specific number on the front, I still hated this. I mean, it sure has aesthetic reasons besides nostalgia, because he sure looks dashing in a full police uniform, and He Yu especially wanted to see him in one, so he must also be overjoyed to see him wearing one. But during a supposedly covert operation? Seriously? Shouldn't they be at least disguising themselves? So, as much as the part about the hidden operation to Mandela Island was quite interesting to read, and honestly, the best part of the whole book because it was full of action, I just couldn't take it seriously. In what world would two police officers go on a covert mission in full uniform with peaked cap and all, to an island where they have to crawl, crouch down, and hide in bushes, under trees, and stuff? Talk about inconvenient... It's even more unbelievable than all the weird serums and research ideas Duan Wen and his gang are experimenting with. Or that Xie Qingcheng not only feels the symptoms of a pregnant woman due to the serum, but is also able to lactate, or that He Yu's already special blood toxin is not only able to control others, but also able to interfere with a supposedly powerful chip planted in He Yu's heart. Or that somehow, Duan Wen made sure to install cameras all over He Yu's place that can record everything except whispering. Or that surprise, surprise, even He Yu's mother had a unique constitution, not just He Yu, and Duan Wen and his entourage actually plotted to kill her because of it by manipulating Wei Rong to do it. At this point, it's just full of unbelievable things, all put together to make us guess which one is more unbelievable than the others.
So, the whole battle on the island was an interesting read, and I rooted for Zheng Jingfeng not to die. Finally, Xie Qingcheng knows for sure that He Yu is actually a police informant and isn't actually working with Duan Wen. Which he obviously already suspected, mainly because he trusted He Yu enough that no matter how much He Yu hates him, he won't collaborate with those psycho murderers.
It was kind of a paradox to see He Yu being scared and sad, seeing Xie Qingcheng having a panic attack when his illness flared up, and telling him that what he said and did was just for Duan Wen to see, and he didn't actually want to hurt and humiliate him. When, in fact, he did actually force himself on Xie Qingcheng and humiliated him the last time they met. It was like his memory had been completely wiped clean, and he forgot what he had done. So instead of touching, it was somewhat infuriating. But I was still glad that they finally talked everything over. Not just regarding Duan Wen and his entourage, Mandela Island, but also some of their feelings as well. Now they are finally on the same page, and even though they haven't yet talked through everything, they now more or less have a better understanding of each other, and the misunderstanding between them is finally resolved as well.
The story behind why Xie Qingcheng can no longer watch jellyfish, even though it used to give him comfort, was beyond sad and devastating.
It feels like He Yu matured a lot, and I hope that he finally got rid of his maniac tendencies to force, torture, and humiliate Xie Qingcheng. It was good to see that at last Xie Qingcheng faced his feelings toward He Yu, and learned how to show and tell his feelings and emotions, and even initiated not only a kiss, but to have sex again as well. Besides all the drama and murders, there were hilarious comebacks as well. I especially liked two. One was when Xie Qingcheng grabbed He Yu's face, saying that if he was worried about pregnancy, then maybe he should let Xie Qingcheng top him. He didn't mean it, but it was still hilarious to imagine. The other was when He Yu confronted Chen Man, and after the latter accidentally fell on one knee before him, He Yu made a sarcastic comment about Chen Man being so polite, and that he didn't expect it. There were many memorable and cinematographically spectacular scenes in this volume. Basically, the battle on Mandela Island and Xie Qingcheng and Zheng Jingfeng's infiltration of the island belonged to the latter. While Xie Qingcheng kissing He Yu and telling him to have sex again, and He Yu confronting and telling off Chen Man before the lackeys of Duan Wen and then revealing to Chen Man that he is the informant belonged to the previous category. He Yu confronting Chen Man and venting his anger toward him was a really strong scene and was especially interesting to read. It clearly showed just how much Chen Man matured, and he had become a lot more likeable than he was at the beginning of the story. However, as much as I liked the very last scene, I can't help but feel unease because Xie Qingcheng not only waited for literally the last moment to tell He Yu that he never dated Chen Man, but he actually asked He Yu to wait for him to come back after talking with Duan Wen, and then they would talk everything through. This absolutely gives off an eerie feeling, as if something bad will happen that would prevent him from coming back. This wouldn't be a surprise since Duan Wen clearly already suspects that He Yu is lying.
Overall, this volume was very interesting despite many ridiculously unbelievable things added to the mix. But I'd rather read about some weirdly far-fetched plot detail than He Yu forcing himself on Xie Qingcheng and humiliating him over and over again as he did in the previous volumes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2026
OKay, this story is going on way too long. I feel like we're being tortured enough. Just let it stop.
We start off with He Yu coming back to life. He never really died, he was on the Island. Now, he's back. One of the first things he does is rape Xie Qingcheng again. Xie Qingcheng is also so sick.
Both ending up going to the island separately. This island is where the big bad is headquartered. Xie Qingcheng goes along with some police officers. The island is a Sci-fy nightmare that is 50 to 100 years ahead of the world with technology. So all sorts of hellish things are there.
Spoilers ahead.
Xie Qingcheng is captured and He Yu takes him. We find out that He Yu is an informant for the police and he's a spy. He and Xie Qingcheng start their relationship all over again. I suppose we are supposed to swoon that they are back together again, but after everything that happened, I want one of them to set boundaries and let it go. Their relationship is too toxic and I can no longer root for it. It's been too mangled to save at this point. Just stop torturing each other.
The book ends with a big battle coming next chapter. We end with Xie Qingcheng going off with the villain and they didn't speak it, but they know they each love each other. Whatever.
I will read the next volume. I want to finish the story. I was enjoying this story, but now it's too twisted and exhausting. I'm getting over it. I hope it gets better, but I'm not counting on it.
We start off with He Yu coming back to life. He never really died, he was on the Island. Now, he's back. One of the first things he does is rape Xie Qingcheng again. Xie Qingcheng is also so sick.
Both ending up going to the island separately. This island is where the big bad is headquartered. Xie Qingcheng goes along with some police officers. The island is a Sci-fy nightmare that is 50 to 100 years ahead of the world with technology. So all sorts of hellish things are there.
Spoilers ahead.
Xie Qingcheng is captured and He Yu takes him. We find out that He Yu is an informant for the police and he's a spy. He and Xie Qingcheng start their relationship all over again. I suppose we are supposed to swoon that they are back together again, but after everything that happened, I want one of them to set boundaries and let it go. Their relationship is too toxic and I can no longer root for it. It's been too mangled to save at this point. Just stop torturing each other.
The book ends with a big battle coming next chapter. We end with Xie Qingcheng going off with the villain and they didn't speak it, but they know they each love each other. Whatever.
I will read the next volume. I want to finish the story. I was enjoying this story, but now it's too twisted and exhausting. I'm getting over it. I hope it gets better, but I'm not counting on it.
May 14, 2026
for someone who claimed to hate this book i surely did finish this volume pretty quick 😭 but honestly this was a much smoother experience without the constant miscommunication. like we still have ways to go with the communication aspect but at least they aren't trying to actively make each other jealous by omitting truths or straight up lying just to get a reaction out of someone 😭 the plot is still so fuckass stupid its astonishing like the entire Mandela island metaverse shit is so??????????? like wdym they can see the island for what it is bc they're mentally ill like be so fucking fr. Also the entire pregnancy plot point is so stupid like its so painfully obvious that the entire thing was added bc meatbun wanted to satisfy her fantasies, like im sorry xqc had to inject the serum multiple times during the fight bc the effects were wearing off but once he is with he yu, even if he isn't taking the serum the side effects are getting him that horribly???? its just so fucking crazy i can't make this shit up. but other than that, i was throughly enjoying it despite the plot taking me to places i wouldn't even go with a gun
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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