I've read in another review that after reading MBFB's books and Gu Man's, Chinese web novel fans just read the other author's to fill the gap till the before-mentioned authors release new books. That is all I can mention when it comes to this. It is not that the book was bad but it just did not hold the same charm as the others. After reading the books of MBFB and Gu Man's books, it's quite hard to find something of the level as them. If you are beginner in the genre of Chinese webnovels, it is ok to give this a chance too.
Since i can't speak or read Mandarin, i need this description to remind me about the content of this book :)
From Novelupdates.com
Waiting for You in a City
“If you want still want to love, I’ll accompany you, Xu Qin.” He says with solemn tone, he looks like he makes a major decision.
”Huh?” She takes a deep breath.
“Do you still like me?” He asks directly and frankly.
Xu Qin is stunned, her heart is beating so quick like it will lose control soon.
She nods, “Yes.”
He looks at her for a long time and says: “I regret it, Xu Qin.”
She breathes: “Ah?”
”Let’s be together.” Song Yan says, “I don’t need you to do anything for me, I don’t need you to guarantee that you will be on my side in the future. If one day you want to break up, then let’s just break up. But for now, let’s be together.”
After ten years of searching, I’m still alone. It turns out I just want to be with you.
Read this after watching (most) of the drama (我的人间烟火). There were parts of each that I liked better than the other, but I would say overall this was a good read. A lot more explicit than the drama, but also a lot less CCP propaganda. 许沁 is painted as a much less likable character than in the drama, but that only accentuates 宋焰's love for her.
I got a lot of explanations in the book to questions in the drama, such as WHY 宋焰 liked 许沁 at first sight (A: because he saw through her cold facade to her fragility, and that made him feel needed); how firefighters are actually viewed by Chinese society (A: not well -- whereas the drama emphasizes the altruism and patriotism of the profession... and are very poorly paid -- which the drama never really clarifies); how 宋焰 could be strong enough to lift an entire car uphill (A: the image I got of him from the book is much more tall/strong/built than 杨洋 -- as much as I like the latter); how 宋焰 could afford that beautiful 四合院 (A: he bought it way at the beginning); what actually happens to 宋焰's job at the end (A: he does actually join 支队).
I like the book's ending better in that it doesn't try to reconcile the couple with 许沁's family. Like her dad says, 恋爱是要付代价的, and the drama's finale -- though very 圆满 -- undermines that.
One more thing I LOVED about the book was the section where 许沁 talks about 湾流会所的前台&出台公主 (ch 56). Such a vivid description of humanity's tendency to slide down the slippery slope, and so sweet of her to support 宋焰 in that particular way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The way both Xu Qin and Song Yan are mature, love, and respect each other is so beautiful!🩵I enjoyed it, especially the how they express their feelings it’s so perfect. Chinese novels are definitely something else, especially when it comes to emotions and feelings. This is my second Chinese novel that I read, and I didn’t regret it. Can't wait to find a third novel that would give me the same feelings again!🥺