super cute and sweet slice-of-life with very endearing characters (that sometimes were not endearing at times but ultimately still lovely)
i had mixed feelings about the MC due to his naivety sometimes being less adorable and more frustrating but ultimately the main pairing was cute, the friendship group was hilarious, the MC parents were the sweetest things ever, and the shift between fluff & angst was well done. overall this was just a nice and quick read that i thoroughly enjoyed! i’m going to miss the characters and wish that the novel went on longer to cover certain plot points but at least what we got + the extras was enough fluff to leave me satisfied
The beginning was very strong, and I liked the progression of Gu Qinan slowly regaining his vitality after being bullied and being able to enjoy his spring youth with Zhan Ming, Wu Yuan, and Lin Xiaobin. As much as it was a danmei, it was also a story about friendship, which made it that much more light and refreshing. There was angst, but by supporting each other, the characters grew together and became happier.
Honestly I picked up this novel because it looked short and I enjoy stories in a school setting, but it was super sweet. Both Gu Qinan and Zhan Ming really grew on me, especially GQN once you see him start to come out of his shell and revert back to his regular personality.
Gu Qinan transfers from an elite high school to the very regular No. 7 high school to escape some pretty severe bullying. At the new school, he sits in the only open desk next to the 1.9 m school delinquent, Zhan Ming, and slowly becomes part of their gang as brother #3. Initially he's very closed off and doesn't talk to anyone, but slowly he starts opening at least to ZM & co and eventually his bubbly personality returns.
**Warning: Spoilers Ahead**
After GQN's transfer, he still runs into problems with bullies, as there's a really idiotic class bully called Wang Yue who makes trouble for him sometimes, as well as his former classmates who come all the way to the new school to continue bullying him, but luckily ZM is there now to help take care of things. No wonder GQN from the start is so enamored with ZM... he's like his knight in shining armor who always shows up at the right time to protect GQN.
The relationship doesn't just go one way though. ZM protects GQN from bullying, but as a math prodigy and a study god, GQN also inspires the whole gang to start caring about their grades and studying harder, especially as they enter their last year of high school and the college exam looms over everyone's heads. Reading about GQN happily doing homework and practice problems in his free time and getting really excited about it is somehow super cute. And then he starts dragging ZM into it too, like doing studying together at the McDonald's! That definitely made me smile.
When we finally get the back story of why GQN was bullied at his old school after the appearance of my least favorite character, Lin Shida, I was so mad. How can someone be so cruel and spread so many malicious lies about about the person they like and then come up to them later and lightly apologize and still expect to be forgiven (and maybe he was still hoping together with GQN as well)?? This was the most hypocritical behavior:
“I think he’s awful.”
“I have transferred schools already, but the first thing he told me when he found me was that he didn’t expect things to become so serious. It wasn’t what he wanted.”
“Because he was afraid that others would doubt him, he made up a lot of lies. In the experimental class, he told others that he hated me.”
“But when he came looking for me privately, he said that he still likes me and hoped that I would forgive him.”
Lin Shida deserved every bit of what GQN served him; revenge never felt so sweet. I was cheering at how smart GQN was to carry around two hidden voice recorders at any point just to catch LSD in the act, and he whipped it out at the perfect time in front of his parents and the No. 1 high school principal to expose him for his true self. Once ZM found out about the situation, he was super sweet to escort GQN to his cram school every weekend so that he can protect him from LDA.
And then there's Zhan Ming. His family situation is really sad (I can't believe his family makes him sleep on the balcony or something because there's no space??), so no wonder he started getting into fights and skipping school. He starts opening up to GQN the night they go camping, when they tell each other a little about their respective personal situations, and as GQN learns more, it brings out his caring side. He has such a sweet reaction:
“And I can only accept it, because they are my only remaining family members.” Zhan Ming said, looking at the gradually lit streetlight. “I have to go back.”
Because there was nowhere else to go.
Zhan Ming left, his back turned towards Gu Qinan. He waved his hand, seeming like the tall and cool Zhan-ge.
But Gu Qinan had an impulse—he wanted to roll Zhan-ge until he became small, put him in his backpack, and take him away. He wanted to bring him back home, give him a warm light, a soft bed, and a happy home.
After GQN realizes his feelings, I was surprised by how quickly and straightforwardly he confesses to ZM. I thought he'd be a little bit more shy but he was bursting to the seams with excitement first to confess and then to chase ZM; it was actually really cute. Too bad ZM (understandably) has a bit of an inferiority complex and doesn't think he's a good match for GQN at all. The entire time he was in doubt, I was thinking, "Noooooo don't sell yourself short Zhan Ming!"
Gu Qinan was suitable for better people, and Zhan Ming knew that. Zhan Ming also knew that there were many outstanding people who liked Gu Qinan.
Regardless of whether it was a boy or a girl, he won’t ever get a chance.
Probably because he was the first person Gu Qinan met after transferring, and he was the first person to lend a helping hand after he was bullied for more than half a year, so Gu Qinan admired him very much—this, he also knew. But how long can this kind of adoration that came from admiration last?
After all, he had nothing. Besides fighting, he doesn’t know how to do anything.
But finally GQN wore him down and he could no longer fight against both GQN's feelings and his own:
Zhan Ming was also a little dizzy.
He restrained for a long time, and endured for a long time, but failed in the end.
Because there was a person who liked him so much, it felt really good. Since grandma passed away, this was the first time he felt that there was someone who could put him at ease and calm him down.
He restrained for a long time, scared that he was too frightening. He was afraid that he would treat Gu Qinan’s love as a driftwood when he was drowning—holding on to it without letting go; frightening Gu Qinan.
But now he couldn’t hold back anymore. He could only hold on to his precious tightly and never let him go again.
So yeah. GQN and ZM are the sweetest couple!! But I'd be remiss if I didn't mention brothers #1 and #2 in their little group as well. I thought both Wu Yuan and Lin Xiaobin were pretty fleshed out as side characters. I was rooting for WY to get his crush, especially when it seemed like it might've been reciprocal, and LXB is the most clueless guy ever. It was actually pretty hilarious to read one of the side stories at the end where WY straight up tells him that GQN and ZM are together and LXB doesn't believe him XP
I will end my review with one of GQN's lines that made me chuckle. He's standing up to Wang Yue, the class bully, on ZM's behalf and comes up with a very GQN line:
“You like Qiu Ranying, yet you don’t dare to admit it? On what basis does a trash like you have to chase Qiu Ranying?”
Gu Qinan rushed in front of Zhan Ming and yelled: “You are the one that’s trash, and it’s the non-recyclable harmful trash!”
it's very sweet, but still somewhat grounded in reality with the way ML struggles with life. the pacing deteriorated a bit in the end though and the MC is just a touch too naive for my liking.
3.5⭐ When will adults start taking school bullying more seriously? Especially today with the emergence of cyber bullying! It makes the prospect of bringing a child into this world then sending them to school even more terrifying...
The bullying was heartbreaking. Seeing GQN bouncing back was such a relief. ZM's suffering and quasi-non existing self-esteem just added to the heartbreak. Luckily their story was so sweet and their friends were so hilarious..
it was a pretty short and simple story but i still enjoyed it, maybe because the tear-inducing angst was balanced well with the heart-melting sweetness ps. why are hp references more common in chn books than even in western ones 😭
I thought this story was wonderfully cute and fairly realistic. It touched on bullying, how two people in a relationship can mutually pull each other up, and the beauty / sorrow of family.
I think the romance is very sweet, though I don't really understand why the ml gave up on his life originally - I think it is a rather realistic portrayal of the heightened angst teenagers go through, where everything feels overwhelming. He's actually being much more mature than others at that age - recognizing what others actually owe or not owe him clearly (most teenagers assume everyone owes them everything)
You guys this story was so damn sweet it gave me a cavity. I loved all of the characters. Well, the characters around the main characters that is. They were all so different and sweet. I will start with the main characters. Gu Qinan aka Xiao Nanzai: He is a sweetheart and very determined in succeeding. I love his open personality. How anyone could have bullied him that badly is atrocious but he was such a loving character that I couldn't help but smile. He absolutely took care of everything to help his friends and boyfriend succeed. He also was the brains of the four. He had a very straightforward personality and he loved to learn. One thing I would have to say that made my heart and brain proud was when he realized his own personal mistakes and acknowledged when he was wrong. He was also the youngest person in his senior class because he skipped some grades. It must suck when the youngest person in the class is smarter than you. Zhan Ming aka Zhan-ge: He was absolutely the best type of boyfriend. He was willing to let Nanzai go to study abroad because he didn't want to be the reason he was held back. He was a bit of a delinquent in the beginning actually honestly I don't even call him that but he had a troubled past, to say the least, that made him a bit anti-social he only had two friends before Nanzai came around. He was respectful to the people he deemed deserved it or he would just ignore people. He only fought a few times and he was VERY protective over Nanzai before they even became friends. I thought it was very sweet because Zhan Ming was exactly what Nanzai needed so he could come out of his shell. Now the sad thing is that he was very insecure with his feelings for Nanzai. He thought he didn't deserve Nanzai because they were from different walks of life which is something I can understand and he really wanted to make his family like him especially when they were finally out to Nanzai's parents. It was so sweet. Now his background story is very sad as well but for family reasons not school reasons.
Now the two friends... I'm going to start with the funnier of the two.
Lin Xiaobin aka Bin-ge: He is the token idiot of the group. He really is oblivious of the things around him but he is so sweet and caring and amusing so you just ignore the fact that he is an idiot. But he is the one that would be the first to express his displeasure of something. He is also the most talkative. The four of them have a group chat and he would literally text everyone just to play games or to complain. He could go on a tangent forever. I liked him though because he was very sweet and cared a lot about his friends. He was also the last to know about the two main leads being together.
Wu Yuan aka Yuan-ge: He was actually the smarter one out of the three of them until Zhan Ming started studying like crazy so he could be good enough for Nanzai. But he was the only other character that ended up in a relationship by the end of the book he liked a girl from the next class which was also one of the focal points of fights happening with one of the kids in the class but you have to read that to find out who I'm talking about. But he usually is the one to rein in Lin Xiaobin especially at the end. But the person I would say he is closest to is Lin Xiaobin but he also had to keep him from interrupting the couple quite frequently. He is the one to notice that the two were dating without them even saying anything. He is very rare to anger but did get mad twice and fought twice. Granted he very liked by the teachers because he doesn't start trouble but sure as hell finishes it. He was an awesome component to the group that was very much needed.
I’ll Have My Seatmate Beat You is exactly the kind of danmei that makes you kick your feet and grin at your phone. This one is so cuteeeee, and it absolutely delivered on the cozy, character-driven vibes I was hoping for.
What I loved most is watching GQN literally bloom throughout the story. It’s such a joy to see him come into his own—gaining confidence, finding his voice, and stepping into his light in ways that feel earned, gentle, and deeply satisfying. His growth isn’t rushed; it unfolds naturally alongside the relationships that slowly wrap around him.
And then there’s ZM and his so-called “gang of delinquents.” The way these tough-on-the-outside characters completely melt into soft, fiercely protective allies over GQN is just chef’s kiss. It’s a beautiful found-family dynamic that balances humor, loyalty, and quiet tenderness perfectly. You don’t expect the school’s resident troublemakers to be this emotionally open and openly affectionate, but Kao Kao writes them with so much warmth that it never feels out of character—just refreshingly wholesome.
The friendship at the heart of this story is what truly got me hooked. It’s not just about romance or school life; it’s about the quiet moments of support, the inside jokes, the protective instincts, and the way a group of misfits becomes a home. The pacing is light, the tone stays consistently upbeat, and the character chemistry is absolutely undeniable.
This novel brought up so many emotions in me. I am a sucker for soft healthy romance and these two are the definition of it. From the way they put each others education first, their relationship with family and the fact that they're both pretty scared teenagers it's all a lot to take in. However this story is so realistically written and portrays it's characters so well that you feel yourself wanting to cry and laugh with them each and every time something happens.
The past trauma's and homophobia our MC had to suffer from hurt, a lot! And the living situation of our oh so sweet ML made my blood absolutely boil. These two kids deserved so much more than what the world gave them and I am so happy that they found it in each other.
The friend group had a funny but most importantly comforting dynamic, there was no toxicity or anything like it. This makes you love them so much you kinda forget which ones the story is truly about. Besides that this novel also gives you characters you will absolutely despise. Now you might not like this at first but it's refreshing to see an actual 'villain' be inserted in school setting danmei.
In the end I have given this a solid 5/5 bc there was simply nothing for me to hate about this novel. I'll definitely put this on my reread list for when I need some fluffy healthy relationships.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Đó là cái tựa mà cũng là câu hay nhất trong toàn truyện này. Cố Kỳ Nam chuyển trường năm 11 từ Nhất Trung sang Thất Trung, vì cậu bị bully (lý do là gì đọc thì sẽ rõ mình không muốn spoil), vốn tưởng sẽ trải qua 2 năm còn lại trong địa ngục ở một trường kém cỏi, bạn bè thì lười biếng, lại còn ngồi cùng bàn với 1 tên đầu gấu, ấy vậy mà Cố Kỳ Nam rất vui. Triển Minh, Ngô Uyên và Lâm Tiểu Bân là một nhóm học sinh dốt hết sức điển hình, trong giờ học thì ngủ, trong giờ ngủ chơi game, giờ thể dục thì nằm ườn, giờ tự học thì trốn, gặp ai ghét thì đánh, vậy thôi. Ấy vậy mà 3 người gặp 1 tên nhóc con chuyển trường, số phận từ đó cũng đổi thay. Mình thích truyện này nhất ở chi tiết tả rất thật vấn đề bully trong lớp, đến tận cuối cùng bọn người đi bully người khác vẫn tỏ ra thượng đẳng, vẫn 1 mực nghĩ rằng cái tên bị mình bully “là hoàn toàn xứng đáng” chứ không phải vì nhân cách mình thua cả cái bộ phận sinh dục của giống cái. Cố Kỳ Nam đến cuối cùng vẫn không tha thứ cho bọn chúng, cậu vùng lên, giành lấy công bằng cho bản thân mình, còn ai muốn phản kháng hả “tui bảo bạn cùng bàn của tui đánh mấy người!” Một bộ thanh xuân vườn trường rất ngắn, vui, và hay. Mình thích “Anh Bân tiến lên phía trước” nhất, xanh nonnnn :))))))) bạn dịch bộ này dịch cực kì hay, mỗi nhân vật bạn ấy cho một cách nói chuyện riêng luôn, đỉnh!
This book made my heart ache so many times, but then I was hit was fluff and laughter because of the characters' antics lol.
Gu Qinan had to transfer schools due to excessive bullying. His gradual transformation from a gloomy, quiet kid to a confident and curious little baby was heartbreaking but satisfying. Nurtured by Zhan Ming's trust and his friend group's easy-going friendship, Gu Qinan was like a sunflower that was meant to bloom into the most dazzling flower.
Zhan Ming's family issues were also heartbreaking. He had to mature at a young age and tried to make things easier for his family among his grief and disappointment, but nothing ever seems to make them happy. I felt so bad for him near the end because it's obvious that he's stifling his own happiness because he thinks it's better for Gu Qinan.
The villains are disgusting, and you'll hate them from the get-go. I really hate his previous bullies. I feel like there should have been more revenge taken against them lol.
However, I love his friend group. Because of one of their crushes, Zhan Ming has so many scandals lol. And Lin Xiaobin is so dense it's hilarious!
ITS SO WHOLESOME??? ML and MC are so cute, the side CP is also very cute, Lin ge's Eq is a bit concerning but hes a straight man anyway so it makes sense ig. good balance of fluff and angst. The naiveness of MC makes sense, but its not too bad and he has a solid amount of common sense most of the time. ML needs more hugs. I just wanna give him a hug man. He's fine now though since he has MC to give him hugs whenever he wants now~
if i had to find something to complain about it'd be that Wang Yue (one of the antagonists ig) wasn't really punished enough in my opinion. The MC's past classmates really didnt get punished that much either? but i do have a grudge that the School really didnt face that much repercushions (?) other than a loss of reputation for a bit. But its realistic to how something like that would work irl so i cant get too mad ig.
Solid quick read 10/10 would recommend, i welcome you to join the Styuding CP club
Short, nice and fluffy it was pretty realistic.I especially liked the development and growth of the characters; as well as the realistic portrayal of some scenes. The relationship between the leads is so good it was easy for me to imagine them still deeply in love decades later. They don't have unrealistically perfect communication but they both respect each other so much. The relationship development is done extremely naturally and realistically, never too rushed or forced. In short this novel is a very satisfying and heart warming read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Qué lindos mi niños, amé mucho ver como progresaban en su relación y crecían juntos como personas. En general la relación entre los 4 amigos se me hizo muy linda, cómo se apoyaban mutuamente y sin juzgarse. De por sí adoro los romances escolares donde muestran su vida en el futuro, me encantó verlos tan llenos de amor incluso después de tantos años de estar juntitos 💕
El extra omegaverse me dejó con ganas de leer toda la historia en ese universo 🤭
god so good, overall really fluffy with angst sprinkled in but not too much, characters (two main characters and the two most important side characters) are all super likeable and well written, friendship and relationship dynamic between those characters were great, very healing read honestly, pacing and plot were good and so was the translation
it's a bittersweet story.the struggle and conflict that MC and ML through are real in our society.MC struggle from bullying in his former school.ML struggle to survive from his scum uncle.nobody born to be perfect but together they are perfect
Cute! I think the ending dragged a bit as the mystery around the main characters were needlessly drawn out, but overall enjoyed and loved their ending.