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Fake Slackers [伪学渣装]

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After class placements were decided, the school’s two infamous ‘problem youth’ not only shared the same class, but the same desk.

They’re clearly good at studies, but pretend to be slackers. Fakers from head to toe who just keep walking farther down the path of their performance.

Hear on the grapevine about the two big brothers who always fight over the last place in class.

Basically, this is a serious comedy. About the little matters of growing up.

760 pages, Unknown Binding

First published December 26, 2017

125 people are currently reading
1826 people want to read

About the author

木瓜黄

35 books15 followers
微博:@炸天黄

Associated Names:
* Mu Gua Huang (English)
* 木瓜黄 (Chinese)
* มู่กวาหวง (Thai)
* Mộc Qua Hoàng (Vietnamese)

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5 stars
593 (55%)
4 stars
335 (31%)
3 stars
110 (10%)
2 stars
21 (1%)
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9 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
Profile Image for Angel.
21 reviews14 followers
June 22, 2022
All I can say is, this is my absolute favourite danmei novel up to date!

Not only did I absolutely adore both of the leads but class 3 as a whole just stole my heart. As the story starts off it might seem a little slow to show where the author wants to take it, but I honestly loved the detailed opening. It doesn't jump straight into the romance and actually builds up a good plot for all characters to come in play when needed. The strong opening of Black Water street really makes you feel connected to all its reoccurring characters and makes you feel excited when they return later on in the book.

As for the main characters, seeing He Zhao and Xie Yu change from two outcasts, both struggling behind the scenes, to just teenagers acknowledging their problems on top of the acceptance of their fellow students, while being hopelessly in love, was heartwarming. We see how their entire relationship builds up from strangers, desk mates, competitors, boyfriends and in the end even roommates. Seeing their amazing character development both individually as together makes me as a reader feel so invested in their story and it's easy to care for them.

Now let's talk about class 3 for a minute. At first class 3 is your simple basic high school class. Some people are close whereas others would rather not speak to you at all (He Zhao & Xie Yu I'm looking at you). However we gradually get to see class 3 turn into the close friend group we all wished we had in high school. It doesn't matter if you are the jock, joker, student president or a fake slacker, class 3 has a spot for you where you fit right in.
While talking about class 3 we obviously we cannot forget our old teacher Tang. Lord did that man warm my heart with the way he teaches and cares about his students. I have to admit, he left me in tears at certain parts. Old Tang is the perfect example of a selfless teacher that never gives up on his students no matter how hopeless they seem to be. These actions coming from someone who used to teach at an elite school really does show his character and how he really cares about students rather than the superiority his function gives him.

Overall this novel made me feel a lot of things, all happy of course, and it will be hard for another novel to take its place as my favourite, a well deserving 5/5.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Angel (๑❛ᴗ˂̵)〜☆.
256 reviews73 followers
September 29, 2022
SLOWBURN ✔️ HOOKED ✔️
I honestly did not expect to love this story so much. The number of times I've died to 謝俞 and 賀朝😭 although 賀朝's dad 老賀 was only featured in a few chapters, he has become one of my favorite characters in this novel💀
The story picks up fast towards the end of volume 1, I enjoyed reading about their young, fun, immature carefree days
I absolutely loved reading about 謝俞, 賀朝, and class 3's day-to-day life, I laughed A LOT LMAO
not going to expand on class 3, i see a lot of reviews already highly praising class three and the beloved Old Tang
"賀朝賀朝
謝俞謝俞
百年好合!!!"
看完了!感覺心裡空蕩蕩的༎ຶ‿༎ຶ
in short, the amount of 謝俞 and 賀朝 is not enough for me, the extras most certainly did not fully satisfy my greedy fujoshi heart, I also would've liked to see Class 3's reaction when they hear the news that the two are dating lmao, they'd probably be speechless at first then the shock will pass after a short while because deep inside they all already had suspicions because there were so many hints lmao
this novel has summoned my inner Chinese
Profile Image for Just a tiny mochiiiii.
119 reviews7 followers
July 19, 2022
Like a miracle, a possibility had linked them together.
This had such a nice premise. Two school tyrants who were actually very intelligent competing for the last place. Both the characters reminded me of You Huo and Qin Jiu from GUEE. They actually behaved the same way. Xie Yu, being the stubborn, cold, go away vibed guy like You Huo and He Zhao, being cool, flirty, showy, blinded by love(he was a little masochistic too😂) like Qin Jiu. The writing was pretty accessible. The most important thing that stood out to me about the story were the characters and their interactions. It was soooo good. The jokes were on point. This book can be considered as having no plot on the main line. But damn the high school thing really hits hard. I have just completed my high school and I was too staying in dorm like the characters so I felt nostalgic and for the last few chapters, I kept thinking back to my school life and friends.

As Old Tang and Dean Jiang say: The future contain endless possibilities. With courage, go on to even further places.
This line broke me. It gave me courage that I can be something or someone in the future. These teachers were so nice even though they were strict.

Let's go together. To somewhere even further away.
Their romance isn't over the top. They were very subtle in their love. I liked the fact that the author didn't make romance the main factor of this book.

Lastly, I loved the book very much. It wasn't like 'Omg what did I just read? It was so good.' No. This was more like 'Wow, that was a journey.'

Let me end this review with a quote from the extras. Such a great way to propose your partner. Do guys like He Zhao even exist!?
"This year I plan to give a ring, the type you wear on your ring finger, the kind where you do not remove for the rest of your life. Will my little friend accept it?"
Profile Image for Asia.
663 reviews26 followers
March 21, 2021
Some time ago I started reading the manga version and a lot of people's comments were to go and read the novel, so I did that. I enjoyed it a lot! A lot of fun, soft and cute moments :)
Profile Image for Stacie.
340 reviews36 followers
Read
June 8, 2024
I read the novel of this but it’s not on Goodreads so I’m using the manga version. I really don’t think High School danmei is for me. The overall story was enjoyable but I found myself a little bored with all the school events and the group chats between the students. The relationship between Xie Yu and He Zhao was the only thing that kept me wanting to finish this book. The confession scene was my favorite part ❤️
Profile Image for Xantababy.
250 reviews30 followers
June 2, 2023
Fake Slackers had been on my to-read list since last year but only decided to read it now after reading Beyond The Outline. The ML and MC of Fake Slackers made an appearance on Beyond The Outline and their characters piqued my interest.

Xie Yu and He Zhao’s characters in the novel were a bit different from their appearance as extras in Beyond The Outline. At first, I got a bit confused, wondering if they had a switch. But after checking the novel tags, I didn’t find any “fantasy” tag listed.

The plot of the novel was very common, a typical school genre danmei novel with exaggeration. Story-wise, I found it to be average. What kept me going was the characters’ personalities and the strong bond they had with their classmates.

Though the speed of the progress was inconsistent, the story pace was just right. There was no up-and-down, heart-thumping scene. It was smooth-sailing as if following a straight line. Only the conversations and He Zhao’s extraordinary shamelessness kept it going. Some of He Zhao’s actions truly made me laugh out loud but that’s about it.

There was a fanfiction at the end of the novel, and I’m not really sure if it was really a fanfiction or just a way to escape censorship. Now that fanfiction was hot, adding enough spice to the story, completing my imagination.

PS. This a review for both vol 1 & 2 of the ebook.
Profile Image for noelia.
50 reviews6 followers
October 5, 2024
terminé esta lectura con el corazón cálido pero a la vez desconsolado gritando ME AND WHO!!!

que lectura tan preciosa y graciosa, es una caricia al alma, simplemente dos chavales vibing en su burbujita y enamorándose el uno del otro creando situaciones muy caóticas <3 he zhao eres lo más precioso del mundo
23 reviews
August 6, 2020
This is the first part of lovely slice-of-live school life romance, which is particularly refreshing because the two main leads really try too hard at being cool in their own, different ways. He Zhao is shamelessly happy about always getting last place in the class rankings, and Xe Yun really desperately tries to beat him at the bottom--only they also met online and compete about who gets first place finishing the most exam questions, and then again during a street fight their friends got them into. Later, they grow up, but their motivations are suitably teenage-ish and juvenile. It's adorable.

Really, most of the drama in this story could have been resolved by talking about what they are doing/feeling much earlier, and much of my pleasure reading came from them not talking about what they were doing/feeling. All the characters in this story felt real, with their own motivations, and (contrary to most school life stories I've read) even the evil teachers are enjoyable as characters.

(My favourite part is that the dress-up game Love Nikki plays a major part, in that not only does HEZhao play it with passion, their new teacher also tries to use it as a motivational tool.)
274 reviews54 followers
September 19, 2021
Cute story about high-school life and first love. I was not convinced about the whole pretending-to-be-poor-students affair, but the writing is very funny, and brings back a lot of memories of high school days. Recommended for YA romance fans.
Profile Image for Celia.
484 reviews23 followers
Read
March 26, 2022
No la pienso puntuar. Creo que sí la hubiera encontrado unos años antes me habría gustado, ahora me resulta tediosa que estén todo el rato estudio esto estudio lo otro.
He leído novelas antes de este estilo y me han gustado pero porque tenían más cosas a parte de las clases y exámenes.
Llevo más de 30 caps y me aburre mucho, ya llevo como dos intentos de lectura y no hay manera, tampoco me gusta la forma de escribir del autor, hay frases sin sentido.
Profile Image for Salomé s 乂♡.
85 reviews4 followers
November 18, 2024
Me faltan unas 200 páginas para terminarlo pero desde ya le doy 5 estrellas‼️
Soy la más fans de he zhao y xie yu,,,
Profile Image for Declan Nguyen.
8 reviews
August 11, 2025
somtimes i just wanna bash some ppl up and not worry abt the concequences... yh this is that and more about the comedy in growing up with and without a brain.
Profile Image for annie.
134 reviews7 followers
January 26, 2021
"He probably hadn’t understood very well how to interact with other people.

Only He Zhao—only this idiot—made him want to get closer, and then closer still."

woah. this year, i felt like i wanted my first read to be warm and sweet, romantic and light-hearted. i had no idea, however, just how wonderful it would be. if i'm being honest, i'm not the biggest fan of high school settings or coming-of-ages. these are, by far, some of the tropes i feel less interested in. BUT!!!! fake slackers is definitely the greatest exception in the world.
from beginning to end, i felt so involved, so close to the characters and so close to their stories. i felt the love between them, not only xie yu and he zhao, whom i love so much, but the entire class 3 and their friends and family. misunderstandings are written very reasonably here, and the development of their own motives to become "fake slackers" was so satisfying.
zhaoyu's love story feels like a breath of fresh air. they have this very interesting dynamic, and it never gets boring, with all the flirting and the realization of feelings. they're very romantic and extremely believable at the same time. i wish i could tell them how in love with their love i am.
that being said, i'm truly mesmerized by this novel, and i have no words to describe how glad i am that i decided to read it. starting 2021 with such a great story is way better than i expected.
Profile Image for kay! ☾.
507 reviews168 followers
February 3, 2024
⋆。 ゚☁︎︎ 。 ✧ ⋆ ★ ★ ★ ★ 🍓。 ゚☾ ゚。 ⋆

”he wasn’t sure where to put his hands, he didn’t dare look directly at that person, yet a voice in his heart continued to shout. he, likes, xie yu. not that sort of like. that sort of like. whenever he saw him, his heart filled up. afraid to win, yet afraid to lose. not grounded at all, with the lingering feeling that somewhere within him still remained empty. that sort of like.”


i fully understand why everyone keeps on saying to read fake slackers i immediately started to love xie yu and he zhao the moment they were introduced, they were so endearingly silly 🥺


this vol. was pretty slow but that’s a given considering it’s school life/slice of life but those are my favorite genres so i was honestly having a blast. toward the end it started to pick up more once zhaoyu began to realize their feelings.


i read this on the translators website so idk how the volumes were divided but i’m assuming this one contained the first 50%/56 chapters! i’m so excited for the second half because xie yu and he zhao constantly dish out fluff at every chapter and they just make me so happy 😭
Profile Image for mohbar⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪.
127 reviews2 followers
April 7, 2025
i finally understand why everyone said to read fake slackers!!
so cute i was so excited for everyone to find out that they were actually geniuses
this book had me giggling and kicking my feet it was so fluffy and i didnt want to stop reading it would def recommend to anyone who wants a slice of life romance<33
Profile Image for iara ♡.
82 reviews2 followers
February 28, 2021
absolutamente perfeito tudo que eu precisava ler agora sério eles são tudo e fizeram tudo agora que eu acabei eu sou a pessoa mais triste do mundo sem absolutamente nenhuma alegria na minha vida i just want them back

he zhao te amo
Profile Image for lu.
92 reviews16 followers
July 22, 2020
he zhao te amo
Profile Image for sofía .
267 reviews20 followers
February 8, 2021
this was so cute the first danmei that didn't give me brain damage only fluff and the comedy kings xie yu and he zhao!!
Profile Image for Pau Rodríguez.
32 reviews1 follower
May 26, 2021
4.5. {Spoiler free}
“Let’s take care of each other in the future, desk mate.” I don’t exactly know how to describe my feelings towards this novel. It has a slice-of-life style and narrative, and though sometimes this kind of genre can turn out as slow and boring, I absolutely loved it.
I think it has really well-written characters, who are realistic and show a good character development throughout their high school life — focusing on their second year -. The MCs are absolutely amazing, I equally enjoyed both Xie Yu and He Zhao; they have such good relationship development, starting as strangers, then desk mates, and finishing as lovers. They grow up so much throughout the story, while facing their own personal problems and coming to terms with them, without any sad backstory that creates additional drama. It is just a pure boy’s life novel. The writer does not rush nor take too long while developing their love, and I found it so beautiful and pure that I could cry right here right now out of happiness.
It is important to mention the secondary characters, both their classroom teacher and their classmates, who are such an amazing addition to the story and to the MCs’ lives, and who I absolutely loved and had fun with while reading. I think they turn out to be amazing friends, who really take care of each other.
Overall, I do not think this is a book that everyone can enjoy, but I do think that it is a book so beautiful that it is worth reading, or at least try to.
I’m going to miss them so much! Thank you Mu Gua Huang for creating a story that I enjoyed from beginning to end.
Profile Image for Iulia.
390 reviews
February 10, 2025
This story made me reminisce and I loved it very much.

It's exactly what the summary says but I didn't expect them to not know that the other is faking his idiocy until later on.

Their relationship was very natural and wholesome. I couldn't help but think "Ah, young love" a few times. I usually don't pick up coming of age stories or slice of life in general but when I do it's a gem like this one.

The supporting characters were also outstanding and they added more to the story.
Profile Image for halia.
277 reviews1 follower
February 26, 2023
says there r two volumes and i’m more than halfway through the chapters so i’m marking this as finished… like. jesus christ guys!!!!!

xie yu <3 my fav. he is so me. and he zhao is so funny AND THEYRE SO FUNNY i love them this is so ridiculous.

this is very not well articulated. but. yeah.
Profile Image for Myukii.
128 reviews5 followers
May 29, 2022
4.5⭐️ Voy en la mitad de libro y ya lo amo, He Zhou Y Xie Yu mi papis 🫶🏽 LAHXJZKZ cuando termine la novela completa haré un reseña más general 🫡
Profile Image for Nerea.
731 reviews33 followers
July 10, 2023
Very slow burn love story about two students with bad reputation that end up sitting together! So cute!
Profile Image for Rosie49%.
149 reviews
May 28, 2025
Yeah definitely my most fun and funny read, I Love them both sm kyaaaaaaa, they're my children!!!!!!!!
Profile Image for Mai Mai.
79 reviews8 followers
July 23, 2023
hải vải, cũng cute, đặc biệt simp Hạ Triều =))
Profile Image for ⋆ ࣪˖ ִֶָ   sel  ་༘࿐.
956 reviews22 followers
September 19, 2023
Volume 1: (1-61)

Really interesting so far. The way "friendship" is shown here in many forms and representations makes my heart warm. Especially Xie Yu's and Zhou Dalei's, and He Zhao's and Shen Jie's. Class 2.3 is such a rowdy but very kind class. Everyone is so funny and youthful, I love that.

We have seen a glimpse on why He Zhao is a "fake slacker," and I can't wait for Xie Yu's. I think his is much bigger than just about his family's situation, or is it just that?

He Zhao and Xie Yu as boyfriends is something I never knew I needed. Young love is so nice! I'm happy for them!

Volume 2: (62-112+)

I really love Class 3. The way they are cherishing each other in their own silly little ways takes me back in my high school days. These stages of one's life really leaves something in you. The warmth of everyone's laughter, the terrors that comes with examinations, the issues your block faces, and many other moments: they will always follow you. It's so nice to experience such youth.

Apparently, Xie Yu's reason is really domestic. He's a very good child, as much as He Zhao is. I was literally shaking in my boots—because of excitement—when they decided not to "gradually improve." Our two big bros really usurped the rankings. I'm glad they've set foot on where they should be once again.

This is a very lighthearted story. It was short, sweet, and to the point. There's no really big plot twists, but despite that, I found this very enjoyable. With all the highschool musings, and silly little bickerings our pair showed to us, they definitely won my heart.

I'm glad I'm reading this as I'm facing my new semester. It helped me breathe for a moment.

“And someone told me that they felt confused about the future and uncertain,” Old Tang said. “That’s not confusion… silly kids, your futures contain endless possibilities.” [4.25 ⭐]
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