I started reading this only because I wanted context for the adaptation. After all, the book is so long, and the adaptation has only 9 episodes, but I ended up absolutely loving it.
Both their development over the course of the book, especially Chusan's was crazy. I did not expect the last 40 or so chapters to be the way they did. I was completely taken aback by everything that happened.
The second couple was pretty irrelevant to me, and I do not care about them in the book any more than I do in the show. I loved Dongdong, Xiao Ma, and Chusan's family, though.
If I were not juggling this book with a thousand other things, I would probably finish this in half the time it took me to read it.
The complex story lines, and the good vs evil twists were pretty well written. Even the side couples are very well written and provided a lot of the funny moment in the book. Very interesting to see how the TV adaptation will play out, and how may side couples will came out. I am so looking forward to see Jade Goddess, that most interesting character in the book. Their story line stands out the most for me.