Hui Nan Que (回南雀) is the author of several famous titles in the danmei fandom. Her works include Flying Gulls Never Land, Green Plum Island, The Selfish Gene, Old Injury, to name a few. I've read the four titles mentioned before reading Very, Very, Dislike, and all of them received a favorable rating from me. From the beginning, my expectations for this novel are already set high.
The novel was truly an enjoyable read right from the start. Mi Xia, the main character, possesses a humor-filled personality, making his character exceptionally amusing. The struggle of the internal voice in his head cracked me up quite a lot of times. Despite facing challenges, his sense of humor remains intact no matter what, and I find that admirable. Yet, the cringe-worthy moments became overwhelming for me. His continuous embarrassing actions made me pause for a few seconds each time, contemplating whether I should just quickly skim through that part or not.
Well, I still braved through it in the end. There were a lot of details hidden within the context that may seem irrevant but were actually crucial points in the story; and I didn’t want to miss any of it. Similar to the scattered clues related to the mystery of his dreams that were woven into the narrative. I'm relieved I read the story meticulously, barely skimming through any parts.
The novel provided an educational experience as well by introducingthe traditions, beliefs, and way of life of the Gams, one of China's ethnic minorities. It was intriguing for me since I've always been interested in learning more about ethnic minorities. I am uncertain whether the information was accurate but with how detailed it was, at least it seems the author did her research by visiting their communities, and perhaps had personal connections with someone from that ethnic group.
The author's choice to depict the main lead, He Nan Yuan, as half Gam was clever. It portrayed a character in between two worlds. Not only did she introduce the Gams to readers but also provided a hopeful perspective that ethnic minorities could improve their way of life, adapt to the modern world and benefit from modern technology. Subtly, it served as a reminder to consider donating to ethnic minorities. I know there may be some political issues with relation to the Chinese government and ethnic minorities of China, however, I don’t want to touch upon that topic. What I discussed is primarily based on the narrative, intended to be seen as a fantasy, yet with lessons that readers might contemplate applying in real life.
Setting that aside, the romance between Mi Xia and He Nan Yuan was intriguing. It followed the enemy-to-lover trope, and more often than not, the characters faced unexpected challenges. Their love didn't emerge from a single significant event but rather through a series of small encounters; and I like that. Despite anticipating angst like most of the author’s novels, I found myself laughing all throughout. The events between them unfolded quite unexpectedly and none of my guesses turned out to be correct. I have to admit, their thirst for each other was a whole new level. In contrast to Mi Xia, who was quite straightforward with his desire in the narrative, He Nan Yuan was much more subtle, requiring readers to read between the lines to fully understand.
The novel reached the end before I knew it, and I was so thankful for the extras. The conclusion of the main story was undeniably unsatisfying, resembling a cliffhanger. It left me pondering what unfolded afterward, and the extras provided precisely that resolution. I've never been as grateful for an author's inclusion of extras as much as I have been for this novel. The extras perfected the story and provided me with a proper sense of closure. I hope someone undertakes the English translation for this, although capturing the nuances of the jokes might pose a challenge. I wholeheartedly recommend giving this a read.
không hợp - hồi nam tước. đọc lại thấy cũng được thôi k xuất sắc. truyện ngắn khá thích tính cách công thụ nhưng cả hai chúng nó đều k đc develop kĩ lắm. plot hơi… xàm=))))) mấy khúc mắc trong truyện cũng đc thắt nút khá nhanh thôi. cảm giác đọc chẳng đọng lại được gì mấy cả về mặt nội dung lẫn nhân vật. đc cái thích tạo hình siêu xịn của công