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楚天以南
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 6, 2026
what an emotional rollercoaster!! i loved this danmei so much and i think more people should read it because its so underrated. the love between the characters is so pure and real but also THE ANGST???? it was so painful but also so beautiful. please everyone read this masterpiece right now!!!!
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January 5, 2026The story is set in modern-day China and alternates between the present day and the past, weaving together two timelines to slowly reveal all the details.
The story follows university professor Tang Heng, who reunites with his old friend Li Yuechi in Guizhou during a poverty alleviation research project. Tang Heng unexpectedly learns the truth behind his classmate's fatal fall and Li Yuechi's imprisonment. The murderer turns out to be his kind and caring uncle, Tang Guomu. Tang Heng is deeply shocked and unable to find peace. He resolves to return to Wuhan to uncover the truth of what happened six years ago, allowing the deceased to rest in peace. Ultimately, through the efforts of Tang Heng, Li Yuechi, and other old friends, Tang Guomu receives his due punishment, and Tang Heng finds peace, beginning a new and tranquil life.
The author exposes ugly parts of human nature and society, but tempers the overall serious tone with some humor - the bandmates are really funny when they rip on each other
This novel leans towards the mature and realistic side with its tone and content so don’t expect face-slapping or much fluff. But it’s definitely worth reading!
The story follows university professor Tang Heng, who reunites with his old friend Li Yuechi in Guizhou during a poverty alleviation research project. Tang Heng unexpectedly learns the truth behind his classmate's fatal fall and Li Yuechi's imprisonment. The murderer turns out to be his kind and caring uncle, Tang Guomu. Tang Heng is deeply shocked and unable to find peace. He resolves to return to Wuhan to uncover the truth of what happened six years ago, allowing the deceased to rest in peace. Ultimately, through the efforts of Tang Heng, Li Yuechi, and other old friends, Tang Guomu receives his due punishment, and Tang Heng finds peace, beginning a new and tranquil life.
The author exposes ugly parts of human nature and society, but tempers the overall serious tone with some humor - the bandmates are really funny when they rip on each other
This novel leans towards the mature and realistic side with its tone and content so don’t expect face-slapping or much fluff. But it’s definitely worth reading!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2026
es una de las historias más hermosas que he leído. no estoy acostumbrado a leer este tipo de novelas pero yo vi esta y por alguna razón yo sabía que me iba a gustar Y ASÍ FUE.
es todo un tornado de emociones, sentí que me frustraba a cada momento y leer a li yuechi fue una experiencia muy graciosa, también con tang heng... ay mi tang heng.
como probablemente ya sabrán si tienen planeado leer esta novela, tang heng tiene transtorno límite de personalidad. te lo hacen saber de forma muy directa al mostrarnos a tang heng teniendo los síntomas, creo que la autora fue muy buena con eso, todo lo que conlleva, y como esto afectaba a la relación.
fui tremendo proyectado con estos dos sentí que fui muy visto, además como nuestras vidas eran tan parecidas cada que pasaba algo yo lloraba desconsoladamente como si me hubiera pasado a mi.
siento que es una historia muy bella, contada muy bien y hasta tiene plot twists. los quise mucho :( amo lo reales que eran como personajes y como crecieron con el pasar del tiempo... volví a creer en el amor
es todo un tornado de emociones, sentí que me frustraba a cada momento y leer a li yuechi fue una experiencia muy graciosa, también con tang heng... ay mi tang heng.
como probablemente ya sabrán si tienen planeado leer esta novela, tang heng tiene transtorno límite de personalidad. te lo hacen saber de forma muy directa al mostrarnos a tang heng teniendo los síntomas, creo que la autora fue muy buena con eso, todo lo que conlleva, y como esto afectaba a la relación.
fui tremendo proyectado con estos dos sentí que fui muy visto, además como nuestras vidas eran tan parecidas cada que pasaba algo yo lloraba desconsoladamente como si me hubiera pasado a mi.
siento que es una historia muy bella, contada muy bien y hasta tiene plot twists. los quise mucho :( amo lo reales que eran como personajes y como crecieron con el pasar del tiempo... volví a creer en el amor
January 28, 2026
"I love you, and it’s free.”
This is a story about poverty and wealth. Some may consider it a cliche trope, but there is more depth beneath the surface. Li Yuechi, the top graduate of the mathematics department, comes from a poor family and was born and raised in an impoverished county. Tang Heng, a sociology student, comes from a wealthy family; his uncle is a professor at the university they attend.
They fall deeply in love at first sight. Their vastly different backgrounds form the central conflict of their relationship. Li Yuechi believes that everything comes at a price—including love. As a result, he denies Tang Heng’s feelings, fearing that Tang Heng would have to sacrifice something in order to love him. To protect Tang Heng, he pushes him away. Tang Heng, who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, gradually realizes how different they are—too different. He believes Yuechi would be more compatible with someone from a similar background, such as Xiaoqin, which fuels his insecurity and anxiety that their relationship may not last.
The progression of their relationship is relatively fast. In the beginning, Yuechi tries to push Tang Heng away, but this resistance does not last long. Their time together is sweet. I found Tang Heng especially adorable in how he constantly tried to lower himself so Yuechi would not feel the gap between them or feel inferior. Li Yuechi is a gentle and doting boyfriend, but he lacks self-worth. He gives everything to Tang Heng—his time, his attentiveness, his body, even his future—believing that love must be repaid with sacrifice.
The story hooked me immediately because it begins in the present timeline. Yuechi and Tang Heng’s current relationship intrigued me, and I particularly enjoyed their dynamic during this phase; I could feel the yearning from both sides. However, I also felt that the author revealed too much too early. By the time the story returned to the past, I already knew many major plot points. For example, Xiaoqin’s suicide due to Tang Guomu’s assault is a crucial part of the story, but because it was revealed early, the later climax—while still painful—lacked shock.
I do not think the non-linear storytelling was executed particularly well. It was not disastrous, but it weakened the emotional impact. There were scenes mentioned in the present timeline that I expected to see fully developed in the past, yet they were never shown. One such example is the moment when Yuechi writes lyrics for Tang Heng’s band—a significant event for the main couple that was unfortunately left unexplored.
The resolution of the conflict involving Tang Guomu also felt too easy. I wanted to see Tang Heng truly confront his uncle, to witness Tang Guomu’s downfall and deterioration after being punished. Although I understand that Tang Heng’s mental illness made it healthier for him to avoid direct confrontation, the absence of this scene still felt unsatisfying. After all, discovering that someone you trusted as a parental figure is actually a criminal is deeply traumatic.
I also felt that Xiaoqin’s presence in the story was too limited, despite her significance to both the plot and the main couple’s relationship. At times, it felt as though she existed solely to create conflict for the main characters, which is unfortunate. The novel aims to critique the ugliness of the academic system—not just Tang Guomu as an individual, but the system that protected him. This theme was powerful. I felt suffocated while reading about Yuechi’s attempts to seek justice for Xiaoqin: the dean’s inhumane treatment of her case and Tang Guomu’s horrifying calmness even after committing rape made me furious. When Yuechi ultimately felt he had no choice but to stab Tang Guomu, I felt that suffocation alongside him.
The reason Yuechi stabbed Tang Guomu ultimately reveals how deeply he loves Tang Heng.
Despite the many flaws I noticed, I genuinely enjoyed reading this novel from beginning to end. The writing is accessible and smooth, yet it does not lose its lyrical beauty. I liked how the main couple’s relationship progressed—although fast-paced, it never bored me for a moment.
Perhaps this is a personal issue, but when Yuechi learned about Tang Heng’s BPD, the revelation did not emotionally impact me as strongly as I expected. I also wished that Tang Heng’s mental illness had been explored in greater depth.
In conclusion, I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to readers who want a slice-of-life story with a substantial plot. It is sweet, with a lingering ache of angst and yearning.
“I love you, and it’s free.”
When two people fall in love and sacrifice something for each other, perhaps that love can still be considered free—because it is a compromise, a meeting in the middle. In the end, they are together and live with contentment. Isn’t that enough?
Suddenly, I thought of the phrase “loving you is red.” I think it suits them well.
This is a story about poverty and wealth. Some may consider it a cliche trope, but there is more depth beneath the surface. Li Yuechi, the top graduate of the mathematics department, comes from a poor family and was born and raised in an impoverished county. Tang Heng, a sociology student, comes from a wealthy family; his uncle is a professor at the university they attend.
They fall deeply in love at first sight. Their vastly different backgrounds form the central conflict of their relationship. Li Yuechi believes that everything comes at a price—including love. As a result, he denies Tang Heng’s feelings, fearing that Tang Heng would have to sacrifice something in order to love him. To protect Tang Heng, he pushes him away. Tang Heng, who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, gradually realizes how different they are—too different. He believes Yuechi would be more compatible with someone from a similar background, such as Xiaoqin, which fuels his insecurity and anxiety that their relationship may not last.
The progression of their relationship is relatively fast. In the beginning, Yuechi tries to push Tang Heng away, but this resistance does not last long. Their time together is sweet. I found Tang Heng especially adorable in how he constantly tried to lower himself so Yuechi would not feel the gap between them or feel inferior. Li Yuechi is a gentle and doting boyfriend, but he lacks self-worth. He gives everything to Tang Heng—his time, his attentiveness, his body, even his future—believing that love must be repaid with sacrifice.
The story hooked me immediately because it begins in the present timeline. Yuechi and Tang Heng’s current relationship intrigued me, and I particularly enjoyed their dynamic during this phase; I could feel the yearning from both sides. However, I also felt that the author revealed too much too early. By the time the story returned to the past, I already knew many major plot points. For example, Xiaoqin’s suicide due to Tang Guomu’s assault is a crucial part of the story, but because it was revealed early, the later climax—while still painful—lacked shock.
I do not think the non-linear storytelling was executed particularly well. It was not disastrous, but it weakened the emotional impact. There were scenes mentioned in the present timeline that I expected to see fully developed in the past, yet they were never shown. One such example is the moment when Yuechi writes lyrics for Tang Heng’s band—a significant event for the main couple that was unfortunately left unexplored.
The resolution of the conflict involving Tang Guomu also felt too easy. I wanted to see Tang Heng truly confront his uncle, to witness Tang Guomu’s downfall and deterioration after being punished. Although I understand that Tang Heng’s mental illness made it healthier for him to avoid direct confrontation, the absence of this scene still felt unsatisfying. After all, discovering that someone you trusted as a parental figure is actually a criminal is deeply traumatic.
I also felt that Xiaoqin’s presence in the story was too limited, despite her significance to both the plot and the main couple’s relationship. At times, it felt as though she existed solely to create conflict for the main characters, which is unfortunate. The novel aims to critique the ugliness of the academic system—not just Tang Guomu as an individual, but the system that protected him. This theme was powerful. I felt suffocated while reading about Yuechi’s attempts to seek justice for Xiaoqin: the dean’s inhumane treatment of her case and Tang Guomu’s horrifying calmness even after committing rape made me furious. When Yuechi ultimately felt he had no choice but to stab Tang Guomu, I felt that suffocation alongside him.
The reason Yuechi stabbed Tang Guomu ultimately reveals how deeply he loves Tang Heng.
Despite the many flaws I noticed, I genuinely enjoyed reading this novel from beginning to end. The writing is accessible and smooth, yet it does not lose its lyrical beauty. I liked how the main couple’s relationship progressed—although fast-paced, it never bored me for a moment.
Perhaps this is a personal issue, but when Yuechi learned about Tang Heng’s BPD, the revelation did not emotionally impact me as strongly as I expected. I also wished that Tang Heng’s mental illness had been explored in greater depth.
In conclusion, I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to readers who want a slice-of-life story with a substantial plot. It is sweet, with a lingering ache of angst and yearning.
“I love you, and it’s free.”
When two people fall in love and sacrifice something for each other, perhaps that love can still be considered free—because it is a compromise, a meeting in the middle. In the end, they are together and live with contentment. Isn’t that enough?
Suddenly, I thought of the phrase “loving you is red.” I think it suits them well.
May 9, 2025
"Em thích anh, tình này là cho không.”
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews