MC has major problems even before meeting the ML. These problems lead him to not telling the ML that he was the one who saved him and forcing the everyone around the ML to lie and not tell the ML the truth. MC says it's because he wants the ML to love him for him and not because of gratitude, so he just lets the ML be in love with a horrible liar, because that's so much better for all of them, honestly.

To be frank, the MC needs therapy. The fact that he allows the ML to ab*se, humiliate, and cheat on him AND STILL LOVE THE ML AGAIN eventually is not a sign of innate s*upidity or an admirable capacity for forgiveness, it's a sign of unresolved trauma and internalized self-hate and self-blame.

A true happy ending for the MC is for him to go to therapy and live far away from all the toxic people in his life (not only the ML, but the ML's family and everyone else who, despite giving him pretty consoling words, ultimately just stood by and allowed the MC to be ab*sed.

If he and the ML must really be together, it should be after years or even decades of mental and psychological healing. A huge part of MC's trauma comes from his childhood, and it'll take very long for him to sort it all out.

I don't know what else I can say about the ML. If the MC's behavior can be explained by his childhood trauma, then the ML's behavior can be explained by the appalling upbringing he received.

I see many readers justifying the ML's behavior, but in essence, he's just an entitled spoiled brat who doesn't care about anyone but himself because he has never had to think about anyone's wellbeing or feelings all his life. He has Anatole Kuragin's unbelievable capacity to only care about himself and what he wants and still believe that HE's the victim except he's worse because he's also physically and psychologically abusive. It baffles me how other readers cannot seem to realize this.

ML grew up with parents who gave him everything he ever wanted. The only thing they never gave him is the right to choose regarding matters that they think is best for them to decide on. Because of this, all that the ML focuses on is those matters, because it's those that are the only things he can't get.

Yes, the ML's parents are to blame for his upbringing, but our childhoods only explain our actions, not excuse them.

A lot of people grow up under much worse parents, but they still become good people in adulthood, because they realized their own mistakes and they correct their internalized wrong beliefs.

What is the point of having a legal system if we're going to forgive all sins on the basis that their perpetrator was not raised well? Search about any well-known dictator and you'll discover that they had f*cked up upringings too, but we don't condone their actions nor excuse and forgive them regardless.

Going back to the ML, all that he focuses on is his own problems and his own wants. He never self-reflects properly. Everytime he ponders over something, he always never considers the possibility that it's him who is the problem. And that is why even though the ending looks happy, it still has a large chance of eventually being bad down the line.

Yes, the ML is receiving therapy. But that isn't a 100% guarantee of him becoming a better person. He still has to realize that it's his fault, and he has to realize that he has to change his way of viewing EVERYONE. Not just MC, EVERYONE. Including himself. And honestly, I don't think he'll do that.

There's nothing I can say about the characters except for the fact that they're pretty much all shit. They're like White Lotuses pretending to be kind and concerned yet doing nothing and even actively making the situation worse.

They keep saying they sympathize with the MC but what do they do aside from saying consoling words? Nothing.

Readers may say "Oh, but it's the MC who insists on staying and not saying the truth." To that, I answer: THE MC DOESN'T CONTROL THE SIDE CHARACTERS. They have their own thoughts and capabilities of making choices. They don't just obey the MC, they're actively choosing to ignore the mental instability of a traumatized ab*se victim so that the status quo they're living in don't get shattered and they don't have to make their own compromises.

All they do is act sad. They don't do anything to really help. They could have chosen to tell the ML the truth instead of watching the MC get hurt, but they didn't. Not just because the MC told them not to, but because they didn't care enough to displease either the ML or MC in order to ensure the MC's overall wellbeing. They didn't take him away from the ML not just because the MC wanted to stay, but also because none of them had the necessary will to anger the ML and let the MC, though initially reluctant, receive the help and counselling he needs.

All of them are selfish beneath their facades. Morality is gray and not all of them are evil, but none of them can and should be depicted as helpless angels who did all that they can.

You don't give whiskey to an alcoholic if you really want them to get better. You don't give a gun to a suicidal person if you really don't want them to kill themselves. You don't give an ab*se victim the choice to stay when you know that they're too damaged to make the decision that will improve their wellbeing the most if your truly care about them.

towards just about every character

if you even consider it one, I don't recall the author mentioning when Xiao Li woke up, just that he's awake.

Also, the MC is partially at fault for the ab*se (not saying I condone it at all. I don't). If he had just told the ML that he's the one who saved him, none of the mess would have happened. And he actively chose to save the ML during the kidnapping. ML only knew he was saved by someone, not that MC was caught and tortured because of it. No blame can be placed on ML for 1st kidnapping.

The violence he gave to MC, it gets returned to ml, sometimes even ML doing it to himself. Also, first time I've seen a ML admit he has a problem and goes to a psychiatrist. 4 stars for that alone. Most of the time the ml's mental issues are glossed over because MC is ok with it.. or scared of ml... that does not happen here!

The ML was so shameless. When MC was hospitalized, he wasn't even guilty about being the cause of it and went off with his lover. He accused the MC of cheating when he himself was with his lover right at that time. There was so much more than that but it angers me to write it.

He became such a sweet guy that he's willing to sacrifice himself for Niannian, it's so sad QAQ.

He became so regretful after understand and realizing what he did, that he told Niannian he want to disappear and erase himself T^T he fortunately came back and they got the happy ending that everyone deserved!

Gu Yansheng character became very lovable after some times, his character growth was very pleasing to see! At some point in Niannian's live broadcast, he suddenly suffered from a stomachache. He rushed to his boyfriend immediately. In order to save Niannian, he did not hesitate to lose his memory and become s*upid for him. You can see how in love he is with Niannian ;-;

At first he's a very hateful guy and you just want them to divorced and make Niannian ditch Gu Yansheng, but after 100 chp or so he became a very lovable character! I honestly love him as much as I love Niannian, both of them are my babies!