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Fanservice Paradox
Type
Web Novel (CN)
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Rating(4.5 / 5.0, 410 votes)
5    72% (294 votes)
4    14% (58 votes)
3    7% (29 votes)
2    4% (16 votes)
1    3% (13 votes)
Language
Support Book (#ad)
Author(s)
One entry per line
Artist(s)
One entry per line
N/A
Year
Example: 2012
2020
Status in COO
Status in Country of Origin. One entry per line
109 Chapters + 11 Extras (Completed)
Licensed
N/A
Completely Translated
No
Original Publisher
One entry per line
English Publisher
One entry per line
N/A
Release Frequency
Every 949.5 Day(s)
Activity Stats
[Graph]
Weekly Rank: #1367
Monthly Rank: #3112
All Time Rank: #1771
Reading List
[Graph]
On 6967 Reading Lists
Monthly Rank: #460
All Time Rank: #873

Description

Links are NOT allowed. Format your description nicely so people can easily read them. Please use proper spacing and paragraphs.

Kaleido, a talented but unpopular boy band, shot to fame by chance because of a video shot at the airport. In the video, Pei Tingsong, the youngest and most gong member of the whole group, pinned Fang Juexia Gege against a wall as he gently patted his face with a ticket. Yet Fang Juexia just took the ticket away, biting it as he tidied up his clothes. A “bullying” incident within the group thus transformed into an intense flirting exchange, and the TingJue CP was born.

Netizen: holy sh*t that’s so gong! Kabedon AND a bayonet fight! (internet slang for lovey dovey actions between men)

And thus, the abandoned trump card burdened by rumours of having had sold his body and the legendary rich member with a strong backing were bound together. They had clearly never gotten along since their debut, yet they were now forced to embark on an endless path of selling their fake ship together.

Pei Tingsong was famous for being ‘real’ in the circle, and he had offended many people from his lyrics alone because they were overly ‘real’. But he stressed again and again that he and Fang Juexia were only providing fan service.

CP fan: [Someone who has never been fake is selling a fake ship.] May the philosophy students please explain the paradox to this young student Pei here.

Xiao Pei: Fine, you guys win.

Juexia: (seriously considers the logic) If B is true, then A is also true; but if A is true, then B should also be true…it really is a paradox.

Xiao Pei: Fang Juexia, you’re heartless.

Associated Names
One entry per line
Doanh Nghiệp Bội Luận
FP
Nghịch Lý “Câu Fan”
The Business Paradox [Entertainment Industry]
ying ye bei lun
YYBL
營業悖論
营业悖论[娱乐圈]
Related Series
Lovely Allergen (Shared Universe)
I Only Like Your Made-up Persona (Shared Universe)
BE Crazy Demon Survival System (Shared Universe)
Manhattanhenge (Shared Universe)
Sternstunde (Shared Universe)
Recommendations
Deep in the Act (2)
Agreement of Being Gay for 30 Days (1)
Fake Dating the Amnesiac School Prince (1)
I Ship My Adversary X Me (1)
Have You Ever Met Such a Cold Author (1)
The Idol Group and the Crown (1)
Recommendation Lists
  1. modern danmei that changed my life
  2. top books part two
  3. To be read list
  4. BLs with a manhua/manhwa
  5. I'm Gay For You

Latest Release

Date Group Release
07/23/25 Suteki Steak Translations c1
05/11/20 DMlations c1
Write a Review
85 Reviews sorted by


ludagad
ludagad rated it
May 11, 2020
Status: --
Well, I'll be damned~ Just after recently finding out Chanbaek was a thing that existed on this Earth, and got really into it, and started wanting to read an idol shipping novel (I don't like real people shipping fics), and searched for a while and didn't find anything, and finally wondered 'should I just write it myself?', this here novel comes out. Is it fate or what? Furthermore, it strikes a bull's eye for all my preferences, exactly the character settings I would've written myself - rich younger gong and... more>> older shou. I have yet to see what MC's character is like, but the synopsis leaves me hopeful.

Yes, I'm writing this before even reading the novel. I'm just so pleasantly surprised by this providence-like thing. I might edit in more comments later. <<less
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Arenaphrodite
Arenaphrodite rated it
August 12, 2022
Status: Completed
10/10. What an amazing beautifully written novel!!

I honestly couldn't control my tears in the last chapter. It was just so beautiful and precious. I regret not reading this novel before as I wasn't a fan of super lengthy chapters and this author is exactly famous for this. Nonetheless I'm glad that I finally got read this amazing novel and participate in the journey of Kaleido reaching to the top! Each member is just so precious. I think Ling Yi will be my favorite aside from Juexia and TingSong. Oh wait!... more>> Can't forget Miao Miao too. Also the s*x scenes were cherry on top hehe. (But you can't read the translation of the smut as you have to buy the novel and show the receipt to the translator for that. I had to read MTL and even though they aren't the best you can probably guess what is exactly going on so yeah!) <<less
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Michelle-08
Michelle-08 rated it
July 1, 2022
Status: Completed
Before reading the novel please know that

1st, this is a password protected novel, so you need to email or send the translator a message on discord to open the chapters.

2nd, there's smut BUT you need to pay

... more>> About the novel, probably I read better ones so I feel that this one is good but definitely nothing extraordinary. Don't get me wrong it's a good read probably if you haven't read other top notch BL stories or if you wanted typical "cinderella" story BL style then this will definitely fit your taste.

I love the main CP pairing as well as the side CP (extra chapters), but in between the story I kept on skipping the netizen parts most of the time. Some parts becomes a little draggy and repetitive. I think this should be 80 chapters max in my opinion and 10 more for extra chapters and that's it.

By the way I love Ling Yi so much and he makes me laugh with his antics most of the time. <<less
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Raizel_Pendragon
Raizel_Pendragon rated it
September 28, 2021
Status: Completed
This is so cute! A Gentle Winter (cold mature yet stubborn older shou) x Rebellious Spring (unruly little wolf cub gong) story. I love the characters (main& side), their growth throughout the story, their relationships and the romance. How the main cp's relationship slowly developed from dislike and disapproval to acquiescence and camaraderie and then finally to passionate love and yearning was honestly gratifying to read. It was quite a slow burn but the build up and return makes up for the wait. The characters and occasions were so vividly... more>> portrayed. I also liked the philosophical undertones and references.

The author-nim is so protective of their characters. (S) he watches over their growth alongside the readers and really don't take people throwing unnecessary shade at her brain-children❤️ I really loved how author-nim took the trouble to actually sit, think and pen down lyrics for their performance and not just the beginning two lines followed by two rows of............. And some end lyrics! So dedicated!! The translator too! They've taken so much effort in trying to keep the original structure and meaning while translating. That's not an easy feat. They've also added additional info as drop-downs into the references (philosophers, theories etc) made throughout the story. 10/5 ⭐ for effort

The MTL is understandable. I really recommend giving this a go if you want a good BL romance with entertainment industry background. <<less
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qeesa
qeesa rated it
August 8, 2021
Status: Completed
No words, definitely one of the best modern showbiz danmei I've ever read. I'll try to write a better review once I've stopped crying, but here are the gists so far:

First of all, here's some trigger warnings, under spoilers just in case:

... more>>
Spoiler

1. Non-explicit mention of r*pe (not to MC, ML or any of the group members but to a character relevant to the story)

2. Stalking by black fans (not sure if I'm using the correct terms, I'm not really in the idols fandom, sorry in advance)

3. Child ab*se by MC's dad (physical and verbal, ngl it was kinda triggering for me too so I skimmed through it a bit when MC described it in his mind)

[collapse]

The romance developement is really good. Both MC and ML mature as a person together once they've gotten rid of their prejudices about each other and it was fascinating to read.

Their friends' acceptance towards the reveal of their relationship was also very comforting for me to read. I know it's not "realistic" that all your friends would support you when you come out (especially in Asia) but I want to read this to escape from reality, so I love this part especially.

Another thing that I really like is how MC managed to fix the relationships in his family by the end of the novel, and ML managed to gain a new family in form of his bandmates and MC's family.
Spoiler

Well, mend the relationship with everyone except his dad, which was deserved. I'd literally rage-quit reading this if MC forgives his dad just like that. Say no to domestic violence guys.

[collapse]

Reading this while listening to those iofi songs in youtube was also really comfy, I'd recommend it LOL. Not much to say because other reviewers already mentioned stuff that I loved about this novel, do give it a try and enjoy! <<less
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Solivagant
Solivagant rated it
February 18, 2021
Status: Completed
Okay, this is my favourite BL showbiz novel! It's not just about the romance, but also the growth of the band, the bonds between the band members, their impromptu stage shows, all of them are so touching!! Especially their tour at the end of the novel!

As for the romance, it is a top notch too! The ML first give off the air of a brat, but believe me, eventually he grows to become a really gentleman, romantic, an understanding boyfriend, who literally is the MC's knight in the shining armour.... more>> He is the spring that melt the icy winter world of the MC!

I really love the ML character. Imagine, he is a rapper, who study philosophy, & could write romantic poems and song lyrics!!! And what's more, I love his straightforward, decisive, and brave personality.

As for love rival, or conflict, there's none in this story. It's just that at the beginning, the MC & ML is distant towards each other just because they hv misunderstanding about each other personalities.

Oh, btw, the mtl is easy to understand. <<less
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Altair_Nair
Altair_Nair rated it
July 11, 2024
Status: Completed
Meh, but the idol games were fun. Didn't care for the main pairing, was decently entertained by the idol fame system and the full irreality of it going to work on bus. Which is why it gets 2 stars instead of only one. But really completely skippable; you are better off reading some BTS or other Kpop rpf fic for a similar and better written effect.
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Heaven00
Heaven00 rated it
May 15, 2024
Status: --
The reviews and star rating were too much, this novel was overrated. Totally disappointed. If you're new in bl world, then this novel is suitable (maybe) for you but for those who expecting heavy reading/plot/good writing skill, this novel is not for you. The author used repetitive and unnecessary sentences alot which turned me off. Too boring.
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damnmei
damnmei rated it
September 26, 2023
Status: Completed
A well written entertainment genre novel, which makes sure to touch on a lot of darker themes carefully, and puts a lot of love in each character's design. The two main characters start off not necessarily as enemies, but definitely don't get along well. MC is a cold and seemingly unbothered by anything kind of person, while ML at first seems like he's just another hotblooded youth, but as the story progresses, they are revealed to be so much more.

As members of a six member boy band, the two of... more>> them are forced to be at least civil with each other for the two years as a group before the novel begins, but after a little incident at an airport, they're made to collaborate together to push their CP, which slowly allows them to put their differences and biases against each other aside and truly begin to open up and understand each other. The ML is quite forward with his feelings, which makes for a good contrast with the MC who is much more taciturn and introverted. It really surprised me the amount of depth to their characters, and both of them stayed very consistent in their character development as well.

The overall plot worked as a backdrop to the two main characters, allowing their relationship to slowly grow and for both of them to mature. It's not a very plot heavy novel, but the main plot points are well executed and carry the story forwards well. The emotional development is very natural over the course of the novel, and the author does a fantastic job of maintaining the essence of each character despite how much they change by the end of the novel.

I really enjoyed the group dynamics of the band together, and all the boys got their own individual plot lines and character development, making the story seem much more real and touching. You really get to see the love and support that the band members have for each other beyond just the main couple's relationship, though the focus of the novel is definitely on our two main characters. <<less
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Ritsuka
Ritsuka rated it
March 12, 2022
Status: Completed
At first, I thought I didn't need to write a review because I think the other reviews have perfectly expressed how good this novel is! But I might as well write it for myself, in order to put this amazing reading experience into words and I hope I can convince someone to read it along the way!

The Author, Zhichu is fairly popular in China and after reading her novels, I have no doubts on her abilities.I came here after reading her Lovely Allergen (for which I bawled my eyes away,... more>> a truly beautiful masterpiece no doubt) and Fanservice Paradox didn't let me down.I'm not really a fan of Showbiz novels, because of too much weibo stuff in it and the descriptions of the MC acting, singing smoothly without even involving the reader in it so honestly, I was really scared.I thought this would be like those too, but I am so glad to be wrong! This was such a unique and good reading experience. Totally worth it!

The thing I love about Zhichu is how she writes her characters really well. Whether it be character development or character settings, its all *chef's kiss*. Lets not forget about the character's feelings and thought process. She makes us aware of it all and all of the Characters totally end up being so real and 3D. The character setting and development of Fang Juexia and Pei Tingsong was just amazing, awe inspiring even. This is gonna be long, so buckle up your belts guys!

First, lets talk about Fang Juexia, in the start he came off as a pushover (no offence) because he just wasn't doing anything. Not speaking up for himself, not clarifying any incident and being indifferent while the world roasted him. And then slowly but surely, the reason for his actions and characters were revealed just like layers. And oh boi I am so in love with this boy! He was such a tenacious and stubborn person who lived by his own rules, slowly working towards his goal with determination, like braving a storm no matter what malicious stuff was sent his way. I loved how the author showed us his view on what an idol is, and that is just totally such a fresh look on it that it just took me by surprise.I loved how he had his own way of working towards his dreams.I loved his outlook on romance.I loved how he took certain actions, that made no sense and may even paint him as a pushover a lot of times, but how they were just according to the rules he set, as to not change himself. Heck, Zhichu shaped out his character so perfectly! And then his development? I was bawling my eyes, seeing him change and become more open, having a temper, slowly revealing all of himself, showing more of his different sides, becoming courageous and not caring about other people. It was so good that I can't put it into words! (I'm not explaining more because I don't want to spoil you guys, but its even more amazing than what I am saying!)

Pei Tingsong came off as a rude dude lol but we got to see his point of view real soon and I admire how brave and outspoken he was, never backing down if anyone was slandering him baselessly online, he would always fight back and slap their faces with evidence and skills! More than his character settings, his character development is just literally off the charts! We see how his prejudiced self learns of the world, he learns how people can have different ways and means but still have the same dream as him! He came to appreciate different point of views and opinions than him. From a reckless rude young guy, he became a considerate, gentle mature guy who would show his cute childish side sometimes too! This character development was just WOW! If I love Fang Juexia's character setting, then I totally adore Pei Tingsong's development! It was so amazing to see him change his thinking slowly, willing to communicate more, admitting his wrong, falling in love, learning to be gentle and considerate and learning to take care of others!I think he has literally one of the best character developments I have seen in novels/anime.

And ofcourse, you can expect the romance to be a masterpiece with such well developed characters! They both literally couldn't stand each other in the start. Fang Juexia didn't want anything to do with PTS while PTS was prejudiced against FJX. But a fanservice opportunity, allowed them to interact more and gave them the chance to interact with each other! They started to see each other's good points. Started sharing their opinions and view of things, communicating about things and clearing off misunderstandings! It was a treat to see PTS' prejudice slowly clearing away and him appreciating FJX way of living.I loved how they talked about a lot of stuff till they started to get along really well. And oof PTS' gentleness had me squealing! I loved how he didn't back out when he realised his heart and took the initiative to chase FJX! And when they got together? I was just melting into a puddle of goo!

Now coming to the plot, it was more romance based, so I don't think you have to worry on the romance aspect. Even the show-biz part of the plot was super exciting! Because unlike other novels, this decided to showcase the struggle of our boys! How they handled difficult situations to the whole picturing of the photoshoot and album making.I loved how the author showcased the cute supporting weibo comments rather than the negative ones! It was such a rollercoaster ride to see the Obscure K stepping into popularity! This was unlike any entertainment industry danmei and it was a treat to read!The author even wrote such amazing lyrics of their songs! (The lyrics of Night trip was so beautiful!!) Plus she depicted the dance moves in their dance performances really well that we could picture the whole thing! She worked really hard for us!

Zhichu writes words heavy novels, so if you are not up for it, then its not for you.I've seen people complaining about the explanation of the main leads words and actions written by the author but in my point of view, I think they were totally necessary to make the characters feel real! So we could have a total grip on the thought process and feelings of the leads and enjoy the story much more! This added so much depth to the characters and her writing! Plus her writing is just really beautiful! I loved her use of different beautiful words, prose and imagery. Plus the character quotes and the topics which were discussed in this were just so perfect! From idols, ways of working towards your dream, romance, conforming to the world and regrets.I love how perfectly these topics were discussed and what views our leads had on them. Its not wrong to say that I even learned a lot from this novel, no kidding.
Spoiler

Fang Juexia saying that idols were people who showcased dreams and show the world that yes dreams can be achieved and that he wanted to be a famous idol to prove that was just wow. It took my heart away! And I love how PTS came to take pride in being an idol after slowly understanding his point of view.

[collapse]

The dialogues and quotes were even more amazing. Let me quote one here:

"Whenever I feel regret over something simply take this memory out and think about it."

"In fact, we are all a collection of

experiences. One by one, things happen in a sequence, all of which shapes us into the people we are now. If any of these links were changed, I may not be who I am now."

Beautiful, isn't it? In fact this book is filled with such amazing lines and I quoted just one of them! And its even amazing that the author properly studied up philosophy and math theorems in order to write these amazing lines by PTS and FJX so she wouldn't break any character!

What makes a novel even more amazing than it is, is well developed side characters! I've only seen a handful of novels developing the side characters and I'm glad this is one of them. We got to see the development of Kaleido as a whole! The other four bandmates:Jiang Miao, He Ziyan, Lu Yuan and Ling Yi weren't just there to fill up the numbers. They had their own stories, their own goals and dreams. These rather unfortunate people came together to form Kaleido and wow I totally adore their bonds! They were so wholesome and sincere! Hilarious and totally not idol like xDD I think there fans were right they were fake gay cross talk group! I totally enjoyed this novel, because of their interactions! Do idols like this really really exist? If so, I'mma go follow them because I'm just SOLD! Hahaha these guys were even shipping their bandmates in secret, secretly chomping on fluff and dogfood while betting on their love life xD Their reactions to everything, their cross talks/banter and their games! I'm just so in love with them! Plus their reactions when PTS and FJX came out to them were priceless. And ofc what I love the most was the loyalty, sincerity and determination they showed whenever any of them faced a problem, they were always supportive! Ling Yi was such a cutie! And I always love Lu Yuan and He Ziyan's clownish reactions xDD Miao Ge was so caring!!! (I still ship waterfire!!)

I personally enjoyed this a lot! I'm a big fan of beautiful writing and this novel was super beautifully written! The climax was great with the extras giving us some extra fluff and showing us future events! Honestly, I'm a person who enjoys both plot based and romance based novels but I'm still a bit inclined towards plot based so I did get a bit tired and took breaks reading it because yes its really long and wordy but nonetheless I still love it! And think that it needs more recognition! I 10/10 recommended it to you all. Worth all the time spent reading it!

P.S:Shout-out to the translator Juurensha and The editor Noks for bringing us this beautiful story. You guys did marvellous work!Without you, I wouldn't have been able to enjoy this masterpiece! <<less
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auraizen
auraizen
February 16, 2022
Status: c30
Not bad so far

A bit difficult to read — I kinda had to force myself to read through some parts because they were dull. There's so many better entertainment industry novels so reading this one felt like a chore at times

The chapters got locked though so I can't keep reading lmao

And the discord which apparently has the passwords has been closed for over several weeks too so I've lost hope of ever finishing this rip
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FrostyDragon
FrostyDragon rated it
January 8, 2022
Status: c105
4.5 stars - slow pace because it's slice of life, but the quality of the writing and the characterization are top notch!

Must admit that I'm a bit stuck on the last handful of chapters, because there's less at stake after the CP got together. Still, this is a very well-written story. It's rare to come across romance stories where the author takes time to properly develop the relationship of the couple step by step to make their falling in love gradual and completely logical. There's none of that 'love at... more>> first sight' or randomly falling for the other person just because he's hot.

The couple (it's multiple POV so not really MC and ML) are band mates in a boyband, but at first they're at odds because their personalities clash. Juexia is a bit introvert and standoffish so he seems cold, while Tingsong is a rich brat with an attitude. Both have baggage despite their young age, and as they're pushed into promoting a fake celebrity CP to enhance their popularity, their gradually grow closer, open up to each other and slowly fall in love.

It's a slow burn, and the story isn't the most exciting, since it's slice of life. But when the two characters fall in love, it's makes complete sense and the romance is developed in a way that is very believable. It's a very sweet and healthy relationship, where they support each other and help the each other overcome adversity and past traumas.

The focus of the story is the entertainment industry, and while people in the story are probably a little too kind and righteous compared to real life, the author still shows the ugly side of the industry and of celebrity and fan culture. We get everything from obsessed fans to s*xual exploitation and an industry boss who ab*ses his power. We get to see how quickly the smallest misstep by an idol can lead to online hate and harassment. The author seems to have done a lot of research on the various topics.

The band members are sweet and funny and basically the best friends/brothers you could wish for, even if they're in the background most of the time.

The chemistry between the leads is evident from early on, and Pei Tingsong is a contender for the prize 'best boyfriend ever'.

There's smut scenes (you have to buy the raws to get access to the translated versions or you can MTL, but please buy to support the author) that are very well-written - hot and sweet/poetic at the same time.

Some parts were a bit boring to me, like the Escape Room and all the philosophy and math stuff, but I salute the author for having obviously done her research, and using these elements to show how the CP work as a team and make an effort to understand each other.

Good for a slow read, worth the effort. <<less
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Ninjagal
Ninjagal rated it
December 6, 2021
Status: Completed
A must read.

I am left in awe.

This pulled so many emotions for me. The author is brilliant and great. I love the growth of both MC and ML. Plus the bits and pieces of the other characters in the story were really great.

The way they gradually overcame their initial perceptions of each other and grew fond the more they found out about the other person made the whole journey worth it.

Smut is also good. Buying the raws to unlock them is an extra step I'm willing to make.
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pHantomRJ
pHantomRJ rated it
August 26, 2021
Status: c23
Just one senttence "amazing work-" I love the author's writing style and I am impressed with the writer's philosophical depth, had done good research on it, ma~

I love Socrates, Plato & his pupil Aristotle.

if you ask me, how was it? I am a miser with words so I will only say, I'm a picky reader the story that catches my interest is 5/100 of my reading list. To me, it has something that kept me going on and there is the depth of this plot that I would like to... more>> see. The finale!

Character development is so stable, it does not happen like the tap of a finger, it happens naturally & vividly and you will be able to imagine it in your mind. Well, that was the case with me. Love the Kelaido Band each one of them actually.

What I like about this story more is even if it's an (entertainment circle) it was not too exaggerated. It felt good.

Lastly, Kudos ~ translator-samas~~~~ Thank You so much, <<less
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RoseAngel16
RoseAngel16 rated it
May 24, 2021
Status: c60
This is the first time I leave a review on a story but this one is worth it. I let out all my thoughts in my 10/10 recc list that I have so I'm just going to paste what I wrote on there here. It might be spoiler-territory on some parts~ |

So so good! This author is so freaking smart and her style of writing is very unique and intelligent. I love a healthy couple with great dynamics and emotional maturity despite the scars each of them has. It's a... more>> story that focuses on growth between two very different but compatible people. The main couple aren't afraid to not agree and stick to their own views on life but also learn and absorb the ideas the other person has. Ultimately it's just like the author describes we need different methods to approach a problem. This is a story that shows us that through this couple especially in regards to things such as dreams and love. There so many great quotes and ideas in this story that touched my heart.

My favorite quote has to be from FJX, "Dreams are the sort of things that can't be divided into high or low, but only realized or unrealized". One of my favorite scenes is the interview they have for their first photoshoot it really explores their different approaches and similarities you feel like your learning and attending a debate of ideas, it was so fun to read.

Everyone in this story has not just a high IQ but also EQ which is rare in any novel. I was hooked right from the first chapter. Also the chemistry between our main couple is just *chefs kiss*. I'm so glad I found it and it didn't slip my radar for too long. It's at 60 chapters right now and I can't wait for more, its already added to my fave 10/10 novels on this site list <<less
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Everglyn
Everglyn rated it
March 15, 2021
Status: Completed
This is on the list of my top favorite novels. Please don't look at the description- it's so much more then that!! First I'd like to say thanku to the people who wrote such good detailed reviews- they describe my thoughts so well!!! Overall this is fluffy, serious, and adorable. There were so many moments where I was screaming internally! I simply could not put it down! This is a story about someone who never gave up and kept on moving forward regardless of people telling them it's impossible. I... more>> look up to the MC and hope that one day I can be even a fraction as hard working and overall absolutely amazing as he is. <<less
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durasly
durasly rated it
August 1, 2024
Status: Completed
HOW IN THE WORLD CAN SOMEONE READ THIS AND RATE IT LOW I DO NOT UNDERSTAND AT ALL OH MY GOD

i needed this so bad so so so bad oh my god like this review is gonna be short not because I dislike it or like it any less than other danmeis I've written longer reviews for, it’s gonna be short because I simply cannot put into words how BEAUTIFUL this novel is, like drop dead I can’t even begin, WHERE DO I START?!?!?

single-handedly revived my love for math and... more>> philosophy, for all things life and soul and self, made me cry so many times and even now makes my heart hurt, it’s just beautiful, so beautiful, it deserves the WORLD. I just- there’s no other way to put it. This novel changed my life <<less
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aquynh
aquynh rated it
June 21, 2024
Status: c76
DNF'ed at the end of chapter 76 (so around maybe 63% of the main story, not counting extras past chapter 120).

I think it was fine. It just wasn't what I wanted or expected, and I think that was definitely on me. When I had the novel pitched to me initially, I was expecting something kind of more serious than what I got. Like, I thought the story would be kind of grounded in the everyday/depressing realism of the entertainment industry with Kaleido's struggles as a boy group in the entertainment... more>> industry with, of course, a focus on Fang Juexia (MC) and Pei Tingsong (ML), but also with a very hopeful vibe to it. This is especially because everyone was raving about how FJX and PTS speak about their lives through their respective frameworks of mathematics and philosophy, but lol, lmao. No. This novel is very, very much your typical entertainment danmei, with maybe just a little more depth than usual. The translator did very well, the translation was great to read. But yeah, the novel wasn't exactly giving literary, thought-provoking ideas about idols, lol; it was all pretty surface level discourse you'd see on Kpop twitter.

Spoiler

I was disappointed to see that Zhichu decided to add in the section about the escape room variety show, just because she already did the whole of Rose & Renaissance on it, so it would've been nice to see something different for Fanservice Paradox. I also didn't enjoy the "I don't believe in love" trope just because, c'mon, there're soooo many other forms of love. You can learn love from so many other people, it doesn't have to always be romantic love saves the day... But that's obviously a me problem. I'm sure there's plenty of people who love the "I don't believe in love, but knowing you made me believe" thing. Also just little details that don't make sense kinda annoyed me, like FJX worrying about his birthmark by his eye affecting his job when CONCEALER EXISTS. IDOLS WEAR MAKEUP ALL THE TIME. So it literally does not matter, you are not Zuko, you'll be fine babe<3. Or PTS being an ABC, but not being used to being called "Tingsong" when that shouldn't be the case since he kept his Chinese name in the US lol.

[collapse]

This review sounds so harsh, but I promise it's just me, this novel is fine. It's great if you love entertainment danmeis. It's lighthearted and doesn't require much effort to read. I'm sure 95% of the people who read this will enjoy it! <<less
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redeyereprisal
redeyereprisal rated it
May 8, 2022
Status: Completed
Fanservice Paradox is a beautiful novel. If you want fast romance, an easy read, or prefer BL with lots of genre tropes (face-slapping, characters with set/specific archetypes, high-stakes drama, etc.) this is not the story for you; don't come in expecting any of that. It took me two months to finish Fanservice Paradox, despite the fact that I can usually demolish a BL novel of similar length in around three days. It is dense. It is still worth every second spent reading, and in many ways, I think having the... more>> time to savor its details makes it even more enjoyable.

The MC and ML are probably the two most "real" feeling characters I've ever encountered in a modern-setting BL. They have flaws, contradictory personality traits, tics, and they grow. Seeing the closed-off, cold-mannered MC blossom into a compassionate and caring person with almost childlike love for the world is incredible. It's the same watching the rough-edged, inexperienced ML come into himself as a philosophical and tender-hearted man prone to introspection and romance. It helps that the translation is stellar.

If you like character development and slow-burn, can't recommend this highly enough. Easily a 5 star novel. <<less
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yiboyibo
yiboyibo rated it
February 7, 2022
Status: Completed
I feel like my words cannot bring this novel justice so I just beg you to read this.

The main couple is so intelligent and they are so self-aware. I found myself moved to tears a lot throughout reading. I would like to praise the author (and the translators for doing such a great job).

I cannot recommend this novel enough.
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