To be honest, I have no idea why I even bothered reading this story and leaving a review here. But here I am, nevertheless 😁 Okay, so in a way, the story feels realistic- none of that 'you’re my everything, my first and my last' stuff. It’s more like, 'It's fine if I hurt you, you did it to me first.' I’ve had enough, I’ve got my own life too so I need to catch up on what I’ve missed, my world doesn’t f*ckin revolve around you. Crematarium? well,... more>> I think ML waited a while for MC to come back but that’s about it. Overall, the story’s not bad, it’s slice of life, so yeah, sh*t happens. What I liked is that MC isn’t weak. He knows how to fight, retreat when necessary, and he’s no fool (post-marriage). So... 3.9 for me. I actually root for MC and his assistant, or maybe even the young lover (ZQ), though of course, that’s pretty much impossible. <<less

The MC is a really well written character. He is flawed and weak but simultaneously strong in his convictions and a beautiful human. I felt each and every emotion he did.

But we reached a point of no return when ML demeaned MC in public & pressured MC with his family status such that MC got sick. Then ML forced himself into mc's house so that MC could be his nanny. I couldn't withstand my utter disgust.

The most beautiful ending would be MC getting healed and finding someone who catered to... more>> him as much as he had in these 10yrs. But we don't get that. <<less

This is a novel where it'll be more wholesome if it's from the ML's POV.

The MC was such a good boy that I can't bear to send him off to ML's indifferent arms 🤧 He should've ended up with a much better guy than the s*um that the author decided as the ML. Also, the MC doesn't deserve that 'ruthless protagonist' tag up there because he was just a normal lovelorn guy who tried his damned best to disentangle himself from a decade of one-sided love. 😭 I cried so... more>> much at the first half of the story that even my coworkers asked about it.

I'm sure that many readers are like me, we don't understand this s*um guy and hoped that he'll be far away from the MC but the author still decided that the guy is the ML so screw MC's attempt to let go.

He's such a block of wood that I kinda wonder what's going on inside his head. We don't see much from his end since we followed GL's POV aside from how much of a jerk he was to the MC and how he didn't do much of a pursuit to satisfy my craving for a regretful ML.

Like, what makes him realized his feeling?

How did he felt when MC started to become distant with him?

Did he even realized how different his life was before the MC decided a clean break?

Did he truly loved MC? Or was it just dependence for the caring MC?

It's a decent read, I did enjoyed the first part where the MC slowly let go of his feelings but I'm disappointed at the result. Hence, I felt that this novel would've been more satisfying if it's from the ML's viewpoint.

3, 5 / 5 <<less

The novel is not a refreshing read to say the least, but it does gives food for thought on whether MCs from other wife-chasing novels would end up in the same numb, mental headspace as our MC Guan Ling if their stories were narrated to old age. Or if people would overall be happier if they were not as obsessed with romantic love. IMO the novel shouldn't be considered as a HE.

I really appreciated the way the author narrated Guan Lin's decision to give Shang Ying Rong a second chance. It might be impossible for most to take back a piece of sh*t like SYR but it was interesting to peer into MC's thought process no matter how illogical it may be to be so infatuated with someone who tramples on your dignity with disregard. On the upside, Guan Ling's infatuation is at least not incurable as he further distances himself, mentally and physically, from him as the story progresses. As much as I enjoy the novel, there are factors that just don't add up. For instance, the ML is reliant on the MC to the point that he would literally die without his care. But how did he survive before meeting the MC. And why is the ML so freakin rude to the MC, treating him like an unworthy servant. Yes, it's just a novel and there's no need to take the story too literally, but it literally makes no sense when you read about the amount of sh*t the MC does for the ML all in the name of love.
Despite being a romance novel, there was nothing romantic about their story. Instead I thought not having a life partner cannot be as bad as having to deal with the stuffy feeling you get from reading this novel. One of my favorite aspects, is the author's internal dialogues for the MC and ML. Sometimes lengthy, they create fleshed out characters with distinct characteristics and mentalities, so much so that it's hard to not sympathize with the characters, the ML included. Overall, the novel is an unforgettable read and I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a mix of angst, psychology, and slice of life.

Not many novels really fully flesh out angst, but this one does so brilliantly. The MC is really someone to admire; strong-willed and reasonable, but also vulnerable with his thoughts. After being in love with someone who seemingly has no plans to reciprocate, the MC pulls away. There are many frustrating moments concerning the ML who doesn't give the MC face, but those moments are meants to be frustrating/heart-wrenching... and it's good

Basically, don't expect something fluffy, but if you want true angst, it's well served in this novel.

The philosiphy of this novel is really dangerous, life will always be precious and there is hope no matter what and peope are not all powerful and things change in the blink of an eye and most importantly there is always hope I understand that the author wanted a certain ending and manipulated the characters and happenings in the story so there seems no way out for guan ling in his own perspective but I want everyone who is reading this to not be influenced by this ideas as I... more>> have seen changes in my personality after reading this kind of novels I become more quiet meeker and easier to bully and had a bleaker outlook in life you should fight this ideas and outsmart them, yes there is way out no matter what and will be the happier for it no matter what it cost whether to in extreme cases change countries or change jobs and reality is not like this and no on can make it soo people dont even have the ability to yell for help , I think this should be BE, because even if the couple are together it is over the ruin of guan ling'a life and not in his consent <<less