Such a beautiful novel, with a psychologically gripping plot and very meaningful themes, along with a stunning amount of character development, not only in the two main leads but also in the varied supporting cast around them. The writing style is very fluid, and I was hooked on every word as I read - the pacing of this novel truly was perfect for me, and the extras especially were such a beautiful wrap-up of the overall plot, would definitely recommend not skipping over them!

Both characters are a bit hard to... more>> describe just for how layered they are, but at the same time, I felt like I was really able to understand them by the end, to their point where I could predict their actions and responses to situations before they occurred. It's a very gradual process of learning to understand these characters, as they both put up fronts around each other to guard themselves, whether it be from pride or fear. This is very much a mutual redemption novel, in which the two protagonists are able to see the parts of each other that they don't show to anyone else, and heal each others inner wounds just through their presence. There is no sense of comparison of who suffered more, or who deserves more love, and they have this very beautiful mutual respect and care for each other, evident in how they respond to each others' darkest moments.

The MC Chi Ye seems to be cold and even a bit manipulative at first, as he puts on a front during his first meeting with the ML Yu Wenruo, who approaches him as a journalist intending to jumpstart his own career with an unheard of story but is instead slapped in the face with Chi Ye's acting ability as Chi Ye offers him the same story he's told a million times before. The initial antagonism between them is underlaid however by their own defenses against the world rather than actual distaste for one another, so it quickly is dispelled once they actually start to get to know one another. They have a very fluid transition from mutual distaste to interest, as their distaste too is really just another pretense ;)

I loved both the two main characters, but Chi Ye in particular is probably one of my favorite characters in all danmei, and I loved how flirty and cute he became once he let his walls down. His authentic personality truly is so inherently likable, it really makes all that he went through hurt that much more. The way he would call Yu Wenruo "laogong" and "gege" at random times made me giggle so much, I just couldn't get enough of their sweetness together. Yu Wenruo is equally as likable, with a traumatic past of his own and his own walls that he only lets down after learning to trust his partner. They are a very equally doting and loving couple, and though the two of them do have their conflicts and occasional arguments, they are able to understand one another and support each other through the difficult times.

The novel does get quite dark with how it goes into the darker sides of the film industry, delving into topics such as unspoken rules, s*xual assault, g*ooming, su*cide, and unequal power dynamics. While the author doesn't actually describe scenes as they occur real time, there still is quite a lot of description into the events as a recollection, and it can be quite distressing to read, so definitely take care when reading! Each appropriate chapter is marked with a relevant trigger warning, so you won't be going in blind. I really appreciated the care with which the author took to really explore the psychology of each character and how the events impacted them, rather than treating any character's trauma as a gimmick.

There is also a very varied and interesting cast of women in this novel, which can be rare to find in danmei. The cast of characters really is quite balanced with a variety of different perspectives being represented, though the two main characters did of course still get the most screen time. The perspective is actually about equally shared between protagonists, allowing for so much depth in both their characters, and allowing us as readers to experience both of them through their own eyes as well as through their partner's.

One of my favorite novels for sure, will definitely be reading the rest of this series! <<less

Let summarized to short. Its about MC as a victim of s*xual assault and also a little bit story victim among women in entertainment. The rapist that have high influences and big money, always show innocent fake expression and deny everything also ecxused the victim that seduced them while the victims stuck in that place in the poor time, mostly the victim come from common and poor family background. How many victom failed under lawsuit and commite su*cide. This novel make me greeth teeth many time, I crying so much.... more>> I can felt it if were me the victim, we are too scared and forget to collect sample c*m and evidence include being controll, being threat, of course I'm rathe die

thats how happen to MC and other women who are struggle and failed under lawsuit for justice because not enough evident also how big influence the rapist! This world are unfair!! This novel showed us how rapist get away too easily and print traumatic in victim's body and live! The r*pe not for just one time but many time included s*xual ab*se! They need justification!! They are scared! But rational netizen are more like, "they are pretty, they seduced him and climb his bed, now they delusional being r*ped? Nah!" What the f*ck!!!

its hard to described this story but, it's make me emotional so much! Without evidence how good the rapist dispose the evidence, deny everything with fake innocent face!! How many women being victimized under them, none of their voice being heard and they being silenced after that (some of them are bitten). <<less