Can we just take a moment to appreciate Lin Shen in this chapter because the man is quietly dying inside and I am OBSESSED. From the very first scene, he's exchanging uneasy looks with the Three Cubs. They all know the Su parents dislike them. They all know Su Sanxian doesn't remember him. And yet he's there, holding it together, playing the perfect husband and father while internally probably having a million thoughts he can't express. The lunch scene where he claims he only ate three bowls instead of his normal five? That's not just comic relief — that's a man who has learned to make himself smaller in his wife's family's presence. He's trying not to be a burden, trying to be good enough, and the fact that he even jokes about it shows how much he's internalized this inferiority complex. But then there's the moment when he sees Su Sanxian's injured fingers and is genuinely surprised. He's been married to her, living with her, and he didn't notice the damage she was doing to herself. That hits different. It's not malicious neglect — it's the kind of blind spot that comes from loving someone but not fully seeing them, especially when they've been through four years of mental illness that he apparently couldn't help her through. The Three Cubs' relationship with their mom is also incredible here. Dazai crying over her fingers, Erzai blowing on them, Sanzai trying his best with sports because that's all he has left after they stopped letting him fight — these kids love her so fiercely and it breaks my heart a little. They're so aware that she's fragile right now, so careful with their words. And Su Guoqiang! The man goes from snorting 'I'm not your dad' to being visibly moved watching his daughter's family. His relationship with Su Sanxian is bickering on the surface but underneath it's clearly deep love. When he threatens her with managing the company, she melts. That's a father who knows exactly how to handle his stubborn daughter. The most interesting dynamic though is between Lin Shen and Su Guoqiang. The father-in-law clearly resents him, and Lin Shen knows it. But there's also this unspoken recognition — Su Guoqiang saw that Lin Shen kept Su Sanxian alive during those four years, even if he didn't approve of how. That tension is going to be so good to watch develop.
I need to talk about the sensory details in this section because they're doing so much heavy lifting. The cave dwellings scene is one of those moments where the whole social hierarchy of the village gets mapped out in real time. You can literally see who's connected, who's scrambling, who's excluded. Lin Kexin asking for the cave next to Kexin's—"I'm a light sleeper—every little noise wakes me up. Look at my dark circles"—that line hit me because it's both a genuine request and a power move disguised as vulnerability. She's using her suffering as a weapon. And then Sister Li claiming the cave next to Li Tao's "to prevent gossip" while everyone knows exactly whose gossip she's preventing. The worldbuilding here is so economical. You don't need pages of description when a single gesture like Lin Kexin and Yunying running to their own iron pot instead of lining up for the communal one tells you everything about how far they've come. The black market scene too—Brother Long standing stunned for three full seconds at the sight of grain piled like mountains. That visual of wheat and corn stacked in a rented room, the ox-cart driver waiting outside, the scarf wrapped tight—that's a whole different world opening up. The village feels lived-in, gritty, real. I could smell the corn porridge with the added sugar and the pickled vegetables.
I keep thinking about that line: 'Her identity was that of a dependent cousin—like wild grass, resilient, growing wherever the wind blew, without rigid principles.' That's Xu Shuyao describing herself. And it's not just a metaphor; it's a survival strategy. She sold her painting skill for silver. She copied erotic albums. She swallowed her pride. She is grass. She will not break. But then there's Liu Qingwan, and the drowning cat. 'Half submerged in mud, yet still turning to strike her aunt with a fatal claw.' That's not grass. That's something else. That's a creature that refuses to die quietly. And Xu Shuyao *sees* it. She recognizes the same desperation in another girl, even though they're on different sides of the same board. The erotic albums themselves are symbolic, aren't they? Xu Shuyao's figure drawings 'far surpassing those sold in the market, nearly causing trouble.' Her art—her talent, her pride—was commodified. She sold something intimate, something that required skill and vision, for survival. And now she's in a mansion where every interaction is a transaction, where a smile from Wang Shaowei at the gate could be interpreted as favoritism or manipulation. There's also the recurring image of the emperor's gaze. He doesn't appear, but he's everywhere. He asked about the Liu family. He trusts Xiao Mo as a vital right hand. His words are 'never idle.' The emperor is a symbol of power that operates through rumor and implication rather than direct action. Everyone is performing for a audience they can't always see. And Xiao Mo's loneliness in the pavilion, half-lit by sunset—that's the image that stays with me. A boy who climbed under a carriage to follow his father, who grew up to command the Imperial Guards, who can't even pretend to care about marriage arrangements. What does he want? The text doesn't say. But the silence around him says everything.
Okay so let me just say—this mango scene is genuinely one of the most emotionally loaded moments I've read in a while, and it's wrapped up in what seems like a throwaway market visit. The plot doesn't stop to announce "THIS IS A THEMATIC MOMENT" but it absolutely is. Cen Wu buying those mangoes connects her past life trauma to her present survival in one smooth motion. She had 200 points, spent 50 on two mangoes, and the stall owner was SO desperate to sell them that he practically begged. The irony is delicious—mangoes cost thirty points each while meat is only fifty per jin, which tells us everything about this world's economy without a single exposition dump. But the real plot twist of this whole section isn't the mango—it's the Bone Spike Incident. You have Cen Yi casually twirling a poisonous dorsal spine like a sword, haggling like a seasoned vendor, and then the tall beautiful woman appears and calls her "Mom." Cen Wu's internal scream of "Ahhhhh! She's actually Big Sister!" is perfectly timed. The young vendor's face going from smug to absolutely terrified in three seconds is comedy gold. And then Cen Jiao giving 1,500 points as a "meeting gift"—that's not just a plot beat, that's a power move disguised as kindness. She's establishing the relationship on her own terms. The academy section introduces another layer: Cen Wu's hidden Plunder ability. The testing device shows "Enhancement-Type" first, then ten minutes later flashes "Special-Type." She lied on her form. She wrote "Absolute Strength" instead of the truth. This is a ticking bomb in the plot structure—she's hiding her most dangerous ability from her own family because she's terrified they'll see her as a threat. The author is setting up future conflict masterfully here. Every time she smiles at her brother or hugs her mom, we know there's this secret weight she's carrying alone.
I am the author of this book please help me grade it
Good novel where mc is Chad treating his woman properly for their efforts Don't add ntr otherwise it will be good hit novel ............................
Although it is still very early to tell since today Chapter 206 is currently published but I can safely say that I like the way the author weave the story about the friends and their partners. It is very admirable how the creator divide the plot and gave each couple a segment of them all. I have been following the story for quite sometime now and I find that it never ceases to amaze me. There were times that I was on a tenterhook when coming upon chapters that are quite full of actions and suspense but also cried my eyes out when chanced upon chapters full of drama. I admired the author for having quite wide imagination in putting up the story with so many characters/players wherein the writer could give justice in each and everyone's segments with special mention to the great story of Terrence and his kitten, Chester. Worth mentioning also for its dramatic introduction is the story of Liam/Aiden and his husband Lance in the earlier part of the story, and later on the introduction of the love story of each and every one like the almost impossible story of Lee and Dexter who are both Alphas, the story of Teddy and his Taekyun that was tested by several almost near tragedies, the funny love story of Zeejay and Nick, the uncomplicated love story of Derek and Drake, the sad story of Nash and Adrian(although it is very early to tell since as of this time the latest chapter is only 206), the complicated love between Jules and Axle, Jeffrey and Dr. Henry, Clarence and Raven. I am looking forward for a happy ending for each and everyone because I am a sucker for one.
Consistently updates story! I love the interaction between characters, The Rat King is my favorite, he is so stoic and regal! I really love the way the author describes people and places! It is so vivid, it feels like I am there.
The idea is very good and somewhat new I hope that this novel will become famous because it deserves that
the story is good. I felt like like the story was following the story Swallowed Star but it took a turn from there. the writing is so so level, maybe you are a beginner,but I am expecting something good from this novel. maybe it will turn in better in the future. you have my support bud, continue writing
I can’t believe how quickly I’ve gotten hooked on this novel! The writing is exceptional, and each chapter leaves me eagerly anticipating the next
Directly Adding to my reading collection another great novel ??