Okay I need to process what just happened in these chapters because the conflict escalation is INSANE. Let's start with the rabbit scene. Lu Meiyu buys a replica gun with steel bullets—these aren't toy guns, the text explicitly says they have real power. She shoots a rabbit, it doesn't die instantly, she has to chase it down and finish it with a machete. That's not just a hunting scene; it's a statement. This woman is capable of violence, and the narrative doesn't shy away from it. The villagers' reaction—"No one could associate this seemingly delicate woman with someone who could hack a rabbit to death"—tells you everything about how her reputation is shifting. But then the real conflict hits in Chapter 12. The mother-in-law, sisters-in-law, and younger sister Liu Cuicui all show up at her door while she's eating meat. The mother-in-law tries to grab the chopsticks. Lu Meiyu raises the electric baton and they FREEZE. This is the moment where the power dynamic completely flips. She's not the submissive daughter-in-law anymore. Liu Cuicui grabs a bamboo broom and swings it at her. Lu Meiyu kicks it aside, strikes her with the baton, and the girl collapses "pale as death." Then the mother-in-law grabs a bench, orders the other two to join, and ALL THREE rush her. Lu Meiyu pushes the girls aside and strikes all three women fiercely. The text says they screamed and collapsed, even the benches falling on top of themselves. This is not a gentle confrontation—this is a full-on takedown. And the stakes? They're about to demand a divorce. Old Liu says it plainly: "why not just divorce her?" The Liu family is furious not because she's independent, but because she HIT THEIR ELDER. In their world, that's unforgivable. The system even rejected her rabbit—she can't just store everything, she has to earn it. Every conflict raises the tension, and I was absolutely on the edge of my seat.
Okay so let me just say—the Deng family dinner scene is one of those moments where everything goes wrong in the funniest, most tense way possible. You've got Pei Hechuan trying to re-establish himself, Deng Xiaotong blurting out whatever's on her mind without a filter, and Zhao Yunsheng just sitting there like 'why is my life like this.' The plot moves in this really interesting way here. On the surface, it's a family dinner, but underneath you've got three men (Pei Hechuan, Deng Lijun, He Dali) all circling Zhao Yunsheng like sharks. The author does this great job of layering the tension—first it's Xiaotong being obliviously pushy about matchmaking, then it's the subtle glances between Yunsheng and Pei Hechuan, and then He Dali shows up outside like a ghost from her past. But the real plot twist? Pei Hechuan's move outside. When he tells He Dali that Yuanbao might be his son—that's not just jealousy, that's calculated. He's using information as a weapon. And Yunsheng? She doesn't even flinch. She just goes back inside like 'fine, whatever.' The way the author handles this is brilliant because we never get a clear answer about whether Yuanbao is actually Pei Hechuan's child. It's left deliberately ambiguous, which means every time these two interact, there's this underlying question hanging over them. Also, the subplot with Director Xiang is introduced almost casually—Zhao Yunsheng just happens to walk in on him harassing Xu Mingjuan, and suddenly we've got a whole new conflict brewing. The author is weaving multiple threads together here, and I'm here for it.
The dialogue in these chapters is genuinely excellent. Each character has a distinct voice and the author never lets them blur together. Xia Xiuyan's lines are clipped, dry, often one-liners that carry weight: "So what? You're not a monk." "What do you think about all day?" "Why not?" He speaks in minimum effort, maximum impact. Even his longer lines have a razor edge—"Good archery can also be used for a game of arrow toss. Who says it must be for war?" That's not just dialogue, that's philosophy disguised as a retort. Qiu Xinran is the complete opposite. She's verbose, explanatory, performative. "The young drink first to wish for longevity, the elders drink later to preserve theirs." She's always explaining, always justifying, always wrapping her true intentions in layers of tradition and politeness. But her dialogue also has moments of devastating directness: "If you like it, that's good. If not, it wouldn't be." One sentence and she cuts through everything. The supporting characters also get their moments. Liu Bo's "Young Master, taste this fish soup—it's been simmering for hours" is perfect—warm, practical, utterly grounded. The Tenth Princess's excited explanation about the snow rabbit feels like an actual child speaking. Even the nanny has a distinct voice in her practical, worried exposition. And the narrative voice itself—there's this wonderful restraint. The author doesn't over-narrate. Lines like "Xia Xiuyan watched silently: '…'" are so efficiently funny. The ellipsis does more work than a paragraph of internal monologue ever could. The dialogue between them at the observatory is the highlight: "Are you cold?" "No." "You're fragile. Wear more next time." Three lines. Three different people. Perfect.
"Mom, is that uncle my dad?" — five words from a five-year-old and I am absolutely destroyed. Xiao Niangao is the emotional core of this entire story and I don't know how the author does it. This kid notices everything. He sees his mother crying. He hears her booking plane tickets. He watches her look at Lu Sihan's photo for a long time. And he pieces it together all on his own. No one told him. He GUESSED it. And then he says "I love you" — not because he naturally says those words, but because he noticed that every time he says them, his mom's eyes light up. He REMEMBERS. He performs love as an act of protection because he's learned that love is something you give to keep people safe. The scene where he gives away the rabbit breaks me every time. "Because he was bleeding." That's it. That's his entire moral compass. His mother taught him to help people who are hurt, and he took it so seriously that he gave away the only thing his mother ever made for him before he was born. And when he says "I don't need a dad" to the other kids at kindergarten? I sobbed. He's protecting his mother's choice. He's already carrying the weight of someone twice his age. "You taught me that when someone is hurt, you should help them." — Xiao Niangao, basically holding up a mirror to his mother and showing her the person she could have been if the world hadn't broken her.
The author really doesn't let you catch your breath and I'm here for it. Chapter 10 starts with this chaotic three-way brawl that's almost slapstick—Fang Zhou whining about romance, Hong Yuan chasing him around the training room, chairs flying everywhere. I was literally laughing. Then within the same chapter it pivots HARD into Yuan Li being thrown to the ground over and over, crying, Hong Yuan delivering some of the most cutting dialogue I've read. The shift is so abrupt it made me sit up. And then the medicated bath scene—quiet, almost tender—and you think okay this is the calm before... NO. The dream sequence drops this massive lore bomb about a creature in a valley calling her 'Mother' and then Chapter 12 opens with an entire squad rolling out for some disaster. The author is playing 4D chess with pacing. Every time you think you know what tone this story is in, it changes. That's why I couldn't stop reading.
Dear Amazing Readers,I just want to take a moment to say THANK YOU for joining me on this journey! Your support—whether through reading, commenting, voting, or sharing—means the world to me. Every view, every power stone, and every kind word keeps me motivated to bring this story to life.I’d love to hear your thoughts! What do you enjoy most about the story? Are there any characters or plot points you’d like to see explored further? Your feedback helps me improve and makes this novel even better for you.Drop a comment, leave a review, or send a message—I read them all and truly appreciate your time! Let’s continue this adventure together.Much love and gratitude,Mick Lin
This story has some seriously strong atmosphere.The writing is really vivid and cinematic, which makes the action scenes feel alive and intense. But at the same time, it leans a little too heavily into dramatic prose in almost every paragraph, which can make the impact of the big moments blur together. Not every line needs to be poetic (I do the same mistake) sometimes the simple stuff hits harder when it’s surrounded by quieter beats. Also, while the characters are intriguing their internal voices could be more distinct. Right now, the narration style feels a little too similar across the board. The worldbuilding is rich, but there are a few moments where exposition dumps slow things down or feel a bit crammed in. Letting more of the world unfold through natural character moments or dialogue might help the pacing. And speaking of dialogue, it could use a little more bite. A sharper edge or more personality in how characters speak would take the tension up a notch. Overall, though, it’s a strong start with real emotional depth and a lot of promise. With some polish, this could really shine.
As a little Author of course I had to give myself 5 stars this book will shock you in many ways that i can promise
The writing quality is good and engaging. Also the first chapter was rather interesting. Good read. Do recommend others. Keep up the good work, Author-san.I'd give 8/10.
amnse is fab fr...characters,drama,plot,twists all of them are so good! btw is this book ongoing or completed???
Everything about this book is epitome!!!.
The story idea is fresh and new. Overall, it is enjoyable to read.