Can we just take a moment for the Xiushui Shaozis scene because it's the most unexpectedly tender thing I've read all week? Liu Chengxu comes back from official duties, hears Xiao Fu Shi is pregnant, and rushes to see her. Li Shu is resting her head on her mother's stomach. Liu Chengxu pulls his daughter away saying 'Don't crush your mother' and then asks 'Is it true?' And Xiao Fu Shi, shyly nodding, brings up her painting: 'By the way, was the painting I made for you last time useful?' She's asking about her PAINTING while pregnant with their child. She's still trying to earn his approval through her talents, even in this moment of personal joy. And his response? He doesn't even get to answer because Yu Ping stumbles in with the news about Liu Shuzhao. One second: pregnancy, joy, family. Next second: death, grief, chaos. But before that, there's this little moment where Xiao Fu Shi says she wants to eat Xiushui Shaozis—a local snack made from taro, sesame oil, with sweet or savory fillings. Liu Chengxu, who was 'initially reluctant to agree,' can't resist her 'sweet and gentle words' and says alright. This is a woman who used to be ignored, who was treated poorly, who was essentially a ghost in her own marriage. Now she's making DEMANDS and he's saying yes. The power dynamic has completely flipped and I'm emotionally wrecked. Meanwhile, Fu Shi is sitting by the window alone at night, wondering why her sister never left. 'I used to feel guilty toward her... Yet I know that in matters of affection, there cannot be three people.' That bitterness, that resignation—she knows she's selfish but she has no choice. 'She only has one daughter. I even thought that after Li Shu marries, my Shu Zhao could support her as well.' She's planning for a future where her sister is taken care of, even while her own marriage is falling apart. That's not villainy, that's survival.
Okay so let me just say—this opening hit me like a truck. I was not ready for an earthquake novel to be this good. The whole thing starts with Shen Qi waking up to this insane cacophony, right? A thousand puppies barking, rumbling sounds, building shaking—and then she realizes it's actually an earthquake. Classic misdirection that works because the author makes it feel so visceral. You're right there with her, heart pounding. But here's what really got me: the earthquake isn't just a backdrop. It's the inciting incident that changes EVERYTHING. H City hasn't had an earthquake in hundreds of years, and suddenly it's magnitude 8.3. The fact that no warning system detected it? That's a detail that's going to matter later, I just know it. And then the global scale reveal—magnitude 10 in Country R, chaos everywhere, governments collapsing—that's the author telling you this isn't a one-city story. The world is breaking apart, and we're just getting started. The plot moves so fast too. One minute you're reading about earthquake safety tips (yes, the author actually includes real survival knowledge, which is weirdly grounding), and the next you're learning that the dog can talk telepathically and the cat ran outside before the quake. That's a lot of exposition to swallow, but it works because Shen Qi is just as confused as we are. Her questions mirror ours perfectly. What I love is how the author balances the personal stakes (where's Xiaohu?) with the global stakes (the world is ending). The rescue team scene in B City at the end is a brilliant pivot—it expands the scope without losing the emotional core. And that line, "Hua Country will not abandon a single citizen's life," gives me hope that this story isn't just about destruction. There's a rescue narrative here, not just a disaster narrative. I need to know what happens next.
Okay, so this whole arc has been building toward something, and I am HERE for it. Let me tell you about the absolute best plot twist in these chapters — the ledger scene. Song Yunlan pulls out a little notebook and just casually lists every single yuan Bai Ruolian and Liang Bo stole from her. June last year, 20 yuan for glasses. September, 1.8 yuan for medical bills. October, another 20 yuan for torn clothes. She kept RECORDS. Of everything. And Bai Ruolian's face when she realizes this? Chef's kiss. Absolutely perfect. What I love about this plot move is how it recontextualizes their entire relationship. Song Yunlan wasn't just some naive girl who got played — she was keeping score the whole time, waiting for the right moment to strike. That's not revenge, that's strategy. And the way the author ties it all together — from the failed drugging scheme to the marriage registration to the housing crisis to THIS confrontation — it's like all the loose threads finally get pulled tight. But honestly, the part that made me slam the book shut was Song Yunlan's threat about sending her two brothers to Bai Ruolian's family. That's not just about money anymore — that's about destroying Bai Ruolian's social standing, her family ties, everything she has. The stakes went from "oh she owes me some cash" to "your entire life is about to collapse" in one sentence. And then the chapter just CUTS OFF mid-slap. I literally had to stop reading because I couldn't handle the tension.
Okay, I need to talk about the bed scene because my heart literally cannot handle it. Sheng Xia pushing Gu Cheng'an off the bed and rolling onto the floor? I was simultaneously laughing and crying. This woman spent their entire marriage trying to climb into his bed pretending to be drunk, and now she's treating him like a contagion risk. The irony is SO thick you could cut it with a knife. But here's what actually wrecked me: Gu Cheng'an coming in after the whole Gu Tingting disaster and just... trying to sleep in the same bed. Not even making a move, just lying there. And Sheng Xia's internal monologue about how she used to be so desperate for him it made her want to slap herself? That hit different. She wasn't always this guarded. The fact that she remembers being willing to "help count the money if he sold her" shows how much she's changed, and how much HE changed her. The part where he grabs her waist and she instinctively shoves him? That reflex reaction says everything. She's not just avoiding him now—she's genuinely afraid. And Gu Cheng'an's reaction, storming out and not coming back? He's hurt, but he's also confused because the girl who used to throw herself at him won't even let him touch her. Their whole dynamic has flipped so hard it's dizzying. Also can we discuss the group chat moment where she basically puts a price on her own divorce? "If anyone can give me two billion, I'll divorce him immediately!" That's not just sass—that's a woman who has completely detached from the fantasy she used to live in. She's not trying to win him anymore. She's trying to escape him. And that shift? That's the most emotionally honest thing in this entire passage.
I wasn't ready for this chapter to make me emotional and yet here I am. Zhuge Xuan telling his nephews he might not live to see next year — the way the text describes it is so understated it cuts deeper. 'Zhuge Xuan spoke softly and slowly, pausing for a long time between sentences—a clear sign of insufficient vitality and physical weakness. Even his gaze seemed unfocused, lacking the spirit he once had.' That's it. That's the whole description. No melodrama, just a man who knows he's running out of time and is trying to get everything sorted before he goes. The nephews' reaction broke me a little. 'Having relied on their uncle for so long, they had almost come to regard him as their own father.' That line about how they see him — not by blood but by love and dependence — it's so quietly devastating. And then Zhuge Jun, the playful one who loves to joke around, being told to grow up and support his brother. The weight of that moment, the sudden adulthood forced onto a kid who'd rather play with his sisters, it's heavy. But then Jia Xu kicks the door open with his 'I've come to pick you up!' energy and all that grief gets deflected into comedy. Which is honestly how life works, isn't it? The sad moments don't stay sad — something ridiculous interrupts and you're laughing through the tears instead. The text also has this tender moment where Zhuge Xuan praises Zhuge Liang to his face — 'your teacher holds you in high regard, comparing you to a sleeping dragon' — and Zhuge Liang is genuinely taken aback. He thought his teacher only trusted him because he was 'relatively clever and obedient among his peers.' The gap between how others see him and how he sees himself? That's a whole emotional arc waiting to happen.
Thirsty love is a captivating tale,one of the standout features of this novel is its ability to balance action, suspense, and emotional depth. The pacing is well-balanced, with moments of high tension and excitement.?
honestly it's shit writing but I'll read for now
I'll be honest, the start was a bit weird, but once it hit the part where it said 'the story is dark'... I was hooked! Something about that resonated with me. Great job, author - keep going! ??
I like this story, hopefully in next morning or week chapter 3 will be publish as soon as possible, i am excited to see the sequel of the chapter
i like the start of this novel a lot, i cant get enough of VRMMO type novels. The premise is very promising, the novel has decent grammar/spelling, and I can't wait to read more! ??
Pretty sure the author wrote the name of the novel wrong it should be something like hated by god or sum like that. But it’s still really good
It seems to be dropped