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Case File Compendium: Bing An Ben (Novel) #2
Case File Compendium: Bing An Ben, Vol. 2
“The game of death begins now.”
Only weeks after the fire at Chen Kang Psychiatric Hospital, Huzhou University is plunged into chaos by a spate of murders that seem linked to what happened at the mental institution—and to the deaths of Xie Qingcheng’s parents. Desperate for answers, Doctor Xie takes matters into his own hands, and He Yu offers to help, driven by childhood memories of Xie Qingcheng’s fleeting kindness. Yet when they unearth long forgotten secrets from Xie Qingcheng’s past, a terrible truth shakes He Yu’s grip on reality.
With lies and self-delusion laid bare, a confrontation between the two men is inevitable—but how will He Yu and Xie Qingcheng cope when the reckoning takes a more intimate turn?
Only weeks after the fire at Chen Kang Psychiatric Hospital, Huzhou University is plunged into chaos by a spate of murders that seem linked to what happened at the mental institution—and to the deaths of Xie Qingcheng’s parents. Desperate for answers, Doctor Xie takes matters into his own hands, and He Yu offers to help, driven by childhood memories of Xie Qingcheng’s fleeting kindness. Yet when they unearth long forgotten secrets from Xie Qingcheng’s past, a terrible truth shakes He Yu’s grip on reality.
With lies and self-delusion laid bare, a confrontation between the two men is inevitable—but how will He Yu and Xie Qingcheng cope when the reckoning takes a more intimate turn?
436 pages, Paperback
Published June 11, 2024
146 people are currently reading
1799 people want to read
About the author
Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou
98 books1,326 followersAssociated Names:
* Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou
* 肉包不吃肉 (Chinese Profile)
* โร่วเปาปู้ชือโร่ว (Thai Profile)
* Meatbun Doesn't Eat Meat (English Profile)
* Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou
* 肉包不吃肉 (Chinese Profile)
* โร่วเปาปู้ชือโร่ว (Thai Profile)
* Meatbun Doesn't Eat Meat (English Profile)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 287 reviews
Want to read
March 26, 2024making it clear: this novel is for the freaks and the freaks only 💕
Read
March 13, 2024Look, the main characters are two of the worst people I've ever read about but I LOVE THEM.
dnf
August 3, 2025dnf @48% ada bru you better than me🥀💔
May 23, 2025
meatbun wrote hexie with REAL toxic age gap yaoi enjoyers in mind
June 13, 2024
In volume 2, He Yu, the university student with a rare mental disorder, and Xie Qingcheng, a professor of medicine and He Yu’s former doctor, continue their toxic relationship. And it gets really bad here.
The beginning is fine, and it seems the men will slowly but surely work through their misunderstandings, hatreds, hurts and homophobia into a friendship of sort. But then the shadowy criminal organisation on the background decides to purge their ranks at the university campus, and the men get drawn in.
Xie Qingcheng realises these are the people who killed his parents and he’ll stop at nothing to find the truth. But the organisation isn’t willing to divulge it, and they throw Xie Qingcheng under a social media bus. The video they surface makes He Yu question everything that took place when Xie Qingcheng was his doctor and he comes to a conclusion that the only person who he thought cared for him never did.
It leads to his mental disorder to flair up, and to a huge confrontation with Xie Qingcheng. What follows is a graphic, very much non-consensual bedroom scene that destroys what goodwill Xie Qingcheng might have built towards his former patient. He’s a proud, unyielding man, and it’s difficult to see how their relationship could recover from this.
This was a good volume, but sad and uncomfortable. We learn more about He Yu’s childhood and it makes one want to throttle everyone who was responsible for his wellbeing. That he’s as functional as he is, is a miracle. The way he chooses to act out his pain isn’t acceptable, but it’s in line with his character and the men’s angry relationship and powerplays, and it fits the tone of the book insofar as such actions can, leaving the reader both sad and angry. That being said, if such scenes make you uncomfortable, you can skip it. The aftermath is understandable even without reading it.
The background story with the organisation is a bit over the top and sort of unnecessary, even if their actions push the men around. And there was a revelation about it that I didn’t see coming. The cast of characters was smaller than in the first volume, keeping things simpler, the plot was more straightforward and advanced in a fast pace, and the ending wasn’t a cliffhanger, though it didn’t conclude anything either. And I absolutely have to find out how anything can be salvaged between the men after this volume.
The beginning is fine, and it seems the men will slowly but surely work through their misunderstandings, hatreds, hurts and homophobia into a friendship of sort. But then the shadowy criminal organisation on the background decides to purge their ranks at the university campus, and the men get drawn in.
Xie Qingcheng realises these are the people who killed his parents and he’ll stop at nothing to find the truth. But the organisation isn’t willing to divulge it, and they throw Xie Qingcheng under a social media bus. The video they surface makes He Yu question everything that took place when Xie Qingcheng was his doctor and he comes to a conclusion that the only person who he thought cared for him never did.
It leads to his mental disorder to flair up, and to a huge confrontation with Xie Qingcheng. What follows is a graphic, very much non-consensual bedroom scene that destroys what goodwill Xie Qingcheng might have built towards his former patient. He’s a proud, unyielding man, and it’s difficult to see how their relationship could recover from this.
This was a good volume, but sad and uncomfortable. We learn more about He Yu’s childhood and it makes one want to throttle everyone who was responsible for his wellbeing. That he’s as functional as he is, is a miracle. The way he chooses to act out his pain isn’t acceptable, but it’s in line with his character and the men’s angry relationship and powerplays, and it fits the tone of the book insofar as such actions can, leaving the reader both sad and angry. That being said, if such scenes make you uncomfortable, you can skip it. The aftermath is understandable even without reading it.
The background story with the organisation is a bit over the top and sort of unnecessary, even if their actions push the men around. And there was a revelation about it that I didn’t see coming. The cast of characters was smaller than in the first volume, keeping things simpler, the plot was more straightforward and advanced in a fast pace, and the ending wasn’t a cliffhanger, though it didn’t conclude anything either. And I absolutely have to find out how anything can be salvaged between the men after this volume.
February 18, 2025
MY toxic yaoi. we love you meatbun ♡
April 27, 2025
No puedo parar de leer, esta es mi mierda, pec
dnf
September 11, 2024 dnf @ 6% ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗
yeahhhhhhhhh i’m throwing in the towel with this one. erha & yuwu are in my top 10 danmei so i thought i would love bab too but…nope. i don’t. i really really don’t.
i wish i could say it’s because the crazy triggers but tbh i just don’t ✨care✨ about the characters or plot. i could force myself to push through this volume in the hopes that i’ll eventually get into the story but i fear that may never happen. the covers are so gorgeous, and the writing style is immaculate as always, but i don’t have any interest to continue on with this series.
i would still read meatbun’s grocery list though 🫡
“Perhaps Xie Qingcheng was right—He Yu was a bit addicted..."
yeahhhhhhhhh i’m throwing in the towel with this one. erha & yuwu are in my top 10 danmei so i thought i would love bab too but…nope. i don’t. i really really don’t.
i wish i could say it’s because the crazy triggers but tbh i just don’t ✨care✨ about the characters or plot. i could force myself to push through this volume in the hopes that i’ll eventually get into the story but i fear that may never happen. the covers are so gorgeous, and the writing style is immaculate as always, but i don’t have any interest to continue on with this series.
i would still read meatbun’s grocery list though 🫡
May 10, 2025
—— 3.5.✰ stars.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.
that’s it, that’s the summary, HOW went all to shit so quickly, we were getting somewhere, to mutual understanding, and the author said, not today bitch! And fucked everything and everyone up. (im not ok don’t talk to me)
these two are so problematic and dense i can’t even explain, but since im in volume two out of ten, i can only sit my ass down and wait for them to stop being stupid at this point.
cries in gay
I liked this volume more since I start to understand and feel a little less lost lol. The plot about the murders is thickening and getting more complicated.
Their relationship had one step forward but two steps back honestly, if you read this you know what I mean. I would recommend looking at the tags because it’s not easy to read.
everytime we get a flashback of he yu’s past my heart breaks a little, my poor boy I swear to god.
as it’s a second volume I can’t say much more, only this: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA and that I will read the third one immediately, thank you.
“He could only cry out from underwater, but no one ashore could hear him.”
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.
that’s it, that’s the summary, HOW went all to shit so quickly, we were getting somewhere, to mutual understanding, and the author said, not today bitch! And fucked everything and everyone up. (im not ok don’t talk to me)
these two are so problematic and dense i can’t even explain, but since im in volume two out of ten, i can only sit my ass down and wait for them to stop being stupid at this point.
cries in gay
I liked this volume more since I start to understand and feel a little less lost lol. The plot about the murders is thickening and getting more complicated.
Their relationship had one step forward but two steps back honestly, if you read this you know what I mean. I would recommend looking at the tags because it’s not easy to read.
everytime we get a flashback of he yu’s past my heart breaks a little, my poor boy I swear to god.
“He had been smashed into pieces, each broken fragment of his flesh placed under the microscope for someone to examine.”
as it’s a second volume I can’t say much more, only this: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA and that I will read the third one immediately, thank you.
August 12, 2024
Something happened in this book that I am not sure I will be able to get over. I don't know how the ML is going to move past it either 😩.
I have loved everything Meatbun has written so I am going to trust the author here and keep going with the series.
Check the TWs/tropes for this book (I won't list them here because it will be a spoiler for the story).
I have loved everything Meatbun has written so I am going to trust the author here and keep going with the series.
Check the TWs/tropes for this book (I won't list them here because it will be a spoiler for the story).
July 21, 2025
.......i kinda hate he yu
Currently reading
July 31, 2025meatbun redemption arc pls
February 18, 2025
Holy wtf did I just read? And what does it say about me that I was glued to the pages? He Yu needs therapy. Xie Qingcheng needs therapy. Sweet, innocent Chen Man will probably need therapy soon too. I have no idea how the author is going to write their way out of this one but I have a standing ovation waiting in my pocket for when (if?) they do.
December 29, 2024
he yu deserves an olympic medal for the mental gymnastics he was doing in this one
January 30, 2025
"Why is it that no matter how I tried to keep you, you still rejected me?"
"Xie Qingcheng, why did you have to leave?"
just tear out my heart right now won't you 😭😭😭😭😭
i'm going to say this again, like i did for volume one- but WTF did i just read and why was it so freaking good!?!?!? AND WHY WAS IT SO FUCKING SAD 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
this had exactly what i felt was missing from volume one. i rated vol one 3 stars so i was hesitant going into this, but my goodness, this brought the feels, the plot, THE TENSION?????? DAMNNMM 😮💨 YALL I WAS NOT PREPARED AT ALL. THE FUCKING ANGST??????????? BITCH MY HEART 💔 and the romance? well um, we are still far away from that but it's developing 👀 he yu has been unknowingly in love with xie qingcheng since he was younger imo sooooooo. but the revelations we got in this about he yu's childhood omg!!!!!
this book left me speechless in multiple ways, i had to put it down and SCREAM for a few seconds. chapters 50+ is probably one of the most 🤯 things i've read. honestly the whole book is shocking but especially those chapters onward. which is crazy for me because comparing this series to other red/black flagged series i've read, it's not as bad, but THIS really got me. they are hella toxic and very unhealthy but i can't wait for them to get together. they give off hella power couple vibes, just saying....
5 stars because I have no complaints.
"Xie Qingcheng, why did you have to leave?"
just tear out my heart right now won't you 😭😭😭😭😭
i'm going to say this again, like i did for volume one- but WTF did i just read and why was it so freaking good!?!?!? AND WHY WAS IT SO FUCKING SAD 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
this had exactly what i felt was missing from volume one. i rated vol one 3 stars so i was hesitant going into this, but my goodness, this brought the feels, the plot, THE TENSION?????? DAMNNMM 😮💨 YALL I WAS NOT PREPARED AT ALL. THE FUCKING ANGST??????????? BITCH MY HEART 💔 and the romance? well um, we are still far away from that but it's developing 👀 he yu has been unknowingly in love with xie qingcheng since he was younger imo sooooooo. but the revelations we got in this about he yu's childhood omg!!!!!
this book left me speechless in multiple ways, i had to put it down and SCREAM for a few seconds. chapters 50+ is probably one of the most 🤯 things i've read. honestly the whole book is shocking but especially those chapters onward. which is crazy for me because comparing this series to other red/black flagged series i've read, it's not as bad, but THIS really got me. they are hella toxic and very unhealthy but i can't wait for them to get together. they give off hella power couple vibes, just saying....
5 stars because I have no complaints.
July 20, 2025
i cried for an hour straight for he yu's past then nightclub happened... ❤️
June 15, 2024
Yeah sorry but no
April 11, 2025
Me habré gastado tranquilamente unos veinte dólares en post-its anaranjados para este volumen, pero ¿saben? El creador de esos post-its seguramente tiene una familia a la que alimentar.
He Yu, te amo, no me importa lo que digan. Eres el único real, el último romántico, mi yo ficticio, etcétera, etcétera. Fue interesante contar las veces en las que Xie Qingcheng estuvo al borde un ataque de ébola psicológico. Mi Xie-ge realmente ha pasado por mucho :c
He Yu, te amo, no me importa lo que digan. Eres el único real, el último romántico, mi yo ficticio, etcétera, etcétera. Fue interesante contar las veces en las que Xie Qingcheng estuvo al borde un ataque de ébola psicológico. Mi Xie-ge realmente ha pasado por mucho :c
June 17, 2024
Holy fuck! Just when I think I've gotten used to Meatbun throwing traumatic events at me I am proven wrong yet again! This was more fucked up than the first book.
In this volume, we get to see He Yu have the biggest flare-up of his Psychological Ebola that even Xie Qingcheng has seen, and it gets nasty. But this only happens after the mysterious organization behind the Chang Kang incident stages a domestic terror attack on the university where two people get murdered, and come to find out that these people were the cause of Xie Qingcheng's parents' deaths.
Then He Yu actually reaches out a helping hand to Doctor Xie only to end up getting shot and comes to find out the truth of his childhood treatment, leading to his mental break. We see him spiral deeper and deeper into madness which results in him committing an atrocity against the older man that drives a massive wedge between them.
As things are wrapped up in this book we see that they are both dealing with some sort of ingrained trauma that they have never revealed to another person. And I bet that it has something to do with sexual trauma with the way Meatbun talks about 'straight man cancer' and their repulsion to other men. I only hope that they can help each other out in some way, but if things keep spiraling I can only imagine that this is all going to end in even deeper trauma or death.
And my last thought is how much I love that Meatbun's characters get compared to animals. In this case, we have He Yu as a dragon. It's adorable imagery. But if you are thinking about picking this up please be aware that this is not for the faint of heart. PLEASE RESEARCH TRIGGER WARNINGS!!!
In this volume, we get to see He Yu have the biggest flare-up of his Psychological Ebola that even Xie Qingcheng has seen, and it gets nasty. But this only happens after the mysterious organization behind the Chang Kang incident stages a domestic terror attack on the university where two people get murdered, and come to find out that these people were the cause of Xie Qingcheng's parents' deaths.
Then He Yu actually reaches out a helping hand to Doctor Xie only to end up getting shot and comes to find out the truth of his childhood treatment, leading to his mental break. We see him spiral deeper and deeper into madness which results in him committing an atrocity against the older man that drives a massive wedge between them.
As things are wrapped up in this book we see that they are both dealing with some sort of ingrained trauma that they have never revealed to another person. And I bet that it has something to do with sexual trauma with the way Meatbun talks about 'straight man cancer' and their repulsion to other men. I only hope that they can help each other out in some way, but if things keep spiraling I can only imagine that this is all going to end in even deeper trauma or death.
And my last thought is how much I love that Meatbun's characters get compared to animals. In this case, we have He Yu as a dragon. It's adorable imagery. But if you are thinking about picking this up please be aware that this is not for the faint of heart. PLEASE RESEARCH TRIGGER WARNINGS!!!
July 30, 2024
❤️ Case File Compendium 2 - Meatbun ❤️
"Little devil..."
I have to admit that this not my favorite danmei I read so far... Do not get me wrong, I liked volume 1 so much that I decided to read this series and also because of Meatbun 🩷 but also??? if this volume was the first installment, I wouldn't be reading this 👀 BAB is not for everyone and fair enough I have been warned about this danmei more than one time but I was curious to read this novel by Meatbun 🥰 In this volume He Yu (mind you he actually has a psychological disorder but also I am not generalising anyone here 🙌🏻) gets even more obsessed with Xie Qingcheng to the point it becomes very toxic and graphic but also Xie Qingcheng lets everything happen because of his own reasons... regardless their relationship is very complex and I have to admit I am also very looking forward seeing their connection growing deeper 🤭
"Little devil..."
I have to admit that this not my favorite danmei I read so far... Do not get me wrong, I liked volume 1 so much that I decided to read this series and also because of Meatbun 🩷 but also??? if this volume was the first installment, I wouldn't be reading this 👀 BAB is not for everyone and fair enough I have been warned about this danmei more than one time but I was curious to read this novel by Meatbun 🥰 In this volume He Yu (mind you he actually has a psychological disorder but also I am not generalising anyone here 🙌🏻) gets even more obsessed with Xie Qingcheng to the point it becomes very toxic and graphic but also Xie Qingcheng lets everything happen because of his own reasons... regardless their relationship is very complex and I have to admit I am also very looking forward seeing their connection growing deeper 🤭
November 28, 2024
Much better than vol 1.
It look like it going to be long ride 😬.
It look like it going to be long ride 😬.
August 5, 2024
This is much darker on the relationship front than I liked, and the basically non-consensual (and long) sex scene was really almost too much for me. I still like the mystery and the reveals we get (poor He Yu deserves a better family), but this needs some sea changes on the romance front in the next volume, or I may drop it.
February 21, 2025
I realized in this volume how unlikeable He Yu is. I don't like him at all...and what, the actual fuck, was going on. I hated everything, but I still managed it to end this. Also, I'm such a masochist that I want to continue it. Guilty pleasure, I guess.
June 12, 2024
4.5☆
WELL this was a wild ride..i can’t wait for the next vol 😓
WELL this was a wild ride..i can’t wait for the next vol 😓
April 18, 2025
although it took me a while to finish, I can wholeheartedly say I enjoyed this volume a lot more than the first 🙏
Read
August 7, 2025really not sure how we're coming back from this one folks........i am starting to understand how this series is more deranged than erha....................
June 12, 2024
"I'm willing to become your bridge. Because when I was helpless and alone, you were the one who chose to help me. [...] I might not be able to give you everything you want, but I can stop being Doctor Xie to you and become just Xie Qingcheng. As long as you're still willing."
Quick reminder not to read BAB if you're not a fan of darker material - the TWs list is so lengthy its better to just go and look it up TvT.
3.75 stars - I'm so very conflicted about this one as I liked it a lot, especially with how Meatbun explored more of He Yu's past, trauma and illness, and the insight into Xie QIngcheng's life. But I very much can't look over chapter 52. While it's certainly nothing new from Meatbun, as TXJ and Chu Wanning's relationship in the first timeline of 2ha was basically all non-con, and I knew the chapter was coming, of all things for He Yu to resort to when he was hurt...
"I've never liked you, Xie Qingcheng. But..." It was as thought the fragrance of the hydrangea fields had drifted over from that flourishing summer, as the person standing offered his hand to the person sitting- "Doctor Xie...I've never ever forgotten you either."
I sympathised with him so much, especially as he was starting to get better and behaved in a good manner and how he spiralled after finding out what Xie Qingcheng said. And especially But then he had to go and ruin it and remind me how messed up he is.
Rant about chapter 52 aside, I still rated the book decently as the plot itself was still great and engaging with the plot twists that Meatbun included - i.e. . Additionally, the flashbacks to He Yu and Xie Qingcheng's past really kept me hooked, particularly with his adorable He Yu was as a child (I wonder where it all went) and how Xie Qingcheng so clearly did care for He Yu (that scene where he was arguing with He Yu's mother and He Yu's inner monologue was just so painful). I genuinely can't tell how the plot will develop so that'll be one of the main reasons I keep reading.
Another good element of the book was the typical Meatbun humour throughout, which alleviated the tension of some of the darker scenes. The last chapter made me literally cackle as He Yu told Chen Man that he was looking at his girlfriend's pregnancy test result TvT. And the scene earlier on in the book when He Yu messed with Xie Qingcheng's presentation slides to only unintentionally get in more trouble haha.
Overall I'm still definitely going to continue reading but He Yu is really going to have to make up for a lot before I can even begin to sympathise with him again. Also the angst is definitely something that is keeping me reading despite how hard (emotionally) it is to read at certain points - I thought 2ha and Yuwu were bad good god TvT.
Quick reminder not to read BAB if you're not a fan of darker material - the TWs list is so lengthy its better to just go and look it up TvT.
3.75 stars - I'm so very conflicted about this one as I liked it a lot, especially with how Meatbun explored more of He Yu's past, trauma and illness, and the insight into Xie QIngcheng's life. But I very much can't look over chapter 52. While it's certainly nothing new from Meatbun, as TXJ and Chu Wanning's relationship in the first timeline of 2ha was basically all non-con, and I knew the chapter was coming, of all things for He Yu to resort to when he was hurt...
"I've never liked you, Xie Qingcheng. But..." It was as thought the fragrance of the hydrangea fields had drifted over from that flourishing summer, as the person standing offered his hand to the person sitting- "Doctor Xie...I've never ever forgotten you either."
I sympathised with him so much, especially as he was starting to get better and behaved in a good manner and how he spiralled after finding out what Xie Qingcheng said. And especially But then he had to go and ruin it and remind me how messed up he is.
Rant about chapter 52 aside, I still rated the book decently as the plot itself was still great and engaging with the plot twists that Meatbun included - i.e. . Additionally, the flashbacks to He Yu and Xie Qingcheng's past really kept me hooked, particularly with his adorable He Yu was as a child (I wonder where it all went) and how Xie Qingcheng so clearly did care for He Yu (that scene where he was arguing with He Yu's mother and He Yu's inner monologue was just so painful). I genuinely can't tell how the plot will develop so that'll be one of the main reasons I keep reading.
Another good element of the book was the typical Meatbun humour throughout, which alleviated the tension of some of the darker scenes. The last chapter made me literally cackle as He Yu told Chen Man that he was looking at his girlfriend's pregnancy test result TvT. And the scene earlier on in the book when He Yu messed with Xie Qingcheng's presentation slides to only unintentionally get in more trouble haha.
Overall I'm still definitely going to continue reading but He Yu is really going to have to make up for a lot before I can even begin to sympathise with him again. Also the angst is definitely something that is keeping me reading despite how hard (emotionally) it is to read at certain points - I thought 2ha and Yuwu were bad good god TvT.
June 17, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up
This volume takes everything from volume one and amplifies it; it’s more emotional, more ruthless, and more toxic than before.
In volume one, my heart hurt for He Yu and his isolation. Here, my heart broke. We’re inside his mind as he makes painful discoveries of the past, and as his self-loathing and loneliness transform him into the very thing everyone always feared he would become. He has moments of lucidity in his breakdown, but rather than halting his downward spiral, those moments seal his determination to destroy himself and Xie Qingcheng, whom he blames for his shattered reality. It’s devastating, and while what He Yu does to Xie Qingcheng is indisputably awful, the author allows us to understand him even while never condoning his actions.
As for Xie Qingcheng, he becomes single-minded in his quest to find answers regarding his parents’ deaths. And when He Yu is the only one willing to help him, he starts to see the pain behind He Yu’s façade. It leads him to want to offer empathy to He Yu and to start over, but after Xie Qingcheng’s past actions come back to haunt him, it’s tragically too late.
There is a major act of sexual violence in this book, and while avoiding spoilers, I can say it is both explicit and lengthy. It’s painful to read and not just for the reasons you’d expect, as it sadly is true to these characters and this story. I can see many people dropping this series after this volume, so if this is something that might compromise your own well-being, please be aware before diving in.
How the two of them will come back from this is beyond me, but I trust the author can bring them there.
As for the author, she continues with her sharp societal critiques. Xie Qingcheng’s own medical philosophy is a huge part of the story, and allows for even further exploration of the way mental illness is seen and treated. Toxic masculinity is also ruthlessly called out here. Both leads have harmful views on “what it means to be a man”, and the author herself mocks the absurdity of both it and their homophobia within the text. This is true for both leads, but especially for Xie Qingcheng, as his need to maintain control at all costs contributes to the many horrors at the end. Yet even with her mockery, and often darkly humorous takes on their behavior, the author skillfully leaves room for empathy.
The overall plot takes a few steps forward here as well with a twist regarding one of the “players” that adds even more pain to He Yu’s suffering. It’s still a bit jarring to read the sci-fi and conspiracy elements, but as the story is still being set up, I’m sure it will integrate better in future volumes.
I wish I didn’t have to wait until October for the next volume. While there isn’t a cliffhanger here, it certainly is not a satisfying closure, though I doubt it was supposed to be.
Overall, I am committed to this series long-term and think it has a lot to offer both psychologically and (eventually) in its elements of a very dark romance.
This volume takes everything from volume one and amplifies it; it’s more emotional, more ruthless, and more toxic than before.
In volume one, my heart hurt for He Yu and his isolation. Here, my heart broke. We’re inside his mind as he makes painful discoveries of the past, and as his self-loathing and loneliness transform him into the very thing everyone always feared he would become. He has moments of lucidity in his breakdown, but rather than halting his downward spiral, those moments seal his determination to destroy himself and Xie Qingcheng, whom he blames for his shattered reality. It’s devastating, and while what He Yu does to Xie Qingcheng is indisputably awful, the author allows us to understand him even while never condoning his actions.
As for Xie Qingcheng, he becomes single-minded in his quest to find answers regarding his parents’ deaths. And when He Yu is the only one willing to help him, he starts to see the pain behind He Yu’s façade. It leads him to want to offer empathy to He Yu and to start over, but after Xie Qingcheng’s past actions come back to haunt him, it’s tragically too late.
There is a major act of sexual violence in this book, and while avoiding spoilers, I can say it is both explicit and lengthy. It’s painful to read and not just for the reasons you’d expect, as it sadly is true to these characters and this story. I can see many people dropping this series after this volume, so if this is something that might compromise your own well-being, please be aware before diving in.
How the two of them will come back from this is beyond me, but I trust the author can bring them there.
As for the author, she continues with her sharp societal critiques. Xie Qingcheng’s own medical philosophy is a huge part of the story, and allows for even further exploration of the way mental illness is seen and treated. Toxic masculinity is also ruthlessly called out here. Both leads have harmful views on “what it means to be a man”, and the author herself mocks the absurdity of both it and their homophobia within the text. This is true for both leads, but especially for Xie Qingcheng, as his need to maintain control at all costs contributes to the many horrors at the end. Yet even with her mockery, and often darkly humorous takes on their behavior, the author skillfully leaves room for empathy.
The overall plot takes a few steps forward here as well with a twist regarding one of the “players” that adds even more pain to He Yu’s suffering. It’s still a bit jarring to read the sci-fi and conspiracy elements, but as the story is still being set up, I’m sure it will integrate better in future volumes.
I wish I didn’t have to wait until October for the next volume. While there isn’t a cliffhanger here, it certainly is not a satisfying closure, though I doubt it was supposed to be.
Overall, I am committed to this series long-term and think it has a lot to offer both psychologically and (eventually) in its elements of a very dark romance.
July 2, 2024
The reviews are true. This IS for the freaks. Still, even after all, and even, in spite of it, I can't find it in myself to hate He Yu. Was what he did wrong? Absolutely. Will I drop it because of it? Nope. I still feel an enormous amount of pity for him, and all I wanted to do, mostly, was hug him throughout. I truly didn't expect Meatbun to completely obliterate his sense of self and then take it further and set fire to the remnants of it, but here we are. No one does twists quite like Meatbun does, and I'm always left gaping.
This volume is, I believe, the turning point for most readers: either you accept its fucked-up and stay or leave. This was a rollercoaster in which I cried, despaired, was horrified, and made peace with the things going on. I'm intrigued because I can see He Yu's fall, which is already happening, but I can't see Xie Qingcheng's given the type of character he is and what He Yu did to him. There's also so many mysteries yet to be resolved. I'll be waiting to see where Meatbun takes this next.
This volume is, I believe, the turning point for most readers: either you accept its fucked-up and stay or leave. This was a rollercoaster in which I cried, despaired, was horrified, and made peace with the things going on. I'm intrigued because I can see He Yu's fall, which is already happening, but I can't see Xie Qingcheng's given the type of character he is and what He Yu did to him. There's also so many mysteries yet to be resolved. I'll be waiting to see where Meatbun takes this next.
Want to read
March 23, 20247 Seas released the cover for this and I just know that MXTX covers walked so that RBBCR covers could run
haha jk... kinda
haha jk... kinda
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