After Entering a Book, He Just Wants to be a Flower Vase

It's wholesome. I really appreciated that the main character (MC) and the love interest (ML) weren't hostile towards the book's protagonists; they were actually best friends 🥺❤️ It's refreshing! I was also intrigued by the MC's background, even though it wasn't explained in great detail. By the end, the ML had a good understanding of the MC's past, which made me anxious at first because I feared it wouldn't be addressed. Thankfully, the author did explain it! , it was a good read and I highly recommend it!

I'm giving it 3 stars for now.

The reason is that the author makes the main character (MC) and love interest (ML) act in ways that feel overly contrived for people who have just met. It's as if a child is playing with dolls and forcing them to say, "Now kiss." These interactions are too forced and come across as unnatural.

Apart from that, the story is entertaining, but the overly contrived romantic scenes really annoy me.

Maybe more of a 3.5; the first half was hard for me to get through. The second half, however, was a bit better.

At first, I didn't understand hybridiris' review about the author's inconsistent emotions, but around chapter 50 or so, it started to make sense. The story begins light-hearted but has random bouts of deep emotions and delves into PTSD. I think if the author had either explored the main character's (MC) emotional transitions better or kept the tone light-hearted throughout, it would have been a more cohesive story. If the author had written this in a more serious, dramatic tone, it could have been so much more, and I usually don’t like serious drama stories.

The MC is only average to me. I understand why others love this MC, as he is different from most, but I found his character too selfish at the beginning. This could have been better explained if the novel had taken a more serious tone. I did like him more towards the end, and I do love how *cough* proactive he is. I wish we got more backstory about his life before, such as his age.

The male lead (ML) is good. He’s still the typical, jealous-of-everything, never-had-a-relationship, kind of lofty ML, but he had a bit more personality than most. He recognizes his jealousy and doesn’t hold back the MC from taking on acting jobs that involve romantic scenes with women.

I appreciated that the movies the MC stars in aren’t all literary films with no romance. I also really liked that the original MC and ML weren’t portrayed as villains. They don’t have much presence, but it was refreshing that they weren’t turned into antagonists. The parts with the MC's original family were a bit meh; I wasn’t sure how they fit into the story, which goes back to the author's odd pacing, I guess.

I was also not a fan of the multiple chapters dedicated to the "Grey Wolf" movie script. It felt like the focus for 20 chapters, more than the actual story.

The two extra chapters are a must-read. The one with the original MC and original ML was good, but I was hoping the MC would have told him about his past.

All in all, it’s not a bad read, but I feel like it could have been so much more. I love light-hearted comedies, but I think this could have been a great character-driven, emotional drama.

I actually wanted to give 4 stars but accidentally missed one. , it was good. I appreciate that there aren’t many vicious characters or unfair competitions in this entertainment industry setting. Unlike many other novels with similar settings, the main character notices that most people around him are nice. However, I don’t enjoy the endless discussions about netizens and sometimes wish the movies they filmed weren’t described in such detail. We already get the main story, plus the plots of all the movies they made. The first and last movies they did were okay and not too detailed, but their award-winning film was described so thoroughly that it felt like reading another novel. The relationship is quite healthy; they are loving and caring, so in general, I am satisfied, but I wouldn’t keep it for future re-reading.

This was absolutely delightful. I had such a soft spot for Jiang Dao; his trauma and background made his character incredibly compelling to follow. I just wanted to see him find happiness. The post-apocalyptic setting was also unique—I believe it wasn't a recent apocalypse but a wasteland he was born into, and we can see the lasting effects of that even when he transmigrates into a "safe" world. His dynamic with the male lead, Chu Yinlong, was so engaging; they complement each other perfectly. I also loved the entertainment industry setting—my only quibble is that I wished we saw more of the audience reactions, but that’s just a personal preference.

, 5/5 stars! I highly recommend giving this one a read.

I MTLed this novel and I rate it 3.5 stars.

**About the story**
The main character (MC) originates from an apocalyptic world where he has endured the loss of friends and grappled with his own humanity. After a brutal death, he reincarnates into a new, peaceful world, taking on the role of a young actor in a novel he once read. The narrative delves into his personal evolution and his romantic journey with the male lead (ML).

**About the MC**
He is a resilient character who has survived harrowing experiences, leaving him with only fragments of his humanity intact. Initially cautious and distant, he gradually learns to embrace life in a peaceful world, forming connections with those around him. His relationship with ML is tumultuous, influenced by his past, making him impulsive and living in the moment. Through his interactions with ML, the ML aids his growth, teaching him about the world's beauty and that he can find peace without isolating himself.

**About the ML**
The ML is exceptionally caring and empathetic, showing his vulnerability to the MC to convey his deep affection. Often humorously referred to as "dad," the ML serves as both the MC’s life mentor and romantic partner. Due to the MC’s guarded nature, the ML occasionally feels insecure and jealous, which is entirely understandable given their dynamic.

**Why I didn’t rate the story higher**
The author excels in exploring emotions at certain points, which is where the novel truly shines. However, the emotional depth could be more profound. The world-building is minimal, and secondary characters receive little development. The novel primarily focuses on the MC and ML, which isn’t inherently negative, but it sometimes makes the side characters feel inconsequential. Many encounters lack a clear purpose in terms of personal growth or meaningful connection with the MC. While the novel touches on various themes such as filming, entertainment gossip, PR strategies, flirty romance, and action sequences, it often leaves little room for deep emotional exploration. My personal preference leans towards more emotional connection, and this novel didn’t delve as deeply as I would have liked. Despite this, the emotional scenes and dialogues that are present are well-crafted and compelling.

**TL;DR**
Read this novel if you enjoy action sequences, variety shows, the entertainment industry, social media couple posts, flirty romance, and moments of psychological angst and levity. The MC is not a typical overpowered protagonist, as he carries the weight of past trauma and PTSD, which surface periodically in the story. The ML is a genuinely loving and excellent life mentor to the MC.

Aw, this was great. I wasn't expecting too much, but it turned out to be such a surprising 5/5. All the characters feel like real people, especially the main character (MC) and the love interest (ML). I love that the MC's background isn't just mentioned in passing but actually has a consistent impact on their character development and the plot. My biggest 'this is a gem' moment was when the ML said, "I am your lover, not your owner; I don't control you," to the MC. It’s rare to see such a sentiment expressed, especially in this genre. I finished reading it through machine translation, but I'll definitely re-read it once the full translation is complete.

Very well-explored transmigration story. The main character (MC) acts very much like someone from another world, which makes it fascinating that he knows nothing about the original setting. This lack of knowledge makes his situation quite unstable, as he isn't even aware that he has enemies. The male lead (ML) is a massive醋坛子 (big vinegar jar, meaning he's extremely jealous), and his jealousy had me laughing uncontrollably. I felt a bit frustrated for the MC at times, but given the age gap, I'm glad that he is very dominant and self-assured. He is also highly self-reliant, making their relationship feel like a truly equal partnership rather than one where the ML solves everything while the MC does nothing. There is a bit of that, but mostly because the MC wouldn't do things the legal way 😂. I loved the concerns the MC had in Chapter 100, especially since he doesn't understand how he transmigrated and has no one to guide him. His concerns are very valid. I wish we had more extras!

This was a delightful and heartwarming read, with a healthy dose of humor and just a touch of mild angst. The main characters are quite overpowered, as is common in novels like this, but they remain thoroughly enjoyable to follow.

Certainly! Here is the rewritten content:

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Everything has hints about the novel, so I've 'Spoil' tagged everything.

**MC and Past Host MC**

Our MC has grown a lot throughout the novel. His PTSD improves in some aspects; he accepts himself as part of the world rather than living outside of it, embraces his new life, and finds enjoyment in things he would have dismissed before.

**Spoiler**
The MC comes from a post-apocalyptic world, which follows him throughout the novel. People become suspicious of his past and identity, he experiences some PTSD, and he uses his fighting skills in filming action movies. While his PTSD might not be entirely realistic in some areas, if I consider it as 'minor' or 'lesser' PTSD, I can accept it without any issues.
Pomc’s identity is greedy, narrow-minded, and naive. The MC doesn’t remember his past and doesn’t try to act like Pomc. A scandal arises due to this past, and as it is resolved, the MC worries about ML’s reaction but doesn’t make excuses for himself or dismiss it casually because 'it wasn’t him.'

**Extra 1**

(This spoiler reveals some of what ML knows/finds out about the 'strangeness' of the MC. Also, check the '' Spoilers for more on this topic)

**Spoiler**
The matter of his original life remains hidden. In an extra, he worries he will disappear after the end of the novel, and ML reads his ‘diary’ about these thoughts, but they both pretend nothing happened. The MC overcomes his hurdle after the ending passes, and readers can finally see their happy ending.

**Showbiz**

**Spoiler**
The entertainment industry is portrayed positively in this novel. There is a reasonable amount of time between the creation and release of works. If nitpicking about this aspect: the MC only has roles in shows or movies where the ML is also working (with one possible exception), but the ML does have his own, separate projects, and the MC isn’t a full-time actor. Whether this is realistic or not, I’m not entirely sure.

****

, I enjoyed this novel a lot. It flowed well, plots were neatly wrapped up, dreams were fulfilled, expectations were mostly met, and there were no significant issues. I didn’t feel anything was overlooked or skipped that the author had promised the readers.

**Spoiler**
Although I would have preferred for the MC to reveal his darker past to ML, and for ML to admit to the excitement about that side of him, that’s just a matter of personal taste.

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5/5 stars.

The story is quite memorable and fluffy. The characters and backgrounds are interesting, and the portrayal of variety shows is excellent.

However, there are a couple of minor points that I noticed:

- The story could benefit from more detailed depictions of netizens' reactions to the films. While they are briefly described, they are not mentioned again, which could have added more depth and fun to the narrative.
- What happened to Lin Chu, the person the main character saved from the crocodile? There was a hint suggesting his potential involvement or impact on the main character’s journey, but this subplot seems unresolved.

, these are minor issues, and the story remains a gem to me.

One of my new favorites! I love the trope of a dangerous person body swapping or transmigrating into a 'vase' celebrity, and I would recommend "Kill The Lights" and "Monochrome Rumor" for those who also enjoy this theme. However, a notable difference is that the male lead (ML) in "Kill The Lights" can be a bit of a red flag, and the story includes explicit sexual content. In contrast, "Monochrome Rumor" only features explicit sexual content in the extras.

In "Monochrome Rumor," the ML is a green flag and is very aware of his position of power over the main character (MC). There's a lot of tension from his efforts not to exploit this and from his restraint. The MC is naive about love but is flirty and eager. There are several *chef's kiss* moments of healthy communication when one of them feels insecure, confused, or has a misunderstanding, which I absolutely adored.

The story includes some background drama involving the MC's original family, but the main focus is on the development of the MC and ML's relationship and life in the film industry, with the MC learning how to experience tender feelings and enjoy acting.

There are a few aspects that could have been improved. For instance, the premise for keeping them together is that the MC wants to leave the entertainment industry but would have to pay a huge fine to terminate his contract. The ML steps in to loan the money on the condition that the MC pays it off by acting in his company's movies, with more control over the roles he accepts. However, this arrangement is never really revisited. I kept wondering how much money he was making from his roles and when he would pay off the debt. Presumably, by the time it became relevant, the MC would already be in love with the ML and enjoying acting, but it would have added an interesting layer of tension if the ML had brought up that the MC had fulfilled his obligations and was now 'free.'

Additionally, there was a slight pacing issue towards the end. Their relationship was fully developed (aside from a proposal and a wedding), and most plot points had been resolved (other than getting a dog and the end of the novel). However, there were several scenes of filming a variety of shows and another movie together, which didn't add much besides fluff and some Chinese military/nationalist propaganda. I would have preferred more scenes of bonding with the dog and seeing the wedding.

The transmigration element, while common in such stories, serves primarily as a premise for the MC to gain new skills and a personality that bring them and the ML together. While I don't mind this, it would have been a special treat to see the MC reveal their true past or have their truth discovered, which doesn't happen in this story.