End of Love

I finished this story disliking all the main characters.

I genuinely disliked how both protagonists disregarded the people who cared about them just for a man who didn't care about them.

- Li Shuyi made far too many mistakes. In the second half, he overcompensated by completely ignoring the main lead's feelings. I disliked how he never changed his cold temperament or sharp tongue, even though he knew these traits were detrimental to their relationship.
- Jin Yan never had his own identity, from start to finish. I still blame Li Shuyi for watching the tragedy unfold instead of preventing Jin Yan from becoming like him.

The antagonists:

1. Bai Hou remained undeserving to me. He deserved redemption just like Li Shuyi, but not a second chance with Jin Yan.
2. I had more sympathy for Bai Jing because neither he nor Li Shuyi knew what love was. They both made serious mistakes, but Li Shuyi’s mistakes always put the main character's life at risk.

Honestly, it's hypocritical to favor one antagonist over another. However, Bai Jing made genuine sacrifices for Li Shuyi, whereas Bai Hou never truly lost Jin Yan, so he didn't have to work hard for it.

Another heart-wrenching story! I love that the main character (the uke) is strong and not a typical damsel in distress. He's almost on equal footing with the male lead. It's like a ML-to-ML dynamic.

There are hints of blackmail, but I don't think taking a bullet for someone counts as blackmail.

I need more stories from this author! Her sad and dramatic plots are just amazing!

MTLed the entire thing. It MTLs really well. There is almost 90% clarity.

One of the most intense crematorium novels I have read.

I like that the MC (Li Shuyi) and ML (Bai Jing) are both competent. That was a refreshing change in this genre of novel. We get a powerful and ruthless MC, however, no matter how tough and cold he might be, his weakness is the ML. The ML, on the other hand, is undoubtedly scum but is also somewhat dignified. He is not promiscuous; he is cold like an iceberg, and the only one who can get him to lose his temper and reserved nature is the MC. Basically, he is cold but definitely not a brat.

This novel has all the usual tropes of a novel of this type but becomes marvelously interesting because of the MC. He is an all-around badass. It is mentioned many times and even accepted by the ML, Bai Jing, that they are equals in every way. If they were not on the same team, Li Shuyi would make a formidable opponent for Bai Jing. But as I mentioned above, his weakness is the ML. The reason for that is the MC's childhood, which was absolutely traumatic (and dramatic, but come on, it's a dog blood novel, not a realistic slice of life). He has been hurt many times since his childhood, which has hardened him and made him cold-hearted, but his core is soft, which the ML manages to touch because he is there for him in ways no one else is, especially when the MC was at his weakest. Oh yes, there is a white lotus, and yes, he is annoying too. But he is not allowed to become too much of a problem. He is a problem to some extent, sure, but the main problem is between the couple. The core issue is that the ML thinks he can only love a gentle flower, not a sharp knife.

In his indifference and callousness, he does something extremely cruel to the MC, and when the MC finally finds out about it three years later, it breaks him completely. He literally gives up all hope. But the author had me sobbing. The MC is so dignified even when he has completely lost all hope.

I think the author chose the right way because, after what the ML had done, only his utter devotion could redeem him.

**Spoiler**

Li Shuyi (MC) took a bullet for Bai Jing (ML) three years before the story begins. The two were in a physical relationship with each other at the time. But it was also a turbulent time because the ML's engagement was fixed. The MC, being the stubborn man that he is, found this unacceptable, so he threatened the ML to break off the engagement. His threat would be pretty damaging because he was the ML's business partner and right-hand man. However, as the MC says later, what would he have actually done? His only weakness is the ML. His reason for threatening was not just for himself but also because the girl whose engagement had been fixed with the ML wholeheartedly loved someone else. So he wanted to help her out too. He knew it would be a completely empty marriage if the ML and she got married.

Anyway, because he takes the bullet aimed for the ML, Bai Jing feels guilty and breaks off the engagement, and they decide to stay together. So, the MC thinks it's because of the guilt and not love. And the foolish ML thinks the same, that he is staying because of the guilt. But there is an additional layer to Bai Jing's guilt. His guilt is so deep because he had planned an assassination too. He had planned to "take care" of the MC and had even mentioned this to someone else. Even though he says he did not assign anyone to carry it out, he definitely thought about it and might have done it if the MC had not taken the bullet for him (we will never know).

The cruelty lies in the fact that he wanted to kill him after the ML and MC had known each other for so long. It is the ruthlessness that he has been taught since childhood. Even the MC, with a similar personality, agrees that he would have done the same if someone threatened him and told him what to do like he did to the ML. But it hurts because they had known each other for more than a decade by that point. They worked together, built the company together, and were together.

Also, this novel shares a universe with the novel "Muted." I liked Bai Jing more than Yi Tian (the ML from "Muted" who makes an appearance in this novel). Although we can argue that Bai Jing is even more cold-hearted and ruthless than Yi Tian, what I like about his character is that he is essentially cold to everyone. He does not bully Li Shuyi (also because he can't; he would die. Lol. Like did I mention how much of a badass Li Shuyi is), but I like him because he loves a man who is his equal and is just kind of cold and emotionless to the world, with only one man being able to stir his emotions, whether it be negatively or positively.

I enjoyed the redemption arc. I also like how the author handled things after they sort of reconciled. Not a lot of face-slapping but protecting one's heart. That's how it would be for a mature person handling the situation.

The second couple is pretty much the classic crematorium trope. It's not great but it's not bad either.

, a fun read, I would say!

I'm not a fan of this kind of wife-chasing story. There's too much misunderstanding that hurts, too much push and pull drama, and so on. But this novel strikes a good balance. It has enough drama to be engaging, but also enough resolution to allow for forgiveness after all the chasing. As a reader, I feel a sense of relief that the main character (MC) can forgive what the male lead (ML) did, just as the MC does. Sometimes, this trope ends up being too easy to forgive, or there's too much chasing that makes the reader sympathize more with the ML.

This novel, however, is well-crafted. The MC is stubborn enough to hold out, but eventually forgives, and the ML makes enough effort to earn that forgiveness. That’s what makes it work.

Oh wow, I can't believe someone finally picked up "End of Love"! It's by the same author who wrote "Muted." Sadly, she only wrote these two free novels on jjwxc.

Both are awesome stories set in the same universe, but I think the crematorium in "End of Love" is slightly better. The novel is also longer. If you're concerned about spoilers, I do recommend reading "Muted" first, though, as Muran from "Muted" makes a cameo appearance in "End of Love."

Do note, however, that "End of Love" includes a topic that is banned in China: surrogacy.