Zhai Xingchen has transmigrated into a novel about a rich and powerful love variety show. Almost all of the 8 guests have a combination of beauty and wealth, which can be called the pinnacle of a love variety show.
For example, guest No. 1 is notorious and cold. Everyone has to avoid him. He has only been interested in financial data in his life, but he has an extremely handsome face. A casual smile can make people blush and walk. He is the master of the Future Business Empire, and he can swipe his bank card at will.
Guest No. 2, a straight boss with evil charm, height 191, male dog waist, shark muscle, the son of luck who will be famous in the world. Now he is still starting his own business, but he will suddenly become rich in a year, and become the owner of a listed company at a young age.
Guest No. 3, a gentleman who is aloof and abstinent, his shirt is always buttoned to the top. Although extremely clean, he actually has a twisted and fiery heart. And he is a well-known domestic e-sports ace.
The other guests are all rich second-generation, such as the enthusiastic and gorgeous queen Bottom, the restrained and temperamental high-level intellectual Bottom, the mature and dignified Bottom and so on.
But Zhai Xinchen is the nobody in this romance novel. He does the most work and gets the fewest shots. He has never received a Touched Message from beginning to end. He is a complete nerd. Ah, this persona suits him so well!
Zhai Xingchen is determined to be the little match, to burn himself and illuminate other guests.
When someone was hurt by the indifference of guest No. 1, he comforted: “It’s only because of his unfortunate childhood that he was so dark. Don’t you want to be his only light?”
When everyone thought that guest No. 2 was too greasy and domineering, he explained: “Don’t you think he is full of the spirit of a king? He will definitely achieve something in the future, I am optimistic about him!”
As for the guest No. 3: “He looks so cold and abstinent, don’t you want to tear his shirt off?”
Thanks to his efforts, the show really exploded.
Guest No. 1: “He is my only light.”
Guest No. 2: “Only he understands me best.”
Guest No. 3: “What I thought in my heart, even if I say it, it will be banned from broadcasting.”
Four five six seven guests: “I love him.”
Zhai Xingchen: “…Ah?”
When the show first aired, netizens said, “I don’t think the guests seem to be in love.”
Later: “Every episode is a jealous Shura field, so exciting!”
“This is too damn sweet! My little face is flushed.”
I really liked this piece. First of all, let me make it clear that I'm here just to specially review the "Art."
I'll start with the story itself (4). It didn't really impress me to be honest; there's no twist to it and no real "obstacles." But it's a lovely one-shot, and it's not so tacky as most shounen-ai one-shots tend to be. It doesn't really focus on their romance as much as the self-struggle of the characters and ultimately their "sacrifices."
I didn't really care about the story to be honest, which will lead me to the "Art" (10), which is why I'm here in the first place. I knew just by looking at the cover that this was going to be beautiful, but I didn't expect it to be THIS beautiful. I can't actually describe how beautiful it was—it was breathtaking. As I turned the pages, I couldn't focus on what was being said as much as the details of the background, their eyes, their eyebrows, their hair, their facial expressions, which seemed tender and true and full of longing and love (or at least that's how I perceived it). The characters are elegantly drawn, handsome men. I was captivated by it. I immediately looked up the artist "Maruya Kae" and decided that I'll read every manga she was involved in. That's the least I could say really—I'm totally enchanted by her work.
As for the characters, I'll give it a (6). For most one-shot mangas, there's rarely any room for character development. The characters are simple and easy to read. However, I do appreciate that there was a "revelation/realization" in the end, which in my opinion compensates for the lack of character development and actually the realization is what kept the manga going and gave it a sweet ending. Otherwise, there wouldn't be a manga in the first place—I mean the story is very minimal, so that made up for it. I really liked that the characters were true to themselves and consequently each other.
Enjoyment: This is a tough one to judge. If I'm judging the story itself, I'd give this a 5, BUT the art elevated that to a 10. Seriously, I really enjoyed looking at every panel and every detail.
Overall, I'll give this one-shot (8). It wasn't cheesy, no jealousy or whatsoever that is stereotypical of some shounen-ai. To be honest, what really made this manga stand out to me was the art. Gorgeous. It is worth the read nonetheless.
Leave a Review
Part 1. Rate (click Star to vote)
Part 2. Login to account
Part 3. Write your review