- #1
Surprisingly unpleasant read. This isn't a romance. It's a subjugation. Duan Zhuxian, like many obsessive characters, cares first and foremost about possessing the object of his desire. For him, this is Jiang Yao. Jiang Yao's own thoughts and feelings might not even be secondary or tertiary considerations. That's why no matter how much Duan Zhuxian superficially shows his care for Jiang Yao, by remembering all his likes and dislikes or noticing his poor night vision, the author cannot convince me that Duan Zhuxian respects him. This is made obvious through many of his actions. In his internal monologues, when looking at Jiang Yao, he almost exclusively focuses on objectifying Jiang Yao's. The author also falls into the trap of having Duan Zhuxian attraction specifically focus on his effeminate features; his narrow waist, his bright red lips, his delicate white skin, etc. Additionally, he internally compares Jiang Yao to fragile objects or weak animals. He also openly belittles Jiang Yao's intelligence and has always considered him inferior. Even in their first meeting back in high school he couldn't help but remind Jiang Yao that in terms of academic performance score "So, the person below me is you". This illustrates that the author, like many, genuinely fails to understand that there's a difference between teasing and bullying and this is how the author ruins Jiang Yao as a character. Instead of treating Jiang Yao's reaction to intellectual, physical, financial, marital, and s*xual subjugation as something worth serious treatment the author portrays it as "funny". After all isn't it cute to see Jiang Yao upset as his whole life comes under the control of Duan Zhuxian? The author further demeans Jiang Yao by turning him into a brain-dead blushing bottom whose cheeks and ears can't help turning bright red at the mere sight of Duan Zhuxian's torso. I really want to continue cursing the author out for all the awful tropes used, like "dumb helpless bottom is indulged by perfect pampering president" or "s*x as conquest", but much like finishing this story I don't think it's worth the effort.