- #1
The author has struck a good balance between fluff and genuine challenges. The relationship between characters feels earned. They are madly in love as well as each other's dearest friends. The story is structured neatly and nothing feels superfluous or dragged on. That said, I haven't read the extras and I probably won't since they seem primarily focused on the main pairing and I'm only really curious about the side pairings and other supporting characters now. Would definitely read a short spin-off about Spoiler
Jingchun and the Northern Border King or even Shen Huaishi/Hauizhi (TL spelled it both ways) and Xiao Cheng (after Xiao Jie takes the throne).
[collapse].Additionally, I liked the jabs directed at the prominent rationalization of abusive relationships in BL with the main character openly mocking the toxicity of the relationship between the leads of the original story. The story itself has cute little meta moments. SpoilerWhile it rationalizes the bad behavior of the ML and MC, both develop into overall better human beings despite their bad influences on each other - Which was a bit of a wild turn.
[collapse]Anyway, good story.