If you're bothered by some comments about the FL's hard work not being recognized, and the ML ending up owning the praise, then let me tell you that it's not an integral part of the story. Keep reading ahead and it'll be inadvertently addressed with the FL making a name for herself and the ML putting in the effort to be with the FL and keeping their achievements together.
I quite liked how the author handled the body swap thing as a conjugal property between the two leads, such that when they swap bodies, each treat it as their own person while occupying it.
The ML respected FL's desire to learn and explore things that her poor upbringing would never have afforded to her, even if it means faking and owning the 'genius/talented' persona that clearly he's not. He's a rambunctious boy who appreciates and takes advantage of the freedom that allowed him away from the pressure of a prestigious and wealthy family.
The FL has low self-esteem at the beginning and the cover of acting in someone else's identity allowed her the freedom to express herself and pursue her interests. It's a win-win situation for the both of them.
As a result of respecting each other's person, both strives to learn and imitate one another to keep their identities aligned. For example, the FL has a very weak and sickly body, but the ML likes riding motorcycles, fighting, playing sports and martial arts so she also learned it side by side with him.
The FL has a talent for playing the piano so even if he takes the achievements of winning competitions, he never was complacent and works hard to harness his own skills and match up to her.
Both leads have the same skills, and bonded together in learning and acquiring skills that I never met a webnovel couple as in tuned, natural, and tight as Tong Yan and Xu Xindou.
Swapping bodies are quite superficial and mostly serves as a plot point for most dramas and novels, but I like how the author explored it as childhood sweethearts growing up together, being each other's support and being so fluid with each other's gender.
I'm stopping at c391, as as much as the novel's deeper and realistic take on the characters motivation is the strongest appeal to the novel, that said, a bit of warning to the readers that it can be morally challenging and the characters intentions are quite questionable or the lack thereof. It's how the author handled the whole family drama thing that most of the times feels dragging or frustrating as Spoiler
the "fake daughter", is being ab*sed by the author as a plot point, especially when there's a lot of potential for character development. She's not a good person but she's not evil either. I disliked how she's being branded as "fake" when she's equally a victim herself.
Overall, I feel quite conflicted how readers justify the ab*se Qingyao is getting as her bad karma. Given that she's done vile things and her lack of empathy had triggered a lot of people to feel that she deserves equal harm, I firmly believe that true justice is not enacting revenge and inflicting each other harm, but by doing the right thing.
As problematic as Qingyao is, I can say she's a product of society and is a result of negligence, lack of real parenting and guidance. She's a more humane version of a green tea b*tch, as whole her methods are despicable, she's mostly driven by self-preservation and overcompensation. That is not to say she's not excusable for her actions, but she doesn't deserve to be beaten/ab*sed/neglected.
To keep it short, if you wish or do the same thing to those who harmed you, then you're not different from them. As much as people justify it, it doesn't sit well with me. Which is why I feel very conflicted when the ML orchestrated Qingyao to be attacked by a group of students and ostracized by them because she tampered with the FLs meds. The FL too for suggesting they harm her skin in a mild and less noticeable way. I'll admit it kept me from being immersed in their romance Bec I find it unsettling for a guy to harm another girl (even if they are so despicable) just to avenge or impress the girl they like. Shift the POV and he'll be no different from a love obsessed boy with grey morals.
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I binge read the rest of the chapters so that I can get this over with, but there's no joy in forcing yourself to read when you're not appreciating it. I'll come back once I regain my interest, but I'm still very bothered with how Qingyao the swapped daughter is being treated and her fate written by the author while the real culprits which are the adults and the parents get no real punishment.
It's like venting and torturing the poisonous snake that bit and killed a person. It feels unethical and just wrong.
