#happy 2ha reading :)

[living-realusion]

ooohh youuu

*points aggressively at the tianyin pavillion master*

just you wait, i fucking know you are gonna die horribly. i know because i have been praying for it the moment you appeared.

your shit will get exposed and ykw maybe you will be put on the fucking scale and get tortured.

i hope meatbun wrote a nice little scene for his death because there's no way his ass is alive after the plot is done. NO FUCKING WAY.

the yearning for his death is so strong. it's the only thing that's keeping me going atp.

[pretty-dianxia]

[i-cast-zone-of-truth]

I’ve been trying to remember the name of this artist / album for months!!! And in fact i did not remember but going through my cql tag i found my wwx x lwj playlist which had one of their songs on it!!!!

Hammock — Afraid to Forget

It’s an album about/for grieving. It’s very gentle with you.

[sagisbrainrot]

I’m stressed af, I have multiple presentations in other languages every week, group projects due, back to back exams that are whoopin my ass, but you know what’s worse?

Reading 2ha book 3

Im almost finished with it and its crazy to know no matter how bad my day is, Mo Ran is having a worse one (free him please im about to start crying my baby has not had a second to BREATHE)

[kittybobitty]

Mo Ran just [mentally] referred to Chu Wanning as Babygirl.

[spockoholic]

3am banana bread here we go 😌

[sad-weiying]

“It had always been Chu Wanning… Such private feelings, such passionate love, had always belonged solely to Chu Wanning!”

I am ascending

[rosemary-bells]

nangong xu: *lore drop* goodb

meatbun: AND HERE COMES HUA BINAN WITH THE STEEL CHAIR

[talk-danmei-to-me]

pls pls pls pls make a list of all danmei people should read. I am thirsty for love and angst and pls be my salvation

Omg I can't say no to that!

Full disclosure, I've only been reading danmei since May. Also, I only read official translations. Others may be able to give a wider range.

But since you asked so nicely, let's go!

1) Yuwu/Remnants of Filth

Obviously, my number 1 is going to be the danmei I spend 80% of my time here trying to convince people to read.

Yuwu is a gift for fans of angst, literally opens with the MC getting stabbed in the heart and Meatbun doesn't let up from there.

Fun fact - the only Meatbun without non-con elements in the primary ship.

Sad fact - it also lacks her usual comedy.

Why I love it: Mo Xi, my princess, genuinely the saddest boy in all of danmei. I'm ridiculously invested in Ximang's quest for happiness.

2) 2ha/Erha/The Husky and his White Cat Shizun

At it's heart (at least to where the official translations are up to) 2ha is a romantic comedy. Tropes you may have found in other danmei hit so good (ghost weddings and shizun fucking).

Fun fact - Has my favourite confession scene out of all danmei I've read.

Sad fact - Being Meatbun's most popular work, you can basically collect spoilers like pokemon cards. Not even ao3 tags are safe.

Why I love it - Meatbun's smut writing is S tier and Mo Ran is one of my favourite protaganists... although he has some competition.

3) Ballad of Sword and Wine

I feel like I need to formally apologise for sleeping on this series after reading the first volume. It’s so, so juicy! Obsessed with the character dynamics and it’s always a winner when the main couple starts to dabble with each other in the first volume. It’s not Meatbun levels of smut peddling but I appreciate Tang Jiu Qing’s hustle. If you love courtly politics, graphic descriptions of violence and the most insane levels of sexual tension you will ever read. You need this danmei in your life.

Fun fact - I am as obsessed with Cezhou as Xiao Chiye is with the nape of Shen Lanzhou’s neck.

Sad fact - The sheer amount of characters will drive you insane.

4) To Rule in a Turbulent World

Enter You Miao! His introduction made me fall in love with him just as fast as I did Mo Ran! There's a reason everyone raves about chapter 3. Hilarious, horny and wholesome. The side characters are amazing, the main couple is adorable and it's giving hints of political powerplays. Also the first danmei I've read that seems to really deliver when it comes to skinship. The main couple literally can't keep their hands to themselves.

Fun fact - I'm only 50% through but I am buying every single Fei Tian Ye Xiang 7 seas is about to release day 1.

Sad fact - there's no pictures. Also I'm not sure how angsty it's going to get.

Bonus: For the toxic yaoi fan in your life

Meatbun's most unhinged work. She's peddling all the toxic smut fans of bl mangas and manhwas will be familiar with. Even though it's modern it made me nostalgic for that reason. He Yu is a clown and I adore him. Meatbun is airing all her kinks with this one and I'm not mad about it.

Fun fact- This is the first modern danmei I've read. Also, one of the more fun uses of the straight man trope I've read.

Sad fact - Vol 3 cliffhanger!

Why I love it - It's just pure Meatbun chaos.

(Am I just exposing myself as a Meatbun stan, probably, but she delivers every time.)

[dangermousie]

I am sorry, this is not even subtle, this is 100% the moment OTP meets after a time jump in so many kdramas - just look at Ju Won's face omg when he hears DS' name.

And the little matter of fact way DS throws out in convo that his father has nothing to do with him and the way JW drinks it in? He will always need reassurance on that score; or at least for a long time.

And the meal, such a contrast to how he didn't fit in, in the beginning or the formal meals with his father. And he is willing to share utensils and try new things and just - he was wound up so tight for so long, just in a different way than DS, and now he's slowly being unwound and relaxing into something much more laid back and normal. He might still be particular but it feels much less stressed now. (But also, the gang being willing to accommodate his quirks no questions asked; love it.)

I am sorry but once again, not subtle.

The very last scene is lovely in every particular - JW now looks for lost people the way DS used to - it makes me think of this quote from 2ha:

But then there is this very very last scene in the drama and I love it so because it's practicalities as caring and the return of some sort of banter, acceptance of normalcy (the way JW looks like he's received a gift before he puts on the carping mask):

The way JW drinks in the praise!

And the end on their faces smiling, happy, in peace and both fully in the sunlight.

I have finished and am bereft and not sure what to watch next and this is def going on faves list.

When I started it, I thought it was solidly written and impeccably acted but why people were nuts for this I didn't get. And now I get it. Oh boy, do I get it!

PS Gimme all the fic recs pls. I don't normally do fanfic much but here I wanna read all the good fic pls.

[execute-my-heart]

🪷 Looking for Danmei pals 🪷

Hi there!!

My name is Marie, I'm 23 years old and my pronouns are she/her :)

Since my friends don't share my interest in Danmei, I'm looking for new people to talk to (screaming your feelings into the void is only so satisfying and I think mutual screaming would be way cooler).

Here's a list of the Danmei I've seen/read or am currently watching/reading:

TGCF

MDZS

SVSSS

2HA

Meet You At The Blossom

Word Of Honor

The Disabled Tyrant's Beloved Pet Fish

If you're interested, please don't hesitate to DM me!! I'd be soooo happy to meet new people here :)

[pretty-dianxia]

Every time I feel we are going to get a very diluted version of hyx, I like to remember that time when Luo Yunxi said in an interview that if the character he is playing is based on a novel, he would read it and study the script along with the original work, trying to process the character's emotions and facial expressions, because he wants his characters to be as truthful as possible.

[veliseraptor]

Hello! I am a huge huge fan of your works and the hanahaki trope, so I have burning questions about the xuexiao hanahaki au

Is this before, during, or after the Yi city arc? Is it a fix it? Who falls first? Does the Xue Yang reveal change anything? How does the best girl A-Qing react? Does poor Song Lan arrive only to have to play relationship counselor?

I am so hyped for more of your amazing MDZS fics <3

this is a fun way to think more about this au so why not! this answer is coming so late it's not even funny but on the off chance you're still around, anon, and/or anyone else is interested in this concept

the version of this I'm writing is set during the yi city arc in terms of being set during the flashback period (the three years of domestic living, specifically). as far as whether it's a fix-it or not, I'm sort of torn on that and I think it'll depend on how I feel as I write it, which happens sometimes - for instance, our love would live a half life on the surface was originally intended to be a fix-it and ended up...only sort of being that, loosely construed.

I'm inclined to feel like it isn't one because the plan here is really leaning into the potential body horror of hanahaki as a trope, and also rather than being based on unrequited love is more... unacknowledged/repressed feelings. and xue yang is kind of the king of never recognizing what his own feelings are.

and it is true that the whole hanahaki thing should really give him some clues! but on the other hand in the bit I have written when he hears about how it works his response is

“Huh,” Xue Yang said. “Why don’t people just…stop?”  Jin Guangyao raised his eyebrows. “Stop?”  “Yeah,” Xue Yang said. “Stop caring. Just say fuck it, I’m not dying for this.” Jin Guangyao’s eyebrows crept higher. “Are you proposing that someone will themselves out of love?”  “Why not?” 

so like.

I feel like to a certain extent I'm going for some of the vibe of the hanahaki au for 2ha that i read once, which did not have a happy ending.

but also I might not be able to resist making it at least a hopeful ending. I'm not sure; it's really one that would depend on how it felt as it spun out. to be honest, I only have the loosest of plans/concept for this fic. (classic me! my downfall, often.)

as far as who falls first - typically I think that xiao xingchen does but is keeping a lid on his own feelings because he doesn't want to risk Ruining His Friendship by pushing where he isn't wanted and I think xiao xingchen would assume that his friend isn't interested. and xue yang doesn't so much fall as he gets boiled like the frog in a proverbial pot. his feelings for xiao xingchen grow like a fungus, unnoticed until they're not.

but I do find hilarious the mental image of song lan showing up to find a slowly dying of love xue yang and a panicked xiao xingchen and just being like. what the fuck is happening here.

[meltedmush]

Hi I just wanted to tell you thanks to your comics I finally caved and ordered the first few volumes of 2ha. I especially love the wonton scene you drew, I've been rereading it a lot. Can't wait to reach it in the novel!

AAAAAAAAAAAA HAPPY (well,,, not really) READING, BUT I HOPE YOU LIKE IT!!

Make sure to take breaks whenever you need it!! I had a hard time getting into Erha, and I even dropped it several times in the beginning because I couldn’t handle Mo Ran’s BS. But brace yourself because you’re in for such an emotional journey! It’s a novel I don’t regret reading!

It’s in my top favorite novels,,, and granted it has it’s flaws, but I love how it’s written! 😭

If a novel can make you feel so many emotions regardless of the ludicrousness, I feel as though that’s incredible.

[madridismodelcorazon4ever]

It's been almost a year since I've read the 1st volume of 2ha but even if I were to read this story again for the 1st time, Mo Ran's love for Chu Wanning would still be as clear as daylight for me. This is only my opinion (so don't come at me lol), but I'm always baffled when I see people reading the 1st book and thinking Mo Ran's true love is Shi Mei. When you come across the quote - During‌ ‌that‌ ‌time,‌ ‌if‌ ‌Shi‌ ‌Mei‌ ‌praised‌ ‌him‌ ‌“well‌ ‌done”,‌ ‌he‌ ‌would’ve‌ ‌flown‌ ‌into‌ ‌the‌ ‌sky‌ ‌with‌ ‌happiness.‌ But‌ ‌if‌ ‌Chu‌ ‌Wanning‌ ‌was‌ ‌willing‌ ‌to‌ ‌give‌ ‌him‌ ‌a‌ ‌“not‌ ‌bad”,‌ ‌he‌ ‌would’ve‌ ‌gladly‌ ‌given‌ ‌his‌ ‌life.‌ - your brain immediately goes "wait a minute, something is not right... doesn't he hate Chu Wanning and love the other?"

Well, the thing is - whenever MR talks about his "love" for SM, it always feels like he's rather trying to convince himself that he actually loves him, it never feels genuine because when you love someone, you don't have to tell yourself that your feelings for that person are real, you just know (here I'm making reference to that part where he sees both CWN and SM half naked at the spring but instead of admiring "his person", he can't take his eyes off of CWN. And MR is a person who loves passionately, both spiritually and physically so the argument that he doesn't want to stain SM's pure image is bullshit).

I guess what I was trying to convey in this post is that the most striking aspect of 2ha is the obvious and ardent love both protagonists have for each other. It's a love that's always there no matter how unreliable MR 1.0 is as a narrator. Not to mention that the title of the whole thing is "The Husky and His White Cat Shizun" not "The Husky and His Green Snake Shixiong".

[grumfield]

Do you have any Obikin fics that you could recommend? I'm dipping my toes in the water for the first time because of the Ranwan parallels

Hehe YESSS happy to provide for a fellow ranwanist!! I actually never read fic before this ship so I’m so happy I can finally answer a fic request ask!!

I’ll give you the first three I read that really got me into the ship because of 2ha adjacent vibes!! These are good entry points I think for my beloved 2ha followers, because over the past few months most of the stuff I read has gotten more fandom-esoteric lol

All He’ll See is Me is basically the premise of 2ha condensed into a clean 35k and was my first fic-intro to the ship. Evil dark lord dies and gets sent back in time and porks his teacher, but this time, it’s in space! I’m pretty sure it’s the most popular fic in the ship tag based on kudos

haunt me then is very much a 0.5 timeline esque 7k one-shot the author describes as "he came back wrong to you, but he came back to me” featuring weird codependent willing attic wifey stuff with the shadow of the person you used ton love and still love. absolutely delicious, and is nonlinear for extra flavor.

Come Down From Your Holy Mountain is the one I credit to really launching my interest, it’s like completed at 150k where, instead of leaving Anakin to die after chopping off his limbs on a volcano planet, decides to save him and rehab him. I really loved how involved the plot was and the slow-burn development of their relationship

Also, though it’s not a fic, it may as well be so I’m suggesting it. If you decide this ship is up your alley do your self a favor and read the The Revenge of the Sith novelization by Matt Stover. Aside from being really really really phenomenally written, is literally the most yaoi a book’s ever been without being explicitly yaoi. It’s somehow even more homoerotically charged and gayngsty than any fanfiction where they have sex. I literally cannot articulate to you how fucking insane it is. It’s literally what actually drove home my obsession because I was kind of like “okay wow…this codependent one sided yaoi is actually way more insane than I ever imagined” because Matt Stover writes Obi-Wan like a repressed gay monk in love with his friend, and as a result literally every other author to write official Star Wars books involving them channeled that energy but amped up the weird to untouchable levels.

Some batshit from the novel since I need to get this across to you:

“Blade-to-blade, they were identical. After thousands of hours in lightsaber sparring, they knew each other better than brothers, more intimately than lovers; they were complementary halves of a single warrior.”

“Every day and every night [Obi-Wan] violated every principle the Jedi had taught him about staying in the present moment, about acceptance. Going over every argument, every talk, to find the key that he should have turned in order to unlock the secrets of Anakin's heart.”

‘Palpatine lifted his shoulders. "Perhaps not. Perhaps it's simply a question of whether you love Obi-Wan Kenobi more than you love your wife."’

A scene where Anakin’s wife basically calls out Obi-Wan for loving Anakin and it literally reads like someone’s wife confronting her oblivious straight husband’s “confirmed bachelor” friend when he’d thought he’d kept it a secret.

And more. On like every page to the point where I was like. What the actual fuck were you on.

Anywayssssss hope this was helpful to you LMAO!!! If anyone wants recs or to chat you’re always more than welcome to DM me to ask or talk about it lol.