#he has a really common mc surname without the mc

[evangelineiiimoscovia]

I've finally watched Link Click s2 and Yingdu arc. I won't talk about the actual writing and foreshadowing of the show since there are a lot of people already on the topic. I personally enjoyed it and I'm in for the ride. I'll instead give my thoughts on specific details of the show that caught my eye.

More under the cut

First off, something I thought was general knowledge but apparently isn't. The Chinese name for the show, ShiGuangDaiLiRen, is a pun. Much like any Chinese/Japanese series, all names are puns. Cxs means (Cheng) Process (Xiao Shi) Hour. Lg means (Lu) Land (Guang) Light, and don't take my word for this, but I think this is a double pun. Lu(land) sounds the same as Lu(path), making his name "Path light" as in literally lighting the way. Of course I could be wrong because although Lu(path) is not a common Chinese surname, if the creators had wanted to call him Path Light they totally could have.

ShiGuang, the first part of the title and the ship name of the MCs means "time", but not just any time, it's usually used in a positive context, like the times that you appreciate, or moments to treasure. DaiLiRen, the second part of the title means emissaries or agents. So the title means "(Treasured) Time agents", and for the shippers out there it can literally mean "ShiGuang agents"

Moving on. I'll always love the voice actors they do an amazing work. Chinese voice actors have really stepped up their game these past few years. The characters seem alive and the delivery of some lines is hilarious! I also appreciate how each character's dialogue and voice gives them life. Cxs speaks more informal and youthful (Sha' instead of shenme, using geme'r as in bro, general slang), Lg always uses serious dialogue. One of the villains (Xiao Ma obv) spoke in dialect and although the racism in China is inevitable and clearly appears in the show, it's still a bit of representation and I actually liked him and I thought he was quite funny and a bit sympathetic.

Shout out to Wang Juan, she only did a little but I appreciated her just existing. Western shows are used to including these types of representation ("strong female characters", girls with short hair, women in male dominated fields) so we kinda take them for granted at this point, but I have to give props to the writers because they absolutely didn't need to make a character like Wang Juan but they did.

Link Click in general is quite good in that sense. It's not based on an existing novel (as far as I know) and it's not danmei or bl (who are genres more notable for boundary breaking) but Cxs has semi long hair in a pony tail, the two noodle girls in s1 were obviously together, the women are well written (although the spotlight still always falls on the men) and in no point are the girls inferior to the men in combat. It's little things that maybe aren't groundbreaking for a lot of people, but the teens and maybe some children (the show is also meant for them because of the PSAs that sometimes appear) are seeing representation that is rare in chinese cartoons.

Speaking of the PSAs and the ads, I don't know why they're all so funny to me, just by existing. Especially the one about domestic violence. Obviously we know it's bad, and the show clearly frames it as a horrible thing, but they HAVE to add it, it's just a thing that they have to do. In a sense our MCs are influencers and they just, have the responsibility to say it's bad, and ask the viewers to fight for a world without domestic violence. The same goes for the Yingdu arc. They have to say the "everything is a work of fiction" or whatever, even though it's obvious given that Yingdu doesn't exist in real life (Obv London since Ying is for England and Du is for capital but still), and they have to say "don't attempt to carry out any of the reprehensible actions shown" like the classic "don't try this at home"

Moving on to Yingdu. I'll be honest I didn't like the opening song, the rhymes feel flat and the lyrics just aren't it. It feels like someone's best attempt at writing an English song when they haven't really mastered English. It's not bad at all, it's just not for me.

I was shocked at the hour long opening movie! I was actually so happy Link Click is getting that type of treatment. Well I'm happy about it existing in general. I'm used to Chinese shows popping out the first season of something promising but also setting up to be very long and just, never continuing. But after MDZS basically revolutionised the industry in 2018 and got western attention, Chinese animation has gotten so much better, the production is more organised, everything is more polished, voice actors are getting the recognition they deserve and it makes me very happy!

The art style has changed a little bit, mostly the faces, the backgrounds too. I don't think I'll be able to hold Chinese animation up to western or even Japanese standards in this decade still, it's currently just not possible, so I won't even try. I appreciate the characters moving normally, they do feel alive and have little movements that aren't 100% relevant to the story but give them characterization, and that's already so good! That wasn't too present in s1, but in s2 I really scrutinized the first few episodes because usually second seasons have a drop in quality, but I was pleasantly surprised to see those little character animations.

A thing that I've always liked about Link Click is how they portray subtle details of Chinese life, like your parents showing care through food, a spice native to a certain village, a mother's silent support in a rural area... All small things that just remind you this is (fantasy) China and for the Chinese viewers seems relatable or even nostalgic if they're overseas. Foreign viewers get a little bit of what (fantasy) china is like, mostly for young, urban middle class people though. It's like when people watch anime and learn a bit about Japan, people watch donghuas and have to learn a little bit about China, it's only fair.

In the Yingdu arc I really loved the moment when LiuXiao stopped the robber. I just really liked it because Cxs (not Lg, Lg is living in another dimension rn) is your typical Chinese tourist, he speaks limited English he has no idea wtf is happening, and he's so happy to meet another Chinese person. Just meeting someone who speaks a language he understands, and has just helped him. He says that even overseas it's best to rely on compatriots, and it's really true. People who travel somewhere else be it for tourism or actually emigrating will always be happy to meet someone they "know", and immigrants usually first find their footing among compatriots.

On that note, I also appreciate the detail of Yingdu actually being shown to be a different place. The people don't automatically speak Chinese for the Chinese viewers to understand, they all speak (a very broken ch)english, and it really feels like we've moved location. Every time the MCs meet someone who speaks Chinese it's treated like a little gem. And then there's Vein, speaking chinglish and saying Nihao (hello) with an accent even though mfer knows mandarin.

SOMETHING I FORGOT. I just find it hilarious that the guns in this show never have the accurate amount of bullets. That gun Xiao ma pulled out shot at least 10 times. You can tell the average Chinese person has never seen a gun before. And the one Vein has? I don't know what type of gun that is but it sure doesn't look like it can shoot 8 times idk.

Overall I'm happy to have caught up to Link Click. I liked the first season but I don't know why it never hooked me, even though it ended on a huge cliffhanger. But now I'm hooked and pleasantly surprised by the general quality of the show

[isolatedbubble]

Romance in MXTX, Priest, and SHL

MXTX: Flower, Wine and Dreamworld

The romance in MXTX's works is like flower that grows in ice and snow; colorful, bright and hopelessly romantic, blossoms in misery and hardships.

It features a distinct "us against the world" mindset, depicting love as the only constant in the world. It's an eternal "dreamworld" detached from worldly matters, the perfect escapism as well as a source of strengths in the face of cruel reality.

Both MDZS and TGCF are a critique of mob mentality.

The contrast between CQL and MDZS is very interesting. While the former ends with LWJ taking charge, and therefore changing the world for the better, the novel ends with wangxian isolating themselves from grand politics and focusing more on helping individuals as recluse. It has an essentially pessimistic attitude towards the morality & intelligence of the collective. 

TGCF takes a slightly more optimistic approach, featuring the crowd being courageous under the right circumstances. However, both works share a similar undertone: putting one’s absolute faith in the collective is dangerous, whereas unconditional trust and devotion can be only found in one-to-one connection

MXTX herself compares MDZS and TGCF to 花间一壶酒 (A cup of wine among flowers), MDZS being the wine and TGCF being flower. She also compares MDZS to 风雪夜归人, the person returning home from snow and wind, and TGCF to 红泥小火炉, a small red furnace.

Priest: Breezing Wind and Burning Iron

The romance in priest's works is more complicated. It's the most gentle in its normal state, when it is rational and collected, in which case it's like the breezing wind, soothing, sweet and light-hearted. It gives the individuals more incentive to achieve their individual and/or societal vision, as well as more reason to value their own lives & well-being.

In Faraway Wanderers, the most distinct feature of WenZhou relationship is how in naturally sync they are, and how comfortable & smooth their dynamic is. They both have past burden, but it doesn’t matter, because they bring simple joy, understanding and happiness in each other’s lives.

In Sha Po Lang and The Guardian, the ML’s lingering love for the MC motivates them to become better version of themselves, to care about others, and to form a holistic vision about bettering society. 

In The Defective, Lin Jingheng(MC) explicitly said that Lu Bixing(ML) is the only meaning in his life. He had little incentive to care about his own life after his revenge plan fell apart. LBX helped him reconnect with his inner idealism, and gave him a reason value his life.

When the passion and fiery energy manifests itself, however, the romance is like burning iron, blood and fire. It isn’t actually toxic or unhealthy, but it's not pure and innocent either; in this case, it strives for something deeper and more intense, never content with the past or the present. The sheer intensity of relationship is like a double-edged sword, walking the fine line between unconditional devotion and dangerous obsession. 

SHL: Spring Water and Healing Open Wounds

The romance in SHL is like "spring water"; it's warm, gentle, nurturing. It breaks through the boundary between individuals to bring the couple closer to each other, taking them back to a utopia of their childhood dream, away from social pressure and responsibility. The theme central to their relationship is “salvation”: how love is able to bring people back to integrity.

Both drama wkx and drama zzs have lots of regret about their past sins and wrongdoings. Four Seasons Manor is essentially a metaphor for purity, acceptance and the safety of childhood home. How to make drama wkx open up and accept this safe harbor as his home is one of the most significant plot-lines of the show.

SHL couple is way more emotionally vulnerable and expressive. A significant part of SHL arc is healing the wounds in an open and honest way. They cuddle and confide in each other way more often, talk about their shameful past and even cry about their regrets in front of one another, which is very rare among MXTX/Priest works.

The heat of the relationship sometimes gets too hot and even burns; in other words, there are constant miscommunications, conflicts and misunderstandings in the relationship. However, they can never let each other go, because it's the only source of warmth left for them in their hopeless lives filled with regrets and guilt.

Similarities and Differences

*Note that this is not a SHL/TYK comparison. TYK is kind of an “unorthodox” priest novel; you will know what I mean if you have read 3+ of her works. 

Relationship Dynamic & Narrative:  

In MXTX’s works, the concept of “romance” itself is divined; and the characters are illustration of the ideal of “undying love”. People are made for one another, to complete one another. Her works use colorful symbolism (silver butterflies, the emperor’s smile, the 3 thousand lanterns, etc.) to depict this romanticized ideal of love. 

For MXTX, the romanticization of “destined love” is one of the most recurring themes of her novels. Therefore, the readers look at their relationship through rose-color glasses. Obsession is usually framed in a jolly & romantic light, and doesn’t feature much tension or stress, and has less negative or unhealthy undertone. 

In most of priest’s works and SHL, soulmates are not born but made, so they have to figure out how their relationship works step by step. Therefore the narrative is less of a “rosy picture”. 

Priest has a habit of using derogatory terms to describe relationships that are mostly healthy, but somewhat “bloody” and edgy, full of excessive passion and obsession. The most common phrase is “爱生忧怖”, a Buddhist term meaning “love results in worry and fear”. 

SHL obviously has to be more subtle in expressing love. That said, drama WenZhou are way more emotionally vulnerable and expressive than their novel counterparts, as well as most Priest & MXTX characters. They have a dramatic falling out once in a while, even towards the end. They barely fit the Chinese definition of Zhiji (to know me/to understand one another), but are “lovers” who are buried deep in their passion instead. 

Past, Future and Evolvement: 

In SHL, characters are encouraged to treasure past impressions that are thrown in figurative “wrappings”, whose luster is derived from age-old experiences (Psychological Types, Carl Jung). In other words, they are encouraged to root their love in a shared past, a Utopia of innocence. 

The contrast between The Defective and Word of Honor is very interesting to observe. Both involve long separation, and the suffering and personality changes hat comes from it.   SHL narrative frames their innocent childhood as something to cling to and return to. Drama WKX is encouraged to accept his identity as Four Seasons Manor disciple because it was part of his childhood past. This is a significant part of drama WenZhou relationship.

In The Defective, the narrative doesn't encourage the couple to dwell on the past that much. On the contrary, the all-knowing AI explicitly discouraged the MC from “comparing past to present”. They are advised to accept changes, however painful it might be, and build a better, more equal dynamic out of it, evolving from one-sided pandering to fighting side-by-side.  

In Priest’s novels, the characters rarely return to something in the past, but look into the future. Change is usually framed as inherently beneficial, albeit usually painful and rocky, the implication being that you need to constantly strive for something better.  

Sha Po Lang is a good example of this, with Gu Yun’s changing attitude towards Chang Geng after he as he matures, gradually showing his intelligence in politics. CG starts referring to GY as Zixi instead of YiFu is also a sign of this change---to see him as equal rather than a parental figure & protector.

The Defective is even more obvious in this regard, with both parties uncomfortable with the change initially, but gradually adjusting to the changes during their 16-year separation. The ML also stops calling MC by his surname “Lin”, as a sign of viewing him as equal. 

In MXTX’s works, change in personality or relationship dynamic is neither framed as painful or good. It just happens. It’s a natural flow that take place when it does. Their relationships are rarely challenged by change. They are objectively at a better place compared to their past, but it’s merely the result of a series of events rather than a deliberate choice or struggle.  

WangXian’s relationship naturally changes over time after WWX’s rebirth, but neither of them really struggles with the change. 

Xie Lian doesn’t even recognize Hua Cheng as the someone from his past, so they start out as friends getting to know each other. 

Salvation and Changing one another: 

Priest herself stated in an interview that she doesn’t believe in the concept of salvation, since people have the inner capacity to be their own savior. Therefore, priest characters usually don’t actively try to change their partner’s morals or personality. Some might be willingly influenced by their partner, but there’s rarely an element of moral condemnation. Even when there is a conflict between different values, the options are 1) to reconcile them by choosing the middle ground 2) to maintain their independence and tackle it with nuance 3) to break up.

On surface level, Mo Du/Silent Reading is about Luo Wenzhou being Fei Du’s salvation. However, as LWZ pointed out himself, Fei Du would’ve been a good person at heart with or without his influence. 

In The Defective, when Lu Bixing mistakenly thought Lin Jingheng stayed in the Eighth Galaxy against his own wishes because of their relationship, and that their priorities are irreconcilable, he even thought about breaking up. Of course he was not serious about it, but this showcased that he would never try to change LJH’s convictions. 

In SHL, however, the concept of salvation is central to the theme. Some find it strange that SHL make drama zzs the more “moral” one of the two, despite his action being more objectively questionable. In fact, the only reason he get framed as more “moral” is that he admitted his fault sooner, and therefore could guide drama wkx’s path back to salvation: to recognize the goodness in people, make peace with external world, to clear his name in Jianghu, and to follow due process with his revenge plan to avoid collateral damages. 

“I tried to change you, but you end up changing me”, said drama ZZS. This relationship dynamic is never present in any of priest’s works I’ve read. Priest characters don’t *try* to change one another. 

Does MXTX believe in salvation? Hard to tell. One could argue that Hua Cheng would have be way more amoral and even immoral if it hadn’t been for XL. This is complicated and is a topic for another time.

However, it is certain that MXTX MCs don’t condemn each other morally. “The orthodox one defending their unorthodox partner in front of the world” is a common wuxia trope, but the way MXTX novels approach it is very different from SHL. 

HuaLian never had a serious falling out about being on different sides. Even when they disagree, they respect each other and love each other exactly the way they are. Hua Cheng didn’t approve of Xie Lian saving Mu Qing, but he didn’t interfere with Xie Lian’s decision. Xie Lian feels responsible for helping Shi Qingxuan in Blackwater arc, but he is perfectly fine with HC helping He Xuan keep secrets. In several cases where they have different values, they are able to make it work with ease.

LWJ never *morally* condemned WWX for his action, and never once objected to WWX practicing demonic cultivation after his rebirth. In fact, LWJ never objected to WWX’s morals; in their previous life he was worried about his safety, and struggled with what to do about certain situations due to his family background, but difference in morality is not an issue for them. 

The “righteous” one does not feel the need to guide their unorthodox partner or to be their salvation with regards to integrity. 

*The similarity & differences part is a bit messy and some points are not fleshed-out. Sorry about that. 

**I don’t claim to have the right interpretation. The lens by which we see different styles of romance is ultimately subjective. 

[kamyru]

Ghosts of the past: Takado x MC (Angst)

Summary: Being a doctor comes with a lot of responsibilities and challenges, because when you’re at work, your first a doctor, than a human. When MC meets a person that she didn’t want to see again, she have to face one of her biggest fears. Even is she gave the Hippocratic Oath, she is still a human.

Trigger warning: Detailed description of leg injury, mention and slight description of sexual harassment

Word counting: 1907

The day was hectic because near the Hospital was an accident - a driver ran over a pedestrian. Hopefully, the pedestrian survived, but he had a very bad leg injury. His limb was nearly flat and the bone was nearly a 3D puzzle that reminded just from afar that in the past it was a whole.

Every normal orthopedic surgeon would have amputated the leg, but Takado decided that it could be saved and in no time he, MC, Ekuni and other nurses were in the operating theater, doing their best to save the patient’s leg and life. MC didn’t have enough time to look at the patient’s face or to find any information about him. They had to act fast and correct, putting aside any feelings they could have.

It took them a lot of times to make a limb out of all the small pieces which formed man’s leg. Of course, it wouldn’t be his first surgery, but the entire team did everything possible to stabilize his state and to save the leg.

After some hours, when they already finished, some of the staff members found the patient’s family members and contacted them. MC, exhausted, had to talk to them. His wife looked somehow familiar, but she couldn’t remember from where she knew her... Until she finally said her name - Sato. It is a pretty common surname in Japan. but this missing piece put everything in place in MC’s mind. She wanted to enter the patient’s room to see if she was right, if he really was the person she thought he was, but she didn’t have enough energy to do it after hours of operating.

When she returned to other doctors, she did everything possible to look as usual, so they won’t be worried. They were tired too and her problems didn’t have anything in common with them. For the time being, she would be alright. She’d think about everything the next day. She still had to make sure that her patient was the person she thought he was, before starting to worry.

“Wanna go home?” asked Takado, bringing her back to reality.

With a soft smile, she nodded. He was her lover, he cared about her. MC didn’t need anything else at this moment, beside him. His presence made her feel protected, loved. Nothing that could remind her of what happened in high school.

“I love you” he whispered, hugging her from behind while laying on his sofa.

“I love you, too,” she was happy. With her beloved near her, having a career she always wanted, working hard to achieve it, saving others’ lives. 

But when she felt Takado’s warm and caring touch, under her clothes, she tensed. He wasn’t her teacher, he didn’t saw in her just an opportunity, but her brain didn’t want to process it. Not knowing what else to do, she just pretended to be asleep. He would understand, the day was really tiring. Not insisting, Takado just picked her up bridal style and put attentively on the bed. Kissing her, he laid beside her.

The next day, MC thought that everything returned to its normal state. But this feeling disappeared when Takado told her to go see the patient. She still hoped that it wasn’t him and that the woman she talked with wasn’t the one she thought.

When she entered his room, the man was asleep. She wanted to verify everything without looking at him. In that case, she could convince herself that it was another man and give her best to be a good doctor. But when he groaned in pain, she couldn’t just avert her eyes.

“Is everything okay?” MC asked with a shaking voice, seeing in front of her the teacher she didn’t want to see ever again.

“What happened?” was everything he could mutter.

She explained to him how he got in the hospital, what they did and that his wife was here, an hour ago and that she can call her. She really hoped that he didn’t recognize her and she was right. At least, he was in too much pain to understand who was sitting in front of him.

When she finished what she had to do and went back to the doctors’ room, the only thing she could think about was how she really felt. She wanted to be a good doctor and to draw a line between her personal life and her work, but in that case it was impossible for her. She felt sorry for him, she didn’t want revenge, but she was afraid, so afraid that everything could happen again, just as in her last year of high school.

She knocked on Kasumi’s door and before he answered, she entered. He just looked at her questioningly.

“Can I ask you something?”

Kasumi nodded.

“What makes a doctor good? Is there a line which a doctor can cross, to the detriment of the patient, and still be a good doctor?”

He frowned. Now the boss was worried. He could tell that something wasn’t alright with MC, but couldn’t tell what exactly, besides the fact that it had to do with her patients.

“What happened?”

“There’s a man... The one from yesterday. I don’t think that I can be his doctor. What can I do?”

“Talk to Takado. He’ll help you, I’m sure...” and before MC left, he whispered “Everything will be alright, MC”.

MC waited till Takado returned, fidgeting. She was paler than paper. When he appeared, she nearly jumped from the chair.

“I don’t think I can continue with the new case we have. Can I give up?” she asked when they finally were alone.

“What is the reason?” he was annoyed from the moment he entered the room, but seeing his girlfriend act cowardly infuriated him.

“I... I can’t... don’t know... I don’t have a reason for this...” she just whispered.

“Then don’t run away! You’re a doctor! You have to save lives! I don’t know what’s up with you. Just put yourself together!” and slammed the door without looking back.

That hit hard. MC wanted to help people. She knew what are doctors supposed to do. But she couldn’t. That moment she was simply a human being, not a doctor. She was afraid, ashamed, confused. Looking at her watch, she understood that she had to check on the patient again.

He was alone and awake. His wife was supposed to appear in two hours, after work. MC checked on his stats and asked him how he felt. Before she could leave, he grabbed her wrist and pushed her on the bed.

“I see you grown up as a beautiful young lady. You always were intelligent. Did you think I wouldn’t recognize you? I still have dreams about you.”

Saying this, he touched her chin to lift her head, looking directly in her eyes, he leaned. Before he could do what he planned to do, MC slapped his face and run away. She wanted to feel protected, important, loved. And there was only one place she could get this. She hoped that Takado was in the in-call room, but even if he wasn’t, he’ll be there soon. So she would be able to hug him tightly and just feel the warmth of his body.

Entering the doctors’ room, she took the sanitizer from Kasumi’s desk and started to rub her hand and chin. She wanted to get rid of the feeling of that pervert’s touch.

***

When he slammed the door after the conversation with MC, Takado went to ask nurses about another patient. He was angry and wanted to work till get fatigued, so he won’t be able to think about everything that was happening.

Walking on the corridors, he heard two nurses talking: “Do you know that the man who was hospitalized yesterday worked as a teacher and was accused of sexual harassment? My sister was a freshman in high school when a girl said that he touched her repeatedly. But no one believed her. And then, was found out that he had a relationship with another girl, that was in the same class as my sister. He then left that school. And when you think that he is married and has two children... What an awful man!”

The moment Takado approached them, they nearly choked, being taken aback.

“What school was that?!” he nearly shouted. The response what the one he feared the most. Was the same high school his lovely girlfriend attended. Without waiting for another second, he ran to find her. He saw how his girlfriend was entering the in-call room, rubbing her hand and chin with the sanitizer.

Takado followed her and closed the door with a slam, to let others know that he didn’t want to be disturbed.

The skin on her chin was already red when she looked at him. Her eyes were glossy and she looked terrified.

“What happened? What has he done to you? Please, tell me. Please...”

MC wanted to meet his gaze, but didn’t have enough force to face him. She wanted to cry. The first move she could do was to hug him as tight as she wanted when she escaped the man’s grip.

Takado waited till she was ready to talk, gently touching her back and kissing her hair.

“I was in my last year in high school” she started. “He was our homeroom teacher... He was loved by everyone... Some girls even had a crush on him, but they knew that he was married... Though... One day he stopped me after our lesson and wanted to talk about something... I don’t remember what he was saying, but he then started to touch my hair... I felt uncomfortable, but he was a teacher... And then he touched my thigh... I don’t know how I escaped, but after that I thought that it was just a coincidence, that he didn’t do anything... But it wasn’t the last time he did this. Each time he had the possibility to be alone with me, he did something like this... Till one day he... He... unzipped my skirt... I was terrified and hit him... I didn’t have enough courage to tell someone about it immediately. So I talked with the principal after a week. But she said it’s my fault and that I just want attention... I am still afraid of him... That everything will repeat... I know that I have to be a good doctor, but I don’t think I can do it,” she was crying so hard, that she couldn’t even talk coherently.

It broke Takado’s heart to see her like this. He felt so guilty for not listening to her when she wanted to leave the case. He took her hand and kissed it tenderly.

“You’re a human being. Sometimes you’re allowed to show it. I won’t let him touch you again. You don’t have to be near him again. I want you to be happy. If you are not ready to take care of someone like him, you don’t have to. You’re a good doctor for understanding that you can’t be the best one for him. Don’t push yourself too hard. Please. I’ll always be near you. Trust me.”

While hugging her, he understood that now he had another problem. He was the only one competent enough to make that monster healthy again, but he didn’t have the will to do it.

[fallenhero-rebirth]

Hi! :-) I'm pretty bad at reading between the lines and understanding subtext, especially since English isn't my first language, so I thought it'd be easier to ask: when did The Big One happen? Was the world previous to that 'normal' (similar to ours)? What exactly did they do to MC at the farm? What, exactly, is a regene? Sorry for so many Q's, lol. I really love Fallen Hero but I feel like I'm missing a lot of information, or maybe not all of it has been published yet. Gr8 work! 🖤

The world before that was not entirely like ours, it diverged around 1900 or so. If our world focused a lot on the space race, atomic power, atomic bombs, getting to the moon, flight, satellites and things like that, the FH world focused a lot more on medical tech and what we would call cyborg tech. It’s behind on things like cellphones and the internet (think mid nineties for that) and we never went to the moon. Putting the new and updated timeline below.

A ReGene is a vat-grown body implanted with an artificial intelligence mind. They tend to be boosted in various ways, and subject to intense modifications since they have no rights, they tend to be used for experimental new technologies. If they die, they just grow more.

What the MC did at the Farm is spoilers.

History of the Fallen Hero world.

1945: World War II ends, but the technological arms race continues. The United States and the Soviet Union both 'recruit' available German and Japanese scientists, taking full advantage of what they learned from the more unconscionable experiments during the war.

1951: The Korean War very nearly turns nuclear when the first Chinese Type 52 bipedal tanks help push the UN forces out of the mountains and nearly out of the country. Though clumsy and slow, they prove to be useful in the mountainous terrain, leading to an upswing in the power armor industry.

1955: The Soviet Union announces that it has successfully created the first functional, cybernetic limb replacement. This is widely considered the start of the Cyber Race.

1957: The Soviet Union manages to successfully interface man and machine, leading to a quantum leap in power armor technology as bipedal movement patterns become a lot more organic.

1960's: The US repeatedly releases new versions of its power armor suits as the Vietnam war rages, the lighter, more maneuverable armors being more suitable for the terrain. Various upgrades for soldiers are becoming more and more common, and the nickname 'Mods' is coined for those changed by the cybernetic implants.

1968: The first so-called 'Masked Heroes' appear in public, Modded veterans from the Vietnam war angered by their treatment at the hands of the government and the public. Very soon afterwards, new villains also take to the stage, and the police find it increasingly difficult to deal with disturbed people who have military training and equipment.

1971: A metabolic diet pill launched without proper product testing turns out to have uncommon and dangerous side effects. Though most users die or are crippled, a certain lucky few develop powers hitherto unseen in humans. The pill is quickly nicknamed the 'Hero Drug' and though it is pulled off the market, use and research continues. People who have gained powers are nicknamed 'Boosts' in the media.

1976: The Hero Drug is declared an illegal narcotic, banned after causing the deaths of untold thousands of people. Still, the lure is too strong, and research moves underground and behind securely-locked corporate doors.

1979: Wei Chen, who will later be known to the public as Marshal Steel, is born.

1980: The Year of Hell. The Big One hits the West Coast, and the San Andreas fault causes a massive earthquake to strike Los Angeles, which triggers the Cascadia subduction zone a few days later. The massive earthquake and resulting tsunami throws the whole West Coast into disarray with more than 150,000 estimated dead and missing. As if this was not enough, three months later the Mammoth Lake volcanic system reawakens, and the resulting eruption destroys any hope of quickly salvaging the west.

1980-1990: Aftershocks ravage the West Coast, halting any rebuilding effort. Little by little rebuilding turns to evacuation, all efforts being put into getting the Midwest back on its feet to regain a stable food supply. Food riots are common and several armed uprisings against the increasingly-authoritarian government are struck down by the military.

1981: The US government is nearly paralyzed by refugees as well as the rain of ash covering most of the Midwest. President Clark declares martial law.

1982: ${ortega_name} Ortega, also known as Charge, is born.

1984: Los Angeles is renamed 'Los Diablos' in 'The Angels of Los Diablos,' a famous documentary about the rescue efforts.

1986: The GeniTech corporation patents the creation of lab-grown stem cell organs, revolutionizing the transplant industry.

Late 80s: Estimated birth of ${name} ${surname}, later known as Sidestep.

Early 90s: Fed up with the suffocating yoke of the federal government and martial law, more and more people start moving back into the ruins of the west, starting the recolonization. A disproportionate amount of these people are Enhanced heroes and villains, both Mods and Boosts fleeing government control.

1992: In an effort to increase private industry investments, the West Coast is declared a free economic zone, where there will only be the bare minimum of federal government oversight. No taxes. No regulations.

1992: The GeniTech corporation patents whole-body stem cell clones, allowing for large-scale harvesting of replacement organs. Following a tumultuous debate about the ethics involved, GeniTech is one of the first companies to move their corporate headquarters to Los Diablos to escape regulation.

1993: The Re-Gene project is first revealed in a New York Times article, claiming it dates back to the seventies with the goal of making androids for use in war. The author, Tim Mazetti, was killed in a traffic accident soon afterwards. The future Ranger, Lady Argent, is born.

1996: Los Diablos is up and running: the first Mayor is elected, and it is starting to look more and more like a functional city. With the huge changes to the coastline, large tracts of the South Bay are abandoned and the city shuffles inland. The future Ranger, Herald, is born. Chen drops out of high school.

1997: Appalled at the lack of law and order in the free economic zone, or the FEZ as people call it, the newly-elected President Ross creates the Marshal system. Recruiting some of the most famous masked heroes of the region, he funds the 'Rangers' initiative in order to stem the worst excesses of the Enhanced populace. Chen joins the army, gets a boyfriend. Mount Hood is one of the founding members of the Los Diablos Rangers, as is Sentinel.

1998: Chen is deployed overseas, SE Asia. Sentinel joins the Rangers.

1999: A breakthrough in energy technology leads to the first plasma reactors, leading to ever more compact cybernetics. Hollow Ground self-declares as the kingpin of Los Diablos. Chen's boyfriend is killed. Chen has an accident with an IED and loses his hands. His body proves to handle mods well, so apart from his hands the army invests in an access port for armor interface as well. Ortega has their accident and is used as a test subject for their cutting edge electrical mods and spinal column. Chen and Ortega meet in the hospital during rehab. Mount Hood becomes Marshal Hood of the Rangers.

2000: Intent on regaining lost influence, the US flexes its muscles in the Middle East. This leads to a series of proxy wars with the ailing Soviet Union. Chen gets deployed there, now piloting an armored suit instead of a helicopter. The first known sighting of a Re-Gene on the battlefield. Chen sees Re-Genes on the battlefield. Ortega debuts as Charge, sponsored by a military subcontractor because they want to see how the mods perform.

2001: Steel is sick of the army and what they are doing abroad. He has racked up enough commendations that he's considered a suitable candidate for the Rangers, equipped with a new, shiny armor. Meets up with Ortega again when they are both in for surgery upgrades, and Chen talks him into signing up for the Rangers. Ortega's father dies.

2002: Ortega joins the Rangers. Sentinel officially starts to transition, there's a lot of controversy that Hood shuts down. Sentinel is not fired.

2004: A huge scandal rocks the Re-Gene project after its operatives are suspected of human rights abuses in another proxy war in Panama. It is never brought to court as the Re-Genes themselves are androids with artificial minds, but the scandal moves the project back underground where it has remained ever since.

2005: The Special Directive is formed, rumored to be a black-ops strike team of Re-Genes, deployed against anyone deemed dangerous enough by the government.

2006: Anathema joins the Rangers. The Rangers team up with the Special Directive for a mission. It does not go frictionless.

2007: Ortega is promoted to Marshal after the death of Marshal Hood at the hands of Hollow Ground. Sunstream joins the Rangers.

2008: Sidestep debuts as a vigilante. Charge and Sidestep meet for the first time.

2009: Psychopathor is the villain headliner of that year until finally put to a stop by the Rangers and Sidestep. Dr. Mortum and the Vitruvian are active as villains, but not high key threats enough to be a target for the Rangers.

2010: The Catastrofiend goes on a year long rampage, tearing through the Marshal before disappearing again, a pattern that will be repeated over the years. Ashfall works closely with the Rangers, becoming another associate.

2011: Los Diablos is hit by the Nanosurge, a runaway nano-weapon devouring all flesh before it is contained by an alliance of heroes led by the Rangers. Sidestep plays a vital part in its defeat. Herald takes the hero drug and survives the boosting process. Psychopathor escapes. Sunstream quits the Rangers and disappears soon afterwards.

2012: The Void is looking to expand their Santa Ana territory into Los Diablos, and the Rangers strike back, leading to a final showdown in the southeast deserts.  Herald moves to Los Diablos. Dr. Mortum retires from active villain life, focusing on research.

2013: The Heartbreak incident occurs. Sidestep and Anathema are believed to be killed in action. Ortega retires as Marshal and hero, replaced by Steel. Sentinel and Herald meet.

2014: Ortega returns from retirement, joining the Rangers once more as Charge. Steel loses both his legs when he's nearly crushed under a building in the battle against the Catastrofiend that has resurfaced. The Catastrofiend gets securely locked up. Herald gets his first sponsorship (and name) as a corporate hero. Herald debits as a vigilante under a different name.

2015: Lady Argent debuts as a vigilante in San Francisco. Herald gets hired as a corporate hero, and gets his hero name.

2016: Lady Argent joins the Rangers. Steel nearly gets assassinated, losing an arm in the process. Sentinel retires. The Catastrofiend escapes, but disappears after a mercifully short rampage.

2017: The MC returns to Los Diablos under an assumed identity.

2018: Herald joins the Rangers.

2020: The events of Rebirth.

2021: The events of Retribution (the next book)

[uoongs]

[translation] MXTX Interview - TGCF questions

this is rlly for everyone to love hc more TT // split by general/book1, book 3 spoilers, and book 5 spoilers via headings (though all are minor spoilers imo, except for the one in bk 5?)

there’s another question that pertains to TGCF’s comments, which I found interesting but have left out for now because it’s very very long. it’s half translated, so maybe i’ll finish it later

CW: domestic violence, Q.21 suicidal thoughts

the mdzs parts were prev translated here by @bigbadredpanda

original interview here

reposts and translations OK, but pls give credit!! twt @/uooongs, tumblr @uoongs, ig @/duoj1ao

GENERAL / BOOK 1 REFERENCES

Q14. TGCF characters’ heights?

Xie Lian 178cm (but can perfectly seem like 180), Hua Chen 190 (first appearance as a cute fresh youth was 185cm), Jun Wu 191, Feng Xin 188, Mu Qing 188, Mo Shui 189, Shi Wudu 187, Shi Qinxuan 186 (woman form 176), Pei Ming 188, Ling Wen 180, Quan Yizhen 184 (but has a very tall presence), Yin Yu 186 (but miraculously no matter how tall he is it’s hard to notice this person).

PS: Yu Shi [rain master?]’s cow is 150 without standing up

Q17. What was XL doing after his second time getting banished to the human realm? What was HC doing? Why couldn’t he find XL? HC previously swore to not let XL know he’s protecting him, so why did he decide to meet XL again after 800 years?

XL tried doing other jobs, but all didn’t go too well, and would bring sadness/strife to others, so could only collect trash by himself.

HC was looking for him while also working on his skills + earning money, expanding his power, and worked hard to become the strongest dude!

Really, it was because XL’s luck was so terrible and stuck to him so closely that he couldn’t meet HC. Actually, many times they almost saw each other, like in Banyue, and also when XL was Fangxin head priest, but both times they just missed each other. Finally XL ascended by himself and CEO Hua couldn’t contain himself and rushed over.

T/N:

strongest dude: the word here used is “jiahuo” 家伙 which is an informal, sometimes affectionate way of calling someone, kind of like “brat” ? but without the parental figure tone

CEO Hua: 花总 “hua zong” the zong here is used as a suffix of respect, usually used for business partners/ ppl holding business positions

Q18. When they first met again, why did HC not let XL touch him?

Because he loved and respected him. He was scared he’d get too excited and do something wrong. Later, the reason was that sometimes if he thought he made a mistake, like not protecting Dianxia well, he would not let himself touch his idol. Even if he wanted to a lot, he wouldn’t let himself touch, because it’s his own punishment for himself.

Q19. What did XL like doing as a kid? Did he whine like a kid?

He liked going on swings, calligraphy, drawing, reading books most people wouldn’t read, building and knocking over golden toy block houses. Whined a lot, and would insist on sleeping with his parents. So when he stopped whining like that the king didn’t find him as cute.

T/N: the “whine” here is the best English equivalent as far as I know, but perhaps you’re more familiar with the term “aegyo”? lol. Original word is 撒娇 “sa jiao”

Q20. Where did HC’s name and San Lang come from?

Why Hua Cheng, only he himself would know, since names are based on intuition and he didn’t tell me anything. San Lang was firstly because he was actually the third child at home, secondly because he fell during the third lap during the Offering to the Gods parade, thirdly because BLABLABLABLA many reasons to guess. Being the third seme of the novels is also an interesting Easter egg, but that wasn’t the main reason. Just as why Lan Wangji is Lan Er-Gege, or why Qiu Chi is called Si Shao, one can find many fitting explanations in the novel.

T/N:

BLABLABLABLA is actually what appeared in MXTX’s response lol

Qiu Chi 秋迟 is the name of a character (not sure MC or ML) for her next novel, and Si Shao 四少 means fourth, or fourth child/youth ?

“Offering to the Gods ceremony” translation is taken from Sakhyulations translation! https://www.sakhyulations.com/novel/heaven-officials-blessing/chapter-1/ bless them uwu

Q22. Why did HC not have confidence in his looks?

Because he was always told he was ugly, a monster, etc as a kid, so there was a deep “I’m ugly” impression of himself. Later he started suspecting that “maybe I’m kind of good looking”. But before the person he likes the most, he would still instinctively be self-deprecating, and sometimes will wonder if he’s an ugly person.

Q24. Why did XL give himself the surname “Hua”? 

Because he likes flowers, and used to be called the Flower Crown Martial God. Also, in the initial character sketch, when XL was banished he became a flower god, in charge of flowers’ blooming and wilting.

T/N: The word for “wilt”, amazingly, is 花谢 “hua xie” which is HC’s surname + XL’s surname (!!!). Also is the fake name XL used in Banyue, and the surname he gave to HC in the amnesia extra.

Q27. When will edits be made on TGCF?

Edits have already started, and when they’re done they will all be added with an announcement. Because it’s a long process, and because JJ has inconvenient limits on edits, Iwon’t know when. Not sure if it’ll be before or after the fourth novel. Also will depend on novel adaptations (of prev novels) and how the fourth book goes.

Q28. Will there be more extras for TGCF?

I’ve been wanting to write a human realm commoner storybook, a collection of short fairytales.

BOOK 3 SPOILERS

Q15. Where was Hualian’s first time? Does Hua Chen know that Xie Lian made the first move in kissing him in Qiandeng temple?

Huangji temple in Taicang mountain! HC didn’t know at first, but later Huahua teased it out + closely interrogated it out of XL.

Q16. What was the last mural and the lying down sculpture of XL in Wanshengku (hundred thousand-gods temple)?

It was that you know. That.

T/N: papapapapapa

Q21. Why did HC always have bandages on his face as a child? Why did he fall from the building? Why was he always getting bullied but still physically very strong/healthy?

He was always beaten up because his right eye is red. Others thought it was scary, and his face had a lot of scars that had to be covered;

One day he was beaten up so much that he wanted to kill himself, and also he’s a very bratty and petty kid, so when he heard there’s going to be a Offering to the Gods ceremony -- which if went wrong will bring strife to the whole country -- he especially chose that day to ruin the ceremony. As in, “if I’m unlucky and having a hard time, I want this entire country to die with me”. But he ended up climbing up there saw his wife and was shook, so he forgot to kill himself. But because he wanted to see more clearly, wanted to be closer so badly, he accidently fell off. 

He is just very tenaciously surviving! He’s strong like XL, won’t die even after getting beaten up hundreds of times, and forever will be able to hold onto a last breath and crawl back up again to return, against fate.

Q23. What did Mu Qing say when he drove HC away?

MQ just speaks like that...like, you brat are not even useful to Taizi Dianxia, you’ll only weigh him down, the army doesn’t need trash like you, don’t think you actually have talent! etc. Also because in the army the youths’ death rate is actually quite high, so MQ didn’t think he was doing anything wrong in driving HC away.

BOOK 5 SPOILERS

Q25. So is Shi Qinxuan a human now? Will his hands and leg ever recover? If he reincarnated, would he still have a hard life? Is Shi Wudu really gone? What did Mo Shui take the water master’s head for? What did he say to Shi Qinxuan on Moshui island at the end?

SQX is human. He can’t recover, and he doesn’t want to. Heavenly Officials won’t reincarnate. SWD is gone for good. The head was used for an oblation. He didn’t say anything in the end, because SQX was very out of it, so even if he said something SQX wouldn’t be able to understand.

T/N: To refer to SWD MXTX uses 15° (15 degrees) because phonetically it sounds like SWD’s name.

[momowoah]

Major spoilers, you know the drill

Zero and Mingfei's dance was one of the best parts of the first novel. Mingze's protectiveness towards her seems really strange considering dragons don't seem to be able to truly empathize with humans (the closest to it is Xia Mi and Zihang but at that point even the characters admit he was more dragon like than her, and Odin's mark and the Blood Cry played a huge role on their relationship). So why exactly does Mingze like Zero so much, to the point of saving her life more than once and guiding her even after becoming trapped in that dream realm? Are they an exception to the rule or is Zero somehow not a normal hybrid? I'm pretty sure she shares a surname with Bondarev which is mentioned to be rare. I kinda don't understand Bondarev either, he doesn't really seem like a villain later in the story and in the game he cares more about mc than some of our allies. Also, the dragon/dragon bond might explain why Mingfei is so attracted to Erii and NoNo. If they really are Izanami, it would be natural for them to have a strong connection with Nidhogg.

More on Izanami: Contrary to what I said in my last post, Izanami wasn't exactly reborn. She came back as a light king instead of queen, and that doesn't seem like a translation error. For a full dragon, she was also way too weak (it was harder to defeat the weaker twin Norton than her and Jormungandr and Fenrir were pretty strong even without managing to become Hela). So, Herzog might have used the stronger half of Izanami, Erii, and two really strong hybrids to replicate the queen, making himself her controller rather than part of her? Also, when Zihang goes on trial in volume 2, is mentioned that the bloodlines of Zihang, NoNo and Mingfei are a mystery. Mingfei's is explained by the fact he is Nidhogg, Zihang's might be due to his connection to Odin (which I think is better explained in volume 4 due to what I've seen about the plot but again, not sure), and as far as I know NoNo's is unexplained so far. She doesn't seem to have any soul skills, so she fits the weaker twin position. Like Mingze and Mingfei, her and Erii also strongly resemble each other (to the point Mingfei thought Erii was NoNo for a second). As far as I know she's heavily injured in the end of the most recent novel, so as soon as something new is released (IF something new is released) we'll likely know.

On Odin: In the recently added Dragonblood system in the game, one of the obtainable character is the Lord of Sky and Wind (the characters are the dragon looking twin rather than the combination). He's the only one whose name has not been revealed (at least in global), and his color scheme does resemble Odin's. Might be a coincidence, but the DR game absolutely loves to put little easter eggs/straight up spoilers in the game so unlikely. The only problem: is Odin the combined version or one of the twins? Double identities are common in DR and Cassel students have a tendency to turn out to be dragons (lol), so Zihang being a part of the 4th lord wouldn't be so surprising, especially considering the Chu's relationship with Odin and his connection with Xia Mi/Jormungandr. Her blood also stabilized his, which is really weird considering that blood with higher human percentage is considered safer and Zihang's blood at this point is basically all dragon. Also, their soul skills are highly compatible to the point he still fights in the same style he used to when they fought side by side (to add to that, her skill is wind related). Does the combined version the lord (aka Odin) and the twin version (maybe Zihang/dragon twin) coexist? If Zihang really is a dragon, is he the weaker or the stronger twin? Odin's appearance also seems odd, as it is a man mounted on a horse rather than a dragon or a human. Considering his position in Norse mythology, is also hard to imagine he wouldn't be even stronger than the original dragon king and queen. So, again, what exactly is he? Why wasn't Lu Mingze able to defeat him when he has the power to defeat any dragon lord?

I don't think any of the characters really figured out Dragon Raja yet too. It took millenniums for them to discover the twins, and there's many things they still can't really explain.

Disclaimer: As I unfortunately can't read chinese my only sources for Dragon Raja are the manhua (who appears to lack some details from the novel) and the 2019/2020 game adaptation of the 3rd chapter so I might be saying a lot of things that are already proven to be either right or wrong. If that's the case please correct my mistakes lol I wanna know more about Dragon Raja.

Also I definitely misspelled Jormungandr and possibly other names, just ignore it

Okay so many Dragon Raja spoilers (including some not in the game so proceed only if you know the story)

Also, I still don’t get the Lu Mingfei/Lu Mingze situation that well so I might make mistakes

So, we know Nidhogg made a rule about twins sharing the 4 thrones. We know the Norton/Constantine & the Fenrir/Jormungard duos already, and we also know the rule may be applied to Nidhogg himself (as for what I know he’s the combination of Mingfei and Mingze who are also kind of brothers). Izanami seems to be the only exception, being reborn as a combination from Erii, Chisei and Chime and Herzog/Osho/I can’t remember his 3rd identity. So, should the sibling trio be considered a single half? Should we only count Erii and Osho (they fit the weak twin/strong twin with a weakness rule and if I recall well only Erii is an actual part of the dragon)? Is Izanami an exception to the rule? I haven’t reached the siblings death in the manhua yet and I only saw their death in the game once so sorry if I said some nonsense lol

[247krp]

— Rejoice, little lambs! We have recovered our own Oh Yijoo, spotted prancing about in the Southwest Side. I remember seeing her with The Empire back in high school, but I’m not here to spill yesterday’s tea. So straight to the rundown: can you say exuberant and cunning? Apparently now she spends time as a news anchor and TV presenter, and keeps skeletons buried at Prague Tower, 702. But those won’t stay hidden for long, if you and I have any say on it. Welcome back, Sunshine Barbie; we missed you so.

In case you don’t remember the devil’s name, here’s to refresh your memory:

With her willowy physique and chiseled features, eyes followed Oh Yijoo wherever she went. Life was a breezy walk in the park for her. She always get what she wanted; things fell on her laps even when she didn’t ask for them. There were other people like her— beautiful, charming and cunning beyond their years. They were known as The Empire. At one point, everyone worshipped the grounds they walked on.

She was ambitious for the spotlight, and the position of news anchor suited someone like her. So when her classmates busily crammed for exams or schemed to buy their ways into prestigious universities, she was perfecting news reporting and interviewing skills, with the help of several top professionals. Not to mention, with her father and brothers all being Korea University alumni, there was already a seat reserved for her.

Nevermind the memory lane though, the present is always the ripest fruit:

You must have seen her. She is the news anchor on your television at 7PM every night. Her eloquence and composure at the news desk, as well as her winning smile that garnered her the title of Miss Korea Mi in 2013, quickly catapulted her to fame. Oh Yijoo, the most popular news anchor in the nation, the number one female that girls in 20s aspire to be, the perfect daughter-in-law that mothers want to have. 

Rumor has it that she will soon become the news anchor for the 9PM prime time news. Not only that, she is also ambitiously expanding her territory out of the newsroom; already has hosted several lifestyle and entertainment talk shows, talking face to face with many big names that some can only dream of meeting. Some are saying it’s all because she’s part of the 1%, which Yijoo won’t deny, she did pull some strings to get where she is. She is smart and talented and knows how to take advantage of the opportunities and resources that come her way. Anyone in her shoes would’ve done the same thing, she believes.

But we are nothing if not open books – my job is to ensure you get to the best pages:

♥︎ — hearts govern the first period of our lives and the first season of the year – spring. family, love, home, relationships, emotions, and children all fall under the domain of hearts. 

With three older brothers in line for the throne of the media empire that her father builds, she’s made aware of the role she plays early on— a darling princess who captivates people with her effervescent presence, nothing more.

Clad in a red chiffon dress tailored for her by the designer, she glides through the lush garden with poise beyond her years. Heads turning as she makes her way to the center, where an imposing middle-aged gentleman stands along with an elegant woman and three dashing young men. Giving her father a kiss on the cheek, she takes her place next to her third brother Kihoon, linking her slender arm with his, completing the perfect family portrait for the world to see.

As her father addresses the smartly-dressed crowd gathered in the family estate with a speech, she turns slightly to smile at her parents and siblings. At one point, the man shares that behind a successful man is a loving and supportive family, and he’s so pleased that his wonderful family can all stand with him here today. The patriarch then grabs his wife’s and the eldest son’s hands. Big smiles plaster on their faces, but if one observes closely enough, they can see the young male’s subtle uneasiness. Though everyone is overjoyed by the occasion to notice that, only she sees it. His eyes shifts and locks with hers. 

Are you alright? She mouths.

He nods, giving her a reassuring smile.

Though both of them know he feels like a misplaced puzzle piece that doesn’t belong in here.

♣︎ — clubs govern the period of life after childhood when we are sent off to school every day. it is the second season of the year and represents the summertime of life.

Crisp late summer air wafts through the field, cooling the earth after months of searing heat. Changing of the season reflects the vibe between them. Placid but thick with subsequent tension from the conflict.

The bell rings when she pushes the cadet blue double doors open, students in pristine uniforms spill out of classrooms, flocking into the corridor. She trudges toward a wall of lockers, leaning against the cold metal surface to heave out a breath.

“Hey,” A silvery voice reaches her voice. “where were you? Did you skip?” Her best friend asks as she unlocks the locker and tosses books inside.

“I was in the infirmary. Cramp.” Yijoo pouts, rubbing her abdomen. The girl throws a sympathizing glance at her.

Yijoo’s expression changes when a familiar face passes them. She chews on her bottom lip, trying to contain the irritation bubbling up inside. 

How dare she walks around with her head high, not feeling one bit remorseful and ashamed of the sin she committed! It’s true that they each have a part in the crumbling of The Empire, but what the girl did is most unforgivable.

She kneaded her temples with fingertips, following her friend to the table they usually sit at during lunch time. “Ouch!” She yelps, colliding into the other girl when she stops dead in her track.

Here he is in the company of several classmates. Eating and joking merrily as if nothing happened. Yijoo rolls her eyes at the sheer audacity that she witnesses in the span of minutes.

“Let’s go to the courtyard.” Her friend says quietly, turning on her heels. Yijoo sighs, shooting a look of disdain at him before she stalks off.

As soon as the two girls are out of earshot, spectators eagerly whisper to each other about what just happened in the cafeteria. So the rumor is true, the invincible and untouchable quartet is breaking apart.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

♠︎ — spades is the suit of wisdom and wisdom can only be obtained through experience. though a clubs may have wealth of knowledge, their knowledge is, by definition, inferior to wisdom.

“Never show your face in front of me, your mother, brothers, and sister again. I don’t want to hear a word about you. From this day onward, your surname doesn’t mean anything, you are no longer an heir to my fortune.”

She perches by the doorframe, watching Kijoon silently packs few clothes, books and other items into a duffle bag. “Oppa…I’m sorry…” She says, her voice hoarse and thin. He zips the bag up, glances his room one more time before he walks toward the door.

“Oppa.” She calls out again. This time, he responds by spreading his arms out. Yijoo hug his lean frame tightly, tears streams down her cheeks. “I’m going to explain everything to dad! It’s not your fault, I’m the one who deserves the punishment!” She cries, then pulls back, intending to find her father and rights the wrong.

Kijoon tugs her back, calloused fingers ruffling her hair. “It’s not your fault, Joo. Don’t ever think like that. I was fully aware of the consequences when I did it. You always know how unhappy I’m here, don’t you? I’m not cut out for this world, I won’t ever live up to dad’s expectation.” He bends down to be on the same level as her head, taking a good look at the only person he genuinely cares about in this house. 

“It’s the best for everyone. Kiseok is far better suited to take over dad’s business. My position is not here, it’s somewhere out there.” 

She knows he’s absolutely right. She even has wished for him to escapes the confine of this gilded mansion before. So he can go to a place where he isn’t suffocated by the weight of the crown on his head, to a place where he can simply be a man named Oh Kijoon, not Oh Kijoon the heir of Wooseung Media Corp. But now that it is really happening, she doesn’t want him to go. She can’t picture what it’d be like without him by her side. It’s always been him and her against the world, who is she going to rely on now?

♦︎ — diamonds represent the harvest season, both in the year and in our life. it is the suit of values and accumulation of value, material or otherwise, but too often the “otherwise” is overlooked.

“Do you think the title of Miss Korea Mi is the reason of your success as a news anchor?” The interviewer asks pointedly. 

The underlying implication of the question doesn’t escape her. He’s really saying that she is only popular because she is easy on the eyes. It’s astonishing that this is the editor of a magazine with a major female readership.

All of his questions are monotonous and shallow, utterly incompetent at the job. He mistakes one of her experiences as an MC for Music Bank instead of The Entertainment Weekly; doesn’t know the most basic information about her ( “Oh, your major actually was journalism?” ), which he can easily search up on the internet. And the snarky little comments he slips in between the conversation doesn’t hide his contempt toward her.

Yijoo’s smiles, masking her vexation as contemplates the response to the highly subjective question. 

“How often do you see a woman and recognizes that she’s a Miss Korea right away? That doesn’t happen unless you have the knowledge beforehand, right? Not to mention I’m only one of the four semi-finalists, so it’s actually more common when most people don’t know that about me.” It’s amazing that the smile never falters once. “Rather than being the factor to my success, it’s more of a bonus. People have positive impression of Miss Korea, so when they find out that I was Miss Korea Mi, it helps them to view me in a more positive light. Though ultimately, it’s my ability and hard-work that makes me a successful anchorwoman.” 

I don’t just sit there and smile prettily for the camera, you misogyny asshole! 

When the horrendous interview finally wraps up, he reaches out for a handshake, Yijoo complies graciously, though she definitely will have to disinfect her hand thoroughly after this.

“It’s a pleasure to chat with you.”

“Likewise. Though may I give you a little advice?”

He nods with a sneer. Swiftly, she leans in a little too close for comfort, whispers in his ear as he freezes on spot. “It might be worthwhile to do homework before the interview.” She pulls back, smirking at him. “Because then you’d know that I do in fact have a journalism degree from the Korea University. Also, you’ll find out that I’m the daughter of Oh Youngwoo, Chairman of Wooseung Media Corp., which I believe owns the publishing house of the magazine you work for.

She puts his business card back inside his shirt pocket. “Good luck. I think you need it.”