I'm liking Lin Lang's voice a lot. She's sarcastic and modern but not in an obnoxious "I'm so quirky" way. When she talked about how great it would be if Jiang Tingfeng died at the border so she could play the widow and run off to a Taoist temple, I snorted. That's the kind of petty, practical thinking I can get behind. She's not here to be a saint, she's here to survive and enjoy her second life.
I love that the story emphasizes the *social* loneliness of the nobility, not just the power fantasy. Ralph doesn't just miss Japanese food, he misses the casual banter of an izakaya after work. Building a space where he can be normal is a surprisingly emotional hook for a comedy story.
The suburban setting is smart. A remote self-built house with a backyard and farmland across the road. That’s zombie survival 101 – not in the city center. The system even acknowledges it's a good shelter. It avoids the cliché of a crowded urban area in the first chapter. And the way the house is built, with a thick stainless steel door, feels secure. It's a good staging ground for future chapters. I can imagine them fortifying that place. The side entrance through the forest is a nice escape route.
The protagonist's motivation is entirely selfish and materialistic. He doesn't have any noble goals like helping his family or changing the world. He just wants to get rich and enjoy women. That's fine for a wish-fulfillment novel, but it does limit the character's appeal. He doesn't earn our sympathy. In fact, his casual attitude toward spending his original 2000 yuan (which was probably his entire savings) feels reckless. He didn't even consider what would happen if the system failed. That's not "ambitious," it's just stupid. People say "a poor man's ambition is short," but he took a huge gamble for someone with nothing. The only reason it worked is because the plot required it. It's a bit unrealistic even within the fantasy framework. I'd have preferred if he had a safety net or a backup plan.
30. Overall, this is a very strong start. It balances comedy, drama, and high-stakes tension really well. The protagonist is likeable and smart, the central conflict is clear, and the world (both the school and the Zhou family) feels rich with potential. I’m genuinely excited to see how he navigates the Gaokao while dodging the suitors. The only thing I’m worried about is whether the pacing will hold up as the plot gets more complex. But for now? I’m hooked.
Yuan Fu is such a little psychopath. He's seven years old and he beats his "partner" cub to death because he gets embarrassed by his friends teasing him. Then he just goes home and lies about it, and his parents are like "good riddance, one less mouth to feed." That family dynamic is toxic as hell. No wonder he turned out like that. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, or in this case, the rotten fruit doesn't fall far from the rotten tree.
I wonder if the elf will become a companion or a threat. The story leaves it open. The protagonist is wary but also curious. I hope this leads to some actual dialogue and worldbuilding about elves and the forest.