Drama rec: Sharp Downpour
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Time (时光): Review
May. 4th, 2026 07:45 pmdouqi posting in baihe_mediaTime (时光, pinyin: shiguang) is Ning Yuan's realist tragic baihe novel, begun in 2011 and completed around 2017. It's unusual for several reasons: first, it's Ning Yuan doing realism in a way that's reminiscent of Niu Er Er (i.e. she manages to suppress her usual tendency to slip melodrama into the closing chapters), and second, the nature of the tragedy itself.
The one-line pitch for this novel: it's the 1990s Chinese version of the k-drama Reply 1988 (my favourite of the Reply series), but more brutal, and with queer women as its focus. Spanning 1997 to 2017 (twenty years in which China saw a massive amount of upheaval and economic, social and cultural change, which the novel fully leans into), the novel begins with protagonist Wang Yutong and her childhood friend and later sweetheart Qi Yin as high school students. Their fathers work in a state-owned car factory located in the south of China (almost certainly Fujian, where Ning Yuan is almost certainly from), and their families live in the surrounding compound (which also has all the amenities you'd expect of a small town, though not at a particularly luxurious level). Wang Yutong has loving parents who've done their best to provide for her materially, but Qi Yin has a much more difficult life. Her father is an alcoholic who is often abusive to her and her mother, and her mother is quadriplegic as a result of an accident whom many neighbours believe to have been caused by her father. At the start of the novel, Qi Yin's father dies, and she becomes primarily responsible for the care of her mother at the age of thirteen.
( some spoilers, though this isn't the kind of novel that's substantially affected by spoilers )
So for something that offers a completely different take on romance from much of the baihe genre, for a compelling sketch of China's socio-economic development between 1997 to 2017 and its effects on (especially) the working class, for a sobering reminder of why a strong social welfare state is necessary, I highly recommend this novel.
I read the Chinese original of the novel here on JJWXC.
The one-line pitch for this novel: it's the 1990s Chinese version of the k-drama Reply 1988 (my favourite of the Reply series), but more brutal, and with queer women as its focus. Spanning 1997 to 2017 (twenty years in which China saw a massive amount of upheaval and economic, social and cultural change, which the novel fully leans into), the novel begins with protagonist Wang Yutong and her childhood friend and later sweetheart Qi Yin as high school students. Their fathers work in a state-owned car factory located in the south of China (almost certainly Fujian, where Ning Yuan is almost certainly from), and their families live in the surrounding compound (which also has all the amenities you'd expect of a small town, though not at a particularly luxurious level). Wang Yutong has loving parents who've done their best to provide for her materially, but Qi Yin has a much more difficult life. Her father is an alcoholic who is often abusive to her and her mother, and her mother is quadriplegic as a result of an accident whom many neighbours believe to have been caused by her father. At the start of the novel, Qi Yin's father dies, and she becomes primarily responsible for the care of her mother at the age of thirteen.
( some spoilers, though this isn't the kind of novel that's substantially affected by spoilers )
So for something that offers a completely different take on romance from much of the baihe genre, for a compelling sketch of China's socio-economic development between 1997 to 2017 and its effects on (especially) the working class, for a sobering reminder of why a strong social welfare state is necessary, I highly recommend this novel.
I read the Chinese original of the novel here on JJWXC.
Two (More) Baihe Pre-Orders Open
May. 2nd, 2026 09:58 pmdouqi posting in baihe_mediaThe baihe publishing juggernaut that is Miss Forensics continues: the fourth volume of the manhua adaptation is up for pre-order. Pre-orders can be made via the following bookshops:
For a novel that was first serialised in 2019, it's mildly incredible to me that it's still so popular that the manhua publisher is shoving out print volumes as fast as they can. The web version of the novel can be read here.
Also up for pre-order is Missing the Bird (时差十四年, pinyin: shicha shisi nian) by Lin Zizhou (林子周) (do NOT look at me, that's the English title they decided to go with for the audio drama adaptation; the literal translation of the Chinese title is something more like 'a time difference of fourteen years'). This is a (more or less) contemporary romance with a time-travelling element, and I hear it's got either a tragic ending or an open ending. I haven't read any of this author's work yet, but she seems to be known for a sort of melancholy vibe and nuanced, sensitive prose. Pre-orders can be made via the following bookshops:
The web version of the novel can be read here.
For a novel that was first serialised in 2019, it's mildly incredible to me that it's still so popular that the manhua publisher is shoving out print volumes as fast as they can. The web version of the novel can be read here.
Also up for pre-order is Missing the Bird (时差十四年, pinyin: shicha shisi nian) by Lin Zizhou (林子周) (do NOT look at me, that's the English title they decided to go with for the audio drama adaptation; the literal translation of the Chinese title is something more like 'a time difference of fourteen years'). This is a (more or less) contemporary romance with a time-travelling element, and I hear it's got either a tragic ending or an open ending. I haven't read any of this author's work yet, but she seems to be known for a sort of melancholy vibe and nuanced, sensitive prose. Pre-orders can be made via the following bookshops:
The web version of the novel can be read here.
what a city does
May. 1st, 2026 06:45 pmvirgomoon I am 26 now, and here's a quick table of all the places I've lived in since I was born,
Today I dropped my mother at the beautiful, gargantuan, maddening Howrah Railway Station and with that, for the first time in my life, my parents willingly left me alone in a house that I have full access over. I do not have to pay rent yet, but support in utilities, food, upkeep, all that other jazz. I wonder if I will ever be able to afford rent.
The sky had been dark, foreboding, and a lovely wind with a smell upon it. I remember my tenth (or was it my ninth?) birthday when I was returning home in a school bus and it was similarly dark and fragrant. The clouds were gorgeously laced with shades of grey and blinding white, so I was and I used to consider grey my favorite color, besides green. That still remains true.
I was 9 when a thunderbolt struck down a brick-and-mortar wall near our apartment. It was a testament to the power of the sky, of nature, of things beyond your control. I remember this very well because we were huddled together in my parents' room, all four of us, like a family. It felt exceedingly rare for that to occur. I remember desperately committing everything to memory, even the color of the walls in the room.
I grew up in school buses and with my mother's relatives, whizzing from one place to the next. The school that has given me the most number of friends is also the one that I frequented the most, but in the most bizarre timeline. I was there when we were all pre-pre-teens, the loveliest of times, 7 to 10 years, barely formed, Hannah Montana-weaned, Love Story-humming, everything becoming a lifelong memory. Rock On, Om Shanti Om, Billu Barber, Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, all had released in the years I was there for. My closest friend right now introduced me to the internet then. So much memory, so much life. Yet the years after, I was absent for, when you get to know each other and suffer the injustices of childhood that bond you for life. I still have friends from that school, somehow. I survived, subliminal.
I went away to another city, beautiful in its own right, but kept clamoring to come back. Verbally, slyly, I fought, and made my way back. But I remained unmoored for a long, long time after.
What really made me fight to be back in Kolkata? There's no wonder or disbelief in it---its crystal clear. Kolkata felt like freedom to me. In as many ways as its made me feel stuck and woebegone and as if we're all paleolithic creatures here, its opened up just that many ways for me. The depth of thought and emotion I've found myself accruing for myself is owed in spades to this place. The schools. The people.
I really thought I wouldn't openly romanticize this place so much but it's a subtle, strange thing. The moment I left my mother at the railway station I suddenly thought to myself how this place is home after all. Maybe I thought I'd want to run away to Kochi. Escape immediately to foreign shores. All that I still want, I suppose. But it's crazy. Kolkata is my home and not just a place I'm visiting. I finally felt this way after 15 years.
Ownership is a tough word and a pretty heavy one at that. I finally felt responsible, for this place, and my existence in it. Like a real person. It's so hard to inculcate that awareness and to feel as if things are real, and you keep feeling like a sum of your mistakes, your non-nons. You're not an early riser, you're not a swanky commerce type, you're not earning enough, you don't have health insurance, you can't afford to pay rent, you can't write for beans, you can't read enough books in time, you've not done xyz and so on it goes.
But I think of all this and I also think I've managed to survive till now after all, have a job of a kind, carve a niche of some middling manner, and at least thrust myself in the general area of the things I want to do. I've travelled so much, experienced so much, met so many blinding brilliant people. It's time to be kind to myself and feel real, be real, act real.
Time suddenly has weight now, but its like a feather.
Today I dropped my mother at the beautiful, gargantuan, maddening Howrah Railway Station and with that, for the first time in my life, my parents willingly left me alone in a house that I have full access over. I do not have to pay rent yet, but support in utilities, food, upkeep, all that other jazz. I wonder if I will ever be able to afford rent.
The sky had been dark, foreboding, and a lovely wind with a smell upon it. I remember my tenth (or was it my ninth?) birthday when I was returning home in a school bus and it was similarly dark and fragrant. The clouds were gorgeously laced with shades of grey and blinding white, so I was and I used to consider grey my favorite color, besides green. That still remains true.
I was 9 when a thunderbolt struck down a brick-and-mortar wall near our apartment. It was a testament to the power of the sky, of nature, of things beyond your control. I remember this very well because we were huddled together in my parents' room, all four of us, like a family. It felt exceedingly rare for that to occur. I remember desperately committing everything to memory, even the color of the walls in the room.
I grew up in school buses and with my mother's relatives, whizzing from one place to the next. The school that has given me the most number of friends is also the one that I frequented the most, but in the most bizarre timeline. I was there when we were all pre-pre-teens, the loveliest of times, 7 to 10 years, barely formed, Hannah Montana-weaned, Love Story-humming, everything becoming a lifelong memory. Rock On, Om Shanti Om, Billu Barber, Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, all had released in the years I was there for. My closest friend right now introduced me to the internet then. So much memory, so much life. Yet the years after, I was absent for, when you get to know each other and suffer the injustices of childhood that bond you for life. I still have friends from that school, somehow. I survived, subliminal.
I went away to another city, beautiful in its own right, but kept clamoring to come back. Verbally, slyly, I fought, and made my way back. But I remained unmoored for a long, long time after.
What really made me fight to be back in Kolkata? There's no wonder or disbelief in it---its crystal clear. Kolkata felt like freedom to me. In as many ways as its made me feel stuck and woebegone and as if we're all paleolithic creatures here, its opened up just that many ways for me. The depth of thought and emotion I've found myself accruing for myself is owed in spades to this place. The schools. The people.
I really thought I wouldn't openly romanticize this place so much but it's a subtle, strange thing. The moment I left my mother at the railway station I suddenly thought to myself how this place is home after all. Maybe I thought I'd want to run away to Kochi. Escape immediately to foreign shores. All that I still want, I suppose. But it's crazy. Kolkata is my home and not just a place I'm visiting. I finally felt this way after 15 years.
Ownership is a tough word and a pretty heavy one at that. I finally felt responsible, for this place, and my existence in it. Like a real person. It's so hard to inculcate that awareness and to feel as if things are real, and you keep feeling like a sum of your mistakes, your non-nons. You're not an early riser, you're not a swanky commerce type, you're not earning enough, you don't have health insurance, you can't afford to pay rent, you can't write for beans, you can't read enough books in time, you've not done xyz and so on it goes.
But I think of all this and I also think I've managed to survive till now after all, have a job of a kind, carve a niche of some middling manner, and at least thrust myself in the general area of the things I want to do. I've travelled so much, experienced so much, met so many blinding brilliant people. It's time to be kind to myself and feel real, be real, act real.
Time suddenly has weight now, but its like a feather.
Happy Birthday to Ning Yuan
Apr. 30th, 2026 08:48 pmdouqi posting in baihe_mediaIt's 30 April today, which means it's Ning Yuan's birthday, and I was planning to put together an epub of 'volume one' of the translation of To Embers We Return (chapters 1 to 36). Unfortunately I haven't quite been able to finish that due to Life (my nemesis). Fortunately, all is not lost as I can still show you the amazing cover graphics which skuzzybunny created for the epub!
( images behind the cut )
The epub is still very much happening and will be available imminently! I just need to finish some edits and then actually put it together.
skuzzybunny created for the epub!( images behind the cut )
The epub is still very much happening and will be available imminently! I just need to finish some edits and then actually put it together.
Media roundup, Mar-Apr
Apr. 30th, 2026 01:33 pmsuperborbDisorientation, by Elaine Hsieh Chou (DNF): A satirical humor about a Taiwanese American literature PhD student who discovers the canonical Chinese American poet she's writing her dissertation on is actually white. This got taken back by the library multiple times and so I finally have decided... I probably should just drop it... Even if I DO think I'm right at the point where she probably starts Learning Something!! The protag is just so unlikeable that it was a struggle. Her problems with identity and her problems generally are just so... high school / college level, not late grad school. The cringe of being reluctant to use "the r word" on a blatantly racist guy. But I also do kinda want to know what happens. Does she dump her yellow fever boyfriend? Does she finally become friends with the cool girl militant antiracist rival? I have one week left of this loan...
Cinder House, by Freya Marske: Cinderella retelling where Ella is the ghost of her childhood home. I thought it could've used more description of the ballet itself, vs more fluffy language for that part. I enjoyed it, but ultimately it felt a bit unsatisfying -- too much of a power fantasy maybe? I REALLY thought she was going to trans the prince given the hints too, but alas. However, the trapped in the house vibes were excellently done. Definitely felt that was the strongest emotional part of the book. The closure on why her stepmother kills her father and her was perfectly done.
The Wax Child, by Olga Ravn: The beeswax doll created by an accused witch in 17th century Denmark narrates the events as its mistress moves, makes friends, and is persecuted. I didn't really understand this one to be honest... The style was interesting, but I wonder if I was too distracted from paying enough attention to more subtle details that would've made it more satisfying?
Annihilation, by Jeff VanderMeer: A team is sent to explore a mysterious area which has unusual properties; all previous expeditions have ended in disaster. This was fine, but I don't think I'll continue to the sequel or ever reread this.
Empire of Sand, by Tasha Suri; Realm of Ash, by Tasha Suri: A duology set in a fantasy, Mughal India-ish land where the oppressed Amrithi dance magic. The first is the elder sister's, as she resists the assimilation of her stepmother and is discovered before being sent to serve with the Emperor's mystics; the second is the younger sister's, who had assimilated well before her husband died in a tragedy and now must discover why the empire is falling apart. They were a bit YA-ish and I see why there's some uncomfortableness in the world building in the context of modern politics. The magic bloodline stuff was a bit passé, but the romances were good and the endings satisfying. Basically what it says on the tin.
The Village Beyond the Mist, by Sachiko Kashiwaba: Young girl spends a summer in a magical village working odd jobs; inspired Spirited Away. Cute and satisfying! A kid's book really, but still enjoyable to adults.
Breakneck, by Dan Wang: The thesis is "America is run by lawyers, and China is run by engineers." I've read his annual letters for a while, so I was interested in the book. Some details I didn't know, some interesting anecdotes, and very readable. However, a lighter read than I expected -- I'm not really sure who would be the real audience for this, since I expect those casually interested would know most of this and if you're not at least casually interested, why are you reading a whole book about it...
Feeding Ghosts, by Tessa Hulls: Graphic memoir exploring her grandma's, her mom's and her trauma as her grandma fled to Hong Kong and then had a mental breakdown from which she never recovered. Heavy stuff, definitely a biased viewpoint -- but of course, a memoir ought to be biased.
Games wise, I finished with Balatro after I unlocked everything (I don't think I'm meant for roguelikes...), and am now addicted to Merge Teahouse. I think the combination of a true storyline with little idle game and organizing things...
Cinder House, by Freya Marske: Cinderella retelling where Ella is the ghost of her childhood home. I thought it could've used more description of the ballet itself, vs more fluffy language for that part. I enjoyed it, but ultimately it felt a bit unsatisfying -- too much of a power fantasy maybe? I REALLY thought she was going to trans the prince given the hints too, but alas. However, the trapped in the house vibes were excellently done. Definitely felt that was the strongest emotional part of the book. The closure on why her stepmother kills her father and her was perfectly done.
The Wax Child, by Olga Ravn: The beeswax doll created by an accused witch in 17th century Denmark narrates the events as its mistress moves, makes friends, and is persecuted. I didn't really understand this one to be honest... The style was interesting, but I wonder if I was too distracted from paying enough attention to more subtle details that would've made it more satisfying?
Annihilation, by Jeff VanderMeer: A team is sent to explore a mysterious area which has unusual properties; all previous expeditions have ended in disaster. This was fine, but I don't think I'll continue to the sequel or ever reread this.
Empire of Sand, by Tasha Suri; Realm of Ash, by Tasha Suri: A duology set in a fantasy, Mughal India-ish land where the oppressed Amrithi dance magic. The first is the elder sister's, as she resists the assimilation of her stepmother and is discovered before being sent to serve with the Emperor's mystics; the second is the younger sister's, who had assimilated well before her husband died in a tragedy and now must discover why the empire is falling apart. They were a bit YA-ish and I see why there's some uncomfortableness in the world building in the context of modern politics. The magic bloodline stuff was a bit passé, but the romances were good and the endings satisfying. Basically what it says on the tin.
The Village Beyond the Mist, by Sachiko Kashiwaba: Young girl spends a summer in a magical village working odd jobs; inspired Spirited Away. Cute and satisfying! A kid's book really, but still enjoyable to adults.
Breakneck, by Dan Wang: The thesis is "America is run by lawyers, and China is run by engineers." I've read his annual letters for a while, so I was interested in the book. Some details I didn't know, some interesting anecdotes, and very readable. However, a lighter read than I expected -- I'm not really sure who would be the real audience for this, since I expect those casually interested would know most of this and if you're not at least casually interested, why are you reading a whole book about it...
Feeding Ghosts, by Tessa Hulls: Graphic memoir exploring her grandma's, her mom's and her trauma as her grandma fled to Hong Kong and then had a mental breakdown from which she never recovered. Heavy stuff, definitely a biased viewpoint -- but of course, a memoir ought to be biased.
Games wise, I finished with Balatro after I unlocked everything (I don't think I'm meant for roguelikes...), and am now addicted to Merge Teahouse. I think the combination of a true storyline with little idle game and organizing things...
焚情 Fanart
Apr. 29th, 2026 04:06 pmskuzzybunny posting in baihe_mediaDouqi recently asked me if I'd put all my FenQing (To Ember's We Return) art in one place and the answer was a resounding No <3 ahhaha until today!
Put them up in 2 spots for image hosting reasons, as follows. Be warned, some pieces in there are NSFW! All the characters included are mentioned in the alt text. I'm gonna try my best to update as I make more!
- Dreamwidth Post
- Tumblr Post
Put them up in 2 spots for image hosting reasons, as follows. Be warned, some pieces in there are NSFW! All the characters included are mentioned in the alt text. I'm gonna try my best to update as I make more!
- Dreamwidth Post
- Tumblr Post