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A review by inmydreams
陈伤 [Old Injury] by 回南雀 (Hui Nanque)
5.0
Non official english title: Old Injury. Length: 75 chapters + extras. Unofficial manhua title: Bad memories.
It's a solid 4.5 stars. I actually wasn't thinking of reading this yet since I had other novels on hold, but the audio drama launched yesterday and I couldn't resist. It looks like a really great adaptation, very emotional as it should for this type of work.
The beginning of the plot reminded me a bit of Alpha Predator by Shui Qian Cheng, except this one came out earlier and it's a different take on omegaverse, whicn is refreshing. The story is about Ning Yu, a beta who has suffered a lot through his life: being unloved by his mother, bullied in highschool and to this day, was framed twice and this has caused a bad public image and difficulty with jobs. In this world, betas are at the bottom of the pyramid, while alphas are on top and omegas follow. His struggles will only increase when his mother coerces him to marry an alpha from an influencial family for her benefit, Song Bailao, someone who has hurt him in the past. Ning Yu hides a big secret from him as well.
I like melodramatic plots because they're very entertaining to me, and this delivered exactly what it wanted to. Ning Yu was a nice MC, he was easy to follow and feel empathy for, and his character develops even more through the novel, gaining agency for himself and making decissions which he couldn't before. Song Bailao, the ML, was despicable but this was expected since it's a wife chasing crematorium, however there is explanation for his actions. ML's son, Song Mo, was an absolute delight and a good addition, I loved his relationship with Ning Yu from the start.
About the relationship, I was totally on Ning Yu's side all the time, but slowly the novel lets you undestand that ML's behaviour is because he is another victim of manipulation from others. He really put MC through it and I despised him for it, but at certain moment I realized that from his perspective, MC wanted to take advantage of him. I do agree that he was impulsive and should've let MC explain many years ago, but how could he trust anyone at that moment? It was pitiful for both sides, even more so for MC since he endured and beared all the pain.
This novel does a good job on delivering angst. I almost wish it was a bit more painful, which could be something about the writting/translation (note: I read the latest and better MTL version, crossing fingers it'll get licensed someday), but it had some punches that made me wince more than once. The author also does a great job on the worldbuilding and mixing it with real themes such as bullying, discrimination, parental abuse and campaigns for equality.
Going into spoiler territory, the chasing crematorium aspect left me satisfied overall, although I wished ML had been more emotional. But I accept it because. As someone who enjoys misunderstandings when it brings drama and the payoff is good, I can say this novel is a good example of that. The one scene that had me in tears a bit was when . It hurts even more because the dialogue following that is about feeling sorry for his two children and two roses, while he visits ML's kid at the hospital. Such a strong line, it was devastating.
I'm actually glad about the ending here, which doesn't always happen with chasing crematoriums. I loved that. I was also interested in the side couples, the MC's best friend (male omega) x ML's relative (female alpha), I mean how cool is that?!?! The only type of straight couple I like in a/b/o lol. I also wanted more from ML's parents, the tragic alpha/beta couple, but at least there's an open ending for them and in my head they could start over again.
Tags: (can miss some, heads up that I don't tag everything)
-POV: first person, one perspective (Ning Yu/shou)
-Content warnings:
-Elements:
-Kinks:
-Sexual act(s):
-Dynamic:
It's a solid 4.5 stars. I actually wasn't thinking of reading this yet since I had other novels on hold, but the audio drama launched yesterday and I couldn't resist. It looks like a really great adaptation, very emotional as it should for this type of work.
The beginning of the plot reminded me a bit of Alpha Predator by Shui Qian Cheng, except this one came out earlier and it's a different take on omegaverse, whicn is refreshing. The story is about Ning Yu, a beta who has suffered a lot through his life: being unloved by his mother, bullied in highschool and to this day, was framed twice and this has caused a bad public image and difficulty with jobs. In this world, betas are at the bottom of the pyramid, while alphas are on top and omegas follow. His struggles will only increase when his mother coerces him to marry an alpha from an influencial family for her benefit, Song Bailao, someone who has hurt him in the past. Ning Yu hides a big secret from him as well.
I like melodramatic plots because they're very entertaining to me, and this delivered exactly what it wanted to. Ning Yu was a nice MC, he was easy to follow and feel empathy for, and his character develops even more through the novel, gaining agency for himself and making decissions which he couldn't before. Song Bailao, the ML, was despicable but this was expected since it's a wife chasing crematorium, however there is explanation for his actions. ML's son, Song Mo, was an absolute delight and a good addition, I loved his relationship with Ning Yu from the start.
About the relationship, I was totally on Ning Yu's side all the time, but slowly the novel lets you undestand that ML's behaviour is because he is another victim of manipulation from others. He really put MC through it and I despised him for it, but at certain moment I realized that from his perspective, MC wanted to take advantage of him. I do agree that he was impulsive and should've let MC explain many years ago, but how could he trust anyone at that moment? It was pitiful for both sides, even more so for MC since he endured and beared all the pain.
This novel does a good job on delivering angst. I almost wish it was a bit more painful, which could be something about the writting/translation (note: I read the latest and better MTL version, crossing fingers it'll get licensed someday), but it had some punches that made me wince more than once. The author also does a great job on the worldbuilding and mixing it with real themes such as bullying, discrimination, parental abuse and campaigns for equality.
Going into spoiler territory, the chasing crematorium aspect left me satisfied overall, although I wished ML had been more emotional. But I accept it because
Spoiler
he apologized to MC multiple times in a very endearing scene where he kissed his tears and held him to sleep, he became devoted of him and did everything to make MC happy after things were clarifiedSpoiler
SBL breaks NY's pot with a flower mixed with his son's ashesI'm actually glad about the ending here, which doesn't always happen with chasing crematoriums. I loved that
Spoiler
MC got another chance at having (another) kid, that ML pampers him a lot, and that the bad guys got what they deservedTags: (can miss some, heads up that I don't tag everything)
-POV: first person, one perspective (Ning Yu/shou)
-Content warnings:
Spoiler
past abortion, infertiliy discussion, past sexual assault (between MCs, forced for both sides) and present dubcon (between MCs), coercion (not between MCs), present attempted sexual assault (from another to MC)-Elements:
Spoiler
a/b/o, omegaverse, angst, children, secret baby, forced/arranged marriage, mpreg, wife chasing crematorium/grovelling, dog blood-Kinks:
Spoiler
marking, knotting, possessiveness-Sexual act(s):
Spoiler
barebacking, painful sex-Dynamic: