Quotes or it didn't happen

‘looking forward to the next update’ and ‘I hope you update soon!’ are different vibes than a demand, and should be read in good faith because a reader is finding their way to tell you how much they love it. I will not be mad at this.

‘I don’t usually like this ship but this fic made me feel something’ is also incredibly high praise. I’m not going to get mad at this.

even ‘I love this fic but I’m curious about why you made [x] choice’ is just another way a reader is engaging in and putting thought into your work.

I just feel like a lot of authors take any comment that’s not perfectly articulated glowing praise in the exact manner they’re hoping to receive it in bad faith.

fic engagement has been dropping across the board over the last several years, and yes it’s frustrating but it isn’t as though I can’t see how it happens. comment anxiety can be a real thing. the last thing anyone wants to do is offend an author they love, and that means sometimes people default to silence.

“Howl” by Florence and the machine. A song I associate very strongly with Luo Binghe and Shen Qingqiu

do not repost!!

But I often come across people wondering why he didn't just tell Shen Jiu the truth. So here are the parts of the book that make me think trauma played a role in his silence.

From the scene where they first reunite:

Yue Qingyuan looked excited, his face flushed as he prepared to speak. But Shen Jiu opened fire first. “You joined Cang Qiong Mountain?” Shen Jiu couldn’t tell what Yue Qingyuan was thinking, but the excitement on his face faded a little. Indeed, his complexion paled. “You’ve become Qiong Ding Peak’s head disciple? Not bad,” said Shen Jiu. “Why didn’t you come back to look for me?” “I…” Shen Jiu waited for some time, but the next words never came. So he said, “Why aren’t you saying anything? I’m still waiting. I’ve already waited so many years, after all. Waiting a little longer will be nothing.” But how could Yue Qingyuan say anything? Shen Jiu crossed his arms. Finally, his waiting was rewarded with Yue Qingyuan’s quiet words: “Sorry. It’s Qi-ge who let you down.”

From the scene in the Lingxi Caves, where YQY helps SQQ through a qi deviation:

Shen Qingqiu suddenly felt that something was off about the hand Yue Qingyuan had on his back. Alarmed, he said, “What’s wrong?” It was a long moment before Yue Qingyuan replied. “Nothing.” Shen Qingqiu shut up. He couldn’t see Yue Qingyuan’s expression where he stood behind him, but he could feel the hand passing him spiritual energy, and how it trembled slightly.

YQY is a calm and composed sort of guy, so I interpret these subtle emotional cues (his face paling, his hands shaking, his long moments of silence) as signs of internal distress whenever he has to remember his qi deviation.

SQQ is also the one who tends to disengage from conversations with YQY. SQQ removing himself from stressful situations is...far from the worst coping mechanism found in Scum Villain, to be fair. His distrust towards YQY is understandable from his perspective.

But still, it makes it difficult for them to have deep and personal conversations.

There's also this part of YQY's confession to Shen Yuan, and I think it shows some insight into his thought process:

“Just let me finish speaking, this one time,” Yue Qingyuan said resolutely. “As you always say, ‘sorry’ is nothing but an empty word, completely useless. I also never explained myself, but today I must let you hear, not to ask for your forgiveness or sympathy, but because if I don’t say it now…it will be too late.”

I know, I know, most of you are going, ‘what?’ (and some, perhaps, ‘who?’). Let’s just say that the interplay between several layers of narrative was one of my favorite elements in SVSSS, and I am delighted to share some of my findings! As you may have guessed from my enthusiasm, those are some messed-up findings, so: content warning for discussion of fictional s/exual a/ssault, though nothing that wasn’t described or alluded to in the novel – ie, if you’ve read the entire novel and were fine, nothing in here should extend past your tolerance.

But that’s for the latter half of this meta. First, some context on what I mean by ‘layers of narrative’: SVSSS, belonging as it does to transmigration-into-a-novel subgenre, includes both ‘the original novel’ PIDW’s story and the altered by transmigration story (which I will be referring to as ‘the new story’ going forth, because while the new story kinda is SVSSS itself, it also really isn’t). The situation is further complicated by mentions of ‘the original outline’ version of PIDW, the possibility of characters from ‘the original novel’ crossing into ‘the new story’ and being influenced by it (as per extras), the fact that ‘the new story’ is still a story, and the limitations that imposes on characters and events, and, of course, our primary narrator Shen Yuan|Qingqiu’s unreliability – both regarding the events happening to himself, in the new story, and the events of the original PIDW.

Keeping in mind the interrelations between those layers is an angle that I found very rewarding for analyzing this novel – which leads me to writing this meta about a character who has… two, I think… in-person appearances in all of SVSSS. Qin Wanyue’s lack of page-time – and relevance – in ‘the new story’ makes sense, given the shift in events and narrative roles brought on by Luo Binghe falling for Shen Qingqiu, demoting her from a prominent love interest to background extra. But I believe that we, as readers, were largely misled about her relevance in PIDW’s story – because Shen Yuan, bless his heart, has all the facts but fails to put them together. Not in the ‘oh he is so oblivious’ way, but rather in a combination of ‘effects of toxic masculinity’ way and ‘lack of critical engagement with reading material’ way. Which are two topics that the novel delves into with some regularity, so hey, makes sense! Anyway, time for us to use our critical thinking and excavate the clues MXTX left us.

(cont. under cut)

All of it comes from the chapter 10: Huan Hua of the second volume from the official English release. They are below under the cut.

But now that the scene from vol.2 is in front of us, thank you @mamiser, I figured I’ll add the relevant tidbit from IAC chapter for completion’s sake. Here it is:

(SVSSS Eng.edition, vol.1, p214)

Side by side with the scene from vol.2, it’s really another perfect example of how Shen Yuan|Qingqiu’s recounts of PIDW events are not necessarily accurate.

Once we see “Sha Hualing tearing into Qin Wanyue” on page, it turns out that Sha Hualing’s criticism of her is actually pretty factual and valid. this is part of why one day you may see me dust off my “arguing with Peerless Cucumber about PIDW” hat to explain why Sha Hualing is in fact ~The Best PIDW Wife~

I know, I know, most of you are going, ‘what?’ (and some, perhaps, ‘who?’). Let’s just say that the interplay between several layers of narrative was one of my favorite elements in SVSSS, and I am delighted to share some of my findings! As you may have guessed from my enthusiasm, those are some messed-up findings, so: content warning for discussion of fictional s/exual a/ssault, though nothing that wasn’t described or alluded to in the novel – ie, if you’ve read the entire novel and were fine, nothing in here should extend past your tolerance.

But that’s for the latter half of this meta. First, some context on what I mean by ‘layers of narrative’: SVSSS, belonging as it does to transmigration-into-a-novel subgenre, includes both ‘the original novel’ PIDW’s story and the altered by transmigration story (which I will be referring to as ‘the new story’ going forth, because while the new story kinda is SVSSS itself, it also really isn’t). The situation is further complicated by mentions of ‘the original outline’ version of PIDW, the possibility of characters from ‘the original novel’ crossing into ‘the new story’ and being influenced by it (as per extras), the fact that ‘the new story’ is still a story, and the limitations that imposes on characters and events, and, of course, our primary narrator Shen Yuan|Qingqiu’s unreliability – both regarding the events happening to himself, in the new story, and the events of the original PIDW.

Keeping in mind the interrelations between those layers is an angle that I found very rewarding for analyzing this novel – which leads me to writing this meta about a character who has… two, I think… in-person appearances in all of SVSSS. Qin Wanyue’s lack of page-time – and relevance – in ‘the new story’ makes sense, given the shift in events and narrative roles brought on by Luo Binghe falling for Shen Qingqiu, demoting her from a prominent love interest to background extra. But I believe that we, as readers, were largely misled about her relevance in PIDW’s story – because Shen Yuan, bless his heart, has all the facts but fails to put them together. Not in the ‘oh he is so oblivious’ way, but rather in a combination of ‘effects of toxic masculinity’ way and ‘lack of critical engagement with reading material’ way. Which are two topics that the novel delves into with some regularity, so hey, makes sense! Anyway, time for us to use our critical thinking and excavate the clues MXTX left us.

(cont. under cut)

All of it comes from the chapter 10: Huan Hua of the second volume from the official English release. They are below under the cut.

. There are teeth marks on everything he loves

lovefool by the cardigans was on loop