cos0

Xu Ji was informed that he was to be betrothed to someone—a person with fair, beautiful skin, as well as a lovely smile. Xu Ji’s parents were thrilled with his soon-to-be son-in-law, who they praised for his appearances, and his family-orientedness. Shyly bowing his head, Li Ting thanked them. But Xu Ji hated good kids like him. His face devoid of all expression, he told him, “The relationship between us is nothing but a business marriage. You do your thing, and I’ll do mine.” Li Ting’s tone of voice sank in that instant. “Okay.” Despite that, there would be warm food and a made bed waiting for Xu Ji whenever he arrived home, together with a beautiful wife who would tenderly greet him saying, “You’re back.” If it weren’t for the chance encounter at the party—— Li Ting, all decked out in a silverish grey suit, had a little beauty propped up on his leg. He was exhaling rings of smoke even more adeptly than he could. Seeming dissatisfied, Li Ting clicked his tongue softly as he grabbed the little beauty’s hair and gave it a tug. Xu Ji: “……” He wasn’t in fact surprised to see him either. Instead, he lifted an eyebrow lackadaisically, saying to the people beside him, “Look, my hubby’s here.” Eventually, things took an unexpected turn, and the two got into bed together. Xu Ji patted Li Ting’s face and said, “Be good. I won’t hurt you.” Li Ting’s moist eyes squinted as he rubbed his own cheek against Xu Ji’s hand. Xu Ji was so satisfied that he couldn’t even react in time when his wife suddenly flipped him over. A curseword emerged from his lips. He then used all his strength in an effort to flip him back over——but he couldn’t lift him at all! A beautiful smile emerged on Li Ting’s countenance as he pressed down on Xu Ji, saying, “You do your thing, and I’ll do you.” When he next awoke, Xu Ji calmly expressed his wish for a divorce. The smile on Li Ting’s face froze in that instant.

Original Publisher

chang pei (gongzicp)

Original Language

chinese

Type

Web Novel

## My Thoughts on cos0 "cos0" promised a mature romance with compelling character growth, and for the most part, it delivered. The arranged marriage trope is used as a springboard for exploring the complexities of two very different personalities, and that's where the novel shines. ### First Impressions Initially, I was intrigued by the premise of an arranged marriage between Li Ting and Xu Ji. Their contrasting personalities – Li Ting's initial fake persona and Xu Ji's cold, principled nature – immediately set the stage for conflict and eventual growth. I was curious to see how these two would navigate forced cohabitation and the expectations placed upon them. ### What Works Well The heart of this novel lies in the character development and relationship dynamics. I found myself deeply invested in Li Ting and Xu Ji's journey. Li Ting's initial "green tea" act, while potentially off-putting, unveils a character who uses facades as a defense mechanism. Watching him slowly drop his walls around Xu Ji was genuinely heartwarming. Xu Ji, on the other hand, learns to loosen his rigid control and make concessions for the sake of their relationship. Their communication, especially as the story progresses, is surprisingly mature and realistic. I appreciated how they address misunderstandings and set clear boundaries, a welcome change from the often-toxic dynamics found in other BL novels. ### Areas of Concern While I thoroughly enjoyed "cos0," there were a few aspects that could have been smoother. The time jumps throughout the story felt a bit jarring at times, causing some confusion regarding the timeline and character ages. Also, the initial conflict, while ultimately resolved in a satisfying way, felt a bit rushed. ### ⚠️ Spoiler Warning Some readers might find the dubcon scene triggering, so proceed with caution. Also, the reason for the couple's separation is that Li Ting had been purposefully hiding his position to deceive Xu Ji, who values honesty above all else. This crosses Xu Ji's bottom line and leads to their breakup. ### Final Verdict Despite minor pacing issues and the mentioned content warning, "cos0" is a worthwhile read. The novel's strength lies in its well-developed characters, realistic relationship dynamics, and exploration of emotional growth. If you're looking for a mature romance with a focus on communication, boundaries, and individual journeys, I recommend giving "cos0" a try. I'd give it a solid 4 out of 5 stars.