A review by onthesamepage
Case File Compendium: Bing An Ben (Novel) Vol. 1 by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou

dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Tropes: 
age gap


If this is your first foray into danmei, I would honestly recommend putting this down until you have a few other volumes onto your belt, because it's a weird one. The story hits that weird spot between seriousness and ridiculousness to the point that I could almost call this satire. There's psychological ebola, two supposed straight men trying to outdo each other in homophobia, and then there are the moments where one of said men smells the other's hormones.

It is still really well-written, and it takes some side tracks where it discusses mental illness and the abuse of patients, which is good because there' really not much to latch onto when it comes to the romance yet. I did end up finding He Yu and Xie Qingcheng constantly going "no I'm more homophobic!" a bit tedious/laid on thick towards the end, and I'm really hoping the next volumes tone that part of it down.

Not a favourite so far, but I am open to trying a second volume to see where it goes.

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