I definitely had a very different feeling date with Qiu. There was so much tension in the previous chapter and giving him a day to “win me back” resulted in an oddly incongruous date. It was very normal and sugary sweet and felt rather out of place, which was made worse I think by the fact that I am a gay guy. It felt so odd for him to be so suddenly comfortable with so much public affection, like it came outta nowhere and all the previous tension and apprehension was suddenly gone.
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I read that “incongruous” feeling throughout the date scenario. It was this undertone that had already been subliminally outlined in the previous flashbacks leading up to the present (speaking of my own thoughts), and it really did feel intangible, yet present.
What you’re speaking to hits the nail right on the head. It isn’t for lack of completeness or a short chapter of an update (haha, not really short); it is just in fact this strange sensation of unresolved things gone either unexplained or simply glossed over in Qiu’s case.
The reality of that lacking emotional, mature throughline with Qiu despite being slated as the FIRST LOVE/SOULMATE in the stats screen proves truer when you compare the slight narrative changes that accompany dating/flirting/preferring someone else like Nat or Shay (per MC’s romance prerogative).
I also understand that there are some options you can choose during your lunch date with Qiu, wherein you play the “Have you been seeing anyone” question; and you are apprised of the short summary that they did in fact date here and there with one intervening serious relationship that simply guttered out.
Qiu simply sums up the fact of your meeting once more to be an affect of being “haunted” by MC’s existence like no one beforehand; yet that also suggests some internal relationship mechanics on Qiu’s part that mirror exactly the MC’s most recent relationship with Nat. Like…
Is it convenience? Is it really fate and stars that cross and therefore align? Who can tell. Just felt like the seven years invested into the lapse of time in-between departing from Singapore and the subsequent holiday sojourn’s return for the MC might better inform the audience for what quality of character they want to build or play, much to the detriment of Qiu themself.
Would it hurt to have a little bit more of Qiu’s overall interest in the MC be more dynamic in its exploration or development over being channeled and funneled into the bottleneck of trope presently displayed? How and where and when and why Qiu got to the point in time where they are beyond realizing that to show filial piety is not to chain yourself to one’s parents indefinitely?
Come on! Qiu!!! I’m not–MC’s not dating you, but they are rooting for you!
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It does rather feel like Qiu dances around, or ignores certain issues with the tenuous nature of MC’s potential availability. My impressions from what I’ve read in both the Winter fest, and the lunch date haven’t been too promising.
MC has to decide if they'll be staying, or returning to NY.
There’s no actual questions about if MC should think about staying, though mine wouldn’t want to for the fact that he was more free to be himself away from Singapore. He might not say no if certain stars aligned, but Qiu’s not been showing much interest in the matter despite it being a rather important consideration to make if they both stayed. They wouldn’t be a het couple after all. You can talk about it very briefly in the winter fest, and learn that Qiu is wiling to follow MC to the USA, but that’s not really the same as Qiu making the point to bring it up on their own, or speaking along the lines of having an actual plan (with MC’s input) to act upon.
MC has to choose to give Qiu a chance, and is seemingly expected from there to do all the heavy lifting in the "something"ship.
It’s nice to know every potential MC’s boundaries are being respected, but Qiu’s also not doing anything to really support the proclaimed idea that they really want MC to stick around. That so, Qiu? I’m not actually seeing the proactivity, or assertiveness. This has done a great job avoiding icky stalker tendencies, but Qiu does still need to be a smidge more forward than they’ve been if they mean what they say. (As well as the things they’re not saying!)
Avoiding all conversations because the MC doesn’t broach them won’t solve it, because that goes back to MC being the only one driving anything, or doing any work toward it. Address those elephants, Qiu; your passivity is just making the chance taken slip by. Mine doesn’t ask about what’s up with Qiu’s mother because my MC has no prior context to support if Qiu is in a place to willingly talk about her without being uncomfortable!
The MC can invest a lot of their hopes, and energy into what things were before, but that’s too rosy to be realistic past the scope of MC’s stay until their return. Which is partly why I feel like Qiu’s coming up real short where it matters in the two-ish days they have left. Still have nothing but love for this WIP, and I get why this is something that takes more than one or two doubting bits of feedback to think about addressing given the light novel nature of the story’s intended structure. I’m looking forward to the next parts of the story, though–who knows, we might get a chance to meet our potential sister-in-law before MC has to get on the plane for the flight back to NY.
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my perspective might be different because i only play as a straight female. but i think it was written this way on purpose? certain topics are purposely being avoided and glossed over. like “the quiet before the storm” type vibes? i just have a strange feeling another scene between MC and Qiu will occur that somewhat mirrors the one from the flashback involving his mom. that will lead to things being properly addressed before MC 100% makes her decision… orrr maybe i’m overthinking it lol!
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Yeah maybe, it just felt weird to be in a spot that isn’t really dating and is filled with tension, especially when not choosing to commit to Qiu, and then have this date where nothing is said and everyone acts very normal and sweet and Qiu as a person who was never really seemingly comfortable with PDA suddenly is felt odd. Even if this was Qiu trying to win MC back there was no hesitation or anything from either Qiu or MC (or that’s what it felt like) and it just seemed odd to me. And again, not saying I disliked the update, just that this was a thing that seemed out of place
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As someone that also plays a queer Qiu route, I read the PDA as Qiu simply having changed and grown in the years MC has been gone. And also maybe even trying to show the MC that they can do these things openly together now. However, I do agree it’s a big change that the MC likely would have noticed and commented on. Qiu’s funfair date probably would have benefited from them catching up more, in general.
That’s the hard part with Qiu’s dates as opposed to Shay’s — by the nature of their past and heavy emotional undertones (which are phenomenal), Qiu’s sections need a bit more focus on the two of them having those harder conversations before the sweet and sugary vibes will be as satisfying.
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Definitely on every point stated, albeit with the very general grievance that this isn’t alllll… of what is yet on offer. I’m just rooting for Qiu regardless of the ending; like, yeah go you and find your place.
Just don’t pin those hopes and dreams, or wayward consequences of addle-high disappointment on the MC in the narrative when time comes for the big ONE showdown and everyone is going to speak their truths all at once in a closed setting.
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Been playing again, mulling through Qiu’s interactions and dialogue scenes with the MC, and I have come to a tentative conclusion.
Qiu is a super needy, co-dependent partner.
Granted, their upbringing sheared against their progress, especially given the fact it was done throughout their developing youth, causing them to lose a lot of potential for growth as they were always attempting to appease their family expectations.
Maybe and perhaps relatively loosely conjecturing here, Qiu realizes that the MC, in spite of the inevitable foray into young heartbreak and being abandoned (heck, not even humoring the whole:
“Ask me to stay.”
section prior to MC traveling (escaping in some sense) abroad), that they are better off for it all having had happened (the MC that is).
MC realistically would have “given it all up” as is frequented in such bargains, with Qiu as the other party acquitting themselves of the sentiment by both literally being unable to ask of so much from someone else, yet simultaneously being unwilling to go as far as (again) “humoring” even a chance of being together. Yet, I do not think in this particular parallel existence that such a MC could think of giving up their prospects overseas, nor their likewise relative burgeoning educational experiences in a foreign country, as a “sacrifice.”
AND.
If one has to admit any “sacrifice” or giving up of things, this particularly, iteratively destructive MC would have indeed chosen again, and again, to “sacrifice” such things for Qiu.
In the developed timeframe of near to and almost a decade’s time in-between their traveled distances and absent communication, I think Qiu is deciding at last, whilst being conscious of their own lacking maturity in the…‘relationship’, that MC is their ride-or-die. They are at last succumbing to their sick panacea of desperate co-dependency and I am kinda all here for it.
A top 30 contender under 30 in this parallel world’s Forbe’s Magazine, no less than that being also a known quantity as a legal prosecutor. Success. Wealth. Bachelorhood.
Yet he would die if a single hair on MC’s head were to fall awry.
The mental parry of the century:
Sweet, sweet, bright co-dependecy.
VERSUS
Nothing, nothing at all.
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This was so good! I just finished reading through what was available and absolutely loved it! I was even tearing up a couple of times.
I can’t wait to read the next update!
After re-reading again for 1000 times, I decided to move on from Qiu to Shay. I mean I love Qiu but after reading Shay route, I’m more into them. I just adore relationship with drama free, peaceful life here I come 
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OK, so I really really liked that. There’s been quite a few inconsistencies with pronouns for the love interests, especially in Shay’s funfair date. I didn’t screenshot or log them because I don’t really care about pronouns, and, I’m lazy. But other than that the funfair date with Shay (and Qiu but for different reasons mentioned above) definitely needs some rework. During their bike hangout I had my MC tell Shay about Nat but he acted oblivious when I had the flashback to her and was all “whose this person in New York??”.
Other than that I adore this story. It’s a cute rom com and has me torn between all of the love interests, which never happens to me. I also love slice of life stories that aren’t set in America. They’re a breath of fresh air. And despite not being from Singapore I relate to the MC’s experiences way more than the American one’s. I shared a room (and bed) with my mum (and sometimes aunt) until I was 10 or 11 - and then again later on when circumstances changed.
I also really like how gender and sexuality plays a big role in the interactions between characters and stuff. Asian countries are… generally… homophobic and racist especially towards black people. So I let out a massive goddamn (semi frustrated) giggle at MC’s mum being introduced to Nat but then calling back and asking for her birthday. It was sweet. I also lived vicariously through MC because I always wanted a sibling who I was close to and was close in age to. I live for their banter.
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There’s a minor typo in the choice list after the con-dom incident. It says I ready instead of I’m ready