I can’t believe I got my hands on the seventh Case File Compendium novel several days before its official release and didn’t read it all in like three days. I think I was a bit unmotivated to do much, but once I started I was itching to see what would happen next.
The sixth volume of Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou’s novel ended on a cliffhanger. Someone was dead. We were made privy to who pretty early on in this novel mainly because it dictates the trajectory of the whole rest of the story! Turns out it was He Yu’s father. He had apparently tried to commit suicide in the wake of his failing health, but didn’t quite succeed. Though days later he succumbed to the damage he inflicted on himself. Even though He Yu wasn’t an empathetic person, and especially to his absent father, he was surprisingly upset by this loss. Part of it had to do with the fact that he’d be taking over his father’s pharmecutical business rather than his mother or younger brother. Due to this, and the fact that He Yu knows of Xie Qingcheng’s first emporer identity, the two would have practically no interactions in the future.
They conclude their “relationship” with a night of passion that even Xie Qingcheng fully submits himself to. It’s clear it was coming, it’s just a shame it had to be for their last time. Some time later it’s learned that He Yu is now involved in the more illegal aspects of his father’s pharmecutical business. Something only his mother used to deal in before. To the outside world, and even Xie Qingcheng himself, it seems that He Yu has turned to the dark side, participating in the manufacturing and distribution of very harmful drugs in the grey market. When Xie Qingcheng confornts He Yu of his actions, he gets almost nothing in response. He just asks if Xie Qingcheng would be forgiving if his involvement was to help himself survive. Being an upstanding citizen, Xie Qingcheng declares he would go to war with He Yu if he ever did.
And he kept his word. In a naval battle, He Yu seemingly loses his life against some heavy military forces, basically at the hands of Xie Qingcheng. But really, it’s He Yu’s jealously that gets the best of him, but also Xie Qingcheng’s inability to express his feelings for the younger man. Distraught, Xie Qingcheng finds his quality of life rapidly deteriorating after He Yu’s death. He mourns what he never could have been brave enough to express to He Yu. This is a classic case of “you don’t know what you have until it’s gone.” A lot of those scenes were actually heartbreaking to read.
But then by some miracle, it turns out He Yu survived the naval attack, and only has a new foot to show for the trouble. He’s still working for the dangerous organization his fake mother was associated with, so Xie Qingcheng has no clue if it’s out of spite for him or if he’s truly changed his stance in life. I’m leaning towards definitely not, considering this organization essentially killed both of his parents, along with Xie Qingcheng’s, and it seeks out to abuse patients just like himself. Xie Qingcheng is not so confident, and their reunions are fraught with so many things unsaid. There’s also a meddling cousin that causes some major problems, and I just want to scream at these two guys to be honest and transparent with each other! It’s clear there is still so much love there, but their omissions lead to some serious misunderstandings.
I have no clue what’s next, but I know I only have to wait until May for the next installment! There are only three novels left, so while I’m sad it will be coming to a close sooner than it started, I’m also really interested to see how things progress and wrap up. I try to steer clear of spoilers from the original text as best I can! More to come!