Oh, man. I was counting down the days for the eighth volume of Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou’s Case File Compendium series to come out. And I don’t think I was chill about it. Did I go out of my way to stop at thte bookstore several days early in hopes that it might be there? Yes.
But this was worth the wait! Actually, this is the fastest I’ve ever gotten through one of these novels and that was mainly from the pressure of wanting to know how this book ended before I left on vacation for a couple of weeks. Limited packing space meant no room for physical books, and besides, I wouldn’t have wanted it to get ruined anyway. So that means I read this thing in a week! And what a week it was!
The book left off with Xie Qingcheng having his heart fully broken when he learns that He Yu is working for the enemy. It also doesn’t help that he thinks He Yu has been sleeping with his shitty cousin in the three years he was presumed dead. Likewise, He Yu is also heartbroken at believing that Xie Qingcheng abandoned him for Chen Man. Again, communication is key! If these two stubborn geniuses could just swallow their pride and be honest with each other, it could sure save them a ton of grief. And give them plenty of reunion time!
But, in the scope of the mission, Xie Qingcheng and the others learn of Mandela Island, where Duan Wang and the world’s most crazy, dangerous intellectuals are running rampant and creating technologies that could destroy the world. After a long time of gathering intel, a large number of troops are sent in to try and get a handle of the island, but seemed to be wiped out in an instant. In order to make more headway, Xie Qingcheng volunteers to go in a small, two-man mission. With the help of RN13, he’s able to stave off attacks for a while, but he learns that the troops have actually been frozen and are likely going to be used as human test subjects. With his strength and reserves dwindling, he’s captuted by He Yu on the island.
As it turns out, He Yu is actually their group’s informant, and he is the secret third member in Xie Qingcheng’s mission. They have to be very discreet, because He Yu almost has Duan Wang fooled, and that is the only way they will ever get the chance at having the upper hand. Of course, in close quarters, there is only so much repressing either of them can do. Xie Qingcheng experiences his weakest moment in the arms of He Yu, but that only makes the latter love him more. Likewise, Xie Qingcheng still seems completely gone for He Yu, as unrelenting as he is. It is finally on the precipice of some action to get them off the isalnd that they finally open up to each other. There is actual hope!
But I fear that the next novel, and however many more are left, are definitely going to present some hard challenges. I hope a potential spoiler I found on Reddit is not actually true, but if it is, at least I’m a little mentally prepared for it. Gah! I can’t wait for August to come around for the ninth volume!