I picked this up purely for the no-romance tag because, let’s be real, my last few romance reads were not it 😤. (If you need proof, just check out my past reviews like The Cannon Fodder and Villain’s Happy Ending or Unruly Phoenix Xiaoyao.) But you know what? No-romance novels usually hit hard, and this one? It delivered. Not as mind-blowing as Simulated Crime, but still solid!
Now, let’s talk about Lu Xu—the real main character (because we’ve seen enough “MCs” who don’t act like MCs 🙄). This guy worked his way up from literal rock bottom, and I respect that. He wasn’t just talented; he was smart, ruthless, and relentless in proving his worth. 🎭🔥 The entertainment industry can be a battlefield, and Lu Xu? He didn’t just survive—he dominated. Every role he took, every drama he starred in, he left his mark. And when he massacred certain characters in his shows? They deserved it. 😌
Also, the movies inside this novel? Brilliant. It felt like getting mini-stories within the main story, and that’s something I loved. As someone who doesn’t watch much modern cinema (my taste leans more towards Indian classics like Sholay—a film passed down through three to four generations—or gripping thrillers like Talaash 🕵️♂️), this book actually made me appreciate the sheer amount of effort and manipulation behind the industry. The Golden Flame Awards scandal? 100% believable. We all know people like Liu, who play dirty for power. And we, as distant spectators (or should I say netizens), rarely see what’s happening behind the scenes.
Overall, this was a great read. Not an all-time favorite, but definitely worth my time. I’ll be sticking with the no-romance genre for a bit longer before diving into anything else. Got any recs? Drop them in the comments! 😎📖
Novelupdates Link: https://www.novelupdates.com/series/after-the-group-disbanded-i-became-famous/
