A review by edgybutfemme
Salad Days: 经久 Vol. 1 by Michaela M, 静水边 木更, Jing ShuiBian

lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This is an incredibly sweet childhood friends to lovers romamce! This first volume is very chaste and sweet and I wouldn't be surprised if it stayed that way since they are young. 

This has excellent found family vibes. Jiang Shen is so talented and so wonderful and everyone adores him. Since he is from a small town, I expected there to be some homophobia or toxic masculinity issues around him being a dancer. Instead, everyone is incredibly supportive and wonderful. The whole town really comes together to support him and his dancing career. As each of his friends find out, they sneak him extra portions of the food he needs and buy him ballet shoes. It's an incredibly wholesome narrative.

In terms of the love interest, Bai Jinyi is incredible. He is extremely intensely devoted from very early on. He is also rich and very straightforward in his thinking. It would never occur to him not to do things like buy Jiang Shen a cell phone (so they could talk more) or renovate his home to add a dance studio (he can't let his definitely-just-a-friend practice outside). I adore him! 

This is much sweeter than I usually take my romance (especially danmei), and one of the few contemporary danmei that I've read. However, it is very enjoyable and the novel equivalent of a warm hug. Also, at only two volumes, this will be the shortest danmei I've read to date. I'm looking forward to reading the next one!