Ranwan Fanfic Library part 3
Did not expect these shipper's feels would last as long as to require a third post in a row but here we are! See also fic reviews post 1 & fic reviews post 2. I tend to cut it at 50 read fics per post, so this indicates we're going well over a hundred stories in here. I've started recording my ranwan readings about a year ago on October 17th, 2021, so this may also be regarded as a festive occasion here today🎆🎇
During this year I've somewhat updated my preferences, learnt all manners of 2ha spoilers, refined my kinks and became even surer about my squicks in a good story, and also bid farewell to the human English translation which is now as far out of reach in here as CWN's fever dream of MR loving him back (and we all know that dream lasted for literal years not to say lifetimes). A sad conclusion, really, so reading on to alleviate le sadness. I should prolly also make a list of top fav ranwan fics sometime as those are mighty scattered amidst all the posts rn.
Be warned: the list, kinks and likes here are as subjective as can only be imagined, so please be wise, use your own discretion and guidance.
During this year I've somewhat updated my preferences, learnt all manners of 2ha spoilers, refined my kinks and became even surer about my squicks in a good story, and also bid farewell to the human English translation which is now as far out of reach in here as CWN's fever dream of MR loving him back (and we all know that dream lasted for literal years not to say lifetimes). A sad conclusion, really, so reading on to alleviate le sadness. I should prolly also make a list of top fav ranwan fics sometime as those are mighty scattered amidst all the posts rn.
Be warned: the list, kinks and likes here are as subjective as can only be imagined, so please be wise, use your own discretion and guidance.
- awake, o sleeper by idrilka
I'm currently in the process of reading it but this is the kind of a precious experience very much like the readers in the late 19th century most probably felt upon receiving the news on Leo Tolstoy's recent novel being out. When you just know it's gonna be a thoroughly substantial and all-encompassingly good read. And its sheer 207K size gives you goosebumps of pure excitement at the prospects of a real loooong read, too!
Modern cultivation AU, MR returning to Sisheng after 5 years of becoming zongshi, and there's just so much bad blood between him and CWN after the disaster of the Heavenly Rift. A set of mysterious scrolls from Rufeng require deciphering, and sure enough CWN discovers something he'd rather not. The whole world rather not. And also the dreams of certain nature begin to plague CWN incessantly. As the story progresses MR begins to doubt his solid image of a cold and heartless CWN, while CWN hurts. And hurts. This particular scenario about revelations striking - is probably one of my favourites in ranwan.
The only thing that personally frustrates me is the emphasis on CWN's humiliation kinks - and Heavens witness those squick me to the moon and back no matter how canon this might be. Just ugh. A special kudos to the authors who manage to refrain from entertaining these kinks. In this particular text this is however not just for smut reasons but also working very much as a plot device.
UPD upon having finished this fic I must say this has been a much-needed experience of ultimate reader's happiness, the perfect UST and a very fine, preciously rare IC depiction and author's understanding of Mo Ran. - wicked games by tagteamme
An absolute re-read, here. And a wondrously sized one at that, 124K of a super wild ride on a feels rollercoaster. Modern office!AU, intensely complicated ranwan relationship - and a bet MHX strikes with MR for sheer lulz, and MR cannot back out just because he has to date, kiss and bed CWN, right, right? Oh dear, the ethics here is such a delicious, glorious mess.
The scene when CWN arrives at MR's to get laid - perfectly aware how this is nothing for MR but a bet to fulfil - the author sure knows how to play these heart-strings right! A gorgeous treat. Honestly I've spent a night and the whole following day just unable to tear my eyes off the pages, reading to the utmost abandon. An unforgettable experience I dearly hope to undergo again.
It's also amusing in a somewhat arcane way how I've been venting my frustrations here in the second reviews post about the author's previous modern AU ranwan "mutual agreement" - and in this one all the sources of my frustrations have been miraculously taken care of! Starting from the POV changing from MR to CWN with just the right rhythm. Like the author not only saw the post (who even reads livejournal these days, c'mon!) but figured what caused such reader's frustrations and managed to make it right the next time? Sounds enough esoteric to me XD Noosphere or not, I'm happy the author chose to make some changes with the way MR and CWN are depicted, as this has turned this fic into a true gem. - build a fire, fetch the water by occultings (microcomets)
I could fill books with what I want to do to you.
There's this kind of fics to read by the crackling fire in the hearth, fics that just make you happy by their sheer existence, all the right boxes ticked in the list of reader's preferences. A definite re-read for the hot delicate sweetness of it. MR as a disciple oh so willing to assist shizun in fighting the ice curse. Also the song the author derives the title from is absolutely majestic (can't believe it's even real - such a perfect scene and tune and lyrics). - bent right to your wind by neenswrites
A canon divergence ER ranwan where MR unlocks Jiangui later on when he's already together with CWN. Intense feels and smut ensue. A beautiful treat, thick on emotion overflowing just the way I love my ranwan served. - with all my heart, with all my soul (my whole life too) by tremulousmoon (mervp)
❤️❤️❤️ Dear me! The sheer luck of discovering a fic like this one??? Indescribable.
It's written from joy - a rarest occasion for a fanfic's source material. An incredible treasure, a once in a blue moon kind of miracle, if you know what "writing from joy" means, deep within thy heart.
Modern cultivation AU, where 2.0 happens in a new lifetime, memories getting triggered accordingly. Revelations ensue. MR yearns to do right by CWN this time around. Yearns with all his formidable might. For 40K of fluff I've teared up almost all over the place while reading this gift of a fanfic. The sweetest kind of tears - weeping thy heart out and knowing that it's all gonna be alright. The chapter about wontons is particularly tear-inducing, though it's far from being the only one to that effect.
Really, a fanfic miracle. Prompted me to seriously reconsider my list of ultimate fav ranwan fics - this one now ranks second only to ever the unsurpassed glory of Catharsis. Gotta jot down that fabled list one day. This story brings so much elation, an ecstatic bliss, an almost religious kind of reader's rapture - the truest of magick performed right here in a form of text. - miracles unsung (make-believe) by sugarpain (amurgin)
It's a poem albeit in prose. An ode to joy indeed. Makes me wonder heavily to which gods do we pray to get a looooong fic in this premise (and above that - coupled with this wording). Is it even possible. It's like waking from your best ever dream too abruptly, too early, leaving you devastated at what could have been. - In Joy and Sorrow and Until That One Day [RU] by GrimReader
Cute modern-AU ranwan that meet up in a park: MR is recovering from a war mission gone awry, training with his husky Jiangui, while CWN is writing down a paper due tomorrow for his biomedical research project. That tropey scenario delivered well and tasty, all the ust and innuendos in here! CWN helps MR out with his healing, they even go jogging together (the husky is most happy for this) and of course shenanigans ensue. A light, happy read. - Acceptance by wraithsatnoon
Really took my sweet time reading this absolute unit of a fic. Modern AU with super carefully researched details of Chinese routine, and definitely the recommended read for long winter nights, adding stability to one's tumultuous life. The sheer joy of consistency and knowing there's a new chapter awaiting you each evening.
However I find this read somewhat lacking the actual volume of perfection it could have achieved were it for CWN's POV to be added to MR's POV. While I appreciate reading MR's-POV-only in smaller fics - creations as large as this one desperately crave a change of POV to the other hero.
And then the author's characterization of ranwan is particularly peculiar - for one, CWN is incredibly and unusually talkative, albeit mostly in a wistful way, but nevertheless this feels quite different from your regular take on ranwan. For two, MR is extremely, fantastically perceptive - from the very beginning of the story he reads CWN and understands his motives like they're written on his face. This is also quite an unusual take.
UPD The scene of MR giving head to CWN is one of the most detailed and beautiful in the existence of fandom. A delicious feast of wholesome CWN appreciation, yay!
UPD-2 Wrote a separate post to get a hold of my impressions upon completing this epic. - to love without consuming by devilsoupe
Would've written a separate post on this story for it certainly deserves one, were I to update this post with some more consistency. It's separated in three arcs and the stories in those arcs, while being parts of the same weaving, are indeed distinctly different. The transition between the first and the second one (that big revelation, not spoilering it in here) has been at first rather questionable: as in what was the need for that when the story has already grown so tasteful and exciting?
The question gets answered when the third arc happens. It's like precious prayer beads only working together in a pattern where each part is needed and supports the other parts. In the end this story is worth the ride: delivering all the right answers and pressing all the pressure points. It's longer than it could be due to some concepts being repeated time and again until it gets somewhat boring to leaf through what's already been said and done, but the ending is indeed wholesome, after such a long ride. It feels like a conclusion, a diploma from an advanced course in the ranwan academy, a thank-you gift for the long-time readers, and I appreciated this feeling. - at the edge of the abyss by hanji (notbadbrat)
I hold a firm belief that fics such as this one keep the world going. It's small and written from within the fragile liminal state of in between "before" and "after" - good God, this is my favourite kind of fics, those that describe this particular state! Especially in such delicate detailing.
Mo Ran confesses his love for Shizun - and it's in his actions, in words unsaid, that the reader gets unraveled. The non-touches, the huge hand hovering over Wanning's face, radiating heat but never touching skin until explicitly allowed. The incredible attention to the glances and the emotions they emanate.
Truly, this particular liminal state is what I'm regularly yearning to encounter in fanfiction, and here my dream is fulfilled in the manner of the best Christmas gift. A real blessing to find a story such as this one! - if being awake means being alone, then i will sleep through everything by sweetsweetdays (wanningzinho)
An age reverse AU starting back at CWN's earlier schooldays with the trio being in their high school years. Shi Mei's characterization in this story is particularly spot-on, really each of his appearances is as anxiety-inducing as the character promises to make them. Especially seen through the eyes of the young and vulnerable CWN.
Younger (platonic, but yeah) ranwan are finished with a fantabulous mess of a funfair where MR literally forgets about CWN. The feels here are written expertly. The adult part of the fic though leaves space for improvement. Or maybe it's just my personal dislike for the adult!MR depicted here. He's creepy, in the touchy creepy sort of way, and this arrangement only works because CWN is in love with that creep and thusly allows him a number of liberties. Otherwise it's a case of such unnerving harassment that it honestly creeps the living daylights outta the reader. - Dear Yuheng by heartbeatangel
A modern AU with roommates, CWN suddenly being the expert of human souls and hearts, going as far as to write his own Q&A column on the matter of feelings in the university's blog. Which feels like quite an OOC take to this reader, so the further details like MR fake-dating CWN and kissing him IN PUBLIC (strictly for pretending purpsoses) - OH DEAR, you're reading it right - massive PDA for CWN! Ugh this is almost like dat tattoo parlor all over again - those details are fitting in nicely with the chosen scenario, which is unfortunately so not to my preferences, especially in terms of ranwan characterization. - [HOT] local shizun can take TWO in one hole! by lofikv
While I dearly appreciate an oreo done right (because naturally a good wholesome DAP isn't just about the mechanics but gotta be equally extensive about foreplay and emotion AND aftercare too!) this was not, unfortunately, my kind of oreo. It takes a certain blend of TXJ to make an oreo taste really exquisite, too. Or maybe my ideal oreo features CWN with two MRs 2.0, who knows. - White Christmas [RU] by Lonesome_Rider
While I'm hardly a fan of HP universe in and on itself ( dramione shenanigans notwithstanding) it works real wonders as a crossover setting for literally any and all other fandoms. One would even say that it works like a charm😂 MR stays at Hogwarts for Christmas and encounters a white cat who listens to his rambles about a complicated family situation. CWN has recently learnt to be an animagus and is fairly new to all this. They mingle and MR then laments about his insufferable potions professor.
I'm decidedly not sharing the hc abt CWN being a member of Slytherin much less a potions prof, I mean, have you seen him cooking anything that IS NOT wontons?? If anything, CWN's very being screams Gryffindor in bold red letters from atop Hogwarts' highest tower, and how is he anything but a DADA prof is far beyond this reader. Yet for this lil' fic, even an inconsistency in such crucial matters doesn't spoil the sweet cozy mood of a budding relationship. - your skin onto my skin by coeurdepomme
A post-canon vignette of same love in different shades. They were the same man. The strangeness of CWN being called a 'good boy' tho - shizun i dont deserve you + its smut part by orphan account
achtung lapslock and woefully unbeta-ed at that. Seeing how I've once read an entire published book filled with lapslock, it's no big deal. As with that book, lapslock doesn't matter when the scenario is so nice. Even the staggering dyslexia delivers a sense of the author having been too bespelled with the idea to actually give a dime to care about wording or Engrish.
You wouldn't find that fic via recs and it's certainly very unlikely you would find it via search (and yet, I managed to, looking for an oreo, ironically. There's no oreo here). And yet. I feel it's important to mention this one here. For sheer reasons of the scenario about it being very perfect. A Catharsis-kind-of perfect, post-canon domestic bliss SO FULL of CWN's fears and insecurity (and what if MR doesn't want him anymore? The both of MRs?)
And the way MR is portrayed here. So precious. There's quite a number of wondrously beta-ed but horribly OOC ranwans out there that do MR ultimate injustice of mischaracterizing him to Nanping and back. So it's sad the fic was orphaned instead of some basical editing (like distributing paragraphs amidst the mass of text) because the scenario in it - I could go on reading ranwans such as this for ages! Tender, caring, so mutually in love. - the presence of me in you by indefinitelyforever
So I went there and read this ultimate OOC fest despite knowing from the tags what's awaiting ahead. Sometimes the authors mistag as if their writing fates depends on mistagging, so a reader learns to take those tags with a grain of salt. Not here. The author is super truthful in their tags.
To the point where one needs to question WHY (oh why) do you validate a very dubious consent (one that's more fit for a p0rn vid instead of an OTP fic) NOT WITH THE STORY IN THE FIC BUT WITH THE TAG instead. The smut is hot but these two are not ranwan. The amount of sheer unbridled myötähäpeä I've felt abt this fic is so above and beyond. A 101 on how to NOT write a ranwan. - sometimes you smile at me (and how can i leave?) by ryneisaterriblefan
Same premise as above (that dildo prompt from the kink meme again) yet now it's more of ranwan and less of myötähäpeä. Mainly bc the author writes their own teacher/student modern AU - and it could've been a cute little introspection were the story left at that, but alas, the kink meme prompted the author to include the ridiculously OOC details into their sweet story abt falling in love. They're so out of place, truly a scene of how a scenario wars against its set premise to become its own story yet the author forces it to comply with provided prompt. - magic dildo threadfic (+ its incomplete version on ao3) by songxiong
Thankfully, there is a ranwan feat. dildo fic done right. Lovin' it tremendously. Now this is how you write one - so full of feels, so high on emotions, so desperate and IC and wild and just the way I prefer my ranwan served. An absolutely delectable treat, no matter how many times one re-reads it. - Shizun, let's make love (and babies) by willowhal
An A/B/O worthy of all the praises!🔥 Set in canon universe and oh so wondrously heavy on just the right emotions. Because what ultimately turns an omegaverse into the most precious treat is the way the emotions are woven into the physiology, but of course. Here it's done with expert care, and the smut to complement it is top notch. CWN suddenly enters his fist heat ever (after years of thinking he must've been a broken dysfunctional omega) and MR is ever the happiest disciple to assist his shizun. Don't let the carefree title divert your attentions from the iron-hot intensity of what's awaiting within. A definite re-read. - Be Broken To Be Whole by platinum_firebird
A number of my favourite tropes I'm never tired reading about. Ranwan on a mission, CWN getting affected with sex pollen, the cure ensues with both parties assured of how the other one loathes their performance. Caught between disrespecting Mo Ran’s sacrifices by allowing himself to die, and forcing Mo Ran to help cure him - how is he supposed to choose? So heavy on self-esteem issues, yeahh!
Thankfully, MR cannot hold up the pretense of not caring for long, and kisses CWN on the back in the act. CWN keeps on wondering as to WHY MR kisses him. They return, and awkwardness ensue. And then some quality loving in the lotus pond. All the good jazz. Much wholesome reader's joy here. - keep your brittle heart warm by idrilka
Ironically (I didn't plan it to happen like this!) this fic features the same tropes of sex pollen and further doubts as the one above. Only here it's set after the swordflight confession scene and yet CWN is ever so sure about MR not really wanting him. We're so blessed this author writes ranwan, what with their delicate language, expert characterization and delectable smut. And MR is very industrious about the smut, very thorough. - why does my heart beat like so by melanqoly
PSA: thank goodness for web.archive.org, may their days be blessed and prosperous in aeons to come!
Another Hogwarts AU (now, where's that ultimate one with CWN as the most epic DADA prof in the history of ever? Waiting for it excitedly!) that explores MR secretly feeding potions prof!CWN a love potion. Which, predictably, doesn't work as expected, and it turns out the only reason besides not drinking it is that the person on the receiving end is already enamoured with the operator.
The potency of this scenario is above and beyond, and all the snippets exploring CWN's crashing self-loathing only serve to accentuate it. The finale however seemed rushed in an awkward way - given all the ways this one could have unraveled! - which left the reader yearning for more. Slower, and with MR more of his 2.0 self after all the revelations.
And naturally, the revelations part is one I find most important in any and all ranwan fiction, so this one should also be long and enough excruciating for MR - a number of fics out there skip it like it's no big deal, making MR seem like a lucky jerk with no self-growth at all, therein this is a delicate subject that needs to be approached with extensive care and copious writing to describe the said self-growth with gusto. - The Last Candle Burns Out by sentient_wren
Uhh, the good stuff🔥 Just the kind of ranwan jazz I like so much, the fragile and tender liminal state of intense yearning to confess thy feelings. Hence a gem of its kind. Mo Ran set on respecting and cherishing Chu Wanning until he is a debauched mess (cackled so loudly at this one, 好色 much!)
Horny village timeline, Mo Ran investigates a demon assault and gets caught in a ravine that feeds on spiritual powers. Same happens to CWN who goes searching for MR, and they both get trapped in a cave, where some washing happens, and some sleeping together, and candles burning out, and then some tender precious horny, the kind I'm quite appreciative of. Good food. - Chu Wanning and The Most Impressively Formidable Carrot Worthy Of All The Admiration [RU] by BittenPeachProphet
Yes, this is precisely what the title implies, you're not mistaken. Yet at the same time it's ridiculously hot and professing the glorious banner of junlian's legendary Beta-Carotene Rate Up! to the erha fandom. Albeit introducing a different (yet no less sensual and spiced up with UST) approach to the art of using the produce rationally. - Even Unseen Stars Still Burn by theherocomplex
Upon having finished this fic I was like oh noes, NOT AGAIN. But alas. It's yet again a marvellous setting (now a space opera packed with creepeh stuff, whoah!) and character development introduced through details working perfectly within the chosen scenario - and then it's just... The End.
There was a deliciously dramatic build-up, CWN so high on self-loathing, MR so unsure, and messed up, and hateful, and... This. This is it. We hardly see MR's transitioning from his complicated whatever-it-is he feels towards CWN towards more pronounced and named emotions. In fact, we don't. It's one moment he's hateful, another moment he's unsure - and then he's already calling CWN "Wanning" and enjoying being shameless around him.
Yup, this feels like the readers were robbed of the best part. The hardest part. The revelations part where MR guesses things and lives them THROUGH. His own anger issues and bad decisions included. Here, it's all swept behind the scenes. Omitted. So while the sci-fi backdrop and its details are gloriously epic, and I would've loved me some 300K+ words of a slowbuild ranwan in such a universe - the backdrop alone cannot replace what's yearning to be shown through MR's POV and mind. Which is mighty sad, as the author's language is beautiful, yet it focuses on anything but. - Year of the Tiger [RU] by N-anshu
While I normally prefer to stay away from unfinished fanfics, something urged me to start on this one still in process, and oh did I enjoy every little bit about it! The premise is a rare kind of urban fantasy - albeit set in a remote village where MR's filming crew arrive to shoot a program for their TV channel that specializes in esoteric content. They partake in a ritual meant to be a sham for the sake of the show - but naturally the ritual magically DOES work, and a delicious story of UST, and mind-reading, and shape-shifting starts unraveling.
The language is so light, and sweet, and fun, and CWN can shapeshift into a great big tiger, which only adds to the unexpected beauty of this story. - Far Away A Song by sealdog
A dearly rare yet just as precious kink of male lactation revisited by ranwan sweet loving, here. - here is my heart (coming 'round the bend) by martyrsdaughter
CWN is so crafty about this one! The true mastermind receiving the deserved railing and pampering. The intercrural is introduced with particular deliciousness. - looks so good, looks so sweet by tiedbows
A cute coffee shop AU with MR tending to CWN's ever whimsical sweet latte orders until he musters enough courage to share his number on CWN's coffee cup. Awkwardness and revelations ensue. It's still a mystery though (bc the author only tells us what happened but doesn't show it explicitly) how come CWN slipped and confessed about his reasoning behind placing such convoluted orders. - No First Aid [RU] by Earwe
University teacher/student AU that is woefully unfinished. Mayhaps the author may consider developing a continuation, for this is but the intro for what could've been a yet another take on how CWN falls for his rowdy student, and, more importantly, on how Mo Ran actually sees him for the precious human being CWN actually is. MR has real problems seeing people for who they are - not for the façades he oh so eagerly falls for and acts upon those façades. So it could be an exciting learning opportunity for him, were the fic to be continued. - blooming day by melanqoly
Let's just say this is not a fic you read right after completing Lin Yihan's "Fang Si-Chi’s First Love Paradise", yet this is how my reading schedule turned out to be. And now I've went and googled that Lin Yihan took her life shortly after the novel's being published. Gods.
The book and the fic represent two ends of the spectrum depicting how teacher-student relationship morphs. I recommend reading the book with all the might I can express, although I guarantee the hair atop your head would be moving. Crawling. Trying to escape back into the safe confines of the skull. But the book is 1000% worth it. So sad to have learnt about its author's untimely and tragic demise, oh dear.
The fic features student!CWN and shizun!MR. And here I realize I should stop pursuing this particular trope as with each new fic iteration it feels so much creepier than the previous one. It's one thing CWN is falling for his shizun (who wouldn't, in his place?), but MR is very proactive, very intense about falling for CWN, too, - and remember that CWN is barely a teen, and not the MR 1.0 kind of teen who frequents brothels and partakes in debauchery with gusto.
A virginal teen very much intimidated by the span of his awakening desires, and someone gotta be an adult in this relationship - if it is to bud into a healthy relationship at all - and this, unfortunately, is not MR. Which makes MR into a very, very creepy lecher. CWN's infatuation with him totally does not excuse the lechery. Or anything at all. It only makes the reader experience all the more unease about the whole setting. And then Lin Yihan. Just nailing this unease into a concise, perfectly atrocious monstrosity of a book on teacher "fooling around" his ungrateful, misbehaved students. - with your arms around me by dumbhusky
In this house we do not talk abt why I've gone and did it again - read another installment of shizun!MR and disciple!CWN. All of the abovementioned trigger warnings ignited anew by Lin Yihan's book apply here, too. Maybe even more so, because here the universe twists to accomodate the fact that shizun!MR also used to be TXJ at one point, molesting young disciple CWN in every which canonical way. Good gods.
At the same time, this story helped me figure what I'd love to see in such a role reversal. MR being the Mo Zongshi he deserves to be. Growing up and embracing this part of him to his utmost. Not the wild beast part that is ever present in the entire corpus of role reversal ranwans, but the caring and adult part, which is sadly lacking.
MR is once more hardly the adult in this story, despite his age. Throwing jealousy tantrums around CWN who's also begun to see dreams abt TXJ - and all of this ends up with sex pollen although it's not described in any great detail, and neither is the reasoning for that. And one would've loved to see it through, as well as see MR openly addressing his feelings, not cowering away from those. - Baby, don't lie by goodbye_blue
Since everyone and their mother seems to be writing sex pollen, it's no surprise that after a number of such fics the reader becomes picky about how a trope is depicted and what is highlighted about it. This one certainly promised a case fic rich on the investigation about the contamination - let's be frank, not the usual reason we open pollen fics for (and indeed, such a case is yet to be written). And oh don't get me started on all the UST about ranwan marriage in the underworld - we were hardly shown an ounce of its USTful repercussions.
And then the fic abruptly reverted to the good ole' jazz of a pollen having a delayed onset of its effects - however the details I crave for in such a trope were unexpectedly so sparse! And that is, coming from CWN's persepctive no less! Where's all the rich, potent self-loathing and the plethora of his insecurities at the very idea of bedding MR in such circumstances? It's as if the fic is showing like 50% instead of the full scope of emotional mess out there.
So no wonder this left me craving, although by its design not an hair is out of place in this elaborate hairdo, all the revelations come as follows, and MR 2.0 is ever my favourite to be reading about - and yet the story is lacking those smallest, most precious details. Those that colour each action, fleeting emotion, fragile, overthinking, mutual pain of the lonely hearts. Even the smut itself, however detailed, still felt like it promised much more than what was actually written. A peculiar case indeed.
Which makes it all the more incredible how such tropey works get all the attention that my fav fics hardly receive. Wish I knew how it worked. - On the shore I’m caring for the thick waves of your hair [RU] by hivershin
This has been one blast of a readergasm. And take notice that this is a Song Qiutong-centric story, of all the possible ranwans out there! Yet it's majestic in the wildest and most beautiful way. Set in the heavy 0.5, in this story we see the proceedings of TXJ going mad through SQT's eyes, we feel through her body and we rage as she rages on. This is a canon divergence, and SQT gets to play not just one petty empress, perpetually jealous and angry about the mysterious concubine, but a character that experiences deep feelings and tries to get a hold of the situation.
She gets tutored by the coreless CWN in the art of writing, and learning, and calligraphy, and guqin. She gets to discover the mystery of Chu Fei, put two and two together - and fall in love. This is so understandable - to see CWN the way SQT gets to see him and NOT fall in love? Top level of impossible. There's so much sweat, and blood, and violent animalistic love-making - and none of the characters would take it any other way. TXJ is furious and gorgeous like a maelstrom. He's feared, and a true conqueror, and we get to see and experience all of it, not just read about it.
At the same time the smut is not detailed the way you may think it is from all the praises above. On the contrary - it's given in small increments of accidental detail that paint the whole picture all the more mind-blowingly hot. Hell-temperatures hot at that. SQT gets to touch the mystery of the flower that CWN has previously uncovered. She meets the culprit and recognizes him for one. Truly this story warps the 0.5 we know into a completely brand new sort of awesome, retaining all the glory we love about 2ha, and making it palpable.
The author's language is a reader's blessing, a feast of uncountable removes, a celebration of linguistic beauty so spectacular one hardly believes this text to be a real experience, and not some dreamed-up imaginary marvel. Yet it is real and readable and existing. - silver vine by tagteamme
Really wanted to take a read of the author's first story for the fandom, as it's quite exciting to see how one's skills and preferences unfurl further on within larger later creations. Not a nekomimi fan unless we're talking Loveless universe (because then it has a deeply ingrained meaning to the kink, above and beyond the kink itself) but this could be an enjoyable treat for those who are. CWN's tail and cat ears are real sensitive, and it's nice how the author pays attention to it. Also CWN's jealous (it's kinda expected from one turned into a cat and unable to love his man in all the desirable ways) and it's cute. - because it has denied you by devilsoupe
A modern AU with ranwan as spies, very emotionally credible and full of angst to the brim. Huaizui is a master troll and trolling expertly he would be. The story is spiraling with MR's angsty POV full of painful could-have-been's and the like, so at times a CWN's POV is certainly lacking to add more volume to the picture of ultimate anguish borne of epic misunderstandings. What one lacks as a reader is the catharsis in the finale - we get a very extensive build-up but very little on the matter of revelations, CWN's sufferings through and through. It is present in the text, sure, but in a laconic way that mostly describes function, and one yearns to see the spiraling emotion behind it. - give me clarity by everyearning (noctiphany)
8K of modern au A/B/O where the author pulls off a delicious quirk to the regular omergaverse mechanics, namely giving an omega an ability to become unconsciously bonded with the alpha if they end up in their close proximity way too often. The bond is one-sided, the alpha is unaware, and the omega's heats become a living nightmare. And ranwan are roommates. Thankfully, MR knows how to google and while panicking abt CWN's sudden and excruciatingly painful heat, he nevertheless figures out that CWN accidentally bonded to him.
After extended convincing and reassuring, they eventually get to have some smut, only for CWN to cower from MR the day after. Naturally, MR's promised him reciprocation and bonding for real, and of course CWN didn't believe it one bit - only in the throes of his heat he didn't really have a choice but to accept MR's care. They speak it out, although CWN hardly dares to believe his luck. - I would've never married if I had a friend like you [RU] by GrimReader
Modern AU ranwan with the lawyer CWN facilitating the divorce between MR and SQT. If you want a wild ride abt this scenario, look up imzidian's "Take It Slow". This one story here left me wondering abt some of the eternal questions pertaining to the choices the authors make when writing ranwan.
For one, making MR a total jerk DOES NOT bring your modern AU closer to the 0.5 drama. Not in the least. Yet this misconception seems to be exceptionally potent, and the readers are supposed to believe that a jerk will be magically transformed into a good person by the sheer power of CWN's love. Now this is downright toxic and creepy, borderline nearing the justification of abuse cases. Absolutely disapprove of all those modern MR-jerks that try to imitate TXJ yet fail spectacularly every time.
For two, CWN's OOC here is a sad sight to behold. "Hey pretty, I wanna fuсk you rn. - Oh, okay" kind of ranwan interaction has been quite weird to read about. Internal conflicts? Shame mixed with lust? They just get on with it, functional and precise. Not my cup of otp tea, unfortunately. - Lotus Blossoms in the Water by jeejaschocolate
Due to all the injuries CWN sustained at Jincheng Lake, his mind de-ages itself, effectively leaving CWN his 5 y.o. self in the body of an adult. MR is 1.0 version here, the first one to discover Shizun's strange ailment, and he ends up taking care of CWN and finding a medication to cure this state. MR even discovers the recipe for wontons while searching for the books to read out loud to Xiao Ning, but he's yet to put 2 and 2 together.
While the story is overall cute and sweet, full of CWN's unbridled emotions and MR's awe at witnessing them for the first time in the two lifetimes, I lacked some angst from Mo Ran's. What if Shizun remains this way forever? What if he doesn't? MR is only making his first steps towards 2.0, so it's understandable he's not really overthinking the situation, more like taking great joys from the precious moments of being able to care for CWN.
Afterwards CWN's memory doesn't keep his reverted days, and he just knows MR isn't telling the whole truth about his illness. He then discovers a new guan in a weird style he wouldn't ever willingly wear (the one MR bought for Xiao Ning during their time in town), yet a strange sense of comfort and safety emanates from the trinket, and so CWN keeps it.