This Danmei is REALLY Not for the Faint of Heart

[@KotLC_Bookworm]

“That might be an explosion not a sunset.” “Fair enough, what’s the difference?”

[@KotLC_Bookworm]

Aaaaa! Kictor hearted! I love you so much! ❤️😭

[@vidaya01416]

You know, with He Yu's outburst about Xie Qingchen having no clue about how lonely it is to be the only one in the world to have a disease like psychological ebola, I'm pretty sure that's a set up for the reveal of Xie Qingchen having had the disease at one point. Keep in mind that I haven't even read the first book yet, it's just my own writer instincts speaking, and absolutely seems like something Meatbun would do.

[@Relestrada]

You two have such great chemistry together on camera and are so charming that it’s honestly no surprise that these book club videos are favorites because the banter, the back and forth all come across so genuine and funny that it’s like hanging out with two of our (parasocial 😂) friends. These videos are so fun oh my goodness thank you so much for sharing!!!

[@erosophic]

These videos keep me accountable with reading because I always want to be able to watch them when they're released and not be spoiled, lol!

[@katz_cowz_93]

I appreciate these danmei book club videos SO much! It's nice to get an overview and it makes it much easier to read the books. But in cases like this, when I won't be ever to read the book due to the content, I can at least get enough context to get by

[@evoraartemisia]

1:07:29 Yes!!! When reading the chapters after 64 in particular, even though Meatbun explains XQC’s thought process, I’m still like, what? But then you learn his backstory, you know he’s been through so much more f*cked-up things, it finally makes perfect sense why his reaction is how it is.

[@iliaalomia7798]

last lines of the tempest "Now that my magic is all gone. And the only strength I have is my own body which is not very much. Now it is true that I’ll either be kept here by you, the audience or go back to Naples. Please don’t make me, since I have my dukedom back, and have pardoned my brother for betraying me, stay here on this deserted island under your spell. Release me from my prison with your applause. Your cheers and shouts will be the wind in my sails and if they don’t then I have failed my mission to please you. Now I command no spirits and I have no magic. I’ll end up in despair unless you honour my requests and forgive this play’s faults. Just as your sins are forgiven, forgive this play of it’s faults and set me free."prosper the main character does questionable things to get a happy ending for his beloved daughter and recover what is his. not knowing if he would be happy after getting his "revenge" he asks the audience if he can get pardon.

[@TheCraftBunny]

My mind is blown at what Stitch found about the tattoos and I’d say Stitch is kinda accurate!!! You would know when you know!!!

[@evoraartemisia]

Yessssssss!

[@wongsy3264]

You guys are so good at story telling I am now starting to read Case File again. Last time I stopped half way, hopefully I can read it till the end this time. You need TONS of patience in order to get a sweeter scene in Meatbun's work😂, which sometimes makes me feel a bit challenging to read through the whole thing lol, but I'm still very curious about how He Yu and doctor Xie can end up at a good place after all the troubles....so, wish me luck😂🤞

[@evoraartemisia]

1:05:17 This is the reason it’s inaccurate to say Case File is Stockholm Syndrome. Anyone else, sure, but Xie Qingcheng? Never at any point did he feel controlled by He Yu or truly trapped.

[@kayleighfarmer182]

COMPOUND THESE FRACTIONS LMAO

[@corinmiyuki4078]

25:39 crying at the L that phases on screen lmao love that death note reference

[@icecreamdiet7141]

Wow, the research on the tattoos was amazing! What a nice touch on meatbun’s part! TYSM, Stitch! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@sazy0055]

Finally someone's talking about this novel!

[@Relestrada]

52:57 the reluctance to explain these scenes 🙈 I wouldn’t want to be you right then actually 😂

[@CrimsonCrane1202]

Okay so like PETITION FOR KICTOR TO DO A ROOM TOOR PLSS!!!

[@thisis_303]

Yesss

[@kinshukdhaliwal9984]

I find it interesting that his epitaph talks about permanence when one of Shelley’s most famous works is Ozymandias, which is a poem about time erodes everything and that every kingdom that thought it would last forever was crumbled to dust eventually.

[@Relestrada]

14:30 omgggg same 😭😭😭💀💀💀💀💀💀 Case file was my first modern danmei and it was such a trip I swear 💀💀💀 Even Guardian didn’t hit me like this 💀😂

[@moonside3880]

Stop ! Not u mentioning my bother favourite danmei !! Case file nd guardian …gives lil similar vibes 😭💔

[@Levsa399]

The lines on Shelly’s grave are part of a song sang by the nymph/spirit Ariel to the prince about his father drowning. (The song is actually a lie and his dad’s fine, but the drowning similarity is still there.) the beginning of the song is: “Full fathom five thy father lies, of his bones are coral made, those are pearls that were his eyes, nothing that in him doth fade…”

[@evoraartemisia]

1:22:05 Oh my god! I’ve seen Meatbun’s ingenuity at play but I can’t believe she dug so deep! That Shelley actually knew and cared about Keats and felt angry on his behalf? And wrote an elegy? (Fellas, is it gay?) I didn’t know the tattoos were this closely linked! This is so much deeper than I thought! There’s really so much to unpack! I can’t believe Meatbun did this, but it’s too connected to be a coincidence. (Speaking of Western references though, there was this one part where I was surprised she didn’t use a Romeo Juliet reference. When reading that one chapter, and they mentioned He Yu leaving before morning, I immediately thought it was a perfect opportunity to reference “nightingale and lark” and was actually genuinely surprised that it wasn’t referenced. This is that one place in the 180s. Also, come to think of it, both nightingales and larks are mentioned elsewhere in the story. Ode to Nightingale is mentioned multiple times I think, and “lark” is actually a somewhat important motif later, even being used by the villain as a parallel between his and He Yu’s situations. Interesting coincidence.) When you mentioned Shelley disregarding his wishes, I immediately thought of something later in the story, a way in which He Yu is not like Shelley, because he respects Xie Qingcheng’s wishes. There’s also more connections to drowning (as well as gruesome deaths at sea) than you two are thinking of. I’m not sure how far Kictor’s read, probably not as far as 190. Below are spoilers. __________________ Anyone who’s read this far knows that the main connection between He Yu and his chosen tattoo is the shipwreck, death at sea. They both take the grave inscriptions of famous people as tattoos, but the lines end up fitting them, their lives, and their “deaths” perfectly, even being their actual tombstone inscriptions. Xie Qingcheng even instructed in his will to not try to clear his reputation, because he thinks one’s reputation after death doesn’t matter, it will fade away. Unlike Shelley, He Yu understands and respects Xie Qingcheng’s wishes in regards to “name was written in water,” as shown in 253, when he doesn’t reveal XQC’s identity because that’s what XQC wanted. Wow. The connection goes so much deeper than I thought, Meatbun is insane (as a figure of speech)! I literally cannot believe this.

[@X13_L14N]

IM BUILDING A SHELF RN TO EXPAND MY TGCF SHRINE, EXPAND MY MELANIE MARTINEZ SHRINE, AND START A BSD SHRINE RN!! I WAS HOPING FOR SMT NEW TO WATCH AND THIS IS PERFECT!!!

[@NightTouringRizzLantern]

I WISH I WAS YOU RN 😭😭😭😭

[@X13_L14N]

@@NightTouringRizzLantern AWW MANIFESTING FOR YOU!! Also I love your user name ima steal it one day 😻

[@Hhhhhiiikkkk]

What is BSD ?

[@purple4216]

​@@Hhhhhiiikkkk bungo Stray dogs. Do you know what SMT is?

[@X13_L14N]

@@Hhhhhiiikkkk Bungo stray dogs!

[@comfynihilist]

going to speedrun finishing the volume rn so i can watch this video 1.5 HRS ???? we are being fed 1:01:33 your pained expression while stitch is explaining this whole segment is absolute gold lmaooo this toxic little dragon-puppy truly has the most abominable bedroom habits 1:07:25 from what we can already gather with known details like his parents' early death and his elusive history as a medical professional i have a strong dread that we're about to unravel some unspeakable trauma from xie qingcheng's perspective across the next few volumes ..... he's already been forced to mature as a pillar of support for xie xue from a young age, my guy cannot be willingly vulnerable around anyone and knowing meatbun she's gonna use this time and time again to stab us in the heart down the line .... thank you for exploring the meaning behind each of the poems mentioned, this symbolism interested me the most out of everything in the volume - the keats epitaph is probably the most transparency we've had about how xie qingcheng views himself so far, and of course the stanza he yu wanted to get tattooed is the perfect complement 1:22:50 "a meddling asshole" JUST LIKE a certain little devil we know ..... 1:24:40 listening to this segment warms my heart because i just know the way shelley amended keats' statement out of a projected spite for the public's condemnation and Keats' own apathy is probably going to reflect how he yu will forcefully transform xie qingcheng's similar worldview, renewing the value of being alive despite suffering in his own twisted, vicious yet unrelenting method of love oh meatbun you absolute genius final edit: i just realised that one of the chapter titles in volume 2 is "to drown into the abyss with him" which is such a nod to the whole keats/shelley symbolism with water

[@evoraartemisia]

Well, you guessed something right for sure… Oh I don’t think the word used there is actually drown, but it is “sink” or “descend,” or “plunge into” in the official version.

[@comfynihilist]

@@evoraartemisia ahhh true but i feel like the connection still stands by using sink, descend or plung into

[@spaceyparker]

My favorite yandere not yandere bois I really want more books to be published

[@eridofthegalaxies]

Another interesting fact about the Keats-Shelley thing to me is that after Percy Shelley's death Mary Shelley kept Percy's heart (which had refused to burn during cremation) in her drawer wrapped in the pages of one of his last poems called 'Adonais', An Elegy on the Death of John Keats.

[@Kictor]

WHAT oh my goodness that is incredible

[@isa_bunn]

You don't know how much I was waiting for this! This book is unhinged as fuck and it is releaving to hear you guys commenting on it. I wanna know what Meatbun was on when she wrote it 😭. Can't expect less from a universe where something like psychological ebola exists.

[@gentleshroom]

The joy I felt when I saw that this was uploaded- YESSS I'VE BEEN WAITINNNNG LOVE CASE FILE

[@dantecada5320]

25:00 Xie Qingcheng: help me, i’ll be gay with you Chen Man: I can’t. I’m a cop first, i’m a gay man second HAHAHAHAHA

[@Sushidogbat]

Gotta respect the man

[@kanachiaki]

I truly love these videos, I keep adding new books to my read list thanks to you guys!! Stitch has a way of explaining things and telling the story that has me glued to the screen and both of you commenting and bantering is just pure fun. Can't wait for more, thanks for sharing💖

[@_kpoplicious]

Omg 😳 it’s finally here 😭 I was waiting for this video!! Thank you so much Kictor and Stitch 🙏😭 I love danmei book club videos 🥹

[@yuuser]

This is so good, and it's going to get even better! Please keep expounding on these books as the material comes out. I've read MTL translations, and your commentary is the perfect follow up. Please keep doing these. You both are so wonderful! ❤ ( I don't know why there is a coffin by my name.LOVE)

[@qetsiyah3652]

Fun fact about the Robber's Knot, it's simply called a horse knot where I'm from and is still regularly used by equestrians (I literally used it this morning) to tie horses. Its safer than other kinds of knots because you can release it quickly by pulling on the loose end in case your horse startles. It is usually tied to a post or ring or something similar but you can tie it pretty much anywhere so you could tie somebody's wrists together with it. I'm just not sure if it would hold, the one that I know and use you could probably loosen by pulling your wrists apart but there are different versions of it, some more complex than others, they might hold. You could definitely easily open it by pulling on one end with your teeth though.

[@emmaslavin14]

The robbers knot might be referencing the highwayman's hitch or a constrictor knot, but am not sure. It's been a while since I read "The Tempest", but I recommend people read it

[@camaroncaramelos.a5427]

I already finished the fan translation of this and I'm currently reading it again, it's like a premium experience to read an official translation ❤😂 I never did my research about the tattos, the meaning behind is so interesting and romantic, I love it! As always I love to waych your videos and can't wait for the next volume where definetely a lot of secrets will be unveiled!! 😆

[@June-tv1zr]

I haven't read the novel, but I can see how the characters might react the way they did. It's like I have to see it through the eyes of someone who has a more complicated relationship with content related to SA, and it seems like meatbun does have a complicated relationship with this type of content. It's like you have to see it as a very layered, depressing, traumatizing and violent act between two people that completely damages and changes their relationship in various ways instead of a 1 dimensional unspeakable act of pure evil (not that it isn't evil!!), which is how I'm used to relating to this type of thing. It's very weird but also kind of interesting to try and understand this pov that's so foreign to me, as well as a warning to try and be critical abt this kind of story overall. I don't think I'll read it cause it'd make me too sad, but I'm happy to know it through you guys! This story is batshit (and thank you for the video)

[@dantecada5320]

I'M SO LATE BUT NEW BAB VIDEO JUST DROPPED OMGGG I LOVE IT

[@Maggie_R]

Really appreciate the depth of info about the history behind their tattoos! ❤

[@ankitasurve5781]

Thoroughly enjoyed it!!! Thankyou Stitch!!

[@crossandjewel3204]

I started my reread since it was first released and it makes me so happy seeing these posted. Meatbun is my icon. Thank you so much for fueling my danmei obsession. y’all are so fun a🤩

[@yuuser]

Thank you ladies for tackling this controversial content specifically. In a world where masterful authors dare to write intimate, fictional fantasies and risk prejudice, misunderstandings, and imprisonment, in order to be true to their art, this is so positive and so relative to creative expression. Most people back away from intelligent discussions regarding this, you guys are heroic to me. Whether anyone agrees or disagrees with content, an artist has to have the freedom to explore any topic without anyone else feeling threatened by it. This is a historically important video from you two. Thank you. ❤

[@tmpTina_]

Thanks for this! I read the first volume but wasn't sure if I wanted to continue now the story seems interesting and I kinda want to see where they end up 🤭

[@sadie9205]

I love these videos so much ❤ I’ll probably be back in a few days to rewatch this one again lol

[@SomebodyYouUsedToKnow-l8p]

I greatly respect the fact that you managed to talk about this book for a hour and a half

[@leaftheledgend5823]

Okey I was in the mindset that this was gonna be “Guardian”but I was swiftly proved wrong.. thank you!

[@silenceisgolden6097]

Edward (possibly Cullen)- I'm dead XD

[@kikotsukino1629]

Meatbun emotional scenes truly hurts and makes you cry and she's so good at foreshadowing as well! 😭😭😭

[@moonside3880]

Case file compendium is my favourite danmei 💔 it’s so good and extremely heartbreaking

[@DrFlowy]

Omg finally this is one of my favorite danmei ever Im so happy to see this :3

[@nocturnemoon6424]

My 12 year old cousin was reading this, and I love Kictor and Stich, so I was curious about the books. Oh my god. 😟🙏

[@Kictor]

Oh dear

[@Charbubbled]

We are being fed tonight thank you 🙏

[@groundchele]

yessss I love danmei bookclub

[@Relestrada]

40:04 emperor 💀💀💀💀😂😂😂

[@sashaberman29]

I believe I found the knot that He Yu tied... I looked up the knot as written in the Chinese version, "强盗结"(qiángdàojié), and it's called a 'highwayman's hitch'. It is a quick-release knot, so I'm not sure the effectiveness though... Hope that's helpful! :)

[@evoraartemisia]

It’s funny cause Meatbun even repeats it IRL, on Instagram she says XQC couldn’t escape it because it was a robbers knot. I wonder what she had in mind.

[@sashaberman29]

Okay, so I looked further into it, and the highwayman's hitch can withstand pretty considerable strain on the thing that it's tying down. The strength greatly depends on the size of the object that it is tied around, as larger objects have a larger chance of being unable to be tied down. In this case, theoretically, Xie Qingcheng's wrists would be small enough to be able to keep the knot intact. That is, unless he figures out the release (the tail, which should be easily grabbable from his hand positioning, unless He Yu fully immobilized his wrists which, knowing him, would not be out of the question in this situation), where he could easily undo the knot. Thinking about how he in fact couldn't get out of the knot makes me think about how He Yu could have been being nice(?) and purposely made it so that Xie Qingcheng's wrists could be untied quickly if he wanted to untie him. Anybody feel free to fact-check this or add to it, this is just what I've gathered.

[@evoraartemisia]

@@sashaberman29 😅 I think this is looking a little too deep…

[@sashaberman29]

​@@evoraartemisia For sure, but this is Meatbun we're talking about, so it might be just right😂

[@cartermaloof4980]

And yet another book to add to the list of books I will read. At this rate I'll overtake Tv shows and movies I need to watch 😂

[@alachingada3563]

Omg thanks for doing this?

[@evoraartemisia]

In all 254 chapters of Case File, 36-50 is the section I can’t bear to reread. I can reread some of the angstiest chapters, like 192 and 253, but not this. By the time I read the 30s, I had already peeked at the 50s, so I knew things were going to go wrong. Completely different from 2ha, where everything is flashbacks, already happened, here I have to read the process of just how things got so wrong, screaming “No!!!” as the main character inevitably goes crazy…it’s so painful, and this was the high point of their relationship, it was so beautiful, we really could have had everything! I started this book thinking, it’s ok, I’ve read 2ha and I’m comfortable with that…then I see the 50s and nearly quit, I didn’t read for 2 weeks, mostly not because of the 50s themselves but because I really didn’t want to suffer through the process of everything going wrong!!! Even now, I still avoid rereading that part. Ah, one of the many Laws of Meatbun. If things are looking really good, they’re gonna crash and burn. Happens several times in BAB. Another law: if things are bad right now, they will only get worse, and they won’t get better until we’re past rock bottom and losing all hope.

[@murongliansdarlinglittlemochi]

again, as always, for all those who want to start to read case file compedium(or any meatbun novels), PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE READ THE CONTENT WARNINGS. meatbun is not about rainbows and butterflies, so please take care of yourselves and dont be curious if you can't handle very very sensitive topics

[@Sushidogbat]

Love this. Obessess with the Danmei book club series.

[@breezy3392]

I'm reading through Thousand Autumns, and I have a question about that relationship: Do you think Yan Wushi would let Shen Qiao top? And would Shen Qiao want to?

[@RoseNZieg]

in my opinion, simping yan wu shi would totally let shen qiao top if he ever asked.

[@breezy3392]

​@@RoseNZieg Poor Shen Qiao would be too embarrassed to ask

[@Jiggy-dw1py]

Hello kictor and stitch!!

[@diaha1271]

This is such a coincidence since I JUST bought the book 😂 can't wait to read it

[@Crimsonqueen1973]

I have these and will read them after i finish Thousand Autumns. Love these videos!!!!

[@powtinyslow]

Yeah, I did the same thing and... the good thing is that, after Cass File, my recollection of reading Thousand Autumns became so much more wholesome in comparison 😂 Enjoy!!

[@lululucyzhu]

That hankerchief song dominated my childhood so you can imagine how Meatbun ruined it 😅😅😅

[@acehanya5936]

45 minutes. A world record for me.😂

[@icecreamdiet7141]

I would’ve liked this novel soooo much more if they were androids 😩

[@zainyy.k]

Book cluuubbb!!!!

[@handleler]

Pleaseeeee react to" i have to a great villain " manhua WE NEED UR APPROVAL 😭😭😭

[@Kinich-1]

Oh no

[@Victoria-fs9jo]

7:10 wheres that VPN sponsorship

[@Seukechi1]

letz go! My two favourite homophobes! :D

[@malwinaostrowska735]

Czy możesz wstawić polskie napisy? 🇵🇱

[@Bellrix99]

When I read "2ha", I thought it was way too angsty, but the case file is much, much worse 🫡