Anyone who knows me, knows that aside from writing fan fiction, I also love to read it. Recently I commissioned @agapaic for a new chapter of one of my favorites, Punch Drunk on AO3! I highly recommend this fic and this author in general! She is such a fantastic writer! Go give it a read!
I don't know if it's because we don't get an explicit kiss scene that the relationship between He Tien and Mo Guan Shan feels so extra special to me. Like the feeling of always being on the brink of falling over the edge on a rollercoaster. The tension and excitement and joy of them. But I also think because it's a slice of life manhua, the way their relationship developed is also so incredibly special. It's one of the most well done "enemies to lovers" trope I've ever seen. You have Mo who is sooooo deeply distrusting of other people and so insecure and lonely that he covers that up with anger and violence. Then there's He Tian who is outwardly the most self confident and charismatic guy around but who is also deeply lonely and desperate for love. Like I think to put it simply, He Tian wants to love. He wants to take care of something or someone. You see that with the dog. Like his innate personality and love language is to provide and protect. But he's never had the chance. He's the cool guy he's aloof he doesn't let himself get close enough to give that part of himself to them, though you do see glimpses of it with his friendships with Jian Yi and Zheng Xi. Then comes along Mo, his little Mo, this absolute trainwreck of a person (and I say that with so much love). At first, he keeps Mo around for the amusement. Making this seemingly angry lone wolf do his bidding. But just like He Tian, Mo is so desperate to be loved and in this case, whether he wants to admit it or not, all Mo wants is to be taken care of, to have someone help carry the many burdens on his shoulder, to know that there's someone he can always turn to. Because as much as Mama Mo is a sweet loving woman, the last thing Mo wants to do is burden her. But he's so tired and so angry. That's why these two work because they're exactly what the other needs. He Tian wants to take care of someone and have someone who won't leave him, and Mo wants someone to be in his corner and take care of him. It's perfect. They're perfect.