It really is a different experience reading the novels after watching the show since Xie Lian's inner monologue completely changes the vibe of the story.
Like when they're taken to their near certain death at the edge of the sinners pit by the Banyue soliders, in the donghua you kinda assume that Xie Lian must be really focused on finding a way to save all these merchants, then in the novels the whole scene is him being like "Why is San Lang slightly less talkative than normal😡🥺😡 this is most important issue to me right now"
So funny that Shang Qinghua is the one we call hamster when he's actually really intelligent, capable, and resilient. Meanwhile it's cucumber bro that will kill himself out of fear when faced with the smallest non issue like a real hamster




SUBBY SAN LANG🗣🗣
[ID: A TGCF meme redraw next to the original. Xie Lian shouts "Down boy!" at Hua Cheng, who immediately crouches down and goes "Arf!" Hua Cheng is in San Lang form, and Xie Lian has tan skin. The original features Veronica yelling at Archie from the Archie comics. End ID]