Qǐng Tīng Wǒ de Shēngyīn!! - Vol. 4 Ch. 29 - Overthink

[MangaDex]

 

[nxneil13]

thx for the tl

ok ngl imma little confused what happened this chapter, was sis and shark teeth-chan working together to get him to figure out women's feelings better?

 

[RolandMayfield]

Thanks for the chapter!

thx for the tl

ok ngl imma little confused what happened this chapter, was sis and shark teeth-chan working together to get him to figure out women's feelings better?

I don't know about shark teeth-chan, but the case with sis is just that in the second playthrough you get subtitles with what the game was saying, so all the good things he said about the game are null, and she wanted to save him from the embarrassment.

 

[UdenEmpati]

thx for the tl

ok ngl imma little confused what happened this chapter, was sis and shark teeth-chan working together to get him to figure out women's feelings better?

Basically what @RolandMayfield said.

SharkTeeth and the movie theater date happened independently of the gaming session with QiaoWen. But, her comments about "overthinking" with the movie's plot and some of the subtleties were another lens through which XianHe experiences both his own "musings" about the plot of the video game, and then applies a second time when he finds out that on a second playthrough, you actually get to have all the questions answered by way of subtitles for the FMC.

One important relevant piece of info is that he often would play through games multiple times with QiaoWen, because he enjoyed the experiencing of stories with the context of "going through it once already". There's probably some metaphor in there about how he experienced life with QiaoWen when he was younger, and then when she left and returned years later under different circumstances, his "second playthrough" of having her in his life has taken on a very new & different meaning for him. Namely, his unrequitted crush being ruined over the fact she's dating someone and seemingly never looked at him, the way he looks at her.

But in this chapter, he's starting to recontextualize all of the overthinking he's always doing where QiaoWen is concerned--he beats himself up over his feelings for her and how he's always second-guessing himself in pining for her, and here comes SharkTeeth talking about "overthinking" about stuff in the movie they watched, but how she takes enjoyment from an act that causes him nothing but stress.



So my read on it, is this is another instance of contrasting SharkTeeth with QiaoWem, as well as another step in starting to help XianHe reframe his way of thinking, and his feelings, and is thus helping along the slow process of XianHe getting over his one-sided crush on his cousin and moving on in life.

 

[heccingisconfused]

Fucking peak, using Ico as a actual significant plot device to deliver the story brings a smile to my face

Basically what @RolandMayfield said.

SharkTeeth and the movie theater date happened independently of the gaming session with QiaoWen. But, her comments about "overthinking" with the movie's plot and some of the subtleties were another lens through which XianHe experiences both his own "musings" about the plot of the video game, and then applies a second time when he finds out that on a second playthrough, you actually get to have all the questions answered by way of subtitles for the FMC.

One important relevant piece of info is that he often would play through games multiple times with QiaoWen, because he enjoyed the experiencing of stories with the context of "going through it once already". There's probably some metaphor in there about how he experienced life with QiaoWen when he was younger, and then when she left and returned years later under different circumstances, his "second playthrough" of having her in his life has taken on a very new & different meaning for him. Namely, his unrequitted crush being ruined over the fact she's dating someone and seemingly never looked at him, the way he looks at her.

But in this chapter, he's starting to recontextualize all of the overthinking he's always doing where QiaoWen is concerned--he beats himself up over his feelings for her and how he's always second-guessing himself in pining for her, and here comes SharkTeeth talking about "overthinking" about stuff in the movie they watched, but how she takes enjoyment from an act that causes him nothing but stress.



So my read on it, is this is another instance of contrasting SharkTeeth with QiaoWem, as well as another step in starting to help XianHe reframe his way of thinking, and his feelings, and is thus helping along the slow process of XianHe getting over his one-sided crush on his cousin and moving on in life.

Damn good analysis, LOVE ALL OF YALL especially the translator.

 

[Sempiternal]

Thanks for the chapter

 

[King_julien]

Thank you for the translation!

 

[Vertiguous]

Not being familiar with the game they were playing, I was also confused about why QiaoWen was so adamant about not starting a second playthrough. Thanks for the explanation in the comments

 

[Bear2000]

For those who don't know "Forbidden Siren", or just "Siren" in the west, is a horror game by the fella' who made Silent Hill. She was trying to trick him, given how bad he is with horror.

 

[CalebPlowmann]

I believe that the chapter is about the "assumptions and hunches", the little signals that sharkgirl is sending and our MC is starting to understand.
And they're playing with a PS2? IIRC the series is in current time

 

[aheiekf]

this story pisses me off. I binged the whole thing hoping it’s get better and I hate the lesbian couple even more now. There’s nothing redeeming about either of the two characters and after 29 chapters I still don’t like them any more than I did 20 chapters ago.
I know the point is to subvert the reader’s expectations that the mc would get with his unrequited crush, but at this point fmc has been playing in his face and is too far gone for me to really care about what happens to her.

Just cut the kid loose and let him get with his classmate.

 

[UdenEmpati]

this story pisses me off. I binged the whole thing hoping it’s get better and I hate the lesbian couple even more now. There’s nothing redeeming about either of the two characters and after 29 chapters I still don’t like them any more than I did 20 chapters ago.
I know the point is to subvert the reader’s expectations that the mc would get with his unrequited crush, but at this point fmc has been playing in his face and is too far gone for me to really care about what happens to her.

Just cut the kid loose and let him get with his classmate.

well the good news, is that you've caught up to the part where it seems that corner's starting to be turned.

 

[aheiekf]

Is it though? I feel like had it not been a sapphic relationship, the boy would probably still have a chance in any other reality (and it would’ve made more sense for him to stick around) based solely on the off-chance that he could “save” her—from herself or her messy relationship. Not like that bizzaro universe would be any more preferable, though. Rather, the age-gap-childhood-friendcel mc is still such a better candidate to where the only thing that could cockblock him is yuri.

You can ascribe him blame for not saying anything, but why is fmc regularly staying over and venting to the boy instead of her girlfailure partner? And why is said partner asking him for date ideas and venting to a highschooler and flirting in his face when she’s aware of his feelings?
I guess from the mc’s perspective any sort of progress in those two’s relationship would be torment, but they’re undoubtedly just exploiting the kid, and the only ones who care are the background characters.

I suppose I’m reading too much into it and imposing my own idealistic views; I’ll wait another 20 chapters.

 

[UdenEmpati]

Is it though? I feel like had it not been a sapphic relationship, the boy would probably still have a chance in any other reality (and it would’ve made more sense for him to stick around) based solely on the off-chance that he could “save” her—from herself or her messy relationship. Not like that bizzaro universe would be any more preferable, though. Rather, the age-gap-childhood-friendcel mc is still such a better candidate to where the only thing that could cockblock him is yuri.

You can ascribe him blame for not saying anything, but why is fmc regularly staying over and venting to the boy instead of her girlfailure partner? And why is said partner asking him for date ideas and venting to a highschooler and flirting in his face when she’s aware of his feelings?
I guess from the mc’s perspective any sort of progress in those two’s relationship would be torment, but they’re undoubtedly just exploiting the kid, and the only ones who care are the background characters.

I suppose I’m reading too much into it and imposing my own idealistic views; I’ll wait another 20 chapters.

First thing's first - it is a sapphic relationship, so the rest of your first paragraph doesn't apply from the outset. I don't know why you're inventing plot lines and then getting mad about them and criticizing the story based on fabrications you've inserted.

Second - yes, his old neighbor/childhood friend is part of the problem of him being unable to get over his feelings, but it is relevant to the story and plot in terms of XianHe's growth and coming-of-age. Sometimes that shit just happens, it's not like this is the sort of scenario that you'd only ever see in a fictional story. She's meant to be messy; and it's her partner's first relationship, and she is someone who has her own litany of issues surrounding confidence.

The MC has shown himself to be dependable--to a toxic degree in how much he's willing to shove down his own feelings and wants in order to "appease" someone else, yes, but as you yourself stated, he's given no indication that he doesn't want to be around QiaoWen. She has come to see him as someone she can rely upon, and if he's going to continue to do so in a manner that seemingly isn't put-upon, then why would she stop? She sees him as a close friend and a confidante and they have extensive history with one another. If XianHe's going to grasp onto that past and his one-sided feelings and hide them from her, then that's on him, and it's on him to grow past that.

Which, he's now starting to do.

To the girlfriend's "flirting in his face", she just put it together as of the Amusement Park Chapter, confirming with him at that time before parting ways. She hasn't shown up since, and so I'm not really sure I see it as her taunting him with her relationship as you put it. If she comes back post-realization and starts doing it around him, then that's a problem. But even then - QiaoWen's her girlfriend. She shouldn't have to curb and check herself in her own relationship just because someone else is there with unrequited, one-sided, unspoken feelings. That's not fair to her, and again it's on XianHe to figure out how to let go of his old crush and move forward in his life, as well as setting boundaries that will unsure he's not put under undue pressure and stress.
He's not done that up to this point, and even QiaoWen is kind enough that if she knew what was actually going on, she'd not callously continue to impose. We know enough about her character to know that.

You're absolutely allowed to not like the story. Not every series and book is intended to be enjoyed by every person. But yes--there is such a thing as pushing one's personal ideals and perspectives too much onto fictional characters, and doing so can distort a narrative and render it unpalatable.

 

[aheiekf]

First thing's first - it is a sapphic relationship […] I don't know why you're inventing plot lines and then getting mad about them and criticizing the story based on fabrications you've inserted.

I know people can’t control who they’re attracted to, but these are story characters. I feel like I’m somewhat justified in my critique that had it not been secretly over from the start, I could still see him as a love interest because her current partner has given me no reason to agree that fmc is better off with her (not that she has/nor should she have agency in that decision) when he’s being treated more like a SO than the actual SO. At least, it would’ve made letting her trash his home and leech off him more palatable.
i don’t expect her to change her sexuality and I understand her imperfect relationship is the main part of the story so that’s my bad. I’ll take responsibility and move on.

Again, not like I want him to win. I understand in manga/manhua world, moral concepts like age gaps and NTR are just suggestions but I’m personally not interested, and I don’t think it would be a good read either.
My statement was more of an indictment of how unlikable those two are. I hope he cuts them off expeditiously.

Second - [snip]

Agreed.

To the girlfriend's "flirting in his face", she just put it together as of the Amusement Park Chapter, confirming with him at that time before parting ways. She hasn't shown up since, and so I'm not really sure I see it as her taunting him with her relationship as you put it.

I just binged the current chapters so all of these events are still fresh for me, but I’m primarily referring to Chapter 15 where they spend practically the entire chapter ripping him apart lol.
The story structure is a bit hard to follow at times. I’m at least interpreting the coffee as a warning, so it’s been my understanding that she’s had a clue of his feelings since the start, but only now has she confronted him (after putting him through the ringer).
There’s been other little micro-aggressions after that, but those are the two most prominent examples after letting the story digest for a bit.

But even then - QiaoWen's her girlfriend. [snip] We know enough about her character to know that.

Correct. it’s a shitty situation for the kid to be in and it’s crushing to see him go through these steps.
I don’t care about the other two though, and I certainly don’t want to see more chapters of him being the relationship fixer. Looking back, he’s been in this role since Chapter 13. I hope the background characters take a more proactive role in helping him up.

 

[Friendly-Sentence710]

I know people can’t control who they’re attracted to, but these are story characters. I feel like I’m somewhat justified in my critique that had it not been secretly over from the start, I could still see him as a love interest because her current partner has given me no reason to agree that fmc is better off with her (not that she has/nor should she have agency in that decision) when he’s being treated more like a SO than the actual SO. At least, it would’ve made letting her trash his home and leech off him more palatable.
i don’t expect her to change her sexuality and I understand her imperfect relationship is the main part of the story so that’s my bad. I’ll take responsibility and move on.

Again, not like I want him to win. I understand in manga/manhua world, moral concepts like age gaps and NTR are just suggestions but I’m personally not interested, and I don’t think it would be a good read either.
My statement was more of an indictment of how unlikable those two are. I hope he cuts them off expeditiously.

Agreed.

I just binged the current chapters so all of these events are still fresh for me, but I’m primarily referring to Chapter 15 where they spend practically the entire chapter ripping him apart lol.
The story structure is a bit hard to follow at times. I’m at least interpreting the coffee as a warning, so it’s been my understanding that she’s had a clue of his feelings since the start, but only now has she confronted him (after putting him through the ringer).
There’s been other little micro-aggressions after that, but those are the two most prominent examples after letting the story digest for a bit.

Correct. it’s a shitty situation for the kid to be in and it’s crushing to see him go through these steps.
I don’t care about the other two though, and I certainly don’t want to see more chapters of him being the relationship fixer. Looking back, he’s been in this role since Chapter 13. I hope the background characters take a more proactive role in helping him up.

On one hand, I agree with you. The older girls are both really dysfunctional and need relationship couseling not to trauma dump on a highschooler. Not to mention the "commander willie" shit which monumentally fucked up - like I get its supposed to be funny but its too fucked up on just about every level to be funny.

on the other hand, Shark girl is absolute peak and I'm pretty much just here for more shark girl, becasue she's almost fixed him.