Chinese Novels

Mutual interest is a big one - like I don't mind if one party is really repressed or slow on the uptake w/r/t their feelings, but if things are completely one sided I'm probably not going to want them to get together. I also like when there's interesting (and shifting) power dynamics and push and pull between the characters instead of them being pigeonholed into one or another.

Sha Po Lang wasn't really my thing, but I wasn't squicked by Changgeng and Gu Yun's romance. On a semi-related note, I'm very curious to see Hua Xiangyi and Qi Zhuyin's interactions in Qiang Jin Jiu since Highlight for spoilers! *(assuming the marriage that's been talked about in the last few volumes goes forward (I've been attempting to avoid spoilers)) the former will be the latter's stepmother.*

re: the reverse, the ones that came to mind for me were Highlight for spoilers! *Qiyan Agula and Qiyan Nomin* in Clear and Muddy Loss of Love and *Li Ningyu and Lao Pan in* The Message (athough tbh I found their relationship in the 2020 adaptation more interesting than the book's).