Ups and Downs

dearfairyAug 2026

3.5

Word count: 174K words
Chapters: 53

Summary

At eighteen or nineteen, Shan Shan, young and foolish, threw over Jin Xuan, the first love who loved her wholeheartedly, and became the lowly mistress of the old dog Lu Lian.

Editor's review

Sink and Float begins with Shan Shan's reckless choice at eighteen or nineteen: she throws over her devoted first love, Jin Xuan, and becomes the lowly mistress of Lu Lian. This opening offers no moral comfort, but pushes to the fore the imbalances, costs, and self-misjudgment of a young person caught between love and dependency. The work's value lies in not flinching from the messiness of choice: the "sinking and floating" is both the rise and fall of her position in the relationship and her re-examination of her own worth. Readers follow Shan Shan as she faces the chain reactions of her rash decision, watching how an unequal relationship drains a person and how, amid humiliation, she tries to reclaim agency. For readers willing to engage with an imperfect protagonist and concerned with emotional choice and the cost of growing up, the narrative leans realistic and asks for some patience as the character finds her way out of the mud.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy realistic emotional narratives and can accept an imperfect protagonist
Readers interested in young women's emotional choices and the cost of growing up
Readers who prefer complex relationships and morally gray portrayals
Readers willing to follow the protagonist patiently as she reflects on and exits an unequal relationship

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting pure sweetness with no angst and a protagonist who is always right
Readers hoping for an easy, satisfying comeback pace
Readers uncomfortable with complex emotional relationships and morally gray portrayals

Reading tips

While reading, don't rush to judge the protagonist; first understand her circumstances and limited awareness at eighteen or nineteen.
Note every concession Shan Shan makes and its cost, and trace how her sense of self-worth changes.
You may read Jin Xuan and Lu Lian as foils for two relationship models, and consider the psychological motives behind the protagonist's choices.
If you are sensitive to emotional shocks in the plot, read chapter by chapter and leave room to process.

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FAQ

Is the protagonist Shan Shan likable?

The material presents a young woman who is young and foolish and has made rash choices—not a conventionally likable protagonist. The appeal lies in her sinking and floating within an unequal relationship and her possible reflection and growth, which requires the reader to read with understanding.

Is this a sweet story or an angsty one?

From the synopsis, the story opens with throwing over a first love and becoming someone's mistress—realistic emotional choices with a complex, heavy tone; it is not a light, sweet romance. Specific plot developments should be judged by the main text.

Is this book suitable for reading in one sitting?

Emotional conflict and moral grayness are concentrated, and continuous reading may carry an emotional burden. Advancing chapter by chapter and pausing at key turns to consider the characters' motives will make for a more relaxed reading experience.

Comments

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About the author

dearfairy Author · Chinese

dearfairy is a Chinese writer of online romance fiction and a contracted author on the Fanqie Novel platform. Public information about her is limited, and neither her real name nor her dates of birth and death have been disclosed. Five of her works are currently listed in the catalog: Chen Fu, The Substitute, Xin Yi, Endless Summer, and Counterattack, and she has also written His White Moonlight. She is mainly active in the fields of modern romance and youth literature, and is skilled at urban emotional stories, long separations followed by reunions, and relationships that are broken and then restored. Her stories tend to revolve around the testing, misunderstanding, and reconciliation that take place between protagonists in realistic relationships, with delicate emotional pacing and strongly dramatic character dynamics. Her works have built a readership on online reading platforms, and Endless Summer, Counterattack, and The Substitute are often mentioned together by readers as the main entry points for understanding her writing.