Pastel Colours

• Author: Shi Jiu Yao
• Genres: Đam Mỹ, Tình Cảm, Đời Thường
• Status: Completed
• Chapters: 42
• Rating: ★ 3.8 / 5
• Published: 2026-09-29

Slice-of-Life Setting and Healing Tones

Clocking in at a neat 42 main chapters and 12 extras, this novel is a relatively light and breezy read. Right from the start, it paints a quiet, slow-paced atmosphere typical of an urban slice of life.

Song Ran, a 23-year-old children's book illustrator, lives a quiet, reclusive life. He is soft-spoken and gentle, much like the pastel paintings he meticulously creates every day.

That quiet world is disrupted when the He father and son barge in. This sudden intrusion shakes up the protagonist's monotonous routine.

The author doesn't rely on dramatic family feuds or world-shattering crises. Instead, the story focuses heavily on daily domestic life, revolving around family meals and mundane chatter.

Character Tropes and Forced Discrepancies

For the leads, Song Ran is painted as a pretty boy with charming dimples. He's hardworking, kind, loves kids, and has serious culinary skills.

However, shoehorning in a traumatic past combined with him only having a middle school education feels incredibly forced. This setup creates an annoying imbalance in life experience between the leads.

On the flip side is He Zhiyuan, a charming 31-year-old. He is the CEO of a successful robotics company, characterized by a straightforward attitude and mature composure.

The single dad's only real flaw is his clumsy parenting. His habit of teasing Song Ran yields some playful interactions, though it occasionally borders on intrusive.

Bonding Through Small Details

The ultimate catalyst for their relationship is four-year-old Bubu, real name He Yueyang. The kid's cleverness smoothly bridges the generational gap between the two men.

Once Song Ran steps in as the kid's temporary babysitter, the bond tightens. Phone calls about the boy's daily antics serve as the romantic catalyst for the main pair.

Additionally, the cat, Bu Doudou, amps up the cozy vibes. The relationship goes beyond a simple romance; it is a gradual building process of a complete little family.

Notable Merits

• The romance develops naturally, grounded in understanding and honest communication between two adults.
• The presence of kids and pets creates a warm atmosphere that melts away everyday stress.
• The writing highlights emotional intelligence, letting characters resolve conflicts in a mature manner.
• Its short length and gentle pacing make it perfect for a quick, relaxing read.

Flaws in Depth and Pacing

• Song Ran's personality is sometimes written as too naive, making him seem childish for his actual age of 23.
• The protagonist's traumatic past lacks deep exploration, leaving his psychological wounds feeling superficial.
• The plot plays it too safe and flat, completely lacking any dramatic breakthroughs to leave a lasting impression.

Community Reception

• NovelList: 5/10 (1 review, checked on 09/29/2026), acknowledging the average score from an extremely small sample size.
• Novel Updates: (checked on 09/29/2026), received highly positive feedback for its sweet and touching content, considered a high-quality work.
• Reddit (r/boyslove, r/DanmeiNovels): (checked on 09/29/2026), praised as a hidden gem for its realistic conflict resolution, though some users criticized the protagonist for being a bit childish.

Reading Experience and Final Verdict

Under a critical lens, this isn't some masterpiece or a groundbreaking artistic achievement in the danmei genre. It's just a decent, safe read that thankfully steers clear of cheap, ridiculous drama.

If you're looking for explosive conflict or complex schemes, look elsewhere. The soft, slow-burn nature of this story is strictly for those who want to unwind their minds.

The emotional maturity of the leads is the saving grace that offsets the bumpy character setups. Ultimately, it offers a warm, healing respite for a stressful day.

Bottom line: A gentle urban story of healing and family bonding. While the character setup feels a bit forced, it still delivers a genuinely warm, sweet experience.

Tags: danmei, healing, family