Pressing against Shen Zechuan like this made Shen Zechuan remember the debauchery of the last time they rode the horse on a rainy night. His smooth neck no longer had those love bites, yet it had already learned to blush when Xiao Chiye whispered into his ears.

How about danmei recs for beginners?

I love this ask but it's complicated by two things:

1. Like any ask, my answer is going to be based on my specific preferences - i.e., if your taste is towards contemporary fluff, I am not your person; also everyone loves Meng Xi Shi novels except for me, etc etc.

2. Normally the n1 author recommended would be MXTX and her three novels are a great beginner choice (yes, even Scum Villain's Self Saving System; one need not be familiar with Chinese web novels t enjoy this, being a dedicated fanfic reader would do) because they are irresistibly addictive and have served as a great entry point for many, but all the fan translations have been taken down due to them being properly published by an official publisher; however only first volumes of each novel are currently out in English so there is no easily accessible complete translation out there atm.

However, moving on from these, here are some recs. All are complete either in full translation or a combination of full translation and edited machine translation which is very readable.

Sha Po Lang by Priest - Priest is a popular writer for a reason and this is by far my favorite. This is heavily plotty but set in an alternate history steampunk setting. If you like fantasy and history, it's easy to follow, not insanely long, and has a slow-burn, understated couple in a very Victorian way.

Those Years in Quest of Honor Mine by Man Man He Qi Duo - the politics is not too complicated or too dumb, and the main couple is amazing - if you do not love them both - so good, so damaged (one in much more showy way than the other but both are walking wounded), you have no heart. Once again, it's a fictional dynasty so no history knowledge is necessary.

The Dumb Husky and His White Cat Shizun (2ha) and Stains of Filth (Yuwu) by Meatbun Doesn't Eat Meat - honestly, Yuwu is probably a much better choice for a beginner, being shorter and less twisty and less gonzo but if I were ever to mention only one web novel to people, it would be 2ha - I have never read a web novel (and few of any other kind of novel) this tailored to me - so joyously gonzo, so emotionally searing, so luring you slowly into a delightfully picaresque adventure with a deeply hilarious cynical undertone and then whamming you hard and if you are like me, you find yourself crying, bawling really, going how did I get here? 2ha has a trigger warning list the size of its protagonist's equipment but it's so worth it. And so is Yuwu, a very different story with very different protagonists, but sharing 2ha's intensity and emotional heft. They have complicated narratives (especially 2ha, with its crisscrossing timelines) but nothing you can't manage if you've read fantasy novels.

Nan Chan by Tan Jiuqing - ahahaha this is being thrown off a deep end really. But sometimes that is what you need - this seemingly disjointed, deeply fantastical tale about a sentient fish and a human embodiment of a sword really is like diving into the Mariana's Trench but it gloriously pays off. And if you enjoy this, then you can def read most anything.

Mistakenly Saving the Villain by Feng Yu Nie - this is THE hurt/comfort fic of your dreams, trust me!

Golden Stage by Cai Wu Bin Bai - politics, power couple, a fast moving story. This is actually probably an easier entry point than Sha Po Lang (in some ways, it's a similar type of story) and I am ridiculously fond of it.

Wu Chang Jie by Shui Qian Cheng - once again, very mythology heavy, very long list of trigger warnings, but this is such an addictive, intense story and I love it so much, I cannot not rec it.

It's Not Easy Being a Master by Jin Xi Gu Nian - if you want to read disciple x his teacher story but can't get your hands on Scum Villain and 2ha looks too intimidating, this is a great choice. Like in the other two, disciple went evil and harmed the teacher in past timeline. Now, the teacher is being inhabited by a modern transmigrator who wants to avoid this fate; he doesn't know the disciple transmigrated too so it's gonna be hard. There are a lot of adventures, a good coherent plot and honestly a wonderfully functional OTP.

Spring Trees and Sunset Clouds by Wei Liang - this is a slow slice of life with slow healing (and some seriously dark underpinnings) and a truly good yet easy read.

How to Survive As a Villain by Yi Yi Yi Yi - a true delight about a modern person transmigrator into a book villain, who tries to survive since his original role is to torment and be killed by the protagonist. This throws the whole story delightfully off track.

And I am gonna stop now :)