How to Survive as a Villain v.2 Danmei Novel Review

This is a review for How to Survive as a Villain vol. 2 (穿越成反派要如何活命) by Yi Yi Yi Yi (伊依以翼).  This volume is available fully licensed in English from Rosmei, and can be purchased through a Rosmei retailer in your geographic location. You can also check out the complete list of Rosmei licensed titles with descriptions and release information on Danmei Dreams.

Please note that all reviews aim to be spoiler-free, while analyses often contain spoilers.

Check out the review of volume 1 as well!

The summary of the book is:

Xiao Yu’an died as a powerful CEO, and awoke in the world of his favorite webnovel as the villain…

To save himself from his eventual death at the protagonist Yan Heqing’s hands, Xiao Yu’an has to start making some changes to the plot…ones of a romantic flavor.

Review Summary

Volume 2 builds on the first book’s charm and chaos with stronger emotional undercurrents. The pacing remains quick, but there’s more intentional layering—of loyalty, longing, and looming consequences. While the plot still leans on familiar setups, the execution feels sharper. Comedy and sincerity continue to coexist without undercutting each other, and the growing tension between characters creates a more emotionally resonant atmosphere. Not every character arc feels fully realized, but the progression is steady and satisfying. It’s a volume that rewards attachment to the characters, even when the plot darts into absurdity or drama.

Romance and Main Characters

There’s a noticeable glow-up in the romance. The emotional investment is no longer one-sided—if anything, it’s Xiao Yu’an who’s late to catch on. Yan Heqing’s quiet devotion and protective nature have been there all along, but it’s only in this volume that Xiao Yu’an begins to recognize the weight behind his actions. Their chemistry deepens through moments of shared vulnerability and accidental intimacy, and while miscommunication still abounds, it feels less like a wall and more like tension waiting to break. Xiao Yu’an remains the comedic heart of the story—hilarious, endearing, and often lost in his own dramatic monologue. Yan Heqing is steadfast and emotionally sincere, though still a bit too opaque at times. Even so, the romantic thread becomes much more emotionally satisfying as the story leans into mutuality.

Secondary Characters

This volume features a more grounded, emotionally involved supporting cast. Xiao Fengyue and Yang Liu’an continue to play steady roles as companions, but their dynamic evolves into something warmer, with hints of quiet devotion and shared vulnerability. Zhang Changsong and Zhang Baizhu provide much-needed levity and domestic rhythm in Taoyuan Village, while newer characters like Bao Yinxin add texture to the shifting wartime landscape. Most notably, Xie Chungui’s arc stands out—his trauma is palpable, and his presence sharpens the contrast between loyalty and loss. Even side characters who appear briefly feel distinct, each contributing to the tension, care, or absurdity that defines Xiao Yu’an’s world.

Plot

The setup is familiar—transmigration, body-swap, try-not-to-die—but it quickly distinguishes itself by how it handles tension with humor and strategy instead of brute force or melodrama. Xiao Yu’an constantly adapts to shifting dangers, whether it’s political unrest, emotional volatility, or survival in a palace full of manipulative courtiers. The comedy doesn’t undercut the pressure—it enhances it, turning even small decisions into potential landmines. Despite a few convenient moments, the pacing is excellent, with clean arcs and strong buildup.

Worldbuilding

This volume begins with frantic misdirection and ends in emotional resolution, threading absurdity and poignancy with remarkable control. What starts as a genre-aware scramble through palace politics soon gives way to something heavier: war, collapse, and the slow, aching work of survival. Xiao Yu’an’s journey takes him from a failing empire to quiet exile, all while navigating betrayals, shifting identities, and questions of loyalty. The volume doesn’t rely on big reveals to carry tension—instead, it leans into irony and consequence. Even when the story swerves into unexpected territory (including fake plotlines and transmigration twists), there’s a deliberate throughline. It’s not just chaos for comedy; it’s chaos with meaning, and the emotional payoffs hit harder because of it.

Writing Style & Translation: 

The humor is quick, the narration self-aware, and the pacing snappy. What elevates the writing is how it lingers in unexpected moments—when Xiao Yu’an lets his guard drop, when emotions leak through sarcasm, or when silence hits harder than words. The voice remains sharp without becoming cynical, and even the wildest comedic turns feel grounded by internal logic. References to webnovel tropes are still present but don’t overshadow the actual storytelling, which now leans more into emotional payoff.

Spice Level

There’s physical intimacy here, but it’s veiled—implied rather than shown. Scenes fade to black, but not before making it very clear what’s going on. The emotional intensity is as important as the physical, and the story lingers more on wanting, trusting, and choosing closeness than it does on describing the act itself. It’s still more romantic tension than eroticism, but it’s no longer entirely chaste.

How to Read

This volume is available fully licensed in English from Rosmei, and can be purchased through a Rosmei retailer in your geographic location. You can also check out the complete list of Rosmei licensed titles with descriptions and release information on Danmei Dreams.

Looking for the Review of Volume 1?