I loved seeing all the extra side characters get the fleshing out they deserved. big shout-out to Zhuzhi-lang for being the babiest of all babies. my sweet child... also adored the airplane extras, such a fun look into Qinghuas brain. I feel mxtx had a great handle on characterisation, even in her very first series.
I am, though, slightly traumatised from the wine scene. I don't think I've ever read a scene that made me imagine something so dirty that I had to look away from the book like a catholic nun. and I've been reading fanfiction for approaching ten years now