(I prefer reading the official English translations of danmeis, and I’m not a fan of reading online.)
As with Meatbun’s other works, there are some things to keep in mind. Her stories are not for the faint of heart or those easily triggered. If you have a strict moral compass, don’t even attempt to pick up "Case File Compendium." As for me, I’m intrigued by the morally complex—books like these don't bother me; they fascinate me. Now, let’s dive into the book.
The story follows He Yu, who suffers from a fictional mental illness called Psychological Ebola. Although it doesn’t exist in reality, it appears to be a blend of several mental illnesses, including anger issues, abandonment issues, and delusions. Actually, the way Meatbun describes Psychological Ebola is like how criminal psychologist describe serial killers. Then there’s Xie Qingchen, a medical psychologist who was once hired by He Yu’s parents to treat He Yu. However, Qingchen quit the job four years ago for unknown reasons.
Fast forward to the present, He Yu enrolls in a university where his childhood crush, Xie Xue teaches. Xie Xue happens to be Qingchen’s younger sister. At 19, He Yu seems to have his mental illness somewhat under control until he discovers Xue Xie is in love with someone else. To distract himself, although He Yu is a screenwriting and directing student, accepted an acting role in his school’s drama department. However, Qingchen finds him barely keeping his sanity in a hotel room, leading to an unexpected and mistaken kiss from He Yu, who confuses Qingchen for his sister.
Subsequent scenes reveal how secure Qingchen is with his masculinity; despite being disgusted by the kiss, he doesn’t hold it against He Yu. Perhaps it’s his professional detachment as a psychologist or his indifferent temperament. The novel doesn’t just focus on the growing relationship between He Yu and Qingchen. It also delves into criminal activities involving an underground organization, which indirectly leads He Yu to discover why Qingchen quit as his physician four years ago. Feeling betrayed, He Yu’s mental state deteriorates further, especially when compared to how he handled his feelings toward Xie Xu.
In a moment of rage, He Yu accidentally gives Qingchen an aphrodisiac, leading to a prolonged and intense encounter that spans several chapters (To be blunt, He Yu rapes Qingchen) . Volume 2 ends with Qingchen being rushed to the ER by his police friend, Man Chen, (after Qingchen held on his cold proper pose for a day to deal with family issues. Hiding the fact that he has been raped the night before repeatedly.) He Yu, disguised in a black cap and mask, follows them, stealing Qingchen’s lab test results out of curiosity. While Qingchen’s condition isn’t life-threatening He Yu is puzzled why Man Chen lookesd like the world is about to end. Man Chen was actually devastated, upon learning Qingchen slept with someone or is in a relationship, here we learned that Man Chen harbors feelings for Qingchen.
As I read, the main characters and their dynamics reminded me a lot of Meatbun’s "Erha." Xie Qingchen resembles a cold, reserved Shizun, while He Yu’s dark, unstable nature mirrors Mo Ran. Xie Xu has the friendly demeanor of Shi Mei, and Man Chen shares similarities with the conflicted Xue Meng.
However, the rape content in "Case File Compendium" is far more detailed than in "Erha." It almost seems like Meatbun has a penchant for rape fantasies though "Yuwu" doesn’t feature this kind of rape content—at least from what I’ve read so far. I haven’t finished "Yuwu" yet because, as mentioned, I prefer holding physical books over reading online or on digital platforms.
"Case File Compendium" is a fascinating read. It delves into various mental health issues, some of which are handled with surprisingly insightful approaches. Despite being fictional, the narrative feels well-researched, adding depth to the modern-day setting. I appreciate when authors take the time to research and ground their stories, rather than relying on unrealistic setups. I’d definitely recommend this to friends interested in psychology; it’s quite engaging.
I can’t yet determine the overall moral of the story, having only read up to Volume 2. I attempted to read some unofficial translations online, but they were poorly translated—too literal, with grammar issues that made some parts confusing. I’m eagerly waiting for Seven Seas Entertainment to finish their official translations.
The official English translation is expected to have seven volumes. So far, Volumes 1 and 2 have been released, with Volume 3 scheduled for October 2024. The release dates for the remaining volumes are still unknown.
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