After a Real Person Plays the Protagonist of an Anguish Novel [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: The House-Wife

In the early morning, Tang Yiqing was busy in the kitchen. The clean sunlight enveloped him in a faint halo, making his fine, soft hair appear somewhat translucent.

Yesterday, the kindergarten teacher had assigned homework: children were to make desserts with the help of their parents and bring them to school. However, his husband had returned very late from a social engagement last night, and his son, Shen Shanyu, was unwilling to step foot in the kitchen with him.

Consequently, Tang Yiqing had spent the previous night trying to follow tutorials on his own. The results were less than ideal, but because it was so late, he had to get up early this morning to try again.

In the parents’ group chat, most parents had already posted videos of their families of three making pastries together. Tang Yiqing had tried to wake Shen Mingzheng and Shen Shanyu this morning, but as expected, he failed. Thus, in the video he was currently recording, there was only his solitary figure.

At that moment, a voice rang out in his mind. It belonged to System 456, a fluffy, chubby sphere with round eyes and a tiny mouth that could stretch wide during exaggerated movements. “My dear host, you are amazing! Your persona stability is still at 100%. Absolutely perfect!”

Tang Yiqing smiled and accepted the praise. In truth, maintaining the persona wasn’t difficult; he was naturally of this temperament.

He knew why 456 was so sycophantic. The “Anguish Novel” track was a difficult one; it wasn’t uncommon for hosts to break down or run away. Fearing Tang Yiqing might quit, 456 coaxed him daily.

Tang Yiqing had died in a car accident and woke up bound to 456. His dull, gentle, and non-aggressive personality made him the perfect fit for an anguish novel protagonist—the kind who suffers miserably without knowing how to fight back, waiting for others to discover his purity and kindness only after it’s too late, leading to a “Crematorium” (regret) level of satisfaction for the readers.

His evaluation relied on two metrics: persona stability and the “Pleasure Rating” (from the readers’ perspective). His persona was at 100%, but the Pleasure Rating was only at 5%. In these stories, the more the protagonist is bullied, the higher the rating climbs later when the abusers drown in regret.

Tang Yiqing chatted briefly with 456, then slid the cupcakes into the oven. While waiting, he began to tidy the counters.

The Shen family kitchen was large enough that the servants worked in the cooking area while he stayed in the baking section, neither side bothering the other.

When Shen Shuwen came downstairs, he saw Tang Yiqing’s slender back. He was wearing a light pink apron, the straps outlining his thin waist, his head slightly lowered to reveal a patch of snowy-white skin on the back of his neck.

Shen Shuwen walked over and took a pitcher to pour a glass of water. His sharp senses caught a faint scent of daisies on Tang Yiqing—warm, like sunlight-dried petals, now mixed with the sweetness of the desserts.

Tang Yiqing turned his head and offered a fleeting smile. “Big Brother, why are you up so early?”

Shen Shuwen had deep, chiseled features and rarely smiled. Currently, his eyes softened slightly. “I have things to attend to.” He glanced at the somewhat unsightly cakes on the board. “Why the sudden baking?”

Tang Yiqing looked embarrassed, a hint of distress on his soft face. “The kindergarten asked us to bring some for the kids. I didn’t do a very good job…”

Shen Shuwen’s gaze flickered over the fine beads of sweat on the other’s forehead and the flour on his cheek. “They smell very sweet,” he said. He reached for one of the failed samples to take a bite, but Tang Yiqing quickly grabbed his hand to stop him.

“The proportions are wrong in those; they won’t taste good. Wait until the ones in the oven are ready, and I’ll give you those.”

Shen Shuwen felt the smooth, soft touch on the back of his hand—fleeting but distinct. “Alright.”

Once Shen Shuwen left the kitchen, Tang Yiqing relaxed. The innate aura of an S-grade Alpha always pressured him, likely an Omega’s instinct.

He opened the oven, and steam billowed out. Tang Yiqing pulled out the tray and exhaled; this batch was finally a success. He placed one on a small porcelain dish and brought it to Shen Shuwen, who was sitting on the sofa with a laptop.

The dish made a soft clink on the coffee table. Shen Shuwen looked up. “Thank you.”

Tang Yiqing smiled and turned to go back to the kitchen. Shen Shuwen took a bite and watched his retreating figure. “It’s delicious.”

Receiving a compliment put Tang Yiqing in a good mood. Everyone likes praise; no one likes constant criticism and sarcasm.

After finishing the pastry, Shen Shuwen took a call and left. Gradually, the rest of the Shen family came downstairs. They lived in a vast four-story villa. The parents lived on the top floor; the eldest son, Shen Shuwen, and the second son, Shen Zeqi, lived on the third; Tang Yiqing lived with his husband, Shen Mingzheng, and their son, Shen Shanyu, on the second.

As Tang Yiqing was about to bag the cooled cakes, a small figure no taller than his thigh bumped into him. Four-year-old Shen Shanyu shouted, “Move, Mommy! I want to pack them myself later!”

The boy took the entire tray of cakes to the dining table. The adults were already gathered. Tang Yiqing took off his apron and walked over. He was wearing a white cotton T-shirt, which was slightly damp and mottled at the chest from sweat during baking. He didn’t notice, but when he sat next to Shen Mingzheng, he saw his husband frown slightly upon looking at him. Tang Yiqing looked down at himself, wondering if something was wrong.

Finding nothing, a look of disappointment crossed his face. He assumed it was just Shen Mingzheng’s usual disdain for him.

In truth, 456 valued Tang Yiqing because he was reliable and emotionally stable. With the system’s “Acting” function, he could play the role of a pathetic, bullied house-spouse perfectly while remaining mentally healthy inside.

Shen Shanyu divided the cakes, showing them off, and eventually took two to his grandparents. “Grandpa, Grandma, try these. This is the homework the teacher gave me.”

He presented the cakes like a little hero, not even offering a piece to Tang Yiqing, the person who actually made them.

Lin Ruizhi, the mother-in-law, stroked the boy’s head. At fifty-six, she was well-preserved and elegant, though her thin face gave her a cold appearance. “Shanyu is such a good boy, knowing how to be filial to his grandparents,” she said.

The father-in-law, a silent man, nodded in agreement.

Shen Shanyu hopped back to his seat and counted the remaining eight cakes. He needed to take six to school, so he could eat two now. As the family ate in their usual silence, Shanyu began his critique: “These cakes are okay, but they’re much worse than the ones Uncle He makes. Mommy, you need to work harder.”

The table fell silent. Tang Yiqing’s hand holding the chopsticks paused. This “Uncle He” was He Chen, a beautiful Omega and Shen Mingzheng’s high school classmate. People in their circle always said they should have been together, but an accident led to He Chen marrying someone else. After his husband died in a car accident, He Chen became a widow. Shen Mingzheng frequently “took care” of the mother and child, leading even Shen Shanyu to prefer Uncle He and constantly compare him to Tang Yiqing.

Tang Yiqing looked at his husband. Shen Mingzheng said nothing and continued eating, as if he hadn’t noticed the look at all. Tang Yiqing bit his lip and remained submissively silent. He knew his husband would always side with He Chen.

Inside, Tang Yiqing was unbothered. He followed the plot for Shen Mingzheng and Shen Shanyu without any real emotion. Even though he had given birth to the boy, he felt toward Shanyu the way a kindergarten teacher might feel toward a student—responsibility, but no deep attachment.

Lin Ruizhi spoke up, “Don’t say that, Shanyu. Your Mommy will be sad.”

Shanyu swallowed a bite. “I have to say it, or Mommy won’t improve. I think Mommy should ask Uncle He for more advice on how to be a good mother.”

Lin Ruizhi glanced at the indifferent Shen Mingzheng with a reproachful look, then chided, “This child… he’s just a kid and doesn’t know better. Yiqing, don’t take it to heart.”

Tang Yiqing forced a smile. “It’s okay, Mom. I don’t mind.”

A sharp clatter rang out as Shen Zeqi dropped his spoon into his bowl. He wiped his mouth. “What a loss of appetite so early in the morning. A pathetic mother, a mute father, and a bratty disaster of a son? You three are quite the comedy act.”

Amused by his own words, Shen Zeqi let out a strange laugh. Tang Yiqing froze. “Second Brother…”

Finally, Shen Mingzheng spoke. “Second Brother, what are you saying?”

“Am I wrong?” Shen Zeqi’s features were defiant and arrogant. “I’m sick of watching your boring family dramas every day. Can’t you show me something fresh?”

Shen Shanyu began to wail—a loud cry without any actual tears—knowing his uncle was talking about him. The grandparents scolded Shen Zeqi.

Ignoring them, Shen Zeqi stood up, walked over to the boy, and grabbed three cupcakes from the tray. He crushed the perfectly shaped cakes into crumbs in his large hand and smeared them all over Shanyu’s face. The boy forgot to cry in shock as Zeqi pinched his chubby cheeks with crumb-covered fingers.

“You little brat. If I hear you making noise again, I’ll throw you out of here, understand?” Zeqi’s eyes were full of malice. He hated children, and he hated Tang Yiqing’s child even more. He turned to Tang Yiqing. “See? Now he’s not crying.”

Shen Mingzheng stood up angrily. “Second Brother, what are you doing? He’s only four!”

Shen Zeqi didn’t bother replying and walked out. After a moment of silence, Shanyu’s wailing resumed—this time, he was genuinely terrified. The grandparents lost their appetite and went upstairs. Tang Yiqing felt a chill remembering the dark look Zeqi gave him. In this house, Zeqi was the only one he feared; the man’s pheromones were unstable, making him moody and aggressive.

“What are you standing there for? Take care of the kid,” Shen Mingzheng snapped irritably, the crying giving him a headache.

Tang Yiqing immediately picked up Shanyu to comfort him, then fetched Mingzheng’s suit and tie. Mingzheng kept his brow furrowed in annoyance. Once Shanyu stopped crying, Tang Yiqing set him on the sofa and watched Mingzheng straighten his shirt. Mingzheng took the tie Tang Yiqing offered and looped it around his own neck.

Tang Yiqing watched. He had learned how to tie a necktie, imagining a scene from an idol drama where an Omega ties his Alpha’s tie, but Mingzheng had dismissed him as “clumsy” and never let him try. Yet, when he visited the office once, he had seen He Chen tying Mingzheng’s tie in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows. They looked more like a couple than he and Mingzheng ever did.

After Mingzheng left, Tang Yiqing had to take Shanyu to school. The boy started crying again, saying he didn’t have enough cakes and the other kids would laugh at him. When Tang Yiqing tried to pack the “ugly” failed cakes, Shanyu stomped his feet. “These are so ugly! Mommy is a big dummy! Waaaah, why is Mommy so bad at this! I wish Uncle He had made them! His cakes are a hundred times prettier!”

Tang Yiqing remained expressionless, blocking out the noise. He agreed with Shen Zeqi: Shanyu was far too noisy.

According to the plot, he would experience the disdain of his husband and son, constant comparisons to He Chen, and a failed attempt to win back their hearts. He would then try to “play hard to get” by suggesting a divorce, only to be genuinely abandoned while Mingzheng and Shanyu moved in with He Chen. Finally, after they realized he was the best after all, they would regret it and beg for him back, leading to a “happy” reconciliation.

Looking at this pile of miserable plot points, Tang Yiqing was certain of one thing: Once the story was over, he was definitely leaving this world for good.

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