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As the primary antagonist of the novel, Gu Chen was known to the world only for his ruthless nature. Terms like “obsessive” and “madman” became his defining traits. In the original plot, Gu Chen was eventually sent to prison by the protagonist, Gu Yian. His sanity finally shattered behind bars, leading him to become a shell of a man before dying a miserable, lonely death.
While the world believed Gu Chen deserved his fate, Su Yu, a reader who had finished the book, knew a different truth. Within the pages, this supposedly heartless man had once rescued a shivering kitten from a heavy downpour and brought it home, later whispering his softest feelings to the animal in a rare moment of tenderness.
Su Yu understood that Gu Chen was a gentle and considerate person in private; he was simply incapable of expressing his emotions. Because his outward actions were so widely loathed, the kindness he showed was universally ignored.
Everything changed when Su Yu transmigrated into the story as the man’s wife. In this world, his only purpose was to serve as a target for public ridicule, a reminder of how far the once-powerful Gu Chen had fallen.
When they first met, Gu Chen sat in his wheelchair and looked coldly at the man who had been sent to him. Su Yu looked like a startled rabbit wandering into a wolf’s den. Gu Chen opened his mouth, intending to drive him away immediately, but the younger man suddenly knelt down. He pulled a blanket out of a suitcase and carefully draped it over Gu Chen’s legs.
“The weather is getting cold,” Su Yu said softly. “Please stop neglecting your health.”
Gu Chen glanced disdainfully at the cartoon duck pattern on the blanket and turned his head away awkwardly, thinking that this man was acting like a total child. He suspected Su Yu had an ulterior motive for approaching him, but he was content to play along with the “child” to see what his goal was. However, the day the man picked up his suitcase and announced he was leaving, Gu Chen finally realized that he was the one who had fallen into a trap.
Su Yu believed he was on a mission to redeem the villain and subvert the tragic plotline. Just as Gu Chen began to recover, becoming less paranoid and even appearing obedient, Su Yu decided his work was done. But as he turned to leave, Gu Chen grabbed his hand with a strength that betrayed his hidden madness.
Gu Chen’s eyes were rimmed with red, and his voice regained a ruthlessness that had been absent for months. “Su Yu, even if you only treat me as a substitute, do not think for a second that you can leave me after provoking my heart.”
It was at that moment that Su Yu realized he had never actually finished the book. Because he had a habit of skipping the extra chapters, he had missed the most critical plot revelation. In the “Extras,” the author revealed that the obsessed stalker who harbored a secret crush on the protagonist, Gu Yian, was actually Su Yu. Gu Chen had discovered Su Yu’s secret when he found a hidden room in their house filled with photos of his brother, Gu Yian.
Looking at Gu Chen’s descent into insanity, Su Yu thought to himself, “Excuse me, is it possible to have a do-over in life? I should never have tried to save this villain. Some people simply cannot be saved!”
Outsiders often remarked that the two Gu brothers looked like twins. Gu Chen used to scoff at the comparison until he saw that wall of photos. He finally understood why Su Yu had been so inexplicably kind to him from their very first meeting.
Since then, Gu Chen had hidden his ferocity, maintaining a facade of warmth. He planned to use gentleness to keep the man imprisoned by his side. However, the day arrived when even gentleness failed, and the man packed his bags to say goodbye.
Gu Chen had always been a dangerous and ruthless predator; he had only learned how to be gentle for Su Yu’s sake.
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One-sentence Summary: Light scatters into the abyss, allowing the darkness to shine one last time.
Core Theme: Moving forward on a path of thorns and growing toward the sun.
