When she first wrote this book, Chen Jing had just graduated from college, experiencing the cruelty of reality for the first time – her boyfriend of two years broke up with her, her boss was unsympathetic at work, and her life was a mess.
At that time, the male protagonists she wrote were entirely for venting. When she got carried away writing, she made them as passionate as possible, shaping the male lead into a pathetic character who couldn’t live without the female lead.
Anyway, she would forget after writing, and it was destined to fail, so she was happy and didn’t care.
But now…
Chen Jing rubbed her temples, closed her eyes to feign sleep, and cursed herself in her heart.
///
Xu Chengan’s happiness value dropped to 1%, and she should bear a significant responsibility.
Why did Xu Chengan lack a sense of security? Why didn’t he feel happy despite being in a relationship with her? Why did he hide his unhappiness and grievances?
Wasn’t it because she didn’t love him?
In the book, Xu Chengan loved Shen Ran deeply. From the moment Shen Ran transferred to their school in high school, Xu Chengan’s heart was completely captivated.
Before meeting Shen Ran, Xu Chengan was a nihilistic teenager just getting by.
He was a child stolen by Xu Jiagang, growing up in a complex alleyway. Xu Jiagang was addicted to alcohol and gambling, and would beat his wife and children when drunk.
His foster father was a bastard, and his foster mother knew nothing but crying. In such an environment, Xu Chengan had long been warped.
Xu Jiagang drowned in the river when Xu Chengan was thirteen, supposedly by accident. But it wasn’t an accident – Xu Chengan had pushed him in.
Chen Jing was ruthless then, showing no mercy in tormenting the male lead’s childhood to set up the sweetness of the main characters later. Unfortunately, she had just finished tormenting him and hadn’t yet gotten to the sweet part before the story failed…
Xu Chengan grew up freely, having seen plenty of dirty things, but he hadn’t done them – not out of moral purity, but because he was nihilistic. He often self-harmed, particularly enjoying the pain that penetrated to the bone when cutting himself.
After meeting Shen Ran, he bought scar removal medication and applied it for two to three years before daring to take off his clothes in front of her. For Xu Chengan, Shen Ran’s existence was incredibly important. Throughout high school and college, Xu Chengan was Shen Ran’s friend, caring for and protecting her. Whatever conflicted with her, he would abandon without hesitation.
Yet, despite loving her so deeply, because of a rumor from Shen Ran’s dormitory about not dating before college graduation, he didn’t dare mention his feelings, afraid of being rejected and losing even their friendship.
He dragged it out until college graduation before finally speaking up.
How could he not notice her coldness with such a deep love?
Yes, coldness.
Many things are deceptive until you think about them carefully.
Subconsciously, Chen Jing had never truly taken Xu Chengan seriously because this was a book, and he was just a virtual character she created.
So while appearing to dote on him, she was actually internally cold, treating it like a game.
How could Xu Chengan, such a sensitive person, not know? Just look at that 1% happiness value.
Obviously, he pretended not to know, but his inner pain couldn’t be hidden.
Chen Jing sighed, genuinely feeling sorry for this man for the first time.
So foolish.
Shen Yuan’s face turned ashen: “Shen Ran, I won’t interfere with who you want to play with, but after playing, things will be as they should be. Don’t forget, you are someone with a fiancé!”
The last sentence hung in the air, suddenly silent for two seconds.
Xu Cheng’an suddenly looked over, his gaze cold and grim, fixed on Shen Yuan.
When their eyes met unexpectedly, Shen Yuan stiffened, and before he could react, he saw Xu Cheng’an blink, and his eyes instantly turned red.
Chen Jing reacted and first looked at Xu Cheng’an, explaining: “Don’t listen to him. I don’t even know that so-called fiancé.”
Xu Cheng’an’s eyes were filled with tears, glancing at her before lowering his head. He didn’t speak, but the grievance in his eyes was almost tangible, making Chen Jing’s heart soften, and she hugged him.
Xu Cheng’an hugged her back, his chin resting on her shoulder, hands tightly gripping her waist. Tears slid from the corner of his eye, but his expression was extremely cold, his gaze at Shen Yuan as if looking at a dead man.
Xu Cheng’an had never liked Shen Yuan, and now he hated him so much he wanted to kick him to death.
Shen Yuan: “…” He was shocked by such a fickle man for the first time.
Chen Jing comforted him for a while. Not hearing Xu Cheng’an cry, she saw him seemingly frightened, clinging to her and refusing to let go.
Chen Jing remembered the outline where he would commit suicide and go dark because of Lu Jingyun and couldn’t help but feel some pity, so she let him be.
Shen Yuan was completely dissatisfied with Xu Cheng’an, especially despising how he was acting pitiful in front of a woman. He wanted Shen Ran to cast him aside several times, but hesitated because of the killing intent he saw in the other’s eyes during their previous eye contact.
Finally, Chen Jing, seeing he wasn’t leaving, asked: “What contract were you going to show me?”
Xu Cheng’an closed his eyes, rubbing his chin in her shoulder socket, expressionless.
“Make him leave first,” Shen Yuan said warily, glancing at Xu Cheng’an.
“Cheng’an is not an outsider. Just say it here,” Chen Jing frowned, ignoring his request.
Shen Yuan looked displeased: “Shen Ran, we’re at least both surnamed Shen.”
“So what?” Chen Jing was completely unmoved by his family card, “If you’re not speaking, just leave. You’re not welcome here.”
From the moment her sister was born, he had harbored malice towards her. Eventually, relying on their parents’ favoritism, he had forced her sister out of the family. Chen Jing didn’t believe he would suddenly care about her just because he had a dream about dying.
At most, he was just looking for someone to blame if he couldn’t find the culprit.
And that scapegoat would only be her and Xu Cheng’an.
Shen Yuan was almost dying from her attitude, but having something to ask, he could only endure, saying coldly: “Help me find the culprit of that car accident, and I’ll give you the Shen family.”
Chen Jing immediately refused: “No.”
She was just an ordinary person with a bit of money. Shen Yuan, the heir controlling most of the Shen family’s resources, coming to ask her was simply ridiculous.
Shen Yuan’s face darkened: “You think I’m lying?”
“I don’t know the culprit, and I don’t have the ability to find them. Go solve it yourself,” Chen Jing said, pointing to the door: “Goodbye.”
Shen Yuan tried to negotiate with her, but Shen Ran didn’t even look at him, radiating a keep-away attitude.
What irritated him more was how she remained cold to him but continued to gently pat Xu Cheng’an’s back, soothing him like a child.
Such differential treatment made Shen Yuan both angry and hateful. He finally glared at her fiercely and slammed the door as he left.
Chen Jing felt the air had become fresher with his departure.
By now, she was basically certain that Shen Yuan’s part of the plot had completely collapsed.
Not only did he know he would die in a car accident three months later, but he seemed to know something about her that made him able to suppress his temper to approach her.
And that electronic voice that seemed to know everything continued to appear mysteriously. Chen Jing couldn’t contact it, so she had to focus on solving Xu Cheng’an’s situation.
Her main task was to increase Xu Cheng’an’s happiness value; others’ affairs were none of her concern.
