Summary: Sheng Wang crosses into the book and becomes a cannon fodder female, a supporting girl of infatuated girl coming from a wealthy family who has money but can't get love. The tragic short life that refused an arranged marriage by her late mother and lived for the sake of supporting the man she loves, but burned out suddenly and her life was lost after being hit by a car, but those who stayed enjoyed the privelege of money that were left behind, yet they continued to preach - She had all the money, so what?
Shining points for me. This had several aspects that I'm usually not a fan of, these are 1) salted fish type of character and 2) old-fashioned type of characters that seem a bit stupid to be true. But one side that I think I particularly appreciated was that it showcased and explained in more details how fragile the supposed to be superior love of original protagonists was, that without certain conditions it did not survive the scrutiny and even the original work was beautified. Another point is about entire world circling around a protagonist when some protagonists do not support correct three views and basically ar enot worth following. And that all "characters" should have their own fate that does not revolve around protagonists.
That is.. it reminded me of the harem and reverse harem novels. When you look at it closely you will know that protagonists of such novels basically got help from several romantic interests, but they're not such in the eyes of the protagonists, they do not explain the point of exploitation, on the contrary may even say that the MLs or FLs are just this charming and other people want to help, no one asked them it is all voluntarily actions from all those side-kicks, if they don't get any love and god forbids may even suffer from it, then it's their own fault. I don't mean to generalize, but in some novels such things exist.
Similarly in this novel the original protagonist Jiang Song actually got help from original Sheng Wang and this point is explained and brought up several times to make a statement of some sorts and it is actually true. original Sheng Wang was an infatuated girl really lacking in love, to get love she did what she thought was the best she could - provide. She provided connection with people, financial help etc. Jiang Song in original line did not appreciate work done for him, it was more like he expects people to fly to him, but doesn't feel sorry if anything happens, with original Sheng Wang he felt quite annoyed, which is quite hypocritical, he used her connections but took it for granted. There were few characters in the novel like Sheng Wang who were charmed by Jiang Song, but in Jiang Song's life only Shen Jiao (original female protagonist) mattered. This Shen Jiao is the true white flower, she thinks that money don't matter, feelings can't be bought, you should seek spiritualism, but at the same time she arrived and lived on Sheng Wang's territory and spoke thos ethings without hurting her back. She was lovable and in the end when original Sheng Wang died in the accident she was benefitted from this, after all Sheng Wang's fathe rinherited all her money and with it she had a smooth life not even realizing where it all came from.
The arrival of Sheng Wang only extracted one element from the future "perfect life" that supposed to happen - herself. Which also means her wealth.
She listened to Sheng Fan's (biological mother) last wish and married the arranged husband Xiao Yiyun (I chose Yiyun and not other translations of his names, because it appeared the most often).
Next she simply took back all the things that belonged to her, because thankfully the Sheng mother was a smart person and entrusted her wealth to friend's son (ML) and by her will all the things belonged to Sheng Wang.
The characters in the novel have that feeling of unhinged characters that act like they've come from a family melodrama. The novel itself is actually pretty okay in content, it's just some characters that make you feel like they're the only weirdos and they also don't realize that they're actually weirdos.
But only this element brought everyone to a new development.
Sheng Wang unlike the original doesn't have feelings for this so-called family and also doesn't have any scruples.
She chased the family of Wang Chen (father) Wang Lian (stepmother), Shen Jiao (supposed protag, daughter of Wang Lian from the first marriage) and Wang Ning ("adopted son" whom Wang Chen brought, but Sheng Fan was on her deathbed so she didn't bother to continue arguing). It's one thing from frugality to luxury, but it's completely different the other way around and all these people soon realized the difference.
Only Shen Jiao came to intercede, but acting like she has no logic behind her thoughts, her kindness is based on others. And here we start to see her white flower essence, which later develops into black lotus or something even more poisonous. But unlike her actions that follow the route looking like everyone is bullying her, world around her doesn't live in an idol drama and everyone has a head on their shoulders not just to wear hats, but they have brains and this world is real. maybe if it was a novel it would have followed the brainless novel route where everyone would praise their pair like golden boys and girls, but it stopped being a novel.
Sheng Wang actually wanted to be a salted fish. I gave her a chance and continued to follow this novel even if this type is not my favorite, to find out that she is quite fun to follow and pretty realistic. She also has a reason to do so and has her own story to justify her character and decisions.
Sheng Wang witnessed her parents divorcing and from lovers turning into enemies, for children it indeed may bring a psychological shadow. She was unwanted for both parents and only grandma brought her up. When grandma was sick these people did not want to pay to help but only looked after grandma's inheritance. Sheng Wang sold grandma's house and saved grandma to let her live longer. Even if she eventually left now she witnessed the hypocritical acting of her father who sold the filial son face to those at the funeral. Later she entered the workplace and worked a lot, but stayed a loner and her wish from childhood to adulthood was one - money. Some consider it vulgar, but for her only money were real, they don't betray and you can live happily with them. Similar Xiao Yiyun was future richest man and he could make a lot of money,w as handsome and had a great character, so he was a perfect canddate for a partner. To her arriving into this world where she can live without the burden of her sick body was the best. But her life experience completely settled her outlook on money and people. This is why her indifferent husband she happily slept with and lived by his side did not pose a threat to her heart. Until later.
Xiao Yiyun wasn't actually indifferent, he suffered from trauma when he almost died in fire with his mother, from that moment he had troubles with feelings, because he didn't feel anything and nothing helped him, so he mostly lived like a machine. He reached the peak when he took back the Xiao family (with the help of Sheng mother) from his father who happily remarried, had soft ears for his wife and doted on his second son who was nothing more but a playboy who knew only drinking, partying or racing. He didn't care whom to marry, so he agreed with Sheng mother proposal to marry Sheng Wang. Original Sheng Wang tore this engagement and tried to chase Jiang Song, not getting it she was hit by a car and died. Now Sheng Wang refused to cancel the engagement and proceded to marrying. But her actions and how she interacted with Xiao Yiyun helped him feel again. His feelings slowly but surely started to return.
This is where "conflict" of their feelings lays. Sheng Wang was not bothered by Yiyun's condition and she helped him as much as she could, but when he confessed she was uncertain and only being led by black-bellied Yiyun to come back they made progress and a certain situation allowed her to feel that she was tempted by Yiyun for some time and if she doesn't confess to these feelings she will regret it for the rest of her life. This is quite touching, because both had problems prior to finally becoming true partners and lovers. They had respect, understanding and love.
One part from author's notes is actually quite touching, where they mentioned a quote about love being like a train travel, you can look around and see beautiful views and even can stop at any stop, but you choose the other person when you reach the final destination. The point is despite everything choosing your pertner.
On the contrary to them, which serves as a big contrast and explanations of such romantic plots (I feel like author takes a diss, but not sure :), there is Jiang Song and Shen Jiao. She doesn't strive to become better, but lets the poison of jealousy to exist in her heart. She feels like she is targetted, like world revolves and is against her, those who were born better have it all and don't know the suffering of their poor people etc.
It starts with her participation in a Star Girl show. Originally she would play better, but Sheng Wang came in as investor and a mascot judge, so Shen Jiao felt she was targetted, so her endurance was really weak. In words by Sheng Wang - that's it? And Sheng Wang didn't play dirty, she did nothing, she was actually a fan of several contestants.
Shen Jiao shoot herself in the foot when the glue accident happened and the nickname of glue actress stuck with her till the end. She witnessed, reported, but did not report the accident on time and one contestant who placed higher was eliminated due accident, giving her chance to debut. But of course it did sow discord, after all such a person may go to extremes.
Another point for entire novel are her fans, who are extreme and are not led with the help of anyone, so they not only make everyone think they're brainless followers, but also let passer-bys have a truly bad impression of Shen Jiao.
This was only beginning. After the accident was exposed she also left the group. She had nothing and joined the agency, but signed a contract and was mostly held down, because company belonged to a relative of the girl whose hair was ruined due to glue accident.
Next she asked for money to leave the company and joined another. By this time she and Jiang Song went through several conflicts because Jiang Song instead of being a simple protag actually has a ruthless side to him and he realized that some things indeed came to him thanks to Sheng Wang, but Shen Jiao is like a dodder flower who brings him nothing in terms of career, but instead he has to continuously help her get rid of troubles. And her comforting when somthing happens also means not that much.
Joining new company Shen Jiao thought she'll be a blockbuster and actually joined some shows where Sheng Wang appeared, but public didn't buy it. First she had a big scandal still circulating, next is that she had no work behind her and she wasn't so spectacular as Shen Jiao thought about herself.
Fail after fail more and more things appeared about her.
The biggest I think is the travel show she joined with Jiang Song. Prior to it she married Jiang Song, but not for love, they were both completely disappointed with each other. From one point she wanted to return and become a blockbuster again, from his side Jiang Song wanted to promote his company and game they created.
But this wall could not be held and completely collapsed when news after news started to come out. And they were critical hits.
As said Shen Jiao did not consider she did anything bad when she didn't report the glue accident on time, thought it was apparent that she bore selfish intent. But many things happened after that. She defrauded Wang Chen of his wealth and used it as investment, but with her lack of business acumen of course she did not realize how easy it was to defraud her too. But she did not take Wang Chen seriously, so when teh scandal of her fraud came out it was another matter and this stain was hard to wash off. On top of that her father hit the three of Jiang Song, Sheng Wang and Xiao Yiyun with a car (the secret of original Sheng Wang death, she was also hit by Shen Jiao's father, but was not prosecuted, since interests), so she was hooped into this case too. Her reputation did not exist anymore and she entered the game. By this time she was mentally unstable and had a dream of original plotline, so she thought she was robbed of her life and her protagonist halo, but everyone considered she went crazy.
To talk about Jiang Song we need to backtrack to the beginning. Jiang Song comes from grassroots, but he actually has a dramatic fate, being a biological son of a wealthy Ning family. But because of an accident he was not recognized and became just the lost son instead of mixed babies. He created his own company producing holographic games (same as Xiao Yiyun), but was on a lower level and showcased his absence of care for players etc. He wanted to succeed so badly that he agreed to a mad plan from Han Yuan (another main character who was chasing Xiao Yiyun) and include her research into the game. Only later realizing it was a trap. He hit the wall with the game he created not once and eventually his company was ruined and the game and pods were called off. Due to Han Yuan's experiment he became blind after an operation. But Jiang Song unlike others truly repented for his past actions. He knew where he went wrong, who brought him benefits, how unfeeling he acted etc. He also had a dream, but unlike Shen Jiao he wasn't obsessed with his life being robbed, he truly felt that their relationship was actually fragile, how they changed and without support he doesn't weigh much, seeing this dream influenced him to see his mistakes even more.
And Han Yuan, she is simply a psycho, self-indulgent. She fell in love with Xiao Yiyun abroad and she wanted to "help" him, but her methods were extreme. She thought that Xiao Yiyun just imitated a perfect husband, when actually Yiyun was getting better by that time. Yet how could a character like hers believe anyone but herself. She thought Sheng Wang did not deserve being close to him etc. Crazy jealous female pratner. This is why she agreed with Jiang Song for experiments but in the end used drugs on him as a test subject. She was a dangerous element before they got rid of her.
So this is what happened, although this is basically what happened to the characters, but there were many twists and turns to follow, which were quite entertaining. I left out a lot of things too :)
Note: After reading it I realized that I actually had read it before, but it wasn't bookmarked, although I realized it soon, but I still re-read the entire novel :) And I think I might get the different feeling from reading it again, because when reading most of it I now think more of the novel's focus on how f'ed up the original work was, how everything revolved around protags without any logic, how those characters lacked correct three views.
RATE: 4/5. Be aware that some character will act as if they're in idol drama, others do have brains. Ups and downs and entertaining.
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