Wen You'an pulls an all-nighter reading a novel and dies suddenly. When he opens his eyes, he's become the cannon-fodder biological young master in the book.
In the story, he's timid and inarticulate. During the three years after returning to his family, he's bullied relentlessly, repeatedly locked in a dark room and made to kneel in the ancestral hall. He's starved until he's nothing but skin and bones.
To pave the way for the fake young master's entertainment career, the Wen family sends him to marry the book's greatest villain, the disabled big shot Li Huaijin, in a marriage meant to bring good fortune.
Li Huaijin is the head of the Li family. After an accident left him unable to walk, his temperament turned strange: violent and paranoid, with a pathological need for control and possession. Rumor has it he has only a few years to live. In the imperial capital, everyone avoids him like the plague.
Wen You'an is overjoyed after transmigrating into the story. A controlling personality? Great! He's severely socially anxious and stutters, so this is perfect for him.
On the first night after moving into the Li residence, Li Huaijin sits upright in his wheelchair, unconcealed coldness in his eyes. "In the Li family, my word is the law. Don't ask about what you shouldn't, and don't look at what you shouldn't. Of course, once I'm dead, you can leave whenever you want."
Wen You'an stares at Li Huaijin's legs, momentarily distracted. Clutching the hem of his clothes, he says obediently, "N-no leave. Li family, good."
Later, Li Huaijin keeps a close eye on his three meals a day and forces him to stick to a regular schedule, nourishing his gaunt body until he's soft, fair, and plump.
A socially anxious stutterer, he still manages to establish himself in the entertainment industry using the Li family's resources, face-slapping his enemies and living life on his own terms.
"An'an, with eyes as beautiful as yours, you can only look at me."
"An'an, we agreed on four times a week. If you don't follow the rules, you'll be punished."
Wen You'an: Right, right, punish me. Lock me in the dark room!
One day, Wen Yuan'an discovers that the house has been fitted with double security doors, that there are silver chains hidden in the bedside drawer, and that his phone has even been implanted with spyware.
His eyes light up with anticipation: his husband is finally willing to force him into a relationship!
He's been sick of filming, social obligations, and dealing with people for ages. He'd be happy to spend the rest of his life at home, clinging to Li Huaijin.
He waits and waits, but the dark room never comes. Instead, Li Huaijin grips the silver chain, eyes bloodshot, and leaves a red mark on Wen You'an's neck.
"An'an, even if I'm like this, you can't leave me."
Wen You'an leans down to massage Li Huaijin's slightly limping leg, then bends to kiss him on the lips and whispers hoarsely, "Hubby, like you."
From the gong's perspective
Everyone says he went mad after becoming disabled. They're right: he went mad, trying to kill himself countless times, only to be rescued each time.
When his grandfather told him he had to marry, he refused. But then he saw that person in ill-fitting clothes and worn-out sneakers, bruised all over from being beaten, looking up at him with bright, shining eyes. Suddenly, he felt that being alive might be pretty good.
P.S. The gong will be able to stand on his legs again. He won't limp forever!
Theme: Never give up hope of living, no matter what.