FL (Zhuang Qing) was transmigrated in body Jiang Luo Yu (OG Villainess) since kid, this was her supposed last mission which to saved OG FL and turned tragic novel to sweet romance. While doing the mission, she fell in love to ML (Emperor Pei Du) who was OG 2nd ML in OG novel plot. She then married him and decided to live longer in the novel world. For years, they've been like a sweet royal couple

But it turned out ML was rebirthed too. He knew FL's body is Villainess so married her to stop her "supposed" schemes.

The chapter 1 begun when the truth abt ML trying to kill FL bc he misunderstood her and thought will kill the OG FL. Fortunately, FL already read ML's notes and knew him being rebirthed and faking love.

When they already confessed their identities, knowing that FL is not OG villainess but also saved him and other FL's works to save other characters... meanwhile, he only did her bad like faking love, making her drink infertility medicine, etc.

I love how ML's regret was too late. FL didn't allow herself to open up to him and just focus on her mission. Even after death, ML's soul can only seen moving forward in her life in real world and marrying other guy

I kinda wish OGFL was more resentful and petty and never told FL's real name to the scummy ML

All in all, I love that FL buckled down on her decision and made a clean break after completing her mission. That's queen sh*t right there

I'm so glad scumbag ML didn't get a redemption arc. I love that there's so little mercy for the the misunderstood/mistook past events tropes.

Doesn't matter if it's ML, FL, secondary romantic interests, or cannon fodder, if all their affection and sentiment hinges on that single, albeit pivotal, moment in their life and their "love" flips as soon as the name from their memories is replaced, they deserve little to no redemption in my books. They've usually dragged an innocent third party deep into their messy lives by the time they realize, just like with FL and scum ML here.

Ick.

After ML died, he became a ghost and was forced to watch the FL move on with her life in the worst way possible (for him I meant, not her). In the end as he cried his eyes out and prayed for her happiness, it kinda left a bad aftertaste in my mouth. Did he really deserve such punishment? He didn't know that she's not the villainess he knew after all. But then it dawned on me, he had been with her for 20 years or so. He had more than enough time to get to know her better, but he didn't. He was so blinded by the past that he failed to see the present. So yeah, it's well-deserved. He's paying for the 20 years she wasted on him.

I once thought that there was absolute trust between Pei Du and me, but as our secrets gradually exposed, I realized we had never fully trusted each other.

I didn't want to spend the rest of my days living under constant suspicion and self-justification, so our relationship could only end here.

after spending years together, how do you not realize the soul of your wife is not the same as your previous life or maybe she has changed for the better? Even after finding out the truth, he still didn't ask for her real name... cruel is too simple of a word to describe him.

since I think leaving it open and making him think she died would have been better. I say that not because I pity the ML, but because I think seeing her happily in love with another would give him closure and lessen his guilt. I want his angst to be like an open bleeding wound that never heals. I guess it’s a matter of personal preference.