They Regretted it After Their Hearts Turned to Ashes

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From childhood to adulthood, Luo Zhi didn’t seem to have done anything right.

His biological parents didn’t like him. They only saw an excellent eldest brother, a caring sister, and a sensible stepson in their eyes. The sister whom is well-behaved towards everyone else, only treats him as air. The childhood friend that he grew up with would accept his gifts on the surface, only to turn around and throw it to the stray dogs on the roadside.

When he debuted as a singer, it was not gifts that he received, but countless of threatening letters scolding him for using his family background to oppress others and threatening him to quit the circle. He started his own film and television company, and spent money to hire an eighteenth-tier star to say “Happy Birthday” to him. When the little star unexpectedly exploded into the top stream, it was regarded as a robbery by fans, and it was picked up and scolded all the way to the hot search. The family accidentally fell overboard, and Luo Zhi was immersed in the bone-chilling ice cold water. He could only watch as his always indifferent eldest brother eagerly stretch out his hand to save his adopted brother.

When he was completely engulfed by the darkness, Luo Zhi finally felt that the world was really dull. If there was someone who can love him, let them appear. He wasn’t able to find them anyways.

After waking up in the hospital, he leaned back against the bed. He didn’t care current state of health nor did he care about the treatment. He was no longer interested in anything. But this time, everything was different.

His parents kept going to top hospitals and begged countless doctors just to save his life. The eldest brother’s eyes were red while he took care of him. His sister cried to the point of fainting by his bedside.

With scarlet eyes and fierce methods, he frantically took revenge on the eighteenth-tier star who slandered him at the beginning. He was inexplicably on the hot search once again, but this time the entry became #The whole world is waiting for Luo Zhi to come back#.

Later, the whole world did not wait for Luo Zhi.

However, someone familiar with the matter revealed that the Ming family, who built an entire maritime business empire and sank a top-level luxury cruise ship worth hundreds of billions of yuan, not only has another young master, but also the youngest captain who sails the world.

Associated Names
One entry per line
They Regretted it After Being Ashamed
心如死灰后他们后悔了
Related Series
N/A
Recommendations
On the Thousand Postures Reconstructed by the Scumbags (1)
The Entertainment Circle is Mine (1)
Recommendation Lists
  1. BL with healthy relationships
  2. [BL] HOW HATEFUL!!!
  3. BL that I love more than my whole family
  4. bl characters with various illnesses
  5. Switch at Birth 2

Latest Release

Date Group Release
04/25/24 Neo Cloud Translations c10 part1
04/20/24 Neo Cloud Translations c9 part2
04/18/24 Neo Cloud Translations c9 part1
04/13/24 Neo Cloud Translations c8 part2
04/11/24 Neo Cloud Translations c8 part1
04/03/24 Neo Cloud Translations c7 part2
04/01/24 Neo Cloud Translations c7 part1
03/30/24 Neo Cloud Translations c6 part2
03/29/24 Neo Cloud Translations c6 part1
03/22/24 Neo Cloud Translations c5 part2
03/22/24 Neo Cloud Translations c5 part1
03/16/24 Neo Cloud Translations c4 part2
03/15/24 Neo Cloud Translations c4 part1
03/14/24 Neo Cloud Translations c3 part2
03/13/24 Neo Cloud Translations c3 part1
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22 Reviews sorted by


Pink Rabbit
New Pink Rabbit rated it
March 29, 2024
Status: --
At first I read it just for fun because I'm looking for angst and face slapping. But after reading a few chapters I think I can create a new lake just from crying •́⁠ ⁠ ⁠‿⁠ ⁠, ⁠•̀

... more>>
Spoiler

The way MC is being delusional about a whole different place, whole different people (strangers that he created and act the way he want), the comforting words and praises.

Always looking forward for the next day, sayying things like "there's always a tomorrow" when he doesn't really have a fixed purpose.

Forgetting things he just did a moment ago, forgetting people he used to know, but remember his only reason to live. Talking to himself as if there's people around that would be kind enough to respond to him.

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All MC did are similar (even exactly the same) like what I used to experience. His coping mechanism is just like mine, and I really like how the author can understand it and even write it (sometimes I can't even explain those things I experienced).

I hope the author can continue writing this story, because I rarely find a story with this kind of topic (where the character have this problem, instead of just depression and trauma. It's not that I hate people who have depression and trauma, it just that sometimes I think authors can't really understand what those things are supposed to be, some even romanticize it. I know MC must have trauma and other problems too, it just that I got too excited when the delusional problem is showed in this story) <<less
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hy-d-ra
hy-d-ra rated it
February 28, 2024
Status: Completed
The story of Flame and Shadow.

I'd call this novel a bittersweet lyrical angst. It's very story-oriented and even more emotion-oriented, but not in the direction of romance, but fully explaining and delving into the unfortunate coincidence of temperaments and evenets. The summary, as well as the title, are too commercialized and serve the purpose to level this novel among others that might have similar premises, but the actual content is so much more and further away from being simply "entertaining" or "face-slapping". There is no fast-pacing and clapping back,... more>> thus reading it with such expectation will bring only a great disappointment. I'd say the development is quite slow and sometimes you will get the feeling that the author got stuck on some places, you will get the "revenge", but it comes from the source you do not expect and one more point is that it's not a redemption arc for those who did wrong, I quite liked the idea that not everyone can repent and basically the balance of what people did and what they got in the end was quite even, so there was no feeling of "too much", at least for me. This story is about Luo Zhi, a young man of 23 who shouldered the blame of entire family for things he did not commit, just because in this "loving" family there was not a single person who came to protect him in that moment he needed it. He also shouldered the blame of another family who protected their own shortcomings and because he was so unfortunately unloved in his own family he was used as a dump for blame. And because of his own emotional entanglements with both families he continued to bear this blame. So, how did we end up here? My review will be interspersed with spoilers so read with caution or skip.
Spoiler

The basic situation of the Luo family that led to such unfortunate situation comes from his own mother. She has HPD (Histrionic Personality Disorder), but she's not a patient and was never treated. She refused to accept her own guilt when she lost her two children, Luo Zhi and Luo Cheng, just because she got angry with her daughter Luo Cheng, she left her two children without care and in this time period both children got lost. And because the reason for her losing children was so shameful she refused to accept it and put it on herself. The daughter was returned first, only a month later. As we later find out all thanks to Luo Zhi. But Luo Zhi himself returned home by himself three years later.


What happened during those three years? Mrs Luo played the victim and shifted blame on her son, repeating many times that it was him who was responsible. What are unfortunate circumstances? Mr Luo condoned his wife's behavior, because he was extremely face-loving. He was the one who took Mrs Luo to the orphanage and adopted Jian Huaiyi. Eldest son was abroad most of the time and had weak relationship with his brother and sister, but returned after abduction, so his connection with adopted son was more profound, but he's eventually more like his parents and also refuses to accept faults about himself that he chose to believe adopted son in every situation, even if he knew the truth subconsciously. Luo Cheng was too little to form an opinion and the lie told too many times became the truth for her, she believed it was her brother at fault, though had her own memories and also knew it was her brother who saved her, but eventually forgot them.
Mrs Luo's condition was so bad that she was hysterical every time she saw Luo Zhi. Even the child's name was changed to Luo Zhi from Luo Chi because of his mother's condition. He was blamed left and right, even he was just a kid of 10 yo (7 when he was abducted). And this blame continued. Entire family called him out for being not able to make entire family peaceful, although it wasn't his problem and he didn't do anything. Mrs Luo was always acting hysterical, but the point is - she made herself sick, just to shift blame. Eventually the entire family took the title of "victim" from Luo Zhi and they became the victims of having someone like Luo Zhi in the family.
Funnily, through reactions of others, which come much later, there is a character of Dean Xun Zhen, who will work with Luo Zhi on his psychological condition and he shared opinion of his wife, who heard too many times Mrs Luo spreading the fault of her child and she thought how mental you should be to blame the child, so she ceased any further connection with Luo family and asked others to do so as well.
The situation continued before Luo Zhi turned 23. His company he brought back from bankruptcy was taken away, here comes the situation where he was blackened by entire network and was accused by one of the artists (mentioned in the summary). Everything looked like someone's plan and a clumpsy plan at best, but his family was so used to shift blame that his younger sister was thinking that it's best for her brother to simply die and not drag her family down. At that time Luo Zhi asked his sister - at the moment when he almost died, did she really think that it was his self-acted performance? But deeply inside she really hoped for it. Why? Because she was simply the copy of her mother, one of the symptoms are being too gullible, not liking to be pointed at their faults, forming their own strong opinion no matter how problematic the reasoning or shallow the logic, having shallow emotions. So when someone called her cold-blooded, she was indeed one. And there were two helpers who continued to feed her idiot head these ideas. Jian Huaiyi and Ren Chenbai.
Jian Huaiyi was actually not even a big opponent when it came to means, but he fully realized the characters of people of the Luo family and utilized knowledge to his advances. So you could say those poorly and theatrical frame-usp happened, but because Luo Zhi was the dumpster for blame no one even doubted anything.
But Ren Chenbai was scarier I suppose. Who is Ren Chenbai even? He is the son of Aunt Ren (Ren Shuangmei), she was the only light in Luo Zhi's life after he returned, she was friends with Mrs Luo, but she couldn't understand why her friend could do this to her own child. She basically took Luo Zhi away and everyone in Luo family was happy. Luo Zhi was only 10 mind you, he just returned, he lived with psychological and physical scars, aunt Ren knew about it. Unfortunately no one in Luo family bothered to read the transcripts and files. Broken ribs, head trauma, loss of hearing in one ear, the list goes on. Aunt Ren became his family and brought him back to the light. She refused to call him Luo Zhi, she called him Little Flame, like she used to. She taught him painting and guitar, she took him to different places and became the closest person to him. But what she didn't expect was that she suddeny fell ill and she had no time to correct her own son's behavior she noticed. Her sudden passing was a shock. But Luo Zhi was unware that Ren Chenbai refused to admit his own fault in the matter that it was his fight with aunt Ren that led her to have accident and the saving was untimely. The Ren family accepted this fault and placed it on Luo Zhi's head. Any tiny bit of investigation would prove it wrong, but Ren Chenbai was always someone else's child, future heir, so they protected their own shortcoming. Ren Chenbai deeply believed his own conviction and played a great role in trying to destroy Luo Zhi's character, his relationships and become the only one for Luo Zhi to rely on, so he could do everything his sick mind dictates.
We come back to the present and accusations. What comes unexpected is that Luo Zhi becomes gravely ill. But Luo family doesn't care and Ren Chenbai hates him too much to even bother to cure. Only Luo Zhi whose condition drastically deteriorated escaped and tried to move forward and fulfill his promise to aunt Ren, that he will one day be free to follow his dream of travel. One simple desire kept him going. Even if he barely could move, he lost hearing, he could barely see silhouettes of people, suffered from headaches.
Luo Zhi had a brain tumor. His condition wasn't news if you think about it, but he postponed hospital visit many times. Why? Due to the company. Why he even bothered to save the company? Because he was still a kind human being who cared for his sister, she wanted to become a celeb and he wanted to create a company as her backing. Even his money for a cruise ship he spent on a script because Luo Cheng needed it, the same Luo Cheng who refused to accept him as a brother, avoided him, even took pleasure in punishing him because she felt it's justice. One of the parts of HPD is also not realizing your own mistakes and how problematic things you do are.
Luo Zhi's condition got worse and worse, but no one noticed and everyone did not think he was unwell, even Ming Weiting who appeared later thought he was fine, because Luo Zhi acted as normal as possible, it was his habit - don't worry about me and stay away from me not to be implicated.
Luo Zhi finally happened to be on a cruise ship, we find it's Ming Weiting who helped, but the entire Luo family was also there and suddenly the ship meets an accident. Due to quick actions of the crew the process of saving passengers went excepionally well. Some missing people were met later. But there was only one person who was claimed to be missing - Luo Zhi. And even if he happened to be close to Jian Huaiyi and Luo Jun, Luo Jun was too dismissive of this brother his entire life that he even forgot about him. This is to give an overall view of the family through their actions.
For the next period of time we mostly hear about Luo family and the consequences. The other part belongs to Luo Chi (this is how he was called among the Ming family) and his recuperation. Luo Chi entered a complete stupor, unresponsive state and barely walked out of it to recuperate physically and mentally getting ready for the operation. Why Ming Weiting cared so much? Actually both of them had a past. Ming Weiting is now and orphan who controls the entire Ming family, they own ships, his only relative should be an old man Ming Lu. Once when he was younger they docked at this same place and were attarcted by a bonfire and guitar music, a young boy, then young Luo Chi, came into contact with a bigger crowd after a very long time and he played the guitar and was surprised to find how many people liked it. That's right, his perception of being liked changed drastically due to his family situation. Ming Weiting was attracted to it. But he felt there was no need to investigate the boy, because the boy looked happy, if only he knew he'd take the boy away back then. And this is why he was the one responsible for actions against the Luo family. It wasn't anything excessive, but you can guess that few moves might bring the family down and if the family is not stable from within it will fall apart even faster. No one realized that this family could be loving and happy just because Luo Chi was their common "enemy". After Luo Chi was gone for them, they became enemies of each other and many undercurrent things resurfaced.
Recuperation and post-op period do take quite some time. At this point when Luo family slowly met their worst nightmares it felt like things really slowed down and felt like author spends too much time on it. But you know that this is the period that would make Luo Chi inevitably fall in love with Ming Weiting. And interestingly, there is not a word of love actually, it's so subtle through reactions and tacit understanding, even later no one confessed but when they went to meet a woman named Zhao Lan, she was the one who survived with Luo Chi, one of them said - she will come with her husband, how coincidental (meaning they consider each other husbands in their hearts). But it took a while and I can't say much, it was like an emotional guide. It's very fortunate that Luo Chi met Ming Weiting, person who could provide and truly cared, because Luo Chi was in such a bad situation, only utmost care could turn him back. And what is more realistic is that it's a tumor and there are risks explained and what's more after the operation Luo Chi, who changed name to Ming Chi, suffered from sequale. It's not all sunshine and flowers that are skipped and not mentioned in many books, but you actually feel the process and care and how much patience it requires and it fully showcases the care and love. Although it felt tedious, but maybe that was the point. And the main sequale is the memory loss. But in Ming Chi's situation it's not even a bad thing, he could forget the entanglement with his family, because now he does not have the immersive experience, he's just a viewer from sidelines. And even he forgot Ming Weiting too, but he remembered him instinctively, even physically (being helped and held, because at that time he couldn't move). But now he could see his Mr. Shadow who was only a blob of color for him before and now he could hear him. He felt truly happy. He remembered the best from aunt Ren. He made himself so many notes, so many preparations to remember other people who cared about him. Slowly he taught himself of what he is, what happened and decide what to do next after recuperating.
What is lovely is that Ming Weiting never wanted to fully capture and never let go of his little Flame, he knew that for little Flame to continue to be bright and happy he must be freed. It was this type of love where he could accept anything Ming Chi would decide on, travelling by land, by sea, meeting new people, drawing and playing. And he was ready for any status near him, as a family or as someone closer. Now they were not afraid to let the world know that little Flame survived, because during this time the opinion on the Internet reversed. Like he himself said after everything he had done: "It was the course of fate that was unfair to you and caused things to twist and turn. We have corrected it now." The other thing is that the little Flame didn't want to go.
So you can get such a portrayal. Ming Chi is a ball of kindness and happiness. Kindness is not a weakness. Luo Zhi was kind but shackled. Yes, it is his kindness to his family that he stuck around, but he continued to be disappointed again and again and later stopped caring, he only cared fro what was left after aunt Ren, he decided to fulfull his dream. For him it was Aunt Ren who was his family, his mother, the car she gave him was his home, later it was Ming Weiting who became his family. He could recuperate and return to the world as Ming Chi, without his shackles and burdens and blame. People at the company became not only subordinates but friends, were the ones who fought for him when the company was jeopardized. His family on the contrary was not, even black materials that he used his background was ridiculous to them, all his misfortunes Luo Zhi suffered because of his family. In all these years he did not get anything from his family neither emotionally nor financially. Ren Chenbai who he considered the closest and wanted to stay together treated his as enemy and although RCB always acted gentle the malice could be traced. It was Luo Zhi's kindness that allowed the situation to go on, but actually protected these unworthy people. Just becaue these people are bad it doesn't mean he should stop being kind.
Do these characters need redemption arc? I think not. In many novels characters like these can have a wake-up call or just have shallow discription how they went crazy from regret. I think I like how author described it here, after all in many cases it confronts to the settings too. Mrs Luo, for example, bit back her favored adopted son she doted on because she was told he will leave her, she made a fuss of finding Ming Chi and finding a doctor for him (when it became known that he was alive), but for her own selfishness. Luo Cheng who is like her mother only later realized why company people treated her weirdly, they considered her the biggest traitor, she was made to apoligize, but she always tried to shirk her guilt and even if she admitted her fault it doesn't mean she admitted it in her heart, she could have continued to blame Ming Chi for letting her go through this and not coming and saving her from misery (funnily she wanted to enter entertainment because she was told by Jian Huaiyi that family will sell her and she believed it, but in the end it was Jian Huaiyi who almost sold her). Luo Jun was the only one hit by the regret and knew that it was the problem with his character that allowed such situation, he refused to believe that he made the wrong choice. Luo Chengxiu (father) knew that it was his love of face that allowed his wife to dominate the household. But knowing and accepting or reflecting are two different concepts. It became the situation where dog bit the dog, he as a father did not trust his children with assets, but was almost cheated by adopted son. Jian Huaiyi entered the game, because his means were not that smart. The little star also faced court due to defamation when Ren Chenbai shared the evidence, even if he was one of those who were aware of the plan, but he went crazy when heard that Luo Zhi died. When I finished reading I actually felt balanced, because the background work was done well to me and I knew what for all these people suffered the backlash. As it happened sooner or later the downfall would have come. And there is a recurring idea behind it - what woould happen if you just didn't try so hard to blame Luo Zhi for simply everything. But there is no "if".
So this is the story of Luo Zhi, Luo Chi and Ming Chi. Although I give the main idea I skipped a lot of things. So if anyone wants to give it a try you know what to expect :) Don't forget tissues.
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mmem
mmem rated it
September 28, 2022
Status: c63
That summary sure is misleading. So far the MC hasn't taken any revenge. He just wants to be free and is slowly recovering. At most any affection he had towards his family has died and he's ready to move on. The one taking revenge is actually the ML helped by MC's family ripping each other apart.

The author does such a good job showing and telling the characters' pain and thoughts. Rather than feeling like face slapping the revenge touches on how hypocritical and selfish people can be. Like how a... more>> certain character wanted to be punished so he can move on from the pain of what he's done, he just wanted to stop feeling bad. Rather than focusing on the surface reason we learn about their deeper thoughts and it isn't pretty.

MC's family treated him like crap. He was their scapegoat so they took out their feelings of guilt and shame they had towards him and did everything they could to pretend he didn't exist. Even if the replacement son hadn't done anything to hurt MC's relationship w his family the end result would be the same.

The MC's been through so much yet despite that he's so easy to make happy. He's so good and likable, resilient and so so young. He's only 23 years old and still a child (but in a good way not obnoxious way). Thank goodness he had his Aunt, thank goodness the ML saved him and is helping him recover. I feel complicated on how I want this story to end. I want the MC to have nothing to do with his family ever again, but a part of me wants him to forgive them despite everything. At least just the older brother, maybe lil sis, but definitely older bro. I like to think I've been trained to think that way thanks to other stories I've read/watched, but maybe that's just an excuse and I don't want to feel bad for anyone by the end of this. I don't know. All I know is people's minds are fragile and getting mental health is imperative.

Finally, this story made me cry like a baby. It hurts. And yet, MC is so strong and so good. How his family could've treated such a good kid the way they did is horrible. Thank goodness it's over. <<less
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ylial
ylial rated it
September 27, 2022
Status: c79
The author knows to abuse the reader well XD just kidding. The story has depth and is well written. It has also the right amount of drama or abuse that won't disappoint the readers. The first few chapters, up to ch19, is really heart wrenching, as well the flashbacks in the succeeding chapters on novel. The author made a great detail of mental and physical abuse that the MC underwent from abduction, from his family and from his friend. He was literally being broken step by step.
Spoiler

he became deaf and injured physically. After he was saved by ML, there was still the instinct of MC to protect his body, showing he was beaten/abused before (kidnapping incident. You will really get angry as you read how indifferent and selfish his family in the succeeding chapters. The MC has a tumor that caused his hearing and sight impaired. Fortunately all is well at the end

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Fortunately, the ML rescued the MC in the brink of death. In chapter 25, the ML vowed do the justice in his stead 💕 However, it is still painful to read the flashbacks. I want to knock MC for being too good. ML's revenge is short, and the story focuses more on how the MC heals from pstd and from the disease.

Flaw
Spoiler

I'm wondering why there was no one who greeted MC in his 23rd birthday despite having so many friends at his work. I'm not sure the reason for this since I haven't finished the novel yet

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Ecirteab
Ecirteab
October 1, 2022
Status: c40
There's a fanfiction term called whump which is a genre in which one character endures mental and physical hurt with the attraction of comfort later. Hurt/comfort but heavy on the hurt.

This novel is very much whump. Luo Zhi is put through a ludicrous amounts of hurt and but has endured so well and is slowly getting his comfort. I think the author writes out the emotions pretty well but that's about it.

This whole novel is a marathon of Luo Zhu's suffering past and present. His family are all blood sucking... more>> demons who hate him to the point of insanity until they don't and they're forced to confront themselves. Even the current comfort is marred by him being a shell of who he once was.

I don't hate dog blood, I enjoy it even but this novel is like the martyrdom of Luo Zhi where he is so pure and kind and doesn't deserve any of this but now he's a shell of who he was but he'll be nursed back to health and finally get his freedom.

In a weird way it feels a bit perverse. I enjoyed what I read but dropping because I don't want to read more. <<less
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Wintercreeper
Wintercreeper rated it
March 14, 2023
Status: Completed
This novel isn't the mediocre dog blood story with brainless villains and brave MC getting revenge you usually find on this site.

There's no dog blood, no braindead schemes, and no face slapping so loud that it echoes through the world.

It's a literary novel that's focused on a truly broken family, how parents with severe mental disorders raise children with similar ones, and how these people interact with each other and the world.
A space in which pathological narcissism, hysteria, and antisocial traits collide, always at the expense of the only normal person.

"I've never done anything wrong, it's always your fault. And if I can't blame it on you, I will find someone else to blame."

Things that can be swept under a rug will stay there forever, things that can't will be twisted until they fit into a comfortable worldview the perpetrators can profit from and believe themselves to be innocent.

I've never seen such an accurate portrayal of this kind of people, and family, neither one that is so detailed and medically correct when it comes to physical and somatoform illnesses.
How the writer showed MC's physical and mental decline was shilling, it was so uncomfortably true that it made me wonder if the author has personal experience with it.

Of course, there is revenge, just not in the completely overdramatic, brainless way often seen in novels.
Instead, it's carried out mostly by the very own perpetrators against each other and even themselves, slowly dragging them down into madness and mutual destruction.

"We are all going to hell", a quote from the novel at the start of their decline, which sums it up well.

The characters are fleshed out in great detail, all of them, their relationships are complicated, no one is a meaningless cannon fodder, no side characters with little significance.

ML is a steady ally subtly pushing chess pieces on a crowded board, he just has to push them a little and watch how they maim each other, he isn't OP and has a bottom line that he never crosses, if only for MC's sake.
His character is deep, full of faults that he's trying hard to make up for, and he has people by his side that he trusts enough to let them act on their own so he has more time to take care of MC.
Even this is such a unique point that it's worth pointing out, he actively educates himself about MC's physical and mental illnesses, actively takes part in his rehabilitation, and learns from his mistakes.

There's no magical healing for MC, just a hard battle to get back to normal, to live with serious impairments and still find happiness.
MC is a brave and miserable person whose resilience has been drained to an extent that nearly caused his death, he's someone who, despite it all, finds joy in many things and holds unto his smile until the very end.

The novel can be divided into three parts, it's not for those who want the focus to always be on the MC and ML.

During the first, we follow MC, mostly from his own perspective, and watch how a bright young man drastically deteriorates and get to know who the main actors are.

The second hardly involves MC, it's from the perspective of different perpetrators, how they fall from their mighty place into mad obscurity, hated by the world and each other.
All of them have different ways and outcomes, it matches their personality and circumstances.

For the last, we really get to know the ML and finally see MC's recovery, his struggle to get better and build a new life.

You can find a lot of beautiful symbolism between the lines, themes that run through the whole novel but are never in your face, and you have to read carefully to appreciate them fully.

This isn't a story for everyone, it has a dark tone and you need a fairly in-depth understanding of medicine and psychology to get the full experience; it's slow and the themes are tragic, people who are easily triggered should be careful.

Pick this novel if you want a mature, professional and realistic one that's far outside of the range most webnovels are in, read something else if you like dog blood drama and face-slapping done by a powerful MC/ML.
If you like classics such as "The Remains of the Day" or anything written by Margaret Eleanor Atwood, then you'll likely enjoy this one as well.
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Hell
Hell rated it
September 29, 2022
Status: Completed
The drama and dog-blood is very good, and the relationship (when it starts) is satisfying enough.

However, there’s just too little to be said in such long chapters; the story would be just as well constructed (and more pleasant/less dragging to read) in 40-50 chapters. It seems like the drama and conflict is stretched out as thin as possible to milk all the emotions from the reader, but it also turns quite exhausting.

Overall, it’s a good story, but it becomes very stale at about the ~60ch mark.
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Aachiin0914
Aachiin0914 rated it
October 4, 2022
Status: Completed
I read this novel long time ago, then when I saw it being translated, I went to read it again.
Spoiler

Ah, btw, I may have some answer to @ylial from comment below.

From mc' brother's perspective, since MC came back 13 years ago, he no longer celebrated his birthday. And it looks like, just like what happened in the first scene, it was the adapted child who became the celebrant each year in MC's birthday.

And with MC's personality, MC's coworkers might not even know it was MC's birthday.

The only time MC celebrated his birthday was when he was tricked by his sister in the hotel, which became his black material in the internet.

This is a fictional world, as long as MC don't say anything, no one will know it.

Actually maybe the Ren something something might even blocked those caring words like he did when MC first almost died– the scene in the car.

And here I thought you guys will doubt the fact that ML practice becoming MC's fan for three years that he came so late in the scene. Anyway, even if came. late he still came. Better late then never.

Well, heroes came late every time anyways.

Anyway, looking at it in different perspective, this is actually a tale of two characters.

Lou Zhi and aunt Ren.

Looking at these two, we'll see they are the same. Ren family and Lou ain't much different.

Aunt Ren has a best friend name mother Lou, while Lou Zhi has a best friend name surname Ren.

Surname Ren has anti social tendencies since he was a child, and aunt Ren knew it, that's why he gave Lou Zhi a car. And that's why she always cried to surname Ren to get away from Lou Zhi, and crying to Lou Zhi for him to run away.

Despite being a kind and gentle woman, Aunt Ren has a child like that, meaning it could only be attributed to his father.

And the fact that Ren family blamed all her death to Lou Zhi... when it was Ren something's fault.

It was said that aunt Ren has an Illnes, and she have a sudden attack, Lou Zhi was there but he didn't have her medicine, so she died. In fact it was Ren something... so he killed his mother, such scaldal... So Ren family blamed it on Lou Zhi, maybe because Lou Zhi insisted on aunt ren's wish to have her ashes on the sea?

Or maybe like how Song Family, in Transmigrated as the Villain Cat, blamed everything on Fu Xiao, because they can't have the fact that Fu Xiao was imprisoned in the closet so in fact he doesn't even know his grand father died or something.

Anyway, I think these scene portray the same idea as Lou Zhi loving the sea to get away from all the sad things namely Lou family. I think aunt Ren also wanted to get away from Ren family but she can't.

The villa by the sea is aunt ren's villa.

Actually when seeing it like this, I made me think that without ml, MC's ending will become like aunt ren's ending.

Dying under his family's hands. And that's what happened in the cruise.

Without ml, MC will die just like that.

Meanwhile, Jiang? Something, the adapted child. I don't think there's something wrong with him, except for MC, he's the only normal person in Lou family.

With this kind of family, actually, I think what the adapted child did is justifiable?

This is not a false / true young master switch at broth story. It was the young master was missing, the family replace him with another story. Growing up with such a family, more so very close– care taker of an old woman who has mental illness, anyway who has a perfectly healthy mind won't last long.

In fact, he said: He doesn't want to be a care taker of that lunatic woman. In his pov. And his been acting for 13 years who won't feel suffocated in there.

In fact, of MC wasn't so holy mother character they might even became a great partner/friend.

The cruise scene might be the last thing that made the adapted son's thread snap. Hes afraid too, so he tore his face and said everything. It's a great tactics. After he was beaten to the hospital, no Lou family care about him anymore.

The biggest flaw in this novel is the fact the only ML reached out for MC. Director Gou knows everything as well... forget about MC's coworkers who could do little about it, what about ml?

Where is he when MC debuted and was blacked to the point of retiring?

ML became MC's fan when he saw him on the bonfire scene. And it was ten years ago.

Because from ml's perspective, MC was just getting good at playing a guitar just then.

And what about those rich people who knew mc?

From what I understand in the novel, MC is very famous public figure. He's a well known designer, and almost all the things attributed to the adapted son was all MC's doing. We only get a glimpse of them on the cruise scene so that Lou brother would doubt the adapted son.

Then later, I dunno in father Lou's perspective. He hated Lou Zhi so much because almost every business partners and rich people blame him for his disappearance and questioned him for not looking for him for three years. Asking him why they didn't find him for three years and why MC himself came back by himself.

This is why Lou family almost crumbled, but Lou father threw all the blame to Lou Zhi.

But we'll, understand– the author wrote this novel not for face slapping, but for healing. The author mentioned the reason why MC was in such state, wrote the ending of the people who made MC that way, then made a really detailed progress on how MC healed.

Actually, the characters of this novel could be summary as MC, ml, the Lou family, aunt ren and Ren best friend.

Only mc's past was detailed because it should be. The author need to write how much pain MC endure his life, so that the moment he healed, it will bring so much impact to the readers.

That's why, the author didn't wrote any outsider's perspective.

This will became a disturbance.

Actually I think having a friend will do more harm than good to MC. After there's the obsessed Ren something something luring behind the scene.

According to Ren something's assistant, Ren something knew MC's every move and action, even his whereabouts

Meaning Ren something has someone to follow MC all the time.

And the reason why the adapted son and MC became an enemy, is the adapted son wanted to destroy Lou family so he could become free, while MC wanted to protect his family.

The reason Lou family persist to this day, is became of MC.

I think if this is a vest dropping novel and face slapping novel, the moment MC died, even without ml, Lou family will not last long. Then mc's vest will slowly fall down.

The author wrote about healing novel, so except for ml, these people didn't exist. But if we look at this in other perspective, if ML could love MC just by seeing him smile, dance and sing with his guitar around the bon fire, what about the others.

If you look at it in another perspective, the reason why Lou family was always crumbling was became MC's friends/admirers was doing something behind the scene. But the unsuspecting MC will save the crumbling sand castle by casting another layer of wet sands.

Well, this isnt a face slapping novel so... face slapping is crispy and very good to hear, it so satisfying. But this is directly breaking the bone, and the sound of the bone breaking is very scary.

Well, that's it...

But I will forgive ML for not coming to MC earlier, after all he's been on the sea all year round. I remember I have a classmate, she's dad was a sailor, and they could only contact him every three months, and he could only go home onece of twice a year.

Anyway it's HE.... sheesh... It's a very good story to read when you wanted to cry.

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WordEater
WordEater
October 3, 2022
Status: c43
Dropped atm, not because it is a bad article but because I can't take the ridiculousness of these people anymore. My blood is boiling.

Even with the promise that Luo Zhi would have his happiness, I can't take the idea of him reconciling or even accepting back his family or that Ren Guy. I won't begrudge him if he does but I really don't want it.

Even if the overly nosy assistance of the ML was abrupt for my tastes considering their limited interaction, I would tolerate that suspension belief over Luo... more>> Zho being in the parameter of those people a second more.

This is a good one, protect Luo Zho at all cost. I think my top favorite character here is Aunt Ren.

Highlighted parts: hypocrisy, out of sight out of mind, negligence, shamelessness, abuse, trauma, lots of trauma

Most anticipated part: (I haven't read yet) Luo Zhi's healing journey or second chance at being happy <<less
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Katielicious
Katielicious
March 8, 2024
Status: c1
I binge read this the day before my 23rd bday. This was a morbid and abnormal story on human nature.

What are the chances that one person be surrounded by so many mentally ill people? When MC was alive, they erased his existence and lived in their delusions to avoid their guilt. When his identity died, they searched for his existence, still living in delusions to assuage their guilt. Ultimately, all these people were just self serving creatures. I loathe to call them human.
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Chronos5884
Chronos5884 rated it
March 11, 2023
Status: 86 +3 extras
This story was very good. I cried so much at the beginning and later got so many feels. This is an emotional ride, and it's not actually a story about revenge. It's more of a story where one person heals and we as readers get to catch glimpses of how the perpetrators suffer as a result of their own actions. I say glimpses for a reason. The main focus, especially in the later chapters, is on the MC's inner resilience and optimism where he finds friends and new family and... more>> does his best to heal with the help of found-family and memory loss.

As for whether he forgives the ones who harmed him...
Spoiler

Nope, because he lost his memories entirely about them and the story doesn't really show him regaining memories of his biological family.

Luo Chi, the one who was harmed, the one who felt the pain and rejection, the one who could forgive, drowned in the icy sea. Now there is Ming Chi who doesn't know who the Luo family is, has no emotional ties to them, and can't even recognize them when they show up before him.

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The ML is sweet and caring, and tries to get revenge for him. ML basically helps take care of MC's physical body and both old and new friends help restore most of the precious things that were lost.

Spoiler

Funnily enough, MC actually had things set up where even after he was gone he basically got revenge himself without needing much help from anyone else. In the end, an old family friend brought him a car that was of the same limited edition batch as the one his aunt bought him. This car was even renovated and modified based on his drawings and design plans to match as closely as possible to the car that was destroyed.

Also, his dad did one good thing for Luo/Ming Chi even if it was motivated by his selfishness. When Luo/Ming Chi's crazy mother wanted to go find doctors to restore Ming Chi's memory and wanted to go find Ming Chi, the dad reminded her that he cares the most about his face/pride. If she dared to do something that shameful (by trying to meet Luo Chi and get Luo Chi's memories back so that Luo Chi could forgive them), then he'd dare to grab her and jump off a building with her for a double su*cide/mu*der. That shut her up quick and she never dared to try to kick up a fuss or suggest looking for Luo Chi again.

Good job. Even if it was motivated by pride, you at least did one good thing for Luo Chi. I'm sure the ML would have blocked any attempt had mother gone through with it, but you saved ML the effort.

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Also, on MC's health:
Spoiler

By the end, MC makes an almost full recovery after the surgery.

MC after getting rescued from the shipwreck is in real bad condition. His condition is so bad that surgery to remove the tumor is likely to kill him. In order to get the best possible results from surgery they have to weigh getting the tumor out as soon as possible and the state of his body to see if he can survive the surgery. It takes something like 15-20 days for them to raise his body to the best condition possible so that he can go through surgery. The surgery is a success and he recovers extremely fast due to his own desire to survive and how hard he works on rehabilitation. By the end, he's able to run without a cane for a bit.

From what I understand, this is within a few months of the shipwreck. And he has goals to live to a hundred with ML and travel the world, play his guitar at impromptu beach concerts, and try surfing, diving, traveling to the Caribbean, hang-gliding, and mountain climbing and so much more. He also has plans to spend New Years with the family of the girl who escaped with him.

The girl has found a husband who loves and cares for her, scars and all. The girl's family also say they really like him and that they will always consider him as family and they'll spend New Years together, celebrate all the birthdays he missed with him if he wants and they'll do all the things he dreamed of doing when he was kidnapped. (The college-age girl who escapes with him remembers all the food they fantasized about eating as soon as they got free, as well as the birthday cakes they'd have to make up for the 3 years of kidnapping, how they planned to sleep for days in big beds, etc.) Even after 13 years, she remembers it in detail. When they finally meet up again for dinner, she orders all the food he mentioned then and even the amount of food that was mentioned and talks in depth with ML about what the MC needs to pay attention to due to the past injuries when they were kidnapped.

The people from his company meet him by accident and are thrilled to see he's in good condition. They tell him that his office is still there and will always be there. Whenever he wants he can come back, the company will always be there for him and they are also his family. They tell him that if he doesn't want to come back to work, that's fine. They managed to buy back most of their stocks and give him 51% of the total shares so he will still be the owner. They tell him if he doesn't want to work, then he doesn't have to. If he wants to be an artist, he can be an artist. If he doesn't want to, he doesn't have to. If he wants to freely travel the world, he should do that. No matter what, they just want him to be happy and they will always be his backing. They'll do their best to do well, grow strong, take care of themselves, and they'll grow so strong they can take care of him and let him live the life he wants to live too.

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The early part of the story is a painful heart-wrenching slog. The middle is something of a slow period of painful physical recovery with glimpses of the aftermath and how things are going for the people who hurt the MC. The later part of the story and the ending is all just warm feels, optimism, and looking forward to a bright future without the burdens of the past for the MC.

Also, I just realized there are more extras. I'm going further to fill my heart with warm fuzzies. I may or may not update this review after :) <<less
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I love readying
I love readying rated it
October 20, 2022
Status: c43
Spoiler

okay, I just read until chapter 43. And my tears keep coming out... THIS IS SOO SAD!!! am really angry with them. why they're treats our MC like that?! why they're so s*upid!! argghhh am really upset and sad at the same time, my heart really hurts when I read it...

actually, as far what I read now, the annoying adopted child has not yet been explained what kind of reply he got for lying to everyone, he didn't show up!!! I'm really angry to him. My rating is actually only 4, but because I like how the author writing this and the emotion that comes from reading this, Soo I give full stars

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Nah
Nah rated it
March 31, 2023
Status: c17
I try hard to understand the mtl just for the continuation. Author way of describing mental illness have me amazed. I like this way better than most novel ever describe. Author did the show no tell decently. Although the angst mostly unreasonable (supposed character just act hypocritical and evil without proper reason), that part of describing MC mental state wash the plot hole. I hope translator will someday has a heart to finished this novel purposely. Mtl made my brain hurt. If only I can paid for the translation 😫

With... more>> mtl I'll just do skimming. I hope can find a way finish this read chapter to chapter properly. <<less
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periperi
periperi rated it
October 18, 2022
Status: c40
3 stars (maybe 3.5ish?)

I liked it but I didn't love it. I read some reviews before going into it, so I was expecting the hurt and abuse and was expecting the healing. But what I didn't expect was how much of the story was going to be in the POV of the other characters. At first it was refreshing because there was in depth thought and analysis into why these other characters (the sister, the brother, the father, the childhood friend) did the things they did. They were by... more>> no means good people but there was some twisted logic behind the bad things they did.

But gosh I just wanted to read from MC's perspective more and more on his healing. But just when ML is there and I thought it was going to be what I want,
Spoiler

MC's health had, expectedly, deteriorated very badly to the point he can barely see and hear. So even then there's barely any solid meaningful interaction between him and ML! It's just ML taking step by step action dishing out subtle revenge and trying to heal MC, sigh. I mean, I just want some nice healing interaction. But it's mainly what's happening to the other people (in their perspective) and then what ML is doing, and his mostly one-sided interaction with MC.

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But I still give the novel points because it's not often to come across a book that gave much thought to the villains and analysis their emotions and actions. If this is genetic, it's amazing how MC can be so pure and good, but I suppose a good chunk of it is also on upbringing.

Overall, it was an interesting read but I think I shall be stopping here. <<less
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0r30
0r30 rated it
September 21, 2023
Status: c40
This novel so far is really good, from what I've read its heart breaking to watch the MC go through all that he has been through but still be treated so poorly and blamed for everything that goes wrong. But don't worry, the ML really treats our MC well and helps him through everything.

He's so sweet and sticky to the MC but a bit cruel and ruthless to everyone who hurt his little lover (which I support strongly and I wish to transmigrate into the novel to help ML beat... more>> all those bastards up)

The only thing I'm a little annoyed about with this noel is the translators, I read the first 13 chapters which were the only translated ones but it was too good to just finish it there so I read the MTL and it was terrible so I'm waiting at 40 chapters until it is fully translated.

but the story is still really good so 5 stars from me. :) <<less
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Anastrisha
Anastrisha rated it
January 30, 2024
Status: --
The introduction is nicely written, I couldn't help clicking and waiting for the reversal.

I think as an angst the first part is good. However, the counter attack isn't that satisfying for me as it relies heavily on expecting scumbags to have feelings and most of the reversal is thanks to ML and MC really didn't do anything as he's getting healed.

Then there's how the entire concept of this story relies on brain dead characters.

Spoiler
  • MC got abducted and the first thing they did after he came back is sh*t on him... because he cause the abduction and made his mother insane... The novel tried to justify this but honestly it's quite a stretch to just say that it's due to the family being selfish. The IQ you need to blame a kidnapping to a child and yet somehow manage to keep a business empire.
  • The madness of mother is even more ridiculous, somehow it's reveal she was initially faking it... Because ego? You telling me someone prideful would rather act mentally sick than find other better excuses to hate on a son?
  • Speaking of selfishness, I'm quite surprise the father is so selfish yet no illegitimate stuff.
  • Another example is ML, somehow fell in love with MC to the point of helping him when he was at down. And I'm not just talking about simple help, it's covering up that one of the victims at your cruise is still alive!!! It doesn't matter if MC won't sue it's already a miracle why the family won't sue him and his company for hiding it.
  • Speaking of, I want to point out not once did they mention how ML's company technically owe MC's family an explanation for MC still being missing AFTER THEIR CRUISE WRECK??? It's instead even the opposite, and I understand the family is sh*t but it just feels different thinking that this is literally a capitalist going to "victim's family" and still being domineering so sick.
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conniefightsback
conniefightsback
December 30, 2023
Status: c66
This story was really good, but sad and a bit slow paced. The main character is very sensible and kind but that means it is not as fast paced if a novel as others. The ML is also very calm and wants to protect the MC but he isn't in the first half of the novel so lots of bad things happen 😢. I will say tho that the ML is ruthless to those who hurt MC. (I forgot to click the thing but I rate it 4 stars)
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NanaLikesSushi
NanaLikesSushi rated it
December 15, 2023
Status: Completed
Just finished reading this novel. So heartwarming and sad at the same time.I cried at every chapter.. God I feel so bad for Luo Zhi and everything happened to him, I'm glad he's able to obtain happiness at the end. Thank you mw or called Mr shadow for helping him throughout his recovery and giving him all the happiness that he he deserved. His families and those who treated him like sh*t deserved everyting that happened to them. It felt so satisfying reading.
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Adira
Adira rated it
December 3, 2023
Status: --
This one really hit the spot!!!!! No dissing/hate for the current translator as they're doing their absolute best but seriously wish that if by chance they/*cough* or *cough* someone else start to translate it at a fast pace... cause I really want to read it thoroughly besides mtl, because I want me everything Best! Hehe~
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cupsidate
cupsidate rated it
November 20, 2023
Status: Completed
An absolute breathtaking piece on moving on and finding a home in the people who love you and wish you well. The protagonist is a beautiful character and soul, and so is the ML.

The villains, albeit extremely cruel and evil, are an extremely truthful version of cruel and evil, and show clearly how warped people can justify the things they do and still keep a superficial image of good.

This is a masterpiece at a joyful recovery in search of happiness, and I could not recommend it enough if you want... more>> to lighten your outlook on life. <<less
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justdoityoufucker rated it
August 22, 2023
Status: Completed
This is one of only a few books where I actually went to find the MTL to finish reading it because I needed to know the rest of the story. It's just so compelling in all aspects, the characters, their relationships and motivations, the events that occurred in the past.....

It's a very cathartic book. Personally, I don't feel that it drags at any point - the book's focus is on both what happened to the MC and how he recovers with the ML's hope (and a side of revenge that... more>> the ML takes for the MC). As such, there's a lot of them just spending time together, and thinking on the past. I actually really like how the author goes pretty deep into the psychology of some characters, but not in a made up way, nor in an overly-academic way, and how a lot of that intertwines with dreams that the MC has in part to process memories and in part to let go of the past.

The only thing I wish had happened was
Spoiler

Ren Chenbai suffering more, but in a way, having to watch the MC living so happily and so freely with ML while he can not do anything about it was the ultimate torture to him.

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Honestly, I'd really recommend this. I finished it last night and I've not been able to stop thinking about the relationship MC and ML have, and how it really shows unconditional love in its strongest form. If you can't wait, the MTL is surprisingly readable, but I'm looking forward to rereading if the translator continues working on it! <<less
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