The Goofball Transmigrates into a Tycoon’s Stepdad

Cheng Leyan, a man burdened by three million in debt and a desperate desire for wealth, visits Yonghe Temple to pray for riches. Remembering the temple’s ironic history of granting wishes through misfortune, he adds a caveat hoping for wealth in his next life. Immediately after, he is struck by a car. Instead of dying, he awakens in the body of Cheng Leyan, the young husband of Rong Wangzhi, a vegetative heir to the wealthy Rong family. Cheng Leyan discovers he has transmigrated into the novel Prison of Love, inhabiting the role of the abusive stepfather to the story’s future antagonist, Rong Jishi, also known as Zhuozhuo. A system named 419 informs him that if he fails to alter the tragic fate of the antagonist, who eventually builds a dog cage to imprison and kill him, he will perish. The original host had been a sycophant who squandered nine million on his lover, Xiang Jingzhou, while physically abusing the young Zhuozhuo.

Realizing that running away is impossible without fatal consequences, Cheng Leyan decides to embrace his new role, motivated primarily by the Rong family’s monthly allowance of one million yuan. When Mama Rong confronts him about his past behavior and demands a divorce, Cheng Leyan pivots dramatically. He employs his extensive background in service industry jobs, including massage and hospitality, to flatter and care for Mama Rong. His genuine, if money-driven, attentiveness surprises her, leading to a three-month probationary period where he must prove his worth. His primary task is to improve the condition of Zhuozhuo, a three-year-old boy suffering from selective mutism and severe malnutrition due to neglect and abuse.

Cheng Leyan immediately begins to dismantle the abusive environment. He fires the abusive speech therapist, who is revealed to be the brother of Xiang Jingzhou, and forces him to return the embezzled wages. He replaces the nutritious but unappetizing blended mush with real, appealing food, successfully encouraging Zhuozhuo to eat. His interactions with the child are gentle and playful, a stark contrast to the violence Zhuozhuo is accustomed to. Although Zhuozhuo remains suspicious and records his observations on a grudge notebook, he begins to trust Cheng Leyan after the stepfather defends him and provides comfort during a breakdown. Cheng Leyan also takes Zhuozhuo to a hospital, where doctors diagnose him with anemia and psychological trauma rather than autism, advising nutritional support and psychological intervention.

Simultaneously, Cheng Leyan discovers that his husband, Rong Wangzhi, is being neglected at the expensive sanatorium where he is kept. The staff is providing substandard care, resulting in bedsores and bruises on the vegetative man. Cheng Leyan exposes the negligence, forcing Mama Rong to transfer Rong Wangzhi to a better facility and eventually bring him back to the family villa. During this process, Rong Wangzhi regains consciousness inside his own mind, aided by a different system, 250, which is focused on R18-themed tasks. This system grants Rong Wangzhi a temporary physical buff that manifests as pouty, lipstick-like lips, causing confusion and amusement for Cheng Leyan. Cheng Leyan, unaware of the internal consciousness, takes on the role of primary caregiver for Rong Wangzhi, using his professional skills to manage the husband’s medical needs.

Cheng Leyan also confronts his past financial mistakes. He refuses to continue sending money to Xiang Jingzhou, instead using the situation to plan the recovery of the nine million yuan he lost. He maintains a facade of continued affection for Xiang Jingzhou to lure him into a trap, aiming to reclaim the family assets. Meanwhile, he establishes a routine of caring for both Zhuozhuo and Rong Wangzhi, balancing his desire for wealth with the genuine bond forming with the child. The story follows his efforts to navigate the complex family dynamics, protect Zhuozhuo from his dark future, and secure his financial position within the Rong family, all while dealing with the comedic interference of his two systems.