The Retro Novel Heroine, You Don't Deserve

Chen Xianbei is the only daughter of the prestigious Chen family, a lineage that has declined from its former glory but retains significant social standing and wealth. Orphaned of her mother at a young age, she was raised with strict expectations to become a refined society wife. She is engaged to Jiang Boyao, the capable and cold heir of the Jiang family, another powerful clan. Their union is viewed as a perfect match by their families, though Jiang Boyao has always maintained a distant and indifferent demeanor toward her. Chen Xianbei, believing in duty and tradition, has devoted herself to being a considerate fiancée, managing social obligations and caring for his daily needs despite his lack of warmth.

The narrative shifts when Chen Xianbei experiences a vivid dream that reveals she is living inside a novel. In this story, she is the tragic heroine who is unloved by the male lead, Jiang Boyao. He is secretly in love with Jiang Xuan, a woman who grew up in the Chen household as the daughter of a former servant. The novel depicts a cycle of heartbreak where Jiang Boyao only realizes his love for Chen Xianbei after she leaves him, leading to a desperate pursuit that eventually results in a happy ending. However, Chen Xianbei rejects this fate, refusing to endure the humiliation and emotional abuse portrayed in the book. Her skepticism deepens when Jiang Boyao cancels their engagement anniversary dinner to deal with a crisis involving his cousin, Jiang Yaoyang, who has hit Feng Yan, the reckless younger son of the formidable Feng family, with a car.

Instead of offering comfort or support, Chen Xianbei chooses to distance herself. She contacts her aunt, Chen Shengyu, to investigate Jiang Xuan, suspecting that the woman she once considered a friend has been scheming with Jiang Boyao. Simultaneously, Chen Xianbei discovers she can enter a mysterious, desolate estate in her dreams. Inside this space, she encounters Feng Yan, who is also trapped there following his car accident. Feng Yan is initially hostile and vulgar, suspecting Chen Xianbei is a fox spirit or ghost trying to trap him. He believes she is the owner of the space because she can bring objects from the real world into it, such as a hoe, which she provides to help him complete a task to clear weeds.

The dynamic between Chen Xianbei and Feng Yan evolves from mutual suspicion to a reluctant partnership. Feng Yan is forced to perform menial labor in the dream space, while Chen Xianbei uses the time to explore the mysteries of the estate, including locked rooms and cryptic messages on pillars that indicate a system of tasks and rewards. She learns that completing tasks allows the space's owner to bring items from reality, and Feng Yan eventually requests a razor, showing a glimpse of his vulnerability beneath his arrogant exterior. Meanwhile, in the waking world, Chen Xianbei maintains her cold facade toward Jiang Boyao. She rejects his gifts and excuses, no longer seeking his approval. Jiang Boyao, accustomed to her compliance, is confused by her sudden indifference but remains preoccupied with the fallout from the accident and his family's internal pressures.

As the story progresses, Chen Xianbei’s investigation into Jiang Xuan yields troubling results, confirming her fears about the betrayal. She resolves to call off the engagement once the evidence is solid, prioritizing her dignity over the social and familial expectations that have bound her. The parallel narrative of her dream life with Feng Yan adds a layer of complexity, as the two trapped individuals begin to rely on each other for survival in the surreal estate. Feng Yan’s presence in her dreams serves as a stark contrast to Jiang Boyao’s neglect in reality, hinting at a potential shift in her emotional allegiances. The central conflict remains Chen Xianbei’s struggle to escape the predetermined tragic role of the novel’s heroine while navigating the treacherous waters of high society politics and family intrigue.

The plot thickens as the Feng family’s anger toward the Jiang family intensifies, threatening to destabilize the social order. Jiang Boyao’s handling of the crisis is seen as a turning point in his career, potentially consolidating his power within the Jiang clan. However, his personal life remains a source of tension, with his continued emotional unavailability pushing Chen Xianbei further away. The dream space continues to offer clues about its origins and purpose, with Feng Yan and Chen Xianbei slowly uncovering the rules that govern their imprisonment. Their interactions reveal that Feng Yan is not merely a playboy but a complex individual capable of loyalty and humor, challenging Chen Xianbei’s initial judgments. The story moves toward a climax where Chen Xianbei must decide whether to fully sever ties with Jiang Boyao and the Jiang family, or if the mysteries of the dream space will provide her with the means to rewrite her destiny entirely.