Chapter 1

Rebirth: Resigned to Fate Author: Eight Lord Party [Complete + Extras]

Synopsis

Everyone knew that Gu Chen was a vain, profit-driven lackey who loved currying favor, sucking up to others, and clinging to powerful thighs wherever he could find them. For the slightest benefit, he was willing to come at a summons and leave at a dismissal, without a shred of backbone. He stood in stark contrast to his younger brother, Gu Xiu.

Gu Chen could not understand it. All he wanted was to live a slightly better life, so why had he ended up mocked and tormented by everyone, finally breaking down and killing himself? Only after his death did Gu Chen learn that he was merely a supporting character in a Mary Sue novel. Gu Xiu was the protagonist. He was nothing more than a green leaf meant to set off the flower.

When he opened his eyes again, Gu Chen had returned to ten years ago. He and Gu Xiu had just left the mountains and entered university. This time, he would stay farther away from those plot characters.

He was not as likable as Gu Xiu. He accepted his fate.

He would no longer curry favor with anyone. He would simply keep his head down and work ruthlessly, forging himself into the thickest thigh of all.

Much later, the accomplished and renowned President Gu was interviewed on television.

Reporter: "President Gu, what motivated you to start your business?"

Gu Chen: "No one liked me, and no one recognized my talent. I could only work hard on my own."

The plot characters: "...Bullshit!"

Friendly reminder:

1. This is a fictional alternate world and parallel dimension.

2. The entire story pampers the male lead, and there will be lots and lots and lots of melodrama. Important things must be said three times.

3. Go for satisfying, addictive plot; forget logic and intelligence.

4. This is neither a business war novel nor a realistic one. Every plot point exists to serve the male lead, mwah.

5. The author has completely let herself go and truly has no intention of being a decent human being anymore. So yes, it is especially melodramatic. Another reminder.

Tags: Rebirth, face-slapping, inspirational life, feel-good story

Search keywords: Protagonist: Gu Chen ┃ Supporting characters: ┃ Other:

One-sentence summary: Mountains may collapse when leaned on, water may flow away when relied upon; becoming your own domineering CEO is best.

Theme: A cannon-fodder male supporting character must strive to become strong.

Review:

After being reborn ten years in the past, Gu Chen unexpectedly learned that he was a cannon-fodder supporting character in a Mary Sue novel. Every insult and scorn he had suffered existed only to highlight the Mary Sue protagonist's innocence, purity, and naivety. Given another life, Gu Chen resolved to stay away from the plot characters and live his own life well. Yet the plot halo forced him to follow the script of his previous life. Then an accident led Gu Chen to discover that gaining fame could ward off the plot halo. To completely escape the plot's control, Gu Chen ultimately decided to study hard, start his own business, and work to forge himself into the thickest golden thigh. This was a story of self-redemption and tireless struggle. To earn genuine respect and recognition, one must work hard to improve one's own strength rather than place one's hopes in outside forces. As long as one was strong within and earnestly managed one's life, even in a flat plot-driven world, one could still live a rich, multidimensional life.

Chapter 1

The water in the bathtub was cold. Gu Chen lay submerged in the icy water, feeling unusually at peace. Tears slid silently down his cheeks. This time, at last, no one was left to condemn him or mock him without restraint.

He had once been heaven's favored son, the pride of his entire family, and the example village neighbors used to teach their children. But he did not know when he had become synonymous with vanity, hypocrisy, affectation, and a collapsed public image. Everyone looked down on him. They cursed him for being profit-driven, for groveling before the rich, for bowing and scraping without backbone, for being a lackey at the side of wealthy second-generation heirs. They cursed him for not knowing his place, for exploiting the fact that his family had adopted Gu Xiu all those years ago and demanding benefits every day in repayment. They cursed him for sharpening his head and forcing his way into high society, even dreaming of entering Ling Group to fight Gu Xiu for the family fortune.

Bucket after bucket of filth had been dumped over him, until those people had cursed him into utter squalor. But who knew that, in the beginning, Gu Chen had only wanted to make his life a little easier? He had wanted to pull strings to find a good job, to earn more money, to bring his parents to the big city so they could enjoy an easier life. Yet in the end, his company went bankrupt, his parents died in a car accident, and his family was destroyed.

It could finally end!

Gu Chen curled up and closed his eyes wearily. He was so tired. At last, he would not have to keep holding on.

"Gu Chen! Gu Chen! Wake up! We're here."

In his daze, Gu Chen felt someone gently pushing him. His eyelids trembled as he struggled to open his eyes. Blinding sunlight streamed in through the bus window. Gu Chen blinked, and Gu Xiu's youthful, handsome face came into view.

"Stop spacing out. We're here. Get off already." As Gu Xiu urged him, he had Gu Chen pull the woven sack down from the luggage rack on the bus.

Gu Chen's mind was still foggy, and he instinctively did as Gu Xiu said. The heavy woven sack was beyond his expectations. Unable to bear its weight, Gu Chen let the rustic sack crash heavily onto the floor of the bus, sending up a cloud of dust. The freshmen and parents inside covered their noses and mouths in disgust as they shot him sidelong looks.

Perhaps noticing how irritating this was to others, Gu Xiu gave an embarrassed smile and bowed to apologize to the people around him. When the handsome young man smiled, he looked refined and gentle, like a spring breeze. His apologetic voice was like a clear spring. The freshmen who had been disgusted just moments ago brightened at once, instantly conquered by the boy's looks.

"Why are you still standing there? Did you get muddled from sleeping?" When Gu Xiu turned around and saw Gu Chen still standing motionlessly in the aisle, he could not help shoving him again. "Put the luggage on your back and get off. Don't block the aisle and keep others from walking."

Gu Chen's head was still spinning. Tugged along by Gu Xiu, he floated off the bus on unsteady feet. The roaring clamor and lively scene of freshmen registering for school crashed into his vision, gradually merging with the faded, sealed memories in his mind. It was as though even those long-buried memories had come alive again.

—It was not as though. They truly had come alive.

Gu Chen stared wide-eyed at everything around him. A banner reading "Welcome New Students" hung over the school gate. Teachers from every department and student volunteers welcoming newcomers had set up large umbrellas at the entrance. Gu Xiu poked Gu Chen and reminded him for the third time, "Go find out where the Management Department is and hurry up to register. What's wrong with you today? Why are you acting so dazed?"

Gu Chen came back to himself. He stared blankly at Gu Xiu.