Introduction: When a Cheap Substitute Masterminds the Ultimate Revenge!
What would you do if you woke up one day to find yourself thrust into the world of a toxic romance manhwa, condemned to play the role of a "submissive substitute" for an ice-cold CEO for 3 years, just waiting for her to leave you and return to her first love?
This is exactly what happened to our protagonist, Lin Tiancheng. But instead of playing the role of a pitiful victim and the ultimate fool, he decided to use his intelligence and his own terms to turn the tables on everyone, transforming the CEO's and her first love's "regret" points into massive financial gains and a genius revenge story worth studying!
Story Info (Manhwa Info)
| Genres: | Drama, Romance, Revenge, Time Travel / Transmigration, Chinese Manhwa. |
| Main Characters: | Lin Tiancheng (Protagonist), Bai Ningbing (CEO), Qin Ze (First Love). |
| Core Premise: | Exploiting the "Regret System" to gain 300 million and deliver justice through a clever revenge strategy. |
Story Plot: How Did the Strategic Plan Begin?
1. Rejecting the "Doormat" Role and Negotiating the Divorce
In the beginning, the System tried to convince our protagonist to stay by the side of the toxic CEO, Bai Ningbing, and care for her after she was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) to earn regret points upon her death. However, Lin Tiancheng refused to be a spineless character.
When the CEO presented him with the divorce agreement and offered him 50 million to leave her for her first love, the handsome actor Qin Ze, the protagonist didn't hesitate. Instead, he exploited her possessive, "yandere" nature and raised the bar to demand 100 million plus a luxury villa!
2. Liquidating Assets and Setting Social Media Ablaze
As soon as the CEO left the villa, the protagonist gathered all her luxury belongings, clothes, designer bags, and even the precious chessboard given to her by the original body owner in the past, putting them all up for auction and second-hand sales to collect an additional 80 million! In just a few hours, he amassed over 180 million in his bank account.
To further provoke her and her first love, he posted a photo of the dismantled golden cage alongside the divorce agreement online. This created a massive uproar and dragged the romance rumors about her and Qin Ze to the bottom, causing the CEO's regret points to immediately shoot up to 50!
The Masterful Trap: Forcing "Qin Ze" into Marriage and Unmasking the Truth
1. Returning to Acting and the Set Confrontation
The protagonist decided to return to acting and joined the same drama in which Qin Ze and CEO Bai were investing. On set, he appeared with the same charm and elegance he had 3 years ago, triggering the CEO's memories and deepening her regret and nostalgia for the past.
Despite Qin Ze's constant harassment and use of set equipment to bully the protagonist—including suspending him on stunt wires—the protagonist turned these situations to his advantage to make the CEO's feelings even more complex, filling her with guilt and an unhealthy obsession with him.
2. The Surprise Marriage Trap and Medical Disaster
The protagonist provoked Qin Ze, pushing him to rush into proposing to Bai Ningbing before the divorce grace period ended. Desperate to seal the deal, Qin Ze staged a grand public proposal in front of the press and fan groups to embarrass the CEO and force her to officially sign the marriage certificate.
However, the ultimate surprise occurred right after the marriage document was signed! CEO Bai Ningbing collapsed to the ground, completely paralyzed as a result of her worsening ALS, and was rushed to the hospital under the watchful eye of the media!
The End of the Double Mask: Eternal Regret and Psychological Ruin
At the hospital, Qin Ze realized he had fallen into a catastrophic trap: he had married a terminally ill woman who would require millions in medical care and completely ruin his rising acting career, while her company shares were frozen in a trust fund!
Then came the decisive moment: our protagonist, Lin Tiancheng, entered the ward and feigned heartbreak, grief, and tears in front of the paralyzed CEO (who could hear everything despite being unable to speak). He declared that he had loved her sincerely and sacrificed his own happiness for her, while Qin Ze revealed his true colors as a greedy, ruthless individual screaming, cursing, and searching for a way to escape and get a divorce!
Game Outcome: The CEO's regret points soared to 80+, after realizing the true betrayal of her first love and the pure, sincere devotion of the protagonist she had abandoned, while Qin Ze faced the legal, social, and psychological ruin he truly deserved!
Watch the Full Manhwa Recap Video on YouTube
If you prefer following the events with audio and visual details to enjoy the full drama, you can watch the complete video from our YouTube channel via the player below:
Conclusion & Your Opinion Matters!
This was the story of one of the most exciting and clever Chinese manhwas dealing with the "revenge and regret" trope. What do you think of Lin Tiancheng's actions? Did CEO Bai and Qin Ze deserve their fate?
Share your thoughts and impressions with us in the comments section below, and don't forget to share this article with your fellow manhwa and anime fans!