3.5

A story about a musician who wakes up in a world where music and culture in general has been stagnant for at least a few decades. It's quite interesting and well written, I liked them slowly getting together and hanging out with the kid.

I very much recommend you don't listen to any of the tracks anyone sings (unless you love Chinese ballads). I wish I hadn't, because those I checked were all extremely generic and dull Chinese state approved ballads with like 1990s midi-pianos. Would've been fine if it wasn't... more>> hyped up as like the best songs ever. Maybe it's awesome to the people who like it, but to me it just feels like someone reincarnating and being like "the best music I can share with this world is One Direction" and everyone of all ages go apesh*t because all they've heard for the last few decades is two rocks being hit together and someone scream-singing "I AM A BIG TREE!" or whatever.

It was good that it ended when it did, because it was starting to become obvious the author didn't really know where to go from there. The writing was starting to become more dull than it had been. <<less

I'm the translator.

The story begins with the protagonist waking up in a parallel world, inhabiting the body of someone who shares his name and face. While he was a 30-year-old bachelor in his original life, his counterpart in this world is a 24-year-old ex-boy band member — an alcoholic, full of resentment, and a married man with a child.

From the moment the protagonist opens his eyes in this world, things are a mess. The family is nearly broke, and his wife has just mustered the courage to leave. It was... more>> a turning point in all their lives.

Disgusted by the original owner's actions, the protagonist immediately sets out to make things right. His goal is simple: give a better life to the wife and daughter — even if he doesn't believe he deserves their forgiveness.

The premise is similar to that movie (where the Beatles never existed). The new world was similar Earth in many ways but lags quite behind in entertainment. The protagonist begins releasing songs that were popular in his world and quickly skyrocket to fame.

Main Characters:

Gu Xingyi, the protagonist: A songwriter in his previous life, and in this one, a former idol whose career ended due to his relationship with Xia Xiyao. His fall from fame turned him bitter and abusive. Though not his fault, the new Gu Xingyi carries the guilt of the past and is determined to atone and provide a better life for his family — even if it means walking away in the end.

Xia Xiyao, the heroine: A once-popular singer who gave up everything for love and received only years of torment in return. She's gentle and soft-spoken, but she carries deep emotional scars, which begins to heal as she witnesses Gu Xingyi's sincerity and transformation. Fiercely protective of her daughter.

Nainai, their three-year-old daughter: A bundle of cuteness. She's the emotional core of the story — the bridge that gradually reconnects her estranged parents. She's the true MVP of the story.

Spoiler

The story ends a bit abruptly — not rushed, but at a natural breaking point after a major event. The author explained they didn't feel confident dragging the story on longer while keeping it engaging.

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Overall, while not perfect and having the Chinese webnovel's troupes of: arrogant villain characters and over dramatization of things, I liked it a lot, personally. And it's my second time reading it, now that I'm translating it.

It does not have nationalism nor does it have cultivation or systems. It's just a simple slice of life story of a guy who reaches the top using the advantage of his previous life's knowledge. <<less