Pretend to be crazy

Hush is a thrilling crime novel filled with all-villain characters. The protagonist and supporting cast wreak havoc in a sinful city, committing heinous acts and leaving readers exclaiming, “What the hell!”  In the end, everyone meets a miserable demise. Shen Yan transmigrates into the story. And becomes the protagonist’s neighbor.

The protagonist, the leader of a crime syndicate, is a god-tier maniac who single-handedly builds a team of villains, leads them in chaos, and, out of sheer boredom, orchestrates their collective downfall.  A dark twist on the “overpowered protagonist” trope. The neighbor, Shen Yan, is the protagonist’s first henchman, a fervent admirer who, under the protagonist’s influence, practically offers up his heart as a token of love. Shen Yan (closing his eyes): “Not bad.

A heart-and-soul kind of brother.”  With no money to move, he has no choice but to adapt in order to survive. As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. Shen Yan decides to emulate the protagonist’s persona to stay alive.  Are you a lunatic? Me too!  Do you hate idiots? Me too!  Do you want to destroy the world? Haha, surprise, me too! Successfully pretending to be a maniac, he becomes the protagonist’s closest friend. The protagonist brands a kiss on his hand, interlocking their fingers, his eyes deep and brimming with an unnerving fervor.

“You’re the only one worthy to stand by my side.” Later, Shen Yan saves up enough money and decisively flees. To ensure no loose ends, he betrays the lunatics and gets them locked up in Star Prison for ten thousand years.

Then he fakes his death, assumes a new identity, and sneaks off to a remote planet. After two carefree years, he sees a news broadcast where the host calmly reports an update on the Star Prison:  “On July 28th, Star Year 136, a crime syndicate led by a certain Ruan has successfully broken out of Star Prison. Citizens are advised to…” The host’s mouth keeps moving, but Shen Yan hears nothing. The protagonist hugs him from behind, resting his chin on his shoulder.

The red-haired fugitive points at Shen Yan’s wanted poster on TV and laughs loudly.  The fragile scam artist hides under the dining table, clutching Shen Yan’s ankle, trembling.  The cold arsonist pulls out a chair to sit across from him, lights the tablecloth on fire, and smiles at him through the flames. “Baby,” the protagonist murmurs, kissing Shen Yan’s temple.

“This time, how are you planning to run?” Shen Yan (surprisingly calm): “Haha, what a lively reunion!”