Love - hate relationships are prevalent. The 'evil husband' may have complex feelings towards the female lead. He might be cruel to her at times out of jealousy, misunderstanding, or his own dark motives, but at the same time, there is an underlying attraction or love that gradually surfaces as the story progresses.
Class differences are frequently explored. The president is usually from a wealthy and powerful upper - class background, while the female lead might be an ordinary girl. Their relationship has to overcome the barriers of different social statuses. Also, family and business intrigue are often part of the plot. There could be family members who oppose their relationship for business or family - pride reasons, which adds more drama and complexity to the story.
One common theme is regret. Often, the story may show how the protagonist or other characters regret their actions or decisions regarding their past relationship with their ex - husband. For example, they might regret not being more understanding or making a wrong choice in marriage.
Family acceptance is often a big part. In these novels, the couple in the trial marriage may face challenges from their families. Some families might be against the idea of a trial marriage, and the couple has to work hard to prove that their relationship is worthy. Also, how the two families eventually accept or adapt to the relationship is an important aspect of the story.
One well - known 'evil husband' Chinese novel could be 'Scum Villain's Self - Saving System'. In this novel, the main character has to deal with a rather complex relationship with what could be considered an 'evil husband' - like figure at times. It's a popular novel with an interesting plot that involves time travel and self - discovery within a fictional world of cultivation.
One common theme is love and commitment. The novels often explore how the husband and wife are committed to each other through different situations, whether it's facing financial difficulties or family disputes.
Heartbreak and healing are also prevalent themes. The act of saying goodbye to a husband is usually a painful one, filled with a lot of emotional turmoil. But then the story may follow the character's path to healing, whether it's through new relationships, career achievements, or self - reflection. For example, in many novels, the protagonist will go through stages of grief similar to what one experiences when losing a loved one.
A third common theme is the exploration of the human psyche behind the 'evil'. There are usually reasons why the character has become 'evil', such as a difficult past, betrayal, or a cut - throat environment they grew up in. These novels often dig into those reasons and how they affect the character's actions and decisions.
Jealousy is a common theme. The new wife might be jealous of the previous relationships her husband had, or others might be jealous of her position. For example, in many stories, the new wife is envious of the love and attention the husband's family still gives to an ex - lover or first wife.
Revenge is also frequent. If the dragon was wronged in its past life, it will seek vengeance in its new reincarnated form. This could involve taking on powerful foes or entire kingdoms. And the theme of redemption can also be there sometimes, where the so - called 'evil' dragon might find a way to turn its actions towards good in the end.
Misunderstanding is a big theme. Usually, the cruel husband's actions are misinterpreted by the heroine and the readers at first. There's also the theme of hidden vulnerability. Most of these cruel husbands are not truly evil but are hiding some sort of pain or insecurity. In 'The Duke's Dark Secret', the duke's cruel facade is hiding his fear of abandonment, which is a common trope in such novels.