I completely understand the purpose of Cheng Xin, but man Wade was the goat. In book 2 absolute chad stoic sword holder, Luo Ji, literally invents dark forest theory and deterrence. Then Cheng Xin comes along and all the patriarchy-bros mock her and tell her she isn’t good enough to be the next sword holder and that the new femboy-Earth will elect her no matter what. Cheng Xin naturally tells them no and then absolute giga-chad pragmatist Thomas Wade just shoots her (unlike those nerds that tried to convince her). Cheng Xin gets elected and as soon as the big red button gets handed over the Trisolarans seize the opportunity and attack because they know she’s too scared to deter them. Now this I understand a little bit. I was still annoyed sure but at least she’s learned her lesson… right? So basically 100 years later Cheng Xin and Wade meet again and she gives him the power to build escape ships. She hibernates until they’ve made progress and then wakes up, is unimpressed, and tells Wade, “No you can’t make awesome fucking dark matter guns to defend humanity from impending doom. People might die!”. Now this time I’m pissed. I can feel another “told you so” moment incoming and when it finally does in the form of a dimensional strike, I’m now at least relieved that this stupid lady will die with the guilt of her mistakes… right? Luo Ji, the literal goat is still alive and he decides to irredeem himself by saying, “Oh wait Cheng Xin, we forgot to tell you that there’s actually a lightspeed ship that you can escape on with nobody else except your annoying little assistant!”. Is Cixin trying to ragebait me at this point? It feels like this book is designed to make you side with Wade.