Chapter 33: Trampling the Harem Protagonist (7)

Shen Yu was stunned on the spot. Clearly, Yan Yi was speaking Chinese, and he understood every single word she said. But why, when put together, did he not understand her meaning? What did she mean by “not liking another man’s name appearing next to Xia Xiaoshi’s”? And what did she mean by “Xia Xiaoshi is her girlfriend”?

How much money did Xia Xiaoshi give Yan Yi to make her say something like this? Whatever it was, Shen Yu would pay double.

Unwilling to give up, Shen Yu wanted to ask Yan Yi a few more questions, but her cool and elegant figure had already merged into the crowd, chatting and laughing with others. He had no choice but to drop it. Given his current status and the fact that he had lost many fans after confirming his relationship, he needed to be even more mindful of his behavior, maintaining distance from female celebrities to avoid giving his rivals any ammunition to smear him.

Still, after thinking about it all night, Shen Yu couldn’t figure it out—just what kind of relationship did Yan Yi and Xia Xiaoshi have now?

They had only collaborated on two dramas, yet Yan Yi was willing to stand up for Xia Xiaoshi, making up such an outrageous lie to deceive him?

Could it be that Xia Xiaoshi had used some kind of sweet talk to tarnish his image in front of Yan Yi?

Yan Yi had already achieved her main goal for the evening. After the event, she directly got into her nanny van, still wearing her silver-white, shimmering slit gown. Passing by a dessert shop, she suddenly spoke, and the driver pulled over, looking back. “Miss Yan?”

Yan Yi looked at the dessert shop. “Please buy me a few things.”

The driver quickly returned with what Yan Yi had requested. Once she entered her apartment complex, she let her hair down, the rhinestone tassel earrings glimmering faintly in the night. Ignoring others’ gazes, she pressed the button for Yu Liuxue’s floor, then entered the passcode and walked straight in.

After Yan Yi left for the event, Yu Liuxue had been lounging around, watching a melodramatic drama while ranting about it, yet still enjoying it thoroughly. Midway through, an idea struck her. “If there were a script this dramatic, I would definitely want to act in it!”

“Tragic love, rekindled romance, forced kisses, domineering pursuits—aren’t these tailor-made for me?”

The system was utterly unbothered, even contemplating shutting itself down.

“If Shen Yu can act in such low-effort dramas and gain fans purely with his looks, why can’t I?”

The system responded perfunctorily, “Because, Host, you gain fans through your acting skills and exceptional makeup techniques. Your level is higher than the male lead’s.”

That made a lot of sense.

Yu Liuxue was only halfway through watching when Yan Yi returned. Casually setting down her tablet, she immediately jumped up from the couch, barefoot, and pounced into Yan Yi’s radiant embrace.

She looked up at Yan Yi’s deep, exquisite features with starry eyes. Her fair, delicate skin was flawless, and after dressing up, her usual cool demeanor was even more strikingly beautiful. Yu Liuxue was practically mesmerized.

Wrapping her arms around Yan Yi’s waist, she leaned against her flat stomach, beaming. “You’re back.”

Yan Yi nodded and handed her the small dessert. “You’ve been craving these for days. I saw the shop on my way home.”

Yu Liuxue glanced at the treats but quickly looked away, her gaze fixated on Yan Yi. “The thing I crave most is you.”

Yan Yi’s long lashes fluttered slightly as she blinked. Her starry eyes held a hint of amusement. Setting the dessert aside, she smoothly lifted Yu Liuxue into her arms and pressed her down onto the couch. Her dark, silky hair cascaded down, carrying a faint, elegant perfume.

Her red lips parted slightly. “Xiaoshi, when should we go public?”

Huh?

Yu Liuxue froze. “You want to go public?”

Yan Yi’s eyes narrowed slightly as she lazily countered, “You don’t?”

“I do, I do,” Yu Liuxue swore. If she dared say “no” at this moment, Yan Yi would definitely not let her off easily tonight. She eagerly wrapped her arms around Yan Yi’s neck, kissing her lips a few times like a little puppy before blinking innocently. “I just want to announce it at the perfect time.”

Yan Yi was displeased with this answer, so she promptly pinned Yu Liuxue down on the couch and “bullied” her thoroughly.

With red-rimmed eyes, Yu Liuxue knelt on the couch and whispered to the system, “This is too hard. I have to get an SSS-grade mission rating while also managing my girlfriend’s emotions.”

The system, now completely numb, activated its do-not-disturb mode. “Didn’t you choose this yourself?”

“Isn’t this exactly what you like?”

Fair point.

Every time she seduced the female lead, it was—

Pleasure mixed with pain.

Yan Yi was relentless this time, and when Yu Liuxue reached the pinnacle of bliss, trembling all over in perfect harmony with the universe, she gasped for breath and weakly pressed against Yan Yi’s hand, pitifully begging for mercy. “If you keep going, tomorrow’s headlines will be ‘Yu Liuxue Dies in Bed at the Hands of Her Own Wife’!”

Yan Yi paused for a moment, then smirked. “I’ll make sure to get you to the hospital in time.”

No way! If the entire hospital found out she had been “done in” by Yan Yi and ended up in the emergency room, where would her dignity go?

Finally showing mercy, Yan Yi let her off the hook. But the moment Yu Liuxue recovered, she eagerly snuggled up to Yan Yi again, resting her head on her arm and hugging her waist.

“Yan Yi.”

“Hmm?”

“I want to act in a Mary Sue idol drama like Shen Yu’s.”

“…”

Both Fiery Passion and The Inner Palace had wrapped filming, and fans and netizens alike were eagerly anticipating both series. During filming, Shen Yu had nearly suffered a severe injury that could have been fatal. While fans and gossip lovers sympathized, they were also curious—just what kind of drama was this, to be so dangerous that it nearly cost a life?

Yet, to this day, the production team had only released a brief synopsis, keeping all other details tightly under wraps.

The latter refers to last summer’s blockbuster drama Pampered Wife on Top, in which the two leads went from lovers to rivals in a thrilling and intense palace drama. It was said that the scenes between Yan Yi and Xia Xiaoshi were electrifying, a true battlefield of emotions. If one’s psychological endurance isn’t strong, it’s best not to watch alone—otherwise, the intense drama might make their toes curl and heartbeat race.

This kind of uniquely intriguing marketing immediately piqued the curiosity of bystanders. Just how intense could the drama be for someone in the production team to risk potential legal action by anonymously leaking information online?

Anticipation for both dramas was sky-high, so when The Inner Palace and Fiery Passion announced their simultaneous premiere on July 1st, the gossip-loving crowd went wild.

“Xia Xiaoshi and Shen Yu must really love each other deeply. Are they planning to spend their whole lives entangled in this grudge, refusing to let each other go? I’ve been following celebrity gossip for years, but I’ve never seen an ex-couple in the entertainment industry go after each other like this.”

“Shen Yu is the scumbag of the century! If I were Xia Xiaoshi, having given him popularity, money, and power, only to be kicked aside afterward, I’d be furious enough to hire a hitman to castrate him.”

“Fiery Passion is about to air! Everyone, please support Shen Yu’s new drama!”

“Marketing accounts, shut up! And a certain male celebrity with the surname Shen, stop trying to leech off my Xiaoshi’s fame. She’s far above you. You don’t deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as her.”

Shen Yu’s fans were fuming. High above? Pfft! Wasn’t it just luck that Xia Xiaoshi landed a hit drama? Shen Yu had starred in multiple blockbusters already. In terms of status, her so-called “master” wasn’t even fit to carry his shoes.

As July 1st approached, Fiery Passion finally released its trailer. Amid blazing flames and thick smoke, the sun shone harshly. Even covered in blood, Shen Yu’s strikingly handsome face remained undiminished. A woman knelt beside him, treating his wounds. He watched her quietly, his eyes filled with nothing but her—only her.

She was completely focused, oblivious to his actions until a gentle, lingering kiss landed on her forehead.

“After victory, I will marry you.”

Shen Yu’s fans flooded Weibo with excitement:

“Our Shen Yu is too handsome!”
“So dreamy! Shen Yu, marry me instead—I’m ready!”
“Oh my god, this drama looks so sweet! I can’t wait for July 1st!”
“My idol is the ultimate domineering CEO. If we’re talking about leading men in romance dramas, isn’t Shen Yu the blueprint?”

Yan Yi, expressionless, closed the video. “Greasy.”

Yu Liuxue: “…?” Did she not realize that Shen Yu was almost his official pairing? And now, she was disgusted by him?

“Right, right, I was thinking the same thing.” Yu Liuxue shamelessly agreed.

Yan Yi shot her a glance, then casually wrapped an arm around her. “Are you sure you really want to act in such a greasy, cliché Mary Sue drama?”

Yu Liuxue nodded solemnly. “Actually, this has always been my dream.”

“I want to act in a story where I’m forcefully kissed and pinned down by a domineering CEO, followed by a heart-wrenching, tragic love story. We love each other but are kept apart by endless obstacles, forced to gaze at each other from a distance like the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, each suffering in our own pain.” She blinked. “Don’t you think that sounds exciting?”

Yan Yi: “…”

“Exciting.”

“Wasn’t the bed scene in Pampered Wife on Top enough for you?”

That drama was already full of dog-blooded, over-the-top Mary Sue romance tropes!

Yu Liuxue immediately came up with an excuse. “I want to act in a modern version.”

Yan Yi silently picked up a book from behind Yu Liuxue. Staring at the colorful, melodramatic cover, he felt like his own expression was just as spectacular as it.

“From now on, you’re not allowed to read this kind of ridiculous garbage.”

Yu Liuxue hesitated. “That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think? These melodramatic plots are my spiritual sustenance. Without them, my life would be tasteless, joyless, and short-lived…”

“Then you might as well die in bed.”

The system: “…?” What kind of predatory dialogue was that?!

Was this world’s female lead even more shameless than the previous ones? Could it be that its selection system was malfunctioning?

After Fiery Passion released its trailer, The Inner Palace soon followed, premiering on the Xia Entertainment’s streaming platform. Within an hour, the trailer had exceeded 200 million views. Given the immense anticipation, Xia Zhengtian took a hands-on approach, personally overseeing the editing process. The moment he spotted any imperfection, he would bark, “Fix it!”

After months of this, the editors flinched at the mere sound of the word “fix”, some even considering hanging themselves from the rafters.

With the CEO’s meticulous supervision, not only was the trailer flawless, but the final cut of the drama was also exceptionally refined, with stunning cinematography and perfectly matched music. The fast-paced plot and immersive experience had viewers on the edge of their seats. Moreover, The Inner Palace carried over Pampered Wife on Top’s visual aesthetics—every single frame was wallpaper-worthy.

Fans were beyond satisfied after watching the trailer:

“A Xia Entertainment production is always top-tier! The costumes and styling in The Inner Palace are fantastic—I’m so impressed! Xia Xiaoshi’s makeup is stunning! She looked simply fresh and sweet in the last drama, but here, she’s strikingly gorgeous and full of character. You can recognize her at a glance.”

“I need a tutorial on the female lead’s makeup! And the outfits! When will Xia Xiaoshi star in a modern drama? I want to copy her looks!”

“Ahhh! Yan Yi exudes gentle authority, while Xia Xiaoshi is bold yet charming. Why are they so shippable?! Just let them be together already! Why must they, once master and disciple, now lovers, end up hurting each other?”

Overall, The Inner Palace’s buzz was even greater than Fiery Passion. Within 48 hours, both trailers surpassed 1 billion views. With the full episodes yet to air, it was still uncertain which drama would soar and which would flop.

Seeing that Shen Yu was about to use an idol drama to redeem his reputation, successfully reach the pinnacle of life, become a CEO, and marry a rich and beautiful woman, Yu Liuxue raised her small hand and said, “The news can be released now.”

Yu Dongliang received the order and immediately directed the marketing accounts the company had nurtured last year to simultaneously release the press release—

“Xia Xiaoshi and Shen Yu spotted at the Civil Affairs Bureau, suspected to have secretly registered their marriage.”

Boom!

At this critical moment, when all eyes were on them, any small movement from the lead actors of both dramas would attract immense attention. With Yu Dongliang and other interested parties pushing the news, it directly caused Weibo to crash. After a tearful struggle to restore the servers, a Weibo programmer slumped weakly in his chair.

“When will these two finally settle down?”

“What did I just see? Am I hallucinating from lack of sleep? Xia Xiaoshi and Shen Yu got married? Aren’t they currently in a life-and-death, never-ending grudge match?”

“Marketing accounts are spreading rumors again! You bastards won’t die a good death!”

“Maybe they registered their marriage long ago but later divorced due to some incident, turning them from spouses into sworn enemies.”

“Two years ago? Wasn’t Shen Yu involved in a scandal back then? Do you guys remember? At that time, Shen Yu and Li Nuolin were filming in the same crew, and many staff members revealed online that he and Li Nuolin were acting intimately, more like a couple than just ordinary friends.”

“So, does this mean Shen Yu cheated during his marriage?”

Li Nuolin had also played a role in pushing Shen Yu onto the trending list, but she never expected the fire to spread to herself. What panicked her even more was that the internet suddenly exploded with a massive amount of evidence directly proving her inappropriate closeness with Shen Yu.

Li Nuolin immediately called her studio, “Get the trending topic down now! No matter the cost!”

The staff hesitated. “Sister Li, you know how popular Shen Yu is. Lowering a trending topic right now is nearly impossible. We can only wait for the heat to subside on its own or… divert attention with another issue.”

Li Nuolin made a swift decision. “Alright, handle it.”

Her contact with Shen Yu had already lessened this year. The reason was simple—she was bored of him. Recently, she had taken in a new internet celebrity younger than Shen Yu, more charming, and with less fame, making him easier to control. That influencer wanted to break into the entertainment industry, so he latched onto Li Nuolin. With the Li family backing her and abundant resources at her disposal, she didn’t mind giving her little lover a few favors.

She had originally planned to cut ties with Shen Yu at some point, but before she could act, this massive incident erupted.

Yan Yi set down his phone, his gaze calm. Yu Liuxue shifted aside guiltily and murmured, “If I say…”

“This has nothing to do with me, would you believe it?”

Yan Yi looked at her quietly. “What do you think?”

Yu Liuxue’s heart pounded. After thinking it over, she decided her life was more important. She immediately threw herself into Yan Yi’s arms and confessed, “Yan Yi, I really like you. Back then, I was cruelly deceived by Shen Yu, completely kept in the dark, and even attacked by his fans…”

Yan Yi silenced her with a kiss, stopping whatever she was about to say next.

“I’m not angry,” he sighed almost imperceptibly. “I just don’t want you to keep things from me.”

“If you want to punish him, I can have him blacklisted immediately.”

Yu Liuxue’s eyes welled with tears of gratitude. “Yan Yi, you’re the best.”

“But just blacklisting him is too easy.” Yu Liuxue lowered her eyes, gently leaning against Yan Yi’s shoulder. “I want him to experience the same pain and humiliation I once endured.”

“Alright, as you wish.”

“But a death sentence is avoidable—hardship is not. You understand what I mean, right?”

Yu Liuxue: “……” I don’t really want to understand.

Shen Yu sat in his company’s office with a cold expression, unreadable emotions. Meanwhile, his manager and the PR team were running around in panic. Compared to them, Shen Yu remained unnaturally calm. Maybe it was because he had long anticipated this situation. Now that it was actually happening, he felt no fear—only a strange sense of relief.

It was like finally bursting a festering abscess. Once the pus drained out, it no longer posed any threat to him.

And the wound would slowly heal with time.

However, this scandal broke out just as his new drama was about to premiere. Perhaps he had underestimated Xia Xiaoshi’s resolve.

Online sentiment immediately turned against him. The marketing accounts under Yu Dongliang’s control dug up all the people who had viciously insulted Xia Xiaoshi back then. Yu Liuxue had deliberately saved those old comments and Weibo posts for this exact moment. Years ago, those posts had received tens of thousands of comments, nearly all of them filled with abuse. Shen Yu’s fans had acted so atrociously that even neutral bystanders were angered.

Soon, “Shen Yu Fans’ Behavior” was also pushed onto the trending list—paid for by Yu Liuxue.

Anyone who clicked on the topic would see the vicious comments and overwhelming hate. It was shocking.

All the girls scrolling through the posts wondered: why, at such a young age, could they say such horrible things to another girl who had nothing to do with them?

Xia Zhengtian was furious. He immediately had the company’s legal team sue several leading cyberbullies who had harassed his daughter. A court date was set, and Xia Zhengtian personally attended the trial, watching coldly as those who had harmed his daughter faced legal consequences.

“Our little Xiaoshi has suffered too much.”

Overnight, Xia Xiaoshi became the nation’s darling. Everyone pitied her past experiences and admired her quiet resilience over the past two years.

As a seasoned businessman, Xia Zhengtian was also well-versed in kicking people while they were down. He promptly had the media release a report:

“According to sources, before signing the contract for Emperor Wu of Han, Shen Yu suddenly unilaterally requested to terminate his contract with the company. It is reported that Shen Yu’s per-episode salary for Emperor Wu of Han was ten million…”

This news was practically pouring fuel on the fire, reigniting the controversy that had just started to cool down. Netizens exploded with outrage, cursing,

“So Shen Yu is an ungrateful traitor? The moment he got famous, he wanted to go solo. The Xia family gave him the best resources, spared no effort in cultivating him, and directly pushed him to the top. And what did he do? He turned around and kicked his benefactors away, trampling on their daughter in the process!”

“I feel so bad for my little Persimmon. Not only did that scumbag ruin her and subject her to fan attacks and curses, but she also ended up with severe depression.”

Over the past few days, Shen Yu’s reputation had taken a steep nosedive.

Aydin Entertainment could no longer sit still and immediately released a PR statement to counterattack.

“According to insiders, Shen Yu’s revenue split at Xia Entertainment was actually 30-70…”

Xia Zhengtian, wealthy and domineering, retaliated with an army of internet trolls.

“What’s wrong with a 30-70 split? Isn’t that the standard deal for new talents these days? Some rookies wait months after signing before even landing a minor role as cannon fodder or a supporting character, while Shen Yu walked into Xia Entertainment and landed lead roles immediately. What more does he want?”

“That’s only because Shen Yu was dating Xia Xiaoshi!”

“But Shen Yu cheated on her with Li Nuolin while they were married!”

The situation turned into a chaotic mess of intertwined scandals. One moment, it was about the feud between Xia Xiaoshi and Shen Yu. The next, it was about the battle between Shen Yu and Xia Entertainment. And then, it escalated into a corporate war between Xia Entertainment and Aydin Entertainment.

Just when the drama seemed to settle, Li Nuolin got dragged into the mix.

Her expression shifted through a spectrum of emotions, looking like a painter’s color palette. She just wanted to quietly cuddle with her little wolfdog boyfriend and shoot her scenes in peace!

After some thought, she went to her studio and instructed, “Release a PR statement saying Xia Xiaoshi and Yan Yi have an ambiguous relationship…”

That night, Yan Yi’s fans were utterly confused when they saw her trending.

“What happened to our goddess? She’s been chilling at home doing nothing lately!”

Clicking in—

Oh, ‘ambiguous relationship’? Pfft, haven’t they already acted out dozens of bed scenes together? Big deal.”

Somehow, the biggest winners of this whole drama ended up being Yan Yi and Yu Liuxue. Because of this gossip, people revisited Pampered Wife on Top, and the drama’s rating skyrocketed to 9.5.

Not only that, but the increased buzz around Yan Yi and Yu Liuxue also fueled anticipation for The Inner Palace.

“They were so sweet in Pampered Wife on Top. But what if they play love rivals? Or even sworn enemies? That would be insane!”

Li Nuolin was so frustrated she almost coughed up blood.

Meanwhile, Yu Liuxue, holding her phone in confusion, nudged Yan Yi’s ankle with her toe.

“Hey, do you think I was born to be famous? This whole situation twisted and turned a hundred times, yet the benefits still landed on me in the end.”

Yan Yi calmly unwrapped a candy and fed it to her. “Mhm.”

Yu Liuxue squinted happily. “Nice.”

Then Yan Yi suddenly asked, “Since the fans already think so, when should we go public?”

Yu Liuxue: “…” Can’t we just secretly date in peace?

In the original novel, you and the male lead never even officially announced anything. Why are you in such a hurry now?

She dodged, “In a few days. I don’t think the timing is right yet…”

Sure.

So, naturally, Yu Liuxue ended up getting pinned down on the bed by Yan Yi again.

Tears welled up in Yu Liuxue’s eyes as she clutched the bedsheet. I’m so doomed.

The scandal about Shen Yu’s infidelity refused to die down until July 1st arrived—the broadcast date for The Inner Palace and Fiery Passion.

Netizens groaned collectively.

“I didn’t study for my finals again this time.”

“Same. Praying to the exam gods not to fail me.”

“I swear Xia Xiaoshi and Shen Yu are doing this on purpose! Every time, they stir up drama right before finals, baiting us into eating melons instead of studying, so we all fail!”

Yu Liuxue took the blame for that one.

At 8 PM sharp, eager fans sat in front of their TVs, while those without TVs huddled around their phones.

Half of them opened The Inner Palace, the other half opened Fiery Passion, and the true multitaskers? They watched both at the same time—one on the phone, one on the TV.

As the commercials ended, the main content began.

The Inner Palace opened with a striking scene: a stunning young woman cracking a whip, disciplining servants. Her features were elegant and gorgeous, with a hint of youthful inexperience that only emphasized her fiery, untamed beauty.

The fans’ hearts collectively clenched. “Holy—she’s this ruthless right from the start?! Our baby was just a clueless, squishy dumpling in her last drama!”

The progress bar inched forward. Then, the empress, played by Yan Yi, made her entrance.

Behind her trailed a legion of attendants. The spectacle was grand. She was adorned in gold and jewels, draped in layers of exquisite fabrics. The imperial yellow of her tailored empress gown accentuated her unmatched beauty, radiating an aura of absolute authority.

The audience gasped in unison.

“Yan Yi is unreal!”

“The costume department is god-tier! Xia Entertainment productions never disappoint!”

Within the first three minutes, the two female leads met face to face.

One in imperial yellow, poised and regal.

One in soft pink, lively and arrogant.

Consort Ling was outspoken and defiant, even before the empress. Yet, instead of being annoying, she was irresistibly straightforward and charming.

“Ahhh, I’m doomed! I love Sisi too much! I can’t even bring myself to hate Consort Ling!”

“Consort Ling and the Empress are both so stunning! Even the background characters and extras are ridiculously good-looking! I, Wang Er Mazi, swear that I’ll follow this drama to the very end for the visuals alone!”

“I heard the CEO of Xia Entertainment personally supervised the editing of this show. Xia Xiaoshi is so lucky—her dad spoils her so much!”

“Lucky? If it weren’t for Shen Yu, our little Persimmon could have lived a peaceful, happy life! No cheating, no cyberbullying, no need to enter the entertainment industry at all! With her makeup skills, she could’ve easily supported herself. She had talent, loving parents, and a carefree life waiting for her!”

“Can we just focus on watching the drama? Don’t bring up Shen Yu and ruin the mood.”

The plot continued, and when fans saw Consort Ling provoking the Empress over and over again, only for the Empress to effortlessly deflect every scheme and turn them back on Consort Ling, some of them actually started having the absurd thought: “These two are so cute together. They make such a great pair.”

“I’m done for. ‘Pampered Wife on Top’ has brainwashed me too deeply—I completely feel like these two women are flirting.”

“What a coincidence, me too.”

Yu Liuxue: “…?”

Flirting? Do you people even know how hard it was for Yan Yi and me to act opposite each other back then? I was tortured by her to the point of foaming at the mouth every day—I almost ascended to the afterlife!

Yan Yi seized the opportunity to ask, “And how’s the timing now?”

System: 【This is the first time I’ve seen a strong, spoiled female lead so eager to officially become the host’s partner.】

The first two episodes of The Inner Palace, which premiered on July 1st, generated high discussion and popularity. At the same time, it also reignited conversations about the previous drama the two actresses had starred in together. Whether it was the costumes, styling, makeup, or the pacing of The Inner Palace, everything was impeccable. Even casual viewers found themselves highly satisfied, teetering on the edge of falling into the fandom.

By contrast, Fiery Passion fell just a little short.

Sure, it was addictive and sweet—very sweet. But being a lighthearted romance drama, its plot was inherently weaker. Even though Fiery Passion was better than many similar shows, Shen Yu’s past cheating scandal made it impossible for some viewers to immerse themselves in the story or appreciate the romantic and swoon-worthy moments.

Whenever they saw Shen Yu’s face, they couldn’t help but recall his smirking expression and that infamous line: “Wanna date? The kind where I dump you the moment I get what I want, then encourage my fans to verbally abuse you and curse your existence.”

Yu Liuxue slowly compared the data of the two dramas and sighed, “What a shame. But I have to hand it to the male lead—even after such a huge controversy, his advantage hasn’t been significantly diminished.”

The system consoled her: 【The female lead starring alongside him is also quite popular. Host, you’ve already done very well.】

Yu Liuxue smirked. “Of course.”

System: 【…Honestly, I don’t think you need my comfort. You’ll eat well, drink well, and sleep soundly regardless.】

For the entire summer, The Inner Palace and Fiery Passion dominated online discussions. Since Fiery Passion was a short drama, its updates were deliberately paced out. Meanwhile, The Inner Palace was a long-form palace intrigue drama, airing two episodes a day, fourteen episodes a week, completely unafraid of burning through content. The hardworking bird gets the worm, and The Inner Palace stayed at the top of trending discussions daily, stirring up intense debate.

Among the hottest topics was how some hardcore fans were “shipping” Consort Ling and the Empress in their rivalry scenes. Even Yu Liuxue, as one of the actresses involved, was genuinely impressed by their imagination. They can ship this too?

Truly remarkable.

The second most discussed topic was Consort Ling’s makeup.

Yu Liuxue had already finished filming, but she hadn’t recorded the makeup process at the time. As a result, she frequently had to go live to teach fans how to recreate her look. Thanks to her diligent live-streaming, Xia Xiaoshi’s media influence rankings remained at the top.

Her fan count had also recently surpassed 100 million.

Yu Liuxue picked up her makeup brush after opening her cosmetics case. “Hey, you all—after watching me do this so many times, you still haven’t learned?”

Fans: “…” We feel attacked.

As they chatted, the topic shifted to filming. A fan asked what it was like acting opposite Yan Yi. Without thinking, Yu Liuxue blurted out, “Agonizing. Too agonizing! In my next drama, I refuse to have any rivalry scenes with Yan Yi. I want a brainless, cliché Mary Sue drama.”

Fans: “?” Please don’t do anything reckless!

While applying her makeup, Yu Liuxue casually rambled about various things, and before she knew it, she accidentally spilled a spoiler. “You guys know, right? In the next episode, Consort Ling will bring down the Empress, and the Emperor will banish her to the Cold Palace… Ah, wait, did I just spoil something?”

Fans: You think?

Within moments, “The Inner Palace Spoilers” shot to the top of trending searches. Meanwhile, the culprit blinked innocently. “Oh well, you were going to find out anyway. I just satisfied the curiosity of some of you a little earlier.”

“You guys wanna know how Consort Ling brings down the Empress? Today’s episode actually—”

“Nope! We’re not listening!”

After spraying setting mist on her face, Yu Liuxue smiled mischievously as she put the cap back on. “Since you don’t want to hear it, I won’t say anything.”

Fans: “…?” Why are you like this?!

That day, Yu Liuxue had a date with Yan Yi. After finishing her makeup, she spritzed on some perfume. “Bye-bye, babies. I’m off to my date.”

Yan Yi, who was looking at her phone, let a faint smile appear on her lips.

Fans were utterly baffled. A date? What date? With who?! What scumbag dares to steal our Little Persimmon away?!

Yu Liuxue knew her new romance would make the trending list. She did it on purpose.

After all, Yan Yi had been teasing her more and more lately.

She was having a hard time.

When Yu Liuxue drove to the date location, she had no idea she’d run into Shen Yu there. He was holding onto the arm of a wealthy older woman who was well-maintained and had a kind expression. The woman smiled warmly, glanced at Shen Yu’s stiff expression, then at Yu Liuxue’s bright and lively eyes, and proactively extended her hand. “Hello, I just finished watching The Inner Palace. You were fantastic in it.”

There was no rejecting a friendly gesture, so Yu Liuxue quickly responded, “Thank you, but my performance was just so-so.”

“Nonsense. You’ve never taken acting classes, yet you managed to hold your own against Yan Yi—that’s already impressive.”

Yu Liuxue wasn’t in the mood for conversation, but the woman had no intention of letting her leave.

Yan Yi, having waited for a while with no sign of Yu Liuxue, finally stepped out of the room. The moment she opened the door, she saw Yu Liuxue cornered by Shen Yu in the hallway.

Yan Yi’s expression turned cold. She strode over, pulled Yu Liuxue to her side, and warned, “Shen Yu, I told you—stay away from her.”

Shen Yu’s lips twitched stiffly. Meanwhile, the wealthy woman spoke leisurely, “I just really admire Xia Xiaoshi’s acting skills, so I pulled her aside for a quick chat…”

Before she could finish, Yan Yi impassively asked:

“And who are you?”

“You trying to steal my woman too?”

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Notes

—The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl (牛郎织女, Niúláng Zhīnǚ) is a famous Chinese folktale and one of the Four Great Chinese Folktales. It tells the story of Niulang (a mortal cowherd) and Zhinü (a celestial weaver fairy, also the daughter of the Jade Emperor), who fall in love but are separated by the Queen Mother of the West. They are only allowed to reunite once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, which is celebrated as Qixi Festival (七夕节)—often called the “Chinese Valentine’s Day.”

Their reunion is made possible by a bridge formed by magpies over the Milky Way (Heavenly River, 天河), symbolizing eternal love despite separation. The tale has inspired countless poems, operas, and modern adaptations.