Chapter 31: Trampling the Harem Protagonist (5)

Yan Yi felt that Shen Yu was downright malicious and scheming. Time and again, he subtly badmouthed Yu Liuxue in front of her. They had parted ways amicably, yet the girl had never spoken a single bad word about him in her presence. And here he was, a grown man with a heart smaller than a sesame seed, running around trash-talking his ex. Was he not afraid that his fans would find out and turn against him?

The corners of Yan Yi’s lips lowered as her expression turned cold. Her sharp, icy beauty became even more striking.

Shen Yu hesitated, unsure which of his words had caused her misunderstanding. He tried to salvage the situation. “You’re mistaken. I was only worried that Xiao Shi might cause you trouble.”

Is that how you show concern for someone?

Talking behind their back counts as worrying about them?

Even a white lotus wouldn’t be this fake and pretentious.

Yan Yi took a step back, her tone cold and distant. “Since you and she are neither relatives nor lovers, it’s best if you stop meddling in her affairs from now on.”

She had already noticed Yu Liuxue hiding in the back, watching the drama unfold. Yan Yi had been waiting for her to come over, but the girl just stood there, hesitant, seemingly afraid of Shen Yu. Yan Yi’s face darkened slightly. Instead of waiting, she lifted her skirt and walked directly to Yu Liuxue. Stopping in front of her, she tilted her head down to look at the girl gazing up at her.

“Did he bully you before?” Yan Yi asked.

“No.” Yu Liuxue sneaked a glance at Shen Yu, whose face had gone ashen. She had been standing too far to hear their conversation, but judging by the male lead’s expression, things hadn’t gone well for him.

Yan Yi’s slender fingers gripped Yu Liuxue’s chin, turning her face back. Her mood soured, and she narrowed her eyes. “Your girlfriend is right here, and yet you dare to look at another man right in front of me?”

“What’s so special about him that keeps you thinking about him?”

Yu Liuxue was completely innocent—she had no idea where Yan Yi had gotten the impression that she was still hung up on Shen Yu.

“I’m not,” Yu Liuxue blinked. But then she noticed Yan Yi’s expression turn even colder, so she carefully leaned in. “What’s wrong?”

“Shen Yu said…” Yan Yi deliberately dragged out her words. Yu Liuxue knew that tone all too well. It was the one Yan Yi always used when she was about to mess with her—slow, teasing, and slightly drawling.

It made Yu Liuxue’s heart tighten in nervous anticipation.

“He said you used to cling to him all the time, begging for his company?” Yan Yi narrowed her eyes. If she could, she’d slap the words I’m jealous right across her forehead.

“Then why didn’t you cling to me and ask me to keep you company?”

Yu Liuxue really wanted to cry out, I’ve been wronged, Your Honor! No matter how she explained, she doubted Yan Yi would believe her. She might as well dig her heart out and let Yan Yi examine it—maybe then she’d believe half of what she said.

Yu Liuxue was panicking inside, but on the surface, she put on a calm front. She spoke seriously, “You know, Shen Yu is a petty and vindictive person. He’ll do anything to sabotage our relationship. I’m sure he’s been telling both of us bad things about each other.”

“Do you believe me?” She blinked at Yan Yi expectantly.

Yan Yi’s face remained expressionless. “I do.”

Yu Liuxue let out a sigh of relief. “See? I knew he must have been badmouthing me just now.”

Yan Yi didn’t deny it. “He was.”

“Then… will you be the one I cling to from now on?”

Yu Liuxue: “…”

Fine, fine. I’ll cling to you every day. I’ll cling until you get sick of me.

Shen Yu watched as his supposed target and his ex-girlfriend laughed and chatted like close sisters. He nearly lost control of his expression. Just then, a nameless rich woman sent someone to call him over. Shen Yu recalled that he had taken her money, and since he owed her, he figured he should at least do his job and finish the event.

By the time he returned, Yan Yi and Yu Liuxue were nowhere to be seen.

Thus, Shen Yu’s carefully planned scheme collapsed without a trace—right in the middle of a brand promotion event.

—

Back at the film set, Shen Yu had barely arrived when Li Nuolin stormed over. She didn’t bother with pleasantries. “I heard you went to an event today? Xia Xiaoshi was there. Yan Yi was there too.”

Shen Yu calmly removed his coat and hung it on the rack. “You know I’ve been short on cash lately.”

Li Nuolin frowned. She had a nagging feeling that Shen Yu was deliberately hiding something from her. The thought annoyed her. She grabbed his wrist. “Shen Yu, tell me honestly—are you still not over Xia Xiaoshi?”

“What’s so great about her? I—”

A deep, passionate kiss silenced her mid-sentence.

Shen Yu cupped Li Nuolin’s face tenderly, his voice filled with affection. “Nuolin, you’re the only woman in my heart now. But as a man, I can’t always hide behind you. I want to earn more money, buy you shoes and bags, give you a better life.”

Li Nuolin’s anger dissipated in an instant. She playfully nudged him. “At least you still have a conscience. I didn’t lend you money for nothing.”

At the mention of money, a flicker of darkness flashed through Shen Yu’s eyes.

“And Yan Yi?” Li Nuolin pressed. “What’s going on with her? You’re not developing feelings for her now, are you?”

Li Nuolin wasn’t naive—far from it. She was extremely shrewd. She had funded many young men before, and they had all been after her money. She knew Shen Yu was the same.

But right now, he had no one else to rely on. She was confident he wouldn’t betray her—at least not yet.

However, if he found a better financial backer, things could change.

And in Li Nuolin’s eyes, Yan Yi was exactly that—a golden goose. If Yan Yi weren’t famously uninterested in romance, even Li Nuolin herself would’ve been tempted to throw herself at her, just to live a life of luxury forever.

Shen Yu concealed his true emotions and smiled helplessly. “You’re overthinking things. Yan Yi and I have no connection whatsoever. What feelings could I possibly have for her? She’s only here because she and Xia Xiaoshi worked on a drama together, and from what I’ve heard, they have a pretty good relationship. Maybe she’s just showing up out of respect for Xia Xiaoshi.”

“It better be that way.” Li Nuolin snorted softly and pulled Shen Yu along as they walked out of the room. “Our drama is almost wrapped up. Once I find out when Xia Xiaoshi’s drama is set to air, I’ll release ours at the same time and crush them completely.”

Shen Yu still had some rationality left and wasn’t entirely on board with Li Nuolin’s idea. “Even though Xia Xiaoshi’s acting is terrible, don’t forget about Yan Yi’s popularity and influence.”

Li Nuolin chuckled coquettishly. “Shen Yu, don’t forget that your popularity is on par with Yan Yi’s. With your fanbase and mine combined, I refuse to believe we can’t overshadow Yan Yi and that insignificant Xia Xiaoshi.”

That may be true…

Shen Yu, knowing his words carried little weight, couldn’t go against Li Nuolin, the real powerhouse here, and had no choice but to agree. He thought about it—Li Nuolin was indeed popular and had just won a Best Actress award. He himself had starred in multiple hit dramas recently, and with Director Xu Ye’s reputation, if they still couldn’t suppress Xia Xiaoshi, that would be ridiculous.

Soon, «Emperor Wu of Han» wrapped up filming, and major media outlets rushed to report on it, generating massive buzz. Fans of the cast celebrated wildly, acting as if their idols had already been crowned kings. Compared to that, the production team of «Pampered Wife on Top» seemed utterly lackluster.

When their drama wrapped up, only a few marketing accounts mentioned it in passing out of respect for Yan Yi—otherwise, no one paid attention.

Yan Yi’s fans had zero expectations for this cliché sweet romance drama. They numbly held onto their phones, acting as emotionless promotion bots, doing the bare minimum. As for Xia Xiaoshi’s fans…

Oh, they were too busy obsessing over her “Spring Peach Fresh and Innocent Faux Makeup Tutorial” to care about the upcoming show.

Forget it. They were either die-hard beauty fans or original followers who admired her technical skills.

Nowadays, the only ones still paying attention to Xia Xiaoshi were the haters who stuck around after a series of dramatic incidents.

Eventually, «Pampered Wife on Top» was scheduled to premiere on July 1st, the first day of summer vacation. As if on purpose, ««Emperor Wu of Han»» was also set to premiere on the same day.

Before Xia Xiaoshi could even react, the marketing accounts bribed by Li Nuolin went wild, stirring up drama:

“Yan Yi and Xia Xiaoshi’s «Pampered Wife on Top» and Shen Yu and Li Nuolin’s «Emperor Wu of Han» will premiere at the same time! A cheaply made, cliché romance vs. an epic, high-budget historical drama—who are you more excited for?”

“Of course, «Emperor Wu of Han»! See you all on July 1st with our beloved Shen Yu! Hope those other fans don’t try to leech off our hype anymore—seriously, give it a rest.”

“«Emperor Wu of Han»! Shen Yu is the ultimate top-tier star, and his popularity is unmatched. Come check out our gorgeous leading man in his stunning historical costume!”

“I heard «Pampered Wife on Top» only had a 10 million yuan budget? What kind of decent period drama can you even make with that? That’s not even enough to cover Shen Yu’s monthly paycheck. They’re gonna get absolutely wrecked by «Emperor Wu of Han».”

After reading through the comments, Xia Xiaoshi pouted and went to complain to the system. “I’m feeling a little down again.”

【Then please begin your performance.】

“One million yuan for a photo of Shen Yu kissing Xia Xiaoshi—interested?” Xia Xiaoshi held her phone excitedly and made the offer.

Yu Dongliang raised an eyebrow slightly. A kiss photo? And only for a million?

“Deal.” He agreed without hesitation. Since he was the only contact between Xia Xiaoshi and his company, and he had already helped them generate two massive profits, he had quickly climbed the ranks, becoming the boss’s right-hand man. He transferred the money immediately, and soon, Xia Xiaoshi sent over the photo.

It was a picture of Shen Yu gently holding Xia Xiaoshi’s face, about to kiss her.

Yu Dongliang sighed slightly—what a pity they hadn’t actually kissed.

But he also knew that if they had, Shen Yu would have gone berserk trying to destroy the company. And as for that woman, Li Nuolin—her family definitely wouldn’t let them off the hook either.

After consulting with his boss, Yu Dongliang posted the picture on one of their company’s biggest marketing accounts.

“What’s going on? Is this a serialized drama now? When is this long-winded, trashy soap opera going to end? I’m getting sick of it.”

“No, no, keep it coming! I haven’t had enough! As a corporate slave, I rely on Shen Yu and Xia Xiaoshi’s ridiculous drama to get through the day!”

“Blogger, how much did Xia Xiaoshi pay you to post this? Shen Yu will give you ten times that amount to delete it immediately.”

“You’re overthinking it. Shen Yu had to pay a termination fee of over a billion yuan to break his contract with Xia Corp. Forget about ten times the money—he’s struggling just to pay back what he already owes.”

“My friend has a terminal illness and is about to die. He says he wants to hear the rest of this story before he goes.”

“Me too, me too! My friend says he wants to finish hearing it before he kicks the bucket.”

Shen Yu’s popularity was sky-high. In the past, plenty of internet celebrities had tried to use him for clout, but no one had ever been as persistent as Xia Xiaoshi—like a stubborn leech that just wouldn’t let go.

His fans were absolutely furious, swarming over to Xia Xiaoshi’s page to hurl insults. As they ranted, one major fan account took the lead and even dragged Yan Yi into it.

“Xia Xiaoshi is a desperate fame-chaser! Look at the people around her—birds of a feather flock together. Yan Yi isn’t any better! How dare she give Shen Yu that attitude?”

They attached a photo

Shen Yu, ever the gentleman, stood tall and elegant, his broad shoulders and slim waist making him look like a model in a magazine. His handsome face carried a warm smile. Opposite him, Yan Yi’s expression was cold, her aura distant and untouchable.

Shen Yu’s fans thought that Yan Yi was giving him the cold shoulder.

Once someone took the lead, the situation immediately spiraled out of control.

Bystanders were bewildered—what the heck was going on?! What kind of status did Yan Yi have, and what kind of status did Shen Yu have? When Yan Yi skyrocketed to fame, Shen Yu was still playing bit parts, yet his fans dared to insult her?

Yan Yi’s fans were furious too. Damn! Where did this bunch of nobodies come from? Their mouths were so filthy they might as well rinse them with pesticide.

Yan Yi had always kept her private life extremely clean and was known for her easygoing personality, rarely stirring up controversy.

Because of this, her fans found the insults even more unbearable.

“Our goddess was just minding her own business at home, and now she’s getting slandered? Is there no justice left in this world?!”

Yu Liuxue never would have imagined things would escalate like this. She glanced guiltily at Yan Yi, who was calmly trimming her nails on the sofa, and silently swallowed.

She slid one foot down, preparing to put on her slippers and make a quick escape. At this moment, only one thought filled her mind—

Run!

Run home as fast as possible, shut the door, lock it, and lay low for the next half month!

No way could she let Yan Yi catch her!

The moment Yu Liuxue’s toes touched the ground, Yan Yi’s indifferent voice drifted over.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m a little thirsty,” Yu Liuxue replied, immediately sitting back down obediently, placing her hands neatly on her knees. Her ten toes hurriedly slid into her slippers as she took a deep breath, preparing for a full-speed sprint.

Yan Yi didn’t even lift her eyes. After finishing the last of her nail trimming, she put down the clippers leisurely and picked up a nail buffer. Her red lips parted slightly.

“Really?”

“Didn’t you just drink a cup of milk tea?”

Yu Liuxue answered seriously, “That milk tea was a bit salty.”

Cough! Spit!

What did she mean by “a bit salty”?

Yan Yi squinted at her, and Yu Liuxue quickly explained, “I meant the cheese was a bit salty.”

Yu Liuxue nervously asked the system, “Baby, what are the odds of me successfully escaping right now?”

The system replied numbly, “Less than ten percent.”

Goodbye, my friend. Goodbye, beautiful world.

Yan Yi put down the nail buffer, took out a wet wipe, and lazily wiped her fingers clean.

“The kiss photos…”

“Hmm?”

“I didn’t remember wrong, did I?”

Yu Liuxue’s heart dropped—crap, she hadn’t considered this.

She clung to the system’s metaphorical legs, wailing, “Is it too late to regret now? Can you delete that part of the story? If you do, I’ll call you Daddy—no, Ancestor!”

Yan Yi gently pressed down on Yu Liuxue’s twitching shoulder, a lazy smile playing on her lips as she toyed with the buttons on Yu Liuxue’s clothes.

“Why aren’t you talking?”

I—I don’t dare to (QAQ).

Yu Liuxue looked at her pitifully. Yan Yi’s gaze remained calm.

“This outfit is ugly.”

“Might as well destroy it.”

Before Yu Liuxue could react, rip!—Yan Yi crudely tore open her top.

Yu Liuxue: “…”

The system tried to comfort her. “Host, don’t worry. Actually, the female lead doesn’t have that much stamina. Just a few hours at most. I believe you can endure it.”

You try enduring it yourself.

Yu Liuxue suddenly realized that having a partner with great stamina and endurance wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

Especially when she pissed her off—she was the one who suffered.

Afterward, faint marks trailed from Yu Liuxue’s collarbone all the way down to her legs.

Supporting her aching waist, she let out a long sigh.

“Since things have already come to this, I might as well sell two more photos and make some extra cash to buy myself some health supplements.”

The system immediately objected. “Host, haven’t you already suffered enough at the hands of the female lead?”

Suffered. Absolutely suffered.

But precisely because she had suffered so much, Yan Yi would surely feel sorry for her and let her go, right?

Yan Yi had only been out for half a day, yet the little rabbit at home had already caused another massive stir. Fortunately, after a few irrefutable pieces of evidence surfaced, most people now firmly believed in the past relationship between Shen Yu and Xia Xiaoshi.

Thus, Yu Liuxue had successfully secured a title for Xia Xiaoshi—

Shen Yu’s ex-girlfriend.

Yu Liuxue kicked her phone away. “I worked so hard, and all I got was ex-girlfriend?!”

If Xia Xiaoshi knew, she’d probably be so mad she’d jump out of her coffin!

No.

Shen Yu had to become Xia Xiaoshi’s ex-boyfriend instead.

As the storm finally began to settle, July 1st arrived.

Tonight, the two reigning forces of the entertainment industry were about to clash head-on.

In just two hours, the battle for dominance would be decided.

“Pampered Wife on Top and «Emperor Wu of Han»—which one are you choosing?”

“I’m skipping my finals review just to watch this drama unfold. Please, dear God, don’t let me fail.”

“Honestly, I’m really looking forward to seeing who comes out on top—Yan Yi or Shen Yu. One is a veteran actor famous for serious dramas, the other is a rising star who shot to fame through Mary Sue idol dramas. Who will win over the audience?”

However, the moment the clock struck eight, everyone was stunned.

The actor known for serious dramas was starring in a Mary Sue xianxia romance.

The idol drama star had taken on a grand historical epic.

Did these two misunderstand their own strengths?!

With Shen Yu and Li Nuolin’s massive fanbase, «Emperor Wu of Han» got off to a strong start, pulling in double the premiere viewership of Pampered Wife on Top. Shen Yu’s fans breathed a sigh of relief and immediately stormed into Yan Yi and Xia Xiaoshi’s fan forums, causing a huge mess.

Yu Liuxue knew this drama would blow up, so she wasn’t worried in the slightest. But seeing how calm Yan Yi was as well puzzled her.

So, for the first time in a long while, she voluntarily scooted closer and asked, “Yan Yi, our drama is about to flop—why aren’t you reacting at all?”

Yan Yi’s response was indifferent, as if it were a trivial matter.

“As long as someone gets flopped onto, that’s enough.”

Why are you like this?!

“What?” Yan Yi’s eyes gleamed. “Are you worried?”

“Why are you so flirty?”

“What?” Yan Yi’s eyes flickered slightly. “Are you very concerned?”

“Not really.” What else could I do? I can’t out-flirt you anyway.

So, Yan Yi, who hardly ever used Weibo, quietly opened her phone and, after years of inactivity, posted an update:

“Come watch ‘Pampered Wife on Top.’ I disguise myself as a man to pursue my wife. 😎”

Yu Liuxue: “…”

It’s like you’re secretly hinting something to your fans.

With Yan Yi’s promotion, fans who were bored late at night immediately opened their apps, clicked on Pampered Wife on Top, prepared their snacks and sodas, and eagerly started watching.

The first episode opened with a bed scene right off the bat.

The male lead was handsome, the female lead was beautiful. Gotta admit, it was quite engaging.

Episode two—wait, another bed scene?!

Xia Xiaoshi, why do you always look so stunning in these scenes?!

While most people had already drifted off to sleep, four topics—”Pampered Wife on Top,” “Xia Xiaoshi’s Bed Scene Makeup,” “Yan Yi’s Unrivaled Male Disguise,” and “Pampered Wife on Top is Addictive”—suddenly dominated the trending charts at an overwhelming speed.

By the time people woke up the next morning, the once-dominant «Emperor Wu of Han» had been completely wiped off the trending list, replaced entirely by discussions about Pampered Wife on Top.

Yu Liuxue scrolled through her phone with a bright smile, growing more delighted as she read.

Suddenly, a hand reached from behind and snatched her phone away. Yan Yi’s voice, husky with the remnants of sleep, murmured in her ear, “No playing with your phone. Hold me.”

In just twelve short hours, the buzz around Pampered Wife on Top remained high. Many people, initially clicking out of curiosity, found themselves instantly hooked and unable to climb back out.

“The internet never lies. This is seriously addictive.”

Before long, “Pampered Wife on Top Update Now” also started trending, ranking just below the top four topics.

Li Nuolin’s face turned bright red with anger, a deep sense of humiliation washing over her. This feeling was even worse than realizing the man she slept with wasn’t a virgin or getting stripped and humiliated in public.

Whenever she was upset, she took it out on Shen Yu.

Shen Yu, however, hadn’t slept a wink all night. His eyes were dark and shadowed, and he smoked one cigarette after another. The windows in his room were tightly shut, with two layers of curtains blocking out the light, leaving the space thick with smoke and utterly dark.

Li Nuolin nearly choked on the overwhelming cigarette stench.

She strode over and snatched the cigarette from Shen Yu’s hand. “You still have the mood to smoke?”

Shen Yu closed his bloodshot eyes. “It’s because I’m frustrated that I’m smoking.”

He hadn’t shaved, looking disheveled and utterly worn out. Li Nuolin’s heart softened instantly. She had come intending to confront him, but instead, she ended up comforting him.

“Don’t stress too much. Only two episodes have aired. There’s still plenty of time.”

“«Emperor Wu of Han» is a big-budget production by Director Xu Ye. His dramas have always had a strong reputation. Once the whole series is released, the ratings will catch up.”

Shen Yu shook his head with his eyes still closed. Anything short of absolute dominance wouldn’t be considered a victory.

This would be an unerasable stain on his legendary career.

Pampered Wife on Top wouldn’t be a career downfall for Yan Yi. But «Emperor Wu of Han» would become an unforgettable failure in his own life.

Li Nuolin didn’t understand.

Their frustration had nothing to do with Yu Liuxue. After waking up, she lounged comfortably on the sofa, sometimes checking Weibo to see her increasing follower count, sometimes browsing the comments. Whenever she had free time, she’d switch tabs to the bed scene makeup discussion, relishing in the fans’ over-the-top praise of her makeup skills.

Being showered with compliments was truly a delightful thing.

The next evening, Pampered Wife on Top and «Emperor Wu of Han» aired another three to four episodes. Though only twenty-four hours had passed, it was already ten years east of the river, ten years west of the river—a complete reversal of fortune.

“Pampered Wife on Top is way too addictive! Sure, the plot is clichéd and dramatic, but it’s so intense! Yan Yi is unbelievable—how does she make even a male disguise look this good? Is there any role she can’t pull off?”

“Sisi’s makeup in every scene is stunning! Especially in the close-ups—absolute knockout! Xia Xiaoshi’s makeup skills are insane. If she ever opens a class, I’d sprint 800 meters just to sign up.”

“Did you guys notice? In Pampered Wife on Top, whether it’s the main characters or the supporting cast, their costumes and accessories are all exquisitely detailed! Unlike those cheap outfits from photo studios. Especially Yan Yi’s black ensemble—majestic and powerful. I really want to touch it.”

“And Xia Xiaoshi’s outfits—so flowy! So smooth! So ethereal! Watching this makes me want to buy the same styles.”

“The costume and makeup team of Pampered Wife on Top, come out and take your praise! They’re leagues ahead of «Emperor Wu of Han», which calls itself a big-budget production. The costume team over there didn’t even bother researching historical accuracy, and they have the audacity to boast?”

With both dramas airing at the same time, comparisons were inevitable. Fans of both sides refused to back down. Though Shen Yu had a powerful fanbase, Pampered Wife on Top still managed to surpass «Emperor Wu of Han» in ratings the following day. Director Xu Ye’s comeback project wasn’t a complete flop, but it was far from a breakout hit.

Sitting in his study, Xu Ye let out a long sigh. “Maybe I really am getting old.”

His wife immediately tried to comfort him. “Don’t say that. I think it’s more of a mismatch between the drama and the actors. Most established actors get typecast. Take Shen Yu, for example—he rose to fame through idol dramas and excels in modern acting. Forcing him into a historical drama like this means he won’t fully fit the vibe.”

Xu Ye sighed again, even heavier this time. “Then that means I am old. My casting judgment is off.”

His wife: “…”

During the show’s run, Xia Xiaoshi’s Weibo follower count skyrocketed like a rocket. Yu Liuxue was overjoyed.

After Pampered Wife on Top aired, rival studios who had been eagerly waiting for Yan Yi’s downfall were left dumbfounded.

Wasn’t this supposed to be a cheesy Mary Sue drama?

Not only did it not ruin Yan Yi’s reputation, but it actually elevated her status even further.

At this point, she was undoubtedly the number one reigning queen of the GL scene.

Nowadays, no one in the GL fandom can rival Yan Yi in terms of sheer dominance.

Her cold and aloof master in black robes had left a deep impression. On the surface, she stood high above others, appearing as an unattainable, distant flower. But the moment she faced her disciple Sisi, the coldness in her eyes melted into a tender spring, the overwhelming affection nearly drowning everyone watching.

The female supporting character disliked Sisi and frequently bullied her behind people’s backs. Yet, the master always arrived just in time, full of righteous fury, to stand up for her disciple. No one could outmatch her as the top-tier overprotective and devoted ice-cold immortal of the celestial realm.

Every trait of Yan Yi’s portrayal of the master won over countless fans.

Yu Liuxue reaped even greater benefits. As everyone knew, she had previously been a celebrity makeup artist, not only crafting numerous iconic looks for various stars but also mastering the art of transformation makeup. Once fans discovered that all of the protagonist Sisi’s stunning makeup looks were personally done by Yu Liuxue, they went wild, flooding Weibo daily with demands for her to release makeup tutorials.

Fortunately, Yu Liuxue had prepared in advance. After keeping fans in suspense, she finally released the most requested tutorial: the delicate, tear-streaked “Fallen Flower in the Rain” makeup. Fans were so ecstatic that beauty influencers immediately flooded social media with imitation looks. Even those who had no interest in the show were drawn in by Sisi’s mesmerizing makeup—one click, and they found themselves hopelessly addicted.

Every frame of Pampered Wife on Top was visually stunning, with even a random screenshot looking like a wallpaper. The drama trended with each episode, thanks to its fast-paced, engaging plot, free from unnecessary fillers, and well-developed supporting characters. Even minor roles had depth, making them feel alive rather than just flat archetypes. Viewers couldn’t stop praising it.

“This screenwriter is a genius!”

“All those people who bashed Xiaoshi for changing the scriptwriter, come out and apologize! Triple interest on overdue apologies!”

“I heard the previous writer wanted to expand the second male lead’s role, so Xiaoshi fired her. Good riddance! She’d already stuffed extra scenes for her favorite characters in previous dramas, totally ruining the pacing. I never liked her!”

Meanwhile, «Emperor Wu of Han» had little to offer aside from high production quality.

It was well-executed but too conventional. Though visually grand, Shen Yu, being young, failed to fully embody the commanding presence of an emperor.

Under the impact of Pampered Wife on Top, «Emperor Wu of Han» was thoroughly crushed. While its ratings were decent, they paled in comparison to the explosion of Pampered Wife on Top, which captivated audiences with its exquisite styling, fast-paced and sweetly addictive plot, and compelling supporting characters.

Not just Yu Liuxue—other supporting actors also gained significant fan followings. Even veteran actors saw their Weibo followers shoot up from a few thousand to tens of thousands.

For the entire summer, Pampered Wife on Top dominated viewers’ hearts.

A true nationwide phenomenon.

Yu Liuxue let out a satisfied belch. For Shen Yu, this was merely a small setback—he would never accept defeat and would quickly bounce back. Yu Liuxue asked the system, “What kind of projects is Shen Yu looking into lately?”

The system answered honestly, “He’s considering the script for a classic high-rated military drama from Jinjiang Literature.”

“A military drama, huh? Sounds good.” Yu Liuxue stroked her chin thoughtfully. “Since he’s doing a modern drama, I might as well do a historical one.”

She grinned. “Tell me, if I ask Director Xu Ye to direct my drama, would he die of anger?”

With a plan in mind, Yu Liuxue immediately sought out her convenient dad. “Dad, I want to do a historical drama—a spicy one with a bunch of gorgeous, scheming women backstabbing each other in the palace.”

Seeing his daughter finally stepping out of her heartbreak, Xia Zhengtian was naturally delighted. “Good, good, good! Whatever you want, Daddy will find the perfect script for you right away!”

Yu Liuxue seized the opportunity. “I want Director Xu Ye to direct it.”

Xia Zhengtian: “…?”

Does Shen Yu have a blood feud with you or something?

Not long after, rumors surfaced online that Shen Yu was set to star as the popular male lead in a classic military drama. The female lead remained undisclosed, but the news alone was enough to cause a stir.

“Ahh, Shen Yu is finally doing a modern drama! Can’t wait to see his modern look!”

“When it comes to modern dramas, it’s gotta be Shen Yu! When it comes to domineering CEOs, it’s still Shen Yu! Go, Shen Yu!”

Determined to reclaim his status, Shen Yu was paired with a currently trending young actress, whose temperament and looks aligned well with the original novel’s heroine. Once the official announcement dropped, Shen Yu immediately joined the production.

Meanwhile, Xia Zhengtian successfully secured Director Xu Ye and found a suitable script in the archives.

The title was The Inner Palace—a crisp, succinct name.

The story revolved around the power struggles within an ancient imperial harem, centered on two main women. The Empress, holding the highest position in the harem, had her family exiled to the frontier by the Emperor under the pretense of rebellion, leaving her alone to survive in the palace.

With the Empress’s family fallen, the concubines all eyed her position greedily. Leading them was Ling Fei, the Emperor’s new favorite, who engaged in an unending battle of wits and schemes against the Empress—one of them destined to perish.

After reading the script, Yu Liuxue eagerly nodded. “Yes, yes, yes! This is exactly the kind of drama I want to do!”

The role of the favored concubine, Ling Fei, was naturally hers. As for the Empress…

If Shen Yu was synonymous with modern idol dramas, then Yan Yi was the queen of historical dramas.

Yu Liuxue jokingly asked the system, “There won’t be any bed scenes this time, right?”

An Empress and concubines daring to cheat on the Emperor? That was a straight-up death wish.

The system replied seriously, “No bed scenes, but there will be plenty of little black room scenes, which happen to be your favorite.”

Yu Liuxue: “…?”

Don’t tell me Yan Yi took the role just because she liked the little black room scenes?!(Punishment Scenes)

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#Notes

—The phrase “ten years east of the river, ten years west of the river” (十年河东，十年河西) conveys the idea that fortune and circumstances are ever-changing. It suggests that life is unpredictable, and someone’s luck, status, or position may shift dramatically over time—rising to success or falling into hardship.

It’s often used to remind people not to be arrogant in success or despair in failure, as tides will turn with time.

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—Jinjiang Literature City (JJWXC) is a major Chinese web novel platform, popular for romance, fantasy, and LGBTQ+ fiction (BL & GL). Many of its novels have been adapted into dramas and animations. It primarily caters to female readers and allows authors to monetize their work.