The Villainess Awakens After Marrying the Male Lead’s Brother - Chapter 18

Wen Yu and Jiang Yunxuan rushed to the hospital; it was already past six in the evening. Coming out of the airport, they hit the evening rush hour, delaying them considerably, or they could have been an hour earlier.

Upon reaching the hospital and seeing Jiang’s mother, the two finally felt relieved. Jiang’s mother scolded them, “It’s so late, haven’t you eaten yet? What’s the rush? I don’t have any urgent matters; you could have come tomorrow.”

But seeing her children come to visit, she was still delighted. Having raised three children, all so filial.

Before the eldest returned, the second son had already visited with his girlfriend.

“It’s fine, just a meal, eating now is the same.” Wen Yu sat on the edge of the bed, her face full of worry. “Aunt Jiang, who exactly upset you so much?!”

Jiang’s father interjected, “Isn’t it—”

“Cough, cough!” Jiang’s mother quickly interrupted her husband. “It’s nothing, just a minor issue. Probably because I’ve been eating well these days; it’s November now, and crabs are getting fat, right? With so many at home, maybe because of that, a small matter landed me in the hospital.”

Wen Yu looked suspicious, “Really?”

“Yeah, you don’t know; crabs are really fat now. There are still some at home; I haven’t finished them. If you stay at home these two days, help Aunt Jiang finish the crabs?” Jiang’s mother teased.

Wen Yu also loved eating. Upon hearing this, she immediately thought of various crab dishes—spicy crab, steamed large river crab, drunken crab…

Slurp~

She was about to nod when Jiang’s mother looked at her eldest son. “You also come back; your dad will take care of me. No one at home; Little Fish will be scared alone.”

They’re all going back home?

Wen Yu’s eyebrows twitched; the situation was different now. In the place where she and Jiang Yunxuan currently lived, they each had their rooms. But in the Jiang family home, she initially had her room, but after marriage, Jiang’s mother naturally converted it back to a guest room. All her things were moved to the new room on the third floor.

The new room wasn’t Jiang Yunxuan’s; two rooms were combined into one, renovated as the bridal chamber.

So, in the half-year since Wen Yu and Jiang Yunxuan got married, they hadn’t really spent a day at the Jiang family home.

She instinctively looked at Jiang Yunxuan.

The man, who was quietly talking to his father, sensed the gaze on him, looked towards the two on the hospital bed, and calmly said, “No need, Auntie can directly send me there; it’s closer to the hospital.”

Jiang’s mother was somewhat disappointed, “Alright then.”

Wen Yu breathed a sigh of relief, feeling somewhat strange. Was Jiang Yunxuan also reluctant to go back there?

Forget it, this is the sugar daddy, what are you thinking?

They originally planned to stay a while longer, but when Jiang’s mother heard they hadn’t eaten, she hurriedly urged them to have a meal, and in no time, they were kicked out.

It was only seven o’clock at this time, but in the autumn and winter, it gets dark early, and the streetlights outside had already lit up.

“What do you want to eat?” the man asked in a low voice. No one beside him spoke.Jiang Yunyan frowned slightly, turned his head, and saw the little girl staring at the street food outside the hospital. At a glance, the stalls on both sides of the main road were neatly arranged, various snacks exuding a tantalizing aroma, all mixed together.

After looking for a while, the little girl probably found what she wanted to eat the most. She immediately turned her head back. In the dim light, her eyes were still bright, and her voice was crisp and sweet: “Big brother, I want to eat spicy hot pot. Do you want some? It’s really delicious!”

Jiang Yunyan followed her gaze and saw the stall still glistening with oil. He frowned.
“Big brother~” Wen Yu pulled his arm and swayed it, “I haven’t had it in a long time! Although it’s not very healthy, there won’t be any problems!”

Jiang Yunyan rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache, and compromised, “Just a little to taste.”
“Okay!” Wen Yu, afraid that he might change his mind, ran quickly on her small legs to the stall and ordered a variety of items.

The Jiang family doesn’t like street stalls, even Jiang Yunjin, who seems the most down-to-earth, didn’t touch them before, manipulated by the plot, forgetting her past life.

But now, awakened, she suddenly realized that she hadn’t eaten street food for many years!
That craving, unseen, was easy to deal with. Once seen, it couldn’t be controlled.

Next to the spicy hot pot was a grilled sausage stall. Wen Yu, bored of waiting for the hot pot, glanced over and immediately noticed it. The stall owner, a young girl, asked, “Miss, would you like one?”

Wen Yu sneakily glanced at the man not far away, and upon looking, she saw that there were two girls in front of him, seemingly talking to him. However, the man’s expression was indifferent, lips slightly pursed.
He must have been approached.

Wen Yu took the opportunity while he wasn’t looking in their direction and quickly said, “Give me one.”
She swiftly scanned the code and made the payment.
In no time, both the spicy hot pot and the grilled sausage were ready. She held the hot pot in one hand and pinched the crispy sausage in the other, walking towards him. Just two steps away, she couldn’t resist and took a small bite.

Hot! But the taste was spot on!

Then, with a light movement of her left hand, Jiang Yunyan had taken over her spicy hot pot. “Go ahead.”
Wen Yu’s eyes sparkled, looking behind him. She saw the two girls who were there just now, but this time, seeing her, both girls seemed a bit embarrassed. They smiled at her, held hands, and ran away.

As they ran, one of them covered her face and said, “We’re dead, there’s actually a real girlfriend!”

“I told you, why stand here like a fool without a girlfriend?”

“Crying, but my eyesight is really good, it’s actually a sugar daddy boyfriend, even more handsome!”

“…Why do I feel like I’ve seen that girl before?”

As the two ran away, their voices faded. Wen Yu’s eyes curved, one bite after another. Just eating the sausage wasn’t enough; she directly picked up a piece of fish cake and took a bite.

“Is it good?” Jiang Yunyan stared at the thing in her hand, his gaze revealing suspicion.

Enjoying the delicious food, she didn’t mind his disdain: “Tasty! These sausages have just the right amount of meat, and the spicy hot pot is also good, even the ordinary cabbage tastes delicious.”

After speaking, she thought for a moment, used the other end of the chopsticks to pick up a piece of pork tenderloin, raised her arm, and brought the meat to his mouth: “Try it? It’s delicious!”

Jiang Yunyan didn’t move, but instead lowered his gaze towards her.

Wen Yu blinked, somewhat puzzled. She had even changed the end of the chopsticks?

“Never mind, I’ll eat it myself—” Wen Yu muttered, about to retract.

The man suddenly lowered his head and took the meat from the chopsticks.

With his brows furrowed, he seemed to be looking at her, but the light from the overhead street lamp conveniently concealed his expression. Feeling a bit uneasy, Wen Yu quickly took a bite of the sausage, threw the signed document into the nearby trash bin, took the bowl of hot pot, and asked, “Is it good?”

Jiang Yunyan nodded slightly, “It’s okay.”

Wen Yu grinned, “Do you want to buy it then?”

“No need,” Jiang Yunyan decisively refused.

Wen Yu pursed her lips. Truly, he was a CEO raised according to the standard; he had self-control. She glanced casually to the side and suddenly caught a glint of light flashing in her eyes.

“Someone is taking pictures of me?” Wen Yu was bewildered.

Jiang Yunyan’s expression changed slightly. He returned the hot pot to her, dropped a remark, “Wait here,” and quickly ran towards that direction. The man was wearing a coat and leather shoes, but his long and sturdy legs disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Wen Yu looked puzzled, filled with thoughts: Could she really have become famous?

Impossible, right?

But someone was actually secretly photographing her?

She quickly took a bite of the meat to calm her nerves.

Not buying much, just one of each item. She didn’t like many things, so she finished eating in no time. Jiang Yunyan also came back just in time. After the sprint, his hair was a bit messy, but he remained composed. Putting his phone back into his pocket, he explained, “It was a paparazzo. I’ve already asked him to delete the photos. Don’t worry.”

After hearing this, Wen Yu’s expression was strange. He reassured her, “Don’t worry, it won’t be posted online.”

Wen Yu shook her head, looking serious, “Big brother, am I really famous?”

Jiang Yunyan: “?”

Wen Yu: “There are paparazzi secretly taking pictures of me!”

Jiang Yunyan: “…”
——
That night, Wen Yu lay on the bed and took a look at Weibo.

Still, she had her eight million followers.

Most of them were generated during the rumors with Jiang Yunjin when she was manipulated by the plot. With Jiang Yunjin’s massive popularity, even a slight share would bring her a considerable following.

The rest were some fans of her appearance.

Her face was genuinely attractive. In this life, she inherited both her parents’ advantages, coupled with continuous pampering and strict dietary control, keeping her skin clear.

With such a face on the screen, it naturally attracted attention. Add the makeup transformation by the crew, even with fewer scenes, she secured a place in the small fanbase.

That’s how the fans came.

However, after watching for a while, Wen Yu felt something was off. The fans were the same, licking the screen and less active because she hadn’t posted pictures lately. In contrast, the anti-fans were more lively, spraying comments whenever there was a topic related to her.

Doesn’t seem like becoming famous, huh?

After two days, when she saw the news about a well-known male artist going to a urologist, Wen Yu suddenly realized.

Was she just a side note in all of this?!

Wen Yu was chatting with Jiang Mom while scrolling through Weibo. Seeing this news, she understood she had misunderstood herself, covering her face and rushing into Jiang Mom’s arms: “I almost embarrassed myself! I thought I was becoming famous! Luckily, I didn’t go around saying there were paparazzi taking pictures of me!”

Jiang Mom smiled and hugged her: “Our little fish is so beautiful, with strong learning ability. You’ll become famous soon, not embarrassing at all.”

Wen Yu, originally just acting spoiled, felt uneasy at the words: “I can’t do it.”

How could someone like her, a “lazy fish,” become famous? Being a shining star was too distant for her in this life. Her goal was to save more money for a comfortable retirement.

Mom Jiang spoke seriously, “You can’t say that! Our little Yu has always been either first or second in exams, so talented. If you’re not famous now, it’s because you haven’t had professional training and haven’t played the leading role. I heard you have to play the female lead to become famous. Look at the second brother, he became popular by playing the male lead. How about letting the eldest brother give you a female lead script to try?”

“No, no!” Wen Yu hurriedly refused, pressing down Mom Jiang’s eager hand. She couldn’t help but find it amusing; Jiang Yunjin didn’t become famous by playing the male lead – he was already a star from the beginning. However, after starring in an idol drama, he smoothly transitioned into a top-tier actor. With strict scrutiny from Jiang Entertainment, even if his dramas weren’t blockbuster hits, the reviews were excellent, securing his status.

But Wen Yu found herself contemplating. Did she really not want to be famous? Previously, she thought she didn’t care, being young, beautiful, and wealthy, living the life she dreamt of. Yet, when she discovered paparazzi snapping her, thinking she was famous, she felt a twinge of happiness.

Wen Yu thought, what if she put in more effort? Maybe she could become famous? However, her plan for a carefree retirement hadn’t been fully implemented, and that made her hesitant.

Lying down, she pondered. If she became famous, she could receive numerous scripts. After exhausting the investment-worthy ones, couldn’t these fill the gap? Yet, torn between both thoughts, Wen Yu couldn’t make a decision, opting to rest for her upcoming shoot.

Hearing this, Mom Jiang immediately suggested, “Busy again tomorrow? How about coming back tonight, and I’ll cook something delicious for you?”

Wen Yu quickly shook her head, “I already told big brother. He’s making chicken stew with mushrooms for me, probably already simmering. Mom Jiang, why don’t you come with me?”

Mom Jiang swiftly declined, “No, no, I can’t indulge myself with food. I might get envious watching you two enjoy.”

With a hint of anticipation, she glanced at Wen Yu’s belly.

Ah, she wouldn’t play the third wheel. If Little Yu is pregnant, she’ll go over later to help with the child. With a proud smile, she envisioned telling her sisters that she took good care of Little Yu, living up to her trust.

After a while, feeling the time was right, Wen Yu left. Once she was gone, Mom Jiang immediately said to Dad Jiang, “Old Jiang, do you feel like our eldest and Little Yu’s relationship is getting better?”

Dad Jiang, still reading the news, asked, “Huh? Wasn’t their relationship good before?”

Mom Jiang: “…”

Rolling her eyes, she chuckled to herself. Thinking about what the haters said about Little Yu pursuing Ah Jin, she snorted. When Little Yu and the eldest brother have a child, she’ll take a picture herself to show those haters!

Little Yu already doesn’t like the second brother! Why dwell on the past?

Had a satisfying meal prepared by Brother Tianluo, enjoying chicken stew with mushrooms. The next day, Wen Yu boarded a plane, returning once again to the film and television city to join the cast of the drama “Plotting Twig.”

The story revolves around a protagonist, born as a commoner, who, in pursuit of a better life, climbs the social ladder. Unexpectedly, the branch she chose turned out to be the top scholar of the imperial exams. When she tries to distance herself from the princess who took an interest in her, a more influential figure appears, leading to a twist in her fate.

In this historical drama with a touch of intrigue, the male lead is the heir of a prince favored by his stepmother. Despite his mischievous appearance, he is the right-hand man to the crown prince, secretly working for him. The female lead, clever and resourceful, teams up with him to navigate various crises. Eventually, she achieves recognition for her efforts and marries the male lead.

Wen Yu plays the role of the daughter of a general, childhood friend of the male lead in everyone’s eyes. However, she finds him too weak and ends up taking charge of half of the fight scenes in the drama. The other half involves the male lead with other characters.

Upon joining the set a month into production, Wen Yu immediately immerses herself in learning fight choreography, focusing on her role. Her character, Xu Zhaoyue, not only assists the main couple but also becomes a crucial ally to the male lead due to her formidable combat skills.

In her first scene, during a gathering of young ladies, she stealthily enters the main house’s study to uncover evidence of corruption. Unfortunately, the male lead returns unexpectedly, leading her to evade him until rescued by the female lead. The ensuing chaos in the household, orchestrated by the male lead, draws attention, allowing Wen Yu to regain her composure.

This incident reveals the hierarchical relationship between Xu Zhaoyue and the male lead to the female lead, causing a playful jealousy when he comes to pick her up. The production is divided into two teams (AB), with Wen Yu focusing on fight scenes while the other team captures the romantic conflicts between the main characters.

“Cut!” The director’s command interrupts the previously intimate scene between the main couple and Wen Yu. The atmosphere turns cold and distant, in stark contrast to Wen Yu’s previous set, devoid of casual interactions or greetings—clearly, something is amiss.

Wen Yu’s eyes lit up as she held Xiao Yu’s hand, whispering, “Why don’t you go find out what’s going on with these two?”

Scene: Popcorn time!

That’s another perk of being an actor.

Xiao Yu, with a mysterious smile, replied, “I found out early!”

Wen Yu:?

Well, Xiao Yu spends the whole day with her, and yet still manages to stay informed?

Next, Wen Yu heard about the love and hatred between the male and female leads, mainly stemming from the competition for screen time.

This drama is actually adapted from a novel. The original story seems to revolve around the female lead’s efforts to climb the social ladder due to her weakness.

In reality, the female lead, initially a humble illegitimate daughter under the control of a strict stepmother, cleverly schemes to secure a good marriage to escape the suffocating inner courtyard. Unexpectedly, she becomes entangled with the male lead, a powerful figure, and truly plays a significant role.

The female lead is weak but exceptionally clever. Initially trapped in the inner courtyard with limited perspective, she later escapes to the court, truly showcasing her wit.

The court intrigue suits her better than the inner courtyard.

The perspective follows the female lead, with the male lead’s role being about three to seven compared to the female lead.

Initially, everyone assumed the female lead would be the focus.

However, the male lead’s popularity in this drama is actually greater than the female lead’s. Liu Yue, the male lead, has a background as an idol turned actor, having starred in several successful sweet romance dramas, one of which even went viral.

Yuan Tan, the female lead, has been active in the television industry, with well-received dramas and good acting skills, having three hit dramas, though she hasn’t received traditional awards yet.

Relatively, her status in the TV industry is higher than Liu Yue’s, but Liu Yue’s larger fan base and stronger appeal led to adjustments in publicity, with Liu Yue becoming the focal point at his request.

Liu Yue is happy, but for Yuan Tan, it’s frustrating, especially since Liu Yue also added scenes, changing the female lead’s shining moments to the male lead’s. The whole hero-saves-the-beauty narrative for the audience, and she could only accept the protest.

Frustrated, Yuan Tan couldn’t peacefully coexist with him anymore, and Liu Yue isn’t easy to get along with either. So, the atmosphere on the set has been like this in recent days.

Because the biggest draw is the male and female leads, they are in such a Commotion – more or less, everyone tends to avoid its sharpness, hence the entire crew appears somewhat low-pressure.

—

Xiao Yu doesn’t need to practice fight scenes. During Wen Yu’s busy times, he sensed it and casually inquired. Wen Yu, upon hearing, couldn’t help but be astonished, “In this situation, he still wants to vie for the leading role?”

Xiao Yu shrugged, “No choice, he has high popularity, can’t easily offend him.”

Wen Yu frowned.

On the other side, the director also frowned, looking at the lifeless crew. He complained to the assistant director, “Do you think I made a mistake?”

The assistant director sighed, “No choice, you have to offend someone. Can’t offend Liu Yue, so let Xiao Yuan suffer a bit, we’ll make it up to her later.”

The director felt stifled, seeing the main actors’ rest areas so far apart. Passing by, others consciously made less noise, afraid of disturbing them. He said, “This can’t go on, we have two more months of shooting. If it continues like this, the crew will suffocate.”

The assistant director suggested, “What if I set up a situation, try to make them shake hands and reconcile?”

Even if it doesn’t completely mend things, surface-level reconciliation would suffice. Otherwise, if the fans notice the feud, it might escalate, harming the show.

They agreed to give it a try.

Soon, the assistant director made arrangements. Wen Yu received the invitation; it was already November, winter had set in, and it was cold. The assistant director’s plan was a hotpot dinner, and Wen Yu readily agreed.

Concerned, Xiao Yu said, “The assistant director’s plan is obviously for the two leads. Is it okay for us to join?”

Wen Yu waved it off, “No problem, we’ll mind our own business.”

And witness the drama firsthand!

Wen Yu smirked, glancing at her chat history with Zhou Han’s assistant, feeling apologetic. As a drama enthusiast, she was about to intervene!

Thinking of altering her beloved show?

Dream on!

After the assistant director worked hard to set things up, they awaited an early wrap-up in the afternoon. Once done, everyone headed out. Upon his return, the assistant director reported to the director, “Director Zhang, it’s settled. I’ve reserved seats at the restaurant.”

Director Zhang, just off the phone, looked bitter, “Huh? It’s settled already?”

Nervous, the assistant director asked, “What’s wrong? Did something happen with Liu Yue again?”

Director Zhang shook his head heavily, “No.”

Assistant director, puzzled, “Is it something with Teacher Yuan?”

Director Zhang, with a sigh, “No.”

Assistant director, perplexed, “Then…”

What is it then? As the assistant director fretted, Director Zhang softly said, “The investment side called, reminding not to add scenes casually. Reverse the scenes added earlier!”

Assistant director: !

Suddenly, he became like Director Zhang. Now, things are a mess. After finally deciding to offend Yuan Tan for Liu Yue, it turns out his wealthy father disagrees and wants to change back. Now, they’ve offended Liu Yue together! They look at each other, “What should we do?”

“Are we still having hot pot tonight?”

“Yes!”

They can’t avoid it. But this hot pot is really mouth-burning!

Meanwhile, the two lead actors are discussing tonight’s hot pot gathering. Yuan Tan’s assistant whispers, “They’re treating you like this. Sister, do you really want to go?”

Yuan Tan looks bitter; despite her popularity, she lacks support. Her company isn’t prominent, and she’s on the verge of contract termination. If she offends the director and Liu Yue, her company won’t offer much help. Despite the discomfort, she has to endure it. Thankfully, Liu Yue doesn’t steal all the limelight. “Go,” Yuan Tan sighs and packs her things.

The assistant glances at Liu Yue, scoffs, and shares the observation. Liu Yue laughs, “She won’t dare do anything.”

“Of course, brother, you’re so popular now; who dares offend you? The director also has to cater to you,” the assistant exaggerates.

Liu Yue doesn’t argue. He may not seem flamboyant, but the burden of being an idol is heavy. Many things he can’t do or say, but those around him can. He’s satisfied with this drama. Unlike previous modern dramas, it’s his first time acting in a historical costume drama. The company chose this crew and Yuan Tan as a partner to boost their popularity. This drama is crucial for him, so he doesn’t want his role reduced too much. Some scenes can’t be altered too much for future reputation.

“By the way, brother, for the hot pot gathering that night, should I go ahead and prepare?” the assistant cautiously suggests.

“No need,” Liu Yue smiles, “It’s a setup for me and Teacher Yuan to reconcile. If she’s willing to yield, I’m willing to step back.”

The assistant admires, “The director really values you.”

Liu Yue clicks his tongue, returns to the nanny car, lets the assistant take a couple of tired wrap-up photos, edits them, and posts on Weibo. In just a minute, thousands of comments and tens of thousands of likes flood in, all from his fans sympathizing with the situation he created. These data not only look good but are crucial for his position and resource allocation. He squints his eyes with satisfaction.

His eyes narrowed with pleasure.

Being valued like this is mainly because he maintains a good relationship with the fans.

With so many loyal fans charging ahead, if he endures a bit of injustice, the whole drama will be jeopardized. Would the director allow that?

So, just letting a supporting role, adding some highlights to the plot for the male lead, won’t harm the production.

The nanny car passed by Yuan Tan’s nanny car; Liu Yue was very polite, “Teacher Yuan, see you later.”

Yuan Tan forced a smile, “Sure.”

In the entertainment industry, who doesn’t act?

But after this drama, who will say, “I won’t act with such a person anymore!”

Bad luck!

However, when she reached the restaurant, seeing everyone chatting except the girl buried in her meal, Yuan Tan showed some surprise. There really are people who don’t act.

Wen Yu isn’t incapable of acting; if needed, she can.

But she doesn’t want to.

She’s not the humble part-time worker she used to be.

She’s a future multimillionaire!

Around a large round table, the director, assistant director, main leads, second leads, and more, about ten people in total. At first glance, apart from the director and assistant director, it’s a celebration of attractive people.

It’s rare to find someone unattractive in the entertainment industry, especially in such a large production.

As Wen Yu watches all these handsome guys and beautiful girls, she continues to eat heartily. With her increased exercise, she can indulge in eating.

Why does the female lead, Yuan Tan, keep looking at her?

Wen Yu winks at her.

Yuan Tan is speechless.

Wen Yu: “Teacher Yuan, can I have a bit more of that crab leg next to you?”

“Sure.” Yuan Tan immediately responds. Who could refuse such a cute girl? She pours the whole plate in; crab legs don’t take long to cook. After a while, she picks it up and places it in front of Wen Yu, two seats away: “Here you go.”

“Thank you.” Wen Yu politely thanks and unabashedly takes half of it, “Enough, Teacher Yuan, you should eat too.”

Yuan Tan didn’t want to eat originally, fearing acne due to the hotpot’s oil. However, seeing Wen Yu enjoy it so much, she can’t help but take a bit.

The delicious food improves her mood.

Their interaction makes the others at the table, who were chatting animatedly, involuntarily quiet down a bit.

The assistant director, noticing that Yuan Tan isn’t talking to Liu Yue but chatting with a supporting actress, stands up determinedly and says, “Hey, the future of this drama depends on all of you, especially our main leads. It’s the most challenging role. Here, I’ll toast to you, Teacher Liu, Teacher Yuan, care for a drink?”

Yuan Tan knew immediately that he was being targeted. Since he was already there, he didn’t hesitate and stood up directly, saying, “You’re too kind.”

Liu Yue also casually stood up, “Yes, you’re too kind. It’s all thanks to everyone’s efforts.”

After a toast, Liu Yue, feeling like a man, proactively raised his glass. Yuan Tan accepted, and the assistant director breathed a sigh of relief.

As other lesser-known actors stood up, one of them, the third male lead, suddenly said, “Yue Ge, you’re really amazing. As soon as your character poster was released, your fans sent it trending on Weibo. Quite lively. I wonder when I can reach your level.”

The atmosphere suddenly quieted. The assistant director gave the third male lead a stern look – crazy? Why bring up character posters now?

The third male lead was taken aback and mumbled, “What’s wrong? Yue Ge is remarkable, isn’t he?”

Facing this shameless remark, even the second female lead rolled her eyes. Some people aren’t famous for a reason.

However, Liu Yue calmly accepted it, “It’s the support of the fans. If you work hard, you can achieve it too.”

Although Yuan Tan had mentally prepared herself, seeing such shamelessness, she couldn’t help but frown. Fan support? Is that enough for filming?

Liu Yue noticed the tension, frowned, and thought he had already shown goodwill, yet Yuan Tan gave him a cold look. He then revealed a somewhat unfriendly smile, “Isn’t it, Teacher Yuan? Fans’ support makes the data look good. At least a solid foundation is essential.”

Yuan Tan smiled without responding. With his comment, others had no choice but to offer toasts individually to Liu Yue.

Yuan Tan watched in disbelief, finding it absurd. A glance at the director and assistant director revealed no reaction. She felt puzzled but turned to see the fourth female lead, Wen Yu, still eating, and smiling.

Wen Yu noticed Yuan Tan’s gaze, smiled, and gestured, “Keep going! You’ll have the last laugh!”

—

Wen Yu remembered the novel praised this drama, but it also had some controversies, especially criticism for weakening the female lead’s character. Still, due to the drama’s success, such opinions were scarce.

Liu Yue became increasingly popular, flooded with offers, but the following dramas faced criticism. Even fans couldn’t save him; the era of chasing popularity had passed, and after several failures, he was no longer favored by investors.

In contrast, leveraging the success of this drama, Yuan Tan further elevated her fame. She carefully chose roles, ventured into serious and slice-of-life genres, earning numerous award nominations, just a step away from becoming a top actress.

At this point, Liu Yue contacted Yuan Tan for another collaboration, only to be blacklisted. A desperate Liu Yue posted screenshots online, attempting to rally fans against Yuan Tan. However, Yuan Tan’s solid career supporters turned it against him, revealing their past collaboration and exposing his actions. Retribution comes in its own time.

For someone blinded by popularity, Yuan Tan had no intentions of toasting to him!

Yuan Tan’s heart warmed slightly, but Liu Yue wasn’t easy to get along with. He only acted cute when he gained an advantage; otherwise, he could be quite petty. Nitpicking, when the official cast list was announced, her name was placed first, fueling his resentment. This continued until the release of the character stills.

Certainly, here is the English translation of the provided Chinese paragraphs with spacing between them:

“Make sure Liu Yue’s name comes first.

She was about to remind this little girl.

Just over there, Liu Yue had already finished the drinks others had offered, easily noticing the unmoving Wen Yu.

Wen Yu has outstanding looks, though not very famous; this face is truly eye-catching. After Liu Yue observed, his eyes narrowed slightly, ‘Teacher Wen, how about I toast you?’

Wen Yu frowned, ‘No need.’

Liu Yue’s smile faded, ‘Teacher Wen, are you looking down on me?’

Wen Yu, ‘Do you want to know?’

Director and assistant director: !!!

Oh my goodness!

Director Zhang immediately said, ‘Wen Yu is young and inexperienced, Teacher Liu, don’t take it to heart.’

Liu Yue’s expression completely darkened, coldly saying, ‘Inexperienced? I don’t seem that young, do I? You won’t even give me this face; does that mean you really hate me?’

Wen Yu chuckled, ‘Not really, just feel you’re not worth much.’

‘Wen Teacher!’ Zhang hurriedly approached.

Liu Yue, instead, looked at her, waiting for her to finish.

Ignoring everything, Wen Yu casually continued, ‘In a female-centric script, shouldn’t the antagonist be the female lead? In terms of experience and role, it’s not your turn. If others praise you a bit, do you have to take it seriously?’

Silence fell completely, everyone’s faces changed.

This woman is ruthless.

Each word cuts deep.

Liu Yue was furious, pointing at her and sneering, ‘Very well, you’re quite bold.’

In his eyes, a strong hint of anger flashed, clearly holding a grudge against Wen Yu.

Wen Yu’s lips curled up, a bit proud as she raised her chin, but she humbly said, ‘It’s just okay, nothing special. In fact, my backstage is even bigger.’ She slyly smiled, ‘My backstage is much more significant.’

Everyone was stunned, worried for Wen Yu, Yuan Tan’s heart loosened.

Liu Yue thought, no wonder, she has connections.

A trace of mockery flashed in his eyes, ‘Backstage? Who’s your sponsor?’

Wen Yu simply took out her phone, dialing Jiang Yunyan’s number.

It wasn’t early, but he surely hadn’t slept yet.”

Sure enough, the phone rang shortly, and someone picked up on the other end.

Just a moment ago, the girl who was strutting around like a proud peacock started crying, “Big brother! Someone bullied me! Sob, sob, sob. I knew not bringing credentials into the group would make me an easy target. That Liu Yue definitely knows I reported him, causing him to lose his scenes he snatched, so now he’s retaliating against me. Sob, sob, sob…”

Everyone: “???”

Big brother?

No, isn’t she going to complain to her parents?!

Who is her parent? How influential are they to meddle in their drama production?

However, the director and assistant director’s expressions changed upon hearing the last two sentences. Damn, not many people know about this, could her parent be a major investor?!

Not knowing what was said on the other end of the call, Wen Yu, with red eyes, sniffled and continued complaining, “Liu Yue even asked if I disrespected him by not toasting! Who would admire a man who snatches roles?”

“Alright,” she responded, then turned on the speaker.

The sound of a keyboard tapping echoed through the phone. Two seconds later, a man’s low, cold voice emerged in the quiet private room, “Director Zhang, right? I’m Jiang Yunyan.”

“Hiss—”