[Zhou Qingyu's causing trouble again?]
[She was already unlikeable when she interfered with Ye Luoyi and Second Young Master Pei's relationship, and now she publicly slapped Ye Luoyi on set?]
[Poor Ye Luoyi!]
[Luoyi is just too gentle, that's why Zhou Qingyu bullies her. If the paparazzi hadn't exposed this, fans wouldn't even know!]
[Must step on Zhou whenever I see her. Her acting is terrible, yet she keeps messing with our precious characters. So annoying!]
[Can Zhou just leave the entertainment industry? Can't stand seeing her!]
...
The internet was flooded with negative comments about Zhou Qingyu, with ten out of the top fifty trending topics on Weibo being negative news about her.
Yan Xi silently scrolled through Weibo, reading the comments cursing her best friend.
Zhou Qingyu had debuted two years ago and, with her striking and elegant face, had managed to become a second-tier celebrity. Online comments about her were mixed, which was normal in the entertainment industry.
However, after the news "Zhou Qingyu Slaps Ye Luoyi on Set" broke, all her past negative news resurfaced: Zhou Qingyu being the third party in Ye Luoyi and Pei Yubai's relationship, book fans' dissatisfaction with Zhou Qingyu's portrayal of characters, and Zhou Qingyu's diva behavior on set...
Yan Xi knew this was just the beginning.
Yan Xi had a dream.
In her dream, the world she lived in was a novel, and her best friend Zhou Qingyu was an arrogant and vicious supporting character who was madly in love with the male lead, Pei Yubai.
Pei Yubai was the illegitimate son of the Pei family, who used Zhou Qingyu to seize Pei family shares while secretly getting involved with the female lead, Ye Luoyi. Zhou Qingyu became jealous and repeatedly caused trouble for Ye Luoyi, but was always put in her place by Ye Luoyi, serving only as a foil to highlight Ye Luoyi's character.
Later, Zhou Qingyu's half-brother died from overwork, causing Zhou Corporation's stock price to plummet, allowing Pei Yubai to acquire it. Zhou Qingyu lost everything and was sent by Pei Yubai to dig sweet potatoes on an island.
This story had nothing to do with Yan Xi - she was just an unnamed background character in the novel, the vicious supporting character's best friend.
Yan Xi initially thought it was just a dream.
But today's gossip about "Zhou Qingyu Slaps Ye Luoyi on Set" matched exactly with the plot in her dream.
Was there really no way to change it?
[The male and female leads are blessed by fate, they're the darlings of this novel world, while the supporting female character's tragic end is predetermined~]
Hearing this mechanical voice, Yan Xi was stunned for two seconds, thinking she was hearing things.
[Host, I'm telling the truth~]
[Everything in your dream is real~]
As a level-10 internet surfer of the 21st century, Yan Xi quickly realized what this voice was. Then, a glowing orb appeared in her head, and surprisingly, it even had emoji expressions.
Yan Xi asked, "Are you a system? Are you here to help me change all this?"
Yan Xi had read many novels where characters awakened and bound themselves to various systems, like strategy systems, counterattack systems... These systems could help their hosts change the plot and head toward a bright and beautiful future. These were all common tropes, and Yan Xi understood them well.
The orb bounced around in Yan Xi's mind: [You're half right! I am indeed a system~]
[But I'm a background character system, I can only chat with you and have no other functions~]
Yan Xi: ?
"Then what use are you!"
[...]
[I can chat]
[I can surf the internet and gossip with you]
[I can be your MP3 player]
Yan Xi: "Thanks a lot!"
[You're welcome~^^~]
Yan Xi quietly put the system aside.
A background character system - it sounded useless from the start.
The system said it couldn't change the plot, and the supporting character's fate couldn't be changed, but Yan Xi didn't believe it. Since she had already seen her best friend's ending, she couldn't let it play out.
In Yan Xi's view, Zhou Qingyu's fall from wealthy young lady to digging sweet potatoes centered around Pei Yubai. As long as she stayed away from Pei Yubai, even if she wasn't a wealthy young lady anymore, she wouldn't end up digging sweet potatoes.
Stay away from men, live peacefully.
"Xi Xi, summer break is coming. How about we have a meal together before the break?"
Her roommates' voices brought Yan Xi back to reality.
The computer screen in front of her showed the gossip about Zhou Qingyu slapping Ye Luoyi, while her roommates were checking their final exam results. With their first year of graduate school ending, everyone was enthusiastically planning where to have dinner.
"I'm fine with anything, you decide!"
Her easy-going roommates opened an app to choose a restaurant after hearing Yan Xi's response.
Yan Xi took out her phone and found Zhou Qingyu's number.
System: [Host, you're not planning to tell Zhou Qingyu about the novel's plot, are you?]
Yan Xi asked back, "Is that not allowed?"
[Of course not! Any information related to the novel's plot will be censored~]
Yan Xi frowned, thought for a moment, and asked, "If I can't tell her about the plot, what if I could help her avoid the predetermined plot?"
The system grinned mischievously: [You can try, but no guarantees!]
Yan Xi fiddled with her phone, recalling the content of her dream—
The novel's plot was already halfway through. In the next plot point, Zhou Qingyu would participate in a variety show called "Let's Travel Together." The show invited four celebrity guests, and each guest could invite one companion to travel with them. The show didn't limit the guests' travel expenses or methods.
The female lead Ye Luoyi also participated in the show. She and her partner planned an economical travel itinerary that provided viewers with new travel ideas, and Ye Luoyi became popular due to her "pure as chrysanthemum" and "down-to-earth" image.
Zhou Qingyu also chose the "budget travel" route, but constantly conflicted with her partner, and eventually was criticized by everyone online for being arrogant and bullying her partner.
To change Zhou Qingyu's future, they first had to prevent her from participating in the variety show!
Yan Xi walked to the dormitory balcony and called Zhou Qingyu.
The call connected quickly—
"Baby? I'm shooting a commercial~ What's up?"
Zhou Qingyu's voice came through the phone, along with the sounds of staff and crew members setting up, clearly at a filming location.
Yan Xi: "Qingyu, aren't you going abroad tomorrow to film the variety show?"
Zhou Qingyu was getting her makeup touched up while taking Yan Xi's call, "Yes, Brother Yubai is going too. After I finish shooting the commercial, I'm going to meet him, and tomorrow we'll go to the airport together~"
Yan Xi was stunned. She remembered that in the novel, Zhou Qingyu and Ye Luoyi went on the variety show together, how did it become Pei Yubai?
System explained: [Zhou Qingyu invested in this variety show just to travel with Pei Yubai, but Pei Yubai gave his spot to Ye Luoyi. Later, Ye Luoyi shines in the show while Zhou Qingyu gets hated by everyone online!]
[I advise you not to tell Zhou Qingyu that Pei Yubai won't participate, because Ye Luoyi hasn't signed with the show yet, so telling Zhou Qingyu won't help!]
Yan Xi understood this point. Pei Yubai was probably keeping it from Zhou Qingyu, and she would likely only find out the truth when they reached the airport tomorrow.
Yan Xi held her phone, making her voice sound pitiful, "Qingyu, please don't go? I just got dumped, can you stay and keep me company?"
"You got dumped?" Zhou Qingyu's voice revealed some surprise.
"Yes," Yan Xi's voice became even more sorrowful, "I just found out today how painful breakups are..."
Zhou Qingyu was silent for a full minute before finally speaking, "Stop joking, Yan Xi. You've been single since birth and haven't even held hands with a guy, how could you get dumped? Which paper husband SSR did you fail to get this time? Xie Zhixing? Shen Zui? Or Su Chen?"
Yan Xi: "Su Chen... no, no, no! I really got dumped!"
Suddenly, a voice came from the phone: [Alipay received payment: 100,000 yuan.]
"Baby, I transferred you some money, draw whatever cards you want! What kind of man can't you get? I have to go now, I need to find Brother Yubai after finishing the commercial. If you can't get the card you want, call me again!"
With that, Zhou Qingyu hung up.
Yan Xi: "...?"
The system gloated: [I told you you're just a background character, the predetermined plot can't be changed!]
[Zhou Qingyu is now controlled by the plot and is completely love-struck! How could she pass up the chance to travel with Pei Yubai!]
Yan Xi sighed, "Do you know where Qingyu is shooting the commercial?"
[Of course!]
[Although I can't change the plot, I still know everything that happens in the novel world!]
[Zhou Qingyu is near Hongrui Mall right now~ She should finish shooting in about half an hour!]
Yan Xi's eyes flickered, a glint of light flashing through them.
She glanced at the fresh 100,000 yuan in her Alipay account, then turned to look at her roommates who were chattering about where to have dinner—
"Sisters, why don't we go eat at Hongrui Mall? My treat!"
At the filming location, the atmosphere was tense and busy.
After seven failed takes of the perspective switch, Zhou Qingyu finally completed the shooting and sat exhaustedly in the director's chair. Her assistant carefully approached with a large pot of health tea.
"Sister Qingyu, the director said he'll review the footage to see if any scenes need to be reshot. If not, today's filming will be done."
Zhou Qingyu responded with a weak "mm-hmm."
She casually picked up the health tea and took a sip, then immediately threw the cup aside in disgust, her face full of displeasure: "What is this? It tastes horrible!"
The assistant explained: "Sister Qingyu, this is specially formulated health tea from our new nutritionist. It's said to have skin-whitening, beautifying, slimming, and detoxifying effects..."
Zhou Qingyu snorted with disdain, letting out a cold laugh, "If drinking water could have such magical effects, why would anyone need cosmetic procedures? Besides, it tastes awful. Fire this person immediately!"
"Yes..."
The assistant took away the health tea and replaced it with bottled mineral water.
At this moment, the assistant director came over to inform Zhou Qingyu that the footage was fine and filming was wrapped for the day.
Zhou Qingyu commanded her makeup artist, "I'm meeting Brother Yubai later, give me a pretty makeup look."
"Yes."
While Zhou Qingyu was removing her makeup, the assistant approached her, "Sister Qingyu, the negative news online is getting quite serious. Although we clarified that the slapping incident was part of the script, netizens don't believe it. Plus, those fans dug up the story about you coming between Ye Luoyi and Second Young Master Pei..."
Zhou Qingyu impatiently interrupted her assistant, "Ye Luoyi and Brother Yubai have no relationship! She's just clingy with Brother Yubai!"
"Yes, yes, yes... We all know you and Second Young Master have an engagement, and Ye Luoyi is just an artist in Second Young Master Pei's company," the assistant hurried to pacify Zhou Qingyu. "But Ye Luoyi and Second Young Master Pei have many CP fans, and since you haven't announced your engagement to Second Young Master Pei, fans think you're the other woman who slapped Ye Luoyi on set out of spite! Why don't you clarify your relationship with Second Young Master Pei? That would put these rumors to rest!"
Zhou Qingyu's delicate brows furrowed. How she wished she could reveal her relationship with Pei Yubai! But Pei Yubai had said that Ye Luoyi was his company's artist, and his relationship with her was just marketing. Only after making Ye Luoyi famous and achieving success in his career could he secure his position in the Pei family.
Revealing their engagement now would be bad for Pei Yubai's career.
Zhou Qingyu didn't want to affect Pei Yubai, and since he was competing with his brother, just as she was competing with her own brother, she understood his difficulties.
Zhou Qingyu waved her hand dismissively, "Let it be."
The assistant was frustrated. Although her boss was arrogant and domineering, wasn't Pei Yubai's behavior more disgusting? Besides, all those two-dimensional character roles that Zhou Qingyu had botched were taken just to be closer to Pei Yubai, roles that didn't suit her at all. With her mediocre acting skills and constantly taking unsuitable roles, how could she possibly perform well!
Bottom line, the assistant couldn't understand why her boss, a wealthy heiress, needed to revolve her life around Pei Yubai.
The assistant carefully suggested, "Sister Qingyu, doesn't Zhou Corporation own shares in Weibo? If you just let your brother help, we could remove all the negative content, and fans would forget about this in a few days..."
Zhou Qingyu suddenly turned to look at her assistant, her gaze sharp, "When have I ever needed his help!"
In ordinary families, siblings are siblings, but in wealthy families, siblings are never siblings—they're enemies.
The assistant trembled in fear and didn't dare say another word.
After removing her makeup, the makeup artist gave Zhou Qingyu a glamorous new look.
Zhou Qingyu's features were striking and elegant, and with this makeup, she looked quite fierce. Zhou Qingyu rather liked it, but thinking that such an aggressive appearance might displease Pei Yubai, her beautiful brows furrowed once again.
"Sister Qingyu, the car is waiting downstairs."
Zhou Qingyu responded, "You all head back, I'm going to buy something at the mall next door."
There was a three-Michelin-star restaurant on the sixth floor of Hongrui Mall. Pei Yubai particularly loved their coconut milk cake, and Zhou Qingyu wanted to buy two pieces for him.
Wearing sunglasses and a face mask, Zhou Qingyu entered the restaurant discreetly.
Usually, she could have sent her assistant to do this, but when it came to Pei Yubai, Zhou Qingyu wanted to handle it personally.
Inside the restaurant, there weren't many customers. This was a high-end establishment with an average spend of over 2,000 yuan per person, and the clientele consisted of Hai City's wealthy elite. Paparazzi rarely staked out here.
While the server went to pack the coconut milk cake, Zhou Qingyu found an empty seat to wait.
She opened her phone, wanting to ask Yan Xi if she had drawn her desired SSR card, when suddenly, a familiar figure caught her eye.
Yan Xi?
She came to eat here too?
The next second, Zhou Qingyu saw the girl sitting across from Yan Xi suddenly stand up and violently throw a glass of water at her!
"You slut! Who told you to steal my boyfriend!"
