“Ring, ring, ring…”
The incessant ringtone came from his pocket. A hand pulled out the phone and accidentally pressed the answer button.
A concerned voice came from the other end. “Second Brother, Mom, Dad, and Big Brother are all waiting for you to come home for dinner. Why aren’t you back yet?”
Ning Luo’s face crumpled.
Your second brother is dead.
If it’s something important, burn paper. If it’s a minor matter, summon his soul. If it’s a major one, dig up his grave.
He stared at the name “Ning Xibai” on the screen, unwilling to accept the fact that he had transmigrated into a novel.
He had only just won the Best Supporting Actor award. He hadn’t even had time to warm the trophy in his hands—or come up with an acceptance speech—when a chandelier fell on his head and knocked him unconscious.
When he opened his eyes again, he was in the bathroom of an unfamiliar hotel.
And that wasn’t even the worst part. Even more disastrously, he had transmigrated into an everyone-loves-him erotica novel.
Remembering the novel’s mosaic-filled plot—which took up two-thirds of the book and involved conquering the entertainment industry with his body while constantly exploring the limits of the human form—Ning Luo fell into a deathly silence.
This kind of Haitang literature was still a little too advanced for him.
The owner of this body shared his name and was a cannon-fodder character in the novel: a controversial minor celebrity.
He was also the Ning family’s biological son, abandoned outside the family and later brought back. Once he returned, he was ranked according to seniority as the Ning family’s second young master. He was jealous of the Ning family’s adopted third son, Ning Xibai, and constantly made trouble for him.
Compared to Ning Xibai, the original owner’s status in the entertainment industry could only be described as heaven and earth apart. With his everyone-loves-him aura, Ning Xibai swept through the entire entertainment industry. In the end, with the help of his love interests, he became an award-winning actor, inherited the Ning family fortune, and achieved both romantic and professional success.
Meanwhile, the original owner’s reputation was utterly ruined. Even after leaving the industry and moving abroad, he was occasionally dragged out and used as a comparison to highlight how wonderful the protagonist’s life was.
In the end, he was accidentally caught up in a gunfight and died on the spot.
A perfect foil.
Ning Luo clenched his fists and began crawling around in the darkness.
Insanity! Utter insanity!
Seeing that he hadn’t said anything, Ning Xibai continued, “Second Brother, you’re not still angry about the director misunderstanding you, are you? I really didn’t expect this to happen. I just thought that since I couldn’t take the role, it would be better to give it to you. I didn’t mean anything by it. Second Brother, don’t take it to heart.”
Why did that sound so tea-infused?
Ning Luo searched through his memories and discovered that the pure little white flower from the original novel didn’t seem quite as pure as he appeared.
Ning Xibai looked similar to the original owner. The two were constantly compared in the industry, so their fans had naturally become enemies. Whenever they had nothing better to do, they would trade insults online. A few days ago, things had really blown up because of a rumor that a drama scheduled to star Ning Xibai had suddenly replaced him with Ning Luo as the second male lead.
When they heard the news, Ning Xibai’s fans had practically wanted to crawl through the internet and tear Ning Luo apart. They accused him of stealing resources, using connections, and shamelessly selling his body to get ahead. Given Ning Luo’s countless scandals and long list of past offenses, netizens sympathized with Ning Xibai and kicked Ning Luo whenever they passed by.
Who could have known that Ning Xibai had voluntarily given him the second male lead role?
His reason had been, “My schedule is too full lately. I really can’t take this drama. It’s better to give it to Second Brother than someone else. We’re family, after all.”
What the hell did “we’re family” mean?
Translated, it meant: I’m giving you what I don’t want anymore.
Unfortunately, the original owner had believed him. He thought Ning Xibai was trying to make peace and curry favor with his biological older brother, so he had foolishly accepted the role.
Ning Xibai had deliberately brought up the matter.
His finger hovered over the speaker button, waiting for Ning Luo to start cursing so he could “accidentally” broadcast the conversation to Ning Father, Ning Mother, and Big Brother.
After all, how could he accept that this person, who was inferior to him in every way, had suddenly surpassed him? How could he accept going from the Ning family’s youngest son to an undeserving “third young master,” becoming the subject of gossip among his friends, and having everything taken away from him?
How could Ning Xibai possibly be willing to accept that?
Ning Luo opened his mouth. “I’m not angry.”
Ning Xibai said, “Second Brother, don’t—huh?”
Why wasn’t this going the way he expected?
The situation had taken an unexpected turn, but his finger had already pressed the speaker button.
And so Ning Father, Ning Mother, and Ning family’s eldest son, Ning Yang, heard Ning Luo’s dramatic declaration from the other end of the phone.
“I know you wanted to give me better resources. I understand your feelings, and I understand why you used this method to make everyone misunderstand us. Ultimately, it’s because we became brothers, and you no longer dared to express your love for me the way you used to. So you chose to protect me silently.”
“I know you’re in a lot of pain. Back then, you even climbed into my bed to seduce me, saying you didn’t care how I played with you. But I told you from the beginning that there could never be anything between us.”
“Xiaobai,” Ning Luo called out with heartfelt sincerity. There was a stray dog named Xiaobai living beneath his apartment building. His voice was heavy with sorrow, carrying three parts sadness, five parts desolation, and two parts disappointment. “Forget me. Don’t love me too much.”
The Ning family: ???
Ning Xibai: ???
What the hell was he talking about?!
Ning Xibai spoke rapidly. “Second Brother, you’re drunk. Are you joking ar—hello? Hello, hello?!”
The call ended abruptly.
Ning Xibai was left alone to face three pairs of stunned and disbelieving eyes around the dinner table.
Ning Father dropped his chopsticks. “What’s going on? Third young master, explain yourself!”
The Ning family’s servants all pricked up their ears.
The adopted son they had raised had feelings for his nominal older brother?
Brother-on-brother incest? Forbidden brotherly love? What a scandal!
Faced with Ning Father’s dark expression, Ning Xibai was unable to defend himself. In his heart, he cursed Ning Luo for suddenly losing his mind.
Who the hell liked him?!
What a narcissist!
—
Ning Luo hung up at lightning speed, feeling refreshed.
It was also Ning Xibai’s bad luck for running into him when he was in a foul mood.
He had already been blasted out of the plot. Was he not allowed to blast the original novel’s protagonist bottom in return?
When you were out in the world, your identity was whatever you made it. Today, he would just play the role of a great beauty madly pursued by the protagonist.
“Ah, no one understands me. You all only love me for my beautiful exterior.” Ning Luo was thoroughly enjoying himself. He sighed mournfully and admired his own reflection in the mirror for a moment.
Fortunately, his face was still his original face. Ning Luo had the features of a first love: delicate, refined, and clean-cut. At the outer corner of his slightly upturned eyes sat a tiny beauty mark, which disappeared into the crease of his eyelid whenever he raised his eyes.
Ning Luo smiled at himself in the mirror. A small, sweet dimple appeared in his cheek, and his gaze held a youthful softness.
Stress needed an outlet. See? He was normal again already.
Looking at the name “Ning Xibai” in his contacts, Ning Luo smacked his lips thoughtfully and changed the contact name.
[Boundary-Pushing Male Bodhisattva]
Now that was more like it.
It fit the central theme of Haitang literature perfectly.
“Who would’ve thought? You’ve got quite a few debts of affection. And who’s Xiaobai?”
The sudden voice startled him. He turned toward it and saw a woman with her arms crossed, standing in the doorway with her hair tied in a high ponytail.
She was the female lead of the production, Sun Shaoyi.
When she saw him looking at her, she scanned Ning Luo from head to toe and sneered, “I thought you’d fallen in and couldn’t get out. You’ve been in the bathroom forever.”
Ning Luo sucked in a sharp breath, completely ignoring the second half of her sentence. He had only heard one thing:
Xiaobai.
When had she arrived? Had she heard everything?
Recalling all the nonsense he had just spouted, Ning Luo’s toes curled in embarrassment.
Enough. His corpse was uncomfortable.
He had only gone crazy at that little green tea, but he hadn’t wanted anyone he knew to find out—especially not someone he would be working with on set for the next two or three months!
[Ahhhhhhh! What’s the difference between this and taking a dump in public?! My image!]
Sun Shaoyi’s head throbbed from the high-pitched shriek. She was about to tell him to shut up when she suddenly realized something and slowly widened her eyes.
Wait a second. Ning Luo hadn’t opened his mouth just now, had he?
Ning Luo met her frown, his expression difficult to describe. His eyelashes trembled, and his fingers tightened around his sleeve as he tried to change the subject. “Um… Sister Shaoyi, what are you doing here?”
【Why is she looking at me like that? Why is she still looking? Stop looking! I can’t keep smiling for even one second! I’m Gucci-ing while stir-frying bananas, and stir-frying bananas while Gucci-ing, because banana peels are the crystallization of Sun Wukong and Tang Monk’s love, the victory of the tsundere × aloof younger-man genre—but seagulls can’t stand on tables and clap their wings, because I know that would lead to Bali being invaded by kangaroos and turn me into Gotham City’s big boss!】
The barrage of thoughts in Ning Luo’s mind was surging like a tsunami, and Sun Shaoyi’s expression changed along with it.
She saw it clearly. Ning Luo really hadn’t opened his mouth!
“Ning Luo, did you just… say something?”
“I did,” Ning Luo said, finding her reaction strange. He blinked. “I asked why you were here.”
This was the entrance to the men’s restroom, wasn’t it? She was blocking the doorway, and the men behind her were so desperate to pee that they didn’t dare go in.
“Not that…” Sun Shaoyi shook her head. “Forget it.”
She felt that the whole thing was too bizarre. Perhaps she had been too tired lately and was hallucinating.
Even if Ning Luo had opened his mouth, he couldn’t possibly have said such deranged nonsense. He was an expert at putting on an act, especially in front of his fans, where he always appeared pure and bashful.
It had to be a hallucination.
She would see a doctor as soon as she got back.
She replied to Ning Luo, “Of course I’m here to find you. Don’t forget that we came out to dine with the investor, not so you could sit in the bathroom straining to poop. Hurry back.”
She didn’t like this parachuted-in actor with no talent and a terrible temper at all. But she disliked the smoky, suffocating atmosphere in the private room even more, which was why she had come to call him back.
When Ning Luo saw her glance at the few men behind him, then turn and walk away in her clicking high heels, he hurried after her.
【Strong psychological fortitude. For a moment, she actually seemed to forget that she was the one blocking the men’s restroom.】
【Her coldness: eight degrees below zero. Her confidence: blindingly radiant!】
Ning Luo looked up just in time to see Sun Shaoyi’s back stumble.
【How can Sister Shaoyi fail to handle a mere pair of high heels?】
The clicking of her heels against the floor grew even louder, as if she wanted to stab a hole in the ground with them.
I’m seeing a doctor as soon as I get back!
—
Ning Luo pushed open the door to the private room and was immediately choked by the smoke. He coughed repeatedly.
Everyone in the room turned to look.
Director Wang was the first to react. “You’re here? Come in.”
His attitude was far from warm.
As an actor who had been forcibly inserted into the production through connections, Wang Lin was extremely annoyed by Ning Luo’s presence. His feelings toward Ning Xibai had soured as well.
If Mr. Li hadn’t insisted on bringing him along, Wang Lin wouldn’t have wanted him there at all.
The moment Li Zhigang saw Ning Luo, his eyes lit up.
He really did look similar—and his features were even more refined than Ning Xibai’s.
The Ning family was out of his league, but playing with a substitute was still an option. A minor celebrity like this would be easy to manipulate.
With that thought, Li Zhigang waved Ning Luo over, smiling amiably. “Xiaoluo, what took you so long? Come sit over here.”
Ning Luo’s radar began blaring. He had seen that kind of veiled, assessing gaze plenty of times before. They were all men whose brains had migrated south to their crotches. Before he could figure out how to refuse, Sun Shaoyi grabbed him and dragged him to sit on the other side.
Sun Shaoyi said coldly, “Do you think you’re worthy of sitting beside Mr. Li?”
Li Zhigang’s expression darkened. “Shaoyi, what exactly do you mean by that?”
Sun Shaoyi’s tone was somewhat stiff. “Please don’t take offense, Mr. Li. He has a bad temper and doesn’t think before he speaks. I’m worried he might offend you.”
Feeling that his dignity had been challenged, Li Zhigang gave a snort.
Seeing that the atmosphere had turned awkward, Wang Lin hurriedly smoothed things over. After several rounds of toasting, Li Zhigang’s expression finally eased.
“Director Wang, I know your production is desperately short of funding. If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t consider investing, but Old Zhang recommended you, and I’ve read the proposal. It’s a good project.”
Wang Lin smiled along with him. “It’s my honor to have earned the approval of Mr. Li and Mr. Zhang.”
Li Zhigang continued, “We originally agreed to sign the contract tomorrow, but I have something to take care of and need to fly back tomorrow. Why don’t we sign it here tonight and save ourselves the trouble?”
This was far too sudden.
Wang Lin hesitated. “But… Mr. Li, isn’t this a little rushed?”
“I’m a straightforward man. I don’t like beating around the bush.” Li Zhigang gestured for his secretary to hand the contract to Wang Lin. “The contract was drafted after our last meeting. The terms have already been reviewed and finalized by the lawyers. Take a look.”
Wang Lin accepted the contract.
It was indeed the same contract they had negotiated during their previous meeting. The lawyers had reviewed it, and all the clauses were in order.
It was just that they had originally planned a formal signing ceremony for tomorrow. Signing it here tonight felt too hasty, especially since Li Zhigang hadn’t mentioned it beforehand.
“Director Wang doesn’t want to sign it now?” Li Zhigang took a leisurely sip of wine. “This is my mistake, but I really do have a minor problem to deal with tomorrow. If it doesn’t work for you, we can do it next time, after I’ve handled things.”
As he spoke, his gaze once again landed on Ning Luo, as though he were plotting something.
Wang Lin panicked at once.
Li Zhigang could afford to wait. He couldn’t.
After the problem was dealt with? Who knew when that would be?
Thinking of the production team’s painfully tight finances, Wang Lin began to waver, his hand reaching for the pen.
People handing out money never hesitated. Why should the person receiving it?
He lowered his head, naturally missing the sharp glint in Li Zhigang’s eyes.
Ning Luo had turned transparent the moment he sat down, quietly eating and drinking from the side. When he saw the two of them locked in a stalemate, he glanced at Wang Lin.
His 5.0 vision allowed him to see the name on the contract clearly.
Li Zhigang.
The name was damned familiar.
The contents of the original novel he had just received immediately surfaced in his mind.
Wang Lin was just about to sign his name and finalize the partnership when he suddenly heard Ning Luo’s piercing shriek.
【Aaaaaah! Why would you sign a contract without doing a background check?! Director Wang, are you mentally sound? This investor is a habitual money launderer!】
Wang Lin’s hand froze.
“…Ning Luo, what nonsense are you talking about?”
The voice had exploded right beside his ear, whipping up a hurricane inside his skull.
And what did that sentence mean?
Money laundering?
Ning Luo said, “Huh? I didn’t say anything, Director Wang.”
Wang Lin looked around the room. Everyone else was staring at him in confusion. Only Sun Shaoyi wore an odd expression.
Had he misheard?
Impossible.
He picked up the pen again, but his gaze remained fixed on Ning Luo’s face.
Ning Luo didn’t look at him. He looked at the pen instead.
【This production is doomed. I’m doomed too. Heh heh hahah, if you’re going to die, don’t drag me down with you. I’m going to find another job!】
“Ning Luo!” Wang Lin’s materialist worldview collapsed in an instant. He hurriedly interrupted him. “What have you done to me?!”
Ning Luo hadn’t opened his mouth!
He had heard Ning Luo’s thoughts!
How could such an absurd, outrageous thing exist in this world?!
“…Huh?” Ning Luo blinked slowly.
【That sounded like I slept with you and gave you one hell of a pounding. Uncle, you’re not on my list of conquests. Why are you coming on so strong right out of the gate? (Takes off pants) (Can’t get it up) (Lights a cigarette)】
Sun Shaoyi: “!!!”
Wang Lin: “…?”
He stared fixedly at Ning Luo, who wore an innocent expression.
Ning Luo looked completely baffled. He tentatively smiled at Wang Lin, his smile shy, his full lips glistening with oil, a faint dimple appearing beside his cheek.
Fuck! He was seeing a ghost!
