The Tool Brother Thinks It’s Not Okay [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 11

Qin Yunran recovered quickly. After just half a month of rest, he was discharged from the hospital and immediately returned to the set to film scenes with simple blocking. Gradually, he caught up on all his scenes.

Soon after, the trailer was released, showcasing grand sets and sweeping visuals. Compared to the shoddy productions and romance-obsessed idol dramas of the same period, it stood out as truly unique.

*****

[These epic scenes are exhilarating! Qin Yunran’s acting in the trailer looks decent, and with so many veteran actors in supporting roles, this drama’s quality should be high. I’m looking forward to it.]

[I heard the screenwriter is the original author? That means they probably won’t butcher the story. But I’m still upset the female lead didn’t end up with the male lead in the novel. Will the drama change the ending for the better?]

[Did you guys see that scene where the male lead gets shot in the leg and starts beating people with his crutch? They included a full ten seconds of it in the trailer! I was laughing so hard I nearly split my sides. Ranran, why aren’t you resting properly in the hospital instead of running around fighting?]

[The editor must have done that on purpose, lol! What a brilliant way to ride the hype. They deserve a bonus!]

*****

Cheng Kaixin seized on the recent scandal where Qin Yunran had been framed, launching a reverse marketing campaign. This drew even more attention to the production’s progress, with many people seeking out the original novel, Elegant Shadows of Espionage, to discuss the plot. Even before filming wrapped, the drama had already garnered immense buzz.

By the time Qin Yunran finished filming, his popularity had skyrocketed. Riding this wave of momentum, he secured numerous high-profile opportunities.

Yuelai Inn was the hottest reality show at the time. The production team had built a quaint, old-fashioned inn in an ancient city. The resident cast members acted as the inn’s “managers,” running the place and serving ordinary customers.

Each episode featured two celebrity guests as “waiters.” Qin Yunran was one of the guest stars in the latest episode.

Cheng Kaixin was surprised at first, but then he realized it made perfect sense.

The “innkeeper” for this season of Yuelai Inn was none other than veteran actor Zhu Qian.

Though the two had never worked together before, the recent scandal meant all eyes would be on Qin Yunran. Every move he made would be magnified on camera, and one wrong step could easily invite criticism.

Conversely, if he could get along well with Zhu Qian on the show and earn the veteran’s favor, he could completely erase his reputation for unprofessionalism and even gain a new wave of fans.

Cheng Kaixin had unwavering faith in Qin Yunran’s charisma and capabilities.

What made it even more intriguing was that Lü Yiyan was also a permanent guest on the show.

Qin Yunran had no trouble investigating Lü Yiyan’s past actions. Knowing that their relationship couldn’t end well, he still accepted the show’s invitation and stepped into Lü Yiyan’s territory… It was like knowing there was a tiger in the mountains, yet deliberately venturing into its lair.

Cheng Kaixin admired this about him. Qin Yunran was gentle and polite in his interactions, but beneath that facade lay a fierce determination to never be taken advantage of, even to the point of retaliating with double the force. He was remarkably perceptive, noticing Cheng Kaixin’s efforts to support him. He could have easily accepted the assistance and coasted through, but he chose to confront the challenge head-on.

“What guts,” Cheng Kaixin murmured, tapping the table, his voice tinged with admiration.

The System puffed up with pride. “Of course my protagonist is extraordinary.”

“Your protagonist?” Cheng Kaixin teased. “If he’s yours, then what am I?”

“I was just saying,” the System stammered. “You’re my dearest host, after all.”

“Sometimes, compared to how you treat the protagonist…” Cheng Kaixin said pointedly, “I really feel like I’m just a tool.”

“Of course I was just joking about you being a tool,” the System quickly reassured him. “I promised you, as long as you complete your missions properly, you’ll get to make one wish come true when you return to the Main God Space!”

“Any wish at all?”

“Anything! Even bringing someone back to life is possible. You died so young and so tragically. You must be filled with regret, right?” The System suddenly realized something. “Wait a minute… I thought you were blown up?”

Cheng Kaixin had witnessed his own gruesome corpse firsthand. When the System brought it up again, he simply nodded, his expression unchanged.

The System was suspicious. “You, a hairdresser, offended someone so badly they blew you up? Were you the personal stylist for a national leader or something?”

Cheng Kaixin burst out laughing. “You’d actually believe me if I said I was? You’re so naive!”

The System felt utterly exasperated.

“Then what exactly did you do?!”

“Actually, I was a police officer,” Cheng Kaixin said solemnly. “I died in the line of duty while arresting drug dealers.”

The System: “…I can’t believe I fell for that bullshit.”

Just as it was about to ask another question, Cheng Kaixin pressed a finger to his lips and whispered, “Shh, I need to focus on this task.” With that, he called the director of Yuelai Inn. Seeing he was genuinely busy, the System reluctantly fell silent.

Though the show’s guests were all ordinary people, they had been carefully selected by the production team. Cheng Kaixin asked the director for a guest slot and immediately called Lian Weiwei.

“I actually really enjoy watching that show… but me being on it? I’m worried I’ll freeze up in front of the cameras. What if I mess up?” Lian Weiwei sounded hesitant.

“Just think of it as a fun outing. Don’t overthink it.”

When Lian Weiwei remained uncertain, Cheng Kaixin added, “When you’re on screen, the show will introduce you as the screenwriter for our drama. It’ll be great publicity for us.”

“Really? That’s amazing!” Lian Weiwei suddenly felt like she could make a real contribution and immediately agreed. Then, feigning casualness, she asked, “I heard this season is filming in the neighboring city. The scenery there is supposed to be beautiful. Want to come along for fun?”

“No,” Cheng Kaixin replied flatly.

Lian Weiwei let out a disappointed “Oh.”

“I don’t have time. I’ll send a car for you when the time comes.”

“Okay!” Lian Weiwei bit her lip, smiling happily.

He’s being so thoughtful… does he care about me even a little?

While Qin Yunran was filming his reality show, Elegant Shadows of Espionage premiered. The drama’s epic historical setting, combined with the male and female leads’ stunning visuals, captivated audiences of all ages, driving ratings through the roof. Some critics even hailed it as a spy drama on par with Lurk.

Qin Yunran’s expression when he kills people is so cold and decisive. Even my grandma said he’s handsome! He’s a hit with everyone!

The undercover scenes are so tense and thrilling! Every time that urgent background music starts, I’m on the edge of my seat. Even though I know the male lead won’t get caught, I’m still sweating from the suspense! The plot is amazing!

Lingxing used to only produce those fluffy, brainless dramas. They haven’t even managed to make a single A-list star yet. Looks like this is their breakthrough moment. But why isn’t the lead actor one of Lingxing’s own talents?

Our Ranran and Lingxing’s Young Mr. Lu are best friends! Like, really close!

[Image: Two guys, arms around each other, captioned “Best Bros for Life”]

Cheng Kaixin burst out laughing when he saw this post.

It was late at night. The secretary was driving Cheng Kaixin home after a party. Through the rearview mirror, he saw Cheng Kaixin lounging in the back seat, his suit failing to conceal the playful glint in his eyes.

In the past, he might have secretly scoffed at Young Mr. Lu’s carefree attitude. But this time, when Cheng Kaixin glanced back, the secretary unconsciously flashed a polite smile.

Over the past few weeks, he had witnessed Cheng Kaixin’s methods firsthand. Though not as grand as Lu Jinying’s, Cheng Kaixin could turn the tables with a mere flick of his wrist. Elegant Shadows of Espionage had barely aired, yet it was already clear that Lingxing would soon be swimming in profits.

A rich kid with no talent might earn envy for their good fortune, but true skill earned genuine respect.

Remembering how heartily Cheng Kaixin had been drinking, the secretary asked, “Boss, you drank a lot tonight. Should I get you some hangover medicine?”

“Do I look drunk to you?” Cheng Kaixin’s eyes remained clear.

No, you don’t. But you really did drink a lot! The secretary thought to himself. Suddenly, Cheng Kaixin’s expression shifted slightly. “Don’t go home,” he said. “Take me to the next city.”

“The next city?” the secretary asked, puzzled. “What for at this hour?”

Cheng Kaixin gave the secretary a hotel address. Though puzzled, the secretary immediately turned the car around. As he drove, he pondered the location, suddenly realizing it was the county where Yuelai Inn was being filmed.

Wait, is he going to visit the set in the middle of the night? The secretary’s mind raced. Since Weiwei is there, I bet that’s it!

Cheng Kaixin leaned back in his seat, pinching the bridge of his nose to ease his headache. The System was frantically warning him about danger threatening Qin Yunran.

The latest episode of Yuelai Inn had aired last weekend, and Qin Yunran’s performance had indeed been outstanding. He diligently helped with chores, showed no airs, and interacted with Zhu Qian with genuine humility and a thirst for knowledge. He also held his own in banter, earning widespread praise.

In contrast, Lü Yiyan’s behavior felt forced. Even though reality show participants know they’re being filmed, deeply ingrained habits are hard to shake. His clumsy attempts to subtly target Qin Yunran were laid bare by the cameras. Since the episode aired, he’d been relentlessly criticized, the backlash nearly matching the vicious attacks Qin Yunran had previously endured.

Unlike Qin Yunran, he couldn’t maintain a calm mindset and lacked the ability to resolve the situation himself. He humbly begged Ma Heng for help, only to discover that Ma Heng had grown tired of him and refused to acknowledge him.

Cornered like a dog, his heart burned with desperation, driving him to do anything.

“Hurry, Host! If you don’t rescue the male lead soon, that old man will defile him! My pure and innocent male lead! Waaah! Hurry!” the System wailed miserably.

As they sped down the highway, the navigation system showed at least an hour’s drive remained. Cheng Kaixin frowned. “Crying won’t make the car fly.”

“But you’re a CEO!” the System protested. “Ordering a helicopter is just a phone call away!”

Cheng Kaixin instructed his secretary, “Call and get me a helicopter within ten minutes. I need to be there in half an hour.”

The secretary coughed awkwardly. “You’re joking, right? Where am I supposed to find a helicopter at this hour? Besides, we can’t just stop on the highway.”

“See? He says you’re joking,” Cheng Kaixin told the System. “Maybe you should read fewer CEO romance novels.”

The System choked back an angry burp.

Meanwhile, in the hotel room, Qin Yunran’s head swam with dizziness, barely able to stand.

Today was the last day of filming for the show. To boost ratings, the crew had arranged for him and Lü Yiyan to have a “heart-to-heart” conversation. Despite his usual caution, he never suspected Lü Yiyan would dare tamper with his drink on camera. By the time he realized something was wrong, it was too late.

Inside the room, besides him, was Ma Heng, who had ingested a small dose of an aphrodisiac and was now in an unusually excited state. Outside the door, Lü Yiyan stood guard, blocking the exit.

Qin Yunran was finished. Just like him, he had fallen into Ma Heng’s trap.

Worse still, Lü Yiyan planned to take some compromising photos of him. Leaning against the door, Lü Yiyan imagined hearing the muffled scream of someone being gagged inside.

The smile on his lips carried a hysterical malice. As he pictured the scene unfolding within, a mix of satisfaction and disgust washed over him. He turned and retreated to his own room, eager to witness the spectacle tomorrow morning.

When Cheng Kaixin arrived, the room was eerily silent.

In the center of the carpet lay Ma Heng, naked and in a gruesome state.

The secretary stared in horror, his stomach churning. The fat man had been knocked unconscious and then brutally stomped on. His lower body was swollen and purple, likely beyond repair.

Cheng Kaixin pushed open the bathroom door. Qin Yunran lay submerged in icy water, his lips deathly pale. His long lashes rested against his cheeks as he drifted in and out of consciousness.

The secretary had braced himself for anything, but he never expected Cheng Kaixin to emerge with Qin Yunran instead of Lian Weiwei.

He hurried over to help support Qin Yunran.

After finally getting Qin Yunran into the car, the secretary glanced through the rearview mirror at Qin Yunran, who was slumped against Cheng Kaixin’s shoulder. He couldn’t resist asking, “Boss, did he… get taken advantage of?”

The System huffed indignantly, “No! Our protagonist is still pure!”

“What are you staring at?” Cheng Kaixin stroked Qin Yunran’s hair, his voice low. “Drive.”

The secretary quickly started the car.

“Wait, wait, wait! Where are we going?” the System suddenly shrieked. “Cheng Kaixin, where are you taking the protagonist? Even if he’s drugged, you can’t take advantage of him! Get him to the female lead right now! I’m scanning her location—she’s right…”

“Shut up,” Cheng Kaixin said coldly. “To the hospital.”

“I told you before, stop reading those trashy novels. They’ll turn you into an idiot.”

The System fell silent.

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