The Vicious Female Supporting Character Goes Viral After Her Masks Drop During the Talent Show - Chapter 2

Lu Tingdeep had been a favorite of heaven since birth. Accustomed to flattery and admiration, he had never tasted the bitterness of being disdained—especially by a woman who had once pursued him with such desperate obsession. Shock and indignation left him momentarily speechless.

Watching the colors drain and shift on Lu Tingdeep’s face, Zhong Yan felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

In truth, even in her past life as a screenwriter, she hadn’t liked Lu Tingdeep much. Perhaps the “overbearing CEO” trope had become too cliché for her, or perhaps she simply sympathized with the original “Zhong Yan” in the script, who had been treated like trash by this man from start to finish. Now, experiencing him in the flesh, she found him even more unbearable.

Her family wanted the marriage for profit. But what was in it for her? To be looked down upon and disrespected? She wasn’t a masochist; there was no reason to go looking for suffering.

Many “transmigration” protagonists might try to suck up to the leads to change the plot and avoid a tragic ending. Zhong Yan refused.

First, people like Lu Tingdeep and the Zhong family were the ones who had hurt the original host. Why should she, the victim, return injury with kindness? Second, she had lived her past life as a humble corporate slave, suppressed and exhausted. In this life, she refused to live under anyone’s thumb.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. That was the only way she intended to live.

The tension between them began to affect a third person. Zhong Yan noticed Shi Qian watching them from a distance. Instantly, Zhong Yan wiped the mockery from her eyes, replacing it with a sweet, harmless smile.

“CEO Lu,” she said politely, “regarding the engagement, since you have made your decision, I respect your opinion. However, as this is your choice, I hope you will be the one to explain it to our parents.”

Lu Tingdeep’s anger was choked back by her sudden change in demeanor. He realized the hidden meaning behind her politeness: she was shifting all the blame onto him.

He finally understood. Zhong Yan wanted to break the engagement, but she didn’t want to deal with the fallout or the confrontation with the elders. She had manipulated him into speaking first so that he would have to handle the logistics while she sat back and reaped the benefits.

He let out a short, incredulous laugh. He had been used by the very person he looked down upon most.

“Fine,” he replied after a long silence. He wasn’t a scoundrel; since he had fallen into her trap, he would play the hand he was dealt.

Zhong Yan’s smile brightened—this time, with genuine feeling. She stepped forward and patted his shoulder like a boss praising an efficient subordinate. “Then I’ll leave the hard work to you. I look forward to the good news.”

With that, she left, feeling satisfied. One small step for her plan, one giant leap away from the Lu family.

Back on the sofa, Shi Qian immediately approached her. “Did you bring it up?”

“Yes.”

“What was his attitude?” Shi Qian asked anxiously.

Zhong Yan said calmly, “He said he would find time to discuss the marriage with the elders.”

“Oh? Really?” Shi Qian was stunned by how smoothly it had gone. She misunderstood “discuss the marriage” to mean “discuss the wedding date,” rather than “discuss the cancellation.”

Zhong Yan leaned into the misunderstanding. The Chinese language was profound; her statement wasn’t technically a lie. “He did indeed promise,” she added.

Shi Qian recalled seeing them earlier. Though Lu Tingdeep had looked upset for a moment, he had ended the conversation with a rare smile, and Zhong Yan had even patted his shoulder affectionately. It seemed real.

“Wonderful!” Shi Qian’s mood lifted. “You’ve finally proven yourself useful for once.” Zhong Yan simply smiled in silence.

Suddenly, Zhong Yan’s phone vibrated. It was a group message:

《Best Girls》 Production Team: Congratulations to all trainees for passing the selection. Recording is about to begin. Please report to Lan Island Film Town on May 15th to officially join the cast.

Best Girls was a girl group survival show where the audience would vote to select 9 winners out of 100 trainees. Its predecessor, Best Boys, had been a massive hit.

The story was beginning. Not just the script’s story, but Zhong Yan’s new life.

She replied “Received,” then switched her Weibo account to her professional handle: “Author Zhong Yan.” She posted a brief update:

“I will be disappearing for a while. New works are postponed, and I am not accepting commercial collaborations for the time being. Thank you for your support. I hope to meet you again in the future with works in different forms.”

The Rising Star

The Annual Drama Awards had ended, but the fans’ fervor had not. At the hotel’s back entrance, a sea of media and fans waited for a glimpse of their idols.

When Yan Shi stepped out, the night exploded in cheers. Surrounded by flashing cameras, Yan Shi didn’t look annoyed. He slowed his pace to wave, listening to fans’ frantic declarations of love and patiently reminding them to get home safely.

The media found him strange. He was a “top-tier” star who had shot to fame overnight with the hit drama Hate the Spring Breeze (恨春風). Everyone knew he was a man of few words who preferred solitude, yet he always had time for his fans. It was hard to tell if he was cold or warm.

Inside his van, the air was quiet. His assistant, Wang Li, noticed Yan Shi wasn’t resting. Instead, he was staring intensely at his phone—specifically, at Weibo.

Wang Li knew why. The top trending topic was: #Author Zhong Yan Goes on Hiatus#.

Yan Shi’s only “Special Follow” was the author Zhong Yan. He read her short post over and over, scrolling through the thousands of distraught comments. No one knew where she was going or why she was stopping commercial deals when her current adaptations were so successful.

Yan Shi pressed his temples and sighed. Like everyone else, he knew nothing about her. To the public, “Zhong Yan” was a mystery—no one knew her age, her major, or even her gender for sure.

Yan Shi was one of the few who knew she was a woman.

Her debut six years ago had been a sensation, and she had consistently produced high-quality bestsellers ever since. But she never did signings, never gave interviews, and never showed up to accept awards.

Two years ago, her first adaptation made a newcomer actress an overnight star. Hate the Spring Breeze was her second, and it was a cultural phenomenon. Before it, Yan Shi was a debt-ridden “108th-tier” extra who did stunts and bit parts. Now, he was the “Top Stream” (頂流).

Everyone had been baffled when a nobody like Yan Shi was cast as the lead in such a high-value IP. The casting had caused a scandal, with fans protesting and the industry scoffing. But during the pre-release press conference, the creators dropped a bombshell:

“Yan Shi was the male lead personally recommended by Teacher Zhong Yan.”

Yan Shi would never forget that afternoon. He had been a stunt double, drenched in sweat and dust after a fight scene. During a five-minute break, he received a call from a producer named Xu You, inviting him to audition for the lead.

He thought it was a scam. When he asked why, the producer was equally confused. “Are you close with Teacher Zhong Yan?”

“I don’t know him,” Yan Shi had replied.

“That’s strange. Teacher Zhong Yan was the one who insisted you audition.”

On the day of the audition, Yan Shi saw her for the first and only time. She sat far below the stage, wearing a mask. He couldn’t even see her face. But while the directors and producers looked at him with doubt, she looked at him with a gaze that was clear, calm, and full of trust.

She didn’t say a word, but he felt a surge of courage. He vowed he would remember her forever—not just for changing his life, but for the respect she gave him when he was in the mud.

Back in the present, the van exited the highway. Yan Shi refreshed her post one last time and, as usual, silently gave it a “Like.” He was a clumsy speaker; he had read everything she’d ever written, but he never knew how to say what he felt.

“Brother,” Wang Li said, “the contract for Best Girls is ready. You’re the show’s ‘Initiator.’ I’ll send it to your WeChat. Recording starts next week.”

Yan Shi nodded. As he waited for the elevator at home, he looked at his phone again. 30 seconds passed. Just as the doors opened, he finally gathered the courage to type a comment.

“Thank you, Teacher, for the countless masterpieces. We await your return.”

An hour later, his comment had ignited the internet.

#Yan Shi Comments on Zhong Yan’s Post# #Yan Shi is a Zhong Yan Fanboy#

His comment was pinned to the top by fans. Yan Shi felt conflicted. He worried he was bothering her, yet he secretly hoped for a reply.

He waited until the next morning. There was no reply.

The new #1 trending topic: #Yan Shi’s Failed Fanboy Moment#.