“What do you mean? Stop spouting nonsense!” Gu Niannian’s cheeks flushed, a furious fire lit in her eyes. She raised her hand, ready to slap Pei Jingzhi, but he caught her wrist just in time.

　　Pei Jingzhi yanked her into his arms, voice low and threatening. “I’m not just your ex, I’m also the guy who can end your showbiz career with a snap of my fingers.”

　　Gu Niannian forced herself to stay calm. The bigger, more sane part of her changed her flushed features to one of terrify, eyes quietly shifting to something behind him.

　　The moment Pei Jingzhi turned his head, she grabbed the bedside vase and knocked him out cold.

　　【Relax, he’s one of the key characters. As long as the plot’s not finished, he’s basically unkillable.】Meng reassured her.

　　In the original novel, Pei Jingzhi was one of the villains. Later, he’d get tamed by the female lead and end up as her loyal right-hand man.

　　Still, Gu Niannian called emergency services and made a messy getaway from the hotel. She followed her memory back home—to a high-end villa that easily stretched over a few hundred square meters.

　　【So what now? Are you gonna take on the entertainment world, slap the main leads silly, crush every villain underfoot, and rise to the top?】Meng asked with eager.

　　The more Gu Niannian thought about it, the weirder it felt. “When I wrote this novel, the stats were crap. I barely made any money. I gave up and just wrote whatever the hell I felt like. Who’d stay in a plot where women give birth in the first half, and men pop babies in the second?”

　　【Uh… I might’ve deleted the back half and let them freestyle. And about that ghost thing… yeah, I’ve got no clue what you’re talking about.】Meng sounded a little guilty.

　　Gu Niannian frowned. “So, you’re telling me there’s no sign of a ghost sneaking around in this world?”

　　【Before you showed up, everyone was just following the plot you wrote. No weird stuff at all.】Meng replied honestly.

　　Gu Niannian let out a helpless sigh. One thing at a time—she needed to deal with the mess in front of her first.

　　She called her agent. “Ms. Lan, I want to quit showbiz.”

　　“Planning to go full-time as a rich housewife now? Makes sense. Pei family could cough up that 40 million dollars penalty without even blinking.” Ms. Lan teased, not the least bit surprised.

　　“Forty million?” Gu Niannian nearly dropped her phone.

　　Was she crazy, or was the agency out of its mind?

　　Ms. Lan gave a slightly fawning smile. “Well, that’s with the assumption you’ve officially clung to the Pei family’s golden thigh.”

　　“I’ll think about it,” Gu Niannian muttered, deflated.

　　Assuming Gu Niannian was just torn between career and family, Ms. Lan got serious. “If you’re not going full-time housewife, show up at the Lucky Wife, Sweet Life set tomorrow.”

　　“Alright,” Gu Niannian replied and hung up.

　　She never thought she’d transmigrate into her own novel and only to still end up working for capitalists.

　　Flopping onto her bed, she muttered, “The original owner was an actress, right? She must’ve saved up a decent fortune over the years. I mean, aren’t celebs supposed to make millions a day?”

　　【I checked. Your current savings amount to… 40,000 dollars.】

　　“You’re shitting me. Where’d all my money go?”

　　【Mostly plastic surgery.】

　　Well, the former Gu Niannian was, let’s say… a cosmetic surgery enthusiast.

　　—

　　The next day on set, Gu Niannian hid in a corner, nervously clutching her phone and seeking help online.

　　*Help! What do I do if my boss forces me to do a job I’m totally unqualified for?*

　　A reply popped up fast.

　　*Just be honest. As long as you're sincere, even if you mess up, no one will blame you.*

　　Sincere, huh?

　　“Gu Niannian! You’re barely hanging onto your D-list status. You weren’t even on set when shooting was about to start. Too busy chasing sugar daddies, right?” A stunning actress in full costume walked over, eyes full of contempt. “Bet you spent all last night buttering up the director and that’s why he’s letting you keep the second female lead.”

　　【That’s Jiang Shuang, the drama’s female lead. You’ve got a scene with her in the next scene.】

　　“Karma’ll get her. We don’t need to stoop to her level,” her assistant said sweetly, kissing up to Jiang Shuang while throwing shade at Gu Niannian.

　　Be sincere, Gu Niannian reminded herself.

　　She showed a bright smile and raised her voice. “Then could you teach me how to land a sugar daddy? And maybe how to butter up a director too?”

　　“You...!” Jiang Shuang froze as everyone nearby turned to stare, her face turned red with anger.

　　Gu Niannian clutched her mouth like she’d just witnessed greatness. “Wow, you must’ve mastered the art of shamelessness! No wonder the heavens didn’t smite you. Unlike me—I only have a gorgeous face, a killer body, and an annoyingly strong moral compass.”

　　“Stop putting on an act!” Jiang Shuang was fuming. This shameless little tramp!

　　“Please, my dear divas, cut it out! We’re starting soon.” The assistant director rushed over to calm the situation.

　　Gu Niannian frowned seriously. “I’m just exchanging some career tips with Ms. Jiang. How is that making a scene?”

　　【Incoming—Pei Jingzhi’s here.】Meng warned in a rush.

　　Gu Niannian’s smile froze on her lips.

　　Should’ve hit him harder last night!

　　“Alright, quiet on set! We’re rolling!” shouted the crew.

　　Wait—already?! Crap, crap, I don’t know how to act!

　　Gu Niannian clutched her script like a lifeline, hands slick with sweat.

　　“Sis, do you really care nothing about our sisterhood? You’re forcing me to marry a lame scholar who can’t even afford a bowl of rice?” Jiang Shuang widened her eyes and looked at Gu Niannian in disbelief.

　　【Per the script, you’re supposed to slap her now.】Meng prompted.

　　Gu Niannian was caught off guard by how fast Jiang Shuang got into character.

　　She obediently gave her a slap, then recited her line with a deadpan face. “As your elder sister, I’m like your mother. If I tell you to marry a penniless scholar—or even a beggar—you’ll do it without a fuss.”

　　“Gu Niannian’s blocking the camera. Cut. Do it again,” the director called through the walkie-talkie.

　　Jiang Shuang grabbed Gu Niannian’s wrist and hissed under her breath, “Gu Niannian, I just know you meant to do that!”