A Third-Rate Actor

Hey, everyone, this novel is complete! It went VIP on June 11, 2026, and there will be three extra chapters. Thank you all for your support and company these past few months. "Bows!" My next novel, Who Knew the Magistrate Was a Bandit?, is open for follows! The blurb is at the bottom. Come check it out~ I'm also starting a contemporary romance, Hard to Tame, next. It's a win-back-your-ex story, so if you're interested, add it to your collection!

Blurb:

Chu Yuanli is an actress struggling to make ends meet, with a mountain of scandals following her everywhere. By chance, she meets Fu Wenchao, the president of the Fu Group in Fancheng.

Young, handsome, wealthy, and conservative, Fu Wenchao starts formally courting her. His pursuit is so proper and restrained that Chu Yuanli falls for him.

In the mountains after an earthquake, Fu Wenchao appears through the night like a god, scooping her up when she can no longer stand. "Don't be afraid. I'll take you home."

She wraps her arms around his neck and looks up at him, falling into the deep, vast-universe-like gaze in his eyes. Safe in his strong embrace, she closes her eyes.

She thinks good fortune has finally come her way, but every gift of fate comes with a price secretly attached.

It turns out all his kindness is because deep in Fu Wenchao's heart lies a love he can't confess for the woman he has always cherished!

His tender gaze and thoughtful care are a grand performance, his way of making up for what he couldn't give someone else by giving it to her!

When Chu Yuanli realizes she's nothing but a ridiculous substitute, she falls apart.

She smashes the painting he had made of her and throws away the red bracelet he gave her. None of it belongs to her!

But she still can't accept it. Knowing she'll only humiliate herself, she asks, "Fu Wenchao, did you ever love me?"

Fu Wenchao wants to hold her as he used to, but ultimately holds himself back.

He stands before the floor-to-ceiling window, watching her frail figure sob. His heart aches.

Later, Chu Yuanli gives him a cool look. "Fu Wenchao, why are you doing this to yourself? I already have a boyfriend, and I'm starting a new life. You should move on too."

Fu Wenchao's knuckles turn white, and a pain he's unfamiliar with strikes his chest.

Later still, after Fu Wenchao finally understands his own heart, he becomes like a different person.

"Lili, call me despicable, call me vile, but I'm sorry. I can't let you go."

"Fu Wenchao, you disgust me."

Upcoming novel Who Knew the Magistrate Was a Bandit? blurb:

Shen Shuangli was an ordinary company's junior accountant. One night, she worked overtime until eleven, then got hit by a car on her way home.

And just like that, she transmigrated to ancient times!

She arrived in a dangerous situation, being robbed by bandits.

Her original body was a woman disguised as a man, serving as a county magistrate. She'd been passing through on her way to take up her post when bandits ambushed her.

This Hello Kitty who'd transmigrated into the past had landed in a den of ancient rats.

A fierce-looking bandit chief rescued her and her two servants from another group of bloodthirsty bandits, then recruited them to work for him.

Shen Shuangli had nearly been scared to death, so she wisely agreed.

She fawned on the bandits and cut corners, all to stay alive, protect her secret identity, and find a chance to escape.

But the bandit chief couldn't stand her. He labeled her a cowardly, despicable, spineless weakling who was secretly wicked.

Staying alive, protecting her secret identity, and looking for a chance to escape while guarding against Xiao Zhaoye, the bandit chief who couldn't stand her: it was too much!

Under all the pressure, Shen Shuangli couldn't take it anymore.

One day, with dark circles under her eyes, everything went black and she collapsed into the arms of bandit chief Xiao Zhaoye.

Who knew the bandit chief would jump three feet in the air, looking at her with disgust? After carrying him back to his room, he would often sneer at him with a look that said, "Stay away from me. I like women, not pretty boys."

Shen Shuangli, drained by two jobs and twice the workload, couldn't help thinking: Who would've thought that even in ancient times, she'd still have to escape a 007 work schedule, twelve hours a day, seven days a week?

Scene one:

One time, Shen Shuangli got injured by accident.

Xiao Zhaoye: "Take off your clothes. I'll treat your wound."

Shen Shuangli clutched the front of her clothes with both hands and refused to give in, no matter what.

Xiao Zhaoye gazed at the skinny figure, as slight as a chick, and rubbed his chin, his ears turning faintly red.

Actually, this pretty boy had delicate features and soft, fair skin like tofu pudding. He was quite good-looking.

It'd be great if he were a woman. He'd carry him off and take him as his bride tonight.

Scene two:

Xiao Zhaoye in the past: This person has shifty eyes. He's a coward who fears death!

Xiao Zhaoye now:

Shen Shuangli: breathes

Xiao Zhaoye: He's seducing me!

One of his trusted men: But "he's" a man.

Xiao Zhaoye: That shouldn't be a problem.

Trusted man: !!!

Oblivious Shen Shuangli: I used to be the boss's biggest threat, but now I'm one of his trusted subordinates. (Laughs smugly, confident in her abilities.)

Theme: Make progress, little by little.