Playing House for Real with a Wealthy Director [Reborn]

[Pre-release: Back to High School with My Cold Ex-Husband, launching October 2026] Ji Feiyan had a secret crush on Shen Xie'an, his uncle's classmate. But after his uncle died, Shen Xie'an took out his grief on Ji Feiyan for four years. When Ji Feiyan's reputation was in tatters, the only person who didn't look down on him was Shen Xie'an's friend: Qin Yushi, a director from a powerful family, a film-industry darling no one dared offend, notorious for his dangerous, cutting tongue. Reborn at twenty-two, Ji Feiyan decisively left Shen Xie'an behind and went to audition for Qin Yushi in the middle of the night. On the first day of filming, the notoriously sharp-tongued director kept finding fault with him. “Your kissing scene isn't good enough. Do it again.” “How are you supposed to get into character wearing so much for the bed scene? Take it off.” “Tsk. Don't you know how to cry and moan at the same time?” When Shen Xie'an heard about it, he scoffed. “Someone as picky as Qin Yushi would never be interested in him.” A month later, though, the web series Past Days in Nangang became a sensation, and Ji Feiyan went from a nobody to an unprecedented overnight success. At first, people accused him of seducing the famous director to steal a leading role and climb the ladder. Then a high-definition video spread like wildfire across the internet: Through a curtain of fine rain, a young man with raven hair and snow-white skin held an umbrella in slender, pale fingers. Beneath its black canopy, he lifted his eyes and cast a truly breathtaking glance. The night it was posted, the video surpassed thirty million views. Ji Feiyan gained countless followers, and his fan community's daily active users shot straight to number one, leaving all rivals behind. Film offers came pouring in like snowflakes, and numerous top luxury brands eagerly extended their invitations. Meanwhile, the notoriously picky Qin Yushi was exposed for using work as an excuse to personally “coach” Ji Feiyan in his own bedroom, thoroughly bullying him during their intimate scenes... The CP fans were stunned: Director Qin clearly wants Ji Feiyan's body! - That night, Shen Xie'an went mad. On a stormy night, consumed by regret, he rushed to Ji Feiyan's home to apologize, only to find... Ji Feiyan, disheveled, sitting on Qin Yushi's lap as Qin hooked a finger under his chin and made him rehearse one kissing scene after another. “He saw us. Shouldn't we tone it down?” “Don't worry about him. This is more exciting.” [Reading Guide] 1. Sharp-tongued, caustic director gong x naturally cold-hearted actor shou. Older gong, six-year age gap (28/22). ENTJ x INTP. 2. 1v1, both pure (they were also pure in their previous lives; the shou never slept with investors!!), happy ending. Lust first, love later. No real-life inspirations. 3. The original title is No Relationship Beyond the Screen. See the author's page for the collection of stories within stories. 4. The character cards are from the free Bìshui thread and are not exclusively licensed. Note: When the shou first met Shen as a child and fell for him, Shen was not yet dating his uncle. They got together later. If this isn't for you, please don't read. No writing advice, and there's no need to tell me if you drop the novel. ★ Pre-release: Back to High School with My Cold Ex-Husband In his previous life, Lin Chi fell in love with Shen Cheng at first sight. At a banquet attended by everyone who mattered, he singled Shen Cheng out and demanded he marry him. Shen Cheng silently agreed. During their five years of marriage, Shen Cheng was the perfect lover, but Lin Chi never felt even a trace of love from him. Shen Cheng never got jealous or angry. He was also... not quite like a person. Exhausted in body and mind, Lin Chi wrote on the final page of their anniversary album: “I don't regret it, but I hope we never meet again in our next lives.” The year they divorced, Shen Cheng was in a car accident. Lin Chi happened to come across his diary and learned how hard Shen Cheng had tried to hide his pathological tendencies and obsession just to keep their marriage together, struggling to act like a normal person around him. In all the years before he met Lin Chi, people trembled at the mention of Shen Cheng and kept their distance. - After an accident sent Lin Chi back eleven years, he found himself alone on a deserted highway, surrounded by desolate emptiness. He looked up and saw Shen Cheng sitting in his luxury car, smoking. Shen Cheng glanced at him through the window, then drove off, leaving him stranded by the roadside. Lin Chi: “What the hell?!” What a heartless bastard! To make up for the regrets of his previous life with Shen Cheng, Lin Chi did everything he could to get assigned to the same dorm room. For Shen Cheng's birthday, he gave him a gold-inlaid clock, but Shen Cheng turned pale and refused it. When Shen Cheng moved, Lin Chi brought four of his buddies over to celebrate, only to be driven out by Shen Cheng's cold words. After pursuing Shen Cheng for a while with no progress, Lin Chi regretfully concluded that they really weren't right for each other. Shortly before graduation, Lin Chi went to move his things out of the dorm, heavy-hearted, and overheard Shen Cheng on the phone. The restraint and obsession in his voice felt strangely familiar. “When I'm with him, I don't feel like a normal person at all.” “I'm afraid he'll think it's ridiculous if I get jealous.” “If he does that sort of thing again, I can't promise I won't lock him up.” Lin Chi: Holy shit. Wasn't that what Shen Cheng had written in his diary in their previous life?! Theme: Every action has consequences, and every choice comes at a price.