After the Little County Magistrate Transmigrates into the Entertainment Industry as a Diva

Blurb: Xia Zhibai was a lowly county magistrate in the Great An Kingdom. Not long after taking office, he faced the worst drought in a century. The fields yielded nothing, and the countryside was littered with the starving dead. He worried for the people but was powerless to help, and eventually died of illness amid the famine.

When he opened his eyes again, he had become a famously fussy little diva in the entertainment industry.

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Before:

When the little diva appeared on a variety show, he complained that the farmhouse meal was too bland and spat it out after one bite.

While filming a period drama, he complained that the lines were awkward, horseback riding was bumpy, and calligraphy hurt his hand, so he hired a bunch of stand-ins.

When working with a certain Movie Emperor, he would whine at the drop of a hat and stop at nothing to grab attention.

Xia Zhibai, after transmigrating: How can you not appreciate a life this good?

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On a variety show:

The greens were bright and crisp, and every grain of rice was plump. One bite left a wonderful taste in his mouth. He polished off three bowls in one go. “I'm so happy, sob!”

Filming a period drama:

Classical Chinese? I know this stuff! Horseback riding? Everyday business! Calligraphy? I write official documents every day!

He performed everything in one smooth burst: his lines were powerful, his horsemanship effortless, and his brushwork so vigorous he could have been a master calligrapher.

During a break on set:

Xia Zhibai didn't even notice the Movie Emperor who had come over to rehearse their lines. He eagerly joined the crew in a group-buying bargain hunt on a shopping app. “Here I come, 9.9 yuan!”

The Movie Emperor: ?

Netizens: ???

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Xia Zhibai worked diligently, and whenever he had free time, he did good deeds and showed a little kindness to a certain Movie Emperor.

He never expected to become famous.

-

Yu Li, the Movie Emperor, spent the whole year going from one film set to another.

At some point, someone who loved giving him things appeared by his side.

The new actor always wore discounted clothes. He would be eating plain steamed buns himself, yet he brought Yu Li fresh treats every day: sometimes a big, plump grape, sometimes soup made from a free-range chicken, sometimes a thick cotton-padded jacket he had sewn himself...

The new actor would always take his hand and look at him earnestly. “You should eat more, okay?”

-

Later, the two appeared on a variety show together, and Yu Li made a point of wearing the cotton-padded jacket Xia Zhibai had given him.

The village elders warmly came over and took Xia Zhibai's hand.

“Those fruits you grow are so sweet! These are eggplants from my garden. Take some.”

“That old hen you gave me has laid so many eggs. Come over to my place for dinner.”

“...”

Yu Li realized something. He stared at the jacket worn by the old man at the village entrance, then looked down at his own.

They were exactly the same, right down to the pattern.

Yu Li's face darkened. “...”

That night,

Yu Li nibbled on Xia Zhibai's ear and asked, “Are you only this nice to me, or are you this nice to everyone?”

Xia Zhibai anxiously turned red around the eyes. “Listen, let me explain...”

-

[Notes]

1. No real-person inspiration. Both are each other's first love. HE.

2. A cozy, sweet slice-of-life story~

Theme: When poor, cultivate yourself; when successful, help the world.