I Never Meant to Be the Bigwigs' White Moonlight

Xin Jiao was beautiful and refined, once a household name as a child prodigy. But after his father brought home his illegitimate younger brother, all of Xin Jiao's good fortune seemed to transfer to him.

Xin Jiao was injured by accident and lost out on an important role. His younger brother, who looked a little like him, stepped in and took the part, becoming an overnight sensation. After that, his brother's acting remained mediocre, but shortcuts only made him more popular. Xin Jiao worked hard and honed his craft, yet people mocked him as an inferior copycat, vain and shallow. Overshadowed by his brother, Xin Jiao's career dwindled until he could only take bit parts, scraping by with odd jobs whenever work dried up.

After bumping his head while working as an extra, Xin Jiao realized that his younger brother was the protagonist of a face-slapping wish-fulfillment novel. Three powerful men would guide him to success in both his career and love life in show business, while Xin Jiao was merely the protagonist's sacrificial foil, destined for a miserable end.

Before Xin Jiao could even process this absurd revelation, another disaster struck: his younger sister, the only family he had, was suddenly diagnosed with a serious illness.

*

Xin Jiao couldn't afford the exorbitant medical bills, so he put his superb acting skills to work, taking jobs around the clock to earn as much as he could.

On weekdays, Xin Jiao became the assistant to a playboy rich kid, managing his harem of admirers and, when necessary, pretending to be his fiance to fend off unwanted suitors.

On weekends, Xin Jiao played the crude substitute boyfriend of an aloof, top-student campus heartthrob, acting like a fool so the heartthrob's parents would dislike him and accept the person their son truly loved.

In his spare time, Xin Jiao became a paid fan and a hater in a small-time influencer's livestream, passionately arguing with the haters for three hundred rounds to defend his "idol."

One day, while working as an extra on set, Xin Jiao happened upon a pitiful little nobody who had nearly been tricked into selling himself by a shady company.

Seeing how miserable, innocent, and good-looking the poor kid was, Xin Jiao took pity on him and did his best to protect him from people with bad intentions.

*

Xin Jiao was a consummate professional. For the sake of the money, he could put up with the playboy's difficult lovers, the influencer treating him like a tasteless simp, and the heartthrob's coldness, all with a smile.

After a while, the rich kid fell on hard times, and all his lovers avoided him. Xin Jiao still stayed by his side.

The playboy: "So Assistant Xin has been secretly in love with me. He must have been so heartbroken, watching me with all those lovers. Now I have to treat him right!"

Xin Jiao: The contract pays by the hour. If you can't get your fortune back, my wages are gone too. I'm not giving up a huge payday.

The influencer was framed, and a flood of fans left, but Xin Jiao still showed up on time in the livestream to battle the haters and check in on him every day.

The influencer: "So Mingyue Jiao Jiao really does like me. I shouldn't have ignored him."

Xin Jiao: The troll farm pays by the word. The more I type, the more convincing I sound, and the higher the rate. This gig earns me 15,000 a month. It's worth it.

The campus heartthrob was in a car accident and would probably be bedridden for life. His true love immediately ran away, but Xin Jiao continued to care for him meticulously.

The heartthrob: "Why did I ever think he was crude and vain, and mistake him for his younger brother's substitute? Meeting him was the luckiest thing that ever happened to me."

Xin Jiao: A live-in caregiver costs 12,000, rehab assistance 8,000, and counseling 10,000. Your parents are generous, so why wouldn't I take the job?

During those exhausting days of working for money, Xin Jiao found comfort only in the little nobody who stayed by his side like an aloof puppy.

Before long, the rich kid made a comeback and became a new-generation business tycoon. The influencer was signed by a famous talent agency and became a top-tier star overnight. The top student not only recovered through rehabilitation but became the youngest genius scholar, covered in honors.

By then, Xin Jiao had earned enough for the medical bills and promptly bowed out.

As he took his sister abroad for treatment, the little nobody clung to him and said he didn't want them to part.

Xin Jiao was reluctant too, but could only wave goodbye and promise they'd meet again if fate allowed.

*

A year later, Xin Jiao returned to China. To make ends meet, he had no choice but to join a dating reality show rumored to have an excellent cast. Unfortunately, his protagonist younger brother was on the show too.

Before the show began, haters mocked Xin Jiao on Weibo every day for setting himself up for humiliation.

Xin Jiao didn't care. At worst, people would insult him. He was used to it, and the paycheck would be the same either way.

He never expected all the guests to be familiar faces.

Everyone assumed that the wealthy CEO, the aloof professor, and the top-tier star would fall for the protagonist. Instead, they couldn't wait to fight over the chance to go on a date with Xin Jiao.

When asked about it, the professor smiled. "Yes, Xin Jiao is my white moonlight. I love him more than life itself. I came here for him."

The top-tier star gazed at him tenderly. "Yes, Xin Jiao is my white moonlight. I made it to a bigger stage so he could see an even more dazzling version of me."

The CEO looked deeply in love. "Yes, Xin Jiao is my white moonlight. He taught me the meaning of love, and I'm going to pursue him openly."

The audience erupted: "Did I miss something important? Bring out the uncut version for your VIPs!"

Xin Jiao was horrified. "No! I never meant to be the powerful men's white moonlight! I just wanted to make money!"

The powerful men: "We don't believe you!"

*

After the show aired, Xin Jiao's name stayed at the top of the trending searches day after day.

Xin Jiao only wanted to keep a low profile, but there was nothing he could do.

As the rumors grew wilder, a certain fake nobody who was actually a newly crowned Best Actor stepped in. "Since we know each other, I'll help you out, just this once."

Xin Jiao brightened. "How?"

The Best Actor leaned close and whispered persuasively, "Just say you have someone you love and that you're pursuing him as hard as you can, so you don't have time for anyone else. That'll do it."

Xin Jiao hesitated. "But who should I say I'm pursuing? If they're more famous than me, people will say I'm using them for publicity. If they're less famous, they won't be able to keep the others at bay."

The Best Actor saw that Xin Jiao had finally asked the right question, and answered with a smile. "Why not pursue me? We're so close already. What's wrong with trying to woo me?"

Xin Jiao finally relaxed, though he asked a little bashfully, "But... wouldn't that be too much trouble for you?"

The Best Actor affectionately draped an arm over his shoulder and said it was no trouble at all. As his suitor, Xin Jiao should start practicing how to close his eyes for a kiss.

Xin Jiao: ?

[Optimistic, easygoing, gentle, money-loving beauty shou x Proud, stunning, heaven-blessed Best Actor gong]

Plot outline set on March 5, 2023. The blurb has been screenshotted.

Theme: No matter how many difficulties you face, never lose hope!