Down-and-Out Noble, Reality Show Sensation

Ning Jia had once been a noble young lady who lived a carefree life. But she never expected her family to fall from grace overnight, with the whole household exiled.

On the way into exile, in the bitter cold and hardship of hunger, Ning Jia, who had been pampered all her life, couldn't endure it. When she opened her eyes again, she had become Ning Jia, a minor female character in an entertainment-industry novel.

On her very first day, she was pushed onto a variety show called Theirs Then and Now.

The production team had invited four pairs of guests.

Guest 1: Thanks for asking. I won Best Actress at sixteen, left the industry at twenty, and am now an ordinary housewife hoping to restart my career.

Guest 2: Thanks for asking. I used to be a top-tier star, but was pushed out of the debut lineup when votes were rigged on a talent show. I want to reclaim what was mine.

Guest 3: Thanks for asking. I'm the son of the richest man in the country. My family went bankrupt. Don't ask why. I was forced into it.

Ning Jia, who had just transmigrated here: ...Thanks for asking. I used to be a noblewoman, but now I'm down on my luck and just trying to make a living.

Viewers: ?

Manager: ?

Weren't we supposed to establish a backstory about being descended from a prefect?

*

During an outdoor camping and cooking challenge, all the guests slacked off and refused to do the task, waiting for the production team to bring them food. Only Ning Jia went into the forest and picked a whole lot of mushrooms.

Viewers: "Are those actually edible? What if they're poisonous?"

Ning Jia: "After my family fell on hard times, the stone castle was so damp and gloomy, with nobody to clean it, that mushrooms grew there all the time. I learned to recognize quite a few varieties."

Viewers: "?"

During a horseback riding shoot, the other guests were intimidated by the galloping horses and shook their heads, refusing to ride. Ning Jia casually took the reins of one and climbed on as naturally as could be.

Viewers: "Aren't you afraid of getting hurt? What if you fall off?"

Ning Jia: "After my family fell on hard times, all that was left of the carriage that took me to balls was the horse, so I had to learn to ride."

Viewers: "?"

During an escape-room game, the other guests didn't want to think and waited for the NPCs to help them. Ning Jia, however, was thoroughly enjoying herself, and spotted the mole and the traitor at a glance.

Viewers: "Did you see the script beforehand?"

Ning Jia: "Growing up, I saw plenty of scheming among the nobility. I just have a lot of experience."

Viewers: ?

*

Even so, the viewers weren't convinced.

Who couldn't invent a persona? With a good enough script, luxury cars could be everywhere.

But soon, everyone started noticing something.

Why was Ning Jia so good at judging food? Why was she such a good dancer at balls? Why was she so skilled at taking down mistresses who wanted to steal someone's husband?

Could she really be a noblewoman?

After she became famous, Ning Jia could only poke fun at herself in front of the cameras: "Those were all glories of the past. Now I'm just a single noblewoman."

Until one day, Chi Lan, a nobleman of the present day, came looking for her.

The man had an aristocratic air and a distant expression, his eyes deep as the sea. "There has always been a tradition of arranged marriages among the nobility. How about we give it a try?"

Ning Jia: "?"

Former down-and-out young noblewoman x Present-day arrogant young nobleman

A preview: Follow my column and save Upgrading the "Big Sister Filter" Made Me Famous in Showbiz

Xi Yan, who had fought monsters in the apocalypse, returned and transmigrated into a book as the older sister of a top-tier idol. She was also forced to bind herself to a [Dote on Your Little Brother] System.

Her younger brother was the popular top-tier star Song Qianyu, aloof, unruly, and unconventional, with countless older female fans.

System: "Doting on your little brother not only earns you his affection points, but also fills you with a sense of responsibility and the joys of family!"

Xi Yan on the surface: "Great!"

Xi Yan in reality: "Not a chance."

After all, in her eyes, this younger brother was withdrawn, rebellious, and hard to get close to.

She thought anyone who doted on him had something wrong with them.

The paparazzi soon captured the two of them getting into a "fight" the very first time they met.

So when the sibling variety show Another Them was announced, everyone waited to laugh at her for trying to ride his coattails and falling flat on her face.

*

Sure enough, their interactions afterward didn't disappoint the haters.

The sisters "ran into" their brothers fighting some punks.

The other sisters were so worried they burst into tears and rushed over to protect their brothers.

Xi Yan rushed forward first, but only to turn on her camera: "Who gets it, folks? I just happened to catch a top-tier star fighting on the street! Follow me, and Sister Yan will take you to watch this hot-tempered star lose it live."

Viewers: "???"

During a wilderness adventure, they encountered a "wild beast."

The other sisters stood in front of their brothers. "It's okay, your big sister will protect you."

Xi Yan shoved Xi Lucheng right to the front. "Quick, use your good looks to charm it! Your big sister will always have your back!"

When she turned around, Xi Yan had already vanished.

Viewers: "???"

*

Everyone waited for the pair of fake siblings to have a spectacular falling-out.

But to everyone's surprise, Song Qianyu wasn't angry at all about how she treated him. Instead, his attitude did a complete 180.

Under the blazing sun, he ran for half an hour just to bring Xi Yan the freshest, coldest milkshake.

On a cold, rainy day, he took off his jacket and gave it to Xi Yan, shivering himself.

[Did I wake up too soon? Is that really Song Qianyu?]

[Little brother, if you're being mistreated, just blink. Your big sister fans will come rescue you right away.]

Song Qianyu posted a clarification on Weibo on the spot: "No, Xi Yan is the best big sister in the world!"

Netizens: "Am I blind???"

*

Song Qianyu used to think Xi Yan was just someone who would stop at nothing to become famous. After learning the truth, he realized he had been one of the people who hurt her.

Once he understood that, he did everything he could to make up for the past.

He never expected that before he could step in, someone else would already be there ahead of him.

Theme: Hard work makes life better.