Top-Tier Slacker, Wrecking the Entertainment Industry

Since his debut, Song Jian has moved seamlessly from one production to the next, like a machine that never stops running. His company demanded that he maintain a perfect image in public, forcing him to wear a mask and spend every day terrified that his carefully crafted persona might collapse. It took him ten years to climb from obscurity to the A-list. At long last, at twenty-eight, Song Jian won Best Actor, earned recognition from the industry, and gained a say in his own career. But who could have guessed that a year later, he would die unexpectedly? He hadn't even gotten to enjoy the things he deserved. All his hard work had gone to waste. The beliefs that had sustained him crumbled completely. If he could live again, Song Jian wanted only to stop exhausting himself over everything and become someone who lived for pleasure. After all... Nothing is impossible if you're willing to give up. Life's only half as fun if you don't slack off. When he opened his eyes again, Song Jian was back at twenty-two. His new drama had just become a smash hit, and his future looked bright, but he had also attracted plenty of haters. The company had crafted a laid-back persona for him. In the middle of the night, he got into a heated argument with his haters online and battled them until dawn. His manager scolded him, telling him to quit the industry if he didn't want to make it. But two hours later... #Entertainment Industry's Number One Anti-Hater# shot to the top of the trending list. Netizens: [Finally, someone in the entertainment industry who feels real!] [Song Jian clapping back head-on is so cool. I'm a fan now!] [Followed him without hesitation!] In just half a day, Song Jian gained millions of followers, and the topic exploded across the trending charts. After his persona collapsed, Song Jian completely let loose. He refused to act in any drama that didn't interest him, and if anyone gave him grief, he hit right back on the spot. When a same-sex dating show offered him a contract, other rising stars avoided it like the plague, afraid of losing fans. Song Jian accepted without a second thought. A reporter asked, "What made you decide to join a dating show?" Song Jian gave the camera his signature roguish grin. "If I don't date while I'm young, am I supposed to start chasing romance in my twilight years?" His offhand rhetorical question quickly went viral, sending the audience's expectations through the roof. Later, the show finally premiered. Viewers wanted to see how the cocky king of the scene would dominate the show solo. They never expected a swaggering big shot to appear, making Song Jian's ears turn red whenever they shared a frame. Viewers: [Big brother, kill me!!] [We thought he was a total B-king, but he's actually a soft, delicate bottom!!] [Ahhh!! I love this contrast even more!!!] After a few episodes, though, viewers realized it was all an act. Song Jian knew exactly how to flirt without making it obvious. During the date selection, Song Jian was the only contestant who drew a card granting him two choices, but he gave both cards to the big shot, Bo Yunjing. He said, "If I can't spend the date with you, I'd rather spend a boring day by myself." Bo Yunjing believed him and was deeply moved. However... In a corner the cameras couldn't see, Song Jian pulled him aside and explained in a low voice, "I'm playing along with the production team. Don't take it seriously." Bo Yunjing: ??? A willful, unrestrained top-tier star x a deeply concealed, unhinged big shot Also known as: "After My Persona Collapsed, I Slacked Off My Way to Fame" and "At First, Even Dogs Wouldn't Ship This Couple, But Then We All Came Around" It's time to let loose! ## Coming soon: "I Don't Need This Husband After All [Reborn]" With his family on the verge of bankruptcy, Jiang Yao was forced into a marriage alliance with Lu Cheng, the notorious rebellious young master of the Lu family. Lu Cheng had been a rebellious rule-breaker since childhood, yet he was the family's favorite. It was only after marrying him that Jiang Yao learned the truth: on the surface, Lu Cheng seemed carefree and had no interest in fighting for power. Behind the scenes, however, he had been biding his time, watching the family members fight each other to the death over the inheritance. Then he struck with precision and ruthlessness, taking the highest position for himself. In Jiang Yao's eyes, Lu Cheng was a cunning, treacherous wolf. Even after three years of marriage and sharing their most intimate moments, Jiang Yao remained cold and distant, keeping his guard up for fear of being manipulated. Jiang Yao thought their marriage was a matter of mutual benefit, as fake as the personas they both put on. He was content to let life take them wherever it would. He had no plans to divorce Lu Cheng, but he had no plans to spend the rest of his life with him either. Then one day, Jiang Yao received a sudden phone call: Lu Cheng had been ambushed and gravely wounded, and was now on the brink of death. Only then did Jiang Yao realize that, deep down, he was afraid of being separated from Lu Cheng. Jiang Yao rushed to the hospital where Lu Cheng was being treated, but he was too late. He didn't even get to see Lu Cheng one last time... At the winter solstice, a cold wind swept through the hallway at dusk. Jiang Yao fell to his knees, helpless and sobbing. He remembered what Lu Cheng had once said: "Jiang Yao, you're polite and courteous to everyone else. Why do you look at me like I'm your enemy? You look so good when you smile." Jiang Yao regretted never having smiled at Lu Cheng, not even once. - At the funeral, relatives and friends whispered among themselves, saying Jiang Yao was incredibly lucky to marry into a wealthy family only to have his husband die. Jiang Yao listened numbly to their gossip, his disgust with the world reaching its peak. If he could, he would trade everything he had now just to bring Lu Cheng back... After Lu Cheng's death, Jiang Yao belatedly realized that his prejudice had made him overlook so many of Lu Cheng's good qualities. Lu Cheng remembered his birthday and their wedding anniversary, and no matter how busy he was, he always came home to celebrate. Back then, Jiang Yao had assumed Lu Cheng only did those things to impress his grandfather and win the old man's trust. Later, Jiang Yao opened Lu Cheng's computer and found a folder full of photos of himself hidden away. Lu Cheng had labeled it "Angel." - Jiang Yao never expected that he would actually be able to return to the past. That year, he was twenty-one and in his third year of college. His family was not yet on the verge of bankruptcy. And Lu Cheng was still the same spoiled, unconventional young master, spending all his time enjoying himself and giving no one cause to fear him. Jiang Yao thought that perhaps they could start over this time, get to know each other, and make up for the regrets of their previous life. But... One time, they met when Lu Cheng was dead drunk, his face bruised from a fight and his collar spattered with blood. Unable to bear it, Jiang Yao stepped in. Lu Cheng immediately hid behind him and said plaintively, "Boss, they're picking on me..." Before Jiang Yao could react, Lu Cheng shoved him forward and ran off, calling over his shoulder, "If there's a problem, take it up with my boss." Jiang Yao: "..." Who else gets the urge to grab a knife right now? How could Lu Cheng be such a little shit in his early twenties?! I don't need this husband after all :) Theme: Be brave and confident.