Reborn as the Gilded Canary of a Gloomy Film Queen

Younger top / entertainment industry / marry first, fall in love later

Airheaded, straightforward gong X gloomy, unhappy shou

*

Yu He died.

She died on a cold winter day.

Looking back on her life, she'd never been loved.

Her mother favored her stepsister, her father ignored the family, her friend betrayed her at school, and after rumors were spread about her in the entertainment industry, her manager kicked her while she was down.

When the light of life goes out, all that's left is a single white candle.

On the day Yu He was buried, only Xie Nanqiao came to bring her a bouquet. The vivid red roses hardly looked like an offering for the dead. They looked more like a celebration of her well-deserved demise.

Yu He and Xie Nanqiao were known throughout the entertainment industry as sworn rivals. Four years earlier, they had both made their debuts in their early twenties, in the same year, and their debut works were even in the same genre. Naturally, people compared them.

Over the next four years, Yu He was held back by one thing after another, gradually becoming one of those actors who never made it big, even after years in the industry.

Meanwhile, Xie Nanqiao's star kept rising, and one hit drama after another made her a sensation.

The two were no longer brought up as rivals. Only Yu He still quietly held on to her grudge.

The year Yu He died, Xie Nanqiao officially entered the film industry.

What a shame she hadn't lived to see Xie Nanqiao's movie flop.

Yu He thought regretfully.

*

When she opened her eyes again, she had been reborn in the body of a minor, washed-up actress in the entertainment industry.

More than five years had passed since her death. The entertainment industry had gained plenty of new faces, but the top-tier stars hadn't changed.

The most prominent among them was film star Xie Nanqiao, who had risen to the top two years ago.

At a celebration banquet, Yu He's manager brought her along, hoping she could take the opportunity to cozy up to a powerful woman and score more resources.

While Yu He was being made to down one drink after another, Xie Nanqiao arrived fashionably late. A few seconds later, she pointed at Yu He.

"Her. Spend tonight with me."

*

At first, Yu He was determined to refuse.

Being kept by her sworn rival would be an insult to her pride.

"Three million a month, plus a luxury apartment in the city center in your name."

"If you don't trust me, we can register our marriage. We'll put it in the marriage contract: stay with me for a year, and I'll set you free."

The offer was generous. Aside from satisfying Xie Nanqiao's practically insatiable sexual appetite, there were no problems at all.

Surely no one would turn down money just to protect their pride.

A year later, she took the written agreement to claim her freedom.

Xie Nanqiao merely tugged at her collar.

"This agreement names Yu Qing," Xie Nanqiao said with a laugh. "But you're Yu He, so it doesn't count."

...How did she know she was Yu He?

No, wait. This woman had tricked her again!

Reader's guide:

1. They were the same age before Yu He was reborn. The gong has no memories from the five years after her death, so physically and mentally she's still 24. I think that barely counts as a younger top?

2. They're still each other's first love, both body and soul.

Theme: Bravely wrestle with fate