I Only Want to Direct, but the Heavenly Queen Forces Me to Marry Her

Yang Zhou is a third-rate director who has spent two years drifting west, single-mindedly pursuing his dream of becoming an outstanding director.

For that, he turned down repeated invitations from a master of crosstalk, politely declined a request to perform with a world-class pianist, put down his paintbrush, and threw himself into filmmaking...

But when he faces the newly crowned queen of pop, Jin Xiaoying, Yang Zhou is at a loss for words.

Yang Zhou: “I won't consider getting married until I've made a movie that scores over eight on Douban.”

Jin Xiaoying: “Your dad has already agreed.”

Yang Zhou: “My dreams can't be tied down by family. I have my own ambitions!”

Jin Xiaoying: “Want to see the red cotton quilt Grandma sewed by hand?”

Yang Zhou: “Jin Xiaoying, are you trying to drive me into a corner? This is forced marriage! Even if you succeed, we won't be happy!”

Jin Xiaoying: “Stop fussing. We'll get married first and figure out the rest later!”

No System, no over-the-top melodrama: this is a breath of fresh air among entertainment-industry novels. If you like it, feel free to add it to your collection. (Also: the protagonist doesn't take the Hengdian route. He gets his start in the western film industry.)