1: Top star turned into a nobody

"If you're not dead, get up and keep drinking!"

"Shen Lian has fallen into our hands today; he's in for a world of pain."

Harsh laughter exploded in his ears, and the young man leaning in the corner slowly opened his eyes.

Inside the private room, lights flickered, and the crowd was dancing wildly like demons.

But without exception, everyone was looking at him with schadenfreude.

Shen Lian frowned and shifted his position.

Wait a minute.

Shen Lian spent a few minutes processing the strange memories in his mind and finally confirmed that he had transmigrated into a book.

Same name, same career in the entertainment industry, except the Original Host, Shen Lian, was notorious, universally loathed, and a bottom-tier has-been.

In his previous world, Shen Lian had already been a top-tier superstar.

He had been in a car accident on the way to an awards ceremony and woke up here.

The Original Host, Shen Lian, had debuted with great popularity from an idol survival show and had constant resources; with careful management, he could have easily been a top-tier star, but what happened?

Halfway through, he developed a 'love brain' and fell for the book's protagonist, Zhou Tangsi.

But Zhou Tangsi already had an official partner named Zheng Ge, who was currently thriving in the entertainment industry.

Zheng Ge had a heartthrob constitution; not only did he have Zhou Tangsi head over heels, but he also captured the affection of another important character, Chu Yilan.

But the official couple was the official couple. Chu Yilan was destined to suffer unrequited love and serve as a whetstone for the two leads' relationship.

After everything, he eventually turned dark and met his end by self-immolation at the seaside.

As for the Original Host, he didn't even qualify as a whetstone; he was just a lowly lickspittle around Zhou Tangsi.

Zhou Tangsi liked seeing Zheng Ge jealous, so the Original Host, Shen Lian, was always at his beck and call.

Then came the melodramatic scenes where Zhou Tangsi would grab Zheng Ge's shoulders and roar, 'Let me explain!' while Zheng Ge wept, 'I won't listen, I won't listen!'

Then the two of them would struggle, embrace, and kiss passionately by the roadside, under overpasses, or at the company entrance.

Because the Original Host frequently 'interfered' in Zhou Tangsi and Zheng Ge's relationship, he was dragged onto the trending searches multiple times, and his public reputation was long gone.

The standard ending for a lickspittle.

Recalling this, Shen Lian picked up the wine on the table and downed it in one go.

The people around him couldn't help but be dumbfounded.

And tonight was the key moment the Original Host fell into hell.

According to the plot, Shen Lian had come to negotiate a collaboration and accompany people for drinks tonight for a chance at a comeback, only to fall into the hands of the villain, Chu Yilan.

Chu Yilan would not let the Original Host off.

Because at this moment, he had just been discharged from the hospital after being disfigured.

Three months ago, everyone went to a certain resort. That night, Zheng Ge was locked in a room, and someone set it on fire.

To save Zheng Ge, Chu Yilan was hit by a falling wooden plank from the beam. When he was sent to the hospital, his face was covered in blood, and it was said he was disfigured.

This was also a major turning point in Chu Yilan's life. His damaged appearance made many people afraid of him.

The arsonist was allegedly the Original Host, but the surveillance was broken that night, so there was no immediate evidence.

This was questionable because, in all the memories Shen Lian received, only that night was a blank.

But it didn't matter; the Original Host was the scapegoat.

Combined with how many times he had offended Zheng Ge before, with both old and new grudges, how could Chu Yilan not seek revenge?

Knowing he was at a dead end, the Original Host—perhaps having suppressed it for too long—went crazy this night.

He pointed at Chu Yilan and let out a stream of insults like 'ugly freak' and 'you'll never be as good as Zhou Tangsi.'

Every word was a landmine.

So after one night, the Original Host completely disappeared from the entertainment industry and was saddled with massive debt.

On top of that, he had a heart condition. Later, in a dilapidated rental room, he received news of Zhou Tangsi and Zheng Ge's suspected engagement, couldn't catch his breath, and passed away.

Quite the cannon fodder, indeed.

But don't panic, Shen Lian thought. Watch me perform.

Shen Lian grabbed the man sitting closest to him and asked, "Did I just curse at anyone?"

If he had already cursed Chu Yilan, there'd be no point in performing; he might as well just lie down and wait for the end.

The man was stunned, then showed an incredulous expression. "Are you drunk out of your mind? Try cursing someone and see what happens!"

Great, no cursing yet. Shen Lian felt relieved; the most suicidal scene hadn't happened yet.

The next second, all the lights in the private room were turned on, so bright that Shen Lian couldn't help but raise his hand to shield his eyes.

In the haze, a figure slowly approached.

Even though the other person hadn't spoken, Shen Lian felt the hair on his body stand up, a sense of pressure seeping into his bones.

Once he adjusted to the light and saw the person clearly, Shen Lian was stunned.

The man was roughly 1.9 meters tall, wearing an expensive custom suit. Despite the mess around them, there wasn't a single wrinkle on him.

The man had deep-set features with strong impact. His slightly prominent brow bone cast heavy shadows over his eyelids, and he had a buzz cut. His overall silhouette had no soft or rounded edges, making him look gloomy and sharp.

A prominent scar ran down from beneath his left brow bone to his cheek, making him seem even colder and more forbidding.

Most people seeing Chu Yilan like this would be shaking in their boots.

But Shen Lian... suddenly snapped his legs together!

What was I going to do again? Shen Lian's brain spun rapidly, but it spun into a void.

To tell the truth, he was gay.

On the surface, he looked wild and untamable, but his sexual orientation was toward men.

But liking men and having a man you like are two different concepts.

What was even harder to admit was that Shen Lian preferred being the one on the bottom.

However, his fierce reputation preceded him. Later, when he became a top star, he was surrounded by respectful and flattering people; no one could dominate him.

Shen Lian sometimes felt sad for himself. Surely he wouldn't go to his grave without ever having tasted a man?

At the same time, he was very picky, preferring to die alone rather than settle.

Until he saw Chu Yilan just now.

He suddenly understood the meaning of his transmigration.

No, Chu Yilan was grown exactly according to his sexual preferences!

What did that mean?

A tiger returning to the mountains, a hungry wolf devouring meat.

Chu Yilan noticed the shifting emotions in Shen Lian's eyes, but he didn't care. The man picked up a glass of wine from the table and poured it over Shen Lian's head.

The private room fell silent, with only the faint sound of liquid flowing.

Everyone thought Shen Lian would start crying.

Indeed, according to the original plot, this was when the Original Host's emotions would spiral out of control, leading him to seek death.

But Shen Lian sat on the sofa without even lifting his butt.

He and Chu Yilan quietly sized each other up.

This person is different, Chu Yilan frowned slightly.

At just that tiny expression, Shen Lian couldn't help but lick his lips.

He then ran a hand through his messy hair, revealing a smooth forehead.

Under the bright lights, everyone finally noticed what Shen Lian looked like when he stopped his cowering and fawning smile.

Those were a pair of captivating, expressive eyes. Whether from grievance or the sting of the alcohol, the corners of Shen Lian's eyes were flushed red and glistening with droplets. His eyebrows were like elegant bamboo brushstrokes, and the refined handsomeness he exuded perfectly tempered that touch of haughty decadence.

Then Shen Lian laughed. He didn't seem to care about Chu Yilan targeting him and reached up to unbutton two buttons.

The collar was soaking wet and uncomfortable.

Having done this, Shen Lian leaned back on the sofa, tilted his head up at Chu Yilan, and lightly raised an eyebrow. "Are you satisfied now?"

Everyone: "..."

Are you crazy?!