The Supporting Male Characters Who Died Alone All Those Years Later

Given Bei Er’s previous image, which was too sharp and ambitious, it would be difficult for her to move up. However, if she had changed her persona, transforming from a competitive person into someone who seemed laid-back and indifferent, this contrast would surely attract attention.

With this thought, a glimmer of eagerness appeared in Fu Wenyu’s eyes, and he said confidently, “Yes, she has changed her persona.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line, followed by an awkward reply, “President Fu, Bei Er’s manager has already started looking for new artists, clearly indicating an intention to let her go…”

So, Bei Er was really just being laid-back, not changing her persona.

Fu Wenyu: “…”

The silence was deafening.

Fu Wenyu had firmly believed that Bei Er was planning a big move, only to have his subordinate awkwardly reveal that there was no big move; she was genuinely just being passive.

Fu Wenyu’s strategic and handsome face showed a moment of bewilderment before he fell silent and ended the call.

The more he thought about it, the more dissatisfied he felt. How could my judgment be wrong?

After contemplating for a moment, Fu Wenyu decided to see things for himself and make another attempt. The company’s 30th anniversary celebration was approaching, and Bei Er would certainly be attending.

Whether she was a dragon or a worm would become clear at a glance.

With this resolved, Fu Wenyu regained his composure and was preparing to select a few potential targets when the phone rang unexpectedly. Seeing the caller ID, Fu Wenyu frowned, stood up, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and answered the call. The intermittent sound echoed through the spacious office.

“Dad, don’t worry. I know what I’m doing… He Dongchen is just an actor; sooner or later, he’ll have to bow to capital… Please put some pressure on the shareholders for me…”

***

The next day, Brother Liu learned from his friendly shareholders that Fu Wenyu was putting pressure on them by blocking their film investment. Since the project was originally led by Qincheng Entertainment, finding other investors was futile.

“I’m baffled. What did we ever do to provoke him?” Brother Liu was a bit irritated.

“To someone with a strong desire for control, not obeying is a provocation,” He Dongchen said, lounging on the sofa and flipping through a script, with several other scripts piled up on the coffee table in front of him.

Although Qincheng Entertainment was a big name in the industry, it couldn’t dominate everything. When word got out that the acclaimed actor He Dongchen was being mistreated by Qincheng Entertainment, others in the industry eagerly extended an olive branch, their attitudes warm and welcoming.

Businesspeople were driven by profit; who would go against money?

In the past, Bei Er, out of loyalty to her old employer, rarely accepted scripts from other companies and would even bring them to Qincheng Entertainment if she did.

Now, however, He Dongchen thought the script in his hands was quite good and worth exploring further.

But before that, he had to finish recording the variety show.

***

Soon, the recording for the third episode began. This time, instead of catching fish or collecting eggs, the activity was changed to picking lotus seed pods.

To make things more interesting, the production team had placed many cards in the lotus pond. Finding a “Truth” card or a “Dare” card meant accepting questions or tasks from the show, while finding a “Bonus” card would add to their final score.

Since the cards were identical in color and design, one had to open them to see what type they were. Therefore, to score points, they couldn’t avoid picking up cards.

He Dongchen and Fang Nanxing continued their partnership. They first had a quick training session on rowing before putting on life jackets and woven straw hats, and slowly paddled a small wooden boat into the vast lotus pond.

Once they were in the pond, they realized how beautiful it was. Pink lotus flowers danced in the wind amid the green foliage, some in full bloom, others in bud, and some already wilted, with green and appealing lotus seed pods growing from them.

After they entered the pond, the water’s surface shimmered, and the hot weather became much cooler.

The two of them picked lotus seed pods while rowing. Soon, they had gathered a handful, with the pods and stems broken off, making a nice bunch of lotus pods!

“Hey, I think there’s a card over there!” Fang Nanxing exclaimed, pointing to a red card.

Seeing this, He Dongchen steered the boat towards it, slowly approaching. They played rock-paper-scissors to decide who would retrieve the card. Fang Nanxing, who lost, reluctantly picked up the card, took a deep breath, and opened it to find it was a “Bonus” card!

Fang Nanxing patted her chest and exclaimed that she was lucky, wondering what kind of “Truth” or “Dare” challenges the production team might have arranged.

The second card appeared half an hour later. As usual, they played rock-paper-scissors, and once again, Fang Nanxing lost. With a look of distress, she picked up the card. This time, it wasn’t a lucky card; it was a “Dare” card, which required her to eat ten lotus seeds.

While lotus seeds were sweet, the lotus seed hearts were bitter.

Seeing her resistance, He Dongchen hid his smile and reached into the boat to pick up a lotus pod. He skillfully peeled it with his nimble fingers and soon had ten lotus hearts ready. With a cheerful smile, he handed them to Fang Nanxing.

Fang Nanxing, with a mournful expression, swallowed them all at once, adding another expressive reaction to her repertoire.

The idol served bitter food, and she had to eat it even while crying!

For the third card, Fang Nanxing lost again. Slowly unfolding the card, she was close to tears as she read, “Another dare!”

This time, it wasn’t about eating lotus hearts but dancing on the bow of the boat!

Was the production team serious?

Weren’t they afraid of capsizing?

Why not just have a dance party on the boat…

He Dongchen’s shoulders twitched slightly, and he said, “Don’t worry about it. I’ll hold the boat steady for you. If you accidentally fall in, I’ll pull you out.”

Fang Nanxing sighed deeply, removed her somewhat troublesome straw hat, and wobbled to her feet. She adjusted her balance and closed her eyes, letting the gentle breeze tousle her hair.

When she opened her eyes, her entire demeanor had changed. Her expression softened, and she stood gracefully on one foot on the boat, dancing elegantly. Despite her loose clothing, she moved with a swan-like grace, and although there was no music, her movements seemed to create their own atmosphere.

When the dance ended, He Dongchen clapped, and Fang Nanxing, blushing, quickly sat down, her back straight. “I’m sorry for showing off.”

“Great dance. When did you learn to dance?” He Dongchen asked.

Fang Nanxing replied, “A long time ago. I learned it seriously while filming a TV drama.”

Fang Nanxing’s academic excellence wasn’t just for show. With nearly a 700 score on the college entrance exam, scholarships throughout her university years, top prizes in various competitions, and countless skills, she had put in an enormous amount of effort and endured many hardships to appear so adept and effortless in front of others.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Bei Er had also drawn the card for dancing on the bow of the boat. After procrastinating for a long time and unable to avoid it any longer, she finally wobbled to her feet and performed an eye-popping calisthenics routine, then slipped into the water, causing quite a commotion.

Before her transmigration, Bei Er was just an ordinary girl who couldn’t dance, but the original owner could. The director had arranged this card as an opportunity for her to perform well. But this… Was this really it???

The news about her dancing overshadowing a certain pop diva was still online.

***

During the day, they harvested lotus pods; in the evening, they had a full lotus feast.

He Dongchen made fried lotus seeds, while Fang Nanxing prepared lotus seed fish soup. The other guests also showcased their culinary skills.

Bei Er, having fallen into the lake and catching a cold, sneezed continuously at the dinner table, disrupting the atmosphere. She was soon asked by the director to go upstairs to rest.

Bei Er left quickly and, feeling fuzzy as she lay in bed, received a businesslike call from her manager.

“Tomorrow evening is the company’s anniversary celebration. I’ve prepared your outfit. You must be at the styling studio tomorrow afternoon. Don’t dawdle.”

“Sister, I’m sick. What happens if I don’t go?” Bei Er asked pitifully.

“If you don’t go, nothing will happen except you’ll be excluded and lose resources.”

“Oh, then I won’t go.”

Bei Er thought to herself that she was just a passive observer and didn’t need the resources. Heh.

Her manager, having been hung up on, felt powerless and uninterested, thinking, “Let her be. Whatever happens, happens.”

***

Thus, on the day of the celebration, Fu Wenyu, who had planned to discreetly observe Bei Er, waited all night without seeing her. He maintained a neutral expression as he was approached by seven or eight young artists, his fingers gripping his drink turning slightly white as he tried hard to stay calm.

“President Fu, let me offer you a drink. I’ll finish mine; you’re free to do as you like.” A young artist, leaning on a cane, approached with a beaming smile, their attitude extremely eager, and downed the drink in one gulp.

Fu Wenyu’s lips twitched. Look at this; such an important occasion, so many people eager to stand out, and even those with broken legs showed up. Fu Wenyu had to accept the reality; Bei Er was indeed a passive observer, with no hidden talents.

He felt somewhat defeated, his first misjudgment leaving him angry and embarrassed.

In the original plot, at this point, Bei Er had already garnered some attention thanks to He Dongchen’s camera work, her passive persona beginning to stand out and showing some initial results.

The manager, seeing the unexpected development, wasn’t disappointed. He persistently urged the passive Bei Er, who, under the manager’s supervision, reluctantly attended the celebration and then squatted in a corner, eating and drinking.

Thus, Fu Wenyu’s suspicion was confirmed. He was convinced that Bei Er was deliberately playing the “salted fish” persona. Even after interacting with her and seeing only a passive Bei Er, he could only lament how solid her persona was, even behind the scenes, completely in character.

Success or failure was crucial. In the original plot, Bei Er had unexpectedly succeeded, so the manager urged her, and Fu Wenyu looked at her differently. Now, with Bei Er making no waves and the manager seeking new artists, Fu Wenyu was greatly disappointed.

Fu Wenyu felt a moment of frustration but quickly regained his composure and shifted his focus. He eventually chose a once-popular actress who had disappeared after getting married and was now in the midst of a divorce and preparing for a comeback.

***

The system, which had been quietly monitoring Fu Wenyu’s actions, exclaimed, [Alright, this novel’s plot has changed from ‘Salty Fish Lies Down to Win’ to ‘From Divorce to Life’s Peak.’]

“Pretty good, at least better than being a salted fish,” He Dongchen replied dismissively.

Fu Wenyu liked challenges and was quite capable. After meeting the actress, he quickly provided a plan to turn things around, helping her divorce swiftly, exposing the scumbag husband, and ushering in a new era for her career.

This move was much talked about in the industry. Fu Wenyu had delivered his first report card, and his decisive style made a deep impression.

While Fu Wenyu accepted the praise with a calm demeanor, he still harbored resentment. He occasionally checked on Bei Er, only to be disappointed once again. Why did I even bother to have expectations!

Such actions naturally caught the attention of those with a keen eye, such as the actress whom Fu Wenyu had promoted. She guessed Fu Wenyu’s intentions and became anxious, fearing that he might stop supporting her and shift resources to Bei Er.

The actress, tormented by anxiety, finally took action when Fu Wenyu once again showed interest in Bei Er. She discreetly arranged for someone to snatch Bei Er’s variety show.

The rural-themed show had long been popular, and many people eagerly wanted a piece of it. It was easy to find an excuse to push in, such as a scheduling conflict or illness; there were countless excuses.

The director wasn’t fond of Bei Er, and the intruder was effective. With both parties agreeing, Bei Er was suddenly informed before the fourth episode’s filming that she no longer needed to attend.

Bei Er’s first reaction was, “What about my payment?”

The manager, exhausted, replied, “Don’t worry, the production team will pay, every last cent, as long as you keep quiet.”

“Just make sure they pay!” Bei Er was satisfied. After all, she didn’t enjoy filming and found it exhausting, and the production team was indifferent.

The manager’s forehead twitched in frustration. To have such a good show hijacked and to only remember the money! So hopeless! Just let her fall!