CH 2

Chapter 2: The Plan to Reverse the Roles Begins!

It was already dawn outside, and the rain-washed summer morning was the perfect time to sleep in. Jin Yanliu lay in bed with his eyes open for a while, lost in thought. 

He vaguely remembered that Zhou Beiyang had come back last night.

Lately, he had been drinking too much, and he was starting to have trouble distinguishing between dreams and reality.

He got up immediately and went to the living room and the guest bedroom to take a look. Zhou Beiyang was not at home, but the messy house had been cleaned spotlessly clean. It was obviously the work of this clean-freak. There was also a pot of porridge on the stove, still warm, and two plates of light dishes on the table.

Jin Yanliu went to the bathroom to freshen up and found that even the toothpaste had been squeezed for him. On the clothing table outside the bathroom, his clothes for the day were neatly folded and ready to be worn.

Jin Yanliu stared at his clothes for a while.

Zhou Beiyang, the son of his father’s previous wife, was not his biological brother, but they were closer than blood brothers.

His father, Jin Weinan, was one of the top big bosses in the country, but he had the common vice of big bosses: he was a womanizer. Not to mention mistresses, he had even married two stepmothers. Zhou Beiyang’s mother, Zhou Hong, was his first stepmother. When she married into the Jin family with Zhou Beiyang, he was twelve years old, and Zhou Beiyang was not even ten.

Unfortunately, this marriage only lasted seven years. After seven years, the marriage of this couple ended in a divorce, but fortunately, they parted on good terms, and did not become enemies. The reasons for this were naturally related to the two brothers, him and Zhou Beiyang. Compared to her own son, Zhou Hong preferred him, who was lively and outgoing, while Jin Weinan was just the opposite, always saying that he was a wastrel who was not learning anything, and unlike his son, Zhou Beiyang, who had his youthful charm.

Because they had lived together for seven years during their teenage years, the two brothers still maintained a close relationship. Especially this summer, after Zhou Beiyang graduated from university and entered the entertainment industry through selection, their relationship became even closer.

Zhou Beiyang was completely different from him, both in personality and appearance, and he took after his mother, very calm.

At least that was what he had always thought.

But in the introduction to “Rotating Love and Devotion,” he was described as a yandere, gloomy, paranoid, and neurotic.

He couldn’t reconcile these words with Zhou Beiyang.

As far as he could remember, only in middle school, Zhou Beiyang and he had fought together, and once showed a so-called gloomy feeling. It was when he had a bruise on his head, and picked up a brick to try to take the other person’s life.

But that was brotherly love!

Zhou Beiyang called him “brother” all the time, and was very fond of him.

No, even if it wasn’t for himself, he had to consider Zhou Beiyang. How could such an outstanding young man be corrupted by a fake product like this seductive demon!

“He’s in such pain just thinking about it.”

“That shameless impostor, I want to mercilessly torment and annihilate him!”

“Xiao Ai… Hello, Xiao Ai!”

With a “ding-dong” sound, Xiao Ai came online and cheerfully responded, “Darling!”

Jin Yanliu immediately asked, “Has that impostor really targeted Zhou Beiyang? Did he succeed?”

“Not yet, but anything is possible. That’s why we should be proactive and prevent any harm,” Xiao Ai replied.

“Not yet?”

“This is an ongoing story, one that might not conclude anytime soon,” Xiao Ai explained, “In fact, this serial has reached a million words and is still unfinished. Do you know why?”

“…Why?”

“Because men always crave for more, just like this story, which will never come to an end!”

Jin Yanliu: “…”

Damn, that was bold.

“Keep in mind that even stock market novels require suspense. The protagonist remains unyielding while the supporting characters come and go like a stream. However, if the same patterns are repeated, readers will grow weary. That’s why it’s necessary to establish distinct personalities for the big shots—some can be sycophants, others can experience mutual affection, some can be forcefully submissive, and there are those who remain unattainable.”

Xiao Ai, understanding his temperament well, spoke gently and patiently, “Zhou Beiyang is the character readers yearn for but can never have. Eventually, he will be caught, as he is one of the most…”

“What?” Jin Yanliu furrowed his brows.

“Have you ever taken a bath with Zhou Beiyang?” Xiao Ai even blushed slightly, “If so, then you must have witnessed it…”

Jin Yanliu was momentarily stunned, then blushed and erupted in anger, “Tell me, what should I do!”

Xiao Ai’s voice carried a sense of uncontainable satisfaction as she said slowly, “Naturally, you should launch a counterattack. Before the impostor arrives, disrupt the plot and completely sever any potential affection between you and these big shots!”

That… actually made sense.

But it was still not enough.

He wouldn’t allow the impostor to have anything—neither his family, friendships, nor his career and wealth. The impostor wouldn’t even have a chance to enjoy a single aspect of his life. He would destroy everything!

“Actually… there’s no need to be so harsh,” Xiao Ai said sheepishly.

Jin Yanliu remained silent, his expression slightly darkening.

He needed to take immediate action.

“Do you have information on those big shots who slept with the impostor?” he asked.

“Well, there’s quite a lot of it,” Xiao Ai replied.

“…,” Jin Yanliu breathed a sigh of relief. “Then let’s go through them one by one.”

Xiao Ai efficiently worked and quickly organized the information on these big shots.

It was not just a bit, it was damn overwhelming!

“These are the popular harem novels,” Xiao Ai explained. “You see, it’s necessary to stop him!”

“…Harem novels?!” Jin Yanliu exclaimed.

“Stock market, stock market,” Xiao Ai quickly corrected himself.

…Well, he couldn’t really tell the difference anyway.

Jin Yanliu glanced through the information on these big shots, ranging from wealthy tycoons to newly arrived migrant workers. Their preferences were diverse, but if there was one common factor, it’s their handsome appearance.

It seemed not everyone is so eager to hop into bed with just anyone. He was quite the connoisseur of looks.

The only problem was that there were too many targets, making it difficult to know where to start.

“Or… Xiao Ai, do you have any suggestions?” he asked.

“Sure, how about this? Have you noticed the highly influential TV series ‘Round of Endearment’? It spans almost five hundred thousand words of plot.”

Of course, he noticed it.

Because that part was just too melodramatic. The series had become a sensation—an explosive national BL drama.

The TV series, stretching over five hundred thousand words, was called “Into the Abyss.” It’s adapted from a well-known online novel on Zhong Jingjiang called “Unshakable Character Setting of a Salted Fish.” It’s a cultivation ensemble with a main storyline interwoven with two subplots, summarized by fans as “Charming Senior Martial Brother, Handsome Master,” “Divine Immortal Brother, Evil Younger Brother,” and “Celibate High Monk, Playful Aristocrat.”

Even taken separately, it was already incredibly melodramatic. No wonder it was so popular.

The first season consisted of twelve episodes, with the impostor playing the role of the younger brother, Mu Huaying, in the leading story arc titled “Divine Immortal Brother, Evil Younger Brother.”

This series followed a unique production model of filming and airing simultaneously, which instantly propelled it to fame. Mu Huaying’s character garnered a massive fan base. It was during the airing of this show that the most infamous incident in the “Round of Endearment” fandom took place. Just two weeks after the show’s premiere, a disturbed fan kidnapped Mu Huaying, leading to a series of disturbing events that spanned several chapters.

After being held captive by the deranged fan for over ten days, Mu Huaying was eventually rescued by one of the main characters. Following a melodramatic scene involving phrases like “I’m dirty, I’m dirty” and “You’re clean without me,” they succumbed to their desires and engaged in explicit encounters, which continued for several more chapters.

It was no wonder the story has reached over a million words; there was a reason behind its extensive length.

Repeated encounters with the impostor have significantly transformed Mu Huaying. The experiences with this impostor, who subjected him to unspeakable acts, have led to a change in his demeanor, imbuing him with an aura of “decadence and corruption.” The crew, investors, private bodyguards, and others involved in the production couldn’t help but fall in love with him. Thus, his journey of becoming a “wicked fallen flower” commenced.

It was confusing to distinguish between a harem novel and a BL novel!

“So, what’s your suggestion?” Jin Yanliu inquired.

“You can join the cast of this series in advance and take on the role of the impostor, blocking his path and preemptively encountering these men, thus eliminating any possibility of romantic involvement with them!” Xiao Ai proposed.

Indeed, it was an excellent idea.

“Right! As Xiao Ai promised to assist you, she will wholeheartedly support you. With the advantage of knowing the plot in advance, your counter-actions are destined to succeed!”

However, merely obstructing the impostor’s path in the BL novel wouldn’t be satisfying enough.

Jin Yanliu wanted the impostor to understand that his life, Jin Yanliu’s life, couldn’t be easily usurped.

“Are there any antagonists in this novel?” Jin Yanliu asked.

In a novel that spans over a million words and remains unfinished, not everything revolves around intimate encounters. Most harem novels also feature substantial storylines related to careers and personal growth.

That’s right! It’s also a face-slapping novel. The male lead was known for his expertise in putting arrogant antagonists in their place.

Jin Yanliu felt a surge of excitement as an idea formed in his mind.

Xiao Ai responded, “…Yes.”

Immediately, Xiao Ai gathered information on several antagonists in the story.

With a furrowed brow, Jin Yanliu carefully selected three antagonists with significant roles and formidable abilities to serve as the main force for an intense counter-attack against the impostor. His ultimate goal: to thoroughly defeat and humiliate him!

Antagonist number one, known as “Falling Willow Leaf,” was a formidable leader of the rabid fanbase. His combat prowess was off the charts, and his sole purpose in life was to tarnish the name of “Jin Yanliu” until his dying breath.

Antagonist number two was a washed-up male star named Lu Yao, driven by insatiable ambition and a relentless desire to climb higher. He had been Jin Yanliu’s notorious nemesis in the entertainment industry, and it seemed that their rivalry would persist indefinitely.

Antagonist number three, Zhao Sili, was a ruthless and cold-blooded tycoon who had never experienced the warmth of human connection.

Once the plan was set, Jin Yanliu made a phone call to Xiao Pangzi.

“Do you know where I can find tear-off calendars? The kind where you can tear off one page at a time,” he asked.

Xiao Pangzi was momentarily puzzled but agreed to search for them. After some time, he returned with an old-fashioned tear-off calendar that he had purchased from a store.

Xiao Pangzi couldn’t fathom why Jin Yanliu wanted such a traditional calendar. In this day and age, who still hung those up at home?

Moreover, Jin Yanliu tore off numerous pages from the calendar, leaving only a hundred or so in the middle, which he prominently displayed by his bedside.

After hanging the pages, Jin Yanliu stood before the calendar, deep in thought.

168 pages, symbolizing 168 days and nights.

It was enough.

Enough to exact his revenge and enough to create a brilliant and transient display, like fireworks igniting the sky, before the final explosion.