"It's truly an honor to receive this Best Actor trophy on my birthday, and I'm deeply grateful. I'll keep working hard and repay everyone who supports me with better work."
He knew better than anyone how much abuse he had endured and how many wounds he had suffered along the way.
Now that he had finally reached the top, Xu Chao looked back with gratitude and ahead with hope.
He raised both hands high, ready to receive the trophy and enjoy everything that belonged to him!
But the congratulations and screams he expected never came. All he got was, "You're sick."
?
The newly crowned Best Actor was mature and composed, gentle and courteous, someone who would even greet his haters with a smile... like hell!
Who was undermining him at such an important moment?
Xu Chao's eyes snapped open, only for the sharp look in them to be nearly blinded by flashing, lurid, multicolored lights.
Wait, how had the grand awards auditorium turned into a bar with swaying lights?
Xu Chao's little mouth formed an O. "What's going on here?"
The pink-haired boy beside him helpfully explained, "Hahaha, Chaochao, other people put their hands together to make birthday wishes, but you throw yours up and start dreaming. You're killing me."
The purple-haired boy across from him sneered disdainfully. "Dreaming of becoming Best Actor when all you can do is stare wide-eyed? Know your damn limits. Xinbai's acting has real spark. He's the one who could win Best Actor."
The delicate-looking young man called Xinbai smiled modestly. "Come on, don't say that. It's Chaochao's birthday today. He's the star, isn't he, Lou Jun?"
"Xu Chao's always making trouble for you, yet you still stand up for him. You really are the kindest." As he spoke, Lou Jun affectionately tapped the tip of his nose.
Shen Xinbai, Lou Jun, the rainbow-haired scene kids, and that greasy nose tap were exactly like the idiotic novel he had stayed up reading last night.
Weird!
Way too weird!
Xu Chao hurriedly pointed at himself and asked, "Who am I? My last name isn't Xu, right?"
The pink-haired boy scooted over and felt his forehead, exclaiming, "Xu Chao, has your brain broken?"
Okk, confirmed.
He had transmigrated into the book as the vicious cannon fodder who shared his full name.
Goddammit, at least let me collect my Best Actor trophy first.
Decades of hard work, wiped out in a second.
Xu Chao was suffering inside, yet someone chose that very moment to get in his face and unleash an attack.
"Xu Chao, stop pulling dirty tricks behind our backs. Bully Xinbai again, and I won't go easy on you."
"I know you're worked up, but hold your horses."
Xu Chao casually raised a hand to block out the yammering across from him, then focused and shouted inwardly with all his might.
System, system, are you there?
Dearest system, give me a squeak if you're there.
Hurry up and assign me my transmigration missions. Whether I have to be a bootlicker or a rabid dog, I can complete them perfectly.
Little system, big system, system bro, system 10086?
He waited quietly for half a second. Not a peep.
Fantastic, no system assigning me idiotic missions!
Instantly at ease, Xu Chao slouched back against the sofa and lifted his chin slightly. "You over there, what were you in such a hurry to say?"
Accustomed to being fawned over, Lou Jun couldn't help frowning at this sudden indifference. "Using little tricks like this to get my attention? Xu Chao, you're really something."
?
Unbelievable!
The original owner had been terminally lovesick, groveling without limits, offering money, his body, and resources, only to end up disgraced and dead without even an intact corpse.
But Xu Chao wasn't out of his mind and had no interest in continuing to be a bootlicker.
So he raised an arm, chopped through the air, and spoke with utter nonchalance.
"Watch closely, little bro. From this moment on, we're cutting ties. We go our separate ways, and whoever crosses the line can crash into a pillar."
Somewhere beyond sight, something really seemed to have been severed by that single chop.
Lou Jun shot to his feet and glared down at Xu Chao. "What do you mean?"
Xu Chao slowly stood, straightening up. "Don't get it? Then let me explain a little more. One slash, ties severed, magic sword at the ready. Come acting like a bitch again, and I'll cut off your balls."
Then he tilted his little face, smiling ever so sweetly. "Do you need me to explain what balls are, too?"
Every man present felt a chill between his legs.
Lou Jun's face turned livid. He was about to lash out, but looking at the young man's eyes curved with his smile, so bright and adorable, he opened his mouth and found himself somewhat reluctant.
Just then, Shen Xinbai suddenly hugged his arm, his voice soft and gentle, with a hint of grievance.
"Chaochao, now that you've married Fu Sichen and become a CEO's spouse, are you too good to bother with old friends like us?"
At that familiar name,
Xu Chao's scalp tingled as the original novel's most idiotic plot began violently assaulting his brain.
To get Lou Jun, the original owner had secretly drugged him to rape him, only to end up mistakenly raping the unhinged big shot Fu Sichen instead.
Fu Sichen lived up to his name: handsome and refined, cultured and gentlemanly on the outside, but a genuine lunatic and scumbag underneath.
After the sex, the unhinged big shot pulled out and turned ruthless, immediately moving to slaughter the original owner. By coincidence, paparazzi burst through the door, leaving the murder attempt unsuccessful.
Later, entanglements between their families' interests forced them into marriage. Yet even after becoming someone's husband, the original owner refused to behave and cheated on the big shot like crazy.
In the end, the unhinged big shot flayed him alive.
Just thinking about it sent the horrifying pain of a dull knife slicing flesh through his whole body. Xu Chao hugged his weak, pitiful, helpless self.
Cut ties, cut ties, cut ties with everyone. I'm going to shine alone!
He had barely made up his mind when more mocking voices reached him.
"He schemed behind the scenes, secretly drugged him, and even paid off paparazzi to livestream it, making it known all over the internet. Otherwise, would Young Master Fu have married him?"
"Young Master Fu went abroad right after they registered their marriage and hasn't come back since. Seeing a certain someone must ruin his appetite, too."
Though Fu Sichen had a terrifying reputation, he genuinely had power, influence, and money!
Countless society ladies and wealthy young heirs hoped to marry him and share the splendor at the pinnacle of power.
Yet an empty-headed idiot had actually managed to succeed. How could they not be jealous?
Xu Chao, however, picked up on the key word-abroad.
Right, in the original novel, Fu Sichen was always busy with business overseas and rarely came back. That was why the original owner could borrow his power to throw his weight around and cheat on him, courting death so relentlessly, yet still keep bouncing around until the finale.
In that case,
I can show off a little, and the big shot won't find out.
Xu Chao's smiling eyes swept over the multicolored scene kids, his voice leisurely and smug.
"You say I schemed my way into forcing him to marry me. So, are you giving me too much credit, or too little to Fu Sichen?"
They weren't willing to give Xu Chao credit.
They didn't dare belittle the big shot.
The whole rainbow-colored bunch was left speechless.
After a long while, the purple-haired boy said indignantly, "If you hadn't drugged him, Young Master Fu wouldn't spare a cheap nobody like you a glance even if you stripped naked."
In his original world, Xu Chao had conquered the entertainment industry with his face. Now someone was calling him a cheap nobody? Looking down on his charm?
This was beyond tolerable!
"I was too embarrassed to tell anyone, but now you're spreading rumors that my husband wouldn't react even if I stripped naked. Hmph, that's slandering my husband's sexual prowess."
Everyone was dumbfounded. They had been mocking Xu Chao for being a toad lusting after swan meat. Who had mocked the big shot's sexual prowess?
Xu Chao didn't care and carried on with his outrageously affected performance.
"My husband is absolutely fierce in bed. That lean waist of his is so strong. Last night, I kept saying no, no more, but he still clung to me and did this and that until dawn. My back hurts so much."
As he spoke, Xu Chao daintily supported his lower back, putting on an act as though it had really happened.
The pink-haired boy beside him blushed scarlet listening, yet couldn't help his curiosity. "Chaochao, really all night?"
Xu Chao wasn't embarrassed in the slightest. After all, there were no feelings involved, just acting.
"Of course. My husband's big and knows how to use it, and I'm soft and supple. We're one hundred percent physically compatible. Going all night is nothing."
The purple-haired boy opposite him was embarrassed and furious. "N-no way! You're making it all up! You're shameless!"
"If you don't believe me, come lie under our bed tonight. You can hear how fierce my husband is in bed and how much he dotes on me."
As his words fell, Xu Chao saw terrified expressions appear on the faces across from him and curled his lips in delight.
Hehe!
How would they handle his shameless invitation?
The pink-haired boy's eyelids trembled, his mouth falling into an O in fright as he stammered, "Ch-Chaochao..."
Xu Chao snapped his fingers. "Great, one volunteer. Who else?"
The pink-haired boy nearly choked, looking ready to cry. "Behind you!"
Suddenly, a cold, oppressive presence swept over him.
It made one shudder, as though a wild beast had fixed its eyes on them.
A chill ran down Xu Chao's back. Just as he was about to turn, he felt a man's palm lightly grip the back of his neck. Cool, rough fingertips rubbed it intimately, stirring an unbearable tickle.
Then a low, husky, magnetic voice sounded softly.
"How would you like your husband to dote on you tonight?"
Before you continue