THD chapter 5
Adding 100 beauty points to an ugly person wouldn't make much difference.
But adding 100 beauty points to a beautiful person?
The effect was immediate.
Miao Shuangshuang cupped her face, unable to believe what she was seeing.
In the span of a single night's sleep, her appearance seemed completely different.
She had always been pretty. In a small town, she could easily stand out from the crowd. But later, after moving to bigger cities—especially after entering the entertainment industry—she gradually lost that confidence.
Yet this morning, the moment she glanced at herself in the mirror, even she was stunned by her own beauty.
After a brief moment of shock, Miao Shuangshuang immediately began wiping the mirror.
Could there be something wrong with it? Was she seeing things?
Clearly not.
Because Ye Shiying was equally stunned.
She had always been proud of giving birth to such a beautiful daughter, but she had never imagined her daughter could become this beautiful.
Had her skin become fairer?
Had her eyes become brighter?
Her features hadn't changed at all. She was still the same daughter.
So how had she suddenly become so beautiful?
Caught off guard by this unbelievable transformation, mother and daughter forgot everything else and simply stared at each other.
It wasn't until the unmistakable smell of something burning drifted through the air that Ye Shiying suddenly came to her senses.
Oh no!
Her breakfast!
---
Once she was awake, there was no chance of falling back asleep.
Still annoyed, Ye Xiqing climbed down from the kang and began exploring this new world.
When she reached the main room, breakfast had already been served.
Miao Shuangshuang sat at the table, deliberately avoiding her chopsticks.
The moment she saw Ye Xiqing, she immediately coughed, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and casually hummed a tune as though she had no idea what she was doing.
If Ye Xiqing couldn't see through such obvious intentions, it would be a waste of her eight hundred reactions per second.
Without hesitation, she took a dramatic step back and exclaimed in an exaggerated tone,
“Wow, Shuangshuang! What's going on? You look so beautiful today! Did you put on makeup?”
Her acting was terrible.
Her sincerity was nonexistent.
But Miao Shuangshuang was so overwhelmed by the joy of becoming prettier that she didn't notice at all.
Covering her mouth, she giggled.
“Oh, Sister Qingqing, what are you talking about? I only washed my face!”
“Really? Then you're even prettier than someone wearing makeup!”
“Oh, stop it. I'm just average. I can't compare to you, Sister Qingqing.”
“Don't say things like that. People will laugh at me if they hear you.”
“Oh, Sister Qingqing, you're too funny!”
...
After all, Miao Shuangshuang and Ye Xiqing were cousins living under the same roof.
Aside from their childhood years, when they openly disliked one another, they generally maintained a surface-level harmony as adults.
Miao Shuangshuang ate her breakfast with unusual satisfaction.
In the past, she had always looked down on Ye Xiqing.
But because of her sudden increase in beauty, she now felt a sense of superiority.
People were strange.
When she had constantly compared herself to Ye Xiqing, she felt as though she harbored a deep resentment toward her cousin.
Yet now that she finally believed she had surpassed Ye Xiqing in one area, that resentment seemed to fade away.
So after breakfast, while the two girls cleared the dishes together, Miao Shuangshuang unexpectedly started a conversation.
“Sister Qingqing, should I help you dress up? You'd definitely look beautiful too!”
Life in the rural countryside of the 1990s was inconvenient.
There was no running water, and even washing dishes was a chore.
Ye Xiqing had touched the dishwater once and immediately decided she never wanted to do it again.
Miao Shuangshuang's intentions were obvious.
She couldn't stop thinking about beauty and wanted nothing more than to hear Ye Xiqing praise her again.
Ye Xiqing was already tired of complimenting her.
Instead of responding, she changed the subject.
“I don't need to. No matter how I dress up, I'll still look the same.”
She paused before adding,
“But you're so beautiful, Shuangshuang. Have you ever thought about becoming a big star?”
Miao Shuangshuang froze.
A star?
Ever since waking up to her transformed appearance, she had been too busy enjoying her newfound beauty to consider the opportunities it might bring.
After all, she had already mapped out her future after being reborn.
Yet Ye Xiqing's words suddenly struck a forgotten corner of her heart.
Memories from her previous life—her abandoned dream of becoming a celebrity—slowly resurfaced.
The Lu Jing'an Miao Shuangshuang knew was not the complete Lu Jing'an.
Likewise, the Miao Shuangshuang the system knew was not the complete Miao Shuangshuang.
People often said her brief attempt to enter the entertainment industry was merely the reckless whim of a wealthy socialite with too much money to spend.
But that wasn't entirely true.
At the beginning, she had genuinely been passionate about it.
She had been vain since childhood.
She enjoyed attention.
She enjoyed praise.
She loved being the center of attention.
So when she first learned about the glamorous world of celebrities, her eyes had sparkled with envy.
She dreamed every day of living that kind of life.
And when an opportunity finally presented itself, she naturally seized it without hesitation.
Yet too much time had passed.
So much time that she had forgotten.
Her remaining memories seemed filled only with years of entanglement, arguments, and emotional tug-of-war with Lu Jing'an.
Why hadn't she cherished that opportunity?
Why had she given up?
Ye Xiqing's words instantly shattered Miao Shuangshuang's happiness.
After a long silence, she finally found an excuse to convince herself. Looking at Ye Xiqing with disdain, she said,
“You think being a celebrity is just about having a pretty face? There's a lot more to it than that!”
“Our family is dirt poor. We don't even know which direction a theater faces. How could we possibly become stars?”
Besides, why would she want to become a star?
She was destined to become the wife of the future richest man!
Even if being a celebrity was glamorous, could it compare to becoming a billionaire's wife?
How naïve.
“Oh.”
Ye Xiqing nodded.
“I was just about to tell you something. My mom called earlier and said a film crew is currently staying at the hotel where she works.”
“I was wondering if you'd like to try your luck. Maybe someone will notice you.”
“Really?”
Ye Xiqing's mother—Miao Shuangshuang's aunt—had left home to work after giving birth to Ye Xiqing and was now employed as a receptionist at a hotel in the capital.
If she said a film crew was staying there, then it was probably true.
Normally, Miao Shuangshuang wouldn't have been so easily swayed.
No matter how confident she was, she wasn't narcissistic enough to believe a talent scout would discover her simply because a hotel receptionist introduced her.
But after this morning's miraculous beauty upgrade, a spark had been lit in her heart.
What if...
What if she really gave it a try?
As Miao Shuangshuang wrestled with her thoughts, Ye Xiqing nodded seriously.
“Of course it's true.”
“But then again, aren't you getting married soon?”
“If you marry Gu Pengfei, then I guess you can't go.”
“Why not?!”
The person who answered wasn't Miao Shuangshuang.
It was Ye Shiying.
Back when Miao Shuangshuang had talked about singing, acting, and becoming a celebrity, Ye Shiying had dismissed it as nonsense.
But compared to marrying Gu Pengfei?
She'd rather her daughter chase that nonsense!
Without another word, she dug fifty cents out of her pocket, dragged Ye Xiqing outside, and rushed to the village convenience store.
Back then, it was the only place in the village with a telephone.
Anyone who wanted to contact someone in another city had to come here.
After confirming everything with her younger sister over the phone, Ye Shiying was practically moved to tears.
“Then I'll send Shuangshuang to your place!”
On the other end of the line, Ye Shimei fell silent.
She had only casually mentioned the film crew to her daughter.
She had never imagined it would trigger such a chain reaction.
After years of drifting from job to job, she had finally found stable work and wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble.
But this wasn't just anyone.
This was her older sister.
The person she owed most in her life.
No matter what, she couldn't refuse.
After making up her mind, Ye Shimei covered the receiver and lowered her voice.
“Then send Shuangshuang over as soon as possible.”
“I don't know how long the crew will stay.”
Receiving confirmation, Ye Shiying was overjoyed.
She immediately dragged Ye Xiqing home, stuffed all her savings into Miao Shuangshuang's hands, and uttered only two words.
“Go. Now.”
Miao Shuangshuang: ...
What are you doing?
What exactly are you doing?!
Did anyone ask for my opinion?!
Everything had happened too quickly.
So quickly that even her experience of being reborn couldn't prepare her for it.
Should she become the future richest man's wife?
Or become a future superstar?
Miao Shuangshuang stuffed the money into her pocket and ran off without hesitation.
Was that even a question?
Going to the capital wouldn't delay anything.
After returning, she could still marry the future richest man.
So why not give it a shot?
As the most notorious villainess in the entire novel, Miao Shuangshuang's greatest strengths were her opportunism, adaptability, and willingness to switch sides whenever circumstances changed.
At the slightest scent of a better opportunity, she'd run faster than a rabbit.
Only after her retreating figure disappeared into the distance did the system finally find its voice.
“Host... what exactly are you doing...?”
While supporting Ye Shiying's arm and watching Miao Shuangshuang leave, Ye Xiqing replied calmly,
“Can't you tell?”
“I'm giving a small cheat code to someone who's currently doing side quests.”
“With Miao Shuangshuang's personality, if she ever becomes successful, it'll be impossible for her not to come home and show off.”
“Since I'm living in her house right now, won't I benefit too?”
“Then why didn't you use the Beauty Pill on yourself and become a star?!”
the system exploded.
“You could've become famous yourself!”
“I can't act.”
“Then use your beauty to attract Lu Jing'an!”
“Not just Lu Jing'an. Everyone would fall for you!”
“I don't want to say anything rude.”
“Anyway, no matter who gets that Beauty Pill, it shouldn't be Miao Shuangshuang!”
“Why?”
The system felt itself nearing a complete breakdown.
Why?!
Did she seriously need to ask?!
“Miao Shuangshuang is a vicious supporting character!”
“She has always wanted to harm you!”
“What kind of protagonist gives cheat codes to the villain?”
“The saintly heroine archetype isn't popular anymore!”
For the first time, Ye Xiqing turned around and looked at the system seriously.
“Really?”
“In her first life, she married Lu Jing'an to provoke me.”
“Then Lu Jing'an went bankrupt.”
“In her second life, she married Gu Pengfei.”
“Now Gu Pengfei is finished too.”
“I haven't done a single thing in either lifetime.”
“She gets so angry all by herself that she practically coughs up blood.”
“I've wanted to ask you this for a while.”
“What exactly makes this vicious supporting character so vicious?”
System: ...
Oh no.
That actually sounds reasonable.
Miao Shuangshuang was indeed one of the most memorable villainesses in the entire story.
But when you really thought about it...
She hadn't actually done anything terrifying.
After all, she belonged to the category of villains whose stupidity existed solely to make the heroine look smarter.
And idiots rarely managed to become truly dangerous.
Still...
Something felt wrong.
“Even if she hasn't done much yet, things are different now!”
the system argued desperately.
“She has the Beauty Pill you gave her!”
“What if she really becomes successful?”
“What if she uses your cheat code to build an incredible career?”
“Won't the audience think you're inferior to her?”
“You're the heroine!”
“Aren't you afraid of being overshadowed by a supporting character?”
“So what?”
Ye Xiqing replied immediately.
“Hasn't the male lead been overshadowing me for years?”
The system froze.
“Huh?”
“Who?”
Ye Xiqing answered matter-of-factly.
“I'm an illegitimate daughter.”
“My family is dirt poor.”
“Lu Jing'an is a wealthy young master surrounded by admirers.”
“He's been ahead of me for years.”
“You never complained about that.”
“Miao Shuangshuang hasn't even surpassed him yet, so why are you panicking?”
System: ...
“How is that the same?!”
“Lu Jing'an is the male lead!”
“You're the female lead!”
“Why are you comparing yourself to the male lead?!”
Ye Xiqing completely ignored the objection.
“Of course I should compare myself to him.”
“As the heroine of a wish-fulfillment novel, why am I not the one having the most fun?”
“And besides...”
“If I acknowledge him, then he's the male lead.”
“If I don't, then he isn't.”
The system nearly crashed on the spot.
Ye Xiqing continued,
“You're a strange system.”
“You keep trying to convince me to help Lu Jing'an, a man who has absolutely nothing to do with me.”
“But at the same time, you're always encouraging me to stomp my cousin into the ground.”
“So tell me.”
“In a society built on connections and relationships, what's the downside of having a relative who might become a big star?”
System: ...
Nonsense.
Utter nonsense.
A complete pile of twisted logic.
Just because a speech is long doesn't mean it's correct!
When people fundamentally disagree, even ten thousand words won't settle the argument.
It took the system a long time to calm down.
Finally, suppressing its frustration, it asked,
“Fine.”
“Then how does the host plan to build this great career of yours and become the most exciting protagonist?”
Ye Xiqing slowly turned around.
Her gaze settled on the system.
For once, her expression was completely sincere.
“Through you.”
“Heh... through me...”
The system paused.
Wait.
Through who?
Comments
Post a Comment