Chapter 0138

"The audience is willing to pay not because of our acting skills, but because it's satisfying and fun. For example, if I've already stolen your wife and you still swallow your pride like a coward, then what kind of protagonist are you? Sorry, that's just a metaphor—not targeting you."

"So, we need to amplify the satisfying moments. The characters' personalities should be exaggerated and unmistakable. The audience should instantly recognize what kind of person you are. In short, just go all out."

Lin Ran's words exploded like a bombshell in the villa.

Isn't the protagonist's restraint the usual approach? Why is the boss going against the norm?

Would anyone really watch such brainless, substance-lacking plots?

But hey, Lin Ran is the boss. If he says shoot it this way, then we shoot it this way. If the sky falls, he’ll be the one holding it up anyway.

So, the production team accepted Lin Ran's suggestion without hesitation.

But as filming progressed, they realized something was off.

The female lead had turned into a "slap warrior," taking down opponents with one slap—way too over-the-top.

The female antagonist might as well have "green tea bitch" written on her forehead—could she be any more obvious?

The male protagonist lashed out at everyone, leaving no room for the villains—where was the suspense?

Would anyone actually watch this?

What kind of ridiculous nonsense were they even filming?

Lin Ran, however, wasn’t worried.

Life is already bitter enough—why not add some sweetness?

In his past life, short dramas had their moment around this time, but no one expected them to dominate half the video revenue market in the future.

Those seemingly silly, nonsensical plots? Turns out, they were exactly what people loved most.

What does that prove? It proves no one wants to suffer even more in their entertainment, right?

Soon, the day’s filming wrapped up. As the crew was packing up, Luo Yao returned.

The villa doors swung open, and Luo Yao strode in dressed in her CEO attire. Everyone’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

They’d all suspected Lin Ran might be Luo Yao’s kept man, but seeing it confirmed in person still made their hearts skip a beat.

Luo Yao’s icy gaze swept across the room before she walked straight to Lin Ran and, without a care for the audience, raised her arms for a hug.

The blatantly affectionate gesture hit everyone like a truck—the younger staff members were force-fed premium-grade dog food on the spot.

Luo Yao’s message was simple: she wanted everyone to know this man was hers. Keep your eyes in check.

Lin Ran spun her around 360 degrees before setting her down.

"You’re back early?"

"Mhm. Missed you. Didn’t you tell me to come home sooner?"

Lin Ran noticed all the staff had suddenly found something very interesting on the floor to stare at.

Staff’s inner thoughts: This is too painful.

Your own misery is one thing, but witnessing someone else’s peak happiness is pure torture.

The men envied Lin Ran. The women envied Luo Yao.

Right then, Chen Qingtian sidled up to Luo Yao.

"Sis-in-law, your estate is insanely luxurious. How do you make so much money? Teach me! I wanna earn enough to keep a few eight-pack hunks for myself too."

The moment those words left her mouth, everyone’s jaws dropped again.

Chen Qingtian’s manager, a bespectacled moe girl named Pei Qianqian, sprinted over at record speed and clamped a hand over her mouth.

"Sis, you’re a top-tier celebrity! Do you have any idea what nonsense you’re spouting?!"

"I just wanna earn more—mmph?!"

Luo Yao shot Lin Ran a look that screamed, "See? These women are all playgirls."

Lin Ran could only laugh helplessly.

"Let her go. I guarantee nothing said here will leak."

After a brief hesitation, Pei Qianqian released Chen Qingtian, who gasped for air.

"Pei Qianqian, I swear I’ll fire you!"

The manager shrugged. "Whatever. Working for you is suffering anyway."

"You—!"

Lin Ran decided to leave Chen Qingtian to her drama. Taking Luo Yao’s hand, he headed upstairs, tossing over his shoulder,

"Alright, cousin, focus on becoming rich first. I’ve got a wife to attend to."

Chen Qingtian clutched her chest in mock devastation, muttering, "One day, I’ll have ten obedient toy boys, and I’ll—mmph?!"

Pei Qianqian’s hand was back in action.

Lin Ran’s parting words sent another shockwave through the room.

"What did the boss just call Chen Qingtian?"

"Pretty sure it was… ‘cousin’?"

Chen Qingtian is Lin Ran’s cousin?!

The revelation hit like an earthquake. Now it all made sense.

No wonder a superstar like Chen Qingtian was working at Nuan Yao Media. They were family.

"Wait, I just realized something—now I know why our company’s called Nuan Yao," a starry-eyed girl gushed, her envy palpable.

"Me too."

"So, the ‘Yao’ in Nuan Yao is Luo Yao’s ‘Yao’? The boss is seriously next-level. He’s so whipped for his wife."

"And Nuan Yao Real Estate must mean the same thing."

It was as if a veil had been lifted.

Luo Yao, halfway up the stairs, froze. Why had she never noticed this before?

Her world revolved entirely around Lin Ran—whether he was happy, whether he’d leave her. Everything else had blurred into the background.

Most girls would’ve caught onto this detail immediately.

A flutter of emotion—something like "heart palpitations"—stirred in Luo Yao’s chest.

Did those people just call her "the boss’s wife"?

She loved that title. Any label that tied her to Lin Ran was perfection.

"Ran… is the ‘Yao’ in Nuan Yao… me?"

"Of course it’s you. Was that even a question?"

Luo Yao’s lips curved upward—until another round of whispers drifted up from below.

"Hey, do you think the boss might just be putting on an act? Like, he’s only pretending to be devoted to Luo Yao to boost his career?"

"Damn… that’s possible!"

"The boss is too much. I’m crying. He’s sacrificing so much just to give us jobs?"

Luo Yao’s smile vanished. Her dagger-like gaze pinned Lin Ran in place, demanding an answer.

The temperature in the villa plummeted instantly.

"Babe, don’t listen to them. They’re talking nonsense."

"Are you pretending?" Luo Yao’s voice was devoid of warmth.

"Pretending to love you? If loving you is an act, then I’ll act for a lifetime."

Is Ran… saying sweet nothings to me?

Luo Yao’s anger dissolved. In fact, she was almost grateful to the gossipers.

Without their chatter, would she have gotten this confession?

Fine. They could live.

"Pfft—!" Wu Zhishang choked on his water.

"You lot! Stop yapping and pack up. No gossiping about the boss."

"Director Wu, we’re not gossiping behind their backs. We’re saying this right in front of you and Chairman Lin."

Recommend Series

After Hearing the Villain’s Inner Thoughts, the Female Lead’s Character Crumbled

After Hearing the Villain’s Inner Thoughts, the Female Lead’s Character Crumbled

m back to his original world. In the end, he realized he had overthought things. [Hey, why is Shen Manni, the female lead, acting strange? Shouldn't she be fawning over the male lead at this point?] [Zhou Qiaoqiao, are you sick? Weren't you supposed to break off your engagement today?] [Damn it! An Youyi, please do your job as an undercover agent and sell my information to the protagonist, you idiot!] ... At this moment, Xu Mo himself didn't know that these female leads had already heard his inner thoughts. Then they decided not to play by the rules. Xu Mo: Please respect my profession as the big villain!

Regretting After Being Forced into Marriage by a Yandere Tycoon

Regretting After Being Forced into Marriage by a Yandere Tycoon

ng to die together with you." Lin Xuan is dead, his body thrown into the river by his scumbag lover and her accomplice. She, the president of the Su Group, is decisive, ruthless, and ice-cold. For three days and three nights, she had his body fished out of the river, and without hesitation, she kissed the bloated corpse of Lin Xuan. She laid down beside him in a cold coffin, their fingers intertwined, a smile lingering on her lips as she closed her eyes. The noble and cold-hearted woman, only bending for one man—Lin Xuan. Lin Xuan, with his golden finger, is reborn and returns to the day of his wedding to the treacherous woman. Su Qiang comes to steal the bride. Lin Xuan's eyes light up, eager to pledge his loyalty on the spot, but instead, her kiss transfers a glass of drugged wine into his mouth, causing him to pass out... 【Male Protagonist with Single Female Lead】【Yandere Tycoon】【Action-Packed】【True vs. Fake Heir】

Rebirth into Auntie’s Shared Apartment, the System Insists It’s the Joyous Sect

Rebirth into Auntie’s Shared Apartment, the System Insists It’s the Joyous Sect

iving with nine beautiful women. [Ding! Welcome back to the Joyous Sect, Host…] Lin Yu: ??? I’m clearly in a shared rental, but you’re saying I’m in the Joyous Sect? Watering plants is now [Tending to Spiritual Flora]? Cooking becomes [Researching Elixirs]? Making the bed turns into [Setting Up Formations]? A gentle and innocent auntie, twin classmates, a mysterious hacker girl on leave, a severely socially anxious artist, an elementary school Chinese teacher, a community hospital nurse, a pet shop owner, an antique clock restorer… This system… is kinda interesting.

My Power Relies on the Imagination of My Enemies

My Power Relies on the Imagination of My Enemies

lities. One day, Qi Yuan was buying groceries when he unfortunately came face-to-face with a monster. Just when he thought he was going to die on the spot, he suddenly heard the monster's thoughts... "This aura, he's definitely not an ordinary master!" "So terrifying, so terrifying." "A fight with my back against the wall, I can't take it anymore." Qi Yuan: Ah, no one told me that my awakened ability isn't telepathy, but rather the stronger my enemies imagine me to be, the stronger I truly become. PS: Zhou Hai in the first chapter is not the protagonist.