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."