Lily Yu completely understood why Chloe Lin was anxious. After all, her past reputation… well, calling it "terrible" would be generous. As a third-tier actress in her last crew, she had:
beaten up the female lead,
thrown tantrums every other day,
and arrived late so often people joked she ran on "Yu Standard Time."
By the time the internet finished scolding her, the only reason she still had fans was because they hadn't realized the unfollow button was free.
If she joined another production now, all the progress she'd made on the survival show would instantly burn to ash.
But Lily was calm.
"If you find a suitable script, let me see it first. Don't make decisions alone," she told Chloe gently.
She might be a reborn villainess, but she wasn't stupid. After divorcing Jason Cross in the original timeline, she had planned to reinvent herself… but the divorce wasn't happening anymore. Which meant she didn't have a year to slowly "wash white." A good drama took at least six months to film.
She needed something now.
But then—
[System: Ding—Warning! Warning! Host must follow the character's personality. A vicious supporting actress does not prioritize work.]
"Oh, shut up!" Lily snapped mentally. "Explain to me why Jason suddenly changed his mind about the divorce. There HAS to be something wrong with you!"
[System: Inspection in progress. Please be patient, host.]
"You're wasting my time! How can I be patient?!"
[…]
Chloe flipped through Weibo to distract herself. "By the way, I heard Molly got a role in Director Jacob Zhao's new film. That's amazing. If everything goes smoothly, she'll probably win an award. Her career will shoot up fast."
Lily paused mid-sip.
"Hm? What film?"
"Years."
Lily set the cup down with a slow, wicked smile.
Since this vicious supporting actress wasn't supposed to care about her own work… then she might as well do what a villainess should do—
Steal her little sister's role.
"I want to audition."
"PFFFFFFT—COUGH COUGH COUGH!"
Chloe practically sprayed water everywhere.
"You— what— Lily, are you serious?! That role is already rumored to be Molly's! There's no way Director Zhao will pick you! With your reputation— absolutely not!"
"Oh, come on." Lily waved a hand, bored. "You said it yourself—rumors aren't announcements. Fight for it."
Even if it was official?
Lily had ways to make the official change unofficial.
The great villainess was confident.
Chloe wilted. "…I'll try."
For the next few days, no news arrived. Lily didn't seem impatient at all; instead, she spent her time helping choose gifts for Grandpa Henry's 70th birthday.
Jason returned home one evening to find her squatting in front of the safe, rummaging loudly.
He planned to ignore her, but then—
"Hmm… this blue-and-white porcelain vase looks pricey. But if I give it to that old man, he'll hand it straight to Molly. Not giving it."
Jason froze.
"A red jade Buddha? …Same value as the vase. Also not giving."
His eye twitched.
"Oho! A jade Bodhisattva statue… too expensive. Definitely not giving."
Jason stood at the door, staring at Lily like she had grown three heads. When exactly had this woman become so miserly?
"Sigh… rich men are so stingy. Won't give away a single expensive thing."
Jason: "…"
Stingy? HIM?
She turned and flashed a bright smile. "Oh! You're back, darling~"
Jason snorted—hypocrite—and looked away.
"What are you doing?" he asked coldly.
Lily skipped over and hooked her arm around his. "Grandpa Henry turns seventy tomorrow. Can you come with me?"
Jason nodded.
Of course he'd go to the Yu family's banquet.
The voice in his head snorted:
"Hmph, I knew it. You just want to see your white moonlight."
Jason's expression darkened instantly.
"What gift should we prepare?" Lily asked sweetly, tugging his arm.
"I have a porcelain vase in the study safe," he said casually, pulling his arm away.
Inside his head—
"HA! Giving valuable things away before the divorce, huh? Transferring assets to your white moonlight?"
Crack.
Jason squeezed the wheelchair handle so hard it broke.
The next morning, Lily was awakened by her stepmother, Julia Fang, calling nonstop to remind her to arrive early. She mumbled agreement and got ready.
Just as she picked up her purse—
[System: Ding—Inspection complete! All functions restored.]
Thud.
Lily collapsed back into bed and went straight to sleep.
Downstairs, Jason was fully dressed, checking the clock. His eyes chilled.
When Lily finally came down the stairs two hours later, yawning like she had slept for ten years, she chirped, "Good morning, hubby~"
Before she could sit at the table, Jason ordered someone to drag her to the car.
"Hey—hey! What are you doing?!"
"What a rude male lead," the voice in his head scoffed. "No manners at all. He'll be single forever at this rate."
Jason's grip tightened.
"Madam," he said through gritted teeth, "we are. Already. Late."
"…Oh."
"AHHH the male lead is terrifying today! Is he going to stab me?!"
Jason closed his eyes. "Drive."
When they arrived at the Yu family mansion, the atmosphere instantly tightened.
Grandpa Henry sat at the head of the room, face dark as thunder.
"Well! Miss Lily finally found time to celebrate my 70th birthday!"
Lily looked around. Her father George Yu, stepmother Julia Fang, and Molly Yu were already seated.
"Dad, the traffic was bad," Julia Fang said quickly, signaling Lily to apologize.
"Traffic jam? You dare use such childish excuses?" Grandpa slapped the table. "The Yu family has truly fallen if even the daughter-in-law can't teach her child manners!"
"Dad, you're being unreasonable," George protested. "A-Li shouldn't be late, but she's still young—"
"You idiot!" Grandpa slammed the table again. His chest heaved with fury.
"Grandpa, please don't be angry." Molly stepped forward gently. "Maybe Jason had work and they got delayed."
At once, Grandpa Henry's temper evaporated.
"Molly is always sensible," he sniffed. "Much better than you useless ones."
Lily almost laughed.
Molly really was Grandpa's favorite puppet.
"Grandpa," Lily said calmly.
[System: Host! Reminder—vicious supporting actresses don't reflect on their mistakes.]
Lily sighed mentally.
Of course the system would block her from apologizing.
Vicious supporting actresses had to stay villainous… at least in public.