Chapter 1 - The Movie Queen's Sudden Death and Rebirth as a Foil Character

The dazzling stage lights, like scattered stars, fell on the slender figure slowly walking toward the award podium. All eyes—from the audience and media below—were fixed on her. Su Qingyan wore a magnificent evening gown, its train flowing like a galaxy. Her features were delicate, and her eyes sparkled with confidence. In her hand, she tightly gripped the Best Actress trophy, the highest honor in the film industry. A faint, gratified smile lifted the corners of her lips.But just as she was about to speak for her acceptance speech, a sudden dizziness hit her. The world seemed to spin wildly, flipping upside down. Su Qingyan's vision went black. The trophy slipped from her hand, crashing onto the stage with a sharp, clattering sound. Her body collapsed forward uncontrollably, and her consciousness faded away instantly.When Su Qingyan regained consciousness, the first thing she saw was an extremely luxurious ceiling. An exquisite crystal chandelier cast a soft, hazy glow. She tried to sit up, only to find herself lying on a strange, cloud-like soft king-sized bed. Glancing around, she noticed the room was decorated in opulence—expensive carpets, vintage furniture—all testifying to the owner's wealth and status.Confused, Su Qingyan got up. Her legs felt weak as she staggered toward a nearby mirror. The moment she saw the face in the mirror, she froze, as if struck by lightning. The reflection was entirely unfamiliar: delicate features with a hint of strange sweetness, nothing like her original appearance."What... what's going on here?" Her voice trembled, filled with uncontrollable fear and panic. She reached out, touching her face repeatedly, as if trying to confirm this was just an absurd nightmare.Amidst the shock and confusion, a flood of foreign memories surged into her mind, overwhelming her consciousness. The original owner was also named Su Qingyan—a "foil character" (a minor role used to highlight others) in a CEO novel, bound to Gu Yanchen, a top-tier movie star, by a three-year contractual marriage. Obsessed with Gu Yanchen, the original Su had done countless ridiculous things to gain his attention: she ruined many of his critical career opportunities, dragged herself into a terrible public image, and was now hated by netizens across the internet. As for Gu Yanchen, he loathed her intensely—mentioning her name alone would fill his eyes with cold disdain."How could this happen..." Su Qingyan collapsed onto the edge of the bed, hugging her head, drowning in despair and helplessness. She had just reached the peak of her life, winning the Best Actress award—yet she'd encountered such a bizarre fate, reborn as a universally scorned foil character.But Su Qingyan was not the original owner. She forced herself to calm down quickly. Years of struggling in the entertainment industry had forged her resilience, and she immediately began thinking of a way out. She knew wallowing in shock and helplessness was useless; the top priority was to turn this terrible situation around.Closing her eyes, Su Qingyan sorted through the original owner's memories again, searching for a glimmer of hope. She realized that despite the original Su's infamy, she still had the contractual marriage to Gu Yanchen. Even though Gu Yanchen hated her, they maintained the pretense of being a couple in public."Maybe this is my way to turn things around," Su Qingyan murmured, her eyes growing firm. She knew that to gain a foothold in this strange world, she first had to shed the original owner's "obsessed" persona and change the public's perception of her. And it all had to start with her relationship with Gu Yanchen.Su Qingyan got up, walked to the desk, and turned on the computer. She searched for news about herself and Gu Yanchen. Frowning tightly, she stared at the overwhelming negative reports. Online comments were unanimously critical: she was called a "vase" clinging to Gu Yanchen, a scheming woman who would do anything to get ahead."Changing the public's mind won't be easy," Su Qingyan bit her lip, making a silent resolution. No matter how difficult the road ahead, she would do her best to try.She understood that in the fiercely competitive entertainment industry, a comeback required solid talent and impressive work. While the original owner's mess had left her in a tight spot, she believed her acting skills and experience from her previous life would help her find a chance to prove herself.Su Qingyan began researching the entertainment industry online: current trends, popular variety shows, and film/TV projects. She carefully analyzed every possible opportunity, hoping to find a breakthrough to make herself known.But reality was harsher than she imagined. Because of the original owner's past misdeeds, almost all high-quality resources were closed to her. Directors and producers who might have collaborated with her shook their heads and refused as soon as they heard her name."Is there really no way out?" Su Qingyan sat in front of the computer, staring at her empty inbox, a wave of despair washing over her. But she quickly pulled herself together, cheering herself on: "No, there must be a chance. I can't give up like this."Just as Su Qingyan was stuck, struggling to find a solution, she stumbled upon a casting announcement for a highly anticipated acting competition variety show. Known for its strict format and professional judges, the show had made many unknown actors overnight stars with their outstanding performances."Maybe this is my chance," a glimmer of hope appeared in Su Qingyan's eyes. She knew this show was a lifeline for her now. If she could showcase her skills here, she might break the public's stereotypes and win their recognition again.Yet joining the show was no easy task. Countless actors had signed up, and the competition was fierce. The production team also had strict standards for selecting contestants. Su Qingyan knew she had to prepare thoroughly to stand out among the competitors.She spent day and night preparing her audition pieces: studying classic film/TV clips repeatedly, refining her acting skills. She strived for perfection in every expression and every movement. At the same time, she kept an eye on the latest entertainment trends, understanding the audience's preferences and aesthetic tastes to better cater to the market.Days passed, and Su Qingyan's preparations progressed steadily. But just as she was about to submit her application with high hopes, she received a rejection notice from the production team."Why? Why is this happening?" Su Qingyan stared at the rejection email on her screen, filled with unwillingness and anger. She couldn't understand why, despite her hard work, she still couldn't get a single chance.After some investigation, Su Qingyan discovered the truth: the original owner had offended a powerful figure in the entertainment industry. This big shot had secretly pressured the production team, stripping her of even the right to audition."Dammit!" Su Qingyan clenched her fists, anger burning in her chest. She hadn't expected the original owner's mess to be this troublesome—every step she took was filled with obstacles.But Su Qingyan didn't let this discourage her. She knew that in this cutthroat entertainment industry, complaints and anger were useless. Only with her own strength and wisdom could she carve a path forward."If they won't give me a chance, I'll create one for myself," Su Qingyan said through gritted teeth, her eyes shining with determination. She decided that no matter what, she would find a way to appear in the public eye and prove her abilities.Faced with these heavy difficulties, Su Qingyan fell into deep thought. She knew that to break the deadlock, she had to find an alternative approach. But the entertainment industry was a web of complicated relationships—where should she start? Could she find a way to change people's opinions of her and rise again in this industry? Everything remained unknown...