CHAPTER 53 – The Original Male Lead Arrives
The next morning, Gu Yanzhou stepped out of the safehouse to conduct a brief, highly encrypted meeting with his security detail regarding the disposal of Zhou Meilin's influence.
Xiao Xi, alone for the first time, sat on the couch, aimlessly flipping channels on the television (which he had allowed to be connected to a temporary satellite dish).
A breaking news headline stopped her cold, freezing her hand over the remote.
[Breaking: Rising New Actor Shen Yichen Joins Hit Reality Show 'Star Journey']
Shen Yichen.
Her heart dropped into her stomach.
The name resonated with devastating narrative weight.
He was the original male lead of the novel—the charismatic, talented star the world was meant to worship.
The one the story favored.
Her System buzzed urgently, the blue glow turning electric and warning:
[Story protagonist detected. Original Male Lead: Shen Yichen.]
[Fate pressure increasing. Narrative attempting self-correction.]
[Warning: Shen Yichen's presence threatens timeline stability.]
Xiao Xi's pulse quickened to a frantic pace. "Why is he here? I thought we shut the story down!"
[Because the core narrative demands balance. His destiny remains unfilled.]
Her hands grew cold.
She had taken the role of a cannon fodder and, through defiance and Gu Yanzhou's help, turned into a central figure.
She had stolen luck, stolen attention, and stolen fate.
Now the world was trying to correct the anomaly by deploying the original star.
The news anchor continued: "He will be appearing on the same reality show as the now-infamous rising new actress…"
Xiao Xi froze, her worst fear realized.
"…Xiao Xi."
Her stomach twisted with dread.
Gu Yanzhou entered the room moments later, his expression alert and concerned.
She whispered, holding up the remote like a shield.
"Yanzhou… the original male lead is coming. To the set.
To me."
And just like that—the fragile peace they had built shattered.
The game was escalating from a corporate war to a battle against destiny itself.