Yan Ning's character setting sowhat overlaps with Gu Nanyan's—both are stunning, dominant female leads.
Yan Ning has fought her way through the entertainnt industry for ten years to earn her current status, where everyone respectfully calls her "Sister Ning."
anwhile, Gu Nanyan, who has only appeared in two variety shows, is already being hailed as the "Queen of Smoke."
Yan Ning clenched her fists, her expression filled with resentnt.
Seeing Yan Ning's dark expression, her agent tried to comfort her: "Don’t worry. For now, Gu Nanyan isn’t on your level yet."
"Don’t be too optimistic," Yan Ning replied coolly. "She’s younger, prettier, and more popular than . On top of that, she’s backed by the Zhan Family. It’s only a matter of ti before she surpasses .
The only question is when she’ll land a breakout role.
Once she stars in a hit, she’ll be the undisputed top star."
"Sister Ning, don’t overthink it. A hit drama isn’t that easy to co by," her agent reassured her. "Your status was earned through real hard work. Even if her popularity seems higher now, your fanbase is massive and fiercely loyal.
Gu Nanyan’s fans might vanish overnight.
The traffic-driven path looks glamorous—like a blaze of glory—but the higher you climb, the harder you fall.
In recent years, plenty of variety show stars have skyrocketed to fa only to fade just as quickly. Without solid works, you can’t last in this industry."
That much was true. Yan Ning nodded in agreent.
Still, she frowned. Even if Gu Nanyan’s fa proved fleeting, her current popularity ant she could snatch away so of Yan Ning’s resources.
Like those two endorsents.
Yan Ning bit her lip and scanned the list again, noticing that many renowned directors had offered Gu Nanyan supporting roles—roles that could showcase her talent under their guidance.
She couldn’t give Gu Nanyan that opportunity.
With that in mind, Yan Ning turned to her agent. "Find a way to reach out to these production teams. Secure these roles for , even if I have to lower my status or cut my pay.
If any of them don’t suit , recomnd soone else.
Just make sure Gu Nanyan doesn’t get them."
Her agent nodded.
"One more thing," Yan Ning added. "Gu Nanyan just blew up, so her agent will definitely push her to take on tons of endorsents and comrcial events.
I bet she’ll accept every single offer that cos her way.
But resources in this industry are limited. If she hoards so much for herself, others will resent her.
Spread the word quietly—say she’s greedy. Rally a few allies to take her down together."
Yan Ning’s agent acted swiftly. Soon, the full extent of Gu Nanyan’s resources was exposed.
Rising starlet Tian Yunyun was furious—many of these deals were ones she’d been eyeing, especially that costics endorsent. She was in talks for it, so how did it end up with Gu Nanyan?
"Hey, keep it down! We’re on set—soone might hear you!" Her agent glanced around nervously before relaxing when he confird no one was nearby.
He tried to console Tian Yunyun. "Don’t worry. Gu Nanyan’s been offered dozens of comrcial deals. She can’t possibly take them all. She might not even accept this costics endorsent."
"Are you delusional?" Tian Yunyun scoffed. "Endorsents don’t take up ti like filming does. Now that she’s hot, she’ll grab every single one.
Who in their right mind would turn down money?
This is how we artists make a living!"
Her agent fell silent.
If he were in Gu Nanyan’s shoes, he’d accept every deal too.
Comrcial gigs were easy money—shooting ads, attending banquets, making appearances. Who’d say no?
Gu Nanyan’s sudden rise had snatched up half the industry’s resources. Top scripts were offered to her first, leaving scraps for others.
Everyone was seething, waiting to see how much she could swallow and which project she’d finally commit to.
Then, news broke.
Gu Nanyan hadn’t accepted a single comrcial deal!
The entire entertainnt industry was stunned.
What the hell? Had Gu Nanyan lost her mind? Turning down endorsents and comrcial gigs?
Yan Ning was just as shocked. She shot up from her chair and ordered her agent to investigate.
The agent soon reported back: "Sister Li’s lips are sealed, but her staff let slip that Gu Nanyan thinks these endorsents are exaggerated and dishonest."
Yan Ning sneered. "How amusing. A saint has descended upon our industry!"
Her agent was equally baffled. "She really rejected everything—endorsents, comrcial invites, even big-budget scripts. She picked so obscure little project instead. I can’t figure out what she’s playing at."
Yan Ning’s tone dripped with sarcasm. "What else? Image-building! I thought she was going for the dominant female lead persona, but no—she’s aiming for the ‘positive energy’ archetype."
She spat in disgust. "If she’s such a do-gooder, why not go into charity work? Or research? Or beco a civil servant and serve the people? Why join the entertainnt industry? We’re here to make money.
I can’t stand hypocrites like her—playing the saint while chasing fa."
She turned to her agent, confident. "Just watch. She won’t keep up this act for long. She’s setting herself up for high-end endorsents and luxury deals later.
Her ambitions are huge."
Her agent nodded. "Ambition isn’t bad. But if it’s too big, it’ll backfire."
In the entertainnt world, many stars craft personas, but most keep it realistic—cute, foodie, etc. Few dare to aim this high.
In the past, so tried the "old-school intellectual" or "genius scholar" angles, only to crash and burn when their lies were exposed.
Nowadays, hardly anyone touches these lofty personas—they’re ticking ti bombs.
Yet Gu Nanyan had the audacity to go for "positive energy" and "not in it for the money."
This kind of image is the easiest to shatter. The mont she takes a paid deal, the backlash will be brutal.
"No need to keep tabs on Gu Nanyan anymore," Yan Ning said dismissively. "Big ambitions, short-sighted vision. She won’t last."
She’d once seen Gu Nanyan as a formidable rival, but now? Just another pretentious, third-rate fraud.
The only reason she’d risen so fast was her marriage into the Zhan Family. Strip away the glamour, and she’s still a nobody.
Yan Ning wasn’t alone in this assessnt. After Gu Nanyan’s move, the entire industry doubted her future.
No one believed she was truly noble, selfless, or indifferent to money.
They were all convinced it was an act.
And with a facade this flimsy, the truth would co out sooner or later.
A character built on positivity, indifference to fa and wealth, and selflessness is the most prone to collapse.
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