TFRLTOP Chapter 1 Part 4

In the original story, Huo Xiao takes care of Ye Weiran’s adoptive mother’s surgery costs and proposes to be her sugar daddy. He brings her to several high-society events, and soon everyone knows that the cold, aloof Fifth Master Huo has a woman now.

During this period, Chu Yun spreads rumors in school that Ye Weiran is being kept, frames her several times, and even offers herself to Huo Xiao—all of which only serve to make him protect Ye Weiran more, slapping the villains’ faces and reinforcing his role as her knight in shining armor.

Eventually, Ye Weiran becomes a well-known figure in upper society, revered as the woman Fifth Master Huo treasures most.

So far, it’s still shaping up to be a “true love from sugar daddy” type of story.

Later, the Ye family from South City discovers Ye Weiran is their long-lost daughter. She instantly transforms into a wealthy heiress, stomping the now bitter and humiliated Chu Yun into the dirt. And Huo Xiao and Ye Weiran become a perfect, well-matched couple, like a fairy tale.

Though a lot of it stretches believability, Ming Ming’s mission here is simple: act as the stepping stone for the main couple, get slapped around, and make the male lead’s love for the female lead look even stronger.

Now that this incident was resolved, they went their separate ways. Ming Ming didn’t know whether Fifth Master Huo would cover the surgery costs or not—either way, it wasn’t something an “evil side character” like her had the right to worry about.

The system, worried about its evaluation score, busied itself for a long time, then didn’t talk to her for several days.

It was currently summer break. Ming Ming, after getting used to this new timeline and some firsthand experience, knew that Chu Yun was still in college, about to start her senior year.

She’d been bummed around for a few days, fielding multiple phone calls asking why she suddenly skipped work, ignored a bunch of spam calls, and still felt like none of this was real.

Especially since the system was silent again—it made the whole “transmigrated into another world” thing feel even more surreal.

And not just any role—she had to play the abused and bitter, evil side character.

Even in death, she had to keep grinding part-time jobs.

Can’t there be one world where I’m the rich one?

Screw it. I’m done. I’m lying flat.

I want comfort and luxury!

She checked Chu Yun’s bank card, stared at the numbers for a while, and finally called one of the people who’d asked why she didn’t show up for work.

“Get lost! You think you can just not show up without a word? What kind of college student are you? What? You still want your wages? Call the cops if you want—I’m not giving you a dime!”

She didn’t give up and tried a few more numbers…

Yep. All she got were verbal beatdowns.

One boss even shouted, “You want money but don’t want to work—why don’t you go sell yourself instead?”

“Screw you, old man! You sound way too experienced—what lounge do you work at, huh? Want me to send some of my bros over to keep you company?” she snapped and hung up furiously.

She was livid.

Ming Ming flopped onto the bed, arms spread wide, and started thinking seriously—How do I survive?

Thankfully, Chu Yun was a local here in S City, and her university was also in S City. That at least saved her on travel expenses. She had just enough on the card to afford food, but if she had to pay tuition… nope. Not enough.

S City, she mused bitterly, was a fictional one—but it looked just like the real world.

After the semester started, she wouldn’t make as much as she could during summer or winter break, but with hard work, she could probably still get by. She could apply for student loans and work toward a scholarship to ease the burden.

But what she didn’t know was—in this world, scholarships were reserved for protagonists like Ye Weiran. A side character with a bad reputation like her? Not a chance.

Ming Ming didn’t fully understand Chu Yun’s mindset. Sure, leeching off some old man might make things easier financially, but…

She imagined Mr. Zhang’s greasy face.

No thanks.

Some money just isn’t worth it.

She got up to go buy groceries and daily necessities. After she’d eaten well, she could sit down and really plan out her future as “Chu Yun.” Despite her empty pockets, she had life experience. As long as she worked hard, she could at least afford to eat.

Do I have to be the evil side character? I’d rather hug the female lead’s thigh and ride it to the top!

Ming Ming wanted to cry.

“Is there no way to defy fate?” she asked again, clinging to one last sliver of hope.

“Don’t even think about it. If the evil supporting character rises to the top, what happens to the main heroine?”

The system added, “Though that’s secondary. The real issue is…”

In her mind’s eye, Ming Ming could almost see the system giving her a disdainful look.

“If the evil side character rises, who’s gonna suffer and get tormented?”

Ming Ming wanted to scream, “Why do I have to be the one who gets tormented?!”

In a flash, all the adult videos, explicit stories, and scandalous chats she’d ever had with her girlfriends zipped through her mind.

“Because. You. Are. Not. Pure.”

Screw you! I’m an adult!

The system replied gleefully, “Look at the female lead—see how kind and innocent she is? You need to be purified by her goodness.”

“You have to be selfless, reject vanity, face hardships bravely and optimistically…”

The system kept lecturing her while Ming Ming tuned it out. She grabbed her keys and headed to the market. But halfway there, she was stopped by a stranger.

“Excuse me, are you Miss Chu?”

Ming Ming hadn’t yet adapted to her new identity. She almost said, “No, excuse me,” before remembering—she was “Chu Yun” now.

“System? System?”

No response.

It was still MIA.

She’d wanted a heads-up on what this guy might want.

Chu Yun stood still and didn’t answer, eyeing him suspiciously.

The man wore a polite, rehearsed smile and handed her a business card.

“Your presence at the banquet left quite the impression on my employer. He’d like to invite you to his home. If the two of you hit it off, you’ll be able to live exactly the kind of life you want.”

He said it with a knowing smile.

The implication was crystal clear: his boss wanted to keep her.

If this were the real Chu Yun, she’d probably have jumped at the chance.

But Ming Ming was in control now. It took her a moment, but she understood the message, and her mind spun a little further.

Only a few people at the banquet might’ve taken an interest in her.

Mr. Zhang—he hated her guts. If he offered to support her, it was just so he could torment her slowly.
Hong Shida—she’d embarrassed him in front of Fifth Master Huo. He couldn’t touch Huo, so he might take it out on her.
Other bystanders—maybe they had beef with Zhang, or Hong, or even Huo. Either way, they might just want to use her as a pawn.

None of these options ended well for her.

And after thinking so hard just moments ago, Ming Ming was firm: she was not about to depend on some gross old man. She was going to rely on herself.

So she looked at this fake-smiling tiger in human skin and replied with a smirk, a little cold and full of disdain:

“Sorry, sir, I’m not interested in balding old men who need Viagra to feel powerful. Please leave.”

The smile on his face didn’t even twitch. He simply stuffed the card into her hand and said in a tone that brooked no refusal:

“That’s alright, Miss Chu. If you change your mind, feel free to call this number anytime.”

She shrugged as he walked away. Whatever. She’d keep the card for now. Maybe she could ask the system who he really was later.