The male supporting character was actually myself.

Jiang Chen nodded in satisfaction as he watched the script finally begin updating.

The moment the family division notice was posted, the possibility of Zhang Ziqiu drugging him in the plot was immediately eliminated. How could he drug her when she no longer lived there and he couldn't even see her? How could he ruin the best supporting actor's reputation?

What's more, she gave the male protagonist a promising career—teaching and educating people. As long as he does his job well and stops causing trouble, with her help, he might even be able to establish a famous military academy and be remembered for all time!

Hopefully, the scriptwriting team can understand their good intentions and steer this melodramatic soap opera back onto the right track.

To pacify the country, end the war, lead the people to prosperity on a vast and beautiful land in need of rebuilding, engage in scientific research and strive to become the world's number one power—isn't that a grand, satisfying, and exciting goal?

If the scriptwriting team can't come up with a clear vision, they should just let the male supporting actor handle it. Why make things difficult for themselves? A freely developing world has endless possibilities and is much more interesting than a pre-set, low-brow story!

"Sister, I just heard..." Ruan Xiangyun, dressed in cheap clothes, squeezed into the cramped and messy dressing room, her eyes filled with tears, and cried to her sister who was hurriedly putting on makeup and waiting to go on stage: "I heard that our Qinya Manor has been divided up!"

Ruan Xiangqin, who was applying makeup, nearly ruined her look with a tremor in her right hand. She stared at her sister in shock and asked urgently, "What did you say? Who told you that? Who divided up our family property?"

"It's that bastard Li Yexiao! He divided up the entire Yuqin Mountain area and gave it all to the families in the villages at the foot of the mountain. Sister, our family is really gone! Even if we earn enough money, we can't rebuild the manor!"

"Clap!"

The eyebrow pencil fell onto the pile of cheap rouge and powder, splashing up a wisp of smoke.

Ruan Xiangqin slumped into her chair, staring blankly at her stunning face in the mirror, now that the swelling had subsided. A tear instantly streamed down her cheek.

Yuqin Mountain has been divided up!

There will be no more home, no more Qinya Mountain Villa!

She was dazed and nearly fainted. Then she gripped her sister's hand tightly and sobbed in a trembling voice, "It's all just rumors, isn't it? That's our family's manor! Even if it's burned to ruins, it's still our land and our mountain!"

That's the mountain villa that my mother bought and built with her own savings!

What right do they have to occupy our Jade Qin Mountain?! I knew it... Poor places breed wicked people, those guys helped us back then because they secretly coveted Jade Qin Mountain! Sure enough, poor people are the most cunning, we were all fooled by their pretense, Xiangyun, we have to go and report them to the authorities!

I refuse to believe that Yucheng has no laws, allowing those poor wretches to occupy our estate and our land!

"Wake up, sister!" Ruan Xiangyun hugged her and wailed, "The sky in Yucheng is dark, there are no laws. The Marshal's Mansion is the law, the Marshal's Mansion is the sky! Where can we go to seek justice? It was clearly a warm home that our parents worked hard for half their lives to create for us, but now it has been taken over for no reason. Where is justice?!"

Ruan Xiangqin stared blankly at her wailing sister, her resolve hardening as she looked at herself in the mirror with a cold gaze, her black eyeliner smudged by tears, giving her a darkened appearance.

She took a deep breath, picked up her eyebrow pencil, and continued applying her makeup slowly and deliberately, thinking to herself: It's time to start the fight back...

What is the female lead up to in Chapter Twenty-Six?

"Dancers and singers, hurry up and get on stage! Stop dawdling!" A furious shout came from outside. Ruan Xiangqin patted her sister's shoulder and comforted her, "Hurry up and touch up your makeup, it's time for us to go on stage."

Ruan Xiangyun was still crying, "I'm not going! Those bastards are bullying us too much. We used to be the most popular performers, but now they won't even give us a solo performance. They just make us fill in with these good-for-nothings. How long will it take for us to get ahead like this?"

I was exhausted after a busy night, and I didn't even earn half a dollar!

Do you know that my younger sister and brother have to do a lot of work every day just to stay here and have a meal? My younger sister and a group of girls wash performance costumes until their hands are peeling; my younger brother is even worse off. He's only nine years old, but he has to sweep, mop, and wipe tables, doing such tiring work. He's cried from exhaustion several times!

"Sister, let's leave the Paramount. Don't forget how many new shows we've rehearsed. Other brothels are green with envy. If we switch places, we'll definitely be the top performers."

Ruan Xiangqin continued to slowly and methodically tidy up her makeup, then gave a beautiful smile to herself in the mirror and said softly, "But we signed a three-year contract, and besides... where can we find so many powerful men to rely on after leaving the Paramount Ballroom?"

Xiangyun, you need to understand, even being the top courtesan in a low-class brothel doesn't guarantee you'll meet the kind of wealthy men an ordinary singer at the Paramount Ballroom could get close to. Listen to your sister, fix your makeup and perform well. If we can seize just one opportunity, we can completely turn our lives around!

"Turn around?" she said bitterly, her face contorted with grief. "With Manager Lin interfering, how could he possibly let us turn things around?"

Ruan Xiangqin didn't reply. In the end, she used lipstick to draw her cherry-like lips so red they were almost black, and combined them with thick eyeliner to create the essential black makeup look for a female protagonist's comeback.

"He'll give us a chance sooner or later!"

Before getting up to leave, Ruan Xiangqin left behind a casual remark.

Her high heels clicked loudly on the wooden floor. With a smile and graceful figure, she walked over to the short-tempered production assistant who was about to scold her. She draped her smooth arm over his neck and wiped his pockmarked old face with the handkerchief in her hand.

As she turned, her slender waist and full hips brushed lightly past her, instantly filling the air with a faint fragrance.

"Hmm..." The production assistant forgot what he was supposed to say or do for a moment. His gaze could only follow the handkerchief. In that instant, the softest part of his heart seemed to be struck. He felt his mouth dry and his throat parched, like a fish out of water unable to breathe.

She truly is an absolute beauty, a rare gem among mortals!

Ruan Xiangqin knew the other party had taken the bait, so she shrugged lightly and gave him a flirtatious wink.

The production assistant felt as if he had no bones and was about to collapse at her feet. He instinctively reached out to grab her but only managed to grab a handkerchief that was drifting in the wind.

"Brother Guo, I'm not feeling well today and would like to ask for a day off so I can't go on stage," Ruan Xiangqin said coquettishly, pouting slightly.

The production assistant, clutching a handkerchief, took a deep sniff and chuckled, "Alright, there are plenty of backup dancers anyway, you'll be the only one missing. Since you're resting tonight, how about... we go to my office? I have a big, comfortable bed there..."

She smiled faintly, turned around, smoothed her hair, and left gracefully, neither agreeing nor refusing.

"Li Jiangchen, I, Ruan Xiangqin, have come to this point by selling my looks and body to seduce men, all thanks to you! In the future, I will repay you a hundredfold, a thousandfold, and make you utterly disgraced and wish you were dead!" Ruan Xiangqin smiled, but gritted her teeth in resentment.

From tonight onwards, I, Ruan Xiangqin, will no longer be a kind-hearted innocent flower who can be bullied by others.

I want to become the most alluring and seductive woman in the entire Yucheng. I want all men to kneel at my feet. I want them all to become my weapons, to become sharp arrows aimed at Li Jiangchen, piercing him one by one until he is wounded and can only kneel down and beg for my forgiveness!

"Originally, the flowers were in full bloom, but now they are all left to ruins and broken walls..." Manager Lin leaned back in his comfortable leather chair in his office, enjoying the melodious opera singing coming from the gramophone.

Without knocking, Ruan Xiangqin gently pushed the door open a crack, and her bare, white, jade-like feet slipped in, making no sound as they stepped onto the thick red carpet.

After getting permission from the production crew to take leave, she sneaked into the dressing room of the Red Roses, who had already performed on stage, and stole the expensive dress that she had custom-made for herself but hadn't had a chance to wear on stage yet.

She knew that the red rose was taller and fuller than her and definitely wouldn't fit inside, so this dress would definitely become her battle armor to turn the tide!

Sure enough, although Red Rose couldn't wear it, she clearly loved the shimmering, subtly revealing dress, which hung in the most conspicuous spot. Ruan Xiangqin stole the dress and changed into it, also using expensive cosmetics to redo her makeup in Red Rose's dressing room, making her exude an alluring charm like a poppy.

"Manager Lin~" She entered the room with her toes together, looking aggrieved and speaking in a timid tone, "I was so foolish and naive before, and I was deceived by that heartless man. I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have been so reckless back then, and I shouldn't have taken the young marshal's joke seriously. I almost brought disaster to the Paramount. Please give me another chance, Manager. I will definitely listen to you obediently from now on and never cause trouble again."

"Who let you in? Don't you know how to knock?" Manager Lin, who was humming along to the melodious opera tune, was startled. When she saw it was her, she immediately turned stern and scolded her.

Ruan Xiangqin walked over gracefully on tiptoe. Seeing that the other party did not object, she leaned on his shoulder as if she were rubbing his shoulders and back, and whispered in his ear: "I took the day off today. Group dancing is really inhuman. I'm so tired that I'm about to die."

Manager, they know they were wrong!

Since I have time, I might as well take good care of you. Please, manager, have mercy and don't let them and their younger siblings live such a miserable life, okay?

With the female lead's halo activated, the men she wants to win over are naturally powerless to resist.

Manager Lin's heart pounded wildly as he looked at her with a half-smile and said, "Don't you sisters sell your art, not your bodies?"

"Whether or not to sell depends on the whims of these big shots, doesn't it?"

She frowned slightly and said with a wronged expression, "Back then, it was the young marshal who made all sorts of promises to me, but he turned his back on me! I waited for him patiently, so naturally I didn't dare to serve another big shot. Now things are different. Since he is heartless, there is no need for me to suffer loneliness. Why not plan for a better future for myself?"

A form-fitting, subtly revealing shimmering dress radiated an ambiguous, hazy glow under the lights, making Manager Lin's mind wander and unable to think clearly. He put down his cigar and pulled the alluring woman into his arms, laughing and saying, "You're quite sensible. As long as you two sisters keep me happy, although I can't let you be the mainstays of the entertainment industry, I guarantee you'll make a fortune just by entertaining VIPs!"

But you'd better think it through, or you'll regret it and come crying to bother me when it's too late.

Once you start selling yourself, you have no control over it. If you don't want to do it now, you can leave, close the door, and return your clothes. I'll pretend nothing happened and won't hold it against you.

If you obediently follow instructions and work as part of the ensemble dance team, your contract will expire in three years, and you can leave the Paramount cleanly and find your own way. Are you sure you've thought it through and won't reconsider?

“Even if you can leave a dance hall cleanly after you’ve been in it, who would believe that?” Ruan Xiangqin snuggled into his arms, looked up at him, and whispered, “Instead of having a false reputation, wouldn’t it be better to just enter this industry, make the most of your youth and beauty for a couple of years, save up enough money to leave Yucheng, and go somewhere where no one knows you to start over under an assumed name? Wouldn’t that be better?”

The opera on the gramophone was still playing softly, and she sighed in her gentle voice with an operatic tone: "Tonight is a beautiful night, Manager, please don't let the beautiful flowers wither and leave you with only regret. Pluck the flower while you can!"

"I've been able to play instruments and sing since I was a child. If you like listening, I'll personally serve you and guarantee it will sound better than a machine-sung version..."

She had prepared for two scenarios: if she couldn't get through Manager Lin's back door, she would take the production assistant position first, which would at least make her and Xiangyun's work easier. Therefore, she did not refuse the other party.

Unexpectedly, everything went too smoothly. Ruan Xiangqin, having latched onto Manager Lin's coattails, no longer needed to pay attention to the old and ugly production assistant. After using all her skills that night, her status at the Paramount rose once again.

However, in stark contrast to the last time when they sold their art but not their bodies, the Bai Jasmine sisters became the typical example of selling their bodies but not their art at the Paramount Ballroom.

They were already famous for their beauty, and Manager Lin had many wealthy men willing to pay a lot of money for a night with them.

"Oh? She asked for it herself?" Jiang Chen was shocked when she heard about this the next day from Manager Lin, who had immediately reported it after getting a good deal from the shrewd and resourceful manager. "I know that the girls at your Paramount Ballroom have to perform on stage and sit at the bar to entertain those big spenders."

I've never heard of girls who don't perform on stage and just wait for customers to walk into their rooms. That doesn't seem to fit your business model, does it? Doesn't that just make you like those kinds of girls in brothels…”

Manager Lin quickly smiled apologetically, "Actually, it's not singing anymore, it's just that we're not allowed to perform on stage. When entertaining customers, it's different from the girls in the brothel. Playing the piano and singing songs makes it seem more elegant and high-class, and the men are happy to pay for it, aren't they?"

"Back then, they were paraded through the streets and slapped in the face, making a scene that the whole city knew about. The boss doesn't dare let them appear on stage anymore, mainly because he's afraid they'll get arrogant and start talking nonsense again, offending people. So he came up with this plan, and today he's come specifically to ask the young marshal for permission to see if it's okay..."

Jiang Chen looked completely bewildered. "Why do you need to ask me for permission to run your business at the Paramount? I'm implementing new policies now, not banning brothels. It's a matter of mutual consent when you spend money on entertainment, so why do you need to ask me?"

"It's not that I'm worried you still despise those two shameless women. The Paramount uses them to make money in a disreputable way, and I'm afraid you'll be unhappy if you find out."

He quickly reached out to stop her, saying, "Don't do that. If someone with ulterior motives hears you, they might think I'm really having a falling out with them."

I just happened to be there and wanted to do a good deed, but who would have thought that one sentence would lead them to use my name to pat themselves on the back? I have absolutely no connection with that Mr. Ruan. Do whatever you want with him. If you keep dragging me into this and trying to frame me, your Paramount Ballroom can just wait to go out of business.”

Manager Lin hurriedly nodded and bowed, smiling obsequiously, "Look at you, this will never happen again at the Paramount..."

He wanted to continue flattering her, but Jiang Chen, already annoyed, interrupted him and waved his hand, saying, "If you have nothing else to say, go back. I'm busy here and don't have time to listen to your low-class talk."

As he left the Young Marshal's Mansion, Manager Lin wiped the sweat from his forehead, his heart filled with joy and his face beaming with happiness.

I was thinking about how to find a reason to get those two pretty girls to go out and make a lot of money, but I didn't expect that after only a few days of hard work, they complained and came to me on their own. That saved me a lot of trouble!

"What's the female lead up to?" Jiang Chen glanced at the script that was still being updated and was a little confused. Even if the last embarrassing incident ruined their star's career, she shouldn't have to resort to selling herself, right?

Just before, Long Er came to report that the Ruan sisters could only make a living by doing group dances, and that the younger sister and brother, who always ate and drank for free, had finally started to support themselves with their own hands.

I thought that by bringing these four siblings to shame, they would calm down and become decent human beings.

Why did the female lead willingly climb up to the two sisters and sell them out?

Since the other party had the female lead's halo, Jiang Chen dared not act rashly for fear of provoking a backlash and causing trouble again. He could only secretly instruct Long Er to keep a close eye on the Ruan sisters and report any unusual movements immediately!

The once-famous Bai Moli sisters of the Paramount Ballroom became prostitutes, and under Manager Lin's management, it quickly became an open secret in the upper circles.

Especially the pair of beauties who could play instruments and sing, exuding charm and allure. Many rough men, nodding and swaying as they listened, felt that visiting a brothel had become extremely elegant and classy. It seemed to have transcended the vulgar realm and was no longer just an ordinary visit to a brothel, but a kind of enjoyment worth showing off. Naturally, they were happy to spend money on it.

With their exceptional skills and meticulously crafted techniques, the Ruan Xiangqin sisters successfully moved into a top-tier suite even better than the Red Rose suite. It not only had two staircases on either side but also a back door in case any tigresses came knocking; henpecked customers could escape through the back door without a second glance.

Ruan Xiaomei no longer needs to starch and wash clothes;

Ruan Yunfei no longer had to clean, and the two of them once again enjoyed a wonderful life where they could eat and drink well without having to do anything.

"Pah! What kind of junk did that guy surnamed Li send? It's awful!" Ruan Yunfei opened a bag of chocolates, took a bite, threw the whole thing into the trash can, spat a few times, and said with a sneer, "It's bitter and must be spoiled. It's disgusting!"

Upon hearing this, Ruan Xiaomei slapped him across the face, yelling, "Shut your stinking mouth!"

"Why did you hit me? You dare to hit me? Waaah... I'll tell my sister you hit me! I'm the only male heir and the only hope of the Ruan family!" Ruan Yunfei covered his numb face and kicked his feet, crying.

Ruan Xiaomei stepped forward, grabbed his ear, and said slowly and deliberately, "Don't say anything offensive in the future! That Mr. Li is a distinguished guest who has kept my eldest and second sisters for three days. Whether we can get revenge on the Li family depends on him!"

At this moment, not only his face and ears hurt, but he still endured it and stopped crying.

My two older sisters are upstairs entertaining guests. If I cry and make a scene too loudly and upset the master, my sisters won't stand up for me, especially if it involves something as important as getting revenge on the Marshal's Mansion.

Ruan Yunfei wiped away her tears and sobbed softly, "That guy surnamed Li is just a nouveau riche. How could he possibly have the ability to retaliate against the Li family? My sister is overestimating him, even charging him much less! Manager Lin was very unhappy, cursing and giving her a hard time..."