The ML

Jiang Wei adjusted his collar in the mirror of his dressing room, exhaling slowly.

This was it.

The biggest audition of his life.

The moment that would determine his future.

He had worked tirelessly for years, climbing from irrelevance to a place where people were finally starting to take notice.

Being the illegitimate son of a wealthy mogul had meant nothing in this industry. He hadn't had the backing of a powerful family, the connections, or the safety net that others had.

He had survived on sheer talent and determination alone.

And now?

He was about to prove that he deserved his place in the spotlight.

He rolled his shoulders, forcing himself to relax.

One audition. That's all it would take.

And he would never have to play the underdog again.

*

The studio was packed.

The air was thick with tension, the kind that only came when careers were on the line.

Casting directors, industry insiders, journalists—they were all watching.

Waiting to see if he could deliver.

And Jiang Wei had no intention of disappointing them.

He took his place in front of the cameras, inhaled deeply, and lost himself in the role.

By the time he finished, the room was silent.

A heavy, anticipatory silence.

Then—

Applause.

Scattered at first, then growing.

The director himself stood up, clapping slowly.

> "Congratulations, Jiang Wei. The role is yours."

Jiang Wei's hands curled into tight fists at his sides, containing the burst of emotion.

He had won.

This was it.The beginning of everything. He could feel it.

*

Jiang Wei left the audition studio, his mind racing.He quickly calmed himself ,this industry was ruthless, and there was still one person standing in his way.

Jiang Yuxi.

She was waiting at the entrance, dressed in a sleek black dress, her usual air of untouchable arrogance wrapped around her like a cloak.

Jiang Wei hated her.

Not just because she was the reigning Film Empress.

Not just because she was the industry's untouchable queen.

But because she was exactly the kind of person who had always looked down on him.

Privileged. Powerful. A product of an industry that had catered to her every move.

She had been born into connections, influence, and effortless success.

And now, she was his next target.

He wouldn't just surpass her.

He would bring her down.

> "What are you doing here?" Jiang Wei asked, his voice colder than usual.

Jiang Yuxi arched a perfectly shaped brow.

> "Did you think I wouldn't hear about your little audition?"

Jiang Wei's jaw ticked, ofcourse there is not a place in this industry she doesn't have her claws in.

She had probably known he got the role before he did.

> "I don't need your approval," he shot back.

She gave a small, smug smile.

> "Good. Because you wouldn't get it."

The words were cutting, but Jiang Wei refused to let her get a reaction out of him.

Instead, he took a step closer, his expression hard.

> "Enjoy your throne while it lasts," he murmured, voice low. "Because soon, you won't be the industry's queen anymore."

Jiang Yuxi held his gaze, completely unmoved.

Then, in a voice as smooth as silk, she said—

> "We'll see about that."

And just like that, she turned and walked away, leaving him seething.

*

After the audition, Jiang Wei went to a small café nearby, needing a moment to breathe.

His mind was still buzzing with adrenaline, his body tense.

He should have been celebrating.

But instead, his encounter with Jiang Yuxi kept replaying in his head.

She was a problem.

A roadblock he needed to remove.

> "Jiang Wei?"

A soft, gentle voice pulled him from his thoughts.

He turned—and immediately recognized the woman standing before him.

Lin Meiyu.His co-star.The woman who had been cast alongside him in his new film,the moment she smiled, the tension in his shoulders eased.

Unlike Jiang Yuxi, Lin Meiyu wasn't arrogant, calculating, or manipulative.

She was kind. Warm.

A reminder that not everyone in this industry was his enemy.

> "Mind if I join you?" she asked.

Jiang Wei gestured to the seat across from him.

> "Please."

They talked about the film, their roles, their hopes.

And for the first time that day, Jiang Wei allowed himself to relax.

Lin Meiyu wasn't just a talented actress.

She was genuine and if there was one thing Jiang Wei appreciated, it was someone who didn't play games.She was such a breathe of fresh air.

> "I was really nervous today," she admitted at one point, stirring her drink. "But watching you act… it made me feel like I could do this."

Jiang Wei blinked, surprised.

> "You? Nervous?" he chuckled. "You looked completely in control."

She smiled, a little shyly, "Only because I was acting."

Jiang Wei tilted his head, studying her, for a brief moment, everything else—the industry battles, the rivalry, the hunger for success—faded.

And all he saw was a woman who, like him, was just trying to make it.

> "We'll do great together," he said quietly.

Lin Meiyu's cheeks flushed.

She looked away, but her smile lingered.

And Jiang Wei?

For the first time in a long time, he felt something other than ambition driving him forward.

Maybe, just maybe—

Not everything in this world had to be a battle.

***

Meanwhile, in the System Space…

> System 404: [Plotline is stable.]

System 404: [MaleLead's trajectory remains intact.]

System 404: [Villainess confrontation established. Female lead romance progressing.]

System 404: [For the first time since binding… I feel peace.]*