The Abusive Novel System Pleads with Me to Resign-Chapter 45

Yu Ting was somewhat surprised. When the finalized costume photos were released, most online discussions focused on praising the styling and looks, with few paying attention to the costumes themselves.

To not only notice but also pinpoint the modifications required an exceptionally keen eye.

Shen Ying smiled and replied, "Because it's obvious. And if I may be blunt, although the original costume designer is an industry heavyweight, compared to the final version, his initial approach was rather uninspired."

Yu Ting grew even more astonished. "How did you know someone else revised the design?"

Shen Ying answered matter-of-factly, "It was clear at a glance. The original design overemphasized techniques to accentuate the figure, which, aesthetically, was still impressive."

"But the tailoring was too 'modern,' especially around the waistline and underarms. The contemporary cutting style sharpened the overall atmosphere too much."

"The embellishments and color palette were also overly concerned with chromatic logic, playing it safe for immediate visual harmony—resulting in something a bit dull."

"Of course, this approach would work fine for most people, maximizing strengths and minimizing flaws. But the designer underestimated your ability to carry something far more striking."

The corners of Yu Ting’s lips curled upward, his initial impatience completely gone.

Sure enough, Shen Ying continued, "Take the revised version, for example."

"I don’t know which designer came up with the idea to incorporate woven folds into traditional tailoring, but every detail is ingenious. I’ve never seen this technique in historical costume evolution, yet it doesn’t feel out of place at all."

"It perfectly captures the ethereal elegance of antiquity. A talent like this—even if transported back in time—would surely leave a mark on the history of fashion."

Yu Ting couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at his lips. A hint of pride flickered in his eyes, though he tried to downplay it. "It’s not as exaggerated as you’re making it sound. I just tweaked a few things."

"They said traditional tailoring couldn’t achieve the effect, so I figured out a couple of workarounds."

Shen Ying stared at him in disbelief. "You did this?"

Yu Ting’s chest subtly puffed out a fraction as he lifted his chin and nodded. "Mhm."

Shen Ying’s astonishment turned to admiration. "I recall your celebrity profile didn’t list any formal training in fashion design."

"You’re practically a genius. This year’s Best Newcomer in fashion awards should hang their heads in shame."

By ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‍now, Yu Ting’s guarded expression had completely vanished. If an outsider walked in, they might mistake the two for long-time friends.

He bit his lip to keep it from stretching wider. "You’re exaggerating. I’ve just seen a lot since I was young."

Shen Ying gave him a look that said, False modesty doesn’t suit you. "Pull any random person from your crew—they’ve been in the industry for decades and seen even more. Do they have your eye for aesthetics and creativity?"

Yu Ting couldn’t hold back a soft chuckle. "Come on, everyone has their strengths."

But his expression practically begged, Keep going. More.

Yes, Yu Ting had a weakness—he couldn’t resist praise.

He adored flattery, especially when it hit the right notes, leaving him utterly disarmed.

When he first suggested revisions to the costumes, he faced resistance from everyone—the original designer, the director, the producers.

They dismissed it as an amateur overstepping. But this was the project he cared about most, and he wanted every detail flawless.

The clashes were inevitable. Countless people tried to dissuade him, even pressure from investors, but he stood firm.

When the final modified version emerged, and the subtle changes seamlessly elevated the visuals, the entire crew reversed their stance.

But their belated admiration meant nothing to Yu Ting.

This flaw of his traced back to his origins.

He was the Yu family’s illegitimate child, born to a once-renowned actress who, after his birth, brought him to the Yus in hopes of leveraging him for status.

But the legal wife was a formidable woman of noble birth. After a few rounds, the actress conceded, took the money, and left the country without looking back.

Though her career never regained its former glory, she later married a famous foreign director—but that was another story.

The key point was that she left Yu Ting behind.

The Yu matriarch wasn’t cruel. She treated this illegitimate son with remarkable generosity, ensuring his upbringing and education were no different from her own children’s.

Yu Ting’s half-siblings were outstanding, and while their bond wasn’t deeply intimate, there was genuine affection.

His family was wonderful—except for him, the stain. (His father didn’t count; to the three siblings, he ranked alongside dogs.)

Yu Ting’s existence stemmed from greed and scheming, and he was a tool easily discarded. In this kind, harmonious family, he was the sole blemish.

As a child, when the three siblings stood together, the glances thrown his way always carried veiled surprise and disdain—like watching a parasitic rat shamelessly claim a seat at the dinner table.

The void in Yu Ting’s heart craved validation—recognition of himself, stripped of external factors.

Not his illustrious family name—he’d never taken pride in it.

Not his striking looks—a "gift" from the mother who abandoned him.

Not his education or talents—with the Yu family’s resources, even a pig would be accomplished.

It had to be acknowledgment of his core, his essence—precise and razor-sharp.

For example, if someone praised his acting, they’d better specify: Which scene? What stood out? How?

Unlike industry professionals, Yu Ting had an unconventional understanding of his own abilities.

Some of his most acclaimed performances weren’t the ones he took pride in.

Few could scratch that itch, which was why he’d earned a reputation for being difficult and temperamental.

As a result, his susceptibility to praise remained largely unknown.

Yu Shishi was one of the rare few who knew. But Yu Ting never expected this woman, whom he’d only met twice, to have the same insight.

Though her childhood story had initially left him unimpressed, he now saw her in a new light.

Just as Yu Ting waited for her to continue lavishing praise, her demeanor shifted.

With the same face but subtle adjustments to her features, she transformed—

Shen Ying, now wearing Yu Shishi’s expression, said, "So I can’t help but wonder—with such brilliant design talent, why waste it on acting?"

Unaware of the danger creeping closer, Yu Ting stared, momentarily dazed by the uncanny resemblance to Yu Shishi.

Little did he know, this triumph—the one that left everyone speechless—was the very thing he’d most wanted to share with her.

Unfortunately, I only received the finished product today and have been busy preparing for tonight's shoot, so I didn’t have time to reach out.

"Shishi—" Yu Ting murmured absently.

Then, 'Shishi' parted her lips and said, "Your acting is as terrible as shit."

Yu Ting’s expression instantly looked as if he had slammed into a glass wall: "What did you just say?"

The moment he flared up, the woman across from him immediately softened into a gentle, soothing demeanor: "Don’t be angry. Alright, alright—they just don’t understand the real you."

"They have no idea how exceptional you are, but I do. Even if everything you have now were taken away, you’d just shrug it off, turn around, and climb back to the same heights on a different path."

"You have talent. Heaven’s favor shines on you in every way."

This was the comfort Yu Shishi had given him when he was frustrated by online criticism—her eyes filled with understanding and reassurance, calming him down.

As if her earlier words had been an illusion.

But then, those same lips curved into a gentle smile and continued, "So why did you choose the same path your birth mother took?"

Yu Ting jolted in realization—this woman was here to mess with him.

Just like she had done to Chang Ming before.

Clenching his teeth, he glared at Shen Ying with disdain: "So this is why you came?"

Shen Ying wore Yu Shishi’s signature look of tender concern: "Don’t look so insecure."

These were the exact words Shishi had said when he was struggling to grasp his character’s emotions.

"Shut up," Yu Ting snapped. "You think I’m a pushover like Chang Ming?"

The moment the words left his mouth, Shen Ying picked up where she left off: "After all, you have your birth mother’s natural talent, her connections in the industry, and the unlimited backing of the Yu family."

"With such a foolproof safety net, why would you still feel insecure?" She even blinked innocently.

Her mimicry of Yu Shishi’s mannerisms was flawless.

Yu Ting’s scalp prickled with fury. He stepped forward, closing the distance between them to less than an arm’s length, his presence overwhelming.

His voice dripped with warning and disgust: "Shishi thought that after all these years, you’d finally moved on."

"She was too naive. You’re just a twisted psychopath."

Shen Ying immediately adopted Shishi’s wounded expression: "That’s not what I meant."

"I’m just curious—someone with so many proud achievements like you, why settle for staying in your comfort zone?"

"Lingering in safety while still flaunting those insignificant talents to prove yourself, patting yourself on the back."

"Such a clever way to hide your cowardice and weakness."

Then she switched to Shishi’s conflicted look: "But could you do me a favor and find someone else to praise you? After all these years, I’ve run out of compliments."

Yu Ting’s face twisted with rage, his skin flushing red.

No matter how much his rational mind warned him—remember Chang Ming, remember what this woman did to him—her words still shattered his defenses.

Her acting was so eerily accurate that he couldn’t help but wonder—

Did Shishi secretly think the same? Did she also see him as a coward, too afraid to truly prove himself, clinging to trivial accomplishments to soothe his fragile ego?

Had she long grown tired of humoring him?

Was his acting even his own talent? Had he really chosen this career out of passion, or was it just the easy path paved by his mother’s legacy?

Had he always relied on the security of his inheritance, stepping into this comfort zone without a second thought?

Cold sweat broke out on Yu Ting’s forehead. Unlike Chang Ming, he didn’t lose his composure, but his gaze faltered under Shen Ying’s scrutiny.

Just then, his assistant’s voice came from outside: "Ting-ge, are you done? They’re ready to start shooting."

Yu Ting seized the escape, nearly bolting from the dressing room in relief.

Shen Ying lingered behind, leisurely exiting after he was gone.

She had met actors before—both in her original world and in her first mission as a wealthy socialite.

But those were top-tier professionals who treated her with utmost respect.

She had never seen a real film set, though, so she wandered around curiously.

Most of the crew had sharp eyes and quick wits. Knowing she came with Pei Ying and had sought out Yu Ting, they treated her with the highest courtesy, unaware they had only met twice.

By the time she reached the shooting location, the director and producer had already cleared a prime spot for her, offering the best "VIP seat" for her visit.

While Shen Ying relaxed, Yu Ting was far from comfortable.

The set was thick with tension, frustration mounting by the minute.

Yu Ting couldn’t get into character.

Tonight’s scene was a moonlit confession—the protagonist, about to represent his sect in a martial arts tournament, was determined to reclaim his school’s lost treasure and erase decades of humiliation.

As the young genius, Yu Ting’s character should brim with unwavering confidence, burning with battle-ready fervor, barely heeding his master’s advice.

He should carry a ruthless determination to crush the opponent who had shamed his sect for years.

But from the first take, Yu Ting was distracted. Even when he forced himself into the role, the moment called for unshakable self-assurance, his uncertainty bled through—his gaze unsteady, his presence wavering.

This wasn’t the arrogance of a prodigy; it was the hesitation of someone already defeated.

After dozens of retakes and countless director’s notes, nothing improved.

As mentioned earlier, this was a high-budget production—every wasted minute burned through millions.

Shen Ying had done the math: if they failed to wrap tonight, the losses would approach eight figures.

The crew was professional and disciplined, willing to endure costs for perfection, but not for such amateur mistakes.

If not for Yu Ting’s status—the biggest star with the deepest backing, someone even the director handled with care—he would’ve been torn apart by now.

But Yu Ting couldn’t brush it off. This was the most humiliating moment of his career.

Seeing no progress, the director took a deep breath: "Yu Ting, don’t force it. We all know your capabilities."

"Take a break, reset your mindset."

The moment the director called it, the crew dispersed, relieved for the breather.

Yu Ting’s expression remained grim. When he spotted Shen Ying sitting beside the director, his temper flared again.

He yanked her up: "You. Come with me."

Back in the dressing room, he pinned her against the wall: "This was your plan, wasn’t it? Sitting there enjoying my humiliation? Think it’s funny?"

Shen Ying instantly looked remorseful: "Not funny at all. Especially seeing the crew redo scenes for you, watching the director agonize over wasted time—it’s been torture for me too."

"But I have no choice. I was entrusted with this task, and I must see it through. There's nothing I can do about it."

Upon hearing this, Yu Ting's expression twisted with fury. "Who was it?"

The idea of using such vicious tactics against him—the same ones employed against Chang Ming—could only have come from one of those three people. The question was merely rhetorical.

Shen Ying, however, brushed it off. "That's not the point right now. What matters is your performance, isn't it?"

Yu Ting grew even more agitated. "Do you really think I can continue filming in this state tonight?"

Shen Ying immediately flashed a confident, salesperson-like smile. "Of course you can."

"Besides my earlier services, I also offer emotional guidance, mental therapy—anything you need. As long as the price is right, I guarantee you’ll regain your confidence and shoot a dozen takes without breaking a sweat."

Yu Ting: "??? You’re the one who put me in this state!"

System: [??? So you’re the one who breaks someone’s legs and then offers to fix them?]

Shen Ying placated him. "No hard feelings. Just business etiquette. Please understand."

Yu Ting was utterly speechless at her audacity.

After a tense silence, an assistant called from outside, "Ting-ge, you’ve got five minutes left on break."

Gritting his teeth, Yu Ting didn’t want the night to start off on the wrong foot. Reluctantly, he spat out, "Fine, deal."

"But let me warn you—if you can’t get me back in the right mindset, I’ll make sure you regret ever setting foot in this city."

Shen Ying showed no fear, her confidence unshaken.

Once the payment went through, she beamed. "Thank you, boss. Let’s begin."

Without hesitation, she delivered a sharp slap across his face, the force so strong it nearly knocked him sideways.

A searing pain engulfed half his face, instantly diverting all his restless, anxious thoughts to the throbbing sting.

Yu Ting slowly turned back to her, his gaze terrifying.

But before he could react, she yanked him forward by the collar and snarled, "You chose this path—what’s with the whining now? Waiting for your mommy to come spoon-feed you?"

"Oh, right. One of the head judges for this year’s Golden Statue Awards is your stepdad. I bet your mom will see your performance during the screening."

"What will she think when she sees the male lead? Will she regret giving up on such a genius so easily? If she hadn’t, your success today would’ve been her accomplishment too."

She then shook her head. "Then again, maybe she won’t regret it. With the lead actor’s current state, the film might not even make the shortlist."

Yu Ting’s expression darkened dangerously.

Without another word, he turned and stormed off to find the director, all traces of his earlier hesitation gone.

He confronted the man directly. "Is John Brown one of the top judges for this year’s Golden Statue Awards?"

The director looked surprised. "How did you know? That hasn’t been announced yet—only a handful of insiders are aware. I only found out through a close friend’s tip."

"But keep it quiet, alright?"

"Now that you know, though, step up your game. If we speed things up, we might just make the submission deadline."

Yu Ting’s face hardened with resolve. "I’m ready to continue."

The director, thrilled to see the fire back in his eyes, grinned. "Perfect!"

From then on, Yu Ting performed flawlessly, as if possessed. Gone was the distracted, amateurish actor from before—his portrayal of a man desperate to redeem himself was nothing short of breathtaking.

Shen Ying watched his seamless performance, satisfied with her "therapy."

Of course, she’d pieced this together from the original story and her own deductions.

What the original hadn’t captured was this: when driven by purpose and resentment, Yu Ting could achieve anything.

The system, meanwhile, was stunned. It never imagined Shen Ying could push the male lead to the brink and then snap him back into shape.

After all that, no amount of apologies or flattery should’ve worked, right?

Yet here they were. A crude, brutal adrenaline shot—never mind the emotional fallout.

While the system grumbled, Shen Ying had already joined the crew’s group chat—the main one, with every staff member included.

During the next break, she casually dropped over a hundred thousand in red envelopes.

Updat𝓮d from freewēbnoveℓ.com.

While the lead actors remained composed, the crew members doing the heavy lifting went wild. A thousand-yuan bonus per person? Tonight’s overtime was officially worth it.

Shen Ying smiled at the director. "Sorry for the earlier delays. I appreciate your patience."

The director, impressed by her casual extravagance and how she’d just bought Yu Ting some goodwill, was now convinced of her high status and close ties to the actor.

He waved it off. "Not at all! A rough start just means a smoother finish. Look at Yu Ting now—he’s unstoppable."

The night wrapped up in high spirits, the entire crew in great humor.

The moment filming ended, Yu Ting rushed to Shen Ying, still in full makeup. His first words were, "Pei Ying sent you, didn’t he?"

He let out a cold laugh. "He’s an investor in this film too. Guess he doesn’t mind the losses."

Pei Ying was, after all, the first of their group to cross paths with Yu Shishi. Their bond ran deepest. To eliminate competition, this was exactly the kind of underhanded move he’d pull.

A failed movie? A small price to pay. If Yu Ting’s performance had been irredeemable, he’d have had no choice but to leave the production.

"What a ruthless scheme," Yu Ting seethed.

Shen Ying hesitated, then said carefully, "I can’t disclose client information. I won’t confirm or deny your suspicions."

Yu Ting scoffed. "Playing it safe, huh? But that guy didn’t even bother hiding it—he delivered you here himself."

"No wonder he left so quickly. So this was his plan all along."

"Fine. If he wants to play dirty, then everyone’s going down!"