ABSML Chapter 1: Starting as a Nobody

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A tea restaurant.

Chen Zhan's gaze lingered on the black fruit tea on the round table, sighing at its steep price.

"I'm treating. What's with the long face?" The guy sitting across from him had a buzz cut and was fairly decent-looking.

Chen Zhan poured himself another cup of tea, staying silent.

The buzz-cut guy scolded him, "You started out as a king, and look at you now—almost picking up trash for a living."

For a brief moment, Chen Zhan's eyes flickered uncertainly.

The buzz-cut guy was shocked. "You didn't actually try, did you?"

"Didn't work out," Chen Zhan replied casually. "The old man across the street said he's been collecting trash there every day, and that a few garbage bins belong to him."

"…"

Chen Zhan continued, "And I found out yesterday that all the money he makes from picking up trash gets donated on time. His pension is 8,000 a month."

"…"

Chen Zhan smirked. "Not that it matters. I checked with a nearby recycling station. The prices they offer aren’t even enough to cover my utility bills."

The buzz-cut guy, though frustrated by Chen Zhan’s past mistakes, was still a friend. After a brief internal struggle, he asked, "Want me to lend you some money first?"

Chen Zhan waved him off nonchalantly. "No need. I found a new way to make money."

His tone was even more arrogant than before.

The buzz-cut guy assumed he was about to repeat his past mistakes. "Six months ago, you tried blackmailing people with photos and almost ended up in jail. Haven't you learned your lesson?"

Chen Zhan raised an eyebrow, digging through his predecessor's memories. With a sneer, he said, "I won't fall in the same place twice."

The original Chen Zhan had long ruined himself. When he arrived in this body, the room was a mess, and the desk was piled high with instant noodle cups.

As for himself, before crossing over, he had been singing karaoke with friends. He had just belted out the line, 'I want a life that bursts with passion,' when, in the next second, everything went black.

Once he realized it wasn’t a dream, his first reaction wasn’t panic—but regret.

Before transmigrating, he was about to enter university. In the blink of an eye, he had gone from a bright young student to a good-for-nothing adult.

"What a waste of youth."

He should've seen it coming. A "tragic" teenager like him, with a stereotypically miserable three-no family background (no father’s love, no mother’s care, no wealth), was the perfect candidate for transmigration. If he disappeared, no one would even notice—just as the cliché demanded.

Hearing Chen Zhan muttering curses under his breath, the buzz-cut guy wondered if he'd lost his mind. Clearing his throat, he tried to bring him back to reality. "Didn't you say you found a way to make money?"

His voice was skeptical.

Chen Zhan took a sip of tea and suddenly zoned out.

Other transmigrators would have access to cheat-like knowledge of the plot, or even an overpowered system, easily climbing to the top of the world. Meanwhile, his golden finger was probably still stuck in traffic.

【Dear user, I’m here.】

Chen Zhan’s fingers twitched.

The buzz-cut guy noticed his dazed expression and asked urgently, "You okay?"

Chen Zhan chuckled. "Burned my hand on a cigarette."

The buzz-cut guy stared at his empty hands and was speechless. "A cold joke?"

Chen Zhan stood up. "Got something to do. Wait for me to make it big and take you along for the ride."

The buzz-cut guy choked on his tea, coughing. Helplessly, he repeated the line they used to say back in university: "If you get rich, don't forget me."

【System: Please remain calm. Once you fulfill the completion conditions, you may return to the real world.】

Chen Zhan sneered. "Unloved by my parents, failed my college entrance exam—there’s nothing worth going back for."

【System: …The host is currently in the novel Billion Stars.

Role: Villainous supporting character, Chen Zhan.

Status: Bankrupt.】

Chen Zhan had heard of this book before. He wasn’t into romance novels, but an old classmate had once mentioned that a character in it shared his name.

She had even joked, "Most second male leads are gentle, considerate, and know their place. Why is the one with your name the biggest scumbag in the story?"

By now, the novel had already reached the part where the villainous supporting character met his demise. Even if the system hadn’t explained it, Chen Zhan could piece together the plot from the original owner's memories.

This was a feel-good romance novel where the male and female leads rarely had misunderstandings. Of course, that didn’t mean they weren’t targeted by schemes, but all the conflicts were shallow at best. The villainous supporting character, driven by love turned to hatred, resorted to all kinds of underhanded tactics, only to end up as a universally ridiculed figure.

Oh, and by the way, the female lead was a top-tier actress. When the original owner’s schemes were exposed, he faced an unprecedented wave of public outrage.

The system repeated the villain’s final scene: In a dimly lit room, everything was cheap. A table full of instant noodle cups, worn-out clothes, and a man who had lost everything.

From an outsider’s perspective, Chen Zhan thought that was rather merciful.

【System: Mission 1 (The Villain's Redemption): Please personally visit the female lead, Best Actress Jiang Ying, and apologize.】

"Oh, thanks, but no thanks."

【System: …】

Chen Zhan: "You can take your leave now."

【System: I can help you reach the pinnacle of life!】

Chen Zhan: "No need. I already have a way to make money. Just stay quiet."

【System: You won’t be able to do anything!】

Chen Zhan squinted his eyes playfully. "At this stage, I might as well write a memoir first."

【System: A memoir? At twenty-something?】

Chen Zhan yawned, strolling home at a leisurely pace. As he unlocked his door, he mused, "Oh, the material is endless. How about The Years When I Harassed the Queen of Film, or maybe Hitting a Stone with an Egg: How My Hatred for the Rich Led Me to Defame the Elite CEO…"

【System: Please cease these dangerous actions. Do not ruin your reputation.】

"Reputation?" Chen Zhan’s tone lifted. "Do I even have one?"

The once messy room was now neat and bright, with a few new potted plants on the windowsill.

Standing by the window, he felt as if the air had grown fresher. The original owner was infamous, but he did leave behind two valuable assets: a place to live—so at least he wasn’t homeless—and a Weibo account.

After his disgraceful schemes were exposed, his follower count skyrocketed overnight—by millions. Every single one of them was there to curse him.

But hey, whether you're famous for the right reasons or the wrong ones, fame is still fame. You gotta make the most of it.

Chen Zhan registered an author account on NJ Star Website, a well-known web novel platform, and uploaded a full manuscript. The title?

"Confessions: The Rise and Fall of a Rebellious Youth."

Then, he posted on Weibo: New book coming soon.

Attached was a link to the novel.

The moment he hit "post," his notifications exploded with an endless barrage of messages. He didn’t even bother checking—he already knew they were all insults.

Instead, he got up and made a fruit salad. After eating, he paced around the house twice to digest. Once over thirty minutes had passed, he logged back into NJ Star Website—

Over 3,000 collections.

Since the full text hadn’t been made public yet, anyone who wanted to comment had to send a paid "reward" first. Chen Zhan scrolled through the messages—

All of them were paid insults.

【Jiangnan Xiaocao: I topped up 1 yuan just so I could call you an idiot.】

【Mrs.Emperor: Who gave you the audacity to write a memoir? Even if you knelt before Jiang Ying, she’d never forgive you!】

【Tian Tian Happy: Came all this way just to throw money at you.】

【Tian Tian Happy: !!! Damn it! I accidentally hit confirm before changing the message! Now I have to top up again!】

…

The site's editor reached out immediately to discuss a contract. From a business perspective, Chen Zhan’s book was already a hit before it even officially launched.

Marveling at the power of the internet, Chen Zhan sighed, "The tips alone are almost enough to cover my utility bills."

【System: Please have some self-respect.】

Chen Zhan: "Does apologizing count as self-respect?"

No response.

The original owner had been a second-generation rich kid, but his parents died in a plane crash. Unfortunately, he had squandered all their wealth over the years.

The only silver lining was that he had left the world before he could do anything worse. Had he lived another six months, Chen Zhan would’ve been drowning in debt.

As the sun set, Chen Zhan placed his laptop on the windowsill. Looking up, he could see the sky painted in hues of orange and pink.

The atmosphere was melancholic—almost tender. Perfect for tea, books… or writing.

His long, slender fingers danced across the keyboard.

While suspenseful build-ups could captivate readers, dragging things out for too long would lead to audience fatigue. Chen Zhan opted for a crisp and engaging writing style, skipping unnecessary background details. His opening scene dove straight into his first encounter with the female lead, Jiang Ying.

..........

The airport was bustling with people, yet my eyes were drawn to her alone. She wore only light makeup, her skin delicate and fair. Her suitcase seemed to have a broken wheel, making it difficult for her to move. A slight flush tinted her cheeks.

A green crop top paired with red trousers—oddly flamboyant.

She walked past me, gaze fixed straight ahead.

I was strikingly handsome—any normal girl would at least glance at me from the corner of her eye.

She didn’t.

I suspected she was trying to seduce me.

..........

After publishing the first chapter, Chen Zhan ignored the comments, took a shower, and quickly fell asleep.

Meanwhile, at a film set—

Jiang Ying had just finished filming when her manager approached with a hesitant expression.

"You’re trending again."

Jiang Ying rarely checked Weibo. No matter how good the news, the comments always contained something infuriating. Usually, her manager just gave her a summary.

But this time, the manager directly handed over her phone. "See for yourself."

Within thirty seconds, a cold chuckle echoed through the room.

"I was seducing him?"

Jiang Ying was known for her icy elegance. Her wavy, cascading hair added to her enchanting aura. Right now, she habitually tucked her hair behind her ear, exuding an effortless charm.

Manager: "The author has already explained—it’s one of life’s three great illusions."

"Forget it." Jiang Ying lowered her head and turned off her phone screen. "Just a grasshopper after autumn." (T/N: Last foray before death, so to speak)

The manager chuckled. "At the very least, he got you trending. That’ll help with upcoming promotions."

Jiang Ying remained indifferent, stretching her neck, stiff from filming, before returning to the nanny van to rest.

The interior of the car was warm and comfortable. Just as she was about to relax, a thought suddenly crossed her mind. She opened her WeChat Moments. As expected, everyone’s posts were either glamorous selfies or advertisements for online businesses.

Pressing her lips together, she got out of the car and walked toward the director.

The director, Yan Chengze, was in his early thirties and known for his strictness. However, since he had a good friendship with Jiang Ying’s boyfriend, he treated her with relative leniency.

"Director Yan, could I borrow your Moments for a second?"

Yan Chengze frowned. "Why?"

"My boyfriend sometimes blocks me from seeing his posts."

Hearing this, Yan Chengze's frown deepened. "Instead of worrying about that, why not focus more on acting?"

Jiang Ying gave a slight bow. "Please, just this once."

Although he was displeased, Yan Chengze still unlocked his WeChat and handed it over. He didn’t have many friends, so Jiang Ying quickly found her boyfriend’s post from that afternoon.

Sure enough, he had posted something. The image featured a quote from Chen Zhan’s novel, with the words "a green crop top paired with red trousers" specially highlighted. His caption read:

"Red and green together—so tacky it’s trendy?"

The post was filled with likes.

Yan Chengze casually glanced at the screen. The moment he saw the content, his eyelid twitched. Originally, he had planned to lecture Jiang Ying, but now he found himself defending someone else instead. "He was probably just joking, no harm meant."

Just as Jiang Ying was about to return the phone, a gut feeling made her refresh the page again.

A new post had appeared—just one minute ago.

"Hours later, still… Unbelievable!"

Attached was a picture of a girl in a thick red cotton jacket, her cheeks flushed from the cold.

Jiang Ying's fair fingers tightened around the phone, her grip so strong that they twisted slightly.

Seeing that his phone was about to be crushed, Yan Chengze swiftly snatched it back.

Author’s note:

A fast-paced face-slapping novel with a satisfying character arc. No unnecessary bashing of the male or female leads.

_____

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