The Abusive Novel System Pleads with Me to Resign

It took an unknown amount of time before Yu Ting found his voice again.

As if in a daze, he murmured, "You killed someone?"

Shen Ying replied, "You did it."

"No, we agreed this was retribution for his countless misdeeds. It just so happens that the chain of events began with you."

Yu Ting still felt like he was trapped in a dream. "I killed someone?"

His gaze drifted to the spilled coffee nearby, the one thrown by the woman in the red dress.

The paper cup and lid had separated, lying pitifully in the muddy-brown puddle of coffee—a pathetic sight.

Yet this insignificant cup of coffee had both started and ended everything, effortlessly snuffing out a life.

It was the coffee he had bought, the one he handed to the girl in green, setting everything in motion.

And now, the man who had stood before them moments ago—a cunning, unpunished criminal who had evaded justice—had met his end because of that very cup.

Though Yu Ting hadn’t orchestrated it, in that moment, he understood the illusory Demon Lord’s supreme sense of power.

To erase a person’s existence with a mere flick of the wrist, to exist beyond the constraints of law, morality, or logic—so formidable and elusive that no one could even perceive his influence.

Wasn’t this the very essence of the Demon Lord?

In the brief moment Shen Ying "shared" this power with him, Yu Ting glimpsed it, comprehended it, and was utterly consumed by it.

Now, the Demon Lord’s persona had found a tangible anchor in his mind.

This anchor was crucial—once established, he could observe, analyze, and emulate.

His problem was finally solved.

Yu Ting was riding an emotional high, a sensation no physical thrill could replicate.

He still couldn’t believe it. "You actually did it."

"How?"

Shen Ying took a leisurely bite of cake. "Didn’t I break it down step by step?"

Yu Ting: "I get it, but… it still feels like a dream."

Shen Ying smiled. "It’s just a larger, more precise calculation—like your own observations and analyses."

Yu Ting deadpanned, "Whittling a stick and building a rocket are both forms of tool-making."

But were they even remotely the same?

Finally, Yu Ting exhaled, as if a long-standing puzzle had been answered—though the answer itself was more shocking than the mystery.

"So this is how you knew everything about Shi Shi and us?"

If she could unravel a stranger’s life at a glance, then the rest of them, constantly buzzing around her, were an open book.

Suddenly, a thought struck him, and Yu Ting’s expression turned awkward.

"Such a huge secret… why reveal it to me?"

Shen Ying looked puzzled. "It’s not some classified information."

Yu Ting didn’t buy it. "It isn’t?"

Shen Ying: "Whether others know or not doesn’t affect my abilities—or my earnings."

Yu Ting considered this. Fair point. She never shied away from outright extortion.

Shen Ying added, "It’s just tedious to explain, so I usually don’t bring it up."

A smug grin crept onto Yu Ting’s face. "But you still told me."

"To solve my problem, you even killed someone for me."

"Thanks!"

Shen Ying waved him off. "No need. I always collect payment for what I give."

Yu Ting assumed she meant money and grew even more pleased with himself. "Others pay, but they don’t get this treatment."

"Especially Jiang Liuxu. How many times has he come sniffing around for answers? You never gave him a hint."

"That guy acts like he knows you best. Where does he get the confidence?"

Yu Ting basked in his triumph for a while before remembering. "Wait, what about the third point?"

"You said there were three keys to portraying the Demon Lord."

Shen Ying stood up. "Let’s go. The last one isn’t something we should discuss in public."

Intrigued, Yu Ting followed her home.

By now, Yu Ting was familiar enough with her place to help himself. He grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, took a swig, and grimaced.

"That café’s coffee was terrible."

"Alright, what’s this last secret that had to wait until we got home?"

Shen Ying: "Sex."

Yu Ting choked on his water, coughing violently. His face flushed—whether from the coughing or embarrassment was unclear.

"W-what are you talking about?"

Shen Ying maintained a professional tone. "Be serious. Remember, you’re an actor."

She continued, "To be precise, it’s about desire. The Demon Lord embodies the weariness of someone who has indulged in every pleasure."

"You come from wealth and have achieved fame—most desires are easily within your reach, so this part shouldn’t be hard for you."

"But there’s one area you haven’t explored: sex. That’s a blank slate for you."

Yu Ting’s face burned hotter. "Says who?"

Shen Ying arched a brow. "The Demon Lord is a man of vast experience. After his fall into darkness, he rose through the ranks of the Pleasure Sect. He’s steeped in carnal indulgence, radiating a charm forged in the fires of lust."

"In modern terms, he’s a walking pheromone bomb, human-shaped aphrodisiac. His allure is nothing like his youthful charm—it’s not just about being handsome. It’s the kind of magnetism that shatters inhibitions at a glance."

"And frankly, you’re not there yet."

Shen Ying critiqued, "You’re a brilliant actor. You’ve convincingly portrayed characters of all ages, even elderly men on their deathbeds."

"But those were performances of physicality and life experience. Your sexual presence is still… untapped."

Then her expression softened. "Not that I blame you. After all, you haven’t truly become a man yet."

Yu Ting shot up from his seat. "Who says? I’ve got plenty of experience."

"Did you forget I was the one who took you to the club? There’s no scene I haven’t seen."

Shen Ying: "Then when was your first time?"

Yu Ting froze. "What?"

Shen Ying: "If you’re so experienced, surely you remember when it happened."

Yu Ting’s eyes darted to the wall, avoiding her gaze.

"Uh… three years ago."

Shen Ying looked skeptical. "Really? Because that year, you didn’t seem—"

Yu Ting cut in, flustered. "It happened, alright? Just because you’re all-knowing doesn’t mean you were hiding in the corner spying on me!"

"It happened!"

Shen Ying sighed. "Fine. If that’s the case, then I have nothing left to teach you. Consultation over. You can go."

"Huh?" Yu Ting was stunned.

Shen Ying shooed him. "If you’re already experienced, then you’ve got all three elements down. Just piece them together yourself."

"Let's go, hurry back to the set to digest this. Don’t waste time."

Yu Ting walked to the door in a daze, then hesitated and turned back to look at Shen Ying.

He twisted the doorknob, pushed the door open, and even stepped halfway out—yet she still didn’t call him back.

Finally, Yu Ting couldn’t hold back anymore. Crestfallen, he closed the door and shuffled back inside.

Hanging his head in shame, he muttered, "I’m sorry. I was just bragging. I don’t know anything."

"Teach me. I want to win."

He wanted to deliver a flawless performance, one that would make his birth mother deeply regret her choices.

Shen Ying gave him a look that said, I knew you were full of it, and mocked him mercilessly.

Then she said, "Fine. Start by trying to seduce me."

Yu Ting stiffened as if electrocuted, forcing himself to suppress his flustered, awkward demeanor.

Struggling to maintain composure, he retorted, "W-wouldn’t it make more sense for you to seduce me?"

Shen Ying raised an eyebrow. "Be realistic. Do you think you can suddenly gain the experience of a demon lord overnight?"

"But you do have an excellent reference right in front of you. What you need is to draw out what you require from me—observe it, mimic it, embody it."

Yu Ting fell silent for a moment, then finally muttered, his ears burning red, "...Fine."

With that, he stood and shrugged off his jacket.

Yu Ting’s fashion endorsements were top-tier, and not just because of his popularity or filmography—his physique and innate sense of style elevated every design.

Today, he wore a pearl-white silk shirt underneath, its subtle sheen catching the light.

As the jacket slid off his shoulders, down his arms, the movement was unnervingly smooth, as if his body’s allure was being revealed frame by frame.

By the time Yu Ting left Shen Ying’s place, his expression was dazed.

Compared to before he entered, his demeanor had visibly shifted—he looked thoroughly handled.

He glanced back at the now-closed door, a nagging suspicion creeping in.

Had he been tricked?

Yet he had genuinely grasped the essence of his character. His mind was now crystal clear about how to approach the role.

Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d been swindled.

As Yu Ting wandered off in a daze, Shen Ying inside lit a cigarette.

She took a long drag, exhaled a plume of smoke, and sighed contentedly. "That was satisfying."

The system erupted in outrage: [You shameless woman!]

[You used ‘teaching’ as an excuse to take advantage of him! What do you even think the male lead is?]

Shen Ying feigned innocence. "What did I do? I selflessly shared my expertise and patiently guided him. I’ve made a huge contribution to his career growth."

"How is that a bad thing in your eyes?"

The system fumed: [You treated him like a free male escort, didn’t you? No wonder you were so generous today.]

[Poor male lead got tricked into ‘debuting’ without even getting paid—wait, no, HE’S the one who paid YOU!]

[A scoundrel like you deserves retribution.]

Shen Ying ignored it entirely, leaving the system seething.

After returning to the mountain set, Yu Ting locked himself in his room for hours.

When he finally emerged, he immediately told the director to prepare for his scenes.

Once in costume and makeup, the director could see the shift in his aura.

His performance that day was so electrifying that the director couldn’t stop praising him—

"This is it. If he keeps this up, a Best Actor nomination is practically guaranteed."

Winning would depend on his team’s efforts, but Yu Ting’s team was formidable. With talent like this, competition wouldn’t stand a chance.

After filming wrapped, the director and producer showered him with flattery.

But the moment Yu Ting saw them, his temper flared.

Sitting in his chair as they reviewed footage, he snapped, "You two have been reporting my every move to Shen Ying, haven’t you?"

"Even told her I slept with a cat?"

"Who is she, some mega-investor or my legal guardian? Why are you updating her like she’s your boss?"

The director and producer exchanged glances. What was his problem now?

You’re the one who invited her to secret shoots. You’re the one who keeps using her as an excuse for leave.

And now you’re acting all high and mighty?

But they knew Yu Ting’s temper—and with him delivering such a stellar performance, they had to indulge him.

So they quickly backtracked: "Y-yes, you’re right. That was thoughtless of us."

"Honestly, it is weird. From now on, we won’t breathe a word about you to anyone."

"Not even if Miss Shen asks. She won’t get a single detail out of us."

"Should we just… kick her from the group chat?"

Yu Ting’s face darkened. "There are, like, five people in that chat. You spend all day sucking up to her, and now you’ll just boot her? How heartless can you be?"

"Have you no shame?"

Director & Producer: "…"

"Then… we’ll only discuss work? Maybe she’ll leave on her own if she gets bored."

Yu Ting’s expression soured further. "So now you’re giving her the silent treatment? How cruel."

Director & Producer: "…"

You’re the one throwing a tantrum, and we’re the villains here?

The two middle-aged men took a deep breath. "Then what do you suggest?"

Yu Ting scowled. "Did I ever stop you from doing anything?"

Director: "You just chewed us out! Wasn’t that a warning to keep our mouths shut? Or are you just being difficult for fun?"

Producer: "Yeah, you clearly meant you didn’t want us telling Miss Shen about you."

Yu Ting: "No, I didn’t. You just can’t comprehend basic language."

The director and producer nearly laughed. This damn diva.

"Alright, then explain what you actually meant with all those accusations."

Yu Ting straightened, his face stern and unyielding. "I meant your reports lack substance."

"They’re too dry, understand? Next time, include photos and videos. If you don’t have any, ask me."

He ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‍then coughed lightly and added, "Director can take them. Not you, Producer Li. Your shots are ugly."