Be a Perfect Heartthrob

Jing Nian'an, the eldest daughter of the wealthy Jing family, wakes from a vivid nightmare in which she is executed by a loyal subordinate of a female protagonist. She realizes she has transmigrated into a novel as a vicious cannon fodder character destined for a tragic death. Terrified of her fate, she resolves to avoid the novel's female lead, Lin Jinhuan, at all costs. However, her attempts to isolate herself are complicated by her guardian, Jing Lüyan, a cold and controlling older brother figure who monitors her every move. Jing Lüyan has hired Lin Jinhuan to protect Jing Nian'an, creating a fragile alliance that Jing Nian'an desperately tries to undermine by refusing to interact with the female lead.

The narrative shifts to Lin Jinhuan, who is engaged in a brutal power struggle within her own family. She views her contract with the Jing family as purely transactional, expecting to gain influence in exchange for guarding Jing Nian'an. When Jing Nian'an cancels their plans to visit a bar, Lin Jinhuan becomes suspicious and decides to visit her personally. Upon arriving, she finds Jing Nian'an acting strangely aloof and defensive. Despite the young miss's attempts to keep her distance, Lin Jinhuan insists on teaching her about alcohol, leading to a moment where Jing Nian'an gets drunk and collapses. This incident brings Jing Lüyan home early, resulting in the termination of Lin Jinhuan's contract and a significant financial penalty.

At St. Silan Academy, an elite institution for the children of the wealthy, Jing Nian'an encounters Sheng Ran, a male supporting character known for his hostility toward her. In the original novel, Sheng Ran is devoted to the female lead, but his interactions with Jing Nian'an in this timeline are marked by confusion and unexpected jealousy. When Jing Nian'an ignores his provocations and attempts to skip class to avoid the plot, Sheng Ran becomes increasingly agitated, culminating in a physical altercation where she slaps him. His reaction is not anger but a strange sense of satisfaction, indicating a shift in his character dynamics.

Jing Nian'an attempts to change her fate by studying hard, a行为 that shocks her peers and generates significant attention on the school forum. Sheng Ran, who monitors the forum, becomes possessive of these images, banning users who post photos of her. Meanwhile, Lin Jinhuan, despite being fired, secretly sends a strawberry cake to Jing Nian'an through an assistant, revealing her lingering concern. Jing Nian'an, however, remains oblivious to these gestures, focusing instead on her desire to avoid the novel's tragic trajectory. The story highlights the complex web of relationships between Jing Nian'an, Jing Lüyan, Wen Zhuo, Lin Jinhuan, and Sheng Ran, as each character navigates their roles in this altered narrative.

As the story progresses, the boundaries between protection and control blur. Jing Lüyan's surveillance of Jing Nian'an is both a safeguard and a constraint, while Wen Zhuo's gentle demeanor masks deeper familial tensions. Jing Nian'an's efforts to rewrite her destiny are met with resistance from the very characters she seeks to avoid, forcing her to adapt her strategies. The novel explores themes of fate, free will, and the impact of knowledge on personal relationships, as Jing Nian'an struggles to survive in a world where every interaction is fraught with potential danger.