How to Tame a Bossy Guy

1

"Since it's not life-threatening, why don't you take the plunge?"

As soon as the words were spoken, there was a splash, and the crowd on the shore erupted into chaos. It felt as if I had been suddenly pulled into an abyss, surrounded by darkness with no way to struggle free.

My head throbbed painfully, as if it had been split open. I snapped my eyes open, and a blinding white light chased away the echoes in my mind.

Looking around, it seemed like a ward. Beside the bed sat a laid-back, roguish young man, munching on an apple with one hand and fiddling with his phone with the other.

His entire demeanor screamed "rich kid" and "playboy". I racked my brain, but in my 24 years of life, I couldn't recall knowing anyone like him. Struggling, I managed to speak, "You..."

The moment I spoke, the young man flinched, startled, and I was taken aback myself because my voice was hoarse and grating.

"Wow, Ashlyn, you are awake? The doctors said you'd be out for at least a day. Your recovery is truly astonishing."

Ashlyn? Who was she?

A flood of questions filled my mind.

Seeing my confusion, the young man put on a mock-sympathetic face and said again, "Ashlyn, did Kade push you into the lake and the water got into your brain? Honestly, of all people, why did you have to fall for Kade, the domineering CEO? He's only ever had eyes for Elissa who was innocent-looking for him ..."

The young man continued to prattle on, and I finally caught a few key names.

Ashlyn? Kade? Elissa?

Weren't these characters from that melodramatic romance novel I just read? What was going on? Did I become a character in the novel?

I snatched the phone from the young man's hand and looked at the screen. Reflected back was a slightly haggard yet undeniably striking face, though the soggy long black hair detracted from its beauty.

This face was definitely not the one I'd seen in the mirror for 24 years!

Sure enough, I've become a character who was called Ashlyn Burton in the novel I had just written a scathing critique about.

I couldn't help but closed my eyes and sighed. All I did was that I criticized the absurd plot of a domineering CEO romance novel, and now I've become the female lead in the novel I mocked. If only I had been more cautious with my words!

I recalled the novel was titled CEO, Don't Run Away.

In it, the female lead Ashlyn and the male lead Kade grew up together, and they were friends since childhood. Their families also were old friends. Kade was five years older than Ashlyn. While she was still in school, Kade was already the heir to a business empire. Following the typical melodramatic plot, Ashlyn had always loved Kade, who maintained an air of "I'm the CEO, you're not worthy." The foolish Ashlyn only became more determined, setting herself up for heartbreak as she pursued him. A series of dramatic events unfolded, with Ashlyn chasing Kade and being suffered by Kade, only for Kade to eventually originalize his feelings and start pursuing her, turning the tables.

It was a classic tale of role reversal, as I had noted in my critique.

Of course, no melodramatic story would be complete without the malicious second female lead, Elissa, Ashlyn's half-sister. According to the author's plot, Ashlyn's mother fell ill upon learning of Elissa's mother's existence during childbirth and passed away a few years later.

As a result, Ashlyn despised Elissa and her mother, fully embracing her entitled and headstrong heiress persona. Meanwhile, Elissa played the victim, provoking and scheming, while Kade, seemingly blind, always defended the innocent-looking Elissa, never hesitating to criticize Ashlyn.

This led to the opening scene where Ashlyn was pushed into the lake by Kade.

Reflecting on this, I couldn't help but shake my head. Kade had come to Ashlyn's university for an academic seminar, and the virtuous Elissa was chosen to present flowers. Provoked by Elissa's deliberate taunts, Ashlyn, in a moment of heated emotion, gathered a group to corner Elissa in the garden, threatening to push her into the lake if she approached Kade again. Just then, Kade arrived in time to save Elissa, and spurred on by Elissa, pushed Ashlyn into the lake instead.

Although Ashlyn brought it upon herself, she was still pushed into the lake by Kade. It was the one she loved. My presence in this body meant that the original Ashlyn had been killed by the one she loved. As memories of the original owner flooded my mind, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for her.

"Ashlyn, did the water originally get into your brain? Even if you put on that pitiful face, Kade won't fall for it..."

I almost forgot about the young man in front of me. I recalled that he was one of Ashlyn's only two friends, Colton. After all, not many people could tolerate Ashlyn's entitled and headstrong heiress, and only this young man who was regarded as "rich kid" and "playboy" could share Ashlyn's temperament.

In the novel, Ashlyn and Colton had no romantic subplot. Speaking of Ashlyn's friends, the other one was her college roommate, Sarah. Although Ashlyn, as a rich kid, was always surrounded by a group of followers, only these two could be considered true friends.

"Colton, Ashlyn just woke up. Can't you spare her the harsh words?"

Speak of the devil. Sarah walked in with a lab report in hand. "Colton" was a nickname derived from Colton Reed as it was like "begging for alms".

Colton snorted disdainfully and said, "If Miss Burton was afraid of harsh words, she wouldn't have been infatuated with Kade for so many years."

"You're right. I must have been out of my mind to chase after Kade so relentlessly."

Sarah and Colton both looked at me as if they'd seen a stranger, because in the past Ashlyn never allowed anyone to speak ill of Kade, no matter how he treated her.

I couldn't help but chuckle to myself. This was just the beginning. Now that I'm in this body, I have no intention of following the previous foolish plotline.

2

Looking at the luxurious villa and the princess-like bedroom before me, I couldn't help but scream internally, Forget about romance! Money is the original deal!

Don't blame me for being so excited. Before I transmigrated, I was just an ordinary person, working hard to save money, with a salary barely enough to sustain myself in a big city. Now, suddenly wealthy, it's a wonder I didn't roll around on the floor in excitement.

In the novel, Cayson, Ashlyn's father, built his empire from scratch. Despite having an illegitimate daughter like Elissa, he was generally a good father. Otherwise, he wouldn't have disowned Elissa because Ashlyn disapproved of her. However, Ashlyn's hatred for everything which led her to indirectly cause Elissa's mother's death, ruining the father-daughter relationship and eventually driving Cayson to his grave. After Cayson's death, Ashlyn's family was left in ruins, and she resorted to offering herself to Kade, only to be humiliated and rejected. She then drugged him and eventually married with him by having his child.

This was one of the novel's major criticisms-never had there been a female lead so desperate.

Now that I was Ashlyn, I wouldn't follow the novel's path. After returning home, I and Cayson put on a touching display of family affection. Cayson, who had been neglected, was so moved that he generously gave me a large sum of money as compensation. This might not have meant much to the original Ashlyn, but to me, Cayson was now as valuable as god.

Perhaps my admiration was too obvious, so Cayson was more moved and he instructed the driver to take me shopping. For a busy man like Cayson, expressing love through money was the only way he knew.

So, I took a chauffeured car straight to the most expensive hair salon.

Why the hair salon first? Because the original Ashlyn believed Kade liked gentle, long-haired girls, she forced her striking features into a demure style. But the long black hair only made her look awkward.

At the most expensive hair salon, I slapped a gold card on the counter with flair and said, "Get me your best stylist!"

A handsome young man approached, scissors gleaming, flashing a bright smile. "What style would you like, Miss?"

I tossed my hair back and smiled lightly at the stylist, "Give me a sophisticated and chic look."

The stylist, clearly experienced, remained unfazed and got to work immediately.

Four hours later, I looked at my long, curly hair and tried hard not to roll my eyes. "Does this hairstyle originally scream sophistication and chic?"

The stylist flashed a bright smile. "Miss, your face suits this style perfectly. It's youthful yet unique, lively yet sophisticated, with a touch of charm..."

As he continued to praise his handiwork, I couldn't help but interrupt, "Can I ask you a question?"

"What is it?"

"Is your stage name Tony by any chance?"

He was speechless.

Although it wasn't quite the sophisticated and chic look I had imagined, it was definitely an improvement over my previous straight black hair.

After getting my hair done, I headed straight to the mall. My old clothes were either overly pretentious princess outfits or tacky, nouveau riche styles, none of which I wanted to wear.

For the first time in my life, I could shop to my heart's content without worrying about the price, and I got a bit carried away. However, as the saying goes, pride comes before a fall.

So when I found myself staring eye-to-eye with a man over the same piece of clothing... Yes, it was Kade, who was shopping with Elissa.

I couldn't help but screamed internally, Isn't this just like a scene from a soap opera? Bumping into the main guy and his sidekick at the mall? What kind of protagonist aura was this? I was so absorbed in my shopping spree that I didn't notice my surroundings, but can't you two stay away from me? Did we originally need a face-off between the leading lady and her rival?

Despite the turmoil inside, I maintained a calm exterior. Elissa and Kade, on the other hand, looked visibly surprised.

Alright, I forgive you both. After all, with this curly hairstyle, it was hard to see any trace of the original Ashlyn.

3

Kade was the first to recover. He impatiently let go of the clothing we both held and said, "I thought you'd be quiet for a few days after falling into the water. Why are you out here so eagerly?"

Seeing Kade's impatience, I understood. He must think I'm stalking them.

Kade, couldn't you see for yourself? My driver behind me was carrying a dozen bags, clearly indicating I was here first.

Facing the culprit who caused the original Ashlyn's demise, I couldn't muster any goodwill. Although he had the classic novel male lead looks-chiseled features, beautiful lips, deep black eyes... Thinking about these descriptions, I suddenly felt like laughing, and before I knew it, I was laughing out loud.

Seeing me laugh so carelessly, Kade frowned even more and said angrily, "Ashlyn, do I allow you to laugh?"

Am I not allowed to laugh? Do all the domineering CEOs have to be so controlling?

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. "Nothing, it's just that I finally recovered and came out to buy some new clothes, only to be unjustly accused. It's originally baffling."

"The clothes in your house can't even fit in one room, so why are you pretending to be pitiful here? Elissa's few clothes were all you trashed, yet she doesn't go around complaining about having nothing to wear like you do."

Kade accused me bluntly. I wanted to argue that I hadn't done those things, but then I remembered that Ashlyn's group of friends at school might have bullied Elissa. After all, they had done similar things before, so I couldn't deny it.

Speaking of Elissa, I finally took a proper look at her. The original Ashlyn was full of hatred and only saw Elissa as repulsive. But now, looking at her calmly, I found Elissa was truly beautiful. Her skin was snow-white, and her eyes were as bright as a deer's. Although she shared similar features with Ashlyn, Elissa's eyes were round and soft, making her seem vulnerable. No wonder the original Ashlyn went crazy bullying her; this appearance certainly tugged at the heartstrings.

Seeing me staring at Elissa without speaking, Kade pulled Elissa behind him and said, "Ashlyn, why are you glaring at Elissa again? She hasn't told me anything; I saw your group of friends throw her clothes out of the dorm with my own eyes."

Alright, no wonder the original Ashlyn was unlikable. With teammates like these, it was hard to gain any favor.

In the end, Elissa hadn't done anything too excessive; she just happened to like Kade, too. In the novel, early on, Elissa only played the innocent victim, causing minor troubles for Ashlyn. It wasn't until her mother was indirectly harmed by Ashlyn that she turned into the bitch, becoming ruthless and scheming, even resorting to kidnapping and setting up Kade to cheat.

I was not the original Ashlyn, so I didn't hold such a grudge against her. Instead, I felt a bit sorry for her as a victim of school bullying.

So I tilted my head and looked at Elissa, saying, "Um... I was out of line before. I apologize. I'll warn my group of friends not to bother you anymore."

I almost said "gang of friends" but quickly corrected myself.

At this moment, Kade and Elissa both froze, looking surprisingly in sync, probably because they had never seen such a reasonable Ashlyn.

Kade's frown deepened. "What trick are you playing now?"

There's no helping it. The original Ashlyn had such a bad reputation with Kade that it would be hard to change his impression. I shrugged helplessly, returned the clothes to the sales assistant, and turned to leave.

Kade seemed dissatisfied with my attitude, thinking I was plotting something again, and warned, "Ashlyn, I don't care what you're planning. I've told you countless times before, if Elissa ever gets bullied again, you won't escape responsibility."

Feeling guilty about the previous bullying, I didn't intend to argue with them, but Kade was pushing it.

"Kade, regarding Elissa, I hurt too much before, and I feel guilty. But what right do you have to lecture me? When have I ever wronged you? Who gives you the right to warn me?"

Not only did I not wrong you, but the original Ashlyn constantly tried to please you, offering her heart to you, only to be trampled on. If anyone should apologize, it's you to her. I silently added the last part in my mind.

Kade's face darkened instantly. "What did you call me?"

Hmm?

Why was his focus so strange?

I thought for a moment. The original Ashlyn used to call him "Dear Kade." Just thinking about that nickname gave me goosebumps. Could we change these cheesy romance novel nicknames?

"Just because I called you 'dear', did you originally think you could be my real dear? My dad is still around; it's not your place to control me." I replied to him.

I noticed that when Cayson was mentioned, Elissa's face turned pale, although she was silent just now. It dawned on me that Cayson was her father, too, and she had been forced by original Ashlyn to deny their relationship. Unintentionally, I had touched her nerve.

Avoiding her gaze, I continued, "Kade, the bond we shared since childhood has been worn out by your antics over the years. Rest assured, I won't bother you anymore. Just think of Ashlyn as someone who vanished from your life."

Kade's face had been growing darker, but my last words drained the color from it.

I couldn't help but harbor some resentment towards him. The original Ashlyn, though somewhat foolish, was pitiable in her own way.

After saying my piece, I turned to leave, but something felt off.

Wait a minute... Please didn't let this become one of those tales where the heroine suddenly realized she's better off without him, but for the hero to realize his deep feelings and start pursuing her! I came here to be Ashlyn to live as a wealthy second-generation, not to get entangled in romance.

Feeling increasingly uneasy, I glanced back discreetly. Kade looked dazed, unlike deeply falling in love with me, which allowed me to breathe a sigh of relief.

Suddenly, I looked into Elissa's intense, dark gaze, and I felt a twinge of guilt. After all, she and original Ashlyn had been at each other's throats before.

4

Perhaps confronting Kade had put me in a particularly good mood. I had taken a week off, but now I was eager to return to university. Having worked for two years, I knew well the joys of college life.

Ashlyn was now in her junior year, with two more years to enjoy a carefree university life.

With this excitement, I first warned my troublesome friends not to trouble Elissa anymore. Then, I found a stray curly-haired dog on campus. Seeing the dog's curls resembling my own hairstyle, I couldn't resist offering all my snacks, coaxing it for over half an hour before it followed me. Unfortunately, Sarah, who feared dogs, kicked me out of the dorm, so I had no choice but to leave the puppy with the household staff.

Ah, the beautiful university life, here I come!

This excitement lasted only a day. The next day, upon seeing the official class schedule, I started to feel a headache coming on. Although original Ashlyn had been domineering, she had forced herself to get into this top-ranked university to follow Kade. Now, I had to work hard to keep up with original Ashlyn's previous pace.

The first class was calculus. As soon as I entered the classroom, I was stunned. The room, which could hold nearly 200 people, was packed. I couldn't help but marveled, "A prestigious institution indeed, with such a high attendance rate for a dull course."

If not for a friend saving me a seat, I would have had to stand at the back for the lecture. Just as Sarah and I settled into our seats, the professor arrived. Seeing him, I understood why attendance was so high. The students were all dressed up, as if they were at a social mixer rather than a class.

On the podium stood a man in a meticulously pressed white shirt, with the top two buttons undone, revealing a hint of collarbone. His sleeves were rolled up to just below the elbow, exposing a portion of his well-defined wrist. He held a piece of chalk in one hand and lecture notes in the other. His slightly narrow eyes were hidden behind gold-rimmed glasses, giving off an intellectual yet mischievous allure.

Oops, I got carried away and started misusing idioms. Although this professor wasn't more handsome than Kade, my poor impression of Kade made this professor seem increasingly appealing.

Recalling the novel, there was indeed such a character, the renowned tragic second male lead, Kyle. I hadn't remembered him initially because I hadn't paid much attention back then, only knowing there was such a professor without noting what he taught.

Kyle was a top student from a scholarly family, with an impeccable background. Due to his outstanding performance, he was handpicked by the dean to stay on as faculty after graduation. With the dean's support, Kyle's career flourished, rising to the rank of professor, with the dean's position seemingly within reach. Then, the unexpected happened.

In the novel, after the original Ashlyn's near-drowning incident, she became more cautious, no longer recklessly bullying others. Seeing the Kade's special attention to Elissa, who excelled academically, she believed that surpassing Elissa would earn her Kade's notice. However, the original Ashlyn consistently failed calculus, so she began pestering Kyle for tutoring.

After a semester of tutoring, under the influence of the protagonist's halo, Ashlyn indeed scored first, but Kade still didn't spare her a glance. Instead, she unexpectedly gained Kyle's favor. Thus began the dramatic cycle of Kade mistreating Ashlyn, who in turn mistreats Kyle. In the end, Kyle lost his job and, while rescuing the kidnapped Ashlyn, lost a leg. Yet, Ashlyn remained fixated on Kade who had abandoned her in front of the kidnappers. Ultimately, Kyle lived out his days alone, with a limp.

I remembered half of my lengthy critique was about Kyle. Ashlyn's love-struck nature was one thing, but dragging down those around her was another.

Looking at the living, breathing before me, I'm grateful I arrived early, before Ashlyn started approaching him, preserving Kyle's leg and career.

As I resolved to keep my distance from Kyle, who suddenly glanced over, his gaze piercing through the rows of students to land on me. Before I could react, he flashed a smile and looked away.

That unexpected smile seemed to carve a deep hole in my heart, and I was stunned.

It took me a while to regain my composure. I tried to recall hardly if Ashlyn had any prior interaction with Kyle before the near-drowning incident. Now that I inhabited this body, logically, there should have been no prior connection with Kyle. Yet, Kyle's smile suggested otherwise.

Had I overlooked some plot detail? Unable to recall any missing plot points, I decided to stop overthinking. Initially, I intended to keep my distance to save Kyle's career and leg, but that smile shattered all my plans.

My heart seemed to resonate with his name, and since he was meant to be mine in the novel, pursuing him now felt like fulfilling destiny.

I comforted myself with this thought.

After twenty-four years of being single, I finally discovered something more important than money.