Throughout the entire drive, Xia Zeyu had a lingering premonition that something was amiss.
Sure enough, the moment he arrived at his destination and parked his car, a Rolls-Royce pulled up right beside him. The rear door was pulled open by the chauffeur, and Fu Dongyan stepped out from inside.
Fine, playing the game of who can copy the homework faster, are we?
Xia Zeyu stepped out of his car, leaned casually against the vehicle body, and greeted Fu Dongyan.
“President Fu, what a coincidence.”
Fu Dongyan turned his head, his expression completely tranquil, as though he had anticipated that Xia Zeyu would end up here.
“Young Master Xia, long time no see.”
“Wasn’t it just earlier today?”
“Any moment longer than half a day feels like a long time to me.”
A chill rippled down Xia Zeyu’s spine; he always felt that the things Fu Dongyan said made him deeply uncomfortable.
Fu Dongyan strode over, planted one hand against the side of Xia Zeyu’s car, and cornered him against the vehicle in a classic “car-dong.”
A faint, distinctive scent of gardenia drifted from him unusual, considering high-powered corporate CEOs typically smelled of cedarwood.
“Nice perfume,” Xia Zeyu complimented.
“Like it? Want a bottle?”
“No need, I don’t like wearing cologne,” Xia Zeyu lifted his chin, cutting straight to the point. “What brings President Fu to a tiny company like this?”
“Meeting an actor to discuss a potential collaboration.”
“Given your financial muscle at Shengjan, you could easily afford to hire A-list stars.”
“I happen to prefer prospecting for raw gemstones.”
Xia Zeyu let out a cold snort, thinking to himself: Who are you trying to put on an act for?
“If you were a star…” Fu Dongyan gazed deeply into Xia Zeyu’s eyes, “I’d genuinely love to hire you.”
“Sure, I’d be more than happy to endorse Shengjan’s jewelry brand. Even though I’m not an actual celebrity, we could always sign a personal contract instead,” Xia Zeyu bantered.
“Oh? Sounds good. Once you’re done with your business, let’s talk about it. I’ll wait for you in the car.”
With that, Fu Dongyan turned on his heel, walked back to his vehicle, and slid on his sunglasses.
Xia Zeyu: ???
Wait, is he actually serious about wanting me to endorse them?
What kind of bizarre plot development is this?
The original novel never mentioned the original owner endorsing anything!
Has this world lost its mind?
Though baffled, Xia Zeyu knew business came first. He picked up his briefcase and headed inside.
Starlight Entertainment was minuscule in scale, occupying less than a hundred square meters in total floor space, with only three artists under its roster. Chi Wei happened to be their top earner, yet she usually had to thank the heavens just to land a minor supporting role let alone a brand endorsement.
Consequently, when Xia Zeyu laid out his intentions, the boss was flabbergasted, scrambling in a panic to brew their finest tea to host him.
Although the Xia enterprise carried a tarnished reputation, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse; it was still a recognizable name in the industry.
Seeing Xia Zeyu offer a five-million-yuan endorsement fee, the boss’s hands trembled visibly.
“T-This… Director Xia, did you accidentally type an extra zero?” the boss asked nervously.
“No mistake, it’s five million yuan.”
“The total combined paychecks Chi Wei has earned across her entire career don’t even add up to that much…”
“I’ve watched several roles played by Ms. Chi. Her acting is exceptional, deeply touching my heart, and it’s a genuine pity that despite grinding diligently for all these years, she hasn’t caught a breakthrough. Perhaps she’s simply lacking an opportunity for the public to notice her talents. If I can be that opportunity, then this five million is well spent.”
The office door pushed open, and a young woman hurried in. She clumsily set down her bag before settling cautiously into a seat.
“H-Hello, Director Xia.”
“Hello.” Xia Zeyu softened his expression as much as possible.
She was Chi Wei, twenty-six years old, standing at one hundred and seventy centimeters tall. Her skin wasn’t exceptionally fair, nor was her build slender, but her head-to-body ratio was quite favorable. Her features didn’t possess the kind of instant, stunning beauty that took one’s breath away; rather, her overall appearance was harmonious and pleasing. Crucially, her brow bone carried a sharp, heroic masculinity that, paired with a clearly defined jawline, gave her a fierce, arresting edge a rare trait in an entertainment industry dominated by delicate, frail “white lotus” archetypes. This exact quality had previously made it difficult for her to land leading roles, relegated exclusively to minor parts, until the explosive breakout role of a righteous female martial artist in a historical drama a role tailor-made for her allowed her to shine brilliantly.
Her appearance and physique were exceptionally well-suited for Hanfu or traditional Qipao. If the Xia enterprise intended to pivot back toward its ancient heritage craft roots, setting aside star power and status, casting someone with her specific look as a brand ambassador was undeniably the correct choice.
Xia Zeyu succinctly outlined his vision, walked them through the contract clauses, and repeatedly reassured them that there were no hidden traps or loopholes, prompting the two to nod and sign the agreement on the spot.
Collaborating with minor artists moved with refreshing speed unencumbered by excessive choices, they seized any opportunity presented to them with both hands.
Before departing, Xia Zeyu casually threw out a suggestion to Chi Wei: “I happen to think a character in Frostless would be a wonderful fit for you. You might want to drop by for an audition.”
Chi Wei’s eyes lit up with sudden excitement: “I was actually planning to head over for an audition these next couple of days.”
“Wonderful, looking forward to your performance.”
In truth, Chi Wei would have auditioned for the role regardless of whether Xia Zeyu mentioned it, and she possessed the capability to secure the part independently without anyone’s assistance. However, tossing out those words would instill in Chi Wei the impression that “finally, someone truly understands me,” paving the way for her to drop a few flattering words about him during future media appearances—an outcome well worth the effort.
The moment he stepped out of the company’s front doors, the familiar electronic chime rang out in his mind:
[Host, aren’t you worried that Shen Congjin might swoop in shortly with a heftier endorsement fee to poach Chi Wei over to his side?]
“In the original text, he only tossed Chi Wei thirty thousand yuan for a promotional gig purely to humor Tang Tang. Given Chi Wei’s current tier, he’d never be willing to fork out over five million to sign her.”
[What if he decides to lock horns with you out of sheer spite?]
“I have faith in Chi Wei. She isn’t someone who breaks faith for profit, and she values loyalty and the order of who came first.”
Aside from poor company resources and a lack of suitable roles, another primary reason Chi Wei had languished in obscurity for so long was her steadfast refusal to submit to unspoken industry rules. Sleeping with power brokers was entirely out of the question, and she wouldn’t even agree to accompany executives for dinners or casual chat. Whenever she ran into directors with sticky hands and wandering eyes, she wouldn’t hesitate to put on a cold face and walk away. Many dismissed her as ungrateful and excessively arrogant, but Xia Zeyu believed she was entirely in the right gains acquired by abandoning one’s core principles were never enduring and often carried a heavy backlash.
Now then… it was time to deal with the grand deity waiting downstairs.
Stepping out of the elevator, Xia Zeyu spotted Fu Dongyan’s vehicle right where he left it. Fu Dongyan was leaning against the car body, one hand tucked into his pocket while the other pinched a lit cigarette between slender, pale fingers, distinct knuckles visible against his fair skin, faintly tracing the line of veins. The simple act of holding a cigarette carried a strangely magnetic, seductive charm.
Xia Zeyu walked right up, snatched the cigarette from his fingers, dropped it onto the asphalt, and ground it out with the sole of his shoe.
“No smoking in underground parking lots,” Xia Zeyu scolded with a touch of annoyance.
The methane concentration in the underground spaces of his original world ran dangerously high; the tiniest spark could trigger a catastrophic disaster, making Xia Zeyu habitually cautious around open flames.
“Hey, you…”
Fu Dongyan’s assistant instantly started forward, but Fu Dongyan raised a hand to halt him, signaling with his eyes to back off.
“Finished chatting?” Fu Dongyan asked.
“Mmm.”
“Then you can chat with me now, right? Since it’s nearly lunchtime, pick a spot and we can grab a bite while we talk.”
Tossing his car keys to his assistant, Fu Dongyan walked over to stand beside Xia Zeyu’s car.
“You ride with me.”
Xia Zeyu heaved a sigh of resignation, stepping forward to unlock the car door for him.
The two maintained silence throughout the drive. Lacking the mood to even turn on the stereo, Xia Zeyu slammed his foot down on the accelerator, eager to drop him off as fast as humanly possible.
Xia Zeyu drove Fu Dongyan straight to a bustling roadside food stall, parking himself casually at an empty plastic table.
Fu Dongyan: “…You brought me here to eat?”
“Finding it beneath you?” Xia Zeyu didn’t even spare him a glance, flipping open the menu immediately. “A whole fish costs only twenty-five yuan places like this are fantastic.”
A helpless smile touched Fu Dongyan’s lips as he pulled out a chair and sat down.
Xia Zeyu knew high-powered corporate executives lived out of five-star establishments at a minimum; his primary goal here was simply to ruffle Fu Dongyan’s feathers.
If you provoke an NPC outside the main storyline, what kind of consequences follow?
Yet Fu Dongyan displayed zero trace of negative emotion, calmly reaching out to pull a paper napkin to wipe down the table surface.
“Do they serve barbecue here yet?” Fu Dongyan asked.
“Not yet. Who grills meat in broad daylight? Usually doesn’t start until evening.”
“How about we come back here for dinner tonight, then?”
Xia Zeyu paused mid-motion, lifting his gaze to eye Fu Dongyan with sharp suspicion: “Are you… genuinely trying to flirt with me?”
“Take a guess.”
“I refuse to guess,” Xia Zeyu shoved the menu across the table. “Your turn to order.”
“Hmm… let’s get an order of mustard green and clam soup? This stir-fried pork kidney looks good, let’s get that too. And a plate of smashed cucumbers to cleanse the palate.”
“Works for me.”
Once the waiter collected the menu, the two sat opposite one another in dead silence, the atmosphere lapsing into an awkward lull.
Until the tea was served, Xia Zeyu finally found a distraction. He poured a cup for Fu Dongyan first, using the opening to steer the conversation.
“President Fu, have you ever dined at a place like this before?”
“Back when I was first starting out in business, I ate at street-side food stalls all the time. Conditions were often even worse than this usually makeshift canvas tents set up right beside construction sites, or fast-food carts run by struggling couples. Back then, nobody cared about safety or hygiene regulations as long as it filled your stomach.”
Xia Zeyu looked genuinely surprised: “You actually have a background like that?”
“Otherwise, what did you imagine my past looked like?”
“Figured you were some pampered silver-spoon rich kid at the very least, not a whit behind Shen Congjin.”
Fu Dongyan fell silent for a few seconds before speaking again, his tone dropping a few degrees into a cooler register: “Don’t bring up Shen Congjin while we’re eating. It ruins my appetite.”
“Did something happen between the two of you?”
Fu Dongyan offered no elaboration, leaving Xia Zeyu with no opening to press further.
Once the dishes arrived, Fu Dongyan rolled up his sleeves and dug in directly, exhibiting zero airs or pretense.
Yet how should he put it… the visual spectacle remained thoroughly bizarre.
Inside a dimly lit, gritty street stall, a breathtaking mixed-race beauty clad in an impeccably expensive tailored suit sat on a plastic stool, holding a disposable bowl with a Patek Philippe strapped to his wrist, chopsticks flying as he continuously loaded food onto his plate a jarring mismatch from every conceivable angle.
Still, Xia Zeyu found himself half-believing Fu Dongyan’s earlier backstory; judging by his familiarity with the environment, he genuinely seemed accustomed to dining at places of this caliber.
As the meal wound down to a close, Fu Dongyan resumed his questioning: “Heading to the fighting arena tonight?”
“Most likely.”
“Put on a good show. I’m bringing a few friends along tonight,” Fu Dongyan paused to take a sip of soup before adding, “Perform well, and I’ll tack on an extra bonus.”
“How much extra?”
“Eight million per match. I don’t care how brutally efficient you are, but the choreography and visual flair of your moves have to be dazzling.”
“No problem.” Xia Zeyu flashed an OK sign.
Fu Dongyan lowered his gaze, successfully concealing the smile curving the corners of his lips.
During his previous matches, Xia Zeyu had deliberately pulled his punches, making it impossible to determine whether he possessed supernatural or anomalous abilities. If he forced him to pull off flashy, martial-arts-style flair, perhaps some clues would slip through.
“Oh right, didn’t you mention wanting me to endorse your brand?” Xia Zeyu recalled the pressing matter. “Why me, specifically?”
“Your looks don’t lose out to professional stars.”
“But my reputation is in the gutter, and I carry zero fan influence.”
“Your reputation is going to turn around. My sixth sense tells me so.”
“Do you run your entire corporate empire purely based on your sixth sense?”
“Pretty much.”
Xia Zeyu lowered his head to sip his tea, a faint prickle of wariness stirring within him.
Could this guy’s superpower happen to be precognition? If so, this isn’t an open-book exam anymore—he’s walking around with the literal answer key memorized.
Finishing his final drop of tea, Fu Dongyan spoke with unhurried composure: “Once the timing matures, we’ll sit down and formally negotiate the collaboration. For now, focus your energy on wrapping things up with Chi Wei.”
“We’ll talk when the time comes.”
“If you have other tasks to attend to, head back first. My chauffeur will be by to pick me up shortly.”
“Alright, I’ll go settle the bill.”
Xia Zeyu strode up to the counter to pay, then walked straight out without even offering a polite farewell, eager to put as much distance between himself and Fu Dongyan as possible.
A helpless smile touched Fu Dongyan’s lips as he pulled out his phone and dialed his assistant.
“Good afternoon, President Fu. Is there anything you need?”
“Today after 5:30 PM, dispatch a few individuals to track down Xia Zeyu and beat him up.”
“W-What?!” The assistant’s voice cracked in pure shock. “Uh, President Fu, even if he was slightly impolite earlier and dragged you to a somewhat unsanitary food stall, surely there’s no need to resort to physical violence? What if he files a police report…”
“He won’t. Just make sure you select individuals with solid physical builds, I want to see whether he’s capable of walking into the fighting arena on his own two feet tonight.”