Pretending Not to Love You [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 29

Chapter 29

This answer was quite venomous; it essentially meant letting the two stars “drown.” Although it was just a game setting, if their fans saw it, the newcomer would definitely be slammed for being arrogant.

“Haha, Junjun just loves joking with the two seniors. They both know how to swim, they don’t need anyone to save them,” Zuo Qiu quickly smoothed over Xiao Baijun’s words.

The female reporter was left speechless by the absurd Xiao Baijun, but thankfully, this could be considered a highlight for the program. Since Zuo Qiu had given her an out, regardless of the truth, she immediately took the opportunity: “Your relationship is so good, it’s truly enviable.”

Zuo Qiu, hearing the female reporter no longer challenging them, slowly relaxed his nervous mood.

Outside the studio, the editor-in-chief looked sympathetically at Zhao Zhixian: “Brother Zhao, is it tough looking after the Crown Prince?” People like Xiao Baijun are, at best, called straightforward, and at worst, arrogant. Zhao Zhixian’s job was not easy.

Zhao Zhixian’s professional standards were quite good; he wouldn’t expose his boss’s family secrets in front of others. He just glanced at the editor-in-chief and remained silent.

In the car on the way back, Zhao Zhixian didn’t dare say anything about Xiao Baijun’s inappropriateness, but Zuo Qiu, as his classmate and partner, complained to Xiao Baijun as soon as they got in the car: “Xiao Er, when we are on a show, can you not be so impulsive? You nearly scared me to death with that stunt.”

Xiao Baijun glanced at Zuo Qiu, “Didn’t you handle the improvisation very well? Don’t worry.” After speaking, he looked at Zhao Zhixian. If Zuo Qiu couldn’t save the situation, Zhao Zhixian wouldn’t just sit by either.

Zhao Zhixian understood Xiao Baijun’s meaning and chimed in, “Yes, if there’s any problem, I’ll step in and resolve it for you.”

Zuo Qiu understood, but they couldn’t always rely on others. Instead of relying on damage control later, it was better to try to be as perfect as possible during the process.

Even though Zuo Qiu didn’t say it aloud, Xiao Baijun, who had been with him for three years, understood his meaning just by looking at his expression. He reluctantly conceded: “Don’t worry, I’ll pay attention in the future.”

Zuo Qiu’s expression softened upon hearing Xiao Baijun’s promise. Xiao Baijun had one good quality: he didn’t make promises lightly, but once he did, he would certainly keep them. Therefore, Zuo Qiu was partly relieved.

Zhao Zhixian sat on the side, watching the Second Young Master’s expression—the one that said, “I don’t actually agree, but since you said it, I’ll reluctantly listen to you”—and felt a little strange, but couldn’t quite pinpoint why. Seeing the atmosphere in the car return to normal, and remembering the news he had received earlier, he said to the two: “I’ve been negotiating an advertisement endorsement for a facial mask brand for you recently. It’s almost finalized.”

Last Saturday, the preview for Come With Me featured a scene of the two of them applying face masks. Zhao Zhixian thought this was a business opportunity, so he contacted several second- and third-tier domestic face mask brands. Sure enough, some businesses were interested.

“Really?” Zuo Qiu was very happy to hear that. “Does that mean we’ll have free face masks in the future?”

Heaven knows, that day he looked up the mask Zhao Zhixian gave them online, and was shocked by the price. One sheet was actually $20, and 5 sheets cost $100. That amount of money, in his previous life, would have meant distributing promotional flyers for a whole day!

Xiao Baijun laughed and scolded him, “You’re obsessed with money.”

Zuo Qiu retorted: “I’m just a laborer in the entertainment industry, of course I can’t compare to the Second Young Master of the Xiao family.”

Xiao Baijun glanced at Zhao Zhixian and swallowed the half-true, half-false remark that was about to come out: “Then I’ll keep you, and you’ll have an endless supply of face masks.”

Zhao Zhixian listened to their banter with a smile, his mind beginning to ponder what the editor-in-chief had said earlier. Perhaps he was right.

When the two returned home, Zuo Qiu prepared dinner. “What do you want to eat?”

Xiao Baijun recalled the tossed noodles and cold-tossed beef from last night and felt a little craving, so he ordered those two things.

Zuo Qiu nodded in agreement, made a generous portion of tossed noodles, cold-tossed some beef, and made a vegetable soup.

Xiao Baijun finished eating and put down his chopsticks contentedly. “I’m thinking we’ll be staying on the set for two months next. Should we bring cooking utensils?” What Zuo Qiu made was delicious and hygienic, definitely better than the boxed meals from the crew.

Zuo Qiu was also tempted. Even if he didn’t cook every day, it would be nice to occasionally make something they craved.

“I’ll call Brother Zhao and ask.”

Zuo Qiu called Zhao Zhixian, first asking for the specific flight time, and then asking about bringing cooking utensils.

“Generally, it’s okay to do it in the hotel room, there’s no major impact,” Zhao Zhixian said.

Zuo Qiu said okay, and just as he was about to hang up, Zhao Zhixian spoke again.

“Zuo Qiu, someone recently told me they would like to make friends with you. Are you interested?” Zhao Zhixian spoke very ambiguously.

Zuo Qiu, who lacked social experience, was confused, “Make friends?” Why would someone want to make friends with him?

Seeing that Zuo Qiu didn’t understand, Zhao Zhixian was more direct, “It’s the kind where you often eat and go out together, and they’ll give you something in return,” then, fearing Zuo Qiu might feel uncomfortable, he immediately added, “You think about it first, and if you have any thoughts, contact me promptly.”

Zuo Qiu held the disconnected phone, still looking puzzled.

Xiao Baijun saw his expression was off and thought it might be about the cooking utensils, so he asked, “What’s wrong? Did Brother Zhao say no?”

Zuo Qiu shook his head.

“Then what is it?”

Zuo Qiu frowned and asked Xiao Baijun, “Brother Zhao said someone wants to make friends with me, and they said all I need to do is go out to eat and play together, and they’ll give me something in return? I don’t really understand, can ‘making friends’ have a return?” This return clearly meant money, and Zuo Qiu had never heard of making friends like this.

Xiao Baijun’s face darkened when he heard this. Zuo Qiu was naive and didn’t understand, but Xiao Baijun, who grew up hearing his grandma and mom gossip and seeing too many such things, immediately understood: Zhao Zhixian was pimping!

Some people are too vile, and Xiao Baijun didn’t want Zuo Qiu to know, so he told a white lie: “Oh, I know about that. It’s just people in the industry getting to know each other, having meals, and then helping each other out in the future by sharing resources as much as possible.” There were indeed such friends in the industry; people grouped together for support to increase exposure, and if they came across resources that could be shared, they would share them.

“Oh, so that’s what it is.” Zuo Qiu nodded. It sounded good. The path in the entertainment industry was difficult, and helping each other was understandable.

Xiao Baijun then said: “However, you’d better not go.”

Zuo Qiu looked at Xiao Baijun, waiting for an explanation.

Xiao Baijun wore a troubled expression. “You know, your current resources are the same as mine. We both have backing. If you give resources to others, I’m afraid it will make things difficult for my brother.” Xiao Baijun used his brother as an excuse, completely deflecting the blame.

Zuo Qiu thought about it; that was true. His debut was so smooth precisely because he had resources similar to, or even better than, Xiao Baijun’s. He couldn’t cause any more trouble for the company.

“I’ll listen to you.”

After reassuring Zuo Qiu, Xiao Baijun saw him busy in the kitchen, went straight into the bedroom, and called Zhao Zhixian.

“Since when did Manager Zhao start working a side job?”

Zhao Zhixian was slightly surprised by Xiao Baijun’s cold, sarcastic tone. “Second Young Master, is there some misunderstanding?”

Xiao Baijun ignored his question and continued: “I’ll say this, and only once: stop saying those messy things that pollute Zuo Qiu’s ears in the future. Just do your part. Next year, I’ll be in charge of Baile. Do you understand?”

He hung up the phone immediately after the threat.

Zhao Zhixian couldn’t recover for a long time. He reviewed everything he had done today, trying to figure out what he had said to Zuo Qiu that had offended the Second Young Master. Everything was fine after dropping them off at home from the magazine office…

Could it be that call he made to Zuo Qiu just now?

It must be it. The Second Young Master felt that he shouldn’t introduce a sugar daddy to Zuo Qiu, so he warned him. But this was clearly Zuo Qiu’s private business; Zuo Qiu hadn’t said anything. Why was the Second Young Master making such a fuss?

Hiss… Could it be… Zhao Zhixian broke out in a cold sweat. The deeper he thought, the more he felt that Xiao Baijun’s feelings for Zuo Qiu were unusual, but if that were the case, the boss definitely wouldn’t have let them debut as a duo! It shouldn’t be what he thought… right?

Xiao Baijun left the bedroom right after hanging up the phone. He didn’t care what Zhao Zhixian would speculate or think after that call. Ultimately, all he cared about was Zuo Qiu’s feelings. Everyone else, who cares?

At this moment, Zuo Qiu was sitting in the living room, scooping and eating watermelon while watching TV, waiting for Come With Me to start. Xiao Baijun looked at Zuo Qiu, who had been frowning moments ago but was now heartlessly eating. He sighed inwardly. Should he announce his claim of ownership soon, lest this little white rabbit accidentally fall into someone else’s trap?