Pretending Not to Love You [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Hearing this, they know each other?

Zuo Qiu also turned to look at the doorway. A man in his late twenties, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, was walking toward them. His eyes were fixed on Xiao Bojun, clearly addressing him.

Three or four people followed the man in glasses, and everyone in the room stood up and bowed to greet him. This person was clearly a company executive.

Zuo Qiu saw the display of power and immediately regretted his actions. Why does this look like an enemy reunion? Now there were seven or eight people on their side, but only two on theirs, and he was practically useless. Zuo Qiu silently planned that if a fight broke out, he absolutely couldn’t hold Xiao Bojun back. If possible, he hoped Xiao Bojun could leave safely.

“What’s wrong? Haven’t seen you in a few days, and you’ve forgotten how to greet people?” the man in glasses said, looking at Xiao Bojun.

Hearing the completely “provocative” tone, Zuo Qiu internally cursed himself for being a jinx. I shouldn’t have called Xiao Bojun. Why didn’t I think of calling the police in the first place!

He grabbed Xiao Bojun’s arm and whispered, “If the situation turns bad…” you leave first.

“Brother.” Xiao Bojun, having no choice, called out to the newcomer.

Xiao Bojun’s sudden address made Zuo Qiu swallow the rest of his words. Brother? This is Xiao Bojun’s older brother?

Xiao Bolin glanced at his younger brother and his roommate behind him, then at the staff member who still couldn’t get up after Xiao Bojun’s kick. He signaled to the two people behind him, who stepped forward and helped the man up.

“Come to my office.” Xiao Bolin said this and walked out first. Xiao Bojun exchanged a look with Zuo Qiu, and followed Xiao Bolin out the door.

…

“…Before the commercial shoot, Zuo Qiu signed a contract with the production team as a temporary employee of our company. After the shoot, I asked him to come to the company to complete the formalities and collect his payment,” Zhao Zhixian explained the sequence of events.

Zuo Qiu, sitting next to Xiao Bojun, retorted, “Then why did you force me to change clothes and take photos? None of this was mentioned before.”

They only agreed to film the commercial, but later they made him change clothes and take photos with someone else. Who knew what they planned to do with his pictures!

Zhao Zhixian heard this, glanced at Xiao Bolin, and felt a little guilty. At that time, seeing Zuo Qiu was a promising talent, he wanted to have him try on some outfits and test the chemistry with another male artist under him. If their partnership looked good, he planned to debut them as a duo. He hadn’t told Zuo Qiu explicitly because he was afraid the result wouldn’t be ideal. He thought Zuo Qiu wouldn’t refuse a simple photo shoot, but he had clearly misunderstood.

Xiao Bolin understood immediately. He shot a warning look at Zhao Zhixian and then said to Zuo Qiu, “Classmate Zuo, then tell us, did they do anything else unreasonable? Besides forcing you to change clothes, did they force you to do anything else?”

Zuo Qiu thought for a moment and shook his head. Other than not letting him leave and forcing him to change clothes, they hadn’t forced him to do anything else after he refused the photo shoot.

Xiao Bojun, who had been silent, raised an eyebrow and questioned Zhao Zhixian: “What’s the meaning of someone laying hands on Zuo Qiu the moment I walked in?”

Zhao Zhixian immediately cried injustice, “Second Young Master, before you arrived, that staff member was telling Zuo Qiu to follow him to change clothes. When Zuo Qiu ran toward the door, he just stopped him. There was no ill intent.”

Xiao Bojun looked at Zuo Qiu, his eyes questioning if this was true.

Zuo Qiu tugged at the clothes that didn’t belong to him and nodded awkwardly. At the time, that person did seem to be saying that, but Zuo Qiu had been too excited to see Xiao Bojun and ignored him. Now, it seemed he had overreacted and caused someone to get hurt. Zuo Qiu felt embarrassed. He knew Xiao Bojun’s fighting power well; he once had a record of kicking someone into the hospital at school. He hoped the guy wasn’t too seriously injured.

…

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

Xiao Bolin called out, “Come in.” The person entered and said to Xiao Bolin, “Manager, this is Zuo Qiu’s daily wage. Please take a look.”

Xiao Bolin glanced at the contract and the cash, then pushed the items toward Zuo Qiu. Seeing the 3,000 yuan in front of him, Zuo Qiu’s face turned as red as a tomato. This misunderstanding was huge!

Xiao Bojun looked at Zuo Qiu, knowing he felt guilty. He wanted to hold his hand but changed his mind at the last minute, settling for patting his shoulder in comfort.

Xiao Bolin glanced at his younger brother again, then waved his hand, dismissing the irrelevant personnel. Only the two brothers and Zuo Qiu remained in the office.

“You’re quite something, aren’t you? No one can beat you when you act out at home!” Before, no matter how much he and their father told him to visit the company, he refused. Now, for the sake of his classmate, he not only showed up uninvited but also injured someone.

Thinking this, Xiao Bolin looked at Zuo Qiu, narrowing his eyes. His younger brother’s relationship with this roommate isn’t ordinary!

Xiao Bojun’s expression remained unchanged. When he first heard Zuo Qiu’s call for help, all reason went out the window. Later, seeing it was their own entertainment company—even though he’d never been there—weren’t there plenty of reports online about agencies oppressing and coercing newcomers? He trusted his brother wouldn’t do anything bad, but the staff under him were another matter. The thought that Zuo Qiu might have been wronged at their own company added another layer of anger.

“Who told you to manage poorly!” Xiao Bojun didn’t have a habit of admitting fault and directly pushed the blame onto his older brother.

“Hmph, if you’re so capable, why don’t you manage it!”

Xiao Bolin raged. He started interning at the company in his freshman year and now oversaw several companies. In contrast, Xiao Bojun was simply a parasite in their family. He probably still didn’t know how many companies their family owned, much less ever bothering to check on them. All he did was eat, drink, have fun, and fight, occasionally forcing the family to clean up his messes. His studies were a disaster; the university he was attending was only achieved because their father swallowed his pride, found connections, and paid money.

Xiao Bojun crossed his legs and said nonchalantly, “No interest.”

Xiao Bolin sighed inwardly. It was all the fault of the bad temper spoiled by their grandmother and mother. He used to occasionally hit Xiao Bojun when he was disobedient to let off steam, but after Xiao Bojun studied martial arts for a few years, he hadn’t won against him. If he wasn’t careful, he’d even be sore for days after a fight.

Fortunately, Xiao Bojun was a guy who was all brawn and no brains. Since brute force wouldn’t work, he could only defeat him with intelligence.

Xiao Bolin looked at the silent Zuo Qiu and said, “Classmate Zuo, you don’t need to feel too guilty. This was indeed our fault for not being clear with you. It’s not your fault.”

Zuo Qiu looked up at Xiao Bolin. Xiao Bolin looked like a gentle, scholarly businessman, nothing like Xiao Bojun. Zuo Qiu softly said, “Thank you.”

Xiao Bolin carefully examined Zuo Qiu. He was indeed, as Zhao Zhixian said, highly potential to be a star.

“The manager, Zhao, just suggested having you debut as a celebrity. Are you interested? Of course, don’t worry. Based on your relationship with Junjun, we won’t pressure you. Just tell us your thoughts.”

Zuo Qiu was actually a little tempted, but this industry was not a place for someone with zero combat value and practically no social experience to navigate successfully. Especially after today’s incident, if someone really trapped him here and forced him to do something he didn’t want, he would be powerless to stop it. Zuo Qiu was very hesitant.

Xiao Bojun looked at Zuo Qiu. He knew that although Zuo Qiu was in the best major at the best university in Country C, he had always harbored a dream of becoming an actor. He suddenly thought of a great way that could both help him fulfill his dream and allow him to stay with and protect him every day.

“Weren’t you planning to have Zuo Qiu debut in a duo with someone? How about me? I’ll be his partner.”

Xiao Bolin was scornful. “You? Forget it. You’re lazy and short-tempered. If you debuted, I and Dad would have no end of trouble!”

Xiao Bojun contained his temper and promised, “If I debut, I will naturally listen to the company’s arrangements and absolutely will not cause trouble on my own.” For Zuo Qiu’s career, he would reign in his temper, but if anyone was so unwise as to bully Zuo Qiu, then they shouldn’t blame him for being rude.

Xiao Bolin looked somewhat persuaded, then glanced at Zuo Qiu, who hadn’t expressed his opinion.

Xiao Bojun turned to Zuo Qiu and asked, “Are you willing to debut with me?”

If we debut together, I’ll protect you every step of the way, and, of course, shield you from all the annoying admirers.

Zuo Qiu had been staring at Xiao Bojun ever since he suggested debuting together with his brother. Having lived with him for three years, Zuo Qiu knew he truly was lazy and easily angered. He wasn’t stupid; he could clearly see that Xiao Bojun suggested debuting together for his sake, fearing he would be taken advantage of. Zuo Qiu was deeply moved and had long thrown his internal decision to “part ways with Xiao Bojun after graduation” to the winds.

“I am willing!”

One was moved, and the other had his plan succeed. At this moment, their eyes met, and the atmosphere was very ambiguous.

Xiao Bolin, off to the side, picked at his ear. What’s the big deal? It’s just working together. Does it have to be like a wedding vow?