The Tool Brother Thinks It’s Not Okay [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 16

In the living room, Lu Jinying asked his secretary in a low voice, “You didn’t know about this?”

The secretary, unwilling to lie, replied, “I knew a little.” He swallowed hard and added defensively, “You only asked me to monitor what Young Mr. Lu was doing in Lingxing, not to pry into his personal affairs. I didn’t dare speculate and didn’t report anything.”

Lu Jinying gave him a cool glance.

Unable to discern his boss’s meaning, the secretary lowered his head, afraid to speak. Cheng Kaixin hadn’t asked him to cover for him, but the secretary had instinctively kept quiet. Now that he’d been caught red-handed, he could only mentally prepare himself for the consequences.

A few minutes later, the two men emerged from the room.

Because Lu Jinying was waiting, Qin Yunran had dried Cheng Kaixin’s hair hastily, leaving it a messy, half-dry tangle.

He casually brushed a few stray strands off his forehead and asked, “Brother, what brings you here?”

“I came to Lingxing to find you, but you weren’t there.” Lu Jinying frowned at his carefree demeanor. “Why aren’t you at the office?”

Qin Yunran felt his brother’s gaze sweep over him, and he could almost hear the unspoken words: I knew you’d be messing around with shady characters instead of working.

He’s really being wronged.

Cheng Kaixin said, “If I have to do everything myself, what’s the point of hiring employees? I can handle my own work anywhere. The rest can be reasonably delegated to my secretary.”

His secretary, who was being ruthlessly exploited, had to chime in with forced agreement, “Yes, Boss, your delegation is always perfectly reasonable.”

“So, what brings you here? Just checking in on my life?” Cheng Kaixin asked, adopting a docile younger brother act.

Lu Jinying had come to discuss business. He stiffened at the question and awkwardly offered a few perfunctory words of concern, a difficult task for someone who struggled to express emotions.

Qin Yunran listened anxiously for a long time, but Lu Jinying never mentioned him. Seeing them shift to business matters, he tactfully excused himself to make tea, leaving the living room.

The Sex Photo Scandal had caused severe social repercussions, prompting the police to launch a thorough investigation into Jiaxing. As one of the three major entertainment companies, Jiaxing’s influence was deeply entrenched, reaching into various sectors. As the investigation progressed, Jiaxing’s illicit dealings with partners gradually surfaced, revealing not only unspoken industry rules but also schemes to launder money through film productions.

Lu Jinying and Cheng Kaixin had their hands on the inside scoop. Lu Jinying seized the opportunity to crush several rivals involved in the scandal, while Cheng Kaixin swallowed a huge chunk of industry resources and snatched up over a dozen top-tier artists who had defected from Jiaxing. After this coup, Lingxing Entertainment was poised to join the ranks of the industry’s elite.

To Lu Jinying, his younger brother had always been the epitome of incompetence. Though Cheng Kaixin still seemed somewhat frivolous, his capabilities now commanded genuine respect.

When Lu Jinying initially sent his secretary to Cheng Kaixin’s side, it wasn’t out of a desire to control his brother, but rather to support him. The secretary’s reports were meant to prevent Cheng Kaixin from acting rashly. So when he discovered that this secretary, who had always obeyed him without question, was now helping Cheng Kaixin deceive him, his first reaction wasn’t anger, but a flicker of pride. If he can win over someone like that, he must have real skill.

A man who could stand on his own two feet naturally had the right to love freely. Even if his partner was another man… it wasn’t entirely unacceptable.

Thus, to Cheng Kaixin’s surprise, Lu Jinying stuck strictly to business matters, never once mentioning Qin Yunran.

Before saying goodbye, Qin Yunran politely came out to see the guests off, carrying himself with the air of a second master of the house, making no attempt to conceal his determination and resolve.

It was only then that Lu Jinying finally gave him a proper look, his brow furrowing slightly.

Qin Yunran stiffened imperceptibly.

Lu Jinying sized him up before turning to Cheng Kaixin. “So this is the little star you’ve been spending money to promote? He’s certainly got the looks.”

“It’s not like that,” Cheng Kaixin reminded him. “I’m serious about this.”

“If money can make one star, it can easily make another,” Lu Jinying said dismissively.

Qin Yunran replied with calm dignity, “There’s a saying: ‘Time reveals true intentions.’ That applies to both of us.”

Lu Jinying remained noncommittal. While he didn’t approve of their relationship, he refrained from showing any displeasure toward Qin Yunran. Adopting the tone of an elder, he solemnly warned, “If you’re planning for the long term, your current resources simply aren’t enough.”

Qin Yunran met his gaze with unwavering confidence, nodding slightly with a smile. “Thank you for the advice. Please wait and see.”

After Lu Jinying left, Qin Yunran closed the door and turned to Cheng Kaixin, his eyes filled with mock resentment. “Your brother thinks you’re paying me to be with you. But you’ve only spent two million on me. If that’s all it takes to ‘buy’ me, wouldn’t I be quite a bargain?”

Cheng Kaixin looked surprised. “How did you know those gifts were from me?”

“Didn’t you notice? Your profile picture is Maoqiu,” Qin Yunran said with a smirk. “If I hadn’t pointed it out, would you have really thought you could stay hidden?”

“My… secret admirer?” Cheng Kaixin drawled, his dark eyes fixed intently on Qin Yunran’s face.

“Feeling smug?” Cheng Kaixin glanced at him.

“Of course I am,” Qin Yunran replied, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Who could resist the sincerity of a devoted fan?”

“It’s hardly sincerity,” Cheng Kaixin sighed. “More like… you just have a face that makes people want to spend money on you.”

Qin Yunran had always known Cheng Kaixin liked his looks. This kind of superficial admiration had once seemed shallow, but under Cheng Kaixin’s focused gaze, it now filled his heart with a sweet warmth.

He smiled. “I really should thank Maoqiu.”

Hearing its name, Maoqiu trotted over on its short legs and meowed innocently, its big eyes wide.

The cat was incredibly clingy and especially fond of its owner, Cheng Kaixin. Whenever it saw him, it would dash over and rub against his legs.

Cheng Kaixin looked down at Maoqiu. “Want a cuddle?”

Maoqiu: “Meow.”

Cheng Kaixin scooped the cat into his arms. “You’re so heavy,” he grumbled, weighing it in his arms. “You’re the one who blew my cover. I’ve been feeding you so well, and for what?”

A flicker of movement caught his eye. He glanced up and saw Qin Yunran snapping photos of him with his phone.

Qin Yunran took several shots, then scrolled through his album, finding each one worth saving. He reached out to take Maoqiu into his own arms and asked Cheng Kaixin to take a picture of them.

“What’s so special about this?” Cheng Kaixin asked casually, though he still picked up his phone. “You’ve held him before.”

“Just helping you show off your cat,” Qin Yunran said with a wink and a mysterious smile.

Since his interview with CCTV, Qin Yunran had been taking a break, with no updates on his Weibo account.

Just as many fans were speculating whether he was leaving Jiaxing and worrying about his future, he suddenly posted a new Weibo update.

Qin Yunran rarely posted photos, so it was a surprise when he shared a nine-grid post—but none of the pictures were of himself.

Boss’s cat. @Lu Jinhua

[ Boss? Did he change companies?! ] Fans immediately clicked on Cheng Kaixin’s Weibo, and within seconds, a new post appeared:

My cat

The accompanying photo showed Qin Yunran holding the cat.

OMG, Qin Yunran finally left Jiaxing! So his new company is Lingxing? I’ll support you no matter where you go!

Mr. Lu is living the dream! Not only is he rich, but he’s also a cat aristocrat! I’m so jealous!

This company change announcement is genius! They must have taken these photos of each other, haha. Ranran’s photography skills are amazing; the composition and colors are perfect. He made Mr. Lu look so handsome it’s making my nose bleed, and he’s so gentle holding the cat. Mr. Lu, why don’t you debut with Ranran?

But Mr. Lu’s photography skills are so… straight guy! He made Ranran look like he’s about to be eaten by the cat, it’s a little scary (crying with laughter emoji)

“What are you messing with?” Cheng Kaixin asked, noticing Qin Yunran fiddling with their phones for a while. He leaned closer to look.

Qin Yunran repeated, “Helping you show off your cat.”

“Show off the cat?” Cheng Kaixin chuckled after reading the posts. “Or show off yourself?”

Qin Yunran’s eyes crinkled into a smile as he suddenly mimicked Maoqiu’s meow. His voice was soft, even more tender than when he’d meowed during the livestream, melting into Cheng Kaixin’s heart.

He winked at Cheng Kaixin. “Didn’t you want to hear me meow? This time, it’s just for you.”

Cheng Kaixin reached out and ruffled his hair. “Hmm, it sounds like spring has arrived,” he commented.

The Weibo comments surged. Before long, a highly upvoted comment shot to the top like a rocket: Am I the only one who thinks these two posts feel like an official announcement? (dog emoji)

Every time Qin Yunran scrolled past that comment, he wanted to like it. But now wasn’t the right time.

Just as Lu Jinying had said, his current skills weren’t up to par.

After joining Lingxing, resources naturally flowed in, but truly exceptional scripts required genuine talent to handle. Even Cheng Kaixin could only help him secure more promising opportunities.

After a few days of rest, he received an audition notice for a film by a renowned director. This director was internationally acclaimed, and the script had reportedly been in development for three years, making it a strong contender for next year’s Golden Elephant Awards.

Qu Wen had followed him to Lingxing and remained his manager. Looking at the script, he sighed, “I’m so glad I came. Life with a golden goose is truly wonderful. If this film gets submitted for awards after we finish shooting, maybe I’ll finally realize my dream—grooming a Best Actor.”

“As easy as you make it sound?” Qin Yunran glanced at him. “He’s not the one casting. We don’t even know if I’ll pass the audition yet.”

“This is the first time I’ve seen you so unsure of yourself,” Qu Wen said, bending down to study Qin Yunran’s expression. “What’s wrong? Nervous?”

Qin Yunran had already read the script twice, circling key passages and filling the margins with notes. He set down the heavily annotated script, looked up, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled. “Maybe I’m rushing things. This role actually requires the most calm and steady approach.”

Qu Wen didn’t understand what he meant, but knowing Qin Yunran was deep in character study, he quietly opened the door and slipped out, leaving him alone in the quiet room.

When Cheng Kaixin came to find him for lunch, he found Qin Yunran sitting in the rehearsal room, lost in thought. The atmosphere was as still as water, his gaze fixed on an invisible point in the air, as if he were trying to burn a hole through the very air itself.

Cheng Kaixin’s footsteps slowed until he stopped outside the window, watching him.

Qin Yunran truly loved acting. Born into a family of doctors, he was expected to follow in their footsteps. But during college, a chance discovery led him into the entertainment industry. Defying his family’s objections, he stubbornly ventured alone into this unfamiliar world.

Before landing his role in that idol drama, he’d spent years as an extra, enduring hardship and scorn. These unique experiences had given him an aura distinct from his peers, like a jade stone polished by time, radiating a soft, warm glow.

They say a man who’s serious is most attractive, especially one who looked exactly like Cheng Kaixin’s ideal type. Cheng Kaixin paused to watch him for a moment, then couldn’t help but mutter sincerely to the System, “I owe you one.”

The System: “……” I owe you one.

Ever since its threats against Cheng Kaixin failed, the System had abandoned its nagging habit and fallen into a sullen silence. The sudden peace was actually a little unsettling for Cheng Kaixin.

He asked the System, “Let me interview you for a bit. If I complete the mission, what do you get?”

“By helping the protagonist bear the world’s destiny, I can obtain energy from the world’s feedback,” the System replied.

Cheng Kaixin asked with interest, “And what can you use that energy for?”

The System paused almost imperceptibly before retorting, deliberately trying to provoke him, “How about I use it to clean up your corpse?”

Cheng Kaixin stroked his chin, completely unbothered, and said with a smile, “What a coincidence! This body isn’t mine; mine’s long gone. I’m afraid I can’t satisfy your unique tastes. What a pity.”

The System remained silent, realizing it should have known better than to engage with Cheng Kaixin.

“What are you muttering about?” Cheng Kaixin asked.

“I’m cultivating,” the System replied.

A robotic voice echoed in Cheng Kaixin’s mind: “Don’t get angry, don’t get angry. Why lose your temper over trifles? You’ll regret it later. Others may rage, but I won’t. Anger breeds illness, and no one will suffer for me. If I die of anger, who benefits? Besides, it’s exhausting and drains my energy…”

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