The Vicious Male Supporting Character Only Wants to Focus on His Career - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: I Heard You’re Getting Engaged?

Seeing Jiang Yu’s cautious appearance, Chu Jinchen pointed to the chair across the dining table: “You’ve worked hard, you sit too. It’s rare that you don’t hold a grudge… Xiao Wan won’t go to those kinds of places anymore.”

When he was Zhong Shengwan’s age, he also frequented bars, nightclubs, and clubhouses, calling up friends and hanging out. The playing was secondary; it was mostly out of curiosity.

Having seen it all, he eventually let it go.

Besides, Zhong Shengwan had already promised him not to go and even said the place was boring, so the matter was even less of a big deal.

Xiao… Wan?

Calling him so intimately… Jiang Yu felt that Chu Jinchen’s attitude toward Zhong Shengwan had changed. He didn’t seem as repulsed anymore; there was even a hint of tenderness.

This made his heart turn ice cold.

Things from outside look varied and grand, but for the stomach, they aren’t as soothing as a bowl of noodles. Chu Jinchen’s posture while eating was elegant, but his speed was quite fast.

His body felt comfortable, and being in his own home, his attitude was very casual, purely making small talk: “Xiao Wan and I are getting engaged. Xiao Wan is a bit willful, but he isn’t a bad person.”

Jiang Yu: “En… Engaged?”

Chu Jinchen: “Yes, the date is set for three months from now.”

His phone rang—an email from a subordinate. He got up to go upstairs, noticing as he glanced back that Jiang Yu’s face looked poor. He reminded the other to rest early if he was tired, but didn’t think anything else of it.

Work matters occupied too much of Chu Jinchen’s energy. Whether it was Zhong Shengwan or Jiang Yu, they currently belonged to his “low attention zone.” He wouldn’t waste brainpower analyzing them.

As long as they remained well-behaved, it was fine.

Two days later, Chu Jinchen visited the Zhong residence.

Because of Grandpa Chu’s illness—after all, he wanted to fulfill the old man’s wishes—the Chu family was essentially asking a favor of the Zhong family. He kept his posture very low, acting entirely like a junior of the Zhong family.

Father Zhong and the elder Zhong brother canceled their respective activities to wait at home.

The feeling in their hearts was hard to describe; after all, they were about to hand over their most precious treasure. Yet their faces were covered in smiles; they didn’t act haughty or subservient, only maintaining a sense of closeness.

Thus, both guests and hosts were happy.

After dinner, Chu Jinchen accompanied Father Zhong and the elder Zhong brother for a couple of drinks.

Thinking of Father Zhong’s age and how he had been overworked in his earlier years, leading to poor cardiovascular health—and that the elder Zhong brother was still taking traditional Chinese medicine—Zhong Shengwan intervened: “Drinking is bad for your health.”

Father Zhong sighed helplessly: “My little ancestor, you know your Brother Chu has a bad stomach, so we won’t let him drink much. We haven’t even had the engagement yet, and your heart is already leaning outward…”

Chu Jinchen loosely put his arm around Zhong Shengwan’s waist and smiled gently: “I know Xiao Wan’s heart.”

The elder Zhong brother also looked at Chu Jinchen. He was a bit older than Chu Jinchen and had a comparable status. Previously, he called him President Chu, but now the form of address had changed: “Jinchen, Xiao Wan is young and the baby of the family. It’s inevitable that the family pampers him, and he often follows his whims. If he does something wrong and you can’t bring yourself to scold him, call me; I’ll handle him.”

Although Zhong Shengwan had mentioned a few times before that he didn’t like Chu Jinchen that much anymore, the family hadn’t taken it seriously. Now that Zhong Shengwan had suddenly agreed to the engagement, it gave him a sense that it wasn’t surprising at all.

Since it couldn’t be changed, it was time to give a few warnings when necessary.

Chu Jinchen then said: “Brother, you overstate the matter. Xiao Wan is smart and lovely; how could I bring myself to scold him?” He then brought up the matter of Zhong Shengwan’s acting.

Both Father Zhong and the elder Zhong brother were very surprised. School was about to start…

Zhong Shengwan steeled himself: “I’ve already signed the contract. I just want to act. Papa, Brother, please just let me try.”

In his previous life, he was quite socially adept in the circle, but facing his family—especially regarding something that might disappoint or worry them—he couldn’t help but become tongue-tied.

Chu Jinchen found the drooping-headed Zhong Shengwan very cute, like a stumbling little animal that needed someone to lift it up.

He took over the conversation for the rest of it, suggesting that Zhong Shengwan could take a year off school to try it out. For a family like theirs, playing around for a year or two was nothing.

Although the entertainment industry had been flooded with various capital in recent years and the waters were getting murkier, whether it was the Zhong family or the Chu family, protecting Zhong Shengwan in this field was no problem at all.

Besides, according to Zhong Shengwan’s personality, it was likely just a whim; he would lose interest in a few months, so there wasn’t much to worry about.

Father Zhong was full of disapproval, but he also knew his younger son’s temperament—once he decided on something, nine oxen couldn’t pull him back. Furthermore, his son now had someone to take over his care.

Though it was painful, at this stage, his authority as a father inevitably had to retreat a bit, and he ultimately agreed.

Zhong Yanling’s thoughts were similar. He pinched Zhong Shengwan’s ear: “Your ideas are getting bigger and bigger! I can’t control you anymore; let your Brother Chu worry about you from now on!”

Zhong Shengwan smiled and hugged his elder brother’s arm: “Please keep controlling me; you can control me for a lifetime.” He had an extremely gorgeous and grand appearance, but leaning in so dependently made him look like a feline that had had its fur smoothed.

Chu Jinchen had never seen him like this. For some reason, a sense of emptiness rose in his heart.

The matter of acting was settled, and the news that the Chu and Zhong families were about to be engaged also spread.

Zhong Shengwan was busy soothing the temper of Jin Yundong, who had received the news. One must know who is good to them; for those who care about you, no amount of indulgence or comforting is too much.

However, he didn’t mention the fake engagement.

There was a clause in the agreement with Chu Jinchen: during the contract period, no third party could know about this.

Having been in the circle for so many years, he could tell a lie as if it were the truth: “I don’t love him that much anymore, but after all these years, I feel unwilling. I still want to try; if it’s not a match, we’ll just break up.”

Jin Yundong was furious: “Suit yourself!”

Zhong Shengwan: “Green pepper beef stir-fry, I’m cooking. Do you want some?”

Jin Yundong said with a dark face: “I’ll eat!”

After the meal, his expression softened. Jin Yundong’s single eyelids flipped up, showing a ruthlessness different from his usual hip-hop friendliness: “Zhong-er, let’s get this straight. From now on, I’m staying out of your business with that guy named Chu. Otherwise, we’ll keep things as they were, okay?”

If this continued, his life expectancy would be cut in half from anger.

Zhong Shengwan responded solemnly: “Deal.” Then he pushed the bowls forward: “Go wash the dishes.”

Jin Yundong cleaned up the dishes while nagging: “Then I want to be your manager. No pay, but if you’re cooking, include me.”

After soothing things over on his side, Zhong Shengwan also mentioned the matter to He Yingnong.

Currently, the people he valued most besides family were his friends, with Jin Yundong and He Yingnong at the top. He spoke with the intention of sharing.

It was similar to nagging about whether he had rice or noodles for lunch.

He Yingnong knew exactly what was going on with Zhong Shengwan going to the production set. After looking for him there that day, he had investigated it and even watched the audition clips.

It was quite good.

It was just that at such a young age, studying was the right path.

He asked: “Have you truly decided?” Did he want to do this forever, or was he just playing?

Facing He Yingnong, Zhong Shengwan didn’t hide anything: “I want to do this forever. I just like it—I like it immensely. I can do it, really.”

In his previous life, he had almost reached the top while walking alone; there was no reason he wouldn’t succeed with such good conditions in this life.

There was light in his eyes, passionate and burning.

He Yingnong: “Understood.” It was like responding to something very simple and ordinary.

Zhong Shengwan was curious: “Brother Nong, aren’t you going to advise me to go study?”

He Yingnong handed him a business card: “If you have problems, look for him. If he can’t solve it, look for me.” These were things he had prepared long ago. Since the boy was serious, whether he succeeded or not, he should give it a proper try.

Zhong Shengwan looked at the card. There was a very familiar name on it; he vaguely remembered this person was the biggest investor for Desert Smoke.

A local official isn’t as good as a direct supervisor. In today’s capital-driven world, investors were the “Heavens” of the production crew—their word was law.

Surprise was accompanied by a sense of being moved. Before he could ask anything, he heard He Yingnong ask:

“I heard you’re getting engaged?”

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