Zhou Zike was about to visit Tang Zhen at the hospital. Wen Xin uttered these words, but before Guo Xiaoli could say anything, the journalists who had gathered at the hospital entrance, sensing the news, rushed forward, crowding around Wen Xin. Each one seemed more frantic than the next.
“Zhou Zike is coming?”
“Hey, hey, Miss Assistant, what’s going on? Wasn’t KAIser just live-streaming the awards ceremony in Singapore? Did he come back just for this?”
“Zhou Zike? Has he arrived? Where is he?!”
“Damn it, my phone is about to die. Does anyone have a charger?”
“Hey, Editor-in-Chief! Get someone to the hospital with a camera, did you hear me? Mine is broken… Hurry up, Zhou Zike will be here soon!… I’m not joking around in the middle of the night, I’m serious!”
…
Guo Xiaoli, with a stern face, snatched Wen Xin’s phone and heard Qi Xing sobbing on the other end.
“Qi Xing.” Guo Xiaoli’s voice remained calm.
“Guo-jie, I… Guo-jie…”
“This is the fourth time you’ve lost him,” Guo Xiaoli said, “You don’t need to come back to work.” After saying that, she hung up the phone.
Wen Xin quickly stepped forward and retrieved her phone, timidly watching as Guo Xiaoli bypassed the reporters and entered the hospital alone.
“Wen Xin.”
Someone called her.
“Wen Xin, come here.”
It was only on the second call that Wen Xin heard it. The surroundings were too noisy. She turned her head and saw Liang Qiuyun sitting in a luxurious car not far away, gesturing for her to come over.
Wen Xin rolled her eyes and pretended not to see.
Liang Qiuyun glanced at Wen Xin’s indifferent attitude, then suddenly called out, “Wen Menglu!”
Wen Xin froze in place, as if a snake had been struck at its weakest spot. Even the surrounding clamor suddenly fell silent. People turned curiously, looking at Liang Qiuyun, then at Wen Xin. They saw her face and neck turn as red as a spicy lobster.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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Wen Xin retorted, “Go to hell, Liang Qiuyun. I can afford to buy ten of your cars.”
Liang Qiuyun lit a cigarette, glanced at the bustling journalists in the distance, and took a puff. “Your Laoshi is not earning money easily these days, so be more frugal.”
“My goodness,” Wen Xin’s face darkened, “Some men have been living off Tang Zhen Laoshi for so many years and now they’re telling others to spend less of Tang Zhen Laoshi’s money.” Since there was a car door between them, and Liang Qiuyun sat inside the car, Wen Xin wasn’t afraid of him. “How can someone be so shameless, Yun Laoban, don’t you think so?”
Liang Qiuyun blew out a string of smoke rings. “Wen Menglu, if your Laoshi hasn’t taught you properly, I’ll give you some education. As an adult, you can’t spend money recklessly, and you can’t speak recklessly–”
Wen Xin became agitated, having long forgotten her fear of Liang Qiuyun. “Educate me? Just who do you think you are, Liang Qiuyun? Why don’t you hurry up and leave? Haven’t you heard that someone even more influential than you is coming soon? You have no say here.”
Liang Qiuyun looked at her and said, “Mattias hasn’t disbanded yet.”
“So what?”
Liang Qiuyun said, “Even if the heavens themselves come to this place to see Tang Zhen, he would have to listen to me when I speak.”
Wen Xin blinked, her face filled with disbelief. “Do you have any shame left?”
“Wen Xin–”
“Don’t give me that. Liang Qiuyun,” Wen Xin interrupted him without hesitation, “With that condescending tone, you can use it to deceive the media, deceive the audience, deceive Tang Zhen. Whoever you want to deceive, go ahead, but you can’t deceive me.”
“Tang Zhen Laoshi was almost fooled to death by you, barely clinging to life, lying unconscious in that room just a few steps away. And yet, you still have the face to put on this act with me. Where were you when we needed you? Where were you when Tang Zhen Laoshi waited and waited? But now, you run around more earnestly than anyone else. Who are you trying to impress?” Wen Xin turned her head and glanced at the reporters in the distance. “You just want to make headlines, don’t you? You just want to promote your lousy movie. Well, you’ve achieved your goal, haven’t you? Now, leave before it’s too late!”
Wen Xin clearly lost her composure, firing off her words in rapid succession, and she herself became breathless with excitement.
Liang Qiuyun looked at her, his face expressionless, but his eyes grew increasingly sinister. As soon as the car door opened, Liang Qiuyun stepped out with one foot. Wen Xin instinctively took a step back, but when she saw Liang Qiuyun’s dark face, she was so scared that she turned and ran, leaving only Liang Qiuyun with the sight of her fleeing backside, like a frightened rabbit.
No wonder the reporters were so excited. Zhou Zike personally coming to visit Tang Zhen was truly unimaginable, comparable to a planet colliding with the Earth. Zhou Zike, despite being popular, was known in the industry for his debauchery and rebelliousness. He often slacked off and had been late for eight consecutive concerts. When he first debuted, he had even angered many influential figures in the industry. If it weren’t for his family’s substantial wealth and his own reputation, he would have been blacklisted long ago.
A person like Zhou Zike would never come to the hospital to visit Tang Zhen out of respect for the company’s reputation. The two of them had only briefly worked together during Zhou Zike’s temporary replacement in “Roman Online.” After that, they had no further contact in their work. Tang Zhen was already a superstar of the previous era, where idols had to be talented, good-looking, and excel in both arts and martial skills. Idols had to do whatever the audience wanted, with no room for negotiation. On the other hand, Zhou Zike, as the most unique member of the Asia Star Entertainment’s star-making system, not only lacked any special talents but also failed to adhere to the most basic professional ethics.
The two of them were like the South and North Poles of Asia Star Entertainment. Even if Zhou Zike could tolerate Tang Zhen, Tang Zhen, a person dedicated to his craft, would never be able to tolerate Zhou Zike. In fact, there had been numerous rumors about their discord. Insiders had revealed that after the end of “Roman Online,” Zhou Zike had significant complaints about Tang Zhen. They would give each other cold looks when they met at work, with no communication on stage, and they had maintained a state of avoiding each other for a long time within the company.
Even Guo Xiaoli couldn’t understand this. She couldn’t fathom what Zhou Zike was thinking in his head, why he suddenly decided to come to the hospital and visit Tang Zhen. She quickly recovered her composure and happened to see Wen Xin going upstairs. She called Wen Xin to wait near the hospital entrance and instructed her to stop Zhou Zike at all costs if she saw him. “Don’t let him escape. Take him directly to the company. I must see him.”
Guo Xiaoli’s office at Asia Star Entertainment is located on the top floor of the entire building, making it the largest and most prime location in the company, second only to Mr. Mao. The interior is not heavily furnished, but there are many wall decorations. In some ways, it resembles a small exhibition hall for the artists under Guo Xiaoli’s management.
Upon opening the door, the first frame on the wall directly facing the entrance contains a picture of a young boy against a backdrop of blue skies and seas. It is the original cover of Mattias’ debut album, “Youthful Acquaintances.” This small square piece of thin paper has accompanied Guo Xiaoli throughout her career, from a crowded and narrow desk nine years ago to now being framed and prominently displayed in a position visible as soon as one enters the room. It is Guo Xiaoli’s greatest pride, the starting point of her ten-year career, her biggest asset. One could even say that without Mattias’ success, Asia Star Entertainment would never have granted Guo Xiaoli such high power and freedom, and there would not be the current KAIser—an idol group that was not highly regarded before their debut but quickly rose to fame in Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, with their first album breaking Asia Star Entertainment’s all-time sales record.
Guo Xiaoli’s office also houses a collection of this album, titled “Pulse.” From the initial concept of the album to the tiniest details, all were personally decided by Guo Xiaoli herself. This includes the positioning and packaging of each member within the group. Xiao Yang, from the creation of KAIser, was designated as the sole center member. This means that in any poster, magazine, or promotional material where all nine members appear together, his position is always in the center, surrounded by the other members like stars around the moon.
Xiao Yang, with his light golden hair, stands out among the trainees at ASE not only in terms of talent and appearance but also in his variety show sense. Guo Xiaoli placed him in the center, with Zhou Zike on his right and Yi Xuesong on his left. These three individuals were treated as the face of the group from the beginning, and even three years later, they firmly held the top three spots in peripheral sales rankings.
Even insignificant details like the red string on Xiao Yang’s ankle went through Guo Xiaoli’s personal approval. Xiao Yang had been wearing a thin red string on his right ankle since he was young, even during his years as a trainee at ASE, never taking it off even when bathing. When it came time for their debut, the cover photographer repeatedly emphasized that it would ruin the composition, and the company executives believed it could have a negative impact on Xiao Yang’s future image. Only Guo Xiaoli stood by Xiao Yang’s side, insisting on keeping it.
Three years later, it had become almost a trademark of Xiao Yang. Some fans even interpreted the red string on his ankle as a symbol of faith and prayer, drawing connections between it and the string of Buddhist prayer beads that Zhou Zike often wore on his wrist. This led to speculation about some undisclosed mysterious relationship between the two.
This type of popular fan culture was embraced by the publicity staff. Starting from their second album, intentionally or unintentionally, whether it was in music videos or any activities that required the group’s collective participation, be it variety shows or concerts, whenever Zhou Zike appeared, Xiao Yang would inevitably be arranged to accompany him by the staff. Zhou Zike was considerably taller than Xiao Yang. When they sang together, Xiao Yang handled the high notes while Zhou Zike provided harmonies for a few lines. When they danced together, Xiao Yang would run around the stage while Zhou Zike preferred to stay in one place and watch him run out and then wait for him to return. Even during freetalk sessions, Xiao Yang loved to talk while Zhou Zike didn’t. However, as the captain, Zhou Zike would always give up his speaking opportunities to Xiao Yang, eliciting enthusiastic screams from the audience.
Zhou Zike is lazy, but his mind is not. After a few times, he figured out the tricks, and Guo Xiaoli seemed to anticipate his reactions in advance, preparing plans and waiting for him to fall into the trap. Zhou Zike became even lazier than before, lazy to sing, lazy to dance, lazy to talk. As a result, Xiao Yang, who was arranged to stand by his side, naturally sang for him, danced for him, and even spoke on his behalf.
Xiao Yang didn’t mind this arrangement. His work motto was “hard work pays off,” and he believed in the principle of “the capable do more.” If someone around him didn’t do enough or wasn’t good at something, he would proactively step in to help. Although he appeared somewhat absent-minded in daily life, he was serious and meticulous in his work, never sloppy. As for whether they were seen as a couple or not, or the so-called “secretly in love with Zhou Zike,” Xiao Yang would complain about it verbally, but he would still perfectly fulfill any tasks assigned to him by the company, even if he didn’t want to.
It was the first time Guo Xiaoli heard Zhou Zike compliment her. Usually, she had heard enough polite words from her artists, and she had become accustomed to it. But Zhou Zike was different. He rarely praised others and was not fond of small talk. Even the so-called first time was a vague and slightly sarcastic remark.
“You truly are impressive, Guo-jie.”
That day, after Zhou Zike had almost everything taken care of by Xiao Yang, he was called to Guo Xiaoli’s office as soon as the performance ended. Under Guo Xiaoli’s gaze, Zhou Zike sat on the couch, disregarding the no-smoking sign on the wall, lit a cigarette, and squinted his eyes as he spoke to Guo Xiaoli.
When Guo Xiaoli returned from the hospital, she was in her office, facing Zhou Zike, who had been forcefully dragged in by Wen Xin. Once again, she took the cigarette from his mouth and crushed it harshly with her high heels.
Looking at Zhou Zike again today, compared to three years ago, not only has he made no progress, but he has also lost the enthusiasm he once had for the entertainment industry.
Zhou Zike stared directly at Guo Xiaoli’s face, listening as she recounted all the recent incidents of his tardiness, absenteeism, and half-heartedness that had angered people and led to criticism from the media and netizens.
“Everyone says that I, Guo Xiaoli, had a keen eye when I chose you, that I was unconventional,” Guo Xiaoli glared at him, her eyes no longer young, bloodshot with veins. “Is that possible, Zike? Do you think it’s possible? Do I have such great ability? I don’t even understand what you’re really thinking. I don’t even know what kind of work you’re willing to do, what kind of work you’re willing to put even a little effort into!”
“Back when you debuted, wasn’t it like this? At that time, I asked if you wanted to debut, and you said you did. Alright, I helped you debut! In the past few years, you also had a high level of enthusiasm. So what’s going on now? Tell me, at least give me a reason. Why did you suddenly come back to China? How did you promise me before you left? To see Tang Zhen? Do you think I would believe such an excuse?”
Guo Xiaoli paused halfway through her speech and suddenly turned around to grab her phone from the table behind her, trembling as she swiped it open. “Take a look at your performance on the awards show live broadcast yesterday.”
Zhou Zike looked at her.
“Have you watched it yourself?” Guo Xiaoli asked after the video finished playing, but he didn’t answer.
“I’m too embarrassed to watch…” Guo Xiaoli muttered softly, looking at Zhou Zike with her eyes red. “In the hospital, with so many reporters watching, I didn’t dare let them see me… I was scared, you know? I was afraid they would ask me why ASE artists performed so poorly, why KAIser had to embarrass himself abroad. I even felt ashamed. I can’t believe these are the artists I, Guo Xiaoli, brought up!”
“Will you die if you open your mouth? Will you be exhausted if you dance and work like everyone else? Others work tirelessly behind the scenes, training day after day for years, just hoping to get an extra second of camera time on stage. And what about you? You don’t even know how to cherish the camera when it’s right in front of you! Can you at least respect me? Can you at least respect your teammates? I don’t even expect you to respect the fans who bought tickets specifically to see you. Do you think that if you don’t work hard, you’ll be the only one bearing the consequences?”
“Guo-jie.” No matter how calm Zhou Zike usually was, he finally spoke up at this moment.
“So many people are waiting to see me become a laughingstock,” Guo Xiaoli choked, her anger turning into a bitter laugh. “These past few days, so many people have been waiting to see ASE become a joke. Zike, do you think everyone’s life is easy?”
“Guo-jie…”
“One by one, some commit suicide, some their contracts… I was hoping you young people could give me some peace of mind, give the company some support. And what have you been doing? Such a big stage, so many people watching yesterday, do you even realize how many TV stations were broadcasting it?”
Zhou Zike remained silent, whether it was due to exhaustion from just getting off the plane, drowsiness, or simply having nothing to say. He stood there motionless, listening to Guo Xiaoli’s relentless scolding.
“I put in so much effort to send you all over there, paving the way for you, arranging all the schedules. While taking care of Tang Zhen’s illness, I also negotiated Liang Qiuyun’s contract and stayed up late arguing with production companies on your behalf… What did I do wrong? Zhou Zike, can’t you have a bit of conscience? Can’t you treat me better? I don’t know what it is that you really care about, but can you at least not casually destroy the hard work of others?”
Wen Xin stood at the door, too scared to even breathe. Guo Xiaoli’s voice grew lower as she spoke, her shoulders trembling more and more. It was as if all the grievances, anger, and even fear she had experienced in the outside world couldn’t find an outlet until this moment, where they finally poured out.
Zhou Zike glanced up at Wen Xin hiding at the door. Clearly, Wen Xin had never seen Guo Xiaoli in this state before, let alone seen her cry.
This was Guo Xiaoli. Guo Xiaoli could get angry, could get furious, but she never cried.
Zhou Zike reached behind the office desk and took a few tissues. He walked over to Guo Xiaoli, gently wrapping his arm around her shoulder. When Guo Xiaoli tried to move away from him, he pulled her closer, lowering his head to wipe away her tears.
He still didn’t say a word.
