At Jiang Wen’s shout, Xu Qiao opened his eyes and wiped the sticky blood from his mouth, intending to stand up from Si Cheng’s embrace.
Unexpectedly, Si Cheng’s hand, like iron tongs, tightly gripped his waist, rendering him immobile. Though appearing harmless, Si Cheng possessed considerable strength. Xu Qiao nudged his arm, signaling him to loosen his grip, but the boy remained with closed eyes, showing no response, wearing an appearance of excessive sorrow.
…I’m the one who died, not you. Why endure such agony?
Xu Qiao, unable to push him away, felt helpless. After calling him twice, Si Cheng finally opened his eyes.
Si Cheng’s slightly honey-colored round eyes were now filled with moisture. Xu Qiao paused, his eyes curved, revealing a gentle smile as he ruffled the boy’s head. “What’s wrong?”
The soft voice, at first listen, carried a hint of indulgence that would make anyone feel comforted.
However, having spent some time with Si Cheng, Xu Qiao’s habitual intonation revealed a hint of nonchalance, noticed by the sensitive and delicate-minded youth.
Si Cheng felt a tightness in his chest. He understood that the person in front of him always smiled at everyone, but the depths of his eyes were like a clear pool, more indifferent than anyone else. Lowering his eyelashes, he stubbornly pursed his lips and finally released Xu Qiao’s waist.
Xu Qiao glanced at him, unfazed. He stood up from his arms, brushing off the snow. Li Feifei ran over to help, bringing a down jacket for Xu Qiao to put on.
Adjusting his clothes, Xu Qiao turned around to see Si Cheng still kneeling in the snow, lost in thought. Thinking he was deeply immersed in the role and struggling to snap out of it, Xu Qiao extended a hand toward him. “Get up, don’t freeze. It’s all over.”
It’s all over. Si Cheng silently repeated these words, his nose tingling. Seeing Jiang Wen approaching from a distance, he took a deep breath and stood up on his own, avoiding Xu Qiao’s hand.
The obvious resistance on Si Cheng’s face perplexed Xu Qiao. He withdrew his hand, but before he could ponder further, he noticed Jiang Wen hastily approaching.
“Congratulations on wrapping up!” Jiang Wen beamed, stopping in front of Xu Qiao, patting his shoulder. “You did really well just now!”
The crew members also gathered around.
“Congratulations to Xu Qiao for successfully finishing the shoot.”
“Xu Qiao, you were truly amazing just now! I didn’t even dare to take a breath while watching.”
Xu Qiao hadn’t been with the crew for long, but now that the shoot was done, the entire crew found it hard to see him go.
Jiang Wen also felt a bit melancholic. Having worked with many actors, Xu Qiao was undoubtedly the one who gave him the most peace of mind and surprises.
“You’ve worked hard during this period. Once we finish the entire shoot here, the crew will set up a few tables for a wrap-up celebration. You must come over then.”
Xu Qiao nodded in agreement, not wanting to delay the crew’s subsequent shooting. After bidding farewell to everyone, he removed his makeup and changed into regular clothes. Without saying much, he had Li Feifei drive him back to his apartment.
Opening the passenger door, Xu Qiao bent down to get in. Just as he fastened his seatbelt, he noticed someone standing not far behind through the rearview mirror.
Leaning out of the car window, Xu Qiao tried to catch a glimpse, but the person hastily turned away.
Recognizing Si Cheng from his clothes and figure, Xu Qiao hesitated whether to get out and greet him. However, before he could decide, Li Feifei had already stepped on the gas.
“Big Brother, what are you looking at? It’s freezing. Close the window,” Li Feifei complained from the side.
Xu Qiao frowned, staring at the figure until the car turned a corner. Only when the building obstructed the view did he withdraw back into the car and close the window.
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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“Hello.” Xu Qiao picked up the phone, looking sleepy, his voice still hoarse from just waking up. “Who is it?”
“It’s me, Yang Hui.” The voice on the other end was cold, deliberately distant. “Heard from Feifei that you’ve finished shooting. Tidy up and come to the company this afternoon. I’ll have Feifei pick you up.”
Xu Qiao rubbed his eyes, still somewhat groggy. Suppressing the urge to yawn, his nasal passages tingling, he subconsciously replied, “Mm, I got it.”
Yang Hui didn’t say more and promptly hung up the phone.
After putting down the phone, Xu Qiao squinted for a while. It wasn’t until the sunlight, shifting with time, reached his face through the curtains’ gap that his eyelashes trembled, and he reluctantly turned over.
This turn made it impossible to go back to sleep. Xu Qiao opened his eyes, gradually sitting up as his gaze found focus.
Glancing at the recent call log, Xu Qiao tossed the phone aside, barefoot as he got out of bed and drew open the curtains. The sunlight, previously cautiously filtering through the curtain’s gap, now rushed in as if given permission, enveloping Xu Qiao and brightening the not-so-large bedroom.
Leaning on the windowsill with two slender palms, Xu Qiao gazed into the distance. The city had already awakened with the rising sun, bustling with activity and traffic.
The SSE building wasn’t far from here. From Xu Qiao’s current vantage point, he could just see the avant-garde office building. A massive display screen hung above, playing the latest works of SSE’s artists.
The preceding ad featured Li Chengxuan endorsing men’s shaving cream, followed by the next one with Guan Han endorsing skincare products.
Every day, countless young people from all directions gazed at that screen, fantasizing about entering the vibrant entertainment industry.
And yet, after just half a year stepping into this circle, he was about to leave.
Xu Qiao’s gaze was languid. Naturally, when Yang Hui asked him to come to the company, it was to discuss terminating the contract.
Impatient — indeed, genuinely impatient. Having agreed to terminate the contract right after wrapping up “Chatting About,” it was evident that not a single day could be delayed. Their decisiveness was truly formidable.
It was a display of eager impatience to draw clear boundaries.
Xu Qiao withdrew his gaze from the office building, idly lifting his slender foot to kick aside the slippers lying nearby. Walking to the living room, he poured himself a glass of water, and not long after, Li Feifei arrived.
He came to pick up Xu Qiao, looking gloomy throughout the journey.
What added to the annoyance was encountering an unpleasant person right after getting out of the car.
Passing through the revolving door, Li Feifei, looking at Li Chengxuan approaching, inwardly rolled his eyes.
“Xu Qiao.” Li Chengxuan had originally been headed elsewhere, but upon seeing Xu Qiao, he directly changed course.
His smile was warm, as if the matter of snatching roles never happened. He affectionately draped his arm around Xu Qiao’s shoulder and walked forward. “What are you doing at the company today?”
Wasn’t this deliberately asking the obvious! Walking behind, Li Feifei gritted his teeth, glaring at Li Chengxuan’s back.
Xu Qiao couldn’t be bothered to deal with him.
Li Chengxuan became even more smug. “By the way, when I auditioned for the ‘Hundred Ghosts’ last time, I really had no idea Director Zhang would choose me in the end. Hope you don’t mind, huh?”
Xu Qiao glanced at him, completely oblivious to any sarcasm in his words. His gaze shifted to his shoulder, and his voice was calm, “Remove your hand.”
When Li Chengxuan’s hand met those eyes, he felt an inexplicable chill down his spine, and his steps paused.
Xu Qiao brushed away his hand like dust and walked towards Yang Hui’s office.
Li Chengxuan, standing still, watched Xu Qiao’s retreating figure, his complexion uncertain. He didn’t know what had just happened, but a glance from Xu Qiao’s eyes left him inexplicably uneasy.
Inside Yang Hui’s office, she took out several stacks of documents. Xu Qiao checked and, finding no issues, promptly and decisively signed them.
The ease of the termination and Xu Qiao’s composure left Yang Hui with an uneasy feeling. Holding the signed documents, she frowned and scrutinized Xu Qiao. “Is there anything else you want to say?”
Xu Qiao’s gaze was weary, and finally, unable to suppress it, he yawned. “Big Sister Yang, is there anything else to sign? If not, I’d like to go back and get some rest.”
Yang Hui stared at him, fingers clutching the documents tightening. “That’s all.”
Xu Qiao nodded and stood up to leave, but unexpectedly, Li Feifei remained in place, as if he had something to say.
Yang Hui raised an eyebrow. “Feifei, do you have something else to discuss?”
Li Feifei gritted his teeth and pulled out a piece of paper from his bag, handing it over to Yang Hui as if resigned to his fate.
Yang Hui took it and, at the very top, the words “Resignation” were particularly prominent.
She chuckled coldly, casting a glance at Xu Qiao. “Alright then.” Skilled at winning people over, yet unable to recognize their own limitations.
Before Xu Qiao could even set a foot out of the company building, SSE and Chasing the Spotlight had already issued an announcement.
【After amicable negotiations, Mr. Xu Qiao and SSE have officially terminated all cooperation agreements, effective immediately. Mr. Xu Qiao will also be withdrawing from Chasing the Spotlight. During the collaboration, Mr. Xu Qiao demonstrated dedication and responsibility in business activities and performance work. SSE and Chasing the Spotlight express sincere gratitude. Mr. Xu Qiao has a promising future, best wishes to him!】
Quite swift. Xu Qiao sincerely marveled at SSE’s efficiency.
The announcement was grandly worded, but anyone could tell it was SSE letting go of Xu Qiao. Peaceful termination was just a diplomatic way for both sides to maintain a semblance of dignity.
The comments section was lively, giving a festive vibe as if celebrating the New Year at a first glance.
「Looks like Xu Qiao is really out of luck.」
「SSE should set off some fireworks to celebrate!」
「Poor brothers, got stuck with this leech who only rides on their coattails. Thankfully his contract is terminated. Chasing the Spotlight finally got rid of this nuisance.」
「He’s gone, and I can finally be a fan of the group, tears of joy.」
「Congratulations, leave the entertainment industry sooner~」
Li Feifei sat in the car scrolling through the comments, swiping down for a while until he found a few scattered comments in support of Xu Qiao, feeling a bit bitter involuntarily.
Leaning back in the chair, Xu Qiao lazily asked, “What are you looking at?”
The valiantly resigned expression Li Feifei had when submitting the resignation letter made Xu Qiao find it somewhat amusing now.
With the termination, the company’s provided car was naturally taken back. He came by car, and now he took a taxi back. Li Feifei felt quite stifled, almost depressed by the contrast. He was torn inside, recalling the impulsive resignation, unsure if he felt relieved or regretful.
The driver kept glancing in the rearview mirror and couldn’t help but ask Xu Qiao, “Hey, are you that, that — celebrity?”
Unable to recall Xu Qiao’s name for a while, the driver gestured, “The one who’s really good at sword dancing?”
Good at sword dancing? Li Feifei hesitated, thinking about the sword dance video posted by the “Chatting About” crew on the official account. He responded vaguely, “Yes, he’s the celebrity who’s really good at sword dancing.”
The driver got excited. “Oh, my granddaughter really likes you. Can you give me an autograph? I’ll give it to her later.”
Xu Qiao smiled. “Where should I sign?”
Without paper in the car, the driver simply printed a receipt and handed it to Xu Qiao, “Just sign on this.”
Li Feifei looked at that small and shabby receipt, feeling irritated. Had his big brother really fallen to the point of only being able to sign on a receipt?
Seeing that Xu Qiao was about to take the receipt, Li Feifei quickly intercepted it. “Uncle, if your granddaughter sees you bringing back just a piece of paper, she might think you’re tricking her.”
“Ah? Then sign on my clothes.”
After getting off the car, the smiling driver adamantly refused to take any money, waving to the two before driving away.
Back at the apartment, Xu Qiao changed his shoes and slumped on the sofa, feeling boneless.
Li Feifei sat across from him, sighing. “Big Brother, I’m currently unemployed because of you.”
Xu Qiao looked at him, the lines on his face appearing meticulously crafted, the clear jawline shimmering like jade in the sunlight.
“Well, I’m also unemployed now.”
Li Feifei tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Big Brother, aren’t you worried at all? The house you’re currently living in is provided by the company, and you’ll have to move out next month! You need to start getting anxious!”
After he said this, Xu Qiao’s gaze finally became a bit serious.
Couldn’t even have a place to stay.
“Feifei, how much was the pay for Chatting About? Is it enough to buy a house?”
Li Feifei was at a loss for words. “What daydreams are you having? With that small web series, thinking of buying a house? Even with ten Chatting About paychecks, you still couldn’t afford a house.”
Chatting About’s pay would only come in after the series aired. Xu Qiao checked his account balance, trying to see how long he could hold on. After clearly seeing those few digits, Xu Qiao resignedly sat up, took out his laptop, and opened a job recruitment website.
I CAN NOT WAIT for trashy people to get what’s coming to them ٩(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )و
just you wait for the “small web drama” series folks. My MC would make you taste how inferior y’all to him😡😡
I hope si Cheng doesn’t have the bad luck to become a second male lead
Freezes. Oh my God! Time to drop your vest Xu Qiao! Let’s see you put some mad skills to use. I’m in favor of a short term technology job. Buuut… I think he should still be involved in the industry, but as a specialist like a choreographer, Martial Arts instructor, or Swordsman.
Also, I would totally freak out if it turns out that both Si Cheng and Xu Siyi returned from transmigrating in the same worlds as Xu Qiao. Would literally freak out and do a happy dance!
Freezes. Oh my God! Time to drop your vest Xu Qiao! Let’s see you put some mad skills to use. I’m in favor of a short term technology job. Buuut… I think he should still be involved in the industry, but as a specialist like a choreographer, Martial Arts instructor, or Swordsman.
Also, I would totally freak out if it turns out that both Si Cheng and Xu Siyi returned from transmigrating in the same worlds as Xu Qiao. Would literally freak out and do a happy dance!
It actually made me so sad for the company to practically abandoned him, but I get it’s for the best so~
Thank you for the update ☺️
Thanks for the chapter! Time to see what he can accomplish with all his skills in a society that gatekeeps with diplomas
A hahaha Yang will be regretting this until the end of her days shortly
I can’t wait for this awful company, terrible manager and everyone who looked down on Xu Qiao to regret deeply what they’ve done.
Thank you for the chapter!
Yay, ty for the chapter!!!