TSSRWAB Chapter 19

“You still remember that?”

 

Lu Xi doesn’t remember, mainly because his ranking was very stable back then. He was always first, occasionally dropping to third, which he remembered vividly during the third elimination round.

 

Jian Huai knew that Lu Xi didn’t remember. To him, Lu Xi was a beacon of light during a dark period, but to Lu Xi, he was just an ordinary teammate. After that stage, Lu Xi had many more teammates of all kinds who were all better than him (Jian Huai).

 

The joke was really taken as a joke and forgotten.

 

Jian Huai felt a pang of disappointment. In truth, he was testing the waters, trying to gauge Lu Xi’s feelings toward him under the guise of humor.

 

“I just remember that you practiced dancing very hard. On the rooftop of the dormitory building, right?” Lu Xi did remember Jian Huai, and quite clearly at that. Throughout the entire competition, no one had worked harder than him.

 

Debuting in the final lineup was well-deserved.

 

Jian Huai’s sunken heart lifted slightly.

 

It didn’t matter if Lu Xi didn’t love him. He could work for it.

 

“What about the male lead role in the script?”

 

Lu Xi immediately clasped his hands in mock surrender. “I changed the subject, but you still managed to bring it back. Lao Jian, you’re a film emperor, and you’re acting in my small web series? It’s not good for your image. Even if I’m not afraid of your fans tearing me apart, shouldn’t your agent stop you?”

 

He’s still worried about me and thinking of me. Jian Huai felt a little sweet inside and said, “My contract with Starlight is almost up. I’ve decided not to renew.”

 

“No wonder,” Lu Xi muttered, then relayed Wang Qing’s move to snatch Pete’s artist. “They’re preparing for the worst. That company’s no good; there’s too much discrimination. If you want to leave, just leave. Happiness matters most.”

 

Work should be enjoyable, after all. Lu Xi was firmly on Lao Jian’s side.

 

Jian Huai smiled gently. In truth, he was the one to initiate the split. As Starlight’s top star, his treatment had been decent, but Wang Qing interfered too much, especially when she deliberately steered public opinion against Lu Xi last time.

 

“I want to set up my own studio and work independently.” He explained briefly before steering back. “So, can you save the second male lead role for me?”

 

Anyone listening would think this was some once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

 

Lu Xi sighed. “At least read the script first. It’s seriously so basic. Don’t throw away your future over something from back then. You were chosen for the second public performance because of fate. No one owes anyone anything. You were so hardworking, you were always going to shine. That wasn’t because of me.”

 

Lao Jian was loyal to a fault, wanting to repay a debt that didn’t exist. But it really wasn’t necessary.

 

“…It’s not about repaying anything.” It’s that I want to pursue you, because I like you.

 

Jian Huai longed to say it aloud, but he knew the timing wasn’t right. Afraid of scaring Lu Xi away, he stood instead. “I’ll go get something cold to drink.”

 

“Master, I’ll go take a look.” Dahl rose politely and followed him into the kitchen.

 

He tailed after Jian Huai.

 

“I can tell you like Master. But Master is mine, you male vixen.” Dahl revealed his true nature, his towering frame looming as he trapped Jian Huai against the fridge, flexing his muscles in a silent threat.

 

Jian Huai: “……”

 

Who’s the male vixen here, exactly?

 

And this one even had a kinky roleplay fetish.

 

His gaze landed on the butler’s honey-toned pectorals. Jian Huai’s expressionless face lost its gentle smile. He looked up and saw that the once-gentle butler was no longer pitiful and polite. His bright blue eyes stared at him like a wolf.

 

The two are tacit enemies/vixens.

 

War had been declared.

 

“The meat’s ready. Why aren’t you two coming out? It’ll get overcooked soon.”

 

Lu Xi shouted from the dining room toward the kitchen, unable to see the two figures clearly.

 

Ah, the perils of a spacious home.

 

The wolf-like Dar returned to being a polite butler and said courteously, “Master, please eat first. We’ll be right there.” He shot Jian Huai a guileless grin, adding under his breath, “Master can’t bear to be apart from me for even a moment.”

 

Jian Huai: “Heh. Lu Xi starts filming in ten days. I’ll be there too.”

 

Dahl: ! This human vixen is seriously shameless!

 

Lord Cecil was right.

 

“I’ll be watching you,” Dahl’s eyes gleamed.

 

Jian Huai: “Hmph.”

 

He was trapped by this brawny idiot, so he could only mutter irritably, “Let go. Unless you want Lu Xi to see your true colors.”

 

“Master would believe me,” Dahl said with confidence, but still let go.

 

Jian Huai didn’t argue with Dahl anymore. He took a drink from the refrigerator and left.

 

The two secretly competed with each other in the kitchen, but once they sat down at the table, they each took their places, and everything was peaceful.

 

After eating hotpot, Dahl handled the cleanup.

 

“Thanks for the hard work, Dahl.” Lu Xi said.

 

Dahl beamed earnestly. “It’s my duty, Master.”

 

“Lu Xi, can I take a look at the script for Little Male Fox?”

 

“Sure. Hold on, let me find it.”

 

From the kitchen, Dahl cursed the human vixen under his breath. Jian Huai sat composedly on the sofa, inwardly scoffing. This musclehead has more brawn than brains.

 

Jian Huai read quickly. Little Male Fox was written ten years ago, when long novels weren’t trendy. At 200,000 words, the adapted script spanned only 18 episodes, each packed with punchlines. It’s quite entertaining.

 

“It’s actually not bad.” He had his sights set on the enemy nation’s emperor, who was the second male lead.

 

There were tons of ambiguous, intimate scenes between him and the Little Male Fox.

 

Selfish desire surged in Jian Huai. Lu Xi doesn’t feel anything for him and just sees him as a friend.

 

This drama is a perfect opportunity.

 

“Can I meet the director and screenwriter? What’s your production budget?”

 

Lu Xi told him.

 

Without hesitation, Jian Huai said, “I’ll add another million. Captain Lu, let me in on this, okay?”

 

Lu Xi was baffled.

 

After seeing Jian Huai off, he called Pete to relay the news. Pete was equally bewildered.

 

What kind of major opportunity was this Little Male Fox drama that no one else knew about?

 

When Jian Huai met with the screenwriter and director, Lu Xi accompanied him. Paparazzi photographed them, saying that Jian Huai had a night meeting with his girlfriend. The said “girlfriend” is the screenwriter, Guozili. The shots conveniently cropped out Pete, Lu Xi, and the director. One shot showed Jian Huai holding open a glass door, Lu Xi exiting first, followed by Guozili.

 

Just from this one shot, they created a whole story about Jian Huai’s secret girlfriend at night.

 

Because Jian Huai was a huge celebrity with tons of fans, it blew up on Weibo’s trending list.

 

Scared out of her wits, the usually low-profile Guozili made a statement.

 

【I’m Guozili, a small-time author from JJWXC and the screenwriter and author of the upcoming drama Kiss Me, Little Male Fox. This dinner was work-related, attended by the director, lead actor Lu Xi, and his agent Pete. It was not a private date with Mr. Jian Huai. Stop spreading rumors.】

 

Lu Xi had a new Weibo account now.

 

Starting fresh.

 

His first post backed screenwriter Guozili.

 

@XiaoLuXiXi: Excited for my first acting role! @KissMeLittleMaleFoxOfficial

 

Jian Huai reposted it.

 

The dating rumors collapsed, but the fans are like private investigators and quickly sensed something was different.

 

【If this was about Lu Xi’s project, why was gege there? Don’t tell me…】

 

【Could it be that gege is going to star in a web drama? Lu Xi is already the male lead, so they wouldn’t cast him as the male second lead, would they?】

 

【Maybe it’s just a cameo, so don’t scare yourself.】

 

【Earlier, an insider on Rabbit Zone got flamed for ten pages, saying Jian Huai would do a web drama as the second lead. If this is real, I’m quitting as a fan. His career fans are furious.】

 

【Even a cameo is too much face for Lu Xi. Damn it, I really want to curse. I get that Jian Huai is loyal and wants to help Lu Xi out. The fans don’t say anything, and they all understand. But if he’s recklessly gambling his career like this, then f*ck this.】

 

【Has Jian Huai been bewitched by Lu Xi? Since he publicly supported Lu Xi last time and released that video, some fans have been supporting him and hyping up the HuaiXi CP, all of which is just leaching off Jian Huai’s clout. Lu Xi’s a bloodsucker. Jian Huai, wake up!】

 

【Little Male Fox was a classic angsty novel from way back. Super dog-blood and tragic. The second lead is an emperor with tons of captive/bondage play with the little fox. Holy shit, I wasn’t into BL at the time, but I was really excited reading it. I swear, Jian Huai must’ve read the script and chosen it on purpose.】

 

【I’ve always said Jian Huai treats Lu Xi differently. He must have chosen the second male lead on purpose after reading the script. OMG, I’m so here for it! HuaiXi CP is real 怀喜cpszd！”怀喜cpszd！” – a Chinese internet slang term meaning “the CP is real (szd is the pinyin abbreviation for 是真的 or shì zhēn de (it’s true),” expressing fervent belief (or hope) that a fictional or celebrity pairing is genuinely romantic or fated.[/mfn]】

 

【Delusional shippers, get lost.】

 

—

 

“That Jian guy wants to film with Lu Xi?”

 

Xie Zhuhan asked the butler.

 

“Yes. It’s settled, though the contract isn’t signed yet.” the butler said.

 

After a while, Xie Zhuhan said in a cold and somewhat irritated tone: “Give him projects. and send him far away.”

 

“Understood.”

 

The butler watched the master grow up. He was now old and frail, a decrepit old man. All he hoped for in his lifetime was that the master would find peace and happiness.

 

If not for Lu Xi’s importance, silencing an actor like Jian Huai would’ve been easy. But instead, they were stuffing him with projects to send him away. Perhaps, the master didn’t want Young Master Lu to find out and become unhappy.

 

Lu Xi considered the actor a friend.

 

So despite his displeasure, the master wouldn’t destroy him completely.

 

The butler smiled slightly and withdrew to make arrangements.

 

The master was still the same when he was young.

 

A kind, tender-hearted little demon lord.

 

—

 

“You’re leaving me, leaving Starlight, and your first project is that trashy web drama?” Wang Qing sneered. “Jian Huai, you’re regressing. With Lu Xi in your life, your career’s doomed. Cherish the time you have with me, because this is the peak of your career.”

 

Jian Huai remained unshaken. “No need for your concern.”

 

Wang Qing was livid. She never expected that one Weibo post steering fans against Lu Xi would drive Jian Huai to terminate his contract.

 

There was still one month left on the contract. At first, they tried negotiating; meeting his demands, hoping to avoid termination. Today is the second round of negotiations. Wang Qing is representing the company, and Executive Xu is backing her up, but their persuasion has been fruitless, so they have no choice but to break off negotiations.

 

They planned to dump garbage projects on Jian Huai, squeezing out his remaining value.

 

If they couldn’t keep him, they’d ruin him. They were even planning to launch a PR war.

 

Paint Jian Huai as an ungrateful traitor who dumped the company once he got famous.

 

The meeting room was tense with the smell of gunpowder.

 

Knock knock.

 

it was the new agent who temporarily took care of Jian Huai for a month. He knocked on the door and excitedly said, “Huai-ge, MOMO Magazine called. They want you for their cover—”

 

“Why the rush for MOMO?” Wang Qing snapped.

 

The new agent clarified, “Wang-jie, it’s the global edition of MOMO. Not the domestic one.”

 

Wang Qing: “……”

 

“Also, the French brand IM has sent an invitation, asking Huai-ge to be their perfume spokesperson.” The agent hesitated before adding, “Not just for China, but as a global spokesperson.”

 

Wang Qing, Executive Xu: “……”

 

What the actual fuck.

 

Weren’t they supposed to be drowning him in trash gigs? Who wouldn’t salivate over this endorsement fee?!

 

 

 

 

Author’s Note:

Other CEOs: The Wang family is finished.

BKing: Stuff him with projects! Send him far away!