I'm Not Suited for Romance

However, just as An Luning was about to step forward, she had barely lifted one foot when her ear suddenly started hurting.

"Ow!"

She turned around angrily, then immediately performed the legendary Sichuan opera face-changing act.

Her eyebrows had been practically standing on end, but the moment she saw her manager, Sister Hong, behind her, she became obedient in an instant, even putting on a somewhat ingratiating smile.

"Sis~ What are you doing here?"

Her manager, Sister Hong, did not answer right away. Instead, she glanced at Bai Youlou and the others. Huh, they were pretty sensible—they had already obediently left.

She felt slightly relieved.

When she had just seen An Luning standing so close to Bai Youlou, her heart had nearly leaped into her throat.

Looking at An Luning again, she asked in disbelief, "Do you think that, as your manager, I can't even keep track of my own artist's whereabouts?"

An Luning's face was full of ingratiation. "Of course not. Sister Hong is the best. I just didn't want to trouble you with everything, so I came out for a stroll."

Sister Hong merely smiled: Keep making excuses.

"Sister Hong, it's all my fault. Please don't blame her," Zhang Xiaorong hurriedly said, taking the blame upon herself.

She had already felt somewhat guilty toward Sister Hong. She had even "kidnapped" An Luning and brought her along as her friend and family support group. From her perspective, she really ought to apologize.

"I'm not talking about her coming to support you, Xiaorong. That's no big deal. You only had to tell me, and I could have come with her to cheer you on. But her disappearing without saying a word is a serious problem!"

Sister Hong was quite magnanimous. She made it clear that this had nothing to do with Zhang Xiaorong; she mainly wanted to lecture An Luning about her "complete lack of organization and discipline."

Did this girl have any awareness that she was a major celebrity?!

"I was wrong!"

She was first place when it came to admitting mistakes. Now, how about actually changing?!

Sister Hong helplessly rubbed her forehead, wearing an expression that said, I really don't know what to do with you.

An Luning also "cleverly" changed the subject at once. "Sis, you came too late! If you'd arrived earlier, you could have seen Sister Zhang's performance onstage. She was practically glowing! She was both beautiful and amazing!"

Zhang Xiaorong felt a little embarrassed. "It wasn't that exaggerated."

Sister Hong hesitated to speak. She really hadn't seen Zhang Xiaorong's performance, but she had seen Bai Youlou's.

She had arrived at exactly the right time and watched this boy's entire song from start to finish.

As a professional manager, from an objective perspective, she had wanted nothing more than to sign Bai Youlou on the spot!

One year—she only needed one year. Even if Bai Youlou were an ordinary unknown, she was confident she could lift him to the heavens!

Unfortunately, this boy's "criminal record" was a little frightening. If only he really were an ordinary unknown~

And Sister Hong was very worried now!

Had An Luning really come to support Zhang Xiaorong, or was she looking for an opportunity to meet Bai Youlou?

Ever since this girl had seen Bai Youlou at the film academy after his incident, she had started acting somewhat strangely.

Sister Hong simply couldn't understand it. She hadn't liked him when he was a pure and handsome young man, but now that he had turned into this mess, she was becoming even more invested in him.

What was wrong with her?!

Of course, she had not understood it before.

But today, she had gained a little understanding. Bai Youlou really did have a touch of the supernatural about him.

It was a pity that she still hadn't seen Whiplash, distributed through Huaxing Company. Otherwise, she would have been even more shocked.

But judging from the current situation, Sister Hong would not relax her vigilance toward Bai Youlou.

On the contrary, she was even more alert now.

Previously, apart from being handsome, Bai Youlou had been nothing but bad press. Any normal person knew to stay away from him. Back then, it had been easy for her to persuade An Luning as well; An Luning had never talked back.

But things were troublesome now.

The word "talent" could sometimes be worthless, but at other times, it could be worth more than anything.

Even if it could not be converted into money on the spot, at certain times, it had tremendous power over some girls.

So she had to guard against him with everything she had!

--

Zhang Xiaorong had perfectly completed her debut performance as a singer.

Bai Youlou had "conquered" everyone at the venue with a single song.

An Luning was hauled back by her manager like a chick.

Everyone had a bright future ahead of them.

Only after leaving the studio for quite some time did Bai Youlou finally let out a breath.

That had been close. Why had Zhang Xiaorong leaned so near just now?

Hadn't they agreed not to expose their "relationship"?

As for An Luning, Bai Youlou had not paid much attention to her. When conducting oneself in society, one had to be sensible.

He had used Huaxing Company's film distribution channels. If he then did something to the company's leading artist and caused them losses, that would truly be taking advantage of their goodwill without shame.

From that standpoint, Bai Youlou would consciously keep his distance from her.

But if An Luning insisted on coming over herself, that had nothing to do with him.

In any case, up to now, Bai Youlou had not even said a single word to that girl.

They were merely "online friends."

He hoped this girl would not "cross the line."

However, Old Zhou and Long Ziqiang clearly still had questions.

"Brother Lou, how did you know that Host Xiao Liu would become famous in the future? She's only a little prettier than average, right? Is she really that good at hosting?"

"How would I know how good she is at hosting?"

"You just made that up?"

"Not entirely. Her father is the Deputy Station Director."

Old Zhou: "How the hell could you tell that?"

Bai Youlou looked surprised. "You couldn't tell?"

Old Zhou and Long Ziqiang were both dumbfounded. How the hell were they supposed to tell?!

There was no helping it. Faced with these two idiots, Bai Youlou felt he had to give them a proper lesson!

"First of all, I don't know if you noticed, but although Host Xiao Liu is a new host, whether it was the veteran hosts or the staff here, everyone treated her very politely."

"Couldn't that just be courtesy?" Old Zhou couldn't help arguing.

"Secondly, the clothes she wears and the things she uses aren't things an ordinary family could afford."

"So her family is rich. Aren't the families of people who study hosting generally well-off?"

"Third, I noticed that she could actually discuss backstage camera shots with the directing team. Is that the kind of treatment an ordinary new host receives?"

That seemed to make some sense. Keep going, keep going.

"Lastly, I checked the Zhe Lan TV website and found information about a Deputy Station Director. He also had the surname Liu, and his age matched."

"Couldn't that possibly be a coincidence?"

"So I found an assistant director and asked him."

"Go to hell!"

Old Zhou and Long Ziqiang felt that their intelligence had been insulted. Why hadn't he simply skipped straight to the last step?

Why had he rambled on about all that other nonsense?

Old Zhou immediately switched into gloating mode. "Anyway, Teacher Zhang saw you flirting with that female host just now. You're as good as dead."

Long Ziqiang also chuckled beside him, apparently imagining some strange scenario.

Bai Youlou took Old Zhou's cigarette, lit one with a snap, and said in an apparently melancholy tone, "I'm naturally sensitive and suspicious. I'm just not suited for romance."

"What are you suited for, then?"

"I should be emperor."