How About We Make a Deal?

Chen Fei glanced at the gloating Shen Qing and the stern-looking director, then squeezed his eyes shut. "The director moved your scenes back, but he doesn't look too happy."

"..."

"I'm going now."

Song Mingzhou climbed out of bed and started getting dressed. After stumbling through his wash-up, he rushed out of the bathroom and froze when he saw Duan Xun still sitting in the living room.

By all logic, Duan Xun was busy—extremely busy. How could he have the spare time to sit around here? Even when Song Mingzhou had been in the hospital before, Duan Xun had only stayed for one day before disappearing early the next morning.

Song Mingzhou did not quite know how to react.

Duan Xun stood up. "You're up?"

He nodded. "Yeah." Then he added, "I have to get to the set right away. I'm late, and the director isn't happy."

Not happy?

Duan Xun narrowed his eyes but said nothing. He merely hummed, then added, "Go on."

"Okay, then I'm leaving?"

"Mm."

After thinking it over, Song Mingzhou still ran over and hugged Duan Xun. Only when he saw the curve of Duan Xun's lips did he let go, smiling. "Then I'm off. Brother can summon me anytime."

Duan Xun kept a straight face. "Mm. Go."

"Okay."

Song Mingzhou really was in a hurry. He hastily changed his shoes and ran off like a gust of wind. Duan Xun was a little displeased, but he said nothing and called his assistant.

He really was busy.

Since Song Mingzhou had already left, he had to leave too.

When he arrived at the set, Shen Qing inevitably disgusted him again. The director looked quite stern, but did not say anything. Seeing that Song Mingzhou performed very well, he still broke into a smile.

Song Mingzhou let out a breath. "Director, do I still have scenes today?"

The director gave him an odd look. "Are you in such a hurry to go back?"

Song Mingzhou shook his head.

The director looked at him for a long while, then suddenly burst out laughing and patted his shoulder. "Young people shouldn't be so impetuous. Your acting is very good, and you have real talent. You'll definitely achieve great things in the future. Right now, you need to learn to settle yourself and not indulge too much in things you shouldn't be indulging in."

Song Mingzhou paused, then immediately understood what the director meant.

He said solemnly, "Thank you for your guidance, Director. I'll remember it."

"Good. I think highly of you. Go on."

"Thank you, Director."

Song Mingzhou had originally been anxious to contact Duan Xun, but after cooling down, he was no longer in such a rush. Duan Xun should be busy too. Song Mingzhou had checked Weibo that morning, and Duan Xun had an appearance scheduled today.

Fine.

Song Mingzhou returned to the break room, patted his heated face, and opened his phone after calming down. His agent had already sent him the details regarding the breach of contract and the compensation payment.

[Ding. A plot point has been triggered. The host is to call his father and request a loan of four million yuan for the compensation payment.]

Song Mingzhou checked his balance again, sighed, and asked a question.

Little 7, in the original plot, did he manage to borrow the money?

No.

Fine.

Just as expected.

The original plot said that the original owner had been abandoned by his family, and no one welcomed him either. Even if they had a little money, four million was no ordinary sum. They probably would not lend it to him.

But even so, he still had to make this call.

The break room Song Mingzhou was using was a shared one. With his current fame and status, he was not qualified to have a private break room of his own.

He sent his assistant away, found an empty corner, and made the call.

"Hello."

There was a several-second pause before the other side spoke. It was a vigorous male voice. "Who is this?"

"Song Mingzhou."

The voice on the phone immediately turned cold. "What is it?"

Song Mingzhou did not waste words and got straight to the point. "I need money. Four million. I'll write an IOU. I'll pay it back."

"Heh." As if he had heard some sort of joke, the man's voice turned even colder. "I told you long ago that you're no longer part of the Song Household. I'm not your father either. Even if you die outside, it has nothing to do with me."

Beep.

The call was disconnected.

It was clean and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

[Ding. Host Song Mingzhou's key plot point has been successfully restored. Current task progress: 17/100.]

Song Mingzhou looked at his phone, locked the screen as usual, and felt no emotional fluctuation. He was not really the original owner anyway, and he had never had any attachment to the Song Household. Whether he was part of the Song Household or not did not matter.

As long as he completed the task.

527 seemed to notice an unusual shift in his emotions and took the initiative to comfort him. Host, are you okay? It's fine. He isn't your real father. You're only doing a task, so don't be sad.

Song Mingzhou froze. Was he sad?

Don't talk nonsense.

527 bit its lip and obediently fell silent.

Song Mingzhou's gaze darkened. He put his phone back into his pocket, then turned around and saw a woman standing behind him. She was also an actress in the production and seemed to play... the second female lead? She was leaning against the wall and watching him.

Song Mingzhou ignored her and continued walking.

"You're short on money?"

"!"

Song Mingzhou turned around, his cold gaze fixed directly on the young woman. She smiled innocently at him. "I came over to make a call too. I wasn't trying to eavesdrop."

Seeing that Song Mingzhou said nothing and only stared at her like that—

Cheng Xin felt a little uneasy too, but she did not back down. She simply smiled and said, "How about we make a deal?"

Song Mingzhou spoke. "What deal?"

Cheng Xin turned her head and looked deeply in one direction. Song Mingzhou followed her gaze. Several people were sitting there, but the most eye-catching of them all was Shen Qing.

He was surrounded like the moon among stars, smiling happily, with both men and women gathered around him.

This was Song Mingzhou's first time observing from the sidelines. Looking at that lively scene, he could not help sighing. As expected, Shen Qing was the original author's favorite—the beloved little bottom. There really were a lot of people who liked him.

What if... I dragged him down from that pedestal?

Song Mingzhou thought wickedly.

Cheng Xin withdrew her gaze, and Song Mingzhou did the same. Cheng Xin lowered her voice. "If you can borrow the money, then..."

"I can't."

"Huh?"

Song Mingzhou's expression was cold. "Say it directly. If you give me the money, what do I need to do?"

Cheng Xin was briefly stunned, then smiled. There was now a little more approval and admiration in the way she looked at Song Mingzhou. "You're very smart. I can lend you the four million you need. In return, you need to help me invite Shen Qing out alone and personally deliver him to a place I designate."

"?"

Song Mingzhou understood immediately.

Especially after comparing the look in the woman's eyes when she had looked at Shen Qing just now to the way she looked now—they were completely different.

A fangirl.

She wanted to ask Shen Qing out?

Or rather, she wanted to scheme against Shen Qing. She was a girl secretly in love with Shen Qing, probably playing the kind of cannon-fodder character who liked the protagonist, resorted to tricks, ultimately gained nothing, and even helped advance the protagonists' relationship.

Did she not know Shen Qing was... a bottom too?

Couldn't she tell?

527 popped out its little head. Host, you're so smart. That's exactly it.

Nothing original.

What do you mean, nothing original?

Nothing. If I'm not wrong, there should be a task for me here too, right? This doesn't look like a random event. It should have been part of the original owner's plot as well.