Borrowing Influence

Beep.

[Ding, host Song Mingzhou's key plot point has been successfully repaired. Current mission progress: 32/100.]

The call ended.

Lu Fenghai was so furious he wanted to smash his phone, but he couldn't bear to. Instead, he smashed the cheap steel pen in his hand.

Fuck!

He cursed viciously, yet he really had been pinned down and didn't dare do anything rash.

Artists and agents had a strange symbiotic relationship. Whoever was popular was king—or rather, whoever had power was the boss.

Back then, Song Mingzhou had neither power nor influence. He wasn't famous, either, and he had been suicidal enough to stir up trouble. The little fame he had was rotten to the core, all from news about being the other man, pestering people, and harassment.

Now, things had improved somewhat because of that variety show. Then that misunderstanding had won him another wave of fans. Behind-the-scenes clips from his current drama were released from time to time, and his acting had improved by leaps and bounds, earning him even more fans.

But that still didn't qualify him to challenge Lu Fenghai.

Wasn't he just selling himself to a patron?

Lu Fenghai made a call. "Look into it. Who exactly is backing Song Mingzhou? Who's promoting him and protecting him? Money isn't an issue."

He wanted to see whether Song Mingzhou's patron was genuinely formidable or just a bluffing fake.

The next day.

Song Mingzhou finished work early. He went straight to the company to find Lu Fenghai, walked up to the office, and pushed the door open.

Lu Fenghai jumped in fright. Once he saw who it was, he immediately bristled.

"Do you have any manners? Don't you know to knock before coming in?"

Song Mingzhou sat himself down on the sofa and spread his hands. "What, were you doing something you didn't want anyone to see?"

Lu Fenghai's face darkened. "Stop slandering me. I don't have time to waste on you. What are you here for?"

"??" Song Mingzhou looked surprised. "Great Agent Lu, you really do forget things quickly. I only told you yesterday, and you've already forgotten? Besides, you don't have any particularly famous artists under you. What exactly are you so busy with?"

"..."

Of course Lu Fenghai hadn't forgotten. He had only wanted to needle Song Mingzhou, but he hadn't expected to be the one getting choked up instead.

Damn it.

Keeping a straight face, he said, "Oh, I arranged to meet them over lunch to discuss it. Are you sure you've got the money ready?"

"Of course. Want to see it?"

"..."

"It's in my card, so you can't see it. Sigh, it really hurts to spend my money."

Lu Fenghai truly couldn't stand his attitude. How long had it been since they'd met? Had Song Mingzhou been possessed? The change was too huge!

"Oh, right. I have some other business to take care of. I'll come find you later. Remember to prepare the documents."

"..."

Lu Fenghai couldn't be bothered with him.

Song Mingzhou seemed to be in a great mood. Without caring whether Lu Fenghai responded, he swept out of the office like a gust of wind and headed straight for the elevator.

"Song... Song?" A young woman's cry came from nearby. Song Mingzhou turned his head in confusion and saw a young girl covering her mouth in delight, joy spilling from her eyes.

Apparently, she was a little fan.

The girl lowered her hands excitedly, her voice trembling. "Hello, Song. I-I'm a new intern. I'm your fan."

Song Mingzhou nodded openly. "Hello. Thank you for liking me."

"!!!" The girl nearly fainted on the spot. She hurriedly felt around in her pockets, apparently wanting an autograph, but she hadn't brought anything with her. A flash of frustration and regret crossed her face.

Song Mingzhou took the initiative. "How about we take a photo together?"

The girl's eyes lit up. "Really? Is that okay?"

"Of course."

"O-okay." The girl fumbled to open her phone's camera and stood stiffly beside Song Mingzhou.

She didn't dare stand too close, and she was petite, making it difficult to fit both of them in the frame at once.

Song Mingzhou smiled. "I'll do it."

He took the girl's phone, leaned closer on his own initiative, snapped several pictures, then handed it back to her. "Thank you."

The girl was overwhelmed by the favor and hurriedly thanked him too, repeating herself until Song Mingzhou disappeared into the elevator.

Only afterward did she cover her face. Her cheeks turned scarlet in an instant. Excitedly opening her phone to check the photos, she immediately started editing them, blurring out the background before uploading them to Song Mingzhou's fan community.

Meanwhile.

Song Mingzhou headed straight to the top floor and barged into the general manager's office. Wang Cheng was somewhat surprised to see him and pushed up his glasses. "What is this?"

"President Wang, I need to speak with you about something."

"Oh? What is it?" To be honest, Song Mingzhou had left a deep impression on him, though none of it had been good. Still, he could make money. An artist only needed to be profitable.

Song Mingzhou sat across from him. "President Wang, I want to change agents."

"What??"

Wang Cheng was utterly shocked.

Song Mingzhou continued, "My current agent and I have incompatible ideas. I've already paid quite a lot in compensation, and I want to take the high-quality route, preferably enter the film industry. I know you'll think I'm being unrealistic, but I won't disappoint you. Within three months, I'll find a film and join its cast."

After a pause, he took a step back. "If I can enter the film industry, it'll also positively impact our company. If I can secure a film you approve of within three months, then give me a new agent. How about it?"

Wang Cheng narrowed his eyes and looked him over, his gaze full of complicated calculation. "Do you know what level you're at?"

He could manage idol dramas and appear on various variety shows to get his face out there and earn appearance fees, but anything else...

Song Mingzhou nodded. "I believe in myself, and I'm not making empty boasts. President Wang, if I can't do it within three months, the company can deal with me however it wants. Shelving me is fine too."

He still had two years left on his contract with the company.

He could terminate the contract early, but even an early termination would take at least a year. Right now, he had nothing. He could borrow Duan Xun's influence, but he couldn't rely on Duan Xun for everything. What if the other man grew impatient with him or became sick of him?

Then he would have really messed things up.

Wang Cheng considered it. "I'll think about it. If you can really do it, we'll talk then."

Song Mingzhou knew that meant he had agreed. Wang Cheng simply didn't want to state it too definitively and leave himself no room to maneuver.

That was fine.

As long as there was still hope, it was enough.

Song Mingzhou stood up. "Thank you, President Wang. I'll be going, then."

"Fine."

As he watched Song Mingzhou leave, Wang Cheng rubbed his chin with interest. Quite an interesting young man. He had some nerve, daring to come directly to him to ask for a new agent, and even daring to make a bet.

After leaving the office, Song Mingzhou went with Lu Fenghai to meet the other party's representative, terminate the contract, and pay the breach penalty.

If this had been a mission, then in the original plot, the original owner had been driven into a corner and begged Duan Xun for help. As his patron, although Duan Xun had already begun to despise him, he had still impatiently given him a sum of money.

And that money had completely severed Duan Xun's last sliver of pity for the original owner. From then on, the original owner had lost all support and thoroughly enraged Duan Xun.

Song Mingzhou suddenly laughed.

Had he already changed quite a few developments without realizing it?

527 slowly poked its head out. "Yes. Your patron hasn't grown sick of you. He even seems to like you more. That isn't very logical. You've angered him so many times already—why hasn't he hit you or scolded you?"