A Poodle at Best

Warning: two male leads, two male leads, two male leads! If that's not your thing, back off, back off, back off!

[V: Meeting a business partner in a bit.]

[V: Might not be able to check my phone for a while. Have fun on your own for now, baby.]

His phone vibrated.

The chat was pinned at the top of his WeChat list, with a little red heart beside the nickname.

Si Di's delicate features lit up with a smile as he tapped the screen to reply:

[Little Si Invincible: Work hard, darling. Make money to support me.]

[Little Si Invincible: [Smooch][Smooch]]

The bunny stickers were so cute.

Si Di couldn't resist sending two more. When he turned his head, he met his manager's disgusted stare.

His manager, Wu Biao, stood six foot three and weighed over 250 pounds. He looked like a mob boss, but in reality, he was a doting dad who managed both Si Di's life and career.

"Baby Di, you're a celebrity, for crying out loud. Aren't you embarrassed to be dating someone online?"

Si Di curled his lip. "What celebrity? Have you ever seen a celebrity wearing this?"

A Nike jacket.

19.9 yuan on Pinduoduo, with free shipping nationwide.

Only his good looks and beautifully proportioned figure let him turn a knockoff into such a breezy, youthful look.

Wu Biao shot him a glare and snapped even more angrily, "Whose fault is that? If you hadn't insulted best actor Qin, would we have gone a year and a half since your debut without landing a single job?"

Qin Wei.

The youngest actor in history to sweep best actor awards at all three major film awards.

He had debuted four years ago, winning every major domestic award with his very first film. The fantasy drama he starred in afterward was an enormous hit, drawing countless fans and launching him straight to the top.

Legend had it that when best actor Qin's debut film premiered, one devastating arch of his brow at the premiere earned him seven million fans overnight!

Si Di wasn't impressed. He snorted disdainfully. "What fucking good is acting talent? The lead in Hachiko was a great actor too, but he was still a dog, wasn't he? Qin Wei could take home a hundred little gold best actor trophies, and I'd still call him a dog."

Wu Biao was speechless. "What exactly is this blood feud between you two? You were childhood sweethearts who grew up together-"

"Pah!"

Si Di cut him off furiously. "Watch your wording!"

Other childhood sweethearts grew up together in innocent harmony.

Si Di and Qin Wei were born incompatible.

They were oil and water, fighting every time they met.

On the day of his debut, reporters had asked what he thought of Qin Wei.

Si Di had smiled disdainfully and said with a perfectly straight face to the cameras, "I don't have any thoughts on dogs."

The reporters had been stunned.

That very night, Si Di had hit the trending searches.

Everyone on Weibo had cursed eight generations of his ancestors.

Si Di had certainly become famous.

But while other people's newfound fame brought more work than they could handle, his had left him lying around at home for a full year and a half.

For that entire year and a half, Wu Biao had done nothing but pour money into the company.

Before starting the company, he had driven a Mercedes-Benz.

Now he scanned a code for a shared bike whenever he went out and couldn't bear to return it until the very last second.

Those painful memories didn't bear revisiting. Wu Biao was about to give Si Di another lecture when the door suddenly opened.

The skinny, monkey-like crew manager said dismissively, "We've already cast the eighteenth male role. Stop standing around here. If you've got nothing else to do, leave."

"..."

Wu Biao sighed and left helplessly.

They had arrived before dawn to fight for this role, and their audition ticket was number one.

The crew's response made it obvious they were afraid of offending Qin Wei.

Fuck.

Si Di couldn't help cursing Qin Wei another 108 times.

He had barely stepped outside when a group rushed past him, ran to the elevator, and bowed and scraped to the person inside.

"Mr. Qin, what an honor to have you here!"

"Next time you come, just let us know ahead of time. I'll send someone to pick you up."

"Mr. Qin, watch your step. Don't trip."

As they spoke, the person in the elevator stepped out.

At six foot two, Qin Wei stood out in the crowd.

His face truly was flawless, proud brows paired with deep-set, long, narrow eyes, their mystery edged with a hint of sharpness.

A high, straight nose and thin lips made him look refined and unapproachable.

An expert had once commented that Qin Wei's looks leaned toward coldness, yet he also possessed phoenix eyes of the gentlest, most affectionate kind.

Like a thread of tenderness within the ice.

They made people long to drag him into worldly love, staining that pure white with sensual color.

But in Si Di's eyes.

No amount of elegance could hide the fact that he was a dog.

At best, it only meant he was a poodle.

Si Di rolled his eyes and started walking.

He had only taken two steps when he heard the director say ingratiatingly, "Mr. Qin, please don't take this the wrong way. Our production didn't invite Si Di to audition. He insisted on coming himself. I've already made it clear we won't use him."

Ha!

Si Di laughed on the spot, deliberately raising his voice as he gave a sarcastic snort.

"I was wondering why the director looked so familiar. Now I finally get it. You're one of Mr. Qin's lapdogs!"

"..."

The corners of the director's mouth twitched.

Si Di showed no fear whatsoever. He glared at Qin Wei in the crowd, as proud as a rooster that had just won a fight.

Their gazes met.

There wasn't a trace of warmth in Qin Wei's cool eyes. After only a second, he looked away and continued forward on his long legs.

The instant he brushed past Si Di.

Qin Wei parted his thin lips and said flatly, "Psycho."

Si Di's eyes flew wide!

"You're the psycho! Your whole family is-"

No, leave his family out of it.

His parents were good people. Si Di had eaten plenty of their braised pork as a kid.

Si Di knew exactly who deserved his grudges. He changed tack and kept cursing. "You're the only psycho in your family! Not only are you a psycho, you've got high blood pressure, paralysis, and blood clots in your brain! You've got nail fungus, and you'll pass it to three more people! Qin Wei, you dog!"

The crew blocked his way.

Watching Qin Wei walk far away and turn into a room surrounded by his lapdogs, Si Di nearly burst a lung with rage.

Fuck!

Qin Wei, you dog!

Qin Wei, you fucking idiot!

With nowhere to vent his fury, Si Di stormed into the elevator, took out his phone, and sent a sobbing sticker.

[Little Si Invincible: Boohoo.]

[Little Si Invincible: Darling, come comfort me.]

A few seconds later, his phone vibrated.

A line of text popped up in the chat.

[V: [Head pat][Head pat]]

[V: What's wrong, baby?]

[Little Si Invincible: Someone bullied me, boohoo.]

[Little Si Invincible: The arch-enemy I told you about before. Basically, I'm looking for work and went to interview at a new company, but my arch-enemy is a senior executive there. He abused his position to settle a personal grudge, deliberately refused to hire me, and even insulted me!]

[Little Si Invincible: [Tears][Tears]]

Being an entertainer made his situation rather unusual.

So Si Di had never told his partner, always claiming he was a freelancer instead.

A few seconds later, his phone chimed.

[V: Actually, I have an arch-enemy too.]