Before heading to Jian Li's agency, Huo Xiao stopped for a meal at a five-star restaurant and had the misfortune of running into Lu Siqi, whose arm was wrapped in bandages.
He had never gotten along with the man and was happy to see him in such a sorry state. He simply couldn't be bothered to go over and mock him.
After all, his aloof nature wasn't something he could change, unless he met someone he wanted to talk to.
Huo Xiao cut his steak, paying no attention to anyone else, and planned to leave after a quick bite.
But Lu Siqi, who was discussing business at another table in the dining area, had clearly noticed his sworn enemy too.
As soon as the person across from him left, he got up and deliberately approached Huo Xiao.
"Mr. Huo, mind if I sit down?"
Although Huo Xiao worked in entertainment, he also held the title of executive president of the Huo Group and helped make decisions about the family's major business ventures.
So addressing him as Mr. Huo here was perfectly appropriate.
"If I said yes, would you leave?"
Lu Siqi froze.
"Suit yourself." Huo Xiao's lips curved in a thoroughly perfunctory smile.
Ignoring his attitude, Lu Siqi shamelessly sat down and got straight to the point. "I've seen how much buzz there's been around you and Jian Li as a couple these past two days. Is a team deliberately promoting it?"
"Whether it's promotion or not, what does it have to do with you, Mr. Lu?" Huo Xiao leaned back and raised an eyebrow at him. "If I remember correctly, Jian Li isn't one of your artists, is he? Why are you paying so much attention to him?"
Lu Siqi's expression darkened. "Jian Li and I have a personal score to settle, so I hope you won't interfere, Mr. Huo. It would be best if you stayed out of it. That way, our families can continue working together without affecting..."
Huo Xiao frowned and cut him off impatiently. "And if I refuse? Will you take revenge on me too? The Huo family doesn't need those measly profits. Feel free to end our partnership."
As he spoke, he tapped the tabletop. "As for this personal score you mentioned, if there's a dispute, go to the police or let a court settle it."
Lu Siqi said, "No one can settle what's between him and me."
Huo Xiao smiled. "Jian Li doesn't seem interested in settling anything either. You're overthinking it. He might not care about you at all."
"I'm the one who wants to deal with him!" Lu Siqi grew increasingly agitated. "He should pay his mother's debt!"
Huo Xiao looked at him as though he were an idiot. "I think that commenter online was right. Your brain really has been bound up like a pair of old-fashioned bound feet."
The blatant mockery exhausted Lu Siqi's patience. "So we can't come to an agreement?!"
"Sorry," Huo Xiao said with a nod. "Jian Li and I have plenty more projects together coming up."
"Besides, I think Jian Li has tremendous potential. I'm even considering poaching him, though I'd need his consent first."
Lu Siqi shot to his feet. "If you insist on opposing me, Mr. Huo, we'll see how this plays out!"
He delivered his threat and turned to leave, only to hear an ominous voice the next second. "Jian Li gave you those injuries, didn't he, Mr. Lu?"
"He's practically walking all over you, yet you can't even find any evidence. And now you're shamelessly threatening to settle your personal score?!"
"Wake up, Mr. Lu. Jian Li isn't someone you can push around anymore!"
The jab hit a sore spot, and Lu Siqi's back stiffened. After pausing for a few seconds, he strode away without another word.
As arrogant as this male lead was, he couldn't and would never believe
that Jian Li, who had remained utterly devoted to him even while letting him exact revenge however he pleased,
could become an entirely different person in such a short time.
Even if, against all odds, he really had changed,
Lu Siqi would find a way to turn him back!
At that thought, Lu Siqi clenched his fist and used his other, uninjured hand to make a call. "Call Jian Li's agency. No matter how much it costs, get your hands on that contract that signs his life away!"
In the manager's office.
Li Lu exclaimed excitedly, "Seriously?! They want Jian Li to shoot a military recruitment ad?! Good heavens! That's a once-in-a-century honor! So many celebrities fight for it and still can't get it!"
"Don't get excited yet. It's only an open audition." Jian Li rubbed his ears, feeling his eardrums vibrate. "It might not even work out!"
Huo Xiao's lips curved. "They're calling it an open audition for publicity's sake. In reality, the lineup has already been decided. There'll be other guests besides you and me."
"Of course," he paused, "Lu Yuanhang isn't included."
"The other guests?" Jian Li suddenly looked puzzled. "Are you sure they've all agreed?"
They were all undercover. Appearing on a variety show was dangerous enough.
How could they possibly shoot a military recruitment public service ad?
What if someone recognized them?!
And then there was Jian Li himself.
He planned to leave the entertainment industry and become a mercenary. If he shot the ad, he would become a symbol of sorts... which would make it difficult to apply as a stateless recruit and head for a peacekeeping battlefield later!
"They're probably still negotiating." Huo Xiao fixed a weighty gaze on Jian Li. "I came to ask you first. What do you think? Will you agree?"
Just as Jian Li opened his mouth, Li Lu beat him to it, nodding like a chick pecking at grain.
"Yes, yes! You'd have to be an idiot to turn this down!"
"Fine, I'm an idiot." Jian Li raised his hand. "I'm turning down the ad."
Li Lu turned toward him, his face full of shock and speechlessness written all over his forehead.
"Do you have some concerns?"
Huo Xiao immediately spotted the source of the conflict, but just as he was about to press further, his phone suddenly vibrated.
At the same time, a sound came from Jian Li's trouser pocket.
And so Li Lu watched the two of them pull out their phones in perfect sync and lower their heads to check them.
The scene looked wonderfully harmonious, except that he was shut out.
Are those two chatting on WeChat behind my back?!
Damn it, being excluded right to my face feels awful!
Suddenly, I can kind of sympathize with Lu Yuanhang!
What Li Lu didn't know was that someone had actually sent a message to a group chat they both belonged to.
[Feng, you're under arrest: Did anyone else get an offer to shoot an ad?! I turned it down. I have my reasons, but I can't explain. Sorry, everyone!]
[Luo Wudi: ? You turned it down too? Is something wrong with you?!]
[Life's hard for Zhou Nan: hand raised.jgp. Turned it down too!]
[Intelligence Bureau teacher: Same as above.]
[Jian Li: ...Me too.]
[Luo Wudi: !!! What's wrong with all of you?!]
[Feng, you're under arrest: Luo, were you the only one who agreed?]
[Luo Wudi: Ah... I'm the same as you guys. My schedule's too packed. I don't have time to shoot it.]
[Feng, you're under arrest: Hahaha, that just leaves Xiao. Unless something unexpected happens, he'll probably...]
[Huo Xiao: Sorry, something unexpected happened. I've already signed the contract.]
The moment that message appeared, the group fell deathly silent.
Meanwhile, the ad's director completely exploded.
"Damn it, even Best Actor Huo, the hardest one to book, agreed to sign, yet those nobodies actually dared to turn us down?!"
"Don't they know we're shooting this for CCTV?! What celebrity would dare refuse?!"
"I refuse to believe this!"
The director planted his hands on his hips. "You have to get them on board, or I'm not shooting this ad!"
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