In his little apartment without air conditioning, Jian Ran endured another night drenched in sweat, then stationed himself outside Maple Blue Entertainment bright and early, right on schedule.
Not many people were awake at that hour, leaving the area in front of the company building rather deserted.
So, as Xu Xuda shuffled toward the company with a fried dough stick between his teeth and a plastic bag in his hand, he looked up and spotted that familiar, infuriating smile.
He froze for several seconds, then turned to flee, only to be blocked by a tall figure before he got far.
"Morning, Brother Xu!" Jian Ran snatched the plastic bag, deftly pulled out a golden fried dough stick, and stuffed it into his mouth. "Thanks for breakfast!"
"H-how did you know I bought an extra one?!" Xu Xuda stared at him in astonishment, then added irritably, "You can tell fortunes!"
One day, this guy had suddenly gone off the rails, claiming to be a master of the mystical arts who could read fortunes, perform divinations, and draw talismans. Ever since, he had been spouting mystical nonsense and pulling one outrageous stunt after another.
Xu Xuda attributed all such symptoms to a syndrome of career disaster and romantic disappointment.
Jian Ran smiled radiantly. His mouth was greasy, but it did nothing to diminish his looks; he was still as beautiful as a painting. "Congratulations, Brother Xu. You've even learned to answer ahead of time."
"Get lost-"
Square-faced Xu Xuda could not be bothered to waste his breath. He strode toward the company on his short little legs.
"Brother Xu, I'm here to sign the contract." Jian Ran caught up with him, grinning. "According to the divination, I'm definitely going to be a hit this time. Then I'll take you along to live the high life..."
Xu Xuda screeched to a halt and turned to glare at him. Despite standing only five foot seven, he managed to assume the bearing of a giant. "Mention divination one more time, and I'll stuff fried dough sticks into every last one of your mouths!"
Jian Ran immediately mimed zipping his mouth shut.
His eyes curved, his smile warm and bright.
Looking at that face blessed by the heavens, Xu Xuda fell into a slight daze.
Like the other managers, when Jian Ran first made his dazzling debut on a talent show, he too had looked at him with the eyes of a hungry wolf.
Bright eyes, pearly teeth, exquisite bone structure, flawless skin, and striking, highly distinctive features-especially those clear, luminous eyes that shone with every glance, drawing people in so easily that they could not escape.
His looks were absolutely first-rate.
Drawing on his years of experience as a manager, Xu Xuda had felt that with just a little polishing, this guy would surely amount to something one day. He might even make it to the very top...
But reality had proved that dreams were beautiful, while the truth was brutal and cold.
He had been just as blind as the other managers, actually letting himself be beguiled by this hopeless waste of space!
His acting was so painfully awkward that it offended gods and men alike.
He made all sorts of embarrassing spectacles of himself on variety shows.
Scandalous rumors flew everywhere.
His haters dominated every ranking.
However full of hope Xu Xuda had been when signing him, that was how badly he wanted to strangle the bastard now!
"Forget about this variety show. The company plans to give it to another artist." Xu Xuda sighed and said solemnly, "Go home and rest for a while. Preferably see a therapist. If that doesn't work, pay a visit to a psychiatric hospital..."
Before he could finish, Jian Ran stuffed the last bite of fried dough stick into his mouth and blinked. "The show still needs a big name, right? If I get one on board, could the company change its mind?"
"Oh, please! Emperor Lu isn't someone you can..." Seeing that Jian Ran was about to launch into another shameless pestering session, Xu Xuda hurriedly brushed him off. "Get Emperor Lu on board, and the company will fight for your spot."
And so, the very next second, he watched Jian Ran turn decisively and hurry toward the Maybach parked by the road.
Everything seemed arranged by heaven itself, the timing so precise it was outrageous.
The man rumored to be a walking iceberg, aloof and restrained, Asia's foremost heartthrob, happened to push open the car door and step out on his long legs.
With no regard for his own life, Jian Ran went straight up to him and opened his mouth. "Buddy, there's a dark cast between your brows and black energy swirling over your head. Disaster is sure to strike you in the coming days."
"We had no fate between us..."
Xu Xuda rushed over like a madman, trying to stop this idiot from courting death, only to hear a deep, husky, magnetic voice deliver the next utterly worldview-shattering line through those cold lips.
"Was it all down to my money?" Lu Yanting curled his lips and looked over with the ghost of a smile.
Jian Ran froze for a moment. "..." This guy really knew how to play along?!
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