Xia Zhiyi hadn't expected that this change from his first life would net him a business card from Tianhuan Entertainment.
Although he had likewise received an opportunity to enter the entertainment industry after a car accident, the circumstances were vastly different.
First, neither he nor his sister had been hurt. That was the best thing of all.
Second, the person extending an olive branch to him was different, as was the company.
In his first life, Xia Zhiyi had received an olive branch from Huanyu after falling into a predicament. Everything that happened afterward had shown that he had made the wrong choice in this matter. Huanyu was not a good place to go.
By comparison, Tianhuan Entertainment, which currently had little reputation in the entertainment industry, might look like a makeshift operation right now. Other people wouldn't even have heard of it if he mentioned it, and it couldn't begin to compare with Huanyu, one of the industry's big three.
But with his knowledge of the plot and memories of his first life, Xia Zhiyi knew at least more about this company than most bystanders.
Tianhuan Entertainment was backed by the well-funded Hangu Group. Before this talent agency was officially established, Hangu Group had already accumulated considerable experience with entertainment-related projects, and Tianhuan Entertainment was the Hangu Group heir's attempt to test the waters before formally taking over the family business.
Well, this was the company the novel's male lead had signed with. After breaking free of her unscrupulous agency, the female lead had also signed with Tianhuan Entertainment with the male lead's help.
If Xia Zhiyi wanted to avoid the male and female leads, steering clear of Tianhuan Entertainment would have been the natural course.
But...
Xia Zhiyi: Why should I avoid them?
On their way home, Xia Zhiyi told Xia Wanyi what Xu Chang had said to him.
Hearing this, Xia Wanyi neither agreed nor objected. Instead, she asked, "He isn't a scammer, is he?"
Whether he entered the entertainment industry wasn't important. The Xia family now consisted of just the two siblings, with only each other to lean on. As his older sister, Xia Wanyi only hoped her brother could live happily. As for what he wanted to do, she felt she shouldn't interfere too much.
But that was on the condition that her brother wasn't being scammed.
Xia Zhiyi smiled. The thin business card flipped between his fingertips, his hands so extraordinarily nimble that one couldn't help looking at those fair, slender fingers.
Yet the owner of those hands seemed not to notice any of this as he answered his sister gently, "I don't know much about this Xu Chang, but I know a little about Tianhuan Entertainment, the company on the card. If it really is that company, it's actually pretty good."
Whether in the plot or from what he had seen himself, Tianhuan Entertainment was a very clean talent agency. He had never heard of its agents pimping anyone out, nor had there ever been rumors of anything like casting-couch deals.
On the contrary, he had heard that the Hangu Group heir seemed quite protective of his own and had once personally beaten up an investor who wanted to use resources to demand sexual favors from a Tianhuan artist.
And it seemed his identity had been exposed because that incident had blown up, prompting Hangu Group to step in and revealing the connection between Tianhuan Entertainment and Hangu Group.
Besides, it stood to reason that after the female lead finally escaped her unscrupulous company and sought refuge at Tianhuan Entertainment, she couldn't possibly have jumped from one den of demons into another, could she?
Still...
Xia Zhiyi said, "I thought you'd ask whether I wanted to enter the entertainment industry first."
Xia Wanyi smiled at that.
She had just suffered a fright not long ago, leaving her somewhat pale, and she still hadn't recovered. Her smile carried a trace of weakness, but her eyes were very gentle.
She said, "As long as you aren't being scammed, you can do whatever work you want in the future."
"Besides, you've always had a mind of your own. Now that you're an adult, having something you want to do is a good thing too."
As she spoke, Xia Wanyi frowned slightly, a trace of worry settling over her features. "I don't doubt that you could be a star. My little brother has been better-looking than other people's children since he was small. Everyone agrees on that. You should be able to attract some fans on your looks alone."
Xia Zhiyi said, "...Sis, are you praising me or putting me down?"
Xia Wanyi couldn't help laughing. She reached out and stroked his head, then said, "If you really are thinking about it, I'll ask a friend to check whether this company is reliable."
Something flickered in Xia Zhiyi's eyes before he nodded. "Okay."
Even though he knew a great deal about the situation, he also knew Xia Wanyi would feel uneasy if she did nothing.
And for Xia Zhiyi, whether to reenter the industry right now, and which company to sign with if he did, were not the most pressing matters.
He had more important things to consider.
For instance, whether to tell his sister about some of his experiences.
The siblings had only each other to depend on, and Xia Wanyi knew him very well. Perhaps, even now, she had already noticed some differences between him and his former self.
Because Xia Zhiyi hadn't hidden anything at all.
Perhaps if he said nothing, Xia Wanyi wouldn't ask either. To Xia Wanyi, as long as she was sure he was still Xia Zhiyi, she probably wouldn't concern herself with anything else.
As long as he was Xia Zhiyi, the little brother she had grown up with and depended on, nothing else mattered.
But to Xia Zhiyi, there was no need to tell Xia Wanyi about everything he had experienced after his death. After all, those long years hadn't been anything particularly pleasant for Xia Zhiyi, much less for Xia Wanyi.
And if he told Xia Wanyi about his rebirth, there would be no avoiding his death.
As they got out of the car, Xia Wanyi tilted her head seemingly casually, glanced at Xia Zhiyi, and asked, "It's already three. It'll be evening before long. Why don't we take a look around the market? Is there anything you'd like to eat?"
Xia Zhiyi's steps paused slightly before he smiled and said, "After something that serious happened today, you probably don't feel like eating meat either, Sis. We won't find much fresh produce at the market at this hour. How about we go to Boss Liu's for a couple of bowls of noodles?"
Xia Wanyi smiled. "All right."
Only when Xia Wanyi turned and walked ahead did a trace of helplessness show in Xia Zhiyi's eyes.
An instant later, his gaze turned cold, and the hand hanging at his side unobtrusively felt the object tucked in his trousers.
Just after the accident, Xia Zhiyi had mingled with the crowd as a helpful passerby. He had approached the driver to confirm a few things.
Well, the driver had already fallen unconscious, and he had indeed obtained some information from him.
For instance, a serious illness in its terminal stage, and... he had come prepared.
He had only been suspicious at first, but after seeing the man's condition, his clothing and appearance, and the information he had gleaned from inside the damaged vehicle... what he had once thought was an accident really hadn't been just an accident.
Up ahead, Xia Wanyi called, "Zhiyi."
Hearing her, Xia Zhiyi looked up and smiled brightly. "Coming, Sis."