Chapter 119 : Chapter 119

Chapter 119: “Oh my god, oh my god!”

After finishing his talk with Qiao Tian, Wanshu Zu called Shen Weidi into the study.

Li Yamin wanted to follow, but Gu An, being very perceptive, quickly stepped forward to stop him: “Brother Li, the PR team still needs you to follow up. Let’s have a small meeting.”

Gu An was twenty-seven this year, thin and tall, with freckles on his face, not looking like a capable type.

He had been working for Wanshu Zu since he was twenty-two.

He had offended people and done great things, and knew that Brother Zu intended to cultivate him.

When he first came into contact with Li Yamin, Gu An came face-to-face with the diversity of species for the first time.

He couldn’t understand, they were all human, all living by eating, breathing, and sleeping, so how could someone be so self-centered.

Regarding Li Yamin, all the related terms online were “profound,” “reserved,” “veteran actor,” “delicate.”

Bullshit.

Not a single word could truly be associated with him; it was all thanks to Wanshu Zu’s maneuvering.

The real-life Li Yamin was the most difficult type to handle.

He wouldn’t listen to suggestions, but he would constantly make demands.

Except for Wanshu Zu, he looked at everyone with a clear “Alright, let’s just make do” attitude.

Gu An had dealt with quite a few artists.

Besides Li Yamin, he also had several artists, big and small, under him, and willful ones were not uncommon.

The difference was also obvious.

The threshold for the entertainment industry was both high and low.

Gu An believed the main reason this circle was so chaotic was: the educational level of celebrities was too low.

An artist’s age is important, and it’s not always the younger the better, but their golden period happens to coincide with the key period of an ordinary person’s growth.

Few of Gu An’s artists had attended university; graduating from high school was considered “highly educated.”

Their knowledge was inherently narrow, and they had never truly stepped into society, directly leaping into a closed, yet respectable and complex circle.

Money was made quickly here, and everyone spoke pleasant nonsense, which could easily make a person lose their bearings.

Becoming arrogant was a small matter; truly taking oneself too seriously was a disaster.

Many artists began to become conceited, picky, and felt they could kick their agent aside at any time to move on to a higher platform.

Li Yamin was different.

He was from a proper acting school.

After graduating from the acting department, due to family reasons, he was even pushed to go abroad to complete an MFA (Master of Fine Arts).

Incidentally, while he was studying for his MFA, Wanshu Zu also went to the business school next door to study for an MBA (Master of Business Administration).

Li Yamin’s mind was very clear; there was no possibility of him being dragged down by the circle.

He was just purely annoying.

Sometimes annoyingly logical, like now.

Li Yamin: “I’m in a PR crisis, and my agent doesn’t need to attend the meeting?”

Gu An: “I am also your agent, and it won’t take much time. You weren’t needed for this in the first place, but since you’re here, you can listen in. If you have any questions, you can raise them directly, and we can adjust immediately.”

Li Yamin stared at the study door.

Shen Weidi had already gone in, closing the door as if he were slamming it.

He said “oh,” and slowly leaned back on the sofa: “Then you guys can have your meeting.”

“Sit.”

Wanshu Zu was still direct.

“I heard from Li Yamin that you want to form a band.”

Shen Weidi’s styling had just begun.

Male artists were less trouble than female artists, and with his face, there was not much to worry about.

There was no need to consider a style, and no commercial deals would be coming in for now.

Being clean was the most important thing.

But it was a press conference, after all.

He couldn’t just wear a T-shirt; it had to be more formal.

The styling team had him change into a shirt, his hair was wet and not yet styled.

When alone with Wanshu Zu, Shen Weidi was much more well-behaved.

His posture was fairly proper, and he seemed a bit uneasy.

“Yes,” Shen Weidi said.

His sharp eyes caught a glimpse of Wanshu Zu’s watch, which was incredibly familiar.

Wanshu Zu: “To be able to get into such a fight with your uncle, I assume you’ve thought everything through. Musical positioning, core theme, differentiation advantage, member selection, target audience, original music production capabilities… You talk, I’ll listen. If it’s feasible, I’ll push it forward directly.”

Shen Weidi: “…”

Wanshu Zu gazed at his obvious unease and said flatly: “So you haven’t thought about anything, just had a sudden whim to stir up some trouble, and for that, you didn’t hesitate to make such a mess.”

Shen Weidi was unconvinced: “This has nothing to do with me. Did I take the photos? Did I curse at you online?”

“You can act like an idiot and make a scene with me, but you know in your heart whether you’re truly stupid or just pretending. I only doubt your emotional intelligence, not your IQ. But if you’re a one-in-ten-thousand pure idiot, then consider my judgment to be mistaken.”

Shen Weidi: “…”

“I am speaking as an agent to my artist. I am not your family, nor am I your friend. Think carefully before you say anything.”

Shen Weidi subconsciously wanted to look away.

He could never figure this person out.

Wanshu Zu’s gaze was always heavy, filled with scrutiny.

Shen Weidi was very sensitive to all kinds of looks; he could distinguish them clearly.

For example, his parents’ look of disappointment, the contempt and pity from people who knew a little about his family, and Li Yamin’s look of annoyance.

Shen Weidi was the only one in the Li family with the surname Shen.

Obviously, he was the sole heir of the Li family, but not by blood.

It was laughable.

Shen Weidi’s parents couldn’t have children, and Li Yamin, who could, had no intention of getting married.

When the older generation was desperate to hold a grandchild, they adopted Shen Weidi from a distant relative.

And then they were angered to death.

Although his parents felt it was a peaceful passing after their wish was fulfilled through the torment of illness, Shen Weidi could understand the old man’s eyes.

Before his death, he didn’t look at him like he was looking at a grandson.

He was not young at that time, old enough to remember things.

He even remembered his parents discussing in front of him whether to change his surname.

This family cared about face.

They said they couldn’t let the relatives feel cold-hearted, so the child’s surname had to be kept.

Li Yamin spoke without a filter, saying whatever came to mind, and directly spoke up on the side: “Change it. I don’t plan on having kids, maybe there really won’t be anyone with the surname Li.”

Later, Shen Weidi figured it out.

After all that, they were thinking of kicking him out.

The Li family members had to be Li family members.

Every single one of them was self-centered, not caring at all what others thought.

Once a decision was made, no second words were tolerated.

The only chance Shen Weidi had to change his surname was when he was sixteen.

His biological parents died in an accident.

Now he had become a burden that couldn’t be shaken off.

They couldn’t just let him go back to be a Shen family orphan, could they?

The Li family was a big family, it would sound terrible if word got out.

Li Yamin was still advocating for changing his surname quickly.

His parents, on the other hand, were hesitant and ended up consulting Wanshu Zu.

It was hilarious.

Whether Li Yamin would get married, whether he would have children, his parents couldn’t decide, and there were no elders to pressure him, so they asked Wanshu Zu, who had just become Li Yamin’s agent.

Just listen to what they asked—

“How soon can Yamin get married? Can he get married before he’s 30?”

“Isn’t he on the path of an actor? Getting married and having children shouldn’t be a big deal, right? What do you think, Xiao Zu?”

“At most 35, any later would be inappropriate. We’ll be older then, and we still want to help take care of the kids…”

“And the company… Yamin is completely uninterested, we also need to start considering…”

Shen Weidi knew about these absurd conversations because he was playing games in the game room at that time, and Li Yamin was sneakily holding his phone on the side.

The phone was on a call, and Wanshu Zu let him listen to the entire conversation.

This unrestrained uncle had turned on the speakerphone, not feeling at all that these words would have an adverse effect on a minor’s fragile soul.

This family was full of psychopaths, their minds filled with themselves.

Who gives a damn about a minor’s mental state.

Li Yamin was still complaining there: “Can’t you be a little more useful, get better grades, behave better, so my brother can hurry up and give you the family fortune, and stop thinking about me all the time.”

Shen Weidi swore at him for the first time, enunciating clearly: “Go to your mother’s.”

Li Yamin frowned, and before he could say anything, Wanshu Zu’s voice came from the phone: “He can’t get married before 35. I don’t know about your family’s situation, but Yamin has mentioned that Shen Weidi is a very good child.”

Li Yamin immediately retorted: “I never mentioned it.”

Wanshu Zu: “Yamin and I have more verbal agreements than written ones. Even if they are not legal relationships, the promises made must be fulfilled. This is the premise of our cooperation.”

“Adopting a child is a greater responsibility than a business cooperation. Forgive my bluntness, but are there some problems with you and your wife’s attitude towards the child?”

He said sharply, “Is Shen Weidi just something you use to keep up appearances?”

Li Yamin stared at Shen Weidi, slightly disgusted: “You are.”

Shen Weidi was so angry he wanted to grab the keyboard and fight his uncle.

Wanshu Zu had turned the aimless “Second Master Li” into an aspiring actor.

With this move, he had the Li family firmly in his grasp, both brothers alike.

If it had been someone else saying this, the face-conscious elder brother of the Li family would have lost his temper long ago.

But on the other end of the phone, Shen Weidi’s father’s attitude was still very friendly.

“We will consider it seriously. Thank you, Xiao Zu.”

After the talk, Wanshu Zu came to the game room to get him.

They had to rush to an engagement.

Wanshu Zu told Li Yamin to find some casual clothes to change into.

While waiting, he handed Shen Weidi a business card.

It wasn’t his business card, but that of a certain lawyer.

“Contact him if you need to, say I recommended you.”

Wanshu Zu didn’t have a good attitude towards Shen Weidi; he was the same to everyone, cold.

“Don’t doubt it, your uncle is on your side. He won’t fight with you for anything. If he wanted to, he would have found a woman and had a few illegitimate children long ago to show you.”

Shen Weidi had never seen such a person.

While everyone around was talking about family affection and decency, he directly brought out a lawyer, as if all emotional disputes could be resolved with cold legal clauses.

Shen Weidi clutched the business card tightly.

His character in the computer game had died long ago, the screen was gray, and the netizen he was battling was spouting nonsense on the public channel.

He couldn’t focus at all.

“I didn’t want to fight for anything…”

“You want them to value you.”

Wanshu Zu was dealing with matters on his phone but surprisingly answered, “On what grounds?”

Wanshu Zu’s voice was deep.

He softened his tone and enunciated slowly, but it was still cold.

“Besides truly tearing face and having a lawyer step in, by being sad and rebellious at home every day, saying they don’t understand you, or by not studying and playing games every day?”

Shen Weidi was already simmering with anger.

Wanshu Zu’s words burned down all the unsightly and tattered things that supported him inside.

Under that youthful desolation, the unbearable shame that had always troubled him, which he was too embarrassed to mention, was completely exposed.

He suddenly realized that although he had always complained that no one treated him as an equal, when Wanshu Zu really debated with him with an adult’s mindset, he actually couldn’t handle it.

Shen Weidi sat stiffly for a long time.

Li Yamin came out after changing his clothes to find him, and was about to leave with his arm around Wanshu Zu’s shoulder.

Shen Weidi said in a small voice: “No one taught me what to do…”

“What is he mumbling about?”

Li Yamin asked.

Wanshu Zu slapped his face straight with one hand, helped him fix his collar amidst Li Yamin’s pained cry, and then untied and retied his crooked tie.

Li Yamin: “What did you say to him? He looks like he’s been humiliated.”

Wanshu Zu: “I said you’re an idiot, with no brains to get married and have kids and mess around with him—are you really mentally handicapped? You can even button your shirt wrong?”

Li Yamin looked down and saw that he had indeed buttoned it wrong.

He started to unbutton and re-button it himself, saying dismissively: “I don’t have time to get married. How does that saying go? I’m in the rising phase of my career, getting married is betraying the revolution.”

Wanshu Zu patted his back hard, telling him to walk and button at the same time: “You go start the car first, the one with the anti-peeping film. Don’t drive a luxury car to the TV station and be a show-off.”

“OK.”

Before leaving, Wanshu Zu glanced at Shen Weidi: “I’m not your parent. One ancestor under my management is enough for me.”

“My advice to you is to get your act together. The Li family’s affairs should be handled internally, don’t come bothering me. That’s it.”

Shen Weidi watched from the window as Wanshu Zu got into the car, with Li Yamin acting as his full-time driver.

No one managed Li Yamin either.

With a reliable older brother at home, no one asked Second Master Li to do anything; he grew up freely.

He went to study acting on a whim, said he wanted to team up with his classmate and roommate from the directing department in college to build a career, and his family let him do as he pleased.

To be honest, he was no different from Shen Weidi.

He wasn’t expected to do much when he was young, with his older brother above him.

He had no shining points, just muddled through day by day.

But he just happened to meet Wanshu Zu.

A rough piece of iron met a whetstone, which polished it in a certain direction, precise and proper.

The iron didn’t need to consider anything other than swinging the blade after being sharpened.

Shen Weidi did want to be valued; the man’s analysis was completely correct.

But what should he do?

“Very good, Shen Weidi is more worry-free than Li Yamin.”

In the sea of consciousness, Chu Zu held the freshly-baked settings, “He only added to his own, didn’t add any messy things for me.”

Shen Weidi was no pushover either, reminiscing whenever he wanted.

Unlike Li Yamin, he was one of the proper protagonists, and all his settings were written in full.

And then he forcefully recalled something new—something related to Wanshu Zu.

Fortunately, Wanshu Zu wasn’t too involved.

He handed him a lawyer’s business card, expressed the attitude of “don’t involve me in the Li family’s mess,” and that was it.

The system lamented: “…Has your baseline for ‘worry-free’ already dropped this low!”

Chu Zu sighed: “But why does he think he’s the same as Li Yamin? They are completely different. Li Yamin causes trouble because his personality is unrestrained. Shen Weidi is just too insecure.”

Little Yellow Chicken: “Insecure…?”

It wouldn’t question the host’s judgment, but it couldn’t see a hint of insecurity in the arrogant and rebellious youth.

“He’s adopted. The eldest of the Li family has a duality of being conservative and reformist, thinking the family throne still has to follow the bloodline, but also afraid that Li Yamin really won’t have children, so he uses Shen Weidi as a backup.”

“These are not parents at all, more like a corporate hierarchy. Shen Weidi should have called the Women’s Federation to complain long ago, but he didn’t dare. This kid has a purely childish mindset, causing trouble to get his parents’ attention, but also afraid that if he really makes a big scene, his parents will abandon him, so he doesn’t dare to really have a falling out.”

Chu Zu said, “Very insecure, which is why he’s so desperate to achieve something.”

The Little Yellow Chicken said blankly: “Sounds stupid…”

“He’s very shrewd,” Chu Zu said coolly, “He knows who to make a scene with and who not to.”

“You see, his parents can’t control him, but what Li Yamin says is effective. If his uncle is really pushed to the edge and goes to get a legitimate little Li, he’s finished.”

“He dares even less to make a scene with me.”

Chu Zu said, “Whether his uncle can get a little Li, doesn’t that still depend on me? Easy to handle, no trouble.”

Little Yellow Chicken: “…”

Little Yellow Chicken: “Wait, your wording is a bit fierce. Although it’s logically sound, it sounds too strange!!”

Chu Zu was amused: “Strange, right? There are many strange things in the entertainment industry, it’s quite interesting.”

The Little Yellow Chicken said sullenly: “I get it now, you just like challenging strange things.”

“Isn’t this good?”

Chu Zu patted its head, “Compared to work where the plot is prone to collapse and there are survival threats, this trip is really too easy.”

The system also nodded along.

It actually felt that the point that motivated the host was not the work itself.

How should I put it…Compared to other jobs where one is focused on following the plot, Wanshu Zu had a very high degree of freedom.

Only his name appeared, and the plot had very little constraint on him.

Apart from his career as an “agent,” he could do whatever he wanted.

The host didn’t need to pave the way for anyone, nor be anyone’s stepping stone.

Whether the protagonist grew or not had nothing to do with him.

He only needed to freely and unrestrainedly choose to be himself.

And Wanshu Zu’s personality was quite similar to the host’s…

The Little Yellow Chicken didn’t know if it could say that.

Looking at the settings alone, Wanshu Zu didn’t drink, was keen on exercising, was used to cursing, and was a violent brute despite being well-dressed… not at all like the host.

The host had no particular preference for alcohol, would rather die than exercise, was very polite and didn’t swear.

The image in the sea of consciousness wore a shirt, but the buttons were never properly done, and he would lounge on the sofa however was comfortable.

And he was very civilized, would not act recklessly in private if he could go through official channels, and was very particular about his complaints.

But the Little Yellow Chicken just felt they were very similar.

That attitude of, once a goal is set, no matter what they have to pay, or how big a detour they have to take, they must achieve their goal… was exactly the same.

The host often said, if one thing can achieve multiple purposes, then why not do it.

Multiple purposes often contained many things, including the results that needed to be achieved for work, and things the host wanted to do privately.

If necessary, the host would do whatever it took, even risk his life to get the result.

It was really too similar to Wanshu Zu.

So, could it be considered that this vacation was a life given to Chu Zu where he didn’t have to consider the consequences.

—Yes.

If Chu Zu thought it was okay, then it was okay.

“The matter of the band ends here.”

Wanshu Zu concluded, as an agent, and as the dominant person in this conversation.

“Second thing, I just asked Qiao Tian, now it’s your turn.”

He clasped his hands and placed them on the table.

“I signed a five-year contract with you, effective from when you dropped out of school. Now there are less than two years left. For the past three years, I’ve had Gu An manage you, and you would come to me for verification on specific matters. You rejected all the arrangements given to you. I want to hear your thoughts.”

Shen Weidi mumbled: “My thoughts… what thoughts?”

Wanshu Zu frowned, as if he couldn’t believe this person’s comprehension ability was so poor.

“‘Your thoughts’ refers to, what suggestions you have for the past team, what form of cooperation you hope for in the future, whether you are dissatisfied with all the arrangements, or because the points you care about have not been met.”

His fingers tapped on the desktop, each sound heavy.

“Tell me clearly, you want to be seen, you want to be valued—who do you want to be seen by, who do you want to be valued by?”

Shen Weidi once again felt that blatant analysis, which always appeared in Wanshu Zu’s gaze when looking at others.

When this gaze was fixed on him, Shen Weidi only felt his scalp tingle, unable to muster any of his usual rebelliousness.

He also found it incredible, how did Li Yamin usually manage to keep causing trouble under this pressure?

“I don’t know…”

He said embarrassedly, his hands clenched tightly, nails digging into his flesh, “Isn’t this something an agent should consider? If you ask me, I also…”

“Are you accusing me, feeling that I have not fulfilled my duties in the past few years.”

“Yes—”

“Am I your dad, or your mom?”

Wanshu Zu said coldly, “You Li family members are really funny. Do you think I owe you something or what? You all want to be my ancestor?”

“No… this and me…”

“I talk, you listen.”

When Wanshu Zu wanted to go on a tirade, he wouldn’t give anyone a chance to interrupt.

His presence was astonishingly strong, accumulating in the small study, and he could flip out in an instant, seamlessly transitioning between business and emotional outbursts.

No one could withstand this kind of tactic, let alone a young man like Shen Weidi, who only knew how to throw tantrums at specific people.

He was pressed down so hard he couldn’t lift his head, and Wanshu Zu was still talking.

“On what grounds should I sign you? What skills do you have that would make me take you seriously? Not to mention your bad habits. Your uncle and Qiao Tian have talent, what do you have? A face? The most abundant thing in the entertainment industry is faces. Shen Weidi, you tell me, what have you accomplished in these past few years?”

“You have nothing, so why should I waste my time on you.”

The man’s words became heavier with each sentence, his tone never changing, but they hammered at Shen Weidi’s heart.

He was so pent up he felt uncomfortable all over, wanting to just throw in the towel and talk about terminating the contract.

He couldn’t stand this pressure, no one had ever given him this kind of pressure, they all coaxed and persuaded him.

Only Li Yamin would hit and curse, but even that was filled with annoyance, not wanting to manage but being forced to—which was completely painless for Shen Weidi.

Now it was impossible to be painless.

Wanshu Zu was sharper than everyone else, flipping him open, stabbing him to pieces, and still demanding him to hang his skin on his bones like a stiff shadow puppet and reply.

That bit of defiance was worn away to nothing.

Shen Weidi couldn’t utter a single word for a long time.

“You’re lucky, Shen Weidi.”

Wanshu Zu said again, “There are still a few years left between us, and I just happen to be shifting my work focus. Do you understand what I mean?”

Shen Weidi: “Understand… I guess.”

“You understand shit.”

Wanshu Zu laughed in anger, “Let me be more direct, I’m giving up on your uncle, and need to find a newcomer to take his place. In the next two years, until I choose the next newcomer, you will be my top priority—can you cooperate with me completely? Give me an answer, right now.”

Shen Weidi still wanted to find some words to prevaricate, but Wanshu Zu emphasized once more: “Don’t make me say it a third time, right now.”

Shen Weidi: “…”

“He’s scared silly by you, even more silly than Xiao Qiao,” the system tsked.

Chu Zu: “Normal. My attitude towards Xiao Qiao was quite friendly. There’s no need for that with Shen Weidi. All Li family members deserve a scolding, and it’s the same even if he’s not surnamed Li.”

The Little Yellow Chicken brewed for a long time, stuck between “You weren’t exactly friendly to Xiao Qiao either” and “Why do you make it sound like the Li family are all some kind of weirdos.”

It squeezed out a sentence: “If you say so!”

Chu Zu calmly accepted the Little Yellow Chicken’s reluctance.

Wanshu Zu’s study had everything it should have.

Besides a whole wall of books, a computer and a printer were basic equipment.

He turned on the computer, accurately searched for an email in his inbox, and directly printed the attachment.

The printer spat out a few pages of colored materials.

Chu Zu pinched the papers and pushed them across the desk.

“If you don’t answer, I’ll take it as a default. I value verbal promises, and I hope you can remember that to your death. After tomorrow’s press conference, your chance is here.”

He pointed to the project printed on the paper.

It was internal information, obtained through connections because of the exclusive live broadcast.

“S-class project, a reality show that gathers ninety-nine newcomers for a public selection, with the core theme of cultivating a boy band. After the final group is formed, they will focus on music, stage performances, and commercial activities—I need you to participate.”

Shen Weidi frowned, but Chu Zu still gave him no opportunity to refute.

“You want to be seen, you want to be valued, then I’ll make the decision for you.”

“The public only knows ‘Shen Weidi,’ you don’t need the surname Li. People in the industry will judge that it’s not you who can’t leave Lishou Entertainment, but Lishou Entertainment that needs you.”

He said, “You will be seen by everyone, valued by everyone. Their gazes will be captured by you, whether they are willing or not.”

Shen Weidi fell into his gaze, his already uneven heartbeat becoming even more chaotic.

Even setting aside all other prerequisites, it would be very difficult for him to shake his head at Wanshu Zu.

You will be seen by everyone, valued by everyone.

Their gazes will be captured by you, whether they are willing or not.

How could he refuse this?

How could he refuse this?

Shen Weidi sat for a long while, his mind a mess.

He really wanted to just shout “I’ll do it,” but couldn’t bring himself to do it, feeling that it didn’t fit his usual image.

While he was silent, he worried that Wanshu Zu would go back on his word.

Wanshu Zu had talked to Qiao Tian first, and the result was probably not smooth, otherwise he wouldn’t have chosen him… Thinking of this, an alarm suddenly went off in Shen Weidi’s heart.

Why wasn’t it smooth?

Shen Weidi was now very clear about Wanshu Zu’s abilities, although it was limited to his words—this person’s way with words was too terrifying, simply invincible, sharp yet direct, picking at the places people desired most, and his strength could support the expectations he set.

Wanshu Zu couldn’t handle Qiao Tian?

Shen Weidi absolutely did not believe it.

His thoughts could not be hidden from the man in front of him.

“You should know better than anyone why I chose you.”

The man sneered and said, “Your uncle.”

Shen Weidi was hit on the point he had been trying to avoid.

Nothing that had been said before was as aggressive as this sentence.

The fact that Shen Weidi had been unwilling to face, that he was Li Yamin’s backup, a generation apart.

And now, Wanshu Zu wanted him to really go up against his uncle.

He couldn’t control his tone, and impulsive words slipped out: “He will target the person you choose, right? You don’t want Qiao Tian to be harmed, so you’re using me as a scapegoat first.”

Wanshu Zu laughed rarely, not out of anger.

He seemed to have found something interesting, with clear malicious intent.

“Are you scared?”

He leaned back in his chair and said slowly, “You’ve always lived under your uncle’s pressure. As long as he has a child, your parents will immediately abandon you. You don’t dare to face him, even when I have clearly stated that I’m on your side.”

“Before, you showed me through your actions that you are a useless piece of trash with nothing but a face. Now you’re telling me you’re also a coward who’s afraid of trouble?”

Even under heavy pressure, Shen Weidi’s anger was still provoked: “Who are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about you, Shen Weidi.”

Wanshu Zu said, “Your uncle is very childish, you are more mature than him, so I chose you. This is the first premise.”

“Your uncle is handsome, you are younger than him, so I chose you. This is the second premise.”

“You and he are on completely different tracks, but I can make you climb higher than him. I don’t need you to prove me, but you need me to prove you. This is the third premise.”

“Do you want to be a substitute who can be abandoned at any time, screaming randomly for attention every day, or listen to me and tell them all to get lost—the final decision is in your hands.”

“Can you answer me now, coward?”

Sparks were flying from Shen Weidi’s eyes.

He had never been so furious.

His usual irritability seemed petty in comparison.

Wanshu Zu didn’t consider anyone’s feelings, adding fuel to the fire he had started.

He saw Li Yamin as an obstacle and wished this uncle-nephew pair would just start fighting.

Should he do as he wished?

Let him enjoy the show?

What crap about the right to decide, were there any other choices?

“I’ll do it.”

Shen Weidi said, “I’ll do whatever you say, I’ll follow your arrangements. Whoever you want me to bite, I’ll bite. Are you satisfied now?”

Wanshu Zu actually nodded: “A promise is a promise.”

Shen Weidi deflated at once, slumping in his chair.

He was covered in sweat.

Talking with Wanshu Zu was truly the most painful thing in the world.

The other party completely controlled the direction of the conversation, knowing when to reason and use logic to defeat rationality.

And also clearly knowing when to use emotions and use mood to destroy sensibility.

In the end, all results were lightly settled with a single phrase, “A promise is a promise.”

After achieving his goal, Wanshu Zu showed no more emotion, becoming extremely business-like.

Shen Weidi wasn't sure if he had been tricked, but carefully considering the promises the other party made, every single one hit his needs precisely.

He felt weak, and after being seen through and manipulated, he would still proactively obey out of a sense of powerlessness.

How did Li Yamin manage to make such a man feel troubled, even needing to resort to roundabout ways to “resist”?

After calming down, Shen Weidi, who had always acted recklessly, couldn't help but murmur: “You have that much faith that I can…”

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

Wanshu Zu lifted Shen Weidi from the chair, straightened him up, and, just as he had with Li Yamin before, straightened his shirt.

“I have faith in myself.”

He patted Shen Weidi’s shoulder, indicating that he could leave.

“Also, go out and tell Gu An to get your face insured.”

Wanshu Zu said lightly, “That’s the only valuable thing on you, don’t let your uncle ruin it.”

Shen Weidi saw the watch on Wanshu Zu’s wrist again.

Patek Philippe 5905A, a gift from his parents to Li Yamin.

The blessing attached to the gift was: get married soon.

Get married soon, have a child, so they would have a pillar of support and could completely give up on Shen Weidi.

Wanshu Zu was wearing this watch and had just finished discussing his plan to “split up” with Li Yamin.

This was a very cold man.

As Shen Weidi walked out of the study, this thought unconsciously came to his mind.

He didn't have much affection in his heart.

Classmate affection, the cooperative affection of years of partnership, the trusting affection that allowed interference in family matters… when he felt these were detrimental to his career, all could be abandoned.

Almost as soon as he stepped out, he met Li Yamin’s gaze.

His uncle’s gaze was lazy, yet sharp. His eyes quickly slid past him and landed on the man following behind him.

Shen Weidi never doubted his uncle’s intelligence.

He usually acted like an idiot because someone else did the thinking for him.

A person with no brains couldn’t finish graduate school.

A person with no brains also couldn’t have such a close relationship with his parents.

Perhaps this was also what Wanshu Zu cared about.

Li Yamin was the Movie King of Lishou Entertainment, and also the Second Master Li of the Li family.

The two assistants were whispering on the side, finding it hard to believe that Shen Weidi had changed so much after just one conversation.

Gu An coughed a few times, telling them to gossip less.

Wanshu Zu told Li Yamin to get lost and make way for him.

He made the final decision: “By tomorrow night, I want to see a direct change in the company’s stock price, and I only want to see it go up. This is a very good opportunity, don’t screw it up, understand?”

Chu Zu didn’t follow up on the subsequent press conference.

The matter was more or less handled, and he also ended the rewind.

After the rewind ended, Wanshu Zu was still unconscious, on an IV drip in a high-end hospital ward.

The doctor said he was overworked, hadn’t rested much, and the burden was too heavy when things suddenly piled up.

Getting more sleep was also a good thing.

Chu Zu asked the system to find him information.

The system found a lot of things related to agents, but Chu Zu said he didn’t want those.

He wanted to see legal case studies.

“This circle is very small, information is very restricted, and what little leaks out is either pure gossip or has no reference value.”

Chu Zu said, “Directly look for lawsuits and disputes related to entertainment. Only there will you find completely open and transparent information.”

The Little Yellow Chicken found a large pile of materials for the host as requested, a bit confused: “What’s the use of this information?”

“Contract issues, artist image management issues, profit distribution issues, contract termination and breach of contract issues, industry and market regulations, intellectual property protection, public relations and fan management… these are all very direct.”

Chu Zu flipped through the paper documents projected in the sea of consciousness.

The system thought this was bad for the eyes, but he let it be, holding a pen and occasionally drawing a few lines to mark key points.

He said, “I don’t need training in other areas, I’m familiar with the entertainment industry. But I still need to dig deep into the precise things.”

The Little Yellow Chicken’s eyes were opened, and it snuggled on the sofa with the host, browsing through the materials.

It still remembered its consistent persistence, regularly feeding the host and occasionally asking if he wanted to go for a walk.

Chu Zu didn’t refuse the food, eating whatever was given, just to taste it, but he was adamant against all suggestions to get him to move.

No walks, no moving from his spot.

The Little Yellow Chicken could only admit defeat.

Just then, an email came back from the “Long Aotian Correction” chicken.

The system had previously asked how to deal with a situation where a partner affects one’s persona.

The “Long Aotian Correction” chicken replied with four top priorities.

Join the host in blowing up the partner!

A Long Aotian is a Long Aotian! Especially a Long Aotian who is a combination of “cold and ruthless, irritable and steady, able to bend and stretch, a hero made by the times and I am the hero”!

No romance! No indecisiveness! Love what you do, do what you love! A career-obsessed person forces their career! The host at the top cannot be questioned!

Those who follow me shall prosper, those who oppose me shall perish!

The exclamation points almost filled the entire email, clearly full of passion.

The Little Yellow Chicken got a satisfactory answer, its whole body pumped up with chicken blood, and it followed the host in grinding the basics.

Seeing that it was about time, the Little Yellow Chicken looked up from the case files and checked the current plot development.

“Host…”

Its gaze was a bit dazed.

It poked Chu Zu, who was still immersed in his studies, “Host, Host…”

Chu Zu looked up: “What’s wrong? Should I wake up?”

“You need to wake up quickly!”

The Little Yellow Chicken synchronized the situation outside to Chu Zu, “They are standing at the door of your hospital room, about to start a fight! If you don’t wake up, they will definitely start fighting. The doctor doesn’t dare to call security… Oh my god, oh my god!”

Chu Zu didn’t understand what the Little Yellow Chicken was nervous about: “Who are they? The two ancestor uncle and nephew?”

Wasn’t it normal for Li Yamin and Shen Weidi to fight.

The two of them had always been at odds.

If they really had a chance to challenge each other, of course they would immediately start fighting.

The Little Yellow Chicken: “Not just them, there’s also Qiao Tian! A very assertive Xiao Qiao! She brought another protagonist, the streamer who will become her agent in the future.”

“The streamer wanted to mediate, but couldn’t. Qiao Tian pointed at the uncle and nephew and started cursing directly! Very imposing! …No no, she’s really angry!”

Chu Zu: “?”

Who did you say?

That Qiao Tian who could barely speak properly?

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