Chapter 20 - The Supporting Villain Is Raising a Cub Online

Translator's Note:

Hello, I hope you've all been doing well.

Here you go, and I wish you a good read.

And, as I said before, if you wish to read ahead, you can head over to my Patreon to get early access to all the translated chapters.

By the time Rong Sheng, seated in his CEO office, found out that Tan Qing had accepted a bribe and swapped out the second male lead, it was almost the end of the workday.

 

He only discovered this after Ji Yanxiu's management company sent a lawyer over to supplement the deal with an additional ten million in investment funds.

 

And so.

 

In less than an hour.

 

Everyone at Shengjing Entertainment—from senior assistants to project directors, down to the janitorial staff—knew that CEO Rong, who had never once lost his temper since taking over, had exploded in fury.

 

Tan Qing and Zhao Cong stood side by side in front of Rong Sheng's desk, looking as timid as schoolchildren who hadn't finished their homework.

 

Rong Sheng tossed the contract for terminating the actor's role onto the desk and sneered, "Well, well, aren't you two something? Think you're hot stuff? Giving away the second male lead behind my back? If you're so capable, why don't you go walk the red carpet?"

 

Zhao Cong, who had been in the entertainment industry for years, wasn't great at much, but when it came to passing the buck, he was a master.

 

He reached out to pinch Tan Qing beside him. "You agreed to Ji Yanxiu's offer yourself. Why don't you hurry up and explain to Mr. Rong?"

 

Tan Qing nimbly dodged Zhao Cong's greasy hand and frowned with displeasure. "Move aside. You already pinched me twice at lunch."

 

Zhao Cong's hand, suspended mid-air for another attempt, awkwardly dropped, and he wiped it on his pants. "Well, I just didn't want you to say something inappropriate in front of Ji Yanxiu."

 

Tan Qing wrinkled his nose and ignored him.

 

Seeing no response from Tan Qing, Zhao Cong was left with no choice but to face Rong Sheng.

 

Forcing a smile, he tried to placate him, "Mr. Rong, please don't misunderstand. It was really Tan Qing who agreed to it! I was just there as his manager. Besides..."

 

Rong Sheng interrupted him bluntly, "Enough. Pack your things and get out."

 

Zhao Cong froze, his expression unable to keep up. "Mr. Rong, you..."

 

Rong Sheng's lips curled into a slow, mocking smile. "I'm saying you don't need to be Tan Qing's manager anymore. You're fired. Go to the finance department, collect three months' salary, and then leave. Understood?"

 

Zhao Cong stood there dumbfounded.

 

The flattering smile that had been plastered on his oily face stiffened, as if his expression had turned sour like spoiled meat—disgusting.

 

His eyes flickered, his mind racing. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said, "Mr. Rong, what do you mean by this? I've been with this company since your father was in charge. Aren't you afraid this will be hard to explain to him?"

 

"Explain?"

 

Rong Sheng's smile grew colder. "Zhao Cong, you really live up to your name. Always trying to use my father to pressure me. Does that amuse you?"

 

Zhao Cong's smugness was barely hidden as he continued his pretense, "How could you say that? Naturally, Shengjing Entertainment is under your control now, Mr. Rong, but surely you still have to show some respect to the old chairman's reputation. Otherwise, you might alienate the loyal veterans of the company..."

 

"What makes you think you're worth alienating others over?"

 

It seemed that Rong Sheng's patience had run out. He immediately called for his assistant. "Elena, escort Zhao Cong to the finance department for his final paycheck, then have him complete the resignation process with HR."

 

Rong Sheng tapped the desk, giving special instructions to Elena, "Make sure security watches him leave the building, then post a public notice on the company's employee network stating the termination of his contract."

 

Elena shot a glance at Zhao Cong. "Yes, Mr. Rong. How long should the notice be posted?"

 

"For how long..." Rong Sheng raised an eyebrow and smiled, "One month should do. Make sure the entire industry knows—he's been fired."

 

In the entertainment world, headhunters from different companies stayed in regular contact. With Zhao Cong being so publicly ousted from Shengjing Entertainment, his future was bound to be difficult.

 

He might not even find another job.

 

Seeing that Rong Sheng had left no room for negotiation, Zhao Cong's expression completely changed.

 

Unable to vent his anger on Rong Sheng, he turned his wrath on Tan Qing, growling, "You just wait! When Mr. Rong gets tired of you, I'll make sure you pay for it all!"

 

Tan Qing: "..."

 

Blinking innocently, Tan Qing waved like a beckoning cat, grinning, "Congrats on being laid off. Hehehe."

 

Zhao Cong: "..."

 

His face flushed with rage, his fat cheeks quivering as he staggered out behind Elena.

 

Once Zhao Cong had left, the office went silent again, leaving only Rong Sheng and Tan Qing.

 

Tan Qing shuffled forward in small steps until he was directly in front of Rong Sheng's desk. Obediently, he pulled out his phone.

 

He leaned in slightly toward Rong Sheng, lowering his voice like someone about to propose a shady deal. "Mr. Rong, about that 600,000 I owe—does it come with interest?"

 

Rong Sheng turned his head, and up close, he could see Tan Qing's flawless, porcelain-like skin.

 

Unlike the other artists at the company who needed heavy foundation to cover imperfections, Tan Qing's skin seemed naturally perfect.

 

So flawless that it made one want to leave a few... less-than-innocent marks on it.

 

Rong Sheng sipped his coffee, letting the warm liquid soothe his throat before curling his lips into a smile. "How much did you manage to squeeze out of Ji Yanxiu?"

 

Tan Qing raised a hand and casually gestured, his face completely unbothered. "Six hundred thousand!"

 

Rong Sheng shot him a glance. "You asked He Mingyu for a million without hesitation, and I'm supposed to believe you only got six hundred from Ji Yanxiu?"

 

Tan Qing: "..."

 

He hung his head, confessing honestly, "Okay, it was one million."

 

Rong Sheng: "Really?"

 

Tan Qing vowed, "Really! I swear, if I'm lying, I'm not human!"

 

He truly was being sincere.

 

A very touching guarantee.

 

Rong Sheng thought for a few seconds, letting Tan Qing off the hook, and casually asked, "Where's your son?"

 

Tan Qing quickly transferred the remaining five hundred thousand into his secret stash, then smiled sweetly, "He's at He Mingyu's place. The nanny is taking care of him."

 

Rong Sheng nodded, opened the drawer, and pushed a USB drive toward Tan Qing. "By the way, this is the full script the producers just sent over. You can take a look at it later."

 

He paused for a moment, then added, "I skimmed through it earlier. Although the third male lead doesn't have many scenes, if you play it well, you could stand out. But... you really gave up the second lead because you're on good terms with Ran Anluo?"

 

Tan Qing: "..."

 

Wow, that's a deep question.

 

Of course, Tan Qing wasn't going to tell the truth. His round eyes spun as he said, "Yes, yes, we used to be teammates, after all."

 

Rong Sheng pinched Tan Qing's nose and teased, "Though both of you are artists under Shengjing Entertainment, as a reminder, for old He's sake, keep an eye on him. Don't get taken advantage of, counting money for him while being sold out."

 

Obviously.

 

If he wasn't careful, both he and his little rascal at home would've been long gone.

 

Tan Qing pouted, "Got it, got it. It's almost the end of the day, President Rong. I'm going to the finance department to pay my penalty fee."

 

"No need, He Mingyu already covered all your fees a few days ago."

 

Rong Sheng pointed to the sofa nearby and smiled, "Sit there and wait for me. I'll give you a ride home when I'm done. We'll also bring the toys I bought for your son yesterday."

 

Tan Qing: "..."

 

If not for the age difference, Tan Qing would have loved to call Rong Sheng 'Dad.'

 

After loading the last box of toys into the trunk, Tan Qing sat in the car with a sigh, casting several longing glances at the toys.

 

Rong Sheng buckled his seatbelt, then turned toward him, "What are you looking at?"

 

Tan Qing sighed deeply, speaking with a hint of philosophy, "I'm looking at a childhood built on money."

 

Rong Sheng couldn't help but laugh, and he reached into the backseat for a brown paper bag. He handed it to Tan Qing, "Here, this is the paternity test result for you and Tan Jiji. I picked it up from the police station this morning."

 

Tan Qing had no interest in it. He casually rolled the paper bag into a tube and used it to prop up his chin.

 

Amused, Rong Sheng asked, "Aren't you going to take a look?"

 

Tan Qing shook his head.

 

What's there to see?

 

The little rascal already has a tail; he's obviously mine.

 

Sigh.

 

So troublesome.

 

Rong Sheng drove out of the underground garage, slowly making his way through the rush-hour traffic.

 

After about half an hour of inching forward, Tan Qing's sharp eyes spotted a small tool shop off the side road.

 

He patted Rong Sheng's arm excitedly, "Over there! Can we stop for a minute? I need to buy a burlap sack!"

 

Rong Sheng asked, "What do you need a burlap sack for?"

 

Tan Qing turned to him and explained with utmost seriousness, "Of course it's useful! Zhao Cong pinched me twice at the dinner table today. I'm going to go beat him up. The timing is perfect!"

 

Rong Sheng: "..."

 

The charming smile froze on Rong Sheng's face, and he fell into a long silence.

 

The silence lasted until Tan Qing jumped out of the car, darted into the little tool shop, and came back, gleefully clutching a dirty burlap sack. He hugged the sack and settled back into Rong Sheng's Maybach sports car.

 

Tan Qing carefully folded the burlap sack into a neat square, then tucked it into the pocket behind his seat, showing Rong Sheng a bright smile, "Let's go!"

 

Rong Sheng: "..."

 

These days, using a burlap sack to rough someone up is a method practically unheard of.

 

At least, Rong Sheng hadn't seen such a form of revenge in recent years.

 

And especially not suggested by Tan Qing, of all people.

 

The night in J City fell early.

 

Around six in the evening, the entire sky had already darkened.

 

Rong Sheng parked the car in the neighborhood, choosing the spot farthest from Zhao Cong's home.

 

He then followed behind a sneaky Tan Qing, getting out of the car.

 

Although Rong Sheng was no stranger to mischief, and his love life had never been without excitement, he hadn't done anything this underhanded since he graduated elementary school.

 

His expression grew increasingly complex.

 

Especially when Tan Qing turned around and handed him a hat and mask, it got even more complicated.

 

They walked a few more steps before Rong Sheng couldn't help but ask, "Qingqing, you've been planning this for a while, haven't you?"

 

Tan Qing's eyes twinkled, and he modestly replied, "Not that long, really. I just decided today."

 

Rong Sheng: "..."

 

Well, you're certainly an expert at it...

 

Tan Qing stopped behind a pillar in the parking lot, looking very professional as he said, "He always comes home through here. He'll be here in ten minutes. Stay hidden; the cameras can't catch us from this spot."

 

Rong Sheng: "..."

 

Sure enough, in less than ten minutes, Zhao Cong's car pulled in.

 

The stout man parked his car, grabbed his briefcase, and started walking while talking loudly into his phone.

 

It didn't take long before he started arguing with the person on the other end, his fleshy face shaking with rage.

 

Tan Qing seized the moment. As Zhao Cong walked past the pillar, Tan Qing rushed out, threw the large sack over his head, quickly tied it shut, and dragged him behind the pillar with practiced ease.

 

Rong Sheng: "..."

 

Rong Sheng was dumbfounded.

 

Tan Qing, even while delivering a beating, adhered to some unwritten rules—he didn't hit the face, nor did he target the most sensitive areas.

 

But his blows were heavy, landing on the softest, most vulnerable spots.

 

At first, Zhao Cong hurled curses, but soon he was crying out in pain, abandoning all pretense of defiance. His voice cracked as he whimpered, on the verge of tears.

 

Tan Qing kicked him over, placing his booted foot on Zhao Cong's ample backside, and growled in a low, threatening voice, "Don't move! Move, and I'll cut off your little buddy!"

 

Terrified, Zhao Cong covered his crotch and wailed, "I won't move! I won't move! I won't call the cops! Please stop hitting me!"

 

Tan Qing: "..."

 

Is this supposed to be a grown man? So pathetic.

 

Once the job was done, Tan Qing grabbed Rong Sheng, and the two of them bolted out.

 

They ran all the way back to the car.

 

As soon as the doors were shut, Tan Qing ripped off his disposable mask and hat, exhaling a breath of satisfaction. "Ah, that was great! Like punching a meat bun."

 

Perhaps because he wasn't used to physical activity, combined with the sprint he'd just taken, a fine sheen of sweat appeared on Tan Qing's smooth forehead. It glistened along his hairline, dampening the strands near his temples.

 

His already striking eyes seemed to have absorbed the moonlight from the night sky, making them even more alluring, almost like an enchanting spirit casting a spell.

 

Rong Sheng pulled out two wet wipes from the tissue box. "Here, wipe your sweat. Are you tired?"

 

Tan Qing smiled, eyes curving. "Thanks! I'll give you a big heart for that!"

 

Rong Sheng's gaze lingered on the tip of Tan Qing's upturned nose for a long time before he finally looked away.

 

Surprisingly, he didn't say anything more. Instead, he simply started the car and backed out of the parking lot, heading straight toward He Mingyu's house.

 

The night streets had finally quieted down.

 

Tan Qing wiped his face and hands, then absentmindedly played with the wet wipes for a while. Growing bored, he glanced over at Rong Sheng. "Why are you so quiet?"

 

As the traffic light changed, Rong Sheng brought the car to a stop.

 

After what seemed like a long internal debate, he suddenly asked, "Tan Qing, is Tan Jiji really He Mingyu's biological son?"

 

Tan Qing: "..."

 

He hadn't expected Rong Sheng to bring that up so suddenly.

 

With a headache, Tan Qing rubbed his face and replied slowly, "I think he is, but He Mingyu said the test results came back negative."

 

Rong Sheng asked, "Have you checked the results yourself?"

 

Tan Qing blinked in confusion. "Huh?"

 

Rong Sheng shook his head and smiled. "It's nothing. I just think, on something like this, you and He Mingyu should both be more careful… Anyway, we're here. Get out."

 

Tan Qing let out an "oh" and watched as Rong Sheng took all the children's toys out of the trunk, then carried them upstairs.

 

He Mingyu's place was spacious, especially the living room with its floor-to-ceiling windows—wide and bright.

 

Worried that Tan Qing wouldn't be reliable in looking after their son, He Mingyu had the edges and corners of all the furniture padded with foam before the two of them moved in. Even the floor had been covered with a thick, soft carpet.

 

It felt plush and comfortable underfoot.

 

At the entryway, Rong Sheng carefully unpacked all the toys—everything from a toy car to a child's smartwatch.

 

Tan Qing, hugging his knees, squatted beside him, eyes green with envy.

 

Finally, Rong Sheng pulled a small, fluffy yellow duck out of the box.

 

He pressed it, and it let out a soft "quack."

 

Amused, Rong Sheng squeezed it a few more times before glancing at Tan Qing with a grin. "Like it?"

 

Tan Qing nodded earnestly, full of longing.

 

Rong Sheng tucked the little yellow duck back into his pocket. "It's for my son."

 

Tan Qing: "..."

 

Hmph. Men.

 

Just then, the housekeeper came out of the bedroom, holding Tan Jiji. She greeted the two men at the door, "Mr. Tan, Mr. Rong."

 

Tan Qing gave a sheepish smile. "Is the little rascal giving you a hard time?"

 

The housekeeper shook her head. "Not at all, Mr. Tan. Your son is very well-behaved, just like you—always smiling."

 

Tan Qing immediately agreed. "Yes, yes, he does have a habit of grinning like an idiot."

 

Housekeeper: "..."

 

Rong Sheng, stepping forward from behind Tan Qing, stretched out his arms. "You can go back to your work. I'll take him."

 

The housekeeper glanced between the two men for a moment, seemingly concluding that Tan Qing wasn't the most reliable choice, and dutifully handed the little boy over to Rong Sheng.

 

Even though it had only been two or three days since their last meeting, little Tan Jiji—blissfully unaware of time—seemed to have an impeccable sense for spotting handsome, wealthy men. The moment he saw Rong Sheng, his tiny face lit up with a sweet smile as he clapped his hands and called out, "Pa! Pa!"

 

Rong Sheng beamed with pride, turning to boast to Tan Qing, "Did you hear that? He always calls me Papa."

 

Tan Qing's expression remained blank. "I'm starting to suspect that any rich, good-looking male creature is his dad."

 

Rong Sheng: "..."

 

Due to being passed from the housekeeper to Rong Sheng, little Jiji's split pants twisted awkwardly. As Rong Sheng adjusted his hold, the fabric at the back twisted further, revealing the boy's shy little crotch.

 

Watching from the side, Tan Qing curiously reached out, ready to poke at the exposed, tender skin.

 

Rong Sheng quickly pulled the pants back up and held down Tan Qing's hand. "That's your son, not a toy."

 

Tan Qing withdrew his hand, looking aggrieved, and muttered softly, "Humans sure are particular."

 

As a fox, sometimes they even licked each other's penises.

 

Rong Sheng pulled the little yellow duck back out of his pocket and gave it a few squeezes, causing it to quack again.

 

The little rascal, having never seen such a toy before, sat up in Rong Sheng's arms, reaching out excitedly to grab it, while sweetly charming him, "Pa, Pa! Pa!"

 

"Good boy."

 

Rong Sheng rewarded the little one with the yellow duck and set him down on the plush carpet. Then, standing up, he turned to Tan Qing and said, "I've already spoken to Director Cheng Ye. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask him. Are you nervous about your first time on set?"

 

Tan Qing shook his head earnestly.

 

Rong Sheng's lips curved into a smile. "I figured as much. You're not one to get nervous. By the way, He Mingyu won't be back tonight. Got any plans?"

 

Having just made a net profit of 1.5 million in under 24 hours, Tan Qing had plenty of plans.

 

For example, after getting rich, the first thought on his mind was to go back and have a few more glasses of that wine he'd tried a few days ago.

 

But to avoid giving Rong Sheng a reason to tattle to He Mingyu—

 

Tan Qing pressed an imaginary zipper over his mouth. "Eat, bathe, and sleep."

 

Rong Sheng bent down slightly, drawing closer to Tan Qing. "Oh? After making a fortune off that idiot Ji Yanxiu today, you're really not planning to sneak off to the bar?"

 

Tan Qing replied firmly, "Not going."

 

Rong Sheng let out a knowing smirk. "Fine, I'll go by myself then."

 

Tan Qing: "..."

 

No, no, no! Wait, brave warrior, hold up!

 

Just as Tan Qing was about to change his tune, Rong Sheng's phone rang.

 

Tan Qing recognized the ringtone as one for Rong Sheng's work phone, which rarely rang after office hours—unless something urgent had come up.

 

Rong Sheng answered the call. "Elena?"

 

From the other end came the voice of Rong Sheng's assistant. "Mr. Rong, the official Weibo account for 'Xuanwu' just announced the final cast. Ran Anluo as the second male lead, and Tan Qing as the third male lead."

 

Rong Sheng put the phone on speaker, gesturing for Tan Qing to listen. "Didn't we already know this? Anything else?"

 

Elena continued, "The company's complaint line has been flooded. Ran Anluo's fans are furiously accusing Tan Qing of using connections, sleeping his way to the role, and buying his way into the cast. They're even saying..."

 

Rong Sheng asked, "Saying what?"

 

Aileen replied, "They're saying Tan Qing only got the role because of Ran Anluo. They claim he's riding on Ran's coattails for attention. Since both are signed with our company, the PR department is asking if you want to deploy a few water armies?"

 

Rong Sheng: "..."

 

Tan Qing: "..."

 

Rong Sheng glanced over at Tan Qing, who was still furiously typing away on his old phone.

 

"What are you doing, Tan Qing?" he asked.

 

Tan Qing reluctantly tore his eyes from a page full of legal clauses and muttered, "Just checking if eating people is illegal."

 

Rong Sheng: "..."

 

Rong Sheng walked over and gently patted Tan Qing's lower back. "Don't get worked up. This industry is like this—fans are always fighting. You can't take it to heart."

 

Tan Qing nodded in disappointment.

 

So, eating people was illegal. Even eating them alive was not allowed. Humans are so strict...

 

Tan Qing withdrew into himself, curling up in a corner, pitifully pondering for a while. Suddenly, he lifted his head and asked, "Rong Sheng, when we ran out of the parking lot earlier, did we remember to grab the sack?"

 

Rong Sheng: "..."

 

Rong Sheng quickly shut down Tan Qing's dangerous train of thought. "Qingqing, you can get away with beating up Zhao Cong. But if you lay a hand on Ran Anluo, he's got security guards."

 

Tan Qing blinked. "It's fine. Even all of them together couldn't take me on."

 

Rong Sheng: "..."

 

Rong Sheng sat down beside Tan Qing. "But if you get caught, the police will arrest you. Won't you hate going to jail?"

 

Tan Qing: "..."

 

Tan Qing let out a long sigh, then grabbed Tan Jiji by the scruff of his neck from the carpet, squeezing and rubbing him like a kitten. The clueless little Tan Jiji, thinking his dad was playing with him, didn't resist, obediently letting his dad manhandle him while his toy duck squeaked along.

 

Right at that moment, He Mingyu's video call came in.

 

Having been provided with a home and food, Tan Qing immediately switched from playful to obedient, answering the video call with the utmost care.

 

On the other end, the background noise was chaotic, and the lighting wasn't great. He Mingyu adjusted the angle slightly and said with mild exasperation, "Playing with the kid again?"

 

Tan Qing: "..."

 

Tan Qing denied it fervently, "Absolutely not!"

 

He Mingyu glanced sideways. "Why is Rong Sheng there too?"

 

Feeling guilty, Tan Qing quickly straightened Tan Jiji and explained, "I hitched a ride home with him after work."

 

Since the last time they drank together, Rong Sheng hadn't seen He Mingyu for a while. Taking the chance, he added, "How's your family? Is the old man holding up?"

 

He Mingyu shook his head slightly.

 

Rong Sheng sighed. "This came out of nowhere. Now all your uncles will come knocking, right? Tough situation."

 

He Mingyu remained expressionless and said calmly, "It's late. You should head home."

 

Rong Sheng: "???"

 

Rong Sheng was speechless for a moment, incredulous. "He Mingyu, did I hear that right? Are you kicking me out?"

 

He Mingyu glanced at his Patek Philippe watch. "It's already past nine. Tan Qing and the baby should be getting ready for bed."

 

Rong Sheng: "..."

 

Rong Sheng clutched his chest dramatically. "Brother, you've wounded me."

 

He Mingyu didn't spare him another glance and turned to Tan Qing. "When you sleep with Tan Jiji tonight, lock the door. The housekeeper will be around 24/7 for the next few days... And don't tell the kid scary stories before bed. I bought some storybooks—they're on the nightstand in the children's room."

 

Tan Qing, feeling hurt, retorted, "You clearly don't like me telling the kid stories. Why didn't you just buy a story machine?"

 

He Mingyu coldly shot down the idea. "The parent-child course instructor said bedtime stories are an important way for parents to bond and communicate with their children."

 

Tan Qing: "..."

 

Tan Qing mulled over the logic in that statement, then looked at He Mingyu with newfound admiration. "Wait, did you end up going to that parenting course you signed me up for?"

 

He Mingyu: "..."

 

The atmosphere suddenly turned tense.

 

Sensing the danger, Rong Sheng immediately stood up to leave. "I'm off. You two can continue chatting. Tan Qing, don't forget to read the script. No need to get up to see me out."

 

Tan Qing, sitting on the carpet with Tan Jiji in his arms, made no move to rise. "Okay..."

 

Once the room returned to silence, He Mingyu asked, "What did you do today?"

 

Tan Qing cheerfully replied, "Just played with Tan Jiji at home."

 

He Mingyu, remaining calm, said, "Did you meet Ji Yanxiu?"

 

Tan Qing: "..."

 

He Mingyu continued, "You had dinner together and followed each other on Weibo. Why?"

 

Tan Qing: "..."

 

Tan Qing snapped. "Why, why? Then why isn't Tan Jiji your son?!"

 

He Mingyu: "..."

 

For the first time, fatigue appeared on He Mingyu's usually impassive face. He sighed softly, softening his tone. "Tan Qing..."

 

But Tan Qing shoved Tan Jiji's little face in front of the camera and said angrily, "That's it, I'm done talking! The little chubby brat is sleepy, so I'm taking him to bed. Goodnight!"

 

And with that, the video call was abruptly ended.

 

He Mingyu sat in place for a moment before another call came through—this time from Rong Sheng.

 

He answered with a simple, "Mm."

 

Rong Sheng, driving, replied, "Mm? What's that supposed to mean? Done talking to Tan Qing?"

 

He Mingyu: "Mm."

 

Rong Sheng: "...Did you two argue?"

 

He Mingyu: "Mm."

 

Rong Sheng cursed, "Damn it! If you keep 'mm-ing,' I'm done with you."

 

He Mingyu finally added a few more words: "What's up?"

 

Rong Sheng asked, "You know about Ji Yanxiu meeting Tan Qing?"

 

He Mingyu finally deigned to speak: "Ran Anluo once saved Ji Yanxiu's brother. You shouldn't have chosen this drama for Tan Qing."

 

Rong Sheng was taken aback. "Wait, what? His actual brother?"

 

He Mingyu: "Mm."

 

Rong Sheng cursed again. "How was I supposed to know that? Besides, a good web drama with a great director and production team doesn't just fall into your lap every day. So, what now?"

 

Just then, someone beside He Mingyu called him over to burn paper offerings. He nodded slightly and replied, "It's still unclear if this drama will even make it to the start of filming."

 

Rong Sheng asked, "What do you mean? Is there a funding issue?"

 

He Mingyu didn't elaborate. Standing up, he nonchalantly added, "One more thing—are you promoting Ran Anluo recently?"

 

Rong Sheng swore and pulled over, lighting a cigarette. "Promoting? Hell no. He's just a rookie—no need to throw the whole company's resources at him."

 

He Mingyu said, "I had someone look into him. He's quite interesting."

 

Rong Sheng raised his eyebrows. "Oh? What's the deal?"

 

He Mingyu continued, "The footage from the traffic camera at the intersection where the brother, Ji Chen, had the accident was wiped. But a few days ago, the original footage somehow ended up in my inbox."

 

"And?"

 

"The footage shows Ran Anluo waiting at the intersection for twenty minutes before the accident happened."

 

"...Impressive!" Rong Sheng slapped his thigh. "This guy's too smart to just be an actor!"

 

He Mingyu remained as cold as ever. "If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up."

 

Rong Sheng's gossip-fueled excitement was completely doused.

 

Not only did it leave him feeling chilled, but it also killed his buzz. "..."

 

Just as He Mingyu was about to hang up, Rong Sheng suddenly stopped him. "He Mingyu!"

 

He Mingyu replied, "What now?"

 

Rong Sheng pulled the handbrake on his car, fishing a cigarette out of his jacket. After lighting it, he asked, "Be honest with me. Are you against Tan Qing taking this role purely because of the mess between Ran Anluo and Ji Yanxiu? Or is it because you're worried about Tan Qing and Ji Yanxiu...?"

 

"Goodbye."

 

"Hey, hey! Don't hang up! I'm done, no more questions!" Rong Sheng quickly backtracked. "Can I ask you something on a personal note?"

 

"Go ahead."

 

"There are two bears in the forest, really tight buddies. They've been brothers for years. One day, one of the bears finds a jar of honey hidden in a cave. It's the most delicious honey in the world, but only enough for one bear to enjoy. If he tells the other bear, he'll have to share it and might lose it altogether."

 

As the cigarette smoke wafted out through his open car window, Rong Sheng chuckled and asked, "Old He, do you think the bear should tell the other bear about the honey?"

 

Author's note: Little theater:

Tan Qing: I flirt recklessly, secretly hoard dirty money, and even put a green hat on He Mingyu's head, but deep down, I know I'm a good fox.

He Mingyu: ...

He Mingyu: Give me a moment, I need to go kill off the other bears first.

 

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