“Yes, Brother Yu, I’ll come pick you up tomorrow morning.” After hanging up with Xiao Yitong, Yu Junqing frowned slightly, feeling a strange unease in his chest.
“What’s wrong? Work?” Bo Rui had noticed the shift in his expression when he answered the call earlier, and now that the call was over, he quickly asked.
“Mm.” Yu Junqing rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on.
The company had suddenly asked him to come in tomorrow, and Xiao Yitong’s call was about this matter. It sounded like it was important.
Yu Junqing thought seriously for a moment, feeling a bit bewildered. To be honest, he had almost no emotional attachment to the company. In fact, if his contract hadn’t still been valid, he would have jumped to another company immediately.
Wait—a contract! Yu Junqing suddenly stood up, realizing something.
The TV series in which he starred as the lead had only aired two episodes, yet his Weibo followers had skyrocketed by ten million, and the trending heat on Weibo remained high. Other opportunities aside, this drama was clearly a hit. Xiao Yitong had already received scripts and calls for new roles, and there were even talks of commercial endorsements. Could this all be because of Xingyu Entertainment?
“What’s the matter?” Bo Rui asked, startled.
“Rui-ge! When we moved my stuff, where did you put those paper documents of mine?” Yu Junqing asked hurriedly. After they had cleared things out, he had moved all his things over, and of course, his contract was among them.
“Don’t worry, I’ll get it for you.” Seeing him like this, Bo Rui immediately understood and headed toward the study.
“I’ll go too.” Yu Junqing put on his shoes and followed.
Since these were just documents, they hadn’t been scattered. There was a small safe in the study where Bo Rui kept the important items. He pulled out the stack and handed it to Yu Junqing.
Yu Junqing flipped through it and quickly found the contract.
After skimming through it, he frowned. Sure enough, according to the contract, his termination date was right around now.
“Your contract’s about to expire?” Bo Rui realized immediately when he saw the document.
“Mm. Xiao Yitong said the company sent word for me to come in tomorrow.” Yu Junqing glanced at the contract. He had been too naive back then, unaware of the pitfalls. Looking back, the contract now seemed like a merciless binding agreement.
“Could it be that Xingyu wants to renew your contract?” Bo Rui raised an eyebrow, skeptical that Xingyu would be foolish enough to continue exploiting someone like him.
“Impossible.” Yu Junqing said firmly. He would never renew with Xingyu—they had already taken advantage of him enough.
“So what are you going to do?” Bo Rui asked, concerned. He took the contract Yu Junqing handed him and flipped through it.
Tsk. This contract was riddled with loopholes and traps. Despite years of signing, it didn’t promise any improvement in treatment. Bo Rui sighed.
“How could you have been so naive back then?”
Yu Junqing froze, thinking about what to do, hearing Bo Rui sigh.
“Huh?” He looked up, slightly puzzled. Seeing Bo Rui’s gaze on the contract, he realized what he meant and meekly explained.
“I didn’t understand back then. I was too eager to sign. Xu Zong said it was fine—that once I became popular, the company would automatically replace it with a new contract. I believed him…” Yu Junqing recalled, feeling he had been too impatient, but there was no one to consult back then. Ultimately, whatever Xu Zong said went.
“So you were just a silly little baby.” Bo Rui affectionately tapped his forehead and locked the contract back in the safe.
“What time did he say to come tomorrow?” Bo Rui asked as they left the study, still a bit uneasy.
“Three in the afternoon. I’m not sure of the details.” Yu Junqing rubbed his forehead and flopped onto the bed.
He felt irritated. Just thinking that the company might want to renew his contract made him feel nauseated.
“I’ll wait outside for you. Be careful. I still feel Xingyu’s methods aren’t exactly fair.” Bo Rui restrained his impulse to follow immediately, trusting Yu Junqing could handle it.
“Mm.” Habituated to going to bed early, Yu Junqing obediently lay down, though his mind lingered on the matter. Hopefully, tomorrow wouldn’t be a complete mess.
——In a blink, the afternoon arrived——
“Brother Yu~!” Xiao Yitong shouted excitedly as Yu Junqing got in the car.
Yu Junqing had just removed his mask and found the enthusiasm strange. “Why are you so happy?”
“Why even ask!” Xiao Yitong, his face exaggerated, pressed the horn a few times before explaining. “I was almost losing my mind. Who knew the company would have me bring you over! Obviously, they see you’re popular now and want to nurture you~”
Yu Junqing paused. He wasn’t unaware of this possibility, but personally, he found it a little rare to be seen this way.
Xiao Yitong probably didn’t recall the company’s unpleasant dealings with him or the Xu Zong situation; otherwise, he wouldn’t have spoken so casually.
“Don’t get too excited. Let’s see what actually happens. By the way, who informed you?” Yu Junqing asked, tempering the enthusiasm.
“I asked. Apparently, Vice President Chen contacted me.” This explained part of his excitement—Vice President Chen was known for his sharp eyes; anyone he singled out rarely failed to rise to prominence.
“You mean Chen Guanzhi?” Yu Junqing thought, recalling the figure from memory.
He vaguely remembered Chen Guanzhi as a difficult man, known for being harsh with both himself and others. Many had reportedly been scolded to tears, including young stars.
“Yes! Brother Yu, do you think Vice President Chen wants to promote you as the company’s lead now that you’re on fire?” Xiao Yitong hummed excitedly.
If so, following Yu Junqing would be the right choice.
Seeing him so happy, Yu Junqing could only silently send him a string of candles. Honestly, he dared not hope too much from Xingyu.
Arriving at the company, Yu Junqing felt stiff as he walked in, surrounded by new faces. Perhaps because of the drama’s popularity, many newcomers looked surprised and whispered among themselves.
“Eh, Yu Junqing works here?”
“You didn’t know? He’s been with the company for years, just recently got famous.”
“Really? I never saw him around before, I thought he was from another company!”
“Luckily I spoke up, or you’d have embarrassed yourself.”
“He acts really well, and he’s so handsome. I can’t believe I never noticed him!”
“Normal. Rumor has it, he offended the higher-ups, so he wasn’t exposed. Did you know he won Best Actor?”
“No way! He even won Best Actor?”
“Yeah, a couple of years ago. Talented and handsome, but the company just didn’t promote him.”
“Strange, really.”
“Forget it, at least we get more resources.”
“But I still want to fan him…”
“Come on… you are a star yourself…”
Their voices faded, and Yu Junqing’s mood lifted. His efforts hadn’t been in vain—someone in the company liked him. It was a strange, wonderful feeling.
The Xingyu headquarters had sixteen floors. Xiao Yitong had arranged a small meeting room on the fourteenth. Yu Junqing checked the time: 2:50 p.m. He took the elevator directly to his destination.
“This isn’t possible. He’s clearly talented now; I can’t let him go unnoticed again,” Chen Guanzhi said, ignoring Xu Zong’s request. A flourishing star was not something to waste.
Xu Zong despised Chen Guanzhi’s style. Xingyu may have had a public reputation, but in the industry, people joked it was a brothel, some even called it a kiln.
Xu Zong, seeing Chen Guanzhi’s refusal, felt his prestige diminish. Chen Guanzhi had ability, but what use was it? Promoting stars didn’t benefit him; those scolded by him hated him. Outside, if not for his title, who would give him respect?
“You can’t decide. I’ve received orders from above. Help or don’t—remember, your sister’s still in the hospital. Your money could save her,” Xu Zong said, turning away, feeling superior.
Chen Guanzhi’s face darkened, thinking of his sister. Apart from the boss, who would know? Years of earnings couldn’t outweigh this?
Collapsing onto the sofa from long hours, Chen Guanzhi stared at the ceiling, feeling cold. Perhaps he should never have entered this circle.
——Camera shift to a more emotional scene——
Soon after Yu Junqing arrived at headquarters, Xiao Yitong was called away. Though his assistant, he was still on the company payroll and used to being summoned. He let Yu Junqing go to the small meeting room alone.
Yu Junqing didn’t go immediately. He wandered a bit, collecting flirtatious glances. A fan approached shyly, asking for an autograph. Yu Junqing, though unaccustomed, smiled lightly, asking her name and writing a blessing.
After a few minutes, he stood at the meeting room door, watching the second hand tick.
Three o’clock. Time to see if this was a trap or a surprise. Yu Junqing’s expression remained calm, unaware of what awaited behind the door.
As he reached for the handle, a familiar, infuriating voice rang out.
“No need to go in!” It was Xu Zong.
Yu Junqing turned. Xu Zong, as irritating as ever, stood at the corridor’s end. Emotions under Yu Junqing’s calm mask surged like waves, invisible to others.
Xu Zong didn’t notice any difference, only seeing a moving gold mine, anxious to control it. He tried to shoulder Yu Junqing. Yu Junqing’s eyes flickered with disgust, subtly dodging.
Xu Zong’s patience snapped; his look changed from adoration to disdain. Yu Junqing, sensitive to such gazes, immediately avoided his sight.
“I didn’t expect Xu, the great manager, to stoop to being Chen’s assistant. I must have been away too long,” Yu Junqing thought, not moving. If Chen Guanzhi had been here, they might have negotiated—but Xu Zong? Forget it. Xingyu had clearly abandoned him.
With the last thread of hope gone, Yu Junqing felt relieved. Let Xingyu go. His contract was nearly over anyway.
Xu Zong was blocked by Yu Junqing’s words, disgust and chest pain mixing inside him. He hated it when his position with Chen was used as leverage. For decades, he’d been “just a manager.” Even with gold credentials, he had no stake in the company.
“You’re making a fool of yourself. Short time here, you don’t understand. Chen and I are like brothers; I’m just delivering a message,” Xu Zong said, forcing a benign smile.
Yu Junqing was disgusted. Had Xu Zong forgotten they had severed ties? Now he tried to trick him like a child.
“Sorry, I don’t think we have anything to discuss. I’m leaving.” Yu Junqing turned and walked away.
“Stop!” Xu Zong hadn’t expected Yu Junqing to actually stand up to him. If he left, all Xu’s plans and the money Yu held would be gone. He took a large step forward, hands reaching—but only saw Yu Junqing’s slender waist, and his hands went upward in the wrong direction.
Yu Junqing, hearing Xu Zong’s footsteps, turned just in time to see his ugly lunge. He inhaled sharply, lifted his leg, and kicked Xu Zong over a meter away.
“You dog! Cough… cough… how dare you kick me!” Xu Zong struggled, still cursing.
A violent surge rose in Yu Junqing. He forced himself to breathe deeply, telling himself Xu Zong wasn’t worth it. He had finally found a family—he wouldn’t let this scum ruin it.
After several deep breaths, Yu Junqing pressed the elevator button. He couldn’t watch anymore without losing control. In Xingyu, if Xu Zong caused trouble, he’d be implicated.
Ignoring Xu Zong’s swearing, Yu Junqing hit 1, closing the elevator. Honestly, he hadn’t expected Xingyu to act this way—no negotiations, just tossing out Xu Zong. He knew Xu Zong’s tricks all too well.
Watching Yu Junqing disregard him, Xu Zong seethed with rage, then coldly dialed, grunting out instructions, before grinning wickedly as he watched the elevator doors close.
Yu Junqing felt increasingly uneasy. He took out his phone, but there was no signal in the elevator—the call to Rui-ge was cut off.
He was about to redial when the elevator stopped between floors. Yu Junqing looked up sharply—outside the doors stood four men in black! He knew immediately—this had to be Xu Zong’s doing. Instinctively, his fingers pressed another button.