Huayu: This celebrity doesn't follow the rules.

Chapter 115 My First Encounter with Zhou Gong's Dream Interpretation (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
Lin Jianjun immediately softened when he saw his daughter crying, "My dear little girl, why are you crying? She has to do it for work!"

As he spoke, he winked at Jiang Ye, "Your brother's company is a mess, what's there to envy?"

"Then I'm not going to be an actress anymore!" Lin Xiaoman wiped away her tears, then suddenly declared with a stiff neck, "I'm going to study management! I'll become the general manager of my brother's company!"

Lin Jianjun couldn't comfort him anymore; his expression was as if he had swallowed a bitter pill.

What the hell?

Your father just got this position from your brother, and you little brat are already eyeing it?

Misfortune for our family...

He stared at the screen for a long time before finally managing to say, "Go read your book! What are you meddling in for!"

Jiang Ye laughed so hard he slapped the sofa, then leaned over and shouted at the screen, "Lin Xiaoman, the general manager position isn't for you. The company's cleaning lady is retiring soon, so this position is reserved for you?"

"Jiang Ye, you bastard!" Lin Xiaoman screamed angrily on the other end of the line. "I'm calling my aunt right now to tell on you! You just wait!"

Before he could finish speaking, the video call ended abruptly, and the screen went black instantly.

Lin Jianjun held up his black-screen phone, looked at Jiang Ye, then at the ceiling, and finally sighed, "What kind of mess is this... I haven't even taken office as general manager yet, and my own daughter has already stolen my job!"

Jiang Ye laughed so hard he couldn't stand up straight: "Uncle, this is called the Yangtze River's back waves pushing the front waves. You, the front wave, are going to be washed up on the beach!"

……

At No. 399 Jiujiang Road, on the top floor of an unassuming glass curtain wall building, the four characters "Tianyu Media" gleam coldly in the sunlight.

As one of the earliest idol management companies in China, Tianyu's office is not as extravagant as outsiders imagine.

There were no crystal chandeliers, no red carpet; instead, a simple, modern style prevailed, with posters of the company's artists hanging on both sides of the corridor: Li Yuchun, Hua Chenyu, Zhang Jie...

These names that emerged from talent shows have now become iconic figures in the Chinese entertainment industry.

Meanwhile, in the practice room on the top floor of the building, 16 young boys were sweating profusely.

Even with the air conditioning on its lowest setting, it still couldn't quench the heat from vigorous exercise.

The boys in front of the mirror were wearing matching black training uniforms, their backs already soaked with sweat.

The moment the music stopped, several people collapsed to the ground, their chests heaving violently.

"One more time!" Dance teacher Chen Sen clapped his hands, his voice stern. "The recording of episode seven of 'Burning Youth' is in three days. How can you guys be in this state?"

In the corner, a slender boy silently unscrewed a mineral water bottle and sipped it.

His wisps of hair were damp and clung to his face, and his fair skin was flushed slightly from the exercise.

Unlike the flamboyant styles of other trainees, he had the simplest short black hair, and his whole person was as clean as an ink painting.

"Xiao Xiao!"

Chen Sen suddenly raised the volume, and the music in the practice room stopped abruptly.

The boy whose name was called trembled, and the water bottle he was holding almost slipped from his grasp. He immediately stood up straight and said, "Teacher."

Her voice was clear and gentle, with a touch of the softness of a mountain town accent.

"Look at that turn you just did! What kind of dance was that?" Chen Sen frowned and stepped forward, his tone stern and unquestionable. "Your arms were stiff, your turn was shaky, you were like a puppet on strings, your rhythm was completely off!"

Xiao Zhan lowered his head: "I'm sorry, teacher, I..."

"Don't make excuses." Chen Sen interrupted him, pointing to the center of the practice room, "Do it again, just those eight counts from before."

The music started again. Xiao Zhan took a deep breath and tried hard to recall the key points of the movements, but his body seemed to have a mind of its own. He staggered after turning around, and the range of his arm swing was obviously smaller than others. He was stiff as if he was afraid of bumping into something.

"stop!"

Chen Sen raised his hand impatiently, "Your coordination is so bad? No strength, no rhythm, is this your first day learning to dance?"

Hearing soft gasps from around him, Xiao Zhan's face grew even hotter, sweat trickling down his forehead, but he dared not raise his hand to wipe it away.

"The rest of you continue practicing." Chen Sen didn't even look at him again. "Xiao Zhan, do this eight-count routine fifty times today. You can only leave after you've finished."

The boy nodded vigorously, his voice barely audible, "Okay, teacher."

The music started again, and the footsteps and rhythms of the other trainees echoed in my ears.

He has no formal training and absolutely no dance background.

She graduated from the School of Modern International Design and Art at Chongqing University of Technology and Business and worked as a designer in a company after graduation.

Last year, the production team of the show "Burning Youth" contacted him through the contact information provided by his university professor and invited him to participate in the show.

Xiao Zhan thought it was worth a try, so he joined the training camp and became a trainee of Tianyu.

The clock on the wall pointed to 1 a.m., and Xiao Zhan in the mirror had already turned around for the 37th time.

His knees trembled slightly, and he held onto the barre to keep from falling to his knees.

"Click——"

The sound of the door lock turning was exceptionally clear in the silence.

Xiao Zhan turned around abruptly and saw Ou Hao leaning against the door frame, twirling car keys in his hand.

"Brother Hao!" He hurriedly stood up straight, but his knees buckled and he almost fell over.

Ou Hao rushed over and supported him, asking, "Did you train so hard?"

Her fingers touched Xiao Zhan's soaked back, and she clicked her tongue in disgust. "You kids, are you out of your minds?"

Xiao Zhan awkwardly wiped his sweat.

The person in front of me is a prominent figure in the company. He was the runner-up in the 2013 Super Boy competition and became a sensation online last year with his roles in "The Left Ear" and "Go Princess Go".

Although Zhang Jie is still nominally the "number one," rumors are circulating in the break room that he may start his own business this year, with Ou Hao as the new leader.

His momentum even surpassed that of Hua Chenyu, who had previously been ahead of him.

"Brother Hao... what brings you here?"

Xiao Zhan steadied himself, his hand still clutching the hem of his soaked practice clothes.

Ou Hao straightened up, looking around nervously, then glanced at the camera in the corner and whispered, "Just finished work and was passing by, so I stopped by to pick something up."

"Xiao Xiao, I need to talk to you about something. It's not convenient to talk here. I'll wait for you in my car downstairs. Go change your clothes first."

Five minutes later, Xiao Zhan got into the passenger seat.

Ou Hao handed over a bottle of water: "How long have you been training? You look exhausted."

"It's been like this since this afternoon." Xiao Zhan twisted the bottle cap, his fingertips still trembling.

Ou Hao started the car and drove out of the park, then suddenly asked casually, "Xiao Xiao, do you want to be a star?"

Xiao Xiao paused for a moment, then nodded honestly: "Yes, otherwise I wouldn't have become a trainee."

“I mean,” Ou Hao turned his head and glanced at him, “not a pop star who sings and dances on stage, but an actor who can portray other people’s lives in front of the camera, do you want that?”

Xiao Zhan paused, his hand holding the water bottle still.

He didn't dare answer immediately, his young face reflected in the mirror.

I've been practicing dance until the early hours of the morning lately, and my voice has gone hoarse several times from singing practice, but I still have this inexplicable expectation in my heart, as if there's still some possibility that hasn't been unlocked.

"I also started out as a singer, do you know why I've switched careers now?" "Xiao Xiao, being a singer now is not the same as before!"

"By the way, did Teacher Chen plan an EP for you?"

Xiao Zhan nodded hesitantly: "Yes, they said they'll start preparations next month."

"The most popular of the EPs the company made for newcomers last year sold 803 copies."

Ou Hao chuckled and tapped the steering wheel with his fingertips. "But it's different for actors. A good work can make you instantly memorable. Look at 'Princess Promotion,' after it aired I gained millions of followers, something EP can't compare to."

He pulled a business card from the storage compartment and handed it over. The gold-embossed character "Jiang" gleamed faintly in the dim light: "The owner of this company is a friend of mine. He looked at your information and thinks you're suitable for acting."

"They are willing to help you negotiate the termination of the contract with Tianyu. It's not about making you pay a penalty for breach of contract; it's about directly resolving the contract issue so you don't have to worry about it."

Xiao Zhan's fingers traced the edge of the business card, his heart suddenly pounding as if it were about to burst out of his chest.

"If you're willing to go, I guarantee you a supporting role in a drama this year and a lead role next year!"

Ou Hao's voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet carriage, "Think it through, do you want to continue down the path of singing and dancing, or try being an actor?"

The car stopped downstairs at the dormitory building, and Ou Hao stuffed the business card into his palm. "Give me a definite answer in three days."

Back in his dorm, Xiao Zhan pulled out a business card from his pocket; the two large, gold-embossed characters "Jiang Ye" gleamed under the desk lamp.

His heart was pounding.

Jiang Ye is currently a very popular director in the industry. He has produced two hit dramas in two years, and he has personally made Meng Ziyi a popular actress and even made Jing Tian famous!

He still has two or three high-quality projects in his hands, each of which is highly sought after.

Especially for the recently prepared new drama "With You", almost half of the entertainment industry's agencies are eyeing the male lead and second male lead positions.

Surprisingly, the second male lead in this drama ended up in the hands of Wang Lexin from Tianyu.

Privately, people are saying that Jiang Ye took the initiative to contact Boss Long of the company and sent him the role.

He couldn't figure out the other party's plans either...

He tucked the business card into the thickest page of his textbook; the edge of the paper pressed against his palm, but it couldn't compare to the shock he felt inside.

It turns out that outside the dance studio where he practiced day after day, there really was another completely different path quietly unfolding before his eyes.

Outside the window, Ou Hao stepped on the gas and sped out of the residential area. Jiang Ye's lazy voice came through the Bluetooth headset: "Did you see the person?"

"I saw him!" Ou Hao turned the steering wheel with one hand and slammed the horn with the other. "Jiang Ye, you son of a bitch! You want me, the future number one of Tianyu, to be a traitor? If word gets out, how am I supposed to live?"

Jiang Ye's leisurely voice came from the other end of the phone: "What, more handsome than you?"

"Bullshit!" Ou Hao was so angry he almost ran a red light. "That kid is as skinny as a bamboo pole, and he dances awkwardly! What do you see in him?"

"Acting skills".

"Acting skills?" Ou Hao scoffed. "Has he ever acted before?"

“He played a tree in ‘Burning Youth’,” Jiang Ye said seriously, “and he had more depth than you.”

Ou slammed on the brakes and was nearly rear-ended by the car behind him.

He gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, I'll help you poach people, but as we agreed, if there's a suitable role for me, you have to give me priority!"

“No problem.” Jiang Ye said casually, “But brothers are brothers, I have to say this upfront. If we really want to tailor a role for you, you have to lower your salary, otherwise I won’t be able to explain it to the company.”

Ou Hao was secretly delighted, but still dragged out his words, "Alright, what can we do? We're brothers."

"Right now, in this industry, only my brother's influence can get me to lower my fee..."

He boasted for a while, then suddenly became annoyed: "Wait, Jiang Ye, you're poaching him but not me? I'm so famous now!"

Jiang Ye's merciless mockery came from the other end of the phone: "Dig you? You're worthless. Go lick your Chun Chun's boots."

"Fuck you..." Before Ou Hao could finish cursing, the phone was hung up.

……

Yanjing, a stronghold courtyard house
As the evening sun slanted across the gray bricks and tiles, Meng Ziyi pushed open the vermilion gate, her high heels clicking crisply on the freshly swept stone path.

"I'm back!"

She opened her arms and leaped into the yard, her skirt billowing, startling the sparrows in the treetops into fluttering away.

Assistant Xiaoya was directing a group of housekeepers to wipe the carved window frames when she heard the noise. She turned around, still holding a feather duster in her hand, and said, "Sister, didn't you say you wouldn't be back until tonight?"

"The magazine shoot is over ahead of schedule!" Meng Ziyi threw her bag on the stone table and began to give instructions.

“Here,” she pointed to the blue brick floor under the eaves, “the water stains aren’t wiped clean, mop it again.”

Two housekeepers hurriedly brought over buckets of water.

She nodded in satisfaction, then turned and pointed to the carved wooden window in the west wing: "The dust in the gaps of the window frame wasn't swept away. Clean it again with a fine brush."

She pointed enthusiastically to the four corners of the yard: "Plant roses here, build a grape trellis there, and put two large blue-and-white porcelain vats against the east wall to raise koi..."

Xiaoya wiped her sweat: "Sister, are you really planning to stay here permanently?"

“Of course!” Meng Ziyi’s eyes sparkled. “This courtyard is wonderful. It’s warm in winter and cool in summer, and it has a sense of history.”

"And Jiang...and colleagues living together, it's so lively!"

She suddenly turned around and said, "Oh, by the way, come to my apartment tomorrow and move all the things from my walk-in closet over."

"All...all of it? Then your apartment..."

"I'm moving out!" Meng Ziyi said matter-of-factly. "I'm already living here, what's the point of keeping the apartment?"

Xiaoya opened her mouth, but hesitated to speak.

What she really wanted to say was, "There are so many people here, wouldn't it be inconvenient for you and President Jiang to do things at night?"

The whole courtyard could hear him shouting?
But then I thought better of it. This isn't something an assistant should worry about. Maybe she just likes this kind of thing?

"Build a barbecue grill under the tree, made of blue bricks, because Jiang Ye likes barbecue. Put some flowers here, and a swing under the tree..."

Looking at Meng Ziyi's silhouette in the sunset, Xiaoya suddenly felt that her artist didn't seem like a star at the moment, but rather like a newlywed wife enthusiastically decorating her love nest.

Meng Ziyi was standing under the jujube tree, pointing her finger along the trunk to plan the location of the swing, when she suddenly heard a soft knock on the door.

"Who is it?" she called out, walking towards the door in her high heels.

When the door opened, she was stunned.

Standing outside the door was a girl wearing a cream-colored duffle coat, with her hair tied in neat pigtails with cherry-colored hair ties. Her face was rosy and her eyes were round and bright like a little deer.

So cute! So pretty!
The thought flashed through Meng Ziyi's mind instantly.

"Hello, sister..." the little girl said timidly, her voice soft and sweet, "Is this Uncle Jiang's staff dormitory?"

"Uncle Jiang?" Meng Ziyi raised an eyebrow. "Jiang Ye?"

“Yes!” Zhou Ye nodded. “Uncle Jiang’s mother, Grandma Lin, asked me to stay here, saying I could prepare for the Beijing Film Academy entrance exam here…”

Grandma Lin? Jiang Ye's mother?
Are these Jiang Ye's family members?
Is their seniority that low?
No, then... aren't they also family members?

Sister Meng's eyes lit up...

(PS: Thanks to reader 20200607160827001 and QQ Brother for their patronage, and for adding 10,000 words. I'll owe them for now.)
(Also, thank you to Brother Xiaowu for your continued support!)
(I've calculated that I haven't finished the extra chapter for the last time I received the Alliance Leader award from Fat Buddha Laugh. So, how about this: I'll write 3000 words per chapter, which adds up to 5 chapters I owe! I'll update 1.5 words and try my best to make up for it this month.)
(Thank you so much!! Please vote for me next month!)
(End of this chapter)