Chinese Entertainment King: Starting as a Fat Boy and Becoming a Singing King

Chapter 90 Bai Lu Has a Bit of a Temper (Two chapters combined, begging for first approval)

The first thing General Manager Liu did upon returning to his office was to angrily smash a cup, and then Lin Nan called.

"Liu Rende, you piece of trash! Fatty Xu ruined my reputation and left me with nothing. I've heard that your meeting is going to approve his termination of the contract."

Lin Nan's voice was extremely loud, so loud that it hurt Mr. Liu's ears.

"You're the most useless boss I've ever met. Your employees tattled on you to your boss, and you actually smiled and applauded? What do you call that? It's like your employees are shitting on your neck, and you're still smiling and catching them, even cheering them on. Don't you know how to fight back? Don't you know how to stand up for me? What the hell can you do besides think about me?"

Mr. Liu was already furious, and this made him even angrier: "What do you know? You stupid pig, I have always been strongly opposed to this."

I really don't know where this fat guy gets his charm, that he has both the Nasin sisters supporting him. Don't you know the director likes to listen to Nasin? If I were to strongly oppose it, I'd lose my position as director.

Unable to bear it any longer, Lin Nan continued to shout, "So we're just going to watch that fatso terminate his contract and gain his freedom? I've been doxxed and verbally abused to death by those stupid keyboard warriors, did I suffer all this for nothing?"

General Manager Liu wasn't going to let it slide: "It's all because of you, you brain-dead idiot, that you gave him so much leverage. If it weren't for the recording, if it weren't for that media storm, this contract termination issue would have ended up with me, never even reaching the director's desk. Stomping on that fat guy is as simple as crushing an ant for me! Get lost! You still have the nerve to call me?"

"I'm telling you, Liu Rende, if you can't kill Fatty to avenge me, I'll report you for messing around with women and I'll kill you."

"Then give it a try."

Liu Nan hung up the phone, her chest filled with rage. She finally lost her temper, smashing her phone on the ground and roaring, "Damn it, damn it, damn it—"

Xu Yao was unaware of all this; he was waiting for Ju Jingyi to speak.

"Sorry to bother you."

Ju Jing's voice was very soft and gentle, with a hint of nervousness.

"I'm here today for a meeting to discuss the performance schedule for the station's New Year's Eve gala. Just now, as I was walking down the corridor, I happened to overhear you and—"

She paused, as if trying to find the right words.

"I happened to overhear what you were saying in the hallway. You said you wanted to become the last king of Mandopop after Jay Chou."

When she said this, she looked directly at Xu Yao with a hint of admiration in her eyes.

"What you said was very serious and powerful. I've been waiting for you here because I wanted to tell you that I was deeply moved by what you said."

"And then—may I—get to know you?"

Xu Yao looked at the unfamiliar young girl in front of him.

He recalled seeing various comments about this girl online in his previous life.

A viral short video described her story: she was the female idol that capital wanted to blacklist the most, always being targeted but always managing to turn the tables. The most dramatic moment was when her company publicly accused her of stealing water and leaking it, and six major state media outlets personally stepped in to clarify the situation for her, making her the first female artist in the Chinese entertainment industry to receive such a level of vindication.

She has been in the industry for twelve years with zero scandals.

2014—which is this year—marked the beginning of her controversy.

Just as her career was beginning to take off, a sudden storm thrust her into the spotlight.

Marketing accounts, in pursuit of traffic, forcibly translated "the number one idol in 4000 years" from a Japanese forum into "a beauty seen once in four thousand years" and attached it to her. This label made her an overnight internet sensation, but it was followed by a barrage of cyberbullying and skepticism.

Plastic surgery, head transplant, unworthy of the position—each word is like a knife stabbing into a girl who has just turned twenty.

Instead of standing up for her, her management company adhered to the principle that "being famous even in controversy is still fame," allowing the controversy to fester and even secretly guiding the topic to increase her popularity.

Faced with public pressure from the entire internet, she did not make any public response, but instead devoted all her energy to her singing and dancing career.

She later became the first member in SNH48's history to win three consecutive championships.

Her live performance of "Love Emergency" with full vocals was characterized by steady breath control and smooth dance moves, becoming a memorable moment on the Chinese idol stage.

The performance of "Red Wish" features a dancer in a red dress holding a fan, showcasing the essence of traditional Chinese stage performance and becoming a classic in the hearts of countless people.

Xu Yao remembered this person because he had seen that video.

He remembers that on March 31, 2026, Ju Jingyi posted a Weibo post with only one sentence: "I have been created and manipulated in my life, but this time I want to be my true self."

That day, her new drama "The Legend of the Moon Scale" was officially announced. When that Weibo post was published, she had been in a long-running contract lawsuit with Silk Bar Media. She had been subjected to forged supplementary agreements, unilaterally extended contract terms, and restrictions at every turn, but she never bowed her head.

Fate is so ingenious.

At this moment, the girl was still standing at the entrance to her own maze, while Xu Yao was almost out of the maze.

This strange interplay stirred up a complex mix of emotions within him.

As someone who has walked a long road, seeing a newcomer who has just begun their journey and is about to face the pressure of the company, I feel somewhat saddened.

Xu Yao looked at Ju Jingyi and said calmly, "How about we add each other on WeChat?"

"Really?"

Ju Jingyi's eyes lit up immediately, as if she hadn't expected it to go so smoothly. She hurriedly took out her phone from her pocket, tapped the screen a few times quickly, and then carefully handed it over.

The two scanned the QR code and added each other as friends. Xu Yao typed two words in the nickname column: Ju Jingyi.

Then his stomach suddenly let out a low rumble, which was particularly clear in the empty hall.

Negotiations are both mentally and physically exhausting. He's been talking since noon, and apart from the few cups of cold tea on the table, he hasn't eaten anything.

Ju Jingyi heard this, paused for a moment, and then covered her mouth and laughed.

"How about I treat you to dinner? There's a good hot pot restaurant around here."

"I'll treat you." Xu Yao put his phone away, smiled, and said, "I'm in a particularly good mood today."

The two had just met, but Ju Jingyi didn't seem to be walking with a stranger. Instead, they seemed to be very familiar with each other, as if they had a lot to say but didn't know where to start.

"Actually," Ju Jingyi began, her voice a little softer than before, "I've been following you online for a while now."

As she spoke, she took out her phone, opened Weibo, and showed Xu Yao her list of following accounts.

A familiar profile picture appeared near the top of the list on the screen.

"See, I wasn't lying to you. I watched that interview of yours so many times. When you said that true kindness should have edges," I clapped my hands several times by myself in my dorm room.

She put her phone away, hugged the folder tightly again, and took a few steps before continuing, "You've single-handedly fought against the company, recording, conducting interviews, and going to court—winning every single step. You're simply amazing."

At this point, Xu Yao couldn't help but ask, "What would you do if the company bullied you one day?"

Ju Jingyi was silent for a while before speaking: "What can I, a girl, do? Like all artists, I just have to wait until my contract expires."

After saying that, Ju Jingyi added, "Not everyone can be as brave as you."

Xu Yao remained silent.

He vaguely remembered that her contract wasn't just eight years long. Her company would forge a supplementary agreement a few years later, unilaterally extending her contract term. She would have to stay with that company until she was thirty to truly get rid of all this.

She is unaware of this matter yet.

The hot pot restaurant that Ju Jingyi chose was hidden deep in an alley near Hangzhou TV Station. It didn't have the flashy decorations of trendy restaurants; there was only a red lantern hanging with "Chongqing Lao Cao Hot Pot" written on it in calligraphy.

Pushing open the wooden door, a pungent aroma of numbing spiciness wafted out, mingled with the fragrance of butter and Sichuan peppercorns.

Ju Jingyi sat down by the window, placed the folder next to her, took the menu, and without flipping through it, directly recited a list of dishes: tripe, duck intestines, beef aorta, tender beef, lotus root slices, and potato slices. Then she looked up at Xu Yao.

What would you like to eat?

Xu Yao smiled and said, "I can tell you really like hot pot. You can order whatever you like."

"Okay, I don't know why, but I don't feel like a stranger to you at all."

After ordering, Ju Jingyi returned the menu to the waiter, rested her chin on her hands, and suddenly asked, "Xu Yao, which do you think is more important, dreams or responsibility?"

Xu Yao looked at the girl in front of him. She was only twenty years old and was completely different from the semi-permanent, exquisitely made-up female idol she would become in the future.

Her eyes held a seriousness that came from someone who had just stepped into the adult world but had already begun to ponder its most complex questions.

Thinking about this, Xu Yao answered seriously, "I think finding yourself and being yourself is the most important thing."

Ju Jingyi picked up the cooked duck intestines and put them into her bowl, but didn't eat them right away. She put down her chopsticks, rested her chin on her hands, and watched as the red oil in the copper pot bubbled and steamed, making her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Like you said, if the greatest fortune in life is knowing what you want to become early on, then I definitely know what I want to do."

When she said this, the light in her eyes was like the stars in the night sky, bright and dazzling.

"I, Ju Jingyi, am going to become the most popular idol in the Chinese entertainment industry."

Xu Yao didn't smile. He knew the answer to the future. This young girl, who had worked harder than anyone else, had fulfilled her dream.

Most of the time, Ju Jingyi spoke while Xu Yao listened quietly.

Ju Jingyi said that she only slept four hours a day during her trainee period. She said that she was so nervous when she first went on stage that she forgot the moves and was scolded by the captain until she cried. She said that after getting fourth place in this year's general election, she hid in the backstage dressing room and cried for a full ten minutes. It wasn't because she was happy, but because she was afraid that fourth place was not enough and that she was not good enough.

She said she knew her voice was distinctive, but her high notes weren't stable enough, so she had been secretly practicing mixed voice lately, practicing with her vocal coach in the hallway during breaks from her gigs.

"You're already doing great," Xu Yao replied politely after hearing this.

"That depends on who you're comparing yourself to. But until I met you, I realized your dreams are even bigger than mine. Do you know what I was thinking? Good heavens, there's actually someone with a bigger dream than me, Ju Jingyi?" Ju Jingyi said with a smile.

"Then let's each do our best and see who achieves it first." Xu Yao picked up his teacup and clinked it against hers.

Ju Jingyi nodded vigorously, her eyes shining with even greater determination.

After finishing their hotpot, the two said goodbye on the street. Ju Jingyi, carrying her folder, walked a short distance, then turned back and waved to him.

She asked somewhat reluctantly, "Xu Yao, are we considered friends now?"

"Of course. We added each other on WeChat, and we even had a meal together, right?"

Ju Jingyi nodded, then turned and disappeared into the night at the end of the alley.

Two young musicians pursuing grand dreams.

And so we met briefly on this winter night.

And then we parted again in haste.

Xu Yao stood at the entrance of the hot pot restaurant, watching her figure disappear into the depths of the alley.

Then he turned around and saw a familiar figure.

Bai Lu stood in the sparse crowd, wearing an apricot-colored long coat and a light gray cashmere scarf that covered most of her face, revealing only her eyes.

Those eyes were staring straight at him; she didn't know how long she had been standing there.

"Bai Lu, what a coincidence. What are you doing here?"

"Is she... your friend?"

Xu Yao didn't explain. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he finally understood why Bai Lu had appeared.

She was very nervous and worried when she learned that Xu Yao had come to discuss terminating the contract. Today, she put aside all her work and made a special trip to Hangzhou, where she waited outside the TV station building for an unknown amount of time.

She probably considered many possibilities—if things didn't go well, she wanted to be with him immediately.

The conversation went well, and she wanted to celebrate with him as soon as possible.

But to her utter surprise, what she saw was Xu Yao walking out of the building with a girl, the two of them chatting and laughing, and then going to eat hot pot together.

"Silly little deer, why didn't you call me? Or call me back?" Xu Yao asked.

Bai Lu pulled her scarf down further, revealing her entire face.

"I don't know—should I bother you?"

Xu Yao looked at her, feeling an urge to hug her: "Little Deer, no matter where we are or who I'm meeting, you can interrupt me as soon as you see me."

Bai Lu looked up at him, and then her smile gradually returned, her eyes brightening again: "Okay."

Xu Yao pointed to the hot pot restaurant next door: "Are you hungry? Want to grab something to eat?"

"I don't want to eat what you and others leave behind." Bai Lu snorted and pulled her scarf up again.

Xu Yao did not argue with her.

The two walked for a while on the street, and finally Bai Lu spoke up: "I want to eat mala tang (spicy hot pot)."

"Okay, you decide."

Bai Lu chose to eat mala tang (a spicy hot pot dish) in order to relive the memory of her first encounter with Xu Yao.

Xu Yao looked down and saw a bowl piled high in front of him, filled with spinach, chrysanthemum greens, enoki mushrooms, beef balls, and instant noodles, towering like a small mountain.

"Little Deer, I can't eat this much." Xu Yao couldn't help but speak up as he looked at the overflowing bowl.

"Then you shouldn't eat random things everywhere."

As Bai Lu spoke, he revealed his adorable tiger teeth, seemingly as a warning.

Xu Yao smiled wryly, finally understanding. This Bai Lu was so temperamental? And his possessiveness seemed incredibly strong.

You can't reason with a woman, you can only finish this bowl of spicy hot pot.

Who told Bai Lu to be so foolish as to wait at NTU and then wait for so long outside the hot pot restaurant?

The hotel was booked by Bailu, and it's not far from Dianwutai.

Xu Yao's room was at the end of the corridor. He pushed open the door and Bai Lu followed him in, sitting down on the bed.

We chatted for a bit about our recent situations.

Bai Lu has officially started filming a new short film about cats and trees, and everything is moving in a positive direction.

Xu Yao also gave a general overview of the progress of today's contract termination negotiations. Although it has not been finalized yet, at least from the moment he walked out of the meeting room, he felt hopeful, and very hopeful.

Xu Yao remembered something and dialed the phone in front of Bai Lu.

"Yuan, it's me, Xu Yao."

"Xu Yao?"

Yuan Shuang's voice came from the other end, carrying a hint of surprise and a subtle expectation.

He had been waiting for this call. Ever since Bai Lu's short film started filming, he knew that Bai Lu was the person Xu Yao had chosen, and that Xu Yao would come to ask sooner or later.

If he doesn't make this call, his favor will only be one-way.

When that phone call came, the favor turned into an act of deception.

"Yuan, Bai Lu is currently filming at your place. Thank you for your guidance." Xu Yao leaned against the desk, his tone very casual, as if chatting with a friend.

"She was very fortunate to have Yuan's understanding and support during her acting role. I will remember this favor. If I need any musical assistance in the future, please let me know."

Yuan Shuang said "You're too kind" twice, then changed the subject, her tone slightly probing: "Xu Yao, I hope we can work together again when you film music videos in the future."

Xu Yao glanced at Bai Lu sitting on the edge of the bed: "Yuan, Bai Lu is a rough gem, but he's not formally trained and lacks professional acting skills. He needs your careful polishing. Once his acting is refined, I hope he can appear in at least half of my future music videos."

"Good, good, good. Bai Lushi's acting skills have improved a lot. We at Cat Tree will continue to guide her to improve."

Yuan Shuang said "good" three times in a row, feeling excited that she had indeed made the right bet.

After hanging up, Xu Yao placed his phone on the desk. Bai Lu looked up at him, her lips moving as if she were choosing her words. Then she spoke.

"Xu Yao, you—are you nice to all girls?"

Xu Yao leaned against the edge of the desk, watching her.

"When we met for the first time," Bai Lu's voice was unhurried, each word seeming to have been carefully considered before being uttered, "the cat's tree chose so many models, you didn't look at any of them, you only looked at me. At that time, I couldn't even recite my lines properly, the actors scolded me, my agent said I wasn't good enough, and I myself felt that I wasn't good enough either. But you told me I could.

In his attempt to enter the entertainment industry, Bai Lu was repeatedly deceived by talent scouts, always failing and hitting walls.

Until Xu Yao suddenly appeared, and then a music video was released, he suddenly had 30,000 followers on Weibo.

The modeling industry is booming, with the price of a single photoshoot rising from one thousand to three thousand.

All these huge changes stem from the handsome Xu Yao in front of us.

Bai Lu often looks at the music video and reminisces about that light kiss, which makes her blush and her heart race.

Bai Lu knew perfectly well that this was Xi Huan.

Xu Yao replied with a smile, "How could I possibly be good to everyone? You're making me sound like a futuristic air conditioner."

Bai Lu thought about how Xu Yao had just been having hot pot with another woman, and that woman was so happy she couldn't contain herself. She wanted to retort, "Isn't that right?" but in the end, she held back.

"Xu Yao, what kind of girl do you like?"