The cleaning company arrived promptly. At Wang Cheng’s request, the workers disinfected his new office from top to bottom. Satisfied with the result, he moved in that afternoon. Pan Zhihai arranged for Assistant Fei to bring over his things.
By midafternoon, artists who had been out working began returning to the office. They were surprised to hear that the chairman had changed, but even more astonished that Fang Hui had been dismissed. After all, he was Cen Xi’s manager, and Young Master Zhao was his backer. Yet when they learned that Fang Hui had been fired by Young Master Zhao’s older cousin, Young Master Zhou, some couldn’t help taking pleasure in his downfall.
Cen Xi wasn’t popular with his fellow artists. He was arrogant and hot-tempered, and many had only flattered him because they wanted opportunities to advance their careers.
“Wait. If he’s Young Master Zhao’s older cousin, why is his surname Zhou?” someone suddenly asked.
“Are you stupid? Didn’t you read the newspapers last year? He changed his surname to Zhou. I heard this Young Master Zhou might even inherit Zhou Group someday. Otherwise why would Young Master Zhao still be surnamed Zhao?”
“That makes sense. Hey, I heard Young Master Zhou is really handsome. Apparently Fang Hui thought he was an aspiring celebrity and tried to proposition him. Is that true? Did any of you see it?”
Several hands went up. “We saw everything! You should’ve seen him in the meeting. Young Master Zhou looked so cool with that stern expression. He’s way more handsome than Cen Xi!”
“I’ve just thought of something.”
“What?”
“Doesn’t Cen Xi hate anyone better-looking than himself? Remember that newcomer who signed with Yazhi last August? What was his surname, He something? He was even better-looking than Cen Xi, so Cen Xi got jealous. Once he became popular, he used pillow talk to persuade Young Master Zhao to have that poor guy sidelined.”
“I remember! His name was He Zihuan. I think he signed a five-year contract, and that was only about six months ago. If he breaks it, he’ll owe a huge penalty that he could never afford. He’s not famous, so other companies won’t take him either. It’s awful.”
“Who hasn’t suffered with Cen Xi around?”
“I think Cen Xi’s good fortune is coming to an end. The new chairman doesn’t seem like Young Master Zhao. Maybe a lot of other people are finally going to get their chance.”
“Now that you mention it, I feel the same way. Though if Young Master Zhou wanted to keep me as his lover, I’d certainly say yes.”
“Dream on. Even if you’re willing, there’s no guarantee he’d be interested in you.”
“Hmph. He definitely wouldn’t be interested in you, either.”
“Or you!”
“Stop arguing! Do you want Young Master Zhou to hear us? If he finds out we’re gossiping, he might fire us on the spot.”
The others thought about the forceful impression Wang Cheng had made at the meeting and decided she had a point. They immediately scattered.
In the little more than a year since Yazhi was established, it had signed a considerable number of artists. Yet many were still unknown. Some lacked the qualities needed to become popular, but more had been buried by the company’s toxic environment. People with real potential had never been given the chance to shine.
The list Pan Zhihai provided also showed which managers were responsible for which artists. After studying it, Wang Cheng had a general picture of the company’s internal structure.
Put simply, Yazhi was divided between two extremes. The influential managers monopolized the best resources and represented established artists, while the weaker managers received mediocre resources and looked after people with no name recognition, many worse off than even third-rate celebrities.
The lucky ones found other companies willing to pay the penalties for breaking their contracts. Those who weren’t lucky had to remain at Yazhi until their agreements expired, wasting the best years of their youth. By the time they were older, making a name for themselves would be even harder.
Despite all this, the company still had considerable resources behind it. Zhou Group had far deeper pockets than other entertainment agencies and sometimes invested in films and television dramas itself. That financial strength was the main reason Yazhi had survived.
Yazhi was more than a simple talent agency, too. Last October, when Zhao Chenlin was still chairman, he decided to expand into fashion. He set up Yazhi Media and recruited several inexperienced models, eventually signing them to contracts.
Unfortunately, he had ambition without ability. His real objective was still to meet women. For the first month or two, with Pan Zhihai’s help, he worked enthusiastically enough that the venture began to look promising. Before long, though, he lost interest and dumped the entire burden onto Pan.
Yazhi Media remained immature, with many weaknesses. Its models had not been marketed effectively, and Pan Zhihai lacked strong contacts in the fashion industry. With too few resources and opportunities, the models remained unknown. Rather than making money, the venture was lucky if it didn’t continually lose it.
When Wang Cheng reached the final page of the list, a photograph on the right caught his eye. It showed a handsome young man, chin tilted slightly upward with a hint of youthful arrogance. Yet the expression wasn’t unpleasant. It suggested confidence. Wang Cheng read the short biography and was surprised to find that the man had graduated from Jingxi Drama Academy only last year. Jingxi was the country’s foremost institution for dramatic arts.
Wang Cheng had heard about the academy during his recent crash course on the entertainment world. Quite a few famous actors had graduated from it, apparently. He glanced at the name beside the photograph.
He Zihuan?
Handsome, young, and highly educated. How could someone with such potential still be completely unknown? Wang Cheng suspected He Zihuan might be among the artists Fang Hui had deliberately kept out of work. Given Fang Hui’s lecherous character, it seemed unlikely he’d have ignored someone as attractive as this young man.
After work, Wang Cheng took the lists back to the Zhou residence. He encountered Zhao Chenlin at the entrance. Wang Cheng parked in the courtyard, and Zhao Chenlin parked beside him. Wang Cheng glanced at the other man and went inside without speaking. Zhao Chenlin seemed to have something to say, but two servants were standing nearby. Afraid their conversation might reach Grandpa, he followed Wang Cheng with a dark expression instead.
Mother Zheng was dining out with two wealthy ladies that evening and did not visit the Zhou residence.
At dinner, Zhou Shichang didn’t ask how things were going at Yazhi. Zhao Chenlin didn’t dare mention that Wang Cheng had fired one of its managers either. Fang Hui had a poor reputation, and bringing him up would only embarrass Zhao Chenlin himself. Much as he wanted to make a cutting remark, he remembered his mother’s instructions and kept quiet.
What he couldn’t say in front of his grandfather, however, he was perfectly willing to say in private. He had already shown Wang Cheng his true colors so many times that one more made no difference. He blocked Wang Cheng’s way in the corridor, the malice in his eyes suddenly pouring out.
“Don’t think firing Fang Hui counts as some show of force against me. He’s nothing but a dog as far as I’m concerned. Grandpa may have given you Yazhi, but that company means practically nothing to Zhou Group. You haven’t won!”
“Then I suppose a dog like Fang Hui is exactly the sort of company you deserve.” Wang Cheng left him with those words and moved past. This wasn’t the first time he’d experienced Zhao Chenlin’s self-importance, but did the fool really think Fang Hui’s dismissal was about him? He thought far too highly of himself. Wang Cheng barely considered him worth competing against.
Furious, Zhao Chenlin reached out to seize his shoulder.
As though he had eyes in the back of his head, Wang Cheng turned aside and evaded him. “What? Planning to hit me? Have you forgotten what your mother taught you already?”
Zhao Chenlin froze at that last question. By the time he recovered, Wang Cheng was gone. He thought Wang Cheng must somehow have overheard his mother’s warnings. In reality, that wasn’t the case at all.
Zhou Lin was far more patient than Zhao Chenlin. Since Wang Cheng moved into the Zhou residence, she had rarely shown him open hostility. That wasn’t because she liked him, but because she could control her emotions. To achieve her goals, she would naturally have instructed her son to endure the situation.
Back in his room, Wang Cheng turned on his computer and typed up several ideas inspired by the documents he had read that day. Only after finishing did he go to shower. His phone rang once while he was in the bathroom, but the soundproofing was so good he never heard it. Afterward, drying his hair with a towel, he returned the call.
“Why didn’t you pick up earlier?” Chu Yifeng asked.
“I was in the shower. I didn’t hear it.”
Chu Yifeng had timed the call carefully, since Wang Cheng was usually finished showering by now. He didn’t press him about that, though. Knowing Wang Cheng had visited Yazhi, he asked how things had gone.
Wang Cheng sighed. “Being loved by everyone and admired by every flower isn’t without its problems.”
“What?”
“I mean, the moment I arrived at Yazhi, I met a manager who wanted to invite me to a hotel for an intimate heart-to-heart. He even promised that if I spent one night with him, he’d make me famous throughout the country. Tempting offer, wasn’t it?” Wang Cheng chuckled wickedly. A chill seemed to travel straight through the phone, making his ear feel cold.
“What’s his name?” Chu Yifeng’s voice turned colder.
“Fang Hui. But I’ve already fired him. He went running to Zhao Chenlin to complain, though he has no idea Zhao Chenlin doesn’t dare confront me right now.” Wang Cheng sounded positively delighted by the situation.
There was a sudden silence on the other end.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“I’m starting to think letting you get involved in entertainment was a bad idea.”
“Please. It wasn’t your decision. Grandpa put me in charge. And why is it such a bad idea? I’m not even going to become a celebrity.” Wang Cheng couldn’t understand his concern.
“That’s precisely why. A boss faces far more temptations than an artist. Some celebrities will stop at nothing to become famous. They’ll manufacture scandals involving you or try to climb into your bed in exchange for your support. You’re young, handsome, and a member of the Zhou Group family. There’ll be no shortage of people trying to get close to you.”
Wang Cheng clicked his tongue and laughed. “Boss Chu, you really know a lot about this business. But why do I seem to smell such a strong whiff of vinegar?”
“If I were jealous, you wouldn’t be sitting comfortably on your bed right now.” Chu Yifeng didn’t sound embarrassed at being teased. If anything, his answer was flirtatious.
Wang Cheng laughed, tossed his towel aside, and flopped onto the bed. “Then come on, come on! I’ll lie facedown on the bed and wait for you!”
Chu Yifeng imagined Wang Cheng lying facedown on the bed with his hips raised. Heat gathered in his lower abdomen; even that imagined scene was enough to arouse him. He couldn’t resist saying, “You irresistible little temptress.”
The line struck Wang Cheng like an electric shock. Goose bumps rose all over his body, and he immediately waved a white flag. “I surrender! Don’t ever say that again. I’m dying of secondhand embarrassment!”
Chu Yifeng laughed. “I regret something now.”
“What?”
“I shouldn’t have given Charlie time off to pursue Fang He.”
“If Fang He knew you thought that way, he’d find a way to kill you. Why regret it only now? By this point, he’s probably already got a sore backside.” Wang Cheng sounded gleefully unsympathetic.
Chu Yifeng considered reminding him that Wang Cheng himself had suffered a similar fate even earlier, but decided against it. Better not provoke him into refusing any future intimacy.
Wang Cheng changed the subject. “Can I ask you something? Does Aimer Group have any entertainment businesses?”
“No. Why?”
“Would you be interested in branching out, say by investing in films or television series?” Wang Cheng’s ulterior motive surfaced immediately.
“You want me to invest? You’ve only got three months under the agreement with your grandfather. Films and television dramas take time to produce, and you won’t recover the investment quickly. If you want Yazhi to make money soon, you’d do better to start somewhere else. But your grandfather asked you to bring the company back to life. Maybe he only means restoring its reputation, not making it profitable immediately.”
Wang Cheng thought that made sense. “I’ll discuss it with Pan Zhihai tomorrow. He’s Yazhi’s president.”
“You can use the news that you’ve become chairman, too. Zhao Chenlin played a large part in ruining Yazhi’s image. Once people in the industry hear it has a new owner, they’ll start paying attention.”
“Pan Zhihai suggested that earlier. He also said we could use Fang Hui’s dismissal to attract publicity. Fang Hui is fairly well known in entertainment circles.”
“Sounds as though you have a capable subordinate.”
“Whether he’s loyal remains to be seen.”
Wang Cheng chatted with him for more than an hour. It wasn’t until Chu Yifeng reminded him it was time for bed that he reluctantly ended the call.