Everyone grew curious when they heard Young Master Zhou wanted to see He Zihuan.
They expected a long meeting, but he emerged less than ten minutes later. Surely nothing important could have been discussed in so little time. Some of the people who had been holding their breath relaxed again.
Tang Sai did not care what anyone else thought. He went straight over to He Zihuan. “Zihuan, what did Young Master Zhou say? Did he give you an assignment?” Ears pricked up all around them.
He Zihuan shook his head. “He just told me to get my things ready. He’s arranging a seven-day training course for me. I’ll learn what it involves when I get there.”
“More training?” Despite his words, Tang Sai was not all that disappointed. He was starting to think the arrangements Young Master Zhou and President Pan were making for his friend were rather mysterious. Perhaps a genuine surprise was in store.
He Zihuan smiled, a new light in his dark eyes. True, he was the only artist at the company who had received no work at all and had been training nonstop, but that did not prove the agency neglected him. Quite the contrary: he felt the company valued him highly. Otherwise, why arrange special training courses so often? Clearly, they were helping him establish a solid foundation.
There was another important detail that most people had conveniently overlooked. If Young Master Zhou really disliked him, why would he have made President Pan his personal manager?
After work, Wang Cheng went straight to the villa at Binhai Garden. Chu Yifeng had already returned. For the past two days, Wang Cheng had found an excuse not to go back to the Zhou residence.
Unbeknownst to Wang Cheng, Zhou Lin had brought this up to Zhou Shichang in an attempt to damage his image. She said she was worried he might be fooling around with someone outside and that staying away from home like this was inappropriate. Her remarks met with no response, however, because Zhou Shichang knew his grandson had been rushing between two demanding jobs lately.
After dinner, Wang Cheng brought the computer from the bedroom out to the coffee table in the living room. Chu Yifeng sat opposite him and watched him prepare to work. “Looks like you’re about to become a workaholic too.”
“I have to work hard if I want us to be a match made in heaven,” Wang Cheng replied with a wicked grin.
Chu Yifeng suddenly produced a lookbook. It was the one Hongye Studio had made. He opened it to the first page, where Wang Cheng appeared. “When did you agree to this shoot? Taking a side job just for my sake? Should I give you a reward?”
Wang Cheng took the book. It was nothing like an ordinary glossy magazine: just photographs and descriptions, without any unnecessary extras. It looked like something made to be given away. “Where did you get this?”
“I found it on someone’s desk during a business meeting.”
“It wasn’t a side job, so don’t get carried away. Why would I need one? I made a deal with Master Paul. He designed my formal suit and said he’d give it to me free if I modeled for him for half an hour. I thought that was a pretty good bargain at the time, so I agreed.” Chu Yifeng suddenly hooked an arm around his neck, dragged him into his embrace, and ruffled him roughly. “You usually seem so shrewd. Why do you turn foolish at the worst moments? You actually let someone buy you with one suit.”
“Let go, let go! That’s why I’m going to make up for it now!” Wang Cheng struggled. It was not that he had been completely ignorant at the time, but he did regret it. He should have asked Master Paul to promise him a favor instead. There was no use dwelling on it now. The past was past, and he ought to look forward.
Chu Yifeng stopped shaking his head but did not release him. He kept an arm hooked around Wang Cheng’s neck, making him lean against his chest. “How are you going to make up for it?”
Wang Cheng stopped struggling altogether and put one leg up on the coffee table. “Shao Zheng, the man who manages things for Paul, called today to ask me to help Master Paul with something else. You know my agency’s artists all need more exposure. He knows Yazhi’s situation too, so he proposed a deal.”
“You intend to fleece them?”
“They’re the ones asking me for help. If I don’t use this opportunity properly, I’ll cry even in my sweetest dreams. Besides, I have to make up for that mistake last time.” Wang Cheng was already rehearsing tomorrow’s meeting in his head. He had no intention of going easy on them.
“Then help me replenish a little blood first.” Chu Yifeng ran a suggestive hand over his collarbone.
Wang Cheng twisted around at once, planting a foot against Chu Yifeng’s chin to keep him from advancing. “A man with a full stomach shouldn’t indulge his lust, or he’ll wear out his kidneys. Benefactor, turn back before it’s too late.”
“Better to die beneath a peony blossom than live without romance.” Chu Yifeng seized his ankle and pulled hard, dragging Wang Cheng’s entire lower body into his lap. Wang Cheng was wearing pajamas. With another tug, Chu Yifeng pulled down his underwear too, exposing both pale cheeks of his backside.
Elio’s Notes: The old saying about dying beneath a peony is a cheeky way of insisting that passion is worth the consequences. Chu Yifeng, naturally, has chosen the least innocent possible moment to quote it.
Wang Cheng clutched at his trousers. “Hey, hey! A gentleman uses words, not his hands!”
“I’m no gentleman.”
Wang Cheng wanted to throttle him, but the enemy was too powerful and always knew how to exploit his weak spots. “A real man would fight me fair and square.”
Chu Yifeng gave him a lecherous smile. “Aren’t I about to take you on fair and square? We can go two rounds, three rounds, as many as you like.”
Wang Cheng rolled his eyes. He was doing it more and more lately. If one day his eyeballs rolled right out of his head, it would absolutely be Chu Yifeng’s fault.
Wang Cheng had intended to research Hongye Studio and Fashion Vanguard that night. Understanding the other side’s resources before negotiating was the only way to extract better terms. But plans could never quite keep up with events. Fortunately, the meeting was not until tomorrow afternoon. The next morning, Pan Zhihai delivered a thoroughly prepared file. Wang Cheng read it and found everything quite comprehensive. The two discussed which opportunities would suit He Zihuan best. Although gaining fame as a model was not quite the same as acting, his natural advantages could compensate for that. Wang Cheng had already noticed that He Zihuan was the same sort of outstanding student as his elder brother and younger sister, someone who excelled academically and learned exceptionally quickly. According to the file, while studying his own major, He Zihuan had taken numerous other courses and achieved high marks in every one. It would be a terrible waste to let such a person languish in obscurity.
“I’ll leave He Zihuan’s training to you. I want to see results in seven days.” Wang Cheng closed the file.
“You can rely on me, Young Master Zhou. I’ll supervise him personally.” Pan Zhihai looked forward to that day. After so many years in show business, he too wanted the chance to create a superstar with his own hands.
That afternoon, Wang Cheng took the documents to Hongye Studio.
Master Paul knew he was coming and had cleared his schedule. When Wang Cheng arrived, the old gentleman was bright-eyed and full of energy, looking at him as though his eyes might begin to shine.
“My dear Wang Cheng, you’ve finally come!” Paul clasped his hand warmly. Even the wrinkles on his face seemed kinder, and the huge smile showed what an excellent mood he was in. Everyone else immediately wore exaggerated expressions of relief, as though the storm had finally passed.
Wang Cheng knew foreigners tended to be warm and demonstrative, particularly Master Paul. He had mentally prepared himself before coming. “It’s good to see you again, Master Paul.”
Paul beamed. “I’m so happy you agreed to my unreasonable request. I truly am delighted you came.”
Wang Cheng’s smile faltered. “Master Paul, I haven’t agreed yet.”
“That’s all right. I believe you will, because I’ll agree to every one of your demands.” Paul’s reply was astonishing.
“Master Paul, we can’t…” Shao Zheng was alarmed. How could the man surrender their entire bargaining position so quickly? What if Wang Cheng demanded the moon? Were they meant to accept everything? That was impossible. But he had barely opened his mouth when Paul glared at him and waved impatiently.
“Enough of your ‘we can’t.’ If I say we can, then we can.” Compared with finding a model perfectly suited to his tastes who could inspire him again, Paul considered everything else insignificant. At his age, he no longer cared about worldly possessions. He lived for himself now and did whatever pleased him.
Shao Zheng looked ready to cry.
Wang Cheng, on the other hand, felt delighted to his very core. He had never met an old gentleman so accommodating. “Then let’s begin negotiations.”
Paul frowned, seemingly about to say something.
“Of course, of course, Mr. Wang. Let’s talk in the office.” Shao Zheng hurried to interrupt. He was terrified Paul would say there was no need to negotiate and Wang Cheng should simply write down his demands. If that happened, Shao Zheng really would cry. Perhaps because he had interrupted in time, Paul said nothing further.
Even so, Wang Cheng had just been handed the equivalent of a blanket pardon. How could he fail to take full advantage? He had originally intended to show a little restraint, but if Master Paul was this generous, he might as well add a few small requests. Yazhi still had several female models hoping to enter the fashion industry. It would be even better if Paul would let them train in Milan. Shao Zheng had been hoping for a modicum of mercy, but Wang Cheng proved shamelessly bold. He kept glancing at Shao Zheng while making new demands, almost as though he wanted to see if the poor man’s expression could grow any more devastated.
Shao Zheng tried one last desperate resistance, but Paul lost patience, slammed the table, settled the matter on the spot, and dragged Wang Cheng away.