NGSB Chapter 6

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Chapter 6

Ji Chengshu drove a Buick LaCrosse on the highway before turning right to an exit ramp leading to the CX Entertainment dormitories. Including his newest charge Lin Xi, he now managed a total of four artists. Two of them had long risen in the ranks of show business, while the third was showing brilliant promise. He didn’t need to fret about any of them, so the last six months had felt more like a vacation. There was nothing to do all day, so he had been considering nurturing another Heavenly King again.

Coincidentally, He Shushan had suddenly contacted him a few days ago to introduce a good seedling. Celestial Fairy Lin was a name he’d heard of in the past. He’d once wondered how Pan Lun had signed on such a good prospect, but later rejoiced when it turned out the boy was just a vexing vase. Out of respect for their relationship, he had agreed to sign a simple contract with Lin Xi to show him face, but the singer had actually gotten a so-called hegemon contract from the president. The terms in the contract favored not CX Entertainment, but Lin Xi. It was only for two years, and the penalty for early termination just 1,000,000 yuan. The artist was to act in at least two projects a year with profits split 20-80. That’s right, the company would get 20 percent while Lin Xi took in 80.

It was simply raising someone for free! Not only would they feed and clothe him, but deliver scripts to his door and beg him to accept them! Ji Chengshu had his doubts, but when he recalled how He Shuang was once a singer under Pan Lun, he seemed to make the connection. Most likely the man was doing something for the dead Qi Wenyuan by placing all his thoughts and care onto Lin Xi instead.

Fortunately, the youngster wasn’t as terrible as he’d feared. At least he managed to score a role in Director Li’s project. After spending a day together, he didn’t seem like the type to make trouble, either. As Ji Chengshu exhaled in relief, he recalled his goal to craft another Heavenly King. Warm sunlight greeted his car before he pass through the entry guards for the company sponsored condominiums.

He can be it.

It would be very satisfying to guide the entertainment circle’s Number One Vase onto the foremost throne in show business. As Ji Chengshu’s car rounded the curve to Lin Xi’s building, he spotted the youth waiting quietly while staring at the grass. It was difficult to park by the entrance, so Ji Chengshu stopped his car at the curve and walked over to his charge.

The so-called Celestial Fairy was dressed in a black suit with form-fitting pants that made him look especially frail and thin. His light black shirt was buttoned all the way to the top, contrasting sharply with the smooth white skin of his neck. The first rays of the morning sunshine rested upon his hair.

“Lin Xi,” Ji Chengshu raised his voice.

Lin Xi abruptly returned to his senses and shifted his gaze to look over. His lips were as bright as a flower petal as he smiled, new life coming into his eyes. As he walked over, he resembled the sun itself: gentle, warm, and peaceful. It was a slightly different image from his looks yesterday.

An uncut jade in exile, tempered into gold.

For some reason, the idiom rose unbidden in Ji Chengshu’s head.

“Ji Chengshu?” Lin Xi asked as he caught his dazed expression. He knew his face was to blame, but he had no choice but to snap the man out of it.

Ji Chengshu immediately recovered as a faint sheen of sweat dotted his forehead. He brought out the single white rose he’d bought from a florist on the way and handed it to Lin Xi. “You have to treat today’s funeral service seriously. Qi Wenyuan was your senior under the same agent. I’ve already prepared your gift, so you just have to put this flower in front of Qi Wenyua’s coffin later.”

Lin Xi gave a start at the sight of the white rose, but quickly hid his expression. He quietly accepted the stem full of thorns before snapping it two inches from the blossom. Then he carefully pried off the remaining thorns and tossed them aside. Ji Chengshu watched as Lin Xi finished cleaning up the flower and stuck it in his breast pocket. He looked up with a smile and said, “Let’s go.”

Qi Wenyuan’s funeral service was being held in a private assembly hall in the suburban district of B City. The three-story tall building was made of cyan-colored bricks and had a long hallway lined with steel pillars. The design was simple but expansive, from Germany’s modern Bauhus style. However, the limestone used to build up parts of the structure gave it the charm and nostalgia of the southern water cities. Lin Xi followed Ji Chengshu off the car before seeing a parking lot teeming with vehicles. The two of them followed the crowds into the front door.

“You have to watch what you say here,” Ji Chengshu murmured by Lin Xi’s ear.

Naturally, Lin Xi understood. He nodded and pretended to carelessly skim the crowd. Both of them signed their names in the guestbook before walking towards the main hall.

“Old Ji.” A low voice suddenly sounded from behind them. Lin Xi turned around and widened his eyes at the sight before suppressing his surprise.

Ji Chengshu was stunned as well, but he quickly asked, “Zhu Qing, why did you come too?”

Zhu Qing arched a brow unhappily. “What, can’t I come?” His gaze rested on Lin Xi next, a little surprised.

Ji Chengshu noticed this and simply introduced them. “This is Lin Xi. I just signed him on the day before yesterday. In the future, he’ll be part of CX with us. Help him out in the future.”

Zhu Qing now gave Lin Xi his full attention, a hint of mirth in his eyes. “So it’s a junior brother. I’m Zhu Qing. If there’s a chance in the future, let’s work together.”

There was a custom in the entertainment circles–kings avoided kings.

Lin Xi had worked with many people in his past life. Before he became famous, he played supporting roles, walk-on extras. Afterwards, it was nothing but lead roles. At that time, all of the leading actors were considered international and Hollywood tier Heavenly King stars.

As for Zhu Qing…

He was one of Ji Chengshu’s artists. When he first debuted, Lin Xi as Qi Wenyuan had already earned the title as Emperor of the Silver Screen. The two of them didn’t get to work together then, and Zhu Qing earned his way into the A-lists two years later before earning Emperor of the Silver Screen two years after that. From then on, Heavenly King Zhu and Heavenly King Qi became the two big names for CX and Tianyu, respectively. They didn’t even have time to chat, much less work together on the same projects. Every time they went to awards shows or evening parties, they tried to avoid each other. If he thought back, the last time they’d spoke was three years ago.

But he and Zhu Qing didn’t hold any personal grudges. The so called “kings avoided kings” was simply mediaplay employed by their companies on purpose. Lin Xi laughed inwardly at the thought, before meeting Zhu Qing’s eyes with a slight bow. His voice was modest and sincere as he spoke. “Hello, senior. Please take care of me in the future.”

After shooting so many projects and sweeping his way through show business for all these years, Zhu Qing had seen his share of lookers and thought he’d gotten over their charms already. But meeting the fabled “Celestial Fairy Lin” in person still dazed him. He felt even more favorable when the other treated him with humbleness and respect.

“I’ve been shooting a project recently, so Old Ji can take you to the set for learning experience,” Zhu Qing said helpfully before his mind caught up with his mouth.

Ji Chengshu wasn’t sure why Zhu Qing was being so generous until he caught sight of the man’s expression. As expected, this society only places worth of looks, ah.

Lin Xi never expected Zhu Qing to be so easygoing, but he was happy for the chance to see him on set. He didn’t hide the excitement on his face, but spoke like a happy, dumbfounded child. “Thank you, senior. I’ll definitely go.”

Zhu Qing nodded, and the three of them continued towards the main hall. The main doors were already open, as well two side entrances to allow the stream of guests passage. After passing through the three-meter tall doorway made of ironwood, the first thing they saw was black coffin resting in the center of the room on a one foot-tall stand. Two strips of pure white satin decorated the coffin from head to toe while forming a flower at the front. Both sides of the coffin were bordered with tiny white chrysanthemums trailing down to the floor. At the front of all this rested a 20-inch black and white photo of the deceased in a black wooden frame. The man in the picture was handsome with straight eyebrows that arched upwards and out. His eyes sparkled like stars while he smiled brightly at the viewer. Because of the monotone hues, the picture looked rather sorrowful.

Ji Chengshu sighed. “I never expected Qi Wenyuan to leave like that, aye.”

Zhu Qing lowered his voice as well, filled with regret. “It really is a pity.”

Lin Xi followed behind them with a calm face. His eyes shifted past the photograph to the closed coffin beyond it. He was a bit curious about his body, because it couldn’t be intact after suffering a 33-story fall. Who knew if it was actually in the coffin at all?

“Please restrain your grief.”[1]

“Thank you.”

The sound of a familiar voice caused Lin Xi to turn away from the flowers and towards the man at the head of the crowds, Pan Lun. He looked pale today, dressed in a black mourning suit and with his hair more disheveled than usual. His face was filled with exhaustion and grief, while dark circles framed his eyes. It made his complexion look extremely unwell.

Ji Chengshu approached him to shake hands. “President Pan, please restrain your grief.”

Pan Lun’s face flashed with a second of loathing before he hid the expression. Ji Chengshu didn’t notice because he was looking down, but Lin Xi observed it all coldly. The president of Tianyu Entertainment simply replied with a hoarse voice, “Thank you.”

Ji Chengshu next walked to the coffin before placing the white daisies in his hand in front of the photo and drawing away. Lin Xi quirked his lips before walking forward for his turn. At the sight of Pan Lun’s outstretched hand, he smiled inwardly and adopted an expression of abject grief as he took the hand. Then he bent forwards to murmur into his ear, “President Pan. Please. Restrain. Your. Grief.”

Irritation had already flared up in Pan Lun’s heart at the sight of Lin Xi, but he couldn’t flip out here. He only nodded and said, “Thank you.”

Lin Xi gave a soft chuckle by his ear before releasing him to head for the familiar photograph. He reached out to take the white rose from his breast pocket and placed it right in front of the photograph, at the center. Pan Lun’s expression shifted at the sight. When he looked up again, it was to see Lin Xi wiping the hand that had shook his with a handkerchief, as if he’d just touched something unclean. Although Pan Lun knew Lin Xi had a severe case of mysophobia, he was still annoyed by the sight. I knew I shouldn’t have released him so easily. He was simply looting a burning house when he requested his contract be cancelled!

Lin Xi didn’t care. He ignored Pan Lun utterly to head for Ji Chengshu. Zhu Qing had already left, so he was the only one waiting for Lin Xi.

“Why did Pan Lun’s expression look off just then? Did he say something to you?” Ji Chengshu knitted his brows.

Lin Xi smiled and shook his head before he mocked, “Nah, he’s probably too overcome with grief to think straight.”

Ji Chengshu agreed. “Tianyu people are all the same.” When he recalled the man before him had hailed from the same company, he added, “If he tries to find trouble for you in the future, tell Shushan. He can report it to the chairman.”

Lin Xi’s smiled dropped as he stood silently to the side. After a while, he suddenly heard someone shout out a name from the sign-in desk. Ji Chengshu and Lin Xi exchanged glances before sighing together. Pan Lun gave a start at the name too. He gave the task of greeting guests to an assistant before personally going to welcome the guest. It was rare for He Shushan to be dressed all in black. He walked slowly into the hall, his small face looking more emaciated because he’d grown thinner. The empty hollows in his cheeks made for a wan and sallow sight.

Pan Lun approached him and said, “Shushan, are you alright?”

He Shushan took off his large, dark sunglasses to reveal a pair of red, bloodshot eyes. They were still watering as he looked at Pan Lun expressionlessly. “President Pan, were all the reports in the magazines true?”

Hearing this, everyone’s ears perked up. Many reporters failed to hide the joy on their faces at a potential scoop as they turned on their recorders for Pan Lun’s answer. His face had shifted, but he managed a bitter smile and said, “Mm, I never expected Qi Wenyuan to be like that, either…”

He Shushan fell silent before he said, “If it’s true, then I apologize to you in A’Yuan’s place.” Abruptly, he bent forward to make a 90 degree bow.

President Pan immediately helped him up. “No…no need. It, it was me who did Qi Wenyuan wrong.”

He Shushan looked calmly at Pan Lun before he continued. “If it’s false, then I’ll definitely uncover the truth and restore A’Yuan’s innocence.” There was no expression on his ashen face, nor change in that flat tone. After a long time had passed, he finally wrenched his eyes away to head for the coffin, leaving a frozen Pan Lun in his wake.

He Shushan was holding a bouquet of white roses in his hands, which he left in front of the photograph. When he saw the single white rose already resting there in the center, he gave a start, but remained silent. His gaze lingered on the familiar smile in the photo as he grew more mournful from the sight.

Then he spun on his heel and resolved to leave. As he moved to stand next to Ji Chengshu and Lin Xi, they caught his reddened eyes. Lin Xi dug his nails into the palms of his hands as he grit his jaw to keep quiet. How did Shushan get so skinny? Just how has he been spending the past few days?

Two days ago, He Shushan only looked a little thin, but now he’d changed so much. He could sense the frail frame beneath the clothes just from feeling him pass by. Lin Xi bit down on his lip so hard that he tasted blood in his mouth. Why didn’t I tell Shushan about my reincarnation? Don’t I trust him?

“I’ll go back first,” a hoarse voice rose from his side. Lin Xi gave a start before turning to see He Shushan had put on his sunglasses again to stride out of the funeral hall. Filled with self-blame, Lin Xi immediately went to chase after him. He’d hardly left the main hall when he suddenly heard the cries of the people behind him from the entrance.

“Ou…Ou Nuo![2]”

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Translator’s Note: There’s a teaser for chapter 7 if you click on “Next Chapter!” I’ll try to do them as long as I have time, lol~

༺ Chapter Glossary ༻

[1] please restrain your grief (节哀) – jie ai, a standard term to express sympathy, the Chinese equivalent of “my condolences.”

[2] Ou Nuo (欧诺) – Ou is a surname that’s an old variant of a similar Ou that means “to sing, ballad.” Nuo means “consent, promise.”