Chapter 14: Reaching An Agreement
Zhuang Yu was the first to darken his face and scold: “Zhou Shiqing! Don’t stir up trouble!”
Zhou Shiqing thought he feared neither heaven nor earth, but he was actually still a bit intimidated by Zhuang Yu’s cold face.
After being warned with both name and surname, he didn’t dare confront Zhuang Yu directly and just muttered in a not-too-quiet voice: “Can’t even speak the truth. Don’t you think so too?”
Zhuang Yu looked at him coldly. Zhou Shiqing glanced at him and then turned his head away. When his line of sight passed Xuan Xia, he noticed she was looking at him, so Zhou Shiqing, who had already passed by, looked back again and playfully raised his eyebrow at Xuan Xia.
Seeing his roguish look, Zhuang Yu’s expression worsened, and he shouted his name in warning again.
Zhou Shiqing tugged at one corner of his mouth in a roguish grin and lowered his head to fiddle with his mobile phone.
“Sorry about that, Brother Ji.” Zhuang Yu softened his expression and looked back at Ji Ziyao with a face full of apology.
Ji Ziyao felt a tingling in his heart, but on the surface, while accepting Zhuang Yu’s apology, he also had to make excuses for Zhou Shiqing.
Seeing Ji Ziyao’s fawning look, Xuan Xia understood. It turned out that Zhou Shiqing and Ji Ziyao had prior grievances, and now she was innocently involved as the fish in the pond.
However, no matter how she looked at Zhou Shiqing, he was overflowing with bratty kid vibes. He must have never been properly beaten.
After he gets properly beaten in the future, it should cure him.
“Alright, alright, you can talk while sitting, so why stand? Everyone, take your seats quickly.” Chu Yan timely spoke up to defuse the situation.
She then specifically called out to Xuan Xia: “Little girl, you’re called Xuan Xia, right? Come, sit quickly, over here.”
She designated the seat next to Zhuang Yu for Xuan Xia.
“Okay, Sister Yan.” Xuan Xia politely replied and then sat down gracefully.
Ji Ziyao also followed and sat on Zhuang Yu’s side.
With everyone present, Chu Yan notified the server that they could serve the dishes.
While the dishes were being served, Chu Yan chatted idly with Ji Ziyao while openly sizing up Xuan Xia.
Xuan Xia was so used to being sized up that as long as it wasn’t offensively intrusive, it didn’t affect her.
Once Chu Yan had looked her over enough, she steered the topic to Xuan Xia. “So Xiao Ji, you’re planning to push Xuan Xia onto the program?”
Ji Ziyao nodded with a smile: “I’ll have to ask Sister Yan to take good care of our Xuan Xia.”
Before Chu Yan could respond, the brat jumped in first to grab the words: “No, Sister Yan, do you really think this blockhead can partner with me? With us partnering, will there be any ratings? Sister Yan, don’t ruin your reputation on me.”
Ji Ziyao: “…”
Zhuang Yu: “…”
These two both looked like they really wanted to beat Zhou Shiqing up.
Xuan Xia, who had been referred to left as vase and right as blockhead, was instead the calmest one.
Chu Yan couldn’t help but give Zhou Shiqing a sideways glare and said irritably: “Then I refuse to believe it. If you cooperate properly, how could my reputation be ruined?”
Zhou Shiqing showed a deflated expression.
After venting about Zhou Shiqing, Chu Yan turned to Xuan Xia and said reassuringly: “I think Xuan Xia is great. To speak bluntly without fear of offense, Xuan Xia is the prettiest among the female guests we’ve selected. Such a beautiful girl partnering with you, and you’re still not satisfied, Shiqing?”
Xuan Xia, who had been quietly playing the role of a wooden vase, humbly chimed in at the right moment: “Thank you, Sister Yan, for the compliment.”
Then continue staying out of it, low-key being her wooden log and vase.
Zhou Shiqing: “……”
He hesitated for a moment, then Zhou Shiqing chose to skip Chu Yan and directly asked Zhuang Yu: “Boss, what do you think?”
Today, the two of them were eating with Chu Yan, precisely to chat with Chu Yan again about the partner selection.
They had known Chu Yan for quite some time and were clear about her character and way of handling things. They had no objections to Chu Yan asking Ji Ziyao to promote her.
But Ji Ziyao should at least arrange someone reliable, right? How could he just push a newcomer who just signed a contract now?!
What does this mean? Isn’t this just deciding to use his Zhou Shiqing’s fame, or even their group’s fame, to help Brother Ji promote a newcomer? Treating him Zhou Shiqing and their group as voluntary blood donors who are big blood bags!?
He was already unhappy about being forced onto the program, and now thinking about having to be a stepping stone for a little newcomer made Zhou Shiqing’s mood even worse.
Even if this little newcomer was indeed a beauty, Zhou Shiqing still couldn’t get past the hurdle in his heart named “feeling stifled”.
Zhuang Yu, who had been kicked the hot potato, naturally also became the focus.
Facing the attention from Chu Yan and Ji Ziyao, Zhuang Yu spoke unhurriedly, “Why are you asking me? Do I know more than Sister Yan? Besides, with Sister Yan’s care for you, do you really need to worry about all that mess?”
Zhuang Yu’s most eloquent words made Chu Yan sigh involuntarily: “If Shiqing could speak half as well as you, that would be great. Your group is entirely propped up by you.”
In the industry, whenever Zhuang Yu is mentioned, he’s always jokingly called their group’s nanny dad. Even agents can’t compare to him.
Zhuang Yu smiled.
But Zhou Shiqing was unhappy again, only feeling that Zhuang Yu didn’t care at all just to sell him out.
He cursed inwardly: Zhuang Yu, you bastard!
Chu Yan glanced again at Zhou Shiqing, who wasn’t hiding his emotions, then shifted her gaze. “Xiao Ji, tell us your thoughts on this side.”
Now the microphone was passed to Ji Ziyao again.
No matter how obtuse Ji Ziyao was, he should have figured out what play this was.
Besides, he’s not really that obtuse.
Ji Ziyao smiled, carefully choosing his words to make his attitude clear, “Sister Yan giving me this cooperation opportunity, I really cherish it. Of course, I also don’t want the cooperation opportunity to be just this once; I hope Sister Yan will give more opportunities in the future.”
“What you’re saying. We’ve known each other for so long; if I have a suitable project, how could I not introduce it to you?” Chu Yan said this, but satisfaction was already evident in her eyes.
“Just right, everyone’s here. You two sides discuss the specific matters first, so I can take notes and add them to the contract later.” With that, Chu Yan pulled out a tablet and stylus from her carry-on bag, already ready to record.
With Chu Yan presiding over the proceedings, the two parties quickly reached an agreement.
In summary, it was simple: beyond the program cooperation, no bundling, no hyping CP.
If during the program period, one party discovers the other violating the agreement, such as privately issuing a press release for bundling hype or similar situations, the other party has the right to terminate the cooperation and hold them accountable.
Although this “other party” wasn’t specifically named, everyone present knew it was targeted solely at Ji Ziyao’s side.
……
Two hours later, the meal finally ended.
Before parting, Chu Yan announced to both sides: “If no issues, prepare to shoot promotional photos next week. I’ll notify the specific time once confirmed, but barring surprises, it’ll be next week.”
Both sides knew what was up.
Of course, mainly Zhou Shiqing’s side knew; they’d need to adjust the schedule then.
After the socializing ended and people dispersed, Ji Ziyao, who had been smiling warmly one second before, the next second slumped, unable to squeeze out even a trace of a smile.
Looking at Xuan Xia beside him, who had eaten her fill, acted as a vase throughout without any sense of participation, Ji Ziyao inexplicably felt a bit envious.
“Younger sister, right now I really hope what you read for me before was real.”
He’ll take off in the next year!
Xuan Xia understood his mood and comforted him: “Yeah. It will. In the future, it definitely won’t be like today, acting all subservient.”
It was Xuan Xia’s first time facing such a scene, and she felt she had gained a lot.
She also deeply felt that Ji Ziyao absolutely must take off in his career as his facial features indicated. No dragging his feet!
Ji Ziyao: “…”
If she weren’t his younger sister, he really couldn’t forgive her for saying such things.
