CH 13

A “Do Not Disturb” sign was posted on the door.

However, inside, the clanging and banging sounds of things falling to the ground continued.

Agent Bai Yuji stood guard at the door, preventing outsiders from approaching the lounge. But as he thought about his cousin Bai Huaiyu’s irritable nature, always causing a ruckus when things didn’t go his way, he impatiently lit a cigarette to ease his frustration.

Bai Yuji was a peripheral reletive of the Bai family, originally making a decent living in the entertainment industry as a renowned top-tier manager. However, due to the family’s command, he became Bai Huaiyu’s manager. This cousin of his was not easily fooled—sensitive, jealous, narrow-minded, and excessively gloomy. Despite his seemingly gentle and smiling demeanor, Bai Yuji, as a distant cousin, sometimes found him chillingly sinister.

Although Bai Huaiyu had restrained himself outwardly under Bai Yuji’s guidance as his agent, whenever someone obstructed his path or angered him, he would resort to his peculiar methods. If it was just a matter of driving people away, it would be tolerable. But occasionally, unexpected situations arose, and Bai Yuji had lost count of how many messes he had cleaned up for his cousin.

Bai Yuji sighed with mixed emotions. Initially, he had entered the entertainment industry by leveraging the family’s influence, and now, he was repaying that debt by accepting his cousin as his artist and focusing on supporting him.

Fortunately, Bai Huaiyu had managed to establish connections with influential individuals through his special methods, which made the Bai family pay even more attention to him. At least in terms of resources, they would not mistreat him. Originally, they had planned to let Bai Huaiyu audition for a historical drama directed by a renowned director, where various A-list actors and actresses would gather. As an agent, Bai Yuji had specifically chosen a supporting male role that didn’t require much acting skills and would please the audience.

Unexpectedly, his cousin Bai Huaiyu, impulsive as ever, insisted on snatching the lead role in a small production. If it weren’t for Bai Yuji’s consideration of how “This Star Is Named for You” aligned with the preferences of the young audience and the recent popularity of esports-themed content, he wouldn’t have agreed to let Bai Huaiyu compete for such a minor character, even accepting negative remuneration.

But, the role that Bai Huaiyu was planning on snatching ended up being signed by a newcomer named Si Huaixi, who unexpectedly made headlines twice. This already surprised the industry insiders.

A rookie who had just entered the industry without any notable works, recently considered a mediocre star suddenly generated far more buzz on social media than some overhyped but unpopular celebrities.

Bai Yuji’s eyes darkened with a hint of intrigue as he took a few puffs of his cigarette, casually pressing it against the wall to extinguish it.

— What a waste. Such exceptional potential could have ignited his ambition. If he were in Bai Yuji’s hands, he would undoubtedly shine and become a sensation. But now, following Bai Huaiyu’s temperament, Si Huaixi would be suppressed and driven out of the entertainment industry.

Hearing a momentary pause in the commotion inside, Bai Yuji tapped on the door and said, “Huaiyu, I’m coming in.”

Bai Huaiyu’s tone was still sour, but Bai Yuji was not a stranger. He mumbled, “Come in.”

Glancing around to ensure no one was passing by, Bai Yuji calmly pushed open the door and promptly closed it behind him.

As expected, the floor was littered with shattered objects. Bai Huaiyu sat breathlessly on a chair, seemingly exhausted.

Bai Yuji refrained from approaching the pile of debris, so as not to get anything stuck to his shoes. He maintained a distance and said, “Since you’ve vented your frustration, I’ll have your assistant clean up later.”

Bai Huaiyu responded irritably, but Bai Yuji paid little attention and went straight to the point. With a serious gaze, he said, “What did you say to the assistant Xiao Li from the production crew? Someone informed me that you’ve been getting close to Xiao Li, and when he returned to the set, he started acting strangely.”

A flicker of anger flashed in Bai Huaiyu’s eyes. “Are you having someone spy on me?!”

Bai Yuji replied, “It’s the family’s decision. You can’t always rely on me to clean up your mess every time something happens. If you ever get exposed, the Bai family wouldn’t be so accommodating.”

Bai Huaiyu unwillingly bit his lip. Bai Yuji was not only his agent but also the one overseeing him on behalf of the Bai family. Normally, Bai Yuji allowed him to act recklessly, but if it involved matters concerning the Bai family, he wouldn’t be able to enjoy the extravagant life of a young master.

Bai Huaiyu turned his face away and said reluctantly, “Don’t worry, that assistant Xiao Li is just a low-level Beta who was easily influenced by my pheromones. Now, he obediently follows my commands, and nothing will go wrong. I’ll shift all the blame onto him when the time comes.”

Bai Yuji furrowed his brows and pondered for a moment. “You want to deal with Si Huaixi, don’t you?”

At the mention of Si Huaixi, Bai Huaiyu grew furious and glared coldly at Bai Yuji. “It’s all because you didn’t handle it properly! You let that trashy extra come and act in the same scene as me. Do you have any idea how displeased Director Lin was with me today? He even called off my scenes and openly praised Si Huaixi! I can’t swallow this!”

Bai Yuji, as the agent, had also witnessed the situation his younger cousin, Bai Huaiyu, mentioned. Indeed, during filming, Si Huaixi’s imposing and arrogant bully image overshadowed Bai Huaiyu. At first glance, Si Huaixi seemed more like the male lead.

Bai Huaiyu did have some talent in acting, but his heart wasn’t fully dedicated to it. He became an artist solely to enhance his reputation and attract influential individuals.

This was not only the perception of the Bai family but also Bai Huaiyu’s own mindset.

Bai Yuji, being a top-tier agent with extensive connections in the industry, saw that Bai Huaiyu aimed for quick success without refining his acting skills, he himself and the Bai family wouldn’t bother with it either. So, he arranged some schedules to rapidly boost Bai Huaiyu’s popularity. It would benefit himself, the Bai family, and his younger cousin Bai Huaiyu.

Little did they anticipate the unexpected arrival of Si Huaixi, whose face seemed to possess the qualities of a protagonist, regardless of the role he played. Si Huaixi possessed the appearance that everyone in the entertainment industry could only wish for.

Bai Yuji was at a loss and said, “So, what do you want me to do? I can’t just kick him out. Both Star Entertainment and Blue Airlines’ CEOs have gone mad or something, becoming the biggest investors in this drama. The Bai family holds little influence in the entertainment industry. Moreover, there’s a possibility of collaborating with the recently popular game, ‘Star River Battlefield.’ If you become the lead character in the drama and then become the spokesperson for the game, it’ll be difficult not to become a sensation!”

Bai Huaiyu’s face darkened. “No, I can’t tolerate Si Huaixi stealing my limelight in the drama.”

Bai Yuji’s expression turned stern as he warned, “Ever since your debut, there have been a series of conspicuous incidents. You’ve caused minor injuries to several celebrities on various drama sets. Eventually, people will start suspecting that you’re behind it. Moreover, recently, for that variety show ‘Yearning for the Planet,’ you instigated one of the staff members around Ju Suxin, resulting in her arm getting injured and the shoot being canceled. Who can guarantee that nobody noticed when you instigated that person?”

A hint of jealousy flashed in Bai Huaiyu’s clear almond-shaped eyes. “So, are you just going to let Si Huaixi obstruct my path?”

Bai Yuji grew tired of his stubborn cousin and spoke in a gentle tone. “Si Huaixi only has a minor antagonist supporting role in this drama. You don’t need to pay too much attention to him. Once the drama is completed, I’ll bribe the editor to reduce his screen time. Then, nobody will discuss a minor supporting character with limited scenes.”

After Bai Yuji repeatedly advised him, Bai Huaiyu reluctantly nodded with a frown.

However, once Bai Yuji left the room, Bai Huaiyu suddenly sneered, his gaze mocking his cousin’s retreating figure.

“What’s the use of such a useless agent?”

Fixing his gaze on a certain name displayed on the phone, he immediately dialed the number.

Bai Huaiyu’s beautiful face bloomed with a sweet smile, as innocent as a white lotus flower, as he spoke in a sugary tone, “Brother Shen, how’s our previous discussion going? Would your agent, Zhong Hong, be willing to manage me?”

Upon receiving Bai Huaiyu’s call, Shen Modong’s icy-cold eyes instantly melted, resembling the gentle gaze of a serene snow-capped mountain spring. It was a sight that would astonish all of his fans.

After all, Shen Modong was a renowned young film emperor in the entertainment industry. Within a few short years, he had received numerous awards. Usually wearing a frosty expression, he appeared aloof and ignored everyone around him, except for his profound dedication to acting, which reached an obsessive level. Anything else was simply beneath his notice.

However, he has the capital to be arrogant. His acting skills are top-notch within the industry, except for a few veteran actors who can surpass him. Shen Modong is undoubtedly a talented young actor of the new generation.

In terms of family background, Shen Modong is the third young master of the Shen family. The Shen family occupies one of the most expensive interstellar transportation routes in the empire. The annual fees paid to the Imperial Tax Bureau alone amount to a fortune, not to mention the fact that the Shen family also owns its own transport fleet and resource planets. Regardless of ranking, the Shen family is always among the top of the empire’s rich list, surpassing even the Bai family in status.

Being the third young master of the Shen family, Shen Modong can basically choose any script in the entertainment industry at will.

Yet, this proud young film emperor has a soft spot for an Omega from a lesser-known aristocratic family. Speaking through the phone, his voice towards Bai Huaiyu is gentle, as if he’s afraid of startling the worried and delicate Omega youth on the other end.

Zhong Hong, Shen Modong’s manager, is going crazy!

After putting down the phone, Shen Modong’s sweet smile hasn’t faded as he looks at his manager with a determined gaze. “Zhong Hong, what have you considered? Huaiyu is a gentle and kind Omega. If you can manage him, it would be beneficial for both of us.”

Zhong Hong is a tough businesswoman who doesn’t easily yield. She personally took Shen Modong under her wing in the beginning because she recognized his acting talent. Otherwise, as the vice president of the company with shares and once hailed as the industry’s legendary ‘money-making hand,’ why would she come out of retirement to manage him?

Now, an Omega from a small aristocratic family casually comes expecting her to manage him!

Hmph!

Is he worthy?

Doesn’t he know that she can easily make or lose millions of star coins?

And who knows what kind of love potion Bai Huaiyu, that scheming white lotus, has used in Shen Modong? It made him obsessed with Bai Huaiyu ever since he returned from a variety show, to the point of lowering his own status and willingly engaging in a CP (couple pairing) with this manipulative green tea bitch!

This is going too far!

For this matter, she doesn’t know how much effort she has put into soothing the fan club, explaining that Shen Modong and Bai Huaiyu are not in a romantic relationship, just friends. As for their mutual interactions and greetings on Weibo, they are just greetings between friends!

Even that green tea bitch who flirts with Alphas everywhere knows it cannot be made public. Otherwise, what would happen to his numerous intimate Alpha ‘friends’? So, on Weibo, he casually mentioned their ‘friend’ status.

And her carefully cultivated little cabbage, ‘Shen Modong,’ was heartbroken for a long time because of this, even feeling melancholic during filming!

Zhong Hong is feeling extremely restless in her heart!

Looking at the small cabbage with arms sticking out, Zhong Hong rolled her eyes and said fiercely, “Dream on! I won’t have that Bai Huaiyu as my junior. He has no acting skills, his talent for singing and dancing is average at best, and his only notable trait is his knack for publicity stunts! If he becomes your junior, it’s like inviting a vampire bat to cling onto you and suck your blood like crazy!”

Shen Modong furrowed his cold brows and retorted, “Huaiyu wouldn’t do such a thing. He is a kind and gentle Omega.”

Zhong Hong gave a cold glance at her own artist who had somehow turned into a foolish cabbage, feeling annoyed deep down.

If she didn’t use some tricks to get rid of this Bai Huaiyu, it could be considered her being remarkably tolerant!

This Bai Huaiyu carried a hint of evilness, and wherever he went, Alphas were infatuated with him. Moreover, many of his opportunities in the entertainment industry were unexpectedly obtained, often resulting in the unjustified injuries of those who were replaced.

Zhong Hong would never allow such a person to get close to Shen Modong. She coldly stated, “Don’t overthink it. Prepare yourself for Director Dong’s upcoming film. If Bai Huaiyu is capable enough, he will naturally climb to your level, and then I won’t be able to stop him.”

Shen Modong’s eyes flashed with unwillingness, but he refrained from saying more. When it came to acting, he always maintained a serious and diligent attitude, never relaxing his standards.

Polaris Restaurant.

Zhou Wenjia happened to be discussing a fairly famous actor with Si Huaixi and said, “Do you know Shen Modong? If you can reach his level, it would be considered the pinnacle of the entertainment industry. You’d make a fortune no matter what kind of film you make. Unfortunately, he’s not from our company. Sob, sob, sob…”

Si Huaixi’s eyes shimmered slightly as he nodded, indicating his understanding.

— Shen Modong, one of the five main characters in the novel “Interstellar Heartthrob,” is the greatest support in the entertainment industry for the protagonist, Bai Huaiyu. He has put in a great deal of effort for the protagonist, even willingly giving up important movie resources, contributing significantly to the protagonist’s rise to fame.