Chapter 19
?
Zong Mo almost spat a mouthful of water in Lu Bo’s face.
The world of the novel, big or small as it may be, could have people flying around every day until they were dead tired, or it could have all the main characters be one big family.
Zong Mo was silent.
Lu Bo continued, “We’re relatives who are three degrees removed, so we don’t usually interact. In terms of seniority, I’m considered his older cousin.”
Zong Mo: …
He remembered the novel mentioning that Lu Bo was not only a talented film emperor but also came from a prominent family. He was both the top star of his company and its boss.
After all, Gong #2 was already worth over ten billion. If his family background wasn’t something special, how could Lu Bo be the main gong!?
And the blood relationship, could that be the reason Ruan Chi was looking for a substitute?
However, in the novel, the main shou and the main gong didn’t look alike, and what he had seen with his own eyes confirmed this.
He couldn’t directly ask Lu Bo about the substitute trope. If the white moonlight himself found out that the infatuated male supporting character loved him but couldn’t have him, could the arrogant CEO Ruan, whose pride was higher than the sky, handle it?
Lu Bo would definitely find it ridiculous, thinking both Ruan Chi and he were ridiculous.
He might even think that he, Zong Mo, was actually interested in him and had concocted such an absurd story as an excuse to get closer.
“Although I don’t really want to admit it,” Zong Mo was speechless, so Lu Bo continued, “Ruan Chi and I are very similar in some aspects.”
Zong Mo: “Hmm?”
Lu Bo thought to himself: For example, our taste in people.
But he didn’t want to tell Zong Mo that. He only said, “For example, the coldness in our bones.”
Zong Mo was puzzled. “…Is there?”
Lu Bo might be a bit of a schemer, but he was definitely not cold. As for his CEO Ruan… he wasn’t very cold either.
But Lu Bo smiled, as if he had heard some praise.
Zong Mo: …
Lu Bo added, “And for another example, being utilitarian.”
Zong Mo: “No one dislikes money.”
Lu Bo’s smile widened. He continued, “Although I don’t really want to admit it, he does have areas where he is more outstanding than me.”
Zong Mo: ? Why is he suddenly praising CEO Ruan? It feels so strange.
Lu Bo: “I am more hypocritical than him.”
Zong Mo: “I don’t think you’re hypocritical?”
Just a bit of a schemer.
This time, Lu Bo smiled for a long while before saying, “Thank you.”
Zong Mo: …
Could it be that whatever he said would be interpreted as praise by the main gong*?*
It must be the main shou script he was holding that was causing mischief.
Perhaps sensing Zong Mo’s avoidance, Lu Bo pulled the topic back. “I know Ruan Chi quite well.”
At this point, Zong Mo didn’t want to leave at all. He really wanted to get the gossip.
Lu Bo leaned forward, his ten fingers intertwined to support his chin, seeing through everything, his smile not diminishing. “You’re very curious?”
Zong Mo subtly pressed his back against the chair. “…Mm.”
“Let’s add each other on WeChat first. We’ll talk next time,” Lu Bo suggested. “I’ll ask you out again when we’re back in City A.”
No sincerity, all schemes.
Zong Mo flatly denied, “I’m not curious!”
Lu Bo dangled the bait casually, his voice steady and as smooth as a pearl. “Mm… perhaps after you know, you’ll change your mind and come to me for help.”
Zong Mo: …
To be honest, on his first day in the book, he did have the idea of becoming the ultimate top and conquering Gongs #1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
Later, he discovered that just the originally abstinent and aloof overbearing CEO, Gong #2, was already more than he could handle.
Just as he thought of Ruan Chi, a WeChat message arrived:
[Back at the hotel yet?]
Zong Mo: …
Lu Bo also saw the screen of his phone on the table but didn’t say anything, his expression unreadable.
Zong Mo: He was so tired.
No matter how tired, he had to reply immediately: [Heading back now. I’ll let you know when I arrive.]
Zong Mo couldn’t resist the temptation and exchanged WeChat contacts with Lu Bo. He was just about to say goodbye and go back to deal with Ruan Chi. At that moment, a few customers walked straight towards them, whispering all the way, causing both of them to look over.
“Ah! It really is Lu Bo!?”
Zong Mo’s heart skipped a beat. According to the novel’s plot, this situation should lead to a scandal and a trending topic.
He almost grabbed his down jacket and ran out with his head covered. But on second thought, he was still a nobody with only a three-digit number of active fans. When the main shou had a scandal for eating with Lu Bo, he had already accumulated a mountain of negative press for his bad acting and diva behavior.
The current Zong Mo could completely disguise himself as a staff member.
Besides, what celebrity would go on a date at a roadside barbecue joint?
He suppressed the urge to run away and saw that Lu Bo on the other side was completely surrounded, while he himself was ignored.
He silently buried his head and ate a few bites of the free meat.
“Can I have an autograph, Teacher Lu?”
“Teacher Lu, my whole family are your fans!!!”
“Teacher Lu, are you filming in City L right now? Wuwuwu, this is the first time in my life I’ve seen a celebrity in person!!”
Lu Bo patiently signed autographs for a few fans and agreed to take photos, granting every request.
Zong Mo sat quietly, preparing to politely say goodbye after he was done signing.
He took a sip of water and looked up, only to see Lu Bo’s hand signing non-stop, but his gaze was fixed on him.
Zong Mo: …
Forget it. He was used to it.
But he was really curious about the story between Lu Bo and Ruan Chi.
Ever since the first day on set when An Lan couldn’t wake Zong Mo up, she had gotten a spare key card for his room.
Zong Mo had no objection, as long as the one holding his key card wasn’t Lu Bo.
An Lan never expected that this key card would come in handy on the night of the wrap party.
When she received the call to go to the hotel and open the door, she was skeptical all the way. When she saw the person, she was dumbfounded for a long time.
“Don’t tell Zong Mo, understand?”
An Lan: …
CEO Ruan had been really idle lately, and not tired of it either.
Flying to City L on the night of the wrap party, it looked like he was here to deliver a surprise.
But An Lan didn’t believe it. She felt it was more like a surprise inspection.
She called Little Wan and said nonchalantly, “Hurry Zong Mo up and have him come back to the hotel early.”
“He went out to answer a call earlier and hasn’t come back yet,” Little Wan said.
The voice, coming out of the speakerphone, was heard clearly by Ruan Chi as well.
The call Zong Mo had answered was, of course, the one he had made when he got off the plane. How long had it been since then?
Little Wan, oblivious to the speakerphone, trusted Sister An Lan completely and told her everything. “Teacher Lu took Brother Zong’s coat and went out, and he hasn’t come back yet either.”
An Lan: ?
This assistant could be fired. He only mentioned it now.
And in front of the boss??
Ruan Chi: …
He took out his phone and learned where Zong Mo was from the trending topics.
As soon as Lu Bo entered the barbecue restaurant, he was discovered by fans. A few photos were secretly taken and posted online, and before long, it was at the top of the trending list.
As expected of a film emperor, the efficiency was astonishing. It had taken Zong Mo several days just to climb to number 20 on the entertainment section’s trending list.
When Lu Bo was trending, everyone was first concerned about whether he was secretly filming a new drama, what a surprise. Fans in the same city asked where this restaurant was, wanting to follow the trail and have a chance encounter.
As for Zong Mo, no one cared.
Until an old fan of Lu Bo said: [Is the person opposite him Teacher Lu’s assistant? He looks unfamiliar.]
With the fighting power of Lu Bo’s fans, even if they only paid a little attention to Zong Mo, they could quickly strip him bare, leaving not even his underwear.
An eighteenth-tier actor was nothing.
But this eighteenth-tier actor had shot for an adult magazine!!
For such an actor to be sticking close to Teacher Lu, what could that mean?
He clearly wasn’t clean!
The reason Zong Mo could eat at the same table with Lu Bo with peace of mind was partly because Lu Bo had a clean reputation, had never been involved in any scandals, and his sexual orientation was a secret.
He was a man. How could he possibly have a scandal with Lu Bo!?
Indeed, there was no scandal, but what did spread was one-sided entanglement and uncleanly leeching off his fame.
An Lan wanted to warn Zong Mo, but she didn’t dare. Little Wan was also called back to the hotel, his face full of confusion.
“All of you, go back to your own rooms. No one is to contact Zong Mo,” Ruan Chi ordered in a deep voice.
Zong Mo couldn’t contact his assistant or his manager. He could only reluctantly let Lu Bo take him back to the hotel.
He couldn’t even pretend to be a straight man to distance himself from Lu Bo; Lu Bo already knew he had a male sponsor. And, he had even said he was willing.
Fortunately, Lu Bo didn’t cross any lines.
In the elevator, Lu Bo suddenly took out an envelope and handed it to him, saying, “A wrap party gift.”
Zong Mo: …
“Take it. You’ll need it.”
Lu Bo was dangling bait in front of him again.
The elevator just happened to arrive at the 22nd floor. Zong Mo no longer refused and took the gift. Just as he was about to turn and leave, he suddenly heard a voice from behind him—probably from the end of the corridor.
Because it was far away, the voice wasn’t loud, but he was too familiar with this voice to not hear it clearly.
“Zong Mo, what are you doing there?”
He turned his head and saw a grim-faced Ruan Chi.
Full of confusion, he hurried over. Halfway there, he glanced back and saw that Lu Bo was still holding the elevator door open, his face expressionless, his eyes slightly cold.
When he turned his head back, he found that Ruan Chi’s gaze had passed over him.
Probably looking at Lu Bo.
Zong Mo: …He had a bad feeling.
He had a flash of inspiration. He stopped a few meters away from Ruan Chi and knocked on the door in front of him.
Little Wan, who had been forcibly dragged out of the room: “Brother Zong, you…”
Zong Mo said nothing, slipped into the room in Little Wan’s place, closed the door, and locked it, all in one smooth motion.
Ruan Chi: ?
Lu Bo: …?
Zong Mo pressed his back against the door panel. No one came to bang on it or pry it open, but the unique ringtone sounded from his pocket.
On the other end of the line, Ruan Chi asked in a deep voice, “Zong Mo, may I ask what you are doing?”
This time, the interrogation even included a “may I ask,” which he had never heard before.
He sounded really angry. And Little Wan, locked out of his own room and facing the furious overbearing CEO, trembled in fear.
Zong Mo also shivered. “CEO Ruan… why are you here again?”
Ruan Chi: “Again?”
Zong Mo: …
“I didn’t mean it in a complaining way, really.”
“Heh.”
Zong Mo was still thinking about how to explain, but Ruan Chi hung up the phone first, leaving a dial tone.
Every time, he had hoped Ruan Chi would hang up early. But when his wish was truly granted, he felt an inexplicable panic.
How angry must he be to not even finish his sentence??
Author’s Note:
A certain film emperor seems to be talking about CEO Ruan, but he’s actually talking about himself (shrugs)
