RALP Chapter 21

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You Haoyu yells out before thinking after the fact that he was getting irrational. This man’s brain is already wired up wrongly from the beginning, saying something like the ‘parallel universe hypothesis’ like he’s serious. He really shouldn’t take it so personally.

He scrubs his face and calms down, saying, “… sorry,” and no matter what he has helped him out a lot both today and otherwise, “I’ll be borrowing the room for the night; I’ll leave first thing in the morning.”

He is about to turn around and go back to the guest room when he hears another question, “did you leave Today to pursue an acting career.”

You Haoyu pauses before turning his head around to ask, “what makes you think that.”

Du You is looking at him as he says, “because you like acting.”

“…”

You Haoyu is speechless for a second before rubbing his hair in frustration, “didn’t you see those news online?”

“I did.”

“Then why would you think that someone like me can still be an actor?”

Du You doesn’t seem to get it, “those news were not the whole truth. So why not tell them the truth?”

“Because of the cost effectiveness,” You Haoyu knits his brows, “I have irreconcilable differences with the management of the company, so they’ve wanted to kick me out for a long time now, while also using that to help cement the popularity of the rest of the band some more.”

“So are you quitting the entertainment industry?”

“I…” You Haoyu then reacts as he is about to say more, “are you a reporter? So many questions.”

“I want to see you act some more.”

You Haoyu is stunned suddenly hearing that.”

“Can you stay?”

This is the first time You Haoyu has heard someone say something like that to him.

A few moments later, he collects himself, and lowers his gaze. As if embarrassed, he even blocks his face with his hand, “you, like, why should I just stay because of something someone like you said.”

Then, he grips his fist tightly in his other hand, “I’ve already given up.”

Du You is disappointed, “why – is it the materials online, or the penalties?”

You Haoyu does not reply.

A fresh meat like him without any known connections will only ever be the manipulated in the entertainment industry. With that personality of his, even if it weren’t Crown Entertainment he ended up in, any company would have retired him for breaking character sooner or later.

He really didn’t care what strangers thought of him in this incident. He just, doesn’t want to go home, and face that pompous, disdainful attitude that father of his has towards him.

He can still remember what his father actually said to him, at just age seven.

“I’ve said you are not cut out to be an actor.”

“Such childish and unsightly acting. Careful you don’t fall crashing down having become so proud just from some courteous praises.”

“I won’t let you into the entertainment industry. As long as you are in this family, you must obey my every word.”

…

His father’s call this morning, he didn’t pick up; then, he got a message instead.

[Shameful. It was on your grandfather’s persuasion that I permitted you to try it out in the entertainment industry. Now look at this laughable form of yours. Thank the Heavens nobody knows you are my son. Come back, right now.]

It’s so irritating it makes his skin tingle.

“Perhaps that’s a part of it,” slowly, You Haoyu confides in him, “it was already an unequal contract I had to sign when I debuted at the conclusion of the talent show. Most of the money ended up in the company’s pockets. So I myself couldn’t afford to pay back the penalties.”

“That said,” he looks at Du You, “hearing something like that from you at the very end… Thanks. I mean it.”

With a light ‘thump,’ the door of the guest room closes.

Du You seems to be in thought seeing You Haoyu disappear into his room.

The guy is average at both singing and dancing, but that acting skill of his, could it be…

[System, the world where You Haoyu is from, is it related to the entertainment industry and being a movie star?]

The system is whistling [Huh? I’m not telling you.]

Du You sighs.

Nevermind. He should just find a way to steal Xiao Tiantian’s system.

The system goes into a panic [Wait, host!]

It has delayed and delayed but it still spilled the beans in the end.

One protagonist of a certain novel’s world really did have the same name as You Haoyu, but that person was not an idol, but an actor.

The novel’s name is, ‘Nobody Singer Gets Involved with the Bossy Movie Star; All the CP Fans Scream Out – I Can.’

What a long name.

“Right, I’m preparing to go back. I’ve booked the tickets already.”

In his hotel, You Haoyu is leaning beside the window, having a phone call.

“I haven’t told father yet. I will tell him that in person…”

The person on the other side of the call then said something in response.

“I understand. Thanks, grandpa.”

He finishes the call as he takes a look outside the window and narrows his eyes. It is quite a sunny day, the sky is clear and the air fresh. It is as if the sky has been cleansed from the rain.

The night he stayed at Du You’s place, he couldn’t sleep at all. He only realised a new day has dawned when the rays of light from the rising sun have started pouring in.

Not that he was lost about his future——He’s already made up his mind long before that. At worst he might just feel a bit bitter actually taking that step.

Today, is when everything is over. He would just have to contact Crown Entertainment later and go through some formalities to be a free man again.

Though when he looks away from the window to start the call, his phone rings before he could finish looking up the contact. It is the name of his agent on the phone call.

He takes it, and in a rare businesslike tone, he tells him, “come to the company today.”

“What.”

“To sign your annulment contract. Someone has paid your penalties for you.”

You Haoyu furrows his brows hearing that. He’s only just contacted his family member, so it would be impossible to be this quick.

“A small management company wants to take you in,” agent Chen chuckles coldly, “what a lucky guy you are.”

You Haoyu smacks his mouth lightly, “looks like you really aren’t afraid of making visits to the hospital.”

Agent Chen then recalls what happened that day, and goes quiet. Then he says with a less-than-confident tone, “just be quick. We’re waiting for you in the building.”

Then he cuts off the call.

You Haoyu puts his phone down and gets the jacket he put on the backrest of the chair.

To be honest, he really isn’t interested in this small management company that suddenly popped up. But he could also make everything clear in person going there.

An hour later, in the Crown Entertainment Ltd. building, You Haoyu is taken into the meeting room.

Agent Chen is inside making small talk with a stranger. His smile actually doesn’t fade when he sees him come in, “Haoyu, you’re here.”

You Haoyu ignores him and looks at the other person present.

He looks quite indifferent to all this. From the briefcase he has in hand, he takes a business card out and hands it over, “Mr. You, greetings. I am an attorney from Jinke Law Firm. My surname is Fang.”

You Haoyu takes the business card and gives a cursory glance before putting it back down, “apologies for making you come all the way for this, but I do not plan to sign with any other company.”

Before attorney Fang can say anything first, agent Chen is already scolding him, “are you serious?! If you don’t sign on, how do you plan to pay back your penalties?!”

The corners of You Haoyu’s lips twitches. He looks at his former agent and says, “the penalties wouldn’t end up in your pockets anyway; you sure are doing your very best for the company.”

Agent Chen’s eyelids twiches as well.

“Why not try to learn more about the situation before making a judgement,” attorney Fang sounds completely unfazed before turning to agent Chen, “Mr. Chen, would it be alright if I talked to him alone?”

No matter how pissed off he is, he would still have to maintain face in front of a stranger. Agent Chen nods, and glares at You Haoyu from the side for a moment before turning to leave.

When the person has left the meeting room, attorney Fang takes a seat and pulls out a blue folder from his briefcase, pushing it towards You Haoyu, “this is the contract we prepared.”

You Haoyu doesn’t take one look at it, “I’ve said that I do not plan to sign on any new company.”

“Is that so.” Attorney Fang doesn’t seem to be in a hurry either. He pulls the contract out from the folder and points the words on paper.

“Party A is ‘Xinwen Entertainment,’ founded less than a year ago. There’s only a few idols they’ve signed on for now. If you decide to join, most of the resources will be dedicated to you. Any jobs they take will also primarily depend on your own will.”

“It is certainly no big company like ‘Crown Entertainment,’ but it will allow you the most flexibility under a contract as possible.”

The attorney crosses his arms and gives him a faint business smile, “plus, the company will pay for all your penalties. I believe there would not be a better choice for you anywhere else.”

You Haoyu is annoyed the person has started to explain the circumstances by himself, and says dryly, “no thanks.”

“There can be further negotiations on your cut of the profit.”

“No need.”

“Then…”

It’s like the person seriously can’t understand how no means no. You Haoyu is out of patience, and with a ‘thump’ he pounds onto the table.

A few drops of the tea splash out and attorney Fang finally stops.

You Haoyu then relaxes his palm and stands back up, “go back and tell the head of that whatever entertainment it was, that I will do something about the penalties myself. Just give up on trying to use me for raising awareness.”

He leaves it at that and is about to turn around and leave, but hears a long sigh from behind, “even if you don’t sign, Xinwen Entertainment will still help you pay your penalties.”

You Haoyu pauses upon hearing that. He turns around to look at the man again, not exactly understanding what is going on.

“As an attorney, I should be trying to secure the best deal for my party,” attorney Fang smiles, “so if you can sign, that would be the best.”

You Haoyu furrows his brows, “who is the boss of that entertainment company? Why help me.”

“Who knows. I’m also only acting in accordance with the discretion granted to me,” attorney Fang puts the contract back in the folder and stands back up, “I will tell him everything as it happened. You will not have to worry about the penalties at all. Just think of it as being on the receiving end of an unexpected act of kindness.”

The man walks past You Haoyu, about to open the door.

“Wait.” You Haoyu is hesitant now.

Attorney Fang looks back at him.”

“Take me to the boss.”

“The boss is quite a busy man, it’ll be difficult to meet him on demand,” then he turns his words around, “but, if you were willing to sign, I suppose we can talk.”

“… I will consider it. First let me know who your boss is.”

Attorney Fang turns around to look him in the eye, “it would seem that you already know.”

“Don’t mess with me!”

Attorney Fang shakes his head, “it looks like the things online aren’t all fake either. It sure is a miracle you had that many fans with that temper of yours,” before the young man fires up in fury, he takes his phone out, “understood. I try to contact him.”

Shortly after, perhaps having received an affirmation, the attorney puts his phone away. He takes the briefcase and tells him, “let’s go. The boss happens to be at the company.

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TL’s notes: I’ve typed so many ‘furrow’ and ‘knit’ and ‘brows’ these few days that the words have started to appear unfamiliar to me. Oof, I think it’s termed jamais vu?