Male Sing and His Pet Owner: Chapter 60

“Didn’t you know? Zhan Hang got dropped by the investors, the role he had was taken over by Sun Yimin.”

“Was that necessary? Honestly, I don’t think Sun Yimin has any acting skills…”

“Are they out of their minds?”

“Who knows if someone is scheming behind the scenes.”

New Year’s Eve. Every household hung lanterns and decorations, full of hope as they awaited the arrival of the new year.

Bai Li draped a women’s overcoat over her shoulders, arms crossed, walking slowly along the sidewalk. Looking ahead, she said calmly: “Artists under the same agent still have to compete for resources, let alone those in the same company. But I didn’t expect Xie Lin’s move to be this fast.”

Zhan Hang touched his nose, remembering he hadn’t smoked in a long time, his fingers rubbing together in loneliness. He made a sound of agreement.

“This time I wasn’t prepared.” Bai Li wrapped her coat tighter and said: “Now I just hope those two dramas of yours won’t keep getting stuck, and can air normally next year.”

Zhan Hang stuffed his hands into his pockets, asking in a low voice: “Do you think I still have a chance?”

Bai Li showed a somewhat surprised expression: “Of course. Otherwise what have I been running around for this past month?”

“Who exactly is my audience?” Zhan Hang seemed to fall into a kind of self doubt: “Martial arts young male leads were eliminated by the market long ago. My acting skills just barely pass the passing line. All these years I’ve only won a few awards that are neither here nor there. The first time I finally got to play a male lead in a drama, it flopped. Now I’ve gotten caught up in this kind of… it’s normal for them not to use me.”

Bai Li stood in place, and upon hearing this seemed extremely astonished, counter asking: “How could you think this way?”

Zhan Hang also stopped walking, turned back and met her eyes, asking with a bit of self mockery: “Aren’t I speaking the truth?”

“Do you know why I signed you back then?” Bai Li asked amusedly: “When you say these things, are you questioning yourself, or are you questioning my professional abilities?”

Zhan Hang: “I don’t know.”

“I never planned to cultivate you into a traffic idol in the first place. You yourself weren’t willing either, were you?” Bai Li looked into his eyes, saying seriously: “Zhan Hang, we are just waiting. Waiting for a suitable role, a suitable script. It’s just that right now the market is full of deeply affectionate domineering CEOs, paralyzed rich handsome men, and these aren’t things you like. You haven’t accumulated nothing these years. You have a foundation of popularity, fans, and also a certain reputation. In terms of acting skills, from my personal perspective, every one of your works shows improvement over the last. I think this is already very good. Ten years of sharpening one sword, we will eventually wait for it.”

Zhan Hang didn’t respond, still seeming a bit low.

Bai Li continued: “This isn’t like you. Did you encounter someone or something again? Can you tell me?”

“I’m just a bit tired.” Zhan Hang drooped his eyebrows and said: “If I say these words to Zhao Kaile, he won’t understand either. I can only be discouraged with you.”

“How would he not understand?” Bai Li smiled and said: “You don’t know, when he first arrived, he was asking me and Jiayin about your matters every few days, big things small things good things embarrassing things, whatever he could dig into he dug into. He was also working hard to understand your way of handling things and your personality.”

Upon hearing this, Zhan Hang’s heart moved slightly. He touched his nose a bit uncomfortably: “Why be so serious…”

“Effort will be rewarded.” Bai Li said bluntly: “If he wasn’t that hardworking, would you like him so much? Would you keep him around and not drive him away?”

Zhan Hang was nearly choked to death by her words. Only after a long time did he think of a rebuttal: “My requirements have always been very simple. Just be obedient, is that so hard?”

“……..” Bai Li thought to herself, you think so yourself? But her mouth circled back: “So, you should learn from Kaile. He works so hard at this tedious job, and is happy every day…”

Speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives. Zhao Kaile returned carrying two cups of hot coffee, panting, jogging all the way to the two of them and distributing one to each.

Zhan Hang received it and asked: “Where’s yours?”

“Didn’t you say buy two cups?” Zhao Kaile recalled Zhan Hang’s original words, extending two fingers: “One for you, one for Sister Li, two cups.”

Zhan Hang: “……..”

When he said buy two cups, he originally meant buy a few cups. But Zhao Kaile strictly followed his instructions and really only bought two cups.

Bai Li couldn’t help laughing: “Pfft… he is obedient enough.”

Zhan Hang lost his temper, putting his cup back into his hand.

Zhao Kaile: “Not drinking anymore??”

Zhan Hang said: “You might as well die from stupidity.”

Zhao Kaile got scolded again for no reason, but his defense was stacked very thick, so he didn’t feel hurt anywhere. He put that cup back into the paper bag on his own, cautiously following behind the two of them, exactly like a little eunuch serving the crown prince and empress as they strolled through the imperial garden.

“Although I haven’t found a suitable script, there’s good news from Xia Xingqing’s side.” Bai Li took a sip of hot coffee, exhaled comfortably, and said with a smile: “Zhang Wenqian was invited by RA to be their brand spokesperson. Xia Xingqing recommended you to their person in charge, and hopes you can pick a time early next year to go talk with them.”

Zhan Hang wasn’t very surprised. Normally, he was willing to show Xia Xingqing a smile, send her a cup of coffee, which already counted as him lowering his face to please her quite a bit. That Xia Xingqing was willing to pull him at this time wasn’t unexpected. He said: “Aren’t I completely free? Just pick any day.”

Bai Li hmmed: “Then I’ll reply to the message. Remember to look at the brand’s materials. With Xia Xingqing as the middleman, it should be a sure thing.”

Zhan Hang snorted with a laugh, saying self mockingly: “I never thought at this time I would still need Zhang Wenqian to support me…”

“She didn’t issue a statement to dissolve the CP at that time, which was already doing everything humanly possible for us.” Bai Li said: “With this bit of loyalty, if Zhang Wenqian has hard times in the future, we can’t kick her when she’s down either.”

Zhan Hang nodded listlessly, but was thinking in his heart how could Zhang Wenqian possibly have such times. Among this batch of artists of similar age, there should be no one more unlucky than himself.

When returning home that night, Zhao Kaile was afraid Zhan Hang hadn’t eaten enough, so he made him an extra small New Year’s Eve dinner.

Zhan Hang sat on the sofa sending a congratulatory red envelope to Little Li, and conveniently gave Zhao Kaile’s share as well.

Little Li: Thank you Hang ge, thank you Le ge. #smiley face

Little Li: My girlfriend saw that Weibo post you made for fans. She said someone who can take fans this seriously will definitely be rewarded with good fortune. #heart

Zhan Hang: Also help me thank her, wishing you both a happy new year.

Little Li replied with a happy new year sticker, and didn’t reply again, probably off being sweet with his girlfriend.

Zhan Hang lowered his head and stared at this sentence in a daze for a while, his heart relaxing slightly.

A moment later, the two sat around the table eating quietly.

Zhao Kaile raised a glass cup filled with cola, shook it toward him, and said: “Hang ge, happy new year.”

“Happy new year.” Zhan Hang clinked glasses with him, drinking red wine.

Zhao Kaile put down his chopsticks, thought for a while about his wording, and looked at Zhan Hang seriously. Zhan Hang, being stared at like this, completely couldn’t eat seriously, so he had to put down his chopsticks and look at him helplessly: “What is it? Don’t these dishes you made also have alternate names?”

“……..” Zhao Kaile said: “No!”

Zhan Hang: “Then what do you want to do?”

“I want to say… this year I’ve been under your care, and in the new year I also ask for your continued care.” Zhao Kaile said passionately: “All the bad luck stays in the old year. The new year is a complete renewal, you will definitely turn your luck around! Hang ge, cheer up!”

Zhan Hang was a bit at a loss whether to laugh or cry: “I’ll borrow your auspicious words.”

The two clinked glasses once more, and only then was Zhao Kaile satisfied, eating happily. Zhan Hang had been feeling suffocated these past days, and had long wanted to vent, so he immediately finished all the remaining wine in the bottle.

While washing dishes, Zhao Kaile was on the phone with Zhao Kaiming.

Zhao Kaiming said while picking his teeth: “Don’t worry about me bro, several colleagues are all from out of town, didn’t go home for New Year, just counting on these few days of triple salary. The New Year’s Eve dinner was also the boss treating us all together, very lively.”

“That’s good.” Zhao Kaile said: “If nothing happens tomorrow, I’ll come by to see you.” Zhao Kaiming said enthusiastically: “Come, come sit beside bro, this machine has been unused, us brothers can duo queue and play.”

Zhao Kaile scolded: “Don’t think about playing games all day. When you have free time you can look at materials on the computer, get a certificate. You can’t spend your whole life hanging around in internet cafes.”

“Yeah, bro knows.” Zhao Kaiming laughed bitterly.

Zhao Kaile: “When I pay off this sum of money, I’ll save some to help you continue doing business. What business did you say you wanted to do before?”

Zhao Kaiming said: “Bro is also saving, don’t need yours.”

The two brothers were seriously planning their future, when Zhan Hang propped one hand on the kitchen door, carrying a bit of alcohol smell, his steps not very steady as he entered.

Zhao Kaile heard the sound and turned back to look, seeing Zhan Hang slowly walk to his front and stop.

“At that time we’ll hire a few people, and just sit there counting money…” On the other end of the phone, Zhao Kaiming was chatting happily, asking: “Bro? Where are you?”

Zhan Hang lowered his head to look at him for a moment, then reached out and pulled him into his embrace.

Zhao Kaile: “……..”

A buzzing sound went off in his brain. He instantly stiffened all over, not daring to move or make a sound for a moment, his mind full of blurry mosaics.

Zhan Hang pressed his nose tip against the side of his neck, his breath burning hot, saying vaguely: “Shut up…”

Zhao Kaiming realized something wasn’t quite right, asking suspiciously: “Boss Zhan??”

Zhao Kaile finally came back to his senses, only feeling that patch of skin was unusually sensitive. He shifted his body uncomfortably, wanting to push Zhan Hang away: “Hang ge.”

“Shh.” Zhan Hang raised his head slightly, his gaze still deep, placing a finger vertically on his lips, saying softly: “Hang up the phone.”

Zhao Kaile: “……..”

Author’s note:
Ha!