Even when Qi Wu was ready to leave, Chang Xun had not recovered from the shock and terror of what he had just witnessed.
The two individuals directly involved in that terrifying scene acted so calmly that he was also starting to wonder if his incredulity was a little too much.
"Are we not going?"
He was snapped out of his thoughts by Qi Wu's question.
"Yes. Let's go! Right away!" he exclaimed with a hurried nod.
Qi Wu did not say another word before walking out the door. As Chang Xun followed her to the door, he kept turning around to glance at Jin Si.
"Jin, we… we'll be going now?"
Jin Si answered him by coldly walking away.
Chang Xun secretly heaved a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness for that reaction. Jin Si was still the same inhumane man.
*
Chang Xun led Qi Wu into the office of Jin Si's agency.
As Jin Si was the most famous three-time award-winning actor around, Chaoqi Group, his old agency, immediately gave him an entire floor of his own the moment he brought up the idea of establishing his own brand and starting an independent agency.
Not only was there no change in how Jin Si was treated or the roles available to him, but he could also just request Chaoqi Group for employees.
Qi Wu and Chang Xun walked out of the elevator.
The office's decor was similar to that of Jin Si's home. It was cold and simplistic, just like how he was aloof and frigid.
The only difference was that the walls here were decorated with posters from the films Jin Si had acted in as well as the awards he won.
Jin Si had been an actor for three years, and he only ever filmed one movie a year.
However, he definitely deserved to be called a three-time award-winning actor because every single one of his movies would go on to win the three most prestigious film awards in China.
When Chang Xun noticed that Qi Wu had been staring unblinkingly at the movie posters, he could not resist asking, "What is it? Do you want to act as well?"
Qi Wu did not look away as she softly replied, "I can do that."
It was can and not want.
As the most talented priestess of the temple, she was proficient in many abilities. However, that did not mean she could do whatever she wanted. Those abilities only tightened her shackles.
In the beginning, perhaps she did feel the desire to do something. As time passed, those desires were pushed out of her mind.
"What is this?"
Qi Wu pointed at one of the posters as she asked.
Chang Xun glanced at it and excitedly introduced the film to her, "This is the very first movie Jin Si acted in back when he debuted. He played a young tyrant king."
"I remember how everyone on set was frozen with shock when they saw him acting. It felt like he really was that young man who ruled with an iron fist. His acting in that movie left a deep impression on everyone present, and it made his career much easier and smoother."
"He certainly is someone special," Qi Wu calmly said with a nod.
For someone born with the fate he had, it was only a matter of desire when it came to taking the place of someone born under the king star.
Chang Xun did not really understand what she said. When she turned away from the poster, he hurriedly said, "Let's get back to business. Allow me to brief you on the show."
"Rookie Assembly" was a competition organized by Song Qi, an extremely well-known director, and several of the well-connected talent show producers in the industry.
One hundred competitors consist of newcomers to the industry, members of the public, and controversial names in the country. Contestants would be divided into the Actor, the Musician, and the Idol categories. After a few rounds of elimination within the categories, the best contestants of the category would compete against each other to be the final champion.
Chang Xun was so full of hope and anticipation for this newcomer that he had just found that he poured his heart and soul into telling her everything she needed to keep an eye out for. He did not even hold back when he told her all about how some talent shows were rigged.
"If you're interested in acting, you can choose to be in the Actor category when it's time to split up the contestants. However, unless you are as incredibly lucky as Jin Si, you'll only last one round since you haven't been trained before."
"One last thing… fame and fortune are double-edged swords. If you wish to continue on this path, you have to be careful. One wrong step and everything will go wrong."
Qi Wu calmly gazed back at him, seemingly lost in her thoughts. However, she was actually listening to every word Chang Xun said.
Eventually, Chang Xun had to stop as his mouth had gone dry. As he was looking for some water, she asked, "When will I be paid?"
Chang Xun stared at her with a question in his eyes.
He felt like everything he had said had been for nothing.
"You will usually be paid after the show has wrapped up filming… Are you that short on money?"
There was a tinge of helplessness in his voice when he asked that.
From the way Qi Wu carried herself, there was no way Chang Xun could have imagined she was penniless.
She was just like Jin Si from back then. He also looked very noble and posh, but he was actually poor beyond belief.
Qi Wu nodded and honestly replied, "Very."
"Why?"
"The money is for Jin Si."
Everything she owned right now was given to her by Jin Si, so she had to make as much money as she could to promptly pay him back.
When Chang Xun heard Qi Wu's answer and how sincere she was, he wished that he could instantly travel back in time to slap his past self to death.
Why did he have to be so nosey?
There was a complicated look on Chang Xun's face as he drove Qi Wu back to Jin Si's house.
As Chang Xun watched Qi Wu excitedly skip ahead of him at the thought of being so close to home, he could not resist shaking his head in pity.
She was an amazing woman. It was such a shame she fell in love with Jin Si.
When Qi Wu opened the front door, she realized Jin Si was not at home.
Perhaps it was because she had grown used to Jin Si's sudden appearances and disappearance. Perhaps she just did not care. Either way, she did not react at all to his absence and calmly walked over to the living room.
She had to continue "studying" from the family of pink pigs.
What did it feel like to be a manager who just loved to fantasize and make assumptions about everything going on around him?
Chang Xun was a prime example of that character.
In his mind, Qi Wu's lack of reaction had been transformed into a look of dejection on her face as Jin Si was not home. However, she did not want to show how upset she was in front of him, so she forced herself to focus on the TV to take her mind off her emotions.
Her obedient and sweet personality had thoroughly enraptured Chang Xun's maternal side. He did not even hesitate before he started cursing Jin Si out in his mind.
What was wrong with Jin Si? How could he not have told her that he was going out? How could he just leave her all alone like this?
No matter how much he did not like her, she was staying in his home. At the very least, he had to take responsibility for her.
As Chang Xun criticized Jin Si, he forgot that Jin Si would not even tell Chang Xun his home address back then. Chang Xun had also forgotten that only children needed to be babysat by an adult while at home.
*
Meanwhile, Jin Si inexplicably sneezed.
He did not think much about it and continued walking.
Lou Ying, who was walking behind him, suddenly asked, "Sir, is that not the candy shop famous for its handmade lemon drops?"
Jin Si stopped in his tracks and looked across the street at the traditional lemon drop candy shop.
The jar of lemon drops he had bought for Qi Wu came from this shop.
Based on how often she ate… that jar probably would not last for long.
Jin Si turned and walked away.
Lou Ying was dumbfounded when he saw Jin Si walk away. He had expected Jin Si to walk over to the shop instead.
"Sir, are we not going to buy some candy for that… for Miss Qi?"
Jin Si turned around and glanced at him with a faint smile on his lips. "Do you have a lot of time on your hands?"
Lou Ying's heart skipped in fear. He promptly mimed zipping up his mouth before walking over to follow Jin Si.
However, now that Lou Ying had voiced that question aloud, emotions started warring within Jin Si.
Why did he just walk away? Well, it was quite funny and interesting to see her begging him for more candy with wide eyes.