Chapter 3 — Stardust Entertainment

Starlight Entertainment Agency
General Manager’s Office

“Top idol Cheng Yishu obsessed with former manager Tan Jing; failed to appear at her wedding to offer blessings, instead hid in a hotel and broke down in tears...”

“Cheng Yishu’s secret meeting with Tan Jing, a last attempt to win her back fails, furious and threatens to force himself on her... Tsk, tsk...”

The mocking tone made Cheng Yishu’s brows subtly draw together.

With a loud smack, his phone was slammed onto the desk. Only then did Cheng Yishu slowly lift his eyelids and look at the man sitting across from him—his boss, Wei Guoqiang, the head of Starlight Entertainment.

Wei Guoqiang leaned back in his chair, legs crossed, eyeing him with a resentful air, words spitting out angrily.

“It’s really something—more dramatic than any of those cliché shows you’ve acted in!”

Cheng Yishu’s gaze drifted to Wei Guoqiang’s nearly bursting belly, answering coolly,

“Thanks to the company’s care, all the scripts were negotiated by you.”

The implication was clear: you made all the decisions for me; whatever happens is naturally your responsibility…

“You make it sound like the company owes you something!” Wei Guoqiang’s beady eyes narrowed almost to invisibility.

“Come on, you’ve already rested for a month—you should get back to work. Any thoughts?”

Cheng Yishu lazily leaned back, lightly rotating the ring on his finger with his thumb.

“As I’ve said before, I only want Tan Jing to manage me.”

“My lord... Can’t you help me out?”

Wei Guoqiang sat up straight, wearing a pained expression, and continued,

“All those things I just told you—did you treat them like air? Even if I made a stink, it’d still leave a trace, right? Tan Jing has made it clear: from now on, she wants to focus on guiding new talent—what’s his name... right, Qin Xingyu—”

He slapped his thigh, finally recalling the boy’s name.

Indeed, a newcomer so fresh even the boss couldn’t remember his name.

“He’s just entered the industry, a boy who’s as obedient as you can imagine, as well-behaved as can be, exceptional in both talent and potential. Of course Tan Jing would rather manage someone who gives her less trouble... Besides, you two have worked together for years, can’t you part amicably? Now, your gossip is being dug up again and again by the paparazzi... Are you really set on a mutual destruction before you’re satisfied? Tan Jing is married, you’re a superstar idol with millions of fans—I beg you, for my sake and the company’s, can’t you think things over?”

A flicker of impatience passed through Cheng Yishu’s lowered eyes. He stood and turned to leave.

“You—stop right there!”

Wei Guoqiang’s thick, fleshy hand thudded against the solid wood desk, the fat on his face twitched with the sting.

Cheng Yishu didn’t even look back. His tall figure seemed to radiate an invisible aura in Wei Guoqiang’s eyes.

“I’ll say it again: I only want Tan Jing as my manager. I joined Starlight with her. And if you want the idol persona to be a warm-hearted guy, you shouldn’t have signed me.”

Cheng Yishu turned, his slender phoenix eyes sweeping coldly over Wei Guoqiang.

“Or the company can consider terminating my contract—I don’t care.”

With that, he strode out without another glance.

“You... you...” Wei Guoqiang’s stubby finger trembled, still pointing after him.

“In your dreams…” Wei Guoqiang gasped, barely managing to spit out those words.

Of course, how could they possibly let go of their cash cow, their idol heartthrob, so easily?

But now, because of the manager switch, Cheng Yishu was throwing a tantrum and refusing to work—no endorsements, no filming, nothing. If pressed, he'd shut off his phone and vanish…

This couldn’t go on. Most artists fear being sidelined by their agency, so they obediently follow company arrangements. But for Cheng Yishu, things were different.

He was at the top. Not only would shelving him cause an uproar, but even a slight delay in public relations would have fans roasting the company online.

And Cheng Yishu was a “lightning rod for controversy”—perhaps because popularity always comes with trouble.

Wei Guoqiang’s headache intensified at the thought, wondering if the PR department had come up with a strategy for those news stories circulating online about Cheng Yishu and Tan Jing…

“Senior…”

A bright, clear voice sounded behind him. Cheng Yishu, waiting for the elevator, was momentarily lost in thought before glancing over.

Indeed, a gentle, obedient young man—about twenty, tall and slender, fair-skinned. The simple white shirt he wore somehow made him stand out unexpectedly…

“Hello, Senior. I’m Qin Xingyu, new to the company… You’ve always been busy, so I haven’t had a chance to meet you. I heard you were meeting with President Wei, so I waited here especially…”

Qin Xingyu’s respectful shyness made Cheng Yishu a bit uneasy; he only nodded slightly.

“Is there something you need?”

Qin Xingyu had said so much, only to be met with those three simple words. He smiled awkwardly.

“No… I just admired you before debuting, and never imagined I’d get to work with you. So please guide me in the future!”

Having said this, Qin Xingyu solemnly stepped back and bowed to Cheng Yishu.

According to custom, junior artists greet their seniors with such formality.

But this time, Cheng Yishu felt compelled to refuse.

Newcomers don’t get to choose their managers, so Tan Jing’s decision to abandon him for Qin Xingyu had nothing to do with the latter.

Still, Cheng Yishu felt uncomfortable—especially at the sound of his voice, and that plain, ordinary white shirt.

“No need for formalities. I have things to do; I’ll be going.”

As his indifferent words fell, the elevator doors slowly opened. Without waiting for any response, Cheng Yishu pressed “B3.”

The doors closed, leaving the youthful face outside. In that moment, Cheng Yishu suddenly understood—

That clean voice, that pure smile, that vibrant, youthful boy—wasn’t that exactly how he used to be?