MACRM Chapter 55

The next afternoon, right on time, Zhong Yao arrived at Clozeya’s headquarters with his agent.

The two of them had just gone out for lunch, strictly following the process written in Zhong Yao’s script. He looked proper and disciplined, not stepping out of line even a little.

Lin Zhu’s mind was filled with how he had stolen a kiss while Zhong Yao was asleep. He felt incredibly energized, taking his time negotiating with the director Clozeya sent over. No one could tell he had just recovered from an illness.

Because of Canxing’s underhanded tricks, Clozeya once thought Zhong Yao had already started looking for a new home. They had been secretly nervous for half a month. Now that everything was finally laid bare, their attitude became even more enthusiastic than before.

After dragging on for so long, everything that needed to be discussed was nearly finished. Lin Zhu could see straight through the director’s bottom line. The one-sided negotiation didn’t take much time. Half an hour later, the contract was completely settled.

“How did you close the deal already—! We didn’t even dare hope for this price in our planning! It’s like you knew exactly what he was thinking!”

It was the planning manager’s first time witnessing Lin Zhu’s negotiation skills. He was bright red with excitement, holding a thick stack of printed contracts and circling around the formidable agent. “A one-year term with yearly renewal? And for a top luxury menswear brand too… t-this is probably the ceiling……”

Lin Zhu chuckled. “The resources are fine, but the price is low.”

“Low?!” The planning manager was startled. “We inquired already. Those traffic-idol boys only sign for about this much!”

Lin Zhu held the insulated bottle Zhong Yao had stuffed into his hands, unscrewed it, and took a sip. He smiled and said nothing.

Every brand — especially a top luxury brand looking for spokespeople — doesn’t choose at random. There are operation teams analyzing market data to predict value.

Zhong Yao’s situation was unique. Clozeya taking him as their spokesperson wasn’t just because his popularity was rising fast and his fanbase was growing rapidly, but because he already had enough reputation and status before his hiatus.

The brands rushing to him now were all secretly hoping to seize the opportunity and profit before his value rose further. Clozeya was no exception.

Lin Zhu had planned out multiple development paths for Zhong Yao. If they continued the current trajectory, endorsement fees could never remain at this level. They would have to go up sooner or later.

And if they wanted to go even further, to an even higher level, some endorsements would have to be cut down, and they would have to carefully control all non-film public appearances.

One “sell-your-soul” contract was enough. Lin Zhu was confident he could help Zhong Yao rise higher and higher. Naturally, there was no need to rush into a long-term deal that would definitely be a loss.

These were things he couldn’t say inside the brand’s headquarters. Holding the insulated bottle, he drank his milk tea slowly and told the planner to keep watch while he closed his eyes for a short rest.

He had just recovered. When his energy was good, he didn’t feel anything wrong. But after wrestling with Clozeya’s old fox of a director for half an hour, he was tired again. For now, it wasn’t suitable for him to push into the crowded shoot area.

The planning manager had been warned ten times by the PR team before coming, saying he must take care of the agent. Seeing Lin Zhu’s pale face, he nervously stepped forward, “Lin-laoshi, are you still not feeling well? Maybe you should rest in the break room…”

Lin Zhu was physically fine. He just rushed back to work too quickly, easily tired from not recuperating fully. He smiled. “I’m alright.”

The planning manager didn’t believe him. He anxiously stared back. “You shouldn’t force yourself. If you really can’t keep going, just tell Zhong-laoshi you need a few days off… You even brought an thermos! I saw you drinking from it. My dad uses this exact model for his herbal medicine!”

Lin Zhu: “……”

He squeezed the heavy stainless steel business-style thermos, gritted his teeth, reluctant to throw it away. He unscrewed the lid to show him.

The planning manager leaned closer, skeptical. Then, he instantly froze at the rich milk tea aroma.

Lin Zhu hardened his heart and took the blame. “I just…. like using this to drink milk tea. You don’t need to worry so much. Focus on your work……”

The planning manager was still shocked, looking at him with pity. “You’ve already started a health regimen? My mom just bought a few kilos of premium goji berries, brought back from Xinjiang—”

“No need.” Lin Zhu cut him off, taking a deep breath. “I don’t usually put goji berries in my milk tea……”

The planner became even more worried and was about to continue when Lin Zhu’s stern glare made him shut up. He obediently sent two recommended links for massage chairs and hair-growth solutions.

Lin Zhu didn’t have the heart to open them. He put his phone away and drank a few more mouthfuls of hot milk tea.

The milk tea had been personally brewed by Zhong Yao before they left today.

These days, Zhong Yao had gotten Lin Zhu thoroughly spoiled. After that ginger tea incident, Lin Zhu really didn’t want to bring such an old-fashioned thermos. He argued for a while.

To coax his agent into carrying an autumn essential, Zhong Yao had worked on the recipe all morning. Black tea he brought from abroad simmered with fresh milk, stirring in sugar till it dissolved. The taste wasn’t at all worse than what stores sold.

Zhong Yao looked so good while making milk tea that Lin Zhu, in daze, ended up bringing the cup.

During the negotiations earlier, the director had glanced at the cup at least three times. Lin Zhu had felt his face heat up each time and refused to imagine what the man was thinking.

He couldn’t let Clozeya think Zhong Yao’s team was easy to bully. Closing the cup, he endured the planning manager’s excessive concern, rested a bit, then pulled himself together and headed to the shooting area with the PR team.

The shooting zone was buzzing with activity.

The production crew sent from Italy was busy around Zhong Yao, camera flashes going off continuously. No one knew how many photos they had taken already. The designer was more excited than the director, gesturing wildly about new inspirations.

Lin Zhu smiled, not wanting to interrupt. He asked for a chair and sat at the side.

Zhong Yao was a natural clothes hanger, with his tall, long-legged, broad-shouldered, slim-waisted body. Having spent so long in front of cameras, he could find the perfect angle without even thinking. Even a plain trench coat looked like a high-fashion editorial on him.

There was a reason Clozeya had persisted through delays and sabotage from Canxing, refusing to give up the chance to get Zhong Yao as their spokesperson.

Lin Zhu liked seeing this. He quietly told the planning manager, “Discuss with the film crew about if we can release some behind-the-scenes footage for a teaser? It can coordinate with their official announcement……”

This was supposed to be the publicity team’s task, but since they weren’t here today, Lin Zhu grabbed whoever he could. “Also, keep unedited raw photos under a thousand shots. We’ll need to retrieve the extras. Make sure they understand that clearly.”

The planning manager quickly went to discuss things with the translator. Lin Zhu looked around, then grabbed their PR manager from the crowd.

Zhong Yao’s team was gradually taking shape. Once the contract with Canxing was officially terminated, they would begin forming their own studio. Those who had stayed through the hard early days couldn’t continue to be overqualified and underused.

Lin Zhu intended to delegate more work, let them grow into leaders when the studio launched.

But PR didn’t appreciate being pulled over. Instead, his eyes scanned Lin Zhu up and down several times.

Lin Zhu felt uncomfortable. “Why are you looking at me? How’s Zhong-laoshi doing?”

“Zhong-laoshi is doing great. You—”

The PR manager stared at him for a while, then produced a seat cushion from who-knows-where and set it on his chair. “We pooled money to buy this for you. Sit down and talk.”

Lin Zhu: “……”

Lin Zhu was a bit baffled. “I just had a fever once, and all of you—”

“I know, I know.” the PR manager, for once, spoke gently and patted his shoulder. “Let’s not talk about that. Didn’t you ask us to contact the production crew? There’s something you need to know……”

Seeing his serious expression, Lin Zhu frowned slightly and followed him toward the edge of the set. “A change of plans?”

He shook his head. “No. It’s Canxing still kicking up trouble.”

He hadn’t planned to tell Lin Zhu so soon, but with everything piling up, they couldn’t keep hiding it. The PR manager lowered his voice and quickly explained the situation.

“Canxing has really been pushed to the brink, but they can’t swallow their pride. They can’t afford to do you two serious damage, but they still want to disgust you one last time before the end.”

The PR manager frowned, choosing his words carefully, “Friends in our circle say that everywhere, everyone’s now heard that Zhong Yao’s agent is arrogant and impossible to deal with. Looks like a good temper on the surface, but actually so conceited he won’t even talk. If he doesn’t like a resource, he slams the table. If he disagrees, he’ll throw punches……”

Canxing knew they couldn’t keep Zhong Yao, and there was zero chance of reconciliation. So they took a single path, that is, smear him to the extreme. They spread every nasty rumor imaginable.

“They originally wanted to smear Zhong-laoshi instead. They even hired a PR company, bought articles calling him ungrateful and two-faced, ready to drop the bomb right before he joined the new crew, then suddenly they canceled it all. Didn’t even pay the balance.”

The PR manager looked puzzled. “Internal gossip says they realized they had dirt exposed… worried Zhong-laoshi would retaliate with the truth, so they backed down……”

Lin Zhu nodded. “Not surprising.”

Back when he went to fight Canxing head-on, even in anger he had the sense to question them about paying reporters to sabotage Zhong Yao’s press conference. If Canxing’s higher-ups had any brains left, they wouldn’t dare cause trouble for Zhong Yao again.

They couldn’t provoke Zhong Yao, but couldn’t swallow their bitterness either. The only option left was smearing Lin Zhu.

Instead of anger, Lin Zhu looked amused. “They really said I’m hard to deal with? How did they put it? Any versions worse than that?”

PR manager: “……”

Now the PR manager was worried for him. “Lin-laoshi, if the pressure is getting to you, we can talk with you……”

Lin Zhu chuckled. “What pressure? It’s good if an agent isn’t easy to push around. It’s not like I’m planning to debut, why would I need a reputation for being easygoing?”

The PR manager froze.

“It’s a good thing. Zhong-laoshi is easy to talk to. If I were also easy to talk to, we’d be waiting around to get bullied everywhere we go.”

Just yesterday, Lin Zhu had been worrying that his physical presence wasn’t intimidating at all. Now that someone was spreading the rumor that he was dangerous, he naturally welcomed it. “You should help spread it too. Say my temper is terrible, that the slightest dissatisfaction sets me off. That I’m arrogant, demanding, and even refuse to pay for watermelon from street vendors……”

The PR manager stared at the delicate, push-him-and-he-falls-over agent with a complicated expression. “……”

PR manager: “Lin-laoshi… is Zhong-laoshi bullying you?”

“It’s not that he bullies me. To outsiders, say I bully him.”

Lin Zhu was fully committed to the fiction, rolling up his sleeves as he spoke: “Don’t you all have phones? Take more photos that can be misunderstood, build momentum. Like adjusting the schedule and delaying entry to the crew. Just pin all that on me, say I’m oppressing the artist……”

The PR manager stared blankly upward.

Lin Zhu followed his gaze and immediately spotted Zhong Yao walking over. His eyes lit up: “Zhong-laoshi!”

The two of them had gone their separate ways after lunch, only now able to see each other again. Lin Zhu instantly dropped his professional demeanor, bouncing through the crowd to stand in front of him.

Zhong Yao smiled and pulled him close. “Tired? Go take a break. Shooting a commercial like this is easy. Let them handle it here.”

He had just finished shooting a set of promotional photos, still wearing an expensive haute couture coat, gloves not even off yet. He looked sharp and commanding, completely different from how he was at home.

Lin Zhu’s face warmed, and he shook his head obediently. “Not tired.”

The temperature had been dropping for days. Afraid his fever would return, Zhong Yao took off a glove and used the back of his hand to check Lin Zhu’s forehead, then behind his ear.

There were people around. Even if none were really paying attention, Lin Zhu’s heart skipped from the gentle touch, making him stand straight. “Ge, I’m already fine……”

“Even if you’re fine, don’t be careless. The temperature swings are bad these days. If you get sick again, it’ll be harder to recover.”

Zhong Yao never took risks with his agent’s health. Once he confirmed there was no fever, he nodded in satisfaction and picked up the thermos. “Drink more water. Drinks count too. I’ll ask them to bring over some hot orange juice.”

Lin Zhu nodded, well-behaved. He was just about to ask him how filming was going when Zhong Yao’s phone rang.

The caller ID looked familiar, but Lin Zhu couldn’t recall who it was. He instinctively handed the phone over.

Zhong Yao raised a brow and answered. “Director Jin.”

Lin Zhu’s heart skipped.

Director Jin Zhenbo, the chief director of [Serving the Sovereign]. A strict military-arts graduate in his sixties, known for being rigid and demanding, the complete opposite of Sichuan Film’s style.

Zhong Yao had filmed three dramas under him. Half of his disciplined, old-school attitude came from being shaped in Director Jin’s crews.

“Why are you arriving late?”

The voice on the phone was stern and forceful, not softened a bit by Zhong Yao’s fame. “Do you understand the environment here? Have you read the script? Is your state fully adjusted?”

Lin Zhu: “!”

He was close enough to hear every word, his heartbeat speeding up uncontrollably.

Though he had already instructed PR to change the flight, today’s shooting progress was still uncertain. The PR team probably hadn’t moved that fast. And judging from what PR said earlier, they likely hadn’t communicated with the crew yet.

The only reason to delay arrival was to keep Zhong Yao from being overworked. Lin Zhu had made all the preparations, from researching the environment and climate, preparing multiple script versions, having the nutritionist adjust meals so he’d be in perfect condition upon arrival.

He didn’t understand how Director Jin had found out so quickly, or why he was directly calling to scold. But Lin Zhu instinctively stepped forward to take the blame, reaching for the phone, “Ge, I’m ready. Let me explain to Director Jin—”

Zhong Yao shifted his arm slightly, palm soothing the back of Lin Zhu’s neck as he whispered, “It’s fine. I told him. I want to stay a couple more days……”

The gesture was too natural. Lin Zhu’s ears flushed instantly, and he stood straight again.

Zhong Yao pulled out a piece of chocolate, unwrapped it one-handed, and watched Lin Zhu open his mouth little by little to eat it. He subtly lowered the call volume.

Director Jin’s voice remained harsh. “I’ve heard about that domineering agent of yours. Is he piling more work on you now? A young man with this spoiled temper… the crew won’t cater to him……”

Director Jin: “You’re coming alone. Everyone here has a single room. Assistants and staff stay elsewhere. You must report before the day after tomorrow. Understood?”

Zhong Yao paused thoughtfully, eyes settling on his agent with bowed head.

Not far away, the PR manager watched as the agent’s ears turned red and the blush spread all the way down his neck while he quietly chewed chocolate. Then, he silently put away the phone he had been planning to use for secret photos.