“Are you for real?!”
Jiang Changsheng was furious. He nearly threw his phone out the window of the hospital’s sixteenth floor.
No, correction—he wanted to throw Chu Xingxing out the window.
But even if he did, it wouldn’t be now.
He furiously typed out a bunch of words and sent another friend request.
[OMG! Chu Xingxing! It’s me! Jiang Changsheng!!! For crying out loud, accept the request already!]
On the other end, Chu Xingxing had been about to block this “Little Golden Retriever.”
But after seeing the latest friend request…
She fell silent.
Chu Xingxing thought to herself:
Oh my gosh, judging by the tone, this really might be the young master Jiang.
She then looked at the WeChat name she had been ignoring.
[Longlife]
Long… Longlife???
Holy cow!
Had she taken this joke too far?
—
This time, Chu Xingxing accepted the “Little Golden Retriever’s” friend request.
However, being cautious, she still video-called him to verify his identity.
Following a popular online method for identifying scams, Chu Xingxing made Jiang Changsheng turn his head left, right, up, and down, blink, and open his mouth. She wanted to check if he was an AI-swapped face fraudster pretending to be him.
She recorded the entire screen and made him swear he wouldn’t ask her for any passwords before she felt reassured.
Jiang Changsheng’s inner monologue at this moment was basically:
You’re truly something else. Have I been possessed or something to be doing all this…
Chu Xingxing had no choice but to accept a harsh reality—Jiang Changsheng was her new agent.
Was the plot developing in some strange new direction???
After hanging up the video call, Chu Xingxing messaged Jiang Changsheng on WeChat asking for her Weibo account username and password.
[Longlife: OK, I’ll ask the social media operator for you. But from now on, every single Weibo post you make must be sent to me for review first. You also need to ask me beforehand about who you want to follow.]
Chu Xingxing was speechless.
She was a nobody with just over three thousand followers; no one paid attention to anything she posted anyway. It really wasn’t that serious.
Sticking to the principle of “do what you promise others, and for things you haven’t promised, you don’t have to do,” Chu Xingxing’s reply was deliberately off-topic, trying to change the subject.
[Xingxing Estrella: Are you really going to be my agent? But you have zero experience. Are you sure you can do it…]
[Longlife: Woman, are you doubting my abilities?]
Then, Jiang Changsheng sent a meme of his own crazy Golden Retriever going wild.
Chu Xingxing silently saved the meme.
Such a good little puppy!
When she could support herself well, have enough financial stability and time to accompany a pet, she would definitely get a Golden Retriever!
[Xingxing Estrella: No, no, not at all. I just wanted to ask Agent Jiang, have you found the other “porter” for Stylish Grandmas?]
The chat box kept showing “The other person is typing…”, but Chu Xingxing didn’t see a reply for a long time.
Well, that was a “no” then.
She quoted his previous message.
[Xingxing Estrella: It’s not that I doubt your abilities, Agent Jiang. It’s just that you don’t seem to be in great shape—you’re underweight and have really dark circles. I’m worried you might not be able to handle the intense workload.]
Compared to an agent who meddles in every tiny detail like this, she was already missing Chen Dong, who pretty much just let her do her own thing…
She wondered if this sarcastic reply would be enough to scare off the young master Jiang.
[Longlife: You should worry more about yourself. I’m perfectly healthy!]
Then, he sent a screenshot of his medical check-up report.
Looking at the report, Chu Xingxing shook her head: This kid sure values his life. Told him to go and he actually went.
During her week-long drama binge, she had come across some works by Lin Xilei—Jiang Changsheng’s biological mother—and was deeply impressed by her acting.
After watching, she considered herself a casual fan of Lin Xilei.
In the original book, Lin Xilei was portrayed as a gentle, kind mother and a caring, family-oriented wife, thinking about her children and husband until her very last moment.
Thinking about the graceful actress aging, and suffering from both family troubles and physical ailments, Chu Xingxing’s heart softened for a moment.
Since Jiang Changsheng took her advice and got a check-up, he probably also took his family along, right?
Worried that a young man might not be thorough enough, she couldn’t help but add a reminder.
[Xingxing Estrella: If there are female members in your family, make sure they get these few extra specific check-ups.]
Then, Chu Xingxing sent a list of gynecological-related check-up items, which included a mammogram.
This time, he replied quickly.
And it seemed like he was a bit angry and embarrassed about it?
[Longlife: You think I need you to remind me?]
“Alright, so this kid doesn’t know how to talk nicely, does he?”
Chu Xingxing randomly picked a [Yeah Yeah Yeah You’re Always Right] meme and sent it, ending the conversation.
She was just asking for trouble.
If it weren’t for the fact that Jiang’s mother was such a good actress and beautiful, she wouldn’t bother reminding this spoiled brat.
Just as she was about to lock her phone, it vibrated again.
[Longlife: This is my first day handling your artist representation, and my first time as an agent. I hope you can understand if some things aren’t perfect yet. I’ve received the list of candidates for the Stylish Grandmas “porter” and will let you know who it is as soon as possible.]
[Longlife: Weibo account: XXXX Password: XXXX]
[Longlife: Thanks.]
For that final “Thanks,” Jiang Changsheng quoted the check-up list Chu Xingxing had sent.
Oh, wow?
Chu Xingxing blinked, looking at the word “Thanks” in disbelief.
This brat does understand a tiny bit of basic politeness, huh.
—
In the evening, while his brother stayed at the hospital with their mother, Jiang Changsheng went home to pack some luggage for her, planning to bring it over in the morning along with breakfast prepared by the family’s cook.
After packing and arranging the breakfast menu, Jiang Changsheng returned to his room and checked the list of “porter” candidates his company colleagues had sent him on his iPad.
The more he looked, the angrier he got. Not one was satisfactory.
This was, after all, the first artist he was personally managing, and the resources offered were embarrassingly bad.
A few old ladies and a nobody – this is already a bronze-level start. If a pro doesn’t come along to carry them, this variety show will really flop and nobody will watch it. It’ll be such a disgrace!
Jiang Changsheng was starting to regret it now.
He had never bothered to chat with artists from CBM Entertainment before, nor had he bothered to make friends with other artists at the parties his parents hosted.
Now, when he needed a friend to help him out, he couldn’t find anyone.
He couldn’t keep on like this; he needed to socialize more.
This young master Jiang, with his incredibly strong pride, was unwilling to beg his father or brother for help.
And Chu Xingxing was like a top-performing debt collector, asking him several times a day, seemingly just to rub salt in his wounds.
[Xingxing Estrella: Excuse me, have you chosen a “porter” yet?]
[Xingxing Estrella: Hi there~ Have you found the “porter”?]
[Xingxing Estrella: Hey, who did you finally decide on?]
It irritated him so much he finally replied: [Don’t you trust me?]
[Xingxing Estrella: Nope.]
That single word almost made Jiang Changsheng’s skull blow its top.
Argh! Was this woman trying to annoy him to death so she could inherit his dog!!!
Tank, the Golden Retriever, stretched on the bed with a big yawn, letting out a confused “Woof?”
Seeing his owner ignore him, the little Golden Retriever rolled over and went back to sleep, emitting soft snores.
Poor Jiang Changsheng rubbed the dog’s head and continued flipping through the “porter” candidates.
After seeing the last one, he was in despair.
He even started thinking, if he really couldn’t find anyone, maybe he should just go be the “porter” himself.
—
To be honest, Chu Xingxing couldn’t take all the blame for pestering her new agent several times a day.
As the grandmas’ good little kid, she was just following their orders.
The grandmas asked Chu Xingxing at least ten or twenty times a day whether the other “porter” had been chosen.
Chu Xingxing was actually quite restrained; she only asked Jiang Changsheng a few times.
With only a few days left until the official filming started, it wouldn’t be a disaster if the “porter” missed the prequel filming. The real fear was that no one would show up by the time they started filming the main episodes, and then the show couldn’t be made at all.
Chu Xingxing genuinely had doubts about Jiang Changsheng’s abilities.
Although this guy would become a big shot in the entertainment industry later on, right now he was way too green.
At this stage, young master Jiang had no connections and no resources; he just had the empty title of being from a wealthy family.
His father was also busy with the life-or-death acquisition of his company, begging everyone for help, and definitely didn’t have time to pay attention to his younger son’s problems.
So, Chu Xingxing told the grandmas the whole situation.
[Rich Ladies’ Travel Club] exploded with activity.
The grandmas all chimed in—
[Jiang Yao: Sweetie, next time something like this happens, you need to tell your grandmas sooner!]
[Wen Xuelan: Oh my, is that all? That’s nothing!]
[Jiang Yao: Big Sister doesn’t need to lift a finger, and Second Sister doesn’t need to bother either. Second Sister and I will handle this.]
[Wen Xuelan: Right, with our decades of connections in the industry, surely we can find one “porter.” Just wait and see!]
[Jiang Yao: Second Sister and I will each suggest a candidate. Then we can all vote in the group chat!]
[Wen Xuelan: Sounds good to me! Let’s do it!]
One grandma was a TV Drama Queen, the other was a Triple Crown Film Queen; they were essentially colleagues.
Although the Triple Crown Film Queen held a higher status, the TV Drama Queen was more prolific and had a stronger fan base. It was hard to say who was more popular or famous.
Despite Jiang Yao and Wen Xuelan appearing friendly on the surface now, they had secretly competed many times when they were younger, and bickering was a common occurrence.
Even Chu Xingxing, who knew nothing about the grandmas’ past, could sense the faint “gunpowder scent” in the group chat.
Behind Jiang Yao and Wen Xuelan’s frantic efforts to recruit people online, she could smell a hint of “competition.”
—
Inside the Beijing TV Station Studio.
Stylist Ken and his assistant arrived to deliver shoes to Tian Mengtong, who was recording a workplace variety show.
The last recording session was delayed due to audio issues and so on.
By the time they finished, their booked stage time was up, so they had to temporarily let another crew use it and split the recording into two sessions.
Ken didn’t necessarily need to come himself; his assistant could have just dropped off the shoes.
He specially came along to take some photos for his old classmate, Jiang Luoze, capturing the screen debut of the Saci dress.
The last time, after hurriedly altering the Saci gown, Ken had other work to do. He only checked if it fit Tian Mengtong, confirmed it was fine, and left without taking any pictures.
Ken and Jiang Luoze, the designer, brand manager, and founder of Saci, were old classmates. They had studied together in France and were even roommates, remaining close friends.
He wanted to tell Aze that female celebrities in China now had great taste. They actively chose Saci, even though it hadn’t been promoted much, and it looked good on them. He would recommend Saci to more stars in the future.
Although, from a professional standpoint, Ken felt Tian Mengtong’s physique and aura weren’t quite right for Saci.
It would have been better if she were taller and had a cooler presence.
He had already informed the photography director in advance; they were all familiar faces at the TV station, and the staff warmly invited Ken to sit in the audience.
His assistant then quietly slipped in and sat beside Ken, looking troubled.
“What’s wrong?” Ken whispered.
Filming hadn’t started yet; the stage was full of crew members moving things.
The assistant hesitated before speaking: “Brother Ken, I was looking for you everywhere just now. How come you’re in the studio? There’s a bit of a situation with Ms. Tian…”
Ken, already setting his phone to silent mode, looked down and said, “I’m here to take photos for Aze of the Saci dress’s debut. What situation?”
Just then, the stage was ready.
The guests began walking onto the stage, surrounded by their assistants.
“You… you should take a look…” The assistant shrank back, not daring to say more.
In the center of the stage, Tian Mengtong was smiling sweetly at the camera.
But the dress she was wearing wasn’t the hot pink Saci gown. It was the pale yellow suit she had decided on during the last fitting.
Ken, always elegant, couldn’t hide the look on his face.
So she had just been playing them?
His expression dark, Ken walked out of the studio.
Back in his car, he took out his phone and sent a long voice message to Jiang Luoze…
—
In Beijing’s Qinchunyuan Villa District.
Jiang Yao’s traditional Chinese-style courtyard villa was located here.
She had never married and had no children.
Perhaps because of this, Jiang Yao looked much younger and more energetic than her peers.
The Jiang family had a long history in Peking Opera. Jiang Yao sang Qingyi roles as a child, but after being accepted into the Beijing Film Academy, she gave up opera for film.
Unfortunately, none of the younger generation in the Jiang family were willing to carry on the family tradition.
Jiang Yao had an older brother, and his children were closer to their aunt Jiang Yao than to their own parents.
After all, what kid wouldn’t love a trendy, beautiful aunt who had no generation gap with them and supported all their decisions?
Jiang Yao thought about it. Among her four nephews and nieces, the one most connected to the entertainment industry was Jiang Luoze, making him the most suitable “porter.”
Jiang Luoze was 25, had a good voice, was handsome with a tall, slender build, and as a child was forced by his father to practice Dan roles for ten years.
As the youngest boy among the younger Jiang generation, Jiang Luoze’s father, who had already “burned through” three older sons’ attempts, had placed almost all his hopes on his youngest son.
But Jiang Luoze wasn’t really interested in opera. The only reason he stuck with it for ten years was the incredibly beautiful costumes and props. He had even been beaten by his father for secretly using a sewing machine late at night to make clothes.
Back then, it was Jiang Yao who stood in front of her nephew.
She shouted at her brother: “Jiang Luoze is not the ‘freak’ or the ‘sissy’ you call him! Our Aze is a genius of fashion design. We need to protect his dream.”
Her father threw down the stick he was holding, his eyes red with anger.
He couldn’t bring himself to hit his sister, but from that day on, he cut off all ties with his youngest son.
Afterwards, Jiang Yao sponsored her nephew through high school and helped him get into the world’s top fashion design school in France, paving the way for his career in design.
Now, Jiang Luoze was the chief designer, founder, and manager of the Saci brand.
Overseas, Jiang Luoze’s Saci was already gaining traction, but the brand hadn’t expanded back to China yet, so it was relatively unknown domestically, a niche brand.
If Jiang Luoze had the time, he would be perfect to be their “porter.”
It just so happened that soon, Jiang Luoze would be moving back to Beijing from France, shifting his focus to the domestic market.
Jiang Yao cleared her throat, opened Jiang Luoze’s WeChat, and sent a voice message: “Aze, your aunt wants to ask you something. Give me a call back when you have a moment, okay?”
After sending it, Jiang Yao clicked on the sent voice message and listened to it again. She was waiting for good news.
—
At the same time, Wen Han had just finished a promotional event for a sportswear brand.
After quickly removing his makeup backstage, Wen Han got into his matte black G63 and drove to the gym he had invested in.
His last project was Director Zhang’s Peking Opera Martial Artist, which required Wen Han to lose over ten kilograms in a short period, resulting in significant muscle loss.
He still had two months before starting his next project. He just needed to maintain a normal physique, which meant Wen Han could finally train without restrictions.
Arriving at the gym, he had just taken a sip of his protein shake when he got a call from his mother.
“Mom?” Wen Han choked slightly, coughing twice.
“What’s wrong? Did you catch a cold or the flu? Cough a couple more times for me. Let me hear if there’s any wheezing!”
Wen Xuelan’s voice was so loud Wen Han quickly moved the phone away from his ear.
“No, just choked on some water just now. Oh, by the way, Mom, are you free this weekend? Want to come over for a meal?” Wen Han quickly changed the subject.
Otherwise, his mom would nag him endlessly about how choking was caused by not wearing long johns, not dressing warmly enough, not eating enough leafy greens, not blow-drying his hair immediately after washing… all sorts of bad habits.
“No, no, I’m not coming. I can’t stand the stuff you like to eat. It’s either grass or bloody raw meat.” Wen Xuelan’s tone was full of obvious disdain.
Yep, that was his mom alright.
“Mom, that’s low-temperature slow-cooked beef. It’s not blood; the red part is myoglobin.”
Wen Han explained with a suppressed smile, then paused before deliberately teasing the little old lady: “Besides, you stayed with our eldest and second brothers in the US for so long. You’re still not used to this?”
Wen Han was the youngest son. His two older brothers were more than ten years his senior, and he was always the one who joked around most freely with his Film Queen mother.
“Pfft, I just ordered from Wuboyici in Chinatown. I don’t eat that foreign junk.” Wen Xuelan’s voice was full of spirit, and she said defiantly: “I definitely won’t eat with you. You won’t let me drink or eat sweets anyway.”
“Alcohol is bad for your blood pressure and cholesterol, and sweets are bad for your skin…”
Wen Xuelan interrupted him directly: “Stop blabbering. I have something serious to ask you. When is your next project starting?”
“Two months… actually, seven weeks from now.” Wen Han answered precisely.
Wen Xuelan: “So you have enough time then. You’ve got no plans for these seven weeks?”
Wen Han: “Nothing special besides my regular workouts and a few commercial gigs. Why?”
“Oh, there’s this…” Wen Xuelan recalled what her youngest son had said during his last livestream, and deliberately said mysteriously: “There’s a fitness variety show. Do you want to take part?”
“A fitness show?!” Wen Han was interested.
Wen Xuelan nodded: “Yeah, an overseas fitness show. Looks like a lot of exercise. And since it’s abroad, the food is all that grass you like and the bloody… I mean, myoglobin beef you enjoy.”
“Sounds interesting.” Wen Han’s voice carried a smile.
On the other end of the phone, Wen Xuelan raised an eyebrow, completely fabricating a fitness show without batting an eye.
Oh well, he was her own son. If you can’t cheat them to death, just cheat them senseless, right?
After all, the work a “porter” does isn’t really that different from what her son does every day lifting iron at the gym, is it?
