Chapter 20#

An Old Friend#

Qin Feng suddenly smiled and said, “Lu Yan, if you’re not too short on money, I suggest you take fewer endorsements in the future, and only pick those with class. You have good looks and great temperament, but if you accept too many miscellaneous ones, those truly influential brands won’t come looking for you.”

Lu Yan also smiled. “I’m single—one person fed, the whole family’s full. I have no debts to repay. Money? Sure, more is better, but less doesn’t matter either. So, Brother Feng, you decide.”

Qin Feng chuckled. “Lu Yan, you’re a very interesting person.”

Lu Yan raised an eyebrow. “Why do you say that, Brother Feng?”

Qin Feng said candidly, “At first, when I was asked to take you on, I was a bit reluctant—I told you that. After all, Chairman Su hasn’t directly assigned me to mentor anyone in years. Initially, I thought you had some connections. Later, I found out you didn’t. After reviewing your profile, I thought your conditions were decent, but I worried you might be too young and arrogant, so I gave you a few warnings. I even prepared for you to complain or resist. Who knew you’d be so cooperative? Since we started working together, you’ve basically followed my every word and agreed to all my suggestions. I don’t think you’re someone without your own ideas, so why never raise any objections?”

Lu Yan said calmly, “Because I trust that Brother Feng will make the best arrangements for me.”

Qin Feng was momentarily stunned, as if he hadn’t expected such an answer. He was silent for a while, then said ambiguously, “Lu Yan, you’re really clever. I’ve never seen a young person so patient and tactful. Sometimes I wonder if you’re really only twenty-three—well, after the New Year, I suppose you could be considered twenty-four.”

Lu Yan thought to himself, That’s right—I’m indeed older than twenty-four, at least in psychological age.

Qin Feng laughed again, this time with a hint of teasing. “Actually, I once wondered if Chairman Su had taken a liking to you and that’s why he had me mentor you. But later, I realized it didn’t seem that way, and I believe Chairman Su isn’t that kind of person. So, how did Chairman Su discover you? His eye for talent is still as good as ever.”

Lu Yan thought, Actually, you hit the nail on the head, but of course, he didn’t say it. He remained silent, listening to Qin Feng continue.

Qin Feng said with a hint of nostalgia, “Actually, I joined Starry Sky back in the day because of Chairman Su.”

Lu Yan knew he wanted to reminisce and cooperated by asking, “Did Chairman Su sign you into Starry Sky as well?”

Qin Feng nodded. “Back then, I was just an ordinary employee at a no-name company, working under a has-been celebrity. I ran errands and did odd jobs for him every day, often being bossed around. Then I met Chairman Su. At that time, Starry Sky had just been founded, but it was growing fast. With the Su Group as its backbone, many people wanted to sign with Starry Sky, and I was no exception. Chairman Su asked me what my dream was. I said I wanted to be a top agent and manage the most popular stars. So Chairman Su helped pay my liquidated damages (liquidated damages) and signed me into Starry Sky. At first, he assigned me a few artists—mostly newcomers or B-listers. He said if I needed anything, he would provide it, but he wouldn’t interfere with my work. He said it, and he meant it. I don’t know what his selection criteria were, but It turns out (as it turned out), his judgment was always right. Now I’m considered a well-known agent in the industry, and every artist Chairman Su placed in my hands has become a huge success.”

Qin Feng looked at Lu Yan and asked, “Actually, over the years, other companies have tried to poach me, even offering double the pay. But I was never tempted. Do you know why?”

Lu Yan thought for a moment and said, “Because of Chairman Su’s favor in discovering you?”

Qin Feng laughed. “I’m not an ungrateful person, but I’m not that noble either. The reason I won’t leave Starry Sky is that I know only here can I achieve the best development, get the best resources, and have the greatest freedom. Chairman Su is a rare good boss. He not only recognizes talent but also knows how to use it. Even though he no longer handles Starry Sky’s daily affairs, as long as he remains the boss, I won’t leave.”

Lu Yan thought of everything he knew about Su Mo and couldn’t help nodding, murmuring softly to himself, “He really is worth it.”

“So,” Qin Feng shifted the topic, “since Chairman Su stopped handling Starry Sky’s operations, you’re the only one he’s specifically asked me to mentor in all these years. I believe Chairman Su’s judgment is never wrong, and these past few months have proven that. Lu Yan, do you know what my dream is?”

“What is it?”

“I want to create a megastar—unprecedented and unparalleled.” Qin Feng’s eyes shone with ambition. “And now, you’re my target. You trust me, and I won’t let that trust down. Tell me now, are you willing to work with me toward that goal?”

Lu Yan suppressed the surging excitement and thrill within him, but couldn’t stop the increasingly obvious curve of his lips. Slowly, he uttered four words, “It’s my honor!”

Lu Yan vaguely guessed that Qin Feng’s sudden change in attitude was probably due to his earlier remark. In truth, it wasn’t that he trusted Qin Feng that much—he had to trust him. And as it turned out, all of Qin Feng’s decisions aligned with Lu Yan’s interests. He was indeed a competent agent. But Lu Yan never expected that his casual comment would strike a chord with Qin Feng, leading him to make such a decision—a decision that would eventually give rise to an incomparable megastar.

A few days later, Lu Yan sat once again in Qin Feng’s office.

Qin Feng looked delighted and got straight to the point. “Lu Yan, I have good news.”

“What kind of good news? Is it about an endorsement?”

“Bingo.” Qin Feng mentioned a brand starting with M, a Swiss watchmaking company. “Recently, there were rumors that this company was looking for a new Asian ambassador. So I reached out. Two days ago, they got back to me, saying they reviewed your profile and are very interested. Even though you’re not famous enough yet, they care more about your personal image, temperament, and how well you fit the brand. They suggested we first have you shoot a set of photos. If it works out, we’ll sign the contract.”

Lu Yan knew Qin Feng must have put a lot of effort and resources into securing this opportunity, and he said gratefully, “Thank you, Brother Feng.”

Qin Feng waved his hand. “We’re in the same boat now. I said I’d help you—it’s for you, but also for myself.”

Lu Yan smiled. “Still, I should thank you.”

Qin Feng smiled back and continued, “This is a great opportunity. This brand isn’t a top-tier luxury, but it’s positioned in the mid-to-high range, which means a wider audience. More importantly, they’re looking for an Asian ambassador, not just a domestic one. If we sign this contract, your value will immediately more than double. The hidden benefits are that your future advertisements and endorsements won’t be low-end.”

Lu Yan nodded. “So what do I need to do now? When is the photo shoot?”

Qin Feng said, “I’ll cancel some of your schedule in the next few days. Take a good rest. After that, I’ll have them send over the plan, and you can prepare in advance.”

“Okay.” Lu Yan had no objections.

“By the way, I’ve received several TV drama scripts recently. After we secure this endorsement, you can pick a suitable one to star in. The previous two movies were well-received. We can ride that momentum into TV dramas. A true megastar must diversify. Also, how are you at singing?”

“Pretty decent, I think. I won first place in a solo singing competition at school.”

“That’s good. I’ll have some songs written for you. Let’s release an EP first and see how it’s received. Of course, there’s no rush. I’ll arrange everything. I’m telling you now to prepare you mentally. For now, the endorsement is the priority.”

“I understand, Brother Feng. You handle it as you see fit.”

Since the other party had shown sincerity, Lu Yan was willing to reciprocate with trust.

As he was about to leave the company, he ran into someone—an old acquaintance.

The person approached from behind, doing what they often did in school: suddenly slapping him on the shoulder. Then a bright, smiling face appeared. “Lu Yan, it really is you.”

Lu Yan was startled for a moment, but fortunately, the person showed themselves in time, so he didn’t instinctively twist their arm. “Yongzhou?”

Xu Yongzhou laughed. “It’s me. I recognized your silhouette from behind. What a coincidence. I’ve been with the company for a while, but this is the first time I’ve run into you.”

Lu Yan smiled. “I didn’t know you’d signed with Starry Sky too.”

He had been busy lately, coming and going in a hurry every time he entered the company. Besides, Lu Yan wasn’t one to gossip about others, so he didn’t know which new artists had been signed.

Meeting Xu Yongzhou again put Lu Yan in a daze. Since he left school to join the cast of Blade Edge, they hadn’t seen each other. Under Lu Yan’s deliberate avoidance, they had barely kept in touch. It had been almost half a year.

Seeing Xu Yongzhou at Starry Sky didn’t surprise Lu Yan much—after all, in his previous life, Xu Yongzhou had also signed with Starry Sky. But the memories and emotions, buried by time and busyness, surged back at the moment of reunion, leaving Lu Yan feeling a bit conflicted.

Xu Yongzhou lightly punched his shoulder and joked, “Brother Lu is really too busy for us mere mortals. I joined Starry Sky before the New Year. Lately, I’ve only seen you in newspapers and on TV. I guess you’ve been too busy to notice your old classmate’s news.”

Lu Yan smiled apologetically, deliberately ignoring the faint sourness in the other’s tone. “My bad. I’ll treat you to a meal sometime to make up for it.”

“That’s more like it,” Xu Yongzhou said. “How about today? It’s almost mealtime. If you don’t have other plans, let’s grab a bite together?”

“Sure.” Lu Yan nodded readily.