Chapter 49#

“Devoted” Movie King (3)#

This sudden marriage came really fast. It wasn’t until he sat in the driver’s seat of his own car that Kong Si finally accepted the fact that he had transformed from an unmarried person to a married one.

He was about to say something when a ringtone interrupted his impending words.

Earlier, during the hospital check-up and the wedding photos, Lu Yi had turned off his phone to avoid any sudden ringing. Now, as soon as he turned it back on after getting into the car, a call came through immediately.

The caller ID showed “Brother Li,” the agent Li He assigned to the original owner after his debut by the company.

Lu Yi glanced at the phone screen and said to Kong Si beside him, “It’s my agent. I need to take this call.”

The moment he answered, Li He’s roar came through: “What the hell happened? Where did you go last night? I can’t find you anywhere! Do you have any idea how frantic I’ve been looking for you?!”

As a third-rate entertainer, the original owner wasn’t valued by the company. The agent assigned to him wasn’t just responsible for him alone, but managed over a dozen artists of varying prominence.

Moreover, because he had offended a certain higher-up at the management company, he hadn’t received any gigs for some time. Even those low-end painless abortion ads wouldn’t consider him, a nameless talent show dropout with no fame.

But yesterday, Brother Li called him to attend a gathering, claiming there was a chance to land a minor role in a movie.

Though it was just a male sixth lead with only a few lines, because it was a big production by a renowned director, it was still a great opportunity for a small-time star like the original owner.

The original owner, being young, still held some idealistic views about the industry. Even though Agent Brother Li had never valued him much, the recent gestures of goodwill and persistence had renewed his confidence, making him trust Li He deeply.

It was because of this trust that he drank cup after cup poured by his agent, and after getting drunk, he unreservedly entrusted himself to his straight, married agent brother.

But the young original owner couldn’t have known that while his agent was only interested in women and had no attraction to men, he could still act as a pimp for other influential men or high-status artists who liked men.

Because the other party promised to give resources to one of Li He’s male artists with potential, Li He had no qualms about selling out the original owner, who was already blacklisted by the company.

After all, agents earned money from their artists. Lu Xingchen had no fame and was blacklisted. Being able to serve this purpose, in Li He’s eyes, was even a stroke of luck for him.

But the next morning, the promised big shot called him and cursed him out thoroughly.

It took him a while to understand that the guy was blaming him for being unreliable, because when the hotel staff opened the door early in the morning, reporters didn’t capture anyone in the room other than He Xiao.

That couldn’t be! Li He swore he had followed instructions and sent the person to Room 409. After talking his way out of it, he angrily called Lu Xingchen to confront him.

But all he got was a sweet female voice: “Sorry, the number you dialed is powered off, please try again later…”

Frustrated, he hung up and drove straight to Lu Xingchen’s shabby rented apartment. When he unlocked the door and went in, he saw only a half-eaten instant noodle cup and messy, ransacked drawers.

Not only was the person gone, but their ID documents were missing as well.

While searching for his artist, he called Lu Xingchen several times without success. During a meal, the big shot cursed him out again. After apologizing profusely, Li He simmered with anger. He couldn’t enjoy even delicious food. Without much hope, he called Lu Xingchen once more.

This time, the call connected. Hearing that familiar voice, he was so stirred up that he started scolding the person again without holding back.

When Li He started roaring, Lu Yi frowned, lowered the volume, and deliberately held the phone farther away.

Only when the phone stopped buzzing did he bring it closer and turn on speakerphone.

Lu Yi’s eyelashes lowered. Since it was night and the car hadn’t started yet, the warm orange light inside the car illuminated his face, casting a tiny black shadow from his thick lashes.

Lu Xingchen was still very young. Both his appearance and voice were full of vitality, carrying the sunny and clear vibe typical of a boy his age.

But with a different soul inside, the same body now spoke with a steadier and deeper tone: “If I remember correctly, last night you were the one who sent me to Room 409. I’d also like to hear your explanation, Brother Li: why were there so many entertainment reporters and paparazzi there the next morning?”

Li He’s cursing abruptly stopped. After a pause, he said impatiently, “I arranged that, of course. You have no fame; without some hype, how can you turn things around?!”

In the eyes of a small-time artist like Lu Xingchen, agents seemed like a formidable profession. If he didn’t know any better, he could easily be fooled by Li He.

Although Kong Si didn’t know what the entertainment industry was like, he did know that a third-rate artist’s agent wouldn’t have that much power. Hearing Li He’s boast, he couldn’t help but snicker.

Lu Yi glanced at Kong Si and said coldly, turning on his phone’s call recording: “Li He, do you think I’m a three-year-old or a complete fool?”

Li He became wary: “Who’s that with you?”

Yesterday, he had definitely given Lu Xingchen a strong dose. If Lu Xingchen didn’t show up in Room 409, then someone else must have taken him away.

Lu Yi calmly pressed: “The ride-hailing driver. Last night, after I got drunk, being taken to Room 409 was your doing, wasn’t it? What benefit do you get from this?”

He thought about it: if the original owner had experienced this, his emotions wouldn’t be so calm and steady. Hesitating, Lu Yi raised his voice and said in a more exaggerated tone, “Do you know I almost got… I trusted you so much. How could you do this to me?!”

Hearing it was a ride-hailing driver, Li He relaxed. He knew Lu Xingchen was naive and uncalculating. Otherwise, when a company higher-up tried to proposition him, he wouldn’t have outright embarrassed that person, leading to his promising start being buried alive.

Probably He Xiao wasn’t too drunk last night, realized what was happening, and got the person out, Li He thought. Although that big shot said it would be useful, He Xiao was always known to like women. For straight guys like them, even if a man was naked in front of them, they wouldn’t feel any sexual urge.

His tone grew harsher: “Lu Xingchen, when you left yesterday, how did you promise me? You said you’d cooperate and definitely get the role. Do you know that He Xiao is the confirmed male lead for that big production? In this industry, if you want to be famous, you have to create buzz. Do you even know what buzz means? Smearing, name-dropping, shipping—do you know how hard I worked for this opportunity? I used so many connections for you, and you wasted it. You’re so ungrateful! I’m so disappointed in you.”

Lu Yi glanced at Kong Si beside him and said in an even more exaggerated tone: “Just hype? Then why did you drug me?!”

“What drug? You must be drunk and confused,” Li He said, still shrewd enough. Even though he had completely given up on Lu Xingchen, he stubbornly denied the drugging.

“Brother Li, aren’t you curious where I spent last night?”

Li He’s heart raced: “Where?”

“In the hospital. I collapsed on the ground last night, and a kind person took me there. It turned out to be anaphylactic shock. The doctor did a blood test and said I had a special drug in my system… For most people, it enhances libido, but because the dosage was too high, my body couldn’t handle it.”

Kong Si, watching the man in the rearview mirror, noted his exaggerated tone but expressionless face, spinning lies smoothly without batting an eye. The guy claimed he couldn’t act, but he sure could deceive.

Of course, all this was made up by Lu Yi. There was no doctor, no coma. His antidote was indeed a real, full-grown man.

But his tone didn’t sound like he was joking, and with Li He feeling guilty, he actually believed it.

He regretted increasing the dosage to avoid mishaps and said with some frustration, “You’re completely useless!”

“Even if you didn’t personally drug me, you knew about it, didn’t you, Brother Li? Given how much I trusted you, tell me: who wanted to set me up?”

Li He naturally wouldn’t expose that big shot: “Why do you ask so much? Who do you think you are? As if someone would go to so much trouble to frame you. Fine, it was me! Here’s my final warning: get back to your crappy apartment right now. If I don’t see you, you’re done in this industry!”

For a small-time artist like Lu Xingchen without connections, falling out with an agent basically meant no future.

Lu Yi ended the recording and reverted to his usual calm, detached voice: “No need to trouble yourself. I plan to terminate my contract with the company.”

“What? Are you rebelling?!”

Before Li He’s roar could finish, the phone emitted beeps. Clearly, Lu Xingchen had hung up.

Lu Yi looked at Kong Si: “I told you, I’m innocent.”

Kong Si asked him: “You said all that just to prove you’re innocent to me?” Actually, he had already believed the man’s story; otherwise, he wouldn’t have impulsively married Lu Yi.

Lu Yi nodded: “That’s only one reason. Do me a favor: drop me off at Hejin Apartment, Building 106. I think I need to settle the contract termination issue with the entertainment company first.”

Kong Si was displeased: “Can’t you be more polite? Asking for a favor without addressing me properly?”

This was the first time someone had called Lu Yi impolite. He thought for a moment and then repeated very politely: “Kong Si, please do me a favor and drop me off at Hejin Apartment. I need to deal with the contract termination issue first. Alright?”

Kong Si was even more annoyed. He slapped the steering wheel in protest: “We’re married, married! Do you know what married means? Legal spouses!”

Lu Yi fell silent. Previously, with Yu Ke, it had been a contract marriage, so he addressed him as Mr. Yu. Calling Kong Si by his given name was already quite close.

But if he switched to the more polite “Mr. Kong,” that would probably make the other angrier.

He hesitated: “Honey, do me a favor. I need to resolve a contractual issue that might affect our marital life. Can we?”

“Shut up!” Just because he wasn’t the one being slept with didn’t make him “honey,” alright? Kong Si snorted and started the car.