Demon Consort Runs into the Beijing Crown Prince - Chapter 9

By the time Lu Hanzhang finally escaped the social gathering, it was past 10 o’clock.

He immediately unblocked Chu Muyun.

WeChat was silent, devoid of any activity. There was no “Good night” message from the little rabbit avatar.

Had Chu Muyun fallen asleep? Or perhaps he hadn’t noticed he’d been unblocked? Or was he angry?

Lu Hanzhang typed and deleted several messages before finally sending Chu Muyun a red envelope, a subtle reminder that he had been removed from the blacklist.

Chu Muyun woke up the next day to find a red envelope on WeChat.

He wasn’t about to get worked up or angry just because Lu Hanzhang had blocked him. How could he and the Great King fall out over something so trivial? He’d simply been too tired and had fallen asleep immediately.

Truth be told, the Great King had spoiled him so much in the past that he subconsciously felt completely secure in their relationship.

Still half-asleep, Chu Muyun tapped to claim the envelope. The number that popped up startled him: 1 followed by five zeros—one hundred thousand.

He sent a question mark, then asked: [Why are you sending me money?]

Lu Hanzhang replied instantly: [Buy whatever the house needs.]

Wow, Chu Muyun thought. One hundred thousand could replace all the appliances! Besides, the house was fully equipped and didn’t need anything.

Another message arrived: [If there’s nothing to buy, get a Four-Leaf Clover Bracelet. As someone in the public eye, you shouldn’t wear knockoffs.]

Chu Muyun froze.

…Brother, if you see through it, just don’t say it.

Lu Hanzhang had a sharp eye, instantly recognizing the high-quality replica. Chu Muyun had only worn that imitation bracelet once, on the night they first met at the Pear Blossom Falls project launch banquet, and never again. Could it be that Lu Hanzhang had already been paying close attention to him back then?

Hehe, actions speak louder than words.

He replied: [Okay, thank you, hubby~ Little Rabbit sends hearts.jpg]

[What did you call me?]

Chu Muyun quickly corrected himself: [Thank you, Boss! You’re the best~ Little Rabbit gives a thumbs-up.jpg]

Lu Hanzhang chuckled helplessly. This little rabbit kept switching between baring its claws and acting docile.

Chu Muyun woke up late. By then, Lu Hanzhang was already in his CEO’s office.

Assistant Li Weide had just knocked to report on work matters and froze upon seeing that smile. A classic line echoed in his mind, refusing to fade, The boss hasn’t smiled like that in ages…

Chu Muyun got out of bed to wash up.

After half a year of leisure, it was time to get busy again.

Lu Hanzhang’s assistant had sent him Jin Ming, Huashi’s top talent agent, on WeChat. Chu Muyun added him as a friend, and they arranged to meet at a café near the Huashi building.

The purpose was to get acquainted and discuss future work arrangements.

Their meeting was scheduled for 2:00 PM. Chu Muyun left early, took a taxi, and had lunch at a noodle restaurant. Afterward, he went to a luxury jewelry store in the mall and bought a Four-Leaf Clover Bracelet with the money Lu Hanzhang had given him.

This time, it was the real deal.

He paid and immediately put it on, snapping a photo to send to Lu Hanzhang.

His slender, snow-white wrist, like frosted jade, could make anything look good.

Moments later, Lu Hanzhang replied: [Not bad.]

Chu Muyun then purchased a pair of platinum cufflinks inlaid with black onyx, spending every last penny of the hundred thousand yuan—and even adding some of his own. He planned to gift them to Lu Hanzhang next time they met.

Spending the Great King’s money on gifts for the Great King, he was quite skilled at it. After all, everything under heaven belonged to the Great King, it was all his money anyway.

Having finished shopping, Chu Muyun arrived at the café on time.

Jin Ming was already there, waiting in a booth.

Two days ago, the Crown Prince of the Lu Group’s special assistant had personally contacted Jin Ming to discuss Chu Muyun. While Jin Ming maintained a respectful demeanor, he couldn’t help but think disdainfully, Another one with connections. Is this the ugly son of some capitalist? Or the pampered pet of a domineering CEO?

The former would be ugly and lack acting skills, while the latter might have looks but no talent. Either way, they were just dilettantes playing in the entertainment industry.

Of course, Jin Ming kept these thoughts to himself. Later, he dutifully searched for Chu Muyun’s past work online. There wasn’t much footage, but he did find several fan-made compilations gushing over the actor’s looks.

Jin Ming watched them, and his first impression was, stunning! His perception of this obscure actor instantly transformed.

Handsome face, graceful figure, and surprisingly agile acting. His peach blossom eyes shone with vitality, brimming with emotion.

Tiansheng wasn’t some small-time company anymore. How could they let such a gem slip through the cracks?

That’s why Jin Ming arrived today with anticipation. He had a feeling he could cultivate a real cash cow.

As Chu Muyun entered the café, Jin Ming’s sharp eyes followed every movement. His entrance, the brief pause to survey the surroundings, and his purposeful stride to the booth. He mentally dissected each gesture.

Impressive.

Even without filters or heavy makeup, Chu Muyun’s face was striking. His physique was clearly well-trained, and his movements were natural and relaxed, yet carried a subtle air of refinement, even hinting at the elegance of ancient times. He could seamlessly transition to a historical drama set, simply donning a wide-sleeved robe would transform him into a noble young master from a prestigious clan.

These days, young actors playing academy students all seemed like naive college students, utterly lacking in proper demeanor. Jin Ming hadn’t seen this kind of presence in ages.

Wonderful, truly wonderful. A natural-born embodiment of ancient elegance.

Chu Muyun sat down and greeted Jin Ming. His new manager appeared to be in his early forties, well-maintained, and wore gold-rimmed glasses, giving him the air of a refined university professor.

They still had much to discuss regarding future career direction and work arrangements.

Jin Ming was a veteran manager with extensive experience. Although Chu Muyun had been in the entertainment industry for five years, he remained a fringe figure with limited knowledge. He readily accepted Jin Ming’s plans without objection.

The fact that he was so cooperative despite having powerful backing only deepened Jin Ming’s satisfaction.

Jin Ming also inquired about Chu Muyun’s views on variety shows.

“If I get the chance, I’ll go,” Chu Muyun replied. “I’m good at those.”

He exuded confidence.

He possessed a wide range of talents, decent life skills, and no stage fright.

Jin Ming nodded, “Alright.”

Some actors might play social butterflies or wild partygoers on screen, but in reality, they’re introverted and socially anxious, dreading any activity outside of filming and too timid to appear on variety shows. Others prefer to remain in their “ivory tower,” focused solely on crafting exceptional performances, oblivious to the outside world and reluctant to “descend to the mundane.” After a brief conversation with Chu Muyun, Jin Ming had a clear understanding of his potential.

Chu Muyun was outgoing, ambitious to rise to stardom, and had the right temperament for variety shows.

However, Jin Ming cautioned, “You’re still unknown and lack any signature works. Let’s hold off on variety shows for now. Focus on filming two solid projects first. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck with the ‘variety show personality’ label forever.”

“Understood. I’ll follow your guidance,” Chu Muyun replied.

Jin Ming then presented two scripts he had on hand, allowing Chu Muyun to choose one.

Having the luxury of picking and choosing was a privilege he had never enjoyed during his time at Tiansheng.

It was a coincidence that both were modern dramas. After meeting Chu Muyun today, Jin Ming resolved to secure high-quality historical drama roles for him in the future.

The first was a light urban comedy with an unremarkable script, but the vacant second male lead role had a likable character arc.

The other project was a BL adaptation: a melodramatic urban drama about feuding wealthy families, fake heirs, and tragic love triangles, packed with clichés and generating significant online buzz. The role they needed to fill was the third male lead—the protagonist’s romantic rival, a beautiful, malicious, and scheming fake heir. They had already cast someone, but the actor’s career imploded just days before filming began when his ex-girlfriend exposed his cheating and promiscuous behavior. The scandal was still trending on social media.

Chu Muyun’s eyes lit up as Jin Ming briefly described the project, “This sounds perfect.”

This kind of role was right up his alley.

Jin Ming, “…The lead actor is Luo Yi.”

Luo Yi was the top-tier male star who had played the Martial King, whom Chu Muyun had once trolled with an anonymous account, leading to two years of relentless cyberbullying from his fans.

Luo Yi’s fans were notorious for their aggressive comparisons and fierce loyalty. Working with him meant risking a deluge of fan backlash, and most established actors avoided sharing a set with him.

With filming about to start, many interested actors were unavailable. Combined with Luo Yi’s casting, this double disadvantage made finding a replacement difficult. Otherwise, Jin Ming would have struggled to get Chu Muyun, a virtually unknown actor, into the project, facing strong opposition from the director and producers.

Chu Muyun perked up, “Him? Then I definitely want this role. With him involved, how could we lack publicity?”