My Landlord is an Idol Singer - Chapter 118
Gu Zhinan and Lai Jingming had both been drinking, so naturally Fatty’s pickup truck was still parked at the park’s lot. They just grabbed a cab.
The music bar they agreed to meet at was more or less in downtown Hangzhou, and neither of them was in a hurry. They had set the meeting for an hour later, so of course they had to arrive right on the dot.
“They asked you to be assistant director?” Gu Zhinan, now masked up again, asked with a puzzled look as they sat in the taxi.
“Yeah, they joined Nation’s Star Entertainment and got funding for a film project, using the reputation we built up at the studio.”
Lai Jingming grinned. “The director I’m working under is from Nation’s Star Entertainment. His name’s Jia Zhengkang. Heard of him?”
“Nope.”
“Uh…” Lai Jingming didn’t know how to explain further, so he just continued.
“He’s filming a New Year movie out in the northern Shaanxi desert. We worked hard to get that connection. Lan Fang thought the grunt work was too tiring, so Lu Gao Chi and I went.”
“We stayed there for three months. The director took a liking to our studio. When we got back, the opportunity came. Every idea during those three months was mine, but I didn’t care at the time and let Lu Gao Chi take all the credit.”
“And then they landed a big fish like Nation’s Star Entertainment and stabbed you in the back?” Gu Zhinan was a bit surprised. “Why didn’t they just keep stringing you along? Got too greedy and couldn’t help themselves?”
“They just didn’t want to keep sneaking around behind my back anymore! Bastard couple!” Lai Jingming cursed angrily. “When we get there, I’m definitely letting them have it. Don’t try to stop me!”
“Sure, go for it. I’ll just sit and watch,” Gu Zhinan nodded in agreement.
After a half-hour cab ride, plus the time to leave the park and wait for the taxi, they arrived at the music bar just a few minutes past the hour.
They walked straight in. Lai Jingming’s face went cold the moment they stepped inside, all the smiles from earlier gone. As soon as Gu Zhinan entered, he saw a band performing on stage. The area was surrounded by dining tables. It was a two-story setup with an open middle.
Upstairs were private booths with floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing a view of the band below. Every now and then, someone would go down to request a song.
Lai Jingming led Gu Zhinan straight to one of the upstairs booths, where two people, dressed to impress, were already waiting. When they saw Lai Jingming, their expressions varied. The woman remained composed, even inching closer to the man beside her. The man, on the other hand, looked smug and superior.
Gu Zhinan gave them a quick once-over. The man looked like your typical refined scumbag type, glasses and all, soft on the outside, scheming on the inside. The woman wore a blue off-shoulder dress, her curled hair draped over her shoulders, makeup done to the nines, a real beauty, no doubt.
Lu Gao Chi and Lan Fang, right? A perfect pair.
Lai Jingming sat down without a word, and Gu Zhinan followed, not even bothering to take off his mask, just watching. Lu Gao Chi and Lan Fang glanced at the slim man in the mask that Lai Jingming brought with him and sat down without introduction, looking confused.
“Jingming, this is…?”
“None of your damn business. If you’ve got something to say, say it. If not, we’re heading off to drink.” Lai Jingming snapped impatiently.
A flash of disdain crossed Lan Fang’s eyes, which Gu Zhinan caught. It sparked his curiosity about the woman who had been cheating on Lai Jingming for a year.
“There’s no need for this, you know,” Lan Fang said gently. “A forced relationship is never sweet. Gao Chi and I have mutual feelings.”
“Mutual feelings?” Lai Jingming sneered. “How long has that been going on? Two years? Longer?”
Lan Fang paused, then pressed on. “Look, the way you’re giving up on yourself now, it’s not worth it. You should join us. Nation’s Star Entertainment is a massive ship. It’s way better than going it alone.”
Lu Gao Chi chimed in, “Yeah, wasting the directing skills you studied for years isn’t smart. Come work with me. We can still be friends.”
“Friends, my ass!” Lai Jingming suddenly exploded. “Lu Gao Chi, aren’t you just relying on your family’s dirty money? That bitch is only with you for your money. You put her up to accepting my love just to play me, didn’t you?”
He spat on the ground and looked at Lan Fang with loathing and pain.
“I’m self-destructing, what the hell does that have to do with you? You think you’ve got the right to say anything? What, you like his connections? His family? His face? So now that you’ve used me up, you just toss me aside?”
As he spoke, the bloodshot veins in his eyes became visibly redder. Gu Zhinan stood up and gently pushed him back into his seat.
Lu Gao Chi frowned, clearly irritated by the outburst, but quickly forced a smile.
“Don’t get worked up. We didn’t call you here to fight. We wanted to give you a chance. You don’t want to stay stuck at the bottom forever, do you?”
Lai Jingming scoffed, “A chance? You’re not even worthy of shining my shoes. Don’t try to pass your insecurities onto me.”
“You—” Lu Gao Chi’s eyes darkened, and his fake smile vanished.
“Come on, let’s not argue,” Gu Zhinan suddenly spoke up. “You guys used to be lovers and friends, right? No need to ruin the vibe. Let’s order, I’m starving.”
Lan Fang and Lu Gao Chi finally took a closer look at the man Lai Jingming had brought.
“Young man’s got a point. We’re here to talk over dinner, not fight. What’s done is done. If you’re willing to accept it, we can still be friends and even partners.”
Lu Gao Chi kept a natural tone, even taking out a cigarette case and offering smokes. Gu Zhinan declined, and of course, so did Lai Jingming.
Lu Gao Chi ended up lighting one for himself. “You should really think it over. I can make you the assistant director on this film.”
“This is our way of making it up to you. The studio disbanded anyway. Holding onto an empty building is pointless. Your talent shouldn’t go to waste.”
Lan Fang added, “Your friend seems to have better foresight than you.”
Lai Jingming looked at Gu Zhinan, confused, why did it seem like this guy was siding with the backstabbing couple?
But Gu Zhinan calmly picked up the menu, called over the waiter, and ordered a whole table’s worth of dishes. Then he looked up and carefully asked, “You two are paying, right? We’re broke.”
Lai Jingming nearly died of embarrassment. Lu Gao Chi and Lan Fang both scoffed. Lu Gao Chi waved a hand dismissively. “It’s just dinner. I can afford it. Help us talk some sense into Jingming, yeah?”
“Sure.”
Outside the bathroom.
“What the hell’s your problem?” Lai Jingming grabbed Gu Zhinan by the shoulder and hissed.
“What problem? I came all the way from Lin City, drank a ton with you, and even the noodles my landlady made are already digested, I’m definitely eating.” Gu Zhinan replied seriously.
“Your landlady?” Lai Jingming was shocked. “Xia An’ge?”
Gu Zhinan mimicked Xia An’ge’s tone and rolled his eyes at him. “None of your business!”
Then he grinned. “Let’s go eat. If there’s anything else you want to say, spit it out fast. Once we’re done, we’re getting outta here. If they refuse to pay, we’re screwed, I ordered only the expensive stuff.”
For the first time ever, Lai Jingming had the urge to punch Gu Zhinan.
This bastard was using his misery as both booze and appetizer!
Storyteller Xiaoxingxing's Words
3 chapters will be released every Monday at 11am EST. If you like my work, please consider supporting me by buying me a cup of kofi or becoming my Patron! P.S. Chapter 157 is now available in my Patreon. ^o^~