My Landlord is an Idol Singer - Chapter 153

Gu Zhinan hadn’t expected that a simple trip to Beijing Film Academy to pick actors would lead to such a run-in. And from the way Lai Jingming described it, it sounded like the other side had gone all out, two full days of auditions at the stadium, and today was the last day.

“Zhinan.” Lai Jingming suddenly called out.

Gu Zhinan turned his head to see him, hands clasped behind his head, strolling along leisurely as if thoroughly enjoying the campus environment. His lips curled into a carefree smile. “What’s up?”

Gu Zhinan let his arms fall and stretched a little. Lack of sleep was starting to wear him down. Lai Jingming couldn’t help noticing how unusually relaxed Gu Zhinan seemed today, much more than usual.

Could it be because he met his beloved landlord yesterday? And when he woke him this morning, Gu Zhinan had clearly looked sleep-deprived! Could it be…?

Lai Jingming’s mouth twitched slightly. Is this the scent of youth beginning to bloom? Even a hopelessly straight guy like him has found spring?

“What are you staring at? Spit it out.” Gu Zhinan felt a little creeped out by Lai Jingming’s stare. What was with this guy?

Lai Jingming sighed and got serious. “I really plan to go head-to-head with those two traitors. Whenever their film premieres, ours will premiere the same day!”

“Sure.”

“You’re okay with this?” Lai Jingming didn’t dare meet his eyes. Everyone knew the outcome of a film with a 4 million budget going up against one with 50 million.

“Just focus on actually finishing the film first.” Gu Zhinan didn’t see the problem. Young people should have fire in their veins. Even if they burned themselves out, at least they burned brightly.

“Even if you finish it, you still have to fight for screening slots. You might get crushed by other films before theirs even hits theaters. You’ll be selling breakfast at the morning market while they’re counting their box office money.”

“…” Lai Jingming was convinced. The worst part was… Gu Zhinan wasn’t wrong.

“I know you’re not willing to accept that. So work hard, young man.” Gu Zhinan patted his shoulder like a seasoned elder.

“Sometimes I feel like you don’t belong to our generation. Did you have some kind of enlightenment?” Lai Jingming muttered. Gu Zhinan seemed indifferent to everything, as if nothing could faze him.

“I died once.” His voice came faintly from behind.

He spoke the truth. Whether Lai Jingming believed him or not didn’t matter. If he did believe it, Gu Zhinan could always shamelessly deny having said it.

“Bullshit! Stop acting like some enlightened master!” Lai Jingming jogged to catch up, completely unconvinced. He figured that maybe this guy’s brain only switched on after he moved away.

Around 5 PM at Hangcheng Airport. Gu Zhinan and Lai Jingming headed to the parking area, where Situ Hongwei was already waiting. Lai Jingming had called ahead, so Situ came to pick them up.

“Boss Gu, Fatty, over here!” Situ Hongwei waved. Only then did Gu Zhinan spot his sturdy frame and he was driving a Huayu. It was the kind of dream car Gu Zhinan didn’t dare even think about, no driver’s license after all.

“Just call me Zhinan, Brother Situ.”

“Haha, sure thing. Let’s talk in the car.”

They got in and headed for the little Natural Entertainment building.

“While you two were in the capital, I finished fixing up Natural Entertainment. Not exactly renovation, just a deep clean, added some proper company equipment. Editing and post-production still need a proper studio. My wedding shop could do for now, but the gear’s not great for movies.”

Gu Zhinan nodded, not that he understood any of this. “Fatty and Situ can handle it. I’m just the clueless goose.”

“If you’re a clueless goose, the rest of us should quit breathing.”

No one ever believed him when he told the truth. What else could he say? So he chose silence.

They pulled up outside the small building. Gu Zhinan and Lai Jingming got out and looked up, there, above the first floor, hung a clean new sign: Natural Entertainment.

“That was fast.” Lai Jingming grinned. This was the start of something new.

“Paid extra for express service. Come on, everyone inside’s eager to meet you, Zhinan!” Situ Hongwei chuckled. He’d brought over a dozen of his wedding shop staff to help out. They’d done a fine job.

Inside, the first floor had been turned into a clean, bright lobby, complete with a front desk. Lai Jingming didn’t even recognize the place anymore. Was this really that bare, empty studio from before?

Even Gu Zhinan was pleasantly surprised. Situ Hongwei’s ability to get things done was impressive.

Upstairs, they saw tidy desks, computers, and some camera equipment, all from Situ’s wedding shop. His own tools of the trade.

A dozen people sat chatting in chairs. As Situ came up, they all turned to the stairs. Once Gu Zhinan and Lai Jingming appeared, Situ grinned.

“This is our boss! I’ve been bragging about him for days, now the real deal’s here. Anyone who wants to be ‘the boss’s wife,’ here’s your chance!”

“???” Gu Zhinan froze. What the hell? There’s such a thing? They all want to? No good, this is a monogamous country!

“Hello, Boss Gu!” 

That’s what they called him, but Situ had spent days hyping them up: how their new boss was a young man full of talent, a bestselling author. A poet whose work was in textbooks. The songwriter behind Summer Wind, a triple-award-winning hit.

And this Beijing trip? For something big, but confidential.

Of course, that part came from Lai Jingming, but Situ had kept the secret. After all, Blue and White Porcelain was a nationally designated cultural program. Situ respected Lai’s trust.

“Hi everyone, I’m Gu Zhinan. You all know Fatty here already.” Gu Zhinan smiled. “Looking forward to working with you all.”

No need for airs. He counted twelve here, plus the three of them. Exactly fifteen.

“We’re all your fans now, Boss Gu! And your songs! Can you get Xia An’ge’s autograph for us?”

How famous was the landlord already?

“Sure. When her new album drops, I’ll get you all signed copies.”

“I knew it, I’m her fan too! Her new album’s called Love Song, right? Did you write that one too, Boss Gu?” A girl raised her hand excitedly.

When Gu Zhinan nodded, the room exploded. Even Lai Jingming was stunned, not to mention Situ Hongwei! 

“You really wrote it?”

“Yep. You’ll hear it when the album drops.”

“Holy shit.”

What could Lai Jingming say? He just laughed sheepishly and waved at the twelve upstairs.

“Let’s go! Boss Gu’s treating us to dinner to celebrate Natural Entertainment’s grand opening! Once the cast’s in place, we start filming!”

“Yay! Boss Gu’s the best!”

“Long live Natural Entertainment!”

“Feast time!”

Watching Lai Jingming’s enthusiasm spread like wildfire, Gu Zhinan couldn’t help but think, this guy would survive just fine in a pyramid scheme. Probably end up running it, even. But he’d planned to treat them all anyway. After all, they really were his employees now.

Who’d have thought that the kid who once slaved away in a 996 grind was now running his own entertainment company?

Certainly not Gu Zhinan.