Chapter 3: What a Waste Not to Be a Host

The car drove straight into the underground parking garage, so by now running away seemed a bit too late.

A group followed Old Zhou into the elevator and up to the fourth floor. While continuing down the hallway, Huang Jingyu tugged at Bai Liang, who was wearing a perfectly calm expression while looking around.

"How can your heart be that big? Something's off about this!"

"Huh? What's off?"

"Old Zhou is probably dragging us here to be kept men... you willing to do that kind of work?"

Bai Liang paused for a beat, then tapped his fist into his palm. "We should tell Xiao Liu about this. Isn't he already moonlighting as one of these lately? Perfect fit for the job!"

Xiao Liu was another roommate of Bai Liang and Huang Jingyu.

Lately he'd been sleeping by day and out by night, basically never seen around.

Sure enough, he'd run off to work the nightlife scene.

So Bai Liang's "perfect fit" comment really wasn't wrong.

But Huang Jingyu thought he was a few cards short of a full deck!

Bro, how is your brain wired so weirdly? Aren't you afraid there'll be a few half-retired Tiger tanks sitting in the private room later?!

Brother, why not steer clear?

Bai Liang: Because I'm not afraid.

Considering his own luck plus his financial situation, Bai Liang even suspected there might be a super-rich beauty inside, about to stuff fragrant soft rice into his mouth again.

Who could blame him—he was short on cash right now.

Huang Jingyu never did find a chance to slip away. The model agent Old Zhou stood right there in the hallway, watching each of them file into that oversized VIP room.

Still, once they got inside, the situation wasn't as dire as he'd imagined.

At least they weren't made to line up and bow, shouting "Good evening, boss!"

The room had been lightly decorated—someone was clearly having a birthday today.

Before they arrived, there were only three middle-aged women inside.

Though they weren't the half-retired Tiger tanks he'd pictured, their looks and figures couldn't exactly be called a classic Bentley either—at best, a fairly well-maintained ride with a bit of class.

Under Old Zhou's introductions, everyone found their own seats.

The bolder ones who didn't feel like grinding away at life sat closer to the ladies; those just looking to pocket the eight-hundred-yuan appearance fee found a corner to hunker down in.

Before Huang Jingyu could find a spot that suited him, he noticed Bai Liang had already damn well sat down.

He was holding one of those KTV props that rattle with a shushing sound when shaken, already hyping up the lady singing.

Good lad, professional atmosphere crew, are we?

What a waste not to be a host.

Huang Jingyu hurriedly sat down next to him, bracing himself to endure tonight's working hours.

Those eight hundred yuan really weren't easy money.

Then he saw Bai Liang had already started casually demolishing the fruit platter.

"You not eating? It's pretty fresh," Bai Liang invited, mid-demolition.

"You... ah forget it, I'll grab some too."

Honestly though, the watermelon was really sweet!

Bai Liang's mentality of lying down for a nap wherever he happened to fall was, admittedly, contagious.

Before long, Huang Jingyu had half-forgotten the situation entirely, and the two of them had even started on a second fruit platter.

"These two young men can really eat, huh!"

Huang Jingyu, watermelon still stuffed in his mouth, froze. His neck went a little stiff as he turned his head just slightly.

That comment had been delivered into the microphone—extra loud.

A public execution!

He was paralyzed, so the last piece of watermelon on the second platter was successfully claimed by Bai Liang!

Sneak attack!

When guys eat together, this kind of competitive grabbing somehow whets the appetite even more. Bai Liang declared that having a demolishing buddy like Huang Jingyu had seriously boosted his hunger.

As for the middle-aged woman who'd just called them out, she didn't press the issue—seemed she'd just been teasing.

But Huang Jingyu didn't dare keep eating—he'd already drawn attention.

Yet Bai Liang seemed to have set his sights on the snacks on the table again.

Luckily he hadn't gone so far as to eye the still-unopened birthday cake.

The two of them really hadn't had dinner before coming, since they'd originally expected a photo-op job tonight.

As a result, their stomachs were growling like crazy.

But Huang Jingyu truly hadn't expected Bai Liang to be this ballsy—still demolishing food after being called out.

At that moment, one of their fellow models got up to use the restroom. The instant the guy moved, Bai Liang suddenly patted Huang Jingyu. "Let's go, hit the restroom!"

"I don't feel the urge yet..."

"Step out for some air."

"Let's go!"

Once they were out the door, Bai Liang—who'd looked relaxed and easygoing just moments ago—suddenly lowered his voice. "Go take out that guy who came out ahead of us!"

Huang Jingyu:???

"Huh?"

"Don't you want to debut as a star? That guy was secretly snapping photos in the room with his phone, and I think the frame caught us in it... you don't want to become a celebrity someday and get smeared for having worked a hostess bar, do you?"

That single sentence instantly sent Huang Jingyu into full red-faced fury!

There was something he actually hadn't told Bai Liang this whole time.

The reason he had recently taken an interest in the entertainment circle was that a friend had arranged for him to audition at a production crew in Yanjing next month.

That drama was still in the preparation stage, but Huang Jingyu's photos and resume had already been shown to them, and he heard the original author and screenwriter were quite satisfied with him.....

Of course, he wouldn't tell Bai Liang about these things; the two of them hadn't been that close before.

But now..... that feeling of someone caring about your affairs, even if just mentioned in passing, is kind of touching.

Huang Jingyu: I really deserve to die!

"Go on, your Brazilian jiu-jitsu has finally come in handy—give him a strong-man lock on a guy!" Bai Liang was eager to try, seemingly very interested in the scene about to unfold.

Facts proved that the Brazilian jiu-jitsu Huang Jingyu practiced did have real skill.

With preparation against an unprepared target, he really did take the kid down in one move.

The key point was: subdue only, do not harm.

And the clever Bai Liang naturally went to find Old Zhou, because that kid's phone had a password—he couldn't do anything illegal.

"You two handled this well!"

In a certain empty private room, the model agent Old Zhou, after seeing the photos taken on that kid's phone, praised them appreciatively and patted Bai Liang on the shoulder.

He also shot a fierce glare at the kid who'd been secretly taking photos!

Damn it, all fun and games aside, don't take photos at entertainment venues!

If this got out, how would he, Old Zhou, survive in the modeling circle from now on? How would he ever set up another gathering?

"You two don't go spreading this—come, I'll send you a five-thousand red packet..... later I'll introduce you to Sister Yang, she's a famous agent in the entertainment circle; if she takes a liking to you, who knows, you might skyrocket to fame!"

This was hush money.

As for skyrocketing to fame—adults know what that means, just empty promises.

However, Bai Liang, who had arrived a step late with his tip-off, now scratched his head a little sheepishly. "Um, Brother Zhou, things said before taking the money don't count as spreading it, right? You better get ready."

Old Zhou:???

Get ready? Get ready for what?

Click~ click~ click~

At that moment, the sound of high heels striking the floor came from the hallway!

Holy shit, you sneaky bastard!

Then he saw the main guest of tonight's gathering—the star of the birthday banquet.

There was one thing Old Zhou definitely hadn't lied to Bai Liang and the others about: this Sister Yang really was a famous agent in the entertainment circle—she had even managed Zhang Ziyi.

"Ding dong~"

Bai Liang accepted the WeChat transfer of five thousand yuan, and didn't forget to split two thousand five hundred with Huang Jingyu.

At the same time, he looked at Old Zhou with an innocent face, very politely: "Thank you."

Sure enough, someone was handing out money today~