Chapter 19: Boss, Stick With Me and Work Hard (Requesting Monthly Votes)

Zhang Nan had no solution for his boss’s sweet dilemma.

You can refuse to collaborate with a sugar baby star to stir up gossip, but if someone deliberately ties you to them for publicity, can you really clear your name?

Even if you clear your name, it won’t help.

You can’t go around denying every rumor—given how many women chase Qi Hao, you’d have nothing left to do but spend all day refuting gossip.

And even if you prove your innocence, what good does it do?

The entertainment industry is just like this.

“When the cart reaches the mountain, a path will appear; when the boat hits the bridge, it will naturally pass. Come on, I’ll take you for a drink.” Qi Hao named a place.

The agent, temporarily acting as driver, was slightly surprised: “Brother Hao, you know Gao Yang?”

“Didn’t the news report that I sang at a bar? That was his bar. Do you know him too?”

Qi Hao knew the agent was a second-generation heir, but Gao Yang was a coal tycoon—didn’t they seem like they belonged to different worlds?

“I went to high school with his daughter. I used to hang out at their bar all the time.”

There’s a theory called Six Degrees of Separation—it says the world is big, but the circles are small.

“Then let’s get to know him better. I’m buddies with him; if you ever need help, you can count on him.”

Qi Hao hadn’t expected Gao Yang’s daughter to be this old.

Zhang Nan had just graduated from university, so Gao Yang’s daughter was probably about the same age.

“Good. Gao’s family is very wealthy. If we can partner with him, it’ll be a huge boost to Brother Hao’s career.”

Zhang Nan had been hesitating over whether to help Qi Hao expand his social connections in this area.

After all, the label “coal tycoon” didn’t sound good.

I didn't expect Qi Hao had already made contact himself—our Brother Hao is truly a practical, big-picture kind of guy.

“Wait a second—you call him Uncle Gao, but I call him Brother Gao…”

“No problem, Brother Hao—we each call him however we like!”

“True…”

“Brother Hao, you’re so close with Uncle Gao that you’re openly supporting him?”

Clearly, a top-tier star who isn’t a singer going to perform at commercial gigs was hard to understand.

Now attributing it to personal ties made more sense.

“What’s a star worth? Sigh, the entertainment industry is getting harder to survive in. Last time at a party, I heard someone say: without capital, you’re just an ant…”

Qi Hao let slip his true feelings in front of his new agent.

This meant Zhang Nan had earned his trust and approval.

Of course, it might also be true, as Lao Tian said, that he was genuinely a bit naive.

“That guy’s right—I feel the same way, Brother Hao! If we unite as one, we’ll surely build something great!”

Zhang Nan spoke with fiery passion.

Clearly, someone like him—a mere worker bee—didn’t need his boss to dangle promises.

He’d be the one dishing out promises to his boss.

Boss, stick with me and work hard—I’ll get you a Rolls-Royce next year.

“But I don’t have much money…”

Qi Hao felt a twinge of guilt. Despite being a top star, one of the Four Young Kings, and an award-winning actor, his actual liquid assets were only a few tens of millions.

If the system were reliable…

Even with just a few tens of millions, he could stir up storms—after all, the scripts he got were genuinely excellent.

But the system wasn’t reliable.

“Cough, Brother Hao, my classmate is actually quite pretty—she doesn’t look anything like Uncle Gao. Why don’t you…”

If Lao Tian had said this, it’d be a joke.

But if Zhang Nan, who was single-mindedly focused on his career, said it—he meant it 100%.

“Why don’t you go yourself?”

Isn’t this the kind of sacrifice supposed to be made by subordinates? Especially since you’re classmates.

“But I’m already married—I even have a child.”

Zhang Nan was deeply conflicted. If he weren’t married, he wouldn’t mind sacrificing himself for his boss.

“What? You’re married? You just graduated?”

Qi Hao was stunned.

If he graduated this year, it was only six months ago—December now.

Had this guy become some poor guy’s accidental dad?

“My resume says I’m married. I had the kid in college, got married and registered right after graduation. Brother Hao, don’t worry—my parents and my wife take care of the child, we have a nanny, it won’t interfere with my work. I just need to go home occasionally.”

He’d already settled his personal life—no delay to his career.

No one could stop him from pursuing his career.

“Nah, forget it. I’m scared.”

Qi Hao shook his head instantly without a second thought.

He’d barely been linked to gossip, and Gao Yang’s men had already dragged him away.

By the time Zhang Nan, through immense effort, cleared Qi Hao’s name, Gao Yang would call his men: “Oh, the rumor’s false—just a misunderstanding. Bring him back. Don’t kill him.”

The men would reply: “Sorry, Boss. We already cemented him in a barrel and dumped him in the river.”

Fuck, Qi Hao couldn’t imagine how bad the outcome would be.

Of course, this was exaggerated imagination.

“Hey, Brother Hao, money’s the cheapest thing these days—finding money is easy. What’s truly valuable is momentum. Only by creating momentum can you rise like a phoenix. Take us, for example—if we really want to launch a project, Uncle Gao is definitely the right person. If you don’t trust him, you can also bring in China Film, Huaxia, Bayi, or Shanghai Film as co-investors…”

What do you do when your boss complains he’s broke and refuses to sacrifice himself?

You must cheer him up!

That’s what a competent agent should do.

“Xiao Nan, you really know how to draw a great cake.”

Qi Hao was stirred—because he’d actually imagined such a plan before.

But the prerequisite was having the right script.

That script could come from someone else—or from the system.

According to Qi Hao’s thinking, if he moved fast enough on tasks, he could easily catch up to the current timeline and obtain scripts from after it.

With the right script, plus his connections and a coal tycoon’s wealth…

When he met the coal tycoon again, Qi Hao was much warmer.

This was his future sucker… no, his golden patron.

Future father-in-law? Forget it.

“Why are you here drinking in broad daylight? Did you eat dinner? Hey, aren’t you that guy…”

Gao Yang instantly recognized Zhang Nan, though he couldn’t recall his name right away.

“Uncle Gao, I’m Zhang Nan. Call me Xiao Nan. I was in high school with your daughter…”

Zhang Nan hadn’t expected Gao Yang to remember so well.

“He’s my new agent. I brought him over to introduce him to Brother Yang.”

Qi Hao added a little more—enough for the other to understand why they’d come.

“Welcome, welcome! Haha, from now on, we’re family.”

Gao Yang spoke with great generosity.

“We didn’t know if you were even at the bar, so we came by to see if we got lucky—and also to ask if you need any promotion for your new bars.”

If Qi Hao ever bothered to think through these subtle strategies, he could easily navigate society with ease.

After all, he’d been out on his own since fifteen or sixteen.

Unfortunately, Lao Tian had spoiled him.

“No need for promotion. I’m happy you came for a drink. Xiao Nan, I heard you just graduated—already working?”

Gao Yang asked curiously.

This was someone else’s son—look at that energy!

“Yes, thanks to Brother Hao and Brother Tian’s kindness, I’m now working at their studio.”

Zhang Nan hadn’t just started job-hunting after graduation.

After the college entrance exam, he’d begun exploring industry after industry.

By graduation, he already had rich work experience.

After careful consideration, he finally chose entertainment, starting as an assistant and agent, then climbing rapidly.

He hadn’t yet decided how far he’d go.

“When’s your studio opening? I’ll bring some friends to support you.”

“It’s just a small company with ten or so people—fewer than your bar has customers. We don’t want to make a big fuss.”

Star studios shouldn’t be too conspicuous—avoid fans finding the address and camping outside the door.

“Opening ceremony can’t be skipped! At least get some flower baskets.” Gao Yang paused, then asked: “Do you need staff? Could my daughter join you to gain some experience?”

Both sides agreed to future cooperation.

But there was no written contract, no formal agreement—Gao Yang wasn’t sure if Qi Hao had truly taken it to heart.

Better to have his daughter serve as a hostage.

Keep reminding Qi Hao of this agreement.

Also take care of that good-for-nothing girl’s laziness—loafing around home all day eating for free.

Who knows? Maybe even mud can be plastered onto a wall.