Chapter 75: Lord Cheng

"Sis, how have you been lately?"

Cheng Chen picked up a chopstick and asked.

"Not bad. This drama is also a costume piece—I play a female warrior, but I'm still not used to the wire work; my feet feel like they're hovering, all soft and weightless."

Gao Yuanyuan placed a piece of red-braised pork into Cheng Chen's bowl; back when she was on the set of "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber," her biggest challenge had also been the wire work.

"What about you? How's it going in Modu? And did you have any conflicts during this Singer Competition recording?"

The judges for the Singer Competition had already been announced; when she first got the news, Gao Yuanyuan had called him to warn him not to make enemies.

Cheng Chen sighed:

"Sis, you already called and told me that. Don't worry—I'm not a kid anymore. As long as he doesn't provoke me, I'm fine."

Gao Yuanyuan nodded and smiled:

"True. With your current status in the music industry, not even going after him is generosity. Let's eat."

"Got it!"

……

After a simple lunch, Gao Yuanyuan had shooting in the afternoon and hurried off to the set.

Cheng Chen also headed toward Tianhai Records.

Tianhai Records was no longer the obscure little company it had once been.

With Cheng Chen as its "cash cow," it had long transformed into a top-tier company in the industry.

Wang Tianxiao was constantly swamped, either on business trips or handling company matters.

Although the company had grown much larger and its staff kept increasing,

with her "workaholic" personality, she naturally packed her schedule to the brim.

"Manager Wang, General Cheng has arrived."

The secretary knocked and entered respectfully.

Wang Tianxiao looked up, puzzled:

"Which General Cheng?"

Only then, under the secretary's astonished gaze, did she realize; she slapped her own head:

"This busy man, how'd he find time to come to the company today? Where is he? I'll go see him!"

"He's in his office, Manager Wang—we still have a meeting with our partner later, already scheduled…"

Wang Tianxiao waved her hand to cut her off:

"Postpone it. Say our 'Lord Cheng' is back, and I, his little concubine, am busy receiving him… hahaha."

As if amused by her own words, she rose and walked out of the office.

"Come on, you don't need to go this far—it's too over-the-top…"

Seeing Wang Tianxiao push the door open, Cheng Chen smiled wryly at her.

Cheng Chen's office was designed with great grandeur.

The floor was laid with orange-brown solid wood, and the ceiling featured a circular ring structure in the center.

A large, elegant red-brown solid wood desk sat paired with several soft-padded leather chairs.

Bookshelves and filing cabinets were arranged in a red-brown solid wood diamond pattern, radiating an air of luxury.

The room displayed various high-end branded electronics; the strangest touch was a famous calligraphy painting mounted on the wall.

Moreover, this office was on the top floor; standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, one could overlook the entire Jingcheng skyline.

"What's wrong, Lord Cheng? Unhappy with your 'palace'?"

"This is the most luxurious office at Tianhai Records—my own office isn't even half its size."

Wang Tianxiao complained.

"It's fine, it's just a bit like…"

Cheng Chen scratched his head, unsure how to put it.

"A nouveau riche!"

Wang Tianxiao rolled her eyes and finished for him.

Cheng Chen nodded honestly—he rarely came to the company anyway; all this opulence was just for show.

"Since you joined Tianhai, haven't we become nouveau riche already? As long as you stay, I promise your office will only get better—not worse! Name any condition, I'll agree!"

Wang Tianxiao stared at Cheng Chen,

her final words revealing her true feelings.

Cheng Chen looked at her helplessly—he knew what he meant to Tianhai, and he understood his own value.

But you're showing way too little security—and what kind of retention tactic is this?

"Relax. Even if I were only doing it for my sister's sake, I wouldn't pull my shares and leave. Besides, our cooperation has been pleasant, hasn't it?"

Cheng Chen smiled.

Hearing this, Wang Tianxiao beamed:

"What I just said still stands—name any condition, I'll agree. I can even help you win Yuanyuan over~"

Listen to that—what a ruthless proposition.

To keep him, she was willing to betray her best friend.

Then again… it wasn't entirely unthinkable.

Cheng Chen stroked his chin, then suddenly realized the teasing glint in Wang Tianxiao's eyes; he coughed:

"Cough—what nonsense are you talking about? I came here to ask you: how's Xinghuo Entertainment doing now?"

At the mention of Xinghuo Entertainment, Wang Tianxiao grew serious:

The office location has been chosen—it's in the same building as Tianhai Records.

For staffing, I've already set up the most basic office personnel for you—they've been transferred from Tianhai Records.

As for other staff, you can find them yourself, or I can help you pick out a few.

This is Wang Tianxiao's cleverness: at Tianhai, she's the top dog and can do as she pleases, but Xinghuo is different—it's Cheng Chen's private domain.

Cheng Chen entrusted her with helping build the company; she could help, but if she inserted her own people into Xinghuo, it would only make everyone uncomfortable.

Knowing when to read the room and understanding boundaries—this was her greatest strength, and the foundation for why Cheng Chen was willing to keep working with her.

"Thank you for your hard work."

Cheng Chen nodded in satisfaction.

"Not hard at all—serving the boss, how could I dare say it's hard? As long as the boss is happy, that's all that matters. No matter how good things are outside, don't forget there's someone waiting for you at home."

She was subtly reminding Cheng Chen.

Under her wistful gaze, Cheng Chen quickly fled, going to inspect his own territory.

……

Xinghuo Entertainment was now just an empty shell; only a few staff members sat at their computers working.

They were all transferred from Tianhai Records and had all met Cheng Chen before.

When they saw Cheng Chen arrive, they all stood up and greeted him respectfully.

Cheng Chen smiled and nodded, walking inside, then paused beside one of the staff members.

She was a quiet-looking girl wearing black-rimmed glasses, now fully absorbed in browsing Cheng Chen's blog.

On her desk sat a nameplate reading "Papaya."

Papaya?

"Are you Papaya from 'Daily Entertainment Fresh News'?"

Cheng Chen asked curiously.

"Ah!"

The girl let out a startled cry, then adjusted her black-rimmed glasses and looked toward Cheng Chen.

"Ah!"

Another scream.

"You're… Boss Cheng! It's really you! Boss Wang didn't lie to me! I—I'm Papaya, Papaya!"

Cheng Chen was startled by the girl's dramatic reaction.

He glanced at her chest.

Sure enough, what you lack is what you hope for—Papaya is a good name indeed!

"I'm Cheng Chen. Welcome to Xinghuo Entertainment."

Cheng Chen extended his hand and smiled.