Rebirth of the Galactic Superstar Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Xia Li hurriedly stepped out, wiping the sweat from his palms on the sides of his pants. Xi Ze took a step back, giving a faint smile, and greeted, “Hello.”

As an executive, Xia Li quickly regained his composure despite his momentary slip. He nodded and said, “Hello, follow me.”

Xia Li’s office was also decorated in Chinese style, complete with a dedicated tea table. He personally brewed tea to entertain Jian Anning and Xi Ze. When Jian Anning held the small sand pot cup, her wrist trembled almost imperceptibly. It was her first time taking such a big risk, and it was truly a leap of faith. Fortunately, Xi Ze played the role of a vase very successfully, and she had indeed taken the right step.

Jian Anning didn’t dare to negotiate terms with Xia Li without any achievements to show. He directly sent him the footage secretly taken on the set. After watching it, Xia Li fell silent for a moment, nodded, and looked at Xi Ze with different eyes.

It was a look of appreciation and approval.

Xia Li then briefly learned about Xi Ze’s background and the terms of his contract with the company. He said to Jian Anning, “I can’t interfere in the decisions at the lower levels in my capacity as a senior executive. You know it’s against the rules. But…”

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Kkyd Gddkdt yde Dk Hl olal oykvkdt qsa vbyv “cwv.” Dky Nk tzydnle yv vbl vos yde nsdvkdwle, “Jwv R nyd sqqla usw xu rlapsdyz blzr.”

Kkyd Gddkdt oyp shlafsule kdpkel. Mbswtb Dky Nk oypd’v vbl xspv ywvbsakvyvkhl cspp yv Fkzhla Wsm Odvlavykdxldv, bl rspplpple y hypv dlvosaj sq alpswanlp okvbkd vbl nsxrydu yde vbl ldvkal kdewpvau. Tl jdlo xydu kdqzwldvkyz qktwalp yde kdhlpvsap. Rq vblu nswze tlv bkp rlapsdyz blzr, kv oswze rashkel yd yeekvksdyz pyqltwyae qsa Dk Hl’p fswadlu.

Tsolhla, Dky Nk oyadle, “Psd’v tlv vss lmnkvle, Kkyd. Zsw pbswze cl olzz yoyal vbyv akpjp yde cldlqkvp ts byde kd byde. Ju sqqlakdt xu rakhyvl yppkpvydnl, uswa yavkpv okzz qynl xsal nakvknkpxp. Rv’p wr vs usw vs elnkel bso vs bydezl kv.”

Kkyd Gddkdt vwadle vs Dk Hl, lmnbydtkdt y zssj sq kdiwkau. Dk Hl dseele, tkhkdt bla y nsdqkaxkdt tygl. Kkyd Gddkdt vbld elnkpkhlzu pyke, “Ls rasczlx. El yal okzzkdt vs vyjl vbl akpj. Gp zsdt yp Ya. Dky Nk kp okzzkdt vs tkhl Dk Hl vbkp srrsavwdkvu, R clzklhl usw osd’v cl ekpyrrskdvle.”

Dky Nk zlydle cynj sd vbl psqy, yesrvkdt vbl elxlydsa sq y olyzvbu cspp. Tl dseele yde pyke lyadlpvzu vs Dk Hl, “R bsrl usw nyd clnsxl vbl dlmv Gadsze.”

Dk Hl, bsolhla, vwadle vs zssj yv bkx okvb ellr yde wdoyhlakdt lulp, nyzxzu pkvvkdt vblal, yde pyke, “R’x dsv Gadsze.”

Dky Nk oyp vyjld ycynj, pweeldzu wdelapvydekdt. Mbl rlapsd kd qasdv sq bkx eked’v oydv vs cl y plnsde hlapksd sq psxlsdl lzpl; bl oyp Dk Hl, yde sdl eyu, bl oswze pvyde yv vbl rkddynzl yp y tyzynvkn pwrlapvya, fwpv yp bkxplzq, Dk Hl.

Dky Nk dseele okvb nsdvldvxldv yde pyke, “El’zz oykv yde pll.”

After leaving Xia Li’s office, Xi Ze turned to Jian Anning and said, “You’ve got guts.” He dared to directly bypass his immediate superior and boss, banging on the table to negotiate for resources.

Jian Anning exhaled heavily, relaxed her shoulders, smiled, and patted him on the back, saying, “I had confidence. Back when I joined the company, Xia Li was my leader, and we worked together for a long time. He owes me a promotion.” Otherwise, she wouldn’t still be at Silver Fox Entertainment. In the internal struggles of the company, she might have become cannon fodder long ago.

The two headed towards the direction of the elevator. Before they reached it, the elevator “dinged” open.

At first, Jian Anning didn’t pay attention to the person coming out of it. She was talking to Xi Ze, saying, “Later, I’ll show you the video. You did really well, so have faith in yourself.”

Xi Ze also didn’t notice at first, fiddling with the bracelet on his wrist. Suddenly, he heard a distinct “sneer” coming from the direction of the elevator, and it quickly turned into an undisguised mockery.

“Hey, who do we have here? Isn’t this Jian? Long time no see in the company. I thought you were still on vacation. Got some work now?”

Xi Ze and Jian Anning both turned to look ahead and saw a man walking towards them. He wore a yellow-green floral shirt with a string of pearl necklace around his collar and a pair of ear studs. Behind him, a man in his early twenties followed, with distinct and handsome features like most mixed-race individuals. However, his eyes were black, hinting at some Asian heritage. That man was Xi Nan.

The man who had just mocked Jian Anning was named Jia En, the manager of the male idol group Xi Nan belonged to. He didn’t have as much experience as Jian Anning, but in the past few years, he had been doing well at Silver Fox Entertainment, managing several popular groups that attracted a considerable fanbase. While they might not have reached the level of top-tier superstars, they generated significant revenue, and his ability to attract fans and profits was unquestionable.

Xi Nan was about to graduate, and half a year ago, he joined Jia En’s new male idol group. He already had a certain level of popularity before, and three months ago, the group officially debuted and quickly gained fame, currently thriving in attracting fans and making money.

Jian Anning and Jia En had been at odds with each other for a long time. Although both worked as talent managers in the same company, they followed different paths. Before, they could still pretend to exchange pleasantries when they met, but ever since Jian Anning was removed from her positions, the balance was broken. Jia En had started calling her by her name directly, not even using the polite “sister Anning” anymore.

What made things more interesting was that when talent managers didn’t get along, the relationships between their artists were even worse. Although Xi Ze was meeting Xi Nan for the first time, the memory from the original owner, his so-called “older brother,” made him not like Xi Nan at all. Xi Nan had constantly mocked and belittled him during the audition, and yet the original owner still went for the audition despite knowing he wasn’t suitable.

Facing Jia En was one thing, and Xi Ze facing Xi Nan was another. Just being able to avoid a confrontation on the 48th floor of the Silver Fox Building was already quite a relief.

In the past, Jian Anning wouldn’t have wasted her breath on Jia En, but things were different now. Why should she tolerate such behavior from a mere junior talent manager? She had no reason to put him in her sights.

As for Xi Ze, he remained calmly composed, revealing an indifferent expression. He concealed any emotions and stood there, displaying impeccable posture and demeanor.

Jian Anning subtly patted Xi Ze on the back to comfort him, then raised her chin with a smile at Jia En. She turned to look at Xi Nan and said, “I didn’t have any work originally. I should thank you for giving Xi Ze the opportunity to audition at Tom’s place. Otherwise, wouldn’t I still be idle?”

Both Xi Nan and Jia En frowned simultaneously. Xi Nan’s complexion didn’t look good, and he looked puzzledly at Xi Ze, wondering how his little brother, who was picked up, hadn’t been scared to death by the wild beast yet. Was this the same person standing calmly here? Wasn’t he supposed to be lying in the hospital after fainting during the audition?

Jia En was also concerned. He had seen the Asian guy beside Jian Anning before and knew he was Xi Nan’s brother. Asians were highly sought after in the entertainment industry nowadays, and since the company had just signed this new talent, he paid some attention to him. However, after looking into Xi Ze’s information, he didn’t see much potential in him. It was a pity given his looks. So he didn’t bother and let go of him. Otherwise, if he put him in his male idol group, they would surely become popular throughout the galaxy upon debut.

But what did he hear just now? Xi Nan introduced Xi Ze to audition at Tom’s place? Did he mishear something?!!

Xi Ze noticed Jian Anning speaking and smoothly continued the conversation, wearing a polite and courteous smile. His demeanor was no longer as gloomy and silent as before; instead, he exuded a feeling of spring breeze, attracting the attention of others with every little move.

He said, “Yes, although there was a little accident, and I ended up in the hospital, it’s nothing serious. Thanks to my brother’s help, it seems like the director was quite satisfied with me.”

Xi Nan: “…”

Jia En: “…”

Jian Anning didn’t expect Xi Ze to also play his part in this, and she couldn’t help but silently applaud him in her heart. While she was inserting a blade, Xi Ze was also doing his part, and they both made their moves at the same time. She pulled Xi Ze along towards the elevator and said, “I’m sorry, we won’t keep you company any longer. Xi Ze and I have to discuss the contract with the director. We’ll be on our way.” With that, she walked directly through the gap between them, not bothering to take a detour, acting even more audaciously than her red-hot windbreaker.

Xi Nan was stunned and baffled. He had felt something was off when he saw Xi Ze earlier. Was that really Xi Ze? The timid and lifeless little brother? The person standing in front of him just now was Xi Ze?

As Jian Anning and Xi Ze left, Jia En angrily grabbed Xi Nan’s chin, regretting not having taken Xi Ze under his wing earlier. He also hated Xi Nan for acting on his own: “What do you mean? You recommended a role to your precious little brother behind my back? Are you crazy? How many scenes can you get in that movie? And you managed to get him in? I didn’t realize you love your brother so much!”

Xi Nan was still having a hard time processing everything. It couldn’t be true; Xi Ze shouldn’t be like this. Could he have suddenly become enlightened after being scared by the wild beast? He quickly regained his composure and explained, “No, it’s impossible, Jia En. You know how he was before. How could he pass the audition?”

Jia En menacingly pointed at Xi Nan, indicating that he would deal with him later. They were currently on the 48th floor, not the right place to argue or scold someone. He also didn’t have the time to regret not picking the Asian talent earlier.

With a glare at Xi Nan, Jia En walked toward Xia Li’s office, and Xi Nan hesitated for a moment before quickly catching up.

Jia En had brought Xi Nan here this time not for any other reason but for the upcoming industry artist exchange event, which would take place in a week.

This event was held once a year and was attended by various entertainment companies showcasing their new talents. The event also attracted famous directors, writers, and music producers from the industry.

It was an internal gathering and a significant occasion within the entertainment industry. For many new artists, this event was the crucial step towards fame and recognition. No one knew which renowned directors and writers attending the event might be impressed by whom, or which top producers would take a liking to someone.

In the industry, this event was jokingly referred to as the “Artist Expo,” where artists were displayed and showcased like commodities. Though the name didn’t sound flattering, the new talents in the entertainment circle loved this event because many had made significant breakthroughs at this gathering. Anyone with ambition would be eager to participate as it could be their chance to become a rising star.

Jia En’s current male idol group, “Z,” also known as “Zephyr,” had just debuted three months ago. It was a group carefully put together by Jia En, focusing on individuals with an East Asian appearance since both inside and outside the entertainment industry, there was a growing fondness for such looks. The group consisted of four handsome young men, all with their unique characteristics, but the common thread was their East Asian features.

Of course, there was still a considerable difference between them and Xi Ze, who had a purely East Asian appearance. Nonetheless, in a world where mixed-race individuals were prevalent, Jia En’s group stood out as a unique presence.

Jia En was skilled at catering to the market, providing what the public liked. Unlike Jian Anning, he was always attuned to the industry’s preferences, seeking to grasp the public’s desires and then figuring out how to capitalize on them.

Hence, for this exchange event, Jia En thought of approaching his small boss Xia Li, who had a fondness for Chinese culture. Although there were no specific rules on the number of artists each company could select, Jia En hoped to gain Xia Li’s support for his male idol group. Xia Li had superior resources and connections, and if he led “Zephyr” to participate in the event, it would significantly raise the group’s chances of success.

Jia En was originally quite confident, thinking the probability of success was over 80% before they boarded the elevator. But to his surprise, Xia Li rejected his request outright.

Sitting in front of Xia Li, Jia En was caught off guard and instinctively asked a question that was very taboo: “Why?”

Xia Li looked at Jia En, raising his eyebrows slightly and forming three shallow furrows between them. He said, “Many agents have approached me, but my energy is limited, and I can only manage a few people. If everyone I reject asks me why, wouldn’t I have to spend the entire day explaining to all of you?”

Jia En clenched his hand tightly behind his back, suddenly remembering the encounter at the elevator with Jian Anning and the attention-grabbing Xi Ze. He put on a smile of apology, recomposed his expression, and stood up, saying, “I’m sorry, Mr. Xia Li. I was too eager. I always hope that my artists can have the best development.”

Xia Li waved his hand casually and said, “It’s alright. With agents like you who are willing to work hard for your artists, Silver Fox can come this far. Rest assured, I will help you fight for the resources available at the exchange event. Silver Fox’s success relies on talented and successful artists.”

As Jia En left with Xi Nan, his gaze turned cold. Xi Nan followed behind, trembling with fear, not daring to say a word. Suddenly, Jia En turned around, and his eyes were like sharp blades, looking at Xi Nan intently as he asked, “How far do you think your brother can go?”

Xi Nan’s heart tightened. Xi Ze’s sudden change left him unsure how to react. He believed that even if someone did change, drastic improvements in such a short time were unlikely. Maybe Xi Ze had only put on an act earlier because there was a manager present.

So he replied cautiously, “Not far. He was always timid, so he definitely won’t go far.”

Jia En looked at him, his eyes revealing a malicious glint, and he said, “I hope so.”

The tension between Jia En and Xi Nan was palpable, and it seemed like they both had their own doubts and concerns about Xi Ze’s potential.

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