Chapter 453 - 452: If-line: Did the Big Shot Vie for Favor Today? 21

Chapter 453: Chapter 452: If-line: Did the Big Shot Vie for Favor Today? 21

Zhang Chen was a bit unsure, but then he figured it was just looking after a cat. How much trouble could it be?

He left the hotel. As a regular employee, the production team hadn’t booked him a room in a five-star hotel. He had reserved a room at a budget hotel nearby.

Zhang Chen had a mother to care for whose medical expenses were exorbitant. Even though he was earning a good salary now, he was usually quite frugal.

A job like his relied on youth and the luck of which star you were managing. He’d been lucky enough to be assigned to Yan Huoshui, but he knew Yan Huoshui came from a very good family, had studied abroad, and could go home to inherit the family fortune any day. He had to cherish this money-making opportunity. Every little bit he saved counted.

Zhang Chen brought the white cat back to his hotel. After a long day, he casually placed the cat on a nearby sofa, hurriedly took a shower, and collapsed into bed.

Shi Lan huddled on the sofa, listening to the RUMBLE of her own stomach. All she could do was try to force herself to sleep.

Zhang Chen didn’t get to sleep until almost five in the morning and didn’t wake up until noon. It was hunger that woke him. The hotel he’d booked didn’t offer lunch service, so he had to go downstairs to find something to eat.

Shi Lan, a small white cat, was curled up in a ball on the sofa, barely noticeable. If she hadn’t sensed that Zhang Chen was about to leave and proactively approached him, he might have completely forgotten he’d picked up a cat the previous night.

"Ah, there you are, little one. Sorry about that, I almost forgot about you."

Shi Lan was too hungry to have much energy, but she still managed a small meow in response.

Zhang Chen had just changed into clean clothes and, not wanting to get them dirty, he wrapped the cat in a disposable hotel towel. It finally dawned on him that the cat needed to eat, too.

So, before getting a meal for himself, he took the cat straight to a pet store to get her a full meal. While he was at it, he arranged to have her washed and dewormed.

Shi Lan hadn’t eaten cat food since turning into a cat. Mentally, she was still human, and she really couldn’t bring herself to eat it. But she was starving now, and Zhang Chen, standing beside her, was completely oblivious to her inner turmoil. Resigned, she decided to fill her stomach first. She would figure out how to guide her future owner to improve her meals later.

Thankfully, since Zhang Chen was operating under the assumption he was raising a cat for Yan Huoshui, he chose one of the more expensive brands of cat food at the pet store for her.

She wasn’t sure if it was because she was now a cat, but after one bite, Shi Lan found it was actually quite tasty. She then continued to eat without further hesitation.

Seeing the cat eat, Zhang Chen felt relieved. He left his contact information and decided to leave the cat at the pet store for the time being.

’Shi Lan wasn’t worried about Zhang Chen abandoning her. After all, now that I’m in a pet store, finding a new meal ticket will be even easier. It doesn’t seem like Zhang Chen is all that invested in raising a cat anyway. If he decides not to keep me, I can just find a more suitable owner for myself.’

So, she settled in at the pet store, completely at ease.

As an agent, Zhang Chen’s days were also quite busy. Even though Yan Huoshui was the only celebrity he was currently managing, Yan Huoshui was an A-lister. Scripts from major studios and collaboration offers from luxury brands poured in endlessly, and Zhang Chen was primarily responsible for screening them all.

Zhang Chen quite enjoyed being this busy, because the more work he did, the more money he made.

Xiao Li was the assistant he had hired specifically for Yan Huoshui. Brother Yan had a bad temper, and his assistants often bore the brunt of it, which was why their salary was so high. Even so, the last two had quit. Xiao Li was the third assistant, and he’d already lasted two months. He handled things competently, and Zhang Chen was quite satisfied with him.

He called Xiao Li to check in and was relieved to confirm that he had already arrived at the hotel.

After finishing his meal, Zhang Chen went to the hotel to pick him up.

In broad daylight, the hotel was busier with people coming and going than it was at night. Yan Huoshui was bundled up securely when he left, wearing a hat to hide his hairstyle.

It was early March, and there was still a chill in the early spring air. Yan Huoshui had on a wine-red shirt under a black trench coat, so the black hat didn’t look out of place.

With his hands in his pockets, he exuded an air of lazy indifference as he ambled toward his car.

He was tall with a slender, well-proportioned frame. Even bundled up to the point of being unrecognizable, he still made passersby turn their heads for a second look.

Yan Huoshui stared straight ahead, getting into the car with a single long stride.

Xiao Li followed behind him and got into the passenger seat.

Zhang Chen glanced at the man in the rearview mirror. Recalling his swaggering attitude from moments before, he started to worry again. ’Does this little emperor not realize he’s a top-tier celebrity? Is he afraid people *won’t* recognize him?’

He couldn’t help but nag him a little, reminding him to be more discreet. Yan Huoshui, having slept well, was in a slightly better mood. For once, he didn’t snap back, merely offering a perfunctory, "Got it. I’ll be more careful next time."

’Fine...’

Zhang Chen didn’t press the issue. Saying any more would just put him in a bad mood.

He dropped Yan Huoshui off at the film set. He didn’t have time to keep an eye on him during the day, so he just told Xiao Li to pay close attention and to notify him immediately if anything seemed off.

Xiao Li nodded emphatically.

The costume drama Yan Huoshui was currently filming was titled *God*. It was a fantasy series centered on a strong male protagonist with no romantic subplot. As the male lead, he had a lot of screen time and scenes with many different actors. Notably, the production had also shoehorned in two rookie supporting actors, a man and a woman.

He had few scenes with the actress, and she was sensible enough not to bother him, knowing her place as a rookie.

The male supporting actor, however, was a nuisance. In the show, he played Yan Huoshui’s innocent young disciple; off-screen, he was a complete idiot. Even though Yan Huoshui pointedly ignored him, the guy would constantly come over to ask for pointers. Worse, whenever he messed up a take, he would put on a pitiful, apologetic expression and say, "I’m so sorry, everyone. Teacher Yan’s acting was so good, I got completely mesmerized and missed my cue. I’ll be sure to concentrate more next time."

The implication, of course, was that Yan Huoshui was upstaging him. But for all his talk, he would still cause five or six NGs for the same issue.

’Upstaging him? I don’t have time for that. The guy’s acting is just terrible, and instead of reflecting on it and improving, he just... can’t keep up even when I’m only giving fifty percent.’

Eventually, he got so annoyed that he actually *did* start deliberately upstaging the guy, which was why filming had run so late the previous night.

Now, as he returned to the set, he saw his ’little disciple’ handing out milk tea to the crew, and he couldn’t help but curse internally, ’Idiot.’

The guy turned, saw him, and immediately broke into a wide smile. "Teacher Yan, you’re here! I ordered milk tea for everyone. This one’s for you."

Then, his expression turned apologetic again. "Last night was all my fault for holding up everyone’s progress and keeping you from your rest. Please, accept this milk tea as my apology. I hope you’ll take it, Teacher Yan."

Yan Huoshui shot him a cold glance, said nothing, and strode away toward his dressing room.

Xiao Li stepped forward and explained politely, "I’m sorry, Brother Yan is very strict about managing his physique. He’s cutting back on sugar right now, so he can’t drink this kind of thing."

"Oh, I see. My mistake. I should have checked Teacher Yan’s preferences beforehand. I’ll be sure to remember that next time."

"By the way," he added, "Teacher Yan isn’t mad at me, is he? Last night really was my fault. It’s just that I’m too inexperienced to keep up with his level of acting. I was wondering if Teacher Yan might have a moment to give me some pointers later? Maybe if I can learn a bit from him, I’ll be able to do a better job in our scenes together."

Even from a distance, Yan Huoshui could hear the man’s affected, artificially innocent and vexed voice.

It made his stomach turn. He felt like he was about to throw up his lunch.

’What is this crap? I can’t take it anymore. I want him replaced. Now.’