Chapter 9
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“The company has been working me to the bone all these years. Now, I have a daughter to raise, and I don’t have the money to do so.”
In the end, all he wanted was money. Tao Kang and Ji Tong eyed Song Qianming in disdain as if he were a beggar.
“I’ll intercede on your behalf and ask for 200,000 yuan from the company as compensation. Treat it as your severance fee. After which, all your contracts with the company will be terminated,” Yuan Fei said.
Song Qianming chuckled. “Do you think you can dismiss me and only cough up 200,000 yuan?”
“Is that not enough?” Tao Kang growled. “Tell me, how much have you contributed to the company in all these years? Don’t be an ingrate!”
“What are you implying?” Song Qianming glared at Tao Kang coldly. Even before his royal brother ascended the throne, no one dared to mouth before him. To think someone in this modern world he now lived in would have the nerve to call him an ingrate!
The original body’s owner had an appearance and temperament out of this world. Why else would Tao Kang have taken a fancy to him, insisting that he had to sign a contract with the company? Now that the body housed the soul of a transmigrated prince, it exuded an air of nobility even greater than before. With one look, anyone could tell that he possessed a special aura.
The others stared at him in disbelief. None of them had thought Song Qianming had such a side to him. Disbelief quickly transformed into anger. Song Qianming was not anyone special; he was just a piece of trash about to be forced out of the industry. How could he say such things so arrogantly?
“How much do you want?”
Before Tao Kang could rage further, Yuan Fei stepped in to put an end to the farce.
“Forget it. I’ll accept the 200,000 yuan offered since the company is so stingy, but I have one condition. When the announcement of my leaving the company is made, I want it known that I resigned voluntarily. Furthermore, regardless of future events, the company cannot use this incident against me, for better or worse.”
Yuan Fei did not immediately respond. Song Qianming knew what he was thinking. 200,000 yuan was nothing in the face of the fame or, perhaps, notoriety the group could gain by using him as a scapegoat. They were all wolves in sheep’s clothing.
“Captain, why don’t we agree to Qianming’s request? We might lose some of the limelight now, but it might be better for us in the long run. If anyone asks, we’ll say that we respect Qianming’s decisions and wish him all the best in his future endeavors. At least, this way, we’ll win some brownie points with our fans.” It was Su Liang who spoke up. He had been silent throughout the exchange, and it was only now that he joined the conversation.
Song Qianming quirked a brow in surprise.
Yuan Fei looked up and said, “I, too, have a condition. You can’t do anything to jeopardize the group’s reputation.”
“I’m too lazy to smear the group’s reputation.”
The terms were settled just like that. As Yuan Fei’s father was a major shareholder in the company, no one objected to his decision. Song Qianming was just some small-time artiste; it was not worth offending someone like Yuan Fei, who had his father’s backing, over someone like Song Qianming.
Song Qianming accepted the cheque and the notice of terminating his contract with the company without looking back. These people were not worth his time and energy.
Who would have thought he would resolve the issue regarding his contract so easily? It was all thanks to Yuan Fei. If it weren’t for Yuan Fei, the son of a major shareholder of the company, who did not want the group to disband, Song Qianming knew it would not have been so easy to walk away scot-free.
The 200,000 yuan was a pleasant surprise. While it may have sounded like a lot, it was not much in a place like Sea City. It still meant he was out of a job, with no real way to support himself or his daughter. This small sum would only do so much to tide them over. He had been occupied the past two days getting used to sending his daughter to kindergarten while preparing for his confrontation with the company and the termination of his contract.
Song Qianming did not know what to do after depositing the cheque at the bank. He had not thought over what he would do next, so he sat at a dessert shop outside Youhuan’s kindergarten and did just that.
Actors and singers were considered rather low-class in his previous life, but Song Qianming would never dare look down on them.
In his previous life, he and his royal brother were hunted like animals and had no choice but to seek refuge in a brothel. It was those lovely ladies that had protected them, sending the soldiers that came knocking on their door away. Song Qianming had learned the meaning of helplessness, then, and that not all who entered the profession were base or not deserving of respect.
That was more so in this modern world he now lived in. Not only were celebrities not seen as lowly, but they were also highly sought after by many. It was pointless trying to distinguish between noble professions and those that were not; at least, that was what Song Qianming now believed. Not even his royal brother in his previous life would have been able to stomach such a change in viewpoints. Song Qianming believed this second chance at life was a blessing in more ways than one.
If only he and his royal brother had access to this world’s technology and knowledge, then the people of the Lan dynasty would not have had to suffer so much.
Since it was the wish of the original body’s owner to become a superstar, he, who had taken over this body, would do his utmost to fulfill it! Things would have been much better if his royal brother had come with him.
Having decided on his path, Song Qianming began browsing the internet on his phone, doing his best to absorb as much as possible while waiting for Youhuan. He could not help but sigh, once again feeling how convenient the handheld contraption was.
This world was amazing. Immortality may not be a thing, but their innumerable means allowed them to create immortal-like objects just as well.
“He’s so handsome!”
“That’s what a celebrity looks like!”
“Is he a celebrity? Even though he’s wearing sunglasses, he still looks familiar…”
“Why would a celebrity come here?”
“Hey, where is he going?” The two shop assistants exclaimed as Song Qianming stepped out of the shop. Soon, they saw him pick up a little girl from the kindergarten across the road.
“Maybe he isn’t a celebrity. How could a celebrity be a father at such a young age?”
“That’s not right. I read an article featured on the news two days ago. Didn’t it say something about a minor idol having a daughter out of wedlock?” The shop assistant took out her phone and started searching for the article she was looking for. “Look, it’s this one. I was wondering why he looked so familiar… He is a celebrity!”
“Oh my God, you’re right!” The other shop assistant cried. “But… the photo does not do him justice. He looks so much more handsome in person.”
“From now on, I will not criticize an actor’s appearance. It must be the makeup; it ruined his look. Song Qianming is much better off without all that makeup. With an appearance like his, it’s a crime that he isn’t more famous than he is!”
“I didn’t expect him to have a daughter already. And he isn’t even married! What a pity…”
“That’s one way of looking at things. I’m more impressed that he did not abandon his daughter for fame. It shows he’s a responsible man.”
“His fans won’t see it that way.”
The two shop assistants shook their heads and sighed. They lamented Song Qianming’s fate, believing he was at the end of his rope. Girls these days all have strict requirements for their male idols. Anti-fans would beset those who did not comply with the industry standard. Song Qianming had not even become a superstar, yet he already had a black mark on his name. Who would dare hire him?
The assistants at the dessert shop lamented as they watched Song Qianming pick up Youhuan from the kindergarten. A while later, he received a call from Yuan Fei, and they arranged a time to broadcast his resignation from the group and company.
The Livestream went without a hitch – most of it having already been discussed earlier that day. As for the haters flooding the comment section, Song Qianming did not pay them any attention. If a few small-time haters like them could affect his mental state, he would not have been as good a prince as he was in his previous life.
“The company has been working me to the bone all these years. Now, I have a daughter to raise, and I don’t have the money to do so.”
In the end, all he wanted was money. Tao Kang and Ji Tong eyed Song Qianming in disdain as if he were a beggar.
“I’ll intercede on your behalf and ask for 200,000 yuan from the company as compensation. Treat it as your severance fee. After which, all your contracts with the company will be terminated,” Yuan Fei said.
Song Qianming chuckled. “Do you think you can dismiss me and only cough up 200,000 yuan?”
“Is that not enough?” Tao Kang growled. “Tell me, how much have you contributed to the company in all these years? Don’t be an ingrate!”
“What are you implying?” Song Qianming glared at Tao Kang coldly. Even before his royal brother ascended the throne, no one dared to mouth before him. To think someone in this modern world he now lived in would have the nerve to call him an ingrate!
The original body’s owner had an appearance and temperament out of this world. Why else would Tao Kang have taken a fancy to him, insisting that he had to sign a contract with the company? Now that the body housed the soul of a transmigrated prince, it exuded an air of nobility even greater than before. With one look, anyone could tell that he possessed a special aura.
The others stared at him in disbelief. None of them had thought Song Qianming had such a side to him. Disbelief quickly transformed into anger. Song Qianming was not anyone special; he was just a piece of trash about to be forced out of the industry. How could he say such things so arrogantly?
“How much do you want?”
Before Tao Kang could rage further, Yuan Fei stepped in to put an end to the farce.
“Forget it. I’ll accept the 200,000 yuan offered since the company is so stingy, but I have one condition. When the announcement of my leaving the company is made, I want it known that I resigned voluntarily. Furthermore, regardless of future events, the company cannot use this incident against me, for better or worse.”
Yuan Fei did not immediately respond. Song Qianming knew what he was thinking. 200,000 yuan was nothing in the face of the fame or, perhaps, notoriety the group could gain by using him as a scapegoat. They were all wolves in sheep’s clothing.
“Captain, why don’t we agree to Qianming’s request? We might lose some of the limelight now, but it might be better for us in the long run. If anyone asks, we’ll say that we respect Qianming’s decisions and wish him all the best in his future endeavors. At least, this way, we’ll win some brownie points with our fans.” It was Su Liang who spoke up. He had been silent throughout the exchange, and it was only now that he joined the conversation.
Song Qianming quirked a brow in surprise.
Yuan Fei looked up and said, “I, too, have a condition. You can’t do anything to jeopardize the group’s reputation.”
“I’m too lazy to smear the group’s reputation.”
The terms were settled just like that. As Yuan Fei’s father was a major shareholder in the company, no one objected to his decision. Song Qianming was just some small-time artiste; it was not worth offending someone like Yuan Fei, who had his father’s backing, over someone like Song Qianming.
Song Qianming accepted the cheque and the notice of terminating his contract with the company without looking back. These people were not worth his time and energy.
Who would have thought he would resolve the issue regarding his contract so easily? It was all thanks to Yuan Fei. If it weren’t for Yuan Fei, the son of a major shareholder of the company, who did not want the group to disband, Song Qianming knew it would not have been so easy to walk away scot-free.
The 200,000 yuan was a pleasant surprise. While it may have sounded like a lot, it was not much in a place like Sea City. It still meant he was out of a job, with no real way to support himself or his daughter. This small sum would only do so much to tide them over. He had been occupied the past two days getting used to sending his daughter to kindergarten while preparing for his confrontation with the company and the termination of his contract.
Song Qianming did not know what to do after depositing the cheque at the bank. He had not thought over what he would do next, so he sat at a dessert shop outside Youhuan’s kindergarten and did just that.
Actors and singers were considered rather low-class in his previous life, but Song Qianming would never dare look down on them.
In his previous life, he and his royal brother were hunted like animals and had no choice but to seek refuge in a brothel. It was those lovely ladies that had protected them, sending the soldiers that came knocking on their door away. Song Qianming had learned the meaning of helplessness, then, and that not all who entered the profession were base or not deserving of respect.
That was more so in this modern world he now lived in. Not only were celebrities not seen as lowly, but they were also highly sought after by many. It was pointless trying to distinguish between noble professions and those that were not; at least, that was what Song Qianming now believed. Not even his royal brother in his previous life would have been able to stomach such a change in viewpoints. Song Qianming believed this second chance at life was a blessing in more ways than one.
If only he and his royal brother had access to this world’s technology and knowledge, then the people of the Lan dynasty would not have had to suffer so much.
Since it was the wish of the original body’s owner to become a superstar, he, who had taken over this body, would do his utmost to fulfill it! Things would have been much better if his royal brother had come with him.
Having decided on his path, Song Qianming began browsing the internet on his phone, doing his best to absorb as much as possible while waiting for Youhuan. He could not help but sigh, once again feeling how convenient the handheld contraption was.
This world was amazing. Immortality may not be a thing, but their innumerable means allowed them to create immortal-like objects just as well.
“He’s so handsome!”
“That’s what a celebrity looks like!”
“Is he a celebrity? Even though he’s wearing sunglasses, he still looks familiar…”
“Why would a celebrity come here?”
“Hey, where is he going?” The two shop assistants exclaimed as Song Qianming stepped out of the shop. Soon, they saw him pick up a little girl from the kindergarten across the road.
“Maybe he isn’t a celebrity. How could a celebrity be a father at such a young age?”
“That’s not right. I read an article featured on the news two days ago. Didn’t it say something about a minor idol having a daughter out of wedlock?” The shop assistant took out her phone and started searching for the article she was looking for. “Look, it’s this one. I was wondering why he looked so familiar… He is a celebrity!”
“Oh my God, you’re right!” The other shop assistant cried. “But… the photo does not do him justice. He looks so much more handsome in person.”
“From now on, I will not criticize an actor’s appearance. It must be the makeup; it ruined his look. Song Qianming is much better off without all that makeup. With an appearance like his, it’s a crime that he isn’t more famous than he is!”
“I didn’t expect him to have a daughter already. And he isn’t even married! What a pity…”
“That’s one way of looking at things. I’m more impressed that he did not abandon his daughter for fame. It shows he’s a responsible man.”
“His fans won’t see it that way.”
The two shop assistants shook their heads and sighed. They lamented Song Qianming’s fate, believing he was at the end of his rope. Girls these days all have strict requirements for their male idols. Anti-fans would beset those who did not comply with the industry standard. Song Qianming had not even become a superstar, yet he already had a black mark on his name. Who would dare hire him?
The assistants at the dessert shop lamented as they watched Song Qianming pick up Youhuan from the kindergarten. A while later, he received a call from Yuan Fei, and they arranged a time to broadcast his resignation from the group and company.
The Livestream went without a hitch – most of it having already been discussed earlier that day. As for the haters flooding the comment section, Song Qianming did not pay them any attention. If a few small-time haters like them could affect his mental state, he would not have been as good a prince as he was in his previous life.
RECENTLY UPDATES
Eastern
Action
Action
Action
Action
Action
Josei
Urban