After Spectating Gossip, the Entertainment Industry Thinks I’m a Big Shot – CH3

Chapter 3

Signing Meng Yuansheng was a delight, but when Gu Xingshi saw his bank balance, his excitement faded.

If he had known Jiang Mo was such a jerk, he wouldn’t have flown over here; even discounted flights aren’t cheap.

Dejected, he slumped on the sidewalk, checking his app for a night train with a sleeper so he could save on a hotel. But as soon as he opened the app, his landlord called. After covering half a year’s rent, he stared at the dwindling balance in his account and reluctantly changed his seat to a regular hard seat.

After a sleepless night on the train, Gu Xingshi stepped off at the station feeling dazed. But instead of heading home, he went straight to the office.

The company was in an old office building in the third ring of Beijing. Though the location was decent, the building was dilapidated. The hallway lights had been out forever, the walls were grimy, and it looked like the perfect place to shoot a horror film without props.

After Gu Xingshi had first seen it with a lawyer, he regretted his decision instantly. But the place came with one big advantage: no rent. His distant uncle had built his business here, and when his company LeShi took off, he had bought the space outright. In his will, his uncle had stipulated that if Gu Xingshi could keep the business going for one year, the property would become his.

A place in the third ring of Beijing is worth a fortune, even in poor shape. This was the main reason Gu Xingshi had stuck around.

Yawning, Gu Xingshi entered the office.

It was about 150 square meters divided into four rooms: an office and meeting space, a dance studio, a recording room, and a small reception area. First, he turned on his computer to check for emails, then grabbed a mop and rag and started cleaning since he couldn’t afford a receptionist or cleaning service.

Halfway through, a young man in a delivery shirt walked in. He was tall, with a close-cropped haircut, single eyelids, a high nose bridge, and thin lips, giving him an edgy look.

Gu Xingshi stretched his sore back and waved, “Hey, A Xin! You’re early today?”

This was Cheng Xin, currently the company’s only artist. Two years ago, Gu Xingshi’s uncle had signed him as a trainee. When the uncle passed away and all the other artists left, Cheng Xin was the only one who stayed. With little work, he spent his free time practicing and doing odd jobs.

Cheng Xin nodded curtly, acknowledging him. He dropped his bag and grabbed a rag, cleaning up faster than Gu Xingshi.

With Cheng Xin’s help, they finished in no time. When he went to head to the dance studio, Gu Xingshi called him back.

“Hold on. Let’s have a quick meeting.”

Cheng Xin followed him into the office in silence.

Clearing his throat, Gu Xingshi said, “So here’s the thing: the company has no money left, so we need to find a way to make some. Got any ideas?”

They exchanged a look, and after a pause, Cheng Xin hesitated before offering, “I know a construction site. I can get us in if you want to try bricklaying.”

Gu Xingshi was speechless.

He quickly dismissed that idea. “I have another plan. You know how popular talent shows are right now? Let’s go for one!”

He hadn’t wasted his time on the train and had thought through their options. They had no money, no resources, and no fanbase. Most avenues were closed off, and given Cheng Xin’s personality, he’d probably never land a role on his own. Thinking it over, a talent show was the best option.

He opened his laptop, pulling up the web page for [Boy Group Training Camp].

“Last year, an unknown contestant went viral because of this show, and it even boosted his company. You can sing and dance as well as he can, and with your looks… Maybe we can pull this off!”

Gu Xingshi enthusiastically explained for a while, then eagerly asked, “So, what do you think?”

Cheng Xin paused before pointing to the fine print at the bottom. “It says you need at least two people to sign up as a company.”

“Don’t worry! I’ve already found you a fantastic teammate!” Gu Xingshi said, confident.

“Oh,” Cheng Xin replied without expression and headed off to practice.

Gu Xingshi waited all day, but Meng Yuansheng never called. He began to feel anxious, regretting not having gotten Meng Yuansheng’s number.

With only two days left before the sign-up deadline, if Meng Yuansheng didn’t show, they were out of luck. Finding someone new would take too long, and the next talent show wasn’t for another three months. At this rate, Gu Xingshi wasn’t sure if he had enough money to last that long.

His face fell. [System, got any tips for quick, easy cash?]

[Dreams help with morale, I guess?]

[Fine…] Gu Xingshi muttered, wondering if he might actually need to start bricklaying.

Just then, his phone rang.

It was an unfamiliar number, and he figured it was a delivery.

“Hello, this is Meng Yuansheng.”

A clear but slightly raspy voice came from the other end.

For a second, Gu Xingshi froze before nearly jumping out of his seat.

Meng Yuansheng began with an apology, explaining he’d just returned to Beijing, which is why he hadn’t been able to call sooner.

Gu Xingshi noticed how tired Meng Yuansheng sounded and asked, “Are you feeling alright?”

Meng Yuansheng froze for a moment, his attempt to stay composed shattering as a surge of bitterness rose in his chest. He struggled to keep his emotions steady. “I… I’m fine.”

Hearing his voice, Gu Xingshi sensed that he was holding something back but considerately refrained from asking further. When Meng Yuansheng said he would visit the office tomorrow, Gu Xingshi quickly agreed.

The next morning, Meng Yuansheng arrived at the office as planned. He still looked a bit weary, but it only added a kind of fragile, cool beauty to his features. Seeing Gu Xingshi personally come downstairs to greet him, he felt a bit flattered, but that quickly turned to shock when he took in the old, run-down building.

Before coming here, Meng Yuansheng had done some research on LeShi Entertainment. A decade ago, LeShi was a giant in the industry. But ever since superstar Yan Zhiheng retired, the company had fallen into decline. Poor management choices only sped up the process, and within a few short years, LeShi was forgotten by almost everyone.

Meng Yuansheng vaguely recalled hearing rumors a couple of years ago about LeShi’s artists leaving. He thought the company must have gone bankrupt, so he was surprised to find Gu Xingshi still running it. Of course, this was only barely distinguishable from bankruptcy.

Trying to keep his composure, Meng Yuansheng followed Gu Xingshi into the elevator. Prepared as he was, he still kept a calm expression when he saw the dim and cramped reception area.

Gu Xingshi had been stealing glances at him, worried that the state of the company might scare him off. After all, the agency where Meng Yuansheng used to work, JinYou Entertainment, was one of the top companies in the country. In comparison, LeShi was a world apart.

Gu Xingshi sighed internally. It wasn’t that he didn’t want a sleek, high-end office — he just didn’t have the means to make it happen!

Fortunately, Meng Yuansheng didn’t turn and leave, which Gu Xingshi saw as a promising start.

Gu Xingshi’s smile grew warmer. “Must’ve been tiring getting here. I’ll get you some water.” As he went to pour the drink, he thought about how best to persuade — no, invite — Meng Yuansheng to join.

While Gu Xingshi was fetching water, Meng Yuansheng looked around the room. Though the place was old and cramped, it was clean. The furniture, though dated, was well cared for and had a certain vintage feel.

His gaze fell on a guitar by the sofa, and he froze. The guitar looked familiar because it was the same model Jiang Mo used. The office space might be old and run-down, but there was a 100,000-yuan guitar casually left beside the sofa. Meng Yuansheng couldn’t tell if this company was poor or secretly wealthy.

After a brief chat, Gu Xingshi showed him around the office, starting with the recording studio since Cheng Xin was busy practicing dance. The moment they walked in, Meng Yuansheng’s eyes were drawn to the mixing console.

It wasn’t just the console; every piece of equipment in sight was highly professional. Just the items in the recording studio alone were worth a few million yuan.

He was increasingly suspicious. Was this really a small company on the brink of bankruptcy?

Throughout the tour, Gu Xingshi noticed the increasingly somber expression on Meng Yuansheng’s face, and his nerves grew.

Luckily, they arrived at the dance studio. Gu Xingshi opened the door to the pounding beat of a song. Meng Yuansheng recognized it immediately as “First X Blood” by the Japanese artist Jonson Zou, a song with a strong rhythm and catchy melody, perfect for a powerful, edgy dance routine. Jonson Zou’s songs were quite niche, so not many people in the country listened to them. Meng Yuansheng was pleasantly surprised to find a fellow fan here.

He looked over and saw Cheng Xin finishing the last moves of the routine. Cheng Xin’s dance was fluid and natural, exuding a raw, animalistic charm that made it hard to look away.

As the music ended, Cheng Xin was panting lightly. His loose t-shirt clung to his body with sweat, hinting at his well-defined muscles. His cool demeanor paired with the glimpse of abs added a subtle intensity.

Gu Xingshi beckoned him over. “A Xin! Come here for a second!”

Cheng Xin looked up, noticing Gu Xingshi’s intense, wordless gestures. Success or failure in the talent show might hinge on whether they could convince Meng Yuansheng to stay.

Cheng Xin paused, looked at Meng Yuansheng, and finally said, “Think it over carefully. Our company doesn’t usually coerce people.” 

Meng Yuansheng: “???”

Gu Xingshi: “…”