After leaving Pei Yan’s home, Qi Feng followed his memory and found the residential area where the original owner lived. Just as he reached the bottom of the building, he saw a thin man running towards him in a state of anxiety, asking, “Xiao Feng, did you see Li Junzhuo last night? Why didn’t you tell me? How are you now?!”
Fang Cheng?!
Qi Feng looked at the man in surprise. The man was the original owner’s assistant, Fang Cheng, who looked almost identical to Manager Fang from Yong’an Music Hall.
Manager Fang was sent by Pei Yan’s father to take care of him at the music hall. He had carefully disguised himself for the past eight years, always protecting him from harm.
But this Fang Cheng…
Last night, before he went to the nightclub to see Li Junzhuo, Fang Cheng had stuffed a bottle of water into his bag. He had only drunk from that bottle of water since entering the nightclub. This bottle of water should be the reason why he had behaved so abnormally.
Qi Feng quickly regained his composure and said, “No, I went to… an old friend’s house.”
“You didn’t see Li Junzhuo? That’s great!”
Fang Cheng let out a sigh of relief. “I just heard from someone in the company that you went to apologize to Li Junzhuo last night, and I was so scared… Why didn’t you answer my phone call?”
Qi Feng pinched his black screen phone and said, “Looks like it ran out of battery.”
Fang Cheng lowered his voice and said, “Li Junzhuo is famous for playing around. Even if his men’s clothing endorsement deal falls apart, he’ll still be able to get another one… “
Qi Feng interrupted him calmly, “Let’s talk about it inside.”
“Okay.”
The original owner lived alone in a house that wasn’t very large, but it was clean and tidy. The living room and dining room had only simple furniture, and there was a flower rack on the balcony with a few pots of crisp and refreshing orchids.
Though there were not many things, it made Qifeng feel calm and at ease.
He slowly changed his shoes and walked into the house, quietly observing the furniture and objects in the room, recalling the original owner’s habits.
Fang Cheng closed the door and expressed his concern again, “Xiao Feng, you don’t look well. Did you not sleep well? Are you still concerned about the online rumors that you’re trying to ride on Ning Yufei’s popularity?”
Online rumors? Riding on popularity?
Qi Feng remembered something, took out his phone and charged it, turned it on, and opened his Weibo account.
Sure enough, the comments section under his personal account was filled with smoke and insults, all directed at him.
【You’re crazy for fame, even wanting to ride on Yufei-ge’s popularity.】
【No talent, no acting skills, just sucking blood while clinging to Yufei-ge.】
【What do you have besides your face? Even calling you a decorative pillow is an insult to pillows.】
【When taking photos, try using more facial expressions. Being able to copy and paste the same smile is also a kind of talent.】
—–
Qi Feng watched expressionlessly as he realized that the insult the original owner was being called the most was “decorative pillow.” They said he was all show with no substance, lacked acting skills, culture, and emotional intelligence, and wore a fake smile on his face. The worst thing he was accused of was riding on Ning Yufei’s popularity.
Last week he appeared on a food program with Ning Yufei. Naturally, Ning Yufei, who was more famous, had more screen time, but the original owner appeared next to him multiple times, wore the same shoes as him, and even stumbled and entered the camera shot when they were doing close-ups on Ning Yufei.
This caused the entire internet to mock him for stealing Ning Yufei’s screen time and riding on his fame. This incident caused the original owner, who was not yet a famous star, to become a hot topic and receive a lot of negative attention.
Qi Feng looked at the pictures, videos, and GIFs of the original owner circulating online and chuckled softly. “This phone is really amazing.”
Fang Cheng was confused and could not help but lament Qi Feng’s infamy again. “You and Ning Yufei debuted at the same time, participated in the same debut program, and received endorsements at the same level.”
“Your resources were the same back then, but now you are about to lose your endorsement for men’s clothing, while he is about to become the spokesperson for the investment department of Donghai Group. I heard that Pei Junhai is a generous person.”
Qi Feng was stunned. “What did you say? Pei what?”
“Pei Junhai, a financial investment magnate. Oh, by the way, the residential area where you currently live is developed by his Donghai Investment Group.”
“His son is called Pei Yan, and he is also a powerful figure. If Ning Yufei becomes the spokesperson for Donghai Investment, he will definitely become friends with Pei Yan, the young master of the Pei family. By then, Ning Yufei’s network and resources will become even more impressive.”
As Fang Cheng looked on enviously, Qi Feng concealed his heavy thoughts and walked towards the balcony.
Pei Yan’s father, Pei Junhai, had saved him and protected him while he was growing up after his entire family was accused of rebellion and exiled to a harsh land. Uncle Pei’s kindness towards him and the Qi family was as high as a mountain, and he always thought he couldn’t repay it.
There are both Pei Yan and Pei Junhai here.
Underneath the brown orchid wooden frame on the balcony, there is even a guzheng, with an antique wooden color and clear, crisp strings. Like him, it looks like the original owner was someone who could play the guqin and guzheng. He lowered his hand and placed it on the strings, casually strumming a few times. Suddenly, the ancient and elegant sound of the guzheng echoed on the balcony.
Fang Cheng, who was talking, was stunned and followed the boy’s movements as he played, his figure slender as bamboo and his face gentle and handsome.
Suddenly, he felt that this scene was beautiful, like a painting.
Qi Feng’s white shirt matched the emerald green orchids, clean and cool like the wind after rain, elegant and free-spirited. The elegant and classical melody of the guzheng surrounded his slender and slightly red fingertips.
Within the clear and melodious notes, there was an indescribable noble charm.
“You…don’t move.”
Fang Cheng regained his senses and quickly took out his phone, “I’ll take a little video of you and post it on your Weibo. With you like this, no one will ever say you’re a ‘decorative pillow’. You’re too good-looking! And too good at playing1the guzheng!”
“Wait a minute,” Qi Feng paused on the strings, closed his eyes, and looked at Fang Cheng. “Bring me two glasses.”
Fang Cheng didn’t know what he meant, but he still put down his phone regretfully and ran to the kitchen to get two glasses.
Qi Feng took out a bottle of water from the original owner’s backpack last night and poured it into the two glasses. He handed one to Fang Cheng.
With a clear gaze and slow, measured speech he said, “You gave me this bottle of water yesterday. Here, let’s celebrate my infamous reputation.”
Fang Cheng burst out laughing, holding his glass of water and saying, “Celebrate your infamous reputation? Okay, if you can be so optimistic, I’m relieved.”
With that, he picked up the cup of water and brought it to his lips, about to take a sip. Qi Feng watched him with lowered eyes and swiftly reached out to grab the cup just as Fang Cheng was about to drink from it.
The water splashed onto Fang Cheng’s hands and face. Surprised, he asked, “What, what’s wrong?”
“I forgot that I had already drunk from this bottle of water,” Qi Feng replied coolly, pouring the contents into a nearby flowerpot.
Even Fang Cheng, like Pei Yan and Uncle Pei, would not harm him. Someone must have used Fang Cheng’s hand to sneak the bottle of water into his bag last night.
“What’s wrong with you having drunk from it? I don’t mind,” Fang Cheng grumbled as he wiped his face and hands with a tissue. “When you just made your debut, there was a production crew that didn’t provide food. We even shared a box of instant noodles.”
Qi Feng chuckled, plucking the strings of his guzheng once again. “You wanted to record a short video and upload it, right? Come on.”
Fang Cheng brightened up, “Alright!”
Qi Feng played a simple tune and casually plucked at the strings like before. He was playing a piece that he composed in the music hall. Although it was not yet complete, it had already impressed the court musicians, who had included it in a music anthology in advance.
Cultural classics could be passed down from generation to generation. If they were in the future, this piece would still be remembered.
Fang Cheng did not understand the guzheng and had no idea what song Qi Feng was playing.
He couldn’t help but feel mesmerized by the beautiful music Qi Feng played. In a short video of less than a minute, every second is so captivating that one cannot bear to look away, but instead wants to listen quietly and watch attentively.
As part of his duties to manage Qi Feng’s Weibo account, Fang Cheng was responsible for handling comments and maintaining his image. With excitement and high spirits, he sent the video to Qi Feng’s Weibo account, saying, “It’s so beautiful and sounds so good. If netizens see you like this, your reputation will definitely recover.”
He continued, “Since you can play the guzheng and guqin, why didn’t you show it earlier? Then there wouldn’t have been any talk about you being just a pretty face.”
The heat of public opinion around Qi Feng’s attention-seeking behavior and desire for publicity had not completely died down. As soon as the video was posted, comments flooded in like a tide:
[Why isn’t he wearing finger picks while playing the guzheng? What’s with the pretense? He’s just forcing it.]
[He’s so embarrassing. What is he even playing? If he can’t play it properly, then why pretend to be cultured?]
[Hehe, even negative attention is still attention. He should just stick to being a pretty face and not try to touch things he doesn’t understand.]
…..
The negative comments were overwhelming, with mocking remarks filling the screen.
Once in a while, a comment would appear: [I think he plays really well and looks like a handsome and cultured ancient beauty.]
Immediately, the commenter was attacked by the crowd: [There are actually fans defending Qifeng?!]
[Being a fan of such a celebrity is pitiful.]
[What does it matter if he’s good-looking? If he has a bad character, it doesn’t matter how he plays.]
…..
Fang Cheng cursed with a trembling voice, “Did these people even listen carefully? How come they can’t hear how well you played? I think they are deliberately trying to bring us down. Someone tried to speak up for you and ended up being surrounded and criticized by a bunch of people.”
“If you go against the majority, everything you do will be wrong.2不合天时，做什么都是错的。- If you go against the times, everything you do will be wrong. “
Qi Feng glanced through the comments casually, but suddenly his gaze stopped at one of the less noticeable comments that was drowned out among many negative reviews.
[I think I have heard this guzheng piece before. The author was a person from the Southern Yue period, but his name is unknown. He died young, leaving behind this unfinished score that makes all guzheng masters regretful.]
Just as he suspected!
Qi Feng’s finger traced the comment. The piece of music he composed has also been passed down.
With that, all the events that happened between him and General Pei’s family in the capital should have been recorded in history and could be traced. Perhaps he could find out how Pei Yan died on the battlefield and how he himself ended up in this place.
Suddenly, a phone call came in, and the incoming number covered the screen.
Fang Cheng looked at the incoming number and became nervous, “It’s Mr. Tang! Will he ask you about meeting Li Junzhuo last night? How do we explain this to him?”
It was Qi Feng’s agent- Tang Jun.
He was also the one who connected the original owner with Li Junzhuo last night.
Only then did Qi Feng remember that while he had left with Pei Yan last night, he still had to deal with the trouble of Li Junzhuo.
An artist’s nature is similar to that of a musician. They cannot offend the powerful and influential, although they only sell their art, they still have to face the difficulties of the nobles3Meaning the artists had to be careful not to offend them or lose their favor..
Otherwise, they will have nowhere to go.
Regardless of what happened last night, leaving behind Li Junzhuo, whom the original owner had previously made plans to meet, to go with another man not only embarrassed Li Junzhuo, but also offended Tang Jun, who had arranged the meeting.
He answered the phone, “Mr. Tang.”
Tang Jun’s voice was cold and severe, “Qi Feng, I arranged for you to meet with Li Junzhuo last night, but you left him behind and went away by yourself? What were you thinking?”
Fang Cheng’s face turned pale upon hearing this.
Qi Feng replied, “I wasn’t feeling well last night, so I left early.”
Before he could figure out who had given him the water bottle, he didn’t want to make a big deal out of being set up.
Tang Jun snorted, “It was you who suggested meeting with Mr. Li in person, and now you’ve done this foolish thing! You’ve been under contract for two years, don’t you understand the consequences of your actions?”
Qi Feng remained silent.
The artists here have their own freedom. They can make demands to the company for the resources they need to pursue their chosen path, just like the original Qi Feng did.
If the original owner hadn’t been caught up in a scandal and desperate to keep his endorsement, he wouldn’t have gone to Tang Jun to introduce him to Li Junzhuo.
But now, he was indeed digging another big hole for himself on the path the original owner had chosen. He had to get through this hurdle no matter what. He had just taken over the original owner’s body and didn’t want to ruin his career on the very first day.
Tang Jun sighed, “Li Junzhuo called me. I’ll take you to meet him tonight and apologize formally. Not to mention that you’re still endorsing his company’s brand. It won’t be easy for you if you offend him. 8 pm tonight, A City Restaurant.”
After hanging up the phone, Fang Cheng’s eyes widened, “You voluntarily arranged to meet Mr. Li last night? And you left him? Qi Feng, you…you’re just asking for trouble.”
Qi Feng’s eyes darkened, “I’ll go and apologize to Li Junzhuo tonight. Tang Jun will be there too, so Li Junzhuo shouldn’t give me a hard time anymore.”
“You are too naive!” Fang Cheng exclaimed in despair. “If Mr. Li doesn’t forgive you, losing the endorsement is just a small matter. The company will blacklist you in order to keep capital like Li Junzhuo, and they will terminate your contract. You will also face penalties for violating other program contracts, and you will be burdened with a large amount of debt.”
“You also just bought this house. The mortgage is over 8 million. How do you plan to pay for it? Are you waiting for the bank to take it away from you?”
“And besides, you are an artist with no background and full of black material. How are you going to survive in society without being laughed at? “
The more Fang Cheng spoke, the worse the situation seemed. Finally, he gritted his teeth and patted his chest, saying, “We will meet Li Junzhuo tonight. Whether it’s bowing and apologizing, or drinking and taking the blame, you have to endure it. If worse comes to worst, I’ll take the hit for you!”
“Okay.”
Qifeng lowered his gaze and plucked the strings of the guzheng. “When the enemy comes, we’ll resist them; when the water comes, we’ll use earth to block it4兵来将挡，水来土掩. It means to take such measures as the situation calls for or to adopt measures appropriate to the actual situation. It is a metaphor for no matter what method the other party uses, there is always a corresponding way to deal with it1. Literally, it means confront soldiers with generals and stem water with earth.. What’s there to be afraid of?”
…..
Li Junzhuo sat in his spacious office.
In front of him stood the tall Pei Yan, with a cold and stern expression, exuding a daunting aura that filled the entire office with a heavy pressure. On his right was Song Zhe, sitting casually on top of his desk, playing with a pot of succulents on his desk.
Both were sons of wealthy and influential families in A City, both were well-connected and influential young masters of their respective clans, both were people that Li Junzhuo couldn’t afford to offend.
He was in the middle holding his phone, smiling but not really smiling, and said, “Pei-ge, I’ve already made an appointment with him. Tonight at eight o’clock, A City Restaurant, his agent Tang Jun will also be there, and Qi Feng won’t miss it. Is this okay?”
Pei Yan seemed to casually glance at him, but his voice was heavy with warning, “Remember, he’s mine from now on. Try touching him again and see what happens.”
“I know, don’t worry, I won’t touch him. If you like him, give him resources, endorsements, and he’ll do everything you say and call you dad every day.” Li Junzhuo hurriedly said, secretly hoping to send these two big bosses away quickly.
As the founder of a fashion brand and the owner of a newly listed company, he not only lost a person, but also had to deal with these two big shots pressuring him in his own office.
Where could he put his face as a successful young elite?
Pei Yan, this bastard, had slept with the boy but still managed to let him get away?!
When Pei Yan heard his words, his expression became even more sinister and dangerous. “Since he has been your endorser, what have you done to him?”
There was a dangerous flame in his suppressed voice.
Li Junzhuo: ?!
After understanding Pei Yan’s meaning, he was so angry that he was speechless. “I saw him for the first time last night, and he was stolen by you! What can I do to him?!”
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