Sorry for the delay.
Jing Li’s assistant observed his reaction after speaking.
He knew that the second young master had said he wanted to see how far he could go on his own merits when he first entered the entertainment industry. So, Jing Yu had only assembled a team for him and did not interfere too much.
Although the second young master now had some fame online, and his upcoming drama would make him even more popular, it was possible that the Gu Group had spotted his potential, hence extending an olive branch. However, there was still some gap from the present situation, and the assistant was unsure if the second young master would overthink it.
Especially since these past few days, Gu Tingshen, the head of the Gu Group, had been frequently visiting the young master, and the two often spent hours chatting, appearing quite familiar with each other.
Not to mention the young master, even when the assistant heard that the Gu Group had approached them for an endorsement deal, he subconsciously suspected that President Gu might be showing favoritism.
However, upon hearing his words, Jing Li merely paused briefly before opening his eyes, glancing at him, and asking, “What’s wrong with the Gu Group? Are their requirements for endorsers too strict?”
“……Ah?” The assistant clearly didn’t expect such a reaction, momentarily stunned by the question. After regaining his composure, he hurriedly replied, “Ah, the Gu Group’s requirements for endorsers are indeed strict, but not overly so.”
“Then there’s nothing to worry about,” Jing Li nodded, closing his eyes again to rest. “It’s just business. If they’re paying you to endorse their products, it’s reasonable for them to have strict requirements.”
Pausing, he added, “However, we should still have Wang-jie clarify any specific requirements in advance, so we can prepare accordingly.”
Throughout the conversation, he didn’t seem too surprised by the Gu Group’s endorsement offer, as if it were merely a normal part of his work and not something to overthink.
“Got it, I’ll give Wang-jie a reply later.” The assistant responded, and then secretly glanced at Jing Li’s expression. Seeing that he looked calm as if he really didn’t take this matter to heart, he felt relieved. At the same time, he couldn’t help but secretly admire the decisiveness and calmness of his second young master.
Sure enough, he had been too narrow-minded before.
*
Meanwhile, at the hotel where Gu Tingshen was staying, Secretary Qin was briefing him on the group’s recent operations.
“All departments within the group are functioning smoothly. The major projects you approved before your business trip have been implemented. A few of our subsidiaries have some urgent documents requiring your signature, which I’ve already forwarded to your email…”
Secretary Qin summarized the situation concisely. At the end, as if remembering something, he added, “By the way, the G.T. brand called this afternoon. They plan to sign Jing Er Shao as the endorser for their new lipstick line. Although he’s not very famous yet, he has great potential. Once the director’s new drama airs, he’s bound to skyrocket in popularity.”
“Signing him now would maximize the benefits for the Gu Group, but relatively speaking, Jing Er Shao might be at a disadvantage in terms of contract terms.”
“So G.T. wanted to consult you. If you have no objections, they’ll proceed with signing a Level B contract once his team responds.”
“However, factoring in Jing Er Shao’s future value after gaining fame, signing a Level A contract is also feasible.”
Gu Tingshen’s fingers, lightly tapping on the desk, paused for a moment before he calmly replied, “Let them follow the standard selection process; there’s no need to consult me.”
In other words, he was leaving the decision to them.
Secretary Qin nodded, intending to call them back later with the response.
Having completed the work report, Secretary Qin excused himself and left.
However, Gu Tingshen remained seated, gazing down at the desk with a pensive expression as if contemplating an important decision.
*
The filming continued as usual. With the absence of disruptive forces, everyone’s condition gradually returned to normal, and the shooting proceeded exceptionally smoothly.
However, Jing Li’s state appeared somewhat strained. Ever since he over-exhausted his spiritual power when dealing with the hyena demon and the camphor tree spirit, he had felt constantly fatigued these past few days.
However, on set, there were too many factors to consider, so no matter how uncomfortable he felt, he had to persevere. As soon as he returned to his room, he would instantly collapse onto the sofa, drained.
Clearly, this was not a sustainable approach, especially with the upcoming advertisement shoot at the Gu Group, which would require even more energy.
After much contemplation, Jing Li realized his previous cultivation efforts were insufficient. He needed to diligently nourish his spiritual meridians to recover fully.
Fortunately, he could absorb a considerable amount of faith power daily, which he could hastily refine to temporarily alleviate the urgent need.
Thus, whenever he didn’t have scenes, Jing Li would retreat to his room and seize every opportunity to meditate and cultivate, declining all non-essential activities like team gatherings and entertainment, except for script readings and work-related meetings.
Although he had explained the situation to the crew, many still expressed discontent towards him, albeit not openly.
Until one day, the crew faced another major scene. Due to its scale, it wasn’t until late at night that they finally wrapped up, leaving everyone utterly exhausted.
“Thank you all for your hard work today,” said the director, proposing to take half a day off the next day and inviting everyone out for a late-night snack and KTV session to unwind.
The crew readily agreed, with some even joking that the director’s generosity made their hard work worthwhile, prompting laughter from everyone.
Amidst the laughter, Jing Li once again declined, apologizing, and promising to treat everyone once he was free, if they didn’t mind.
“You better keep your word!” The director, aware of Jing Li’s identity, didn’t comment further, assuming he was occupied with company matters. Given his outstanding performance, the director even helped smooth things over.
The other lead actors, familiar with Jing Li’s investor status, also expressed understanding with warm smiles. Seeing their reactions, the rest remained silent, though their expressions were somewhat indifferent.
After Jing Li left, the group departed.
Trailing at the end, a few minor actors could no longer hold back their snide remarks.
“He’s not coming again, even though the director organized this grand event. I think some veteran actors are not as big as him.”
“As soon as the break came, he disappeared. Maybe his schedule is very full. After all, he is also a famous little star.”
“Or maybe he just can’t handle the cold. He looks so delicate and pampered, and he probably has never experienced any hardship.”
“You’re overthinking it. Maybe he just looks down on us commoners and finds it beneath him to mingle with us! Didn’t you notice how close he is with those lead actors?”
……
The group huddled together, whispering without restraint, seemingly making excuses for him, yet their words were laced with sarcasm.
Their expressions were vivid, clearly harboring dissatisfaction towards Jing Li’s conduct.
Coincidentally, Mr. Chen, trailing behind the group, overheard their gossip and couldn’t help but scoff coldly.
“Some people can still earn most people’s appreciation even if they don’t attend gatherings. If you had his talent and skills, without any NG takes, others would naturally look upon you favorably too.”
“Perhaps while you’re idling at private get-togethers, he’s diligently honing his acting skills in his room.”
“Instead of wasting time badmouthing others behind their back, you’d be better off focusing on improving yourselves.”
Mr. Chen was blunt by nature and spoke directly, never considering if his words might embarrass others.
As he finished speaking, those who were previously whispering fell silent, some with shallow complexions already flushing red with embarrassment.
They clearly didn’t expect Mr. Chen, who had been cold towards Jing Li, to actually defend him.
Yet, his words rang true.
Despite never attending gatherings, Jing Li hadn’t offended anyone, with many actively showing concern and engaging him in conversation.
Moreover, he excelled in every scene, rarely requiring retakes.
Regardless of his reasons for absence, personality, or alleged star behavior, he simply delivered.
Thus, even if they disliked him inwardly, they had to acknowledge his strength and ability.
What’s more, if even the usually critical Mr. Chen stood up for him, wouldn’t it reflect poorly on their pettiness to continue gossiping?
Although they lacked magnanimity, they still needed to maintain face.
The group awkwardly murmured in agreement, wisely suppressing any lingering resentment.
Observing their submissive demeanor, Mr. Chen scoffed disdainfully, turning away, no longer bothering with them.
Time passed, and eventually, the official stills for “The Last Remnant” were released online.
This production boasted an unprecedentedly formidable lineup, was helmed by an internationally renowned director, and featured numerous A-list celebrities. Naturally, it garnered unprecedented attention.
As soon as the official stills were posted online, legions of eagerly awaiting fans erupted in excitement.
“No wonder this production recruited half of the entertainment industry’s current top stars! Just look at those visuals, outshining countless other productions!”
“Ahhh! Yan-ge looks so hot in that armor! I can’t handle it!”
“Aww, my darling Lily is as beautiful as ever! Those foxy eyes are stealing my soul.”
“Holy crap! Is that Jing Li in the white robe?! He looks completely different from ‘Immortal Road’! And standing beside those big names, he doesn’t pale in comparison at all!”
“Ahhhhh! After seeing the stills, I’m even more hyped for the drama! Please air it as you film, Director! One episode a week is fine too!”
“I second that idea! Please air it as you film, Director! Two episodes a week!”
“Please air it as you film!”
……
Fans clamored eagerly online, their comments escalating into fervent pleas for the production to air the drama as it was being filmed. Countless people frantically tagged the official account and the director himself. As the comments multiplied, hashtags like #AirTheLastRemnantAsYouFilm# even trended.
However, no matter how raucous the online commotion was, their wish was bound to be unfulfilled. The production carried on as normal, the filming unaffected.
Although unable to satisfy the audience’s desire for a simulcast, the official account did periodically release behind-the-scenes clips.
This served as a teaser for fans eagerly awaiting the drama while sustaining the hype around “The Last Remnant.”
Days passed peacefully. A few days later, as Gu Tingshen’s work at the studio concluded, he was set to return to the capital. Before leaving, he made a point to invite Jing Li out for a meal together.
After the hyena incident, other demonic beings likely developed a wariness towards Jing Li, resulting in relative calm at the studio recently. Thus, this time they decided against staying at the hotel, opting for a famous local restaurant instead.
The restaurant’s location was relatively secluded, minimizing the risk of being recognized by passersby.
Nevertheless, to be safe, Gu Tingshen reserved the entire restaurant, leaving only the kitchen staff and a few service employees to attend to them.
“I heard their signature dishes are apricot claypot chicken and diced beef. We can try those later,” Gu Tingshen suggested some specialties as he handed Jing Li the menu after they were seated.
Jing Li nodded, casually taking the menu and ordering a few of his favorites. After inquiring about Gu Tingshen’s preferences and placing his order, he returned the menu to the server.
As they awaited their meal, the two chatted leisurely.
After spending time together, their relationship had evidently grown closer. Coupled with the shared secret of their supernatural encounters, they had become rather intimate friends.
“I didn’t expect to end up staying here for over a month. Now that I’m leaving, I feel a tinge of reluctance,” Gu Tingshen remarked with a smile.
“What’s the problem? You can always come back for a few days once you’re free,” Jing Li smiled in return. “We can even invite my brother along and explore together.”
“If I don’t have any filming commitments, I can join you both as well.”
“Sounds good. In fact, I need to discuss a collaboration with your brother when I return, so I’ll ask for his thoughts.” Gu Tingshen arched his brow with a smile, pausing before adding, “It’s been a while since you last saw your brother. Is there anything you’d like me to bring him on your behalf? I can help pass it along.”
He was clearly accustomed to serving as a free courier between the two brothers.
“No need, I don’t have anything in particular,” Jing Li shook his head with a smile. “I’ll be returning to the capital for some work in a few days anyway, so I can just visit him then.”
Gu Tingshen acknowledged with a nod, changing the subject.
Neither of them mentioned Jing Li’s endorsement deal with the Gu Group, as if it wasn’t a concern at all.
As they continued their conversation, the servers began bringing out their dishes.
The first dish served was the diced beef Gu Tingshen had recommended.
“It certainly looks appetizing,” Gu Tingshen remarked as he naturally picked up the shared chopsticks to place a portion on Jing Li’s plate. With a smile, he said, “Give it a try.”
Jing Li thanked him as usual, about to take a bite with his chopsticks when he suddenly sensed a glimmer of light from outside the window in his peripheral vision.
He paused, instinctively turning his head to glance out the window, but in the dim night lighting, all he could discern were neatly trimmed plants – nothing else.
TL/N: I will be taking a break for the next two weeks. I was supposed to go to Korea for a vacation but our dog just died and I do not have the energy to do anything else. I have a couple translated chapters that I already scheduled to be posted. Hopefully, I can go back to translating before all of them gets posted. Thank you for understanding.
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