The Sickly Beauty Gives Up Struggling [Rebirth] Chapter 148

With Sui Wanjun absent, Li Rong refrained from making any impulsive moves. After a perfunctory inspection with Cen Xiao, they returned by car to a hotel in Linshi.

Jian Fu seemed distracted the entire way.

He’d never considered the possibility that Li Rong and Cen Xiao might have that kind of relationship.

It wasn’t because he was slow; it was because they were both men. Li Rong had even dated a girlfriend before, and though his brother had never been in a relationship, he had shown no signs of such tendencies.

But if he imagined Li Rong as a woman—or his brother as one—many of their affectionate interactions started making sense.

Da*mn.

D*mn, d*mn, d*mn!

Jian Fu rubbed his face vigorously, and his first thought was to share this groundbreaking discovery with the young celebrity.

The little celebrity would surely be stunned—who could have imagined that two people who once butted heads would end up with this kind of relationship?

They were in the same class during high school, so Lin Zhen must understand his feelings quite well.

Jian Fu had been holding it in the entire ride, almost to the point of internal injury. As soon as they arrived at the hotel, he wasted no time calling Lin Zhen.

The talent show crew had booked two floors of a five-star hotel in the nearby city. Naturally, they chose to stay at the same hotel, though at double the usual price.

After scalpers leaked the hotel details, fans had nearly booked the entire place. Hidden among the masses, the contestants were safe.

But Jian Fu’s call didn’t go through—Lin Zhen’s phone had been confiscated. The show’s director had brought him to the production team’s room.

Although labeled a “room,” it was actually a cozy lounge on the hotel’s top floor. The other occupants had been cleared out, leaving only a few female producers, familiar faces meant to put him at ease.

“Sister Pan.” Lin Zhen glanced around nervously for a few seconds before closing the door gently.

Yan Pan smiled warmly and beckoned him over. “Don’t be nervous. Come here—we just want to chat.”

Lin Zhen nodded slightly, stepping forward and sitting across from her, though only half on the chair, his back stiffly upright.

He was naturally reserved. Only on stage did he fully express himself, but offstage, he was quiet and introverted.

Yan Pan, having spent considerable time with the contestants, knew their personalities well. Truthfully, Lin Zhen wasn’t her favorite type.

He seemed docile and obedient on the surface, but he was exceptionally strong-willed. Yet, instead of bluntly asserting himself, he navigated indirectly, striking a balance between firmness and subtlety to achieve his goals.

Artists like him were difficult to control. They wouldn’t share everything openly and often had their own agendas. 

But it was also easy to underestimate them. By the time you realized their resolve, it was often too late to change anything.

Still, the audience loved him, and so did the market. This type of artist had become so rare that whenever one appeared, they were treated like treasures.

Internal data revealed that Lin Zhen’s fan base was already unshakably the largest.

Yan Pan toyed with her rose-gold bracelet, lightly tapping it against the table. The soft, rhythmic sound, though subtle, created an underlying psychological pressure.

After staring at Lin Zhen for a few moments, Yan Pan finally spoke. “Lin Zhen, you’ve already made it into the top ten nationwide—a remarkable achievement.”

Lin Zhen nodded. 

He knew it was a significant accomplishment but didn’t let it inflate his ego. He felt fortunate to have earned the audience’s favor.

Yan Pan shifted gears. “But you see, you’re the only solo contestant in the top ten. Do you understand what that means? The other contestants all have companies supporting them. Without representation, how will you handle endorsements, promotions, or negotiations on your own?”

Lin Zhen understood her implication but feigned ignorance, replying humbly, “No one’s approached me for endorsements yet.”

Yan Pan sighed. “It’s precisely because you don’t have a company. Major brands only work with big entertainment agencies, which naturally prioritize opportunities for their own artists. Smaller brands wouldn’t even get through our program’s selection process. Even if they wanted you, it wouldn’t work.”

Lin Zhen nodded again, as though resigned to reality without showing a hint of regret or frustration.

“I can understand why big companies keep opportunities for their own people.” 

Yan Pan glanced at her colleagues, her expression exasperated. She had already spelled it out, but Lin Zhen still didn’t take the bait.

She decided to be blunt. “You won’t be able to avoid signing with a company in the future. Right now, several entertainment companies are very interested in you. For example, Wa Company has expressed strong interest. They already have two artists in the top ten, so we were surprised they extended an offer to you.”

Lin Zhen opened his mouth, eyes widening in apparent surprise, perfectly feigning the reaction she expected.

In reality, Li Rong had already warned him. Still, he had to appear astonished to maintain his image in the producers’ eyes.

Wajing Company wasn’t entirely unfamiliar to him anymore, especially with Jian Fu around. He now knew its connections inside out.

This company had ties to Suhe Biotech, with Zheng Zhupan personally holding a 20% stake. Though not the top decision-maker, Zheng’s voice carried weight. 

Moreover, the company’s head, Song Yanyi, was Zheng’s cousin, and the company’s rapid expansion in the entertainment industry owed much to Suhe’s financial backing.

Yan Pan continued, “You’re really lucky. The show gave you a chance to rise overnight, something most art students can only dream of. But whether you can sustain this momentum depends on your choices. I see you as one of our own, so let me be honest: in this industry, you can’t go solo. You need a company to support your operations.

“After all, we’re running a show here, and shows rely on investors. Those investors expect returns—they’re not philanthropists. You’re an adult now. I’m sure you understand.”

Of course, Lin Zhen understood.

Over the past two years, following Li Rong’s guidance, he had gained considerable experience. Yan Pan’s rhetoric might have intimidated the old Lin Zhen, but not the current one.

Still, Lin Zhen could act intimidated.

Gripping the hem of his pants tightly, his body stiffened, and he swallowed nervously, his gaze alternating between comprehension and confusion.

“I… I need to think about it,” he stammered. “Sister Pan, thank you for your advice. I know you mean well, but I’ll have to discuss it with my parents.”

Yan Pan raised an eyebrow and lowered her head, masking the disdain in her eyes.

He was just a college freshman after all. Faced with big problems, his first instinct was still to turn to his parents. When she was his age, she was already out there fighting her own battles.

“Alright, that works. But you need to be quick. The final cut for this public welfare project will probably be two or three hours tops. There are ten artists involved, and each has their own company. The post-production team is already pulling their hair out.”

Yan Pan was indirectly hinting to Lin Zhen that if he didn’t agree, his screen time would inevitably be cut.

Lin Zhen quickly responded, “I understand, Sister Pan. Thank you.”

As soon as he left the break room, Lin Zhen grabbed his phone. He cast a quick glance at the staff member responsible for holding onto his phone, then turned away to unlock the screen.

He saw that Jian Fu had called him four times.

Worried it was something urgent, Lin Zhen immediately dialed him back.

“Jian Fu?”

Jian Fu let out a long sigh of relief, finally relaxing the tense string in his heart. His excitement bubbled over as he spoke in a conspiratorial tone, “Finally, you picked up! I have a big secret to tell you!”

Lin Zhen felt a twinge of anxiety, thinking something had gone wrong during his absence. “What is it? Did you discover something at the orphanage?”

Jian Fu rubbed his hands together in excitement. He couldn’t quite explain why he was so worked up, but the thought of sharing this with Lin Zhen made him even more animated. “I think my brother and Li Rong are… you know, together. Like, in a romantic way.. The boy and girl kind.”

Lin Zhen: “…”

Taking a deep breath, Lin Zhen asked, “Is the class monitor around?”

Jian Fu: “Huh?”

Lin Zhen: “I need to discuss something with him. I’ll find an excuse to come down and meet you guys.”

With that, Lin Zhen hurried toward the stairwell.

Jian Fu blinked, hesitating for a moment. “Did you hear what I just said?”

Why wasn’t Lin Zhen surprised or shocked at all? This wasn’t normal. If it were anyone else, they’d have gasped in disbelief. After all, this was about people they knew personally being in a relationship. Shouldn’t that blow his mind?

Lin Zhen sighed. “I heard you.”

Jian Fu bit his dry lips, suddenly unsure of what to say. “Um… so, you’re not…”

Lin Zhen responded wearily, “You’re just realizing this now? The class monitor wasn’t exactly hiding it. Anyway, I’m heading downstairs.”

He hung up, leaving Jian Fu utterly dumbfounded.

Lin Zhen knew?

He actually knew?

Why didn’t he tell me right away?

Jian Fu’s mind spun like a blender. Why was Lin Zhen so calm about it? Could it be that artists, especially those studying art, were just more open-minded and used to this kind of thing?

Jian Fu silently pressed a hand to his chest, as if trying to feel the rhythm of his own heartbeat. It was definitely speeding up.

So Lin Zhen didn’t mind, huh…

But why was he feeling so inexplicably excited?

***

Lin Zhen jogged downstairs. The moment he appeared in the hallway, Jian Fu reflexively pulled his hand away from his chest, as if he’d been caught doing something suspicious.

He glanced at Lin Zhen, his phone still pressed to his ear.

Lin Zhen tilted his head in confusion. “Why are you still standing here? Go to the class monitor’s room.”

Li Rong’s presidential suite had become the de facto meeting place for serious discussions. Lin Zhen entered and finally removed his hat and mask.

Outside the floor reserved for the show’s team, he risked being recognized by fans. Fortunately, most of them only recognized the glittering version of him on stage, not his understated off-stage look.

Seeing Li Rong, Lin Zhen immediately felt reassured, as though he’d found his anchor. His whole body relaxed. “Class monitor, the production team just spoke to me. They want me to sign with the company Zheng Zhupan invested in.”

Li Rong was eating lunch. Hearing Lin Zhen’s words, he wasn’t the least bit surprised.

It was about time Lin Zhen got caught in this trap.

Putting down his chopsticks, Li Rong spoke seriously, “Do you remember what I told you back in high school?”

Lin Zhen nodded and sat beside him. “Never sign with that company.”

Li Rong pondered for a moment. “Back then, I didn’t know much about this industry. I told you not to sign with them because their contracts were full of pitfalls. Easy to enter, hard to leave. But after looking into it more deeply, I’ve realized not all entertainment companies are bad. Not signing with this one doesn’t mean you can’t work with others. You’re doing well now, and more offers will only come your way after the competition ends. You’ll need professional staff to handle these matters. When choosing a company, don’t just look at how they treat their top stars. Pay attention to how they treat the bottom-rung talent. Their attitude toward the bottom line reveals their conscience.”

Lin Zhen froze for a moment. “So you’re saying… I should sign with a company?”

Li Rong blinked. “If you want to set up your own studio, I’m afraid you won’t have the time, and there’s a risk of being conned. You’re already in the finals, so if you don’t sign with a company, they probably won’t give you a good ranking.”

Lin Zhen felt as if Li Rong could see straight through the world. “The production team just hinted that if I don’t agree to sign with Wajing, they’ll cut my screen time.”

Li Rong patted Lin Zhen’s shoulder and gave him a firm reminder. “That’s why you need a reliable company to help you negotiate. You can’t just let them take first place from you. Don’t worry. Talk to your senior sister, let Cen Xiao and Jian Fu help you gather information. There are plenty of bad companies, but good ones exist too. Just decline this one politely. Remember to choose your words carefully—better to offend a gentleman than a petty man.”

Lin Zhen always trusted Li Rong’s advice. He knew it would never steer him wrong. If Li Rong suggested a gentle rejection, it was definitely for his own good.

Seeing that Lin Zhen had taken his words to heart, Li Rong turned to Cen Xiao. “So, are we settled on this?”

Cen Xiao closed his eyes briefly and gave a barely perceptible nod, indicating his agreement with Li Rong’s plan.

Their strategy had been finalized quickly since leaving Zhiyuan County, but it was also extremely risky.

Any slip-up could alert the enemy, letting Suhe Biotech catch wind of their actions ahead of time.

Still, they’d always been walking a tightrope. Risk and reward went hand in hand, and this was their best shot at breaking Zhai Ning’s hold.

This captures the nuanced interplay of strategy, interpersonal relationships, and the stakes in the plot!

The greater the risk, the more relaxed Li Rong appeared.

It wasn’t that he was truly relaxed—this pattern of behavior had become a reflexive coping mechanism. So much so that he failed to notice Lin Zhen’s furrowed brow and the worry clouding his eyes.

Picking up his chopsticks, Li Rong casually grabbed a soup dumpling and held it out to Cen Xiao’s lips. “Try this. It’s not sweet at all, and the soup is practically nonexistent. It’s the worst xiaolongbao I’ve ever eaten.”

Cen Xiao glanced at him. “The worst, and you’re giving it to me.”

Despite his words, he obediently bit into the dumpling Li Rong offered.

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