Chapter 31: Cutting Off One’s Own Future

“Ulterior motives?”

“Don’t play dumb here. I heard it clearly when we left earlier. Did you force that kid?” Old Zhang had entrusted Tang Qu to his care, and he couldn’t let this big bad wolf snatch Tang Qu away. Besides, Tang Qu was such a good kid. If he ended up with Guan Yan, it would be like a beautiful flower stuck in… well, you know!

Director Chen seemed completely oblivious to the fact that Guan Yan was the dream lover of countless young men and women.

“What do newcomers in the industry like?” Guan Yan didn’t answer Director Chen’s question but instead asked something unrelated.

Director Chen was taken aback. “You still claim you don’t have ulterior motives toward him!” But he still replied, “Newcomers in the industry probably aspire to big stages and major productions.”

Guan Yan nodded. As Director Chen was getting out of the car, Guan Yan softly said, “I never said I didn’t have feelings for him.”

Director Chen was left in a state of confusion. Guan Yan’s status and Tang Qu’s status—if Tang Qu resisted Guan Yan, wouldn’t that be like sealing his own fate? Although Tang Qu seemed gentle, he definitely wasn’t the type to be easily manipulated.

Forget it. Guan Yan wasn’t the type to act recklessly. At the very least, out of respect for him and Old Zhang, he wouldn’t go too far… right?

After returning home, Tang Qu was still puzzled. Why had Guan Yan suddenly extended an olive branch to him? Logically, their meeting shouldn’t have been so peaceful; it should have been more tense. Yet, the other party even wanted to sign him.

After tossing and turning in bed for a long time, Tang Qu finally picked up his phone, opened the search bar, and looked up Guan Yan’s studio.

He was shocked by what he found. Guan Yan’s studio hadn’t signed anyone. This meant that if he signed with them, all of Guan Yan’s resources would be directed toward him. Tang Qu was truly stunned. A superstar wanting to sign a nobody? This was like a joke, right?

Tang Qu couldn’t help but wonder if Guan Yan had been the one who had gone into the water earlier. Otherwise, how could he have said something so absurd?

Tang Qu didn’t dwell on it too much. Maybe Guan Yan was just acting on a whim. If he took it too seriously, it might not be good.

Today was Tang Qu’s final scene, and it was also the premiere day of *Demon Soul*.

The crew wasn’t worried about the ratings. Director Chen was the head director, the main cast had their own fanbase, and Tang Qu’s acting skills as a newcomer added to the mix. It was clear that this drama was going to be a hit.

“Cut!” With the director’s call, Tang Qu’s final scene in the production wrapped up.

Director Chen reviewed the playback and once again marveled at how lucky he was to have met Tang Qu. Throughout the entire shoot, Tang Qu had nailed every scene in one take without a single NG. Were newcomers these days really this terrifying?

As soon as Tang Qu stepped out of character, Yu Ting approached him with a bouquet of flowers. “Xiao Qu, happy wrap-up!”

Although the filming period was long, Tang Qu’s scenes weren’t numerous. He mostly existed in the narratives of the other characters.

Tang Qu accepted the flowers. “Thank you, Brother Yu.”

Director Chen also came over. “Here, a wrap gift I personally prepared for you. Happy wrap-up! You’ve worked hard. You can take a good rest now.”

Receiving a wrap gift personally from Director Chen was a privilege reserved for the lead actors he valued most. This showed just how much he thought of Tang Qu.

“Thank you, Director Chen. I appreciate your guidance during this time.”

Director Chen waved his hand: “It’s all trivial matters. Xiao Qu, what are you planning to do after this drama wraps up?”

“I don’t have any concrete plans for now. I might take a break for a while, and I’m about to start school soon, so I’ll focus on my studies.”

“Studying is indeed important, but you should also pay more attention to practical experience,” Director Chen said, somewhat surprised. He hadn’t expected Tang Qu to plan on returning to school after taking a break. Shouldn’t he be striking while the iron is hot, taking on endorsements or other scripts? From what he could see, Tang Qu’s company didn’t seem to undervalue him.

“Yes, I will.”

Yu Ting was also taken aback by Tang Qu’s decision to rest after finishing a drama. He felt a hint of worry, fearing that Tang Qu might have been wronged. Despite Yu Ting’s cool exterior, he was actually quite soft-hearted.

“Xiao Qu, if you’ve been treated unfairly, just tell me. If anyone in your company is bullying you, I can still help you stand up for yourself.”

Tang Qu looked utterly confused. What was this all about?

“Teacher Yu, are you saying that Tang Qu has been wronged while working with me?” Zhang Yong appeared out of nowhere.

Hearing his voice, Yu Ting involuntarily shrank back. Zhang Yong seemed like an ordinary agent, the kind you could find anywhere in the industry, but for some reason, the sound of his voice made Yu Ting instinctively want to retreat.

At the same time, a shadow passed through Director Chen’s eyes.

“Brother Yong, stop teasing Brother Yu.”

Zhang Yong smiled, his eyes narrowing, looking quite benevolent: “Teacher Yu, rest assured, your master will not suffer the slightest bit of injustice under my care.”

The momentary tension seemed to vanish.

“Director Chen, I’ll take Tang Qu with me now.”

After the two left, Yu Ting let out a sigh of relief: “Director Chen, is Tang Qu’s agent reliable? I feel like he might be holding Tang Qu back.” Such a promising talent shouldn’t be wasted.

Director Chen chuckled: “Is he capable? If he’s not, then there’s no one in this industry who is.”

Yu Ting’s eyes widened. Who was this Zhang Yong? He had no recollection of any information about this person.

Director Chen patted Yu Ting on the shoulder: “You need to work hard, or you might find yourself looking up to Tang Qu in the future.” Director Chen’s words were not meant to be provocative, but simply a statement of fact.

With Tang Qu’s formidable acting talent and Zhang Yong’s support, his future was boundless.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yong, who was held in such high regard by Director Chen, sat in the passenger seat with a cigarette in his hand, looking quite unremarkable.

“Xiao Qu, I heard what you said earlier. You want to go back to school and continue your studies?”

“Yes, I don’t want to fall behind in my studies. As long as I have work, I don’t need to be too aggressive.” He didn’t have any grand ambitions for fame and fortune at the moment, just wanted to save some money. The reason he could speak so casually about this was that the company had almost fully compensated him for this project.

Zhang Yong took a drag from his cigarette and exhaled a smoke ring: “Alright.”

Du Yan, listening to Tang Qu’s words, showed a hint of confusion: “Brother Qu, don’t you want to advance further?”

She didn’t understand. With Tang Qu’s talent and emotional intelligence, continuing on this path would undoubtedly lead to a bright future. Why would he choose to stop at this moment?

Yes, in Du Yan’s eyes, Tang Qu was essentially sabotaging her own future. The entertainment industry was evolving at a breakneck pace, almost in the blink of an eye. Although Tang Qu was only the third male lead in her current drama, Du Yan had a strong feeling it would be a hit. At such a crucial moment, focusing on her studies instead of promoting herself was akin to cutting off her own path to success.

Tang Qu gazed out the window and softly remarked, “To last long in the entertainment industry, one needs so much. I still have a lot to learn.”