The Banner for Lu Bairan

After returning home, Nan Pei discovered that Song Jingchen’s career line on the system panel had advanced to over 20%. This meant that Huo Yao really agreed to the film project cooperation. And indeed, it was Nan Pei who facilitated this, with the system confirming that the plot hadn’t deviated. Once again, Nan Pei completed a task in a peculiar way.

Three days later, Nan Pei received a notification from Huo Yao and officially moved into the villa located in the center of Lujin City. The villa was larger than Nan Pei imagined, like a tranquil garden with beautiful scenery and architecturally pleasing design. Just standing in front of it, Nan Pei felt a sense of familiarity and couldn’t wait to go inside.

The person who greeted Nan Pei was the villa’s butler. The butler seemed elderly, very polite, but not talkative, and didn’t ask Nan Pei any questions, just quietly helped with his luggage.

“President Huo is at the company, very busy lately,” the butler said to Nan Pei after entering the villa. “Your room is on the second floor, left side of the stairs.”

There was also a housekeeper cleaning, who looked kind but wasn’t surprised by Nan Pei’s arrival, just greeted him and continued working.

Carrying his suitcase to the second-floor room, Nan Pei still felt a dreamlike sense of unreality— Huo Yao actually let him live in this villa. From initially refusing to sell it to now letting him stay for free, it was like dealing with two different people.

The room was very clean, seemingly specially tidied, with excellent lighting, making Nan Pei feel cheerful. “Huo Yao is really a good person,” Nan Pei told the system. “I need to find a way to repay him.”

The system agreed with Nan Pei’s sentiment. In the following days, Nan Pei had some plot-related tasks, but he didn’t need to rush out early as before, since his travel time to the three task locations was greatly reduced. Even if unexpected tasks arose, Nan Pei wouldn’t have to worry.

On the second morning after moving in, Nan Pei met Huo Yao. Huo Yao must have returned late last night but didn’t disturb Nan Pei. Today, Nan Pei got up early, not for a task, but to make breakfast as a thank you to Huo Yao.

Huo Yao was a bit surprised, standing at the kitchen door, looking at Nan Pei with a slightly astonished tone, “You can cook?”

While frying eggs, Nan Pei replied, “I can handle simple things.” He turned to Huo Yao and smiled, “You can look forward to it.”

Leaning against the doorframe, Huo Yao’s tone carried a hint of amusement, “Looks pretty good.”

Just then, the system suddenly reminded Nan Pei: “Host, the exclamation mark for the entertainment novel lit up. Today is the day the male lead goes to the film crew, very important.”

Nan Pei froze, holding a bottle of soy sauce. The system said, “Stop frying eggs and go pick up Lu Bairan.”

Lu Bairan joining the crew meant his career line would start advancing significantly, soon becoming a popular star through an idol drama. But with his current lack of luck, he would likely be bullied after joining. Nan Pei had to accompany him to establish authority, preventing him from becoming a pushover.

Seeing Nan Pei suddenly stop, Huo Yao frowned, confusion in his eyes. “President Huo, have you ever fried eggs in your life?” Nan Pei suddenly put down the soy sauce and asked Huo Yao.

Huo Yao was taken aback, puzzled, “Why would I… fry eggs?”

“As they say, food you make yourself is the best,” Nan Pei walked up to Huo Yao, cautiously handing him the spatula, “You must try it.”

Holding the spatula, Huo Yao looked at it in bewilderment. Nan Pei had already taken off his apron and quickly headed out. Before leaving, he glanced back at Huo Yao, reminding him, “The eggs are about to burn, you should stir them.”

Huo Yao: “…”

So, a bewildered Huo Yao started frying eggs, not very skillfully. Nan Pei went upstairs, changed clothes, and hurried out. The butler and housekeeper saw Nan Pei’s flashy nouveau riche outfit but said nothing. However, they hesitated for a couple of seconds when greeting him.

After leaving the villa, the system said to Nan Pei, “Host, you shouldn’t do this again, or Huo Yao might kick you out one day.”

Nan Pei was frustrated, “What can I do? I just wanted to improve our relationship!”

Originally, he wanted to make breakfast for Huo Yao. It ended up with Huo Yao making breakfast himself. Nan Pei could only comfort himself, thinking there would be another chance to please Huo Yao.

Ten minutes later, Nan Pei drove to pick up Lu Bairan for the film crew, accompanied by manager Chen Zixiao. Chen Zixiao said to Nan Pei, “Boss, it’s rare for someone like you to personally accompany an artist to the set.”

Nan Pei adjusted his sunglasses, saying coolly, “I’m just worried Xiao Ran won’t get used to the crew, so I’m accompanying him.”

Lu Bairan glanced at Nan Pei’s more flamboyant outfit than usual, frowning, “I’ll get used to it.”

He didn’t like Nan Pei always being around him. It felt controlling. “Xiao Ran, those people in the crew are snobs,” Nan Pei said to Lu Bairan, “I’m going to the set today to be your fan, so they won’t dare bully you.”

With that, Nan Pei took out a support banner from his bag, unfurling it to reveal “Born to be Film Emperor Lu Bairan,” with a photoshopped picture of Lu Bairan. Nan Pei had this custom-made for today, along with a cheering banner for Duan Heng.

The system sighed, “Host, you’re really well-prepared.”

Nan Pei told the system, “I’ve been in the entertainment industry before. Though no one ever held a banner for me.”

The banner’s colors, font, and slogan made Lu Bairan cringe. As a newcomer, having a slogan like “Born to be Film Emperor” was asking for trouble. Chen Zixiao gently said, “It looks nice, but maybe… use it later? Nan Ge, you know what I mean?”

However, Nan Pei firmly replied, “Xiao Ran is destined to be a film emperor, no one can change that. And this photo looks so good, it’d be a waste not to use it.”

Lu Bairan pursed his lips, frowning and looking away, unwilling to see the garish banner. After arriving at the set, the assistants and makeup artists Nan Pei arranged for Lu Bairan were already there, creating a bigger scene than many well-known actors.

For a moment, Lu Bairan felt the uncomfortable gaze of suspicion again. Nan Pei directly raised the banner, following behind Lu Bairan, shouting with sunglasses on, “Born to be Film Emperor Lu Bairan! Good luck with the shoot!”

Lu Bairan’s fingers twitched, tightening and then loosening. “Host,” the system suddenly said to Nan Pei, “Did you wear sunglasses because you knew the plot in advance? Do you still care about your reputation?”

Nan Pei didn’t answer, continuing to cheer for Lu Bairan. Chen Zixiao quietly said, “Nan Ge… could you be a bit quieter? You’ll tire yourself out.”

Nan Pei refused Chen Zixiao’s request, saying, “I’m just enthusiastic and outgoing.”

Chen Zixiao glanced at the various looks around, wanting to say there’s a difference between being enthusiastic and being crazy.

“Xiao Ran, don’t worry,” before the opening ceremony, Nan Pei said to Lu Bairan, “Everyone knows I’m an investor, so with my support, no one will dare oppose you.”

Lu Bairan took a deep breath, looking at the banner above Nan Pei’s head, wanting to say, isn’t the person opposing me right in front of me? But he held back.

Nan Pei told Lu Bairan, “Xiao Ran, I’ll be with you all the way.”

After participating in the opening ceremony, Nan Pei planned to stay with Lu Bairan for script readings and other activities until he settled into the crew. Fortunately, most people in the “Love Meteor Shower” crew were normal and treated Lu Bairan kindly, not mentioning Nan Pei’s earlier behavior.

Only then did Lu Bairan relax. The system panel showed Lu Bairan’s career line advancing to 17%, soon breaking 20%. After putting away the banner, Nan Pei sat in the lounge, leisurely browsing his phone.

However, the system suddenly alerted Nan Pei: “Host, something unexpected happened.”

Nan Pei froze, feeling a bad premonition, asking, “What happened?”

The system replied, “The e-sports novel task has been moved up.”

Nan Pei’s eyes widened, “What?”

In the e-sports novel, the qualifiers for “Crown of Thorns” were about to start, with teams participating in group draws. Nan Pei was supposed to be at the draw site, cheering for Duan Heng. But now, he was still with the film crew.

“If I leave early now, it should be fine, right?” Nan Pei swallowed, asking the system, “There won’t be any accidents, right?”

The system said, “You’ve done everything you should for Lu Bairan, so there probably won’t be any accidents.”

With task conflicts, Nan Pei could only end one side’s task early. He sent a message to Lu Bairan and then left for the sports arena where the draw was taking place. Fortunately, the crew wasn’t too far from the arena.

About forty minutes later, Nan Pei arrived at the arena. Before getting out of the car, he took out prepared clothes from the trunk and changed in a restroom. Entering the arena, the draw had already started.

Rushing inside, Nan Pei found the TKT team was all there. Duan Heng had been in a bad mood since early morning. With the draw moved up, Nan Pei hadn’t come to the club or appeared at the draw site. Although it wasn’t a crucial matter, Duan Heng felt Nan Pei didn’t care about the TKT team.

Before the draw started, Duan Heng kept wondering what was up with Nan Pei lately. Leaving the club early, being late, or not showing up at all. Was he really that busy? Although Nan Pei attended major club events, Duan Heng still felt a bit annoyed.

Suddenly, a figure rushed into the arena entrance. In the car, Nan Pei had styled his hair meticulously with gel, but now he looked a bit disheveled, as if he had just rushed over. Duan Heng’s eyes lit up, but he quickly hid the surprise, frowning.

Only when Nan Pei stood before him did Duan Heng say, “Why are you just getting here?” His tone was sullen, revealing displeasure.

Nan Pei replied, “There was something at the company today.”

Duan Heng, usually uninterested in Nan Pei’s business, coldly said, “Today is the team draw, and you’re late.”

“Sorry, everyone,” Nan Pei quietly wiped his sweat, “I really want to participate in every club activity, but I’ve been busy lately.”

Everyone quickly reassured Nan Pei it was fine, while Duan Heng remained silent, lips tightly pressed.

“Oh, Xiao Duan,” Nan Pei looked at Duan Heng, taking out a custom cheering banner from his bag, “I made a banner to cheer you on, with the TKT logo…”

With that, Nan Pei took out a roll of the banner. Everyone looked at him. He was about to open it but suddenly froze. The color… seemed off?

Duan Heng’s voice suddenly sounded, “What banner?”

Manager Ruan also said, “President Pei, you’re so thoughtful, preparing this for Xiao Duan. Next time, I’ll have others handle such support things, just to boost morale…”

Everyone expressed anticipation for the banner: “President Pei, open it for us to see.”

“Yeah, I want to know what a logo-printed banner looks like.”

“Can’t wait to see.”

Nan Pei stood frozen, his expression awkward. He had taken the wrong banner when getting out of the car, bringing Lu Bairan’s support banner instead.

“You know,” he suddenly asked the system, “can I change Lu Bairan’s name to Duan Heng now?”

“Born to be Film Emperor Duan Heng?” The system paused, replying, “Isn’t that a bit off for an e-sports player?”

Nan Pei: “…”

—

Author’s Note:

Thank you all for your support!