“Do I Look Like I Need Money?”

A few minutes later, Nan Pei and the male college student entered an SVIP private room. The room could be described as smoky and chaotic, filled with nouveau riche CEOs like Nan Pei and producers who were equally notorious, the least favored capitalists in the entertainment industry. They began to welcome Nan Pei:

“Nan Ge is here, come have a drink.”

“Nan Ge brought a newcomer? Looks pretty good.”

“Wow, Nan Ge even has a lipstick mark on his collar…”

Nan Pei visibly frowned.

The male college student beside him glanced at his expression and then looked away.

Then, Nan Pei immediately got into character, joining the chat with the nouveau riche and fitting right in.

After sitting down, the male college student sat next to Nan Pei. Nan Pei glanced at him and whispered, “You should take off your mask.”

The male college student stared at Nan Pei for a moment before removing his mask.

It turned out Nan Pei’s intuition was correct; the male college student’s looks were on par with celebrities in the entertainment industry, with sharp and handsome features and a jawline like it was carved by a knife.

However, after removing the mask, his aura immediately seemed more mature and added an indescribable charm.

Someone immediately teased, “Nan Ge, your drinking companion is quite handsome. Why bother chasing Lu Bairan when you could go after him?”

Nan Pei smiled awkwardly and said, “Xiao Ran… has talent.” After speaking, he instinctively glanced at the person beside him, who was also looking at him.

The male college student seemed unfazed by people who had a romantic interest yet frequented clubs, showing no expression.

But Nan Pei felt a bit uncomfortable, thinking he had become the vulgar CEO in the college student’s eyes.

Then he thought, isn’t that his character setting? So he regained his confidence.

At this moment, a few people, seeing the male college student’s good looks, came over to offer drinks.

Nan Pei quickly blocked their drinks, “He doesn’t drink.”

The male college student watched Nan Pei’s actions without saying anything, just slightly curling his lips in an ambiguous manner.

Then, Nan Pei handed him a glass of orange juice, whispering in his ear, “Just drink this, don’t mind these people.”

The male college student looked at the orange juice in his hand without refusing, then glanced at Nan Pei, his eyes seemingly saying: You really think I’m a kid.

Nan Pei added, “No matter what, students shouldn’t drink.”

The male college student looked at Nan Pei’s face, thinking, no matter how you look at it, this guy seems more like a college student.

At this moment, Lu Bairan finally arrived.

Lu Bairan had a clean and sunny appearance, with a gentle personality and a calm and steady temperament, perfect for the entertainment industry.

But as soon as he entered the private room, his expression turned sour.

Then, Lu Bairan glanced at the peacock-like dressed Nan Pei and the young man drinking with him, his brows furrowing, eyes filled with disdain and rejection.

“Xiao Ran, you’re finally here.” Nan Pei stood up to greet Lu Bairan, “Come sit over here…”

However, Lu Bairan politely said, “I won’t sit,” maintaining a distance from Nan Pei and said, “Just say what you have to say.”

He didn’t want to stay in such a disgusting place for even a second.

Nan Pei felt a bit disappointed but still enthusiastically introduced Lu Bairan to the CEOs and producers present, expressing his hope to give Lu Bairan a chance to be the male lead.

“Don’t worry, Nan Ge, this opportunity is definitely Lu Bairan’s.”

“Xiao Lu is so handsome, he can attract fans with any role.”

“His face is a gift from the heavens.”

Although they sounded like compliments, Lu Bairan’s expression worsened. He pressed his lips together without speaking because he knew he didn’t have the capital to confront these idiots.

“Then it’s settled.” Nan Pei happily told Lu Bairan, “You’re the male lead in the idol drama ‘Love Meteor Shower.'”

Lu Bairan had read the script before; it was undoubtedly a bad film. His face turned even worse, but he maintained his last bit of rationality and asked, “Is this the resource you fought for me?”

“Xiao Ran, this drama has a lot of highlights.” Nan Pei confidently said, “Love triangles, affairs, car accidents, amnesia… all the classic tropes are there. It’ll definitely be a hit when it airs! You’re about to become famous!”

“In your eyes, is fame the only thing that matters?” Lu Bairan restrained his emotions, sneering, “Should I thank you for giving me such a script?”

Nan Pei quickly said, “Xiao Ran, I’m doing this for your own good. You’re just an 18th-tier actor right now. Isn’t playing the male lead your dream come true?”

Lu Bairan took a deep breath, his heart full of annoyance towards Nan Pei.

The air in this private room felt filthy, and he couldn’t stand it for another second.

But what Nan Pei said was true. If he didn’t compromise now, it might take years before he could play a male lead on his own merits.

“Thank you, Nan Ge.” Lu Bairan said, his voice slightly hoarse, polite yet distant, “Excuse me.”

After speaking, he gave Nan Pei a deep look and turned to leave the private room.

Nan Pei quickly chased after him, “Xiao Ran!”

After catching up to Lu Bairan, he spoke with deep emotion, “Xiao Ran, I love watching you act, you know that. I hope you can continue acting in these idol dramas; it’ll help you become famous quickly.”

Lu Bairan felt that every word Nan Pei said was tainting his dreams, yet he couldn’t escape.

“I have no objections.” Lu Bairan turned back, wearing a gentle smile, but his eyes were unfathomable, “I’ll follow Nan Ge’s arrangements.”

Nan Pei knew that at this moment, Lu Bairan had already planted a seed of hatred in his heart, waiting for the day it would sprout and seek revenge.

However, he maintained his character on the surface, smiling as he said, “As long as you’re happy. Come, have a few drinks with me…”

Lu Bairan softly refused, “Since Nan Ge found a drinking companion, there’s no need for me to accompany you.”

Nan Pei’s eyes lit up, “Are you jealous?”

“No.” Lu Bairan barely frowned, his smile cold, “I have no right to be jealous.”

Nan Pei confidently said, “You are jealous.”

For this self-satisfied idiot nouveau riche, Lu Bairan had a thousand curses in his heart, yet he maintained a smile, “Nan Ge loves to joke.”

After saying this, Lu Bairan seemed to have reached his limit and quickly turned to leave.

The plot came to a pause.

Nan Pei also breathed a sigh of relief, thinking, playing this kind of role is really tiring.

He turned to return to the private room to end the drinking session, but he happened to see the male college student standing at the door.

Nan Pei was taken aback, not knowing when this guy came out.

Did he see his shameless behavior just now?

Before Nan Pei could speak, the other person spoke, his voice cold:

“You brought me here to act, just to make that person jealous?”

Nan Pei was stunned, instinctively shaking his head, then nodding.

The male college student raised an eyebrow, “What do you mean?”

Nan Pei simply didn’t bother to explain, saying, “Just as you think.”

Hearing this, the young man let out a light laugh from his nose, sounding like a mockery or a simple chuckle.

Nan Pei casually greeted the people in the private room, then went downstairs with the male college student. At the entrance of the club, he asked him, “Let me give you a ride home. Where do you live?”

The male college student casually mentioned a place.

Nan Pei checked his phone map and was puzzled, asking the system, “This place… seems to be in the northern part of Lujin City? It doesn’t belong to any of the three novels?”

The system replied, “This might be a data redundancy area created by the fusion of the three worlds, an insignificant place.”

Nan Pei understood. He pointed to his car and said to the college student, “Get in, I’ll take you.”

The male college student glanced at the license plate, curling his lips, “No need.”

“Come on, taxis are expensive.” Nan Pei persuaded, “It’s not easy for you to earn money.”

The man looked at Nan Pei and suddenly asked:

“Do I look like I need money?”

Nan Pei answered without thinking, “If you didn’t need money, why would you work as a drinking companion? Oh, give me your account number, I’ll sponsor your education…”

The man remained silent.

He thought, this person is really strange.

He had this feeling the first moment he saw Nan Pei in the restroom.

Clearly good-looking, yet wearing clothes that didn’t suit him;

Clearly a novice, yet drawing lipstick marks on his collar to pretend to be a regular;

Clearly not very bright, yet showing kindness in front of him…

The type who would help count money even after being sold?

And Nan Pei’s behavior of being a doormat for Lu Bairan further confirmed to the man that Nan Pei wasn’t very bright.

Nan Pei continued, “Don’t be shy, it won’t take much time to give you a ride…”

At this moment, a sports car discreetly stopped beside the male college student.

The male college student looked at Nan Pei, took out a wad of cash from his pocket, walked up, and stuffed the money into Nan Pei’s suit pocket.

Nan Pei was stunned.

The male college student looked down at Nan Pei, curling his lips slightly, his voice low and with a hint of amusement, “Thank you for your kindness.”

Nan Pei was dumbfounded until the other person got into the car and exclaimed, “Hey, handsome! You don’t want your salary?!”

The male college student sat in the car, calmly glanced at him, his eyes full of deep meaning.

At that moment, he didn’t look like a college student at all, leaving Nan Pei standing there in a daze.

After getting in the car, the driver said in surprise, “President Huo, what’s going on today? Your hair is down, and you’re wearing such… indescribable clothes, and what’s with that bag…”

Huo Yao raised an eyebrow, asking, “What’s wrong? Is it ugly?”

“No, no, President Huo looks good in anything.” The driver quickly explained, “And now you look several years younger, like a college student.”

Huo Yao was noncommittal, “Is that so.”

Driver: “You haven’t said what happened? Weren’t you inspecting the club you just bought? Why did you come out looking so disheveled?”

“A waiter accidentally spilled red wine on me,” Huo Yao said calmly, “The manager took me to wash my hair and change clothes. As for this bag, it holds the dirty suit.”

The driver was shocked, “What, they treated you like that? Spilling red wine is one thing, but giving you such poor clothes! Should we fire them all, since you’re the club owner?”

“At first, I was a bit annoyed,” Huo Yao crossed his legs, his tone slightly amused, “But now I think… it wasn’t so bad.”

The driver was stunned, finding it hard to believe as he looked in the rearview mirror, seeing a hint of a smile on Huo Yao’s face.

Encountering such a thing… and it’s not bad??

“By the way, who was that at the entrance just now?” The driver changed the topic, cautiously asking, “He looked quite good, but didn’t seem like someone who could be your friend. I thought I was seeing things…”

A mix of luxury brands, as if afraid others wouldn’t know he was rich, with a big gold chain on his chest…

Aside from his looks, he wasn’t someone a traditional family like the Huo family would associate with.

Huo Yao looked back at the car’s rear, realizing Nan Pei’s figure had disappeared.

After a moment.

He turned back, responding to the driver’s words with a calm tone, “Hmm. He looks alright.” After speaking, his lips curled slightly.

The driver was stunned.

Did he just… ask that question?