Chapter 118: Just Compensate Huo Xiao with You

Chapter 118: Just Compensate Huo Xiao with You

Jian Li headed straight back to the talent agency.

As soon as he entered the office, he heard Li Lin excitedly shout, "Jian Li! You're famous now!"

"'Global Manhunt' has pushed you into the top tier!"

"Can you guess the offer in the new contract?"

Jian Li smiled slightly, "Has the contract expired?"

"Huh?" Li Lin reacted for a moment, then continued, "That's not the point. The key is..."

He suddenly wiped his tears, his emotions running high, "I told you, I’d make you a star!"

"I've done it, I really have!"

Even though I faced pressure from upper management to gather resources and promote you, you were still being attacked online. It's as if it were just yesterday.

Now, to suddenly reach the top and secure the company’s top-tier contract feels like a dream.

How could he not be thrilled, not be overjoyed?!

Jian Li sympathetically patted Li Lin's shoulder, "I get where you're coming from."

"But I don’t want to sign the new contract after all."

"Glad you get it," Li Lin wiped his eyes, just about to turn around to get the contract, when he suddenly looked back, astonished, "Did I hear you right?!"

Jian Li smiled, "I already told you, once this contract ends, I plan to leave the industry."

"Retire?" Li Lin's eyes widened, "Have you lost your mind? You're famous now and you want to leave? Do you have any idea how many opportunities are knocking at your door?"

"Dozens of opportunities, understand?!"

"And many of them are worth millions!"

Jian Li sat back into the sofa, "How much longer is my contract?"

"The current one?" Li Lin picked up the contract, "Until August next year."

"Another year?" Jian Li rubbed his temples, "Alright."

He fully understood the agent's hard work and dedication.

No one would want their carefully nurtured artist to lose their heat just as they were gaining traction.

So, he would help Li Lin for as long as possible.

But to renew the contract... that would probably not happen.

Li Lin also calmed down a bit, walked back to his seat, and narrowed his eyes as he looked at Jian Li, "I've noticed a real change in you,"

"If it were your old personality, you'd never have made it big."

"Tell me, what happened?"

Jian Li pursed his lips and smiled without saying a word.

Li Lin waited a moment before letting out a long sigh, "Forget it. I can't force you if you don't want to talk about it. We'll set the new contract aside for now. If you change your mind and want to sign, come find me."

"If by next year, you still want to quit the industry,"

"Then... I won't stop you!"

After saying this, he leaned back in his chair, fanning himself with his hand, tears welling up in his eyes.

Seeing this, Jian Li said in a soft voice, "Thank you."

Li Lin suddenly sat up, "Don't get too excited just yet. This year, you need to earn back all the money I’ve invested in you, with interest!"

"No problem."

Jian Li smiled.

......

After leaving the agency, Jian Li headed underground, intending to drive his "national pride." But before he reached it, his phone rang.

He took it out and glanced at it, seeing it was an unfamiliar number, so he immediately hung up.

A moment later, the phone stubbornly rang again.

This time, Jian Li chose to answer, "Who’s this?"

"Hello, Jian Li, we are from the special task force. We wanted to see if you’re interested in..."

"No." Jian Li hung up immediately.

The person on the other end was stunned, "I haven't said anything yet?!"

"He's not interested?!"

"Are you sure he's enthusiastic and patriotic?"

The other person scratched their head, "Ah, maybe he’s just reserved with strangers? Should we find another way to approach him?"

————

On the second day without any announcements.

Jian Li slept in until almost noon.

When he woke up, he took out his phone, planning to order food, only to find dozens of missed calls on his screen and the group chat blowing up.

He opened it to see that he was bombarded with @ messages,

"Huo Xiao: @Jian Li, You're not answering your phone. There's nothing I can do."

"Old Shi from the Intelligence Bureau: @Jian Li, I'm dying here! Will we be able to eat the air-flown Australian lobster today?"

"Luo Wudi: @Jian Li, If you dare ruin my wine gathering, I won't let you off!"

"Zhou Nan is struggling: @Jian Li, Show up! It's a census!"

"Feng, you’re under arrest: @Jian Li, hurry up and reply, Vendetta Squad is getting together!"

"....."

Jian Li scratched his head, "What does it mean? Are we having a group meal today?"

He checked his missed calls and returned Huo Xiao's call.

The call was picked up almost instantly, "What are you up to?"

"Just woke up," Jian Li yawned, "You're all up early?"

"Not early!"

"We've all arrived and are waiting for you!"

"Hurry up and come, or we’ll finish all the delicious food!"

A Vendetta Squad member’s voice came over the line, and Jian Li smirked. "Alright, wait for me."

He hung up, went to the bathroom for a quick shower, threw on a casual outfit that had just been washed, and left the apartment.

Following the private address Huo Xiao sent, he arrived at his luxurious, spacious apartment in a prime location.

As the door swung open, Jian Li sauntered in, scanning the room. "Nice, very fancy."

It was clearly meticulously designed, with ornaments placed everywhere that looked like art pieces from renowned artists.

"If we get too drunk and break something, do we have to pay for it? Without a net worth of tens of millions, we can’t afford to break anything here."

Luo Wudi emerged carrying a bottle of wine, "Pay what? Just offer yourself to Huo Xiao as compensation."

"He’d be laughing secretly in the middle of the night."

Jian Li, "....."

Sis,

You’re my sister,

I just got here, I’m still a kid,

Go easy on me, okay?

"Hurry, the food will be ready soon," Huo Xiao, apron on, carried a lobster out of the kitchen and placed it on the large dining table. "Xiao Li, go wash your hands, we’ll eat soon."

"Okay," Jian Li, unable to resist the allure of delicious food, went over to sniff it. "Mmm, smells good."

Meanwhile, Luo Wudi, holding her wine bottle, moved to the next spot. She narrowed her eyes at Zhou Nan and Shihua Yi, took a sip of her wine, and then spoke, "Do you two have something going on?"

"What did you do last night?"

"Huh?"

"Didn't do anything!"

The two of them answered in unison.

Luo Wudi stepped forward, lunged for Zhou Nan, who was about to run away, and yanked open his collar. "And you're still saying you didn't do anything?"

"The bite mark is right there."

"Is it a fresh one?"

"Yuan Feng, come over and take a look at it."

At the command, Yuan Feng, who was texting on WeChat, immediately jumped to his feet. "Roger that!"

He quickly walked over to Zhou Nan, took a closer look, and declared, "No doubt about it, it's new!"

"Bullshit! How could that be!"

Zhou Nan still tried to argue, but Luo Wudi waved over Shi Huayi.

"Come here and bite him again, so I can check the mark."