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Chapter 3: New Member

Chapter 3 New Member

This has to be a scam.

What kind of talent scout scouts in a bar?

But the name sounded vaguely familiar. Yuan Shiyuan glanced at the business card, which clearly stated the company name and professional title.

Starry Night Entertainment.

He'd heard of it.

Starry Night Entertainment was a major company, on par with Ximi Entertainment. They were generous in nurturing artists and offered high signing fees. Equally well-known were Starry Night Entertainment's 20-year contracts, which were practically indentured servitude, along with sky-high penalty clauses.

Zhuang He noticed that Yuan Shiyuan's expression was no longer guarded, so he probably wasn't a scammer. He confirmed, "You're an S-class Alpha, right?"

There was a strict requirement for members of the Scepter boy band—they had to be S-class Alphas. This was also Scepter's defining characteristic.

Yuan Shiyuan: "Yes, I'm S-class."

"You look very young. Are you still in school?"

"Yeah, a freshman in college."

Good-looking and educated. Zhuang He was even more satisfied. "The Scepter boy band is currently included in the company's S-class training program. As a new member, you'll get priority for resources. The costs for early training and debut will be fully covered by the company. Besides the signing fee, there will be profit-sharing later. Our company's profit-sharing ratio is very high..."

"The signing fee is five million."

Yuan Shiyuan suddenly said, "Huh?"

"What's wrong?" Zhuang He said. "If you think the signing fee is too low, I can negotiate with the company."

Five million, and it's just the signing fee—and it's still negotiable.

Yuan Shiyuan smiled. "It's nothing. I just think your industry seems to make money pretty easily."

Zhuang He: "..."

Why does that sound so strange?

Starry Night Entertainment was famously lavish in the industry and widely recognized as a big spender.

Every project under their banner was a big-budget, high-quality production. When they formed the Scepter boy band, the signing fees and promotional costs alone amounted to about a billion yuan.

But it all went down the drain.

If the other party really was an agent from Starry Night Entertainment, Yuan Shiyuan wasn't worried about being scammed. He sent the contract to his adoptive father, a lawyer, to review and confirm there were no traps before signing his name.

"Regarding my dispute with Ximi Entertainment," he handed over a voice recorder, "with this, you should be able to handle it more easily."

...

"Trending" "Title: Help! Which idol is this? He's so handsome, the pink hair totally hits my preferences!!"

"That face just blew me away. Also waiting for a name."

"Isn't this the video I took at the Ximi Entertainment trainee performance? Pure live recording, no editing. I originally wanted to film my favorite, but he was just too good-looking—I became a fan on the spot. This guy is seriously handsome, and he's really sharp with the camera. The moment I pulled out my camera, he gave me a wink from the corner."

"Is this video really unedited? Then he’s genuinely ridiculously good-looking."

"I, the OP, guarantee it’s completely unedited, or may my food delivery coupons never work again. And this was just a casual shot—the pink-haired hottie was standing under harsh overhead lighting, and he still looked this good!!"

"Can the bullies and those who get by on connections just leave already [facepalm]? The 'chosen one' Yuan Shiyuan was already terminated, why is he still popping up here? How much did the OP get paid to whitewash him?"

"+1. I feel like I’ve gained a false memory. Does anyone not know about Yuan Shiyuan causing a scene in the office and getting fired?"

"Let’s not even talk about that incident—he’s covered in scandals, okay? Now that he’s been abandoned by the capital, Ximi Entertainment is planning to take legal action against him. Serves him right."

"Those spreading malicious rumors can go die, all 4000+ of you."

"Every time Yuan Shiyuan was in the center position, they’d cut to a wide shot—no center, no screen time. The company let his scandals run wild. And he’s a privileged favorite?? You’ve got to be kidding me."

"I’ve always been confused about how the rumor of Yuan Shiyuan being a privileged favorite started. This guy is seriously handsome, but even when the makeup artists gave him bad makeup, he still pulled it off with his looks. [Image attached] With makeup like this, his face still holds up—this is the original photo. Who knows how many times the ones circulating have been edited by haters..."

"Seriously? Are we whitewashing resource-hogging favorites now?"

"Go ahead, keep whitewashing. Anyway, Ximi Entertainment has already sent a lawyer’s letter to your idol. Keep deluding yourselves, hehe. It’s not like you can go to jail in his place and work the sewing machines. [sticks out tongue]"

"Resource-hogging favorites, get out of the entertainment industry, okay? [smirking]"

For a time, scandals about Yuan Shiyuan were flying everywhere.

Even Ximi Entertainment, where Yuan Shiyuan had previously been, issued a statement indicating they were cutting ties with him. The official statement hinted heavily that they were preparing to sue Yuan Shiyuan.

Ximi Entertainment Office.

"Do we really need to make such a big deal out of this?"

Yuan Shiyuan wasn’t even a signed artist with them. After hiring trolls, they were now talking about a lawsuit—wasn’t that overkill?

Chen Yan glanced at the cast on his left hand, his expression turning sinister for a moment. In all his years in the industry, with his seniority and connections, who didn't treat him with respect? Only Yuan Shiyuan had shown no fear.

And it was this fiery temperament that made him both love and hate Yuan Shiyuan, adding to his desire to conquer him.

"He may not be a signed artist with our company, but during this time, we haven’t trained him for free, have we? Without our company, would he have the popularity he has now?"

"One should know how to be grateful."

Although this popularity would soon backfire on Yuan Shiyuan. Chen Yan knew the power of public opinion and understood that Yuan Shiyuan, with no backing or connections, had no way to speak up in such a situation.

Without support or background, you're just a pawn. If Yuan Shiyuan had any sense, he’d know what the only choice was.

He acted so tough before, but in the end, wouldn’t he have to come crawling back obediently?

"But if this blows up too much..."

"That’s exactly the point—we need to make it blow up. He needs to suffer a bit to learn obedience."

Chen Yan sneered, "This is also Director Zhou’s intention."

At the mention of "Director Zhou," everyone fell silent.

Chen Yan had recently gotten to know a big-name director in the film industry. This Director Zhou was famously influential and well-connected.

If Director Zhou was behind this, then Yuan Shiyuan truly had no chance of making a comeback.

Ximi Entertainment was renowned in the industry. Offending Ximi Entertainment meant the end of Yuan Shiyuan’s career—he would never appear in the public eye again. No entertainment company would risk angering Ximi Entertainment by working with Yuan Shiyuan.

Chen Yan kept his phone fully charged, with the ringer on, waiting for Yuan Shiyuan to call and admit defeat.

He waited from day to night, and then until dawn, but that call never came through.

Suddenly, the front door was flung open.

"Brother Yan, it's bad!" The newcomer burst in, gasping for breath. "Starry Night Entertainment is suing us!"

"Why is Starry Night Entertainment suing us?"

"Quick, check Starry Night Entertainment's official account!"

With Ximi Entertainment fanning the flames, the online feud escalated continuously, with some taking advantage of the chaos to spread ambiguous rumors. Many marketing accounts jumped in to drive the narrative, and tags related to Yuan Shiyuan once again trended, almost sweeping the top ten spots on the entertainment charts.

Everyone thought Yuan Shiyuan was surely finished this time, but before long, Starry Night Entertainment joined the fray.

The official Starry Night account posted two updates:

First, Starry Night Entertainment had filed a lawsuit against Ximi Entertainment.

Second, the Scepter boy band under Starry Night Entertainment welcomed a new member—an S-class Alpha, Yuan Shiyuan.

The whole internet went wild!

...

Zhuang He held the freshly signed contract; he was glowing. At the end of the contract, Yuan Shiyuan's signature seemed to carry the lingering scent of ink, still warm.

He pushed open the door to the styling room, a spark of awe in his gaze.

He had known Yuan Shiyuan had a standout appearance suited for the camera, but he hadn’t expected him to be such a natural.

Yuan Shiyuan had just washed his hair; the pink hair was plastered damply to his scalp—a disastrous look on anyone else, but on him, it carried an unexplainable allure.

"So stunning," the photographer on standby couldn’t help but remark. "And this is without any styling."

The makeup artist added, "This face makes me not even sure where to start."

She usually tailored her makeup plans to the artist’s features and style. But after observing Yuan Shiyuan for a long time, she couldn’t come up with a suitable approach.

Yuan Shiyuan’s skin was smooth and fair, his bone structure and skin flawless, with long, thick eyelashes. There was simply nothing to correct.

"Brother Zhuang, we’ve really struck gold."

Zhuang He felt more and more pleased. He stepped closer kindly, "Shiyuan, Ximi Entertainment is truly panicking now. They’ve scrubbed all the trending tags and are willing to compensate and apologize. Even Chen Yan is going to call you personally to apologize."

As he spoke, he put the phone on speaker and placed it on the table.

From the other end came labored breathing, as if the person was in the throes of an inner battle.

"Shiyuan..." Chen Yan’s voice was hoarse and tight, a far cry from his usual arrogance. "What happened before was my fault, all a misunderstanding..."

Yuan Shiyuan arched a brow slightly. "Brother Yan, your apology doesn’t sound all that sincere. Maybe I should get someone else to apologize instead? Like Director Zhou..."

"It’s my fault, I truly know I was wrong!" Chen Yan’s voice suddenly rose, trembling noticeably. "Name your price, whatever compensation you want, I’ll give it to you, Shiyuan. I have a family to support..."

Yuan Shiyuan knew Chen Yan wasn’t apologizing from the heart—he was just afraid, worried about dragging down Director Zhou behind him.

"Do you remember what you said back then? ‘I’m doing you a favor by even looking at you?’"

"That was me spouting nonsense! I was blind, I was too arrogant to see straight..."

From the other end came the sound of teeth chattering and muffled crying.

"Now I’ll give you the same chance."

Yuan Shiyuan glanced down at the phone screen. "I have only one condition: stay out of my sight for good." He paused, his smile deepening. "Or you know what I’ll do."

"Yes, yes! I’ll never appear in front of you again, Shiyuan. Thank you... thank you."

Zhuang He cut the call promptly, his expression equal parts shock and delight. On one hand, he had never seen Chen Yan so humbled; on the other, he was amazed by Yuan Shiyuan’s boldness and presence.

"If you have any other demands, just say the word," Zhuang He said, unable to hide his admiration. "The company will definitely make things right for you."

"Thank you, Brother Zhuang. That’s all," Yuan Shiyuan replied politely with a smile. "I’d rather not hide behind the company’s power. You can handle the rest as you see fit."

"Alright, don’t let this affect your mood," Zhuang He said. "We’ll just do a casual blow-dry for now. Later, we’ll set up a livestream for you to chat briefly with fans and ride the wave."

But Assistant Xiao Huang brought bad news: "Brother Zhuang, it’s bad! Bo Jin is on his way to the airport..."

In the makeup mirror, Yuan Shiyuan’s eyebrow lifted almost imperceptibly.

Bo Jin? Wasn’t he one of the members of the Scepter boy band?

"Didn’t we confiscate his passport? What is he trying to do now? Go catch him and bring him back!" Zhuang He felt a headache brewing. "What about the others? Check where they are and try to contact them ASAP!"

Yuan Shiyuan hadn’t met the other members yet.

After successfully signing the contract, he was added to a work group chat with the remaining five members of Scepter.

All five members were notoriously distant.

Zhuang He had sent a notice three hours ago about gathering, but the group remained silent. Whether they’d even bother to show up was still uncertain.

Alphas were born rebels, and the members of Zhuang He’s boy band were S-class Alphas at the top of the food chain—infamously hard to handle and difficult to manage.

In contrast, Yuan Shiyuan sat quietly and obediently in front of the makeup mirror, letting the stylist adjust his hair, his hands primly folded in his lap, like a sweet-faced angel.

Zhuang He couldn’t help but feel a soft spot for him. "Don’t be nervous about the livestream later. Just share a few words to greet the fans. It’s getting late today, and it might be a hassle for you to go back. Why not stay here? The employee dormitory is already prepared for you..."

Yuan Shiyuan: "I’d prefer to move in tomorrow."

"That’s fine too," Zhuang He said. "The dorms are mostly empty anyway. I’ll try to get the other members to come over in the next couple of days."

Summer break was approaching. Although he could apply to stay in the university dormitory, the conditions were limited, and renting was expensive. If Starry Night Entertainment could help solve the housing issue, it would be a good thing.

Yuan Shiyuan had seen photos of the dorm. The mere fact that it had a private bathroom made it far superior to the university’s shared dorm showers.

"The livestream equipment is almost set up. Are you ready on your end?"

Assistant Xiao Huang popped his head in, his eyes unconsciously wandering toward Yuan Shiyuan.

The stylist hadn’t given Yuan Shiyuan an elaborate look—just a simple blow-dry with natural waves at the ends, accentuating his refined features.

Yuan Shiyuan stood up to open a case of bottled water.

Xiao Huang thought he wanted a drink and hurried to help, only to see him distribute the water to the staff present.

Yuan Shiyuan smiled. "Thank you for your hard work."

His fingers, holding the bottle, were slender and pale, with just the right amount of bone structure, giving off a refined delicacy unusual for an Alpha.

The live streaming equipment suddenly malfunctioned, forcing the staff to start the broadcast early.

The moment the livestream began, the comment section exploded into a torrent of vicious comments.

"Ysy is seriously amazing—to turn such a situation around and even get picked up by Starry Night Entertainment... You can tell there's some serious backing behind this one."

"Is it the power of money again? I'm not a fan of celebrities, but I love watching dramas. Please don't ruin my viewing experience... What's with the Alphas acting in TV dramas lately? Square-faced (a meme criticizing square jawlines)? Vermin-like? Throwbacks to ape-men? Creepy beauty blenders?"

"Can the capitalists tone it down? The last Alpha they pushed looked like a mutated lizard when he smiled!"

"I'm so done with these capitalists. Why do they keep pushing these unattractive people into the entertainment industry? A bunch of 'ugly-handsome' Alphas (just ugly, not handsome)—my eyes are suffering."

"Seriously? Another unattractive kid being forced into the spotlight by capitalists?"

"..."

Netizens went off in the comments, their critiques sharp and blunt, clearly having endured visual torment for far too long.

Then, the door was pushed open. The first thing netizens saw was a tall figure reflected in the wall mirror, a streak of light pink hair brushing past the edge of the screen.

Without any warning or buffer, an enlarged face suddenly filled the camera—sharply defined, delicate features, skin so fair it seemed almost translucent, soft, fluffy light pink hair, and two faint moles beneath his right eyelid.

Immediately after, he raised an eyebrow at the camera and smiled. His canine teeth pressed lightly against his lower lip, exuding a hint of the wildness unique to Alphas.

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