Chapter 82: Business Is Business

The word “husband” slipped out, making everyone around shudder with embarrassment. Garen was no exception; it felt as though a thousand ants were crawling over his heart, unbearably uncomfortable. There was nothing romantic between the two women—anyone who followed their microblog would know that “husband” was just a term of endearment, even their fans called them that.

“Ada’s friend!” Guo Biting flashed a smile, then asked curiously, “What, you don’t know him?”

Zhao Liying shook her head, pouting, “Is he in the industry too?”

“Yep! Allen just debuted this year, and recently participated in ‘Dream Star Show.’ Didn’t you watch it?” Guo Biting not only explained Garen’s identity, but also recommended a few of his songs.

Garen was pleasantly surprised—he never expected the nation’s goddess to listen to his music! It was almost comical.

He seized the moment to introduce himself to Zhao Liying, “Hello, Sister Ying! I’m Garen! Please take care of me in the future!”

Zhao Liying had spent the first half of the year filming and hadn’t paid much attention to the big and small events in the entertainment world. After Guo Biting’s introduction, she mentally labeled Garen: internet celebrity + talent show singer.

She herself came up through talent shows, so she felt a kindred spirit and warmly extended her hand, “Hello!”

Seeing Zhao Liying take the initiative to shake his hand, Garen blushed, hesitated for a moment, then quickly let go.

The three returned to their seats, with Garen sitting right behind the two, perfectly centered for easy conversation.

Guo Biting turned around, holding up her phone, “Allen, let’s take a picture together!”

“Oh! Sure!”

Getting the chance to take a photo with two beauties filled Garen with an immense sense of happiness and honor. He immediately squeezed between them, striking a pose.

Zhao Liying also took out her phone, and together with Guo Biting, snapped several shots from various angles.

Afterward, their first order of business was using editing apps—both only retouched their own faces.

“Ok! Uploaded!”

Guo Biting said to Garen, “Let’s follow each other on microblog!”

“And me too!” Zhao Liying chimed in.

“Alright!” Garen readily agreed, pulling out his phone, logging in, finding their accounts, following both, and reposting the photos they’d just uploaded.

While reposting, he noticed that, in just a few seconds, the comments under their posts had exploded.

A glance at Guo Biting’s microblog comments revealed a shocking scene.

“Wow! Husband is so beautiful! Who’s that ugly guy?”

“Husband is powerful! Who’s that ugly guy?”

“Husband, you’re always beautiful! Who’s that ugly guy?”

“Husband... who’s that ugly guy?”

“...who’s that ugly guy?”

...

Garen was speechless. How did he suddenly become “the ugly guy” for no reason?

He checked Zhao Liying’s microblog comments and felt like crying.

“Baozi! Baozi! Baozi! Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful! Important things said three times! That ugly guy! Get lost! Get lost! Get lost!”

“Who’s in the middle? Get out of the frame!”

“Big-eyed cute Ying! Husband gets top marks! Not losing to the neighbor! Middle one, get out!”

“I see you’re taking pictures with men again, and my heart feels sour!”

“……”

Reading these comments, Garen truly felt his heart ache.

Especially the ones who recognized him—their opinions varied. Some admired his rise from obscurity, others speculated he was playing both sides, and some attacked him for already having a girlfriend and still trying to charm their idol.

Back to his own microblog, the comments were much more pleasant.

“Boss is awesome, boss is amazing!”

“What’s happening? Lucky guy!”

“Where’s Allen’s hand? Is it on the girl’s waist?”

“Upstairs is blind, didn’t you see Garen sitting in the back row?”

“Haha… Respect! Take my knee, please let me call you my idol!”

…

There were plenty of such comments. A proud and satisfied smile spread across Garen’s face.

After a few casual chats with the two beauties, the conversation drifted to today’s commercial shoot.

Guo Biting pointed at Garen’s clothes, “Dressed like that, are you playing the staff member who appears last?”

Guo Biting and Zhao Liying had read the entire script and knew there was such a scene at the end.

“Yeah!” Garen nodded with a smile. “Just a minor character! Just a cameo!”

“This is a minor role? You don’t know how many people wanted to play that part!” Guo Biting said, a bit envious. Seeing Garen’s confusion, she added, “You don’t know?”

“Know what?” Garen was puzzled. Wasn’t it just a one-line cameo? Why was it so sought after?

“Your part is more important than ours,” Zhao Liying couldn’t help but say. “Because your shot will appear in the 15-second main commercial!”

“Uh…”

Garen was taken aback, then shook his head, “Impossible, impossible! I’m not the spokesperson, how could I be in the main commercial? I’m just here for the microfilm!”

The microfilm for the commercial would only have a 15-second slot on TV; the full version would be online.

As for how those 15 seconds would be edited, Garen didn’t know, nor did he understand their core design, but after hearing what the two said, it seemed his shot might actually show up in the main commercial.

Real or not, Garen’s emotions were already stirred.

“Huh? You didn’t sign a spokesperson contract?”

Guo Biting asked, surprised, “I thought you were a spokesperson too!”

“You two signed?” Garen asked.

“We did!” Both nodded. Zhao Liying said, “Looks like you’re like those two boy groups, just making a cameo in the microfilm. But if your shot is in the main commercial, why not have you as a spokesperson?”

Commercial spokespeople are different from microfilm cast. Spokespeople shoot posters and promote the product—big names like Ding Cheng are all spokespeople.

Others just act in the microfilm, cameo in a role, without the responsibilities or obligations of a spokesperson, nor do they appear in any of the brand’s ads.

Like Bai Ke, who plays the DJ, or the two singing and dancing groups in the audience—they’re just cameos, same as Garen.

That’s also what Wu Chaoyang wrote in his contract. But after Guo Biting and Zhao Liying’s comments, Garen’s role suddenly seemed as important as the spokespeople’s.

If that’s true, then less than a million is a huge loss!

No way! He had to talk to Fu Chunli. He stood up, “Um, Sister Biting, Sister Ying, I’m going to ask about this. Let’s chat later!”

“Go ahead! Make sure you get it clear, don’t get taken advantage of!” Guo Biting earnestly advised.

After searching a while, he finally found Fu Chunli. Garen’s first question was, “Sister Fu, I heard my shot will be in the 15-second main commercial?”

“Uh…” Fu Chunli’s face fell a little, “Let’s talk somewhere else.”

Garen nodded silently—clearly, there was more to this.

They left the indoor basketball court and stopped under a willow tree. Fu Chunli looked around to make sure no one was near, then said, “Let’s talk here! You should’ve known about this earlier.”

“What’s going on?”

“In the end, it’s because of Cai Yuehua.”

Fu Chunli spoke heavily, “After that scam he pulled on you, I only found out after you two handled it privately. I was furious!”

“Sister Fu…” Garen opened his mouth, unsure how to respond.

“Why didn’t you tell me right away?” Fu Chunli’s tone was accusatory.

“I…” Garen said quietly, “I was afraid it would affect your partnership.”

“So knowing after the fact doesn’t affect anything?” Fu Chunli retorted. “He didn’t just scam your money, he scammed us too! It’s commercial fraud. He took tens of thousands from you alone—what if there were ten or a hundred people?”

“Sister Fu…”

“So many years! Our company gave him so many gigs, how many did he scam? You found this parasite, why didn’t you tell me?”

Fu Chunli cut him off, voice nearly furious.

Garen didn’t know what to say. Wu Chaoyang had told him that the tour company had shady connections, not to be trifled with. So once Garen got what he deserved, he didn’t make any noise.

But for Fu Chunli and the whole brand, it was different.

“Cai Yuehua has been criminally detained, did you know?”

“Huh?” Garen was stunned by the sudden twist. No wonder Cai Yuehua hadn’t retaliated—he was in jail.

“The company pressed charges! It was a compromise between both sides. Some things involve company secrets, so I can’t go into detail. In short, some people in the company appreciate you, others resent you. I submitted plans to use your song and have you join the new season’s spokespersons, but those who resent you ruined it.”

That explained why Fu Chunli had once tried to make “Bund No. 18” the new season’s ad song, but nothing came of it. Now Garen understood.

Some things are clear enough after thinking about them. Such a big corporation is bound to have factions, each with their own interests. And in business, you have to deal with all sorts—powerful locals can’t be ignored, and the brand wanted the capital’s market, so they had to deal with various groups.

There are rules for the shady, and systems for the legitimate. Business is always about covering all bases and endless wrangling.

“Enough about that! Let’s talk about your commercial.” Fu Chunli smiled bitterly. “After the final negotiations, I got you a cameo as compensation for not being able to help before. As for whether your shot will be in the main commercial, I’m not sure, but I’ll keep an eye on it.”

“Thank you, Sister Fu!” Garen said. “But I have to be clear—if this were your personal project, I’d do it for free. But this is a collaboration with the brand, whether it’s a spokesperson or a cameo, business is business.”

“Do you think I don’t know that?” Fu Chunli laughed. “Don’t underestimate me, Garen.”