After Transmigrated as a Black-Hearted Entertainment Boss [Transmigration] - Chapter 4

“Do you have classes this month too?” A dark-skinned middle-aged man asked as he plucked the “yellow ears” accessory off Gu Nan’s helmet.

Gu Nan remained silent for a moment before giving a low “Mm.”

“Well, that’s great for me!” The man attached the yellow ears to his own helmet, flashing a grin that revealed a row of bright white teeth. “This month’s performance bonus is mine! Hahahahahaha!”

Leaving behind a trail of arrogant laughter, the man donned his helmet and sped away on his electric scooter. Gu Nan turned, mounted his own second-hand scooter, and began the journey home.

In truth, Gu Nan hadn’t believed a word of Tao Zui’s grand speech at first.

Because his upbringing had been nothing short of disastrous, he lacked any sense of security and was not someone who easily trusted others. When he heard that the elder CEO Tao had passed away and his son was returning to inherit the company, his first reaction was: What happens to us?

Without a shred of expectation or hope, Gu Nan’s first thought was how to settle Diwu Zou and Chen Xing.

Su Jiqiu could live at school—nine hundred yuan a semester was completely affordable. Zeng Yinuo could live at home, so food and housing weren’t an issue for him.

That left Diwu Zou, whose parents were divorced and whose mother had remarried and had a daughter a year ago, and Chen Xing, whose parents were dead and whose family assets had been divided up. Both were as homeless as he was.

Gu Nan earned over ten thousand yuan a month delivering food. It sounded like a lot, but it was earned at the cost of his time—working over twelve hours a day. After deducting acting class fees, food for five people, and utilities, there was barely anything left. If they had to add rent on top of that…

Gu Nan hesitated for less than three seconds before deciding to drop his acting classes. That would save four or five thousand a month, which should be enough for rent.

When he made this decision, he didn’t think about the future. It was just like when he was discharged from the hospital with nowhere to go; faced with a suspicious talent scout, he hadn’t hesitated to go check out the company first.

To prevent being scammed, he had insisted on taking a taxi. Only after touring the company and seeing the contract did he sign. The “room and board” clause back then had been his literal lifeline.

Gu Nan didn’t actually have an obsession with becoming a famous star. Persisting with self-funded acting classes after being “snowbound” was simply a way to carve out an exit strategy. Having missed the Gaokao (National College Entrance Exam), his only chance to change his fate was gone. Acting at least looked more promising than delivery work.

These were the only two choices available to him within his current reach.

Hearing Tao Zui talk about “big dreams” and receiving that proposal, Gu Nan had acted excited, but in reality, he was just thinking: As long as he doesn’t kick us out, I can continue my acting classes.

It wasn’t until he went to the legal department with Su Jiqiu and saw the supplementary contract—with its terms written clearly in black and white—that he allowed a flicker of hope to grow in his heart.

“Brother Nan, do you think the company will really arrange classes for us according to the supplementary contract?” Su Jiqiu had asked in a dazed tone on the way home.

“I don’t know,” Gu Nan paused. “But at least this time, the contract specifies the training content. If they don’t deliver, we can sue to terminate the contract.”

This was also why Gu Nan had given up this month’s incentive bonus, letting the older man take the top spot in delivery rankings and snatch away the “yellow ears.”

Income from delivery work was directly tied to diligence. If he took time off for acting classes, his income for the month would plummet. To balance the books, Gu Nan usually spent one month focused on deliveries and the next month focused on classes.

This was supposed to be a “delivery month.” Without that extra incentive bonus from the platform, they would have to eat purely vegetarian next month.

Still, I can’t fully trust that man yet.

Gu Nan parked his scooter in the designated spot and entered the elevator, clutching his helmet. He would observe for three days. If nothing happened within three days, he would go back to full-time deliveries; working a few extra hours at night would allow him to catch up…

Gu Nan’s train of thought was cut short.

He stood at the door, staring at the trio of students at the dining table who were sweating and eating with greasy mouths. He also saw someone who absolutely should not be there: Young CEO Tao, with his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows and cheeks puffed out like a hamster, gesturing toward the kitchen with his chopsticks while making muffled noises.

Gu Nan didn’t know what expression he was supposed to make.

Swallowing his food, Tao Zui finally spoke clearly: “There’s food left separately in the kitchen for you and Su Jiqiu. Go get it yourself. Chen Xing, if you can’t handle spicy food, stop eating it. Look at you, you’re covered in sweat!”

Chen Xing reluctantly withdrew his chopsticks from the Boiled Beef and reached for the Fish-Fragrant Shredded Pork instead. His lips were as red as if he’d applied lip gloss, and he was huffing and puffing from the spice.

Diwu Zou gleefully snatched the piece of beef Chen Xing had been eyeing, his mouth so full he could barely manage a jeer: “Kids shouldn’t try to eat spicy food like adults… Holy crap! Zeng Xiao Nuo, how did you finish all the Twice-Cooked Pork?!”

Zeng Yinuo glanced at him and quickly snatched the last piece of pork. Amid Diwu Zou’s wails of “Save some meat for me!”, he coolly popped it into his mouth.

Maybe I opened the door wrong, or maybe I walked into the wrong house. Gu Nan stood frozen in the hallway, clutching his helmet.

“If it’s finished, it’s finished. There are so many dishes, is it not enough?” Tao Zui reached over and flicked Diwu Zou on the forehead. “Don’t talk while you’re chewing. What if you spray it everywhere?”

Diwu Zou: “Weren’t you just…”

Tao Zui: “Hmm?”

Diwu Zou: “…” He silently went back to shoveling rice.

Satisfied, Tao Zui looked up at Gu Nan. “Come in! Why are you just standing there like an idiot? Wash your hands before eating!”

Gu Nan: “…”

Gu Nan looked around awkwardly. After a moment of hesitation, he placed his helmet on the entryway shelf and walked unsteadily into the guest bathroom. He washed his hands in a daze, walked to the space between the kitchen and the dining room, turned in a half-circle, and finally entered the kitchen.

A second later, he walked back to Tao Zui’s side holding a massive bowl. His phoenix eyes were wide. “Is… is this what was left for me?”

Tao Zui peered over. “Yeah!”

Gu Nan looked down at the “green” bowl, then at the oily red plates on the table, and finally at Tao Zui, his eyes broadcasting a silent protest—

Why do they get the spicy, fragrant meat while I have to chew on leaves?!

Understanding the look, Tao Zui couldn’t help but snort with laughter. He tapped the bottom of the bowl with the tip of his chopsticks. “It’s not all vegetables; there’s smoked salmon at the bottom. But this is only for today, and it’s only because you’ve been running around all day—consider it a special mercy. Starting tomorrow, your dinner will only be vegetable salad.”

Gu Nan was about to sit down, but he froze again. “Why?”

Tao Zui gracefully took a piece of beef, chewed, and swallowed before saying leisurely, “There’s an audition at the end of the month. You don’t want to look like a ball on camera, do you?”

Diwu Zou: “An audition?!”

Zeng Yinuo: “Wait, a real gig?!”

Chen Xing: “Mmph mmph!”

Tao Zui: “I said no talking while chewing!”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! The teacher kept us late and everyone must be hungry, I bought…” Su Jiqiu’s frantic voice cut off abruptly, like a rubber chicken being squeezed by the neck, his last note trailing into a sharp shriek.

He was holding a plastic bag in his left hand and a backpack over his shoulder. His collar was disheveled from rushing, and his black-rimmed glasses had slipped down to the tip of his nose, revealing his eyes.

Those beautiful peach-blossom eyes, exposed without the glasses, swept from the leftovers on the table to everyone present, finally landing on the massive bowl Gu Nan was holding.

“…Did we… have a bowl that big in the house?”

Two minutes later, Su Jiqiu sat to Tao Zui’s right, holding a bowl identical to Gu Nan’s and staring at him.

“An audition?”

“Yes,” Tao Zui, who was already full, said while sipping a bowl of soup. “A movie is in preparation. The funding is in place, and they’ll likely recruit actors at the end of the month. I want Gu Nan to try for it.”

He paused and looked at Su Jiqiu. “Beiying has rules; theoretically, freshmen and sophomores aren’t allowed to take outside roles. But rules are dead, people are alive. If there’s a role suitable for you, the company will negotiate with the school—don’t worry about that. The movie Gu Nan is auditioning for is a mystery. The role we’re aiming for is the third male lead—a henchman for the villain. In terms of looks and aura, it suits Gu Nan better.”

Su Jiqiu was stunned for a moment before realizing Tao Zui was explaining things to him. He said quickly, “I understand! I don’t plan on taking roles right now anyway. Freshman and sophomore years are for building a foundation, and there are a lot of professional classes. I don’t want to miss them… thank you…”

The last two words were a bit blurred, spoken with a sense of uncertainty—as if he wasn’t sure who he was thanking, or if he should be thanking him at all.

Tao Zui gave an “Mm” and gestured with his chin toward the bowl. “Eat. It’s late, aren’t you hungry? Tsk, technically you shouldn’t eat after 6 PM. You two remember this: for people who want to be actors, weight and physique management are basic requirements! Gu Nan, remember to quit your job tomorrow. Su Jiqiu, send me your class schedule later. If you have full days of classes, I’ll prepare a bento for you.”

…Do bosses nowadays manage things this closely? Cooking personally just to monitor our weight?

Gu Nan chewed on the exceptionally delicious smoked salmon and exchanged a dazed look with Su Jiqiu before hesitatingly answering.

However, they weren’t the only ones with questions. Zeng Yinuo asked curiously, “Young CEO Tao, do you mean… you’ll be the one cooking from now on?”

Tao Zui raised an eyebrow. “What? You don’t want me to?”

The three students immediately shook their heads like rattlesnakes. “No! We do!”

Tao Zui was about to nod in satisfaction when he caught the confusion on Gu Nan’s face. He cleared his throat. “The company is in a unique situation right now. After discussion, we’ve decided to focus on training the five of you, so I will be personally involved in your affairs. Not just cooking—after you finish eating, tidy up and clear a bedroom for me. I’m moving in tomorrow morning.”

Gu Nan: “Mph!”

Su Jiqiu: “What?!”

Diwu Zou: “Huh?”

Zeng Yinuo: Cough cough cough!

Chen Xing: Pffft!