Chapter 37: From Now On, She Will Be Your Agent

"Are you sure you aren't just very close friends?" Yang Mi asked back.

"Isn't that the same thing?"

Zhou Le truly didn't dare to go out for a second round that night; in truth, he was afraid of being photographed. Being snapped with other young actors might not have been a big deal—at most, it would spark some rumors, and even if it hit the trending list, it wouldn't climb very high. But being caught with Yang Mi was an entirely different matter. The industry is complicated; while having good personal relationships is fine, being associated with a married woman could spell real trouble if word got out.

However, having signed with Daylight Entertainment, Zhou Le had to head to the company the next day. Partly to get to know his colleagues, and partly because, as a new hire, he needed to show the right attitude.

Just as he stepped into the office to clock in, he felt a phantom groan echo in his brain. He had finally been contaminated once again by that foul, suffocating scent of corporate life.

"Teacher Zhou, you don't need to clock in," the HR manager, who had walked in behind him, said with a smile.

"It's fine, I'm used to it."

"Teacher Zhou is truly approachable. Although, our contracted artists don't usually need to come to the office. You could have stayed home to rest or gone out to have fun. But since you've just joined, I assume you're here to meet with the team today?"

"That's right."

"Then let me take you to the leadership."

Zhou Le reflected that he had perhaps been too polite. Even though he had been in the business for a few years and had filmed two movies, there was still so much he didn't know about being a star.

"It's alright, I'll look around on my own first."

He had already made the rounds to most departments the day before to show his face. Thinking it over, Zhou Le headed straight for the Artist Management Department. It was a busy place, but when they saw him enter, everyone paused their work.

The director had been waiting for a while. After seating Zhou Le and chatting over tea about how many fans Zhou Le had in the company, they called the heads of other departments into a conference room for a meeting.

The main content of the meeting was to train Zhou Le on what an actor should and shouldn't do, what could and couldn't be said online, and to emphasize the need to cooperate with the company's promotional activities, including making appearances when necessary. At the same time, if he needed to audition for roles, he was encouraged to discuss them with the company’s directors and screenwriters.

Zhou Le took notes incessantly. It felt like a dream back to his early days—only this was a smaller meeting, so he couldn't doodle or practice his signature in the margins.

After an hour of meetings, the company assigned Zhou Le an agent. She was a young woman about 1.7 meters tall, wearing a long white down jacket that made her look like a cloud. She had just graduated, and her name was Su Yingxia.

"Teacher Zhou, from now on, Xiao Su will be your agent. Although she has less work experience, she is highly capable and a quick learner. Considering your outgoing personality, we thought an older agent might not be a good fit, so we found someone young. Xiao Su will be both your agent and your personal assistant; you can call on her whenever you go out."

(A little assistant.)

Zhou Le nodded. He was quite satisfied with this agent. After all, who doesn't like someone young and beautiful?

"Also, let her know where you live later, and she will rent a place nearby."

Zhou Le was stunned. "And the rent for her apartment..."

"The company will cover it."

Zhou Le felt relieved immediately.

***

As long as it didn't come out of his own pocket, he was fine. Once the company matters were settled, Zhou Le left with his newly assigned agent, Su Yingxia, in tow.

"Um... I'm heading home now. Do you have to follow me?"

Su Yingxia was feeling a bit apprehensive, as this was her first job since graduating university. Although Zhou Le was handsome and seemed easygoing, who knew what he was like in private? But since she was both his agent and assistant, he was effectively her boss.

"Yes, Teacher Zhou. The company asked me to see where you live so I can rent a place nearby."

"Alright then."

And so, to the bewilderment of his new agent, Zhou Le walked into the subway station and pulled out his transit card.

"Do you have a card?"

Su Yingxia was stunned. She hadn't expected Zhou Le to commute by subway just like her.

"Oh, yes, I do."

She quickly rummaged through her small bag to find her own card, then followed him closely into the station. Along the way, the duo attracted quite a few gazes. Su Yingxia was very fair-skinned; even though only her face was visible, it looked as if she had bathed in milk—delicate and smooth, like a little white flower, soft and lovely.

But then people would look at Zhou Le.

Damn, he was even three parts more handsome than themselves.

"Forget it, can't compete with that. Next one," a guy who had been eyeing Su Yingxia thought to himself. "You win this round, looks-wise."

Once they boarded the subway, it was already crowded. As the train moved from station to station, the available space shrank, and Su Yingxia was gradually squeezed into Zhou Le's embrace. She was blushing furiously. She wanted to move away, but the crowd was impossible to push through, and she couldn't exactly push her boss! So, she had to watch helplessly as she pressed closer to his chest.

"It's too crowded," Zhou Le said, looking at Su Yingxia’s flushed face.

"Yes, there are so many people today."

"And besides, I'm different from the others. I'm poor, so I have to spend my money where it counts."

"It's alright."

She couldn't exactly bury her head in there, so she tried her best to turn her face to the side.

***

Although this meant her cheek was now pressed against Zhou Le's chest, there was no better alternative for now. As she turned her head, she happened to see a man nearby taking advantage of the crowd to press himself against a girl. It was extremely lewd.

In that instant, she wanted to speak up and call him out. But the next moment, she felt a hand pat her shoulder. She turned to see Zhou Le smiling gently.

"It's fine, I'll handle it. Girls shouldn't have to suffer."

On the other side, the creep was feeling smug. He had caught another "little lamb" today. After the incident last time, he had been left with a bit of a shadow, but today, while out on company business, he had encountered a girl who caught his eye on the subway. She looked like the type who was easy to bully.

His lecherous impulses took over. But just as he was enjoying himself, a familiar sensation hit his rear end.

His body stiffened instantly. That technique, that strength—it was etched into his memory. He looked up in disbelief and saw Zhou Le. His body trembled involuntarily.

Just then, the subway pulled into the station.

"Damn it, are you ever going to quit? You're back at it!"

He felt like he was being targeted. It had been over half a year! "Has he been stalking me?"

The train stopped. "Please exit the train in an orderly fashion. Thank you for your cooperation."

Hearing this, he immediately began shoving the people in front of him. "Move! Let me out!" He thought to himself that he would definitely take a taxi from now on!

As it happened, there was a hot-tempered guy in front of him. After being shoved and falling to the ground, the man scrambled up and kicked the creep. The two started brawling.

As the "Doors are closing" announcement rang out, they were already locked in a fierce fight outside. Zhou Le hid his merit and fame. He turned his head and saw Su Yingxia looking at him with a complex expression.