Chapter 119 — Support You? How Could I Support You?

"Whether our backgrounds are complicated or not is our own business. I don't even mind, so why should outsiders have any say in it?"

The hospital room door was pushed open abruptly, and Cheng Yishu walked in with a cold expression!

"Yishu..."

Lin Xiaowen had actually known all along that Cheng Yishu was waiting for her outside. She had wanted to prove that she could face Chen Kai on her own, showing Cheng Yishu that she was someone who could handle things so he wouldn't have any worries.

However, she did not know that while Chen Kai was speaking eloquently and pressing her step by step, Cheng Yishu had been struggling to restrain himself, wanting several times to rush in and shield her behind him.

Da Lingzi, being very tactful, did not follow them in; she chose to stay at the door and close it.

"Yishu, what are you doing? Are you trying to declare war on me with drawn swords?" Chen Kai said, looking at Cheng Yishu with a smile.

"As long as I can protect the person I love, it doesn't matter if you see it as declaring war, Brother Kai," Cheng Yishu said in a deep voice.

The faint smile that had just appeared on Chen Kai's face froze slightly. He felt as if the scene before him was one he had seen before. He secretly sighed in his heart, thinking that perhaps as people get older and experience more, similar situations always seem to intersect.

"So, you've come to have a showdown with me, then?" Chen Kai leaned back against the head of the hospital bed and said with a serious look.

"I hope you can support me, Brother Kai!" Cheng Yishu’s gaze fell on Chen Kai's face, his eyes filled with an unprecedented determination.

"Support you? How?" Chen Kai looked at him with a half-smile and continued, "By betting your future on it? Or by using my career as a bargaining chip? Don't forget, I joined Fanxing [Starry Sky] specifically for you, Cheng Yishu. I have poured endless hope and effort into you. Now you tell me to support your romance and abandon your future? Is this how you repay me, Cheng Yishu?"

"I am not abandoning it!" Cheng Yishu continued, "And I won't. Even without those publicity stunts, I can rely on my own strength to move forward step by step. When the time comes, we can still stand on the highest and brightest stage. This does not conflict with my relationship at all!"

Cheng Yishu was a bit agitated, causing his tone to turn sharp. Lin Xiaowen nervously tugged at his hand, her expression full of worry.

Lin Xiaowen had previously only thought that her presence by Cheng Yishu’s side would only affect his own career. She had overlooked the fact that Chen Kai, as his agent, was inextricably linked to him in his work.

Chen Kai curled his lips in a sneer and said, "I knew Tan Jing had protected you too well, but I never thought you would still be this naive. Relying on strength? Do you think you can get ahead in this circle just by relying on talent? Don't be silly, Yishu. I can understand the impulsive drive of a young man in love, but I hope you can calm down and think it over carefully..."

"I have already thought it over!" Before Chen Kai could finish, Cheng Yishu cut him off, "I have thought about it very clearly. I am going to announce my relationship with Xiaowen, and after this movie finishes filming, we will get married..."

"You're insane!" Chen Kai suddenly roared, almost hysterically.

Not only had Chen Kai not expected Cheng Yishu to say these things directly, but even Lin Xiaowen was stunned on the spot, unable to recover for a long time.

"If you think I'm crazy, then I guess I'm crazy. The feeling of going crazy for love once isn't so bad," Cheng Yishu said, turning back to offer a gentle smile to the still-stunned Lin Xiaowen.

"Don't forget you are under contract. If you breach it unilaterally, you will..." Chen Kai sat up straight, looking at Cheng Yishu in disbelief.

"I know," Cheng Yishu replied. "I consulted a lawyer to help me organize everything. If I calculate the salary from this movie plus some of my savings, it should be enough to buy my freedom."

Cheng Yishu spoke with such natural ease that Chen Kai curled his hands into fists. "It seems you’ve been prepared for a long time. I never would have guessed!"

In Chen Kai's eyes, Cheng Yishu was merely willful; he never knew this kid had been secretly making other plans.

"Yishu, you... you really don't need to do this!" Lin Xiaowen looked at him, feeling both moved and shocked.

"Silly, why are you looking at me with that expression? Although you're right that I love that stage and this career, I don't want to lose you even more... Only by terminating my contract with the company can I give you and Ranran a home. It doesn't matter; if no one hires me to act in the future, we can open a dance studio. Teaching kids how to breakdance isn't exactly a waste of my talents!"

Cheng Yishu’s eyes sparkled with starlight as he smiled, making Lin Xiaowen’s eyes well up with tears.

"Since you've made your decision, then go do it!" Chen Kai suddenly spoke, his eyes cold as he squinted at Cheng Yishu. "However, for now, you are still my artist. The production crew just called to say that work is resuming. Be prepared!"

Cheng Yishu struggled internally for a long time before saying, "I'm sorry, Brother Kai, for letting you down."

"No need!" Chen Kai leaned back again and said, "Who knows? Maybe this movie will win you the Best Actor award. If that happens, perhaps the company will prioritize keeping you and overlook other issues!"

"Will that really happen?" Lin Xiaowen’s heart raced with excitement.

"That depends on whether Yishu has the talent and the luck," Chen Kai replied naturally to Lin Xiaowen's question, adding, "I’ll say it again: I have never excessively interfered with my artists' personal lives, except when it jeopardizes their future... If Yishu can preserve his relationship and still stay on, that is exactly what I want to see."

A smile began to appear on Cheng Yishu's face as he whispered, "So, Brother Kai, does that mean you are willing to help me?"

"Help you?" Chen Kai calmly swept his gaze toward the window. "How would I help you? I never said I would help you. I am a professional agent; my job is to ensure my artists keep getting better."

"I understand!" Cheng Yishu gave Chen Kai’s shoulder a surprisingly efficient pat, sat down beside him, and said with a wink, "I understand what you said, Brother Kai, and I understand what you didn't say. Thank you, Brother Kai. If—and I mean if—I can get through this, you will be my only choice for an agent from now on!"

"Pfft, like I care!" With a haughty snort, Chen Kai finally pulled his gaze back. He looked at Lin Xiaowen, then at Cheng Yishu, and suddenly said, "I'm actually feeling a bit empty in the stomach right now."

Cheng Yishu understood immediately and turned to call out, "Quick, bring Brother Kai the chicken soup, hurry!"

Cheng Yishu raised his eyebrows at Lin Xiaowen and gave her a wink. Lin Xiaowen immediately caught on and replied, "Oh, right, coming!"