"I know Qiansimei is a big company, but our Pan Die isn’t some random little star either. Your company’s not going to shortchange her, right?" Tong looked at Lin Tian as she spoke. Her words were tactful, because if Jiang Pan Die signed too low, that would affect Tong’s own bonus.

When it came to her own interests, Tong naturally cared a lot.

Before Lin Tian could speak, Jiang Pan Die, who was leaning on the sofa, took the initiative to explain, "It’s done. Eighteen million for a two-year endorsement. Besides that, Lin Tian is going to shoot several MVs for me, and he’ll also be a guest at the concert."

"Eighteen mil does match your status, but this concert guest thing... Haven’t we already fixed the set list? And we’ve already invited Zhuo Ming as the special guest. If Lin Tian comes in, it’ll mess up the plan. How about... we invite him next time?" Tong asked.

Zhuo Ming was the special guest for this concert, and a star who’d just gotten popular recently. Unlike Jiang Pan Die, his singing and acting were both so-so; he could only do rap and hype-man style shouting, and that was third-rate at best. But the guy had a slightly handsome face, which attracted some fangirls, and with the company’s hype machine, his popularity was still very high.

This was the reality of the entertainment industry. Obviously someone’s skill could be mediocre, but as long as he was good-looking, the company would rack its brains to push him to the top. Just like what LuuYong had promised before.

The relationship between Jiang Pan Die and Zhuo Ming was nothing more than ordinary colleagues; they didn’t even count as friends. Zhuo Ming coming this time was because Tong had asked the company to arrange it.

It wasn’t about anything else, Tong was just afraid Zhuo Ming would be unhappy. He’d always liked Pan Die. It wasn’t easy for him to get this chance to come, and if he saw Lin Tian, he’d inevitably get upset. Tong didn’t want that kind of thing to happen.

"Tong, we still have six days before the concert starts. We only roughly picked a few songs; the program flow hasn’t been fully finalized yet. Time-wise, it’s totally enough. And isn’t this time exactly for us to have plenty of prep? If we have a better segment, why not put it on stage? You saw it yourself last time at Medical University in Kanyue City, he looked so handsome when he was singing on stage..."

As she talked, Jiang Pan Die suddenly giggled, "Besides, inviting Lin Tian is free. This idiot doesn’t even know to ask me for a fee. It’d be a waste not to use him."

Lin Tian rolled his eyes. "So you’re planning not to pay me at all?"

"Hee hee hee, hey, I was just joking with you. How about this, after the concert, I’ll treat you to a meal." Jiang Pan Die said, "I’m just inviting you up there to play around, sing two songs. You still want to charge me? I’m broke."

Lin Tian was amused by her adorable silliness. He held up two fingers. "Two meals."

"Deal!" Jiang Pan Die raised her hand and shouted happily.

"Pan Die, are you..."

Before Tong could finish, the alcohol hit Jiang Pan Die. She curled up on the sofa, eyes hazy, and was about to fall asleep.

Tong immediately felt a headache coming on. Looking at the drunken Jiang Pan Die, she could only let out a long sigh. After two or three years of working together, Tong knew Jiang Pan Die’s personality too well. She was absolutely not some obedient good girl; she was the type who got hyper around people, yielded to soft tactics but not hard ones. Now that she was drunk, saying anything was pointless. Better to wait until she sobered up.

"How much did she drink? How is she this drunk?" Tong looked at Lin Tian and asked. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Hmm... about half a wine goblet of cocktail," Lin Tian said.

Tong smacked her forehead. "High-proof alcohol can damage her throat. Pan Die’s concert is in a few days. If something..."

Lin Tian cut her off and said, "Relax, her voice won’t have any problems. In the future she can even eat a little spicy again. I’ll make up some medicine for her and guarantee her voice only gets sweeter."

Only then did Tong react—sitting right in front of her was the ancient-medicine genius whose name shook the Celestial Dragon Continent. Hearing his promise, Tong finally felt relieved.

Lin Tian stood up and said, "Alright, it’s getting late. I’ll head out first. I’ll leave Pan Die to you."

Tong stood up with him. She thought for a moment and asked, "You and Pan Die... are still just normal friends, right?"

She’d been holding this question in for a long time. A stunning beauty going out and fooling around with a man all day, then coming back this drunk—no one could help thinking more about it.

Lin Tian smiled. "A bit closer than normal friends, but not the kind of relationship you’re imagining. She’s like a bird that’s been kept in a cage, just wanting to find someone to go out and have fun with. If it were someone else in my place, I think she’d still have a great time. So you don’t need to worry so much."

In the entertainment industry, Tong had seen every type of person, especially hypocrites—the ones who were one way on the surface and another behind your back, impossible to guard against.

But Lin Tian was at least straightforward. With his status, background, and his relationship with Pan Die, he could’ve easily booked another room and turned raw rice into cooked rice, and by then Jiang Pan Die could only swallow the loss in silence.

Yet the way Lin Tian handled things now was to treat Jiang Pan Die purely as a friend.

"You’ve had quite a bit to drink too. It’s not safe going back in the middle of the night. How about I get another room for you?" Tong asked.

Lin Tian smiled. "No need. The one thing I’m least afraid of is danger."

With that, Lin Tian waved his hand and walked out of the room.

Tong exhaled softly, feeling a bit of relief.

To Tong, Jiang Pan Die was like a money tree. She had gigs every day and gave Tong a hefty commission. In just two years, the money Tong had earned was already enough to buy an apartment within the Third Ring.

Of course, that money also included a lot of side income under the table. For example, this time, Zhuo Ming wanted to perform on stage, so he privately stuffed Tong some cash and asked her to pull strings and arrange it.

Tong had made quite a bit from this kind of side income.

So right now she was really afraid that feelings would develop between Jiang Pan Die and Lin Tian. That wouldn’t just make Jiang Pan Die lose fans; it would shrink Tong’s side income, and might even cause Jiang Pan Die to quit the entertainment circle early. That was an outcome Tong absolutely didn’t want to see.

...

Lin Tian hailed a cab. Just as he sat down in the back seat, his phone rang. He took it out and saw it was a call from Bai Shishi.

Lin Tian picked up and said with a smile, "Why aren’t you asleep yet?"

"You went out with a big star for a whole day—shopping, movies, then bar and hotel. How could I possibly sleep? But since you came out of the hotel this quickly, looks like nothing happened between you and that big star." Bai Shishi said, sounding a bit resentful.

Lin Tian gave a wry smile. He knew Bai Shishi definitely didn’t have anyone tailing him. It was just that the Xu Family and Black Gold’s network covered all of Kanyue City. For Bai Shishi to get this kind of intel was ridiculously easy.