Second Take On Romance - The A-List Actor Wants Me
Chapter 207 : Traffic At The Highway

Chapter 207: Chapter 207 : Traffic At The Highway

The first person Shen Jingwei approached was naturally Jin Zhuo.

Jin Zhuo was relatively popular amongst not only customers but fellow butlers.

If he joined hands with Jin Zhuo, they might be able to attract more people to join their cause.

At this point of time, Jin Zhuo had yet to begin filming scenes. He was frequently found in the reading corner, rehearsing his lines meticulously with other cast members.

When Shen Jingwei brought up the matter with Handsome Butler Coffee Shop, discomfort quickly crept onto Jin Zhuo’s face.

"What for?" He asked after Shen Jingwei finished.

"What do you mean, what for?"

"Well..."

Jin Zhuo flicked a rowdy strand of hair off his face.

"Senior Shang told us all to stay put and do nothing. Why should I go against him?"

"..."

Shen Jingwei could barely believed his ears.

"Jin Zhuo, the Handsome Butler Coffee Shop did a lot to support you during the times when you had no jobs lined up. Not only you but a lot of aspiring actors."

"And I will forever be grateful," Jin Zhuo emphasized. "It’s just that I am in a very delicate spot right now, Shen Jingwei. It was not easy getting this role. I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize my career."

Shen Jingwei took a deep breath to placate himself.

"Jin Zhuo, if all butlers can unite and speak favorably about their experience at the coffee shop, the charges against Head Butler Wu will be dropped and the coffee shop will be saved."

Jin Zhuo pulled his lips into an uneasy smile.

"I am so sorry for everything that happened to Head Butler Wu, but frankly it’s none of my business."

"..."

Jin Zhuo rolled the script in his hand and hit his other palm lightly with it when he spoke. Judging from his light manner of speaking, one could tell that he didn’t care at all.

"Honestly, I don’t understand you, Shen Jingwei. You are playing the male lead. Your career is skyrocketing. You will never go back to Handsome Butler Coffee Shop to entertain young ladies anymore, so why do you care so much?"

Anger flickered in Shen Jingwei’s eyes.

"I care because I want to repay Head Butler Wu for his kindness all these years."

Jin Zhuo rolled with his eyes and let out an exasperated sigh.

"Shen Jingwei, it’s not like we worked for free, alright? The coffee shop benefited a lot from our looks. If I am completely honest, I think we didn’t get paid enough."

"..."

Shen Jingwei could almost hear the thread of patience snapped off in his head.

If he stayed any longer, he might have to give Jin Zhuo a punch across the jaw.

That would speak very poorly about his character, and most importantly, would not help Head Butler Wu at all.

"Forget it," Shen Jingwei said with a snap before he turned on his heel and left.

Jin Zhuo shrugged and redirected his focus back onto the script in his hand.

Jin Zhuo, you heartless bastard!

Shen Jingwei cursed at Jin Zhuo in his heart.

You thankless scum.

He crossed Jin Zhuo’s name off the list angrily. Until he somehow found a method to gain Jin Zhuo’s support, he was better off wasting his time elsewhere.

Shen Jingwei went through the names of the remaining nineteen people one by one and began sending them a message on WeChat.

Afterward, he was called to shoot his scenes and he couldn’t check his phone again until the day concluded.

The replies did not come until the next day.

It was understandable, because they had not contacted each other for a long time.

It took them a while to jog their memory and remember who Shen Jingwei was.

Despite Shen Jingwei’s hard work and persistence, the result was far from ideal.

Out of the nineteen people he contacted, Shen Jingwei managed to get in touch with fifteen.

Five had left the entertainment industry because they were unable to keep up with the fast pace and high demands.

"It was too difficult to thrive. Personally, it was a dark Chapter in my life. So sorry, but I don’t want to reopen it," one said.

"After I failed in the city, I returned to my hometown and went to college. Right now, I am interning at a good company. Apologies, Brother Shen, I don’t want to get involved in any lawsuit," another said.

Of the remaining ten people who were still active in the entertainment industry, six shared Jin Zhuo’s feelings.

"I am happy for you for your amazing achievements within short time, Brother Shen, but not all of us are equally lucky. I would rather not ruin my career over someone else’s lawsuit," one openly said.

Most of them ignored his messages after they read Shen Jingwei’s message about the lawsuit.

The other four said that they were going to help, but it did not come unconditionally.

"Most importantly, you need to be 100% sure that we won’t be negatively affected by the outcome of the lawsuit," one of them demanded.

"It would be great if it can somehow boost our name in the industry," another mused. "I mean, working as a butler wasn’t exactly a piece of cake. I want some recognition for the time I spent there."

This was the result of Shen Jingwei’s hard work over two days, and it was beyond pathetic.

He was so dispirited that he could barely drag his feet to his dinner date with Yan Renzhong that night.

"Give me the list," Yan Renzhong said halfway into the main course, roast duck with citrus pan sauce.

Shen Jingwei handed him the list in dejection.

"I am sorry," he said. "I am so useless. I was hoping to get all 20 on my side."

Yan Renzhong smirked. He folded the list into a square and slipped it into his pocket.

"You are too naive, my Jingbao," he decided. "Not everyone possesses the inherent kindness to reciprocate acts of kindness."

Shen Jingwei stuffed a roast potato into his mouth.

"Either way, I don’t know what to do now."

"I do," Yan Renzhong said with a wink and a meaningful smile. "If you can’t use the highway, take the back roads."