Second Take On Romance - The A-List Actor Wants Me
Chapter 52 : A Proposal And A Warning

Chapter 52: Chapter 52 : A Proposal And A Warning

The two attractive men, one in his thirties and one in his twenties, sat together at the bar.

The picturesque sight they offered gave the female visitors inexplicable heart flutters.

The older man’s gaze was that of a doting, devoted lover, while the younger man accepted his affections with the grace of a shy lover boy who, nevertheless, was well aware of his alluring nature.

No one was close enough to eavesdrop their conversation. Had they been, they would quickly walk away because their conversation was anything but romantic.

"I suppose you are here to enjoy the music," Shang Ruohai said.

"No, I am here to unearth the mysteries of the past," Shen Jingwei told him plainly.

Like a subtle detective he was not.

Shang Ruohai’s mood soured rapidly, impervious even to the soothing melodies of the jazz.

The man rolled with his eyes and chuckled into his drink.

"You should ask Yan Renzhong."

"I already did," Shen Jingwei reminded him. "He did not want to tell me anything."

Shang Ruohai whipped up a smirk and asked, "And what makes you think I might tell you?"

Shen Jingwei shrugged.

"Probably because you might. Otherwise, Yan Renzhong would not be so wary of us getting close."

"Hahaha... Smart young man, aren’t you?"

A chilling smile hung from Shen Jingwei’s lips.

"Not so young anymore," he said. "It has been three years after my debut."

As corpse #3 in a gangster fight.

But still, a debut was a debut.

Shang Ruohai furrowed his brows slightly. He started drawing circles on the bar counter using the water that pooled at the bottom of his glass.

"By that definition, I must be quite old in your eyes, then."

"Ancient," Shen Jingwei nodded.

"..."

Shang Ruohai stared at Shen Jingwei, dumbfounded by the younger man’s brutal honesty. His decades in the limelight had accustomed him to a retinue of sycophants, who showered him with gifts and flattery in countless occasions.

This was the first time someone dared to openly tell him that he was old.

Shang Ruohai broke into a giggle.

The person Yan Renzhong liked was truly a rarity, one in a hundred million specimens, probably.

"I like and appreciate you a lot, Shen Jingwei," Shang Ruohai said while flicking a droplet of water off the small puddle. "Alas, I have no actual reason to tell you anything. On the other hand, my tongue is tied by my promise to Yan Renzhong. So sorry to disappoint you."

"..."

Well, it was worth a shot.

"I am sorry for disturbing you."

Shen Jingwei rose to his feet, but Shang Ruohai captured his wrist.

"That aside, I might change my mind if you accept my proposal."

His proposal?

Shen Jingwei narrowed his eyes at the other man.

"What proposal?"

Shang Ruohai released Shen Jingwei’s wrist and pointed toward the seat the latter just vacated.

"Please take your seat first."

Shen Jingwei climbed back into the seat and stared straight into Shang Ruohai’s eyes.

"Well?"

"I propose that you switch your agency and sign with CNC Studio."

"..."

The entertainment industry was a fiercely competitive landscape where talent acquisition was paramount.

Established companies frequently engaged in a high-stakes game of poaching promising stars from rival firms.

This predatory behavior was particularly effective against young, inexperienced individuals, easily swayed by the allure of extensive resources and influential connections promised by larger corporations.

Shen Jingwei was neither young nor inexperienced, unless Shang Ruohai chose to overlook the minor, inconsequential roles and jobs he took in the past three years.

He was not arrogant enough to consider himself a promising, budding talent on the rise.

Xie Jianyu in "Dance Of The Dragons" was his first serious role ever. Other than this role, his only notable achievement was playing Chun Yao’s love interest in her newest MV.

Big companies like CNC Studio would never poach someone like him.

Shen Jingwei let out a burst of dry laughter.

"I don’t even think that I fulfill CNC Studio’s lowest requirement for a contract, Senior Shang."

Shang Ruohai calmly replied, "No matter. CNC Studio will overlook any flaw and any shortcoming in your case."

Shen Jingwei arched a brow at Shang Ruohai.

"I don’t think it’s your call to make, Senior Shang."

"But it is," Shang Ruohai corrected him. "Do you know the owner and at the same time CEO of CNC Studio, by the way?"

"... No?"

"He’s my father, Shang Xiaoyi."

"..."

Shang Ruohai, a seasoned actor under CNC Studio, senior to Yan Renzhong and Lang Yuxuan, was actually...

Shen Jingwei was rendered speechless with this unexpected revelation.

Shang Ruohai liked his reaction very much.

"I will have our Talent Recruitment Division reach out to you first thing in the morning. Don’t worry, the process will be smoother than the best congee you have ever eaten in your entire life."

"..."

"And now, if you don’t mind, I would rather you not ruin my jazz night any further."

"..."

First, he recruited him into CNC Studio. And now, he kicked him out for being a nuisance.

Shang Ruohai was undeniably a complex character.

And then Shen Jingwei recalled something else.

"Don’t you want to discuss my recruitment with Yan Renzhong first?" He asked pointedly.

"Why should I?"

Shang Ruohai shrugged.

"Yan Renzhong is not my superior. Surely I do not need to consult him for everything."

"..."

Once his initial plan failed, Shen Jingwei had no reason to remain in the bar. However, just as he was about to step out, a young man blocked his path.

It was none other than Lang Yuxuan.

"Senior Shen," he greeted him sweetly. "I never knew you were a fan of jazz."

"Oh, but I am. In fact, you know nothing about me," Shen Jingwei responded smoothly. "Now if you will please step aside, I have an early shooting schedule tomorrow."

And yet, Lang Yuxuan refused to move.

"Senior Shen."

The younger man stepped closer to him.

"If you think that you can win Senior Yan’s heart by getting close to Senior Shang, you are sorely mistaken."

Aha.

Seeing such a lovestricken little bird, Shen Jingwei could not help but tease.

"I assume you failed the last time you tried. Thanks for the warning."

The resulting deep-seated scowl on Lang Yuxuan’s face right afterward was quite a sight to behold.