SABA Chapter 35

As soon as the shoot ended, Jiang Tiao eagerly took out his phone. He politely declined the dinner invitation from the senior guests, and as he walked out, he planned to call Zhuang Xiang to help him book the fastest flight to California.

However, before he could even make the call, the incoming call display with the words “Agent – Sister Jin” appeared on his phone screen.

At this moment, Jiang Tiao finally understood a little why Jiang Mingyan always had an expression like he had eaten something terrible whenever he saw a work call during meals.

Jiang Tiao hesitated for fifty-eight seconds between answering and not answering, and it wasn’t until the last second before the call was about to hang up that he painfully touched the green answer icon.

Nie Jin: “Didn’t you not go to the dinner party? Why are you answering the phone so slowly?”

“……” Jiang Tiao, “Do you have clairvoyance?”

He had only refused the dinner party three minutes ago.

Nie Jin was too lazy to bother with Jiang Tiao’s nonsense, “You performed well this time. The live broadcast video of you surfing was already trending before the company even bought it.”

“Is that so?” Jiang Tiao said with a “smiley face,” “If that’s the case, can I ask for a few days off?”

“Of course not!” Nie Jin refused decisively without a hint of hesitation, “I’m calling you this time to tell you that because you performed well, the fashion magazine that was originally arranging for you has finally agreed. They want you to shoot tomorrow.”

Jiang Tiao: “Tomorrow is Saturday, a legal holiday!”

“……”

Nie Jin was very glad that she wasn’t in front of Jiang Tiao right now, otherwise, the agent beating the artist would likely make tonight’s trending news.

She took a deep breath, recited the motivational quote Jiang Tiao gave her, “Don’t get angry,” and then said through gritted teeth, “Ar!tists! have! no! holidays!”

This was even more excessive than the indentured servitude contracts of ancient times!

“Even servants in feudal society had rest days. If you let me rest for a few days, you can arrange the rest of the time however you want.”

Nie Jin rolled her eyes, “You’ve only been working for a few days. Luo Xingwen didn’t rest for a single day for four whole years back then!”

Jiang Tiao: “…Don’t gaslight me, I won’t be CPU-ed.”

What was there to compare? Luo Xingwen joined Xingyi Media five years ago, which was about a year after his breakup with Chu Yunhao. Judging by his reaction when talking about past events today, he might have been using busyness to numb himself and heal his heartbreak.

And he hadn’t even dated anyone yet, so he didn’t need to numb himself with work.

“Tomorrow really won’t work, the earliest is the day after tomorrow.”

Nie Jin: “Give me a reason.”

Jiang Tiao: “I have someone I really want to see, and I want to go see him right now.”

Nie Jin: “Okay.”

Jiang Tiao did not expect Nie Jin to agree so readily, “Weren’t you not even committed to a specific time originally?”

So, she deliberately orchestrated this whole situation just to get his promise that “the rest of the time could be arranged by her”?

Nie Jin let out a laugh.

Jiang Tiao: “……”

So cunning and sly!

Nie Jin: “Speaking of which, I also have a dating reality show, ‘Meeting You.’ Their producer is looking for guests for the fifth season.”

Dating reality shows have always had a good market in China. ‘Meeting You’ had been popular for several seasons and consistently led the dating reality show category.

Jiang Tiao was very surprised, “You want me to participate in a dating reality show? I thought agents wouldn’t want artists to date.”

Nie Jin: “Not you, your friend, the one who was photographed with you at the airport last time.”

Huo Shen?

Jiang Tiao said without thinking, “No.”

Nie Jin found Jiang Tiao’s reaction strange. She was asking about his friend, so why was he saying no?

“This show is very popular, and many of the guests are ordinary people, of high quality and very outstanding. It’s the era of traffic economy now. How many entrepreneurs and second-generation rich people participate in variety shows to advertise their own companies? Do you know Ya Meng bedding? It was almost failing before, but their youngest son participated in the second season. Not only did he find a partner, but he also saved his family’s business, making Ya Meng a bestselling bedding brand. Look, it’s about to go public now.”

“You can ask your friend first.”

“And if your friend participates, I can help you get on as an observer. Then you can help him strategize, how interesting would that be.”

Jiang Tiao could feel Nie Jin’s strong persuasion and urgency through the phone.

Jiang Tiao felt a mix of amusement and exasperation, “He doesn’t need it. His company has been listed for a long time, and he doesn’t need to increase his visibility through variety shows.”

If the chairman of Shengyao Group participated in a dating reality show, it was unclear who would be advertising for whom. Jiang Tiao could already imagine the trending searches at that time.

Nie Jin was still persistent, “What if your friend wants to find a partner?”

Jiang Tiao’s face turned cold, and his smile almost disappeared.

The sudden silence on the other end of the line made Nie Jin suspicious. She tentatively asked, “What is your relationship with this friend?”

Jiang Tiao was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized, and quickly said, “Where are you getting that idea! He’s not just my friend, he’s my family. We grew up together since we were young. If he finds a partner, of course, I have to vet them for him.”

Participating in a dating reality show was either to increase visibility or for what? To break through social circles, each with their own goals. There was no pure emotion to be found. He would never let Huo Shen wade into this muddy water.

The more Jiang Tiao thought about it, the more he felt his reasoning was both correct and normal.

Nie Jin: “……”

Did she ask about these things?

He didn’t know if Jiang Tiao was saying this to her or to someone else.

“Okay, then forget it. The producer of this show is a good friend of mine. If you have any good-looking friends around, you can recommend them, male or female.”

“Got it, got it,” Jiang Tiao replied.

As soon as the call ended, the expression on Jiang Tiao’s face completely vanished. He had ample time for his schedule adjustment, and he should have immediately called to book the soonest ticket to California. However, his phone was lit up and then turned off several times, but the call was still not made.

For the first time, Jiang Tiao felt a hint of confusion. He didn’t even know why he was hesitating.

Ah, it’s all Nie Jin’s fault for bringing up dating reality shows out of nowhere. Isn’t it normal not to want your good friend to find an unsuitable partner? Her reaction made it seem like he had ulterior motives. Then wouldn’t his traveling thirty to forty hours just to see Huo Shen once also be strange?

Jiang Tiao was hesitating and confused until he stepped out of the filming base and saw Huo Shen standing beside the car that was picking him up, listening to Lin Shun and Zhuang Xiang report work to him.

As if sensing something, Huo Shen also looked up and saw Jiang Tiao the moment Jiang Tiao saw him. A smile instinctively appeared in Huo Shen’s eyes, like the warm spring sun shining into the forest, melting the ice and snow.

Jiang Tiao’s heart skipped a beat.

Waves crashed against the beach, and the silhouettes of modern buildings were vividly outlined by dreamlike lights.

Turning back suddenly, that person was there amidst the dim lights.

The confusion and hesitation from before completely disappeared. Jiang Tiao walked over quickly and gave Huo Shen a big hug with his arms open.

Huo Shen caught Jiang Tiao.

“Why are you back?” Jiang Tiao’s tone was full of surprise.

When he called last night, Huo Shen was still in California. There were no direct flights from California to City D, and the fastest one took over sixteen hours. Calculating it this way, Huo Shen must have decided to return immediately after hanging up the phone last night?

Huo Shen: “Didn’t you say you missed me?”

Jiang Tiao pushed him away and playfully punched him, “I did not miss you.”

Huo Shen’s eyes were filled with a smile, “Okay, it was me who missed you.”

Jiang Tiao felt his heartbeat inexplicably quicken. He subconsciously touched his ear. Strange, why was it so hot by the sea?

……

Zhuang Xiang’s pupils trembled, his mouth agape, his facial expression exactly like the “dumbfounded” emoji.

Has he gone mad, or has the world gone mad? Has excessive worry started to cause hallucinations?

“Mr. Lin,” Zhuang Xiang said, his resolve like Fan Yuqi preparing to commit suicide, “Can you pinch me hard?”

Never having encountered such a unique request, Lin Shun readily obliged.

“Ouch—woo—”

Zhuang Xiang let out a yell, and then Lin Shun immediately covered his mouth with a sharp glance.

Jiang Tiao and Huo Shen looked over with slight confusion. Lin Shun instantly reverted to his sharp and capable image of a workplace elite, “Chairman Huo, I will compile the rest of the matters and send them to you later.”

Zhuang Xiang was on the verge of tears. That pinch was too hard. He seriously suspected that he had offended Lin Shun at some unknown time.

“Oh my, Chairman Huo, you’re back in the country!”

As soon as Jiang Tiao and Huo Shen got into the car, they heard a fawning and greasy voice sound from not far away.

Fate brought them together unexpectedly. Xiong Qi did not expect to run into Huo Shen here. Before his nanny van had even fully stopped, Xiong Qi, with his beer belly, hurriedly jumped out. His enthusiastic ingratiation completely masked the jumping and cursing behind him.

“I tried to contact you several times before, but you weren’t in the country. Young Master Jiang really has influence; you came back as soon as there was anything.”

In full view of everyone, with Jiang Tiao present, Xiong Qi knew this was the best opportunity for negotiation. He saw the Bentley that hadn’t left yet and was overjoyed yet schadenfreude-filled. Look, they were probably arguing inside.

Huo Shen had arranged his work last night and then boarded the plane. After landing in City D, he learned about Xiong Qi’s message from Lin Shun.

Huo Shen’s driver had been with Huo Shen for many years and knew a little about the situation. He had been unhappy with Xiong Qi for a long time. Upon receiving a casual instruction from Huo Shen to drive, he steadily performed a drift in place, swerving past Xiong Qi and leaving a cloud of exhaust gas.

“Ah—”

The car body was less than a centimeter away from Xiong Qi, as if he had truly experienced a car accident. Xiong Qi was startled and fell to the ground with a scream. The buttons on his suit popped open due to his stomach, leaving him disheveled and utterly embarrassed.

Lin Shun looked concerned but didn’t even extend a hand to help, “Oh my, Mr. Xiong, are you alright? Chairman Huo is genuinely busy. Perhaps you should make an appointment next time. Look at you, rushing over without any warning, the driver didn’t even notice you.”

Lin Shun’s words were polite, but anyone could hear the obvious sarcasm within them. Xiong Qi’s legs felt weak and trembling. He tried to get up several times but failed, his face turning as red as a pig’s liver.

……