Pei Rong enthusiastically filmed for three days, and now he was waiting for the rural scenery to change with the season before filming the next plot.
With a week to half a month of vacation, he planned to visit Aunt Zhao in Country M.
While purchasing the plane ticket, Pei Rong paused for ten minutes in contemplation.
The seventh day was tomorrow, checking on Lu Qin’s recent situation... Well, Pei Rong decided to postpone the flight by one day.
After finishing work, he needed a day of rest.
Just a second before confirming the order, Pei Rong postponed it for another two days.
One day of rest might not be enough.
Since he had plenty of vacation days, why not postpone it for five more days? According to his previous experience, it took at least four days to fully recover.
Preparing for the worst, Pei Rong made adjustments. However, Lu Qin, contrary to his usual behavior, discussed work matters with Pei Rong in the evening.
“In June, I’ll be on a business trip to North America for ten days. During the trip, I’ll be working from S City using the company’s internal network, so I won’t be able to accompany you for the scenes you’ll be shooting on your vacation. How about I have Secretary Gao bring in a Northeastern cuisine chef?”
Pei Rong wasn’t surprised that Lu Qin had to leave. Honestly, it’s unusual for a big CEO to stay in the countryside for so long. He listened quietly and didn’t mention his own upcoming trip to North America, saying, “Secretary Gao is not of much use to me. Let him return to his normal duties.”
Especially since he’s planning to leave the entertainment industry, having Secretary Gao stuck with a project without a future would be a dark mark on his resume.
Lu Qin was displeased that Pei Rong spoke to Secretary Gao without much regard, especially considering that his salary hadn’t been reduced. He retorted, “So, am I not of much use here?”
Speaking of which, Pei Rong had never urged him to leave, watching him work in the countryside like he was avoiding debt.
He didn’t care.
Pei Rong cared more about Secretary Gao.
Subconsciously, Lu Qin thought about finding a new position for Secretary Gao to serve.
Pei Rong didn’t bother persuading him; he knew Lu Qin wouldn’t leave, so why waste words?
Smirking, he said, “Honestly, is your purpose for staying here the same as Secretary Gao’s?”
Weren’t you here just to take advantage of the situation?
Lu Qin’s breathing instantly became heavier, and he said seriously, “Secretary Gao has recently read several scripts, big productions, offering you the lead role. You can interview with the director for supporting roles and have veto power.”
He didn’t know how many people in the entertainment industry have someone like Jiang Tian, but Pei Rong certainly knew. It would be best if everyone on the film crew was to his liking, making filming an enjoyable experience.
Pei Rong casually said, “I’ve been feeling very tired lately and want to take a break before considering taking on any new projects.”
After saying this, he noticed the suspicion in Lu Qin’s eyes, so he calmly added with a hint of biting anticipation, “But if Mr. Lu improves his self-control a bit more and quits ahead of time, I’ll be more focused on filming.”
Lu Qin thought to himself that it might be better for Pei Rong to film less.
Tonight was once every seven days, not once every two days, and certainly not seven times in one day.
Lu Qin was reluctant to easily use his permissions in this run-down place. He wanted to find a comfortable place where no one would shout, “Actor Pei, the director wants to reshoot a scene,” and where the poor soundproofing wouldn’t let the barking of dogs outside the courtyard disturb them.
Even though he was holding it in, Lu Qin resisted the urge and suggested, “How about I take you to the sea tomorrow, to a private island for a vacation?”
Pei Rong was cautious, “This private island of yours... Is there anyone else besides us?”
He couldn’t help but speculate whether Lu Qin was planning to retaliate with his methods of quitting.
Lu Qin replied, “...There’s a chef.”
Pei Rong asked, “Is this chef coincidentally surnamed Lu and 1.88 meters tall?”
Lu Qin found it incredible. Even though he indeed wanted to keep it private between the two of them, how could Pei Rong boldly assume he’d be cooking?
Had he become like this?
Lu Qin said word by word, “I won’t cook a meal on the island.”
Before Pei Rong could say anything else, Lu Qin continued, “The scenery on the island is excellent in May. I plan to stay for a few more days, invited some friends to join us. Don’t worry, I won’t throw you into the sea.”
To increase credibility, Lu Qin asked if Pei Rong had any friends to bring.
Considering leaving the entertainment circle, Pei Rong nodded vaguely. In reality, he had acquaintances, but couldn’t truly call them friends. With his good looks, everyone seemed to be thinking he was trying to steal their fans, so who would want to stand by his side?
When Pei Rong said he didn’t have any friends, Lu Qin snorted, as if dissatisfied with his perfunctory response.
The next day, they flew to a coastal city, where a luxury yacht was already docked. Pei Rong followed Lu Qin onto the ship and met the so-called friends, all young talents in the business world. Most of their names Pei Rong had seen from afar at various parties.
Lu Qin said, “This is Yuan Hu, his wife Fan Sha. Over there, preparing for sea fishing, are Zhi Shi and his boyfriend Qiao Shu.”
Introducing his friends to Pei Rong, Lu Qin added, “And this is Pei Rong.”
No prefixes were attached.
Pei Rong, wearing sunglasses that covered his always enchanting peach blossom eyes, accentuated his fair and sharp chin, giving him a somewhat aloof appearance.
Pei Rong smiled after Lu Qin introduced himself, casually greeting others with ease.
Despite the small number of people, it was considered a small-scale and lengthy private dinner party.
Pei Rong pushed his sunglasses up and muttered, “Lu Qin got a good deal. In the past, even when Zhou Hang begged left and right, he wouldn’t attend such private gatherings. The fewer people, the more tiring it is because you can’t use the same set of smiles from a distance.”
Lu Qin gave too much money, so much that it was overwhelming. Pei Rong showed his ‘business smile’, determined not to let Lu Qin lose face in front of friends.
After exchanging greetings, Lu Qin led Pei Rong to the warehouse for a stroll.
The island was usually uninhabited, lacking in supplies. The cargo hold carried about twenty people, including staff, and their living supplies.
As far as the eye could see, there were abundant alcoholic beverages, fresh baked goods...
“Is there anything else you want to eat? You can still buy it now,” Lu Qin asked.
Pei Rong: “It’s enough. Can’t finish it.”
Lu Qin took out his phone and glanced at it. “Yuan Hu is urging to play mahjong. Are you in or not? If you lose, it’s on me.”
Pei Rong: “You play by yourself. I’m going to sunbathe.”
Two loungers were set up on the deck, and the newly acquainted Qiao Shu already occupied one of them.
Pei Rong silently lay on the other rattan lounger, pulled the sunshade forward a bit, letting the gentle May sea breeze blow on his face, increasingly resembling a lazy salted fish.
Time passed in tranquility, and the cruise ship’s horn gradually moved away from the shore.
Pei Rong turned over.
With a large cruise ship encountering calm and steady weather on the sea, it sailed smoothly, hardly swaying.
Pei Rong turned over again.
Seeing this, Qiao Shu thought he was bored and said, “Lu Qin’s room is in room 06 on the first floor.”
“Thanks.”
Pei Rong nodded and climbed down, taking three quick steps to reach his room.
He closed all the windows of the sea-view room, isolating the swaying sea horizon and the dazzling waves. Pei Rong leaned on the sink, dry-heaved a few times, but nothing came out. Still, his stomach felt much better.
He took off his shoes, got on the bed, covered his face with the blanket, and convinced himself that he was a salted fish swaying in the wind.
Very comfortable, with nothing left to vomit.
Yes, that’s it.
Pei Rong closed his eyes and soon lulled himself to sleep. As for “performing well,” he had long forgotten about it.
Lu Qin played two rounds in the mahjong room. Seeing Yuan Hu reaching for the lighter, he reminded, “Smoke outside.”
Don’t let the smell of smoke cling to his clothes.
Yuan Hu had no choice but to hold the cigarette butt and complained, “How come you didn’t have this annoying habit before?”
Zhi Shi chuckled lightly and played a “Nine Bamboo,” analyzing, “Certainly being supervised.”
Lu Qin remained expressionless. “Kong.”
Zhi Shi: “Tsk.”
Yuan Hu proudly said, “My wife doesn’t bother me about smoking. Who cares if a man smokes one or two outside? As long as I don’t bring the scent of perfume, my wife won’t scold me.”
“Speaking of which, your...” Yuan Hu omitted a title here, “is quite generous. Following President Lu, the perspective is different. Two hundred million directly donated to the official channels of K City. Tsk, unlike those small entertainment stars I know, they have to donate money through acquaintances’ private charitable foundations, full of tricks.”
When it was Lu Qin’s turn to draw a tile, he rubbed the uneven surface with his thumb, recalling Pei Rong always saying his fingers were too rough. He furrowed his brows and seriously felt it.
Lu Qin: “He indeed doesn’t care much about money.”
