Chapter 396 – Black Company

After cooking in the kitchen for about 40 minutes, Su Qiao brought three plates of dishes and three steaming bowls of rice to the dining table. My appetite kicked in and I began eating the mushrooms with meat, fried eggs, and wood ear mushroom salad.

Mhhmm~~~ it’s not bad. It may not be as good as the class leader’s cooking, but it’s at the level of a small family run restaurant. It’s a complete loss for Xiao Qin who could only make half-finished products.

Su Qiao didn’t sit down to eat with me even after working. She got a wash basin from me and soaked the apron in detergent and planned to wash it cleanly after dinner.

“It was a huge help cooking for me. I can wash the apron myself.”

“Mr. Ye… ah, slip of the tongue. Xiao Ye, you were the one who gave me a big help.”

Su Qiao was pretty docile when eating. She would always wait for me to grab some food before grabbing the same dish, so our chopsticks wouldn’t cross.

She didn’t have a large appetite either as she finished eating when I was halfway through my second bowl of rice.

Then she proceeded to collect and wash the dishes. I could feel a warm feeling inside as I handed the last empty bowl to her.

Afterwards, she ignored me and sat down on a stool to wash the apron by hand. I urged her to use the washing machine, but she said there were too many oil stains and you could only get it out by hand, so I let her be.

After washing the apron and hanging it on the balcony to dry, she washed the grapes she brought and respectfully offered it to me.

I suddenly felt like I was the master of the house and Su Qiao was my maid.

“Su Qiao, feel free to tell me if there’s anything wrong.”

I brought up the idea of calling her sis Qiao, but she told me to never call her as sister because she wasn’t qualified. It could be because she feels guilty for planting drugs on me under Ai ShuQiao’s instructions.

I tossed a grape in my mouth. It was sweet and also seedless.

Su Qiao cautiously sat next to me, but didn’t touch the grapes.

“Xiao Ye, I kind of feel like Tian Mu Guang Limited Media company isn’t normal…”

“What do you mean?”

“They say they are a Taiwanese company, but only their legal representative is Taiwanese. And that person has never shown their face in front of any of their signed artists, the company decisions are currently all made by my manager. He seems experienced, but it doesn’t feel like he’s the boss…”

Of course he’s not the boss, Ai ShuQiao is the boss! Ai ShuQiao was right on how Su Qiao doesn’t know anything.

“What was your manager’s name? I think you said his surname was Fu?”

“Yeah, he’s thirty-six and his name is Fu ShiJian…”

Fu ShiJian… what a crap name, is he related to Fu ShiKang (Foxconn)? Foxconn treats their workers as slaves, so you treat your artists like slaves? I heard you got a bad reputation in Korea’s film industry. So, now you’re partnering with Ai ShuQiao to open a company under a Taiwanese person’s name, but you’re the policy maker?

From the last time you wanted to connect with me Su Qiao and tell me you would only give me good roles… you’ve wanted to harm me the whole time! And it was orders from Ai ShuQiao, different than Su Qiao who was being threatened! Good thing I knew it was too good to be true, so I didn’t meet with him.

“Is there anything else wrong with the company?” I asked.

Su Qiao moved her pigtail to the front of the body and began to stroke it.

“The company says they conduct a wide range of business, but their office and meeting rooms are the same building while their film and recording studio is being shared with another company in another building… Mr. Fu signed three other new talents other than me, but in a few days one of them was already sent to the hospital for alcohol poisoning. I heard even worse things happened when she was drunk…..”

So was she forced to drink and keep customers happy after signing the slave contract? Fu ShiJian doesn’t have any intention of any intention of protecting them and he probably made the situation worse. Did he get the girl drunk with the client intentionally, then bring her to a hotel to have a threesome?

As expected of one of Ai ShuQiao’s important subordinates. A vicious and terrible person. Even if I didn’t have any shares in the company, I would want to knock someone like that down and destroy their reputation.

“Did he force you to do something you don’t want to do?” I asked cautiously.

“No….” I’m guessing even with Ai ShuQiao’s orders against it, he still did some things like feel her butt.

“Then did he get you more work?”

Su Qiao’s face turned red.

“Mr. Fu…. he said even though I’ve acted in an American film, the film still hasn’t been released so I have no exposure. He wants me to start from small jobs… last weekend he told me to advertise for a newly opened electronics market. The main job was handing out fliers in my underwear…”

“Wouldn’t you get arrested wearing underwear in public?”

“Well, it’s actually a swimsuit, but it still reveals a lot of skin… so I refused and they had to find someone else.”

No wonder Eunuch Cao called me last Saturday and asked me to head to the downtown electronics market to check it out. He said I would regret it if I didn’t go, so it was because someone was handing out fliers in a bikini? And if Su Qiao didn’t refuse it would have been awkward when we bumped into each other.

But to be honest, I’ve already seen her naked upper body when she came to my hotel room that night, so a bikini is nothing.

“Mr. Fu was upset I refused the job. He heard I could cook so he got in touch with a TV station for a show called ‘Beautiful Chefs’ where I would wear a sexy bikini and compete with others to have our food judged…”

So he still wants you to reveal yourself in the end! What kind of TV show is this? Where’s the state to help and stop these kinds of shows from airing?

“I refused that job too and asked Mr. Fu if there were any jobs where I didn’t have to take off my clothes. He glared at me and said: Why did you join the entertainment industry if you’re not willing to take off clothes? Then he began treating me colder and didn’t get me any more jobs…”

“This Fu guy is a bastard.” I cursed, “But didn’t you have a full contract, doesn’t that mean you have a base wage even if you don’t get any jobs?”

“I… didn’t notice the contract stated all artists must listen to the company’s orders and go ut and drink twice a month. It would be a violation of contract if I didn’t and would only receive 30% of the base wage…”

Receiving 30% is still better than being gang raped while drunk. That’s why I said it was too good to be true.

Seeing her miserable expression, I couldn’t help but comfort her:

“Don’t worry.” I said, “Don’t you still have the role of the blood prince’s maid? The Americans are pretty generous when it comes to compensation…”

I never thought my words would cause her tears to fall.

“I… I can’t act anymore… tomorrow is my final scene. The director suddenly changed the script and killed off my character…”

“I have no idea what’s going on.” Su Qiao said while wiping her tears, “We’re only three quarters through the first season, but I suddenly received a message with the director’s final decision…”

It looks like Ai ShuQiao has a lot of influence on the director. Since he’s also an American, he must know of her close ties to organized crime.

“It was like a dream. It’s all ending tomorrow…”

Su Qiao stared blankly at the ceiling with tears in her eyes.

“What are your next steps?” I asked.

“I don’t know. First I have to find a cheaper place to rent…”

“Huh, are you already out of money? You should have received quite a bit of money from the role.”

Su Qiao replied crestfallen:

“I thought I would be able to act for a while, so I didn’t save a lot and bought a lot of clothes and makeup… I also sent my parents a couple thousand. Now my landlord is pressuring me to pay rent, but I already can’t pay the next two months rent…”

Side note: Since Dong Shan city’s film city was dubbed a tourist location, there are a lot of foreigners and the nearby rent prices are high, almost equivalent to downtown prices. The west district has much cheaper places for rent.

I pushed the plate of grapes in front of Su Qiao. She calmed down a bit after eating two grapes.

“I thought about it carefully, the only reason I’m in this state is because I indulged in pleasure… I reap what I sow, maybe it’s a punishment from god…”

Ai ShuQiao is the one punishing you. But you must understand one point, you received Ai ShuQiao’s help, but you haven’t achieved what she requested, so why would she continue to help with your dream of being a celebrity?

After finally finding someone to vent out her grievances, Su Qiao’s burden lessened and she got sleepier after a long period of sleep deficiency.

“I.. suddenly feel sleepy. Xiao Ye, sorry, can I borrow you bed for a nap?”

I personally experienced insomnia before. I wasn’t able to sleep for a whole week after the Little Tyrant took brother Optimus Prime, so I know insomnia is worse than missing a few meals.

Due to the large bed room and my dad’s room being filled with inappropriate objects, I let her rest in my room. She fell asleep the instant she hit the bed.

I gently closed the door and headed to my dad’s computer in his study. I posted the balloons as available for sale. And of course I used Shu Zhe’s flirty photos.

Not even 10 minutes later, I received a congratulatory message from Uncle Fireball. I’m not sure why this pervert has so much time on his hands.

“Good job owner, especially the product photo, it’s beautiful.”

He was especially generous with his praise.

“Her clothing, her eyes, her expression. She manages to make wearing clothes better than not wearing clothes and makes my heart tickle.”

Well, you weren’t the only one with a ticklish heart. Cilantro Buns negotiated about heading to a hotel with Southland Berries and raised his offer to ¥6000.

Uncle Fireball took the lead by placing an order for three balloons. The seven balloons Shu Zhe blew up were quickly sold out with Uncle Fireball’s help promoting it.

“Owner, I’ve been thinking the sales would explode if we receive a personally signed picture from Southland Berries after we buy a set amount of her merchandise.”

It sounds like it’s worth a try. Perverts must want to hold the picture in one hand while using her underwear to jack off.

“I actually have another great idea, but I can’t tell you right now. I have to make a decision after I get a taste of the balloon.”

Why put on airs when you’re only a huge pervert? So you are intending to breathe in the air Southland Berries blew out! What’s there to enjoy as it’s all useless CO2!

I packaged up the balloons for the deliveryman to pick up tomorrow. I checked my watch, it was 8pm and there were no signs of Su Qiao waking up. Should I let her have a good sleep?

At this time I received a call from Shu Zhe. To not disturb Su Qiao, I headed into the large bedroom and closed the door.

Shu Zhe sounded as if I did something wrong to him, his first sentence was:

“Bro Ye Lin, it’s all because of you, you have to pay me compensation for mental damages!”

“Tsk. Isn’t it just walking around in women’s clothing? What’s the big deal?”

“You’re asking me what’s the big deal… I… met a pervert…”

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