Mr. Zhou Doesn’t Want to Work Hard Anymore!

I don’t want to work hard anymore!

Two o’clock in the afternoon.

Backstage of the variety show 《I Am Acting School》

*the kind of elimination variety show im pretty sure

Tianwang Entertainment’s agent, Zhi Qi, hurried to the backstage lounge with a few medical staff, “Thank you, my artist just fell off the stage. Can you see if he needs to be sent to the hospital?”

The door of the lounge was pushed open, and a young man with light linen hair, looking around 20 years old, was sitting on the sofa, frowning and holding his forehead.

Zhi Qi walked over, asking with concern, “Chenxi, how do you feel?”

Zhou Chenxi looked up blankly and blinked.

——How did he survive?

Didn’t he step on the air just a second ago and fall to his death?

Zhou Chenxi began to recall what had just happened.

He had been walking on the road, when he suddenly stepped on an uncovered manhole, stumbled and fell unconscious.

After some time, his consciousness gradually returned, and then right before his eyes a book appeared.

The book was called 《Koi Conquers the Entertainment Circle》

Zhou Chenxi opened and read it, only to realize that the world he lived in was the book.

Just from the title of the book it’s easy to summarize that it tells the story of how the protagonist relies on his koi-luck* to conquer the entertainment industry.

*koi are thought to bring good luck, so this refers to the protag as being a lucky person.

Zhou Chenxi is unlucky, of course he was not the protagonist of the book.

The protagonist’s name is Luo Xinghe.

Compared with the protagonist who has the life of the chosen one, Zhou Chenxi has his exceedingly bad luck all the way to the end, just to bring out how awesome the protagonist is. Then, when the protagonist’s career is finally flourishing, Zhou Chenxi missed his footing on the side of the road and fell to death.

That’s not the end. Zhou Chenxi’s biological brother, Zhou Mingxuan, is the president of the Zhou Xin Group, their family business.

Because Zhou Chenxi’s parents did not support Zhou Chenxi’s wish to enter the entertainment industry, saying his work is the same as an opera singer*, Zhou Chenxi had a big fight and in order to prove his dreams he ran out. During that time, his brother had secretly been watching over him. After learning of his death, Zhou Mingxuan directly suspected that it was Luo Xinghe (who had never used any underhanded methods against Chenxi). He secretly investigated Luo Xinghe and went against him. Of course, those who opposed the protagonist had no good end.

*opera singer is derogatory here

In addition to his business line*, Luo Xinghe also has several long affection lines. The book 《Koi》 is based on a open-hearted character, so the affection line cannot be 1V1. One of Luo Xinghe’s lovers is Lu Ji, the president of the Lu Group. His strength was equal to that of Zhou Mingxuan. Before Luo Xinghe could speak, he took the initiative to help Luo Xinghe get rid of the Zhou family.

*lines as in palmistry

In this way, the Zhou family, as cannon fodders of the book 《Koi》 exited unwittingly.

When Zhou Chenxi was reading the book, he almost tore it up out of anger.

It turns out that all his life he had been working for the benefit of others, and all his efforts were just a stepping stone on Luo Xinghe’s road to success.

Zhou Chenxi couldn’t help but squeeze his fists, as he cried with emotion, “I don’t want to work hard anymore!”

Zhi Qi, who was communicating with the medical staff, heard his voice and turned around, cursing, “Zhou Chenxi, what the hell did you just say?! Do you know that this variety show is sponsored by the Lu Group? That even the big director in the circle Zheng Hua is paying attention to it? If you can get in the top ranking, you will have the opportunity to get a role in Director Zheng’s new film! Are you still afraid that you will not be popular?”

Zhou Chenxi knew that this opportunity was given to the protagonist in the end. Because of this exact incident, Zhou Chenxi had angrily sent a message on his Weibo (that no one followed) after the movie was released, complaining why he lost to the protagonist. It was because that Weibo post was later seen by Zhou Mingxuan thus leading Zhou Mingxuan to suspect that he was at odds with Luo Xinghe. Indirectly, he became the end of the Zhou family.

Zhou Chenxi will never be so brainless in this life. Now that he knows the protagonist can’t be provoked, can’t he just hide from him?

“I don’t want to participate in this show anymore,” Zhou Chenxi said, lying on the armrest of the sofa, as he held his head, “Anyway, I can’t beat Luo Xinghe. Brother Qi, I’m going to back out. I’ll draw an application for termination of the contract, together with the application for withdrawal of the program. Later they will be sent to your mailbox.”

Zhi Qi almost fainted from anger, “Are you withdrawing from the circle? Do you have the money to pay the fee? Are you leaving the circle?”

*if you’ve never read a danmei novel, entertainment circle refers to the community in the entertainment business 

Zhou Chenxi really has no money. In his previous life, he gave up inheriting his family property in order to pursue his dreams in the entertainment industry. Zhou’s father and mother told him not to come back if he dared to enter the entertainment industry. Zhou Chenxi was really angry and never went back again after running away from Zhou house. When he left, he was penniless and ate only instant noodles for a while. It was not until Zhi Qi noticed him that he was a little better after running around in the film and television industry.

However, compared to the Zhou family’s destruction, this lack of money is nothing. As long as he goes back to act like a baby with his brother, everything will be resolved. The problem is how to find a way to earn money and return it to his brother after.

Zhou Chenxi said seriously and earnestly, “Brother Qi, don’t be afraid, I can afford the money, you just need to cancel the contract for me.”

The medical staff who followed Zhi Qi looked at Zhi Qi in embarrassment, and then at Zhou Chenxi. They didn’t know if they should go up and help with the wound or not. They felt that the young man with blood on his forehead looked tall, thin and handsome, but his brain didn’t seem to work normally.

Zhi Qi sighed, “Then you go back and have a rest. You’ve worked hard these two days. Anyway, today’s recording just ended. I will pick you up for the next episode.”

Zhi Qi thought Zhou Chenxi was throwing a fit out of anger. After all, in his impression, Zhou Chenxi didn’t have much money. In order to support Zhou Chenxi, Zhi Qi loaned tens of thousands of yuan. Although Zhou Chenxi was very fast to return it, he still felt that Zhou Chenxi shouldn’t give up a job like this.

Zhou Chenxi didn’t know what Zhi Qi was thinking. After saying goodbye to Zhi Qi, he stopped a taxi at the exit and told the driver that he was going to the Zhou Family’s villa.

The radio on the car along the way was full of news that the rookie Luo Xinghe took on a new advertising endorsement.

The driver turned his head and chatted with Zhou Chenxi, “You look very young, are you the Zhou’s servant? Strange to say, I think Zhou Mingxuan and Lu Ji seem to be only a bit older than you. Even the Luo Xinghe mentioned in the news is about the same age as you. How can there be such a big gap between people ah?”

Zhou Chenxi: “…” Such good humor (not).

When he arrived at the villa, Zhou Chenxi got out of the car, and the security guard outside the Zhou’s house immediately greeted him.

“Little master?!”

When the security guard saw Zhou Chenxi, he almost cried, “What are you doing back here?! Come in quickly, the Master and his wife Madam Zhou have been talking about you for the past two days after watching your new program, they are hoping for when you will come back!”

Zhou Chenxi’s eyes were hot.

He knew that his elder brother was always thinking about him, but he didn’t know that his father and mother were also secretly caring about him. They had always been like this, sharp-tongued but soft-hearted. Zhou Chenxi should have understood it long ago. He didn’t know what he was thinking in his previous life. He ran out to act and cut off contact with the Zhou family. If he could see everything clearly before, the Zhou family’s tragedy might not have happened.

Zhou Chenxi rubbed his eyes and asked, “Have my father and my mother come back from abroad?”

The security guard replied, “No. they just came back two days ago and left again right after. You can ask the housekeeper to contact the Master and his wife so they can come back quickly. They have always missed you…”

Zhou Chenxi rushed to counter, “No, let them play, I’ll go in first.”

The security guard escorted Zhou Chenxi to the door. There the butler also greeted him and inquired about his well-being. Zhou Chenxi thought it was good to go home. The sourness in his nose would not stop.

As soon as the housekeeper saw the injury on Zhou Chenxi’s forehead, he immediately found the medicine box to help him bandage the wound. At the same time Zhou Mingxuan happened to come back from the company. He was a little surprised when he saw Zhou Chenxi and his forehead injury, “Who bullied you, is it that Luo Xinghe?”

Zhou Mingxuan knows Luo Xinghe already?

Zhou Chenxi quickly refuted, “No one bullied me, I fell off the stage myself.”

Straightening up his face, Zhou Mingxuan was secretly relieved, “You know you are back now? Did you run out of money outside? I’m just saying, what were you trying to do running out when everything is fine?”

Zhou Chenxi: “…..” It wasn’t that bad.

Zhou Chenxi was thinking about how to explain, and suddenly heard Zhou Mingxuan’s stiff voice, “Forget it, go up and rest first. Look at your dark circles, they are almost hanging below your chin.”

“……”

Zhou Chenxi touched his eyes, sure enough his intention was that of a caring brother.

He went upstairs to look in the mirror, but was really thinking how his brother knew that he and Luo Xinghe disliked each other?

Sure enough, his brother has been watching him secretly huh?

But now he didn’t post on Weibo, nor has he shown that he hates Luo Xinghe, so how?

After sleeping at home for a few days, his agent Zhi Qi urged Zhou Chenxi to work again. He had been waiting for Zhou Chenxi to contact him, after all, there are things that can’t wait: “Zhou Chenxi, when will you return to the company? The next recording of 《I Am Acting School》 will begin soon.”

“Didn’t I say I’m not going anymore? Zhou Chenxi yawned and turned around, “I have sent you the application for withdrawal from the show. I will try to send you the money after the show staff approves it.”

“Are you joking ba?” Zhi Qi asked, “You finally made it to the final. Isn’t it a pity to give up like this?”

“I don’t feel pitiful at all,” Zhou Chenxi said sternly, “It’s a pity not to give up. Look at all the outstanding people on this show, if you pick anyone they’re better than me, why would I want to butt in?”

“Who?” Zhi Qi spoke angrily, “Who is better than you? Come out and tell me!”

Zhi Qi had a lap in his mind, and suddenly felt that Zhou Chenxi’s words were reasonable. Those who did make it to the finals were better than Zhou Chenxi. Zhi Qi was speechless for a while and said, “You think about it again before you retire. I have already suppressed the application for you, don’t even think about canceling the contract. There are still a few days left, and you can prepare again, maybe there will be a turnaround.”

There will be no turning point, Zhou Chenxi thought, he turned over all his life, isn’t he still a salted fish? In that case it’d be better to be well-behaved and just lie on his stomach, maybe then a salted fish can change it’s destiny?