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

Chapter 37

Zhou Chenxi casually made up an explanation, saying that they were just joking around and yelling while playing games. His older brother had his doubts, but Zhou Chenxi didn’t care about that much.

He hung up the phone, then called Zhi Qi again.

Zhi Qi was just as clueless as him about Luo Ji Tian’s team preparing to recruit actors for the drama. After hearing it, he said in surprise, “Really? Wait a moment, let me inquire about it.”

Who knows how many calls Zhi Qi made, after half an hour he finally got back to Zhou Chenxi, “Someone in the industry told me that there seems to be something like this, but it seems like Director Luo doesn’t plan to hold open auditions. Do you want to try?”

“Who wouldn’t want to audition for Director Luo’s drama?!” Zhou Chenxi exclaimed excitedly.

After all, Luo was the director he admired the most in the industry.

“Alright then, let me ask around a bit more,” Zhi Qi said, “By the way, where did you hear this news from? You’re quite well-informed.”

“My brother heard it while chatting with someone,” Zhou Chenxi replied.

Zhi Qi: “?” How impressive is your brother?

“See,” Zhi Qi continued, “I’ve been around the industry for a few years, and I still have some connections. But I can’t guarantee that I can get in touch with Luo’s team. Give me a bit more time and wait for my update.”

Zhou Chenxi gave him a thumbs up and said, “Let’s make sure to sign the contract once everything is settled. We shouldn’t leave any loopholes for others to take advantage of.”

Zhi Qi was also frustrated. Originally, he had already discussed things with the “Dream Destiny” team. Who would have thought that unexpected changes could still occur?

Unless the person competing for resources had a very powerful backing.

Zhi Qi shared this concern with Zhou Chenxi and said he would inquire about Luo xinghe’s current situation.

Zhou Chenxi warned him to be cautious.

According to Lu Ji’s explanation in the entire story, his strongest opponent was Luo xingzhou.

After reading the entire book, Zhou Chenxi agreed with this assessment.

Luoxingzhou was practically the source of all of Luoxinghe’s confidence.

He paved the way for Luoxinghe’s entry into the Emperor’s Heaven, he “saved” him under the guise of righteousness, and later willingly took the risk to eliminate supporting roles like Zhou Chenxi, who were like “unlucky roadblocks,” all of which were accepted by Luo xingzhou, nurturing them like raising venomous creatures.

Lu Ji said that in his previous life, he had tried to overthrow Luo Xingzhou but failed. This time, when he encountered Zhou Chenxi, he wasn’t sure if it was Zhou Chenxi’s rebirth that brought him luck or if the fate of Luo Xinghe and Luo Xinghe’s brother had already been sealed.

In any case, Lu Ji succeeded in catching Luo Xingzhuo off guard before he matured, which should have eliminated a significant threat. But what methods could Luo Xinghe still have to start anew?

On the other side of the city, inside a high-end entertainment club, Luo Xinghe was sitting on a dimly lit couch, holding a glass of wine with a smile.

“Here, have a drink!” A young man next to him poured wine into Luo Xinghe’s glass and laughed, “Don’t worry, I’ve taken care of ‘Dream Destiny.’ There’s even a director who owes me a favor. If you need anything, just let me know. After all, ‘Dream Destiny’ is an investment project by my cousin’s company. There’s no way it can proceed without my say.”

The young man was wearing high-top boots and ripped jeans, and his hair was dyed in various colors, making him look like a parrot.

Luo Xinghe gave a show of gratitude, downed the wine in his glass, and his small mole near his eye flashed as he moved, saying, “I heard you grew up in your brother’s shadow. Everything in your family is compared to him, and you can never measure up. That must make you unhappy.”

The young man’s forehead twitched.

“Why are you bringing this up?” he retorted, slightly uncomfortable. “That guy just got lucky, always acting high and mighty without getting tired. Even my dad said Lu Enterprises is under his ‘temporary management.’ The day will come when Lu Enterprises’ authority will return to our hands. At that time, I’ll be the young master of Lu Enterprises. Lu Ji is nothing, just him and his useless mother. I’ll make sure to kick him off that position.”

This young man is utterly clueless and ignorant, constantly mentioning “my dad, my mom,” as if an unweaned child. Lu Xinghe wasn’t initially inclined to indulge in conversation with someone like this, but he had no choice. He lowered his gaze, suppressing the traces of disdain in his expression, and lifted his glass to clink with the young man’s: “Here, let’s have another drink.”

The young man leaned in and said with a grin, “How about we do a ‘cup of friendship’ together?”

A crack appeared in Lu Xinghe’s poised demeanor. “Young Master Lu, what do you think I am to you?”

His tone was calm.

Lu Mingshen quickly raised both hands and stepped back, saying, “I won’t touch you.”

What do you think I am?

Lu Mingshen sneered inwardly.

We’re both centuries-old foxes, so why are we playing at being storytellers?

He came here looking for me, saying he wanted to secure the resources for “Dream Destiny.” If I really helped him, he wouldn’t even give me a little finger touch. Does he really think I’m nobody?

If it weren’t for the fact that his face was somewhat decent, wouldn’t it be more satisfying to go find some young models who are more open in the circle?

Both of them harbored ulterior motives but maintained a calm exterior. They laughed and teased each other while listening to the group of friends that Lu Mingshen had brought along, both men and women, wailing and howling like ghosts.

It wasn’t until the late hours of the night that Lu Xinghe emerged from the extravagant club, making a call to his agent.

“Hello?” His agent’s voice sounded groggy, clearly still half-asleep.

“What are you doing?” Lu Xinghe’s attitude was less than pleasant. “Didn’t I ask you to pick me up in the middle of the night? Yet at this hour, you’re actually sleeping at home, leaving me freezing by the roadside?”

The agent glanced at the alarm clock by his bedside. It was after two in the morning.

The agent retorted impatiently, “How was I supposed to know when you’d finish? Did you expect me to wait for you endlessly outside? Don’t you have an assistant? The one the company assigned to you. Why bother me for this?”

“I don’t care,” Lu Xinghe said casually. “Get in the car and pick me up immediately.”

The agent grumbled as he got out of bed and started getting dressed.

“Let me tell you,” Lu Xinghe sneered coldly, “When I make a comeback and become popular again, you’ll understand my value. Don’t regret it later. Those who don’t take me seriously now, let’s wait and see.”

The agent knew that Lu Xinghe did indeed have some talent and surprisingly good luck, even to the point of having a touch of wickedness.

Most importantly, he was ambitious.

If it weren’t for the incident involving Lu Ji, the company had been heavily investing in him.

But recently, the agent was finding it a bit hard to deal with Lu Xinghe.

Having the illness without the fortune.

Enduring a little longer wouldn’t hurt, the agent consoled himself. Maybe the guy really had that kind of luck?

He didn’t mind taking another gamble.

Standing on an empty street, Lu Xinghe opened his phone and saw keywords related to him on the trending list. He thought, just wait, all of you. One day, I’ll take back what I’ve lost.

The next day.

Zhou Chenxi sat at home waiting for Zhi Qi’s message, but the more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt.

If Lu Xinghe made a comeback, who else could help him but Lu Xinghe?

His harem?

Zhou Chenxi knew that Ren Qian wouldn’t be the type to confuse facts and appearances; he had gotten to know him during this time of interaction. So, he could rule him out.

Lu Ji had already deviated from the original storyline and didn’t even know if he was still the same “Lu Ji” from the original story. So, who else could it be?

Maybe he could talk to Lu Ji.

The secret of his rebirth was something only Lu Ji could share with him now.

With this thought in mind, Zhou Chenxi left his house, asked Lu Ji when he would be available today, and after receiving a reply, he put on a mask and a hat, fully prepared, and went to wait for him downstairs at his company.

Lu Ji happened to be free today and had intentionally ended a meeting a few minutes early. He had just come down from the company when he saw Zhou Chenxi already waiting on the roadside.

“Chenxi?” Lu Ji casually had his hands in his pockets as he approached. “Have you been waiting long?”

“No, I just got here.”

Actually, Zhou Chenxi had been sitting by the flowerbed swinging his legs in boredom.

Jumping down from the tall flowerbed, Zhou Chenxi looked at Lu Ji.

It was already autumn, and Lu Ji was wearing a dark windbreaker, which accentuated his perfect proportions. Zhou Chenxi tugged at his hoodie with a little bear logo printed on it, suddenly feeling like he looked like a child.

“Um…” Zhou Chenxi lowered his mask. “Should we chat at your company? Or find a nearby café?”

As soon as he said that, he realized that going to Lu Ji’s company might not be a good idea. Most of the time, Lu Ji was his wealthy sponsor father. With their recent hot CP (couple) status, even Lu Ji’s mother suspected that Lu Ji was secretly keeping a young star in the entertainment industry. If there were any misunderstandings among his company employees, it wouldn’t be good for Lu Ji’s reputation.

“Let’s go to a café instead,” Zhou Chenxi quickly changed his words. “Remember the cream cheesecake you had last time? You thought the taste was good, right?”

Zhou Chenxi flipped his phone while speaking: “I recently discovered an amazing dessert shop! But don’t worry, that shop specializes in coffee! And they’ve just introduced a new strawberry jelly mousse, I heard it has a very creamy texture and a unique taste. It’s nearby, I’ll take you to try it!”

However, Lu Ji didn’t actually like desserts, but after the strawberry jelly advertisement last time, Zhou Chenxi seemed to have misunderstood something.

But Lu Ji wasn’t planning to reveal that.

Zhou Chenxi even thought he had uncovered Lu Ji’s hidden secret.

The esteemed CEO, usually in order to maintain his authority in the company, suppressed his preferences and only drank the bitterest coffee and ate the healthiest meals!

He claimed he didn’t like sweets, but secretly loved strawberry cakes!

How could that be!

In life, one shouldn’t hesitate to enjoy their favorite delicacies; it’s no different from a salted fish!

A fish that aspired to be a salted fish decided to guard Lu Ji’s dietary preferences and his little secrets from now on.

After finding the address, the two of them drove to the dessert shop.

The shop was located in the high-end commercial district in the city center.

Lu Corporation’s office was in this nearby business area, so it was close, and one could easily deduce that this dessert shop wasn’t for the average working class.

Led in by the waiter, Lu Ji quickly evaluated the place with his business perspective. He confirmed that this shop was definitely not within the reach of ordinary consumers.

The waiter led them to a window seat, and the service charge here was much higher than in other areas.

Moreover, the view was excellent, offering a sight of H City’s most famous building, the “Aurora Tower,” and the mother river. Lu Ji had attended a bidding session along the riverbank before and witnessed a piece of land being sold for a record-breaking price.

Undoubtedly, in this business district, anything one did would be associated with the term “burning money.”

CEO Lu Ji lowered his gaze to the menu in his hand.

Very expensive.

Lu Ji frowned.

In his three lifetimes, he probably never anticipated that one day he would furrow his brow over the prices on a dessert shop’s menu.

“I’ll pay for today,” Lu Ji closed the menu and casually said to Zhou Chenxi, trying not to hurt his pride, “Order whatever you want.”

“It’s okay!” Zhou Chenxi patted his chest and said, “I have money, I’ll treat you, so just enjoy the food!”

Lu Ji looked at him and calmly said, “I know you’ve been doing well lately. You received the fee for ‘Carp,’ the remuneration for ‘Journey of the Immortals,’ and a good endorsement fee for the jelly advertisement. But have you been saving money during these years you’ve been in the industry?”

That hit a nerve.

Zhou Chenxi felt a pang in his chest. “N-no, not really…” His voice gradually trailed off.

As soon as he received the endorsement fee for the jelly advertisement, Zhou Chenxi eagerly bought gifts for his brother. He got him a set of suits worth tens of thousands, a watch, and even chose several luxury items for his parents, all of which were packaged and sent to them overseas.

Even Zhi Qi received a lady’s handbag that Zhou Chenxi bought for him.

Zhi Qi was so happy that he almost cried. He immediately gave the bag to his girlfriend, saying that he had been working for so many years and had never given his girlfriend such a decent gift. His girlfriend was so delighted that she acted as if she had won a lottery, she jumped up and kissed him. Finally, he felt relieved and promised to repay Zhou Chenxi by being at his beck and call.

For Zhou Chenxi, it wasn’t for anything else; he just liked to see the happy expressions when they received gifts. He considered it a small token of appreciation for their care, which seemed insignificant compared to how much they had taken care of him.

However, on second thought, he seemed to have forgotten to buy a gift for Lu Ji.

What should he give Lu Ji?

The gift for Lu Ji had to be the best.

Lu Ji said, “You’re not a kid anymore. When you earn money, you don’t have to think about how to spend it right away. Save some money, or let a professional help you manage your finances. This way, you can avoid unnecessary risks.”

Financial management?

Zhou Chenxi’s expression gradually became serious.

Lu Ji was right.

His brother had a dedicated financial advisor; maybe he could ask him.

But going to his brother all confidently with the money he earned and asking for financial advice might end up with his brother making fun of him and asking if he had run out of money again recently, while also conveniently transferring a huge sum into his account?

No, he couldn’t accept money from his brother.

Did Lu Ji think he didn’t earn much and felt embarrassed to stand beside him?

Lost in thought, he heard Lu Ji say, “So, save some money for yourself and don’t spend it all in a rush. Today, let me treat you.”

“Alright… sure,” Zhou Chenxi replied, somewhat absent mindedly.

Subsequently, he thought gloomily, did Lu Ji really think this way?

It seemed like he needed to work harder to earn money in the future.

So, what kind of gift should he give Lu Ji to express his gratitude? It couldn’t be too expensive; suddenly, he found himself in a bit of a predicament.

Would Lu Ji think he was being wasteful?

Meanwhile, Lu Ji was thinking that Zhou Chenxi probably came from an ordinary family.

When they first met, Zhou Chenxi dressed very plainly, wearing cheap flip-flops while eating affordable street food outside a mall.

Zhou Chenxi had also mentioned the time he was an extra on a TV show and drooled over an egg pancake.

Although Lu’s family had already been taken over by him, there were still people who were restless and unsettled in the background. It wasn’t entirely peaceful.

If Zhou Chenxi were willing to be with him in the future.

If he were willing.

Lu Ji thought that he would have to find a way to clear the obstacles for him first.

He would have to teach him how to protect himself.

Teach him to protect himself, and even more so, shield him from the harsh realities.

Only by considering all aspects, could he be eligible to stand by his side.

—–

Author’s note: Chenxi: To marry Lu Ji, I should start saving money.

Lu Ji: It’s time to prepare the dowry for Chenxi.

Thanks to “Chang’an Falling Flowers,” “Saltiness All Around,” “Mysterious Bystander,” “Four-Leaf Clover,” “Yi Little Yan,” “Oh Teasing,” “Leaving Ancient Maple,” “Talking Nonsense,” “Little Leaf,” “Ripple Mulberry,” and “Ten Thousand Merits” for the nutrients!

1 TL: YSIAD “You can support me if you like my translations by leaving a comment below, or by sending me a Ko-fi. Thank you ”