"King, can I rent my own apartment outside?" Chi Hui hesitated, his voice filled with uncertainty.
"Suit yourself. It's just a perk; I won't force you to take it," James replied nonchalantly. After that, he turned to Avril and headed home.
But Chi Hui was torn. He finally bit the bullet and decided to follow them. There was no escaping this reality; he'd have to face it sometime.
If the big boss really had ulterior motives, it would be wise to look before making any decisionsâwhether to resist or comply.
Upon reaching the ground floor, Chi Hui saw a burly man waiting for them in a Rolls-Royce. He began to believe James's previous claims.
Anyone who could afford such a car had to be significant.
He thought to himself that it was better to endure the situation for now.
Cautiously, he sat in the front seat and, after learning the driver's name was Bro Jay, he called out, "Hey!"
Jay Johnson glanced at him with an expressionless face. Despite his initial lack of enthusiasm, he forced a stiff smile.
That intimidating smile startled Chi Hui.
In a flash, he thought of unpleasant possibilities, and his expression soured.
Then the girl in the backseat said, "With your looks, you'd probably look pretty good in women's clothing."
Chi Hui spun around, waving his hands vigorously, "No, no, no! I absolutely won't wear women's clothes!"
Avril leaned back with an exaggerated sigh. "What a pity! If you embraced being a cross-dresser, you could have the best of both worlds!"
"There's no need for that; I still want to be a proper man," Chi Hui insisted seriously.
Hearing this made Jay Johnson warm up to him.
Although he was on the pretty side, at least he displayed a solid character.
Jay extended a hand and gave him a thumbs up in encouragement.
Staring at that enormous fist, Chi Hui gulped and nervously replied, "I could maybe wear women's clothes just once..."
Jay raised an eyebrow, puzzled, and glanced over at him.
Chi Hui quickly surrendered, saying, "Okay, whatever you want me to wear, I'll do it."
Sensing the situation was going awry, James hurriedly intervened, "Focus on your acting, and ignore what this girl is saying."
Avril retorted playfully, "I'm not being ridiculous; I'm offering him a less competitive path!"
James countered, "There's no need for those side paths. I can make him famous just fine."
Chi Hui's eyes glimmered with gratitude. "Thank you, King!"
James chuckled, "What's with the thanks? If you want to thank me, how about you join me for drinks tonight?"
"How much do I have to drink?" Chi Hui asked hesitantly.
James replied nonchalantly, "Drink as much as you can."
Only after a good drink could one truly see a person's character.
As Chi Hui stared out the window, lost in thought, he pondered where this journey would take him: would it lead to opportunity or disaster?
Deep down, he feared that if he really lifted the veil of wealth and grandeur he was diving into, it might not be who he truly was.
In fact, given the chance to sign a contract, it might be best to run while he still could.
The drive wasn't long.
Their vehicle moved smoothly, arriving at a lavish residential area.
Passing through rows of watchful security guards, the car descended into the underground parking lot.
Chi Hui was shocked to find that this expansive garage was decorated as beautifully as a luxurious apartment.
The floors were covered in polished granite; the walls were adorned with wood-patterned tiles, and the ceiling hung with lights that cast a warm glow, creating a feeling of lavishness.
He noticed that no car parked here was priced below eight hundred thousand.
The opulence of a wealthy person's garage was utterly mind-blowing.
"From this area to that, I bought more than forty parking spots, so if you need a car, you can park here," James said, patting Chi Hui on the shoulder as they exited the vehicle.
Chi Hui was stunned speechless.
Did wealthy people really buy parking spaces like this?
He was in disbelief when he realized James was asking him which floor he preferred to live on.
How many apartments does he even have?
"There are no units on floors one through four," James explained. "I'll send you the available apartments, and you can choose what you like."
James pulled out his phone and sent Chi Hui a floor plan that had been compiled into a single image, adding, "The properties are quite spacious, around three to four hundred square meters. Once our company grows, I'll arrange for other male actors to stay with you."
Chi Hui was left dumbfounded at the mention of three to four hundred square meter apartments.
Is this supposed to be employee accommodation?
He carefully selected a unit on the sixteenth floor.
After stepping out of the car, James instructed Alice Bentham to assist him with the key and fingerprint registration.
As Chi Hui opened the door, he was greeted by a vast, serene foyer, with panoramic windows allowing plentiful light into the luxurious décor and expensive furnishings.
He stood there, utterly enraptured.
This apartment was his ultimate life goal, and who would have thought he'd begin living in it so soon?
This was overwhelming.
Is this really going to be his home?
"How do you like it? Is it good?" James asked, smiling.
Chi Hui nodded, his mind swirling with disbelief, managing to utter one word, "Incredible!"
Just the accommodation was enough to put him far ahead of 99% of his acting peers.
He felt completely humbled, realizing how fortunate he was to have come to see this. Missing out on such a property would definitely haunt him.
"You should check to see if you need anything else for your living situation. You can head out to get supplies, but rest for a while. Tonight, let's grab some barbecue."
"Sure, thank you, boss!" Chi Hui bowed repeatedly.
James waved his hand, letting him explore while he took Avril back to his own apartment on the 18th floor.
Once inside, James took a seat on the couch and started typing a response to Amanda, who was asking if he was free tomorrow as Timmy missed him.
Tomorrow was Saturday, and James had initially planned to spend some time building rapport with Shirley Taylor.
However, since Timmy wanted to see him, it was only right to prioritize the little one.
"Uncle, are you tired? Avril can help you massage your shoulders!"
Avril was buzzing from her experience in the production, thrilled to be in a position of power, calling the shots on casting choices.
To ensure she could assert herself on set in the future, she felt she had to win favor with the top dog.
"I don't need that; just go back and rehearse your lines," James said dismissively.
Noticing his odd demeanor, Avril squatted in front of him, peering up to read his expression.
"Are you upset?"
"No," he replied curtly.
"You totally are!"
Avril interlocked her arms around his, feigning innocence. "Please don't be upset!"
She twisted and turned, but regardless of her playful pleas and gestures, he remained unmoved.
Feeling a little sense of crisis, Avril ventured, "Is it because I'm not behaving that you're upset?"
Although James genuinely liked her spunk, her complete disregard for boundaries made him a bit uneasy.
"Avril, I mentioned giving you your freedom. If someday you want to leave and pursue your happiness, please inform me in advance. I will support you."
Avril's eyes widened, shock filtering through her.
His calm demeanor concealed a trace of distant coldness.
James was serious about this.
In a flash, she felt panic rising within her, tears welling at the corners of her eyes as she stammered, "Uncle, did I do something wrong? Why bring this up?"
James gently ruffled her hair, murmuring, "Don't cry. I'm just being clear with you, and you haven't done anything wrong."
"Really? You're not planning on leaving me?"
"No, I won't leave you."
Avril brushed away her tears and threw herself into James's arms, muttering, "You scared me, Uncle. You're so annoying!"
His previous words had left her shaken to the core.
She had only just begun to feel a glimmer of hope, starting to trust him as a man.
To think he would mention leaving her behind sent her thoughts spiraling.
The notion of him departing meant returning to her old, lonely life.
She was sick and tired of her past, and she'd never want to relive those days again.