A capable, middle-aged lady, who seemed to be the actorâs agent, was sitting next to him. She looked stern in her glasses but was polite enough to acknowledge the actress with a smile.
âBoss Qin, can I exchange seats with you? I wanna sit next to Shishi.â
The manager rejected his plea mercilessly. âNo way. I have to look after her if she gets motion sickness.â
âLemme take care of her, then! Iâll look after her! Iâm very good with that. You can leave her to me.â
The other man merely snorted with a glare. âNo way! I donât trust you.â
The young chap clasped his palms together in a prayer-like posture and drew close to the manager with a sincere smile, seemingly begging for a chance to prove himself.
At one side, the actorâs agent admonished him gently. âHey, youâd better be on your best behavior and stay in your seat.â She then lowered her volume abruptly with a warning next. âMissy wonât be happy if she finds out about you sitting with another woman.â
âDonât worry; I know how to pacify her.â
After saying that, he stood up, plastered himself on Qin Zhou, and pleaded incessantly.
The manager could not shake him off and gave up his seat finally.
Once the chap sat next to the actress, he could not stop talking.
âShishi, we must be fated to share the same flight! I thought Iâd be bored sitting by myself on the plane.â
âEh.â
âWho is walking the red carpet with you?â
âQin Zhou.â
âOh, why him? How about walking the red carpet with me? Iâm alone, anyway.â
âNo, thanks.â
âHey... Why not?â
Her manager sneered at one side. âPlease donât assume that I canât hear you. I know youâre trying to undercut me right now.â
Hua Jin stuck his tongue out cheekily and then strutted his stuff before the former. âAs an A-lister for period dramas, I have a substantive fanbase. Besides, Iâll complement her nicely with my pretty face. Weâll be a beautiful and compatible couple on the red carpet. Weâll certainly steal the limelight tonight! Shishi, walk the red carpet with me, please? Youâll be able to win over many more fans!â
Qin Zhou could not help taking a dig at the young actor. âYou mean winning over the anti-fans, right?â
âNonsense! Iâll destroy anyone who dares to smear her reputation!â
The other man continued to flip his papers as he sniggered. âWell, this is a good attitude.â
The idol continued impatiently. âRegardless of anything, sheâll walk the red carpet with me. Iâm a better option with our youth compared to a middle-aged uncle like you, after all. Youâre overripe for her and totally incompatible!â
The older manâs hands stiffened with the newspapers in them; angry veins popped on his temples.
The remark about his age hit his sore spot.
Narrowing his eyes dangerously, he shot daggers at Hua Jin. ââMiddle-aged uncleâ?â
âThatâs right. Youâre approaching your thirties, arenât you? Is that not old?â
The manager wanted to strangle the fellow there and then.
âShut up!â
âCâmon. All men are the same. The older they are, the less they admit to it.â
By now, Qin Zhou was gnashing his teeth at the other party, stabbing him many times over in his imagination.
He dared to call me an old man right in my face?!
The actress suddenly commented with a smile, âThanks, but no thanks. I prefer to walk the red carpet with that old man.â
âWhy?!â The young chap looked hurt.
Her manager intercepted with a vicious retort. âYou donât understand her at all! Compared to fresh meat, she prefers a mature and good-looking uncle.â
âWoo...â
Vexed, Hua Jin crossed his fingers and did not show any intention of backing down.
He really wanted to walk the red carpet with Yun Shishi.