Chapter 21: Old Hu is Used for Betrayal

“Junior, don’t worry, I’ll definitely share everything with you without holding back.”

Jiang Jinfu remained silent.

“The experience on set is completely different from school. When the time comes, I’ll explain it all properly to you.”

You’d better not say anything at all, Jiang Jinfu thought to himself.

“Junior, we’re practically master and apprentice now. If there’s ever a chance to be on a variety show in the future, we could even talk about this as part of our story.”

“If you end up doing better than me someday, I can even ride your coattails and say how proud I am that my student has graduated,” Zhang Yang continued.

I’d rather die outside than take an apprenticeship, Jiang Jinfu thought.

“A true brother will stand by you through thick and thin. Once we’re on set, I’ve got your back.”

I’d rather stab you twice, Jiang Jinfu retorted silently.

“Sister Po Shi is too busy, so Nazha will have to learn from Old Hu instead. Don’t let him outdo you then; I want to beat Old Hu at least once when it comes to teaching.”

“No way! You’ll lose for sure!” Jiang Jinfu countered.

Amidst Zhang Yang’s continuous boasting and assurances, Jiang Jinfu reluctantly returned to their dormitory room with him.

If not for the genuine sincerity in Zhang Yang’s words, expression, and tone—showing he wasn’t intentionally flaunting or trying to manipulate others’ feelings—Jiang Jinfu might have lost his temper and resorted to violence.

As it was, he still found himself brimming with frustration.

How could he possibly “take a master” after losing to Zhang Yang? He had to find a way to change this situation.

Jiang Jinfu lay on his bed, pondering incessantly until he drifted off to sleep.

“Fuzi, Fuzi, oh Fuzi…”

In his dream, Jiang Jinfu envisioned himself being announced as the Best Actor at two prestigious film awards ceremonies. Behind him, Zhang Yang clapped enthusiastically, stood up to embrace him, and showered him with praise and self-deprecating remarks about feeling unworthy in comparison.

The corners of Jiang Jinfu’s mouth curled into an ear-splitting grin, but then Zhang Yang’s irritating voice pierced his ears.

He jolted awake, his once clear black eyes now bloodshot, instinctively roaring, “Can’t you wait for me to win my Oscar before waking me up?!?”

As soon as the words left his lips, Jiang Jinfu met Zhang Yang’s gaze—those “innocent yet foolish” eyes.

“You’ve already won your Oscar?” Zhang Yang’s expression was dead serious, but his tone carried a hint of mockery. “Impressive, truly impressive.”

Jiang Jinfu’s face instantly turned beet red; if there were a crack beneath him, he would have dove right in.

He wanted Zhang Yang’s admiration and flattery, just not in this manner.

“Well? Why did you wake me up so early on a morning like this instead of letting me sleep?!” Jiang Jinfu asked through gritted teeth.

“Sweetie, it’s getting late. Second and Third have already gone to their classes,” Zhang Yang glanced at the time before continuing, “We discussed this last night while having midnight snacks. Today, I’m going to guest star on ‘Great Masters Abound,’ so I’ll take you and Nazha along to give you a taste of what it’s like.”

Jiang Jinfu had been too preoccupied with his gloom last night to pay attention to most of the conversation.

However, he did recall something about this matter.

Initially inclined to refuse, he changed his mind after considering briefly, “Alright, I’ll get up right away.”

Zhang Yang’s face lit up with an expression that said, Finally, some teachable moments.

Jiang Jinfu wanted to say there was no need for such trouble, but knowing Zhang Yang’s stubborn nature, he decided against wasting his breath.

As someone who loved fitness, he generally maintained self-discipline in his daily life. After a quick mental shake, he got out of bed, completed his morning routine, and then headed off with Zhang Yang to eat breakfast near the school.

After finishing breakfast, Zhang Yang called Nazha to check on her whereabouts. He learned she was already in a taxi, just ten minutes away from meeting them.

“Have you eaten breakfast yet?” Zhang Yang asked.

“Not yet,” Nazha replied truthfully, rubbing her empty stomach.

“Can you eat pork?” Zhang Yang asked.

“I’m not religious,” Nazha responded.

The unspoken implication was clear: she had no dietary restrictions.

“The steamed buns from our school’s cafeteria are quite good. Would you like to try some?” Zhang Yang continued.

“Thanks, Senior Brother,” Nazha accepted without hesitation.

She had checked online last night and found that accepting small gestures of kindness was acceptable. She could repay him later when an opportunity arose, which would help them become more familiar with each other over time.

“Milk or soy milk?” Zhang Yang asked again.

Nazha opted for regular milk in the end.

Zhang Yang hung up the phone and turned to Jiang Jinfu, saying, “Fuzi, it’s your turn to shine.”

Jiang Jinfu remained silent but obediently went to buy breakfast like a docile little rabbit being bullied at work.

A few minutes later, Nazha stepped out of a taxi. Her delicate features stood out against her snow-white skin, giving her an ethereal, almost unreal appearance. Her slim figure instantly drew attention, making her the highlight of the street scene.

Nazha, accustomed to this, remained unfazed by the stares.

With a quick glance around, she easily spotted Zhang Yang among the crowd.

The trio met at the intersection up ahead. Zhang Yang handed over the breakfast, saying, “The company car will be here soon. Let’s eat on the way.”

“Sounds good, Shixiong,” Nazha replied with a smile, maintaining her composure.

Zhang Yang smoothly changed the topic to Jiang Jinfu, “This breakfast is from Jin Fu. I heard you two met when he signed his contract.” The three of them began chatting amicably.

Several pedestrians nearby kept glancing their way, occasionally whispering among themselves.

That girl sure is pretty. Is she from a minority group?

The guy in black standing next to her isn’t bad-looking either.

I bet they’re students from the neighboring Shanghai Theatre Academy.

I’ve been running this shop for 13 years and have seen many STX students pass through. These two would definitely rank high in terms of looks.

”…”

Zhang Yang and Nazha instinctively tuned out these passing remarks.

Jiang Jinfu thought to himself, Out of sight, out of mind.

A few minutes later, a minivan pulled up in front of the trio.

It was one of Tangren Company’s vehicles, usually used for shuttling employees around.

Zhang Yang hadn’t yet reached the status where he could be assigned a personal driver, and newcomers Nazha and Jiang Jinfu certainly didn’t have that privilege either. However, requesting a company vehicle for their use was a breeze.

The filming location for Great Masters Abound was in Jinling, so the trio needed to make the trip by car.

After about two hours on the road, they arrived at the underground parking garage of a large office building. Throughout the journey, Zhang Yang had dominated the conversation, gradually easing tensions among the three.

A member of the production team awaited them near the elevator entrance. One floor of this building had been rented out by the Great Masters Abound crew for filming; half of today’s scenes were set to take place here.

With the entire series nearing completion, the atmosphere within the crew had become quite relaxed.

When Zhang Yang brought Nazha and Jiang Jinfu to meet Hu Ge, they found him caught between Tang Yan and Qi Wei’s dual attack. Qiu Ze, who played the male lead, wasn’t around, while Dong Xuan, the female lead, was touch-up her makeup.

“Hey there, Lao Hu, Miss Tangtang, Brother Qi,” Zhang Yang greeted as he led Jiang Jinfu and Nazha over.

From these nicknames, it was clear he was acquainted with all three individuals.

Zhang Yang had met Tang Yan while filming Sword and Fairy III, and he’d been introduced to Qi Wei by Tang Yan as a potential male lead for her music video.

“A-Yang, long time no see.” Upon hearing the voice, both Tang Yan and Qi Wei turned towards Zhang Yang with smiles.

Seizing the opportunity, Hu Ge darted from behind the sofa to hide behind Zhang Yang. “A-Yang,” he said, “you’ve arrived just in time.”

“Tangtang and I were outnumbered; two hands can’t fight against four. Help me regain control of the situation.”

Tang Yan and Qi Wei remained silent, crossing their arms and observing Zhang Yang with enigmatic half-smiles.

Without hesitation, Zhang Yang wrapped his arm around Hu Ge and addressed the women: “Tangtang-jie, Qi-ge, I’ll always be your most loyal sidekick! I’ve got Lao Hu here for you—whether it’s life or limb, do as you please!”

Hu Ge blinked in confusion. Is that really how you use ‘do as you please’?!

The onlookers stood speechless.

Jiang Jinfu thought to himself, I’m learning so much today.