Chapter 2: A Price for Fame

“Fang Ya?”

Seeing the incoming call on his phone, Xu Hao hesitated.

“Fang Ya – Female, 26, stunning looks, an elegant, oval face, crescent eyebrows, scoring an overall 85 – wow level. A graduate student in acting at Dragon Country Film Academy, and his ex-girlfriend.”

They met at Hezhou Arts Academy; Xu Hao studied directing while Fang Ya pursued acting.

After graduation, Fang Ya continued her studies and, with Xu Hao’s unwavering support, was accepted into the acting graduate program at Dragon Country Film Academy. Throughout her studies, Xu Hao provided all her living expenses.

In short, their relationship was sweet; they even planned to marry and start a family – one behind the camera and one in front – sharing a blissful life.

Everything up to now had played out like a scene from a romance movie.

Coming back to reality, Xu Hao answered the call.

Perhaps due to their shared memories, he felt an innate familiarity with this “girlfriend,” and nothing felt out of place.

“Hello, darling.”

Xu Hao blurted it out—almost automatically.

“Xu Hao… sniff, sniff.”

The next moment, a weak voice accompanied by soft sobs came through the receiver.

“What’s wrong? Why are you crying? Weren’t you looking for an agency recently? Did someone bully you during an interview?”

Whether it was the old Xu Hao or the new him, he could not stand to see a woman cry or witness someone mistreat a vulnerable lady.

Hearing the sobs, Xu Hao quickly asked.

“Don’t get me wrong, Xu Hao. No one is bullying me; I’ve just signed with Dragon Sea Agency!”

Fang Ya’s voice replied softly.

“Signing with Dragon Sea Agency? That’s great news! So why the tears?”

Xu Hao was even more puzzled.

If he remembered correctly, Dragon Sea Agency was one of the Xu Family’s ventures – one of the country’s most renowned top agencies, credited with launching many new talents and boy bands. The industry even calls it a top talent incubator.

As a result, Dragon Sea Agency was the dream destination for anyone eager to break into the entertainment world.

If the agency’s president found out that Fang Ya was his girlfriend, she would definitely be favored – perhaps even strongly supported, never mistreated or sidelined.

All that would take is one phone call to settle it.

“Xu Hao, all that’s well and good, but when you go to negotiate the contract with Dragon Sea Agency today, you’ll find that the first clause demands you be single. So…”

Fang Ya’s voice grew fainter.

“Single? You mean, break up?”

Hearing that, Xu Hao froze. If he couldn’t decipher her meaning now, just how naive would he be?

“That’s what it means. And I have to sign a guarantee letter.”

Fang Ya replied weakly.

“A guarantee letter?”

Xu Hao raised an eyebrow.

For some reason, a tinge of disdain suddenly welled up inside him toward Fang Ya.

Earthlings never fool me – strike first, claim what you want! When it comes to love, sentiments mean nothing when pitted against self-interest. It was laughable how Xu Hao once cherished Fang Ya, protecting her, encouraging her, and supporting her both emotionally and materially.

And after years of effort, it all boiled down to one phrase: “The agency requires me to be single?”

“Xu Hao… Xu Hao…”

After a brief silence, Fang Ya’s voice returned, laden with remorse.

“Xu Hao, I know how good you’ve been to me, but these are the rules of the entertainment industry. If I’m not single, many of the pairings are off the table. You know that acting is my greatest dream. You… you won’t hold it against me, will you?”

“And aren’t you going to join that 100-day wilderness survival challenge? I heard that the organizer, Tianchen Culture, is also a branch of the Xu Family. Now that I’m with Dragon Sea Agency, maybe I can help you out and have Tianchen Culture show you a bit more favor.”

“Maybe they can secure you that bonus so you can finally make your martial arts film dream come true.”

“Blame you? Not at all! I wish you all the best and hope you become a big star soon. As for the wilderness challenge… you, as a newly signed artist, hardly have the credentials to help!”

Coming back to the present, Xu Hao felt an unexpected sense of relief.

He knew that if he revealed his true self right now, he could save this relationship.

In fact, their romance might have even been sweeter than the ones in cheesy love movies – but he was no longer the Xu Hao he once was. A breakup now would solve many problems; staying together might jeopardize his future life as a second-generation rich kid.

“You really don’t blame me? Or do you just find it unbearable and are putting on a nonchalant front? After all, we’ve shared years together. I called because I was afraid you wouldn’t accept this outcome immediately.”

Some women are just like that – crying and tearfully initiating a breakup, then showing discontent when the man agrees too readily, as if she resented his prompt acceptance.

“No! You’re overthinking it. I can accept it! And I still wish you a bright future and hope you become a huge star soon.”

Xu Hao answered with decisiveness.

At that moment, the old Xu Hao’s hidden feelings no longer influenced him.

If a woman like Fang Ya can’t take hardship, does she even deserve to celebrate the New Year?

He only hoped that when she discovered his true self later, she wouldn’t regret it.

“Oh, and tomorrow, come by the apartment to pick up your stuff!”

Before hanging up, Xu Hao glanced at the bedside and added,

“Alright then… beep beep beep.”

It was hard to tell what expression Fang Ya had as she ended the call; after a while, the line only emitted a busy tone—she must have hung up.

“Sigh… you really have no idea what to look for in a girlfriend.”

Looking at the ended call screen, Xu Hao shook his head and then scrolled through his contacts.

Ding-ding-ding. Coincidentally, at that moment, Xu Hao’s phone rang again.

“Third Brother, Xu Chen?”

Noticing the incoming call, Xu Hao scratched his head.

What a coincidence – he had just intended to call his third brother to tell him he wasn’t joining the wilderness survival challenge, and now the call had come from him instead.

That saved him a lot of trouble.

He answered, and a deep, magnetic voice greeted him.

“Old Six, where are you right now?”

“Third Brother, I’m at the apartment. By the way, I need to talk to you about something.”

Xu Hao replied immediately.

To be honest, Xu Chen had always been good to him. Even though Xu Hao was stubborn and often schemed, the Xu Family still tolerated him. In any other affluent family, he might have been kicked out long ago.

“Perfect—I also have something to discuss. Let’s meet in half an hour in the reception hall on the first floor of Tianchen Culture.”

“Tianchen Culture? Great!”

Xu Hao thought for a moment; it was better to talk face-to-face since phone conversations could be ambiguous.

“By the way, do you have money for a taxi? Should I send a driver to pick you up?”

After a brief pause, an irritated voice came through the line.

“Taxi money? I have it!”

“Good then!”