Why Did You Provoke Her? She Can Tell Fortunes!-Chapter 196 - 169

Jiang Ci looked somewhat helplessly at the agent across from him, who was clearly furious. He kept his head down and only dared to sneak glances at him occasionally, not daring to refute a single word the other person said.

Because he was just a newcomer without any works, he had no right to speak.

Successfully signing with a company after debuting from a talent show was already the luckiest thing.

Now he finally had his first job offer.

But somehow, he couldn’t be happy about it.

So at a time when he should be taking any opportunity that came his way, he hesitantly asked his agent if he could not go.

Wang Qi thought he had misheard.

He had high hopes for this young and handsome guy, even going as far as to place great expectations on him, which is why he was searching for resources for him everywhere.

In the end, after finally securing a two-episode variety show spot for Jiang Ci, he got the response that Jiang Ci didn’t want to go.

Wang Qi tried to calm himself down.

He didn’t want to scare the newly signed newcomer.

For a moment, he wondered if he had misjudged and thought all Jiang Ci’s humility on the show was just an act.

He took a deep breath, deciding to give Jiang Ci another chance, "Come on, I might have rushed in too quickly and didn’t hear what you were saying clearly."

Jiang Ci’s voice was a bit soft, as if he knew his response wasn’t quite right.

"Brother Qi, I... can I not attend this variety show?"

The moment he said this, Wang Qi closed his eyes, then took a deep breath.

"Why?"

"Do you think it’s just a guest appearance, so you don’t want to go?"

"Or do you think the show’s viewership isn’t enough?"

"Jiang Ci, in this industry, especially for newcomers, you can’t have thoughts like that!"

...

Wang Qi wanted to persuade him further, thinking that if he could correct Jiang Ci’s mindset now, it would be good.

If not...

Jiang Ci opened his mouth, unsure of how to appropriately express what he was thinking.

He lowered his head, feeling bitter as he looked at the variety show introduction.

He didn’t want to go, not because he looked down on the job or anything else.

It’s simply because it was a mystery room exploration variety show.

The setting was a huge real-life haunted house, with different real scenes and plots per episode, and each arc spanned two episodes. Through scripted performances and scaring actors, the show aimed to drive viewership.

Wang Qi paused.

"Ah~"

"Are you afraid of being embarrassed because you’re timid?"

He finally looked slightly more at ease.

He started making Jiang Ci sit down to listen to his explanation, "You don’t need to worry. From what I’ve understood, male artists being timid won’t affect fan attraction. In fact, in these types of horror variety shows, excellent and funny reactions can earn you more screen time."

"For newcomers like you at this stage, every extra second on screen is a big win."

Actually, Jiang Ci still wanted to explain. He didn’t want to go because the production team chose a location for filming that was famously haunted online.

After previous personal experiences, he was very much a believer in these things now.

He feared that it might be like some netizens said, that once you go, you can’t come back.

That’s why he was so resistant.

Seeing his expression still troubled, Wang Qi’s face also turned stern.

After offering the soft approach, it was time for the hard approach.

"Jiang Ci, there are some things I didn’t want to tell you this soon, especially since I genuinely have high hopes for you."

"You know, during the talent show, you missed a great opportunity."

He raised his head in shock, looking at Wang Qi across from him in disbelief.

From the latter’s eyes, Jiang Ci confirmed that he was talking about Hong Jingxue.

The youngest ’double Best Actress’ now.

Backstage at the talent show, he fell and was helped up by that woman.

Though on the surface it seemed they just exchanged a few polite words, only Jiang Ci knew that she had slipped him a note.

On it was a hotel room number.

Even though Jiang Ci was just a newcomer, he had heard these industry rumors.

He expected it to be messy, but not this messy.

And he never thought the ’goddess’ he saw on TV could be that kind of person.

He didn’t show up at the agreed time.

Afterward, she never sought him out again; Jiang Ci thought that it was a secret only the two of them knew.

He never expected Wang Qi had figured it out too.

Looking at Jiang Ci’s innocent expression, Wang Qi couldn’t help but find it amusing.

"I know what you’re thinking."

"You think no third person knows about this?"

"You’re still too naive."

Wang Qi shook his head, smiling mysteriously, "Do you think, without Hong Jingxue’s influence, you could climb to that position in the talent show just with your looks and talent?" 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

That sentence hit Jiang Ci like a bucket of cold water.

He was filled with both defeat and shock.

The secret he thought he had was no secret at all.

From the moment Hong Jingxue spoke to him, countless eyes around had already guessed something was going to happen between them.

That’s why he was given such a high ranking.

To show goodwill to Hong Jingxue.

"I didn’t get first place later because..." Jiang Ci hesitated as he voiced his suspicions.

He hadn’t expected Wang Qi to nod as if in agreement before he even finished.

"It’s just as you think."

"There are things you’re not willing to do, naturally there are others who are."

Jiang Ci fell silent.

Although he had some mental preparation, this industry seemed even more complicated than he thought.

"Alright, I won’t say anymore."

"Don’t be too discouraged; this doesn’t mean you lack capability. Frankly, even without Hong Jingxue, you could have debuted, just not as high."

He had done his homework; among those few contestants, several had families with billions in assets and very deep circles in the industry.

In this place, most of the time, talent does not equal everything.

"But no matter what, you have to go to this variety show."

As the office door closed, Jiang Ci composed himself and looked again at the document in front of him on the table.

Heaved a deep sigh, resigned to seriously read it.

Suddenly, he remembered something and quickly opened the Whale platform. He clicked into Mu Yunchu’s store from her fan group.

After purchasing two amulets, he saw the notification showing they would ship within 48 hours, and he felt slightly reassured.

He had considered directly asking Mu Yunchu for them, but it seemed she was busy recently.

Besides, his agent had been warning him not to have any dating thoughts lately, so whenever he opened Mu Yunchu’s chat window like usual, he couldn’t help but think a lot.

Thinking about these things, he unconsciously fiddled with the video in front of him.

Then, that face he’d been thinking about day and night suddenly appeared in his eyes.

It scared him so much that he almost dropped his phone.