Song Kewen had to admit that Xie Xiaobao made a fair point.
Still, neither of them dared linger outside any longer.
If they accidentally let something slip and the bigshots caught wind of it, they’d be finished in this industry.
The two tiptoed back into the venue.
The stage up front was still bustling with song and dance, the atmosphere electric.
But their table couldn’t have been more different.
Old Wang wore a cold sneer on his lips, and the man beside him was glaring so hard his eyes were about to pop out.
The remaining three at the table seemed to have come with the angry man—they kept their heads down and mouths shut, exuding an eerie silence.
Xie Xiaobao quickly wiped the smile from his face and exchanged a glance with Song Kewen.
They obediently sat in their seats, pretending to watch the performance with great interest.
The show was nearing its end.
Xie Xiaobao glanced toward the front rows—several seats were now empty.
He didn’t see He Yu and figured he must have left early.
By the time the celebration wrapped up, it was almost midnight.
Xie Xiaobao had been sitting stiffly for over two hours and felt like his bones were about to fall apart.
As soon as the emcee announced the event was over, he leapt up and stretched dramatically.
“Watch your image!”
Old Wang, seated across from him, scowled and shot him a sharp glare.
Xie Xiaobao puffed out his cheeks and quietly sat back down, pretending to behave.
Old Wang stared at the two pretending-to-be-obedient kids in front of him and massaged his temples in frustration.
His own head was about to go bald from stress, while these two were still giggling without a care in the world.
People slowly started filing out of the hall.
Once the crowd had thinned, Old Wang finally broke his silence and said to them, “Come with me.”
Xie Xiaobao glanced at Song Kewen and mouthed, What’s up with Old Wang?
Song Kewen shrugged and mouthed back, You’ll see.
The three of them walked around to the hotel’s garden.
A few tables and chairs were set up there, but at this hour it was mostly deserted.
The dim lighting only revealed vague silhouettes—privacy was decent.
“Sit,” Old Wang sighed, his voice tinged with fatigue.
Xie Xiaobao obediently sat down, concerned in his eyes.
“Brother Wang, what’s wrong?”
He had always seen Old Wang as sharp and decisive.
Ever since he got assigned under him after signing his contract, he’d never seen the man look this defeated.
Old Wang rubbed his face and stayed quiet for a moment before finally looking up.
“You’ve heard the news that President He from the head office is coming, right?”
Xie Xiaobao nodded.
“I just received word… our department might be getting dismantled and reorganized.”
Internet streamers might create a buzz online, but to a traditional entertainment agency like He Entertainment, they were hardly worth a glance.
The only reason He Entertainment even created a department for training online artists was to test the waters during the internet’s boom.
Old Wang had originally been a talent agent at He Entertainment, managing a few minor celebrities and leading a fairly average life.
But after falling victim to a setup, he was reassigned to this neglected department, stuck managing two rookie streamers just to pass the days.
Though he had been forced into the role, Old Wang wasn’t one to give up easily.
And while Xie Xiaobao and Song Kewen could be a bit mischievous, they were ultimately well-behaved and talented in their own ways.
He had invested real effort into polishing their image.
But before he could see results, the market winds had shifted again.
“I might be reassigned back. As for you two… the company hasn’t said anything yet.”
Old Wang’s tone was heavy.
After working together for so long, bonds had formed.
They may not have had much visibility within the company, but it was still better than working for some fly-by-night agency outside.
Xie Xiaobao froze.
He looked between Song Kewen and the heavy expression on Old Wang’s face.
“So… we won’t be working together anymore?”
Old Wang didn’t respond.
“Come on, what’s with those faces?”
Song Kewen knocked on the table, half-laughing.
“It’s not like someone died. Why are you two being so dramatic?”
“But we won’t see each other as often anymore,” Xie Xiaobao said seriously.
Song Kewen was briefly speechless, then flicked Xiaobao’s forehead.
“We’ve got phones, haven’t we? Call me ‘bro’ and I’ll come running.”
Xie Xiaobao made a face at him, though his mood clearly improved.
Watching them fool around, Old Wang’s heavy heart lightened a bit.
He clapped his hands.
“How about a drink?”
Xie Xiaobao had always been a good boy—he’d never even been to a bar, let alone had a drink.
So when Old Wang suggested it, he immediately agreed.
Song Kewen raised his brows and nudged Xiaobao playfully as they walked out together.
Old Wang led the way with the ease of someone who’d been there before.
They found a booth, ordered drinks, and settled in.
Xie Xiaobao looked around curiously—it was his first time in a bar.
The air was thick with music and chatter, the dance floor crowded with swaying bodies.
When the drinks arrived, Xie Xiaobao took a sip and immediately winced.
The bitterness and sting of the alcohol made him stick out his tongue.
Old Wang and Song Kewen clinked their glasses and laughed at the way Xiaobao glared at his cup like it had wronged him.
“Get him a Long Island Iced Tea,” Song Kewen grinned mischievously.
“That one tastes good.”
Old Wang, clearly entertained, waved the server over to order a fresh pitcher of it.
The amber liquor shimmered under the lights.
Song Kewen, eager for drama, poured a glass and handed it to Xiaobao.
“Try this one.”
Xie Xiaobao eyed the glass warily.
He didn’t trust that look on Song Kewen’s face.
But after a tentative sip, he found it wasn’t bad at all—and ended up taking another.
Song Kewen clinked his glass with Xiaobao’s.
“No going home sober tonight.”
Xie Xiaobao clinked back, then slowly drank from his cup.
As the night deepened, the crowd only got wilder.
On stage, scantily clad men and women danced with abandon.
After half a glass of liquor, Xiaobao started to feel woozy, eyelids drooping, hands still cradling his drink.
“What are you staring at so intently?” a man waved a hand in front of He Yu’s face.
He Yu pulled his gaze back and lazily glanced at the man before lounging deeper into the couch.
“Nothing.”
That look from He Yu made the man back down immediately.
He didn’t press, just clinked glasses with him awkwardly before heading over to join another group.
He Yu hadn’t been back in Shen City long.
Since taking over He Entertainment, he’d had a slew of engagements.
Even before the evening’s celebration had ended, this bunch had already insisted on going out to drink, so he came along as host.
Relaxing into his seat, He Yu crossed his legs, eyes once again drifting toward the other side of the bar.
By now, Xie Xiaobao was practically falling asleep.
He’d finished his Long Island and the alcohol was hitting hard.
He slumped forward toward the table.
Luckily, Song Kewen reacted fast and moved the drink aside.
Looking at Xiaobao’s flushed cheeks, he chuckled, “That fast?”
Old Wang gave him a side-eye.
“You’re taking him home later.”
Song Kewen clicked his tongue.
“He and I live in opposite directions.”
“Whoever got him drunk is responsible,” Old Wang said firmly, downing the last of his drink and calling the waiter for the bill.
Once they paid, Song Kewen struggled to half-carry the groggy Xiaobao outside.
Xiaobao, unwilling, wriggled about and nearly dragged both of them to the floor.
Old Wang snorted at the sight of the two wobbly kids and went over to help.
As their figures disappeared from view, He Yu shifted positions and looked back at the stage.
The young people dancing there released a kind of raw, almost violent, energy.
“Young people these days…”
***
The two eventually got Xiaobao home and laid him on the bed.
Old Wang even poured a glass of warm water and placed it on the bedside table before leaving with Song Kewen.
Half-asleep, Xiaobao squirmed in the soft blankets and let out two incoherent murmurs.
Then, in a flash of movement, the lump under the covers shrank into a much smaller, fluffier one.
The warmth of the alcohol made his body overheat.
He kicked off the blankets and sprawled out on the bed, belly up like a starfish, his furry stomach rising and falling with each breath.
Finding a comfortable position, Xiaobao let out a few satisfied snores and drifted into a deep sleep.
***
The next morning, Xie Xiaobao was jolted awake by the ringing doorbell.
Groggy, he crawled out of bed and rubbed his eyes with his paws before shifting back into human form and stumbling toward the door with a yawn.
“Who is it?”
When the door opened, he was greeted by a smiling face.
His eyes lit up in surprise.
“Sister-in-law!”
Unlocking the security latch, Xiaobao happily grabbed Qu Yanning’s arm.
“What brings you here?”
“Call me ‘ge’ (brother),” Qu Yanning tapped him on the forehead, muttering, “How many times have I told you?”
Xiaobao clung to him affectionately, grinning from ear to ear.
Qu Yanning set down the food he’d brought on the table and pinched Xiaobao’s cheek.
“You’ve lost weight, haven’t you?”
Ever since Xiaobao insisted on moving out, Qu Yanning would visit now and then.
The once-chubby little kitten had grown up into a young cat who could live on his own.
“Really?”
Xiaobao looked at his still-chubby arms.
They didn’t seem any slimmer—but he trusted Qu Yanning wouldn’t lie, so he beamed and dragged him to the couch before dashing into the kitchen to wash some fruit.
He returned with a bowl of cherries, stuck a toothpick in one, and offered it like a treasure.
“Sister-in-law, have one!”
Qu Yanning took a bite and smiled at Xiaobao’s goofy grin.
He let out a soft sigh and reached out to ruffle his hair.
“When are you coming home? Everyone misses you.”
Xiaobao blinked, his expression turning awkward.
“If I go back, they’ll lock me up again like I’m some endangered species.”
Qu Yanning chuckled, though his gaze turned tender.
“They’re just worried about you.”
Xiaobao pouted and mumbled, “I’ve been fine on my own. See? I’ve had no problems.”
“I know.”
Qu Yanning stroked his head gently.
“You’re stronger than we ever imagined.”
Xiaobao blushed and scratched his cheek shyly.
Then he shifted into his cat form, leapt onto Qu Yanning’s lap, and nuzzled against his arm.
Flipping onto his back, he exposed his belly for rubs.
Qu Yanning rubbed his chin and gently scratched his stomach.
Xiaobao squinted his eyes in bliss, back paws kicking softly, his purring loud and content.