Chapter 429: Having Nothing To Do

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Zhou Chao followed Xiao Yuexue through the back door of Deshe and headed directly towards the backstage. Along the way, they encountered several staff members, and when they saw Zhou Chao behind Xiao Yuexue, they were all a bit surprised.

“Senior brother, why are you back? Weren’t you planning to go home? And who is this handsome guy? Is he here to study at our Deshe?” A member of the seventh team looked at Xiao Yuexue, who had returned with someone else, and glanced curiously at Zhou Chao.

The team member’s comment caused a subtle shift in Xiao Yuexue’s expression. He glanced at Zhou Chao beside him, who maintained a composed demeanor, and then responded, “Where did all these unnecessary words come from? Hurry up and get ready. If there are any mistakes during the performance later, you’ll bear the consequences.”

Seeing his senior brother’s serious expression, the team member nodded and left.

“Sorry about that, Young Master Zhou. You must have been embarrassed. We’re used to joking around like this!”

“No problem at all, don’t worry about it!” Zhou Chao smiled and waved it off.

As they continued to walk inside, they soon arrived at the backstage lounge. Luan, the deputy general manager, and others who were chatting turned their curious gazes toward them.

“Xiao Yuexue, who is this?” Deputy General Manager Luan asked curiously. After all, he knew that Xiao Yuexue rarely brought people to the backstage. If he was so enthusiastic about bringing someone here, it must be someone important.

“Senior brother, this is a distinguished guest of our master. He came to our theater today to listen to cross-talk. 1 brought him here to take a look!” Xiao Yuexue didn’t explicitly mention who Zhou Chao was, but Deputy General Manager Luan had some insight. Being a senior member of Deshe, he was privy to certain insider details.

“Welcome, welcome! Please have a seat, and I’ll arrange a private room for you right away!” Deputy General Manager Luan took out his phone and made a call to the manager of the small theater, instructing him to prepare a private room on the second floor and provide some snacks and fruits.

Soon, Deputy General Manager Luan had everything arranged. Xiao Yuexue was about to take Zhou Chao to the private room when she was stopped by Deputy General Manager Luan.

“Xiao Yuexue, wait a moment. 1 need to discuss something with you.”

Xiao Yuexue hesitated for a moment, feeling torn between his duty to entertain the guest and his senior brother’s request.

“It’s okay, you can have someone take me to the private room. You can go ahead and deal with your business first,” Zhou Chao said with a smile.

“Kai Xuan, please take Zhou Shao to the private room!” Xiao Yuexue instructed Kai Xuan, who had been standing nearby, to escort Zhou Chao.

As Zhou Chao and Kai Xuan left, Xiao Yuexue turned to her senior brother, Deputy General Manager Luan, and asked, “Senior brother, what’s the matter? You almost got me into trouble just now!”

“I just wanted to ask who that handsome guy was and why you treated him like that. And I also wanted to know if you wanted to go on stage and perform!”

Xiao Yuexue thought for a moment and shook her head, “1 won’t go on stage today. I’ll accompany that gentleman instead. If there are any mistakes, I’ll be there to make up for them.”

“I heard you call him Young Master Zhou earlier. Is he the one Lao Guo mentioned?” Deputy General Manager Luan suddenly realized, his expression tense.

“Yeah, that’s the one!”

“Senior brother, what were you two talking about? Who was that handsome guy just now? Why were you both so nervous?” The captain of the seventh team, Xiaomeng, asked curiously. He had been watching for quite a while, and his curiosity was piqued.

“Those jars of caviar and dried abalone you guys snatched earlier were gifts from this gentleman!” Xiao Yuexue couldn’t help feeling a bit helpless as he remembered how his fellow brothers had robbed him. Although he managed to keep half of the loot, he still felt frustrated.

“What? Those millions-worth of items were gifts from him?” Xiaomeng was shocked, and the other members of the seventh team sitting there were equally incredulous!

“Yeah, the handsome guy just now is the benefactor our master mentioned. So when you perform later, be on your best behavior, and don’t embarrass yourselves on stage!” Xiao Yuexue’s words made the members of the seventh team nervous.

“But you don’t need to be too nervous either. Just treat him like an ordinary audience!”

Xiao Yuexue added before turning to Deputy General Manager Luan and saying, “Then, I’ll go ahead.”

“Sure!”

After Xiao Yuexue left the backstage lounge, Deputy General Manager Luan addressed the group, “I won’t put too much pressure on you. If the performance goes well today, I’ll treat you all to dinner tonight. Order whatever you like!”

“Thank you, senior brother!” The members of the seventh team cheered.

On the other hand, Zhou Chao, led by Kaixuan, arrived at the private room. After a brief chat, Zhou Chao learned that Kaixuan had not yet become an official disciple under Lao Guo’s tutelage and was still in the apprentice stage.

“Kaixuan, I’m a bit older than you. Do you mind if 1 call you Kaixuan?” Zhou Chao asked the young man in front of him.

No, not at all!” Kaixuan shook his head, and his gaze inadvertently fell on the wristwatch worn on Zhou Chao’s left hand.

“Do you have any interest in entering the entertainment industry? If you’re interested, I provide you with guidance!” Zhou Chao was quite familiar with him, as he would soon become well-known in another world. Zhou Chao believed that under his guidance, Kaixuan could achieve great success.

However, Kaixuan gently shook his head and said, “I still prefer cross-talk and want to learn some real skills diligently.”

“Alright!” Zhou Chao casually mentioned it; he didn’t want to force Kaixuan into anything he wasn’t interested in.

“I’ll talk to Lao Guo later and ask him to give you more opportunities!”

Zhou Chao’s words left Kaixuan momentarily stunned, not knowing what to say. At that moment, Xiao Yuexue walked into the room, saying, “Kaixuan, why are you standing there? Hurry up and thank Young Master Zhou!”

Kaixuan quickly regained his composure and said, “Thank you, Young Master Zhou!”

“No problem, i have high hopes for you. Keep up the good work!”

“You should go back to the backstage and get ready; the performance is about to start!” Xiao Yuexue said to Kaixuan, who appeared a bit hesitant.

Kaixuan nodded and bid farewell to both of them before leaving the private room.

After Kaixuan left, Xiao Yuexue turned to Zhou Chao and asked, “Young Master Zhou, do you have high expectations for him?”

“Yeah, he looks decent, and with a few years of training at Deshe, he could consider following your path!” Zhou Chao leaned back in his chair, casually snacking on some treats.

Xiao Yuexue thoughtfully nodded his head, already considering how to mention this to his master, Lao Guo.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Chao continued, “Take it step by step, don’t rush it. How can you see a rainbow without going through hardships? Just look at the challenges you’ve faced along the way!”

Zhou Chao’s words served as a reminder to him, and he nodded in agreement.

The performance began shortly after, with the captain of the seventh team, Xiaomeng, and his partner Jiuliang, starting with a riddle-solving segment. They interacted with the audience, making the atmosphere quite enjoyable. Zhou Chao even laughed a few times!

After watching for about three hours, the show came to an end. Overall, the performance was quite good, and occasional minor mistakes were skillfully handled and turned into humorous moments. At least in Zhou Chao’s eyes, there were commendable aspects, but further refinement and a year or two of practice would undoubtedly take their performance to the next level.

As the theater emptied, Zhou Chao left with Xiao Yuexue through the backstage exit.

“Young Master Zhou, if you ever want to watch cross-talk again, just send me a message, and I’ll arrange it for you in advance!”

“I don’t know when 1’11 have the chance again, but if there is, I’ll give you a call. It’s getting late; I should head out now,” Zhou Chao said as he opened the car door and got in.

“Take care!” Xiao Yuexue watched Zhou Chao drive away before getting into his own car and leaving.

For the next few days, Zhou Chao stayed at home and didn’t go anywhere. During this time, he signed in once and obtained a cinema chain, Modu United Cinemas. Zhou Chao handed this task over to Ling Chen for further arrangements. At this point, Zhou Chao didn’t pay too much attention to these matters, as he found them relatively effortless. After all, establishing a new cinema chain would be a breeze for him.

With just one day left until the trade with Edward, Xiao Yang called again.

“Brother Yang, what’s up?”

“I inquired about this earlier, didn’t I? I’d like you to be present at the trade location the day after tomorrow. Your familiarity with that environment will help things go more smoothly.”

Upon hearing Xiao Yang’s words, Zhou Chao understood that he was being asked to play a prominent role to save face for both parties.

“I got it. Where will the handover ceremony be held?”

“Yuanmingyuan!” Xiao Yang’s tone carried a hint of seriousness.

“Isn’t that a bit too extravagant? But 1 like it. Just send me the specific address when the time comes!” Zhou Chao’s spirits lifted at the thought of the location for the handover.

“Yeah, just don’t forget when the time comes,” Xiao Yang said before hanging up.

Soon after, Zhou Chao’s phone chimed, and he saw the specific location as well as the necessary identification for entry.

“Well, this should clear my mind once this business is done,” he thought as he stretched on the couch.

It was almost 6 p.m., and Zhou Chao was about to get up to prepare a meal when the phone on the table rang again.

Seeing the caller ID, Zhou Chao’s face flashed with a hint of embarrassment. Nevertheless, he immediately picked up the phone.

“Dad, what made you think of calling me?” The caller was Zhou Chao’s father-in-law, Jiang Youdao.

“You brat, you’ve come back to Jingdu and didn’t even drop by to visit us. It’s as if my place is some hidden fortress. If it wasn’t for that troublemaker Xiao Yang giving me a call to let me know you’re back, I wouldn’t have had a clue. Your mother prepared a scrumptious meal today. Come over quickly!”

As Zhou Chao realized that Xiao Yang had betrayed him, he mentally noted this down in his little book of grievances.

“Hmm? Why aren’t you saying anything? Is the signal bad?” Jiang Youdao thought Zhou Chao’s silence was due to a signal issue.

“Dad, I’m listening. I’ll tidy up and come over right away!” Zhou Chao hurriedly replied.

“Alright, the whole family is waiting for you!” Jiang Youdao said before hanging up.

Zhou Chao let out a sigh and took some precious dried goods from the wine cellar. He then grabbed a bag and headed out the door..