Superstars of Tomorrow Chapter 340

Translator: Min_Lee Editor: Tennesh
Nanfeng, who felt he had quite a bit of work experience, started to get nervous .

He did more research on Fang Zhao, but the information he gathered was all superficial, stuff that he had already known . As for insider information, Yan Biao wouldn't reveal too much about Fang Zhao before Nanfeng was officially hired as an assistant .

He could ask friends to uncover unreported tidbits through other means, but if he did that, he could kiss his job goodbye .

For now, all Nanfeng could do was extrapolate from the info he gathered online .

When Yan Biao and Zuo Yu got up the next morning, they saw Nanfeng using a device they had never seen before to conceal his puffy eyes .

"Captain, the more I think about the gig, the more nervous I get," Nanfeng said .

"You're not mentally tough enough . You're regressing . " Yan Biao started to wonder whether Nanfeng would be able to grip his gun properly during an emergency .

"Oi, I was affected by what you said . You said that the boss is different from other celebrities, so my prior experience is irrelevant . Now I feel like I don't even know what to say . Captain, what do you suggest? What should I say when I see the boss this afternoon?" Nanfeng asked .

"Just call it as it is . Don't embellish and don't be too humble . Boss doesn't buy that crap," Yan Biao said .

"Understood!"

"In any case, behave yourself!"

Nanfeng nodded vigorously . "Rest assured, Captain! I will be on my best behavior . After all, I have plenty of experience working in Huangzhou . I want to let the boss know that I know the rules of the entertainment industry, that I can start the job right away and deal with any challenges that come my way!"

Fang Zhao arrived at 3 p . m . on the dot . When he entered, he noticed the floor was sparkling clean and the apartment was very tidy . There was not a speck to be found on the windows .

In anticipation of their boss's scrutiny, Zuo Yu and Yan Biao had cleaned their apartment meticulously, personally attending to nooks and crannies that might otherwise have been easily missed .

"How do you do? I'm Nanfeng, as in southern wind . " Nanfeng tried hard to smile naturally, but he was so nervous that it came off as awkward .

Fang Zhao gestured to a neighboring chair . "Don't be nervous . "

Nanfeng's teeth were clattering as he said, "I'm n-not nervous!"

Yan Biao resisted the temptation to slap Nanfeng in the face . He briefed Fang Zhao on Nanfeng's personal history . When he got to the part about Nanfeng's new prosthetic eye, he glared at his former teammate .

At this point, Nanfeng recovered his senses . His quick thinking was back and his attention sharp . He explained to Fang Zhao how he had earned the money for his new eye .

Ten million was not a small sum for the average Joe . Most people couldn't earn that amount in a lifetime . Fang Zhao had to be wondering how someone with as little job stability as Nanfeng had been able to get his hands on so much cash . And why did this guy want to become his assistant? Would he be a dedicated employee?

Take Yan Biao and Zuo Yu, for example . They might not be able to earn 10 million after 10 years in the bodyguard business unless some major events happened and they were awarded bonuses .

So on this matter, Nanfeng had to thoroughly explain himself to Fang Zhao .

Nanfeng took a few sips of water, paused, and said, "I didn't make a lot of money my first two years in Huangzhou, just enough to cover my expenses . During my military service, I had been quite out of touch . I hadn't had much work experience before joining the military . When I left the military, it took me some time to adjust, to learn how to handle my affairs and personal relationships . Things started improving after I got to know my surroundings and built up a personal network . I invested in a low-budget TV series made by a few university students . The year before last, the returns were quite good . I earned nearly 5 million that year between my dividends and the return on the investment . "

When he had seen his income statement, Nanfeng had felt like he was on Cloud Nine, but soon, he'd realized that Huangzhou was home to many high-income individuals . Small potatoes like him barely caused a ripple .

Now, Nanfeng had stopped investing in TV productions for a couple of reasons: firstly, he had run out of cash, and secondly, his previous collaborators had made it to the big leagues and were now backed by major corporations . He was fortunate enough to have come across that one investment opportunity . He wouldn't always be so lucky . There were plenty of smart investors in Huangzhou . He was a nobody .

"So you don't have to worry about the source of the cash . I didn't earn money through illegal means . "

Huangzhou was full of opportunities, but one would have to work hard . Whether or not someone could strike it rich depended on their talent . It hadn't been easy for Nanfeng these past few years . He had been so busy that he'd felt like a constantly spinning top . He'd wished he had multiple brains that could function concurrently . There were no free lunches . Life was a constant learning experience .

But now Nanfeng had his future mapped out .

Many folks said that if you were to identify the entertainment industry with a color, it would be gold mixed with black . Money came quickly, but it was also easy to make enemies . But Nanfeng liked the industry . He could get used to things .

felt that being Fang Zhao's assistant was a decent position . Fang Zhao wasn't short on cash, so he didn't have to venture into illegal dealings . Also, word was that Fang Zhao was connected in the military . Connections were a good thing, a form of protection . Not to mention that one of Fang Zhao's bodyguards was Nanfeng's former captain, an old friend . The salary that Fang Zhao could offer certainly would pale in comparison to his investment returns, but it would be high by industry standards .

The bottom line was that this was Nanfeng's best job prospect right now .

After he had accumulated enough experience as an assistant, Nanfeng was confident that he could become a talent agent, build his own team, and produce a few superstars . It would be the pinnacle of his life!

The only thing that worried Nanfeng was Fang Zhao's positioning in the industry . From what he could see, Fang Zhao was more of the artsy variety . This was an area that Nanfeng was less familiar with .

Nonetheless . . .

Nanfeng went for the hard sell . "I will do my best as an assistant so you can focus on your studies and composition and have time to rest, Boss . I will take care of Boss's daily chores, walk the dog, and feed the 'rabbit . ' I will plan your trips in advance and even double as a bodyguard . "

Zuo Yu and Yan Biao stared him down immediately .

Double as a bodyguard? What do you think we are, window dressing? Why would we need an assistant to double as a bodyguard?

What a f*cking calculating fella this Nanfeng is! Zuo Yu thought to himself .

After Nanfeng finished his spiel, he looked at Fang Zhao expectantly . "Why don't I start on a probationary basis? You can decide whether or not to keep me after my probation . "

Fang Zhao stared at Nanfeng for a few seconds and nodded . "One month's probation . I'll send you a contract when I get home . "

"Wow! Yes, Boss!" Nanfeng worked hard to contain his emotions . He wanted to show that he was a steady hand .

"Is there anything Boss wants to eat? I'll order the ingredients . " Nanfeng wanted to show off his cooking skills to his new boss and two colleagues and make a good impression . He wanted to prove he wasn't lying .

"That won't be necessary . I'm heading back to campus . Yan Biao is a former comrade . Why don't you stay and catch up with him? You can come by campus tomorrow to sign your contract," Fang Zhao said as he got up .

"No, no, no . Boss, let me head back to campus with you so I can familiarize myself with the route," Nanfeng said while getting up himself .

Are you kidding me? He could catch up with his comrade later . He had just been hired as an assistant, on a probationary basis no less . He had to seize the chance to impress his boss .

"Boss, where's your car? I'll pick it up," Nanfeng asked .

"I didn't drive . I walked from HuangArt," Fang Zhao said .

"Then should I call a car?" Nanfeng asked .

"I'm going to walk back . "

"Great idea! It's good exercise . Boss, let me walk back with you . "

Zuo Yu and Yan Biao silently observed Nanfeng's shameless sycophancy, which got them thinking that they weren't doing their best .

The two bodyguards also wanted to walk Fang Zhao back to HuangArt, but Fang Zhao told them to stay put .

After leaving the apartment, Fang Zhao took the elevator to the first floor instead of using the bridges that connected the apartment blocks .

He was wearing a hoodie, which was common apparel in this neighborhood . Add to that a baseball cap and unless someone stood right in front of Fang Zhao and stared, they wouldn't be able to recognize him . Plus, Fang Zhao wasn't as popular in Huangzhou as he was in Yanzhou . Fewer people would go out of their way to identify him .

Huangzhou also had its share of high rises . The apartment block where Zuo Yu and Yan Biao lived was home to a lot of students and workers from other continents, but the rent varied significantly within the same building . The lower the floor, the cheaper the rent . The brighter the unit, the more expensive the rent became .

Huangcheng, the capital of Huangzhou, was also known as Phoenix . This had been a forgotten wasteland during the Old Era . It had also been an important battlefield during the Period of Destruction, but in the New Era, it was the world's leading metropolis, far more prosperous than Qi'an .

The buildings were towering and the streets separating them weren't that wide, but it wasn't dark at street level because the streets were properly lit .

The gaps between the skyscrapers were lit up in an artistic fashion . Even the lighting layout in the lower floors was aesthetically pleasing .

Nanfeng noticed that Fang Zhao was quite interested in the lighting, so he shared some stories he had heard .

"This is probably a typical black street in Huangcheng, but unlike black streets in other cities, they aren't poorly lit and are much safer . Strictly speaking, there are no black streets in Huangcheng . The lighting here was designed by a world-famous artist . Quite a few artists who studied in Huangzhou rented places in this neighborhood . Do you see the trash can over there? The painting on it was done by an artist before he became famous . Eventually, it was preserved and locked up . "

While Nanfeng was telling Fang Zhao stories, a nondescript TV broadcast van was parked the next block over .

Inside, a middle-aged man was pointing at an online map and whispering .

"The office workers haven't left work yet and the homebodies aren't out either . The streets are quite empty . The timing is perfect, just the right number of people . There are two young men the next block over . Walk past them, make this turn, and you'll see someone smoking by a garbage can . Then head this way and you'll see a couple in the corner, then . . . "

There were two people next to the man barking instructions . One was a pretty, sweet-looking young blonde in a red dress, and the other a big chiseled fella whose arms and neck were covered with menacing tattoos . He had "Don't mess with me" written all over him . The duo paid close attention to the instructions .

"Remember your route . This time, you'll be passing nine people . See if any of the nine are willing to intervene . "

The trio was working for a live TV show that exposed shortcomings in human nature . Today they wanted to show online audiences how few people were willing to stick their necks out when they ran into other folks in distress in daily life .

The middle-aged man was the host . He relied on his quick wit rather than good looks . He knew how to come up with gimmicks that attracted viewers .

The two folks standing in front of the host were both acting graduates from HuangArt . They weren't well known, but both were competent actors . HuangArt graduates were all works of art, as they say . The two were solid actors . The host had paid them handsomely to be part of his show .

"Got it?" the host asked .

"Got it!" the duo responded .

The host took one final look at the two actors and wasn't satisfied . He summoned his makeup artist . "Add some finishing touches! Prop master, where's our knife? Is the knife ready?"

"Yes, yes!" The prop master dashed over to hand a "bloodied" knife to the big fella .

The makeup artist added a few fake wounds to the blonde in red and drew a few fierce-looking wrinkles on the big fella's face .

"Are our cameras ready?"

The cinematographer signaled OK . He had deployed a fleet of miniature drones .

After making sure that everyone was ready, the host went live . He kicked off with a sensational introduction before cueing the action .

"We're all set . Let's see whether folks stay put or intervene when they run into a robbery . "

"We have no idea who we'll run into or what their backgrounds will be . This is reality TV . Out of respect for the pedestrians, their faces will be obscured . "

"OK, our actors can start!"

The host gestured to the two actors, who instantly shifted into character .

The blonde in red roughed up her hair and her sweet smile was replaced with one of anger, sadness, and desperation .

The big fella lost his kindly face and replaced it with a vicious look . Coupled with his giant build, tattoos, and thug haircut, no one would mistake him for the good guy .

Carrying the "bloodied" knife, the big fella got off to a head start while the lady in red, who was trailing behind, screamed at the top of her lungs, "Robbery!"

The cameras clearly captured the surroundings of the two actors . The audience was clueless as to where the location was . There were also many viewers tuning in from outside of Huangzhou . Curious viewers from around the world were turning to their screens in earnest while munching on snacks .

Two silhouettes could be spotted on the route the big fella and the blonde in red were taking . Even from a distance, they seemed young .

The first person, who was wearing a cap, appeared calm when he saw the two actors pass by, while the other, a shorter man, looked on earnestly, eyes sparkling .

This doesn't smell right! The tattooed big fella and the blonde in red hesitated briefly, but they kept running .

Meanwhile, Nanfeng was ecstatic .

The cry of "robbery" had jolted him to his senses . Now that he saw two people run by, he started flexing his limbs .

Here it was! The opportunity to prove his worth!

Nanfeng took a giant step in front of Fang Zhao and said, "Boss, rest easy and allow me!"

The way Nanfeng saw it, anyone who served at the side of a strong fighter like Fang Zhao, even if they were a lowly assistant, had to be able to fight!

Chapter 340 Boss, Rest Easy and Allow Me Translator Min Lee Editor TenneshNanfeng, who felt he had quite a bit of work experience, started to get nervous . He did more research on Fang Zhao, but the information he gathered was all superficial, stuff that he had already known . As for insider information, Yan Biao wouldn t reveal too much about Fang Zhao before Nanfeng was officially hired as an assistant . He could ask friends to uncover unreported tidbits through other means, but if he did that, he could kiss his job goodbye . For now, all Nanfeng could do was extrapolate from the info he gathered online . When Yan Biao and Zuo Yu got up the next morning, they saw Nanfeng using a device they had never seen before to conceal his puffy eyes . Captain, the more I think about the gig, the more nervous I get, Nanfeng said . You re not mentally tough enough . You re regressing . Yan Biao started to wonder whether Nanfeng would be able to grip his gun properly during an emergency . Oi, I was affected by what you said . You said that the boss is different from other celebrities, so my prior experience is irrelevant . Now I feel like I don t even know what to say . Captain, what do you suggest What should I say when I see the boss this afternoon Nanfeng asked . Just call it as it is . Don t embellish and don t be too humble . Boss doesn t buy that crap, Yan Biao said . Understood In any case, behave yourself Nanfeng nodded vigorously . Rest assured, Captain I will be on my best behavior . After all, I have plenty of experience working in Huangzhou . I want to let the boss know that I know the rules of the entertainment industry, that I can start the job right away and deal with any challenges that come my way Fang Zhao arrived at 3 p . m . on the dot . When he entered, he noticed the floor was sparkling clean and the apartment was very tidy . There was not a speck to be found on the windows . In anticipation of their boss s scrutiny, Zuo Yu and Yan Biao had cleaned their apartment meticulously, personally attending to nooks and crannies that might otherwise have been easily missed . How do you do I m Nanfeng, as in southern wind . Nanfeng tried hard to smile naturally, but he was so nervous that it came off as awkward . Fang Zhao gestured to a neighboring chair . Don t be nervous . Nanfeng s teeth were clattering as he said, I m n not nervous Yan Biao resisted the temptation to slap Nanfeng in the face . He briefed Fang Zhao on Nanfeng s personal history . When he got to the part about Nanfeng s new prosthetic eye, he glared at his former teammate . At this point, Nanfeng recovered his senses . His quick thinking was back and his attention sharp . He explained to Fang Zhao how he had earned the money for his new eye . Ten million was not a small sum for the average Joe . Most people couldn t earn that amount in a lifetime . Fang Zhao had to be wondering how someone with as little job stability as Nanfeng had been able to get his hands on so much cash . And why did this guy want to become his assistant Would he be a dedicated employee Take Yan Biao and Zuo Yu, for example . They might not be able to earn 10 million after 10 years in the bodyguard business unless some major events happened and they were awarded bonuses . So on this matter, Nanfeng had to thoroughly explain himself to Fang Zhao . Nanfeng took a few sips of water, paused, and said, I didn t make a lot of money my first two years in Huangzhou, just enough to cover my expenses . During my military service, I had been quite out of touch . I hadn t had much work experience before joining the military . When I left the military, it took me some time to adjust, to learn how to handle my affairs and personal relationships . Things started improving after I got to know my surroundings and built up a personal network . I invested in a low budget TV series made by a few university students . The year before last, the returns were quite good . I earned nearly 5 million that year between my dividends and the return on the investment . When he had seen his income statement, Nanfeng had felt like he was on Cloud Nine, but soon, he d realized that Huangzhou was home to many high income individuals . Small potatoes like him barely caused a ripple . Now, Nanfeng had stopped investing in TV productions for a couple of reasons firstly, he had run out of cash, and secondly, his previous collaborators had made it to the big leagues and were now backed by major corporations . He was fortunate enough to have come across that one investment opportunity . He wouldn t always be so lucky . There were plenty of smart investors in Huangzhou . He was a nobody . So you don t have to worry about the source of the cash . I didn t earn money through illegal means . Huangzhou was full of opportunities, but one would have to work hard . Whether or not someone could strike it rich depended on their talent . It hadn t been easy for Nanfeng these past few years . He had been so busy that he d felt like a constantly spinning top . He d wished he had multiple brains that could function concurrently . There were no free lunches . Life was a constant learning experience . But now Nanfeng had his future mapped out . Many folks said that if you were to identify the entertainment industry with a color, it would be gold mixed with black . Money came quickly, but it was also easy to make enemies . But Nanfeng liked the industry . He could get used to things . felt that being Fang Zhao s assistant was a decent position . Fang Zhao wasn t short on cash, so he didn t have to venture into illegal dealings . Also, word was that Fang Zhao was connected in the military . Connections were a good thing, a form of protection . Not to mention that one of Fang Zhao s bodyguards was Nanfeng s former captain, an old friend . The salary that Fang Zhao could offer certainly would pale in comparison to his investment returns, but it would be high by industry standards . The bottom line was that this was Nanfeng s best job prospect right now . After he had accumulated enough experience as an assistant, Nanfeng was confident that he could become a talent agent, build his own team, and produce a few superstars . It would be the pinnacle of his life The only thing that worried Nanfeng was Fang Zhao s positioning in the industry . From what he could see, Fang Zhao was more of the artsy variety . This was an area that Nanfeng was less familiar with . Nonetheless . . . Nanfeng went for the hard sell . I will do my best as an assistant so you can focus on your studies and composition and have time to rest, Boss . I will take care of Boss s daily chores, walk the dog, and feed the rabbit . I will plan your trips in advance and even double as a bodyguard . Zuo Yu and Yan Biao stared him down immediately . Double as a bodyguard What do you think we are, window dressing Why would we need an assistant to double as a bodyguard What a f cking calculating fella this Nanfeng is Zuo Yu thought to himself . After Nanfeng finished his spiel, he looked at Fang Zhao expectantly . Why don t I start on a probationary basis You can decide whether or not to keep me after my probation . Fang Zhao stared at Nanfeng for a few seconds and nodded . One month s probation . I ll send you a contract when I get home . Wow Yes, Boss Nanfeng worked hard to contain his emotions . He wanted to show that he was a steady hand . Is there anything Boss wants to eat I ll order the ingredients . Nanfeng wanted to show off his cooking skills to his new boss and two colleagues and make a good impression . He wanted to prove he wasn t lying . That won t be necessary . I m heading back to campus . Yan Biao is a former comrade . Why don t you stay and catch up with him You can come by campus tomorrow to sign your contract, Fang Zhao said as he got up . No, no, no . Boss, let me head back to campus with you so I can familiarize myself with the route, Nanfeng said while getting up himself . Are you kidding me He could catch up with his comrade later . He had just been hired as an assistant, on a probationary basis no less . He had to seize the chance to impress his boss . Boss, where s your car I ll pick it up, Nanfeng asked . I didn t drive . I walked from HuangArt, Fang Zhao said . Then should I call a car Nanfeng asked . I m going to walk back . Great idea It s good exercise . Boss, let me walk back with you . Zuo Yu and Yan Biao silently observed Nanfeng s shameless sycophancy, which got them thinking that they weren t doing their best . The two bodyguards also wanted to walk Fang Zhao back to HuangArt, but Fang Zhao told them to stay put . After leaving the apartment, Fang Zhao took the elevator to the first floor instead of using the bridges that connected the apartment blocks . He was wearing a hoodie, which was common apparel in this neighborhood . Add to that a baseball cap and unless someone stood right in front of Fang Zhao and stared, they wouldn t be able to recognize him . Plus, Fang Zhao wasn t as popular in Huangzhou as he was in Yanzhou . Fewer people would go out of their way to identify him . Huangzhou also had its share of high rises . The apartment block where Zuo Yu and Yan Biao lived was home to a lot of students and workers from other continents, but the rent varied significantly within the same building . The lower the floor, the cheaper the rent . The brighter the unit, the more expensive the rent became . Huangcheng, the capital of Huangzhou, was also known as Phoenix . This had been a forgotten wasteland during the Old Era . It had also been an important battlefield during the Period of Destruction, but in the New Era, it was the world s leading metropolis, far more prosperous than Qi an . The buildings were towering and the streets separating them weren t that wide, but it wasn t dark at street level because the streets were properly lit . The gaps between the skyscrapers were lit up in an artistic fashion . Even the lighting layout in the lower floors was aesthetically pleasing . Nanfeng noticed that Fang Zhao was quite interested in the lighting, so he shared some stories he had heard . This is probably a typical black street in Huangcheng, but unlike black streets in other cities, they aren t poorly lit and are much safer . Strictly speaking, there are no black streets in Huangcheng . The lighting here was designed by a world famous artist . Quite a few artists who studied in Huangzhou rented places in this neighborhood . Do you see the trash can over there The painting on it was done by an artist before he became famous . Eventually, it was preserved and locked up . While Nanfeng was telling Fang Zhao stories, a nondescript TV broadcast van was parked the next block over . Inside, a middle aged man was pointing at an online map and whispering . The office workers haven t left work yet and the homebodies aren t out either . The streets are quite empty . The timing is perfect, just the right number of people . There are two young men the next block over . Walk past them, make this turn, and you ll see someone smoking by a garbage can . Then head this way and you ll see a couple in the corner, then . . . There were two people next to the man barking instructions . One was a pretty, sweet looking young blonde in a red dress, and the other a big chiseled fella whose arms and neck were covered with menacing tattoos . He had Don t mess with me written all over him . The duo paid close attention to the instructions . Remember your route . This time, you ll be passing nine people . See if any of the nine are willing to intervene . The trio was working for a live TV show that exposed shortcomings in human nature . Today they wanted to show online audiences how few people were willing to stick their necks out when they ran into other folks in distress in daily life . The middle aged man was the host . He relied on his quick wit rather than good looks . He knew how to come up with gimmicks that attracted viewers . The two folks standing in front of the host were both acting graduates from HuangArt . They weren t well known, but both were competent actors . HuangArt graduates were all works of art, as they say . The two were solid actors . The host had paid them handsomely to be part of his show . Got it the host asked . Got it the duo responded . The host took one final look at the two actors and wasn t satisfied . He summoned his makeup artist . Add some finishing touches Prop master, where s our knife Is the knife ready Yes, yes The prop master dashed over to hand a bloodied knife to the big fella . The makeup artist added a few fake wounds to the blonde in red and drew a few fierce looking wrinkles on the big fella s face . Are our cameras ready The cinematographer signaled OK . He had deployed a fleet of miniature drones . After making sure that everyone was ready, the host went live . He kicked off with a sensational introduction before cueing the action . We re all set . Let s see whether folks stay put or intervene when they run into a robbery . We have no idea who we ll run into or what their backgrounds will be . This is reality TV . Out of respect for the pedestrians, their faces will be obscured . OK, our actors can start The host gestured to the two actors, who instantly shifted into character . The blonde in red roughed up her hair and her sweet smile was replaced with one of anger, sadness, and desperation . The big fella lost his kindly face and replaced it with a vicious look . Coupled with his giant build, tattoos, and thug haircut, no one would mistake him for the good guy . Carrying the bloodied knife, the big fella got off to a head start while the lady in red, who was trailing behind, screamed at the top of her lungs, Robbery The cameras clearly captured the surroundings of the two actors . The audience was clueless as to where the location was . There were also many viewers tuning in from outside of Huangzhou . Curious viewers from around the world were turning to their screens in earnest while munching on snacks . Two silhouettes could be spotted on the route the big fella and the blonde in red were taking . Even from a distance, they seemed young . The first person, who was wearing a cap, appeared calm when he saw the two actors pass by, while the other, a shorter man, looked on earnestly, eyes sparkling . This doesn t smell right The tattooed big fella and the blonde in red hesitated briefly, but they kept running . Meanwhile, Nanfeng was ecstatic . The cry of robbery had jolted him to his senses . Now that he saw two people run by, he started flexing his limbs . Here it was The opportunity to prove his worth Nanfeng took a giant step in front of Fang Zhao and said, Boss, rest easy and allow me The way Nanfeng saw it, anyone who served at the side of a strong fighter like Fang Zhao, even if they were a lowly assistant, had to be able to fight

Chapter end