Chapter 0009: Work Hard to Make Money, Young Man

After all, he was already a sophomore. Although in his parents' eyes, Zhao Fusheng would always be a child they needed to worry about, they would still consider his opinions.

Of course, that was just consideration. Whether they would follow his advice depended on their mood.

But it had to be said, Zhao Fusheng's suggestion was somewhat tempting.

After dinner, the adults took Fan Beibei downstairs for a stroll. Unnoticed, only Fan Baobao and Zhao Fusheng were left in the room.

"Creating an opportunity for us to be alone?"

Zhao Fusheng stared at Fan Baobao, dumbfounded.

Fan Baobao shot him a glare. "It's all your fault..."

After saying that, she hesitated for a few seconds before quietly asking, "Hey, Uncle Zhao bought out his seniority. Does that mean he won't have labor insurance anymore?"

Still young, Fan Baobao felt that Zhao's father had sacrificed his future security to help pay off her family's debt.

Zhao Fusheng shook his head. "It's not as dramatic as you think. Actually, under the current circumstances, buying out seniority early isn't a bad thing."

Not everyone could foresee the future. In many people's eyes, losing the iron rice bowl meant losing security. But Zhao Fusheng knew that in the future, the iron rice bowl would cease to exist.

"Don't worry, I'll have a chance to act in a drama soon," Fan Baobao said, biting her lip.

"Act in a drama?" Zhao Fusheng frowned, surprised. "Can sophomores at your school act in dramas?"

He had reason to be puzzled. Fan Baobao's school, Ninghai Film Academy, was officially the Ninghai Branch of Shanghai Film Academy.

To be more direct, it was actually a vocational school. Not to mention acting in dramas, Zhao Fusheng clearly remembered that apart from Fan Baobao, no one from this school had become a celebrity in the entertainment industry.

Even Fan Baobao herself didn't become famous right after graduation. She worked as an extra in Hengdian for several years. There were even rumors that her rise to fame was due to her connection with a big shot in the industry.

The entertainment industry was never a pure place. Zhao Fusheng knew this better than anyone. Having worked as an advertising planner for so many years, he had some ties to the industry. Models or third- and fourth-tier stars—except for the top ones—all had some dirt behind them.

So-called artists and celebrities only show the public what they want them to see. As for their true selves, no star is willing to reveal that.

Because they know that if their real selves were exposed, they would only fall from grace and fade into obscurity.

"It's not really acting in a drama. The teacher said that starting from junior year, we can take on some ad work ourselves," Fan Baobao said, lying back on the sofa with a sigh. "Although they're not big brands, I guess each time we can make about a thousand or so."

Then she pushed Zhao Fusheng, who was sitting there. "Listen, you can date at school, but don't let Mom know, or else I'll make your life miserable..."

Zhao Fusheng looked at her speechlessly. "Don't worry, I'm single."

"I figured that out long ago. I have confidence in your abilities," Fan Baobao said, instantly KO-ing Zhao Fusheng.

"What about you? There must be people chasing you at school, right?"

Zhao Fusheng stood up, brought back some fruit, peeled and cut it into small pieces, and naturally handed a piece to Fan Baobao.

Fan Baobao opened her mouth, ate the fruit he offered, then wrinkled her nose and said, "Don't even mention it. Those guys are all trying to take advantage of me. I can't be bothered with them."

She paused, shaking her head slightly with disappointment. "It's just that I have a good temper. Anyone else would have exploded by now."

Zhao Fusheng remained silent at this. He really wanted to ask Fan Baobao what state of mind she was in when she said that.

Good temper?

Hah, Zhao Fusheng felt that the Fan Baobao he encountered in his childhood might have been a fake.

"You need to be careful with ads. I hear there are a lot of scammers now," Zhao Fusheng said to Fan Baobao after some hesitation.

He had been in advertising planning his whole previous life and knew all the tricks. For established actors, it was fine, but for unknown small-timers like Fan Baobao, advertisers had many ways to force compliance.

Fan Baobao burst out laughing. "You're actually worried about me. Don't worry, if that happens, I'll call you."

Then she blinked her big eyes. "How about you be my agent?"

"No!"

Zhao Fusheng shook his head without a second thought and said seriously, "I'm not a professional. No way."

Are you kidding? Being an agent for this she-devil, bossed around by her? Zhao Fusheng would have to be crazy to do that.

Besides, he had a clear plan for his future: to work hard and make more money than he could ever spend.

After all, even four-year-old Fan Beibei knew that the happiest thing in the world was having endless money.

"Tch, you can't even seize the opportunity. When I become famous, don't come crying to me for help," Fan Baobao said with a grin.

Zhao Fusheng rolled his eyes and decided to ignore this delusional woman.

"By the way, ask Aunt Li where Uncle Fan lost the money," Zhao Fusheng said, remembering something.

His idea was simple: even if they had to repay the fifty thousand, they shouldn't just hand over the money directly. He needed to find out what happened.

Fan Baobao didn't think much of it, assuming it was Zhao's parents who asked. She nodded. "Got it. I'll tell you the address later."

She paused, dropped her playful expression, and said seriously to Zhao Fusheng, "Zhao Fusheng, thank you this time."

Things unattained or unfulfilled become obsessions.

For Zhao Fusheng, his parents were his obsession; for Fan Baobao, her dream of stardom was hers.

When she learned about her father's situation, Fan Baobao felt like the sky had fallen. She couldn't even cry.

What are tears?

A cleanser for a dark and cruel life. Those bright and light moments are life, and also movies.

And Zhao Fusheng's appearance reignited hope in Fan Baobao.

Sometimes people are pitiful. They know there's a perfect future ahead, but if they can't get past the current hurdle, not only will they miss that perfect future, they might not even have a mediocre present.

...

...

Having received the queen's instruction, Zhao Fusheng didn't take it to heart. Fan Baobao was a bond from his past life, an old friend, and an investment in the future.

Knowing that this woman would become a big star in the future, giving her some力所能及的 help now wouldn't hurt the Zhao family.

Though a bit utilitarian, Zhao Fusheng truly wasn't worried that Fan Baobao wouldn't repay the fifty thousand.

After staying home another night, Zhao Fusheng left his parents early on Sunday morning and returned to school.

The Advertising Department of the School of Media at Ninghai Normal University—that was Zhao Fusheng's major. Sometimes he thought he must have been out of his mind to choose such a bizarre major.

Even more bizarre was that in his previous life, he had actually found a job and made a living with this diploma.

It just goes to show that fate can be truly ridiculous sometimes.

And now, what Zhao Fusheng had to do was seize every opportunity fate gave him.

"Damn, you finally remember to come back?" A fat guy, 1.6 meters tall and weighing over 190 pounds, stared at Zhao Fusheng with a cloying, resentful tone.

Zhao Fusheng smiled wryly, glanced at the fat guy, then at the other two in the dorm, and confirmed that his college roommates were still the same four guys he remembered.

Fatty Wang Zhen, Skinny Monkey Wen Yu, and Secret Agent Tan Kaixuan.

They say one true friend in life is enough. Zhao Fusheng's roommates were among his few friends.

Even after graduation, they stayed in touch. Though scattered across the country, they made an effort to meet every few years.

As for other college classmates...

Time is a butcher's knife, taking away not just our age but also the friendships of our youth.

"You, that Viper has already put out the word. You're going to fail Public Relations this semester," Wen Yu said helplessly, about to do laundry, glancing at Zhao Fusheng.

Viper was the nickname of that professor. Zhao Fusheng clearly remembered that in his senior year, the professor was fired for academic fraud.

He had heard the details from Wang Zhen, who stayed on as a teacher.

"It's not that serious. Just buy a carton of cigarettes and send it over, and it'll be fine," said Tan Kaixuan, wearing glasses and looking refined.

Zhao Fusheng nodded, walked over, and gave Tan Kaixuan a light hug. "You're the best."

"You two aren't hiding something, are you?" Wen Yu and Wang Zhen laughed, clearly finding Zhao Fusheng's action too ambiguous.

Even Tan Kaixuan himself was a bit baffled.

Only Zhao Fusheng understood why he did it. Because twenty years later, Tan Kaixuan would jump from the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai after failing in stock trading. Before that, this old classmate was known as the top bottom-fisher in Shanghai, a stock market tycoon. But little did he know that walking the night path would eventually lead to ghosts. After a stubborn gamble where he caught a falling knife and refused to let go, Tan Kaixuan, the best-off among his classmates, nicknamed Cannon Tan, faded away in disgrace.

But now, Tan Kaixuan was still young, not yet in business. His parents ran a small stall at Shanghai's Yuyuan Garden, earning a decent income.

Fortunately, everything still had a chance to start over.