Translator K: Golden Assistant 30

PLEASE DO NOT UPLOAD ELSEWHERE.
If you're reading this anywhere else, it has been stolen from https://daisyktranslations.blogspot.com/

Wassup everyone~

I have set a goal on ko-fi: once the target goal is reached, I will translate and upload full manhua chapters that will totally cover the next novel chapter I release, and to be fair - it will be exclusively for supporters. It will be a basic edit, because I'm not experienced in cleaning up manga haha
┐(￣ヮ￣)┌

|
No visual content this time!
|
Stay safe at home and enjoy Chapter 30!

Chapter 30

On Dumei's end, they were preparing the news manuscript and even included Wu Henggu's role as Gong Sun Ce. There was another wave of sensation when the news was released on the same day, and no one kept their focus on Luzhou and Xiao Yi's scandal. The majority believed the news from Li Changzheng's company, while Dumei contacted the media to add on another news. It was most likely about Xiao Yi's songs, when the time came, Li Changzheng and Luzhou would personally perform the songs as a duet, and also it would mention that Luzhou was currently in preparation for this large filming.

Almost no one had doubts after that, and those who still did only suspected both parties were using this as a form of promotion, hence Xiao Yi was dragged out to be placed in the public's eye.

So a storm passed, and someone began to edit various MVs of Luzhou and Li Changzheng, looking forward to the stars and the moon, bitterly waiting for the drama to start filming.

3 days later, Luzhou signed the contract, Xiao Yi was also forced to sign a contract. This time, no matter what opinions Luzhou might have he could not voice them anymore, after all he dug his own grave, and even let Li Changzheng pick up a cheap deal. He couldn't get angry at Xiao Yi back at home, so he could only stare at Dumei.

"Let me say this first, I am not going to sell rot with Li Changzheng." Luzhou said.

Dumei said: "You read the script, it's not so messed up, it's an investment of more than 100 million dollars. If the online speculation is too strong, wouldn't the broadcasting auditors be giving themselves trouble?"

Luzhou said nothing more. Xiao Yi took the script to read, this drama was simply a gathering of the country's current hottest niche stars. Like rolling a snowball, this news was rolled bigger and bigger, many celebrities were willing to make a guest appearance just for Li Changzheng and Luzhou. It was simply a gathering of handsome men, the internet was bursting with joy. Xiao Yi was almost dizzy after seeing this.

This was, in the recent 5 years, the project with the most big shots in a domestic historical idol drama. Even the movie empress was guest starring as a princess. Dumei and Lin Yao's two studios were listed as co-producers, with the leading stars being Luzhou and Li Changzheng.

The most powerful thing was that Luzhou's name could be placed in front of Li Changzheng's....... when Xiao Yi thought of it he really felt like he should be hell bent on worshiping him.

Currently, the script was not even half completed, but Xiao Yi looked at it with relish, looking at scripts was his most favorite thing, he directly led all the images of each character into his mind, equivalent to memorizing the entire script once. Even though he could only read half of it, it still made his heart and lungs itch, and he hated how he couldn't camp outside the scriptwriter's door.

However, Luzhou had close to no interest in the script, and was not at all anticipating his collaboration with Li Changzheng. But after some thinking, his actions were justifiable. Just by releasing some news, the internet already exploded to that extent, it was unknown how fans from each side would battle it out after the drama started screening. It would definitely be a bloodbath.

Luzhou's remuneration was a grand total of 12 million for taking on this drama, Li Changzheng didn't know, and Luzhou did not inquire either, but both parties were willing to bring funds into the crew. Luzhou invested 10 million.

"If the investment cannot be recouped, Dumei will cry to death." Luzhou lazily said.

"How can it not be recouped." Xiao Yi said, "This drama will definitely shock the world......"

Luzhou said: "Hard to tell, anything Li Changzheng invests in, he has almost never recouped any."

Xiao Yi: "Is that so?"

"Yes." Luzhou said: "His previous movie costed 140 million, it would require close to 500 or 600 million in box office in order to gain profits, 600 million? That lousy movie is worth 600 million in the box office? In the end he lost so much money, not even his mother could recognize him*, he finally knows it is hard to earn in movies now, and wants to make money from dramas."

*T/N: This is just a saying to show that he really lost a lot of money, it is not literal

Xiao Yi's lips twitched, he was thinking indeed, if you wanted to earn money you have to earn a huge sum. Luzhou was obviously very careful on matters concerning money, he wouldn't normally invest in just anything. When he had to take out 10 million he considered for a long time, and also consulted a lot of people.

PLEASE DO NOT UPLOAD ELSEWHERE.
If you're reading this anywhere else, it has been stolen from https://daisyktranslations.blogspot.com/

Luzhou's birthday was approaching soon. Xiao Yi still fondly remembered the cake from last time, and he bitterly pondered, he didn't know what sort of present to prepare for him. However, Luzhou had never brought up his birthday, and he didn't ask for a present from Xiao Yi. Xiao Yi knew on the day of Luzhou's birthday, there would definitely be a huge pile of presents in the company given by the fans, so whatever he gave would be totally insignificant, in a moment it will just drown in a sea of various expensive gifts.

Luzhou didn't seem to care, until 12th July, when Xiao Yi moved a truckload of items from the company back home. Luzhou then said: "Why are you always moving these things back home! Take them all away!"

Xiao Yi: "I.....I will deal with it."

Luzhou: "Can you still fit these in your room! With your hoarding, the house will be filled in a few days!"

Although Luzhou said all these, in the end he did not throw anything out, and could only empty a room out for Xiao Yi to store the gifts from the fans. Until the night of 13th July, Luzhou changed his clothes, he wore a shirt and shorts, and was heading to a birthday party his friends organized for him.

The weather was already very hot. Luzhou opened two buttons, revealing a bronzed chest and sexy clavicles. While he was driving Xiao Yi's heart was jumping wildly, these few days he gradually felt that it was better in the past when he had not realized his intentions, now it was constantly in his heart. He just felt that whichever time or location Luzhou was always full of charm, no matter how they interacted, the feelings Xiao Yi had for him just grew stronger and stronger, and now it has reached the point where he almost wanted to kiss him.

Even so, that was impossible, he had to control himself, he must not cross that border.... Xiao Yi thought, it was good to just look from afar, he did not expect more.

"Are you coming?" Luzhou said, "Singing? Coming or not?"

"I'm not going." Xiao Yi said immediately, "President Du asked me to avoid appearing together with you. In case the paparazzi comes again."

Luzhou hesitated for a moment, then said, "Forget it, let's go in together."

"No no." Xiao Yi shook his hand in a hurry, "You go ahead."

Producer friends of Luzhou, a few actors and actresses, they all came. There were too many groundless rumors in the entertainment circle, Xiao Yi would not go no matter what, he said: "I will wait for you in the car, go have fun."

"You can go shopping." Luzhou said before alighting from the car, "After it is over I will call you."

"Okay." Xiao Yi smiled and said.

Luzhou went to sing k, Xiao Yi just sat quietly in the car, holding a gift from a fan. He especially liked this gift, although Luzhou has never seen it, it was a pair of handphone charms, along with matching phone cases. He didn't know which fan this was who had spent so much thought in the gift, the polymer clay handphone charms were miniature chibi figurines of Luzhou and Xiao Yi, even the phone cases had each of their chibi pictures.

Xiao Yi was shocked when he received this gift, but he also had fans now. Although it could not be compared to Luzhou's tens of millions of fans, this little one also had 10 thousand fans.

Xiao Yi changed a new phone, it was the same as Luzhou's. He wanted to hang the charm on his phone, but he couldn't decide if he should give the other to Luzhou, it would then become a couple handphone charm. However, this was too blatant...... what if Luzhou knew he liked him......

Xiao Yi never wanted to steer the direction of his feelings to love, he did not even want to think about love. It was as if once his feelings for Luzhou converted to a one-sided love, it would turn dirty, meaningless, and frivolous. Even up till now he was not too willing to admit it was love, although he liked Luzhou unconditionally, it was because of Luzhou's charms, and not because Xiao Yi was a homosexual.

Their brotherhood must get even better, but once he detected he had sexual desires towards Luzhou, he was ashamed. What were those thoughts.....

Xiao Yi leaned on the driver's seat, one foot on the steering wheel, holding and looking at the handphone charm, then looking over at his phone. In the end, he hung up the handphone charm.

Should he send a Weibo post to wish Luzhou happy birthday... he wouldn't see it anyways, but if he posted it he would be surrounded by Luzhou's fans, if he didn't post it he would also get surrounded by Luzhou's fans.... Xiao Yi really wanted to throw the phone away and howl Mama, Earth is really dangerous.

In his WeChat, overall planner Sister An said: "Help me wish the male god a happy birthday, Xiao Yi you two didn't go out to play?"

"Nope nope." Xiao Yi answered, "He went to sing k with his friends."

"He's too much!" Sister An said in the group chat, "He left you alone at home?"

Xiao Yi was about to reply, but Luzhou shouted beside him: "Do you want to die! Dare to complain about Lao Zi [1] in the group chat!"

Xiao Yi: "......"

Luzhou was wearing a paper birthday party hat on his head, the string wound around his jaw, standing outside the car door staring at Xiao Yi. Xiao Yi was almost about to laugh out, it was simply too silly.

"It has..... ended?" Xiao Yi asked.

"Yes." Luzhou said.

Xiao Yi: "It hasn't been over an hour yet."

Luzhou: "Can't I feel like not partying anymore."

Xiao Yi: "......"

Luzhou boarded the car, threw a few bags to the back, then sat in the passenger's seat. Xiao Yi stared at Luzhou for half a day, Luzhou was confused and said: "Go."

"You really don't want to party anymore?" Xiao Yi said.

"It was so noisy my head feels dizzy." Luzhou said.

Xiao Yi drove the car out and got into a jam at the second loop. While stuck in the jam, Luzhou seemed to be waiting for something, and looked at Xiao Yi with a "you know it" expression. Xiao Yi came back to his senses, Luzhou should be asking him for a birthday present, so Xiao Yi took out the phone case and handphone charm.

"This is my birthday present?" Luzhou flung the items to the front of the car and said, "This is too insincere!"

Xiao Yi said: "These were given by a fan.... they're handmade."

Luzhou: "I don't want! What nonsense is this!"

Xiao Yi: "I have a birthday present for you."

Luzhou: "Hand it over."

Xiao Yi: "But right now..... I didn't bring it, I can't hand it over."

Luzhou gave a snort and leaned against the car's window, crossing one leg over the other, shaking his ankle on that other leg, and closed his eyes to sleep, his body carrying a faint smell of alcohol. Xiao Yi took out a jacket to cover him up, taking the opportunity to lean over and almost kissing his face.

Xiao Yi's heart was thumping, his actions were almost subconscious, it was fortunate he controlled it.

Xiao Yi thought Oh well, I knew you wouldn't want this handphone charm.... When he stopped before a red light, he fumbled for his phone and glanced at it, his fingers poking here and there.

Luzhou secretly opened his eyes, his eyebrows raised slightly as he lifted his neck to peek at Xiao Yi's phone. Xiao Yi seemed to have bought something, then raised his head. Luzhou immediately closed his eyes and pretended to be sleeping.

Xiao Yi turned the steering wheel, getting off the overpass and in a moment, he went on the highway. At the toll station, he retrieved a blindfold to let Luzhou wear it.

Luzhou: "......."

Xiao Yi: "I'm bringing you to collect your birthday present, you can sleep for a while first."

Luzhou pulled the blindfold down. While Xiao Yi was driving through the toll station he took a look at Luzhou, and wanted to kiss him again. The Luzhou who was wearing a blindfold had revealed a beautiful nose bridge, a handsome profile and sexy lips, Xiao Yi could hardly control himself. Once this kind of thing started, the feelings will be like an uncontrollable flood, when he looked at him he could feel the feelings in his heart surging. The more he looked the more he liked, and the more he wanted to keep looking.....

Finally, Xiao Yi settled down. He took out a card to pay the toll money, then went on high speed the entire way.

"Try not to act on your own in the future, got it?" Luzhou abruptly said.

"Huh?" Xiao Yi was concentrating on driving the car, and stole a glance at Luzhou, "Why?"

"There are people who find you displeasing, they want to beat you up." Luzhou said.

Xiao Yi laughed and replied: "Do you want to beat me, Zhou Ge."

"Who is joking with you." Luzhou said, "Someone wants to beat you! Send you to the hospital! To teach you a lesson, to let you be more honest. Understand?"

Xiao Yi: "......."

"Who?" Xiao Yi started to feel a little danger, and was very angry, "I didn't do anything."

"I don't know." Luzhou said, "Anyways just stay by my side, no one can lay a hand on you."

Xiao Yi vaguely understood, Luzhou had ended his party so soon, probably because he heard something from his friends. But who would want to beat him up? Zhang Xinran and her manager? Xiao Yi used to often hear about this sort of happenings in the entertainment industry, but he did not imagine that it would happen to him one day. He did not trick nor provoke anyone, even being like this could earn a beating.

"The entertainment industry is like a triad underworld." Luzhou slept blindfolded, his lips slightly moving, as he said casually, "Engaging in battles, happily seeking vengeance. If you treat someone well, that someone might not even remember your kindness, but if you offend them, they will show up in a flash."

Xiao Yi gave a sound of agreement, and said: "Sorry, I've given you trouble again."

"This has got nothing to do with you." Luzhou drawled, "It was caused by me."

Xiao Yi thought It's good you know you caused this, finally you can't lecture me this time. Luzhou was uncharacteristically mild and said: "But you have done some things right, although in the underworld people's hearts are sinister, there are always some people, if you treat them well, they will also treat you well, and some others are straightforward, serious, and kind."

"Like Sister Lee and the others?" Xiao Yi said.

"That day when you were on the road." Luzhou said, "The paparazzi were coming right behind us, if not for Ning Yaqing giving you a hand, the scene would have been captured. After that she even gave me a call, she can be considered a good person. If there's a chance in the future remember to thank her."

Luzhou stopped speaking. Sometimes Xiao Yi felt that the entertainment industry was not as unbearable as many people said, yes there are those who treat higher-ups very well but step on the lower ones, and those who will stab you in the back, but whenever there are people there will be an underworld, and in the underworld, there will always be all sorts of people. There are people like Director Guo, who seriously produces films and does not seem to care about other things, and then there are people who wish to reach the peak by hugging other people's thighs, to climb the hierarchies, and also those who use money to suppress others, and those who dawdle their lives away.

"We've reached." Xiao Yi smiled saying, "Ta da——"

Luzhou: "......."

Xiao Yi moved the luggage in the trunk, holding Luzhou's passport and headed off to collect the tickets. The visa was settled a few days prior, and he bought first class tickets. Xiao Yi felt a little distressed, the return flight tickets costed him more than 10 thousand, but to go overseas for a holiday was definitely better than staying at home all day, the recent weather in Beijing was extremely hot.

"Where did you get the money?" Luzhou had a face full of questions as he looked at Xiao Yi.

Xiao Yi said: "You gave it to me."

Luzhou: "......."

Xiao Yi hurriedly consoled him, saying, "I earned it through composing songs, the 2 songs got me 40 thousand. The return flights, hotel, I am treating you to go play, I am covering it all!"

Luzhou stuck his hand out for the ticket, yet Xiao Yi did not let him see, and directly kept the boarding passes. He nudged him into the resting lounge, and 11pm at night, they sat in a flight towards Bangkok.

On the plane, Luzhou played with his phone for a while before keeping it. Xiao Yi unintentionally looked over. He saw that Luzhou had changed his phone casing, and even attached the phone charm. His heart was both nervous and happy.

However, upon reaching Bangkok, Xiao Yi held the translated name of the hotel and was speaking to the counter staff at the car rental company with his dog shit like English when he was directly carried aside by Luzhou.

When Luzhou spoke it was just a flow of fluent British English. Xiao Yi stared with his jaw dropped, and almost wanted to kneel down.

However, no matter how fluent his English was, it was useless because the Thais could not understand, it was as if they had question marks above their heads.

Xiao Yi could only explain again and again in stammers, rented a car, and started to lose his way again. They went around the city area, struggling till 6am in the morning, and finally reached the hotel.

Luzhou simply wanted to admit defeat to Xiao Yi: "You didn't even make an itinerary, what are we going to do?"

"I'll make it now." said Xiao Yi.

"Anything anything." Luzhou replied, "Let's sleep first."

They finally left Beijing for once, far away from the city, there are no paparazzi, and at last they could openly wear their sunglasses with singlets and shorts out to the streets. In 7 days, Xiao Yi and Luzhou toured all over the country, and even went to Phuket.

Xiao Yi couldn't swim very well, every time he did he would lose to Luzhou, but Luzhou would kick him into the water without fail. The two returned from Chang Mai, went to tour Bangkok again, and even went to the Erawan Shrine to make a wish.

"What wish are you going to make?" Luzhou questioned.

Xiao Yi said: "I can't say it out."

Luzhou: "If you make a wish here, you have to repay back."

"Oh——" Xiao Yi said, "When my wish comes true I will come back to repay, will you come again? Zhou Ge?"

Luzhou was more familiar with Bangkok than Xiao Yi, he often came here for holidays. He did not reply, he pondered, then said: "You make your wish to me first, if I can't fulfill your wish, you can find Erawan Shrine again."

Xiao Yi looked at Luzhou, the two of them standing on the street outside the shrine near the intersection. Luzhou's sunglasses reflected Xiao Yi's uneasy expression.

"You......should be unable to fulfill it." Xiao Yi smiled saying.

"Tell me?" Luzhou frowned, then suddenly said, "Maybe I can do it?"

"You can't." Xiao Yi smiled, and said, "I can't tell, I'm going to make my wish."

Luzhou pressed his shoulder with a hand, and said: "Does it concern me, or does it concern you?"

Xiao Yi did not reply, Luzhou took off his sunglasses, staring into his eyes.

"It concerns both of us." Luzhou said, "Did I guess right?"

Xiao Yi said: "Actually I was going to ask Erawan Shrine to bless that you can successfully pass the hurdle in your life career, to succeed in changing your image, so that your filming path can get wider and wider, and develop even better."

Xiao Yi looked at Luzhou, and in the end Luzhou said: "Wait, I'll go and buy incense."

Luzhou came back after purchasing the incense, and with Xiao Yi they rotated and prayed in four different directions. Xiao Yi was a little surprised, he asked: "You also have a wish you want to make?"

"Yes." Luzhou did not elaborate.

Xiao Yi did not question on. Until Dumei gave a call to rush them, to ask them to head back for a meeting, did the two of them leave Thailand.

PLEASE DO NOT UPLOAD ELSEWHERE.
If you're reading this anywhere else, it has been stolen from https://daisyktranslations.blogspot.com/

The filming was brought ahead of time, Xiao Yi and Luzhou was under the sun for an entire week, causing Dumei to be almost angered to death by the both of them. Luckily, Luzhou's face didn't seem very much tanned. Dumei said: "You two are simply......"

Xiao Yi said: "Very tanned? It's not too tanned ah. Should be still fairer than an Indian right."

Dumei: "Luzhou is fine, but you, Xiao Yi you tanned so much are you planning to act as Bao Gong [2] ?"

Xiao Yi: "Oh me.....I will turn fair very quickly, every time I tan I will get fairer again in less than 3 months."

Dumei: "I wanted to arrange a side character for you to act."

"No need." Xiao Yi smiled and said, "I will just be an assistant."

Dumei: "If other people had the opportunity they will rush to crowd the crew, only you push it away."

Xiao Yi smiled and said: "Let's leave the opportunities to the newbies."

The minute those words came out, the entire office went silent. Xiao Yi wondered if he said something wrong, and was a little uneasy. Dumei and Lin Yao seemed to have discovered something, and exchanged glances. Only Luzhou proudly said: "Hear that?"

Dumei: "........"

Luzhou: "Let's go, prepare to enter the crew."

Xiao Yi asked Luzhou: "Did I say something wrong?"

"No." Luzhou lightly said, "Well done little comrade, the country needs people like you who don't seek fame nor profits, a person who will devote his life to his career. I have decided to sign a contract with you that sells yourself for 50 unshakable years."

Xiao Yi suddenly laughed. Luzhou continued on positively: "But you should not be mistaken, this contract is only one-sided, if your performance is bad, I will still fire you anytime."

Xiao Yi: "........"

3 days later, Xiao Yi was packing in preparation to enter the crew. Hengdian, it was Hengdian again, towards this place he felt fear and love. It was way too hot, summer in Hengdian was like being in a bun steamer, after shooting a few scenes they would look like they have just been fished out of the water. Xiao Yi and the crew could do anything just to cool down, but Luzhou and Li Changzheng were going to be miserable. Clad in thick historical costumes, they even have to film everyday, as this script was a parallel double protagonist story. When Xiao Yi first read the script, it was filled with various melodrama, conflicts, and case investigations, every time Flying Cat bumped into Sleek Rat it was a love hate showdown, though Bai Yutang would sometimes help Zhan Zhao solve cases.

The director, screenwriters, producers, post-production effects team, they were all the very best in the country. Lee Ye showed up in person on the first day of filming, when Luzhou and Li Changzheng both showed up at the same time, the entire Hengdian was crowded with people, almost jam-packing the Qing Ming Shanghetu scenic area.

Xiao Yi felt dizzy being squeezed by so many people, and he even had to protect both Luzhou and Li Changzheng. Despite his busy schedule, Li Changzheng still took some time out to say a few words to him, probably wanting to arrange a meeting at night, and ask Luzhou out as well to chat and have a meal together. Then he disappeared, most likely having gotten squeezed off to somewhere else.

Immediately after, Li Changzheng and Luzhou's fans started fighting outside the filming area, and a small-scale riot broke out, they were then taken away by the police.

This publicity of this drama on Weibo was almost crazy, all kinds of nonsense were spreading. Xiao Yi went through half a day of chaos, and could finally take a breather, entering the filming studio to wait for Luzhou to shoot his promotional photos. Luzhou was wearing a balaclava, and for the convenience of shooting in historical costumes, he was shaved to a buzz cut. Li Changzheng was growing out his hair, he only had to attach the hair wig to begin shooting.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Personal thoughts:

Why are they still not together yettttt. Dead from the all the hanging. The comments from the site where I get the raws from are hilarious! There's always a few usual commentators, maybe I shall translate some of the funnier comments next time :P

See y'all next chapter! :)

____________________________________________________________________________________

Notes:

1. 老子, pronounced as 'lao zi', means father or I your daddy in a angry and/or arrogant context.

2. 包公 - pronounced as 'bao gong'. He is a famous Chinese historical politician called Bao Zheng. In dramas he is always shown as a dark skinned man with a crescent on his forehead.