When it comes to the boss's sweet troubles, Zhang Nan has no solution.
You can refuse to collaborate on a scandal with Sugarman's starlets, but if others intentionally bind you for hype, can you really clarify?
Even if you do clarify, it doesn't help much.
You can't just go clarify every time a rumor pops up. With someone like Qi Hao, who has rumors flying left and right, he'd be doing nothing but clarifying rumors all day.
And even if you prove you're innocent, what good does it do?
That's just how the entertainment circle is.
"There will be a way when we get to the bridge, come on, let's go find someone to drink with." Qi Hao mentioned a place.
The manager, temporarily acting as a driver, was slightly surprised: "Hao, do you know Gao Yang?"
"Wasn't it reported recently that I went to sing in a bar? That was his bar. Do you know him too?"
Although Qi Hao knew the manager was a second-generation, someone like Gao Yang, the Coal Boss, didn't seem to belong to the same world, right?
"I went to high school with his daughter; we used to hang out a lot at their bar."
There's this thing called the Six Degrees of Separation theory, saying the world is vast, but social circles are really small.
"Then let's get to know him better, I'm buddies with him, and you can seek his help if any trouble arises."
Qi Hao didn't expect Gao Yang's daughter to be so grown up already.
Zhang Nan just graduated from university, so Gao Yang's daughter must be about the same age.
"Sure, Mr. Gao's family is quite wealthy. Collaborating with him would be very beneficial for your career, Hao."
Zhang Nan was initially torn about whether to help Qi Hao develop relationships like these.
After all, being labeled a Coal Boss doesn't sound good.
Unexpectedly, Qi Hao had already made contact himself; Hao is truly a pragmatic, ambitious figure.
"Wait a minute, I call him Brother Gao, and you call him Uncle..."
"No problem, Hao, we each call him what we like!"
"True..."
"Hao, you've got such a good relationship with Mr. Gao, actually supporting him so openly."
Obviously, a top-tier celebrity, not even a singer, going around performing at commercial gigs, was something hard to understand.
It seems more reasonable to attribute it to personal connections.
"What does celebrity even mean? Sigh, the entertainment industry is getting tougher; last time at a party I heard someone say, without capital you're just an ant..."
Qi Hao was confiding in his new manager.
This indicates Zhang Nan had gained his recognition and trust.
Of course, it's also possible, as Old Tian said, that he's somewhat naive and innocent.
"What the guy said makes sense, and I think so too, Hao, if we unite together, surely we'll build a successful career!"
Zhang Nan spoke with enthusiasm.
Clearly, someone like him didn't need the boss to draw aspirations for him.
Instead, he would draw aspirations for the boss.
Boss, work with me and I'll get you into a Rolls-Royce next year.
"But I don't have much money..."
Qi Hao was a bit embarrassed, for despite being a top celebrity, an elite actor, the cash he could actually use was just tens of millions.
If the system was reliable.
Even with those tens of millions, he could stir up the Wind and Cloud, given that the scripts provided were indeed excellent.
But alas, the system is unreliable.
"Ahem, Hao, my classmate is quite pretty, doesn't resemble Mr. Gao at all, how about you..."
If Old Tian said this, it would surely be a joke.
But coming from someone like Zhang Nan who's focused on career, he means it seriously, one hundred percent.
"Why don't you go yourself!"
For sacrifices like this, shouldn't it be the younger ones stepping in? Plus, you're classmates.
"But I'm already married, I even have a child."
Zhang Nan looked troubled; if he weren't married, he indeed wouldn't mind sacrificing for the boss.
"What the heck did you just say? Didn't you just graduate?"
Qi Hao was stunned.
Graduated this year, now it's December, so it's only been half a year since graduating.
No way, this guy must've become a cheap dad for someone else.
"I did put 'married' in my resume, I had a child while in college and got the certificate and wedding after graduation. Don't worry, Hao, my parents and my wife take care of the child, and we have a nanny at home, it won't affect my work, I just need to go home occasionally."
First get the major life events sorted, without delaying career plans one bit.
Nothing can stop me from pursuing my career.
"Forget it, I'm scared."
Qi Hao shook his head without thinking.
He just had a rumor, and if Gao Yang sent someone over, he'd be taken away.
From the trouble Zhang Nan went through to clear Qi Hao's name, Gao Yang could call his boys and say, oh, the rumor is gone, it was a misunderstanding, bring him back, don't kill him.
The boys would respond: Sorry, boss, he's already been stuffed in a barrel, cemented up, and pushed into the river.
Dang, Qi Hao can't even imagine how terribly that would end.
Of course, that's an exaggerated imagination.
"Ah, Hao, these days the least valuable thing is money. Finding money is easy; what's truly valuable is the big trend, only by riding it can you ascend, for instance us, if we really want to start our own projects, going to Uncle Gao Yang is the right move, and if we don't trust him, we can still approach China Film, Huaxia, Baiyi, Shangying to co-invest…"
When the boss pretends to be poor and won't compromise, what do you do?
You must coax them into happiness!
That's what a competent manager ought to do.
"Nan, you sure can draw a good picture of aspirations."
Qi Hao was moved, for he did envision such a plan before.
However, the prerequisite is having the right script.
The script could come from someone else, or it could be obtained from the system.
According to Qi Hao's idea, by completing tasks swiftly, you could easily keep pace with the timeline, and as a result, obtain scripts from the future timeline.
Having the right script, coupled with his connections, and the coal boss's financial backing...
Seeing the Coal Boss again, Qi Hao was noticeably more enthusiastic.
After all, that's the future cash cow... uh, I mean, great sponsor.
The future father-in-law is out of the question.
"What are you doing here drinking in the middle of the day? Have you eaten dinner? Oh, aren't you that..."
Gao Yang recognized Zhang Nan at first glance, only a bit unsure about his name.
"Mr. Gao, I'm Zhang Nan, you can just call me Nan, I was a high school classmate of your daughter..."
Zhang Nan didn't expect Gao Yang to have such a great memory.
"He's my new manager now, brought him over to meet Brother Yang."
Qi Hao added briefly, the other party should understand what they came for.
"Welcome, welcome, haha, we're family from now on!"
Gao Yang said very boldly.
"We weren't sure if Brother Yang would be at the bar, came to try our luck, and to see if there's any new bar I could help promote."
If Qi Hao were willing to think about these roundabout ways, he would be someone who navigates social affairs effortlessly.
After all, he was out and about since he was fifteen or sixteen.
Too bad, Old Tian doted on him into incompetence.
"Skip the promotion, I welcome you to drink. Nan, I remember you just graduated, and you already started working?"
Gao Yang asked curiously.
That's someone else's child, look at how ambitious he is.
"Yes, thanks to Hao and Brother Tian's acceptance, I now make a living in their studio."
Zhang Nan not only found work right after graduating.
He started getting into different industries right after the college entrance exams.
By the time he graduated, he already had a wealth of work experience.
After careful consideration, he ultimately chose the entertainment industry, advancing boldly from an assistant and manager.
As for how far he could eventually reach, he hadn't thought about it yet.
"When did the studio get established, I'll bring some friends to support you."
"It's just a small company with about ten people, probably not as many as Brother Yang's bar, it's not ideal to go all out."
A celebrity studio must not be too ostentatious, lest fans find out the address and block the door every day.
"Opening day must have rites! At least have someone send flowers or something." Gao Yang paused and then asked: "Are you guys short on people in your studio, can my daughter accumulate some work experience there?"
Both parties agreed to cooperate when possible in the future.
However, without a written contract or formal discussions, Gao Yang wasn't sure if Qi Hao really had it in mind.
Better make his daughter a "hostage."
A constant reminder from Qi Hao's side about such an agreement.
Plus, maybe solve that lazy kid's problem of idling at home all day.
Who knows, maybe even mud can stick to a wall.