Chapter 98: This Is Slapping Your Own Brother in the Face! (Ball Buns 2/4)

After breakfast and a quick tidy-up, Su Mu followed Qian Jida out the door.

The place Liu Qiangxi had reserved wasn't far—it was an upscale private club restaurant. The privacy was excellent, and the standard was quite high.

Actually, calling it a celebration for Su Mu aside, it was more like he wanted to thank Su Mu again. Honestly, the tens of millions spent on this spokesperson had been worth every single cent.

Imagine what it feels like to have the celebrity endorsing your products trending for nearly ten months out of the year. Works dominating screens all year round, winning awards in a row, with a reputation that had blown up completely. That's the kind of spokesperson any brand would dream of.

By revenue metrics, the endorsement effect Su Mu generated this year had long since passed the hundred-million mark. Of course, he still couldn't compare to international superstars. But Liu Qiangxi's brand was currently focused squarely on the Chinese market. So an international superstar might not actually be as useful as Su Mu.

Just look at that haute couture outfit Su Mu wore to the awards ceremony yesterday. In less than ten hours, people were already wanting to wear the same style. Who knows what the sales figures would look like once "That Is Street Dance" aired and the new brand products hit the market.

A smile crept back onto Liu Qiangxi's lips. He felt proud of his decisive choice. Perhaps this was the taste of strategic mastery. Seeing through the market was less important than seeing through Su Mu. That was the insight he'd gained after succeeding as director of the China region.

The private room door opened. A pretty young hostess led Su Mu and Qian Jida inside.

Liu Qiangxi greeted them: "Su Mu, Chief Qian, I've been waiting for you two."

Su Mu: "Chief Liu, eating at such a fine place—aren't you spending too much on us?"

Qian Jida: "Yeah, every time we let you foot the bill, we feel a bit embarrassed."

Liu Qiangxi waved his hand grandly: "Now that's speaking like outsiders. How could treating you two to a meal be a waste? You and Su Mu are the benefactors of our brand!"

Su Mu: "And no benefactor's watch to gift?"

Liu Qiangxi: "Huh?"

Qian Jida: "Oh, haha, Chief Liu. What Su Mu means is that the outfit you sponsored yesterday and the accessory watches were really eye-catching—when he walked the red carpet, the photographers followed him the whole way. Oh, right, we kept the suit, but we brought back the watch and the jewelry, thinking you could just take them back with you."

Liu Qiangxi smiled: "As long as it did the trick. When my team chose this series, I thought it was a good fit—Su Mu in it would definitely be the brightest one around!"

The three chatted while they ate. They kept going until around two in the afternoon.

Liu Qiangxi checked the time, then said: "That should do for today. Consider this a celebration of Su Mu's award. But do you have any plans for next year? I heard you mention at the ceremony that you're looking to try a new role?"

Su Mu nodded: "Yeah, a new role. If I can pull it off, it might be a real breakthrough, including a completely fresh impression on my image. Filming starts next year, but I plan to head out in a few days—there's a lot to prepare."

Liu Qiangxi nodded: "Looks like we won't see you for seven or eight months again. Still, I hope you succeed. After all, when you succeed, our brand benefits too."

Su Mu stretched out his arm and glanced at his watch, then suddenly wore a look of dejection and melancholy:

"Chief Liu, the moment you mentioned those seven or eight months, it suddenly hit me—time is truly something that moves the heart. For actors like us, the moment we step into a film crew, we completely lose our sense of time. Every time we finish a shoot, it feels like returning from another world. They say celebrities lead brilliant lives, but looking back, do we ever have lives of our own? All we live are the lives other people want to see, not ours. On set, I can't see time. I play someone else every day, empty inside like a puppet.

But the moment I won the award yesterday, touching the ceremonial dress on me and looking at this watch, I suddenly felt alive. At least there's a friend like you who thinks of me—sponsoring the dress, celebrating for me. One good friend in life is worth more than a house full of wives and concubines. When I looked at the time on this watch, it was truly like looking at you, my old friend Chief Liu~."

[Speech proficiency +1+1...]
[Emotion proficiency +1+1...]
[Skill points +0.01+...]

Qian Jida: "???"
The hostess: "..."

The private room suddenly had a strange... elevated atmosphere.

Liu Qiangxi's eyes widened. Hearing Su Mu's words, his heart was deeply stirred!

He had always believed he understood Su Mu. So these words were truly from the bottom of his heart! Su Mu regarded him as a friend—no, as a brother!

At that moment, Su Mu's downward glance at the watch was, in Liu Qiangxi's eyes, no longer simply a glance at a watch. Was my brother checking the time? No. He wasn't. He was looking at friendship, at brotherhood, at the mutual appreciation of kindred spirits!

Liu Qiangxi was moved. He slapped his thigh: "Great! Su Mu, you don't need to say another word—I understand you!"

Su Mu looked at him sincerely, nodded gravely as if taking the words to heart, and began slowly unbuckling the watch strap to return it.

But the next second, Liu Qiangxi stopped him.

Liu Qiangxi: "Su Mu! If you take off this watch today, you'd be slapping your brother in the face! This watch... listen to me, I must give it to you!"

Qian Jida: "???"
The waitress: "!!!"

Su Mu looked taken aback: "Chief Liu, that won't do. It's far too precious. I just said that in passing—ah, friendship lives in the heart. Why should a watch stand in for it?"

[Behavior imitation proficiency +1]
[Emotion proficiency +1]
[Skill points +0.01...]

Liu Qiangxi: "No. Friendship and time need the washing and sedimentation of the years. You and I clicked the moment we met, and we can absolutely stand that test. Besides, it's just a watch worth around three hundred—it's yours!"

Su Mu: "Well, this..."

Liu Qiangxi: "Su Mu, if you recognize me as a friend, then accept it!"

Su Mu: "Alright, then I'll accept it."

Qian Jida: "..."

The waitress: "!!!"

Liu Qiangxi: "Su Mu, once you're in the crew, work hard. You're not like me, a man in his middle years. You're still young, with unlimited potential and possibilities. I truly believe in you. In the future, you could go even further—maybe even beyond this country! Go, do well. Next year, I'll get you an even better watch!"

Su Mu said, moved: "Big brother."

Liu Qiangxi: "Worthy younger brother!"

Su Mu: "Big brother, is this watch really three million?"

Liu Qiangxi: "A bit over. Cartier, limited to fifty-five pieces worldwide—red ruby and blue diamond tourbillon."

Su Mu: "Big brother, how about converting that to cash? The three million, same account as last time. Thanks."

Liu Qiangxi: "Huh? You..."

Su Mu: "No worries. I just have a use for the money."

Qian Jida: "???"
The waitress: "???"

...

On the way back.

Qian Jida was full of questions: "Su Mu, why cash it out? It's a limited edition."

Su Mu shook his head: "A watch is useless. Money is useful."

Qian Jida: "..."

Su Mu: "Even a mosquito's leg is still meat. Three million takes years to scrape together even with your nose to the grindstone. Besides, I made Liu Qiangxi how much this year through endorsements? He knows exactly how much. You think he'd hand it over so easily otherwise?"

Qian Jida: "Alright. Three million isn't bad, anyway. Also, we're going to see Director Chen Anzhi tomorrow. Are you really set on entering the crew early?"

Su Mu nodded: "Once that three million is in hand, that's your year-end bonus. But you'll have to spend the New Year with me out of town. Next, I need to get into the role."

Qian Jida: "???"
Driver Zhu: "Alright."

P.S.: Bosses, you're amazing, thanks! Also, a funny thing—the initial subscription count landed on the hilarious number 4396! Haha! Also, four updates today, with two more coming tonight!

(This chapter ends)