Chapter 82: See That? I’m the Sugar Daddy
Mr. Ma was thoroughly irritated by Li Chen. Calling her “baby” every other sentence—so smoothly, too—it was obvious this kid had long since hidden a beauty away in a golden house.
Li Chen shot him a look, and the two of them moved to another spot not far away to talk business.
Nan Xun recalled the pointers Li Chen had just given her and happily played around with the gun on her own.
“Nice shooting,” someone said suddenly from beside her.
Nan Xun turned her head and saw a woman with heavy makeup. She looked somewhat familiar.
For once, Nan Xun’s memory worked—thanks to a palace intrigue drama she had just finished watching. One of the leads in that show, the ruthless empress, was played by this very woman!
“Y–You’re Li Rongrong?” Nan Xun exclaimed. It was her first time seeing a real celebrity up close, and she found it pretty novel.
“I really like the dramas you act in. I think your acting is amazing.”
Li Rongrong was startled for a moment, then covered her mouth and laughed. “I thought you were about to curse me. You know, these days when I walk down the street and people recognize me, they all want to throw rotten eggs at me.”
Nan Xun laughed along. “That just means your acting is good. Some viewers get too immersed and think you’re a bad woman in real life too.”
Li Rongrong’s smile faded a little. “I’m not exactly a good woman anyway.”
As she spoke, she pointed toward the balding middle-aged man talking with Li Chen and said mockingly, “See that? That’s my sugar daddy.”
Seeing the little girl’s shocked expression, Li Rongrong said indifferently, “You know, in the entertainment industry, talent and looks alone are useless. I’ve been drifting around for over ten years—from nineteen to now, thirty—before finally landing a role that could barely count as a lead. And that role only came because of Mr. Ma.”
After a pause, she asked, “Do you look down on me?”
Nan Xun shook her head. Someone who could speak so frankly about having a sugar daddy didn’t seem like those women who were purely after money.
Nan Xun asked, “If the industry is so messy, why don’t you quit?”
Li Rongrong smiled. “Acting is my life. I love acting. If I couldn’t act anymore, I’d feel like a piece of my life was missing.”
Nan Xun hesitated, then said, “But that Mr. Ma looks kind of… old.”
She had actually wanted to say old and ugly.
Li Rongrong burst out laughing. “Girl, you’re really straightforward. Do you know what my peers say? They say I have great taste, managing to find a backer like Mr. Ma.”
Nan Xun heard the sarcasm in her words.
Li Rongrong continued, “Even though I’m involved with him, it’s just a transaction. He wants a docile lover, I want acting resources. That’s all.”
After saying that, she patted Nan Xun on the shoulder. “Girl, I can tell you’re not the type who chases wealth and status, but—”
She paused, lowering her voice. “Young Master Li isn’t a good choice. You might not know his reputation yet, but he… anyway, you should get out of this as soon as possible.”
Nan Xun opened her mouth. Had Li Rongrong imagined something on her own? She actually thought Nan Xun was the same kind of person…
But Nan Xun thought Li Chen was a really good person. Why did Li Rongrong imply he wasn’t?
“Girl, here’s my phone number,” Li Rongrong said, handing her a simple business card. “If one day you have nowhere to go, come find me.”
Nan Xun was just about to explain that she wasn’t Li Chen’s lover, but Li Rongrong had already turned and left.
At that moment, Mr. Ma and Li Chen finished talking. Mr. Ma walked over, put an arm around Li Rongrong’s shoulders, and left. Li Chen walked back as well.
“Baby, what are you looking at?” Li Chen naturally wrapped an arm around her waist.
Nan Xun showed him the business card and, on a whim, said, “Dad, doesn’t our family also do entertainment-related business? Could we poach Li Rongrong?”
Li Chen raised an eyebrow slightly. “Baby likes her?”
Nan Xun smiled. “Yeah, I think her acting is really good. I just don’t know why she’s always playing supporting roles—or if she’s a lead, she’s always the villain. People want to throw rotten eggs at her on the street. Dad, how good do you think her acting has to be for people to hate her that much?”
Li Chen nodded without a second thought. “Alright. It’s just one person. Anything my baby wants, Dad will get it for you.”
At that moment, Li Rongrong had no idea that just because she chatted a little longer with a young girl, her life would later undergo earth-shaking changes. High-quality scripts and offers would come one after another, and with her own hard work, she would soon win the title of Best Actress.
Li Chen and Nan Xun ate dinner outside before returning home. Old Master Li was already back, sitting in the living room with a stern face as he watched the father and daughter walk in hand in hand.
“Nan Nan, go upstairs first. I have something to say to your dad,” Old Master Li said seriously.
Nan Xun couldn’t help glancing at Li Chen.
Li Chen gently patted her back. “Baby, go on up. Dad will be up in a bit.”
Nan Xun nodded and trotted upstairs. Before leaving, she didn’t forget to say, “Grandpa, it was me who insisted Dad take me out today. Don’t blame him for skipping work.”
Old Master Li glared at her. “Got it. I’m not going to do anything to your father. You make it sound like I’m his stepdad.”
Nan Xun laughed twice and went upstairs to take a bath.
Only Old Master Li and Li Chen were left in the living room.
Old Master Li sized up Li Chen’s outfit and couldn’t help smacking his lips, muttering, “You really think dressing like a greenhorn makes you one? Hmph.”
He tapped his cane on the floor. “Sit down. I have something to ask you.”
Li Chen sat directly opposite him, legs crossed, one arm casually draped over the back of the sofa. An invisible pressure instantly spread outward.
“You want to talk about Nan Nan, don’t you?” Li Chen asked bluntly.
Old Master Li was infuriated by his indifferent attitude and raised his voice. “You brat! Tell me yourself—are the things you did today even remotely appropriate? I was gone for just one day and you managed to stir up such huge news. Now everyone in the circle knows you’ve hidden a delicate little girlfriend in a golden nest. You’re going to piss me to death!”
Li Chen looked at him for a long while, until the old man started to feel uneasy.
“That’s not all you want to say today, is it?” Li Chen said calmly.
Old Master Li took a couple of heavy breaths. “Fine, I won’t beat around the bush. Let me ask you—what exactly are you thinking? Nan Nan is your daughter. Do you really think the way you treat her looks like a father treating his daughter?”
