Chapter 8: Future Superstar
Xu Fang drove steadily, maintaining a moderate speed. She didn’t ask many questions after picking up the passenger, showing she knew how to keep her boundaries.
Sitting in the backseat, Xu Youyou noticed a pendant hanging at the front with a photo of two children. She asked, “Do you have kids?”
Without turning her head, Xu Fang kept her eyes on the road and replied, “Two daughters—one is five, the other is eight.”
“Do they go to school in Hucheng?” Xu Youyou continued.
“Boss, the cost of living in Hucheng is too high. They stay back in my hometown.”
Curious, Xu Youyou asked, “I rarely see female drivers. Is the pay for being a chauffeur good?”
Unbothered by the questions, Xu Fang answered, “I haven’t been doing this for long. On good months, I make around 20,000 yuan. On bad ones, I barely scrape together 10,000.”
Xu Youyou pressed on, “Driving must be tough. What does your husband do?”
After a brief hesitation, Xu Fang said, “I used to stay home and care for the kids while my husband drove a ride-share car in Hucheng. But he died from sudden cardiac arrest due to overwork. I didn’t have other skills, so to support my kids, I took over his car and started driving.”
Xu Youyou frowned slightly. “Who takes care of your kids now?”
“I send my mother 3,000 yuan a month to look after them.”
Having gathered the information she wanted, Xu Youyou considered the future. She didn’t have a driver’s license, and there would likely be many occasions where she’d need to follow the system’s prompts. Having a dedicated driver would be convenient.
“If you’re willing, you can be my full-time driver. I’ll pay you 30,000 yuan a month.”
Xu Fang’s heart skipped a beat, but she kept her hands steady on the steering wheel. “Boss, don’t joke with me—I might take you seriously.”
As they arrived at Huaxin Hospital, Xu Fang drove into the hospital grounds thoughtfully.
“I’m not joking. 30,000 yuan per month, and you’ll get three months’ salary as a year-end bonus. If I start a company, I’ll also provide social security. Think it over and give me your answer in three days.”
Without a second thought, Xu Fang parked the car and followed Xu Youyou out. “I’m in! I’m giving you my answer now!”
Earning 450,000 yuan a year as a driver felt like a dream come true. If she worked for a few years, she could even buy a small apartment in Hucheng and settle her daughters there.
Feeling the job was too good to be true, Xu Fang quickly positioned herself as more than just a driver—she became a bodyguard, always staying close to Xu Youyou.
Following the system’s guidance, Xu Youyou navigated through the hospital. Soon, she overheard a conversation.
“Dr. Wang, isn’t medication an option? Is surgery absolutely necessary?” a voice full of anxiety asked.
Dr. Wang shook his head, his tone heavy. “Xiao Song, your mother’s condition requires surgery. We were lucky to save her this time—there may not be a next. If you want the surgery done, only Dr. Liu Shengchao can perform it, but his schedule is booked. You need to decide soon.”
After the footsteps faded away, Xu Youyou turned the corner and spotted Song Zhibai.
Caught off guard, Song Zhibai quickly wiped away his tears. When he recognized Xu Youyou, anger flashed in his eyes.
“Miss Xu, I’ve already taken a leave of absence,” he said coldly.
Xu Youyou cut straight to the point. “I’m offering you a high-paying job. I have no ulterior motives—I simply think you’re perfect for the role. If you accept, your current problems will be solved.”
But Song Zhibai, exhausted and wary, found her words ridiculous. Without responding, he walked straight to the ICU, stopping outside the glass-walled room.
Xu Youyou followed his gaze to a pale, fragile middle-aged woman lying inside, her body covered in medical tubes.
“You care deeply for your mother,” she said softly.
Without turning around, Song Zhibai replied, “You’re not the first to make me an offer like this. But my mother is a proud woman—she’d rather die than see me sell my dignity to save her life.”
Xu Youyou recalled that in the previous life, after Song Zhibai’s death, the world learned about his upbringing in a single-parent household. Rumors suggested his mother’s passing had contributed to his fragile mental state and eventual suicide.
“I’m opening an entertainment company, and I want you as my first artist. With your face, you’ll make me a fortune.”
He scoffed. “Sounds nice, but who knows what you’re really after?”
Xu Youyou sighed. “You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you? That’s why you’re so guarded.”
His tense lips confirmed that she had hit a nerve.
Without pushing further, Xu Youyou turned to Xu Fang. “Let’s go to the administrative center.”
At the Hucheng Administrative Center, Xu Youyou swiftly found an agency to expedite the registration process. Within hours, she had a freshly stamped business license: Hucheng Youyou Entertainment & Film Co., Ltd.
She also ordered a company seal and drafted a contract.
When she returned to the hospital, Song Zhibai didn’t expect to see her again.
“I’ll pay your mother’s medical bills as a loan. You can repay me when you’re able. Here’s the contract—I’ve already stamped it. Take your time to read it.”
Glancing through the agreement, Song Zhibai’s eyes landed on a particular clause:
“If Party A coerces Party B into providing sexual services, the contract will be immediately nullified, and Party B will not be required to repay any medical expenses previously covered by Party A.”
This line alone convinced him to sign, even if the rest of the contract were exploitative. But to his surprise, the revenue-sharing terms were surprisingly fair.
In the first year, if his earnings were under 10 million yuan, the company would take a 70% cut. Between 10 million and 30 million, the split dropped to 60%, and if his earnings exceeded 100 million, the company’s share would be capped at 30%.
Considering how much companies usually invest to promote a star, her terms were remarkably generous—many rookie contracts were 90-10 splits in favor of the agency.
Of course, Xu Youyou wasn’t taking a loss. She knew that Song Zhibai had the natural charisma to captivate audiences effortlessly. Even after his tragic death in the previous life, fans still mourned and celebrated him annually.
But in this life, burdened by his mother’s medical bills, Song Zhibai had no idea how valuable he truly was. Without further hesitation, he signed his name.
“Pleasure doing business, my future superstar,” Xu Youyou said with a smile.
