Chapter 80: I Dislike Him, Got a Problem? Who Cares.

Tang Chen suddenly exploded in anger, startling both Boss Pang and even Yang Mi sitting beside him. She gave him a reproachful look and said, “Tang Chen, why are you so angry again?”

Tang Chen curled his lips and patted her shoulder. “I’m not angry,” he coaxed her. “I just can’t stand some domestic celebrities nowadays. They get surrounded by fans and start acting all high and mighty like idiots. Dares to be late to my party? Is he tired of living?”

Boss Pang wiped cold sweat from his forehead. Young Master Tang was really something. The disdain in his words echoed exactly what Boss Pang felt. He, too, had long been annoyed by the behavior of some stars.

“Young Master Tang,” Boss Pang said gently, “The last one isn’t a domestic star. He’s from Korea.”

“Korea?” Tang Chen snorted disdainfully. “You didn’t go and hire some girl group that does sexy dances, did you?” Those MV dances from Korean girl groups these days were way too explicit for teenagers! Just the other day, he saw one online where the girls kept rubbing their chests…

God damn it! Wasn’t this teaching the good kids of Great China bad things?

Boss Pang felt helpless. Young Master Tang seemed to have zero interest in Korean stars. “No, Young Master Tang,” he clarified quickly. “Not a female singer. How should I put it… he’s a Chinese person active in Korea. Have you heard of Planet Group?”

“What kind of stupid name is Planet Group?” Tang Chen scoffed. “Like this young master would know.” What trash, Planet Group? Pah!

Yang Mi nearby offered a wry smile. “Tang Chen, you don’t know? Planet Group is a famous boy band in Korea. There are ten members, and some of them are Chinese.”

Boss Pang seized the chance to flatter her. “Exactly right, Miss Yang! The tenth member is part of Planet Group. His name is Huang Tao.”

“Huang Tao?” Tang Chen burst out laughing. “Why not Orange? What kind of crap name is that? Sounded like someone inviting a good beating just from hearing it.”

Boss Pang sighed. “Young Master Tang, honestly, you can’t blame the kid’s name for being easy to mock. His original name literally couldn’t be written down. So Author Jun had no choice but to slap on some clumsy name.”

Tang Chen mentally cursed out Author Jun. Seriously? Wasn’t this just cheating the readers?!

After a moment’s thought, Tang Chen asked, “Why would you pick such an awful person? Today is the hotel’s fifth anniversary celebration, not a damn fan meet-and-greet.”

Boss Pang spread his hands. “Because he’s cheap, Young Master Tang! I thought, make the celebration a bit grander, but also keep an eye on costs.”

Poor Huang Tao. If he knew the only reason he’d been hired was because his fee was dirt cheap, he’d probably scream and beg to just die…

Suddenly, the gathering of bosses and VIPs erupted into thunderous applause. The last performance had finished. Zhang Binbin, wearing a pink gown that still showed faint dust from where he had just smashed a huge stone on his chest, exited the stage.

Manager Pang walked up onto the stage, smiling broadly. “Everyone, did you enjoy the performances?”

“Very much!”

“Junyue rocks! They even invited celebrities!”

These bosses, long used to the world of commerce, knew better than to offend the host on his turf. That could easily backfire and leave them stained. They couldn’t forget the groups of fierce, mean-looking guys seated not far from them. They didn’t seem nice at all.

Boss Pang breathed a sigh of relief. Today’s event seemed like a success overall. Just as he was about to speak, a journalist stood up. “Boss Pang, we saw on your performance list that it clearly stated ten celebrities would perform today. But that was only nine. Is this perhaps Junyue using hype, but only having nine names truly planned?”

Boss Pang felt a slight twinge of tension, but answered calmly, “Let me explain. Yes, we initially invited ten stars. However, I just received a call from the agent for the last star. They said there was a sudden schedule conflict, preventing him from attending, so we had to cancel.”

“Oh, I see!” The journalist exclaimed in understanding and sat down loudly. At that very moment, a voice rang out from outside the doorway.

“Who says Huang Tao couldn’t make it?”

Followed by this sharp, unpleasant male voice, everyone turned to the door. A middle-aged man walked in, trailed by another man wearing a bright yellow puffer vest.

This second man had on studded leather pants and matching studded boots. His hair was a spiky explosion of yellowish-blond, hidden under a large pair of sunglasses. He looked extremely subculture.

“Huang Tao! It’s Huang Tao!” shrieked a boss’ family member present, seeming about to faint from excitement!

“It really is Huang Tao! The rapper from Planet Group, Huang Tao!”

“Yeah! That’s him! Even though he sang like he was eating dirt in ‘Wolf and Beauty,’ he’s so handsome!”

Huang Tao’s popularity among women was evidently high. Soon, women and girls were screaming all around, excitement filling the air. Yet, a question lingered: from what the agent implied, Huang Tao was the last star. So why did Boss Pang claim he couldn’t come?

Huang Tao followed behind his agent like a clueless idiot. The agent marched Huang Tao straight up to the stage. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he announced, “Our Tao is indeed the final performer today! We were merely delayed a few minutes. Yet, the boss of Junyue lied to you all! I truly wonder what his intention is!”

Instantly, he pointed fingers at Boss Pang. Feeling the collective stare of everyone present, Boss Pang felt immense pressure. He cursed the two idiots in his heart. Damn it, they were hours late and dare call it ‘a few minutes’?

God damn it! Why couldn’t they have just stayed gone? Why show up just as everything was ending?!

“Boss Pang,” the female journalist pressed immediately, scenting a story, “Is what the agent says true? Because Huang Tao was delayed a few minutes, you unilaterally claimed he couldn’t come?” The camera was now trained on Boss Pang.

Cold sweat beaded on Boss Pang’s forehead. “That’s not it, dear Journalist,” he stammered. “Huang Tao’s side was delayed for almost two hours. Their phones didn’t answer either. It was reasonable for us to conclude they… couldn’t come.”

“Is that the only reason?” the female journalist countered aggressively, clearly not letting go. “Then why lie? Why not tell the truth? Are you perhaps afraid of facing criticism?”

Boss Pang struggled for a reply. Suddenly, Tang Chen stood up. “I shall answer!” he declared loudly.

Tears of gratitude welled up in Boss Pang’s eyes. Young Master Tang was finally stepping in! Thank goodness.

Tang Chen walked to Boss Pang’s side, then addressed the female journalist. “Junyue now belongs to me. The decision to say he couldn’t come was mine. Ask your questions to me.”

The female journalist shifted her focus. “Very well, Young Master Tang! Please answer this!”

Tang Chen sneered. He pointed directly at Huang Tao and his agent, his voice ringing out. “The answer is simple! Because I wanted those white-eyed wolves raised by Korean education GET. OUT. OF. MY. JUNYUE!”

Gasps echoed throughout the room. No one expected Tang Chen to voice something so blunt and inflammatory. It was a naked insult slapped right across Huang Tao and his agent’s faces!

The agent’s face flushed purple with rage. “How dare you speak like that!” he yelled, voice shaking with anger. “How could you talk about our Tao like that?! He was raised and educated in Korea, yes, but in his bones, he’s STILL Chinese! How can you insult him like this?!”

Tang Chen’s laughter was icy cold. “I. Don’t. Care! He speaks Korean! The songs he sings? Damn lyrics in Korean! I don’t know how wildly adored he is elsewhere,” Tang Chen shrugged, his contempt palpable. “But in Junyue? On my turf? I dislike him. Got a problem? Who cares!”

“You… this is outrageous!” the agent exploded. This bastard was completely unreasonable! Utterly illogical nonsense!

The female journalist narrowed her eyes, her question suddenly sharp and probing. “Young Master Tang, by rejecting Korea and Huang Tao so vehemently… do you admit to harboring discrimination against Korea specifically?”