Chapter 221: Arrogance
Toan Phuong chuckled:
"They deserve to be rewarded for taking good care of my wife."
He then turned to Kieu Ly and said:
"Let’s go back upstairs and rest."
"You sing so well, why don’t you go sing with everyone?" Kieu Ly asked.
"The stage is too small for someone like me. And honestly, if I started performing, I’m afraid no one else would get the chance."
"That confident, huh?"
"I know exactly where I stand in the hierarchy. Haha."
Up until now, Kieu Ly had only ever seen the humble side of Toan Phuong, the one who’d say things like “I’m just an ordinary man.” But now she was seeing another side—a cocky, arrogant one. Yet regardless of which side it was, she found herself liking him all the same.
Kieu Ly smiled, then linked arms with Huong Tra and suggested they head back to the 18th floor to rest.
The whole office was empty by then—only the three of them remained. The place was so wide and silent that it actually sent a chill down their spines.
It wasn’t even lunchtime yet, so Huong Tra placed her laptop on her lap and cheerfully started browsing through the hottest songs by the idol group Minh Nhat was now part of. She clicked play and set the laptop on the table:
“Since we’ve got some free time, let’s stream our friend’s songs and boost his views!”
After debuting in the group, Minh Nhat took the stage name Sun. The group followed the K-pop model—great visuals, sharp dance moves, songwriting and production skills, and of course, vocal talent. They were heavily promoted and well-funded, which helped them rise to fame quickly. Minh Nhat was also the most active member in TV shows and game shows. His success today was the result of passion, hard work, and sacrifice. Seeing him shine like that, Huong Tra genuinely felt happy for him.
Kieu Ly sat next to her, eyes fixed on the laptop screen. She let out a soft sigh:
“If he had signed that contract back then, he’d be in this group too right now.”
Toan Phuong was leaning back on the sofa, fully relaxed and genuinely enjoying the music. When he heard Kieu Ly’s comment, he shuddered slightly and shook his head vigorously:
“Good thing I didn’t sign. Just look at them—layers of foundation caked on their faces, eyeliner, sleek hair. I bet they reek of cologne up close. Do they even look like men anymore?”
Huong Tra paused to think for a moment, then slapped her thigh:
“Now that you mention it, that’s exactly what’s been bothering me! Minh Nhat’s become a proper A-lister and yeah, he’s super good-looking now—but something’s missing. He used to have this masculine vibe that’s just not there anymore.”
Showbiz had always been Toan Phuong’s dream, so he knew exactly how it operated. If he had joined the entertainment industry, he would’ve broken quite a few of its unwritten rules. Now, standing on the outside, he could observe and judge freely.
“These days people are all into androgynous looks. The more a guy seems slightly... gay, the more fans swoon over him.”
“Do you think Minh Nhat might’ve actually changed... like, for real?” Huong Tra asked, voice tinged with hesitation.
That particular thought had been bugging her for a while now. Ever since Minh Nhat joined the idol group, a fan community had popped up shipping him with another member—an older, very soft-featured singer. Fanart and fanfics were everywhere. Sometimes when she accidentally stumbled across one, she’d get chills.
“Changed how?” Kieu Ly asked.
“You know... from straight to bent,” Huong Tra said bluntly.
“Jeez! What kind of thoughts are you having?” Kieu Ly chuckled in disbelief.
“Well, the shipper fandom is huge.”
“That’s all part of the PR playbook,” Toan Phuong explained. “The management deliberately stages interactions to sprinkle in hints, so fans get curious and start shipping. The bigger the fandom, the more fanart and fanfics—it all adds up to more fame.”
Saying that, Toan Phuong gave another visible shiver. If he had signed that contract back in the day, they probably would’ve promoted him and Minh Nhat as a duo, crafting stories of two best friends chasing their dreams together, practically begging the fans to ship them.
Every time he came across fanart of Minh Nhat in some “shipped” scenario, it made him feel nauseous. Minh Nhat was willing to sacrifice everything to become famous—but Toan Phuong knew he never could. He honestly couldn’t understand why so many female fans loved seeing two guys paired up. Just thinking about it gave him the creeps.
“They can ship two dudes no problem, but when it comes to a perfect match—a literal golden couple—like me and Kieu Ly, suddenly they lose interest? It’s ridiculous.”