105: Qiu Gu's joining

Gao Xiaofan hurriedly followed him out, gazing resentfully at Qu Lang ahead of him the whole way.

Walking in front, Qu Lang felt a prickling sensation on his back, making him feel ill at ease all over.

After arranging a room for Zhao Yuling, Qu Lang looked at Gao Xiaofan speechlessly.

"Xiaofan, can you really blame me? How was I supposed to know what your relationship was?"

Gao Xiaofan didn't bother to reply. He took a cigarette from his pocket and put it in his mouth, and Qu Lang quickly pulled out a lighter to light it for him.

"Hehe, don't be mad, don't be mad. I really have something to talk to you about."

Gao Xiaofan exhaled a gloomy smoke ring and let out a sigh.

"Let's go, let's talk in your room."

With that, he shook his left arm and walked toward the room with a slight sway.

Back in the room, Qu Lang first poured him a cup of tea, then asked curiously.

"Why do you reek of alcohol? You're covered in injuries!"

Gao Xiaofan took a sip of the strong tea, looking satisfied. This was the first normal cup of tea he'd had all day.

"Oh, some fans came by, so we had a little celebration. I didn't invite you, so don't take it personally."

Qu Lang sat on a chair with a bitter smile.

"I wouldn't have dared to go even if you had invited me. The internet is in an uproar right now, and the Program Production Crew is being trashed. If I had shown up, your fans probably would've cracked my head open on the spot."

Gao Xiaofan smiled and said nothing. On the way to dinner, he had asked Zhao Fu if they had invited Qu Lang and Cheng Yan, but he fell silent after hearing about the Program Production Crew's actions.

However, he knew Qu Lang wasn't that kind of person. If he were, he wouldn't have given those 50,000 yuan to a green kid like him in the beginning.

"What's the deal with your limp arm? Are you not going to get it treated?"

Gao Xiaofan set down his teacup and lay on the bed, looking impatient.

Since he began using the nourishment from the 'Sheathed' title, his left arm had felt very strange. He couldn't feel any pain, but a faint stream of warmth was filling it.

"What exactly is this about? I'm freaking exhausted."

Zhao Yuling was still waiting for him.

Qu Lang hesitated, carefully considering how to phrase his words.

"Qiu Gu has been fired. Did you know?"

Gao Xiaofan sat bolt upright on the bed and shouted in disbelief.

"Qiu Gu was fired?! Is iQiyi out of its mind?!"

"If Qiu Gu and I hadn't notified them back then, would they even be where they are today?"

Qu Lang shook his head, lit a cigarette for himself, and tossed one to Gao Xiaofan.

"It's not as simple as you think. Qiu Gu notifying the Program Production Crew is one thing, but the firing is another. I heard from Cheng Yan that iQiyi gave Qiu Gu a 100,000 yuan reward for coming back to notify them."

"Any large company is bound to have some internal dirt. There's no denying that what Qiu Gu said during the live stream harmed the company's interests."

"If Qiu Gu wasn't fired, what would the other employees think?"

"The moment he said those things, it meant he was already prepared to be fired."

Gao Xiaofan lit his cigarette and frowned.

Qu Lang was right. After working for a few years, how could he not know? To a company, an obedient employee is the best; everything else is nonsense.

"Then why are you telling me this? Let me tell you, I'm done with variety shows. One time almost killed me."

Qu Lang's face darkened. What the hell did the debris flow have to do with variety shows? I'm starting to think you just have terrible luck.

Would a normal person catch a corpse? At night, no less?

"Besides, I'm about to go on a Fishing Tour across the country."

Qu Lang froze for a moment, his face full of confusion.

"What's a Fishing Tour?"

Gao Xiaofan glanced at the curiosity on the middle-aged man's face and couldn't help but put one hand on his hip, cigarette dangling from his mouth.

"I'll go wherever the road takes me and fish wherever I go."

Qu Lang looked at the left arm dangling in front of him and swallowed hard.

"In your condition? Traveling all over? Do you have a death wish?"

Gao Xiaofan stubbed out the cigarette and said with a grin.

"As anglers, we take the sinking bobber as our signal and the strike as our command, aiming for a full basket and continuous catches."

Qu Lang shook his head. Young people today were too crazy.

Then, as if he'd just had an epiphany, he slapped his thigh and started talking rapidly.

"Let Qiu Gu go with you!"

"I was originally thinking that since you're on good terms with Young Master Zhao, I'd ask you to put in a word to find Qiu Gu a job. But looking at it now, your place is even more suitable!"

"You happen to be down an arm right now, so it's inconvenient for you to do things. Wouldn't it be great to have someone accompany you?"

Gao Xiaofan looked at the excited Qu Lang, completely speechless.

Who the hell is 'down an arm'? I'm freaking nourishing my sword!!!

On the day it's unsheathed, I'll sweep away all obstacles... Pfft.

"I'll go find Qiu Gu and bring him over for a chat right now. He must be so worried he can't sleep."

With that, Qu Lang pulled out his phone and made a call.

Gao Xiaofan didn't stop him. They had known each other long enough to be familiar, and it would be nice to have a chat.

A few minutes later, Qiu Gu entered the room looking curious, but the moment he saw Gao Xiaofan, a smile broke out on his face.

"Xiaofan? How did you get out so quickly?"

Gao Xiaofan looked at the excited Qiu Gu and couldn't help but wonder.

Why was it that after he woke up from a nap, everyone had forgotten how to speak properly?

What do you mean 'got out'? You make it sound like I was in prison.

Qiu Gu also asked about his injuries, but Gao Xiaofan didn't feel like explaining anymore and just waved his hand.

Once Qu Lang explained the idea, Qiu Gu's eyes immediately turned red.

"Director Qu, thank you, really thank you. I honestly didn't expect anyone would be willing to help me at a time like this!"

Hearing this, Gao Xiaofan frowned.

Wasn't Cheng Yan supposed to be Qiu Gu's big brother?

He isn't giving him a hand now?

Seeing both of them looking at him, Gao Xiaofan spread his hands with an indifferent expression.

"I don't have any objections, but the conditions on my Fishing Tour will be tough."

Qiu Gu was excited: "No problem!"

"How much salary do you want?"

Gao Xiaofan scratched his head. It was his first time being a boss, and he was a bit bewildered.

Qiu Gu was also a bit at a loss, while Qu Lang smiled from the side.

"Qiu Gu has been in the industry for 12 years. His salary level is around 8,000, and for field work, there's usually an extra 3,000 or so."

Gao Xiaofan breathed a sigh of relief.

"No social security or housing fund, but I'll give you 30,000 a month. No days off all year, for one year."

Qiu Gu hurriedly waved his hands, looking flustered. In his thirties, he was as nervous as a child.

"No, Xiaofan, that's too much!"

Seeing his expression, Gao Xiaofan felt a pang in his heart. Back when his parents had just passed away, hadn't he been the same way? Afraid of offending anyone because there was no one left to protect him.

He waved his hand with a look of feigned disgust.

"That's it, stop whining."

Qu Lang smiled and teased, "Xiaofan's a boss now. Congratulations, congratulations!"

Then he turned to Qiu Gu.

"Since Xiaofan said so, let's go with that."

"Xiaofan is down an arm, so it's inconvenient for him. You have to help him out more while you're out there!"

Qiu Gu nodded solemnly, his eyes red.

"Alright, go back and rest first. I still have a few things to talk to Xiaofan about."