I'm not the Son-in-law

Chapter 6: "Be Confident!"

Marcus Xu stood confidently, despite his attire—a worn sweatshirt and a faded tank top—as he regarded Philip Cheng with skepticism. The incessant nagging from Miguel had seeded doubt in him, casting a shadow over any further requests from Philip Cheng.

"I'm sorry, Sir Philip Cheng, but are you disregarding the payment you owe me?" Marcus inquired, his tone firm.

Philip Cheng's smile faltered, taken aback by Marcus's response. "I will certainly arrange for your payment this week. You want a contract, correct? I'll handle it. But please, lend me your assistance once more," he urged, a note of urgency in his voice.

"What will I receive in return?" Marcus pressed, his gaze unwavering.

"What? You want a contract, don't you?" Philip retorted.

"The contract is the reward for my previous work. Today is different. What compensation can I expect for this new task?" Marcus demanded, his resolve unyielding, unwilling to be exploited.

"What do you desire? More money?" Philip asked, a hint of irritation creeping into his expression.

"Nah, prove to me that you're capable of honoring your word before I commit to another job. You seem like you might try to deceive me," Marcus asserted.

"Hey, I'm Philip Cheng, and we're from the William Group. We won't evade your insignificant and simple requests," Philip countered, his tone defensive.

"If it's truly insignificant and simple, then fulfill it before asking for anything new," Marcus insisted, refusing to be manipulated. He maintained his composure, refusing to let Philip Cheng dictate terms to him.

Philip Cheng fell silent for a moment before exiting his car and holding the door open for Marcus. "Let's visit Magic Entertainment, settle your contract, and you'll double Sir Greg once again," Philip proposed.

Marcus Xu's eyes sparkled with anticipation as he eagerly hopped into Philip's car, ready to be taken to Magic Entertainment headquarters. However, as they approached, he realized with a sinking feeling that he was woefully underdressed for the occasion.

"Why aren't you getting out?" Philip Cheng questioned, holding the door open for Marcus once more.

"Look at me. I can't go in there wearing a tank top, shorts, and slippers," Marcus protested.

"You're not here to audition. You're here to sign a contract. We need to hurry, so please, let's go," Philip insisted.

"But... but—" Marcus hesitated, feeling self-conscious as he awkwardly stepped out of the car. He hurriedly smoothed down his unruly bed hair and even discreetly checked his breath, which still carried traces of alcohol and morning breath.

"Will my contract end as soon as I sign it?" Marcus fretted quietly as they rode the elevator. He couldn't help but notice the curious glances from trainees, employees, and staff as they passed by, though Philip Cheng seemed unfazed.

"If you do a great job doubling for Sir Greg, your contract will remain secure, even if you act a bit out of sorts now," Philip reassured him.

"Is that a joke?" Marcus inquired skeptically.

"No," Philip replied bluntly.

Upon arriving at the CEO's office, Philip Cheng was warmly welcomed by CEO Joe Sabal.

"Philip, long time no see," CEO Joe greeted them with his signature feminine voice.

"Joe, you already know why I'm here," Philip stated straightforwardly.

"Oh dear, from which slum did you pick him up? Are you sure he's a man with potential?" Joe remarked, casting a disdainful glance at Marcus before flashing a smile. "Well, since you're the one recommending him, I'll trust your judgment."

Joe Sabal winked at Philip before retrieving a document from his desk and handing it to Marcus along with a pen.

"It's a seven-year contract. Whether you stay as a trainee or debut depends entirely on your talent. For the legal details, just give it a read-through. If you've seen a standard talent contract before, it's pretty much the same. The compensation details are all there," Joe explained, mindful of Philip's busy schedule.

However, Marcus took his time to meticulously scrutinize the contract, the first entertainment contract he'd ever sign on his own. Even his previous part-time jobs had never involved contracts, as they often operated under the table to avoid taxes. Signing a legitimate document felt surreal to him.

"Are you seriously going to read it thoroughly?" Philip asked impatiently.

"Of course. Who knows, you might be trying to deceive me," Marcus replied, his hand trembling with a mix of excitement, nervousness, and joy. He couldn't believe that the CEO himself was overseeing his contract signing.

"Philip, he's charming for making you wait," Joe chuckled, amused by Philip Cheng's flustered demeanor.

Philip Cheng was a highly competent employee known throughout the entire William Group. His strict efficiency was legendary, making it a novelty for Joe to witness something disrupting the composure of "Mr. Perfect."

"This is not charming at all," Philip Cheng grumbled irritably as he walked away, dialing someone on his phone.

"Hey, beggar-boy," Joe teasingly called out to Marcus, who was intently reviewing his contract. "What kind of deal do you two have? Let me in on the fun too."

"Why would I tell you that?" Marcus retorted.

"Well, Philip is such a bore. He's probably wrapped up in something only worth the money. Let me in on it. It's fun to join the excitement," Joe insisted greedily. "Philip is too close to the Williams; he's like a leech, sucking too much from them."

"You sound crazy," Marcus remarked dryly.

"Beggar-boy, you probably don't know your place. I am the CEO of this place. You should do what I want, or else you'll just be wasting your time here," Joe warned sternly.

"Really? Well, that saves me the trouble of reading," Marcus replied stoically. Although he appeared unfazed externally, internally, he was turning anxious.

"What do you mean?" CEO Joe asked, puzzled.

"It means I won't be signing. It was nice meeting you, sir," Marcus said, calmly returning the contract to Joe. In truth, he was praying that Joe would insist on him signing again. Marcus simply wanted to demonstrate that he wasn't desperate to secure their contract, knowing that showing desperation would only make them more likely to take advantage of him.

"Wait! Wait! Sign the contract! Don't waste Philip's time," Joe hurriedly said, stopping Marcus from leaving. Marcus smiled smugly before turning back to face Joe.

"But you said I'd be wasting my time here, though," Marcus pointed out, his confidence growing.

"Sorry about that. I was just curious about what's going on. Come on, sign it, and leave," Joe said, attempting to smooth things over.

"Then add this clause," Marcus demanded.

"Add what?" Joe asked, perplexed.

"Add a clause stating that you'll pay me 1 million dollars if I can't debut within a year," Marcus insisted.

"That's ridiculous," Joe protested.

"Then I won't be signing," Marcus declared, turning his back once more. "Also, I'll be sure to inform Philip about what you said earlier."

"Stop, beggar boy!" Joe snapped in a high-pitched tone that hurt Marcus's ears.

"Damn your voice," Marcus muttered, rubbing his ears.

"Fine, fine. I'll add the clause. Just sign this and get out of my sight!" Joe exclaimed, tossing the contract back to Marcus after inserting the new clause.

"Nice," Marcus said, signing the contract satisfactorily. He grinned widely as he left the CEO's office.

"Are you done?" Philip Cheng asked, meeting Marcus in the hallway.

"Yes, I'm done and satisfied," Marcus replied, proudly displaying the contract in his hand.

Philip Cheng simply glanced at it briefly before striding ahead hurriedly. "Let's get you dressed. You'll be playing golf with Greg's business partners."

"Oh, golf? I'm good at that," Marcus whistled.

"You already know what to do," Philip said, glaring at him.

"Yeah, I know," Marcus said nonchalantly. "I'm good at staying still."