My manager is a total grandpa but he can kick some ass? [ ZhongChi Modern AU ]

chapter 1

Being famous and infamous was a pain in the ass, Ajax Turov decides, flicking through the manila folder handed to him by Rosaline.

Sure, he had his wealth, fame and popularity, but it never really was enough for the prying public. See, thanks to the press and his past managers, internationally-famous solo idol Tartaglia had earned the nickname Childe.

A bratty prince.

Seriously. Was it his fault they were so incompetent? His previous one had just stormed from the company building a small handful of days earlier after receiving an admittedly harsh scolding from the idol himself for failing to pick him up on time. Which meant the variety show he had been scheduled to participate in had cut him out completely.

The lack of compassion of his ex-managers. He was busy enough as it was—he didn't need the added stress from the failure of his managers added to that mess of a soup.

Rosaline had heard about that incident that occurred a few days ago, and called Ajax to her office. She was in a bad mood, he could tell that much from the tone of her voice and furrowed brows. Though, she always had a resting bitch face, but today in particular she looked livid, like a witch waiting to boil him in a cauldron.

"Thanks to your outstanding behaviour, yet another manager has quit! We've barely reached the end of this year and it's already the 11th time now." She stared at him, clearly unimpressed by the downward turn of her lips.

"You should be thankful that we managed to find a new person within a short time, and don't you dare scare this one off, or there will be consequences."

"He will start tomorrow, 8 am sharp." She dismissed him with a wave of her hand and he left her office feeling pretty annoyed.

Now that he's back in his break room, on the stuffy couch, he sulks, still going through the folder. It really isn't his fault. Perhaps his agency hires the worst people on purpose. Few mistakes are human, but it's more than a coincidence when multiple managers make the same mistake hundreds of times. He doesn't want to blow up at his managers, no one deserves unjust anger but, he also has a limit. Why shouldn't he be upset? He has more than the right to when it starts affecting his career that he built with literal tears and sweat.

A small picture of a man catches his attention, as he flipped through the pages. A brunet with long hair tied to the back, beige coloured gingham cardigan. Typical. Amber eyes hidden behind chunky black rimmed glasses. Grandpa-esque, even his granny doesn't wear these old styled glasses anymore.

Nerd. They hired a stereotypical nerd for him, he concludes.

.

"Please give me your phone for a moment."

Ajax found out that he really didn't like the new manager. He talked like a grandpa, would text like a grandpa and even wear clothes like a grandpa. Not to mention, he was a total nerd and annoying as hell. A control freak who thought everything he did was right and what Ajax did was wrong.

"Fine, but let me get some fresh air first."

"But your–"

He left before his manager... What was his name again? Zongzi ? Well whatever, he left.

What Ajax really needs is a smoke break. He is under stress with all the shit that's been happening, especially with how the paparazzi is on his back about hiring yet another manager. Then there's this new drama that he got a part in, and is supposed to play as the second love interest, it's been taking a huge chunk of his energy. Even though his screen time is short, he still needs to put in the effort to show that yes, he can act, and he is worthy of the role he received.