Chapter 52 – Slacking Off When You Can
Yan Shengping fell ill every few days, making Doctor Zhang a frequent visitor. Since it was a low-grade fever this time, Doctor Zhang prescribed some mild medication. Afterward, he stayed for tea with Uncle Yan and Lin Ganzhi.
“Ganzhi, how is the search for a traditional Chinese medicine doctor for Mr. Yan coming along?” Doctor Zhang asked. “It feels strange for a Western doctor to say this, but I believe that treating Mr. Yan’s condition with Western medicine is only addressing the symptoms, not the root cause. His stomach ailment, combined with years of neglect, has left his body much weaker than an average person’s. Now that his nutrition is improving, it’s the perfect time to find a suitable traditional Chinese medicine practitioner to nurse him back to health. The longer this is delayed, the more detrimental it will be.”
A faint wave of guilt washed over Lin Ganzhi. He knew he was the main reason for Yan Shengping’s fever. However, what Doctor Zhang said was indeed important. He had already found a suitable doctor; all that was left was to take Yan Shengping for a check-up.
Lin Ganzhi felt this matter could not be delayed any longer. He would take him as soon as Yan Shengping recovered from this illness!
“Doctor Zhang, about the traditional Chinese medicine doctor…” Before Lin Ganzhi could finish, his phone rang.
Lin Ganzhi gave Doctor Zhang an apologetic smile and pulled out his phone. It was a call from Zhang Dianhuai. To avoid disturbing Uncle Yan and Doctor Zhang’s conversation, he chose to take the call outside.
“Hello, Brother Zhang.” Once outside, Lin Ganzhi’s tone became lazy again.
“Lin Ganzhi, I suggest you speak properly. Tell me, I just found out the Film Emperor recommended you for a TV series audition, and you didn’t even go?!” Zhang Dianhuai sneered.
Lin Ganzhi coughed. Can’t news in the entertainment industry travel a little slower?
“Brother Zhang, why are you only listening to an outsider’s side of the story?” Lin Ganzhi asked pitifully.
“Hah, it’s better than being less than an outsider to you. I didn’t even know about this.” Zhang Dianhuai had no intention of saving Lin Ganzhi any face. He’d never seen someone so disappointing. Before marriage, he had no opportunities; after marriage, opportunities came, but he got lazy. “Do you know what these opportunities mean to you?”
“…Money?” Lin Ganzhi said with utmost honesty.
The other end of the line was silent for two seconds. “You… can also see it that way.” Zhang Dianhuai had completely lost all hope for Lin Ganzhi’s ambition.
“Then give the opportunity to someone else. I’m not short on money right now.” As Lin Ganzhi said this, he felt a mix of secret delight and heartache. Is this what it feels like to be rich? Rejecting hundreds of thousands with a single phone call?
Zhang Dianhuai was speechless, nearly dying of anger on the spot. He took several deep breaths, while his assistant beside him was so startled he almost dropped his coffee cup. “Lin Ganzhi, don’t say such classless things. Do you think you’re being fair to me?”
This time it was Lin Ganzhi’s turn to be speechless. Why do I feel like a scumbag right now?
“Brother Zhang, I’ve said it before. Until Yan Shengping gets better, I’m not taking any other jobs besides this variety show. His health is the most important thing,” Lin Ganzhi said firmly.
“CEO Yan’s illness just needs a good doctor to look after him. You need to understand, you’re a perennially unpopular star. If you miss this chance, you might not get another one.” Zhang Dianhuai hesitated for a moment but still wanted Lin Ganzhi to think it through. The dramas Bi Wu recommended were all highly sought-after IP dramas! They were generating more buzz than some already-aired shows before filming even began.
“Since such a good opportunity came up, just consider it my apology gift. Brother Zhang, don’t you have a few other promising newcomers under you? Except for E Yuezhang, you can distribute the resources as you see fit!” Lin Ganzhi was no saint, dedicated to spreading his light across the land. If someone made him unhappy, forget about giving them benefits; it was merciful enough that he didn’t sabotage them.
Zhang Dianhuai was silent for a long time again. He had really started slacking off after getting married. But there was no denying that Yan Shengping’s personal charm was a major factor. It hadn’t been long since the wedding, and he already had this little fool completely mesmerized.
“Fine, you said it. If you regret it later, the opportunity won’t come knocking again,” Zhang Dianhuai emphasized. After their chat, however, he wasn’t as angry anymore. Lin Ganzhi’s wilderness survival skills were decent, but Zhang Dianhuai knew very well about his acting. In short, such a handsome face was going to waste.
He mentally filed away a plan to get Lin Ganzhi on more variety shows after Yan Shengping recovered. He currently didn’t have any artists who were doing well on the variety show circuit.
Zhang Dianhuai’s abacus clacked with perfect calculations as he hung up, satisfied.
Lin Ganzhi immediately contacted Wenren Yi next. Yan Shengping’s illness couldn’t be delayed any longer. The boss knew he was acting but still took him in; he had to repay this kindness!
Wenren Yi always answered her phone quickly. “Hello, Ganzhi. I’ve already picked out the estate for you. When are you free to come take a look?”
Wenren Yi said fawningly.
Lin Ganzhi froze. “Are you kidding me?”
“What’s there to kid about? It’s a vineyard. Seeing as you don’t like to go out much, I chose a local one. It’s not huge, but the design is nice. About forty-seven hectares. You can come over for a vacation whenever you want,” Wenren Yi explained simply.
Lin Ganzhi felt like she was talking as casually as a neighbor offering some cabbage.
“No, no! It’s too expensive, I can’t accept it!” Lin Ganzhi loved money, but he believed in earning it properly. He was married to Yan Shengping, so he could accept his money. But Wenren Yi was just a friend, and this was a huge estate! Worried that Wenren Yi wouldn’t give up, Lin Ganzhi quickly added, “I appreciate the thought, but if I took it, I’d have nightmares!”
A poor person can’t handle this kind of shock!
Hearing Lin Ganzhi’s firm refusal, Wenren Yi was a little confused and perplexed. She asked again, “You really won’t take it?”
“No!” Lin Ganzhi refused emphatically.
Wenren Yi pondered for a moment. It was only a month’s worth of her allowance. If he wouldn’t take it now, she would just give it to him for his birthday. She had already bought it, so it was just a matter of giving it to him sooner or later.
“Alright then.” She sounded slightly regretful.
Lin Ganzhi breathed a sigh of relief, having narrowly avoided owing a massive favor. “By the way, I want to take my husband to see your grandfather. Is he free these next few days?” The second episode of “Survive!” was in three days, so he wouldn’t have time after that.
“Uh,” Wenren Yi paused. “Grandpa just left today.”
???
“I mean he left the country,” Wenren Yi quickly corrected her poor choice of words. She elaborated, “My grandma’s old illness has flared up again recently. No other doctor can help, so Grandpa had to put his work here on hold to go take care of her.”
“For a long time?” Lin Ganzhi was a little disappointed.
“I don’t know. Two weeks at the shortest, but it could be as long as the New Year,” Wenren Yi estimated.
Lin Ganzhi’s heart sank, the small flame of hope instantly extinguished.
“But if Grandpa can’t come back, we can just go to him after this episode of the show is over, right? Your husband should be able to handle a long-haul flight,” Wenren Yi suggested.
The small flame of hope reignited. “I’ll go ask him!”
Lin Ganzhi shook off his disappointment, quickly wolfed down some lunch, and then brought a steaming bowl of congee to Yan Shengping.
“That kid is really devoted to your Mr. Yan,” said Doctor Zhang, who had been invited to stay for lunch.
Uncle Yan’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “Yes, I find it incredible myself. As long as the two of them are happy together, that’s all that matters.”
Happy? He wasn’t happy; he was angry. Lin Ganzhi didn’t like him, so his purpose for staying by his side was suddenly crystal clear after days of observation. Though he hated to admit it, for the first time, Yan Shengping felt a sense of relief that he had some family wealth.
Besides, the little fox didn’t seem to have anyone he liked at the moment.
After a whole morning of inner turmoil, Yan Shengping finally found a way out of his spiraling thoughts.
He had just dozed off when he sensed the door opening. Looking up, he saw Lin Ganzhi’s concerned eyes peeking through the crack.
Suddenly, he couldn’t bring himself to be angry anymore.
“Finished with lunch?” Yan Shengping propped himself up against the headboard. After taking his medicine and sleeping for a bit, his throat wasn’t as dry and hoarse as it was in the morning.
Lin Ganzhi nodded, set up the small table on the bed, and placed the hot congee and warm water on it.
As Yan Shengping picked up his chopsticks, Lin Ganzhi pulled up a small stool and sat by the bed, watching him quietly.
Yan Shengping suddenly hated how he was always sick, always making others worry. He couldn’t even share a bed with someone properly.
“I’d rather die than sleep with you again,” Lin Ganzhi said.
Yan Shengping’s chopsticks trembled, almost falling onto the bed. He steadied his breath before replying, “What a foolish oath to make. The future is uncertain. If a day comes when you have no choice but to sleep with me, are you really going to find someone to kill you?”
Lin Ganzhi thought about it and felt Yan Shengping had a point. “Then, if I have no choice, I will absolutely not sleep with you.”
Yan Shengping resentfully took a bite of sweet radish. It’s like he said nothing at all!
“Yan Shengping, can you handle a long-haul flight? Doctor Qin has gone abroad. I was thinking that after I get back from the show, if he still hasn’t returned, I’ll go abroad with you for a consultation,” Lin Ganzhi said seriously.
“I can handle a long flight. I’m not as useless as you think. But, thank you for finding the doctor.” He had looked into it; Doctor Qin’s medical skills were indeed among the best in the country, and he wasn’t someone you could hire with just money. Before, he didn’t care, but now, he suddenly wanted to get better quickly. At the very least, he couldn’t let Lin Ganzhi keep worrying about and taking care of him like this.
Lin Ganzhi was delighted that Yan Shengping was so cooperative. Though they had different motivations, they had reached a consensus. The next three days passed in harmony.
Yan Shengping made a rushed recovery, his health improving just in time for the morning of Lin Ganzhi’s departure. The best thing about the survival variety show was that you only needed two sets of clothes; anything else was useless. Lin Ganzhi packed his suitcase that morning, and when he came downstairs, he saw that Yan Shengping had already ordered breakfast and was waiting for him.
“Today’s breakfast was made by Young Master Qin’s chef. Sir saw that you liked it, Ganzhi, so he specifically called Young Master Qin,” Uncle Yan said, trying hard to maintain the image of his master’s dwindling resources.
Lin Ganzhi nodded, touched, and sat down opposite Yan Shengping.
Yan Shengping waited for him to sit down before elegantly starting his breakfast. His complexion still wasn’t great after his recovery, giving him the pitifully charming look of a sickly beauty. After a few sips of soup to warm himself up, he said, “I have to go out for some business today. I can give you a ride.”