Chapter 106 – The Price of Calling ‘Uncle’
Fei Xiangnan tilted his head and grinned. If auras had colors, his would undoubtedly be a raging black, wantonly slapping everyone present in the face.
Xiao Fang shivered, a layer of goosebumps instantly rising on his arms.
The production crew also fell silent. Given Fei Xiangnan’s status and commanding presence, he did indeed seem more imposing than Xiao Fang. Even though they were only five years apart, it was understandable that people might get it wrong, especially children who were only a few years old. However, being accustomed to reading the expressions of various powerful figures, they immediately saw that President Fei was on the verge of exploding.
What were they to do? The gold-daddy sponsor was angry. Who could possibly coax him back? The consequences would be severe!
Director Liang maintained a calm expression. He never paid too much attention to power dynamics, neither offending nor fawning. But the assistant director’s heart was pounding with anxiety. If only he had taught the children what to call them beforehand! Now it was all over! Was there any way to save them?
Everyone unanimously cast their hopeful gazes upon Xiao Fang. Only you can save the children!
Xiao Fang was suddenly under immense pressure. If looks could talk, he would be telling everyone present with a pained expression that he had no solution whatsoever and was already trying to figure out how to safely avoid the fallout. After all, everyone else present was at least safer than he was.
Fei Xiangnan glanced at everyone present; they were all as quiet as mice. Director Wang also sensed that something was wrong, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was. He just felt an inexplicable sense of danger.
“Uncle?” Fei Xiangnan smiled.
At that moment, the children got a premature taste of the terror of being ruled by an exploiter. Fei Xiangnan’s gaze would be deeply ingrained in their hearts, and it wasn’t until they became corporate drones themselves that they would truly understand what that fear had been.
The furious client had come to do battle.
Three seconds later.
“Thank you, Brother Xiao Fang! Thank you, Brother Fei Xiangnan!” The children’s voices were suddenly several decibels louder than before. Was this a correction? No, this was a life-saving move!
Fei Xiangnan retracted his precious smile. During post-production, a wise editor consciously cut out Fei Xiangnan’s terrifying gaze. If that look and smile were broadcast, they couldn’t calculate how many corporate drones it would drive insane.
At that moment, they couldn’t help but come up with an ad slogan: To properly torment corporate slaves, one needs the best photography to capture the essence of President Fei’s devastating gaze and smile. This requires superb snapshot skills and a fearless spirit. Only by controlling this fine line can the flavor of this delicacy, ‘Tormenting Corporate Slaves,’ be brought to its full potential. The raw materials are provided by this variety show, ‘I Am a Volunteer.’ The most delicious food always requires the finest ingredients. President Fei’s gaze—you deserve it!
At the end: Brought to you by the master of the perfect professional fake smile, Xiao.
Xiao Fang’s cooking was delicious. As the children ate, they slowly buried that fear deep in their hearts for the time being. But not a single child dared to approach this terrifying un—er, brother. Xiao Fang had no choice but to switch places with Fei Xiangnan, letting Mo Ze experience President Fei’s charm up close.
Mo Ze thought: For fuck’s sake!
During this harmonious and wonderful dinner, everyone also began to discuss the orphanage, which meant it was time for the emotional segment. In truth, this place didn’t need many embellishments, because it was a place with real problems, but even more so, a place of touching stories.
In response to everyone’s questions, Director Wang began to tell the story of the orphanage. “I took over this orphanage twenty years ago. At that time, my wife had passed away from cancer, and I suddenly didn’t want to stay in that city anymore. It felt like every corner held a memory of my wife. I loved my wife, and I wanted to carry on her last wishes and do something more meaningful. I don’t have any children, so all the children in this orphanage are my children.”
After so many years, when Director Wang brought up this matter again, there was more affection than sadness in his expression, filled with a deep love for his wife.
Guo Mengyun couldn’t hold back her tears and began wiping her eyes with a tissue as she listened. At once, it seemed everyone was infected. The women all started wiping their tears, and the men listened silently as Director Wang spoke.
“So I came here. It was even more dilapidated back then than it is now. I used my own savings to renovate it and took in children who were sent here from all over. We didn’t have much money, but thankfully, we had the gifts of nature. We made it through year after year. A group of children has already left from here. They are living good lives in society, and seeing them grow up makes me very happy. I’ve always run this classroom because I want the children to learn a little more. I don’t know how much longer these old bones of mine can hold on, but watching these lives continue, I don’t regret my decision back then at all. If I were given the choice again, I would still come here, meet these children, teach them well to become adults, and properly nurture the future pillars of our country.” As Director Wang recalled these years, his face showed no signs of hardship, only happiness.
“You are great. You are a good teacher and the best director,” Xiao Fang said, his eyes also turning a little red. He tried hard to suppress his emotions and genuinely praised this giant of a man.
The old director waved his hand, smiling simply. “I’m just an ordinary person.”
Xiao Fang nodded, trying to hide his urge to cry with a smile, and said without a doubt, “A great ordinary person.”
Then, everyone began to get into this emotional scene. Whether it was true or false, everyone had a touching story prepared. In the end, only Xiao Fang and Fei Xiangnan were left.
Was Fei Xiangnan the type of person to sell a tragic story? Of course not.
And Xiao Fang? He originally had a stomach full of material, but now that he was in a different body, he couldn’t squeeze out half a sentence.
Fei Xiangnan would absolutely not participate in this kind of segment. If his business partners saw him publicly playing the victim on a show, not only would his domineering CEO image be ruined, but he would also be subjected to their various doubts and ridicule. So, he could only let Xiao Fang take the lead, which was to say, have his wife speak on his behalf.
“Xiangnan and I grew up in relatively better environments. Many things in our childhood went smoothly. Before participating in this show, our impression of orphanages was… one-sided. We only knew the surface. But after participating in these two episodes, we have come to understand this group on a deeper level. The children are strong. They are all living in this world with the most positive attitude, and they have moved us many, many times. We never knew a five-year-old girl could walk with us on a mountain path for three hours. We never knew a child’s desire to study could be so strong. There was so much we didn’t know. So, in our future lives, we will do our best to pay attention to this group, to accompany them, encourage them, and support them as much as possible. Even wild seeds can bloom into unique and stunning flowers in this world.”
Xiao Fang’s speech, which was practically a short essay, received everyone’s encouragement. Director Wang also nodded in appreciation. He didn’t deliberately play the victim with his own story but instead faced the variety show head-on and explained the issues. This was the most satisfying answer Director Wang had heard.
However, on the other side, the shipping fans also felt they had really struck gold. Wife speaking on his behalf and all that.
They were to rest here tonight. The rooms had already been arranged. The production team would return to the hotel in the middle of the night, leaving the guests to rest here. They would just film their daily routine before they went to sleep. There weren’t many rooms here, so they managed to piece together six. Xiao Fang and Fei Xiangnan were, as expected, assigned to the same room.
Actually, had Fei Xiangnan’s anger from being called “uncle” today dissipated? Not at all. It was just that under the interference of the camera, he still appeared exceptionally calm.
Fei Xiangnan took a shower first. Xiao Fang, after washing his hair but before drying it, poked his head out and said, “Ge, did you use the face wash?”
This was a term of endearment Xiao Fang occasionally used for Fei Xiangnan, and Fei Xiangnan quite enjoyed it. Xiao Fang was using this to try and appease Fei Xiangnan without losing any face, but, in reality, it was useless!
Fei Xiangnan and Xiao Fang were sleeping in two small beds. A certain scheming president secretly tried to nudge his with his foot. Very good, it wasn’t fixed. It could be moved. Fei Xiangnan stood up straight without changing his expression and said, “Not yet. I’ll come in and wash up.”
With that, he squeezed into the small bathroom. There were no cameras in the bathroom, so one could only hear sounds but not see the specific content. However, the content was already very suggestive.
“Why didn’t you dry your hair first? You’ll catch a cold.”
“I forgot when I called you just now. I’ll dry it now.”
“I’ll help you.”
“Mm, you wash your face first.”
“No rush. Bring your head over.”
“Oh.” Xiao Fang’s voice was so obedient it was explosive, making the listener’s heart itch. Then the sound of a hairdryer started, completely drowning out their conversation. This was the opportunity Fei Xiangnan was after.
He gently ran his fingers through Xiao Fang’s hair, tousling it for him, while the hairdryer blew rhythmically. His mouth also began its round of flirtatious talk, teasing Xiao Fang relentlessly. But Xiao Fang, who was as soft as a marshmallow when they were alone, could only blush and call him shameless.
“When the cameras are gone, there’s even more shamelessness to come. Looking forward to it?” Fei Xiangnan said in a deep voice, still calculating how to vent his anger.
Xiao Fang blushed and stammered, “Mmm, you old rogue!”
If Xiao Fang’s fans heard these words, probably eighty percent of them would faint. The truth was too sweet, and happiness came too quickly.
At around ten o’clock, the cameras were finally removed, and the production team left the orphanage. It was finally time for Xiao Fang and Fei Xiangnan to be truly alone.
Xiao Fang, seeing Fei Xiangnan suddenly turn his back to him, knew he had to start coaxing him again.
“Are you angry?”
“Hmph!”
Xiao Fang draped himself over Fei Xiangnan’s back like a koala. “They’re just little kids.”
“Hmph!”
Xiao Fang didn’t understand. “Look at how much fear you’ve instilled in them. It’s a fair trade, isn’t it?”
“Hmph!” The tsundere Fei didn’t want to hear anything.
“Then what do you want?” Xiao Fang was about to give up. Why couldn’t he be coaxed?
Seeing his prey successfully take the bait, Fei Xiangnan rolled over and planted a kiss on him. “I want you to coax me with your body.” So very direct.
“We’re outside!” Xiao Fang warned in a low voice. “And the soundproofing is so bad! Do I have any face left to lose?”
Fei Xiangnan kissed Xiao Fang again. “We won’t go all the way. Just hold it in and don’t make a sound.” Then, the man lowered his head. Just as Xiao Fang was about to resist, he was pulled into a whirlpool in the next second.
In the heat of the moment, a certain person finally revealed his true purpose. “Call me uncle~”
Xiao Fang was mortified and unwilling, but in the end, he couldn’t take it anymore. He covered his mouth, and like a kitten’s whimper, a single syllable escaped from between his teeth.
The anger in Fei Xiangnan’s heart finally subsided. Being called uncle… depended on the person!