Chapter 64 – A New Beginning
Xiao Fang was up and about after staying in the hospital for five or six days, but he didn’t want to be discharged too early and have to face the scheming members of the Fei family. After exchanging a look with Fei Xiangnan, he treated the hospital like a hotel and stayed. There were many obstetrics nurses here with top-notch baby care skills, and Xiao Fang learned a lot every day. Because of his sweet tongue, he got along particularly well with the nurses on this floor.
“Da Bao~” Xiao Fang cooed softly, holding the small baby in his arms.
“Ooh, awoo~” Da Bao didn’t understand anything, but he loved to be close to Xiao Fang. As long as Xiao Fang held him, he wouldn’t cry. He was especially well-behaved. Every time his father called him, he would open his mouth and respond.
“Should we listen to the story of Little Red Riding Hood or Snow White today?” Xiao Fang reached out and poked his son’s soft, chubby cheek.
President Fei, who was working on the side, couldn’t help but interject, “I think you can switch it up. You’ve told those two stories several times already. Let me tell one today.” The educational rift between President Fei and Xiao Fang had emerged on the second day after Xiao Fang gave birth. Xiao Fang wanted to raise Da Bao as a little princess, but President Fei was already thinking about whether it would be better for his son to attend a top school at twelve or go to Harvard at fifteen. Truly, very twisted!
Xiao Fang shielded Da Bao, his eyes filled with extreme reluctance. “I don’t think Da Bao would be the least bit willing to listen to something like the history of commercial development!”
“We’re not talking about that today.” Fei Xiangnan calmly pushed up the glasses on his nose. “Today, we’re talking about the history of a great nation’s development.”
That sounds like it would put anyone to sleep! Not cute at all! It’s better to listen to Snow White!
“Ah, awoo~” Da Bao in his arms couldn’t help but yawn. What a clever Da Bao, already knowing how to escape his daddy’s clutches at such a young age. He’s truly my son, Xiao Fang thought with a proud smile.
“Oh, Da Bao is sleepy. Come, Daddy will hold you to sleep~” Xiao Fang deliberately raised his voice, actually saying it for Fei Xiangnan to hear. President Fei glanced over, dissatisfied, but as a strict father, he couldn’t stop his newborn son from sleeping. He could only resentfully postpone his elite education for a little while, feeling a bit annoyed inside.
Once Da Bao was sound asleep, Xiao Fang placed him in the cradle by the bed and covered him with a small blue blanket. His round, chubby face looked incredibly, incredibly cute~
Xiao Fang lay back down on the bed, rubbing his sore arms, and prepared to browse his phone.
President Fei, who had just taken off his glasses, saw this. He closed his laptop, squeezed onto Xiao Fang’s bed, and gently massaged Xiao Fang’s arm. All happiness was unspoken. Xiao Fang naturally snuggled into Fei Xiangnan’s embrace, browsing his phone with one hand.
“This egg dumpling looks delicious. I haven’t had it in so long,” Xiao Fang said, drooling at the sight of one. Fei Xiangnan gently rested his chin on Xiao Fang’s head and looked. “I’ll have Auntie make some for lunch tomorrow. Is there anything else you want to eat?”
“Fried chicken!”
“Denied!”
All greasy food was forbidden during postpartum confinement!
He knew it. Xiao Fang’s little tuft of hair drooped. The next second, he forgot the pain and continued to look at other hot topics. When he scrolled to the real-time hot search, he was truly shocked. Big bro, Wen An’an also terminated her contract with the company? It happened just half an hour ago. Xiao Fang clicked in and got a general idea of the details. It turned out it wasn’t a contract termination, but simply not renewing with the company. Xiao Fang was curious about Wen An’an’s next move. Although many companies wanted to sign her, which one would Wen An’an herself choose?
This was also a question that concerned Xiao Fang.
“Thinking about which company to go to?” The person beside him guessed Xiao Fang’s thoughts at once.
“Well, I haven’t really decided yet. A few pretty good companies have extended an olive branch to me, but I always feel…”
“It’s not what you want?”
“Right, right!” Xiao Fang nodded quickly. It was a very stubborn thought, like buying clothes. If you had a fixed idea from the beginning, you wouldn’t be able to accept any new styles. You’d always feel that the one in your heart was the best.
Fei Xiangnan stopped and switched arms to continue massaging. Of course, he wasn’t worried about Xiao Fang not finding a company. After all, he was backing him. He was already prepared to invest in a company for Xiao Fang at any time. He would also invest in Xiao Fang’s future company.
Xiao Fang continued to scroll through the comments. Most of them were wishing the goddess well in finding a better home. It seemed that these old fans also knew that the company had treated Wen An’an unfairly. Just as he was thinking of sending Wen An’an a congratulatory message, she herself called. Xiao Fang answered without hesitation.
“I saw you didn’t renew your contract. Your choice isn’t bad. Congratulations,” Xiao Fang said first, congratulating her.
Seeing Xiao Fang talking to someone else in such a serious manner, President Fei felt a little smug. His little wife only acted spoiled with him. He was very satisfied with this, because he was special to Xiao Fang.
Unable to resist, President Fei gently kissed Xiao Fang’s forehead. In Xiao Fang’s eyes, this was just taking advantage of the situation. So calculating!
He gave Fei Xiangnan a reproachful look and continued the conversation.
“Haha, I’m happy too. I was thinking of telling you first. And I have a company I want to go to even more,” Wen An’an’s voice sounded very cheerful.
Xiao Fang was genuinely happy for her and also inquired about the market. “Oh? Which company has caught the young lady’s discerning eye?”
“Hehe, my brother’s company. It’s newly opened!” Wen An’an’s voice sounded very proud.
Xiao Fang thought of Wen An’an’s brother, Wen Qianshi, the man with a calm, water-like temperament. He was truly unforgettable.
“Actually, there’s something I want to ask you. Xiao Fang, have you not decided on a company yet?”
Oh, so that was the real reason she was looking for him. Xiao Fang raised an eyebrow. He didn’t have such a negative feeling about the company that man had opened. He felt that he had enough ability to accomplish these things.
“Not yet. Are you planning to pull me in?” When it came to acquaintances, Xiao Fang was always direct.
“Mhm, I’m not forcing you. It just depends on whether you’re interested. My brother was studying abroad before, graduated with a Ph.D. in business. He used to work in a management position at a relatively famous company abroad. He returned to the country last year. He’s been planning this project for a long time and has many reliable partners. I know my brother, and I trust him. My brother also really wants you to come to his company. Right now, his company doesn’t have many people. I’m the only confirmed artist. It’s basically starting from scratch.” Wen An’an’s words were full of a sister’s admiration for her brother. Xiao Fang was also quite willing to believe that the man could do it.
The key was Wen An’an’s phrase “starting from scratch,” which made Xiao Fang even more interested.
“I think we can talk about it.”
“And also,” Wen An’an wanted to list more benefits, but was stunned that Xiao Fang made a decision so quickly. “You’ve decided?”
Xiao Fang chuckled. “Not that fast. I want to talk to your brother. It’s just that it’s not very convenient for me to be out right now. Can we video chat with him now? It’s better to talk about this kind of thing early so both sides can be at ease.”
She knew Xiao Fang was decisive, but she didn’t expect him to be this decisive. There was a second of silence on Wen An’an’s end before she was heard shouting for her brother.
And so, in less than three minutes, Xiao Fang received a call from Wen Qianshi.
“Hello, Xiao Fang. I’m very happy you’re willing to talk to me.” A clear and gentle male voice came from the other end of the phone. This immediately set off the big jealous pot next to him, who instantly went into a defensive mode, his eyes darting toward Xiao Fang’s phone.
In order not to have President Fei flip the bed, Xiao Fang very consciously put the call on speaker and gave his old husband a reassuring look.
“President Wen, hello. I’m also very honored to be appreciated by President Wen. I’m very interested in joining your company, but I have a few small principles of my own. I wonder if you can accept them?” Xiao Fang had had his own set of principles from the beginning: no hype, no filming of some attention-grabbing, meaningless dramas. What he wanted to be was a proper actor.
“I roughly understand your principles. Don’t worry. Although we are still a small company now, we are very principled. First, we don’t use artists for various kinds of hype. We have a standard positioning. Second, we won’t rashly accept collaborations that are not suitable for you. Third, we won’t engage in false publicity just to create a buzz, let alone endanger the fundamental values of society. You can rest assured about all this. In my company, you may not get some popular drama crews, but I will do my best to let you act in what you want to challenge, even if it’s just some small roles. I hope the artists in our company are all genuine, and we don’t need any pretty-faced empty shells.” Almost every word Wen Qianshi said resonated with Xiao Fang.
To be blunt, with his current status, he no longer needed to do some shady things for money. He could confidently act in the characters he wanted to express, and a company was a very crucial step to his success.
He exchanged a look with Fei Xiangnan, and President Fei also nodded. This was also what he wanted. Xiao Fang didn’t need to be some popular idol; he just needed to do what he wanted.
“President Wen, if everything you’ve said can be realized, then I am very honored to join your company.”
“Of course, Xiao Fang, you can rest assured about all this. So, can I say welcome to my company?” the other party said humorously.
“Of course, I’d be glad to.”
Talking to a sensible person was just that simple. Having chosen a company, Xiao Fang felt as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He went limp in Fei Xiangnan’s arms and looked at him with shining eyes.
“Why did you so easily agree to me joining a little-known small company today?” This was not like President Fei’s tycoon style.
“I want you to be able to do what you want every day. This is your pursuit, and I support it very much,” President Fei said straightforwardly, but his words touched the softest part of Xiao Fang’s heart. Xiao Fang turned over and hugged Fei Xiangnan, his whole body draped over him.
“President Fei, you’re so good!”
Fei Xiangnan rubbed Xiao Fang’s messy hair, held his face, which was a mess of emotion, and kissed him. What a joke, how could he not support the person he liked?
***
The next morning, Xiao Fang was woken up by the notification sound from his phone. He opened his phone and found that he had been pulled into a group. Including him, there were three people. The group name was: Thorn-Breaker.
Xiao Fang was dazed for a moment, then suddenly startled. Thorn-Breaker? Wasn’t that the largest entertainment company in the country at the end of the original novel? Later, Xiao Qi even entered this company through layers of selection. He had always thought that this company might have been canceled in the original setting. It turned out it wasn’t canceled, but just getting started.
Zhang Hang: Friends, you can’t abandon me. I gave up my previous company to come to President Wen’s. I was about to officially sign with that company!
Zhang Hang came too? Xiao Fang remembered that his original company shouldn’t have been bad!
Xiao Fang: Why didn’t you stay at your original company?
Zhang Hang: Sigh, that previous company… after knowing that I had some connection with Xiao Qi, they tried to curry favor with me in every way, but it was all just a show for Xiao Qi. No one treated me as an independent actor. Are my acting skills worse than Xiao Qi’s? I came out to prove to them that I, Zhang Hang, can stand firm even without a backer!
Wen An’an: Hmph, hmph, difficult!
Zhang Hang: You, you, you, you, Wen An’an, what do you mean! Don’t look down on people!
Wen An’an: I’m not looking down on you, it’s just that the road is long and difficult. Let’s work hard together!
Xiao Fang also slowly typed out the words “work hard together.” He believed that this was a new starting point, and also the place where his dream truly began.
“Right, Da Bao?” Xiao Fang put down his phone and picked up Da Bao, who had woken up and wanted to drink milk.
“Ooh, awoo!” Da Bao let out a milky “awoo,” as if cheering for his daddy.
Daddy can definitely do it~