Chapter 29
Under the bombardment of Ji’s Father’s phone calls, Ji Wei arrived at his front door just as the sky was beginning to lighten. Four large words were written all over him from head to toe.
—Heart Like Dead Ashes.
He also brought along a wheelchair-bound Lu Shenxing.
Ji Wei glanced at Lu Shenxing. The man’s complexion was pale, his legs were covered with a dark blanket, and he held a gift box in his hand, his expression serene.
He couldn’t help but feel a little envious. His idol didn’t yet know the terror of his father in a rage and could still remain so calm.
What was to come would come.
Ji Wei turned the key with a sense of grim resignation.
With a click—
Before the door was fully open, he heard Ji’s Father’s voice rain down on him from the living room, “You’ve got the guts to steal the household register, and you still know how to come back? Do you think this is a hotel?”
Ji Wei was speechless.
Don’t panic!
Ji Wei took a deep breath, pushed Lu Shenxing into the house, and whispered with concern, “My dad is especially brutal when he’s angry, but I’ll stand in front of you, so you don’t have to be too scared.”
The man let out a soft chuckle, even squinting his eyes with a hint of amusement, not taking his words to heart.
Ji Wei sighed.
His idol would find out soon enough.
If he wasn’t mistaken.
His dad would first make them both write a ten-thousand-word self-criticism, then use his extensive vocabulary to ruthlessly humiliate them.
Until they both agreed to go to the Civil Affairs Bureau for a divorce.
That was how his dad dealt with students in puppy love in his class. He didn’t even need to call the parents. He had personally seen a young couple, who were vowing undying love one second, break down in tears and sever all ties the next.
Ji’s Father sat on the living room sofa, the ashtray on the coffee table piled high with cigarette butts. He crushed the cigarette in his hand, exuding the oppressive aura of a head teacher.
“You two can remain silent, but silence is useless. First, you’ll both write me a ten-thousand-word self-criticism!”
After speaking, he looked up, wanting to see who the wild man who had abducted his son was. His gaze immediately fell on the silent Lu Shenxing in the wheelchair.
He even brought backup.
He glared at Ji Wei, who was about to speak, and then looked at Lu Shenxing’s leg with considerable guilt.
“I saw the show video that was passed around on Moments. If you hadn’t protected this little brat… Weiwei, he would be the one in the hospital. You’re our family’s savior. Is your leg okay?”
“It’ll be fine after a couple of months of rest.”
Lu Shenxing replied nonchalantly.
This made Ji’s Father feel even more guilty. He turned to look at Ji Wei, who was standing there like a block of wood, and his anger flared up again. “What are you standing there for? Go and pour our guest some tea.”
This change of face…
This difference in treatment…
If his idol wasn’t eight years older than him, he would have suspected they were switched at birth.
With mixed feelings, he went to the pantry to brew three cups of tea. When he came out with them on a tray, he was shocked to find that Ji’s Father was already having a friendly chat with Lu Shenxing about his marriage.
This was completely different from the scene he had imagined before coming.
“When his great-aunt told me, I didn’t believe it. I said Weiwei has always been an obedient child, how could he possibly get married secretly?” Ji’s Father slapped the back of his hand. “When she showed me the interview, I was so ashamed I wanted to crawl into a hole in the ground.”
Ji Wei handed him the tea. Lu Shenxing took his cup and glanced at him coolly. “Nineteen is indeed too young to get married, but I see that Uncle is an open-minded person. That shouldn’t be the reason, right?”
Flattered by Lu Shenxing’s subtle praise, Ji’s Father became a little giddy.
“I’m not an old-fashioned person. If he wants to get married early, then so be it. But his cousin, whose grades were far worse than his, found a partner who is highly educated and earns a lot of money.”
“I’m not asking Weiwei to find someone rich too, but at least he should have a decent job, be down-to-earth and ambitious, right? And his looks aren’t even that great. His aunts all say he’s studied himself silly, rushing to be a charity case. They blame me for not teaching him well.”
Lu Shenxing leaned forward slightly, appearing to listen attentively. “It sounds like Uncle is not very satisfied with Ji Wei’s partner.”
Ji’s Father slapped his thigh, looking as if he had found a kindred spirit. “Yes, yes, that’s it! I’m just not satisfied!”
Ji Wei’s head drooped even lower. Suddenly, he heard Lu Shenxing speak calmly, like a clap of thunder on a clear day, exploding in his mind and making him so nervous his breath hitched.
“Then are you satisfied with me?”
Although his tone hadn’t changed much, the man’s manner of speaking was different, carrying an obvious gravity.
Ji’s Father laughed. “Of course I’m satisfied. You’re steady, good-looking, and have a good job. But Xiao Lu, you’re not joking, are you?”
“I’m not joking.”
Lu Shenxing said firmly.
“Wait a minute—”
Only then did Ji’s Father realize that the wild man who had run off with Weiwei was Lu Shenxing!
He shot up from the sofa. “I won’t agree to it!”
Ji Wei subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief. This was more like his dad’s style. But then he was filled with worry again. His dad wasn’t going to drag him and his idol to the Civil Affairs Bureau for a divorce, was he?
He looked at Lu Shenxing.
The man’s expression remained serene. He opened the gift box and unhurriedly placed items on the coffee table. “Wuyi Mountain Da Hong Pao Tea.”
Ji’s Father secretly glanced at it, then quickly looked away. “Even if you give me Da Hong Pao, my answer is the same. No means no.”
“Yunnan Golden Melon Tribute Tea.”
Ji’s Father said, trying to sound firm, “Take it away, hurry up and take it away! I won’t agree no matter what you give me.”
“Duyun Maojian Tea King.”
“Anhui Six Hundred Li Taiping Houkui Tea.”
“Junshan Silver Needle Tea.”
…
But he was giving far too much.
Holding a pile of famous teas, Ji’s Father reluctantly waved at Ji Wei and the others. “Xiao Lu, come home often when you have time. Dad will make you sweet and sour pork ribs.”
He said “you,” not “you two.”
Ji Wei’s footsteps faltered.
He could finally confirm that he, the son, was a freebie that came with a phone top-up!
***
Palace Museum, Director’s Office.
“Director, I advise you to save your energy,” Secretary Gao said with a headache. “Even if you want to develop a reality show, it’s better to choose a different type. After all, Yancheng Television Station is wealthy and influential, with advertising fees in the hundreds of millions. They’re not someone we can compete with.”
There was another sentence he didn’t say.
—Otherwise, wouldn’t we just be asking for humiliation?
Director Lu was looking at Weibo.
[Official National Style Weibo]: Today, the official account is officially saying goodbye to everyone. The national style is not just a trend; it’s an imprint in the blood of each of us. It’s a pity that for a certain reason, we can’t continue to accompany you all. However, you can follow our follow-up program, Great Nation’s Artifacts.
He clicked on the link for Great Nation’s Artifacts and saw that it was just a reskinned version of National Style. Even the advertisers were the same. He heard they were even trying to invite the former guests of National Style.
He was not satisfied, very unsatisfied.
His nephew was still lying in the hospital, with no other family besides Weiwei. He was too busy with work to go, and the thought of that lonely scene made him feel heartbroken.
“You don’t need to worry about the funding,” Director Lu said confidently.
His Lu family had never had to worry about money.
Secretary Gao looked at his director, the corner of his eye twitching. Where did his director get this confidence? To make a variety show on par with National Style, it would cost at least tens of millions.
They didn’t even have a regular television station to partner with, only a website that sold cultural and creative products. The traffic was decent, but it was far from comparable to a terrestrial television station. Where would they find so many suckers to invest in them?
Director Lu was unaware of his secretary’s inner thoughts. He opened his phone and confidently sent a message in the family group chat.
[Lu the Third]: I’m going to host a reality show. The investment is quite large. I need everyone to lend a helping hand and let me feel the warmth of family.
The group chat, which had been lively just a moment ago, suddenly fell silent.
Director Lu: …I overestimated myself.
[Lu the Third]: I’m going to host a reality show to compete with that dog-ass Yancheng Television Station. I’ll try to invite Weiwei. I’m short on cash.
[Is ten million RMB enough? I’ll invest first, don’t you guys fight me for it.]
[…This has nothing to do with first-come, first-served, right? I’ll invest ten million US dollars. Just help promote my company a bit.]
[I’ll also invest ten million. By the way, do you need a venue? I have a mansion in Dubai.]
…
After successfully raising funds through his own (Weiwei’s) efforts, Director Lu closed his phone with satisfaction. As he was about to leave the office, he suddenly remembered something and said to his secretary, “That young man on Weibo named Qi Ke is quite good. Ask him if he’s willing to come work for us.”
Secretary Gao lowered his head. “Yes, Director.”
***
Ji Wei was completely unaware of Director Lu’s Weiwei-powered fundraising. After he and Lu Shenxing returned to the hospital, he pushed Lu Shenxing for a walk in the courtyard on the west side of the hospital building.
Several ginkgo trees were planted in the courtyard. Since it was still summer, their deep green leaves blocked out the sky, letting only a few rays of dazzling light filter through.
The courtyard was very quiet. Occasionally, orthopedic patients would be doing rehabilitation with their families, or family members would be chatting here. Even the slightest sound could be heard clearly.
Suddenly, he heard a discussion from behind him. Judging by the accent, they seemed to be from Shanghai.
“That young man looks a lot like a celebrity my daughter likes. It’s a pity his leg is broken. How will he get married in the future?”
“What are you worrying about? The one pushing his wheelchair looks quite compatible with him. Maybe they’re a couple.”
The topic was still family-friendly up to this point. Ji Wei was about to push Lu Shenxing away when he suddenly heard a comment from behind, “What a tragedy. He’ll have to endure a life of celibacy.”
Even though he was pushing the wheelchair and couldn’t see Lu Shenxing’s expression, he could tell from the man’s suddenly cold demeanor.
His idol must have… taken offense.
After all, it concerned a man’s pride.
Ji Wei thought about it. If it were him, he would definitely be quite offended too. So he held it in for a long time before managing to say, “You shouldn’t listen to their alarmist talk. How could you possibly endure a life of celibacy?”
“At most, it’ll only be for two months.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but the man’s aura seemed to become even more somber.
After carefully pushing Lu Shenxing back to the hospital room, the man in the wheelchair suddenly spoke, “Close the door.”
The man’s voice was deep, with a faint hoarseness, as if he were suppressing something.
Ji Wei did as he was told and closed the door.
He turned and walked to Lu Shenxing’s side, about to help him onto the bed, when his left hand was suddenly grabbed by the man!
The action was so sudden—
He froze on the spot. The man’s cold hand guided his downward, and further down…
Ji Wei’s hand was trembling, but he couldn’t break free from the restraint, no matter how he tried to pull back. He could only let Lu Shenxing hold his hand.
Finally, the man looked into his eyes and said coolly, “I’m hard.”