Chapter 221: Kill Me To Liven Things Up For Everyone
“Sung pretty well.”
It’s hard to avoid his novel when chatting idly with Yu Wei. Qi Yunming isn’t a longtime reader, but over time he would skim through it superficially.
As a result, when he just opened it, he surprisingly found that today’s new chapter was about Qi Yuan’s competition. As for his son’s matter, he definitely had to pay attention.
Although Yu Wei’s competition wasn’t formal or rigorous and even didn’t exist, it had plenty of benefits. Being able to participate wasn’t a bad thing.
After listening to the two competition songs, the evaluation Qi Yunming gave was that his son had made great progress, and this performance was indeed acceptable.
He was too lazy to interfere with Qi Yuan’s career, but to say he didn’t care at all was definitely impossible.
Large-scale unfollowing was very damaging to any star. He had been quite worried about his son’s state before, but at present, it seemed this kid was steadily accumulating strength for the better.
Seeing Qi Yunming’s delighted expression, Yu Wei even felt he wanted to say, “My son Qi Yuan has the makings of a great emperor”…
“So how do I compare to him?”
An An, who had been quietly gossiping on the side, suddenly spoke up out of the blue. Normally she didn’t have much chance to compare with her older brother, but Under the Flying Clouds obviously gave her this opportunity.
She and Yu Wei were the original version, while Qi Yuan and Zhang Lingye were the cover song. So if comparing side by side?
An An was just short of asking who her dad would save first if she and her older brother fell into the water at the same time. Most parents would muddle through such questions, but Qi Yunming wouldn’t.
“The original is more complete, the voice more fitting, but his singing skill is stronger than yours.”
He was serious about exposing his daughter’s shortcomings. The original sounded good thanks to Yu Wei’s support. With her half-baked singing skill, a solo would definitely fall flat.
An An seemed to have anticipated it and just smiled upon hearing it, not taking it to heart. It wasn’t embarrassing for an amateur to not match a professional.
“Singing isn’t just about comparing singing skill?”
Seeing Aunt Chen starting to bring dishes to the table, Yu Wei instinctively wanted to get up and help, but they stopped him. Guests should just sit at this time.
“Emotion, investment level—An An performed much better than Yuan Yuan in this song.”
Chen Jinyi really wasn’t muddling through. When she listened to Yu Wei and An An’s chorus of Under the Flying Clouds, she only had one feeling: An An really liked this song.
Singers need to invest some emotion and immersion when singing, and An An was much stronger than Qi Yuan in this aspect.
She always felt her daughter had better talent than her son. It was just a pity…
“Thanks, Mom.”
Although she could accept the sharp critique, hearing praise for An An still made her quite happy. She then smilingly got up to help serve the dishes and rice.
Relying on the salted fish dad to take initiative to help wasn’t realistic. To eat on time, she still had to do it herself.
Taking advantage of the mother and daughter being busy in the kitchen, Qi Yunming planned to chat with him about some private topics between men.
“Did An An write that book?”
He lowered his voice for fear of being heard by Chen Jinyi. The matter of An An writing a book was something Qi Yuan had told him, and the child’s mom still didn’t know for the time being.
Originally he just knew about it without specifics, but this morning when he browsed Weibo, someone was helping Yu Wei write things, and the two matters instantly connected.
“Yeah, she helped me a lot…”
Qi Yunming nodded slightly upon hearing it. Writing some things was no big deal, and there was no need to interfere with his daughter’s personal choice.
As for what Chen Jinyi thought, he wasn’t too clear either. After all, they hadn’t been exposed to web novels before.
If An An didn’t plan to mention this matter, he would definitely keep it confidential and pretend he didn’t know.
“For those actors you mentioned, I contacted Su Jian and Fei Hong, and they both agreed to act. The others are still being followed up.”
Yu Wei nodded. The two of them were the kind of artists who really lacked opportunities, and they definitely wouldn’t hesitate upon receiving the company’s invitation.
Although Su Jian had gained popularity through a meme, that kind of popularity had low commercial value and no stickiness. To retain fans, he still needed works.
This kid was tone-deaf, so music was a dead end. Acting in a drama should be passable.
No need to mention Fei Hong—he really needed an opportunity now to prove himself. However, the role of Da Chun wasn’t easy to play, and it was unknown if he could handle it.
Being stuck with an underdeveloped appearance definitely wasn’t good, but being somewhat plain-looking could instead fit more roles. The silly Da Chun was something other male artists he knew couldn’t play.
Worth mentioning, Yu Wei bringing them in free of charge was just to join the crew. To secure roles, they still had to go through auditions, with everything based on actual performance.
“By the way, for Yuan Hua, this key role, why haven’t you found someone?”
For the other actors, regardless of success, Yu Wei had preferred candidates, but for Yuan Hua, this key role, he hadn’t mentioned anyone from start to finish.
“Come over for dinner.”
Yu Wei was just about to elaborate when all the dishes for tonight were served. Aunt Chen called them over to eat.
Dawdling at such a time was obviously inappropriate. Whatever the matter, they could talk later.
On the dining table, that dish of Mapo Tofu was placed right in front of Yu Wei. The other few dishes were also ones he liked. One could only say Aunt had put thought into it.
Chen Jinyi personally picked him a chopstickful: “Try it. It’s not that authentic, but it should be edible.”
Normally she was busy with work and didn’t have many chances to cook. Her culinary skills were mediocre, just home-style level. She didn’t know if Yu Wei could get used to it.
“I just like this home-style taste.”
Yu Wei took a shallow taste. The flavor was decent. The beef mince was crispy and savory, just the Sichuan peppercorn aftertaste was a bit strong.
“Aunt’s cooking is really good. This tofu is numb and spicy, but the bean fragrance isn’t overshadowed at all.”
Qi Yunming silently withdrew his chopsticks in mid-air. Yu Wei’s high emotional intelligence response made him somewhat hesitant, afraid he hadn’t controlled the amount again and served a lethal dose…
An An, on the opposite side, was desperately giving him eye signals. If it’s good, eat more, best to finish it all, don’t leave any for everyone.
Besides the Mapo Tofu, the other few dishes on the table tasted quite good. The Mapo Tofu was probably just a simple mishap.
So what was there to say? He’d just eat it all, right?
Dinner proceeded in a relaxed atmosphere. Yu Wei was no longer reserved, treating it like casually eating with friends and seniors.
Qi Yunming and Chen Jinyi didn’t directly ask anything. They had a fair understanding of Yu Wei and didn’t need to probe much.
Yu Wei’s values were still very upright, and he was clear-headed enough. Although he liked to watch the excitement without minding trouble, he also had his own principles. Nothing to say about his character.
His personality was a bit salted fish, but with Qi Yunming, the “king of salted fish,” around, he could even be considered ambitious.
Personal ability was the least in need of observation. Both had shared the stage with Yu Wei to a certain extent and had a clear cognition of his strength.
Of course, his shortcomings were also obvious. He had plenty of schemes, wasn’t honest, didn’t speak much truth, and wouldn’t easily open his heart to people.
They were planning to ask more, but an untimely knock came from outside the house. The four exchanged glances, a bit baffled.
“Dad, Mom, it’s me!”
Although separated by a door, Qi Yuan’s voice was crystal clear. They naturally wouldn’t mistake it.
Only Yu Wei on site realized what was happening. He had mentioned coming over for dinner during idle chat with the other this morning.
Originally Qi Yuan thought it was a joke, but after figuring out the situation, he stopped talking.
What do you mean family dinner, but without me?
Yu Wei hadn’t expected him to directly buy a plane ticket and rush back overnight. Wasn’t this action force a bit too strong?
Qi Yuan staggered into the house, disheveled hair stuck to his sweat-damp forehead. In this state, Yu Wei would believe if you said he rode a bicycle back…
Growing up this big, Qi Yuan had never been as unlucky as today. Holiday tickets were hard to buy, there was traffic jam on the road, and he was recognized at the airport, surrounded all the way.
The reason he rushed back wasn’t anything else. How could he not be present for such a big matter?
This was his good buddy, also the future star he favored. Yu Wei coming to his home for dinner without him there would be too distant, right?
Especially after hearing that Yu Wei was brought back by his little sister, he didn’t dare hesitate at all.
Although exhausted enough, at least he made it…
“Yu Wei coming home for dinner and you didn’t call me?”
This matter was even told to him by Yu Wei himself. If not for Yu Wei, he’d still be clueless and laughing around over there.
No love left, really no love left.
“Didn’t you say you weren’t coming home?”
Qi Yunming had even asked three times at the time, and the answer he got each time was not coming back. Since he said so, he didn’t feel right pressing further.
Qi Yuan was stunned upon hearing it. It seemed he really had.
Mainly, he didn’t know Yu Wei was coming at the time…
Of course, he was too embarrassed to say this. Not coming home when parents called but rushing back upon hearing someone else was coming—wouldn’t that make him seem even more awkward?
Choked by this, he couldn’t complain further and turned to look at Yu Wei beside him. Brothers were still reliable.
Parents might have misunderstood, but his little sister definitely deliberately didn’t notify him. Rotten to the core!
“Just in time, I’m hungry.”
Qi Yuan had started rushing back nonstop right after hearing the news at noon, already hungry with his chest sticking to his back.
He familiarly walked to the dining table and was slightly dazed seeing the four sets of bowl and chopsticks, feeling like they were eating quite happily without him…
Standing there like this made him seem like an outsider.
How about killing me to liven things up for everyone?
“Uncle and Aunt were just praising your singing this time. You came at the right time—sit down and eat some more with me.”
Seeing the atmosphere getting a bit awkward, Yu Wei directly pulled Qi Yuan to sit. Although he hadn’t expected him to rush back, having him here was actually better.
Qi Yuan ate this up. To put it finely, he loved hearing others recognize his strength.
Chen Jinyi quietly fetched another set of bowl and chopsticks. Everyone acted as if nothing happened. Only after Qi Yuan arrived did this family dinner truly begin.
If Yu Wei previously didn’t know why this brother-sister pair didn’t get along, this meal opened his eyes.
They could even fight over the same piece of meat when picking dishes, then glare at each other and let go at the same time. As for that piece of meat, both despised it afterward and didn’t touch it again.
Yu Wei just found it a bit funny and directly picked it up to eat himself.
“Already leading by 170,000 votes. I should be able to start preparing to pick a song, right?”
Qi Yuan shoveled a mouthful of rice and casually mentioned his competition status. Although celebrating halfway wasn’t great, AI wouldn’t suddenly surge, so he was definitely steady.
He was happy, but this sentence pissed off An An enough. Stealing a win was one thing, but rubbing it in?
“Starved, huh? Eat more.”
She quickly scooped a big spoonful of Mapo Tofu into Qi Yuan’s bowl, with a blatant “I only care about my brother” expression.
This move was a bit too ruthless. The dish was still hot earlier so the numbness wasn’t obvious, and Yu Wei had just tasted another bite, but his mouth still had the taste now.
Qi Yuan tentatively took a bite and drank three mouthfuls of water. Don’t ask—asking means he was thirsty. Could it be Mom’s issue?
“Right, interested in acting in my script?”
Yu Wei’s invitation was a bit sudden. Not only did Qi Yuan completely not expect it, even Qi Yunming didn’t react for a moment.
So the Yuan Hua casting he never mentioned was Qi Yuan?
No wonder he didn’t say in advance. He didn’t need to go through process to cast his own son in a drama.
Yu Wei really knew how to get things free of charge—even he as director got freeloaded…
