Chapter 111: Let Me Introduce Him, He’s My Male Lead
“After I leave, you have to learn to speak up on the program yourself… grab shots. Of course, you don’t need to speak like me, just show your face more in front of the camera. You’re a singer, but you can’t just sing and not say a word, right?”
“《Light Years Away》 record a solo version when you have time. After these two times, I feel you’ll be more comfortable in 《Voice of Nature》 too… Later, depending on my schedule, if you make it to the finals, I’ll come back to help you win the championship!”
Inside the restaurant.
Chi Ye had eaten his fill, so Teacher Shi put down her chopsticks. No matter what Chi Ye said, she refused to eat any more.
Chi Ye was helpless and could only say some “pre-farewell” words.
With 《Light Years Away》, Teacher Shi’s situation should improve a lot. As her friend, he had helped her this time and also achieved his own goal. It could be said to be a win-win.
Shi Daifu listened silently to Chi Ye’s words, nodding without speaking.
Seeing her like this, Chi Ye thought for a moment and suddenly said, “By the way, do you know about health preservation?”
“Hm?”
Shi Daifu was stunned and shook her head: “Does nutritional pairing count?”
Chi Ye: “…”
“Then do you know… know about exercising the body? Can you make me a plan? My cervical spine hasn’t been feeling great lately… probably from always looking down.”
“…Cervical spine uncomfortable?!”
Shi Daifu’s almond eyes scanned Chi Ye’s cervical spine, and she subconsciously said, “Then… I’ll help you… I’ll help you write it down?”
“You know how?”
“I do. When I was little practicing martial arts, I always got injured, and Grandfather taught me.”
Chi Ye was “overjoyed”: “Great, write it for me and send it to me on WeChat…”
Before he finished speaking, he saw Teacher Shi already taking out a pen from her bag, pulling out a sticky note and seriously starting to write.
Chi Ye was surprised: “You carry paper and pen with you?”
“Mm… I… my daily diet needs pairing, so I write down what to eat each day…”
Shi Daifu was a bit embarrassed and said sheepishly: “Um… is there a problem?”
“No problem…”
“I… write?”
“Write away.”
Chi Ye nodded.
—His cervical spine was indeed a bit uncomfortable, but it was just from being tired, not as serious as he made it sound.
The reason he had Teacher Shi write it down… was that he felt Shi Daifu now had this inexplicable “sense of indebtedness” toward him.
Thinking about it, with Teacher Shi’s personality, she really couldn’t accept help from others without giving something back like he could.
Mm… cough cough… since that’s the case, let Teacher Shi “repay” him a bit.
This way, she probably wouldn’t have that sense of indebtedness anymore.
I’m such a good person.
Chi Ye praised himself inwardly like this. Fifteen minutes later, Shi Daifu had filled five sticky notes and handed them to Chi Ye: “If… you don’t understand something, you can ask me anytime.”
“Thanks, you’ve helped me big time!”
Chi Ye thanked her repeatedly, and sure enough, Shi Daifu’s face showed a bit more smile.
“Alright then… that’s it for now. I have to head back tonight; tomorrow I need to go to the airport.
The two had already finished eating. Seeing things wrapped up, Chi Ye didn’t linger, declined Teacher Shi’s agent’s offer to drive him to the airport, and headed to the airport with his team member.
Teacher Shi watched the backs of the Chi Ye Team leaving, lowered her head, and carefully gathered the sticky notes from the table.
“Hey, don’t you know ‘massage’? Last time I fell, you helped dissipate the bruise. Why didn’t you just massage it for him earlier?”
Shi Daifu packed her things, looked up, and said softly: “Not appropriate.”
Sister Wang was stunned.
Shi Daifu said no more, but silently added in her mind: That area is a bit delicate; what if I mess it up…
“You don’t really think he wants to fitness, do you?”
Sister Wang asked slyly again.
Shi Daifu stood up without speaking.
“You know in your heart he deliberately got you to help him?”
Shi Daifu turned to look at her: “Can you not say it?”
Sister Wang: “…”
“Sigh.”
Sister Wang shook her head: “Since you know, why pretend you didn’t see it and cooperate with him?”
Teacher Shi stopped, was silent for a while before saying: “This way he’ll feel more comfortable.”
Sister Wang paused, just sighed, and said no more.
Someone like Shi Daifu probably never deserves love.
…
That night, Chi Ye flew back to Beijing, then went nowhere else and stayed in the studio all night.
That night, he continued monitoring online public opinion about Yue Na.
Things were progressing smoothly, pretty much as he expected. Yue Na’s chances of going public were probably done for this time.
To continue going public, they’d have to shell company, but that would take years of operation, and they’d lose money like crazy.
But they’d have to lose anyway.
Chi Ye wasn’t in a hurry. He knew he couldn’t take down Yue Na directly yet, but that day would come.
The next day.
Chi Ye slept in the morning, then in the afternoon took Xiao Liu by car to the airport.
Empress Dowager’s plane was landing at two in the afternoon. He went after lunch and wouldn’t have to wait long to see the lively and cute Empress Dowager.
“Chi Ge, straight to the VIP channel?”
“Mm, let’s go.”
Chi Ye wore a baseball cap and mask, wrapped up tight—ever since 《Reboot》 was released, his reputation had gradually risen, no longer limited to the fan circle; many bystanders could recognize his face.
Not big, not small, but a celebrity.
What’s more, he was here to pick up Jin Xia this time… if caught, the popularity he’d just suppressed would flare up again.
They arrived at the VIP channel, which had fewer people. Chi Ye casually found a seat and prepared to bow his head to scroll his mobile phone.
But in a glance back, he suddenly spotted sitting right next to him a very well-dressed, sharp-featured, elegantly handsome uncle.
Chi Ye hadn’t planned to look much, but this handsome uncle… he was a bit weird.
He wore a champagne-colored Armani custom suit, holding a bottle of Evian water that looked familiar to Chi Ye. His cuffs were jade, feet in crocodile skin shoes, exuding an indescribable nobility.
More importantly, in an airport pickup area like this, his posture was extremely standard, almost like a robot.
Back straight, hands naturally resting on his legs, eyes straight ahead, with a natural “stern authority.”
Chi Ye glanced at the uncle a few more times, then turned away and paid no more attention.
But half an hour later, when he looked back, the uncle was still in the exact same posture, unmoving.
He was really curious and couldn’t help asking: “Uncle, isn’t that tiring?”
“Hm?”
Jin Ming had actually noticed Chi Ye long ago. Seeing the kid in baseball cap + mask wrapped up tight, he didn’t seem like an upright person.
He glanced faintly at Chi Ye, not wanting to engage, but out of basic courtesy, he shook his head reservedly: “Tiring? Why would it be tiring?”
Chi Ye: “…”
Sitting like a sculpture, really not tiring?
Seeing the other’s obvious distant attitude, he said no more, turned away, put away the magazine in his hand. It was almost time.
Hm?
But Jin Ming noticed the magazine.
That pretty girl on it… wasn’t that his little niece?
This seemed to be the cover of the four major magazines his little niece shot last issue…
He paused, gave Chi Ye another look, and nodded: “Kid, you’ve got taste.”
Chi Ye: “?”
“You’re a fan of Xia… Jin Xia? Here to pick her up?”
Chi Ye was stunned, scrutinized the uncle, surprised: “…Ah? You… you’re not a fan of Jin Xia too, are you?”
“Jin Xia has fans this old?”
“Hmph.”
Jin Ming was a bit displeased at the mention of age, but given Chi Ye was a “fan” of Jin Xia, he didn’t say more, just nodded faintly: “I suppose I’m her fan.”
After speaking, he adjusted his tie—which he’d already adjusted seven times in five minutes—felt it suited his vibe, then dropped his hand and casually said: “But Jin Xia’s development hasn’t been great these past few years. I’m planning to help her out.”
Chi Ye: “?”
He was a bit unhappy: “Whether it’s good or not isn’t up to you. I think it’s pretty good.”
Jin Ming raised a brow, kept his airy demeanor, shook his head: “You fans don’t get it.”
He thought, this fan even got such “secret” info knowing Jin Xia was landing here today, so he must be a die-hard. He figured he should educate him on the traffic market.
“Just say, the dramas she’s shot in recent years have poor reputation, poor traffic.”
“Now she’s even with that… what Chi… hyping CP. She dares to hype CP?!”
Jin Ming got a bit agitated: “Who could even match her?!”
Chi Ye listened, heart pounding—turns out this was a radical old career fan?!
One of those rare “daddy fans” in the fan circle?
He paused, a bit dissatisfied, and defended: “Buddy, that’s not right. What do you mean Chi Ye doesn’t deserve her? Who knows what their relationship is now? As a fan, you should bless her, not badmouth others.”
“I badmouth?” Jin Ming was annoyed, ignored the “buddy,” and said loudly: “Do you know who I am? Do I need to badmouth? Let me tell you, I know way more insider info than you.”
“Oh? What insider info?”
“I… I…” Jin Ming came to his senses, glanced at Chi Ye, smiled subtly: “Kid, a bit scheming, huh? Trying to pry from Uncle?”
Chi Ye: “…”
No, I just asked casually. Why so sensitive? It’s not some trade secret; who cares?
As if reading Chi Ye’s mind, Jin Ming said calmly: “Kid, this mall is a battlefield. You don’t understand a lot; the entertainment industry is way more complex than you think.”
He shook his head, already spotting a “strange yet familiar” figure walking out from the airport doorway.
She wore a loose-fit white Chanel tweed jacket with the classic black-and-white checkered pattern, black high-waist wide-leg pants, youthful and stylish overall.
At the moment, she was pushing her own suitcase, feet in white GUCCI chunky casual shoes, a pair of toad sunglasses bought with Chi Ye at MINISO perched on her nose bridge, slid down to the tip, revealing a pair of exquisite peach blossom eyes.
Slyly looking around, then locking on a direction, lighting up.
She flung the suitcase aside for Sister Mi behind her to push, and Jin Xia happily ran this way.
“Wasn’t this clingy when little!”
Jin Ming had already stood with a smile, elegantly opening his arms.
“Teacher Chi!”
Jin Xia rushed past him, leaned to Chi Ye, beaming: “You really came! I thought you were busy and wouldn’t!”
Chi Ye was also startled; he thought Empress Dowager was about to hug him in public…
No, he was all prepared; why didn’t she come over?
But feeling the familiar scent at his nose tip—that was Jin Xia’s usual perfume, mixed with her hair and body wash scent.
Chi Ye still felt refreshed.
“Me, I wasn’t planning to come, but… thinking if I didn’t pick you up, you’d be unhappy, so… to make you happy, I flew back overnight to get you.”
“Hmph, Teacher Chi, don’t think I don’t know—you came back last night for work!”
But Empress Dowager wasn’t fooled, wearing an expression of don’t try to PUA me.
Chi Ye: “…Then tell me, did I come or not.”
“Aww, I was joking. I know you came back for me. Mm… I’m so happy, Teacher Chi!”
“I’m very unhappy.”
Jin Ming, dumbfounded beside them, finally snapped out of it, face flushing green and white, staring deathly at Chi Ye “intimately” with his little niece, wanting to grit his teeth… but minding his image, could only force a smile: “Yo, so you’re the Chi, Teacher?”
Chi Ye was very surprised, looked at Jin Ming, then at Jin Xia. Empress Dowager wasn’t noticeable from afar, but up close, comparing…
Gotta say, there seemed to be a tiny resemblance in the brows…
But…
This Jin Ming didn’t take after Jin Xia at all!
Empress Dowager’s looks were invincible.
“Ah, Uncle?!”
At this point, Jin Xia finally noticed Jin Ming—she really hadn’t seen him before… because once those peach blossom eyes locked on Chi Ye, she saw no one else.
“You… how’d you get here? Did you sneak more money from home again?”
Jin Ming: “?!”
“Jin Xia!” He glowered, pointing at them: “Look at how you two look…”
“Shh, don’t shout! Outsiders are here!”
Empress Dowager jumped, looked around hurriedly; a few customers were already peering their way.
“Go go, leave first!”
Good thing it was the VIP pickup area, few people, most not star-chasers. Only after Jin Xia left did they realize the girl was some big star, but the other two… you mean the sculpture who sat two hours straight, or the shady-dressed “bad guy”?
Tsk tsk, what a mess.
…
Meanwhile.
Chi Ye and the other two got in the car… got in Jin Xia’s team’s car.
Jin Ming face dark, feeling like a business big boss, the villain splitting lovers, opened his mouth to speak.
“Uncle!”
Jin Xia struck first, pointing at his nose: “Rest two years, wanna lose big again? Listen to your niece: you can’t grasp the entertainment industry! Don’t come in and lose money, or you’ll lose the family fortune!”
Jin Ming: “…”
He flared up, like poked at a sore spot, but… as elder and in front of Chi Ye this “outsider,” he couldn’t vent, just put on a profound look: “Xia Xia, you don’t understand. Uncle came prepared this time.”
Jin Xia delighted: “Ah, you wanna just give me the money?”
“Hm?”
Jin Ming puzzled: “Why say that?”
Empress Dowager logical: “You give me money, I give it to Teacher Chi for investment, then you profit. See, prepared indeed, Uncle!”
Jin Ming: “???”
Chi Ye: “…”
He tugged Empress Dowager, whispered: “Don’t say that; not good.”
“It’s fine, Teacher Chi.” Jin Xia whispered back: “Uncle won’t mind; family says worse.”
Chi Ye: “?”
Jin Ming was now thoroughly “enraged,” face red, but glanced at Chi Ye, continued profound: “Xia Xia, don’t be fooled.”
“I’ve acquired an entertainment company, preparing a big production lately. I think you come…”
“Uncle, forgot to introduce.”
Jin Xia cut him off, pointed at Chi Ye, coquettish but firm: “Chi Ye, male lead of my next drama.”
She blinked her peach blossom eyes: “Will you support us?”
Jin Ming froze, utterly stunned.
Two updates today
