So while Cheng Jixue was still eagerly awaiting news about the goose, Zhang Chaohe had already settled into his ideal lifestyle of going to bed at 10 pm and waking up at 6 am—every morning, Ms. Zhao would take him for a walk in the neighborhood; after returning home, Chairman Zhang would share current political events with him; he was not allowed to use his phone or play games, and his daily routine consisted of reading, watering flowers, and cultivating his mind and body…
Three days later, Zhang Chaohe finally broke down. He insisted on going to work, but was cruelly rejected and only allowed to wander around the neighborhood.
Before long, all the wealthy ladies in the neighborhood knew that Mr. Zhang was recuperating at home, and their children were more enthusiastic about visiting their parents than ever before. He even lost the joy of strolling around the neighborhood and playing with the cats and dogs!
Zhang Chaohe dreamed of a peerless hero descending from the sky to rescue him from this painful cage—just then, Cheng Jixue finally couldn't help but call him.
Although his tone was gentle and filled with deep joy for the bright future of the production team, he couldn't hide the resentment in his voice: "Why didn't you come to visit the set last week?"
Zhang Chaohe immediately poured out his grievances! He first shared his unlucky experiences of the week, and then complained about the painful life of being watched by his parents at home and by his uncles and aunts outside.
Cheng Jixue immediately pulled up the owners' group on another WeChat account and sure enough, she saw someone promoting the news that Zhang's youngest son was currently recuperating at home!
The kind-hearted aunt also hinted that families with unmarried children of marriageable age should hurry up and get married.
Enthusiastic homeowner Cheng Jixue: Received.
His sweet voice was altered by the electric current, sounding somewhat hoarse: "Mr. Zhang, how about I take a day off to come visit you? Guapi is at my teacher's house, we can go and look at Guapi together?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chaohe felt like a giant fish tumbling and crawling out of a river when the floodgates are opened. He happily agreed to Cheng Jixue's suggestion and secretly devised a meticulous escape plan!
Because his behavior at home had been forced to be excellent these past few days, it had somewhat numbed Ms. Zhao's senses. When he told her that it was too hot and he was suffering from summer heat, so he wanted to go out for a walk tonight and didn't want to eat dinner, Ms. Zhao thought it wasn't a bad idea and gave Zhang Chaohe special permission to go out.
Cheng Jixue had already gone home and brought out Guapi, waiting for him under the shade of a tree by the roadside. In summer, it gets dark later, and even though it was already past six o'clock, Zhang Chaohe could still spot Cheng Jixue and Guapi, who was squatting obediently beside him, at a glance.
Zhang Chaohe rushed over enthusiastically—Cheng Jixue thought he was going to hug her, but the next second, Zhang Chaohe hugged Guapi: "Long time no see, Guapi!"
Cheng Jixue: Garlic, I knew it.
Zhang Chaohe naturally took the dog leash from his hand, and the two strolled side by side through the neighborhood. Many of the ladies, seeing that their young boss wasn't alone today, but accompanied by a handsome young man, felt a pang of disappointment—one lady, chatting with her friends under the glass planter, suddenly narrowed her eyes, watching the two figures walk away: "I think I've seen that person before..."
Her words piqued the interest of the other ladies, who all pressed for details about who it was. However, this lady only vaguely mentioned that the person seemed to be one of the reclusive homeowners she had encountered before.
However, the two districts are far apart, and the other person is not often at home, so she is not very sure.
Zhang Chaohe and Cheng Jixue walked far away, so they naturally didn't hear the wives' gossip and speculations. Cheng Jixue told him about what had happened on set over the past week, which made Zhang Chaohe laugh non-stop.
Cheng Jixue was like a small fan, not only blowing away the heat of the hot summer, but also seemingly blowing away the stuffiness of the past few days.
He was about to complain about all the strange medicinal soups that Ms. Zhao had been forcing him to drink these past few days when he suddenly heard Zhang Yinshan's gentle voice behind him: "Dian Dian?"
Zhang Chaohe subconsciously turned around—his elder brother's expression and eyes were filled with a kind of murderous intent! He looked to the side and saw Cheng Jixue looking at his elder brother innocently.
Zhang Chaohe: Damn it, I've been caught by my boss!
Cheng Jixue: His nickname is actually Diandian!
Only the eldest brother remained outwardly calm, inwardly seething with frustration: Why is that vixen here again?!
A note from the author:
I'll only post a light 3,000 words today, and 9,000 tomorrow! *kissing sounds*
These adorable little ones are being fed and touched!
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 62
Cheng Jixue imagined his first formal visit to the Zhang family elders as him dressed in a suit and tie, carrying gifts, checks, and a gift contract, stepping into the Zhang family's gate with Zhang Chaohe.
Instead of being escorted home by his brother-in-law with a sinister air, the two of them sitting obediently at one side of the square dining table like elementary school kids, bowing their heads to accept the veiled greetings from their future mother-in-law.
Zhang Yinshan smiled enigmatically. He personally poured tea for the two of them and pushed it towards them, his tone as gentle as ever: "Why didn't you tell the family that you had friends coming over, Diandian? We didn't even prepare extra for dinner."
Zhang Yinshan: Don't eat at my house!
Cheng Jixue: I don't believe such a big house doesn't have extra rice!!
Faced with her brother-in-law's veiled criticism, Cheng Jixue politely accepted the teacup with both hands: "It's alright. I only took leave at the last minute to come out today. I have a delayed flight back later... I apologize for the trouble I've caused Mr. Zhang with my unannounced visit."
He held the teacup, head bowed weakly, looking utterly pitiful, like Snow White timidly offering roses only to be rejected by her wicked mother.
As expected, Dian Dian fell for it on the spot: "Huh? Are we going to fly back so late? Why don't we stay in the guest room for the night and go back tomorrow?"
Zhang Yinshan's brow twitched: You'd better not!
Cheng Jixue shook her head firmly: "I have an early morning scene tomorrow, and I can't delay the filming schedule."
Seeing the actors' dedication, Mr. Zhang, the investor, was even more satisfied: "The hopes of the production team rest on your shoulders!"
Zhang Yinshan: It seems like I got what I wanted, but it also seems like I didn't.
However, Ms. Zhao and Chairman Zhang were already aware of the subtle, ambiguous spark between the two, so they readily accepted the flirtatious and manipulative language used by young couples. But Ms. Zhao was still extremely opposed to Cheng Jixue sneaking out to meet Dian Dian.
What are you doing? Dian Dian has already gone home, and you're still chasing after him. Don't you take me, Zhao, seriously at all?
She immediately put on her dramatic act, adopting the demeanor of a domineering mother-in-law, and launched a barrage of questions at Cheng Jixue: "Little Cheng, we heard that you and Diandian are very close, but we don't know you very well. Can we ask you a few questions?"
Zhang Chaohe, utterly lacking in spirit, slammed his hand on the table in protest: "I'm all grown up now, don't call me Diandian anymore!"
Ms. Zhao: "Oh dear, I didn't see you react this much when I asked you to take a bite this morning!"
Zhang Chaohe, whose secrets had suddenly been exposed: "..."
Cheng Jixue smiled at him, but before the smile could even finish, Ms. Zhao launched a swift attack: "I heard that before you met our Diandian, you had about three million in debt. Did Diandian pay it off for you?"
Cheng Jixue's smile vanished instantly: How can I explain this? But given my public image, wouldn't it be even more unreasonable for me to suddenly pull out three million to pay off the theater troupe's debts? Even if it's just transferring money from one pocket to another, there should at least be some procedure!
What does it mean to lift a stone only to drop it on your own foot? He was so happy directing and acting all this back then, and now he's in so much pain because he can't defend himself.
"I……"
How can I clear my name from the image of a minor celebrity who makes money by dating a rich man?
I need help urgently.
Zhang Yinshan thought to himself, "As expected of Ms. Zhao, her one-hit kill is precise and to the vital point—look at the wicked concubine's flustered and helpless appearance, how brutal!" But the next second, Ms. Zhao did not distinguish between friend and foe and also gave him a heavy blow: "However, it is understandable. After all, anything can happen. It's only three million. Just consider it as helping someone out."
Ms. Zhao: It's not like I'm really trying to control him; I'll stop short of it.
Zhang Yinshan had just felt that Ms. Zhao was practically stabbing him in the back. How could she be so lenient? Shouldn't she dig deeper and strike him hard? But then Ms. Zhao changed her tone again and asked the same universal question that all elders ask at New Year's gatherings: "So what are your plans for the future?"
This question can also be translated as: "What are your plans for your future work, savings, and career?"
Cheng Jixue: "..."
The answer is hard to say.
He could only try to fit his current public image and fabricate a relatively lofty goal: "I will focus on my acting career in the future, and I will try my best to do my best."
He really had nothing more to say—after all, that's just how "Cheng Jixue" is. Within that limit, no matter how eloquently he spoke, he couldn't make the wealthy mother-in-law happily hand over her precious youngest son to him.
Ms. Zhao smiled meaningfully and said, "Oh."
She and Zhang Yinshan exchanged a glance, offering no comment on Cheng Jixue's answer, and asked again, "Do you have any other relatives? Perhaps our two families could get together and chat sometime."
Cheng Jixue suffered a second major blow: "Not for now."
Yes, and I've already met them. I have many relatives, but some of them aren't very bright, so I dare not say.
Mr. Zhang has met Mr. Ji and his eldest nephew; Ms. Zhao has met the eldest nephew and Mr. Ji. So it seems that apart from Mr. Ji's mother, both sets of parents have already had a preliminary meeting.
Ms. Zhao gave another meaningful "Oh," which made Cheng Jixue slightly uneasy. Zhang Yinshan, on the other hand, smiled with his arms crossed the whole time, quietly watching Cheng teeter on the edge of disaster.
Ms. Zhao felt she couldn't succeed alone, so she decided to drag Mr. Zhang into it as well—so that if the two children really did get together in the future, everyone would have contributed to today's "Zhang Family Banquet"! As she stood up, she called out to Mr. Zhang through the second-floor railing in the living room, "Old Zhang, what are you doing over there—"
I saw Mr. Zhang playing with Guapi downstairs... Guapi had received professional training and was very sensitive to people's emotions. Zhang Fulin had just been downstairs looking sullen, as if he had a sense of crisis that his precious son had been kidnapped by outsiders.
The melon rind came over and rubbed against him, then slapped its long face onto Zhang Dong's lap.
I'll give you a chance to touch me!
Chairman Zhang: Then let's touch it.
Ms. Zhao upstairs: ...
"Old Zhang?" she called softly, "Come up."
If the children hadn't been there, she probably would have rushed downstairs, grabbed Zhang Fulin by the ear, and dragged him back up—our country is engaged in serious negotiations with an enemy nation, and you, as the emperor, are indulging in pleasure with beauties offered by the enemy?!
Zhang Yinshan glanced at it without showing any emotion, but felt a surge of hatred in his heart. As expected, he was a scoundrel who followed his master's lead!
But its fur is so shiny and beautiful, and its eyes are so sweet.
Guapi had no idea what kind of dilemma the young man it had met once was facing. It followed Zhang Dong up the stairs with a thud and politely circled around him once. Zhang Yinshan was about to reluctantly touch it when Guapi suddenly remembered the man's cold reaction when they first met.
It probably doesn't like me. The melon rind politely said goodbye and then dashed off towards Ms. Zhao, whose eyes were shining.
Zhang Yinshan, who had reached out halfway, casually withdrew his hand: "Are you there? Are you targeting me?"
Ms. Zhao was eagerly anticipating the arrival of the golden retriever with its long, golden fur. The Zhang family's floor was too slippery, and the dog's paws made a lively, crisp sound as it ran and moved. Suddenly, it darted around in mid-air and charged straight at Ms. Zhao!
The serious atmosphere was instantly dispelled by Guapi's bump, and Ms. Zhao's half-hearted attempt to put on airs failed on the spot. Guapi then affectionately and proactively put its front paws on Ms. Zhao's knees, while huffing and puffing and wagging its tail happily.
Ms. Zhao: "Is this your dog? How come you had time to bring your dog when you were in such a hurry today?"
The topic jumped too far; as expected, the thought processes of the Tencent family are all very similar, and they are best at overtaking on curves.
Cheng Jixue immediately seized the opportunity, ignoring the previous questions: "My mentor lives here. After joining the crew, Guapi has been living with my mentor."
Zhang Chaohe questioned with his gaze: "Isn't it with Ji Boyang?"
Cheng Jixue responded with her gaze: Everything is in a state of development, nothing is static.
Ms. Zhao was quite surprised: "Mr. Qian?"
Not only is land extremely valuable here, but it's also hard to buy even if you have the money. It seems that apart from Mr. Qian Xiurong, a leading figure in the industry, no one else could consider settling down here.
Cheng Jixue: I'm sorry, teacher, you'll stay here today.
He smiled and nodded: "Yes."
Ms. Zhao sighed, "I was originally planning to leave the melon rind here for the night."
Cheng Jixue immediately understood the implied meaning and offered to speak to the teacher so that Guapi could stay at the Zhang family home and play with Little Zhang for a couple of days.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chaohe immediately felt hopeful about his imprisonment for the next few days. He looked even more excited than a melon rind: "Really!"
Cheng Jixue: I never expected that winning over my in-laws would require some dog diplomacy?
It seemed that apart from the brother-in-law's displeased expression, the other three warmly welcomed Guapi's arrival. However, Cheng Jixue thought he could deal with one at a time—he gently stroked Guapi's tail: "Of course, but Guapi can be quite noisy sometimes, and I'm worried that he might disturb your parents."
To draw an analogy, it's roughly like this: My child isn't a good student; last time, he only got first place in the whole school.