He peeked out again—why was there an old man scavenging for scraps?!
Before Ji Boyang could speak, he saw his second uncle, who was filming on set, tremble.
For the first time, Cheng Jixue felt so panicked and at a loss—he had just unexpectedly discovered that not only was the old man, known as the "powder keg," watching him film from the sidelines, but Zhang Chaohe and Ji Boyang were also nearby... and it seemed even Mrs. Zhang was there?
Huh? Why did things suddenly turn out like this!
Is this the blessing I get for getting up at 1 a.m. to make steamed buns?!
Cheng Jixue frantically racked his brains for a strategy to deal with this deadly battlefield, but he couldn't be harsh with Zhang Chaohe, nor dared he be harsh with the old man or his future mother-in-law.
So the only option was to turn the gaze of death toward the unfortunate nephew, Ji Boyang.
Ji Boyang: Fine, what else can I do to save my life? I need help urgently.
A note from the author:
Nephew, the unjustly accused: I calculated things cleverly... and then I lost my life.
Zhang Chaohe: He's just an old scavenger, nothing to be afraid of.
Welcome to the domineering CEO's fateful showdown and Xiao Cheng's crazy patching!
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 55
If Ji Boyang were in the kitchen right now, he would choose a piece of tofu and smash his head against it to death; if Ji Boyang were in the market right now, he would choose a noodle and strangle himself to death.
This way, we won't have to deal with the major accidents that follow.
But now they're on a film set, with the imposing and charismatic Mr. Zhang in front of him and his kind but treacherous Mrs. Zhang behind him.
With nowhere to turn and nowhere to die, he could only lie there in despair, watching helplessly as his great-grandfather, with his long eyebrows raised and a cool gait that didn't resemble that of an eighty-year-old man, walked toward them.
Ji Boyang: Help! Help! Help!
In a moment of quick thinking, he tried to coax his aunt into running: "Oh dear, why does that old man look so angry? Is he here for revenge? Let's run!"
Upon hearing this, Ms. Zhao's eyebrows shot up, and she hissed, "He wouldn't dare!"
Zhang Chaohe calmly stopped Ji Boyang, who was in a hurry to run away, displaying his domineering CEO demeanor: "I transferred five hundred yuan to him last time. This coincidence must be him coming to repay the favor. Brother Ji, don't be afraid!"
Those hands were incredibly strong, even stronger than iron clamps. Ji Boyang tried to pry them open but couldn't budge them.
Ji Boyang: You dare mention that five hundred yuan?!
Did you know that when he got back, he cleared out his WeChat Wallet specifically to keep that 500 yuan there? He was also sighing and groaning at times, sometimes giving a sinister laugh, as if he had a split personality!
Zhang Chaohe was unaware. Not only was he unaware, but he was also going on and on to tell Ms. Zhao how kind and compassionate he had been when he transferred the money last time.
Ji Boyang: If you're tired of this, then destroy it.
Meanwhile, inside the film set, Cheng Jixue also caught a glimpse out of the corner of her eye that Old Master Ji was like a small satellite, focused on launching forward, about to connect with Zhang Chaohe and his group!
Cheng Jixue felt a deep sense of despair: he had begun to consider how to kneel in the most vulnerable, innocent, and beautiful way.
Cheng Jixue was lost in thought when she suddenly heard Chen Xingting shouting through a megaphone, "Cheng Jixue, what kind of role are you playing? You're Chang Xiaoyue, not a silly goose! Even a goose doesn't have eyes as straight as yours!"
He looked up blankly and, sure enough, saw Old Master Ji on the shore outside the set, looking at him with disdain and speechlessness after hearing the director call his name.
In a moment of quick thinking, Cheng Jixue strained her eyes and used abstract but sincere facial language to give a hint to Old Master Ji.
Grandpa, save me, save me!
Grandpa Ji went from looking puzzled to suddenly realizing something. He looked up at the sky and finally sighed helplessly in resignation.
Then he gave Cheng Jixue a haughty yet restrained smile, like a powerful boss.
What Old Master Ji thought he was conveying was: You can rest assured that I can handle things.
What Cheng Jixue actually received was: I will definitely avenge the five hundred yuan debt today!
Cheng Jixue: "..."
Oh no, maybe I should start selecting brambles now.
Meanwhile, Zhang Chaohe, who was on edge waiting for the old scavenger to arrive, was also very puzzled. He secretly asked Ji Boyang, "Why is he standing there without moving?"
He even struck a very artistic pose?
Ji Boyang: "Hmm, Brother He, I need to go to the restroom. Why don't you take me there? Anyway, it doesn't seem like the old man wants to come over."
Just as Zhang Chaohe was about to agree, he heard Ms. Zhao say quietly, "You two go, I'll wait for him here. If he dares to come over, I'll ask him what he means!"
Xiaohe was so kind as to send him money, yet he still reacted with such a furious outburst.
This is absolutely outrageous!
Isn't this just about taking advantage of one's age? I'm old too! Let's all take advantage of our age then!
Grandpa Ji, who looks fierce but is actually very optimistic and is trying hard to brainwash himself to temporarily forget the 500 yuan grudge, is unknowingly practicing a smiling expression.
If it were Chairman Zhang... or General Manager Zhang standing here today, things might have taken a completely different turn. But today, standing here to stand up for her son is Ms. Zhao, the "Little Cannon."
Ms. Zhao didn't know Mr. Ji at all; all she could think about was her son's tragic encounter with the farmer and the snake!
Ji Boyang: Zhang Chaohe turned around and took two steps, but suddenly found that Ji Boyang was still hesitating and lingering. He stood there like a swaying stone statue, staring blankly at the old man who was scavenging.
Then Xiao Ji looked up and said, "Hmm... I suddenly don't really want to go anymore."
How could I dare leave my second aunt and great-grandfather alone together?!
Zhang Chaohe: Okay.
He felt that everyone was acting strangely today. For example, Cheng Jixue was out of sorts for some reason and was scolded by the director twice in a row. Ji Boyang was also a bit absent-minded, either spacing out or looking around aimlessly. Ms. Zhao was even stranger. Her gaze lingered on him meaningfully, making him feel uneasy.
Zhang Chaohe was slightly wary—was he dreaming today, or was everyone else dreaming?
He was lost in thought when he suddenly stopped halfway through his walk and started walking towards the side again. His dignified and solemn face was adorned with a strange yet kind and arrogant smile!
Zhang Chaohe was on high alert. He saw the old man stride over with an imposing aura, then suddenly raise his eyebrows, lean over Zhang Chaohe, and point at Ji Boyang behind him: "You brat..."
Before Zhang Chaohe could react, Ji Boyang lunged forward and grabbed the hand that Old Master Ji was pointing at him with a "slap"!
"Hello sir, my name is Ji Boyang. I'm good friends with Mr. Zhang. This is Aunt Zhao, Mr. Zhang's mother. We came here today to visit the set, but we didn't expect to meet you here. What a coincidence!"
Ji Boyang rattled off a long string of words in one breath, then looked pitifully at his great-grandfather, trying to convey complex information with his eyes!
Great-grandfather, save me, save me!
Grandpa Ji, who had suddenly dropped from the rank of great-grandfather to that of uncle, said: "Oh."
Because the rebellious grandson Ji Boyang's breath was so long, he almost choked to death.
Zhang Chaohe didn't see anything wrong with it—Ji Boyang was naturally cheerful, so it was understandable that he would be more enthusiastic after hearing about the old man's tragic situation. He also came over to greet him: "Grandpa, do you remember me? I'm the one from the barbecue restaurant last time."
He also deliberately didn't mention the 500 yuan to save the old man's pride.
Grandpa Ji gasped. The memory worth five hundred yuan was a humiliation to him. He was so angry at this fool that he almost fainted on the spot. How could he look like a beggar? What kind of arrogant and swaggering old beggar was he?
But thinking of his two children, Ji Tingduan and Ji Boyang, he tried to gather his strength and laughed heartily: "Hahaha, we meet again!"
Zhang Chaohe: You don't seem to be smiling very happily.
Both sides engaged in awkward laughter, the scene so embarrassing that even Ms. Zhao couldn't bear to watch. Ji Boyang frantically craned his neck to look at the filming location; his second uncle was still struggling with Director Chen, and it seemed unlikely to end anytime soon. His face was stiff from laughing, and he frantically winked at his great-grandfather from behind Zhang Chaohe—
Let's go, hurry up!
Fortunately, even though he was over eighty years old, he was still sharp and his eyesight was still good. He immediately saw through the coded message that Ji Boyang was sending with his face twitching: "Quickly find a reason to stay here with us!"
Old Master Ji narrowed his eyes imperceptibly, indicating that he had read it.
Zhang Chaohe, still trying to make conversation, asked, "What are you doing here?"
Grandpa Ji's hawk-like eyes revealed three parts indignation, three parts confusion, and four parts curiosity—this young man was indeed good, but a bit too honest. He quickly replied, "I originally wanted to apply for an extra role, but my old arms and legs just couldn't handle it, so I just watched from the sidelines for a while."
Of course, I can't say that I got in to see my grandson through connections!
He glanced at Ji Boyang, who was standing nervously to the side, and suddenly added, "After all, I'm getting old, and I still have to raise my unfilial great-grandson."
Suddenly being scolded as an "unfilial great-grandson": Zhang Chaohe frowned as he listened. There was such a hidden story behind the old man's tragic experience. He actually lived with a child? He was very heartbroken, but there was also a trace of sympathy in his heartache. It was really lamentable that the old man was still struggling to make a living at such an advanced age!
He then pretended to reach for his phone: "Grandpa, your WeChat—"
Grandpa Ji: ! !
No WeChat, no WeChat!
He and Ji Boyang simultaneously stopped Zhang Chaohe's hand as he reached for his phone to transfer money, saying, "There's no need for that!"
Ms. Zhao squinted at the old man, seemingly lost in thought.
Grandpa Ji glanced at Ms. Zhao casually, then casually adjusted his jacket and straightened his crisp collar. He cleared his throat: "Young man, didn't you say you'd treat me to dinner last time? I think there's no time like the present, how about today?"
Ji Boyang: !! That's not what you just agreed to!
Zhang Chaohe: ? ? When did I say that?
Zhang Chaohe felt that paying was more important than a meal. He was about to politely object when Ms. Zhao suddenly smiled and grabbed his arm, then pulled him back hard, forcing him to swallow his words!
Her tone suddenly became gentle and kind, as refreshing as a spring breeze in April: "The old man is right, there's no time like the present. I happen to be here today, so why don't you ask the crew for leave and we go out for a casual meal?"
Ms. Zhao and Mr. Ji exchanged a glance and both revealed a meaningful smile that only parents could understand.
Grandpa Ji was deeply moved—finally, he had met a normal person. Zhang Chaohe had almost made him doubt his own normality!
Ms. Zhao thought to herself, "Is Dian Dian stupid? She's not stupid. This old man has a five-figure income, how could he really be a scavenger? Besides, Dian Dian just said that they had met once before, so this old man must be Xiao Ji's elder, who came to observe Dian Dian on purpose!"
Dian Dian actually caused a 500 yuan blunder... No way, she has to win back Dian Dian's favor with Elder Ji today!
Her prediction was absolutely accurate, except that there might have been a slight miscalculation in the choice of "Xiao Ji"...
Ms. Zhao immediately used her social skills, which she had honed in her circle of wives, to make Mr. Ji smile with just a few words, instantly easing the awkwardness from before.
Ji Boyang was almost in despair—he and Zhang Chaohe looked at each other, not knowing how things had come to this; Cheng Jixue, who was also in the audience, was also devastated. He took advantage of a good vantage point in one of the cameras to peek at the situation with Zhang Chaohe and the others, and instantly felt a little like he was having a heart attack…
The old man was actually having a pleasant conversation with his future mother-in-law. Everyone looked genuinely happy. Only Zhang Chaohe and Ji Boyang stood stiffly to the side, like two wooden statues, in a daze.
Cheng Jixue: I just filmed one scene, how come the world seems to have changed so much?
Ms. Zhao urged Zhang Chaohe to go and greet the director while she contacted a driver to book the venue. Zhang Chaohe dawdled over to ask Director Chen for leave, only to see Chen Xingting turn around to look at the director's wife, then at Zhang Chaohe and Cheng Jixue, and wave his hand magnanimously: "Granted, this scene will be finished soon, you can leave now."
Zhang Chaohe: "Us?"