Later on, when those Z-list celebrities sent him invitation letters, He Bai could turn them down in Jun Chen’s name and didn’t need to trouble Little Mermaid.
Above all, Jun Chen was taking a bit of a risk in inviting him, one who had a half-negative image online, to help promoting the album. How loyal and generous he was!
After receiving the news from Wang Boyi, Di Bian flew to D district in person and met Di Qiuhe secretly, of which Qin Li had absolutely no inkling.
“What’s it all about?” Di Bian asked directly without inquiring after Di Qiuhe.
Glancing at people following Di Bian, Di Qiuhe feigned a hesitant and worried look. He took out enlarged photos from the backpack, handed them to Di Bian and said after a hesitation, “Dad, you must know I made the acquaintance of a junior schoolmate months ago and had a good relationship with him. He worked at Yi Ka. The other day, he went with Jun Chen, a singer, to C province… The photos were taken by him accidentally at the airport. You can have a look.”
Di Bian took the photos and browsed them through, his brows furrowed. He turned around to hand them to his subordinates, looked at Di Qiuhe and questioned him, “Since they’re taken several days ago, why don’t you tell me earlier?”
Di Qiuhe slightly drooped his eyes, as if upset by Di Bian’s tone of voice, and replied, “I haven’t noticed before that there are Aunt Qin and Chunhua in the pictures. It’s Assistant Wang who spotted them and reminded me of it. Later on, he told me that Aunt Qin originally said she would go on holiday abroad with Chunhua. I felt that something was amiss, so I… Dad, even Assistant Wang can get in contact with you, but I can’t. I really feel a bit defeated.” Speaking of this, Di Qiuhe gave a self-mocking smile and threw his head back, without looking at Di Bian.
At this time, Di Bian’s subordinates finished checking the photos and signaled at Di Bian from under the table that these pictures were neither retouched nor faked.
Di Bian’s face fell, and at the same time his suspicion of Di Qiuhe was allayed. Seeing him look sad, Di Bian felt a paternal love well up within him. His expression became less stern when he said in a gentle voice, “You are busy with your acting career, so I dare not visit you at any time, in case I disturbed you. The only thing I can do is to ask Assistant Wang to take good care of you. I was wrong. Forgive me, Qiuhe. Now our family was about to fall apart, while Xia Song stayed abroad who I can’t count upon. As for Chunhua, she has been at odds with me for your Aunt Qin led her astray. Both the company and the family were in a terrible mess, I…”
“Dad,” Di Qiuhe interrupted him. Seeing Di Bian softened towards him and seemed partial to him, Di Qiuhe seized the opportunity and changed his attitude, soothing him, “things may not be as bad as you expected. Perhaps Aunt Qin felt it troublesome to go abroad and thus took Chunhua with her to have a trip at home. Last time Chunhua was seriously told off on the Internet. Rest and relaxation can do good to her.”
“You are too simple to be on the alert for your family, Qiuhe.” Di Bian shook his head and sighed, “Do you remember those business plans I handed you last time? Qin Li headed for C Province secretly to help Qin family scramble for programs from Huangdu. Her heart hasn’t been in our family.”
“How come she…” Di Qiuhe looked pretty shocked.
“I did nothing but sacked a few idlers who worked for Qin family from Huangdu… How could she treat me in this way and disappoint me bitterly?” A look of sullen resentment appeared on Di Bian’s face. He dropped his shoulder as if an old man, “No doubt that she intends to rob Huangdu to pay Qin family. Deep in her heart, she doesn’t see herself as member of Di family any more…”
Di Qiuhe seemed deeply shocked by the news and couldn’t say anything at all.
“Therefore, Qiuhe, we can’t allow Huangdu to collapse and Qin family to tower over it.” Seeing Di Qiuhe in a trance, Di Bian grasped the opportunity to have him brainwashed. He sat bolt upright and slightly approached him, coaxing in a deep voice, “You must be on my side, Qiuhe! It’s quite difficult for me to make any move in B City, and I have no one to rely upon but you. We can give up the business in C Province, but it can’t be captured by Qin family! Qiuhe, I’m getting old. Help me defend our home, please.”
Di Qiuhe was profoundly moved, his expression keeping changing. Pondering it over for a long time, he made up his mind, stared straight into Di Bian’s eyes and replied, “Sure, with pleasure. I’m willing to do anything to keep our family from crumbling.”
Di Bian rejoiced at his words and hurried to take a document from one of his subordinates. He opened it and said, “I have a team at hand, of which Qin Li and her family have no idea. Now they are at your command. You shall lead them to…”
Di Qiuhe pretended to listen carefully, though he felt it extremely ironic.
The drama finally started.
As the shooting of the last MV cover was finished, He Bai built up a collection of snaps he took when accompanying Jun Chen to C Province and posted it on WeiBo as planned. Also, in the post, he showed his appreciation of Jun Chen’s recognition online, talked about his understanding of shooting, and expressed his sincere wishes that Jun Chen’s new album could become a hit.
Jun Chen’s Studio immediately retweeted He Bai’s post via its official WeiBo account, returned his thanks, and revealed something new about the album.
He Bai’s popularity soared after a whole series of things happened one after another: being vilified, making clarification, netizens’ expose of the person who vilified him as well as the behind-the-scene boss of Saint Elephant, and getting considerable sympathy from them for working for such a boss at the very beginning. People lamented that geniuses’ path to fame was always full of trouble and misfortune. Coupled with the fact that He Bai had been a hotly talked about figure for some time while doing his shooting homework at the amusement park and made a good impression on passers-by, his post that promoted Jun Chen’s new album flooded the screen immediately.
The news that a popular photographer joined hands with famous God of Song hit the headline instantly.
Netizen No. 1: What? Jun Chen! It’s more than half a year since he started to make his new album! The tears I shed are tears of joy!
Netizen No. 2: Ha-Ha, those rumormongers have been bitterly attacking He Bai for playing truant, why they stop now? Mr. He hasn’t missed classes in campus until that day due to work! Dare you say you have never skipped any class or work for something important? Nobody’s perfect. Do you rumormongers have any sense of shame?
Netizen No.3: I am also willing to skip class only if I had the opportunity to shoot for Jun Chen!
Netizen No.4: Originally, I thought He Bai could take good pictures of teenage girls only, only to find that collective photos he took were also pretty. It’s not until now that I come to know… god, he takes better photographs of men! These photos simply changed my impression of Jun Chen! Previously, I only dare to watch him from a distance, but now I really want to rush in and give him a hug! I’m about to become a fanboy!
Netizen No.5: He Bai, would you mind my asking whether you gonna dump Qiuhe? Please don’t…