Translator: Lynn
It was late autumn, and the sun had almost set after school. Long Zichen drove Jian Jie to a restaurant specializing in diet therapy and health preservation, which he found through an online recommendation. He heard that they served dishes beneficial for the body and voice, so he made a reservation in advance to try it out with Jian Jie.
The restaurant had an upscale ambiance, and after they were seated, Long Zichen ordered some signature dishes and desserts. Jian Jie teasingly remarked, “Brother Chen, you seem to be getting rich lately. Did you hit the jackpot?”
Long Zichen felt a bit underestimated and cleared his throat to rectify the situation seriously, “Recently, the sales of new artists’ records have been good, and with various commercial performances, the company is making profits. As a partner in the company, I receive dividends! From now on, I won’t spend money recklessly; I’ll work hard to save it…”
Jian Jie smiled and joked, “Sounds like you’re getting ready to start a career and start a family.”
“I really want to, but I don’t have a house or money, so who would fall in love with me?” Long Zichen tentatively asked Jian Jie, “Have you had a girlfriend yet?”
Jian Jie shyly nodded, “No, not yet.”
“That’s because your standards are too high. With your qualities, many people should be interested in you.” Long Zichen asked seemingly nonchalantly, “Have you thought about what kind of person you like?” He eagerly waited for Jian Jie’s answer.
Pondering for a moment, Jian Jie replied, “I want someone who is gentle, considerate, beautiful, and generous, someone who can understand me.”
Long Zichen’s heart sank. The first quality was something he lacked. As for the others, it depended on how they were interpreted. The future felt bleak.
“Is my criteria too high?” Seeing Long Zichen’s silence, Jian Jie thought he had some objections.
Long Zichen quickly reassured him, “Your criteria are perfectly fine. With your qualities, it’s only natural to have such expectations.” Inwardly, Long Zichen thought, it would be better if Jian Jie’s standards were so high that nobody could meet them. He continued to advise, “In the show business circle, there’s no shortage of beauties, but many of them are just good-looking without brains. You, on the other hand, are not just about appearance. You have a great personality and talent. You deserve someone who is both intelligent and beautiful, and appreciates your talent.”
“I’m not as good as Brother Chen says,” Jian Jie blushed, feeling touched by Long Zichen’s words.
“I’m just speaking the truth.”
At that moment, the waiter brought the dishes. Long Zichen enthusiastically recommended Jian Jie to taste them, saying, “These dishes are good for the voice. Try whichever you like, and I’ll make it for you later.”
Jian Jie tried the yam and chicken soup and the glutinous rice and wolfberry porridge ordered by Long Zichen. Finally, he expressed his opinion, “They have a medicinal taste, and the flavors are a bit unusual. Actually, the honey lotus root juice that Brother Chen made for me last time was really delicious.”
“If you like that, it’s easy!” Jian Jie’s fondness for the dishes he made thrilled Long Zichen. He said excitedly, “Tomorrow I’ll get the ingredients to make it for you!”
Jian Jie responded with a smile, appreciating Long Zichen’s enthusiasm. Long Zichen’s caring nature made Jian Jie feel thankful. He had already experienced some of the hidden complexities in the entertainment industry and felt grateful for Long Zichen’s protection and support. He wondered what his future would have been like if Long Zichen hadn’t been there for him. Giving up on his dreams might have been an easier path, but he knew he could count on Long Zichen to stand by him.
After dinner, they reviewed the schedule for the “Interview Show.” This would be Jian Jie’s first appearance on the show, and he wanted to prepare well for it. The show was a reality talk show with a host who asked sharp and humorous questions, often leaving the guests at a loss for words. While the show seemed improvised, everything was thoroughly rehearsed beforehand to ensure a captivating program.
Jian Jie accompanied Ding Jiangyu on the show, and his appearance was unpaid, yet he still had to cover his own expenses. There were not many scenes featuring him, and it all depended on the host and Ding Jiangyu’s willingness to share the spotlight. Nevertheless, for a newcomer like Jian Jie, this opportunity was valuable, and many would jump at the chance, even if it meant paying for it.
Despite the clothing sponsorship offered by the company, Long Zichen didn’t think it was up to par, and he wanted to buy Jian Jie a high-end brand outfit. He planned to coax some money from Yuan Chao and save some himself to afford it.
“The public can be quite judgmental, and even though we usually don’t care about such things, we should dress up for the show. It wouldn’t be nice to become a subject of ridicule, right? We can go to the men’s clothing store tomorrow at noon and get you a new outfit, preferably the latest collection. Do you have a high-end watch? If not, we can use Yuan Chao’s. He has plenty of them anyway.”
Jian Jie understood that the company provided a clothing budget for artists, especially newcomers like them, who couldn’t afford branded clothing with that limited amount. He couldn’t let Long Zichen spend his own money on it, so he suggested, “It’s just one show; maybe we can borrow instead of buying. My sister-in-law should be able to help with this. I’ll ask her for assistance.”
Long Zichen’s eyes brightened, “Yes, and the more expensive the brand, the better! Let’s dazzle everyone with the price alone!”
Jian Jie thought about it for a moment and said with concern, “…but if it’s too flashy, people might make fun of us.”
“Don’t worry, Xiaojie, you look good in anything you wear!” Long Zichen couldn’t stop showering Jian Jie with compliments.
Upon leaving the restaurant, Jian Jie immediately called his sister-in-law, Jiang Xinya, to seek her help. She happily agreed, promising to find the best brand and call back after finalizing the deal. She also invited Jian Jie to visit and see her niece, Xiaoyue, who is in kindergarten.
After the call, Long Zichen was in high spirits, exclaiming, “Big problem solved! Xiaojie, when you return to the show, you must outshine Ding Jiangyu and show him the wrong he’s done by having you on the show!”
Curious about the apparent hostility towards Ding Jiangyu, Jian Jie asked, “Is there some issue between you and Brother Jiang Yu?”
“We treat all the top artists as rivals! We aim high and compete fiercely. We need to defeat all the top singers!” Long Zichen raised his fist dramatically, adopting a competitive attitude towards famous singers.
Feeling inspired, Jian Jie vowed to give his best, fueled by the desire to surpass these renowned artists. Seeing Jian Jie’s determination, Long Zichen couldn’t help but think that simple-minded individuals were easy to influence and raise. He decided to protect Jian Jie vigilantly, ensuring he wouldn’t fall victim to any unsavory schemes. Long Zichen jokingly thought about becoming a mosquito and following Jian Jie around the clock if he could change into seventy-two forms, but alas, that wasn’t possible.
Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
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