After Xing Di finished his makeup photos, he sat in the makeup room for the staff to remove his makeup.
His agent, Liao Wei, was sitting beside him scrolling through his phone. Suddenly, he saw a piece of gossip about Xing Di. He clicked on it and his mood soured.
"These entertainment gossip reporters are wasting their talents by not becoming novelists," Liao Wei said, handing the news to Xing Di. "They're actually spreading rumors about you and Nine. It's incredible what they can come up with."
Xing Di glanced at it and shrugged nonchalantly. "It's just gossip. If you take it seriously, you lose."
Liao Wei didn't think so. "No, I have to issue a clarifying statement. You just won against Xiao Qi and are already in the spotlight. At this critical moment, even a small ripple can cause a butterfly effect."
Xing Di stopped him. "The more you explain, the worse it gets. This kind of unreliable gossip will naturally die down in a couple of days. There's no need to make a fuss. If you clarify every single piece of gossip, you'll never finish."
"But... what if the old man sees it? He'll chase after you again." Liao Wei was very worried.
Xing Di stretched his legs out in a relaxed manner. "The old man only cares about his stocks. He doesn't have the time to keep track of my gossip every day."
"Xing Di." Jiang Nan Chen pushed open the makeup room door. "Are you free tonight? I'd like to have everyone over for a meal."
Xing Di agreed.
...
It was past seven in the evening when Butler Li called Chu Rong.
"Young Master, we've already screened twenty film crews and haven't found any trace of the Young Madam yet. However, if the Young Madam has indeed become an actress, she will definitely appear on screen. I've already had people checking all the actors in films and television series from the past five years."
Gu Zhong's photo only showed the Young Madam from the waist up, and the background only indicated that it was indoors. It was impossible to tell where it was filmed.
However, Gu Zhong, in order to protect himself, did reveal one sentence: the buyer was an actor.
Since there were no further clues, they could only start by looking for actors.
While waiting, Li heard the sound of cartoons. He was so shocked he couldn't close his mouth. "Young Master, are you watching cartoons?"
Before Li could say more, Chu Rong decisively hung up the phone and turned down the TV volume. "Don't turn the TV volume up too high, it'll affect your hearing."
Butler Li, who had been hung up on, was still in shock. The Young Master was watching cartoons? It was like seeing a ghost.
Mimi and Tu Tu, who didn't understand what was happening, obediently said "oh."
After watching for another half hour, Tu Tu started yawning out of boredom and sent a message to Quan Jiu: "Mom, when are you coming home?"
"Coming upstairs right now,宝贝."
Tu Tu quickly showed the message to Mimi. The siblings exchanged a look.
When Quan Jiu returned home, she couldn't find Mimi and Tu Tu and was about to call them when the two children walked in, looking very content.
Quan Jiu asked curiously, "Where did you go?"
"To Grandpa's house. Grandpa even watched cartoons with us," Mimi said with a sweet smile.
Quan Jiu was even more surprised. "You watched cartoons? What did you watch?" Her two children, though they looked like little princes and princesses, were too intelligent. They usually watched documentaries, spy thrillers, or science education programs. It was unprecedented for them to watch cartoons.
Tu Tu thought for a moment and shook his head. "I don't remember. It was very boring."
As expected... Quan Jiu smiled helplessly.
Mimi said, "Mom, can you make extra dinner? We want to take it to Grandpa. He's so pitiful, he doesn't have dinner."
Quan Jiu thought of her late grandmother and felt a surge of sympathy. She quickly started preparing dinner.
...
Chu Rong finally managed to get rid of the two children and then went to his study. Once he got into work mode, he tended to lose track of time. He felt as if he had only been busy for a short while before being disturbed by the doorbell again.
Chu Rong impatiently opened the video intercom. He didn't see anyone and after a moment's thought, went to open the door. As expected, it was the two little ones.
Seeing them holding lunchbox bags, Chu Rong instinctively wanted to refuse and said coldly, "I'm not eating dinner."
However, Mimi and Tu Tu ignored him and placed the lunchbox bags inside the door.
Mimi tilted her cute, chubby little face. "You must finish it."
Tu Tu grinned. "We'll come back tomorrow to watch cartoons with you."
"I..." Before Chu Rong could finish speaking, the two children left, hand in hand, skipping joyfully.
Chu Rong stood there for a while before picking up the lunchbox bags and going inside.
...
Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was three days later, the birthday banquet for Jiang Nan Chen's mother.
The Jiang family was a scholarly family for generations. In the previous dynasty, the Jiang family had produced a top scholar. Although this family was not as powerful as the Chu family in City A, their heritage was profound, and they could be considered true celebrities. Because of this, many prominent families attended the birthday banquet for Mother Jiang.
Quan Jiu and Wang Feifei arrived at the Jiang family villa together. Seeing the expanse of celebrities on the lawn, Wang Feifei couldn't help but sigh, "Seeing this scene, I always feel like Jiang Nan Chen isn't their son. As a descendant of celebrities, our Director Jiang is also..." too simple.
Before she could finish speaking, Wang Feifei saw Jiang Nan Chen walking over in a snow-white suit. Standing over 1.8 meters tall, he looked exceptionally distinguished and handsome in the suit.
Wang Feifei blushed and teased him uncomfortably, "Director Jiang, I must say, you look quite presentable dressed up like this."
Jiang Nan Chen smiled at Quan Jiu. "Come, I'll take you to meet my mother."
The two were led into the villa's main hall and brought before Mother Jiang.
Mother Jiang was receiving gifts and blessings from everyone. When she saw her son approaching, she quickly beckoned him over and introduced him to the guests.
"This is my son, Nan Chen."
Jiang Nan Chen had been influenced by scholarly traditions since childhood, and his demeanor was naturally outstanding. The guests naturally offered a round of praise.
Mrs. He, holding her daughter's hand, praised Jiang Nan Chen from head to toe. The satisfaction in her eyes was too obvious.
Her daughter, He Miao, had also been staring at Jiang Nan Chen the entire time. After her mother finished speaking, she said sweetly, "Brother Nan Chen, long time no see."
Jiang Nan Chen nodded and smiled politely and distantly, as a response.
He Miao wanted to say more but couldn't find the words. She then turned to hold Mother Jiang's hand. "Auntie, I auditioned for Brother Nan Chen's crew a few days ago, but unfortunately, I wasn't selected. Brother Nan Chen is so strict."
"Oh?" Mother Jiang said with a hint of blame. "Nan Chen, that's not right of you. Why didn't you select Miao Miao?"
He Miao realized Mother Jiang had misunderstood and quickly said, "No, no, Auntie, it's my fault. My acting isn't good enough. It's not Brother Nan Chen's fault."
Jiang Nan Chen didn't hear clearly. His gaze was searching for Quan Jiu.
"Mrs. Jiang, is Nan Chen engaged?" a wealthy woman asked curiously.
Mother Jiang pretended to be angry and patted her son's arm. "This is also what troubles me. He's already thirty, and there's no good news. I don't know when I'll be able to hold my grandson."
"Mom," Jiang Nan Chen said with a helpless smile. "I have someone I like."
"Oh? My child, you have someone you like but haven't brought her home. How long do you plan to keep it a secret?" Mother Jiang said with a playful scold.
Hearing this, the other ladies dismissed any thoughts of introductions.
He Miao's expression almost faltered. She forced a smile. "Auntie, this is my birthday gift for you. Please take a look and see if you like it. I specially went to the place of origin to buy this limited edition bag."
Mother Jiang didn't ask about her son's love interest for the moment. She took the bag, looked at it for a few moments, and smiled. "It's very beautiful. Miao Miao is very thoughtful."
Wang Feifei stood behind the crowd and gossiped with Quan Jiu. "No wonder Jiang Nan Chen is so good-looking. Look at his mother, she's over fifty but still charming. My father pursued his mother when he was young, but unfortunately, my father was full of money, and his mother didn't fancy him."
Quan Jiu smiled. "Your two families have such interesting stories."
Wang Feifei winked. "Oh, these celebrities, they look glamorous on the surface, but the stories behind them are more exciting than any drama."
Just as she finished speaking, she heard Jiang Nan Chen call out, "Jiu Jiu."
Everyone followed his gaze, and their eyes fell on Quan Jiu.