Chapter Forty-Three: A Friendly Family Conversation

Pang Tong reported to Chen Fang every day about the short video earnings.

The income was impressive!

Each day brought in several hundred, sometimes even thousands, from video royalties.

Chen Fang’s popularity never waned.

Every short video related to Chen Fang garnered high numbers of likes.

Moreover, Pang Tong was running Chen Fang’s personal short video account, with Blue V identity authentication, so the videos' views, likes, comments, and shares were all exceptionally high.

Pang Tong was clever.

After tasting the sweet rewards of short videos, he made it a habit to edit and upload one or two new videos related to Chen Fang every day.

Every day, new videos.

Every day, new followers.

This kept the earnings at a considerable level.

Additionally, An Tinghan had indeed brought Chen Fang a surge of attention.

An Tinghan was about to release her new song “As Desired,” with lyrics and composition by Chen Fang. When her fans learned of this, they flocked to Chen Fang’s account to make their presence known.

Chen Fang, however, didn’t mind.

Daily income was all he cared about.

He didn’t particularly need the short video proceeds, so he invested all of it in Pang Tong.

After a night’s rest,

Chen Fang shouldered his bag and set out.

This time,

He didn’t take Pang Tong with him to the venue; Pang Tong stayed home to watch the live broadcast.

Capital City.

Starlight Splendor Hall.

When Chen Fang arrived, the hall was still empty—audience members hadn’t yet been admitted, but backstage was bustling with staff.

Chen Fang didn’t see Ji Mei.

She was probably busy elsewhere.

A staff member brought Chen Fang to a private dressing room, then left.

Chen Fang took out his stage outfit from his bag and began to change.

Soon,

A white long robe draped over his shoulders.

The robe was accented with pale blue.

Its patterns included blossoms and birds of many kinds.

In an instant,

He radiated the aura of a literary scholar.

At that moment, Chen Fang became a refined young academic, his delicate bearing seeming to traverse time from antiquity into the present.

“Hmm, not bad,”

Chen Fang nodded.

The look was perfect.

To be honest,

Ever since he decided to perform “Porcelain in Blue and White,” he’d been contemplating what to wear on stage.

He agonized over it for a long time before finally settling on this ensemble.

Of course,

This outfit was chosen with Ji Mei’s help.

With her aesthetic sense, all Chen Fang needed was to give a general direction, and she would find something suitable for him.

Having a woman in the house truly was a blessing!

Time remained.

Chen Fang scrolled through his phone to relax, not practicing songs.

...

Inside a villa,

Xi Yuanyuan, dressed in loose pajamas, sat on the sofa with a helpless expression. “Mom, let’s talk about the matchmaking tomorrow. Right now, I want to watch my variety show.”

“Nonsense!”

“A girl well into her twenties, always out and about like a man—soon you’ll be thirty!”

“Hurry up, call someone, arrange a date.”

Looking around,

A middle-aged woman stood with hands on her hips, scolding Xi Yuanyuan.

“When I was your age, I swapped boyfriends every few days. Look at you, in your prime, living a bland life. Are you planning to become a nun?”

This woman was Xi Yuanyuan’s mother, Liu Ke.

In her forties, she looked barely over thirty.

She carried her charm.

Her figure was full.

No wonder so many favored married women.

“Ms. Liu Ke, it’s not that I can’t find someone, I just don’t want to,” Xi Yuanyuan corrected.

The next instant,

Liu Ke stepped forward and twisted Xi Yuanyuan’s ear. “Still daring to talk back?”

“I won’t, I won’t,”

Xi Yuanyuan wilted at once.

Liu Ke snorted, sitting beside her daughter, her bosom rising and falling dramatically.

“Tomorrow you’ll go on a date!”

“Engagement this year.”

“Marriage next year!”

Liu Ke issued her final decree.

Xi Yuanyuan nodded helplessly, planning to stall for now and keep postponing if she couldn't marry.

Seeing this,

Liu Ke’s expression softened.

Xi Yuanyuan seized the chance to change the subject. “Where’s Dad?”

Liu Ke replied irritably, “That old rascal said he was attending some new drama’s launch ceremony; I’m sure he went for the young girls in the cast. Nearly fifty, ogling those girls with lustful eyes—when he comes home, I’ll slap him against the wall so hard he’ll stick there.”

Xi Yuanyuan couldn’t help but laugh.

But,

Her mother’s reminder jogged her memory: the Hengdian Venture Park in the capital seemed to be doing short video scripts.

Everything these days chased brevity.

Short and sharp!

Novels were short stories.

Movies were micro-films.

TV series were web dramas.

Audience preferences had shifted, life’s pace quickened, and entertainment rhythms followed suit.

Don’t be fooled by the brevity of these scripts; they were just as lucrative.

“Perhaps, Chen Fang could try this,”

Xi Yuanyuan mused.

Chen Fang’s appearance was excellent; he had the external qualities needed for acting.

However,

It depended on what Chen Fang wanted.

If his ambition was only singing, Xi Yuanyuan wouldn't push him to act—since singing was his main profession, focusing on it could lead to great success.

Mother and daughter chatted idly.

A few hours later,

The villa door sounded with the pattern of a code unlocking.

A middle-aged man’s figure stepped inside, hanging up his coat, setting down his briefcase, and smiling toward the living room. “Oh, Yuanyuan’s home today? Why not at the company?”

At his words,

Xi Yuanyuan pursed her lips and gestured toward Liu Ke.

In that moment,

Xi Dong understood.

His wife had locked their daughter at home, forbidding her to go out.

Liu Ke cast her husband a sidelong glance, her tone mocking. “Isn’t this Director Xi? Why so early? Didn’t find any pretty girls at the launch ceremony, so you came home disappointed?”

Xi Dong coughed several times.

His tigress of a wife!

Earlier, he’d taken a photo with a young actress while filming, and Liu Ke had seen it—she never forgot.

“Don’t spout nonsense in front of the child.”

After changing his shoes, Xi Dong sat down on the sofa.

On the TV,

The third round of Starlight Road’s auditions was about to begin.

“This show isn’t very interesting, is it?”

Xi Dong had heard of Starlight Road but hadn’t paid much attention; it was neither hot nor cold. He worked in film and rarely watched singing competitions.

“This episode is interesting,”

Xi Yuanyuan’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Xi Dong was surprised.

His daughter had never shown much interest in this kind of variety show before.

Liu Ke was puzzled too.

Seeing them, Xi Yuanyuan stood up and announced proudly, “One of my artists is performing on tonight’s show.”

Xi Dong hadn’t reacted yet.

Liu Ke’s eyes lit up. She grabbed Xi Yuanyuan, eagerly asking, “Is he handsome? What’s his family background? Is he single?”

Xi Dong chuckled and shook his head.

Xi Yuanyuan thought for a moment, her cheeks tinged with an unnatural flush. “He’s probably the most handsome man I’ve ever seen—bar none.”

There was no helping it!

If you’re a face fanatic, you have to admit the truth.