TSSRWAB Chapter 11

“Go home now. See you next time. Bye, Dougao, Doubao.”

 

“Bye-bye, Uncle.”

 

The elevator doors slowly closed.

 

Lu Xi sent Jian Huai off, then led the two little ones back inside.

 

“Alright, you’ve had a long day of fun. Take a nap with Daddy.” Normally, they would nap after lunch at one, but it was already two now. Their cheeks were flushed from all the excitement, especially Doubao, whose voice was nearly hoarse. Lu Xi held their hands as they headed to the master bedroom.

 

It was time for a father-son heart-to-heart.

 

Despite their young age, and even though Doubao seemed like a little goofball, they were actually smart.

 

Lu Xi, raising them alone as both father and mother, knew when to gloss over things, but sometimes, he couldn’t.

 

Hearing they could nap with Daddy, Doubao grinned, in blue little whale slippers, bouncing up onto the bed. Like little squirrels, each on one side, they burrowed under the covers, only their fluffy heads peeking out.

 

They left space in the middle for Daddy.

 

Their well-behaved expressions made them look like tiny angels.

 

Lu Xi changed into pajamas and slipped into the middle of the bed, deliberately tickling them, which sent the two tumbling into his arms.

 

One in each arm.

 

“What do you want to talk about?”

 

“Daddy, who was that tall uncle?” Doubao asked curiously, his big eyes round and bright.

 

Lu Xi ruffled Doubao’s soft hair, noticing Dougao’s face was serious too.

 

“Did you like the tall uncle today?”

 

Doubao puffed his cheeks. “I want to be tall, like the big uncle.”

 

Dougao stayed silent.

 

“If you don’t pick at your food and eat more veggies, you’ll grow tall too.” Daddy Lu Xi was quick with the fibs. This was one of those times to fudge the truth.

 

Doubao: “Really? ”

 

“You can ask him next time if you don’t believe me.” What next time? Xie Zhuhan had been humiliated today. There was no way he’d ever show his face again.

 

Lu Xi is very confident. When he ran away four years ago, he knew that Xie Zhuhan would not chase him.

 

And sure enough, the past four years had been peaceful.

 

Doubao was easily sidetracked, but Dougao remained quiet, his little face solemn. Lu Xi leaned down and kissed him. “I’ve told you before, Daddy is also Mommy. So, do you want to know who your other daddy is?” Without waiting for their reactions, he announced dramatically, “That’s right! The tall uncle today is your other dad.”

 

Both little faces: !!

 

Even the usually cool, bossy Dougao widened his eyes in shock.

 

“You stinky rascals, still putting on an act for me.”

 

“Doubao’s not stinky, and Didi’s not stinky either! We’re Daddy’s sweet-smelling babies!” Doubao stuck to his daddy’s arms and acted like a spoiled child.

 

Only then did Daddy Lu Xi feel slightly appeased.

 

These two has some kind of built-in radar. Even when Lao Jian showed up, they weren’t this sensitive.

 

Is this the blood relationship between father and son?

 

Ugh.

 

Xie Zhuhan could keep dreaming.

 

The two buns carried his surname, Lu. Xiao Lu gave them both a playful noogie, filling the blankets with laughter. The doting father smoothed their messy hair and said, “That was before you two were born. I met your other daddy; he pursued me first. That’s how you two little buns came along.”

 

“He didn’t know Daddy gave birth to you, because… Daddy couldn’t stay with him anymore.”

 

Doubao listened in a daze. “Whyyy?”

 

Because Xie Zhuhan’s a dog!

 

“Because he can’t sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star for me.” It’s time to fool the children.

 

Dougao: “Then he’s not impressive.”

 

“Exactly.” Storytime was over. Time for the little audience to sleep. Daddy Lu kissed their foreheads. “Nothing’s changed. Time for bed now. Daddy’s here with you.”

 

The room quieted. Nestled in their daddy’s warm embrace, tiny hands clinging to his neck, sleepiness slowly took over.

 

“Daddy, I love you forever.”

 

“Daddy.”

 

Sweet Doubao and cool Dougao snuggled close, their little faces full of love and contentment.

 

No matter who that tall uncle was, they love Daddy most. They could never be without him.

 

The two fell asleep, but Lu Xi lay awake.

 

As adults, it’s inevitable that they feel a little sentimental sometimes, especially for their first love.

 

Even if that first love had been a total bust.

 

It was winter five years ago.

 

—

 

Five years ago, in B City, China.

 

Eighteen-year-old Lu Xi had a fight with his adoptive parents, then bought a cheap plane ticket back to his homeland.

 

“Fine. You’re eighteen and an adult now. My duty’s done. Get out.”

 

His adoptive father, a white man, was furious.

 

“Lu Xi, we’ve raised you all these years. This contract is important to us. Why study art? Finance is a fine major. Rhett[mfn](this is a surname)[/mfn] likes you and respects you. He just wants to attend the same university. Maybe after graduation, he won’t even like you anymore. You can break up then.”

 

His adoptive mother reasoned with him, appealing to both logic and emotion.

 

They weren’t literally selling him to the young master of a big corporation. They’re just asking him to be Rhett’s college companion. Maybe as a boyfriend. They didn’t care about guys’ “chastity” anyway.

 

Lu Xi could go screw that.

 

He threw on a hoodie, grabbed his passport, and stormed out from their home.

 

After a long flight, he landed in B City during a heavy snowfall.

 

In ripped jeans and a thin hoodie, Lu Xi looked like a beggar.

 

He curled up on a chair in the arrivals hall, his eyes red– whether from exhaustion or something else, it was hard to tell.

 

On the second floor, in the exclusive VIP lounge, Xie Zhuhan stood by the window. The temperature was perfect, the space quiet and serene. His gaze drifted downward, landing on the lone boy below. A tuft of hair stuck up adorably, giving him a slightly silly look.

 

A long moment passed.

 

“Go check on him.”

 

The butler hesitated but followed his master’s gaze. With a slight bow, he left to carry out the order.

 

Three minutes later.

 

“Do you need any help?”

 

Lu Xi, lost in his melancholy, politely declined.

 

Half an hour later, someone else approached.

 

Lu Xi was deep in reflection about his eighteen years of life, having just reached the “…beautiful, adorable, brilliant youth doomed to a tragic fate all because I’m just too good-looking” phase of his internal monologue when, as if scripted, a shadow fell over him, casting him in dramatic lighting.

 

He looked up.

 

It’s so high up, my neck hurts.

 

Facing the light, the beautiful young man’s heart was struck by an arrow.

 

“Are you a human trafficker?”

 

Xie Zhuhan’s expressionless face froze for a moment, as if a question mark appeared slightly.

 

“If you’re not… can you help me? I’ll pay you back.”

 

Lu Xi didn’t realize how he looked. His nose was red from the cold, eyes glistening, the light making him appear pitiful and delicate.

 

Xie Zhuhan canceled his flight to the U.S.

 

“Master, but the ma—” The butler reminded him that this trip was important.

 

Xie Zhuhan glanced at the butler, who lowered his head and swallowed the rest of his words.

 

The beautiful boy Xiao Lu and the kind-hearted man Xie Zhuhan, who is definitely not a human trafficker, returned to the villa in City B.

 

—

 

“My name is Lu Xi. I like you. Can I chase you?”

 

The boy sat at the dining table, still in his hoodie and ripped jeans. Although he was very hungry, he ate very slowly.

 

His eyes sparkled, as if holding a sky full of stars.

 

Xie Zhuhan couldn’t help but think of someone.

 

He neither agreed nor refused.

 

But the way the boy looked at him today—

 

Click.

 

Xie Zhuhan closed the watch case in his hand, cutting off the dazzling refraction of light from the embedded diamonds.

 

“Have you found any information on Lu Xi over the past four years?”

 

“Master, someone has been helping Young Master Lu. The details are… difficult to uncover.”

 

What can be found out is the hospital where Young Master Lu stayed in England for more than a month, as well as, those two children are really his.

 

The mother of the children remained a complete mystery.

 

“Don’t report on Lu Xi’s matters to me anymore.” Xie Zhuhan’s tone was cold.

 

The butler bowed. “Understood.”

 

—

 

The trailer for the first episode of Are You Ready, Actor? has been released.

 

It is produced by CatTV. Members get exclusive access to both Parts 1 and 2, while non-members can only watch the first half.

 

The airing time is set for Friday at 8pm.

 

The trailer hit #8 on real‑time search.

 

The director-editor did a great job. There’s even more dramatic tension in the trailer than in the actual episode. Classic films and TV dramas, competing actors clashing, and the four mentors delivering sharp critiques: “So disappointed,” “What’s this? Are you even an actor?” “Terrible!” and the four mentors even started tearing into each other. Zhao Ziyang subtly pointed at “idol‑turned‑actor, pathetic!”

 

Onstage: He Xiaoman, Zhao Yu, and Lu Xi.

 

The war is about to break out.

 

On the official Weibo: 【Haha so interesting. Is Zhao Ziyang tearing Zhao Yu apart? 】

 

【Zhao Yu is not the only idol who has changed careers. Besides, Zhao Yu has great acting skills. 】

 

【Why do I feel that Aunt Zhao is sarcastic and implies Jian Huai? 】

 

【No, no, no, I think he is stepping on Lu Xi. Lu Xi has offended Zhao Ziyang. 】

 

They dug up the old drama from four years ago.

 

Marketing accounts posted rumors, comparing Zhao Yu and Lu Xi.

 

GossipDigger Circle: Both debuted through dance competitions: the Season 1 champion, and third place in Season 2. Zhao Yu, an actor with two works, and newcomer Lu Xi with no acting experience. Who do people favor more?

 

Rational Zhao Yu fans would say, “We’ll take our leave and won’t engage.”

 

【YuFans[mfn]鱼粉 lit. “fish meals/fans” – possibly fandom name for Zhao Yu’s supporters, combining “鱼” (yú, “fish,” a homophone for his name 钰) and “粉” (fěn, short for 粉丝, “fans”)[/mfn] have confidence in Zhao Yu as an actor. We just need to do our best.】

 

【If you are so looking forward to and curious about Zhao Yu’s performance, you can go and watch Zhao Yu’s ancient idol drama Legend of the Kite.】

 

Some immediately took a stance: 【Our gege is amazing. Don’t compare him to some flop. You’re just inflating that nobody’s status.】

 

There were also angry comments: 【Fuck you, why don’t you mention ninth place in season one? Are you afraid of the film emperor’s fans bullying Zhao Yu for having no fans?】

 

Generally speaking, they were in a happy mood. Anyway, Lu Xi was stepped on and used as a tool, and he didn’t have any fans. He was used to it.

 

Friday night, 8 pm.

 

Lu Xi coaxed the two buns to sleep, and started the night life of adults.

 

There were melon seeds, peanuts and yogurt on the coffee table.

 

Xiao Lu doesn’t drink.

 

One episode lasted two hours. Lu Xi ate and drank until the first part was over, and he didn’t see himself.

 

Oh, it was put in the second part.

 

But Lu Xi was sleepy, so he washed up and went to bed.

 

Xiao Lu with his unusually regimented nightlife collapsed, but there remain countless of modern young people enjoying marvelous nightlife. Some curled under blankets, some sprawled on sofas, some lying sideways gripping phones, some lying on their stomachs staring at their tablets, each pair of eyes radiating light.

 

Next episode preview: “Terrible! I can only give you a D for Disaster!”

 

Lu Xi as an actor really surprised me.

 

Two mentors pitted against each other.

 

“In terms of depth, I didn’t perform as profound as Director Zhao’s Sea Girl.”

 

What the hell, Lu Xi’s clashing with Zhao Ziyang now?

 

It’s ten o’clock. Should we keep watching?

 

Of course. It’s only 10PM, it’s not that late. Chong ya!

 

Zhu Li stared at the computer. She was on site and knew how great Lu Xi’s performance was. When the show aired, she skipped episode one entirely and watched only Lu Xi’s parts. The on-site screen didn’t have nearly the immersive feeling of the video footage. It was already the third time watching and Zhu Li began editing video. Because of excitement, her eyes were shining and her face was radiant.

 

To all those who mocked, ridiculed, and underestimated our baby, you just wait and see.

 

The author has something to say:
Smooth-talking expert Xiao Lu: He pursued me first!【declared confidently

 

 

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