TSSRWAB Chapter 4

Lu Xi swiftly fled the scene with Doubao tucked under one arm and Dougao’s hand clutched in his other.

 

Who cared what Apple Class teacher thought?

 

“Daddy, did I say something wrong?”Doubao’s fluffy head peeked out from under his father’s arm, his chubby little face squished into a plump bun.

 

Dougao frowned, looking like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he spoke with the gravity of a tiny adult: “Daddy, don’t tell gege.”

 

“Ah, did I really make a mistake?”Doubao widened his eyes, tilting his head to gaze adorably at his daddy.

 

Lu Xi: “…”

 

Acting all pitiful and trying to win his heart, this kid clearly didn’t think he said anything wrong.

 

“You little rascal.” Lu Xi pinched his son’s cheek, then set Doubao down. “You didn’t say anything wrong. Daddy told you that, remember? But others don’t understand that Daddy is also Mommy. If you say it out loud, people will think Daddy’s weird.”

 

Doubao puffed up indignantly. “Daddy’s not weird! Daddy’s the best!”

 

“Daddy’s not weird,” Dougao affirmed with solemn seriousness.

 

Lu Xi’s paternal heart swelled with warmth. With a grand wave of his hand, he declared, “Today, you each get an ice cream!”

 

“Wahhh!!!” Doubao’s mouth formed a perfect ‘O’ of joy.

 

Beside him, Dougao licked his lips with restrained elegance.

 

Even if he really wanted it, he had to maintain the aloof demeanor of a proud little boss.[mfn]霸总 bà zǒng – lit. “domineering/overbearing CEO/president”, will be translating 小霸总 (xiǎo bà zǒng)as little boss for Dougao[/mfn]

 

Truthfully, Lu Xi just didn’t want to cook. He wanted to eat out too.

 

“One large and two mini cones. I’ll have strawberry.”

 

“Pretty jiejie[mfn]姐姐 – elder sister[/mfn], I want strawberry too!” Doubao’s voice was sweet as honey, his starry eyes and chubby fingers pleading. “Can I have a little extra?”

 

Dougao: “Sea salt.”

 

The staff member was charmed. The kids were adorable, but with ice cream, it depended on the parent.

 

Reading the employee’s hesitation, Lu Xi nodded. “Thank you.”

 

In the end, Doubao and Dougao’s mini cones did come out a bit more generous.

 

Lu Xi, towering over them, took an exaggerated bite of his large cone under their envious gazes.

 

Hehe, this is the joy of being an adult.

 

Doubao and Dougao licked their mini cones with tiny, careful licks: So envious of Daddy.

 

The three of them went out, and the shop assistant found that his face was full of auntie smiles and said, “Hey, didn’t that young dad look familiar? Like a celebrity or something.”

 

“No way. What kind of celebrity doesn’t wear a mask or hat and just openly takes two kids out for ice cream? You’re overthinking it. But yeah, that guy was really handsome.”

 

—

 

“You contacted CatTV[mfn]猫厂 “māo chǎng” – lit. “Cat Factory” ; In Chinese internet slang, “厂 (chǎng)” is sometimes used to nickname major tech companies (example Baidu = 狼厂 (láng chǎng) “wolf factory”. 猫厂 is the nickname for Alibaba. 猫厂 in this story is the name of a video-streaming company (similar to IQIYI, Tencent, etc.) so we’ll call it CatTV[/mfn] directly?” Wang Qing’s tone was questioning, but she already knew the answer.

 

Jian Huai, sitting on the couch with a cup of tea, didn’t move. He replied gently, “Weren’t you the one who wanted me to take on a mentor role in 《Are you Ready, Actor?》[mfn]演员准备好了吗 yǎnyuán zhǔnbèi hǎole ma – fictional show or competition focused on actors; throughout the story, it’ll be shortened to “演员” (yǎnyuán) in the raws or just “Actors”[/mfn], produced by CatTV? I confirmed it.”

 

“Jian Huai, I’m your agent. You contacted CatTV behind my back. Where does that leave me?” Wang Qing was furious. If she hadn’t followed up with them and heard a “thank you for Jian-laoshi[mfn]老师 – teacher ; it is a common sign of respect even to non-educators, often used to acknowledge expertise, seniority, or authority in a certain field[/mfn] agreeing,” she would’ve been completely in the dark.

 

Jian Huai’s voice remained steady. “If I told you that my condition for accepting the show was getting Lu Xi on it, would you have helped?”

 

“…” Wang Qing’s anger cooled instantly. Her gaze sharpened. “You took this show for Lu Xi?”

 

Jian Huai didn’t deny it.

 

Wang Qing had never relied on a woman’s intuition in her work, and she even looked down on that kind of thing. But now, a sudden jolt hit her. Jian Huai likes Lu Xi? Since when–

 

“Since Stage 100 started?”

 

That was five years ago. The show where Lu Xi and Jian Huai debuted was called 《Perfect Stage 100》.

 

Jian Huai didn’t answer. Instead, he said, “It’s already settled. I’ll personally turn down Director Zhang’s film. If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back.” He set down his teacup. “Lu Xi’s spot on the show is internally arranged. I don’t want him to know, and don’t bother him about it.”

 

Wang Qing scoffed coldly.

 

“My contract is almost up,” Jian Hua said flatly.

 

Wang Qing caught the unspoken meaning. They were about to part ways. Jian Huai had always been professional and career-focused since debuting. She considered them a solid, balanced team. She never imagined Jian Huai would break things off over someone.

 

But he was serious. Wang Qing could hear that in his voice. He wasn’t bluffing to get her to back down.

 

“Fine. Understood.” Wang Qing nodded. They were only business partners after all. Weighing the pros and cons, it wasn’t worth splitting up over Lu Xi. “I’ll talk to CatTV and make the arrangement more natural so Lu Xi won’t suspect anything.”

 

Jian Hua nodded, his tone shifting back to its usual warmth as he thanked her.

 

Now that she’d accepted it, Wang Qing let go of her anger. “If you and Lu Xi get together, let me know. I’ll need to plan your career direction in advance.”

 

After they parted, Jian Huai sat in his car, shaking his head at Wang Qing’s last words.

 

What was he thinking?

 

Lu Xi barely knew him.

 

But with the thought that they’d be on the same show soon, those precious memories buried deep in his heart began to shimmer with light. Maybe… maybe it wasn’t entirely impossible.

 

—

 

Father and sons’ bath (playtime) session had arrived.

 

Lu Xi tossed off his robe and admired himself in the mirror: “Oh my god, who’s that pretty gege in the mirror!”

 

“It’s Daddy! It’s Daddy! The pretty gege is Daddy!” Doubao bounced beside him, gleefully echoing the words. He mimicked Daddy, tossing off his little blue whale bathrobe, revealing soft shoulders and a pudgy belly. He looked at the mirror and admired himself. “Waa~ who’s that pretty gege in the mirror?!”

 

His big eyes darted over to his brother.

 

Dougao’s cool little face was already used to this. He answered like an emotionless robot: “It’s gege. It’s Daddy.”

 

Lu Xi burst out laughing and scooped up his younger son. “Correct! Dougao gets a flying rocket boost!”

 

“Daddy, me too! Me too!” Doubao clung to Daddy’s arm.

 

Splash, splash.

 

All three plunged into the tub.

 

Water flew everywhere. Even cold little boss Dougao laughed with his baby teeth showing.

 

Dougao liked thrills. He’s a brave little guy.

 

Lu Xi, standing at 1.83 meters, has great proportions, and nowhere to put his long legs. Doubao’s toys floated on the bubble bath. Real men love to play with this stuff.

 

The three tough guys of the Lu family.

 

“Did you have fun at kindergarten today? Make any new friends?” Lu Xi the Tough Guy[mfn]猛男 měngnán – “macho man” [/mfn] held a little yellow duck and questioned his sons, squeezing it a couple of times.

 

No sound. Disappointing duck.

 

Doubao chattered excitedly, eager to share: “Daddy, everyone liked me and didi! Oh, and there’s Xiaohua, the one with the two braids who stood next to me today. She kept looking at gege. Xiaohua likes gege.”

 

“Wow~” Daddy Lu squeezed the duck with a gossip-loving expression.

 

Doubao matched him with the same face.

 

Dougao looked unimpressed.

 

Two words were on his chubby face: Bo.ring.[mfn]无聊 wúliáo – “boring”[/mfn]

 

Lu the Tough Guy failed at eating melon[mfn]吃瓜 chī guā – a Chinese internet slang for watching drama/gossiping as a bystander[/mfn] and angrily splashed Dougao with water.

 

Bathtub Water Splashing Festival.JPG

 

The three tough guys of the Lu family shouted their way through battle, only to end up as three soggy, wilted little kitties. Worn out, Doubao and Dougao lay on the bed, dressed in pajamas, hugging their bottles and sipping milk like perfect little angels.

 

“Daddy loves you both. Sleep tight,” Lu Xi tucked them in gently.

 

Two empty bottles were handed over.

 

Dougao might’ve been too tired, his cold little face softened into babyish cuteness. “Love Daddy the most.”

 

“Good boy.” Lu Xi saw that Doubao was already asleep.

 

The tough and tender old daddy Xiao Lu kissed the two buns on the cheek.

 

It smelled like milk.

 

In a household with kids, bedtime came early. By eight, they were out. Lu Xi quietly closed the door. The earlier bath play had been so fun, it made the present moment feel a bit too quiet.

 

Old Daddy Lu sighed dramatically–

 

Then the next second, he leapt happily onto the sofa and pulled out his phone!

 

The adult night life had begun.

 

So much joy.

 

As soon as he opened his phone, he saw three missed calls and two texts — all from unknown numbers.

 

[Hello Mr. Lu Xi, I’m the producer of CatTV’s Are You Ready, Actor? My surname is Wang. Sorry for the sudden message. I just wanted to ask if you’d be interested in joining our program. This is a sincere invitation, and I hope we can meet to discuss it.]

 

Lu Xi: ???!!!

 

Turns out guys with night lives do have good luck.

 

Lu Xi didn’t call back right away. Instead, he went online to look up the show. He’d been abroad for four years, but he still knew the big platforms and CatTV was one of the top ones.

 

Are You Ready, Actor? has three mentors plus one guest. The main three were already confirmed. One film queen, and two directors. When Lu Xi saw their names, he couldn’t help but squeal.

 

Zhou Xin, a triple crown film queen. Berlin’s Golden Bear, Huabiao, and Hundred Flowers Awards.

 

She debuted early with many high-quality works. A true art film goddess.

 

While studying in the UK, Lu Xi especially loved Zhou Xin’s early films. Her acting was so naturally expressive.

 

One of the directors, Yuan Tang, was also a big name equally at home in both commercial and arthouse films. He collaborated with Zhou Xin early on in Orange Tree, a movie Lu Xi adored. The other director–

 

“Why does that name sound so familiar?”

 

Lu Xi stared at Zhao Ziyang’s name for a few seconds, refusing to admit that maybe the whole “pregnancy makes you dumb for three years” thing still applied. No, he insisted on challenging his memory today so he had to remember!

 

Three minutes later–

 

Silly Xixi opened Baidu.[mfn]百度 – the leading Chinese search engine and one of the largest internet companies in China. It is often referred to as “China’s Google”.[/mfn]

 

Why torment yourself when you can just ask Du Niang[mfn]度娘 – A slang nickname for Baidu, often used humorously in China the same way people say “ask Google” in English.[/mfn]?

 

“Zhao Ziyang, second-gen rich kid’s debut work The Girl Adrift at Sea—”

 

He remembered now.

 

The two of them clashed online four years ago. To put it simply, Zhao Ziyang tried to ride his popularity with his very first project, and he, high and mighty as ever, refused to let him! Later, that Sea Girl flopped so hard it tunneled straight to the Earth’s core, and Zhao Ziyang even tried to pin the blame on him.

 

At the time, Lu Xi, who was secretly pregnant and on the run: Meow meow meow???

 

Too lazy to bother with you.

 

Who would’ve thought?

 

Lu Xi’s time in the entertainment industry — from survival show to debut — spanned only a year. He didn’t know many people in the industry, and had even fewer connections. He really hadn’t expected that his first step after returning would lead him straight into the path of an “old rival.” Zhao Ziyang was petty. Even after Lu Xi had disappeared from the scene, the guy still occasionally threw shade at him.

 

Now Zhao Ziyang was a mentor, and Lu Xi was a contestant. The guy would be critiquing him.

 

The topic potential was visible to the naked eye.

 

Of course he said yes. He has to make money to raise his two little buns and their aging father.

 

Was he, a man living in a 180-square-meter luxury home, raising two buns, struggling to make ends meet?

 

No. He, Lu Xixi, was chasing his dream.

 

Chong ya![mfn]冲鸭 –  A cute and humorous internet slang for “Let’s go!” or “Charge!” The 鸭 (ya) mimics the character for duck but is used here as a pun on “呀” (ya), turning the phrase into something like “Go go go!” in an exaggerated tone.[/mfn]

 

During the meeting with the producer from CatTV, they proposed signing him on for two episodes first.

 

Actor has an elimination and PK[mfn]An internet slang term from “Player Kill” in gaming, now widely used in Chinese variety shows to refer to direct elimination or face-off matches between contestants.[/mfn] format.

 

Director Wang originally thought Lu Xi wouldn’t be happy about it, and had even been mulling over how to explain things to Film Emperor Jian. But signing Lu Xi for the full season was too risky given his public reputation, his four-year absence, his idol background… Even with a set script, there was no way to maneuver him all the way to the end.

 

One or two episodes were enough to give this has-been idol a little face.

 

But instead of bargaining, Lu Xi seemed thrilled: “Perfect! Then let’s sign on for one episode first and see how it goes.”

 

Director Wang: …Even though it was less than he expected, and Lu Xi agreed so fast it hurt a little, somehow hearing that tone made him feel like he was the one getting the short end of the deal?

 

 

 

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