“That’s pretty much the whole story.”
That evening, Bai Mao had hotpot at home with Xu Dongming.
Auntie Wang had prepared all the ingredients beforehand and then left, so now the apartment was quiet, only the two of them sitting across the steaming pot.
Xu Dongming listened as Bai Mao recounted everything in a calm, matter-of-fact tone.
By the time he finished, Xu was so stunned he forgot to even pick up his chopsticks. “What the hell? What kind of idiots are the Bai family? How can parents treat their own biological son like that?”
He felt suffocated with anger.
Bai Mao was delicate and beautiful, when he had first entered the industry, plenty of people had harbored improper thoughts.
Knowing Bai Mao had suffered a rough life, Xu Dongming had always tried his best to shield him, to keep him pure, untainted by the darker sides of the circle.
Yet after two years of protecting this precious treasure, the Bai family had actually planned to shove him toward the Yu family’s young master like some kind of offering?
And these people were his blood relatives.
Were they insane?
And to think, Xu Dongming had believed Bai Mao’s return to the Bai family meant he could finally live a better life. But this? This was what awaited him?
Bai Mao simply said, “Luckily, I met Mr. Yu.”
“Exactly. For Mr. Yu to suggest signing an employee contract of his own accord, it’s his way of protecting your rights. If he’s really like you said, then yes, he’s a decent man.”
Xu Dongming drew a card from the pot with practiced ease and sighed. “Kid, you may be a little unlucky in general, but at critical moments, Heaven always seems to send you benefactors.”
Bai Mao’s eyes curved into a smile. “That’s right. My long-legged uncle, Mr. Yu, and Brother Dongming, you’re all my benefactors.”
“Hah, me? A benefactor?” Xu Dongming shook his head and gave a bitter laugh. But then his gaze sharpened. “Hey, where’s my beef tripe?”
Bai Mao bit his chopsticks innocently. “Did you put it in?”
“Of course I did!” Xu exclaimed. “It was just on my chopsticks a second ago! seven up, eight down! Just one more dip and it would’ve been perfect!”
“Really? Could it be…” Bai Mao leaned over to peer into the bubbling broth with exaggerated seriousness.
“Maybe it slipped off while you were talking and sank. Try fishing around with the strainer. But if it’s been in too long, it might be overcooked and tough now.”
“…You brat, still trying to play dumb? Didn’t you just call me your benefactor? Is this how you treat your benefactors?”
“Hahaha!”
After eating their fill, Bai Mao saw Xu Dongming off, then tidied up the hotpot spread. He washed up, changed, and finally collapsed onto the big bed.
The mattress in the new apartment was soft and warm, the silk quilt light but cozy, and the sheets carried a faint clean fragrance.
Curling up with half the blanket in his arms, Bai Mao felt as though he were sinking into a cloud, and soon drifted into a peaceful sleep.
The next morning, he woke refreshed and energetic, ready for the day, and sat down to a breakfast Auntie Wang had prepared.
As she wiped her hands, Auntie Wang asked casually, “Young Master Bai, I noticed some digestive tablets in the medicine cabinet. Did you buy them yesterday?”
Bai Mao froze, glancing toward the cabinet.
At the mention of those tablets, embarrassment washed over him.
He lowered his head, only to realize that he had almost cleared several of the snacks Auntie Wang had set out. At once, he could practically see the words “glutton” spinning over his head.
But he couldn’t help it! Her cooking was just too good!
He sneaked another mouthful of rice before mumbling, “Auntie Wang, why do you tell Mr. Yu everything?”
Auntie Wang blinked in surprise.
Bai Mao explained softly, “Those digestive tablets, Mr. Yu gave them to me. He said you told him I ate too much…” His voice trailed off, his face nearly buried in his bowl. “It was so embarrassing.”
To think, on his very first meal in this new home, he had already overeaten. How mortifying.
Auntie Wang chuckled, unable to hold it back. “You can’t blame me, child. Mr. Yu asked me himself, he wanted to know if you were comfortable here, if you liked the food I cooked. I just mentioned it in passing. Besides, what’s there to be embarrassed about? You’re still young and growing. Eating plenty is perfectly normal. If you didn’t eat much, I’d start doubting whether my cooking was any good.”
“It’s delicious, of course!” Bai Mao looked up quickly, eyes wide. “But I’m already twenty-two, I don’t think I’m going to grow any taller.”
So Mr. Yu had asked on his own? He actually cared?
As his “kept canary,” Bai Mao told himself sternly that he couldn’t afford to lose face anymore!
“You might still sprout another inch or two at twenty-three,” Auntie Wang teased. “You’re not past the age yet.”
“Hopefully,” Bai Mao sighed softly.
If there was one thing he was dissatisfied with about himself, it was his height.
When he was a child at the orphanage, life had been hard, dozens of kids crowded together, never enough food or warm clothes. They were all skinny, all small for their age.
Later, with the long-legged uncle’s help and improved national policies, conditions got better, and Bai Mao finally started to grow.
But it seemed he had missed the prime growth years. Even now, he barely reached one-seventy-three, dragging down the industry average.
It was tragic!
He suddenly remembered standing beside Yu Xiangchen, the man had been nearly a head taller. Every time they spoke, Bai Mao had to tilt his head up just a little.
Unforgivable!!!
Before long, his phone rang. Glancing at the screen, he saw it was Xu Dongming calling.
He quickly wiped his mouth with a napkin and stood up. “Auntie Wang, my agent’s downstairs to pick me up. I’ll eat lunch at the company today, so no need to cook for me.” With that, he hurried toward the door.
“Wait,” Auntie Wang called from the kitchen. “I’ll pack you lunch and have it sent over. You need proper meals if you want to grow.”
Immediately, Bai Mao thought of the driver. “That would be great, Auntie Wang! I’ll send you the address later.”
He ran downstairs to meet Xu Dongming.
“Ge,” Bai Mao greeted as he climbed into the car.
Xu drove off, face grim. “I’ve got good news and bad news.”
Bai Mao’s heart leapt to his throat. Leaning forward, clutching the seat, his round eyes widened nervously. “The web drama I was eyeing… they don’t want me anymore?”
“Wrong,” Xu said flatly. “The bad news is, someone bought their way into the production, so the second male lead role I secured for you is gone. The good news: the low-budget web drama you chose is still yours, and they even raised the offer from twenty thousand per episode to thirty thousand. We can sign the contract today.”
Bai Mao let out a sigh of relief. “That’s fine then.”
Xu grumbled unhappily, “But that second male lead role was so good! Everything was already settled, the contract drafted, just two small clauses left to finalize. It was practically in the bag! And now? Gone, just like that! For this show, I.. ”
He cut himself off, switching gears. “But who am I? Xu Dongming, the sharpest eyes in the business! You’ll see, this drama will be a hit. Care to bet on it?”
“Nope. Last time you lost and still owe me two hundred.”
Bai Mao’s eyes curved in a smile. “Don’t be angry, Brother Dongming. If it’s meant to be yours, it’ll be yours. If it’s not, forcing it won’t work.”
“…True. We can’t compete with people who throw money at roles,” Xu muttered, still sulking. He began speculating about who had bought their way in.
But Bai Mao knew the truth. It was Bai Sheng who had snatched the role, leaning on Bai Jing to invest in the project.
That would be Bai Sheng’s first role in the entertainment industry.
And though his acting skills were still green, Bai Sheng carried a natural aura, a likability that drew people in. Coupled with the drama’s well-written character, the moment it aired, he would shoot to fame, pushing Bai Sheng directly into the public eye.
Soon, award-winning actors, traffic stars, directors, and producers alike would all be smitten with him, sparking a wave of..
Love and hate, tangled like threads. This was the ultimate “everyone falls for them” type of role!
When they got out of the car, Xu Dongming suddenly remembered something and warned, “By the way, even though it’s unfair that your role was stolen, don’t go running to Mr. Yu about it. The two of you… are in very different situations. Forget it, why am I even saying this? With that face of yours, if you were the type to curry favor with someone for a role, it would’ve happened long before you ever met Mr. Yu. Honestly, if you really did go asking him for help, I’d believe the sky was raining blood.”
Bai Mao tilted his head up at the sky and nodded rapidly, like a little chick pecking rice: “Yes, yes, you’re right.”
Brother Dongming’s logic was flawless!
As a properly trained canary, Bai Mao faithfully obeyed his benefactor. While Mr. Yu was away on his business trip for three days, Bai Mao didn’t send him a single message.
On the morning of the fourth day, Bai Mao received a WeChat from Yu Xiangchen.
Yu Xiangchen: 【Come to the office when you’re free, sign the contract.】
Bai Mao: 【Mr. Yu, I’m free now. Would arriving in about an hour be okay?】
Yu Xiangchen: 【Mm.】
Bai Mao immediately jumped into action, called for a driver, and headed straight for Yu Corp.
The same office as last time.
Yu Xiangchen summoned a special assistant to handle Bai Mao’s onboarding. His new position: Yu Xiangchen’s personal life assistant.
Bai Mao skimmed through the contract, salary and benefits were excellent and signed without hesitation. After wrapping up the paperwork, he returned to Yu Xiangchen’s office.
Knowing that hemming and hawing didn’t work on Yu Xiangchen, Bai Mao cut straight to the point: “Mr. Yu, are you free now?”
Yu Xiangchen didn’t even look up. “Hm?”
Bai Mao pulled a pitiful face. “While you were gone these past few days, I was bullied.”
The tip of Yu Xiangchen’s pen paused mid-stroke.
At last, he raised his head to look at Bai Mao.
Seizing the moment, Bai Mao exaggerated the story of how his role had been stolen.
His eyes reddened. “I don’t even know who it was… My agent had nearly finalized the contract, but someone barged in with money and snatched it away. I worked so hard to earn that part, and now it’s gone for such an unfair reason. And besides…”
His voice dropped. “If I were still on my own, fine! I’d admit I couldn’t compete with them, I’d just swallow it. But now that I have Mr. Yu by my side, do I still have to suffer in silence?”
He dabbed at his eyes with the back of his hand. Report complete, sir!
But after all that, the office was quiet. Bai Mao peeked through his lashes.
Yu Xiangchen, as always, was composed to the point of indifference. From start to finish, his expression hadn’t shifted an inch.
Even now, he only sat there with lips slightly downturned, deep in thought.
Their eyes met. After a beat, Yu Xiangchen finally said, “The one who took the role was Bai Sheng.”
Bai Mao feigned surprise. “Ah… so it was him.”
Tch.
What was going on here?
In the original novel, hadn’t it said that once Yu Xiangchen realized his nephew Yu Wantian liked Bai Sheng, he forced himself to stop paying attention to him?
That was why, later on, after Bai Sheng entered the entertainment world, he kept running into setbacks and being bullied by film kings, traffic stars, and directors since Yu Xiangchen no longer stepped in.
But from the looks of things now, the novel clearly got it wrong, Yu Xiangchen was still paying attention.
If Bai Sheng was his “white moonlight,” then what chance did a stand-in canary like Bai Mao have? Why would Yu Xiangchen ever make trouble for Bai Sheng over him? That would be turning the world upside down.
To borrow Xu Dongming’s words: if that happened, it really would be raining blood from the sky.
Just then, Yu Xiangchen lowered his gaze and murmured, “What’s meant to be yours will be yours.”
Bai Mao: “…Oh.”
He understood.
The unspoken message: And what isn’t yours, don’t waste energy chasing.
Knowing he couldn’t possibly outcompete Bai Sheng, Bai Mao stood immediately. “Then, Mr. Yu, I’ll get going.”
Yu Xiangchen: “Mm.”
Bai Mao left without the slightest hesitation.
“…And here I thought I could exploit a loophole in the original story, use Yu Xiangchen’s hand to make things harder for Bai Sheng.”
Standing outside the building, waiting for his driver by the flowerbeds, Bai Mao idly kicked at the stone edging and rolled his eyes. “Turns out the clown was me all along!”
But really, with Bai Sheng’s protagonist halo, it wasn’t surprising things didn’t work out. Shrugging, Bai Mao tossed the whole matter from his mind and went back to living carefree.
Two days later.
Xu Dongming barged in for a visit, practically launching himself at Bai Mao, clutching his shoulders and shrieking, “Ahhh! Xiao Bai! Huge news! Remember that TV drama where the second male lead got stolen by some investor’s brat? The director just called me! He said the role is still yours after all!”
Bai Mao: “?” Huh?
Wait, what?
Was the sky really raining blood today?!
✦ ✧ ✦
Cresvynia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
(╯°□°）╯︵ ☕ — deploy caffeine!
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
← PreviousNext →
ChaptersChapter 1 · A Nightmare or Reality?Chapter 2 · Yu family’s BanquetChapter 3 · I know your Secret..Chapter 4 · Becoming A Stand-InChapter 5 · Real IntentionChapter 6 · Yu XiangchenChapter 7 · Moved into new houseChapter 8 · Why he’s so perfect?!Chapter 9 · Role stolenChapter 10 · Four Times a WeekChapter 11 · Wrong Message?Chapter 12 · Flower protectorChapter 13 · Study MaterialChapter 14 Part 1 · I don’t have that kind of worldly desireChapter 14 Part 2 · I don’t have that kind of worldly desireChapter 15 · Four thousand yuan has arrived in AlipayChapter 16 · In the River?Chapter 17 · Boss like him, People would ready to do OvertimeChapter 18 · Does Mr. Yu have two faces?!Chapter 19 · Now we can begin to express our gratitude.Chapter 20 · Split Personality!Chapter 21 · Mr. Yu is busy and may not have time to comeChapter 22 · Call duration: 0:12Chapter 23 · He’s not Worth itChapter 24 · Mr Yu on film setChapter 25 · You can consider me if you decided to leave Mr. YuChapter 26 · Big Sister has unique hobbyChapter 27 · Really? I’m actually the young master of the Bai family?Chapter 28 · Bai Sheng is Pitiful?Chapter 29 · Someone took a picture of themChapter 30 · Your little one is hereChapter 31 · Mr. Yu asked me if I had a stiff neckChapter 32 · The little lucky butterfly’s wings flutteredChapter 33 · Mr. Yu, you came here just once at the beginningChapter 34 · The door wasn’t lockedChapter 35 · You’re an adult nowChapter 36 · Are rooms still available by scrambling?Chapter 37 · I’m definitely going to watch this variety show!Chapter 38 · Who asked Bai Sheng for money to support Bai Mao?Chapter 39 · How many zeros are there?Chapter 40 · You have to be careful with your methodsChapter 41 · Let’s get MarriedChapter 42 · I’m obviously just coveting your body!Chapter 43 · Does what we’re doing count as Sneaking?Chapter 44 · You want to change rooms?Chapter 45 · Isn’t Bai Sheng’s scheming way too deep?Chapter 46 · Mr. Yu in front of me has become calm and composedChapter 47 · You care a lot about Yu Yutian?Chapter 48 · Bai Sheng has found someoneChapter 49 · How to fall in loveChapter 50 · Uncle Long LegsChapter 51 · Bai Mao, I’m a little scaredChapter 52 · I simply told them the truthChapter 53 · That was far too mercilessChapter 54 · Your fans mention it in your fan forumChapter 55 · In your dreamsChapter 56 · Hello, UncleChapter 57 · Verified account had repliedChapter 58 · Maomao, you don’t need to be afraid of themChapter 59 · What a headacheChapter 60 · It’s a bit… tragicChapter 61 · I’m waiting for you at homeChapter 62 · That’s just too much!Chapter 63 · Is this watch really that expensive?Chapter 64 · Tian CityChapter 65 · They’re easy to get along with.Chapter 66 · Want to have a relationship with marriage in mind?Chapter 67 · Is this the joy of being someone’s “little uncle”?Chapter 68 · Has the protagonist finally figured it out?Chapter 69 · I miss youChapter 70 · That whole family is something else.Chapter 71 · Then comfort meChapter 72 · What about sincerity?Chapter 73 · There’s also 10% of the company’s sharesChapter 74 · So called conservativeChapter 75 · I thought you’d be walking with a limpChapter 76 · They’ve been brainwashedChapter 77 · We got marriedChapter 78 · CongratulationsChapter 79 · You already knew it was me?Chapter 80 · You look very good in a shirtChapter 81 · Did you used to like Bai Sheng?Chapter 82 · I never liked himChapter 83 · Uncle is super niceChapter 84 · Extra 1Chapter 85 · Extra 2Chapter 86 · Extra 3