SFBF CH102.2

It was very obvious that having a parent like Teacher Shen was an extremely happy thing.

The other staff members felt similarly sorrowful about Xiao Miao’s situation, but their reaction was much like Director Xia’s—they focused most of their attention on cute little Ao-zai, showering him with praises and wanting to see his drawings.

Ao-zai was neither stingy nor shy. Since the uncles and aunties wanted to see, he pulled out his little drawing notebook for everyone to look at. And as a gift, Ao-zai even handed out little cards he had drawn himself—business cards with the word “Ao” written on them—to everyone as a keepsake.

The cute “Ao” character danced wildly across the paper cards, while the little Ao-zai handing them out to the uncles and aunties was obedient, soft, and impossibly adorable.

“Heavens, how can there be such a cute little baby!”

A set coordinator auntie felt her heart practically melting from Ao-zai’s cuteness. At the same time, they were thrilled because in the upcoming days, they would get to work with this adorable little baby.

“Yay! Work!”

Hearing the word “work,” Ao-zai raised his fingers into a “V” sign.

Ao-zai usually played a lot, but at the same time, he was steadfastly pursuing his cub goals—to become a little Film Emperor… or at least a well-known little comrade in the industry.

And then carry his Little Dad to victory!

Although his little fingers were short and looked far from a clear hand gesture from a distance, he was so cute that the surrounding staff couldn’t help but shower him with compliments:

“Ao-zai is so amazing, wanting to carry your Little Dad to victory! Teacher Shen is so blessed!”

Shen Qing smiled brightly at this. It wasn’t because he wanted to lie flat as a salted fish and felt happy that his cub could provide for his retirement, but because Ao-zai was happy right now.

The look in Shen Qing’s eyes as he watched his baby was filled with a brilliant light of love and support.

The difference was vast, and the staff could all tell.

Thinking back to little Xiao Miao, who had just left in anger, the assistant beside Director Xia couldn’t help sighing: “If only Film Emperor Xiao had a stable, positive mindset like yours, the cub in his family wouldn’t be like that.”

Hearing such words, Shen Qing merely offered a polite smile without making any comment. Afterward, he took Ao-zai to discuss the upcoming work with Director Xia.

“Hey, I heard Xiao Miao is actually Film Emperor Xiao’s illegitimate son, have you guys heard about that?”

“…Huh?”

“You don’t know? Film Emperor Xiao has a very deep relationship with a certain young master of the Gu family in Huacheng!…”

During his period of learning acting and studying the script, although Shen Qing wasn’t overly busy, he still had to attend some events occasionally.

Today, he was attending a famous fashion gala in the industry—Huacheng Night.

Though called a gala, it was essentially a massive social banquet attended by numerous people from inside and outside the industry. Originally organized by highly respected, talented senior figures to foster connections and jointly advance the domestic film and television industry, it had later evolved into a grand social extravaganza.

Besides top-tier domestic and international actors, many prominent figures from the business world would also attend.

Logically, as a recently re-popularized young star, Shen Qing didn’t yet possess the qualifications to obtain an admission ticket to this fashion gala. However, as the global brand ambassador for SMB Jewelry and the brand ambassador for a high-end luxury clothing brand this year, his brand sponsors happened to be among the major sponsors of this event.

Naturally, Shen Qing was invited as well—to him, this was simply a work assignment.

After all, there were many big bosses and wealthy patrons present. Major brand sponsors had not only prepared fashion showcases inside early on, but their partnered artists naturally had to display their charm to build a good image for their brands and expand publicity.

Thus, a week in advance, Shen Qing had received haute couture clothing and fine jewelry sent by his brand sponsors.

On the actual day of the gala, Shen Qing’s eyes were practically dazzled by the meticulously dressed handsome men and beautiful women.

Objectively speaking, his work was quite light:

• Before Departure: Briefly had a stylist handle his hair and makeup.
• Red Carpet: Wore haute couture and expensive jewelry, stepped off the car, walked the red carpet, made an appearance before the media, and posed for photos (the photo session lasted only two minutes total—no more time could be allocated to him).
• Inner Garden: Walked off the red carpet and entered the inner garden of the main venue, at which point the vast majority of his work was considered complete.

Ordinary entertainment reporters couldn’t enter the inner garden, and Shen Qing didn’t know the other industry peers or business tycoons. Although he still had to display good poise like a proud peacock, socialize occasionally, pose for photos/videos, and accept interviews so as not to embarrass his brand sponsors, overall, the rest of his work was just waiting for the banquet to end.

With the experienced Assistant Li following him the entire time, Shen Qing didn’t feel awkward or socially anxious.

What’s more, he even ran into someone he knew here—Young Master Shen Yuan.

According to Shen Yuan, he had been dragged here by his father—at Huacheng Night, besides the stars gathering, it was a prime networking opportunity for Huacheng’s high society. Almost all the young second- and third-generation heirs would attend, and Shen Yuan had been arranged by his father to socialize.

Shen Qing, however, felt that Shen Yuan was mostly here to accompany his old flame, Lu Jingyi. As the male leads of the original novel, it was normal for the two of them to share deep feelings and be inseparable.

Having been seen through, Shen Yuan didn’t feel embarrassed at all. He chuckled and asked Shen Qing: “Did the one from your house not come? …Then again, that person probably wouldn’t attend this kind of event.”

Although a fashion gala crowded with big stars was lively and brought prestige to attendees, it didn’t seem significant enough to honor it with that person’s presence. Prior to this, Shen Yuan had never heard of Gu Huaiyu attending such an event.

Shen Qing answered somewhat vaguely: “Mm, he’s looking after the kids.”

“Whoa!” Hearing this, Shen Yuan excitedly lunged forward. If he hadn’t been worried about accidentally being photographed and if someone beside Shen Qing hadn’t stopped him, he probably would have hugged Shen Qing in excitement: “Really? The big boss is looking after the kids?”

Shen Qing nodded—he was indeed looking after the children.

Seeing his reaction and glancing at the assistant-like person beside Shen Qing, Shen Yuan felt even more envious, unable to help saying: “Qingqing, you look even more dignified and handsome than the last time we met!”

The last time they met was when Shen Yuan returned to Huacheng for a gathering. Afterward, Shen Yuan had been busy with his own career while following Actor Lu everywhere to film, rarely staying in Huacheng, so they hadn’t met again.

They kept in touch frequently on WeChat, though. Because Shen Qing had taken his place in the arranged marriage, Shen Yuan had always felt very sorry toward Shen Qing, constantly looking for opportunities to help him re-debut. But every opportunity he offered was politely declined by Qingqing.

Later, Shen Qing had even expressed that he only wanted to be a salted fish, leaving Shen Yuan too embarrassed to offer him more work.

Who could have expected that Shen Qing would still explode in popularity due to a past costume drama? Shen Yuan had even discussed it with him on WeChat, saying Shen Qing was destined to be famous—no matter how he tried to hide, he couldn’t escape it.

However, Shen Yuan only knew that Shen Qing had become immensely popular again; he hadn’t expected Shen Qing’s current state to be this good.

The big boss was at home watching the kids while Qingqing came out to work, and it wasn’t even a situation where they relied on Qingqing to earn money to support the family!

Recently, everyone had been paying close attention to Gu Huaiyu, as well as the layout and movements of all the companies under his name. Because Gu Huaiyu, who had kept a low profile for two whole years, had suddenly regrouped and made major moves, subtly signaling that he was reclaiming the profits that had been carved up by other families.

It felt like a male lion that had been asleep, around which some birds had chirped and used its fur to build nests, even forming a complete industry chain and ecosystem, trying to seize control of the entire savanna.

Then one day, the male lion suddenly woke up. The birds could no longer use its fur and scent to protect themselves, and might even face retaliation from the lion.

How could the birds not pay close attention to the male lion’s thoughts and movements?

Of course, all of this had been told to Shen Yuan by Lu Jingyi. Shen Yuan’s father, the head of the Shen family, firmly refused to admit their family was a bird, nor would he admit they had pulled wool from Mr. Gu and turned around to create a monopoly; at most, he only admitted the Shen family’s wariness toward Gu Huaiyu.

And as for how wary they were, the core focus lay in—how Gu Huaiyu’s health actually was right now.

Previously, everyone had thought he was close to death.

Including Lu Jingyi, the true young master who had been recognized back into the Lu family, who was actually paying attention to that person’s physical condition as well.

Shen Yuan had heard Lu Jingyi say that if Gu Huaiyu passed away, the power structure in Huacheng would be reshuffled, at which point he could seize the right moment to profit from the situation. But if Gu Huaiyu remained alive… everyone could just wash up, go to sleep, and pretend nothing happened.

Thinking of what Lu Jingyi had told him, Shen Yuan moved his lips, but ultimately didn’t pry into the current situation of the Gu family’s boss through Shen Qing. He didn’t ask a single word.

Shen Yuan wasn’t interested in business wars. He roughly knew his father was joining hands with other members of the Gu family to play a game of chess… a game aimed solely at Gu Huaiyu.

His conscience always told him that calculating against someone like that while staring at when they would die was truly bad—especially since Gu Huaiyu was part of the Gu family too!

Besides, Shen Qing taking his place in the arranged marriage had helped him out; Shen Yuan couldn’t bring himself to fish for information from a good friend who had helped him! Even if it was for Lu Jingyi’s future prospects and career, Shen Yuan couldn’t do such a thing.

Though he was genuinely curious about the situation of the one in Shen Qing’s house… purely out of curiosity.

Still, because it was a sensitive period, Shen Yuan chose not to ask anything. He could, however, analyze from Shen Qing’s excellent spirit and state that Mr. Gu’s physical health recently seemed… really quite good?

After all, Qingqing looked like he was in a great mood!

Unlike many who wished for trouble in their household, seeing Shen Qing like this made Shen Yuan feel happy and relieved instead.

Not gossiping about Mr. Gu’s condition, Shen Yuan felt he could still care about his good friend’s recent situation—such as how his married life with Mr. Gu was going.

Thus, Shen Yuan instinctively tried to lean in closer to Shen Qing again. But once more, he was blocked by the assistant beside Shen Qing.

“…”

Shen Yuan knew the other person was doing this to protect Shen Qing, but he felt the person was being a bit excessive… almost overly sensitive?

Shen Yuan finally turned his head to properly look at Shen Qing’s assistant.

Shen Qing’s assistant had already apologized to him: “My apologies, Young Master Shen.”

Shen Yuan wasn’t angry, but he still found it bizarre that he was being blocked. At the same time, he felt this man looked somewhat familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before. He couldn’t help asking Shen Qing: “Is this gentleman your assistant?”

The impeccably dressed assistant in a suit proactively pulled out his business card and handed it to Shen Yuan: “My surname is Li. I am Mr. Gu’s special assistant, and currently serving simultaneously as Teacher Shen’s manager.”

“…Mr. Gu’s assistant?” Shen Yuan blinked furiously.

He finally remembered—no wonder this man looked familiar; he had seen him before!

Over the past two years, Gu Huaiyu had lived in seclusion, and Assistant Li had handled most external matters on his behalf, so Shen Yuan had seen him more than once.

…Someone like that was equivalent to that person’s right-hand man.

So Mr. Gu had assigned his own right-hand man to act as Qingqing’s manager??

…This meant that even if Mr. Gu wasn’t here in person, his presence was fully felt!

Shen Yuan’s gaze drifted, finally landing on Shen Qing. He felt there was no need to ask about Teacher Shen’s married life anymore.

It was definitely impossibly sweet! He was probably being spoiled to high heaven!

Shen Yuan, on the other hand, had been looking a bit worn out recently.

1. His father still didn’t approve of Lu Jingyi.
2. Kindergarten was on summer break, and Lu Jingyi’s nephew had been staying with them recently. The child still didn’t get along with Shen Yuan.

Although the child didn’t need Shen Yuan to take care of him—Shen Yuan didn’t even see him very often—the child’s mother was the only sister who had cared for and treated Lu Jingyi well during his youth. After his sister passed away, that child became the only relative in the world Lu Jingyi truly cherished. Shen Yuan really wanted to build a good relationship with him.

The reality, however, was that he could only feel hostility from the child.

…Having always been loved and treated like a star surrounding the moon, Young Master Yuan was realizing for the first time that he had no idea how to please someone.

“Well, sincerity is always the ultimate weapon,” Shen Qing said upon hearing his troubles.

Thinking about his own relationship with the cubs, Shen Qing didn’t feel he had done anything special besides genuinely caring for them, so he couldn’t impart too much technical experience.

In the original novel, Lu Jingyi’s nephew was the male lead in the second half of the sequel—a very important character. Though he was only five years old this year, there was a lot of backstory and writing about his childhood. It was just that his early childhood experiences were written in the first book, which Shen Qing hadn’t really read, so he didn’t understand the cub’s personality well either.

Here, however, he still tried to analyze it for Shen Yuan: “Perhaps Actor Lu’s nephew thinks you stole his uncle away? A child’s mind is actually very simple. You just need to let him know that in the future, not only will his uncle love him, but there’ll be one more person loving him as well, and maybe it’ll be fine.”

Shen Yuan listened attentively, blinking. He almost wanted to hug Shen Qing again: “Qingqing, what you said makes so much sense!”

All along, Shen Yuan had only felt sad and distressed that a child didn’t like him. Although he hadn’t brought it up to Lu Jingyi, this fragile mindset had always been present. And whenever he showed vulnerability, Lu Jingyi would pay extra attention to him, which might have made the cub feel that his uncle’s attention was being stolen.

In reality, Shen Yuan wasn’t actually that fragile—he was just unaccustomed to someone disliking him!

Facing the excited Shen Yuan, Shen Qing waved his hand, indicating it was nothing.

When Shen Qing was good to his own two cubs, it was because he had experienced their suffering; they shared similar fates, so under those circumstances, Shen Qing couldn’t bear to see the cubs suffer grievances.

Shen Yuan, however, had grown up showered with thousands of favors. Everyone loved him, and he had never suffered a single setback; it was only natural that he couldn’t feel other people’s pain. A person like this was as pure as a blank sheet of paper—sometimes so pure it made people jealous.

Then again, that was why he was the protagonist Shou of the book. Although he didn’t know the hardships of the world, Young Master Shen respected others’ feelings and actively tried to understand them… Just for this bit of kindness and broad-mindedness, Shen Qing felt he was worth being friends with.

Objectively speaking, it was no wonder Young Master Shen’s interpersonal relationships had always been great. At the very least, Young Master Shen was generous, harbored no bad intentions or prejudice, and treated everyone equally well.

Being ordinary friends with someone like that was very comfortable… As long as one didn’t try to possess him exclusively like Lu Jingyi or the original owner, there wouldn’t be a single moment of discomfort. He was the kind of person you could safely trust with your back.

That was why Shen Qing was willing to chat with him.

“Of course, being good to someone—even if the other person is a child—should be based on the premise that ‘you like him and genuinely want to get along well with him.’ If the goal is to please Actor Lu or avoid making things awkward for him, I think that’s called sacrificing yourself. Young Master, you should still please yourself first.” Shen Qing said with utmost neutrality.

Just like how he was good to the cubs, yet never sacrificed his own happiness in the process. Shen Qing felt this was the major prerequisite.

Repressed feelings in adults were still repression. And any relationship maintained through repression and self-sacrifice would ultimately struggle to achieve true harmony.

On the contrary, when adults didn’t feel aggrieved, children would naturally become happier and more relaxed alongside them. This was true for Duo Duo, and it was true for Ao-zai. Thinking back, if he forcefully tried to build favorability in front of the cubs every day, sacrificing his time and interests to accompany them… Duo Duo and Ao-zai would probably just look at him with cold confusion and stay as far away as possible.

Children were extremely sharp and clever!

“…Whoa, Qingqing.” Shen Yuan was stunned as he listened.

“When you gave me advice earlier, I just thought you were really smart. But now… my god, I just want to say you’re practically a god!”

Shen Yuan’s exclamation wasn’t an exaggeration. He genuinely felt that way!

Telling him to let the child feel that another person loved him made sense on paper, but in that moment, Shen Yuan had still felt an awkward contradiction—what if he didn’t love that child who was always making things difficult for him and causing him embarrassment?

And then Qingqing had given him the answer—love yourself first.

Please yourself first, don’t aggrieve yourself, and then think about the child’s issue. This perspective made Shen Yuan feel instantly relieved.

Right! He wasn’t the one raising that little cub in the first place, and they didn’t even have to see each other often. Why apply all that invisible pressure to himself?

He wouldn’t go out of his way to fawn over the child for no reason and would just live his own life well. Perhaps that would actually allow Lu Jingyi’s nephew to feel at ease—that was the true win-win outcome!

“Thank you so much, Qingqing.”

As Shen Yuan spoke, he wanted to give Shen Qing a hug for the third time.

But looking at the manager beside Qingqing… Shen Yuan restrained himself.

He had clearly sensed that Assistant Li was constantly on guard against any physical contact between him and Qingqing… and the reason wasn’t even a fear of being photographed by reporters.

Because the reporters were clearly nowhere near this area, yet the way Assistant Li looked at him remained entirely filled with defense qaq