Chapter 123: The Father Who Exploited His Child Star 16

Old Xie had once said he wanted to make this child famous. While it was true that he had been drunk and irrational when he boasted, he genuinely felt that Xie Chu was a good-looking child.

Although he wasn’t particularly successful out there, he had seen a lot in this industry. Just the sight of Xie Chu sitting obediently on a small stool, holding a cat and basking in the sun, could attract fans with just a photo.

The human cub, dressed in a down jacket, held a plump Little Orange Cat in his arms. Sunlight fell upon them, and the atmosphere of withered branches and fallen leaves was unexpectedly healing.

Old Xie and Xie Hui chatted for a long time. After finishing a cup of tea, Old Xie even helped Xie Hui tidy up. After they finished, Xie Hui invited him to stay for a meal.

“Xie Hui, you wait. When I become capable, I will definitely get your son a good role. With such a handsome face, it would be a great pity if he doesn’t enter the Entertainment Industry!”

“Alas, it’s my fault for not having much ability right now.”

At the dinner table, Old Xie reverted to his old habit of boasting. Xie Hui served him some food but didn’t agree with him.

“Brother, everyone in our village envies your success outside. You are too modest.”

After dinner, Old Xie returned home. While Xie Hui was washing dishes in the kitchen, Xie Chu was playing games in the bedroom with the Little Orange Cat.

The place was a bit cold and had no air conditioning. Xie Hui bought a foot warmer on the way back. Xie Chu wished he could stuff his whole body inside, only willing to move over a little to leave some space for the kitten.

Xie Chu hadn’t lived in this place for long, but after spending an afternoon there, he felt a strange sense of familiarity and security.

As night fell, occasional dog barks could be heard.

Although it was in the Village, the toilet, water heater, and solar power were all quite complete. Xie Hui helped his son take a bath, then put him in bed and took his own change of clothes.

Although this place was very different from their rented apartment in many ways, it was strange that Xie Hui didn’t need time to adapt.

Time in the Village flew by, and soon it snowed. Xie Chu ran into the yard after the snow, tiptoeing and trying to catch snowflakes with his hands.

The snowflakes melted quickly as soon as they landed on his palm, but it still made him excitedly squint his eyes.

To have a good New Year in the Village, Xie Hui also bought some home-raised chickens from the Village households.

The next day, someone said that his son might have made it big outside, as he bought all the chickens for New Year from other families.

There were no regulations against setting off fireworks in the Village, and every household was quite lively during the New Year.

Before the New Year, Xie Hui prepared a lot of fireworks and firecrackers. In the morning, he put up Spring Festival couplets with his son, and in the afternoon, he took him to prepare ingredients for the New Year’s Eve dinner, with plenty of chicken, duck, fish, and meat.

He made a full table of dishes, very rich, but there were only two people and one cat eating, which made it seem a bit lonely.

The kitten, which was already getting plump, also had a plate in front of it, containing the New Year’s Eve dinner Xie Hui specially prepared for it.

After dinner, Xie Hui cleared the dishes, while Xie Chu seemingly helped but was actually causing trouble.

The snow outside had accumulated into a thick layer, but Xie Hui had cleared a path in the yard. According to their custom, after eating the New Year’s Eve dinner, they would visit each other to extend New Year greetings.

Xie Hui’s family had a child, and after visiting several relatives’ homes, Xie Chu returned with two pockets full of Red Envelope.

After paying New Year visits and entering the house, Xie Hui looked at the two red lanterns hanging at the door, took out a thick Red Envelope he had prepared from his clothes, handed it to Xie Chu, and told him the story of ‘Nian’.

The kitten sat on a small stool under the eaves. Xie Chu held a firework and asked his dad to light it for him. After it was lit, the kitten was startled and flattened itself, burying its head directly in the snow.

Xie Chu heard the cat’s meow and instinctively glanced over. When he saw the struggling hind paws and tail of the cat sticking out of the snow, he couldn’t help but cover his mouth and laugh.

“Dad, look, it’s so silly.”

How could there be such a stupid cat that buries itself in the snow and can’t get out!

Xie Chu handed the lit firework to his dad, then held the kitten’s body and pulled it out. He mimicked his dad’s usual way of comforting him, rubbing its little head to soothe it.

“Dad, shouldn’t cats be very agile?”

Faced with his son’s question, Xie Hui didn’t know how to answer for a moment, because he had never seen a cat so stupid that it buried its head in the snow.

“The fireworks are almost done, Chu Chu, which one do you want to see next?”

Xie Hui’s words successfully made Xie Chu forget the content he was curious about just now, and he started looking for the fireworks he had bought earlier.

After midnight, the custom here was to set off firecrackers and fireworks to welcome the God of Wealth. The Entruster always valued these rituals, so Xie Hui also prepared them.

When he set off fireworks and firecrackers, Xie Chu sat in the yard, holding the cat and looking up at the fireworks blooming in the sky.

Normally, Xie Chu would have been asleep by this time. Perhaps because of the novelty of the New Year, he still looked very energetic after welcoming the God of Wealth.

“It’s time to sleep, Chu Chu.”

“Oh, Dad.”

Xie Chu carried the cat back to its own bed, looked up and responded, then ran towards the bedroom.

Before he slept, Xie Hui, in front of him, placed all the Red Envelope he had collected that day under his pillow.

“Chu Chu, see you tomorrow.”

When he was playing wildly earlier, the little guy looked very energetic, but now that he was lying in the warm bed, sleepiness quickly made him unable to keep his eyes open.

Hearing his dad’s familiar voice, he still instinctively mumbled a reply.

“Mmm, good night, Dad.”

…

After the New Year, during the first lunar month, when people visited with gifts, Xie Hui didn’t take his son with him. Instead, he left him to play with Old Xie’s children.

Using the excuse that he had a lot of work to do, he simply finished his New Year visits and then took Xie Chu back to their previous rented apartment, bringing a gift for the landlord when they returned.

During the first lunar month, the landlord’s children also returned, and the whole family gathered, making it very lively. The landlord’s grandma was very fond of Xie Chu and even grabbed several handfuls of candy, stuffing Xie Chu’s pockets full.

Originally, Xie Hui just used it as an excuse to leave the Village, but unexpectedly, on the second day of returning to the rented apartment, his Mobile Phone rang.

“Xie Hui, Happy New Year.”

“Uncle Gu, I’m Xie Chu, Happy New Year. My dad is making me breakfast, I’ll call him for you.”

When Xie Hui heard his son say that the person calling was Uncle Gu, he had a strange premonition.

“Xie Hui, it’s like this. All the actors in our Film Crew need to go on a Variety Show to promote the TV series. Do you have time to come over?”

For other TV series, a male and Female Lead Actress would be enough, but in this series, the child’s role was much more significant than the male lead’s.

Plus, during the New Year, the male lead of their film crew had gone abroad to celebrate with his mother and had no time to come for promotion.

“Don’t worry about the remuneration, it’s triple during this first lunar month.”

Going on that Variety Show didn’t pay, but when actors cooperated with promotion, Director Xu usually paid out of his own pocket to give them a Red Envelope.

This was one of the reasons why Director Xu had always had a good reputation in the industry for so many years.

“Okay.”

Xie Hui agreed without much thought after Gu Jingtong explained that the actors couldn’t be gathered. He was accustomed to finishing what he started.

“Chu Chu, this kitten of yours might be hard to take care of. How about boarding it at a pet store for a while?”

This time was a bit rushed, and they were flying, so pet transportation was too troublesome, plus they wouldn’t be staying there for long.

“Okay.”

After Xie Chu agreed, Xie Hui sent the Little Orange Cat to the pet store that afternoon. He then packed his things and prepared to leave with his son.

What was originally just an excuse now truly became a busy work trip.

Those who came to this Variety Show to cooperate with the promotion included Director Xu, several supporting villains, and Yang Yu.

After work, Yang Yu was quite fond of Xie Chu. Since it was the first lunar month, she heard from her agent that Xie Chu was also coming, so she specifically went to the mall herself to prepare a small gift for him.

“Chu Chu, did you miss Auntie?”

During the rehearsal backstage, Yang Yu saw Xie Chu, walked over with the gift, her high heels clicking crisply on the floor.

Xie Chu, who had been playing wildly since filming wrapped, nodded vigorously in front of Yang Yu.

“Yes, I missed Auntie very much.”

Yang Yu squatted down and gave Xie Chu a hug, then kissed his cheek.

“Auntie missed Chu Chu too. Look at the little gift Auntie specially bought for you, do you like it?”

His dad had taught him that it was impolite to open a gift in front of the person who gave it. Xie Chu took it and handed it to his dad.

“Chu Chu likes everything Auntie gives.”

Everyone in the industry wore masks when interacting, and Yang Yu had long been accustomed to others’ insincerity. But the same words coming from a human cub’s mouth somehow seemed very sincere.

When the show officially began recording, the host gave the child special time to ask him about interesting anecdotes during filming.

Xie Chu was bold, and his soft voice was also very cute. Although he couldn’t articulate every word clearly, this indistinctness instead conveyed a unique and special cuteness.

After the Variety Show recording ended, Director Xu sat in the passenger seat on the way back to the hotel.

Many actors worked non-stop, but for a Child Actor pulled from a roadside Fried Skewers Stall like this, having him and his father come to cooperate with his work during the first lunar month, Director Xu actually felt quite bad about it.

At the hotel, as they walked down the hotel corridor from the elevator, Director Xu suddenly remembered something an old friend had mentioned to him earlier.

“Xie Hui, I wonder if you’re interested in having your son develop in the Entertainment Industry?”
——————
Brief Version of the Story of Nian:

Long ago, a monster named Nian would come out every New Year’s Eve to attack villages, eating crops, animals, and even people. The villagers lived in fear and fled every year.

One day, an old man stayed behind and discovered that Nian was afraid of red color, loud noises, and fire. He used red decorations, firecrackers, and drums to scare it away.

Since then, people have celebrated Chinese New Year with red decorations, fireworks, and loud celebrations to keep evil away and bring good luck.