Chapter 118: The Father Who Exploited His Child Star (11)

Gu Jingtong walked over first, pulled out a chair and sat down, politely greeting the director.

“Uncle.”

“Mm.”

Xie Hui sat down holding Xie Chu in his arms in one of the empty seats—right next to the original author, Wen Zi.

Seeing the little boy, just over three years old, sitting so upright with his hands placed neatly on his knees, Wen Zi couldn’t help but smile a little.

She could chat easily with anyone online, but in real life, she had a touch of social anxiety.

Noticing that the auntie next to him was staring at him, Xie Chu turned curiously to glance at her and gave her a polite smile, his dimples faintly visible on his cheeks.

From the moment Gu Jingtong brought them in, the director’s gaze had been fixed on the child, studying him intently.

Just from his looks alone, the director had already seen from the video Gu Jingtong sent earlier that he was a good fit. Meeting him in person, he found that the boy’s cheerful and lively personality was even better.

After the previous child actor left in a huff, the director gathered online comments and analyzed the backlash. The criticism mainly focused on the child’s appearance not matching the character, but even more so on the mismatch in temperament.

The previous boy had been stiff, awkward, and introverted—completely at odds with Di Shu, the warm, sunny boy in the novel who adored his mother.

Just then, the dishes were brought to the table. Director Xu retracted his gaze and said they should eat first.

Xie Chu now knew how to use chopsticks, though he still found spoons easier.

During the meal, Wen Zi noticed how he kept picking at the vegetables in front of him, so she used the communal chopsticks to place a chicken leg into his bowl.

When Xie Chu saw the chicken leg appear in his bowl, he instinctively turned to look at his father. After meeting his dad’s puzzled gaze, he turned to the other side.

“Thank you, Auntie.”

Wen Zi’s heart melted at the sound of his soft, childish voice.

“You’re welcome.”

After the meal, Director Xu took the father and son to a room next door. A server brought in a tray of cut fruit and placed it in the center of the table.

“Mr. Xie, our film crew is on a tight schedule. Would it be possible for you to come with us to Hengdian tonight so your son can try on the costume?”

Xie Hui didn’t answer immediately. He looked down at his son.

On the way over, Xie Chu had fallen asleep in his father’s arms and had napped the entire afternoon. Now he was refreshed and wide awake.

Understanding the look in his son’s eyes, Xie Hui nodded.

“Alright.”

A driver took them back to the film crew. As they got into the car, Wen Zi was still watching Xie Chu. As the original author, she had a say in casting choices.

Personally, Wen Zi really liked this polite, tiny human cub. But according to Gu Jingtong, he had been picked up from a fried skewer cart, so they still had to test his acting skills to be sure.

As the one who had created the character herself, Wen Zi was the last person who wanted to see it butchered by an adaptation.

Xie Chu, held in his father’s arms, clung to him nervously.

Whether he could buy his dad more jackets than were in his own wardrobe depended on tonight.

When they got out of the car, Xie Hui deliberately slowed his pace, picked his son up, and whispered into his ear:

“Chu Chu, don’t be nervous.”

His thoughts seen through, Xie Chu puffed out his cheeks. Just before entering the door, he clung to his father’s neck and muttered:

“Chu Chu—Chu Chu’s not, not nervous at all.”

The previous child actor had left right after the costume fitting photoshoot, so the costume had been washed and stored in a cabinet. When they pulled it out to compare, it was a perfect fit.

Xie Hui helped his son get dressed, and a makeup artist came to put a wig on him. Once everything was ready, Gu Jingtong handed over a prop sword and bell. Xie Chu took them, baffled.

Earlier that afternoon, Xie Hui had skimmed through the novel. Recognizing the bell, he crouched down and helped fasten it to his son’s waist.

Director Xu had expected that explaining the scene to a child with no experience would be difficult. But to his surprise, Xie Chu was quick on the uptake. After just two run-throughs, he pulled Wen Zi over to act as the female lead and tried out the scene where the boy saves his mother. Xie Chu’s performance left the director very satisfied.

“Mr. Xie, would you be available tomorrow to come sign the contract?”

Since the child was still young, a parent would need to sign on his behalf. Initially, Director Xu hadn’t paid much attention when Gu Jingtong said the kid came from a fried skewer cart. It wasn’t until he saw the video that he gained some interest.

Now, after seeing Xie Chu in action, Director Xu wished the contract staff weren’t already off work—he would’ve signed them on the spot.

That kind of intuitive talent and natural, effortless acting was incredibly rare.

“No problem. Just let me know the time.”

Xie Hui agreed with a smile. In the memory of the person he was entrusted to replace, this director never finished filming this project, but went on to direct several hit dramas. He was one of the few in the entertainment industry with both a good reputation and good character.

“Great, great. Gu Jingtong, take Mr. Xie back.”

With a beaming smile, Director Xu ruffled Xie Chu’s head. His gaze burned like he was looking at a rare treasure. Then he turned and called for someone to escort them back.

His last project had also involved a child actor—one with a lot of popularity in the industry—but that kid constantly delayed filming. The assistant and parents were no help, and Director Xu had to personally step in and persuade them until his mouth went dry.

Compared to that, the little one in front of him was a dream.

Once they got back to the hotel room and the door closed, Xie Hui turned around just in time to see his son happily spinning in circles from the living room to the bedroom.

“Wooo! Waaah!!”

Just as he was about to charge his phone, Xie Hui heard the sound from the bedroom and rushed in.

Between the two beds was a dip in the middle. As he reached the doorway, Xie Chu crawled out of it.

Rubbing his eyes, Xie Chu walked over and clung pitifully to his father’s leg.

“Boohoo, Daddy, hug me.”

At first glance, it looked like a double bed, but there was actually a gap in the center.

At home, the little guy loved to jump onto big beds and roll around when he was happy. He must have done the same thing here, not realizing there was a gap—and landed in it.

Xie Hui picked him up, carried him to the sofa, and sat down, pulling some tissues to gently wipe away his tears. Seeing his eyes still red, he leaned in and kissed him softly.

“No more crying.”

Xie Chu buried his head in his father’s chest and mumbled:

“Chu Chu is a big boy. Big boys don’t cry.”

After he spoke, Xie Hui glanced at the tissue still in his hand, not yet thrown away, and didn’t expose the little man’s stubborn bluff.

“Mhm, you’re amazing.”

Xie Hui had noticed before that this child seemed more sensitive to pain than most. When he was hurting and uncomfortable, he’d become extra clingy, like a little sticky bun, practically trying to hang onto Xie Hui.

This time, before the little one could come up with some clumsy excuse, Xie Hui simply picked him up and started packing.

Thinking back carefully now, Xie Hui realized that when Gu Jingtong had told them to pack a little more, it had already been a hint.

The clothes they brought were all for the current season—there would still be time to buy more when the seasons changed.

Originally being held single-handedly by his dad, Xie Chu slipped out from his arms upon seeing him tidying the suitcase and crouched down on the other side to join in the fun.

Xie Hui found the outfit for tonight, and Xie Chu very dutifully took it and hugged it to his chest.

“Daddy, I want to wear the blue one tomorrow.”

“A short sleeve might be a bit chilly—how about adding a jacket?”

“Mm, okay.”

Xie Chu nodded earnestly with his little head. After picking out tomorrow’s outfit, he took his own toiletries from the small suitcase.

At night, Xie Hui habitually bathed Xie Chu first. When he came out after his own shower, he saw his son sitting on the bed putting on socks.

“Won’t sleeping with socks on be uncomfortable?”

Hearing his dad’s voice, Xie Chu put down the sock he hadn’t yet worn and scooted over to lean against Xie Hui.

“Nope, Grandma Liu said wearing socks to bed helps you not catch a cold.”

Grandma Liu was their landlord. When Xie Hui got especially busy, she would sometimes offer to watch the child for a bit.

From Grandma Liu, Xie Chu had learned not only to wear socks to sleep, but also to wrap a scarf around his entire head and face when going out. No matter what Xie Hui said, this little rascal stubbornly believed it felt better that way.

Once he’d finished putting on his socks, Xie Hui scooped him up into his arms and said softly:

“Daddy has to go meet the director tomorrow to sign the contract. Can Chu Chu go to bed early tonight, okay?”

In Xie Chu’s little mind now, “contract” was equivalent to “money.”

“Okay!”

Gu Jingtong was staying in the same hotel as Xie Hui and his son. The hotel offered breakfast, and when he went down to eat, he happened to run into the father and son in the elevator, also heading down for breakfast.

“Morning. I was just planning to eat and then come find you guys.”

Last night, when Gu Jingtong got back to the hotel, he had casually mentioned to his uncle how cute Xie Chu was when making fried skewers—he was just trying to praise the kid, but Director Xu took it seriously and urged Gu Jingtong to bring them in early the next day to sign the contract.

He didn’t want to risk even a small delay—what if the child actor suddenly changed his mind and ran back to fry skewers with his dad?

Xie Chu, holding his father’s hand, beamed cheerfully at Gu Jingtong, eyes squinting in a bright smile.

“Good morning, Uncle!”

After breakfast at the hotel, Gu Jingtong personally drove them over to his uncle’s office. Director Xu had already been waiting for quite some time and handed over the prepared contract.

After reading through the contract, Xie Hui looked at his son sitting nearby on a bench licking a lollipop. He then turned back to Director Xu, smiled politely, and asked a question:

“Director Xu, before we begin filming, would it be possible to add a few clauses to the contract?”