Chapter 124: The Father Who Exploited His Child Star 17

Xie Chu fell asleep in the car on the way back, and Xie Hui held him in his arms. Hearing what Director Xu said, he gestured that his son was asleep and replied in a low voice:

“Director Xu, I’ll take him back to his room first, then I’ll come out and talk to you.”

“Alright, I’ll wait for you here.”

Director Xu was eager to finalize the matter with Xie Hui. He hadn’t even put down his things and was standing in the hallway, leaning against the wall, waiting.

The weather was cold, and since Xie Chu was asleep, Xie Hui just helped him take off his clothes and covered him with a blanket, then quietly walked out.

“Xie Hui, my friend runs an Entertainment Company. He thinks your son is very talented and wants to know if your son has any interest in developing a career in the Entertainment Industry?”

“Very talented” was already the most tactful way Director Xu could put it. If he were to say it, Xie Chu was like God himself carrying a rice bucket down and feeding him. After one bucket was finished, another was brought over, determined to feed him until he was full.

During their long time together while filming, Xie Hui felt that Director Xu had a good personality, so he couldn’t just brush off this question.

More importantly, Xie Hui saw that the little one really liked it.

It wasn’t just a hobby; when he started acting or stood on stage, he seemed to glow.

“Director Xu, you see, Chu Chu will be starting kindergarten next year, and after kindergarten, there’s elementary school, middle school, and high school. I’m afraid there won’t be much time for these things.”

Xie Hui sincerely stated his reasons. Director Xu thought about it carefully after he finished speaking and realized it was indeed the case.

Perhaps some muddle-headed and arrogant people in the industry believe that acting and making money in the industry are most important, and academic qualifications don’t matter.

Although most people in the industry have this idea, Director Xu has always disagreed.

He was probably the typical old-fashioned patriarch who believed that children should read more books, even if it meant selling everything to support their education. No matter how big the matter, it couldn’t interfere with a child’s learning.

When collaborating, he would also prefer actors who were good at studying.

Xie Hui’s thoughts were certainly genuine, but Director Xu felt it was a pity after thinking about it. After all, a conscientious company like his friend’s was rare in the entire Entertainment Industry.

If Xie Hui didn’t agree now, and Xie Chu wanted to develop in the industry later, there were so many deceitful companies in the industry. If he stepped into one, it would be very difficult to get out.

“Xie Hui, why don’t you consider it carefully before saying no? Like when we signed the contract before, why not ask if a clause that doesn’t affect Academic Studies can be added before signing?”

Director Xu had heard from Gu Jingtong that after filming, Xie Hui planned to take his son back to sell Fried Skewers.

Such a talented and spiritual Child Actor being buried at a Fried Skewers Stall was truly a pity for Director Xu, who cherished talent.

If Xie Hui and his son temporarily signed with a company, it would be more convenient for future collaborations.

Based on Director Xu’s long experience in the Entertainment Industry, Xie Chu’s future was absolutely limitless.

Actors with good looks and distinctiveness in the industry face a sharp decline in popularity when they get old and their looks fade, while actors with good Acting Skills will always have a place in the industry.

It’s rare to have even one of these qualities, let alone both, like Xie Chu.

“I also see that the child genuinely loves performing.”

This sentence made Xie Hui’s initial refusal suddenly waver.

In this world, his identity was that of an ordinary person. A newcomer without a background in the Entertainment Industry was destined to have a difficult path.

If he had a foundation as a child star, his starting point would be higher than others.

“Director Xu, can I go back and think about it carefully?”

“Of course, it’s getting late now, you should go back and rest. There’s no rush for this kind of thing, we can take our time.”

After Xie Hui returned to his room, he took out a pack of cigarettes and went to the balcony. Since he transmigrated, he had quit the original owner’s heavy smoking addiction and rarely touched alcohol.

Only occasionally when he was upset or thinking about problems would he smoke one.

The system didn’t need rest; it constantly monitored the Host’s situation. It pulled up the Host’s data and carefully reviewed it, confirming that this Host had a very brilliant resume.

“Host, why are you hesitating over these small matters?”

In the system’s calculation, such a big shot should be at ease no matter what happens. Not like this, agonizing over whether to sign with a company until midnight, smoking to relieve stress.

“Is there anything hard to believe about that?”

Xie Hui extinguished the cigarette in the ashtray and opened the window, letting the night breeze blow in.

“I’m just an ordinary person with a slightly richer experience.”

At the very beginning of binding tasks, there were even times when he messed up.

It was only after transferring departments that Xie Hui finally understood why the seniors he had met before all said they would rather go to Shura World and fight evil spirits than experience the warm daily life in the emotional world.

The former only required effort, while the latter was like holding a snowflake in one’s hand, struggling not to let it melt.

For things he couldn’t figure out, Xie Hui decided to ask his son for his thoughts after he woke up.

Even if most people thought children were ignorant and wouldn’t remember these things from childhood when they grew up, as long as it concerned him, Xie Hui would seriously ask for his opinion.

The next day at breakfast, Xie Hui seriously analyzed the pros and cons for his son.

“Then, Dad, if we sign with a company, can you stop selling Fried Skewers and spend every day with me?”

If Xie Chu had only said “stop selling Fried Skewers,” Xie Hui would have patiently told him not to consider that point.

But the latter made all the words Xie Hui wanted to say get stuck in his throat.

Companionship is very important for children, but reality always has many reasons, with the heavy burden of life occupying most of the time.

Xie Chu was sensible enough to want to reduce Xie Hui’s pressure, hoping his dad could spend more time with him. He was so sensible that even the not-very-emotional Xie Hui couldn’t help but feel a pang in his nose.

Keeping him by his side and actively accompanying him were still somewhat different. Xie Hui was silent for a long time, trying to organize his words, and only spoke after thinking clearly:

“Chu Chu, Dad needs to tell you first, yes, it’s possible, but Dad doesn’t want this to be one of the reasons.”

The Entruster could justifiably use their child to bring themselves a better life. Xie Hui, however, couldn’t do that; he felt heartache even when his child was slightly sensible.

“Chu Chu baby loves acting very much and wants to act in more plays, so he wants to sign. If that’s the reason, Dad will support you.”

“Everyone needs to have a contractual spirit. After the contract is signed, Chu Chu will have to work hard to balance studies and work when he goes to school.”

“You will live in the spotlight of others, and even a small mistake you make could be magnified. There might also be people who don’t like you and will curse you where you can’t see them.”

Xie Hui said a bit too much at once, leaving Xie Chu bewildered for a while. He silently took a bite of his bread.

“But Dad, I like it myself, and Dad can be with me. Isn’t it better to have both reasons?”

After Xie Chu’s reminder, Xie Hui suddenly realized that these two things were not contradictory. He didn’t expect that he, such an old man, would need a three-year-old child to tell him such a simple thing.

“Yes, these two are not contradictory.”

Xie Chu chewed his bread while carefully recalling what his dad had told him, then slowly told his dad bit by bit.

“Dad, I haven’t been to school yet, and I don’t know if I can do well.”

“Dad once said that no one can make everyone like them.”

Many of the things Xie Hui had taught him were firmly remembered by Xie Chu, and he brought them up now.

Hearing him make so many excuses to refute himself, Xie Hui already had the answer in his heart.

“Is acting that much fun?”

“Dad, acting isn’t just playing. Director Uncle said it’s work, and it’s very serious.”

After Xie Hui finished his breakfast, he pulled out a tissue to wipe his mouth clean, then reached out and held him on his lap.

Xie Chu, who loved being close to his dad, habitually leaned against him and giggled twice.

“Sigh, Dad is so old, and he still has to rely on Chu Chu to support the family. Is Dad useless then?”

The little one, who was giggling foolishly in his dad’s arms, instantly widened his eyes in confusion when he heard his dad’s words. After coming back to his senses, he instinctively retorted.

“No, my dad is the best dad in the whole world!”

“Chu Chu supporting the family is because Chu Chu loves Dad, not because Dad is useless.”

Xie Hui reached out and tidied his messy hair, then couldn’t help but lean on his shoulder and laugh.

If this child wasn’t his biological son, he would need to be careful about these small things. But since he was his pure biological son, there was no need to think about such things.

As a family, why be so distant and formal, clearly separating every matter?

They say a nephew resembles his uncle, and that’s true. Director Xu and Gu Jingtong have very similar personalities. They generally don’t speak directly, and if they do, it only proves that they are absolutely confident.

After receiving a positive answer from Xie Hui and his son, Director Xu immediately contacted his friend and asked him to prepare a contract.

He had some connections in the industry after all these years. If it weren’t for his enthusiastic recommendation, how could the president of such a large Entertainment Company notice such a small child?

Xie Chu’s existence completely opened up Director Xu’s thinking. He had many works he wanted to film before, but due to not finding suitable Child Actors, he had to temporarily put them aside, and he still felt regret every time he thought about it.

He originally thought this regret would be carried to his grave, but then Xie Chu appeared.

Xie Hui took his son to meet the company with Director Xu. After signing the contract, on the way back, he saw Xie Chu happily skipping every two steps on the sidewalk.

The little guy’s clothes today had a hood, and two long fluffy rabbit ears trailed behind the hood, swinging with his jumps.

Such a cute little detail made Xie Hui’s lips curl upwards. This feeling of winning by relying on his son… seemed pretty good?