Chapter 126: The Father Who Exploited His Child Star (19)

When Xie Hui heard him mumble those words and looked down, Xie Chu was already breathing evenly. After covering him with the blanket, Xie Hui finally turned to his own tasks.

Just listening to his steady breathing, watching his chest rise and fall as he breathed—Xie Hui could stay like that for a long time without feeling bored.

At the set, the assistant director came over with the script to go over the scene with Xie Chu.

In this drama, the real test of acting skills lay with the female lead, a mother who had lost her child. The child actor didn’t have too many scenes. Aside from the ones showing abuse in the remote mountain village after being trafficked, the rest weren’t particularly difficult.

The director, Wang, had previously auditioned several child actors, but none could portray that desperate longing for their mother. One day, while venting about his frustrations to his friend, Director Xu, he was recommended Xie Chu.

After watching Xie Chu’s performance in a previous drama, Director Wang didn’t even bother with an audition—he immediately reached out to Xie Chu’s agency.

He certainly looked the part: a pampered young master from a wealthy family.

The early scenes were simple—one happy family, a loving mother and father.

In the kitchen, the mother washed vegetables while the father squatted beside her picking greens. They chatted; when the father annoyed her, the mother shot him a glare.

In the living room, Xie Chu wore new clothes and played with toys on the carpet.

He now had a keen sense of where the camera was. After placing the final block on top, he gave a cheerful smile, dimples showing on his cheeks.

“Good. Cut!”

Director Wang had heard his friend hype up this kid named Xie Chu. At the time, he had scoffed. No matter how talented a kid was, how good could their acting really be?

He had been in this industry for years. People born with true talent were maybe one in a hundred thousand.

But now, with this child actor on his set—it was a complete slap in the face.

Not that he minded. Wang accepted the slap willingly.

In the past, while shooting films, Director Wang often intentionally minimized scenes involving children. Kids were unpredictable—crying on set, refusing to cooperate—turning the shoot into chaos.

Even with parents present, they’d still cry or fuss.

But watching Xie Chu finish a scene and then quietly sit on a small stool, attentively listening to the assistant director explain the plot, nodding occasionally—it was almost unbelievably easy.

The earlier scenes went smoothly. To accommodate the child needing to attend kindergarten, Wang decided to first film the scenes where the child is trafficked.

Most directors of high status in the industry held knowledge in high regard, even if Xie Chu was still just a kindergartener.

During the trafficking scenes, two retakes were needed due to blocking issues with the actor playing the trafficker. Xie Chu himself was steady from start to finish.

Later, when filming the abuse scenes in the mountain village, even with his face smeared with dirt, sitting outside the door, Xie Chu still radiated vitality.

It didn’t quite capture the feeling Director Wang wanted—that of a priceless gem buried and dimmed in the abyss. Instead, it felt more like the brief darkness before brilliance reemerged, as if the light would pierce through in the very next second.

More like a seed sprouting underground, ready at any moment to break through the earth and unfurl its leaves.

After several failed takes, Director Wang scratched his head, picked up the script and studied it closely, telling the actors to take a break.

He reviewed the footage. Confirming the issue lay with Xie Chu, he thought long and hard but couldn’t come up with a good solution.

There was no doubt about Xie Chu’s talent. What made him truly rare was the unique quality so lacking in this industry.

He brimmed with life, like the morning sun.

In that earlier fantasy drama, Xie Chu’s inherent charm had perfectly aligned with the character’s persona. That series had aired for years and remained a fan favorite.

But in this role, kidnapped and trafficked, the character shouldn’t have that liveliness. He’d even had his throat poisoned by the traffickers, left mute, and when hearing their words, should be filled with despair, convinced he’d rot away in that place.

The director kept trying to explain this distinction to Xie Chu. If it were any other actor, Wang might have just let it slide.

But because of Xie Chu’s excellence, Wang pinned higher hopes on him, wanting to draw out the best performance possible.

Eventually, Director Wang grew anxious and simply asked:

“Who do you love most? Who matters most to you?”

Sitting on a small stool hugging the script, Xie Chu answered instinctively:

“My dad.”

The assistant director, already desperate, jumped in immediately after:

“Imagine your dad married someone else and had another kid. He doesn’t want you anymore, left you here to make money for him—got it now?”

Xie Chu blinked, then nodded. When he walked to the chicken coop set, his mind replayed the assistant director’s words. He sat on the ground, hugging his knees.

His originally fair face was smeared with dark makeup to make him look gaunt, almost hiding the baby fat.

Just the thought of his dad doing that made Xie Chu’s tears fall in fat drops. He sniffled, wiped his tears with the back of his hand.

The tears smudged the dark makeup, leaving his face looking dirty and pitiful.

He moved his lips, trying to speak. After opening his mouth for a while and realizing no sound came out, he remembered his character’s throat was mute.

Hanging his head, he wiped his tears with his other hand, then buried his face in his knees, hugging them tightly as he curled into a small, heartbroken ball.

“Good. Cut!”

As soon as the director said the word, the entire crew let out a collective breath of relief, expressions easing—finally, they wouldn’t have to see the director’s angry face again.

Only Xie Hui rushed forward as soon as the call was made, scooping the curled-up Xie Chu into his arms.

The child was getting heavy at this age. As Xie Hui picked him up, the little one, dirt still on his face, didn’t care at all—he buried his head into his father’s chest and sobbed miserably.

During the earlier abuse scene, the seasoned actress playing the wicked grandma had been gentle—Xie Chu hadn’t felt any pain. But this final scene had left him crying so hard his voice went hoarse.

Xie Hui apologized to Director Wang, who was scolding the assistant director, and brought his son back to the lounge.

On the couch, Xie Hui originally wanted to wipe away his tears. Realizing his father was trying to move him, Xie Chu clung to him even tighter.

“Wu wu… Daddy.”

Hearing that hoarse little voice, Xie Hui softened, gently patting his back.

“Daddy just wants to wipe your tears.”

“No… wu wu… Daddy, hug.”

Like a little octopus, Xie Chu clung tightly to his father, still sniffling with grievance even after a long while.

What the assistant director said earlier was coincidence, but in the world of the original client, the boy had actually experienced all of that.

The client later remarried, treating Xie Chu with even less regard. Not only did he leech off him financially, he also relied on him to support his new wife.

In the client’s memories, Xie Chu had always been silent. He had never voiced a single complaint about anything, always transferring every last cent he earned to the client’s account.

After everything happened, Xie Chu said nothing. But now, just to film a scene, when someone painted a scenario so close to his real experience, Xie Chu broke down, crying until his whole body shook.

In the original world, this little boy had swallowed every bit of sorrow without a sound.

“Daddy won’t get married again. There won’t be another child. And I’ll never use your money to raise someone else’s kid.”

Xie Hui lowered his head and leaned close to his son’s ear, patiently soothing him.

The familiar and gentle voice of his father gradually calmed Xie Chu down. He wriggled out of his father’s arms, tilted his head up to stare at him, and after a long pause, said in a hoarse voice:

“Daddy, Chu Chu will give you all my money. Daddy, please don’t bring any other babies.”

In kindergarten, the kids often talked about how their parents wanted to have a second child. Back then, Xie Chu had secretly felt delighted, thinking how lucky he was that his daddy had only him.

Now, after being reminded by that uncle, the more he thought about it, the sadder he felt. Even though Daddy only had him now, if he wanted to remarry, there would be someone else. Other kids might be better behaved than him.

And maybe… Daddy would like someone else more than him.

Hearing his childishly earnest words, Xie Hui found it a little amusing. The corners of his mouth had yet to lift in a smile when his eyes already began to burn. Not minding the dirt still on his son’s face, he leaned down and kissed him.

How could such a little kid possibly need to give him money?

Even though Xie Chu had earned quite a bit from acting, apart from using a bit to buy a storefront when money was really tight, the rest had been saved in a separate bankbook.

Once the snack shop began turning a profit, Xie Hui even repaid the small amount he’d used from his son’s earnings.

Every single transaction had been recorded clearly in a notebook by Xie Hui.

The money spent on this child had all come from what Xie Hui earned himself.

Supporting himself wasn’t Xie Chu’s responsibility—at least, not while he was still a little boy.

“Why would Daddy want another baby? Isn’t the one at home already adorable enough?”

Normally, Xie Chu would’ve shyly buried his face in Daddy’s chest and secretly smiled. But today, upon hearing this, an inexplicable sense of crisis welled up inside him.

Adorable? What if another kid was even more adorable? Would Daddy start liking them instead?

Xie Chu sniffled, and tears began spilling out again.

“Waaah, Daddy, I’ll try really hard to become even more adorable!”

Only then did Xie Hui realize why he was crying again. He helplessly reached up to rub his temples.

He hadn’t realized before how sensitive and tearful this kid was—overthinking the smallest things.

But considering that today he’d just gone to the bathroom and returned to hear the assistant director say something like that, Xie Hui didn’t have the heart to scold him.

He patiently wiped away his tears with his fingertips, and while doing so, began organizing his thoughts for what to say.

“Daddy doesn’t need you to be more adorable. Because you’re Daddy’s child—Daddy’s most beloved treasure.”

Even adults can’t always guess the intentions behind a cold face, let alone a child. If it’s not said aloud, how could he know?

“Wuuu, I love Daddy the most too!”

Xie Hui was never stingy about expressing love to his child, which was why this little guy also loved to say “I love you.”

“It’s like when Chu Chu sees a pretty cat outside—maybe you want to reach out and pet it. But the little fish treats in your pocket, those are only for our cat Zhaocai at home.”

“There might be cats even prettier than Zhaocai outside…”

Before Xie Hui could finish that sentence, Xie Chu immediately frowned and objected.

“No way. My Zhaocai is the cutest cat in the whole world!”

Xie Hui’s lips curved in a smile as he gently nodded.

“That’s right. And in Daddy’s heart, my Chu Chu is also the cutest little kid in the whole world.”

At that moment, Xie Hui felt extremely thankful that he had agreed to let this little guy keep a cat. Now that something had come up, they had something to use as a comparison.

Because of Zhaocai, the cat, once Xie Chu projected his feelings onto it, the fear and panic in his heart gradually faded away.

“Daddy really doesn’t want to have a baby with another lady?”

In Xie Chu’s kindergarten, many of the kids said their parents wanted to have another baby, which made him excessively worried.

Xie Hui rubbed his head and gave him a soft, firm promise:

“That’s right. No other ladies, no other babies. Isn’t having just my Chu Chu enough?”

“It’s enough!”

“Then everything’s fine, isn’t it?”

With that, Xie Chu finally stopped crying. He reached for some tissues himself to wipe away his tears, then wiped his nose.

Seeing the messy dark smudges on the white tissue, he wrinkled his nose in disgust and tried to hop down from Daddy’s lap to wash his face.

“Wuuu, Daddy, I’m so dirty.”

“Wait a second. I’ll get you some warm water. Cold water won’t clean you up properly.”

Xie Hui stood and went to prepare warm water, helpless and amused by how the little guy had just finished crying and now suddenly disliked how dirty his face was.

There was an electric kettle in the lounge. After filling it with water and placing it on the base, Xie Hui turned to look at his son, who had moved a stool in front of the bathroom mirror, trying to see how dirty he was. Xie Hui walked over and picked him up so he could get a better view.

Xie Chu leaned in deliberately close in front of the mirror and lightly curled his lips into a smile. Seeing that Daddy wasn’t disgusted by him, he grinned widely.

“Daddy really doesn’t want one? The kids at kindergarten all say having a little brother or sister makes things happier.”

Xie Chu hugged Daddy’s neck. He didn’t want to cry anymore, but he was still curious—how come his daddy was different from other dads?

“Then, Chu Chu, do you want a mommy?”

Xie Hui’s question made Xie Chu freeze.

Mommy? Xie Chu could barely remember what his mommy looked like now. He only remembered that when she was still around, both Mommy and Daddy were unhappy.

Mommy would break lots of bowls and cups. The harsh shattering noise was something he still remembered.

“No.”

After coming back to his senses, Xie Chu shook his head very firmly.

“Didn’t the kids at kindergarten also say their mommies are great? But Chu Chu still doesn’t want one, right?”

Some things just can’t be explained to children with logic. Even when adults are faced with profound truths, they don’t always grasp the deeper meaning.

“Those kids’ mommies aren’t as good as Chu Chu’s daddy, hehe.”

Xie Chu had already made secret comparisons when he saw other kids being picked up by their moms.

Those kids who bragged that their mommy cooked the best food—Xie Chu had tasted it, and it wasn’t even close to Daddy’s cooking!

Those who boasted about their mommy braiding their hair—Xie Chu didn’t envy them. He was a boy, boys didn’t need braids!

“So my Chu Chu doesn’t need to worry. Every kid is different, and every daddy is different too.”

Xie Chu nodded, half understanding. Just then, the water finished boiling. Xie Hui held his son and got a clean basin, poured in the hot water, added some cold water to adjust the temperature, and used a wet wipe to clean the dark smudges off his face.

Because this child had grown up without a mother, Xie Hui had always done his best to play the roles of both parents.

He cared for his son, gave him double the love, and tried his best to make sure the little guy never felt lonely or lacking.

Looking at Xie Chu now, it seemed he was doing a pretty good job.

After Xie Hui finished cleaning him up, the little guy’s eyes were still swollen. As he carried him outside, the assistant director—who had been harshly scolded by the director earlier—came over, face flushed, to apologize.

“It’s okay, Uncle. I know you were just doing it for the shoot.”

Xie Chu, still holding onto his father’s neck, replied very politely.

The assistant director had been publicly reprimanded by the director in front of the entire crew, for being too harsh with a child. What if he’d scared the kid so badly it left a lasting impact?

He had felt humiliated and secretly resented Xie Chu a bit.

But now, hearing that unfamiliar, hoarse little voice and seeing the boy’s embarrassed ears turning red, he couldn’t help but blush too.

“Even if it was for the shoot, Uncle said things that were too harsh. Little one, I’m really sorry. Your dad loves you very much. It was Uncle talking nonsense. It was my fault for saying the wrong thing.”

“I’m sorry.”

This apology was clearly much more sincere than the perfunctory words from before.

Xie Chu smiled at the uncle, showing his white little teeth.

“Hehe, it’s okay! I know Daddy loves me—super, super loves me!”

When Xie Hui went back to the changing room to get his son out of the dirty, worn-out clothes, the director also came over with a big red envelope.

“Chu Chu, congratulations on wrapping up filming.”

One sleeve was already off, and with his little arm bare, Xie Chu reached out and accepted the big red envelope, eyes crinkling with a smile.

“Thank you, Director.”

“No need to thank me.”

The director waved his hand and even arranged a wrap party especially for this little actor.

At the dinner, while everyone else raised their glasses to clink together, only Xie Chu was held in his father’s arms, holding a cup of hot milk and trying hard to stretch his arm forward, but still couldn’t quite reach to clink glasses.

The director saw this and, after his own toast, personally brought his glass over to clink with the little actor. The other actors followed suit.

At first, Xie Chu was very cheerful, smiling as he clinked glasses with everyone.

But after going around the table, Xie Chu leaned back in his chair, touched his now bulging belly with one hand, and hadn’t even taken a bite of food before he started burping.

“Hic…”