An Shi saw him off with the utmost deference, afraid that if he stayed a moment longer, Lin Xingye would roast him even more thoroughly.
He knew Star had learned to take things in stride, but perhaps a little too much in stride.
Still, as long as he was happy.
Father Lin and Mother Lin looked at him with decidedly odd expressions, which remained unchanged all the way home.
Lin Xingye asked, "Are your eyes cramping?"
Both of them shook their heads repeatedly.
"Then what's wrong?" He was utterly baffled.
The two exchanged a glance. Mother Lin stepped forward and asked gravely, "Star..."
Seeing the seriousness in his mother's eyes, Lin Xingye said, "Go ahead!"
"Do you love your dad more, or your mom?"
Lin Xingye: ?
The world's toughest question.
More importantly, they'd held it in the whole way just to ask him this?
Lin Xingmo sighed quietly. He'd known this would happen.
Seeing them return, Aunt Liu hurried to welcome them. "Come on in! I've finished cooking, and it smells delicious!"
"Coming, coming!"
Lin Xingye rushed inside like a gust of wind.
[Thank you, Aunt Liu, for saving my sorry ass.]
After a delicious meal, they had all put the morning's events behind them.
"Star, what are you planning to do tomorrow?" Aunt Liu was considering tomorrow's menu, but worried he might have plans to go out, so she asked in advance.
Father Lin and Mother Lin pricked up their ears.
Lin Xingmo had already left for the office, while the family had insisted that Lin Xingye stay home and rest, so he hadn't been able to tag along.
"Hmm, let me think."
He really hadn't decided yet.
[I'll go check out the office with Momo in the morning, and ask Xu Chen for William's contact details while I'm there.]
[Take a long nap in the afternoon, then play some games.]
[Go out and book some male models tonight!]
Oh no. He still hadn't forgotten about that.
But if it made their boy happy, they should let him go.
The allure of the male models was so overwhelming that neither of them noticed Lin Xingye's plan to ask someone for contact details.
Mother Lin cautioned him anxiously, "Star, if you're going out tomorrow night, come home early. No staying out overnight."
Lin Xingye looked utterly bewildered. "Mom, I'm twenty-two."
Counting those eight years in his previous life, he was already thirty.
And she still wouldn't let him get a little action?
Mother Lin felt a little embarrassed and didn't know how to say it. After thinking it over, she finally made up her mind!
"Star, remember what Mom tells you!" Mother Lin's gaze was firm. "Rise to the challenge! Never settle for being beneath someone! Always strive to be on top! You can do it!"
Lin Xingye: ?
"Okay, okay, got it." Lin Xingye scratched his cheek dismissively.
[Crap, I didn't understand a single word.]
[Are these even idioms, besties?]
[Can someone explain them to me?]
Mother Lin: ...
If she couldn't hear him, she really would have thought her son had taken her words to heart.
"What on earth do you look at when you're surfing the internet? Honestly!" Mother Lin glared at her precious son and stalked off in indignation.
Lin Xingye gave an awkward laugh and cast a pleading look at his dad.
Father Lin expertly went after his wife to soothe her, remembering to turn back and wag a finger at his hopeless son.
[You'll have to ask Daddy Phone what he's planning to show me today.]
Lin Xingye felt wronged, but didn't dare say so.
"Momo~"
Lin Xingmo looked helplessly at the person peeking around his doorway. "Didn't I tell you to rest at home, bro?"
He strolled inside. "I'm bored. I'm not a kid anymore. How could I stay home every day? Besides, it's not like I can't handle company business."
"Mom told me to find something I enjoy doing, but I... really can't think of anything I like." He'd nearly racked his brains to pieces without coming up with an answer.
Lin Xingmo studied his brother's face for a long while. "How about I send you into showbiz to give it a try?"
Lin Xingye crossed his arms into a huge X. "No, absolutely not. These old bones can't dance, and I can't sing."
"My acting looks like a seizure. For the sake of everyone's eyes and ears, spare me."
Lin Xingmo laughed until his stomach hurt. "Who talks about themselves like that?"
"Anyway, Xu Chen's next door, right? He hasn't gone out?" Lin Xingye seized the opening to ask about the person he'd actually come to see.
Lin Xingmo nodded and waved him out. "Stop distracting your little brother from making money. Out, out."
He pulled a face and left in high spirits.
Whatever else you said, time off really was great.
"Xu Chen!" Lin Xingmo slipped furtively through the doorway, tiptoed over, and crouched beside him.
Xu Chen: ?
What have you done to be sneaking around like this?
"Do you have William's contact details?" Huddled beside him, Lin Xingye pulled out his phone and stared straight at him with sparkling eyes.
Xu Chen froze, then took out his phone in utter shock.
So President Bo, President Qi, and President Cheng had all failed because Xingye had fallen for William!
What an ultimate plot twist!
"I do. Here you go!"
President Qi was the one who shared it with me, too.
Lin Xingye said, "Thanks, bro!"
[Great! I need to figure out how to get William to help me out.]
Xu Chen: ?
That doesn't seem quite like what I imagined.
With the contact details secured, Lin Xingye skipped away before Xu Chen could ask anything else.
"B-but Mr. William is a little dangerous. Think it over carefully..." Xu Chen felt like crying. He seemed to be nothing more than a convenient tool.
Mission accomplished, Lin Xingye drove straight home. He didn't know whether William was currently in the country or abroad, and his friend request hadn't been accepted yet.
Once home, he switched on his game console and called for Aunt Liu to make him a table full of delicious food.
Going out tonight would take plenty of energy, so he needed to eat more.
Aunt Liu sat beside him, praising his gaming skills while feeding him snacks and fruit. She also made plenty of fried treats, even adding barbecue and burgers.
"Aunt Liu~ I'm so lucky to have you~"
When he ate Aunt Liu's cooking, he never had to worry about getting diarrhea from stuffing himself.
"Star, it's almost dark. Mr. and Mrs. Lin flew out this afternoon and told me to leave the door open for you tonight. Call me if you need anything!"
Aunt Liu was still reminding him as he headed out.
Lin Xingmo had a banquet tonight and had gone with Xu Chen, so he would be home late too.
No one could keep him in check tonight. Off he went!
He'd looked up tips yesterday, but when he reached the entrance, he still felt a little shy. It was his first time ever, after all!
Giving himself a little pep talk, he cleared his throat twice and walked inside with a composed expression.
"Waaaaah!"
[What is this, a concert?]
It was incredibly noisy inside, with shouts everywhere and brilliant lights sweeping around. Yet the crowd was shrouded in darkness, and he couldn't even make out the faces of people passing by.
Seeing his bewildered expression, the host at the entrance eagerly approached. "Hello, sir! Is this your first visit?"
Lin Xingye nodded. "Yes. I can book a private room, right?"
The host replied, "Yes!"
"Then I don't want a private room. Find me a spot in a corner."
[I'm already here. Why hide in a private room?]
[With all these performances out here, I might as well watch!]
The host led him to a corner seat. "Entry is ticketed, and there are discounts on the platform! Other activities or specific performers have to be booked separately!"
"Our standard offerings are already pretty great, though~"
He looked around and saw hardly any male customers. Almost everyone seemed to be a girl.
The girls really knew what was up. Why hadn't anyone invited him to such a wonderful place?
It was a little loud, but fun.
Lin Xingye sat there and ordered some food, watching the handsome young men dance and sing for him. Some even cast him flirtatious looks.
Every single one was either handsome or beautiful. Heaven. Heaven on earth!
Someone even invited him to get up and dance. Although he wasn't very good at it, the invitation was too enthusiastic to refuse, so he shyly stood and wriggled along.
Except the other guy shook his hips sexily, while he flailed around like a lunatic.
Like a maggot.
It wasn't exactly pretty, but as long as he was happy!
One handsome male model even chatted with him. "You're quite the looker, cutie~"
"Thank you, thank you!"
Lin Xingye responded happily while launching into his wriggling-maggot dance.
Just then, a girl passed by. Looking at Lin Xingye dancing... uh, flailing, she mistook him for an employee in a moment of confusion.
The girl reached out and tipped up his chin. "Hey, cutie~ Let big sis pamper... Aah!"
Lin Xingye and the girl stared at each other.
"Qi Sinian!"
"Lin Xingye!"
Before you continue