"Brother Jue, say, if I withdraw from the competition now, does that count as a breach of contract? Would I have to pay a penalty or anything?"
Bai Xiaoze's words brought Shang Shujue's eyes into sharp focus. "Huh? You want to withdraw? Why do you suddenly want to withdraw? Are you going back to school?"
*[Whoa, damn, am I already this good at persuading people? I've barely said anything, and Bai Xiaoze already wants to go back to school?*
That's pretty good, too. He won't have to waste five years before discovering the truth. Nuomi, remember to get the evidence ready ahead of time, then put it right in front of him in a way that makes sense.
If he leaves now, Bai Qianhua won't have to be tricked into going to Myanmar by that scam ring, or get hacked to pieces for refusing to help them do evil.
Bai Xiaoze won't have to resolutely venture into Myanmar to avenge his dad, either, only to die with regrets after enduring countless hardships without ever seeing the culprit.
*...Two lives and two merit points are in your hands. You have to get this right, Nuomi!]*
Shang Shujue's subsequent thoughts had already revealed the fate of both father and son. Nothing more needed to be said now. Bai Xiaoze was already desperate to leave this place.
"Yeah, I'm going back to school. Studying feels a little easier after all. Dancing really is a bit hard for me."
"My singing isn't actually any good, either. Even if I take part in the upcoming livestream, I'll still get eliminated."
Bai Xiaoze suddenly became composed, as though he had grown up in an instant. Shang Shujue gave him a somewhat puzzled look, then smiled and nodded.
"Then there really isn't any need to take part in the upcoming livestream. But things are already pretty stable today. Leaving right now wouldn't be very safe."
"And you'll have to talk to Yu Yang about this and see what he thinks. You signed a contract, after all. You can't just act on your own."
Bai Xiaoze nodded, turned, and headed out of the dance studio. He took out his phone and found Bai Qianhua's contact. The latest message there was still a transfer of three thousand yuan from him at nine last night.
He scrolled up. The man had sent him three thousand yuan practically every day, but he had never accepted a single transfer. Apart from the one sent at nine last night, all the other transfers had already been returned.
Bai Xiaoze had been sulking by ignoring him like this, but Bai Qianhua hadn't minded at all. He had even kept sending money every day without fail.
He had also been afraid Bai Xiaoze wouldn't accept it, so he sent him gifts every day. They were all things to eat and use, and all things Bai Xiaoze normally liked and would use.
He clearly had someone who loved him; he just hadn't realized it yet. Now that he knew, he couldn't remain unmoved.
Thinking of how things had ended for the two of them, Bai Xiaoze accepted the three-thousand-yuan transfer through tear-blurred eyes. So you were the one who loved me most, and my only father.
"Huh? Brother Jue, what's going on? Where's Xiaoze going?" Xu Jiaqiao was the best actor of them all. He had clearly heard everything, yet he had to pretend he knew nothing.
Seeing him like this, the others couldn't help inwardly calling him a hypocrite. But when facing Shang Shujue, they still followed Xu Jiaqiao's lead and put on puzzled, shocked expressions.
"Him..." Shang Shujue glanced toward the dance studio door, then turned his gaze back and smiled at Xu Jiaqiao. "He's gone off to pursue his bright future."
Hearing that, Xu Jiaqiao's lips curled up involuntarily, but he still spoke in a shocked voice. "Huh? He's withdrawing!"
Yu Zeqi sat in the corner. After hearing about Bai Xiaoze, he suddenly thought of Yu Yang.
Although Yu Yang was the head of the Yu Family, this family only lived in harmony on the surface. Beneath it ran turbulent undercurrents, with struggles both open and covert.
Yu Yang was standing against the entire family alone. Was it very hard on him? He had made Yu Zeqi stay here to protect him-that was true. He was afraid of Yu Zeqi being swept into a whirlpool of schemes-that was true, too...
If he remained stubborn and refused to acknowledge Yu Yang's identity, would the two of them, father and son, never be able to have a proper conversation for the rest of their lives?
Should he give him a chance to make amends? But if he relented, would his mother be angry with him if she saw it from heaven? This happiness should have belonged to his mother...
"We never know which will come first, an accident or tomorrow. So you young people should get out and see more of this world while you have the time. Just like Bai Xiaoze. Look how freely he left, hahaha..."
Who knew what Shang Shujue had thought of, but he suddenly voiced this sentiment. It struck Yu Zeqi's heart at just the right moment, shattering his already wavering resolve completely.
That was right. What if... he never got the chance to call him Dad?
Yu Zeqi quietly made a decision. He took out his phone and sent Yu Yang a message. It was a little awkward, but it was already a peace offering he had worked up the courage to send.
[Qiqi]: Um... will you watch our livestream tonight?
[...]: Yes! When are you coming on, Qiqi? Dad will be cheering you on from the other side of the screen.
[...]: Transfer: 200,000 yuan
Yu Zeqi hadn't expected Yu Yang to reply instantly, much less send him such a huge transfer right away. It made him freeze for a moment. He was still a little unused to it, but this time, he accepted it.
He also changed the contact name from an ellipsis to "Dad." He had used an ellipsis before because he hadn't known what to call him. Calling him Uncle felt too distant, while calling him Dad felt too awkward. But now he had thought it through.
[Qiqi]: I'm number nine. It should be pretty soon.
[Dad]: Okay! Dad will watch the whole thing!
Seeing that his son was finally willing to accept his transfer, Yu Yang was overjoyed. Even the gaze he directed at his sworn rival across the negotiating table was tender enough to drip water.
His sworn rival broke out in goosebumps under that gaze. He had been about to mock him, but now he couldn't get a single word out.
His sworn rival: Seriously, has this lunatic Yu Yang started resorting to dirty tricks like this because he can't get the rate he wants? Disgusting! What an evil man! ∑(❍ฺд❍ฺlll)
"All right, stop looking at me with those peach blossom eyes. I'll lower it a bit for you, I'll lower it. Hurry up and have your assistant redraft the contract. Sign it already, then get lost!"
His sworn rival indulged him once after all. He really couldn't stand the way Yu Yang looked at him with those smiling eyes. It was honestly a little unfair how good-looking he was.
Yu Yang: Hmm? Did this lunatic grow a conscience today? Whatever, never mind him. As long as he lowers it a bit. Let's hurry up and sign. I need to watch my son's livestream. I can't be bothered with him!
"All right, Xiao Zhou, go redraft the contract. Make the changes according to the points we just discussed. Be quick. Go on."
His sworn rival: Haha... so I'm just a clown, then! Yu Yang, you have no heart! ꐦ≖ ≖
Yu Yang: Get out of here!