Nightclub 1

Xie Yibai said sheepishly, "Both of you were so careless... How could you be careless about that? What if there had been a fire?"

"There are smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. If a fire breaks out, can't you just put it out? What's all the fuss about? You have no idea how terribly he scolded me. You two are driving me mad!" He Limei sobbed. "You're both picking on me because you think I'm old and past my prime..."

"Stop, stop, stop!" Xie Yibai was terrified of his mother making a scene for no reason. Once she started, there was no end to it. He pressed a hand to his forehead and said, "Go on... What do you want?"

"I want to come see you," He Limei said, wiping away her tears. "I'm not living with him anymore."

She was his mother, after all. Xie Yibai didn't use work as an excuse. After careful thought, he said, "Then... I'll ask my agent if I can free up a few days. I'll go shopping with you and help you take your mind off things."

He Limei's sorrow turned to joy, and she smiled through her tears. "You're such a good boy. Raising you wasn't for nothing. But you don't need to put off work. It's not as though I've never been there. I have my own plans and arrangements. Save your days off for yourself. I don't need you to keep me company."

"The more you say that, the more worried I get..." Xie Yibai spent plenty of time scrolling through Douyin, and a long string of news headlines instantly came to mind. He asked, "You haven't started an online romance and come to meet someone, have you!? Or have you been tipping some livestreamer?"

He Limei wished she could reach through the phone and give him a couple of smacks. She scolded him, "What nonsense are you talking about! Is your mother the kind of old woman who can't behave herself?"

"As long as you're not..."

"Then it's settled. Buy me a plane ticket for a flight leaving tomorrow at noon. First class. I'm not flying business class."

"Then at least let Dad take you to the airport. You're always forgetting things. What if you forget your ID..."

"Don't worry about me! I've made my own arrangements!" He Limei said breezily. "See you tomorrow. I'll bring Little Biscuit a present."

Xie Yibai returned to the dining room with his phone in hand. Zou Yan and A Chu had finished talking and both looked at him.

"Who was it?" Zou Yan asked.

"My mom's coming tomorrow." Xie Yibai turned to A Chu for help. "Can you check if my schedule over the next few days can be postponed or canceled? I have to spend some time with my mom when she gets here."

A Chu swiftly pulled a tablet and phone from her tote bag, checking the spreadsheet while negotiating with the people involved.

"Sorry, Brother Yan. Something's come up at home, and I need to take care of my mom first. If there's another meeting in a couple of days, I'll do my best to make it." He gave Zou Yan advance warning so it wouldn't be hard to explain if he was late or absent.

"It's fine. Spending time with your mom is more important." Zou Yan swiped to unlock his phone and looked for the WeChat conversation. "I'll tell them we won't have any meetings for the next few days."

Feeling guilty, Xie Yibai asked, "Am I holding things up too much?"

Zou Yan said, "This project revolves around you. We can only move forward once everything is ready on your end. But don't worry. A script isn't written in three or five days, and they still have plenty of work to do. I won't let the project fall behind schedule."

He was so dependable.

Xie Yibai asked, "Does that mean I'm acting like a diva?"

A Chu and Zou Yan both looked at him and said in unison, "Yes."

Xie Yibai was so ashamed he wanted the ground to swallow him up.

Zou Yan beckoned to him. "Come sit down and finish eating. It's no big deal. You can act however you like with me. I can handle it."

Oh, my god, how could I ever repay him?

Xie Yibai sat back down, but he had no appetite. He studied Zou Yan's face, finding him more handsome the longer he looked.

But he couldn't figure out what Zou Yan wanted in return for treating him so well.

After the meal, A Chu busied herself changing his schedule, with messages and calls coming nonstop.

Xie Yibai wanted to digest his food, so he asked Zou Yan to take him outside for a walk.

It was already dark, and the lake reflected the scattered lights like gold leaf crushed and strewn across the water.

Xie Yibai held Zou Yan's uninjured hand. His unenlightened brain couldn't come up with a more thorough and thoughtful way to repay him, only the most superficial one: You're good to me, so I'll get a little closer to you.

He often had to leave without time to eat, so he kept milk candies in his pocket in case his blood sugar dropped. Sharing candy was one way of getting closer, so he offered Zou Yan a piece. But Zou Yan said, "Didn't you say you were too full for dessert?"

"Candy isn't dessert. It doesn't take up any room." Xie Yibai unwrapped a pearl-like piece of milk candy and fed it to Zou Yan.

Zou Yan took it into his mouth, and Xie Yibai snatched back the piece he'd just given him and fed it to himself.

Walking hand in hand is pretty intimate!

Xie Yibai asked, "Brother Yan, does this count as dating?"

Zou Yan asked in return, "Does holding my hand make your heart flutter?"

He honestly shook his head.

"Then it doesn't count."

He stopped walking, and Zou Yan, held back by his fingers, stopped too.

Xie Yibai looked up. "What would count, then?"

Zou Yan studied his face as though choosing his best angle for the camera, then leaned in without warning. Just as he was about to touch his lips, Xie Yibai dodged like a startled fawn, his eyes flustered.

Zou Yan went no further. His lips lingered beside Xie Yibai's ear as he said, "The day I want to kiss you and you don't dodge, that will count."

Xie Yibai's heart pounded like a fallen fawn stumbling and skidding across slick ice, unable to find its footing for a long time.

Honestly... He might as well ask me to repay him with my body!

Chapter 24: Nightclub 1

After her son finished filming his first drama, He Limei quit her job and stopped going to work. Her workplace was small, and her coworkers were gossipy. They questioned her all day about her son's prospects and pay, and tried to use their connection to her to get autographs from all kinds of stars.

Tired of their questions, she simply stopped going. She stayed home to help her son count his money, buy property and make investments, and gave her husband an allowance every month.

In recent years, the medical aesthetics industry had developed rapidly. She had become obsessed with facial treatments, and the beauty clinic she had opened with her girlfriends was thriving, bringing her a substantial income every year.

Every day, He Limei slept until she woke naturally, put on makeup, chose her clothes and handbag, and dressed up beautifully to make the rounds at the clinic. She met her girlfriends for lunch, had tea and went shopping in the afternoon, and played mahjong at night. Her life was full and colorful.

That day, she didn't feel like eating out and missed the feel of cooking, so she sent her husband out early to buy a basket of groceries. She was going to cook herself. Her ribs were halfway through stewing when a girlfriend called and asked her to come sign something at the clinic. She changed out of her apron and hurried out, forgetting to turn off the burner.

How could it all be her fault? She had suggested hiring a live-in housekeeper long ago, but her stingy fishing-enthusiast husband had said they were both out all day, ate out, and had their clothes dry-cleaned or washed in the fully automatic washing machine. What did they need a housekeeper for? To cook and eat her own food while collecting wages for nothing? Hiring an hourly cleaner on cleaning days was enough. Their son didn't earn his money easily either, so they should save where they could.

And now look what had happened. She'd been scolded over a few ribs and a pot, and had swallowed a bellyful of resentment.

He Limei had been the center of attention when she was young and had lived in comfort through middle age. When she argued with her husband before, she had to think of their child and family. Now she had nothing to worry about, so she picked up her bag and left.

When she arrived at Capital International Airport, Xie Yibai and Xiaodao came to pick her up. She wore eight-centimeter heels, a fitted dress with a petal-shaped skirt, a burgundy knee-length cashmere coat cinched with a black leather belt with a gold buckle, and a woven wide-brimmed hat. Her lips were painted a vivid, alluring red, making her look like a modern girl from a magazine.

Xie Yibai knew his mother had dreamed of being a female star since childhood, so he thoughtfully reached out and supported her wrist. He Limei's freshly painted nude-colored nails set off her fingers, making them look fair and slender. With her son's help, she got into the car. Xiaodao carried the luggage behind them, thinking, Every time she comes, Sister puts on even more airs than my boss.

He Limei was beautiful, and everyone on Xie Yibai's staff called her Sister Lili. She didn't interfere in business, and every time she came, she brought everyone gifts and gave them red envelopes, so they were happy to call her Sister.

As usual, Xie Yibai had bought her a new handbag as a surprise and asked Xiaodao to pass him the box from the back seat.

He Limei set the box on her lap, took off her sunglasses, and lifted the lid. She pursed her lips and said, "I already have this one. Everyone's carrying this style."

She had two different faces at home and outside: at home she was a gentle, virtuous, loving mother, but outside she was an empress. Perhaps it was psychological compensation for not getting her fill of role-playing games as a girl.

"The salesperson picked it out for me. I saw a lot of people carrying this style." Seeing that she didn't like it, Xie Yibai took the box away and handed it back to Xiaodao. "Then we won't keep it. We'll buy another."

He Limei stroked her son's face with her delicate hand. "Good boy! Your mother hasn't doted on you for nothing!"

Xie Yibai had taken personal leave and informed Zou Yan of everything. Zou Yan paid close attention to his affairs and timed his message to ask: Have you picked up your mom?

: I have. Hahaha, she didn't like the bag I bought her. She said everyone's carrying it

Zou Yan: What kind of bags does your mom like to carry?

Afraid Zou Yan would offer to buy her one, Xie Yibai replied: She just buys whatever catches her eye. She doesn't have a favorite brand. I'll take her shopping

Zou Yan: I'm meeting with the platform today. I might not have time, but I'll contact you when I'm done

Xie Yibai did his best to turn him down: No, no... My mom has social anxiety. She's just in a mood and wants me to spend some time with her. You go ahead and do your work

Things between him and Zou Yan were ambiguous. If he called them friends, there was too much self-interest involved; if he called Zou Yan a romantic interest, he didn't have feelings for him. Hmm... Better not let Mom meet such a shrewd and capable man just yet.

His mother was a flower who had spent her whole life in a greenhouse and had little resistance to men. Zou Yan was so good at charming people that if he won his mother over, Xie Yibai would have another source of pressure to deal with.

But just because Xie Yibai didn't mention it didn't mean He Limei wouldn't ask. Her life was wealthy and comfortable, free from worries about making a living or everyday chores. Apart from playing cards, beauty treatments, and shopping, her greatest daily pleasure was chatting and gossiping with her girlfriends.

She was tight-lipped and didn't like stirring up trouble, so she only listened and never passed things on, but her curiosity was considerable. Seeing Xie Yibai chatting with someone on WeChat, she put on a stern face and said, "Who are you messaging? Let Mom conduct a spot check."

She wasn't an overly controlling mother, so a joke of this sort wouldn't leave a scar. Xie Yibai took it in stride and said, "The producer, the one I told you about."