Chapter 88: Going Home

After hanging up, Jiang Shi remembered there was still someone next to him. He gave a slightly embarrassed smile. “Sorry, Cheng Ye is just a bit naggy.”

It was the first time the young woman had heard someone use the word “naggy” to describe Cheng Ye. But she was no greenhorn just entering the workplace. No matter how much she was screaming on the inside, she showed nothing on her face, just giving a polite smile.

Seeing this, Jiang Shi closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

The woman quietly observed him.

Before coming, Cheng Ye had given her a rough idea of the situation, so she knew what kind of contract they were going to sign. Jiang Shi was very handsome and indeed suited to be a star. But a newly successful boss and a newly debuted handsome star…

The young lady’s thoughts couldn’t help but wander.

Jiang Shi didn’t know what the woman beside him was thinking. He had only just dozed off when they arrived at their destination. They went directly to the Xinghui building. To show his importance, Liu Heping was already waiting downstairs for Jiang Shi.

Jiang Shi followed him inside, listening as Liu Heping introduced the place from beside him. “The company is equipped with more than ten training halls of various sizes. If you work at the company, all three meals are free. If an artist needs it, we provide employee dormitories, but since you’re still attending school, I haven’t applied for one for you. If you want one, just let me know.”

Jiang Shi hadn’t done his hair when he got up, so he had casually put on a baseball cap. He pulled the brim down, looking a bit tired, revealing a small part of his exquisite face.

He looked nothing like a newcomer who hadn’t even signed a contract yet.

As Jiang Shi’s agent, Liu Heping naturally noticed his expression. He asked with some apprehension, “What’s wrong? Is there something you don’t like?”

Jiang Shi yawned. “I didn’t sleep well. Are you done with the introduction? When do we sign the contract?”

“…”

Fine.

Liu Heping gave up on the rest of the tour and led him upstairs.

The elevator doors opened, and the three of them entered. Just as Liu Heping reached out to press the button, a girl’s voice came from the entrance. “Wait a minute!”

Liu Heping had no choice but to move his hand to the ‘open door’ button.

A chubby girl ran over quickly. When she saw Liu Heping inside, she was stunned for a moment. “Hello, Brother Liu. Please wait two minutes, Brother Zhang is right behind.”

Jiang Shi lifted his eyes and glanced ahead. It was completely empty, not a soul in sight.

The four of them waited in the elevator for nearly two minutes before a person, surrounded by an entourage, finally arrived late.

Even though he was returning to his own company, the person in the middle had not taken off his sunglasses or mask.

The crowd rushed in, and the spacious elevator suddenly became crowded.

Jiang Shi and the young legal counsel silently moved to the back.

The “Brother Zhang” the chubby girl mentioned stood in the middle of the elevator. When he saw Liu Heping beside him, he pulled down his mask, revealing a rather handsome face. “Brother Liu, long time no see.”

Liu Heping gave a peaceful smile. “Long time no see.”

He didn’t ask, but Huai Zhang took the initiative to speak.

“I recently landed a new variety show, the one on Fruit TV. I’m a permanent member now. I’m here to sign the contract with CEO Zhao.”

Liu Heping’s smile was lukewarm. “Is that so? Then congratulations.”

Seeing his reaction, Huai Zhang let out a cold snort from his nose. “Doesn’t Brother Liu have no artists under him anymore? I heard you even told CEO Zhao you were going to retire and go home. Are you here to hand in your resignation?”

The young legal counsel huddled next to Jiang Shi, her voice tiny. “Damn, a Shura field. This elevator is moving so slowly.”

Jiang Shi: “…”

Jiang Shi silently pulled his cap down even lower.

Liu Heping said faintly, “Then I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you. I’m here to sign a new talent.”

Huai Zhang was stunned for a moment, only then noticing Jiang Shi in the corner.

The young man was huddled in the corner like a small mushroom, wrapped up even more tightly than he was. Even with only a small part of his face showing, he could still draw people’s attention.

He opened his mouth…

Ding—

The elevator arrived.

Liu Heping pulled Jiang Shi out.

As he left, Jiang Shi glanced back. Huai Zhang’s face in the elevator was very unpleasant. Their eyes met in mid-air, and then the elevator doors closed.

Liu Heping also looked back. He looked at the elevator continuing to ascend and explained to him, “Huai Zhang is considered the company’s number one brother right now, the artist the company is currently promoting heavily. We don’t get along. If he gives you any trouble in the future, remember to tell me. But he doesn’t come back to the company much, and you have classes for now, so you two probably won’t have many chances to meet.”

It took a while for Jiang Shi to slowly let out an “oh.”

At first, Liu Heping thought he was aloof and cold. Now that he knew him a little better, he realized this kid was just purely lazy.

The contract was similar to the one he had given Jiang Shi before, but many details had been perfected. After the young legal counsel had carefully reviewed it and found no problems, Jiang Shi signed his name.

After signing, Liu Heping asked him, “You’ve finished your exams now, right?”

Jiang Shi said very warily, “I just finished yesterday.”

He looked as if he was terrified of being assigned work the very next second.

The corner of Liu Heping’s mouth twitched. “You’ve done magazine shoots before. I plan to have you debut as a model. By the way, have you ever studied vocal music?”

Jiang Shi said honestly, “I haven’t learned to sing, but I learned piano and violin as a child.”

Vocal music required a foundation, and it was obviously too late to start now. Liu Heping said, “Alright, I’ll sign you up for an acting class. When are you free to attend?”

Jiang Shi felt like he was never free. He just wanted to be a lazy bum, but since he had already signed…

He said, “Not these next few days. It’s the holidays, I have to go home.”

Song Jian’an was going with him.

Jiang Xue had been nagging about it even during his exams. She hadn’t even brought herself to slaughter the new year’s pig, just waiting for the two of them to come back.

Liu Heping, with a heavy heart, gave him a ten-day holiday.

Song Jian’an finished his exams two days after Jiang Shi. Jiang Shi waited for him at the school gate, but the first person to come out was Cheng Ye.

Cheng Ye’s expression was incredibly mournful. “You’ve never waited for me.”

Seeing his little-wife-like appearance, Jiang Shi felt his teeth ache. “You’re not the same as him.”

Besides, as soon as he was on holiday, Cheng Ye would pick him up at his school gate, giving him no chance at all.

Cheng Ye was still mournful. “So I’m not even as good as him?”

Jiang Shi couldn’t stand him. He took out the orange he had been carrying in his pocket the whole way and gave it to him. “Here, the sweetest one. I saved it especially for you.”

Cheng Ye reasonably suspected that Jiang Shi had only saved it because he didn’t want to peel it, but having it was enough. If he kept fussing, he would lose the composure of the main partner.

He stood next to Jiang Shi and peeled the warmed orange. “I’ve packed your luggage and bought the tickets. There’s a bag of snacks on the coffee table in the living room for you to eat on the way.”

If he weren’t so busy that he absolutely couldn’t get away, he would never have let Song Jian’an go back with Jiang Shi.

Song Jian’an already didn’t like him very much. Who knows how many bad things he would say about him to Jiang Shi and Jiang Xue.

“Ten days is too long. I think four or five days at home is enough.”

Jiang Shi gave him a shove. “Come on, my mom already thinks ten days is too short. Four or five days, believe it or not, she’ll come over and kill you?”

Cheng Ye: “…”

The two waited a while longer. Song Jian’an still hadn’t come out, but Zhang Chi appeared.

“What are you two doing standing here?”

Jiang Shi said, “Waiting for Song Jian’an to go home.”

Song Jian’an was leaving, and Jiang Shi was leaving too. Zhang Chi hesitated for a moment, his gaze on Jiang Shi eager.

Fine.

The original duo’s trip became a trio, with a chattering Zhang Chi squeezed in the middle. “Damn, Jiang Shi, this is my first time meeting your mom. Isn’t it a bit inappropriate for me to just show up like this? Should I bring a gift or something?”

Zhang Chi had joined them at the last minute. It was lucky enough to get a ticket; where would he find the time to prepare so much?

Jiang Shi wanted to sleep as soon as he leaned back against the seat. Hearing this, he didn’t even lift his eyelids. “It’s not very appropriate. Giving a gift is so vulgar. You can just give my mom a card with a few million on it.”

Zhang Chi: “Wouldn’t that be too much? I don’t have that much money right now.”

Jiang Shi: “…”

Song Jian’an said from the side, “Money is an external possession. If you really feel bad about it, you can help her feed the cow, feed the pig, and then go plow two acres of land in the fields.”

Zhang Chi: “…”

Zhang Chi said, “I’m going to your house as a guest, not to be a live-in son-in-law.”

Jiang Shi choked on his saliva and coughed violently, taking a few gulps of water from the bottle beside him.

Zhang Chi opened a bag of snacks. “Jiang Shi, I heard you’re signing a contract to become a star. Is it true?”

Jiang Shi said, “It’s fake.”

Zhang Chi: “?? “

“You’re lying to me, I clearly saw it.” He nudged Jiang Shi with his butt. “Tell your bro, is it fun? Will we be able to see you on TV in a while?”

Jiang Shi was squeezed into a corner by him and had no choice but to kick him. “What are you squeezing for? You’re going to squash your dad into a pancake. How can it be as simple as you say? I still have to study. Whether I can learn it well is another matter.”

Fine…

Zhang Chi moved a little to the side. “It’s okay, your bro has money. I can let you pay your way into a production.”

Song Jian’an said from the side, “I’ve been learning to manage the company with my family recently. The Song family is interested in investing in the entertainment industry. I can help if necessary.”

Jiang Shi thought, no wonder he didn’t want to work hard. It turned out that when he looked back, it was all escape routes.

…

The train ride was nearly ten hours, but with the three of them fooling around, it didn’t feel long. It was just that when he got off, Jiang Shi felt like all the bones in his body were about to fall apart.

It was also Zhang Chi’s first time on a train. He grimaced and rubbed his lower back. “My back is going to be ruined. Why didn’t you guys buy plane tickets?”

Song Jian’an: “The flights to Lincheng these few days were all sold out. Jiang Shi has a short vacation, so we could only take the train.”

Jiangcheng had developed rapidly in the past two years, and now it was full of tall buildings everywhere. But Lincheng was still the same as in Song Jian’an’s memory.

Dilapidated, old, with smoke from cooking fires spreading with the fog, it held his happiest times.

After the train was a bus.

After another forty minutes of bumping, they finally stopped on a street in Xiliu Village.

By now, the sky had turned dark. Jiang Shi stood on the street with his suitcase. The streetlight from the rice noodle shop entrance fell on his shoulder. In a daze, he remembered the night he first arrived and lifted the curtain of the clinic.

Zhang Chi stood on the side, stomping his feet, his voice weak. “We’re finally here, right?”

Song Jian’an said, “Still have to walk for half an hour.”

Zhang Chi felt like the sky was falling.

From a distance, a small three-wheeler came puttering over, its two large headlights blazing, and stopped in front of the three of them.

Jiang Xue had a towel wrapped around her head, her eyes dark and bright. She opened her mouth and let out a puff of cold air. “I’m here to pick you up.”

Jiang Shi was stunned for a moment. “When did you buy a vehicle?”

Jiang Xue said, “Not long ago. It’s convenient for hauling things from the fields. Good thing your mom is as good as she used to be. I learned it in two or three days.”

Jiang Shi threw his luggage into the back of the three-wheeler and climbed up as well. There was a seat on the side of this kind of electric tricycle. Just as he was about to let Zhang Chi sit there, he turned around and saw the great Young Master Zhang with his butt in the air, trying to climb up from the back.

His posture for getting on was not right, his stomach stuck on the barrier. Seeing Jiang Shi look over, he艱難ly stretched out a hand. “Help…”

“…”

Jiang Shi pulled Zhang Chi up. Song Jian’an had already consciously sat next to Jiang Xue.

In the darkness of the night, Jiang Xue touched Song Jian’an’s face, her own face full of relief. “The big city is really good. I haven’t seen you in a few years, and you’ve gotten so much paler.”

Song Jian’an: “…”

Actually, he hadn’t.

Jiang Xue asked Jiang Shi again, “Didn’t Cheng Ye come back?”

Jiang Shi sat on his suitcase and grabbed the handle. “No, he’s busy. He bought you something, I’ll give it to you later.”

Jiang Xue giggled. “Oh, that’s so nice of him. Are you all seated tight? We’re going home.”

She stepped on the pedal, and the small three-wheeler didn’t move an inch.

Song Jian’an said, “Mom, you’re holding the brake.”

Jiang Xue let go.

Jiang Shi had a very bad feeling. “Ms. Jiang, may I venture to ask, when did you learn to drive this vehicle?”

Jiang Xue let out a “hai.” “Didn’t I just say? I only learned for two or three days, and then I came to pick you up.”

Jiang Shi: “…”

Help… help…