"Good thing this suit is still here," Father Xia said, nodding with satisfaction as he watched Xia Shang wear his suit from his younger days. "My taste back then was pretty good; the style still looks great now."
The Xia family members unanimously agreed, but Xia Shang, standing before everyone, grew increasingly self-conscious, his demeanor visibly more dejected.
"Wear this suit for your interview tomorrow. When you get back, I'll have your sister-in-law take you to buy a few new outfits," Father Xia arranged.
Aunt Liu nodded with a gentle smile.
"Actually..." Xia Shang moved his lips, his voice low. "There's no need for all this trouble."
Seeing this, Father Xia still explained to him how important formal wear was for a man in the workplace. As Xia Shang listened, his ears felt a bit warm, and his expression grew even more somber.
After Xia Shang returned to his room, Xia Qingyu, who remained in the living room, couldn't help but whisper, "I think this uncle is a bit strange..."
She always felt Xia Shang was utterly listless, as if a dark cloud were hanging over him. To put it dramatically, he had an aura that brought misfortune just by being near.
Xia Qingtian silently nodded in agreement.
"Xia Shang was an orphan. When he was ten, he fainted at the foot of a mountain due to hunger and was found by the cousin of your grandfather's cousin's daughter.
The old woman was already sixty at the time and had never had children of her own. After being deceived by a man years ago, she trusted no one, had a peculiar personality, and was prone to fits of temper. The old woman reported it to the police, but they only managed to find out that the child's family had all passed away.
Perhaps because she had lived alone for too long, the old woman took the little orphan home and raised him as her adopted son.
At least he was guaranteed food and drink; anything beyond that... was just so-so."
It was only then that Father Xia began to tell Xia Qingtian and her sister about Xia Shang.
A young boy, in his prime of life, was brought to a mountain-top villa. He and a peculiar, ill-tempered, and easily provoked old woman depended on each other for twelve years. Even the most lively personality would be worn down and changed.
This time, Xia Shang came to Z City because the old woman noticed Xia Shang was becoming increasingly reclusive and dejected. Fearing he would also lose himself after she died, she pushed him out to find work and engage with society.
The old woman looked around and felt that Father Xia was a dependable person, so she entrusted Xia Shang to him.
However, her willingness to go to such lengths was enough to show that although the old woman wasn't good at expressing herself, she still cared about Xia Shang.
"Xia Shang hasn't had much contact with outsiders before. He studied in the mountains, so he's not very familiar with social rules of the outside world. You two shouldn't bully him, and you certainly shouldn't look down on him," Father Xia said to the sisters Xia Qingtian, his tone unusually serious.
"I won't," Xia Qingyu immediately replied.
She had only just learned how pitiful this uncle was and silently apologized in her heart for her earlier judgment.
Xia Qingtian also clearly stated she wouldn't have such thoughts.
She had initially doubted if the system was tricking her, but after Father Xia's explanation, Xia Qingtian began to place more trust in the system's definition of Xia Shang as a "virtuous talent."
However, cooperation was a two-way street. It wasn't enough for her to know that Xia Shang had great potential; he also needed to trust her and be willing to assist her.
With that thought, Xia Qingtian decided to build a better relationship with Xia Shang and understand him better.
The next day, at the breakfast table, Xia Qingtian proactively offered to drive Xia Shang to Gu Entertainment.
"Aren't you going to school?" Father Xia asked. He had initially planned to give Xia Shang a ride on his way to work.
"With my face like this, I don't want to go for now," Xia Qingtian tilted her head up, pointing to the still quite noticeable scratch on her cheek. "Even foundation can't cover it."
Understanding that girls cared about their appearance, Father Xia merely shook his head and said, "When you fail your final exams, don't you dare cry!"
"I won't!" Xia Qingtian playfully stuck out her tongue.
Watching Xia Qingyu and Father Xia leave together, Xia Qingtian tidied herself up and then escorted Xia Shang, dressed in his suit, out of the Xia residence.
The two took a car to Gu Entertainment. Xia Qingtian then said, "Go for your interview. Give me a call when it's over."
"If... if you have something to do, you can go ahead," Xia Shang said awkwardly. "I... I can take the bus back myself."
"Uncle, why are you being so polite to your niece?" Xia Qingtian smiled and patted Xia Shang's shoulder. "Good luck, go ahead."
Xia Shang's ears turned a little red. He simply nodded, then lowered his head and walked into the main entrance of Gu Entertainment.
Watching Xia Shang provide his information at the reception and being led to his interview by a staff member, Xia Qingtian let out a long sigh.
Once she had her own company and it was developing steadily, she would poach Xia Shang. And that's right, Mobius too.
Poach them both!
"Boyfriend?" a male voice sounded next to Xia Qingtian's ear, startling her.
She whipped her head around and met a handsome face.
Patting her chest, Xia Qingtian said, "Idol, scaring people to death is a serious offense!"
Ling Fenghan chuckled, offering an apology before finally asking, "Where's your little assistant? Isn't she usually by your side?"
"She's waiting for me upstairs," Xia Qingtian replied.
"Let's go in together," Ling Fenghan said. "Sister Ning has already spoken to me; I'll be leading you on the next project."
"Then I'll thank Superstar Ling on behalf of Sui Sui for your care~" Xia Qingtian said with a smile.
"Tch." Ling Fenghan was amused by Xia Qingtian, and the two walked into Gu Entertainment together.
In a coffee shop outside Gu Entertainment, a young girl wearing a school uniform sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, almost pressing her entire face against the glass. Her eyes, hidden beneath her blunt bangs, sparkled with a mixture of jealousy and madness.
Just then, the girl's phone rang. Gritting her teeth, she finally answered.
"Chen Qi, is that you? I heard you're a huge fan of Ling Fenghan. There's something about Ling Fenghan I'd like to discuss with you. Do you have time?" a female voice came from the other end of the phone.
"Who are you?" The girl, no longer able to see Ling Fenghan's figure, reluctantly shifted her gaze.
"Me? I'm the one who can get you into Ling Fenghan's heart." The woman on the other end of the phone curved her lips into a beautiful arc.
After arranging a time with Chen Qi, the woman hung up the phone. She lowered her head and looked at the drug analysis report on the table, a cruel smile appearing on her lips.
Ling Fenghan dared to reject her without any hesitation. Therefore, she would make Ling Fenghan disappear from this industry completely.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Seeing the person who entered, the woman smiled and stood up, calling out warmly, "Shengsheng, you're here! Let's discuss the next project together."
"Okay." Wen Shengsheng smiled and looked at her agent. Her face had completely returned to normal, as beautiful as ever.