Chapter 74 End part 1
Tang Yue’s concert concluded successfully.
Afterward, he rested intensely for three days, reaching a state where he essentially didn’t leave his bed.
Before joining a new film crew, Liu Xichao invited him out for a meal and teased Tang Yue about his condition. He remarked on how strange it was to be so tired from work that he couldn’t get out of bed—surely, it must have been because of something else.
The “something else” in question was sitting right next to them, blanching beef for Tang Yue in the hot pot while solemnly counting down the seconds with Tang Mian.
This sight made Yao Xuanyu want Yao Lixin to do the same for him, but his uncle flatly refused.
Liu Xichao asked, “You’re going to be busy coming up, right?”
It was almost New Year’s, and the atmosphere outside was lively. For Liu Xichao to join a production crew at a time like this meant he wouldn’t be able to spend the holiday with Jiang He.
Tang Yue replied, “It’s okay. Just writing some songs. I need to adjust a few issues with the album.”
Yao Lixin chimed in, “What’s so busy about Xiao Yue writing songs? He just sits down and writes. I have to think for a moment before I even sit down to play Mahjong.”
Tang Yue protested, “That’s not true, I have to think too.”
Jiang Shulu finished mixing the dipping sauce for Tang Mian, and the little boy went off to find Yao Xuanyu to cook beef in the smaller pot.
Liu Xichao asked, “Aren’t you going to let the Captain take you out for a spin? Can you really stay home for so many days without going out?”
Tang Yue said, “It’s fine. Shulu-ge will come home anyway.”
This made Liu Xichao laugh. “If there comes a time when he doesn’t come back, you’ll need to be on high alert.”
Just as he finished speaking, Jiang Shulu shot him a glance.
Liu Xichao leaned closer to Tang Yue. “See? He’s even threatening people now.”
Tang Yue looked at Jiang Shulu and asked, “Do you have times when you won’t come home recently?”
Jiang Shulu replied, “Don’t I sleep with you every day?”
He looked toward Tang Mian. “Right, Xiao Mie?”
Tang Mian loudly answered, “Yes!”
The two children were huddled together, never joining the adults’ topics. They were already debating whether green onions or cilantro tasted better. Tang Mian then extended the conversation to their own little vegetable garden, mentioning that Jiang Shulu had planted lettuce and other things.
Jiang Shulu asked, “Is Xiao Yue tired of me?”
Yao Lixin nearly sprayed out his wine.
He checked the time. It was high noon, and the sun had risen from the east. He suspected Jiang Shulu had been influenced by his dramatic brother-in-law, who spent all day worrying that his beauty was fading and love was waning.
Tang Yue denied it immediately. “No!”
Jiang Shulu sighed, “It doesn’t matter if you’re tired of me.”
Liu Xichao grimaced. “Don’t gross me out.”
Tang Yue turned his head and plucked a rice cake from Jiang Shulu’s bowl with his chopsticks. “Shulu-ge is joking again.”
Tang Yue then asked Liu Xichao, “So, San-ge, are you spending New Year’s with the crew? What about Mr. Jiang?”
Liu Xichao replied, “He might come to visit me.”
Tang Yue let out a “Wow,” and smiled. “That’s so nice.”
Jiang Shulu asked again, “Is it not nice that I stay with you every day?”
Yao Lixin couldn’t help but ask Tang Mian, “What’s wrong with your Papa recently? He’s acting a bit weird.”
Tang Mian answered, “Papa has to talk on the phone with Uncle Sheng every day, and they talk until really late. So, I’m the only one left to keep Shulu-Papa company.”
This statement sounded incredibly poignant. Liu Xichao couldn’t hold it in and nearly choked with laughter.
To think Jiang Shulu would see a day like this.
After the concert, contact between Sheng Cangyun and Tang Yue had become frequent. On top of that, Sheng Cangyun had completely entrusted the soundtrack of his new movie to Tang Yue.
The other party had high standards, and Tang Yue maintained a continuous passion for this aspect of work. Consequently, there was no distinction between work hours and personal time; he was sending voice messages even while eating.
In the eyes of others, the bustling Jiang Shulu was the type to rush home at noon just to eat with his wife.
The company’s upper management never expected him to be like this in a relationship.
Jiang Shulu was seriously fulfilling his promise to give Tang Yue a home. Three meals a day, through spring, summer, autumn, and winter—they would always spend them together.
When Tang Mian got out of school, Jiang Shulu would pick him up.
Evening hours were occasionally spent strolling outside, or taking the child to play Frisbee. Every night’s activities were fully booked.
Ironically, this freed up a lot of time for Tang Yue.
Tang Yue let out an “Uh…”
He glanced at Jiang Shulu. The man with the clear, gentle brows didn’t seem the slightest bit displeased, simply nodding. “Work is more important, after all.”
Liu Xichao couldn’t help but whisper to Yao Lixin, “Where did he learn that?”
Yao Lixin replied, “Probably from the little brother-in-law. Isn’t the atmosphere over at Tang Yue’s side just like that?”
Yao Lixin had dined with Tang Yue’s brother-in-law, Jiang Xiujun, a few times.
The entertainment industry’s “Most Gay Straight Man” (voted by netizens) and the manga world’s “Most Neurotic Straight Male Artist” mixing together surprisingly resulted in them being birds of a feather.
Liu Xichao sighed. “With our Xiao Yue’s current popularity, President Jiang should consider repackaging himself.”
He was clearly and openly throwing shade at Jiang Shulu.
Tang Yue defended him. “Shulu-ge is very good!”
He scooped a spoonful of hot beef for Jiang Shulu. “Sheng-ge just has really high requirements, and the movie’s content is very interesting. I haven’t tried that style before, so…”
Jiang Shulu said, “I’m not jealous.”
Yao Lixin tried hard to stifle his laughter.
Tang Yue blinked, then suddenly realized, “But Sheng-ge won’t like me in that way.”
He added, “He even said he wouldn’t find a stepdad for his child.”
Jiang Shulu repeated, “I really am not jealous.”
When the man spoke, his eyes were smiling, his chin resting slightly on his hand as he looked at Tang Yue. His gaze seemed to trace every detail of Tang Yue’s face, making the two adults next to them feel the cringe.
Liu Xichao: “I should have brought my old man.”
Yao Lixin: “I should have brought my wife.”
Tang Yue: “Alright, I’ll set a fixed time to chat with Sheng-ge next time.”
Jiang Shulu: “I heard you tell him yourself that you weren’t being disturbed.”
Tang Yue uttered another “Uh.”
Jiang Shulu leaned closer to him. “But last time, you were disturbed.”
Tang Yue’s face flushed red. Thinking of that phone call that came at a very inopportune time—he had almost cried out loud.
It was a bit awkward, but you couldn’t exactly call that being “disturbed,” right?!
But talking about work at a time like that was indeed, very…
Jiang Shulu brushed Tang Yue’s hair back, reminding him, “The beef is getting cold, eat up.”
Liu Xichao sighed and said to Yao Lixin, “I feel like the Captain is full of schemes now.”
Yao Lixin: “In what aspect is he not full of schemes?”
Liu Xichao: “Tang Yue is truly being eaten until there are no bones left.”
He was even comforting Jiang Shulu right now. Who knows what conditions he agreed to? He was even using his hands to fan his burning face.
Yao Lixin: “Isn’t the Captain also being scolded for having no career ambition? I still remember the cursing under that elopement video of theirs. Wow, truly spectacular.”
Tang Yue heard this and huffed, “Shulu-ge is super amazing.”
Yao Lixin: “I thought you changed your catchphrase. How is it still the same?”
Liu Xichao even performed a live reenactment, mimicking the adoring look Tang Yue gave while watching toast bake.
Tang Yue: “It’s not that exaggerated, is it?”
Yao Lixin: “You never used to praise the Captain before.”
Tang Yue let out an “Ah?” “Did I not?”
Yao Lixin: “Yeah.”
Tang Yue: “I have praised him.”
Liu Xichao: “I can testify to that.”
Yao Lixin: “When?”
Jiang Shulu interjected, “That year for your birthday, didn’t Tang Yue buy you a pool full of plastic fish? I was the one who fished them all out later.”
Mentioning this incident, Yao Lixin could still recall the fear of being dominated by toys.
He exhaled a breath and took a heavy swig of wine. “Tang Yue, you really are a chaotic genius. You cured my fishing addiction.”
Tang Yue looked a bit confused. “Was it not fun?”
Yao Lixin: “It was fun. Very thoughtful.”
Tang Yue looked at Jiang Shulu, who was also resting his forehead on his hand, laughing.
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