[My dear, I still want to marry you earlier.]
If he showed no mercy to his father-in-law, his marriage with his girlfriend would be delayed for God knew how much longer.
He was a man who was almost in his thirties, and his biggest goal was to build a family before he was thirty.
[Then you go and please him [😊]]
When Song Mian saw the smile emoji Yun Xiangxiang sent him, he knew he would be offending his girlfriend if he tried to please his father-in-law.
[Okay, okay. I will avenge you.]
Song Mian had met countless people and things since he was born. Even the germs they called unkillable and the diseases they called incurable were nothing to him.
He once arrogantly thought nothing in this world could trouble him, but today he knew how naive he was.
His girlfriend must have been mocked so much by her father that she felt disgraced. Now that she was unhappy, she wanted the man she trusted the most to avenge her, even if that would put him in a hard spot.
Since she had such high hopes for him, he had to take this challenge even if he would offend his father-in-law.
“What makes you look so troubled?” Song Mian was having a few cups of tea with Song Chi.
Song Chi didn’t mean to brag, but this son of his was the perfect successor the heavens could have gifted him.
‘Perfection’ suited him, and the son whom he had raised for so long had never shown such a troubled expression in the face of all the dangers he had faced.
“Xiangxiang asked me to spend some time with her father tomorrow.” Song Mian kept his phone.
“That’s a good thing. Aren’t you complaining about not having a chance to show your good side?” Song Chi sipped from his cup of tea.
“She wants me to play Go with her father,” Song Mian continued.
“That’s your specialty.” All descendants in the Song Family must know the skills all ancient families knew. “With your skills, it’s easy to lose by a hair’s breadth and go unnoticed.
He would be respecting his opponent and provide a good match; a perfect plan to please his father-in-law.
Someone’s chess style could tell a lot about that person, as to how they played chess usually revealed how they did things.
“Xiangxiang wants me to show no mercy to her father,” Song Mian finally said.
Song Chi paused before laughing at his son’s misfortune. “It’s been a long time since I have played the erhu for you, son…” he told Song Mian after he had stopped laughing.
Before Song Chi was done, Song Mian stood up and bowed to him. “Enjoy your tea.”
He turned around, and Song Chi called out to him. “Don’t go. I have an idea that can help you get out of this.”
Song Mian stopped in his tracks. “If you’re suggesting that I bring you there, you can save it.”
“You brat!” Song Chi watched as his son went further, and he was angry for being seen through. “No wonder your father-in-law doesn’t like you.”
So what if you bring me along? Is it embarrassing?
Both Song Mian and Song Chi knew if they didn’t give Yun Xiangxiang’s parents some time to prepare before both sides’ parents meeting each other, they would be seen as pushy and disrespectful.
That was why Song Chi didn’t suggest this to Yun Xiangxiang, nor did he visit them himself.
He might understand that, but Song Chi was still upset when his son mercilessly rejected him.
But no matter how irritated he was, Song Mian wouldn’t coax him, so he angrily remarked, “Daughters are still better!”
Song An pretended not to hear that. His master talked about having a daughter every day, and yet he did nothing to fulfill that goal, so Song An found this despicable.
After throwing that problem to Song Mian, Yun Xiangxiang’s frustration she got from her father lessened significantly.
She didn’t care how Song Mian would handle this since she just wanted to put him in a hard spot. He was spoiling her, so she would exploit this as much as she liked.
After chatting with her roommates, Yun Xiangxiang was going to practice, take a shower, and sleep, but He Wei called her.
“I’ll be at your place in ten minutes. You change your clothes now and come with me later.” He Wei hung up after that simple message.
Yun Xiangxiang didn’t call back to ask, and she turned around to get something to switch out from her casual wear.
“It’s already so late. Where are you going?” Su Xiuling saw Yun Xiangxiang—who had changed into new clothes—when she came out with a plate of fruits.
“Brother Wei called me, and he will be picking me up in a moment.” Yun Xiangxiang tied her hair up in a bun, looking youthful and energetic.
“Are you going to work?” Song Meng, who had not gone down yet, came closer.
If He Wei was here to pick Yun Xiangxiang at this hour, it must be about business.
“I don’t know. He didn’t say.” It was highly possible that it was about work, but Yun Xiangxiang didn’t dare say that was the case.
He Wei arrived a moment later. As he knew Yun Xiangxiang’s parents were here, he came up himself to explain to her mother. “An old friend called me just now to ask Yun Xiangxiang to play in his new film, and he’s short on time. Since Yun Xiangxiang will be going to an audition tomorrow, they can only meet now. Why don’t you come together, Mr. Yun?”
Yun Zhibin wanted to go, but since He Wei came clean, it would look like he didn’t trust He Wei if he went.
“I don’t know. Xiangxiang’s an adult now, so she can make her own decisions about her matters.”
Su Xiuling trusted He Wei, but Song Meng came up. “Can I go with you, Brother Wei?”
She wanted to be an agent, so she wanted to go. Even if she couldn’t expand her network, at least she could learn how He Wei handled matters.
“Let’s go.” He Wei didn’t refuse since it was okay for actors to take a couple of assistants with them.
“Wait, do we need to have some sobering pills at the ready for Xiangxiang?” Song Meng might be happy, but she still didn’t forget about this.
If they had to drink later, she and Li Xiangling knew how terrifying Yun Xiangxiang could be when she was drunk.
“Don’t worry. We’re just having tea. They’re the ones asking for our audience, not the other way around,” He Wei gave Song Meng some pointers.
Song Meng nodded and went with Yun Xiangxiang, while Li Xiangling stayed behind since going in a large group would look disrespectful.
He Wei took Yun Xiangxiang to a quaint tea shop. Yun Xiangxiang didn’t expect a tea shop to be open at this hour, and it was not far from her home.
“It’s Wei Shanwen,” He Wei told Yun Xiangxiang while they were in the car. “He’s the only one for now since the film has not started any preparation work yet.”
Wei Shanwen was filming another film, and he came to Beijing because he had some work. Coincidentally, Wei Shanwen had some connections with He Wei.
He knew that He Wei was back in China, and he was optimistic about Yun Xiangxiang successfully playing this challenging character. That was why he told He Wei about this before the film’s preparation work had even started.
He wanted to prevent any clashes with Yun Xiangxiang’s schedule.
This move alone was evident enough about how much he valued Yun Xiangxiang.
Wei Shanwen was called an unconventional genius, as he would dissect clichés in plots and subvert it, making them not clichés.
He was great in turning beautiful fairy tales into stories that faced human reality, and he knew how to hold the balance so that his audience wouldn’t think he was a nihilist who couldn’t tolerate dreams. He was a great director.