CH 53

Translator: Lynn

Clutching the note, Brother Jian gritted his teeth in contemplation, but before he could enact any response, Li Xiaoqi’s apologetic call had already come through.

“Li Xiaoqi, you dare call here, knowing everything yet having the audacity to call! Jiejie left a note about running away from home. How long have you both been deceiving me?” Jian Bin’s voice was rife with bitterness.

Li Xiaoqi was laden with guilt for a moment. However, since he was also accompanying Jian Jie abroad, for the time being, Jian Bin’s wrath wouldn’t extend to him, and it might subside upon his return. With resolve, he responded with a placating tone, “Binzi, I take full responsibility. I apologize for keeping this from you. But, you see, they genuinely care for each other. No matter how much we intervene, it won’t change. Rather than thwarting them, it’s better to support them. I’m acquainted with Director Long at the company, and he truly is a fine young man. He and Xiaojie have a solid bond. Binzi, we can’t decide for him indefinitely; people have to live life on their terms.”

Holding the phone, Jian Bin was silent for a moment, then sighed despondently, “Is everyone so quick to accept this? Can’t they give me some adjustment time? That brat, he knows just how to defy my authority, acting like such a rebellious kid! Rascal! Not even giving me a proper explanation, where did he go gallivanting with that Long?”

Jian Bin’s resignation suggested a relinquishment of his opposition. Li Xiaoqi was momentarily taken aback, responding with a smile, “Xiaojie is headed to the United States for a film shoot. He’ll be back in ten to twenty days, so don’t worry. I’m accompanying him, and the company has provided assistants. The conditions for the cast and crew are excellent, far better than what we have domestically.”

Since the film crew covered round-trip airfare and lodging, and considering Jian Jie’s newcomer status, the entourage had to be lean, involving only a manager and an assistant.

“Going abroad.” The notion of Jian Jie venturing so far away and staying there for over two weeks sparked inevitable concern from Jian Bin. “I’m unfamiliar with that place. Keep a close watch over Jiejie. Are you at the airport now? Tell him to call me before he boards if he isn’t in a rush. Dammit, I’ll scold him!”

“He’s still at the waiting lounge. There’s some time before boarding, so I’ll tell him to call you.” Li Xiaoqi agreed, ending the call and then addressing Jian Jie, “Your brother wants you to call him. I think he’s starting to come to terms with it. If you apologize and say something kind, you might be able to smooth things over.”

“Really, my brother is starting to accept it?” Anxious, Jian Jie swiftly retrieved his phone and dialed his brother’s number. After the call connected, he stammered, “Brother…”

“Good thing you still remember I’m your brother,” came Brother Jian’s curt and discontented voice.

“Is brother mad at me?” Regret for his prank mingled with Jian Jie’s words as he coyly continued, “My dearest brother is always my dearest brother.”

Jian Bin snorted, saying, “So now you know how to butter me up? But where were these sweet words when you were sulking and running away from home? Planning to live with that kid and never come back, huh?”

“Who’s that big brother anyway, trying to stop me from singing and not giving a damn about my thoughts,” muttered Jian Jie. “He’s always scrutinizing me. I just wanted a breather. Brother Chen is a nice guy. Brother, stop scolding people all the time, it’s prejudiced.”

“Stubborn brat,” Jian Bin retorted helplessly. “That guy appears so smooth-talking, not at all like someone serious. And he’s trying to whisk you away. Shouldn’t I be upset? Did he give you some kind of potion that makes you defend him so staunchly? I’ve been there for you all these years, and yet I pale in comparison to a kid who suddenly appeared out of nowhere, right?”

Jian Bin’s incessant queries weighed heavily on Jian Jie’s conscience: “Brother, I’m sorry, please don’t be angry. I promise I won’t clash with you like this anymore.”

“Hmph, I can’t be bothered with you. Take care of yourself overseas. When you’re back, have that guy come over for dinner. I want to see how skilled he is at winning my brother over.”

Jian Jie was taken aback and then thrilled: “Brother, does this mean you’re genuinely okay with us being together?”

“I never said I fully approve. We’ll see how things play out with your behavior,” Jian Bin remained stubborn.

As Jian Jie ended the call, Long Zichen, who had been eavesdropping nearby, hastily inquired, “What did your brother say? Does he really not object?”

“It seems that way. He even invited you over for dinner,” Jian Jie responded cheerfully.

Long Zichen was overjoyed, throwing caution to the wind even in a public space. He raised his hands and gave a few triumphant cheers, exclaiming, “Your brother is awesome! I was prepared for a long battle, and now he agrees?”

“I’m not sure how my brother came around,” Jian Jie admitted, both surprised by his brother’s shift and amused by Long Zichen’s ecstatic reaction.

Fortunately, Li Xiaoqi beside them had already noticed the oddity. Long Zichen, who was typically an uninvolved producer when it came to other singers at the company, had somehow managed to secure Jian Jie’s assistant’s overseas slot and tagged along. He called it “researching foreign music culture.”

What won’t he do? Or rather, what can’t he do? In this VIP lounge, everyone perceives themselves as celebrities and superstars, so they hardly pay heed to others. Thus, the commotion went largely unnoticed.

Even as he boarded the plane, Long Zichen remained in a daze, finding it hard to believe that his life could be this wonderful. The business class only had individual seats, and he leaned over the narrow aisle, asking Jian Jie with a touch of nervousness, “It all feels so surreal. Could this be some kind of trap your brother has set up? Is there something waiting for us?”

“Brother Chen, what kind of person do you think my brother is?” Jian Jie chuckled. “My brother isn’t capable of such things. He’s been consistently straightforward.”

Long Zichen sighed, “And that’s precisely what worries me. Your brother must be hesitant about me because of you. I felt my soul leave my body just sitting at the same table with him during that meal.”

“In that case, I can tell my brother you have other commitments and can’t make it.”

“Well, that might work. Your brother wasn’t exactly thrilled about me, to begin with. If I skip the dinner, I’ll probably be completely blacklisted.” Long Zichen looked dejected, struggling to find a way to please his potential brother-in-law.

Jian Jie softly reassured him, “With me around, my brother isn’t a mob boss. Brother Chen, don’t overthink it.”

Long Zichen was naturally an optimist. With Jian Jie’s comfort, he quickly pushed aside his concerns and began to excitedly contemplate the entertainment and life he was about to experience in the next ten days. Assuming the assistant’s role this time, he could stay by Jian Jie’s side throughout. He even researched famous landmarks in New York, where the filming was taking place, hoping to explore the city with Xiao Jie during their downtime.

Upon landing at Newtown International Airport, the crew sent a car to collect Jian Jie and his entourage, transporting them directly to the three-star hotel where the cast and crew were lodged. Per the contract, Jian Jie’s party was granted one suite and one standard room. The suite, a result of Jian Jie’s status as a Huaguo star, featured a living area and balcony but still had only one bedroom. To avoid fueling any gossip about celebrities sharing quarters with their assistants, Long Zichen, much to his disappointment, was resigned to sharing a room with Li Xiaoqi.

Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.

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