Chapter 5: Chapter 5

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Song Qianming did not sleep that night. He stuck by his daughter’s side, wiping away tears that rolled down her red cheeks.

Had it been his previous life, she would have been surrounded by young and old maidservants to care for her.

However, he did not have the means to do so in this new life. Song Qianming vowed he would not allow his embarrassing situation to continue for long.

Besides, building a relationship with his daughter would never be bad. Otherwise, wouldn’t she continue keeping her distance from him? Song Qianming could not bear the thought.

Song Qianming stayed very quiet while his daughter slept. A gentle smile tugged at his lips as he watched over her sleeping form, feeling like he would never get enough of her.

Youhuan awoke to her father’s smiling face filled with love. She smiled shyly, snuggling under a blanket draped around herself.

“Come on; it’s time to get up. Great-grandma should have prepared plenty of delicious treats for you, Youhuan. Daddy can already smell it!” Song Qianming lifted the young child and kissed her on her forehead, just like he had done the previous night.

Youhuan giggled in delight. Perhaps it was the care she received the previous night or that the first thing she saw upon waking up was her father, but she was full of joy. She kissed her father in return, shedding the reservations that had previously held her back.

Feeling his daughter’s soft lips on his cheek, Song Qianming turned into putty. He had forgotten all about the disgusting article about kissing that he had read to pass the night.

Wen Lanxin had prepared a sumptuous breakfast while Song Qianming and his daughter washed up. There was a little bit of everything for breakfast, and both father and daughter felt their stomachs growl.

It was strange. Whether it was the simple dinner they had the previous night or the homely breakfast spread today, Song Qianming felt his appetite soar. This was despite having eaten all sorts of delicacies in his previous life.

“Have some vegetable porridge first.” Before Song Qianming could start wolfing down breakfast, his grandmother placed a bowl of vegetable porridge in front of him and his daughter.

“Try it. You haven’t had it in two years, have you? Let’s see if Grandma’s cooking skills have deteriorated.”

“It’s good enough that he can taste your cooking. Would he dare say he disliked it?” The old man mumbled.

“Shut your trap! Not even my cooking can keep you from blabbering your mouth off.”

The old man wisely chose to keep silent. The old lady pointedly refused to give him anything else, and the old man could only make do with a few pickled vegetables, eating them in a huff. Song Qianming and Youhuan could not help but laugh.

“Grandpa, this bowl is for you.” Song Qianming took the initiative to serve the old man a bowl.

His actions instantly made the old man uncomfortable. “Eat your food. Don’t worry about me. Your Grandma didn’t cook much. What will you eat if you give me a bowl of porridge?”

“This bowl is enough for me. Besides, there’s still more.”

The old man did not know what to say, his eyes slowly burning red.

The old lady eyed them with a smile. Although the old man had a sharp tongue, he was, in fact, a big softie. Both grandfather and grandson had shied away from meeting each other out of fear. The old man, in particular, had not known what to do when his grandson had told him what he wanted to pursue. Words were exchanged, some less savory than others, which had led to their estrangement. The old man undoubtedly still carried some guilt about how things had transpired.

After a heartwarming breakfast, Song Qianming said, “Grandpa, Grandma, I’m leaving tomorrow.”

“Why are you in such a hurry?” The old man inquired with a raised brow.

Song Qianming patted Youhuan’s head. “It doesn’t matter how I live if it’s just me. But I have Youhuan to take care of now. I’ll do my best to give her the best.”

“Didn’t those fans of yours boycott you after learning about Huanhuan’s existence? I’ve heard that there have been calls for you to retire from the entertainment industry. Do you still have a chance of turning things around?”

“Grandpa, how’d you learn about the boycott or my anti-fans?” Song Qianming asked in surprise.

“Your grandfather has been keeping a close eye on you since you debuted,” the old lady explained. “He even got into a quarrel recently with a few anti-fans of yours. You should have seen him go…”

“You’re talking nonsense again. I didn’t do that. The internet is so advanced these days. I just happened to see the news while surfing the web.” The old man sniffed, refusing to admit to anything.

Song Qianming knew his present state better than anyone else. With his current popularity, ranking somewhere around the 18th in the entertainment industry, few would know his specific situation unless they went out of their way to dig it up. The only news worth noting was that he had sired a daughter with a woman he had not married.

“If you plan to become a superstar, you must work hard. But never mind that. What if your fans lash out? What will you say regarding Youhuan’s identity?”

Song Qianming answered seriously, “I won’t hide Youhuan’s existence. Youhuan is my daughter; that is a fact. I won’t lie to make some of my fans happy./

“It’s good that you’ve thought things through. Things will be difficult for you with this black mark on your record. The company sponsoring you has probably terminated your contract with them. It’s been so many days since the incident, yet no public relations officer has spoken up in your defense.”

It was one of the reasons why the old man was so angry. What kind of black-hearted company was this? How could they treat a star of theirs so poorly?

“I’ve always wanted to be more than an idol. It’s a good thing too. With my public image destroyed, I can do whatever I want. Even if no major productions are scheduled, I can always take on a few minor roles; it isn’t the end of the world. One day, I’ll conquer the world with my abilities.”

“Good! I like your ambition!” The old man praised. “That’s more like it. Look at the makeup you used to wear; you looked like a demon! I don’t know what young people are into, but you look much better with this fresh, clean look.”

Song Qianming rubbed his neck helplessly. “Grandpa, you can’t say that. Sometimes, stage makeup needs to be exaggerated to be effective. Makeup in real life isn’t like that.”

“Bah! You always have your reasons. I can’t beat you in an argument. Anyway, ensure your goals are down-to-earth and seize the opportunities you can. Also, this is for you.” Awkwardly, the old man passed him a debit card. “The password is your birthday.”

“Grandpa, I’m an adult. How can I take your money?” Song Qianming quickly refused.

The old man’s eyes widened. “Hah. Still trying to be polite now, are we? Do you think I don’t know how small-time idols like you are strapped for cash? The company will squeeze you dry if you’re not careful.”

“You don’t even know if the company has any opportunities for you,” the old man muttered. “Never mind that. What about Huanhuan? You can’t just leave her at home while you work. You need a nanny or someone to look after her – that costs money. Where are you going to get it? Why don’t you let us accompany you? At least we could take care of her while you’re busy.”

“How can I do that?” Song Qianming objected without thinking. “Both of you are already so old. How can I burden you both with more worries? Besides, I’m sure you’re used to this place. What if your health deteriorates because you need to go where I go for whatever job I’m given?”

“All the more reason you should keep the money. If you don’t, we’d be worried sick. We wouldn’t be able to eat or sleep well. Wouldn’t that be worse for our health?”

“Alright, alright. Listen to your grandfather.” Wen Lanxin placed the debit card in Song Qianming’s hands.

“Take it. Grandpa and Grandma know you don’t want to use our money because you’re a good child. However, we have pensions and don’t spend much on our daily lives. All that money is useless in our hands. Use it while you still need it. If you still feel bad, you can always treat it as a loan and repay us with twice the amount when you’re a rich superstar.”

Song Qianming had no choice but to accept it, a bittersweet aftertaste lingering in his mouth.