Chapter 34: “I’ll Come See You. Is That Okay?”

Yu Manqi’s smile was strained: “I asked around to find out where you live. I was worried about you. Since you didn’t let us visit the set, we could only come here to check on you.”

Yu Chi knew them too well to bother beating around the bush any longer. He cut straight to the point: “I’ve already said this—me joining the production is my own decision. I can’t break the contract, and whatever agreement you made with Jiang Nan, or how much commission you take from my earnings, is your business. It has nothing to do with me. So stop trying to test me, and don’t even think about interfering in my life. When I was fourteen, you couldn’t control me, and now that I’m an adult, there’s even less you can do.” He paused, looking at Yu Manqi with a self-deprecating smirk. “And don’t bother trying to mend our relationship. The day you sold me off, our bond was already irreparably broken.”

Yu Manqi’s face hardened, her forced smile vanishing.

“How can you call it selling?” Jiang Dongmin interjected, frowning at Yu Chi. “You loved acting back then, and you were so young. As your parents, it was our responsibility to make decisions for you. Jiang Nan offered good terms, so we signed the contract on your behalf. Later, when we realized his company wasn’t up to par, it was just because we didn’t know better and got deceived. You can’t blame us entirely for that, let alone accuse us of selling you.”

Back then, neither Jiang Dongmin nor Yu Manqi had known about He Yuanren’s intention to recommend an agent for Yu Chi. Given Yu Chi’s circumstances at the time, even if Rong Hua hadn’t signed him, he could have joined a reputable agency. Even without signing with an agency, he would have had better options through the college entrance exam or art exams. He wouldn’t have been bound to Starshine Entertainment for ten years because of one contract.

Yu Chi had never told them any of this—it was pointless. Yu Manqi had never cared about his thoughts. As for Jiang Dongmin, the mere thirty thousand yuan Yu Chi had been “sold” for was probably Jiang Dongmin’s lifelong regret.

“I only ever had one father, and he’s dead. What are you supposed to be?” Yu Chi shot a cold glance at Jiang Dongmin.

Jiang Dongmin retorted: “I raised you for several years. A foster father counts as a father. How can you say otherwise?”

Yu Chi had started working as an extra on film sets at the age of eleven. Even though he was young and relied on Yu Manqi and Jiang Dongmin during those years, the total amount spent on his food, clothing, and other expenses barely reached thirty thousand yuan. Jiang Dongmin had never taken care of him or treated him like a child. To him, Yu Chi had always been nothing more than a tool.

Yu Chi ignored Jiang Dongmin completely and turned to Yu Manqi, asking calmly: “Do you think the same way?”

Yu Manqi glanced at Jiang Dongmin first.

“Forget it. Pretend I didn’t ask.”

Utterly disappointed, Yu Chi turned and walked away.

Yu Manqi called out to him several times, but he paid no attention, quickening his pace until he disappeared into the distance.

Left behind, Yu Manqi and Jiang Dongmin exchanged glances. Jiang Dongmin complained: “You’re his mother. Why didn’t you try to soothe him?”

Yu Manqi frowned: “He’s not a child anymore. He’d rather rent a place than come home. Doesn’t that say enough about his feelings? How am I supposed to comfort him?”

The two began arguing right there until a man in his thirties interrupted them: “Who are you looking for?” Upon seeing Yu Manqi’s face, he realized: “Oh, you’re the mom of that handsome guy who lives across from me, right?”

Jiang Dongmin had followed Yu Chi several times before discovering where he lived, but he didn’t know which floor. He looked at the middle-aged man: “Which floor do you live on?”

“Floor ten.” The man glanced at them and casually advised: “Kids grow up. Wanting to live outside with a girlfriend is normal. If they don’t want to come home, just let them be. No need to control them so strictly.”

With that, he went upstairs.

Yu Manqi and Jiang Dongmin stood frozen in place. Yu Chi had a girlfriend?

________________________________________

At 5:30 PM, after finishing her scene, Sheng Li rushed to the restroom. Her period had arrived unexpectedly, nearly staining her costume. After changing clothes, she leaned weakly against the couch in the dressing room. Yuan Yuan brought her a cup of brown sugar water. “Do you want a heating pad?”

Sheng Li blew on the surface of the drink: “It’s already so hot outside, and I’m wearing such thick costumes. Adding a heating pad would practically set me on fire!”

Yuan Yuan: […]

Sheng Li asked: “Where’s Yu Chi?”

“He left after finishing his scenes this afternoon.”

Outside the door, two people passed by, talking:

“Next Saturday is Qixi Festival. Do you think the crew will get a day off? Any activities planned?”

“Forget about a day off. Maybe a group dinner at best.”

Qixi Festival, huh? Sheng Li sipped her brown sugar water, thinking that this would be their first holiday together since becoming a couple. It was a special occasion—they should go out for dinner or a date. But under the current circumstances, sneaking around for some stolen moments was already exhausting. A real date… forget it.

However, buying Yu Chi a gift was simple enough. Clothes, bags, accessories—all were viable options. These things might have been optional for Yu Chi before, but now that he was in the industry, they were necessities.

She could dress him from head to toe.

Yu Chi was so handsome and had such a great physique—it would be a shame not to dress him up properly.

Excited, she immediately took out her phone and browsed through the latest men’s collections from several high-end brands. She styled a few outfits according to her preferences and sent the pictures to a familiar stylist, asking them to purchase the items for her.

The stylist couldn’t resist gossiping: 【Buying these for Xiaolu Ge?】

Sheng Li: […]

Yu Chi’s demeanor did bear some resemblance to Lu Xingyu, and these brands happened to be ones Lu Xingyu favored. Add to that the two trending topics they had appeared in recently—it was no wonder the stylist jumped to conclusions.

After some thought, Sheng Li cautiously replied: 【No, it’s for a younger cousin at home.】

After finishing her brown sugar water and ordering the gifts, Sheng Li leaned back in her chair and began teasing her boyfriend on WeChat.

Sheng Li: 【Yu Xiao Chi, where did you run off to again? I can’t find you the moment I finish my scenes.】

Yu Chi was still in the taxi, leaning indifferently against the seat with his eyes closed. Sunlight streamed through the window onto his face, but he remained motionless until his phone buzzed.

He opened his eyes, checked WeChat, and a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he typed a reply: 【Had some errands. Went downtown for a bit.】

Downtown?

Could this guy be buying himself a gift?

Sheng Li typed out a long message, hesitated, deleted it, and sent another instead: 【Sister can’t come see you tonight.】

Yu Xiao Chi: 【Why?】

Sheng Li: 【Period. Aunt Flo’s visiting. Understand?】

Yu Xiao Chi: […]

Yu Xiao Chi: 【Don’t understand.】

Sheng Li rolled her eyes. What was there not to understand? Did he still think of himself as some innocent teenager? He had already “eaten meat” multiple times! Though his technique still needed work…

Her phone buzzed again.

Yu Xiao Chi: 【I want to see Sister. We don’t have to do anything.】

As soon as she read his message, Sheng Li’s heart softened. After some hesitation, she couldn’t resist agreeing.

At 11 PM, after returning to the hotel and taking a shower, Sheng Li collapsed onto the bed, utterly exhausted. Her stomach hurt, her whole body felt uncomfortable, and she didn’t feel like moving at all. Still, she remembered her promise to Yu Chi. After struggling for a while, she reluctantly reached for her phone and called him.

Yu Chi had just returned home. He placed the gift he bought on the coffee table when his phone rang.

Sheng Li spoke weakly over the phone: “Yu Xiao Chi, Sister has to cancel tonight. Don’t be mad.”

“Are you feeling that bad?” Yu Chi asked softly. “Can I come see you? Is that okay?”