The intensity of the situation felt like an ever-expanding vine that threatened to pull the person down the stairs.
Li Shasha was engrossed in his reading when she knocked on the door and entered, saying, “Dad.”
Li Xiangfu sighed and carefully stowed away the guqin.
“What happened?” asked Li Xiangfu, shaking his head in bewilderment.
It had been a long time since he’d experienced such a dramatic scene. The last time was a few years ago when the old man discovered he was taking advantage of his vacation to go hiking again.
Reflecting on this, he chuckled to himself, “I can’t remember the specific details of what I should’ve forgotten, but the feeling of being hit by the stick is still vivid in my memory.”
As he descended the stairs, he noticed Li Xichun looking at him with a helpless expression. Before he could say anything, Mr. Li promptly shut down any potential communication between them, saying, “Come here.” He led the way from the back door into the courtyard.
The wildflowers on both sides, natural and untamed, couldn’t withstand the scorching sun and drooped their heads.
Li Xiangfu reminded himself to water them later. At that moment, the person in front stopped and exclaimed, “Didn’t I tell you before?” He tore his gaze away from the flora, not eager to respond, “Please provide more guidance.”
“Guide my sister.”
Mr. Li shot him a sharp look. “Guide? Well said! Not only are you guiding her, but you’ve also elevated it to an artistic theme.”
Li Xiangfu was somewhat perplexed.
“Your sister has been troubled about the conflicts that might arise after marrying Gao Xun. The fact is, their personalities are not compatible.”
“Oh,” Li Xiangfu responded calmly, “So is she planning to use love to influence the other person, or is she planning to use love to change herself?”
From the impassioned words, he had an inkling that not only were the two parties not separated, but they had reconciled.
“Neither,” Mr. Li scoffed. “She has decided not to get married.”
Li Xiangfu was taken aback, then asked in confusion, “What’s the issue with that?”
It might not necessarily be a cause for anger. After all, people’s mindsets couldn’t be changed overnight.
Moreover, if Li Xichun encounters someone truly compatible in the future, or if he and Gao Xun develop a strong bond, he might willingly fulfill his father’s wishes and start a family.
Unfortunately, while Mr. Li doesn’t adhere to feudal ideas, he still harbors a desire for his children to marry and have children promptly.
After a moment of silence, his demeanor shifted abruptly from anger to inscrutability: “If you think about it carefully, adults have the right to choose.”
Li Xiangfu felt a chill, sensing this wasn’t going well.
“Just like adults, we should learn to take care of ourselves.”
The domain of self-care is extensive. In the next instant, the old man made a final decision, declaring that his financial support would officially cease starting next month. After speaking, he turned and left.
Li Xiangfu stood alone for a while, quietly using some water from the fountain to water the flowers. Upon returning to his room, frustration was perceptible beneath his composed exterior, caught by Li Shasha’s keen observation.
“We’re running out of money,” Li Shasha promptly understood.
“We still have tens of thousands, but it won’t last long.”
He had a premonition that his sister’s situation was just the beginning, and the old man wanted to leverage this chance to force him to become self-sufficient.
Fetching the notebook for Li Shasha to operate, Li Xiangfu leaned against the bed’s edge, eyes closed, in need of rest. “Help me look up any prominent painting competitions recently.” Double-sided embroidery took too much time, could easily be undervalued, and required substantial investment for materials.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Vbwfatlcu ojrafg. Lbkfnfg, tf reoofgfv ogbw j ijmx bo gfmbuclalbc, wjxlcu la fjrs obg tlr qglmfr ab yf vglnfc vbkc.
“Ktf 56at Jtlivgfc’r Ujlcalcu jcv Jjiilugjqts Jbwqfalalbc; Pcafgcjalbcji Tbeat Ujlcalcu Jbwqfalalbc…”
Ol Wljcuoe lcafgpfmafv, “Ktfgf’r cb juf ilwla.”
“Vecrfa Efv Vfclbg Cga Szqgfrr Vewwfg Jjwq.”
Ol Wljcuoe bqfcfv tlr fsfr, olzfv bc atf lcobgwjalbc.
Li Shasha shrugged, “Indeed, there’s no age limit and no upper cap.” Pausing, he added, “But there’s a Xiusi folklore collection event, which holds good value and has some entry barriers.”
Li Xiangfu became intrigued, “Tell me more about it.”
Li Shasha was about to elaborate when his eyes suddenly brightened, “The special prize this year is one million yuan.”
For artists somewhat known, this award might not be exhilarating, but they are more focused on the prestige of the award itself.
Father and son, however, were driven by monetary prospects.
“…To apply for the competition, you need to submit your CV and portfolio. The preliminary stage already has numerous participants.”
Seeing an excessive number of excellent paintings can inevitably lead to aesthetic fatigue. With thousands of works, reviewers often lack the patience to carefully examine each one. Moreover, having numerous award-winning experiences listed on one’s resume may create a preconceived impression.
Li Xiangfu asked, “Is there any room for flexibility?”
Given his lack of honors but some misdeeds in the past, creating a flawless resume seemed impossible, so he needed to explore alternative routes.
Li Shasha responded, “In previous years, there wasn’t such an option. However, this year, the organizers seem keen on gaining popularity. Two of the invited judges have a significant following on social platforms, and there’s a high chance that they might favor contestants of a certain type.”
Upon hearing this, Li Xiangfu pursed his lips, already lost in thought. Having made a decision, it needed to be a well-calculated one.
The resourceful Li Shasha found an alternative option and turned the computer screen.
“The Master Comes Out of the Folk?” Li Xiangfu waved it off upon seeing that it was a variety show. Once you become an artist, old controversies tend to resurface. Why invite trouble needlessly?
“It’s not a talent show, and participation isn’t mandatory. We’ll only be in one episode, creating a buzz before exiting.”
Due to the variety in talent displays, some elegant and others humorous, the show consistently maintained high ratings, nearly becoming a national variety show.
However, the downside was its immense popularity. Initially uninterested, the show’s registration site gained significant traction. Even if selected, it would be Li Xiangfu’s turn to record the show after three episodes, missing the registration for the gathering event.
Li Shasha pointed out the crucial point, “Qin Jin is a sponsor.”
Li Xiangfu stood up, ruffling his hair, and exclaimed, “For no apparent reason, why would anyone help?”
As they were discussing, Li Xiangfu noticed the website collection bar right above and his expression changed suddenly. He moved aside the dumplings and clicked on it, his eyebrows jumping, “You used my computer to browse inappropriate web pages?”
Li Shasha clarified, “It’s the Internet. The producer is a bit older.”
LSP!
Li Xiangfu canceled the collection and cleared the browsing history in front of him. Then he turned around and said with a disapproving tone, “Don’t make me switch to youth mode.”
Li Shasha rubbed his nose and stopped talking.
Li Xiangfu scrolled through his address book and sadly realized there was no one he could reach out to.
While scrolling up and down, he pursed his lips upon seeing Qin Jin’s name.
The two of them still had a long way to go before becoming familiar, but it didn’t hinder basic human interaction. Even if the other party declined, it wouldn’t lead to a heated argument over such a trivial matter.
After convincing himself for three or four minutes, he still couldn’t muster the courage.
Li Shasha offered a monotonous reminder, “No matter how challenging it is, you can’t hurt the kid.”
“Easy for you to say!”
The harsh tone of the previous second took a sharp turn when speaking, and he became gentle and polite:
“Mr. Qin, I’d like to ask for your help.” After a pause, he added, “As a token of appreciation, I’m willing to send you a potential painting by a future master.”
After ensuring he had sent the voice message, Li Shasha remarked, “Flattery.”
“Whether he agrees or not is indirectly relevant to whether I can gain popularity and participate in the style collection competition.”
Li Shasha shifted his stance, stating, “When necessary, I am willing to put in the effort with you.”
…
Qin Jin replied half an hour later, and the content was brief and to the point: “Tomorrow, I have time before two o’clock and can take you to meet the director.”
Li Xiangfu frowned upon reading this.
“Is there an issue?” Li Shasha inquired.
“Qin Jin is the major sponsor. Just greet him directly. No need to waste time making a special trip.”
Li Shasha summarized, “Rich people have time to spare.”
Li Xiangfu had no response.
The next day happened to be Saturday, and the almanac indicated it was an auspicious day for travel.
Indeed, it was a good day. Aunt Zhang returned today, relieving Li Xiangfu of the burden of household chores.
The designated meeting point was downstairs at Qin Jin Company. He arrived first, with bustling traffic behind him and a towering skyscraper in front, countless windows half-open, resembling the scales of a fish about to burst.
As he stood below, gazing for a long time, Li Xiangfu inadvertently thought of the person currently in charge of the building—a figure both solitary and unapproachable, yet powerful and composed.
A black car gradually pulled out from the side, honking its horn.
Upon hearing the sound, Li Xiangfu looked over and the car’s window was rolled down halfway, revealing half of a handsome profile: “Get in the car.”
As the car door opened, he first placed his backpack inside.
Li Xiangfu was unaware of its contents. The black bag was full and notably heavy.
Fate had them cross paths. Gao Xun was driving that day. The moment he laid eyes on Li Xiangfu, his grip tightened on the steering wheel. The memories of the social media posts he had browsed that day were still fresh in his mind… proficient in various household tasks, from laundry and cooking to childcare. A true expert.
Recalling Li Xichun’s recent social media post, I summarized it in a single sentence. My head throbbed even more after encountering him, as sleep had evaded me due to an argument with my partner.
Li Xiangfu didn’t exchange greetings with Li Xichun. He simply fastened his seat belt upon entering the car and expressed his gratitude to Qin Jin for agreeing to help.
“It requires some effort,” Qin Jin stated in his usual composed manner.
Listening to their conversation, Gao Xun couldn’t help but furrow his brows. When he was with Li Xichun, they both avoided discussing Li Xiangfu, especially given Qin Jin’s presence—his immediate superior.
Gao Xun contemplated whether to mention this situation to Li Xichun.
The TV station had already informed them in advance, and someone would guide them inside.
Occasionally, they spotted a renowned host passing by. Upon going upstairs, the director emerged from the studio. He was momentarily surprised when he glanced up, then walked over and shook hands with Qin Jin.
After a few polite words, the director turned his attention to Li Xiangfu. “Is this your friend?” The director was initially hesitant about allowing contestants to participate unexpectedly. “The Master Comes from the Folk” was his brainchild. However, if Qin Jin hadn’t sponsored it, the program might not have aired smoothly.
Li Xiangfu sensed that while the director was smiling, there was a trace of disdain in his gaze.
“The talent you intend to showcase is…” the director asked cautiously.
Li Xiangfu responded, “Painting.”
The director’s heart sank suddenly. Program time is limited, and he couldn’t allow one contestant to monopolize a significant portion of it.
“I’m afraid…”
Before he could voice a rejection, Qin Jin intervened. His throat moved, and he subtly suggested, “Our segment is a little over an hour without commercial breaks.” A high-quality piece wouldn’t take long to present.
Not far away, the assistant director noticed this and approached with a smile, offering a sly solution. “We can arrange for two contestants to collaborate, and he can paint on the side. After all, we only need to showcase the finished product.”
Li Xiangfu shook his head, stating, “I require a separate performance space.”
The assistant director’s smile froze on his face.
The director exchanged glances, indicating they should proceed this way. Wealthy individuals in their industry often had unique demands. Since the guests changed each time, they could manage this for now.
“If it’s convenient, I’d like you to create a painting in advance for us to display.”
Li Xiangfu agreed, “Okay.”
The director breathed a sigh of relief, thinking at least he looked good.
At this moment, Li Xiangfu suddenly mentioned, “I’ll need to wear a mask during the performance.”
“…Very well, our only unique aspect is gone.”
Standing for too long, Li Xiangfu felt his shoulders ache, so he placed his backpack on the ground. It made a clattering sound, causing a slight tremor.
The director’s expression underwent a complete transformation.
What was inside… were these genuinely tools for painting?
The author has something to say:
Director: I’m a little nervous.
Qin Jin: As expected, there are surprises I’m not aware of.
Li Xiangfu: Just pretend and leave; don’t disturb me.
Translator’s notes:
Thanks for reading! I’m still deciding when is the best schedule for this story, but there’ll be a fixed 2 chapter/week update! 
Nooooooo
Why is it over already? Where is the next button? Rolling on the floor
On the side note
Thank you for translation. I would just like to point out that the he she are sometimes mixed up
Thanks, I’ll edit them soon 😊
No worries, i just pointed it out in case that it was missed
Thank you for the translation. It sounds so interesting!
Is Li Sangbo here an error, should it be Li Xiangfu?
@translator If you are in need of help regarding editing, I will always be available – I have experience in proofreading professionally. Just write me here or on the discord server with the same account name. Thank you for your hard work translating this wonderful story for non-Chinese speakers. ❤️❤️❤️ Much appreciated
Oh, Thank you! I’ll consider your offer ♡
Already is over??? Bruh 😳 this was soo good.
Is so funny the arc “Why are you – need a more thank a sperm donor if my brother can care a child and the house and I go tô work” lmao
+1 Subscrive 100%, thank you for the chapter
I write all wrong, was I tryna saying is – If the husband want be chauvinist and just work when the wife take care of the house when Xiangfu said “You can work and I take care of the house and the Kids” the paper of the husband goes to be a sperm donor
Li shasha’s pronoun is still she/her when they were discussing about how li xiangfu should join painting competition. Thanks for the chapter!