Chapter 8 - Eating Together Again

Translator: Lynn

Around six o’clock, Li Xiaoqi finally arrived, and Long Zichen greeted him with a lack of enthusiasm, serving tea and water, concerned about Jian Jie’s family’s satisfaction.

“Brother Xiaoqi, Mr. Long is doing well here,” Jian Jie started with a compliment before handing the contract to Li Xiaoqi. “This is the contract Mr. Long just gave me.” Li Xiaoqi accepted the contract but didn’t examine it closely. He smiled and said to Long Zichen, “Since Xiaojie’s brother asked me to look after him, I’ll speak my mind. Director Lin Yumin from Leiting Records has been interested in Xiaojie’s songs for a while, and he wanted me to bring Xiaojie for an audition. I hesitated a lot, but to my surprise, Xiaojie wanted to come to you. I’m really regretting it now.”

Long Zichen smiled and flattered, “Yes, yes, you’re right. We can’t compare to Leiting Records, but Mr. Li must be aware of the strict contracts they offer to newcomers, right? Take Ding Jiangyu, their top artist, for example. Besides singing, he’s involved in acting, hosting, and endorsements. I don’t think Xiaojie is suitable for that kind of environment. Take a look at the contract we’ve prepared for Xiaojie. It’s the most flexible and artist-friendly. We truly prioritize music.”

Li Xiaoqi pondered for a moment, internally agreeing with Long Zichen. He glanced at Jian Jie, who was looking at him expectantly and sighed before taking the contract. “Mr. Long is indeed sincere. I believe Xiaojie will receive preferential treatment from you. I’ll take a closer look at the contract and give you an answer tomorrow.”

“Okay, thank you for your consideration,” Long Zichen said, laughing joyfully.

After Li Xiaoqi left with the contract, Long Zichen breathed a sigh of relief. He then told Jian Jie, “I still have something to discuss with you, so Mr. Li can go about his work. I promise to deliver it to his door later.”

Li Xiaoqi nodded and left. Once he was gone, Long Zichen smiled at Jian Jie, saying, “I can see how much your family cares about you. If they find out you’re not being treated well here, they’ll come after me. My future looks uncertain.”

Jian Jie felt a bit embarrassed and explained, “I’ve been living with my brother since I was a child, so he’s naturally more concerned about my affairs. But he’s not unreasonable, and he’ll support my decisions. Don’t worry, Mr. Long.”

“It’s fine, don’t take it seriously. I was just teasing you,” Long Zichen reassured him. Then he asked, “By the way, where are your parents if your brother takes care of you?”

“They passed away a long time ago,” Jian Jie replied.

Long Zichen scratched his head apologetically and said, “I apologize for bringing up your past. I didn’t mean to make you sad.”

“It’s alright, it’s been a long time,” Jian Jie replied with a gentle smile.

After a moment of thought, Long Zichen nervously asked, “If they interview you on a show in the future, they might ask about your family. Would you be okay with discussing that?”

Jian Jie felt a bit uncomfortable and softly asked, “Can I avoid talking about my family? I don’t like discussing those things.”

Long Zichen immediately agreed and said, “Of course, if you’re not comfortable, we won’t discuss it. I’ll make sure to communicate with them and ensure your privacy is respected during interviews.”

“Thank you, Mr. Long,” Jian Jie sincerely expressed his gratitude. “I haven’t even signed the contract yet, but you’re already looking out for me. I’m really grateful.”

Long Zichen playfully covered his face and said, “Oh, don’t be so serious. It’s embarrassing for me. Since you’re thanking me so sincerely, how about treating me to a meal?”

It was dinner time, and Jian Jie couldn’t keep up with the sudden change of topic. However, he replied with a pleasant attitude, “Sure, I’ll treat you to dinner. Where would you like to go, Mr. Long?”

“Hehe, you’re so agreeable. I feel a bit guilty,” Long Zichen grinned mischievously. “Let’s have dinner at your place and get to know each other better. There are a few things I’d like to discuss with you.” Long Zichen had spent most of his savings on the company and was currently tight on money, but he didn’t mind squeezing the honest Jian Jie. He didn’t feel burdened at all.

Jian Jie hesitated for a moment and explained, “I’m sorry, Mr. Long, but I live alone, separate from my brother. Besides, I don’t know how to cook. Let’s eat out.”

“Oh, it’s not a problem!” Long Zichen proudly declared. “I’m actually pretty good at cooking. If you don’t have much food at home, we can just buy some. Eating at home is cleaner and healthier. I’ve noticed that you eat out a lot, and it’s not good for your health…”

Long Zichen rambled on, and Jian Jie couldn’t object anymore. He replied, “It’s up to you then. I don’t mind the trouble.”

“No trouble at all, I insist,” Long Zichen said. “It’s just a matter of minutes~”

Long Zichen gathered his things, bid farewell to Yuan Chao, and they both went downstairs. They got into his old SUV, a domestic car that had experienced its fair share of ups and downs. Long Zichen drove Jian Jie to a supermarket near their community. Jian Jie’s brother and sister-in-law occasionally shopped there, so they had some basic pantry items. After inquiring, Long Zichen bought macaroni, vegetables, fruits, beef, and salad dressing. He planned to make tomato minced meat pasta, stir-fried garlic beans, and a fruit salad—a healthy and simple meal for the evening.

Jian Jie observed as Long Zichen skillfully picked out vegetables at the supermarket, marveling at his ability. Curiosity got the best of him, and he asked, “Do you cook often, Mr. Long?”

Long Zichen chuckled and replied, “I used to cook a lot when I was studying abroad. The food there didn’t suit my taste, so I had to learn to cook. But since I came back, I’ve become lazy and prefer eating out.”

Jian Jie couldn’t help but comment, “So you eat out frequently, but you just advised me to eat at home. I thought you enjoyed cooking.”

Long Zichen coughed a few times and put on a serious face, pretending to scold Jian Jie, “Hey, young one, don’t challenge your elders. Remember, whatever I say, your response should always be, ‘Yes, you are absolutely right!’ Got it?”

Jian Jie teased, “Is it too unreliable to rely on music alone?”

Quickly switching to flattery, Long Zichen blinked innocently and exclaimed, “Oh, what happened just now? Did I say something? I can’t seem to remember. Am I possessed by an alien?”

Jian Jie was left speechless once again. He realized he was no match for Long Zichen’s wit and charm.

After purchasing groceries and arriving at Jian Jie’s house, Long Zichen couldn’t help but exclaim, “You live alone in such a spacious house!”

Jian Jie nodded while busy dealing with his dog, Amu, who had eagerly rushed over. Amu hadn’t seen his master all day and was overjoyed, wagging his tail and circling around Jian Jie. Long Zichen attempted to playfully approach Amu, but the dog growled fiercely.

Long Zichen helplessly shrugged his shoulders and said, “I see, it must be territorial. It ignores my charm!”

Jian Jie corrected him, “Actually, Amu is a female…”

“Well, where’s the kitchen? I’ll start cooking,” Long Zichen decided to ignore their previous dialogue.

Jian Jie couldn’t help but laugh and pointed towards the kitchen, saying, “The kitchen is over there.” He led Long Zichen to the kitchen, where Long Zichen opened the cupboards, found the necessary cooking ingredients, and put on an apron. He then said to Jian Jie, “Why don’t you go outside and watch TV for a while? I’ll handle everything.”

“Let me help,” Jian Jie insisted, feeling guilty for making his guest do all the work while he just waited to eat.

Long Zichen waved his hands with a disgusted expression and said, “Young Master Jian, what could you possibly do for me? I’m afraid you’ll end up cutting the vegetables if I ask you to. Just wait outside and relax.”

“Alright, thank you for your hard work,” Jian Jie replied obediently. He felt a little ashamed that he couldn’t contribute much, considering his lack of cooking skills.

Jian Jie tidied up the living room for a while, and within thirty minutes, Long Zichen cheerfully called out from the kitchen, “Dinner is ready, Xiao Jiejie, come and serve the meal.”

Jian Jie entered the kitchen and saw two plates of pasta, a plate of stir-fried beans, and a large bowl of fruit salad on the table. The dishes looked visually appealing, confirming that Long Zichen’s cooking skills were not just a boast.

“It looks beautiful. It seems that Mr. Long truly knows how to cook,” Jian Jie commented.

Long Zichen responded proudly, “Of course, not only does it look good, but the taste is also exceptional. Most people can’t appreciate it. You’re the first one to taste my cooking. Consider yourself lucky.”

Jian Jie was a bit skeptical due to Long Zichen’s unreliable demeanor, but after taking a bite of the pasta, his eyes lit up. “It’s delicious,” he exclaimed.

“I knew it,” Long Zichen exclaimed happily, raising his arms triumphantly. “Delicious, delicious! If it’s good, you should eat more and remember it for next time.”

Jian Jie tasted the beans and found them crisp and refreshing. They suited his palate well, prompting him to compliment, “Mr. Long, your culinary skills are impressive. I would have never guessed you were such a great cook.”

Seeing Jian Jie’s genuine appreciation, Long Zichen felt delighted and assured him, “This is just the simplest dish. If you like it, I can cook a grand feast for you next time—red wine steak, cola chicken wings, those are my specialties.”

“Okay, I’ll be looking forward to your grand feast,” Jian Jie replied with a smile, his eyes turning into crescents.

Long Zichen was captivated by Jian Jie’s gentle and innocent smile, and he found himself momentarily stunned. It took him a while to regain his composure, and he muttered to himself, “I never realized Xiaojie’s smile was so enchanting. It has a strange effect on me. From now on, I’ll have to be careful not to drive people crazy with my smiles, especially female fans!”

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

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