Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
As soon as Shi Xiu entered the house, she kicked off her high heels and ran inside barefooted, hollering, âMom, Dad! I got the lead role!â
Yun Nan smiled wryly. Shi Nian handed her a pair of house slippers and consoled her, âDonât worry, she can handle it herself. Mom and Dad canât thank you enough.â Even so, Yun Nan didnât dare to relax.
Shi Xiu bumped into her grandfather and hugged him. Eager to share the news, she exclaimed, âGrandpa, Grandpa! I got the role! Iâm the female lead!â
Nearly bowled over by his granddaughter, Shi Kong staggered back and cried, âOuch! Easy now, sweetheart, slow down! These old bones arenât what they used to be!â
Shi Xiu gave Shi Kong a peck on the cheek before rushing to her father, who had shown up after Shi Kong. âDaddy, Daddy! Iâm the female lead!â
Shi Kong looked at his frenzied granddaughter and asked his grandson and granddaughter-in-law behind him, âWhatâs gotten into her? Why is she so⦠happy?
Yun Nan hurriedly explained, âGrandpa, Shi Xiuâs audition was successful today. Sheâs now the female lead of one of our movies.â Yun Nan didnât give him the whole long-winded tale; she cut to the chase and got straight to the point.
Shi Kong was a little surprised at the news. He looked at Yun Nan and then turned to stare at Shi Xiu, who was excitedly reporting her day to her parents. He lowered his voice and asked, âDid you get her in through the backdoor?â
Yun Nan was startled. She quickly shook her head and told him,â No, of course not, Grandpa! Shi Xiu earned the role herself. We all think she did great!â
Shi Kong still wasnât convinced and concernedly admonished, âYou canât play favoritism! Our family may pamper and spoil her at home, but she has to follow the rules like everyone else when sheâs outside. You two are her elders; you should set a good role model. You canât break the rules for her!â
Shi Nian put an arm around Yun Nanâs shoulders and assured him, âDonât worry, Grandpa. Yun Nan isnât one for such foolishness.â And Shi Kong finally relaxed at his words.
Although Shi Xiuâs parents had praised and cheered for their daughter during the hugging session, when Shi Xiu left to change her clothes, they still came up to Yun Nan and Shi Nian and softly asked, âDid she really get the role or are you just trying to make her happy?
Yun Nan found that her previous fears were unfounded. Shi Xiuâs elders were instead worried that Shi Xiu might cause her trouble, so Yun Nan had no choice but to tell them everything from the beginning.
âWonât you lose a lot of money since that lead actress left?â Xu Yun anxiously stated when she heard the whole tale. âShi Nian, make sure you cover the costs! We canât let Yun Nan bear the losses!â Xu Yun automatically came to her daughter-in-lawâs aid.
Yun Nan quickly said, âMom, itâs okay. The production team took into account all sorts of possible situations in our cost estimates before we started filming. The losses due to our lead actress quitting mid-production are within our bad debt allowance, andâright nowâwe wonât know if weâll suffer losses.â
Uneasy, Xu Yun meaningfully looked at her son. Shi Nian got the message and hastily replied, âI know. I know. Iâll handle it.â He knew sometimes, all the reassurances and explanations in the world were useless because Xu Yun wouldnât listen. The only thing on his motherâs mind was whether her precious daughter-in-law would suffer any losses.
âThen, did you get Shi Xiu in through the backdoor? You canât spoil her like that! Sheâs overconfident and arrogant enough as it is. I donât want her to cause trouble for you!â Xu Yun whispered.
âMom, you too?! Yun Nan secretly moaned before she again explained how Shi
Xiu got the role and relieved Xu Yunâs apprehensions. Yun Nan watched as the
Shi family elders busied themselves preparing dinner and murmured to Shi
Nian, âYour family all have such good moral compasses!â
Shi Nian smiled and muttered, âI told you you neednât worry.â
Yun Nan and Shi Nian had a happy dinner; no one blamed them for being late and making the others wait. Instead, they were met with care and concern. Before they left, the elders had their maid fill the car trunk with all the various snacks and sauces they had prepared for them in advance before reluctantly sending them off.
The three elders had gratified and expectant smiles when Yun Nan repeatedly promised to have dinner with them whenever she had time. When the car started, Yun Nan heaved a long sigh of relief. Shi Nian found it funny and teased, âAre you relieved now?â
Yun Nan turned to face him and commented, âTruth be told, Shi Nian, you and your siblings are quite blessed. Itâs rare to see such a warm family atmosphere. Nowadays, many public media figures are revealed to have awful family environments. Experts have found that many social problems, including the causes of crime, are related to the family environment. You and your siblings are lucky.â
Shi Nian smiled and asked, âSo, you donât think my parents and my grandpa are a little immature?â
Yun Nan was surprised. âOf course not! I donât think theyâre immature at all! I think theyâre adorable! It would be fabulous if I could be as youthful in appearance and mentality as your mother when I reach her age. Fang Xi would idolize Mom once I introduce them to each other someday!â
Shi Nian noticed Yun Nan had rather naturally addressed Xu Yun as âMomâ instead of âyour mom,â and his smile deepened. âSeems like the boiling frog strategy works after all..â