Translator: Lynn
In the bustling airport lobby, Jian Jie stood quietly at the first-floor exit, awaiting his elder brotherâs arrival. He was dressed in a dark blue long down jacket, a chalk-white plaid scarf, and matching woolen gloves, looking like a distinguished student. As he wasnât wearing makeup outside of shows, he appeared more natural.
Two girls noticed him and approached excitedly, asking if he was Jian Jie, expressing their admiration for him. Jian Jie confirmed his identity, and the girls were overjoyed, praising him for being even more handsome in person. They had bought his album and requested his autograph, to which Jian Jie happily obliged. Taking pictures together, more fans recognized him, and the crowd grew.
Amidst the fan excitement, Jian Jieâs brother called his name from outside the crowd, smiling warmly. Apologizing to the fans, Jian Jie informed them that he had to leave to meet his brother. His brother thanked the fans for their support and promised to meet them again.
Jian Jie and his brother, Jian Bin, walked side by side towards the airport exit. Jian Jie asked happily why his brother was back earlier than expected.
âI was worried about you! Itâs been a while, and you look thinner,â his brother said, concerned. âIs singing exhausting? I see you on TV all the time, even on three channels in a day. Your company treats you too harshly!â
Jian Jie reassured him, âThe programs were pre-recorded, and my company takes good care of me. They limit my appearances and rarely schedule commercial performances. With Brother Xiaoqiâs help, everything is smoother now.â
âWhy are you still so thin then?â
âYouâll only be satisfied when I become a chubby brother!â Jian Jie joked, knowing his brotherâs parental concern for weight.
Their assistant, Xiao Liu, arrived to pick them up. He praised Jian Jie for becoming a big star and informed him that the companyâs vice president had bought a thousand copies of his album and distributed them to everyone. Jian Jieâs song âDreamâ had become the companyâs theme song.
Jian Jie playfully accused his brother of using his position for personal gain, to which Jian Bin proudly replied that they must listen to his positive and uplifting song. He even invited Jian Jie to perform at the companyâs annual meeting with a family discount.
âI canât accept payment from my brother. Iâll talk to the company and see if I can perform for free,â Jian Jie responded with a smile.
Jian Bin nodded in approval, adding, âYou canât let the company suffer; they need to contribute their share.â
Xiao Liu joined the conversation, expressing happiness about having a celebrity brother. He mentioned that his sister was a big fan and asked for Jian Jieâs autograph, which he gladly provided. Jian Bin beamed with pride, seeing how much his younger brother was adored by others.
They drove straight to Jian Binâs house, where Jiang Xinya was at work, and Jian Binâs daughter Jian Jiayue was at kindergarten, leaving only Sister Xu, the nanny, at home. After dropping them off, Xiao Liu returned to the company. Sister Xu offered to pack Jian Binâs luggage, but he insisted on doing it himself. After some time, he took out a square box from the suitcase and handed it to Jian Jie. âI bought you a gift, see if you like it,â he said with a smile.
Curious, Jian Jie opened the gift box and found a silver-blue wireless microphone inside. The microphone had a unique design, with the words âJianjie is the bestâ written in silver and white handwriting on the side. Jian Jie was surprised and asked, âItâs such a beautiful microphone, why does it have my name on it?â
âI heard people say that big stars must have custom-made microphones, so I had this one made for you,â explained Brother Jian. He admitted that he didnât fully understand such things, but he had heard that singers spent a lot of money to order such stylish microphones from foreign companies for vanity.
Jian Jie took the microphone and examined it closely, unable to hide his excitement. He knew the value of such a microphone and thanked his brother warmly. He also mentioned that the companyâs microphones were already professional, and the director had even promised to order an exclusive microphone for him if his next album sold well. However, when Long Zichenâs name was mentioned, Jian Jie paused, feeling a lump in his heart.
Unaware of Jian Jieâs inner turmoil, Jian Bin was thrilled that his gift was well-received. He cheerfully said, âYour company is yours to command. Use this microphone wherever you go, especially on TV.â
âOf course, Iâll take what my brother gave me everywhere,â Jian Jie replied. Despite seeming absent-minded and having low emotional intelligence, he knew how to make his brother happy, as evident from Jian Binâs sense of pride.
Jian Bin also had gifts for his wife and daughter, and after showing them, Sister Xu started packing everything. After a while, Jian Bin asked Jian Jie again, âThe Chinese New Year is just over two weeks away. Does a celebrity company like yours have a holiday for the New Year? I assume celebrities have to attend many parties during that time, making their schedules even busier?â
âYeah, there are numerous performances during the Chinese New Year period, including commercial shows and platter concerts. People at the company say itâs the prime time to make money. Brother Xiao Qi is also helping me negotiate some gigs,â Jian Jie explained.
However, Jian Bin didnât take the money-making aspect too seriously. âIf itâs just for the money, I donât think you should go to these evening parties. During the Chinese New Year, you should rest at home and take care of your well-being. Making money can wait; it doesnât have to be rushed,â he advised.
Jian Jie scratched his head, conflicted. Spending time with family during the Chinese New Year was important, and he didnât fancy rushing around in the freezing cold either. But rejecting gigs meant his agent wouldnât earn a commission, affecting his income after the holiday. He confessed, âActually, the company doesnât force singers to participate in commercial performances, but if I turn down the shows, Brother Xiao Qi and the team wonât get their commissions. It would really hurt their income after the Chinese New Year.â
Jian Bin was delighted by his kind-hearted and lovable younger brother. He laughed and reassured him, âIf Xiao Qi was just after money, he wouldnât be your agent! Donât worry, Iâll talk to him and invite him to a meal to discuss the matter. We wonât turn down gigs that are good for your career, but weâll avoid purely profitable performances. Also, Iâve asked Xiao Liu to get the latest smartphones for the staff who work with you, as a thank you for their care.â
âThen Iâll listen to my brother. You can spend the money again. Iâve earned quite a bit in the past two months, and itâs all saved on this card. Let me entrust it to you,â Jian Jie said, handing over a bank card containing all his income from that period.
Jian Bin initially wanted to refuse, but he knew that Jian Jie wasnât knowledgeable about managing money, so he accepted it. âAlright, Iâll get you a supplementary card later and keep some money in it for you to withdraw when needed. Additionally, Iâll invest some of it, which is usually more profitable than keeping it in the bank,â he explained.
âDonât worry, brother. Iâm not good with finances either,â Jian Jie said nonchalantly. He never fretted about money since there was always enough to spend, and Jian Bin never held back on his pocket money.
With determination, Jian Bin called Li Xiaoqi immediately, informing him of Jian Jieâs holiday plans during the Spring Festival and inviting him over for dinner. Li Xiaoqi understood the significance of family time and assured that he wouldnât arrange any commercial performances for Jian Jie, except for a few important recordings, to let Jian Jie have a relaxed time.
Jian Jie happily enjoyed his extended vacation, preparing for the New Year. When Long Zichen received the news, he felt disheartened and frustrated. He had planned to make a good impression during the Chinese New Year and hoped Jian Jie would feel the warmth of being with âfamilyâ to soften his heart towards him. Unfortunately, Jian Jieâs real family returned, and he was denied the opportunity to prove himself. It seemed that they wouldnât meet again anytime soon.
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