The Xu Family
"Why is it another rerun this time?" Old Master Xu sat on the sofa with great anticipation. He had been eagerly waiting for 8:30, only to find it was content he had already seen before.
"New Year's is around the corner, and some TV station staff are taking time off," Uncle Xu replied leisurely after hearing the old man's complaint. "So, for the next few days, you'll have to watch other programs."
"I've gotten used to watching this show every night. Now that there's nothing to watch, it feels so dull." The old man stood up, leaning on his cane, and glanced out the window. "Is it snowing?"
"The snow's been on and off these past few days." Uncle Xu helped the old man upstairs. "Dad, should we invite Xiao Yan over for a meal? From what I've seen between Xiao Yuanzi and Xiao Yan, it looks like good news isn't far off."
"If your sister could be a little more considerate, we wouldn't have to worry about these things," Old Master Xu sighed helplessly. "Thankfully, Xiao Xi is a generous girl. Otherwise, with your sister's attitude toward people, she'd have driven everyone away by now."
Uncle Xu smiled wryly. After all, what could he do about his sister?
Having recently registered a Weibo account out of boredom, he realized how much attention Xiao Yuanzi and Xiao Yan's relationship had attracted. Now, listening to his father complain about his sister, he could only smile without saying much.
When the old man had vented enough, he paused and asked, "Is Xiao Xi going to take time off for New Year's, or is she hosting the countdown gala? In my opinion, Xiao Xi is excellent in every way. If she doesn't host the countdown gala, it would be a significant loss for the station."
The old man's thoughts were all over the place. One moment he was talking about his daughter, and the next, he was discussing the New Year's gala. Uncle Xu was momentarily stunned before replying, "Dad, Xiao Yan is still young. She'll have plenty of opportunities in the future. She probably won't be hosting this year."
"I don't enjoy watching anyone else host," the old man said but quickly perked up. "But it's good too. This way, she'll have time to come over for dinner. The 28th of the lunar month is an excellent day. Call Xiao Yuanzi and have him bring Xiao Xi over for a meal, and let's invite Da Yuanzi too."
"What about Big Sis and Brother-in-law...?"
"Don't invite them." The old man shook his head. "If those two come, we can forget about having a peaceful meal."
Uncle Xu chuckled bitterly and didn't press further.
"Never mind. Xiao Yuanzi is so indecisive about relationships; I'd better invite Xiao Xi myself." The old man patted the phone in his pocket. "I have her on WeChat."
Recently, Yan Xi's workload had been lighter than usual, so she was busy preparing her illustrations. Ever since she admitted she was the host Yan Xi, her editor, Mingming, had been in a semi-crazed state, constantly chasing her for drafts.
Her ID photo bore a strong resemblance to her, yet the editor had failed to recognize her. Perhaps, after signing the collaboration agreement, the editor hadn't paid much attention to her ID details and was now solely focused on urging her for submissions.
After sending the completed illustrations to Mingming, she saw the editor's excited reply, addressing her as "Dad." Yan Xi remained expressionless and replied with an emoji: "I'm not old enough to have a daughter as big as you."
Mingming: "No problem! You can adopt me as your goddaughter."
What could drive an editor to such shameless desperation?
Her phone buzzed with a WeChat notification. Yan Xi looked down to check it.
Old Master Xu: [Knock knock emoji].
The retro style of the emoji, popular seven or eight years ago, reminded Yan Xi of the early days of messaging apps. Still, for a nearly 90-year-old man to know how to use emojis, he was undoubtedly keeping up with the times.
Old Master Xu: "Xiao Xi, we're having a family dinner on the 28th. I've asked the housekeeper to prepare lots of delicious food. Come over with Xiao Yuanzi."
Listening to the old man's robust voice message, Yan Xi smiled. Given his age, typing and reading weren't convenient, so their conversations mainly consisted of voice messages and emojis, which made for some interesting exchanges.
After accepting the old man's invitation, Yan Xi remembered the police inquiry earlier that day about Song Ci and Song Chao. After some thought, she decided to share the situation with Song Hai.
"Stupid girl, do you really think they came just to ask about Song Chao?" After hearing the full story, Song Hai swore angrily. "The kids from the Song family are all troublemakers. Song Chao may look polished, but he deliberately humiliated you with that public confession. You should've told me earlier. I would've taught him a lesson."
"I didn't tell you because I was afraid you'd confront him," Yan Xi replied, hugging her knees as she sat on the sofa. "I just feel unlucky. I have nothing to do with the Song family, yet I still get dragged into their mess."
"No one lives a completely smooth life," Song Hai said, his anger subsiding as he comforted his daughter. "The more you experience, the stronger you become. We're not afraid of anything."
Yan Xi was amused by her father's anxious expression. She lowered her gaze and asked softly, "Are you saying the police suspect that I planted the bug in Song Ci's car or that I had any involvement in his injury?"
"Since you recently had a conflict with Song Ci, the police will naturally investigate you," Song Hai explained, worried she might be scared. "But don't worry. These matters hinge on motive and opportunity. The officers handling this case are experienced. They could tell you were innocent after just a few questions, which is why they left so easily."
"I always knew that power struggles in wealthy families came with plenty of drama," Song Hai frowned and then asked, "How are the Yuan brothers' relationships?"
"They get along well." Yan Xi thought he might not believe her, so she added, "The older brother is seven years older than Yuan Xiao'er, and his attitude toward him is like raising half a son."
"Having fewer siblings certainly has its advantages." Song Hai relaxed. He didn't want his daughter to marry into a chaotic family; no amount of wealth could make up for a life full of strife.
The father-daughter conversation eventually veered into gossip about the secrets of wealthy families. If it weren't so late, Yan Xi would have loved to keep listening. She glanced at the clock on the wall, feeling reluctant. "The station is hosting a year-end gala tomorrow night, so I'll be home late. Don't wait up for meâgo to bed early."
"Do you need to bring a date to the gala?" asked Song Hai.
"There's a dance segment in the evening, so everyone will be bringing a dance partner."
"I figured as much," Song Hai replied knowingly. "Alright, you young folks have fun. Your dad may be over fifty, but I was young once too, you know."
Yan Xi cupped her face in her hands and laughed without arguing.
Song Hai felt a pang of sorrow. The lovely, vibrant "jade cabbage" he'd raised with care was about to be "claimed by a pig," and yet he had to smile and accept it. Being a dad wasn't easy.
"Dad, don't overthink it. You're the most important person in my heart," Yan Xi said, trying to reassure him.
"That's exactly what your mom said to your grandpa before she married me," Song Hai sighed with a bitter smile. "And when she gave birth to you, after hours of labor, your grandpa nearly scolded me to death."
Listening to her dad reminisce about the past, Yan Xi couldn't help but laugh. "Fathers always dote on their daughters."
"Exactly. How can a father not cherish his little girl?" Song Hai reached out, intending to pat Yan Xi's head, but seeing his now-grown daughter, he realized the gesture was no longer appropriate.
The soft, tiny bundle he had once held had grown up in the blink of an eye. Now, she not only stood tall and poised but also had someone she liked. He could finally understand how his father-in-law had felt back then.
"Go to bed early, or you'll wake up with puffy eyes tomorrow and not look as stunning at the gala."
Yan Xi leaned her head over and nuzzled his palm. "Goodnight, Dad."
The year-end gala at the Imperial TV Station was always the most festive night of the year. Not only did it gather all the on- and off-screen staff, but celebrities and notable figures from various industries with ties to the station also attended. Many staff members had spent weeks dieting and applying face masks to prepare for this day.
When Yan Xi appeared at the entrance alone that evening, some people were just about to speculate why she hadn't brought a date. Before they could say more, they saw Yuan Yi hurrying up behind her with a woman's coat in his hands. He draped it over Yan Xi's shoulders.
Disappointed by the lack of drama, those with less wholesome thoughts quickly lost interest and stopped paying attention.
"I really don't get you women. Are you afraid of the cold or not? On regular days, you bundle up with heat packs everywhere, but for events like this, you can walk elegantly in evening gowns," Yuan Yi grumbled as he adjusted the coat on Yan Xi. "Take it off once you're inside. It's still freezing out here."
"Got it, Grandpa Yuan," Yan Xi teased, clutching the coat close to her chest so it wouldn't slip off. "This is my first time attending a gala like this. I'm actually a bit nervous."
"What's there to be nervous about? It's just eating, drinking, a raffle, giving out gifts, and a few words from the leadersâbasically the same every time," Yuan Yi said as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and walked her toward the elevator.
The elevator was already occupied by several people, but when Yuan Yi and Yan Xi entered, everyone instinctively moved to the back to make space.
A glamorous woman who had been standing at the front subtly shifted backward, using the others to shield herself. Just as the elevator doors were about to close, a male employee wearing glasses stepped in. His eyes lit up as if they were glowing when he spotted the glamorous woman. "Goddess Feifei! I'm such a big fan of yours!"
Shrinking into the corner, Zhao Feifei forced an awkward laugh. "Thank you."
"Feifei Jie, you're even more beautiful in real life than in your movies!"
Kid, stop calling out like that. If you keep this up, I might never appear in another film for you to watch again. Zhao Feifei inwardly despaired, sneaking a glance at Yan Xi and Yuan Yi, who were standing at the front. Seeing that they didn't seem to notice her, she quietly let out a sigh of relief.
"Ms. Zhao," Yan Xi suddenly turned around, her radiant smile sending chills down Zhao Feifei's spine.
How could she have forgotten that the girlfriend of the second young master of the Yuan family worked as a host at Imperial TV? This was practically delivering herself to her own doom. "Ms. Yan... Ms. Yan."
The male employee, a fan of Zhao Feifei, looked at Yan Xi in surprise, puzzled by the amount of respect Zhao Feifei showed her.
"Ms. Zhao, just call me Xiao Yan. I don't deserve the title of 'Ms.,'" Yan Xi said with a polite nod, her expression composed and cordial. Seeing that Yan Xi didn't seem to care about her previous scandal of hyping up rumors with Yuan Yi, Zhao Feifei felt deeply moved. In that instant, Yan Xi seemed like a goddess of unparalleled beauty, one who was breathtakingly radiant and flawless.
"Of course, of course. You host your shows so well. My assistant and I both love watching them," Zhao Feifei said, thinking to herself, Once you become the future lady of Hengtai, I wouldn't even mind calling you Grandmaster if you don't hold a grudge about the rumors.
The previously invisible assistant enthusiastically chimed in, "Yes, yes! We especially love 'Those Stories by the Road.' It's so interesting."
"Those Stories by the Road?" Yuan Yi turned his head. "Xiao Xi, isn't your show called 'Stories Around Us'?"
Since when did people become this bad at trying to butter someone up?
An awkward silence filled the elevator.
"Sorry, Ms. Yan, I got so excited seeing you that my brain stopped working," the assistant stammered, not daring to meet Yuan Yi's eyes. She had a feeling that making eye contact with him would lead to something terrifying.
"It's fine. The names 'Those Stories by the Road' and 'Stories Around Us' are pretty similar. It's normal to mix them up sometimes. Even my friends occasionally get the name wrong. I'm used to it by now," Yan Xi reassured her, worried that if she didn't say something soon, the assistant's face might turn so red it would start dripping blood.
The assistant looked at Yan Xi with heartfelt gratitude. No wonder such a fearsome man like Yuan Yi was head over heels for her. Even as a woman, she couldn't help but like this hostess.
"Actually, there's something I've been meaning to say for the past thirty seconds," Yan Xi said, glancing at the lights on the elevator's ceiling. "Have you noticed that the elevator... doesn't seem to be moving?"