Chapter 27

By the time his parents arrived home, Tang Yi-Bai had already calmed down.

Although he did not approve of his mother's methods, he understood where she was coming from. After all, he was her only son (Er-Bai does not count) — not coming home for so long, she must have missed him terribly. On top of that, she was becoming menopausal, so it was quite understandable that she would have done something so excessive in a fit of rage.

When Madam Lu arrived home, she saw her son sitting cross-legged on Er-Bai's bed in the living room, head bent over his phone as he fiddled with it. For this tall brat with his long legs, Er-Bai's little bed was pretty much just a relatively bigger cushion.

Er-Bai, who had had his territory invaded, was slumped sadly at one side, looking first at Tang Yi-Bai then turning to look at his lady master.

Madam Lu's lips twitched as she stared at the man and the dog, face stern.

In the end, Daddy Tang was the first to laugh, "Doudou, we're home. We've bought you something delicious."

Tang Yi-Bai accepted the items from his dad's hands. "Great, thanks, Dad." And with that, he began to rifle through the two large plastic bags.

Earlier, Daddy Tang and Madam Lu were at the supermarket, and they had just been in line to pay when they received their son's call. After the call, they had turned back to pick up some snacks and other food stuffs. Although they knew very well that the food that their son ate in the national team could not be any worse than the food he would eat at home, they would still try their best to give him good food every time he returned.

At that moment, Tang Yi-Bai had taken out several bags of snacks and a bottle of coke from the plastic bags. The coke had not been out from the refrigerator for long — there was still a thin layer of water vapour coating the bottle, making it cold and refreshing to the touch.

Like many other boys, Tang Yi-Bai liked to drink coke. However, coke was bad for athletes, so he was always restraining himself, seldom drinking it.

Right now, he was conflicted. His hands patted the bottle of coke all over, and yet he still did not open the cap.

Madam Lu was displeased. "What's with that look? Leave it if you aren't going to drink it. Use it to water the flowers."

"Who says I'm not drinking it." With that, Tang Yi-Bai decisively unscrewed the cap and took a big gulp.

Daddy Tang whispered to him, "Your mum specially took that for you."

Tang Yi-Bai smiled. "Thanks, Mum."

His mother sniffed. "Shoo and go sit on the sofa. Does it make sense for you to keep occupying Er-Bai's spot?"

Tang Yi-Bai got up and ran over to the sofa, saying, "You were the one who asked me to go sleep in the kennel ... besides, you've already rented out my room."

"Objections?"

"No, no objections, none at all." Tang Yi-Bai leaned back against the sofa, raising his arm up high to show a thumbs up. "You've really shown your son what's what. Tonight, I'll just sleep hugging Er-Bai."

Madam Lu casually rested against the sofa, unruffled and at ease like a Buddha.

Daddy Tang chuckled. "No need for that. We've added a folding bed in the study. Doudou, your mum actually cares for you very much."

Madam Lu raised an eyebrow. "Who cares for him?"

Daddy Tang, "It's me. Me, alright ..."

Tang Yi-Bai blinked. "Mum, I know I've been wrong. In future, I'll make sure to come back often to visit and bother you more."

Madam Lu laughed drily, obviously not believing him.

Tang Yi-Bai asked, "How long have you rented the room out for?"

"A year."

"... are you joking?"

"Rubbish."

"Then ... who have you rented it out to? Is that person a good tenant? Will that person cause you all trouble? Don't make things difficult for yourselves just to vent your anger."

Daddy Tang answered on his wife's behalf, "It's a little lady. She's quite nice and polite. Also," and here, his expression turned mysterious and he lifted a hand to cover his mouth. Then, speaking out of the corner of his mouth, he said to his son, "She's also very pretty. Do you want us to introduce you two?"

"Cough," Tang Yi-Bai suddenly recalled the bra hanging on the balcony for some reason and found himself feeling rather uncomfortable. "No need."

"Just hearing the word 'pretty' and you're already feeling shy? Weak!"

Tang Yi-Bai had no way to explain, and he did not want to try anyway. He reclined on the sofa, his arms crossed behind his head, and said, "Dad, Mum, in a few days, we'll be heading up to the highlands for training."

Madam Lu: "Go and sun yourself and get yourself some rosy highland cheeks高原红: Literally translated to 'highland reds', this term apparently refers to very specific sort of skin condition often seen among the highland people.
."

Daddy Tang: "And become a little princess."

Tang Yi-Bai: "..."

Done teasing their son, the couple high-fived each other gleefully.

Madam Lu suddenly sighed. "To be honest, I really regret not having a daughter."

Daddy Tang drew close to her ear and said in a soft voice only audible to the two of them, "You're not to blame. It's all my fault."

Madam Lu forced out through clenched teeth, "Scram ..."

Tang Yi-Bai coaxed his mother jokingly, "Wait till I get a wife. I'll give you a little princess."

Daddy Tang: "Well, you'll have to get a girlfriend first. What do you say? Shall I make some introductions?"

Tang Yi-Bai was moved by the ruthlessly direct spirit of his dad, but still he refused the offer. "No need, I'm not planning to have a relationship for the time being."

"Tsk, don't get ahead of yourself. The lady may not even take a shine to you! I'll introduce her to your cousin."

"As you wish."

Daddy Tang was annoyed at his son's stubbornness and decided to ignore him.

Madam Lu suddenly said, "Be careful when you're at the highlands. Don't fool around and become injured."

Tang Yi-Bai quickly nodded. "Don't worry, I definitely won't."

Tang Yi-Bai stayed at his home for two days. In these two days, he never once met the fabled tenant lady. When he asked his parents about her, they said that the tenant just so happened to be on a business trip.

Tang Yi-Bai was sceptical — how could it be so coincidental? His visit home lasted two days, and she was out for a business trip for two days?

It couldn't be that the girl had been completely made up by them, right?

The more Tang Yi-Bai thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Even though it seemed rather crazy to 'pretend someone rented out a room and specially redecorate it just to keep up the charade', the very act of renting out his room was crazy to begin with. Comparing the two, he really couldn't say which was crazier ...

He secretly asked his dad, "Tell me the truth. Those things in the room were all bought by mum herself, weren't they? Willing to spend the money to buy all those things, why didn't she spend a little more to actually rent a girl to come back with her?"

"What are you saying? Is your mum that kind of person?"

"Before, no, but she's becoming more and more like that type of person now."

"I've just made a call. The lady will be back tomorrow. Just you wait, you'll be scared to death then."

Tang Yi-Bai laughed easily. "Why don't you just tell it to me straight? Whenever I leave will be when she'll be back."

Daddy Tang rolled his eyes. "Oh you, so suspicious. Believe what you will. She'll be back around 9 o'clock tomorrow. You can wait here and see for yourself."

The next day, sure enough, Tang Yi-Bai waited till 9 o'clock, but did not see any sign of the girl. His parents had both gone off to work; Tang Yi-Bai found himself feeling very bored. Regardless whether this whole affair was true, he needed to hurry back to the team. He had not trained for over two days and his bones were starting to itch ...

Suddenly, he thought of something and so made a call.

Yun Duo had just returned to her office when she received a call from Tang Yi-Bai. She had originally wanted to put her things back home first — after all, she wasn't staying far away from the office now — but Qian Xu-Dong had been irked with her over the past two days and had not allowed her to do so. He had said they needed to go straight to the office for a meeting. Thus, Yun Duo had dragged her suitcase with her, still covered in the dust of travelling, to report straight at the office.

Qian Xu-Dong had not lied; they were indeed going to have a meeting. Yun Duo put down her suitcase and grabbed a notebook to take with her to the conference room. The call from Tang Yi-Bai came while she was making her way there.

"Hello, Tang Yi-Bai?"

"Yun Duo, when will my exclusive interview be?"

"Ah... huh?" Yun Duo was rather surprised. "Have you agreed to an exclusive interview with our agency?" Didn't he already ruthlessly reject them ...?

"Didn't we already arrange this long ago?" Tang Yi-Bai's voice sounded rather subdued. "I though we had a tacit agreement."

"No ... but Coach Wu has already rejected Teacher Qian ..."

"But I did not reject you."

Yun Duo could never have imagined that things would develop this way. She became a little worked up. "So you're still willing to accept our request for an exclusive interview?"

"Not their request. Yours. Let me take a look at the map ... I'm quite close to your offices. Are you there now?"

"Yes."

"Good. I just so happen to be nearby. I can drop by. I'll be there in roughly 15 minutes. Go ahead and set up. See you soon."

"Huh? ... Hello?"

Tang Yi-Bai had already hung up.

Yun Duo was left stunned and staring blankly into space for a moment before she suddenly realised what had happened and charged towards the conference room. There were already several people seated within the room. When they saw Yun Duo charge in, they all turned to look at her in fright.

Yun Duo had also received a great shock, okay? She said loudly, the excitement in her voice palpable, "Director Liu, Tang Yi-Bai is coming!"

Director Liu was befuddled. "What's he coming for?"

"For an exclusive interview."

"I thought we didn't get an exclusive interview with him?" Director Liu turned a curious glance on Qian Xu-Dong.

Yun Duo did not have the time to explain too much. "We've got one now. He'll be here in 15 minutes."

Director Liu looked dubiously at Yun Duo, then turned to look at Qian Xu-Dong in confusion. If he had choose someone to believe between the two of them, his choice was very obvious.

However, Yun Duo had no reason to lie. Lying would not benefit her at all.

What if she had gone mad ...?

Just when Director Liu was struggling internally, Qian Xu-Dong helped him to settle his mind. "Yun Duo, what nonsense are you spewing?"

Everyone present knew a little about the situation and they all found it rather strange. Even Qian Xu-Dong was unable to procure an exclusive interview, so how could Yun Duo have obtained one? What did she have to offer?

Pressed, Yun Duo dialled Tang Yi-Bai for a video call. Luckily, the call went through very quickly.

Tang Yi-Bai seemed to be in a very good mood. He smiled brightly at the phone, his eyes crinkled up, and asked, "Are you that impatient to see me?"

Yun Duo blushed and said, "Tang Yi-Bai, this here is Director Liu from our editing department. Could you please help confirm that you're really coming here for an exclusive interview?" Done speaking, she turned her screen to face Director Liu.

"Good day, Director Liu," Tang Yi-Bai greeted the old man Director Liu with a smile. His smile was distant but polite. "I have indeed arranged with your agency's reporter Yun Duo to have an exclusive interview. Yes, just now. Because I am short on time, I was thinking to head over to your offices right now. May I know if today is convenient for your side? Or should we reschedule?"

"It's convenient," Director Liu rushed to nod his head, "We're already ready."

Yun Duo ended the call with Tang Yi-Bai, and then asked Director Liu tentatively, "We haven't set up though, right?"

Director Liu sighed deeply and looked at Yun Duo like she was an expert from another world beyond understanding. "10 minutes is enough for us to set up."

"But ..."

"No buts. Tang Yi-Bai is very popular right now. If we miss this chance, who knows if we'll ever get another? Yun Duo, you go and prepare in the reception room and wait to welcome Tang Yi-Bai. Xu-Dong, the rest of you will help me draft up the questions. Xu-Dong, you've already made some preparations before this, right? That's perfect. By the way, Yun Duo, go and call Lin Zi and let him take notes. If he can't even do this much, he should really just get lost."

Director Liu issued his orders one by one, and the group very swiftly entered battle mode, with the exception of Qian Xu-Dong. Right then, his face was vacillating between looking sick and looking pale, as if he had several mixed colours of foundation on his face. It was particularly interesting to look at. He had just been complaining to Director Liu about how difficult it was to obtain an exclusive interview with Tang Yi-Bai, and here was a young lady running over to say that she had already secured one with Tang Yi-Bai. This was a harsh direct smack to his face!

However, the professional Director Liu had no time to be mindful of Qian Xu-Dong's feelings at the moment.

When middle-aged men really got into their work, they were very efficient. In less than 10 minutes, Lin Zi was carrying two sheets of A4 paper to Yun Duo in the reception room. The A4 papers were freshly printed, still slightly warm from the printer and smelling faintly of ink.

Yun Duo browsed through the questions on the two pages. When she saw the last question, she frowned.

She went to get a whiteboard marker and used the thick nib to completely blot out the two lines of words with ink.

Lin Zi did not approve. "You'll be scolded by Director Liu for that."

Yun Duo radiated a cold aura in line with how a dead pig was not afraid of boiling water. "He can just scold me then. This lady doesn't care."

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Previous: Chapter 26
Next: Chapter 28

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