Chapter Sixteen: Finally, a Place to Call Home (Please Vote for Me!)

Accompanying Zhang Shuo all the way home, Li Shixin finally realized, from the way the neighbors greeted and chatted with him, that this young man was doing quite well for himself. Not only did he hold a position of considerable influence as the head of the extras' group in this area teeming with aspiring actors, but his side business was thriving too.

In Building B—the only south-facing block in Jianhong Community—Zhang Shuo held leases on six apartments. Though he was subletting them as a middleman to migrants chasing dreams in Rongdian, each single room fetched nearly a thousand yuan per month. With at least twenty rooms carved out from those six apartments, Li Shixin figured his monthly income must easily surpass ten thousand yuan from rent alone.

Once inside, Li Shixin sat confidently on the sofa while Zhang Shuo went about tidying his things. He took the opportunity to survey the place: a modest two-bedroom apartment, just over ninety square meters. The layout was pleasant, the decor tasteful, and, most impressively, the place was spotless—clearly the handiwork of a diligent female host.

“I must say, you’re quite well off,” Li Shixin commented as he accepted a glass of water from Zhang Shuo.

“Oh, it’s nothing, just muddling through,” Zhang Shuo replied, setting the teapot on the table. Then, glancing furtively at the door and seeing no one outside, he shut it with a bang and strode over.

“Sir, now that it’s just us, let’s speak plainly. Yes, I filmed that video and sold it to the media for twenty thousand yuan. I did make money off you. But I can tell you’ve just arrived in Rongdian and have no place to stay. I’ve got plenty of space here. I’ll clear out a room for you. You can stay as long as you want, no rent, no questions. How does that sound?”

Li Shixin chuckled at this earnest offer. “And what about meals?”

The veins on Zhang Shuo’s forehead bulged. How thick-skinned could one man be? Just as he was about to lose his temper, the sound of a key turning came from the door.

It swung open to reveal a young woman of about twenty-two or twenty-three, petite and unremarkable at first glance, but with fair skin and a lively spark in her eyes. She stood in the doorway, hands full of plastic bags, one foot still behind her to nudge the door shut, and glanced in surprise at Zhang Shuo and Li Shixin.

“When did you get back, brother? Why didn’t you call if we had a guest? And who is this?” She looked Li Shixin over as he rose from the sofa.

“Nervous, Zhang Shuo quickly introduced, “Sir, this is my little sister, Zhang Ying.”

“Xiaoying, this is—” Zhang Shuo began, but Li Shixin cut in with a beaming smile, “What a lovely girl! I’m Li Shixin, your brother’s newly adopted godfather.”

Zhang Ying blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected introduction. After a moment, her bright eyes flicked over to her brother as she forced a laugh, “Brother, you’re not trying to find a new partner for mom, are you?”

“Don’t listen to his nonsense!” Zhang Shuo was flustered, but perhaps not wanting his sister to know about his questionable dealings, or fearing she’d worry he was in trouble, he didn’t tell the whole story.

He only clicked his tongue and said, “The old man’s just arrived in Rongdian, doesn’t know anyone. We met yesterday on set…”

“Shuo’s right,” Li Shixin stepped forward with a sigh. “With your brother’s help, I feel at home here. But I won’t hide it from you, my dear—I don’t have much time left…” He proceeded to recount his experiences since his arrival: the stroke, his son refusing to pay for a stent, laying out every detail. At the end, he brushed away two tears and said softly, “My unfilial son wouldn’t care for me, so I wanted to use what little time I have left to chase the dreams of my youth, my dear…”

In just a few minutes, Zhang Ying, who had been bewildered by her brother bringing home an old man, was now shaking with emotion, covering her mouth as she sobbed.

“Please, say no more. Grandpa, my brother did right to bring you here! Stay with us, don’t worry about how much time you have. If your son won’t care for you, he’s not worth calling a son. Now that you’re here, we siblings will take good care of you—we’ll make sure you’re healthy and happy and live your dreams to the fullest! Alright?”

Li Shixin patted Zhang Ying’s hand as she clung to his arm. “Good girl, you and your brother both have kind hearts! Wonderful children!”

Thanks for the compliment, Zhang Shuo thought wryly, having witnessed Li Shixin’s entire performance and feeling completely at a loss.

“Brother, have you arranged a room for Grandpa?” Zhang Ying asked, wiping her tears and tugging at her brother.

“Ah!” Zhang Shuo snapped back to reality, pointing upstairs. “I have, room 502 upstairs.”

“502?” Zhang Ying frowned. “Isn’t that the storage room? And didn’t the previous tenant say the water heater and drains didn’t work? Grandpa’s not young—how could he manage in there?”

“So where am I supposed to put him?” Zhang Shuo nearly ground his teeth.

Zhang Ying tilted her head, then brightened with an idea. “Why don’t you move upstairs and let Grandpa have your room?”

Zhang Shuo’s eyes went wide. He dragged his sister into the bathroom. “Are you crazy?”

“How am I crazy?” Zhang Ying looked at her brother’s anxious face, perplexed.

“He!” Zhang Shuo jabbed a finger in Li Shixin’s direction. “I only met him yesterday! It’s enough to find him a place to stay, but why invite him into our home? And if I move upstairs, you’ll be alone with him! What if he’s not a good person?”

“Oh, please!” Zhang Ying gave her brother a withering look, flexed her small fist in a show of strength. “Brother, be realistic. There aren’t that many bad people in the world. Besides, you underestimate your sister—I may be delicate, but I can certainly handle a man in his sixties!”

With a defiant tilt of her chin and a wink, Zhang Ying slipped out of the bathroom.

“Grandpa, did you bring any luggage? If not, I have freshly washed clothes for you. From today on, you’ll stay in my brother’s room.”

“Good girl! No trouble at all, this is perfect. And please, don’t keep calling me Grandpa. If you don’t mind, just call me Godfather like your brother.”

“Alright, Godfather. What would you like for lunch? Let me cook for you, see how you like my skills!”

Good grief! Watching his sister and Li Shixin get along as if they’d known each other forever, Zhang Shuo covered his face in disbelief.

“By the way, Shuo, do you have a computer?” Li Shixin approached him just then.

“What do you want a computer for?” Zhang Shuo grumbled.

“Oh, I want to register a Weibo account.” Li Shixin smiled, watching Zhang Ying dart into the kitchen like a busy bee.

“They’re all… in your room. The computer doesn’t have a password, just turn it on,” Zhang Shuo said, looking as if his world had turned upside down.

Li Shixin patted his shoulder reassuringly. “Don’t worry, I won’t stay here for free,” he said in a low, cheerful voice.