Chapter Seventy-Eight: Old Man, Say Farewell to Your Past!

“Boo hoo, teacher, you were so ill—why didn’t you tell me this morning? When you sent me off to buy oranges, I was even smugly thinking, ‘You stay here and don’t wander off’…”
“Boo hoo, if I’d known you were so sick, how could I have teased you? Never mind oranges and bananas—even if you said you wanted pork, I’d buy you a whole pig from the market. Boo hoo hoo…”
In the taxi, Li Shixin looked at An Xiaoxiao, who clung to his arm, tears pouring down like a faucet, and felt his temples pounding.
Ah—
When he wrote the skit, he’d anticipated almost everything, even arranged how to resolve the minor bug in the plan named An Xiaoxiao.
But he hadn’t expected this child to be so gullible. As one of the only two people carrying out the plan, she didn’t even consider the suspicious phone call during his interview, instead focusing all her attention on his illness and lifespan.
Through the rearview mirror, he caught the driver’s sidelong glances—those complex looks, mingling disdain and respect, peculiar between men. Li Shixin sighed quietly.
This kind of child—truly unsuited for the entertainment industry.
He patted An Xiaoxiao’s head and attempted to comfort her. “Xiaoxiao, do you know why I came to Rongdian?”
Sniff, sniff.
An Xiaoxiao blew her nose hard, lifting a tear-stained face. “I heard from Mr. Wang just now… because… boo… because your son wouldn’t pay for your treatment, and you felt your time was short, so you came to Rongdian to chase your dream. Boo… Teacher, maybe you shouldn’t act anymore. I’ve kept all my New Year money in my bank card—nearly fifty thousand yuan. Please use it for treatment… boo hoo hoo…”
The murderous intent in the driver’s eyes grew visible in the mirror, as if the walls were about to crumble.
Are children these days really so rich?
Thinking his own lifetime savings couldn’t match a sixteen-year-old’s, Li Shixin’s eye twitched. “Xiaoxiao, let me tell you something. You say I came to Rongdian because I couldn’t afford treatment, right?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“But now, I’ve landed a role! Once I finish filming, my pay will be enough for the operation. I won’t have to die, right?”
“That… that sounds about right.”
“Exactly!” Li Shixin nodded vigorously. “So why are you sad? Just stick with me, finish this show, and when I get my pay, I’ll go for surgery. Everything will be settled!”
“Really?”
Li Shixin: “Would I lie?”
An Xiaoxiao stopped sobbing instantly.
Hmm?
If you think about it… the logic seems sound.
Seeing the girl had stopped crying, Li Shixin breathed a long sigh of relief. “You make it seem like I’m about to die. What do you think, life is a Korean drama?”
“Mm! Teacher makes sense! But…”
Oh no, please don’t ‘but’ anymore!

Seeing An Xiaoxiao about to ponder further, Li Shixin hurriedly switched topics, asked about her favorite foods, and told the driver to head for the supermarket instead.
Compared to acting, coaxing children is truly exhausting!
…
Li Shixin had promised An Xiaoxiao, on her first visit to Rongdian, they’d tour the film studio that afternoon.
But one, possessed by the spirit of performance, couldn’t control himself and fake-cried for half an hour; the other, genuinely hoodwinked, cried for real. The old and the young ended up with matching peach-blossom eyes, clearly going nowhere.
Zhang Ying and Zhang Shuo, auxiliary members of the crew, didn’t attend the dinner.
But by the time they returned home, they’d already heard about the hotel incident.
Regarding the old man’s unfilial son, the siblings were furious. As the chief godson, Zhang Shuo was so indignant he threatened to drive to Tiancheng and tear the son apart with his own hands.
But when Li Shixin squinted, not only refusing to stop him, but even smilingly urging him to hurry and reach Tiancheng before nightfall to avenge him—
The chief godson, after loudly declaring loyalty, promptly lost his nerve.
Watching Zhang Shuo make excuses like “impulsiveness is the devil” and “we live in a society ruled by law,” Li Shixin didn’t even want to respond.
No courage to tear apart the rebel on behalf of the old man—what’s filial piety, then?
Hmph—
Plastic father-son relationship.
A surface-level son!
With this attitude, not only do biological children need a regular shake-up, even godsons require discipline.
Loyalty needs improvement.
Afternoon.
Claiming fatigue, Li Shixin handed An Xiaoxiao over to Zhang Ying’s care and sent Zhang Shuo, the surface-level son, packing.
He took a nap, then got up and opened his computer.
As soon as the startup ceremony ended, news about the launch of “Flying Against the Wind” was being released, bit by bit.
And as a key part of the opening ceremony, the actors’ interview videos were already posted by several Tianmeng Company media partners.
Li Shixin first watched the interview titled “New Actress An Xiaoxiao—A Wildflower from North Dance.” Just as the girl had said, she was a little too candid during the interview.
After viewing it, Li Shixin’s first impression was—this kid really dares to speak her mind!
Clearly she’s never been restrained by a management company.
Otherwise, just from this interview, the company would have docked her earnings.
But the comments below were lively and positive.
Things like “Thought she’d be another literary goddess, turns out she’s a literary goddess with nerves,” “A breath of fresh air in entertainment,” “So real it’s adorable, feels like a chatterbox little sister!” scrolled by in droves…

In an entertainment industry teeming with flamboyant schemers, green tea types radiating buried stench, and white lotus flowers blooming over mud, this authenticity won An Xiaoxiao a small circle of fans.
Closing her video, Li Shixin, with some anticipation, opened his own interview page.
Though Wang Hai had set the interview for five minutes, the released video was a full nine minutes!
Li Shixin dragged the progress bar and watched quickly, noticing that the original five minutes, plus his later emotional performance, had been edited and posted together.
At this moment, as the first wave of viewers interested in “Flying Against the Wind” finished watching, the comment section was exploding!
“Leaving a gravely ill father alone in Rongdian, just for some hospital fees, and calling to say such vicious things! Is this even human?”
“Damn! I randomly clicked a video and ended up crying—such bad luck for the old man, saddled with a son like this!”
“I don’t know much about the old man, but from his manners in the interview and the released clips, he seems very cultured! How did a good bamboo produce such a rotten shoot, raising a son like this?!”
“Unconditional support for the old man! Watching him cry, I almost exploded with rage! Strongly demand we expose this unfilial son!”
“Yes! Expose him. Lust is the root of all evil, but filial piety comes first among all virtues. Let everyone see what this unfilial son looks like, and show his friends what a beast in human clothing really is!”
Seeing the fury practically bursting from the screen, Li Shixin chuckled.
Stage one—mission accomplished.
Old man, say your farewell to the past.
…
Li Shixin’s hometown, Tiancheng.
In a Chinese restaurant called Dongya Cuisine, the Tiancheng branch of Songtian Potato Industry was holding a team-building banquet.
The noisy private room was filled with chatter; Li Chengdong and his wife, Xu Chuntian, stood with their wine glasses, bowing before the company’s general manager, Liu Liwan.
“Manager Liu, this toast is especially for you! Thank you for looking after Old Li these past two years—especially for suggesting he be promoted to head of procurement! You don’t know, Manager Liu, Old Li always says in private that you’re like a second father to him.”
“Hahaha, no need for thanks. Old Li knows how to work, and he’s honest. Been here five or six years, always dutiful. He respects his superiors, unlike some youngsters who play both sides. With such steady employees, I feel confident putting him in charge of procurement!”
“That’s right… Manager Liu, you truly have sharp eyes! Old Li may be reserved, but he’s absolutely genuine. Come, Manager Liu, we’ll down this glass together—thank you for promoting us. From now on, both in and out of work, we’ll treat you as a senior!”
Watching the notoriously sharp-tongued gossip now beam with humility before the boss, several colleagues quietly rolled their eyes.
Just then, Xiao Liang from procurement, fiddling with his phone, uttered a surprised sound. He watched the video again, then tapped his team leader.
“Wang, I remember Old Li’s father—Xu’s father-in-law… his name is Li Shixin, right?”
“I think so. When we gave out family gifts at past annual meetings, Xu always reported that name. Why do you ask, Liang?”
“Take a look at this news, Wang…”