The Zhong family’s big brother ended the call somewhat helplessly and looked towards his father, who was seated at a corner.
“Not coming back?” Father Zhong frowned a little. The golden-haired foreigner seated at the side couldn’t understand their conversation and could only maintain his smile.
“Mr Dave, please have some tea,” Mother Zhong smiled as she poured a cup of tea for the foreigner, communicating with him in fluent English.
His name was Dave, a psychologist that Father Zhong brought over from the United States. He was very experienced in the treatment of amnesia caused by physical trauma. Part of the reason why Father Zhong stayed overseas for so long was so that he could persuade this doctor to go back with him.
“Oh, thank you Madam,” The Americans’ trademark cordial smile appeared on Dave’s face as he thanked Mother Zhong. “Wow, Chinese tea is delicious.”
“His amnesia was caused by a hit to the head, will a psychologist be able to treat it?” During the period Zhong Yibin was hospitalized, Mother Zhong had already dragged over all the doctors she could find to see him, albeit not a psychologist. After all, the hospital had diagnosed the amnesia to be caused by external force.
“It’s like this – besides the conscious mind, humans also possess an unconscious layer of thought. The unconscious also acts as a form of memory storage, so bringing out the memories in these reserves is also a type of treatment,” Dave explained gently.
Mother Zhong nodded half-understandingly. She thought for a moment. “Then, treat his problem of homosexuality too when he comes home tomorrow. He used to like girls in the past.”
Dave looked at Mother Zhong in shock. “Oh, Madam, I won’t be of help in this area. Homosexuality is not a mental disease, merely a matter of preference. Just like how you prefer eating vegetables while Mr Zhong prefers meat. It’s not something a psychologist can resolve.”
At that moment, the four people considered mentally ill by Mother Zhong were at the revolving restaurant on a skyscraper, at their wit’s end.
When Zhong Yibin and Chu Qin reached, Yu Tang and his wife had already been there for a while.
The pretty crystal goblets contained a dark liquid that appeared to be red wine at first glance, but upon closer inspection, contained bubbles. Yu Tang held a cup and slowly swirled it, toasting the handsome youth seated beside him.
The youth was very pretty. He was fair, clean, and had an outstanding temperament. Similarly, his hand held a cup containing a sparkling beverage as he toasted Yu Tang.
“Director Song,” Chu Qin nodded in greeting. This person was Xinghai Entertainment’s young director – Song Xiao.
Song Xiao smiled faintly and stood up to shake Chu Qin’s hand, but was held back by Yu Tang, who refused to allow him to do so.
Chu Qin’s hand hovered in the air, though the expression on his face didn’t change one bit. He very naturally retrieved his hand. “Director Yu had very strict family rules.”
“Hmph,” Yu Tang harrumped as he took a sip of his drink.
Zhong Yibin side-eyed Yu Tang. However, them not shaking hands was in line with his wishes so he didn’t say anything either and dragged Chu Qin to the seats. The waiter came over to pour wine and Chu Qin’s eyes widened, watching the finely-dressed waiter tilt the glass bottle with helplessness. Although the glass bottle was of high grade, it couldn’t conceal the reality that the words ‘coca-cola’ were printed on it!
“Coca-cola’s limited-edition glass bottle,” Yu Tang raised his chin and gestured for them to try it.
The light-brown coke was slowly poured into the ice-filled, high-grade crystal goblets, the sound of bubbles sparking in the goblet spreading. The feeling of using a crystal goblet to drink coke was rather magical.
Zhong Yibin held his goblet and shook it. “Still drinking coke at this age, en?”
Yu Tang raised an eyebrow. “Still better than watching <Saint Seiya> at such an age?”
The two people glared at each other for a short while before harrumping at the same time. Chu Qin smiled helplessly and looked up only to see Song Xiao also silently shaking his head. He couldn’t help toasting Song Xiao. “I saw Director Song at the Grand Entertainment Ceremony the other time and haven’t managed to have a proper conversation with you yet.”
Song Xiao was a promising youngster. He’d participated in the making of a large film during the time he was studying overseas in the United States and took over his family’s entertainment company after returning home. The Grand Entertainment Ceremony was held a few months ago and involved Xinghai Entertainment’s artists. Since Song Xiao had just returned to the country and needed to familiarize himself with the network, he’d also tagged along. At that time, Chu Qin was the host and had exchanged a few words with Song Xiao.
“No wonder all the people in the industry say that Chu Qin has a good memory,” Song Xiao smiled as he toasted him. Song Xiao was born with a pair of smiling eyes and they formed crescents when he smiled, adding on to his cuteness.
The main motive of their meetup today was to discuss <The Golden Age of the Great Jing>, which was about to be broadcasted. Although the national station was the chief broadcaster, the main contributor to the ratings was still Shengshi. After all, the national station had a history of being more controlling when it came to publicity.
“Do they seem very familiar to you?” Zhong Yibin asked Chu Qin at a volume only distinguishable to the two of them.
“En?” Chu Qin blinked. They were indeed a little familiar to the eyes.
Zhong Yibin pulled up pictures of two ancient portraits on his phone. The method by which the portraits were painted made them appear vivid and lifelike. The portraits were of the Great Yu Dynasty’s Emperor Jingyuan and his male empress. Emperor Jingyuan was handsome and radiant, while the Empress was intelligent and gentle like jade. There was an uncanny resemblance with the pair of lovers in front of them.
“You guys aren’t the reincarnations of the Emperor and Empress right?” Chu Qin said jokingly.
Yu Tang raised an eyebrow silently while Song Xiao offered them a smile. “Who knows.”
Chu Qin had already heard of the purpose of Yu Tang acquiring Old Waves on his way here. Nobody could compete with the courage needed to come out in front of the entire country. Now that he was witnessing this scene, he suddenly thought of an exquisite idea. “Why don’t you do the promotions using the concept of the Emperor and Empress’ reincarnations? Not only would it promote the drama, it would also foreshadow your future reveal. If the drama becomes famous, the level of acceptance towards the Emperor and Empress would increase and by extension, your relationship would also be looked favorably upon.”
The two people sank into silence for a moment. Two of Yu Tang’s fingers tapped against the table. ‘Zhong Erbing, your wife is smarter than you.”
Zhong Yibin’s mouth curled up and he began ordering dishes from the menu.
The restaurant appeared to be a high class one that even used crystal goblets for beverages, but in reality, it was a Chinese restaurant. The dishes were quickly served. Song Xiao picked up a roasted chicken wing and placed it in Yu Tang’s bowl. Yu Tang picked it up to eat in a very natural manner. Though they were younger than both Chu Qin and Zhong Yibin, they appeared to have lived with each other for many years.
Chu Qin thought that it was interesting and couldn’t resist peeking at them a couple more times.
Unhappy, Zhong Yibin jabbed at his family’s wife with his elbow. “What are you always looking at them for? You should be looking at your handsome husband!”
Chu Qin stuffed the shelled crab leg meat into his mouth, preventing him from speaking.
The meal was a harmonious one for both host and guest. They didn’t consume wine, only the limited-edition coke, so driving was not an issue. Zhong Yibin happily took Chu Qin home.
“You don’t hate this sort of dinner party?” Zhong Yibin helped Chu Qin buckle his seat belt and took the chance to give him a peck on the corner of his still-curved lips.
“En, Director Song has a very interesting personality. I know of him from the Grand ceremony, but sadly didn’t get a chance to get to know him. Director Yu also had a good character, he’s able to talk with you,” Chu Qin beamed. To tell the truth, the main factor was that he felt gratified from seeing Zhong Yibin’s mind sharpen and his character improve from his interactions with Yu Tang.
Comparing Yu Tang to Zhong Yibin’s group of scoundrel friends was like comparing the steeple of the thirty-three layered celestial pagoda to the sewer of the eighteen-layered underworld. The disparity was staggering.
“Then I’ll make friends like Yu Tang in the future,” Zhong Yibin listened to Chu Qin praise his friends with relish, as if he were the one being praised. When he went to play with Wu Wan and the rest the other time, he’d felt stifled for a number of days despite their amiability.
Chu Qin stared blankly for a moment before he looked up at Zhong Yibin, whose eyes were sparkling like a large dog who had just picked up a ball and was wagging its tail. Chu Qin couldn’t help pursing up his lips in laughter as he ruffled that shaggy head of inch-length hair. “All right.”
Sure enough, Zhong Yibin became even happier from having had his head stroked. He rubbed against the palm of Chu Qin’s hand delightedly and hummed a song as he stepped on the gas pedal. His garbled song was a little familiar to the ear but the only thing that could be deciphered was its similarity to the Chinese language.
“What song is that?” Chu Qin asked him curiously.
“I’m singing a Chinese song, guess!” Zhong Yibin was all smiles as he started singing, “Quickly look towards the sky, quickly look towards the stars, quickly look towards the universe! The red day rushing from that place…”
Chu Qin was baffled. He had never heard of such song lyrics, but the tune was very familiar.
“Aiya, why are you so stupid!” Zhong Yibin curled his lip, abandoned the steering wheel and made a cross sign with both arms. He yelled loudly, “Taro, Ultraman!”
“Damn it, are you moving or not!” The car behind honked violently. The middle-aged uncle driving the car stretched out his head and cursed him in a loud voice.
Zhong Yibin turned around. Seeing that the red light ahead had already turned green and he could long go, he hurriedly pressed on the accelerator.
“Pffy –” Chu Qin let out a laugh. “Do you also need to guard the red light, Ultraman?”
“That’s of course,” Zhong Yibin stuck his chest out proudly and extended a hand forward. “A righteous warrior is a law-abiding youth!”
Then, because the car was moving too slowly, the uncle behind overtook him. The uncle stretched his head out and glared at him. “F*cker.”
The author has something to say:
Small theater: <How to raise a Zhong Chick>
Qinqin: Zhong chick has undergone a change, the rearing manual had to be changed
Xiaoxiao: I recommend <Everyday life of the Empress>
Big Brother: I recommend <Guide to raise a loyal dog>
Fish Pond: I recommend <Lovable wife of a two-faced Director>