Chapter 22: The Male Lead
Fei Jing, hearing Nuonuo’s words, couldn’t help but let his eyes, which were flecked with gold, curve into a smile, and he let out a soft laugh.
“That’s right, Nuonuo is my little brother. Don’t say such things anymore. Little kids can’t hear these things; they’ll take it seriously.”
The manager was just joking and didn’t have any ill intentions. She reached out and rubbed Nuonuo’s head, saying she wouldn’t do it again next time.
The car drove for about ten minutes and then stopped in the parking garage of the event venue in the south of the city.
Fei Jing and his entourage entered through the back door under the protection of bodyguards, avoiding the fans who had arrived early, and went backstage to prepare for the event.
This open day event was mainly held in the south and east of the city. The east side was a conference for big shots from all walks of life and was not open to the public. The meeting Fei Zhiyan was attending today was there. The south side was more entertainment-oriented, with a huge square and an amusement park directly roped off. Although it had just started, the small vendors had already set up their stalls from one end to the other, forming a long, winding dragon.
At the very front of the square was a wide stage built of steel. At nine o’clock, Fei Jing would go up to sing the opening song.
There was no rehearsal for this event, so Fei Jing and his manager had to communicate with the host director multiple times. They even tested the earpieces again and again, afraid that something would go wrong on stage.
Nuonuo was held in Fei Jing’s arms, his little head resting on Fei Jing’s shoulder, blinking his eyes as he looked at the various people around him. It was his first time in such a lively place. The surroundings were noisy and bustling, very different from the empty and quiet villa on normal days, which made Nuonuo’s little eyes unable to look away.
Fei Jing was wearing a black mask and hat. He bounced the little dumpling in his arms and frowned slightly. He had originally planned to take Nuonuo to the amusement park next door after his performance, but after arriving, he found that there were too many of his fans at the scene. Plus, he was about to go on stage and couldn’t hold Nuonuo the whole time.
The manager saw Fei Jing’s dilemma, looked at the well-behaved Nuonuo, and her eyes lit up as she said, “It’s almost your turn. How about this? Let the bodyguards follow us. I’ll take Nuonuo for a walk nearby. After your performance, I’ll release a fake message saying you’ve left, and then you can come and meet us.”
Fei Jing saw that the on-site director was almost hoarse from shouting, and it was almost time. He had to go and change clothes, so he could only frown and hand Nuonuo over to her. “You take him to the car. Don’t wander around.”
The manager smiled and nodded, eagerly reaching out to take the soft and fluffy little cutie. “Aiya, Nuonuo is so light to hold, so soft and fluffy.”
The manager smiled so widely that fine lines appeared at the corners of her eyes. Her mood was as bubbly as if she had drunk several bottles of fake wine, so giddy that she was on the verge of blooming little flowers around her.
Fei Jing looked at his usually shrewd and capable manager, who was holding his little brother and smiling so widely her eyes had disappeared, and couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on. It’s like her IQ has been lowered.
But this manager was someone arranged by Fei Zhiyan, so at least she could be trusted, Fei Jing tried to console himself.
Nuonuo was still foolishly looking at the new and strange environment. After being in the manager’s arms for a while, he finally realized he had been taken away and quickly stretched out his little hands towards his brother. “Brother, Nuonuo is wost!”
The manager sister patted Nuonuo’s back to comfort him. She walked to a slightly quieter place outside and then gently coaxed him. “We’re going to wait for brother in the car. Your brother is about to go on stage. After he sings, he’ll come and take Nuonuo to the amusement park to play.”
Nuonuo wanted to find his brother, but his brother had told him in the car to listen to the manager sister.
I can’t disturb brother’s work, the little crybaby Nuonuo thought, pursing his lips. But his uncooperative tears began to well up in his eyes again.
It was the manager who saw a cotton candy stall nearby, let out a little “ai,” and quickly carried him over, pointing at the cotton candy. “Nuonuo, do you want to eat cotton candy? How about we get a little bunny one?”
Nuonuo’s pupils reflected the colorful cotton candy, and his eyes were dazzled. For a moment, he forgot about finding his brother, sucked on his finger, and furrowed his little brow, very seriously choosing. “Want this one, the wittle doggy one.”
Nuonuo pointed his finger at the white, little-dog-shaped cotton candy.
“Okay, then we’ll buy a little doggy one for our cute Nuonuo!”
The manager sister was full of spirit and generosity. With a wave of her hand, she bought the best-looking little dog cotton candy.
There were a few girls with cameras nearby, chattering and pushing each other. Finally, one of them was sent over as a representative. She asked with a red face, “The little baby is so cute. Is he a little star performing today? Can we take a picture with him? Don’t worry, we won’t share it. We’ll just keep it for ourselves.”
The manager looked at the girls’ expectant eyes and shook her head with difficulty. “I’m so sorry. Nuonuo is not a star, and he’s still young, so he can’t take pictures.”
Hearing this, the girls were a little disappointed, but they turned their heads and muttered for a while, then bought a little bunny cotton candy from the stall next to them and gave it to Nuonuo.
Nuonuo was unexpectedly stuffed with a cotton candy. Hearing the several big sisters’ rainbow-like praises of how cute he was, his little face was almost redder than the pink cotton candy in his hand. He shyly buried his little head in the manager sister’s shoulder.
Seeing Nuonuo’s shy little appearance, the big sisters couldn’t help but purse their lips and smile. They pulled and pushed each other and quickly ran away.
The girls unabashedly expressed their affection. This affection was direct and pure, making one smile just by looking at it.
The manager sister smiled and shook her head, carrying Nuonuo towards the parking lot.
This little interlude passed quickly. Nuonuo held a cotton candy in each hand, his soft white little face sandwiched in between, which made many passersby turn their heads to look. But with several bodyguards by his side, no one came forward to crowd around, just giving a curious glance before turning away.
The stage was still some distance from the parking lot, but the farther they walked, the more deserted the area became, with fewer stalls and shoppers.
Nuonuo held his cotton candy, trying to decide whether to bite the little dog or the little bunny first, when a ding suddenly sounded in his mind, and the System’s mechanical voice came through.
“Male lead detected. Villain plot officially triggered.”
Nuonuo’s eyes widened blankly, and he called out in his mind, “Liuliu? What’s wrong with you?”
Usually, 006 spoke in a child’s voice. Today, it was suddenly so formal that Nuonuo couldn’t help but feel a little scared.
006 was also online now and spoke up. “I’m here, Nuonuo. This is a pre-set program. It will activate with a voice prompt when the male lead is within a hundred meters. Don’t be afraid, I’ll help you. You’ll definitely be the most outstanding little villain!”
Nuonuo also pursed his lips and nodded. “I… I will twy hawd!”
Before coming to this world, Nuonuo knew he would become a little villain cub
Nuonuo’s papa was the biggest villain in the world, and his brothers would also become very powerful villains in the later stages of the plot. Every time Nuonuo heard 006 tell the stories of his papa and brothers, his little eyes would light up.
Papa and my brothers are so amazing, Nuonuo thought. I can’t hold them back. I must work very, very hard to become the most amazing little villain!
Hearing Nuonuo’s words, 006 clapped its hands. “Good! As expected of the future Merman King. Nuonuo has such ambition! We will definitely succeed!”
Nuonuo’s eyes curved in a shy smile. He held up his cotton candy and said, “I… I’ll give my cotton candy to Liuliu. It’s a doggy one, just like Liuliu!”
In Nuonuo’s mind, 006 was a little snow-white puppy, lively and active.
006 didn’t expect Nuonuo to care so much about it, even buying a cotton candy in its own image. It almost couldn’t hold back, its data turning into tears as it cried for a while.
“Thank you, Nuonuo. But I don’t have enough energy to materialize, so I can’t eat the cotton candy. You eat it yourself. After you finish, we’ll go find the little male lead and bully him fiercely, let him know how powerful we villains are!”
“Yay!” Nuonuo happily held up his cotton candy.
By the time he finished gnawing on the little dog-shaped cotton candy, there was a circle of sugar stains around his mouth, but Nuonuo was completely unaware, still looking down to find the little male lead.
“Liuliu, where is the male lead, ya?”
006 also released its energy to search. When it found a small stall, its data lit up, and it quickly said, “Found him! The little male lead is at the stall in front of you!”
Nuonuo quickly bent his head to look and met the eyes of the little boy behind the stall.
The little boy looked to be about three or four years old, wearing a black T-shirt and slightly faded blue pants. He stood behind the stall, watching the passersby. Whenever someone stopped in front of his stall, his unusually mature expression for his age would betray a hint of nervousness and anticipation.
Unfortunately, his little stall only had some small, woven-grass animals, and not many people bought them. Most people would just glance at them and walk away.
The sun gradually rose higher, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on the little male lead’s forehead, but he didn’t wipe it away, still standing there straight, waiting for customers.
Suddenly, he looked up and saw Nuonuo being held by the manager sister.
Nuonuo was still sucking on his fingers, which were sticky with cotton candy. Seeing the little male lead’s dark eyes, he grinned foolishly at him.
006 quickly spoke up. “Nuonuo, you have to bare your teeth at him, make him scared!”
Nuonuo quickly wiped the smile off his face, bared his pearly white baby teeth, let out a milky “awoo,” and fiercely waved his little claws at him.
The little male lead was indeed stunned for a moment. He blinked a couple of times, tilted his head slightly, and then pursed his lips and smiled.
006, on the other hand, let out a “hmph.” “See, Nuonuo? The male lead is scared of us! He’s so scared he’s gone silly, he’s even smiling at us!”
Nuonuo’s eyes also lit up with joy, and he puffed out his little chest, feeling very powerful.
“Then… then should I scare him again?”
006 nodded. “Of course! We must press our advantage and ruin all of the male lead’s plans!”
Nuonuo tilted his head in confusion. “What is ‘pwess owr ad-van-tage’? Is it a yummy little snack?”
006 was completely stumped by the question. It let out a little “aiya.” “No, it’s not. Nuonuo, you go over first. I’ll teach you what to do.”
