Chapter 82: Pet Names
Xi Leng felt it necessary to have a serious talk with Min Zhi about his extravagant spending habits.
Thirty-three million, donated just like that. Charity was a good thing, but someone had to think about the future, even if a life of poverty was highly unlikely.
“You’re rich now, tens of millions might not seem like much.” Xi Leng said seriously, “But what if? There are many overnight successes in the entertainment industry, but also many who fall from grace and end up in debt, you should save more, plan for the future, it’s easier to go from frugal to extravagant than the other way around…”
Such a long speech, it was rare.
Haha, such husband material.
Min Zhi smiled, replying simply, “Hmm, want to manage my finances for me?”
Xi Leng’s momentum instantly dissipated, understanding the implication, and he said helplessly, “No.”
“If you want to manage my finances, then add your name to my hukou (household registration),” Min Zhi said. “You know I don’t listen to advice.”
Xi Leng: “…”
But Min Zhi wouldn’t actually anger him. After their brief bickering, he came back with a stack of property ownership certificates, spreading them across the coffee table.
Such a nouveau riche display made Xi Leng frown slightly.
“Not to mention my savings.” Min Zhi showed them to him seriously. “Just these properties alone are enough, right? Enough for us to live comfortably for a lifetime.”
“Your daily expenses are high, and you’re probably not even aware of it. Take a look at your annual spending report—I bet you’ve never even looked at it.” Xi Leng persisted. “You’re working a lot now, earning a lot, so you don’t feel it. Try stopping work for two years. You’ll regret it when your expenses exceed your income.”
Although this kind of problem was unlikely to happen to the protagonist gong, it was contrary to his own values and principles, it was better to discuss it openly now than to argue about it later.
Min Zhi repeated his earlier words, “Then you manage it.”
Xi Leng avoided his gaze, still refusing, “You should manage your own money.”
Then added, “You’re older than me.”
Min Zhi: “…”
As a man, how could he argue with that.
Qiao Yusen hadn’t seen the Emperor since he changed his Weibo bio to “In a relationship.”
He rarely received an imperial edict on his phone these days, let alone during the day, inviting him for afternoon tea.
Jackson: 【Dude, you know night is my prime time】
Min Zhi: 【Night is date night, so I’m only free now, are you coming or not?】
Qiao Yusen: “…”
Fine.
When they met, Min Zhi seemed surprisingly… different, his entire being exuding a gentle aura, his usual sharpness softened, just like his fans said, he looked fake.
He even took the initiative to ask about his best friend’s love life, “How are things going with Luo Jiayan?”
“The same as usual.” Qiao Yusen didn’t want to elaborate. “Just say what you want.”
Min Zhi skipped the small talk, getting straight to the point: “He doesn’t seem to want to marry me.”
“You know about his family situation, it’s normal for him not to want to get married, wait—” Qiao Yusen suddenly realized something was off, “Don’t tell me you’re thinking about marriage now? Seriously, you two just started dating, are you trying to scare him away?”
“Confirming a relationship is like getting on the bus first then paying the fare, and he seems quite into it.” Min Zhi said, “We’ve already slept together, shouldn’t we also… pay the marriage fare?”
“…Shut up.” Qiao Yusen said with a look of disgust, “I’ll charge you for this.”
Min Zhi, surprisingly cooperative: “Fine, then let’s talk for another hour.”
Qiao Yusen: “…”
Who would want to earn this kind of money?
Qiao Yusen thought hard, finally suggesting: “Anyway, don’t be too direct, do something romantic. I think artists are suckers for that kind of thing.”
Min Zhi said confidently, “Hm? I think I’m quite romantic.”
Qiao Yusen rolled his eyes internally: “…”
Seeing this, Min Zhi actually took a step back, “Then tell me, what is romantic?”
“Turning your feelings and sincerity into something tangible, something unique, like, if he likes the moon, you go to the moon and bring back a handful of moon dust…” Seeing Min Zhi’s frown deepen, his suppressed anger about to erupt, Qiao Yusen smiled mysteriously, “Just think about it yourself.”
At the end of February, Min Zhi had to go on a three-day business trip to scout locations for his new MV.
Even if it was just three days, he naturally had to ask Xi Leng, “Coming with me?”
Xi Leng, however, shook his head and said: “MK magazine asked me for an interview, it’s the day after tomorrow.”
MK was a leading fashion magazine. For Xi Leng, without a manager or connections in the fashion industry, to get this kind of opportunity… Min Zhi thought, it was all thanks to the discerning editor-in-chief, praiseworthy.
This wasn’t something someone else had set up for him, and Xi Leng was clearly in a good mood, explaining, “They started a new column for emerging artists last year, the editor who contacted me said he had seen my Weibo before I was on the variety show, he just couldn’t find my contact information, he really hopes I’ll accept this invitation…”
The more Xi Leng cared about something, the less he would express it directly.
On the contrary, when he was pretending to be a fan, he casually used the word “like,” but those he truly cared about, forget about hearing any confessions from him. His concern, however, was always present, subtly expressed through his actions.
It was the same with things he was passionate about, his love for painting shown through his tireless creations.
Although casually chatting on a live stream could now earn him more than painstakingly painting several pieces, he still preferred painting, his unwavering dedication, He wouldn’t refuse suitable invitations from the entertainment industry, but he wasn’t particularly interested either.
Seeing this, Min Zhi could only say: “Fine, then I’ll go by myself.”
His tone almost sounded slightly aggrieved.
Xi Leng smiled faintly, “Mm-hmm, just three days, it’s not long. I’ll pick you up at the airport.”
“Okay, absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Min Zhi comforted himself, then after thinking for a moment, said, “No need to pick me up, I can go back myself.”
He sounded like a child claiming they didn’t need their parents to pick them up from school anymore, and Xi Leng chuckled.
As expected, Min Zhi continued, “There are scalpers selling celebrity flight information recently, I’m afraid of my schedule being leaked, no need for the husband material act at a time like this.”
This “husband material” thing wouldn’t die… Xi Leng rolled his eyes, “Then I won’t even if you ask me to.”
Min Zhi’s eyes and lips curved into a smile, his playful tone, “Okay, be a good boy and wait for me at home.”
Then he kissed him quickly.
“I just like your speechless expression.”
Xi Leng: “…”
Min Zhi was annoying when he was home, but it felt too empty when he wasn’t.
After the survival show, Rong Xingyi signed with Min Zhi’s company, managed by Zhu Minglang. Zhu Minglang didn’t arrange too much work for him but still needed him to make public appearances to maintain his popularity. For artists from survival shows, popularity came and went quickly.
Between work and school, Rong Xingyi was constantly busy, not even having time to bother his brother.
With Min Zhi not home, Xi Leng suddenly missed him a bit.
The MK magazine interview happened to be scheduled, and they said he could bring his younger brother if he was free. Rong Xingyi was more than happy to skip school and accompany him.
Xi Leng went to the studio first for the photoshoot for the interview.
While waiting for Rong Xingyi to arrive from school, his phone’s unique ringtone sounded.
He quickly picked it up.
A1: 【I’ve decided, I’m giving you a pet name, just for me, since your name is hard to say, I’m giving you three choices】
A1: 【a. Baby b. Big Baby c. Gege’s darling】
Xi Leng: “…?”
It seemed Min Zhi had too much free time on his way back.
Leng: 【…】
Leng: 【Too cheesy】
Min Zhi instantly replied.
A1: 【Old and outdated】
A1: 【Indecisiveness automatically defaults to C】
Xi Leng gave up.
A commotion from the door, and Rong Xingyi’s clear and loud voice, “Ge!!!”
He sounded incredibly excited, as if they hadn’t seen each other in years, well, it had been over half a month.
His phone was still vibrating incessantly.
A1: 【Countdown】
A1: 【3】
A1: 【2】
A1: 【1.5…】
Xi Leng quickly typed while responding to Rong Xingyi.
Leng: 【A then】
Min Zhi, very pleased, generously sent a voice message with his precious singer’s voice.
A1: 【Voice message 2 sec】
“Ge, are you done?” Rong Xingyi rushed over like a small rocket.
“Mm-hmm, finished, the interview is about to start…” Xi Leng replied, wanting to listen to the voice message immediately, putting the phone to his ear before he even finished his sentence.
Then his ears were assaulted by a low and soft voice,
“Mm-hmm, good boy.”
Xi Leng: “…”
“Ge?” Rong Xingyi tilted his head, puzzled. “Why are you blushing?”
“…”
The interview went smoothly.
MK magazine had also scheduled other interviews today, and just as they finished, another artist arrived.
Rong Xingyi reacted the fastest, excitedly rushing over and screaming, like a social butterfly on steroids.
“Huai Zhi-gege!!” He looked just like when he first saw Min Zhi. “Aaaaah, you’re so handsome, I’m your fan! And also, Shen Wu-gege! I love your racing! So cool! I’m so glad you came back…”
Xi Leng had met the couple briefly at the art museum and wasn’t too surprised. He silently took out his phone, recording Rong Xingyi’s familiar fanboy behavior.
Heh, he would send this to the smug Min Zhi later.
Unfortunately, Rong Xingyi’s encounter with his new idols was short-lived; he was sent back to school by their assistant.
Xi Leng, not having to go to school or work, lingered, learning that they were there to shoot a couple’s pictorial, a popular feature in fashion magazines, especially with this real-life couple and their immense popularity.
Shen Wu, with his extroverted personality, charming peach blossom eyes, and a mole on the tip of his nose, came over to greet Xi Leng, “We went to your exhibition last time, too bad we didn’t get to meet you…”
From Shen Wu, he learned that Shen Wu’s mother came from a scholarly family, but married his father right after graduating university, becoming a housewife for over two decades, only last year, after divorcing her husband, did she pick up her childhood love for painting and calligraphy again.
A while ago, Shen Wu’s mother discovered Xi Leng, a young oil painter, through “Unlimited Escape Room” and was very interested in his works, Shen Wu, realizing this, came to add him as a friend and also commission a double portrait of his mother and stepfather.
Xi Leng exchanged contact information with him, but shook his head regretfully, “But I don’t paint portraits, I’m sorry, I can add figures to the background, but they would be very small, the faces indistinguishable, is that acceptable?”
Shen Wu, not understanding his hidden meaning, smiled cheerfully: “Hm? The portrait you painted of Min Zhi was very handsome, I trust you, just paint however you want.”
“…No.” Xi Leng had to say it directly. “I don’t paint portraits of other people, at most, just a blurry silhouette.”
Shen Wu, in a stable relationship, understood and said with a smile, “That works too, like the one you painted for ‘Unlimited Escape Room,’ very atmospheric, my mom and Uncle Qi will definitely like it.”
Next came the discussion about money.
Shen Wu wasn’t very good at this, hesitating for a long time, unsure how to bring it up.
Xi Leng could almost guess his inner struggle from his changing expressions.
This young master, who had never had to worry about money in his life, clearly didn’t know the market price, afraid of offering too little, and also afraid that Xi Leng would give him a discount.
At this moment, Meng Huai Zhi handed him his phone, displaying his contact information, “Let’s add each other as friends.”
Meng Huai Zhi was much more thoughtful, acting like a reliable older brother to Shen Wu, his legal spouse.
Completely different from that certain someone four years older than Xi Leng.
Although both Meng Huai Zhi and Min Zhi were singers, their personalities, temperaments, and musical styles were vastly different.
Seeing Xi Leng’s friend request, Meng Huai Zhi quickly accepted it, saying “talk to you later,” then said to Shen Wu, “We should start filming now.”
Shen Wu blinked his peach blossom eyes, as if he still had a lot to say.
Meng Huai Zhi, already a few steps ahead, called out to him gently, “Baby, come over here.”
“…”
Xi Leng, having inadvertently consumed some dog food, didn’t linger in the studio and took a taxi home.
Bored on the way, he opened the chat window with “A1” at the top of his contact list.
Leng: 【Have you met Shen Wu and Meng Huai Zhi recently?】
Min Zhi seemed to have a lot of free time, and also seemed to enjoy teasing him.
A1: 【Jealous?】
Leng: 【?】
A single question mark made the rebellious Min-shen obediently answer properly.
A1: 【Mm-hmm, at an event last week, chatted briefly, they were too busy with each other to pay attention to anyone else, we’re not close, we’re not even friends on WeChat.】
As expected.
But then an inexplicable sentence.
A1: 【I hate them】
Xi Leng: “…?”
They seemed like nice people, their relationship also very good, a famous model couple in the industry, their bond strong, the envy of many.
Hating them yet imitating their pet names, how childish.
