Chu Yi and Yu Qingxian waited for a while before Director Wu arrived. Seeing Yu Qingxian having breakfast with Chu Yi, Director Wu was momentarily stunned. “Why is Yu Third Young Master here too?”
These two were having breakfast together? Did that mean they had spent the night together?
Chu Yi explained, “This house belongs to President Yu. I just borrowed his place for a bit.”
“Oh.” Time was pressing, so Director Wu didn’t say much more. After taking the Purple Thunder Talisman from Chu Yi, he hurried away.
Yu Qingxian was a bit surprised. “You just gave them to him like that? Without asking for anything in return?”
“How could I?” President Yu knew him too well, so Chu Yi shot him a smiling glance. “Eighty thousand each. Director Wu paid up.”
He had originally wanted to exchange them for a Yellow Jade Bodhi, but Director Wu said the Special Affairs Office didn’t have any extras, so he paid cash instead.
Cash was fine; it wasn’t like having more money was a burden.
“If A’Yuan knew you could earn eighty thousand just by drawing a talisman, he’d probably cry from envy,” Yu Qingxian thought mischievously. His cousin was already calling him Yi Ge nonstop. If he found out how much money Chu Yi could make, he might abandon his cousin and go hang out with Chu Yi instead.
Chu Yi gave him a sideways look. “With your family background, how did you end up raising such a stingy guy?”
“Who knows? He’s been like that since he was little—maybe because his aunt wouldn’t let him keep any pocket money.” Every time his aunt confiscated her son’s things, the kid would cry. His aunt thought it was embarrassing for a boy to be so petty, which created a vicious cycle. The more she confiscated, the tighter he hid things. Even now, mother and son were still locked in a battle of wits…
Breakfast was over, so Chu Yi stood up and stretched lazily. “Alright, I’ve finished my business. Time to head back to the film crew.”
Yu Qingxian offered, “I’ll give you a ride. It’s hard to hail a cab around here.”
Chu Yi didn’t refuse. When they reached the Film City entrance, Yu Qingxian suddenly asked, “There’s an antiques exhibition in a few days, hosted by a famous collector in the industry. You seem to like Ancient Coins, and he has quite a collection. Want to check it out together?”
Chu Yi figured he had made decent money lately, so why not? He might even pick up a bargain. He nodded. “Sure, thanks for the trouble, President Yu.”
Yu Qingxian curved his lips. “No trouble. Go film. I’ll send you the catalog in a day or two.”
After Chu Yi got out and left, he called his big brother Yu Zhensheng right away. Yu Zhensheng thought his little brother was calling about the Cui Family follow-up and said as soon as he picked up, “Qingxian, perfect timing. I just got word—the higher-ups are really going after the Cui Family this time. It’ll happen in the next couple of days…”
He couldn’t help yawning. After getting the news last night, he’d stayed up until two in the morning compiling reports and drafting a plan.
Yu Qingxian frowned. “Big Brother, work is work, but you still need to rest more.”
“I know. I just didn’t want to keep you waiting.” His brother had gone out of his way to get him that business intel, so he couldn’t let him down.
“What, you think Big Brother’s getting old?” Yu Zhensheng joked lightly.
Yu Qingxian replied, “Whether you’re old or not, Big Brother, just look in a mirror.”
He didn’t need to see to know his brother’s complexion that morning must have been awful.
“…” Yu Zhensheng felt an arrow pierce his chest. Moments like this made him think his brother was utterly unlovable.
Yu Qingxian added, “By the way, Big Brother, did you get an invite to Old Zheng’s antiques exhibition?”
“Yeah, I did. Why?”
“You’re swamped lately—no time for that stuff, right? Give it to me. I’ll go in your place.”
Yu Zhensheng was touched. “I knew you still cared about Big Brother.”
Yu Qingxian fell silent for a moment. “Big Brother, you should find a big sister-in-law soon. It’d be nice to have someone who knows when you’re cold or hot.”
His brother sounded just like an empty-nester, while their family Yu Patriarch was full of vigor—playing chess with one friend today, fishing with another tomorrow. Their mom had a ton of lady friends and never missed a tea party… Had they been neglecting Big Brother too much?
Back at the film crew, Qin Xiaoran eyed Chu Yi with a strange gaze for a good while.
He claimed not to know President Yu well, but which newbie got a solo official announcement celebration from Xingyao upon signing? And Ying Lin’s morning outburst got slapped down by Xingyao’s official account that same evening—faster than any investigation!
Xu Xing and Xiao Liu, on the other hand, rushed over excitedly to Chu Yi. “Yi Ge, your Weibo blew up! Look—one night, and you’ve gained a million fans!”
A million fans was nothing for a big star—Ying Lin had nearly four million, and Qin Xiaoran had at least twenty million.
But Chu Yi hadn’t even released a single work yet. Gaining that many from just a character photo and a video was impressive.
