RALP Chapter 27

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Shen Chen feels that he’s becoming weirder and weirder.

Something he said the last second might immediately get overturned the next, and he might even do something completely opposite of what he was thinking.

This unsettling mismatch has made it harder and harder for him to focus on his work. Even when in the company his brain is filled with nothing but Xiao Tiantian.

What is wrong with him? Should he head for a psychiatrist?

He used to be amused seeing friends in his circles booking for sessions regularly. He thinks they are just bad at self-restraint and self-adjustment. He never imagined that one day he would also be a victim of it.

He rubs between his brows a little bit. Then, he glances back at the documents piled up like a mountain on his desk.

Recently he really didn’t focus much on his work. Everyone knew that he used to be work first, himself second, and only after that does love and family come along.

But now, he’s practically devoted solely to Xiao Tiantian. His thoughts are so preoccupied now and with the recent conflicts and troubles he’s so stressed he’s become insomniac.

Suddenly, a thought pops up in his mind.

It is because he is so deeply infatuated with that person that it is causing him so much pain.

Is that so.

In the past, he would definitely have affirmed this thought. But, he is feeling something off now.

He couldn’t reason it out though. He sighs lightly, and opens the documents, trying to work.

That is when the landline rings.

Normally, only their partnering companies would call in through this. It should be his secretary who switched the call in.

He settles his thoughts and puts them in the back of his mind, and picks it up, “hello.”

That is when a yell comes through the phone, “you damned brat, you blocked your father’s number!”

It was so loud that Shen Chen moved the receiver away from his ears.

He feels like cutting it off but that would probably anger him further, so he replies, “because your calls are never about anything serious.”

His father is dissatisfied with that answer, “does a father need to have something serious before looking for his son? Also, don’t make it sound like you’re doing anything serious recently; I know all those projects have been pushed back.”

Shen Chen hmphs, “since when did it matter to me.”

“I never asked before because I felt you were doing a good job, god knows why you’re being so incompetent now,” he pauses, “nevermind. Clear up your schedule for the weekend and come home for a meal.”

That sudden?

Shen Chen recalls the last few times he’s been suddenly called back home to eat. All of them were because our chef Shen has invented new dishes and was looking to show off.

Those were days when he had severe weight loss and even ended up with an IV in the hospital once.

“I’m busy.” Shen Chen rejects him firmly.

“Bull. I heard from secretary Dong that you have nothing planned for the weekend.”

Shen Chen starts considering whether he should fire that traitorous git.

Then his father says, “don’t worry. It’s your mother cooking this time. She’s been mulling over what to make since she heard I was calling you home.”

Hearing that, Shen Chen’s expression softens, before hearing his father continue, “I’ve also invited a guest that day about the same age as you. You can try to be friends.”

I see. Of course it’s that again.

He furrows his brows and says, “I don’t need you to find friends for me.”

Though his son is replying with quite the harsh tone, his father isn’t at all angered, “oh, that young man is something special.”

He’s all smiles and praises when talking about Du You, “he comes along every so often to help support this father’s business. He’s a good listener and good-looking too.”

Shen Chen is certain now.

He’s got another blind date candidate. And he sure is desperate too, to actually go eat his father’s food to get to him.

One wonders how many trips to ER he must have made already.

“So that’s that. Sunday, at 7, remember to come home and also, unblock me in your contacts!”

After that, his father cuts off the call.

Shen Chen puts the receiver down slowly as the dial tone continued to play.

His parents know of his orientation, but they also know he’s currently seeing someone. Even so they still arranged for a blind date?

He narrows his eyes and takes his phone out, sending a message to Xiao Tiantian.

[Come home with me this weekend.]

The people are scurrying along the busy streets. With the recent cold wave many people have taken out coats and are walking in the cold breeze with their necks buried in their collars.

You Haoyu is at the site of the audition. Off the elevator, he sees many people already standing in wait in the corridor.

Some of these men and women standing or leaning there are familiar faces from TV programmes and some would seem to be newcomers fresh out of university.

Since there’s no heating, no matter how much insulation one is wearing it can’t be helped that blood circulation is affected. Not to mention part of the ladies whose thighs are exposed to show off. They’re the ones trembling the most.

You Haoyu himself also attracted attention as he entered. While he wore mundane clothing, he was once a popular idol, so the rudimentary disguise on his appearance did nothing to make his body and physique less conspicuous in the crowd.

He is tall and imposing. His body is lean and firm. It feels as if he walks with a breeze blowing by him.

As the crowd murmurs taking ganders at his identity, he is quickly recognised.

“… Isn’t that You Haoyu?”

“You Haoyu? That failed idol? He wants to step into another field now?”

Someone is dismissive of that, “someone who’s never acted trying to compete with actual trained students? He seriously doesn’t know anything about movies. It’s nothing like just appealing and ‘acting’ for fans.”

“He’s even blocking his face. I bet he doesn’t look that handsome.”

A girl is chuckling, “heehee, I think he might not even look as good as you.”

You Haoyu pays no attention to the judgement of others. Or rather, they haven’t even managed to register themselves in his mind.

“Number 134.”

It wasn’t long before he hears his number. He walks towards the assistant calling the numbers and removes his cap and mask, preparing to enter.

The murmur disappears for a brief moment seeing his face.

Most people would go along with the flow online and talk about how feminine and drowning in cosmetics these little toyboy dancers and singers are, even though they haven’t even actually seen the person in real life.

So, for many, seeing him for real the first time around, they can’t help but think about how the handsome men and beautiful women they’ve seen in their lives are nothing special.

Even if most present here could confidently boast about their appearance, besides You Haoyu, they all seem defective.

They’re either too short, or their face is too big, or their eyes are too small, all of them seem to have something wrong in comparison.

Humans are quite shallow. Both men and women would subconsciously view good-looking people more favourably.

Most important, it was clear that You Haoyu had no make-up on. He’s here as-is.

Even that boy there whose appearance was praised earlier had foundation and fake eyelashes on. And yet if he does go toe-to-toe with You Haoyu he’d the dancer to the main singer.

That girl who was probably his companion ‘wow’ed audibly, saying, “nevermind. I think he looks better than you.”

Don’t say something obvious like that out loud! The man wants to beat someone up right now. Badly.

The assistant himself who was calling the numbers is also briefly stunned seeing You Haoyu. Then, with slightly flushed cheeks, he calls a few more numbers.

Seven, eight people are there together for one turn at the audition.

You Haoyu was the last of the group, but when he walks in, all the interviewers suddenly seem more lively. They feel like their exhaustion from working continuously several days recently have suddenly been alleviated somewhat.

Though the young man is the last in line, he towers over the rest of them.

Of course, they are currently only admiring his appearance. At least, for them, usually young and good-looking people like him have rather appalling acting skills.

The ones before him all had mediocre performances. Finally, it is You Haoyu’s turn.

That is when one interviewer finally realises his identity and his expression contorts slightly. He quickly looks for the online information and hands it over to the assistant director sitting in the middle.

When the interviewers’ heads are raised again, the atmosphere seems to have changed.

You Haoyu didn’t care about that, though.

He looks downwards, facing the interviewers, and introduces himself, “good morning, sirs and madams. This is number 134, You Haoyu.”

“I will begin the given performance now.”

[It’s my turn.]

Du You just received the message from You Haoyu. When he is about to reply, his phone vibrates again.

This time, it’s from chef Shen.

[I gave my son your WeChat account. You should add each other and have a chat, get familiar first.]

The system can’t help but diss, “is the old man trying to set you up?”

Not long after, Du You receives a notification.

[Hello. I am the son of Shen Xiaozhi.]

Shen Xiaozhi is probably the name of chef Shen.

Speaking of, they’ve seen each other quite a few times now, but he hasn’t had the opportunity to learn about his name until now.

He accepts, but soon, he receives another message.

[I understand my father has invited you for a meal together this weekend. I suggest you not come.]

[I already have someone I’m seeing.]

[This weekend, I will take him to see my parents.]

The person sends over several messages at once. Du You himself wasn’t a quick typer by any means, so he wasn’t able to interject at all. In the end, he just replies a single character.

[?]

Shen Chen didn’t want to add this man himself, but, his father was bombarding him with messages, so he couldn’t do anything but send a friend request.

It seems like the person was lying in wait over there, accepting it immediately.

If so, he should probably not engage in any polite chitchat and get to the point, but what’s with this question mark. Is the man still acting dumb when he has put it so bluntly?

Shen Chen: [You and I are impossible. I am already seeing another man.]

Du You is confused seeing that.

He’s not surprised the person likes boys, because the chef has already told him, but why would this high school student suddenly say that.

Did he think his father invited him to convince him to put a stop to the romance and study hard for now, and he says that’s impossible?

Du You also agrees that that is impossible. In fact, he only accepted the chef’s invitation because he thought he seemed so troubled and he was his friend.

So after some thought, he replies, [I know that.]

‘Ding,’ a mere three-word reply makes Shen Chen furrow his brows again.

He knew? He knew, and still wanted to meet him through his father?

What a shameless man.

Whether it was for his person or for his wealth, the motive behind sure is disgusting.

[You are only disgusting me with this.]

Du You then glances down at the ‘good good study, day day up‘ idiom he found online just now and copy and pasted there.

He hasn’t even sent it yet and the boy is already aware?

And, are those words really that disgusting?

Du You feels slightly hurt. But, it is understandable. A student in his rebellious phase is definitely uninterested in being lectured by complete strangers.

So he deletes what he was about to send.

[No need to worry.]

[Just assume I’m there to have a free dinner.]

Shen Chen “???”

What the actual fuck.

Thus the mismatched conversation is over.

Du You thinks he has figured out the sensitive side of this high school student, and decides that he will not utter anything unnecessary at the meal.

Meanwhile Shen Chen is sure that this man is being all vague and noncommittal because he has resolved to definitely coming to see him.

Ho, his interest is piqued. He wants to see what this shameless slut would look like.

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TL’s notes: Oh my god that conversation hahaha my sides…