Chapter 84: Chapter Eighty-Four: Don’t Worry
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
As soon as Shi Xiu entered the house, she kicked off her high heels and ran inside barefooted, hollering, “Mom, Dad! I got the lead role!”
Yun Nan smiled wryly. Shi Nian handed her a pair of house slippers and consoled her, “Don’t worry, she can handle it herself. Mom and Dad can’t thank you enough.” Even so, Yun Nan didn’t dare to relax.
Shi Xiu bumped into her grandfather and hugged him. Eager to share the news, she exclaimed, “Grandpa, Grandpa! I got the role! I’m the female lead!”
Nearly bowled over by his granddaughter, Shi Kong staggered back and cried, “Ouch! Easy now, sweetheart, slow down! These old bones aren’t what they used to be!”
Shi Xiu gave Shi Kong a peck on the cheek before rushing to her father, who had shown up after Shi Kong. “Daddy, Daddy! I’m the female lead!”
Shi Kong looked at his frenzied granddaughter and asked his grandson and granddaughter-in-law behind him, “What’s gotten into her? Why is she so… happy?
Yun Nan hurriedly explained, “Grandpa, Shi Xiu’s audition was successful today. She’s now the female lead of one of our movies.” Yun Nan didn’t give him the whole long-winded tale; she cut to the chase and got straight to the point.
Shi Kong was a little surprised at the news. He looked at Yun Nan and then turned to stare at Shi Xiu, who was excitedly reporting her day to her parents. He lowered his voice and asked, “Did you get her in through the backdoor?”
Yun Nan was startled. She quickly shook her head and told him,” No, of course not, Grandpa! Shi Xiu earned the role herself. We all think she did great!”
Shi Kong still wasn’t convinced and concernedly admonished, “You can’t play favoritism! Our family may pamper and spoil her at home, but she has to follow the rules like everyone else when she’s outside. You two are her elders; you should set a good role model. You can’t break the rules for her!”
Shi Nian put an arm around Yun Nan’s shoulders and assured him, “Don’t worry, Grandpa. Yun Nan isn’t one for such foolishness.” And Shi Kong finally relaxed at his words.
Although Shi Xiu’s parents had praised and cheered for their daughter during the hugging session, when Shi Xiu left to change her clothes, they still came up to Yun Nan and Shi Nian and softly asked, “Did she really get the role or are you just trying to make her happy?
Yun Nan found that her previous fears were unfounded. Shi Xiu’s elders were instead worried that Shi Xiu might cause her trouble, so Yun Nan had no choice but to tell them everything from the beginning.
“Won’t you lose a lot of money since that lead actress left?” Xu Yun anxiously stated when she heard the whole tale. “Shi Nian, make sure you cover the costs! We can’t let Yun Nan bear the losses!” Xu Yun automatically came to her daughter-in-law’s aid.
Yun Nan quickly said, “Mom, it’s okay. The production team took into account all sorts of possible situations in our cost estimates before we started filming. The losses due to our lead actress quitting mid-production are within our bad debt allowance, and—right now—we won’t know if we’ll suffer losses.”
Uneasy, Xu Yun meaningfully looked at her son. Shi Nian got the message and hastily replied, “I know. I know. I’ll handle it.” He knew sometimes, all the reassurances and explanations in the world were useless because Xu Yun wouldn’t listen. The only thing on his mother’s mind was whether her precious daughter-in-law would suffer any losses.
“Then, did you get Shi Xiu in through the backdoor? You can’t spoil her like that! She’s overconfident and arrogant enough as it is. I don’t want her to cause trouble for you!” Xu Yun whispered.
‘Mom, you too?! Yun Nan secretly moaned before she again explained how Shi
Xiu got the role and relieved Xu Yun’s apprehensions. Yun Nan watched as the
Shi family elders busied themselves preparing dinner and murmured to Shi
Nian, “Your family all have such good moral compasses!”
Shi Nian smiled and muttered, “I told you you needn’t worry.”
Yun Nan and Shi Nian had a happy dinner; no one blamed them for being late and making the others wait. Instead, they were met with care and concern. Before they left, the elders had their maid fill the car trunk with all the various snacks and sauces they had prepared for them in advance before reluctantly sending them off.
The three elders had gratified and expectant smiles when Yun Nan repeatedly promised to have dinner with them whenever she had time. When the car started, Yun Nan heaved a long sigh of relief. Shi Nian found it funny and teased, “Are you relieved now?”
Yun Nan turned to face him and commented, “Truth be told, Shi Nian, you and your siblings are quite blessed. It’s rare to see such a warm family atmosphere. Nowadays, many public media figures are revealed to have awful family environments. Experts have found that many social problems, including the causes of crime, are related to the family environment. You and your siblings are lucky.”
Shi Nian smiled and asked, “So, you don’t think my parents and my grandpa are a little immature?”
Yun Nan was surprised. “Of course not! I don’t think they’re immature at all! I think they’re adorable! It would be fabulous if I could be as youthful in appearance and mentality as your mother when I reach her age. Fang Xi would idolize Mom once I introduce them to each other someday!”
Shi Nian noticed Yun Nan had rather naturally addressed Xu Yun as ‘Mom’ instead of ‘your mom,’ and his smile deepened. ‘Seems like the boiling frog strategy works after all..’
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