Assistant Bai Really Does Have a Three Year Old Child - Chapter 10

During this period of time, the incidents regarding Qiao Si’s tax evasion and tax fraud, as well as her bullying on film sets, rose to a crescendo, creating a massive uproar that shook the whole city.

However, strangely, all of her accounts across various platforms were completely cancelled.

Fan clubs disbanded, and the television dramas and variety shows she had filmed were all taken down. Even if netizens mentioned her name online, the topic would be scrubbed clean almost instantly.

In an instant, the traces of her former glory in the world had been completely erased.

Everyone in the entertainment industry was on edge for their own safety. Artists who had worked with her and had previously affectionately called her “Sister” one after another now frequently expressed that they were “not close to her” or “did not know her.”

The matter fermented for half a month, and the production crew also halted work for half a month. It wasn’t until the heat of the controversy passed that the director gathered all the actors and crew members to discuss the matter anew.

The production director made a prompt decision:

“While we have only filmed one-fourth of it, there is still time to change people. Otherwise, if everyone works hard on a television drama but it cannot be put on the shelves, all that glittering silver will go down the drain. We cannot afford to waste time.”

As soon as these words were spoken, they hit the mark of everyone’s hidden thoughts.

Everyone thought the same way; no one was willing to let a drama, prepared with so much energy and painstaking effort, die in the womb just like that. Changing the person was currently the only optimal solution to minimize losses.

The director expressed that he would contact female actors with decent popularity and available schedules as soon as possible.

Finally, he gave repeated instructions and injunctions that this matter must be kept absolutely confidential. They would wait until all filming was completed before conducting promotion and distribution again, so as not to let people describe it as “killing the donkey once the grinding is done” such unpleasant words would affect the reputation of the television drama and the actors.

Moreover, the shots that had already been filmed would have to be shot again. He feared that the fans of some actors would not be able to stand it; if pushed too hard, they could directly trample the threshold of the production crew’s door into pieces.

Based on this, the director required everyone present to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

Bai Tan had also accidentally overheard a bit while following beside Huo Yang, and he followed suit by signing this non-disclosure agreement, half-voluntarily and half-forced.

Although it was an overbearing clause stating that if a secret was leaked, one would have to compensate for all the losses of the production crew during this period, which were immeasurable.

But it was also within the realm of reason.

At this time, everyone from top to bottom in the production crew took a long holiday, yet Bai Tan and Huo Yang remained busy, wishing they could split one person into eight pieces to use.

Because the filming progress had changed, most of Huo Yang’s work also had to be moved forward to make room for the subsequent filming.

Bai Tan, on the other hand, was busy calling the contact persons for this part of the work to explain the situation and arrange the time.

He, a lonely lad whose contact list originally had only two people his parents actually racked up more than three hundred yuan in phone bills in just one short week.

One day.

Bai Tan finally settled the rough outline and preliminary character settings for his new web novel.

The theme was still an entertainment industry romance novel, and the character setting was the currently popular “Crazy Beauty” paired with the “High Mountain Snow (Aloof and Pure)” figure who was as bright as the moon and clear as a breeze.

The female lead, who lost her mother as a child, was not loved by her father and not respected by her younger brother; they only used her as a tool for “blood-sucking” (extorting money). Relying on her heaven-sent beauty, she entered the entertainment industry, but because she had no money or power, she was bullied everywhere. The fuse for her “blackening” (turning dark/villainous) was on the anniversary of her mother’s death. The female protagonist of the production crew, who had bullied her in a hundred ways, showed a great “act of kindness,” saying that as long as she came to help, she would introduce good resources to her.

The female lead, who was in urgent need of money, easily believed the slanderous words. She gave up on the memorial service for the only person who loved her…her mother and rushed thousands of miles to another province. In the end, she waited only for the antagonist to force her to admit that her mother had made a living by “selling her flesh” (prostitution) while she was alive, otherwise, they would take her purity. Finally, the antagonist filmed a video and publicized it widely on the internet.

At that moment, the female lead finally woke up. The only person in the world who loved her no longer existed. The tragic and inhuman experience caused hatred to explode within her from the inside out. Afterward, her methods were crazy and ruthless; everyone who had bullied her would not have a good life even in their next life.

She no longer harbored kind thoughts; she became ruthless and did not seek understanding. Nor was she like a madman with unstable emotions; the madness that erupted in her heart was anti-logic doing big things with stable emotions. Her worldview had long since conflicted with everyone else’s.

At this time, the male lead appeared. He did not care about her background or the things she had done; he appealed to her with emotion and reasoned with her, correcting the chaos and bringing her back from the edge of the cliff from which there was no return.

As for the male lead’s character setting, it naturally could not be separated from a kind of divine compassion for all people.

Bai Tan had not yet figured out how to dig deep into this character setting; he only very superficially attached the most common label: “Gentle.”

Perhaps it was because his hoped-for source material figure, Huo Yang, only showed this character label toward him.

Bai Tan took the character setting outline to show his “base friend” (close friend), hoping to have a collision of inspiration with them.

The friend finished reading but said:

I can see you want to write a “Daddy-type” (protective/mature) character, but I always feel your male lead’s setting is very “Daddy-flavored” (preachy/patronizing). He only knows how to preach, as if he hasn’t truly walked into the female lead’s heart.

Bai Tan immediately asked:

What insights do you have? Tell me.

The friend hesitated for a long time and said:

You know I write “Cool Text” (power fantasy) plot-driven stories; my romance scenes are just a lump of crap… Anyway, seeing your male lead’s character setting reminds me of my old-fashioned father who always loves to preach at the dinner table.

Bai Tan let out a sigh.

One thing the friend said was right: subconsciously, he did indeed want to write a “Daddy-type” character setting.

He looked back at his own old man, trying to understand what “Daddy-type” meant.

It was just that his old man was not much different from the fathers in many original families; he only loved to preach, always hanging rules and morality on his lips, and never caring about what his children actually wanted.

On the contrary, what the people in impoverished mountain villages wanted, he knew clearly knowing more than the immortals.

Bai Tan closed the document and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes in deep thought.

Outside the window, a pitter-patter of light rain began to fall.

The humid and hot summer was about to pass; after this, every time it rained, the temperature would drop a few degrees.

The sudden ringing of the phone gave him a small start.

Bai Tan stroked his chest, picked up the phone, and the caller ID showed the manager, Big Brother Yu Jian.

The moment the call was picked up, this brother opened his mouth and said:

“Little Bai, go to the Lanhai Hotel right now. Huo Yang and the production crew are there socializing with sponsors. That place is far, and it’s about to rain, making it hard to call a taxi. You contact the driver to go there and bring him home safely.”

Bai Tan checked the time; it was already eleven o’clock. He had already bought beer and melon seeds, intending to watch the World Cup.

However, since he took the person’s money, he had to eliminate their disasters. Get up, then.

He opened the wardrobe, selecting clothes with meticulous care.

His personality was like this; even if he went downstairs to take out the trash, he would tidy himself up properly, even though it was late at night and no one would care.

He arrived at the Lanhai Hotel half an hour later.

Many artists’ assistants’ cars were already parked at the entrance. Slightly tipsy artists were talking and laughing as they stepped into the curtain of rain, bidding each other farewell.

Finally, Huo Yang came out while chatting with a sponsor.

Behind him followed Yang Yueqian, like a loyal servant, holding Huo Yang’s coat and following step by step.

Yang Yueqian saw Bai Tan and ran over, nodding politely:

“Sorry to trouble Assistant Bai to make a trip. I have already called a car, and it happens to be on the way with Teacher Huo. We agreed to go together. You would still have to send him and then go home; let’s not trouble you. Go back and rest early.”

Bai Tan: I’ve already come all this way…

Thinking of that sketch Huo Yang had drawn, he smiled gently and originally intended to say “okay.”

But on second thought.

An assistant’s duty, besides protecting the boss’s safety and taking care of his daily life, was even more to pay close attention to his every move to prevent false news from being exposed and affecting his reputation.

Although it was true he came to gather material, he also had to perform the duties of his position.

“Thank you for Teacher Yang’s kindness, but picking up the boss is part of my job. You should also go back and rest early; I will take care of things here.”

Yang Yueqian’s smile faded slightly, but he quickly forced the corners of his mouth up again:

“It’s okay, I’m not tired. You can rest assured leaving Teacher Huo to me.”

Bai Tan finally used his trump card:

“I’ve already come all this way; I can’t let my trip be for nothing.”

The smile on Yang Yueqian’s face disappeared completely.

Huo Yang happened to walk over, took the coat from Yang Yueqian’s hand, gave him a slight nod as a thank you, and said:

“Since my assistant is here, I won’t trouble you. Go back early.”

After speaking, he turned and got into the car.

Yang Yueqian gazed at Huo Yang in the car, his Adam’s apple bobbing. After a long while, he squeezed out an unnatural smile:

“Okay, Teacher Huo, be safe.”

In the car.

The air conditioning’s cold air dispersed the faint scent of alcohol on Huo Yang’s body.

He leaned against the car seat with his eyes tightly closed, his brows furrowed slightly as if he were somewhat unable to handle the alcohol.

“Did you drink a lot?” Bai Tan asked.

Huo Yang didn’t speak, only shook his head.

Bai Tan looked at him for a while. After hesitating for a moment, he stretched out both hands, pressing his index and middle fingers together against the temples on both sides of Huo Yang’s head. His voice was very soft:

“It must be uncomfortable. In a little while when we get home, I will cook some sobering soup for you. You should have a good sleep.”

Huo Yang didn’t make a sound. His originally furrowed brows gradually smoothed out under Bai Tan’s kneading.

The rain fell harder and harder, clattering as it smashed against the car. The windshield wipers swiped through the water curtain, and the driver’s vision was quickly obscured again by the newly covered sheet of water.

Half an hour later, the driver suddenly stopped the car.

Bai Tan looked into the rearview mirror and saw the driver frowning, making a “tsk” sound:

“What can be done? The road ahead is already flooded. My friend just said that somewhere near this stretch of road, the asphalt has collapsed. The municipal authorities are rushing to repair it, but it’s too dark for me to be certain.”

Through the car glass, Bai Tan saw the rolling floodwaters pouring down, churning in the dark night. A trash can by the side of the road was smashed and instantly swept into the rainstorm.

Bai Tan surveyed the surroundings and saw that the scenery was very familiar.

“Uncle Li, turn right and go to my house.” He turned and asked Huo Yang again, “Teacher Huo, would it be okay to make do at my house for one night? The rain is too heavy; it’s not safe.”

“Whatever,” Huo Yang said lowly, his eyes half-closed.

The place where Bai Tan lived consisted of old-fashioned residential buildings without elevators.

And at this time, the alcohol in Huo Yang’s body seemed to have begun to ferment; his pace slowed down significantly.

Bai Tan had no choice but to support him up to the fourth floor, lead him into the house, and was still muttering, “My place is small, and the bed is also small; please just make do for one night.”

After speaking, he carefully settled the tall Huo Yang onto the bed and took off his coat, shoes, and socks for him.

At this time, Huo Yang’s consciousness seemed to have been completely struck by the alcohol. His clothes were still half-wet, and he was weak all over, lying on the bed rubbing his brow, trying to soothe the splitting headache.

Bai Tan brought some hot water over and again muttered, “I’m sorry, Teacher Huo, excuse my boldness.” After saying that, he lightly and carefully took off Huo Yang’s shirt, dipped a towel in hot water, and meticulously wiped his body.

Even every single finger was carefully looked after.

After finishing the work, he straightened up and whispered in Huo Yang’s ear:

“Teacher Huo, I’ll be in the living room. Just call me if you need anything.”

Huo Yang only gave a single nod, as if the pressure brought by the alcohol made him unable to move any further.

Bai Tan poured warm water again, melted a bit of honey into it, and placed it at the bedside.

Subsequently, he left, leaving the door half-ajar.

He was afraid that in a little while, he wouldn’t be able to hear Huo Yang calling him.

The sobering soup was cooking in the pot. Bai Tan finished his shower, changed into a loose and comfortable T-shirt and big boxer shorts, sat at the table, and turned on the television to watch the World Cup he had been looking forward to for a long time.

With a peanut in his mouth, he smiled like a Maitreya Buddha.

He freed both hands to tear open the pull tab of a beer.

“Pshhh—” The beer foam erupted from that small opening.

“Who is so immoral?” Bai Tan stood up hurriedly, scrambling to find tissues.

“Sizzle—” In the next second, the sound of the sobering soup boiling over came from the kitchen.

He jumped up like a monkey, not caring about his rain-soaked shirt, and ran to the kitchen to turn off the fire.

“Oh dear, oh dear.”

The soup rolled into white froth and overflowed from the pot; it was like the “flooding of Jinshan,” a complete mess.

At this time.

Huo Yang, in the bedroom, sat up and gazed through the half-open door at the messy table.

The beer was still gurgling and spitting out foam, and the plastic plate holding the peanuts and melon seeds had also been overturned on the floor, scattered everywhere.

Huo Yang lowered his eyes. In the darkness, the corners of his lips hooked up slightly, and a soft laugh escaped from his nose.

When he learned at the hotel that Bai Tan would come to pick him up, he had imagined slightly: would this child, who usually tidied himself up so meticulously, come wearing a T-shirt and big shorts?

As a result, things went against his wishes; it was still as usually seen a retro-style beige shirt, with the hem tucked into high-waisted trousers, outlining a thin and narrow right-angled hip. Even after wading through rainwater, the beautiful shoes were still as clean as new. In the night when no one noticed, even every single strand of hair had been seriously groomed.

This little assistant, who was always smooth and all-around perfect, arranging everything in his schedule clearly and properly for him, was like a “fake person” without flaws.

Until Huo Yang saw the mess all over the table, saw the boy who was flustered and jumping like a little monkey, wearing a soaking wet shirt and muttering incessantly. Now, with a head of messy hair, he came out holding the pot that had been dirtied by the soup, his face full of annoyance.

Huo Yang raised his hand to rest against one side of his cheek. His vision passed through that narrow door crack, and his gaze fell entirely upon the little assistant.

Continuously, deeply, and blatantly watching.

He heard the footsteps approaching from far to near and saw Bai Tan walking this way, so he lowered his hand, lay back down again, and closed his eyes.

“Eh? Teacher Huo, you didn’t sleep?”

It was just that Huo Yang’s movement was a bit slow, and he was keenly captured by Bai Tan exactly at the moment he lay down.

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