Chapter 52

Yang Liming hesitated in his heart.

Originally, it should have been a joyous occasion for his son to receive his graduation certificate. Yang specially made time to come back and see his son, but within less than an hour of meeting, they ended up arguing.

The child was so upset he stormed off, and Yang himself felt like he was getting sick from anger.

But Yang Yunran seemed unusually polite today, not ranting at him as usual, just expressing some disobedience.

Yang Liming still loved him and felt a bit like chasing after him, but in the end, he didn’t.

This kid needed to be taught a lesson! Let him know that leaving his parents isn’t something he, a pampered second-generation rich kid, can do. If he can’t handle it, he’ll only suffer outside, get into trouble, and sneak back home ashamed, begging for help.

Outside the door, Yang Yunran was getting into the car with his dog.

The car was the family’s Corvette, with a starry sky roof. The driver asked him, “Young Master, where are we going?”

Yang Yunran opened his phone and checked the address Zhou Kai had sent.

Zhou Kai had rented a small loft for him for twenty thousand a month in the company’s name. After renting it, he had found it strange. Why would the young master want to live in a fifty-square-meter apartment? Surely, his family had a big villa in Beijing.

Was he renting it for his poor boyfriend? Was it for his boyfriend?

“Driver, take me here,” Yang Yunran said, leaning back on the soft leather seat in the car, his feet on the solid teakwood floor. Harry was a Samoyed adopted after the original owner went to America, feeling unfamiliar with everything in China, resting his head on Yang Yunran’s knee and softly whimpering.

Yang Yunran patted Harry’s head.

Jiang Yi and his uncle called at the same time.

Yang Yunran hung up on Professor Chen and answered Jiang Yi’s call.

Jiang Yi’s voice was deep, asking him, “Have you arrived home?”

“Yes,” Yang Yunran’s voice sounded weary.

Jiang Yi said, “Must have been hard. Go and get some sleep.”

“Getting ready to sleep,” Yang Yunran never dared to mention breaking up with him. It was only a hypothetical reason, as long as he didn’t ask, it didn’t have to count.

Yang Yunran was afraid of losing everything, and even his boyfriend wanted to leave him. His heart was sour and aching. He muttered, “I miss you. When are you coming back?”

Jiang Yi wasn’t good at saying “miss” or “like.”

He said, “Soon.”

“How long is soon?” Yang Yunran sniffled.

Jiang Yi noticed something wrong in his voice, “What’s the matter?”

“I… want to sleep. I’m tired.”

Yang Yunran leaned his head gently against the car window. There were many things he hadn’t asked Jiang Yi, things he couldn’t ask. If he asked, it might be over.

He didn’t want it to be over…

Jiang Yi said, “Then go to sleep. You don’t need to hang up. I’ll listen. Be good.”

“Okay, do you want to hear Harry? I’ll let you hear Harry’s voice. Harry, woof once for your dad.”

Harry whimpered twice, nudging Yang Yunran’s phone with his black soft pad nose.

Jiang Yi said, “I heard it. Harry’s being good too.”

Soon after, Professor Chen called again.

“Baby, did you see your dad?” Professor Chen asked.

“I did, but we argued, so I left,” Yang Yunran explained briefly.

“What??” Professor Chen was alarmed. “And Zhao Youmo, isn’t he his son? Let Zhao Yumo listen to him.”

Professor Chen was impatient, seeing his sister still talking to Zhao Youmo, shaking and sobbing constantly, feeling sorry for her own son.

“You went out? Where are you staying?” Professor Chen asked.

“You don’t need to worry about me. I’m 22 years old and capable of taking care of myself.”

“No, come stay with me. Your uncle’s house has plenty of rooms. Tonight…”

Professor Chen felt at a loss for what to do about this mess in front of him.

He wasn’t sure how to explain the situation to Yang Liming either. Now, Chen Fangru’s emotions were already very fragile.

“I have dinner with the company’s broker and boss tonight, Uncle, I’ll eat with you another day.”

“Tomorrow, then,” Professor Chen sighed. Tonight, he would take Zhao Youmo home, and acknowledge him as Yang Liming’s son… if Yang Yunran wasn’t at the mansion, that was a good thing.

He had already contacted Yang Wanyu to come to the Beijing Research Institute and extract a biological sample.

As a famous professor of genetics, Yang Wanyu still respected him very much, thinking that there was new technology and agreeing to come as soon as possible.

Yang Yunran arrived at his new home. The community was relatively new, and Zhou Kai had sent him the password and other details. Afterward, he had the driver bring him to meet Yang Yunran. Seeing that he had brought his dog, Zhou Kai was very surprised: “Are you living alone, or keeping a boyfriend?”

“Living alone, and keeping a boyfriend,” Yang Yunran replied. In addition to the requirement for a fifty-square-meter interior, he also needed a suitable lawn area in the neighborhood.

He was quite satisfied with the neighborhood environment.

The house was just rented, and it was very spacious inside. Zhou Kai immediately said, “Do you have any requirements for furniture? How about bedding? I’ll arrange for someone to come and set it up.”

“No specific requirements for furniture. I don’t cook; my boyfriend does. A larger bed would be nice, and the ground floor should be spacious for the dog to move around…”

The loft’s second floor had relatively low ceilings. Yang Yunran felt it was too short, having to slightly bow his head. He didn’t know if Jiang Yi would come over and bump his head.

If he lived in such a place, would he be unable to bear breaking up with himself?

Yang Yunran felt very sad, sighing as he held his own cheek.

Zhou Kai watched from the side.

A big guy, does he need to be this cute?

Zhou Kai thought those gays in the company were quite disgusting, initially thinking the same about Yang Yunran.

Later, he found out that he was truly talented and easy to get along with.

Zhou Kai accompanied him for a walk with the dog in the community. Then the two went out and headed to the headquarters of Wanyan Entertainment.

In the evening, he had dinner with Lin Zong, and Yang Yunran arrived at the company. On the large screen of the company, advertisements for “New Talent Show” were playing, along with the trainees’ singing and dancing performances.

Zhou Kai cleared his throat, “This program is the one we bought the song rights for.”

“Oh, I see. I haven’t watched it. I’ve been too busy with graduation recently and just freed up some time.” Yang Yunran wasn’t fond of watching it; the singing was terrible.

Zhou Kai: “Because the show is popular, have you been following the fan count of Blu-ray Music? It’s now up to three million, and those two songs have over ten million collections each.” Blu-ray Music is the largest and most registered music platform in China.

Yang Yunran’s tone raised slightly, “That’s great.” Money to be made!

The two entered the elevator.

There was an advertisement for trainees on the screen in the elevator, and coincidentally, there was also an advertisement for Jiang Yifan holding Yuduo’s face cream…

Zhou Kai became nervous, but Yang Yunran’s expression was calm, just glancing over and moving away.

Zhou Kai scratched the seam of his pants nervously, “Teacher Yang…”

Yang Yunran: “Hmm?”

Zhou Kai whispered, “I know everything. I won’t say anything.”

“What?” Yang Yunran looked puzzled.

Zhou Kai pointed to Jiang Yifan’s advertisement poster, covering his mouth, “My lips are sealed tight. I’ve already warned him, and he won’t get a chance to bother you! Plus, he’s been doing live broadcasts for the group nights in Changsha recently and won’t be back for a month.”

Yang Yunran: “Who is he?”

Zhou Kai: “? Hmm?”

Zhou Kai pretended to be innocent, playing along, “Isn’t he your enthusiastic fan?”

Yang Yunran: “Oh, I see.” He looked at the fake smile of the guy in the poster, and glanced at the signature in the lower right corner, “Jiang Yifan…”

Before he could think more, they arrived at the top-floor office.

After the meeting, Lin Zong saw Yang Yunran and came over briskly, “Teacher Yunran! Finally, I get to meet you in person!”

Employees passing by couldn’t help turning their heads, “Is this the new artist the company signed? So handsome.”

“He looks familiar, like that Yang Yunran?”

“The one involved in academic fraud?”

“He didn’t commit fraud; didn’t he clarify it in the live broadcast? He’s a top student!”

“Wow, he’s really handsome!! I never noticed before!”

Due to confidentiality agreements, Lin Zong and Zhou Kai wouldn’t disclose that Yang Yunran was Haliyeh. They would only announce that Yang Yunran was also in their company, and so was Haliyeh.

After all, Yang Yunran couldn’t wear a mask when he came to the company. Being fully disguised would only attract more attention. Being open like this perfectly concealed the singer Haliyeh.

Mr. Lin was surprised by his true appearance and couldn’t help staring at him for a long time, smiling and saying, “Teacher Yunran just got off the plane, right? Have you eaten? If not, let’s eat and chat together.”

As the masked singer, Yang Yunran’s career path was quite unique.

The dinner party was only the three of them, yet it was at a large round table.

The feast was extravagant, reminiscent of his past life—similar private rooms, seafood delicacies, leaders and capitalists at the head, actors and singers serving drinks.

Yang Yunran didn’t drink.

Mr. Lin genuinely appreciated him and didn’t force anything. As they ate, he said, “As long as you follow the path Kevin has planned for you, maintaining mystery, not removing your mask, and portraying the unique persona of the faceless figure, it’s entirely feasible. Currently, your platform fans range up to five million, which is excellent for an internet singer. But we can’t just settle for being an internet singer. I know becoming a star isn’t just about money for you.”

Yang Yunran sipped tea and looked up, “No, Mr. Lin, you’ve misunderstood. I’m here for the money.”

Mr. Lin paused for a moment.

Yang Yunran continued, “Otherwise, I’d just be a livestreamer.”

It wasn’t because he didn’t want to sell toilet paper that he was forced into the entertainment industry.

Kevin interjected, “Eat your vegetables, Teacher. Try the sea cucumber, it’s good for your health.”

It’s all for the money, right? Even saying this, they wouldn’t believe it.

Because it wasn’t a crowded gathering with many leaders where one must flatter, but a discussion about careers and future income structure.

Yang Yunran enjoyed his meal quite comfortably.

Mr. Lin turned out to be much easier to get along with than he had imagined. Later, Zhou Kai arranged for the company’s nanny car to take Yang Yunran back, saying on the side, “We’ve assigned a female assistant for you, who has been with the company for quite some time and is trustworthy. Tomorrow, she’ll come to meet you and can help you walk the dog.”

The assistant’s salary was under his name, as was the rent. Yang Yunran could freely give the assistant a raise.

Fortunately, his songs had recently become popular, earning the company quite a bit just from copyright fees alone.

Yang Yunran counted the savings in his bank account—there was just over a million. One million was Jiang Yi’s annual salary. Would he look down on himself now that he wasn’t born into wealth? Would he disdain him for becoming less affluent?

But for now, the company hadn’t paid him yet. A conservative estimate was around eight hundred thousand for this year, which was Jiang Yi’s annual salary for eight years. He shouldn’t look down on him for becoming less affluent…

At midnight in Boston, which was noon in Boston time, Yang Yunran called Jiang Yi and posed a hypothetical question, “What if I wasn’t born into wealth?”

Jiang Yi replied, “If you weren’t, then you weren’t. What’s the matter?”

Yang Yunran continued, “If my dad went bankrupt and my family lost everything, would you still like me?”

“Of course,” Jiang Yi, who had been asked inexplicable questions recently, answered truthfully, “Even without money, you still have family, work, and me. Money isn’t everything.”

“Thanks for comforting me. My dad really went bankrupt, and we lost our house… I’m really broke now…” Yang Yunran said half-seriously, half-jokingly.

Jiang Yi frowned. Had this really happened?

He asked, “Really?”

Yang Yunran nodded sadly and said, “Yeah.”

Jiang Yi said, “Where are you living now? How much do you need? I’ll transfer it to you.”

Yang Yunran replied, “My dad owes the bank ten billion now.”

“My savings aren’t enough. I’ll figure something out,” Jiang Yi took it seriously, thinking for a moment before saying, “I’ll try to raise ten billion for you as soon as possible.” He still had some research results that could be sold. Jiang Yi quickly calculated that finding buyers wouldn’t be hard, but raising that much money might take a few months.

Jiang Yi truly became his lifeline. Yang Yunran felt comforted inside, lying on his side in bed and saying, “Haha, never mind, I was just teasing you. What are you up to now? I want to video chat with you, I want to see you.” Yang Yunran wanted to talk about trivial things with him to dispel the oppressive emptiness he felt.