Chapter 7: An Invitation to the Club

"I've made up my mind. Next semester, I'm going to study art and aim for an art college in the future!"

"A girl like me, with both looks and talent, would be wasted if she didn’t become a star!"

"When I become famous, I'll take you to enjoy all the best food and drink!"

"I'll treat you at the club, and order three rounds at once!"

"..."

As Tang Jiayi's words grew more outrageous, Su Chen watched her pout and daydream, inwardly groaning.

What on earth is she thinking about in that little head of hers? Where did she even learn all this? Is this what high schoolers know these days? She really doesn’t treat me like an outsider!

"Becoming a star isn’t as easy as you think. For now, you'd better finish your homework," he said, pulling her back to reality in an instant. Tang Jiayi deflated, but then her eyes brightened with a sudden idea.

"Su Chen, did you attend the school's graduation party tonight?"

"I did, why?" he replied casually.

Tang Jiayi perked up. "Then... did you see Xi Siyuan?"

Su Chen paused. Could this girl be a fan of that notorious woman?

"So, you like Xi Siyuan?" he asked.

"Of course! Her singing is beautiful, and she’s so inspiring. She achieved everything through her own hard work!"

Su Chen was speechless. Where did she read that promotional article?

"Well... she didn’t attend. Supposedly, it was due to health reasons," he said.

"Oh! What happened to her? Who performed in her place?"

Su Chen laughed. "How should I know what happened to her? In the end, a senior performed, and sang a song about... tearing apart a manipulative girlfriend."

"Wow!" Tang Jiayi's eyes sparkled as if she’d stumbled upon a juicy scandal.

"Tell me more... come on, tell me!"

"Well, basically, the guy’s girlfriend had a falling out with his company, paid a huge penalty fee, but then turned around and joined the very same company. Step by step, she controlled him until he was completely destroyed..."

"How pitiful!"

Su Chen was left speechless. Was this girl’s tongue always so sharp? He knew she meant well, but the original protagonist was standing right in front of her.

Just as he was about to say something more, a scolding voice rang out from the doorway.

"You brat! I told you to call Xiao Chen for dinner. What have you been doing all this time?"

A middle-aged woman, wearing an apron and holding a spatula, stood in the doorway, looking ready for a fight.

"Oh no! I forgot!" Tang Jiayi slapped her forehead, startled, then looked sheepishly at the woman before her.

Wu Xiuhua, Tang Jiayi’s mother.

When Su Chen glanced her way, she swapped her fierce look for a kindly smile. "Xiao Chen, we’ve prepared dinner—come have some. I told this silly girl to call you, and she completely forgot!"

Su Chen nodded with a smile. "Alright, Aunt Wu, we’ll come over right now!"

Wu Xiuhua was momentarily stunned by Su Chen’s smile, then shot Tang Jiayi a fierce glare, before flashing Su Chen another smile as she returned to the kitchen.

"Pop!"

Su Chen flicked Tang Jiayi on the forehead.

"Ouch! That hurts!" Tang Jiayi protested, pouting, "You always flick me!"

"Your mom told you to call me for dinner, so why did you come here?"

"I just forgot!"

"What’s always rattling around in your head?"

Su Chen shook his head helplessly, then asked,

"Why is your family eating so late tonight?"

"We were waiting for you!"

"For me?"

"Yeah, you graduated today!"

In that moment, a warm current surged in Su Chen’s heart.

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Tang Jiayi’s home was directly opposite Su Chen’s, two units on each floor, door to door.

When they arrived at the living room, the table was already overflowing with dishes—far more lavish than usual! In his memory, Tang Jiayi’s family rarely prepared such a feast.

A working family, their everyday meals were simple.

Seeing Tang Jiayi enter arm in arm with Su Chen, Tang Weidong was briefly surprised, then called out, "Xiao Chen, come in!"

"I told this girl to call you for dinner, and she completely forgot!"

"She’s hopeless!"

Tang Jiayi rolled her eyes; it was always like this. As soon as Su Chen came over, he was treated like the real son, and she like the foster child.

Su Chen greeted them with a laugh. "Uncle Tang, don’t blame her—I asked her to help me pack up."

"Oh? Haha... come, sit!"

Tang Weidong chuckled, moved his chair, and invited Su Chen to sit.

Just then, Wu Xiuhua emerged from the kitchen carrying a bowl of fish soup.

"All dishes are ready! Fish head tofu soup!"

Once everything was served, Tang Weidong scanned the table and said to Wu Xiuhua, "Go get my bottle of liquor!"

Wu Xiuhua frowned, giving him a meaningful look, but Tang Weidong ignored her.

"It’s fine! Bring it over!"

"Xiao Chen, you can have a drink, right?"

Su Chen nodded with a smile.

"I’ll have a little," he replied, understanding Wu Xiuhua’s worry. He had damaged his throat from drinking before, and now Tang Weidong wanted liquor—wasn’t that reopening old wounds? But it didn’t matter to him now. Sometimes, between men, a glance or a gesture is all it takes.

It was a bottle of Maotai from 2015, given to Tang Weidong years ago for helping someone, and he had kept it untouched.

Once it was brought out, he poured a full glass for Su Chen and then filled his own to the brim.

The glasses held about two hundred milliliters—half the bottle was gone in a single pour!

"Let’s drink first!"

Tang Weidong raised his brimming glass to Su Chen and downed it in one gulp.

Wu Xiuhua couldn’t stand it. "Who drinks like that? The boy hasn’t even eaten yet, and you’re already making him drink so much!"

"Xiao Chen, don’t follow this fool’s example!"

"Eat, eat!"

Tang Weidong laughed heartily, unconcerned.

Su Chen said nothing more, mimicking Tang Weidong and draining his glass.

A warm rush surged from his throat straight to his stomach, spicy and lingering, like a fire igniting within him.

"Excellent! Excellent!"

"Let’s eat first!"

Tang Weidong was about to say something else when Wu Xiuhua twisted his waist, making Tang Jiayi giggle behind her hand.

The meal was filled with laughter, mostly centered around Tang Jiayi’s studies.

Wu Xiuhua was scolding; Tang Weidong was smoothing things over.

Su Chen chimed in from time to time, and together, their words left Tang Jiayi utterly frustrated.

During the meal, Tang Weidong and Wu Xiuhua occasionally cast secret glances at Su Chen, sensing that today he was somehow different.

He was smiling and no longer so withdrawn—almost as if... he had returned to how he was years ago.

Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, Tang Weidong suddenly changed the subject.

"Xiao Chen, graduation is right around the corner."

"What are your plans?"

Su Chen knew this was the main topic. "I recently discussed a job, and if all goes well, I’ll be starting next week."

"What kind of job?" Tang Weidong’s eyes flashed with delight.

Su Chen replied, "Behind-the-scenes composer at an entertainment company, but it’s not settled yet—they still have to decide if they want me."

Tang Weidong’s brows knotted into a frown. "What’s so good about entertainment companies?"

"Why does everyone want to run into them these days?"