Chapter 99: Brother Su Chen, I Want to Make My Debut

Su Chen left the real estate agency’s office.

He stopped by the market on the way and stocked up on a few everyday vegetables.

It was already past noon, so he had missed lunchtime.

But he lived alone and had no real routine.

So it made no difference whether he ate early or late.

Just before he reached his residential complex, he spotted two familiar figures walking out of the gate from afar.

With one hand holding his groceries and the other his phone, he waved.

“Shanshan, Jiajia!”

Kong Shan and Ke Jiajia turned at the sound of his voice.

Then, with delighted little steps, they ran over to greet him.

“Brother Su Chen!”

Ever since their last meeting, Kong Shan had naturally begun calling him Brother Su Chen, following Tang Jiayi’s lead.

Though Ke Jiajia was somewhat shy, she still softly followed Kong Shan and called out to him as well.

“When did you two get here? Why not stay a little longer?”

Seeing that they seemed to be about to leave, Su Chen asked politely.

“We came over early this morning to do volunteer work with Tang Jiayi,” Kong Shan said, answering before the other could speak. “We still have to go home this afternoon to do our homework!”

Seeing Kong Shan eager to answer, Su Chen nodded with a smile.

“Stay for a meal before you go.”

“You can do your homework later, it’s fine.”

But as soon as he finished, Kong Shan fidgeted awkwardly and said, “We just ate at Tang Jiayi’s place!”

As she spoke, her eyes drifted toward the things Su Chen was carrying.

Clearly, she wanted to stay, but couldn’t find a good excuse.

“How about having a little more?”

Su Chen invited them with a smile.

Kong Shan was just about to agree when Ke Jiajia hurriedly tugged at her sleeve.

Only then did she come to her senses.

“No, no!”

“We’ll eat next time we come over!”

After the truth about Su Chen and Jiang Yan had come out, the girls’ admiration for him had reached almost worshipful levels.

Not only was Su Chen handsome, he could compose music too.

And he had even won over a diva.

Naturally, the two had become his little fangirls.

In front of their idol, Kong Shan was a little more restrained than before.

Though she wanted to spend more time with Su Chen, she also felt she shouldn’t look like someone who ate too much.

Unable to find a proper reason to stay, she grew unbearably conflicted.

After chatting a little longer, they could only part ways for the time being.

Seeing Kong Shan looking back over her shoulder every few steps, Su Chen couldn’t help but shake his head and laugh.

Upstairs, he did not go straight home.

Instead, he carried his things and knocked on the door across the hall.

Tang Jiayi was back.

And according to Kong Shan and Ke Jiajia, she had returned the night before last.

Yet she hadn’t come looking for him, which struck him as a little strange.

“Oh? It’s Little Chen. Come in, come in!”

“Why did you bring so many things?”

As Su Chen stepped inside, Wu Xiuhua explained for him.

“I just went out to buy some vegetables, and picked up a little beef while I was at it. Thought I’d bring some over for you.”

Naturally, what followed was a round of grumbling from Wu Xiuhua.

“Why buy things for us? There are still plenty of vegetables at home. I don’t even know when we’ll finish them.”

“If we keep letting them sit, they’ll go bad!”

Su Chen set the things down on the dining table and looked around, not seeing Tang Jiayi anywhere.

So he joked with a smile, “The girl’s back, isn’t she?”

“She has the biggest appetite. Just let her eat it all.”

Wu Xiuhua burst out laughing.

She glanced toward Tang Jiayi’s room and shot Su Chen a meaningful look.

Sure enough, not long after, Tang Jiayi stormed out of her room with a furious expression.

“Brother Su Chen, you’re badmouthing me again!”

She pouted, looking deeply displeased.

Su Chen and Wu Xiuhua both laughed aloud.

Seeing that even Wu Xiuhua had taken Su Chen’s side, Tang Jiayi grew even more indignant.

“Mom, you’re laughing too!”

“Even if I can eat a lot, I still couldn’t eat what you make!”

“It’s the same few dishes every day. I’m sick of them!”

Wu Xiuhua flew into a rage, seized the rolling pin from the table, and made as if to chase after her.

Terrified, Tang Jiayi hurriedly clutched her head and fled.

After the resulting chaos finally settled down,

“Little Chen, you haven’t eaten yet, have you?”

“It’s too late now, so don’t bother cooking for yourself.”

“Just now the little brat’s two classmates came by, and I made a bit too much food. You can just eat whatever you want.”

“It’s all still in the pot, not even plated.”

Su Chen did not stand on ceremony. He nodded.

He went to the kitchen, fetched a bowl and chopsticks, served himself some food, and sat directly at the table to eat.

All the while, he chatted and teased Tang Jiayi.

After dinner, when he returned home, Tang Jiayi naturally followed him over as well.

Su Chen took a cup of yogurt from the refrigerator and handed it to her.

“How has school been lately? Anything new?”

Tang Jiayi opened the yogurt and answered as she did so.

“What could there be? Just eating, attending class, and sleeping!”

Su Chen was speechless at her hopelessly lazy attitude.

“Nothing else at all?”

Tang Jiayi blinked at him.

“Nope!”

Su Chen suddenly found himself at a loss for how to ask.

His instincts told him that something was off about Tang Jiayi.

During the holiday, she had stayed cooped up at home and hadn’t come looking for him.

And lately, she had sent him far fewer messages as well.

Though she had been trying her best to hide it,

Su Chen could still tell she seemed to have something on her mind.

What was making her unhappy?

Some matters concerning girls were simply not easy for him to bring up.

But if he didn’t ask, he couldn’t help worrying.

“Is anyone bullying you at school?”

In the end, gritting his teeth, Su Chen asked.

Tang Jiayi froze slightly at his words.

Then she burst out laughing.

Stepping forward, she pressed her hand against his forehead.

“Brother Su Chen, are you running a fever?”

“You don’t actually think I’m being bullied at school, do you?”

“Do you even know who I am?”

Then Tang Jiayi launched into a string of boasting.

“And besides, do you even know what era this is? It’s nothing like the chaos of your time!”

Since it had come to this, Su Chen stopped beating around the bush.

“Then why do I feel like you’re not very happy?”

Tang Jiayi was in the middle of her boastful streak.

Hearing Su Chen’s words, she suddenly froze for a moment.

But very quickly, she returned to normal.

“Do I?”

“How come I don’t know that?”

“I’m very happy!”

After saying that, she saw that Su Chen remained silent.

She no longer knew what else to say.

For a while, the room fell quiet.

After a long pause, Tang Jiayi turned her head and looked at Su Chen in earnest.

“Brother Su Chen, I want to debut.”

Ah?

Su Chen truly had not expected that answer.

He had even guessed more than ten possible reasons for Tang Jiayi’s worries.

This one, however, had never crossed his mind.

“Just because of that?”

What he meant was whether that was the reason she had been troubled.

Tang Jiayi shook her head.

Then, after hesitating for a moment, she nodded again.

That left Su Chen even more confused.

“Are you serious?”

Tang Jiayi’s usual playfulness vanished. She nodded with a solemn expression.

At once, Su Chen fell into thought.

Tang Jiayi had actually said more than once in front of him that she wanted to become a big star one day.

But every time, she had only been joking, and in the end he would tease her right back and leave it at that.

He had never taken it seriously.

But looking at her now,

it seemed Tang Jiayi was using her actions to tell him that this time, she truly meant it.

What should he do?

If Tang Jiayi insisted on debuting,

he would certainly support her.

Though the entertainment world was murky and deep,

he would still do everything in his power to protect her.

However, that could only happen after he had built a certain foundation.

For now, it was still not the time.