Ch 163: The Cannon Fodder Won’t Play Along Anymore [QT]

Mu Xing stayed quietly at home for nearly half a month this time.

Because of his health, Mu Jiangtao had already half-retired, leaving much of the company’s affairs to Mu Lin to handle. At first, seeing that Mu Xing had become more sensible, he wanted him to go gain some experience in the company. But Mu Xing immediately shook his head at the idea.

He wasn’t the type with an explosive drive for career. After so many lifetimes, no matter how much money he earned or how great a career he built, none of it could be taken into the next life. So what was the point of working himself to the bone?

He refused cleanly and instead stayed home with Mu Jiangtao for half a month.

And he really did stay home—barely going out at all. Every day he would stroll through the garden, walk around the lawn to relax, have a cup of tea in the afternoon with a tray of freshly baked pastries and a book in hand, and pass the day in comfort.

He even managed to save a rare orchid that Mu Jiangtao had nearly killed with poor care.

At first, Mu Jiangtao didn’t believe his son could sit still at home. Though he grumbled that young people should have some ambition, in truth, he was secretly delighted that his youngest son was keeping him company.

Then he began to discover Mu Xing’s many talents.

He could do calligraphy, play chess with him, and when the mood struck, pick up any instrument in the house and play a tune.

And when Mu Xing rescued his precious orchid, Mu Jiangtao found himself liking his son more and more.

But after half a month of this lifestyle—living no differently from a sixty-year-old retiree—Mu Jiangtao began to worry.

So young, it would be better to be more lively.

He gently encouraged Mu Xing to make more friends, to go out more often.

Mu Xing caught on to his father’s worry and asked with a smile, “Dad, are you tired of seeing me every day already?”

Mu Jiangtao instinctively tried to put on a stern face, but one look at Mu Xing’s smile and he couldn’t manage it. He coughed and said, “I mean you should make new friends. What’s the point of staring at me, an old man, all day?”

Mu Xing replied easily, “Who says there’s no point? I really enjoy spending time with older people. The wisdom of elders always brings me surprises.”

Hearing this, Mu Jiangtao’s heart warmed.

But at the same time, he couldn’t help thinking about the information he’d dug up in recent days.

About Mu Xing and his ex-husband.

That man called Qin Song—he’d looked into him thoroughly and found him ordinary at best. He couldn’t understand what his son had ever seen in him.

He had also watched some videos of that Jiang Shengyu.

And the old man, who already had eighteen layers of filters in his mind, thought grimly: who dared say his son looked like that person? Not at all! Mu Xing was far more handsome, more sensible, and more outstanding!

Nowadays, whenever Mu Jiangtao spoke of Mu Xing, he did so with pride. Even Mu Lin remarked that their father’s mood had improved greatly lately, and his temper had softened.

—

One day, Mu Xing received a call from Zhong Ling.

There was something odd in his tone. “The production team of Dream Pastoral Life just contacted me.”

That was the variety show Mu Xing had signed onto.

With modern city life moving at such a fast pace, more and more audiences were drawn to shows about countryside living. Or rather, to the idealized version of countryside life in people’s imaginations—no skyscrapers, no crowded streets, no noisy traffic. Just wide, beautiful fields, stylish rural villas, leisurely strolls down rustic lanes, and a bit of symbolic farming or fishing under professional guidance. Comfortable and pleasant.

Mu Xing answered, “Mm.”

Zhong Ling continued, “I just found out—the guest list changed. Qin Song will also be on it.”

Even just thinking about it made him feel embarrassed on Mu Xing’s behalf.

A freshly divorced ex-husband, Qin Song, and Jiang Shengyu—the man rumored to be the “original” that Mu Xing was accused of imitating.

To think the production team wasn’t deliberately stirring trouble? Impossible.

But for the sake of ratings and hype, throwing the three of them together was a surefire move. As for whether the guests would feel awkward—the producers would only be too happy if drama broke out.

In the past, Zhong Ling might not have thought much of it. But now, knowing Mu Xing’s true identity, his attitude was different.

He told Mu Xing, “If you don’t want to go, just back out.”

He didn’t think Mu Xing would attend. Why should a young master suffer such humiliation? And last time they’d met, he hadn’t gotten the sense that Mu Xing was the type to endure slights.

As for that half-year marriage to Qin Song… well, Zhong Ling chalked it up to love making people blind.

But Mu Xing immediately replied, “Oh.”

Zhong Ling was stunned. What did that mean—was he going, or not?

Then Mu Xing lowered his eyes and said calmly, “What’s there to avoid? We all signed contracts. Why should I be the one to back down if they’re going?”

He had already agreed to appear on Dream Pastoral Life. This wasn’t something that could be hidden. If he suddenly pulled out, fans would only twist the story into yet another reason to attack him.

Since they were going to slander him anyway, Mu Xing thought: better to face it head-on.

He was never one to be afraid.

Since Mu Xing had made his decision, Zhong Ling said nothing more and immediately gave the program team a reply.

Half an hour later, he called again: “I’ve sent you the program details and schedule. The company has assigned you an assistant. I told him to add you, and tomorrow he’ll go with you to Nan Province.”

At dinner that day, Mu Xing mentioned it.

When his youngest son said he was going to record some show, Mu Jiangtao instinctively frowned.

But in the end, he only said, “If you want to go, then go. But if anything makes you unhappy, don’t put up with it.”

He raised his brows with authority: “At worst, just don’t record. Pay the penalty fee and be done with it.”

Mu Xing just smiled: “Don’t worry, it won’t come to that.”

Mu Jiangtao thought for a moment and asked: “This show is in Nan Province? Do you need me to arrange an assistant for you? Someone who can take care of little things for you.”

Mu Xing shook his head: “No need, the company already arranged one. And it’s only for the trip anyway. Once we arrive at the filming site, the assistants all have to leave.”

After all, the guests were meant to “experience” authentic rural life. If the audience saw celebrities being shadowed by a bunch of assistants doing everything for them, what would be the point?

The assistant the company arranged for Mu Xing was called Lin Zhi.

Mu Xing had once had an assistant too, assigned by Zhong Ling.

But that assistant disappeared after following the original body for three months. Original translation at HololoNovels dot com. Later, the original body had no time to deal with such matters, and the company simply pretended not to know.

Of course, Lin Zhi knew who Mu Xing was. In fact, in this industry, who didn’t?

Ever since half a month ago, when he had publicly announced his divorce, he had disappeared from the public eye. Even the most ruthless paparazzi couldn’t dig up a trace.

Qin Song, on the other hand, had been photographed dining with Jiang Shengyu, and their scandal was making waves everywhere.

Everyone loved gossip, and Lin Zhi was no exception. When he learned Mu Xing was joining the recording of Dream Pastoral, and that he himself had been assigned as Mu Xing’s temporary assistant, his heart was full of curiosity.

Because Mu Xing was nothing more than a thirty-eighth-tier nobody.

He only got attention by marrying Qin Song, and even then, it was only the name “Mu Xing” that caught fire.

For most people, their only impression of him came from a single variety show he’d appeared on with Qin Song.

On that show, he couldn’t follow the jokes, came off boring, and though he was there with his partner, he seemed subtly excluded by the other guests, like a layperson who had stumbled into a circle of stars, completely out of place.

His background had been dug into too, but aside from the fact that he grew up overseas with an impressive academic record, there was nothing else to find.

Originally, Lin Zhi was supposed to drive over to pick him up, but Mu Jiangtao had already arranged for the family driver to take Mu Xing to the airport.

Mu Xing carried a light suitcase and sat waiting for Lin Zhi.

He had no consciousness of being a celebrity at all. He wasn’t even wearing a mask, just sitting there with his head down playing a match-three game.

That little game — neither particularly fun nor boring — Mu Xing had been playing for several lifetimes. It was the ultimate time-killer.

Suddenly, a hesitant voice came from beside him: “Excuse me, are you Mu Xing?”

Mu Xing looked up. In front of him stood two young girls.

When he raised his head, the one with twin ponytails on the right covered her mouth and let out a soft “ah.”

Mu Xing looked puzzled: “Hello, and you are?”

He searched his memory and didn’t recognize them.

The twin-ponytailed girl’s eyes sparkled as she looked at him. Hearing his words, she grew excited and stammered: “I, I…”

“I’m your fan!”

Mu Xing was a little surprised, then smiled: “I have fans? Thank you.”

In truth, the twin-ponytailed girl wasn’t really his fan. She was just a gossip-loving bystander in the fandom circle.

She had only noticed a handsome young man from a distance and, on a whim, came over to check. Up close, he looked familiar — and unexpectedly, it really was Mu Xing.

He’s really good-looking, she thought to herself, without the slightest guilt of lying to his face.

She hadn’t been his fan before, but from now on, she would be — at least for his looks!

She asked: “Can I take a picture with you?”

Mu Xing hesitated for a moment, but just then his phone rang.

It was Lin Zhi calling, already there, and they had arranged a spot to meet.

Mu Xing stood up and nodded at the twin-ponytailed girl: “Sorry, I’ve got something to do, so I’ll head off first.”

The girl nodded quickly: “Go ahead, goodbye.”

Once Mu Xing’s figure disappeared, she turned to her friend with excitement: “Wow, he’s so handsome! When I rewatched that variety show before, I never thought he looked this good.”

Her companion said critically: “He’s alright. Not as good-looking as my Xiao Yu.”

The twin-ponytailed girl knew her friend was a Jiang Shengyu fan, so she just hummed inwardly and said nothing.

She had been to Jiang Shengyu’s events too, seen him up close.

But in her opinion, Mu Xing was clearly better looking.

And he was tall, gentle, and soft-spoken.

And he played match-three games!

So cute!

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