Chapter 11 – Releasing a Song

Xiang Ning had been on edge for several days, but his life hadn’t changed much. He let out a sigh of relief, but a slight tug from below brought him back to reality. The most mischievous of the three kittens was enthusiastically gnawing on his sock. Xiang Ning picked it up with one hand and placed it back in the cat bed. The kitten, disoriented, flailed its paws and meowed.

Xiang Ning smiled, his lips curling slightly. He turned his head and saw He Rong coming down the stairs.

He Rong’s presence made Xiang Ning tense up almost reflexively. His hand unconsciously gripped the edge of his pants, avoiding eye contact with He Rong.

The kitten finally managed to wriggle free and struted around, meowing proudly.

He Rong picked it up with a smile, walking naturally to Xiang Ning’s side. “Have you eaten?” he asked.

Xiang Ning shook his head and pointed to the dining table.

“You can call me,” He Rong said, reaching out to pat Xiang Ning’s head. Xiang Ning stiffened for a moment but managed to suppress his discomfort, forcing a shaky smile.

He Rong sighed inwardly, pretending not to notice. “Let’s eat,” he said.

If Xiang Ning weren’t so resistant, He Rong would have moved faster.

After breakfast, He Rong went to work. Xiang Ning found his car keys and held them in his hand, waving from the door.

Seeing Xiang Ning’s smiling eyes, He Rong couldn’t resist bending down to hug him. Xiang Ning hesitated for a moment before patting his back.

“Have a good meal,” He Rong whispered in his ear, the warmth making Xiang Ning involuntarily shrink his neck.

He nodded and saw He Rong off.

Xiang Ning yawned and sat on the sofa, staring blankly. Soon, he caught a strange, unpleasant smell. He wrinkled his nose and frowned, picking up the kitten that was playing in the litter box. He quickly scooped out the feces. The kitten, oblivious, meowed and rubbed against his ankles.

He sighed and used a wet wipe to clean the kitten’s bottom.

Before he could stand up, his phone rang. Xiang Ning washed his hands and opened the message from Director Lin.

“Are you there?”

“The song is set to release today. We’ve registered an official account for you, and we’ll help promote it.”

“If you don’t want to manage the account, you can leave it to the company.”

Xiang Ning thought for a moment. Since he didn’t have much else to do, he agreed.

Just as he finished talking to Director Lin, Zhou Yi sent a message:

“Teacher Xiang, I’m releasing a song today.”

Xiang Ning moved his fingers and replied, “Mm-hmm.”

Zhou Yi’s “typing” indicator flashed for a long time before he sent a “shy” emoji.

“I’m a bit scared, but I don’t know who to talk to.”

He seemed hesitant and added:

“Teacher Xiang, am I bothering you?”

“Not at all,” Xiang Ning replied, picking up the kitten that was climbing his pants and sitting cross-legged on the carpet. He turned on the TV.

Meanwhile, Director Lin sent him the account and password, using his real name. Xiang Ning logged in while reading Zhou Yi’s messages.

“This is my first time releasing a song, and it feels so unreal… No one used to listen to me sing, and when they said I sang well, I thought they were just being nice. I never thought I’d actually release a song.”

“What if no one likes it?”

“Oh! I just meant I’m not a good singer. Your song is really beautiful! I love it!”

Xiang Ning couldn’t help but smile and replied:

“You sing very well.”

Zhou Yi seemed to adjust and replied:

“Mm-hmm.”

Xiang Ning stopped reading and turned to check the account. The follow list was lonely, with only the company and Zhou Yi. He had two more followers, probably staff members.

He calculated the time and went upstairs to take a nap.

On the other side, He Rong wasn’t having an easy time.

He frowned and slapped the task book on the table, glaring at the planner. “You did this in two weeks?”

The planner was sweating profusely, head down, not daring to look at him. “President He, this… some of the new team members did it for the first time, so some parts might not be good…”

He Rong cut him off. “Not some parts, the whole thing.”

“Take it back and redo it. If you bring me the same garbage next time, I’ll replace you.”

The planner’s hands trembled as he took back the task book, his face almost in tears. Just as he reached the door, He Rong called out, “Wait.”

The planner’s whole body shuddered, forcing a smile. “W-What is it, President He?”

“A week,” He Rong said coldly.

“Y-Yes, President He!” The planner didn’t dare linger, quickly closing the door and leaving.

He Rong massaged his temples and sighed. His phone vibrated again. He picked it up and hung up without a word.

Xu Hui, on the other end, didn’t dare look at He Mingde’s expression, hesitantly putting down the phone.

“Mingde, this…”

He Mingde coughed, his hands trembling with anger. “I think he just doesn’t want me to live!” He drank some water and said, “You! Go to his house and see if he still recognizes me as his father!”

Xu Hui, though reluctant, didn’t dare argue. She calmed the furious He Mingde and instructed the nurse before leaving, her expression not pleasant.

“Where to?” the taxi driver asked, a cigarette dangling from his lips, his hand resting impatiently on the steering wheel.

“Lin Bay,” Xu Hui said, covering her nose in disgust at the unextinguished cigarette.

He Mingde had fired the driver He Rong assigned yesterday, leaving her without a ride. If she could drive, she wouldn’t have to take this inferior car.

Lin Bay wasn’t far. The driver turned off the meter and braked abruptly, saying slowly, “We’re here.”

Xu Hui, green-faced, threw a bill at him. “Keep the change.”

“Hmph,” the driver said, tucking the money into his wallet. “What’s with the attitude?”

Xu Hui was sprayed with exhaust, unable to hold back a sneeze.

The summer afternoon was always stiflingly hot. The taxi, to save money, didn’t have the air conditioning on, and the windows were open. Dust and exhaust competed to enter the small space, mixing with the heat and sweat, smearing Xu Hui’s carefully applied makeup.

She fixed her hair, finally adjusting her expression, and rang the doorbell.

It took a while for the door to open.

Xu Hui stood at the door for a long time, the sweat on her forehead trickling down her face. She wiped it with a handkerchief, her expression worsening, but she forced a smile to avoid He Rong’s cold gaze.

Xiang Ning, holding a kitten, looked at her curiously, his eyes asking what was wrong.

“Has He Rong come back yet?” Xu Hui’s temper cooled slightly with the sudden cold air, and she asked him patiently.

Xiang Ning shook his head and stepped aside to let her in.

Xu Hui changed her shoes and sat on the sofa, uneasily surveying the living room. Xiang Ning had just given the kittens a bath, and one was still wrapped in a towel, meowing pitifully. He had to leave Xu Hui to dry it off.

Xu Hui sipped her tea, almost spilling it on herself.

How to entertain guests! The water is so hot!

She got some cold water to cool it down and heard the door lock click.

He Rong pushed the door open, his smile freezing instantly, replaced by a sarcastic one. “Aunt Hui, what brings you here?”

Xu Hui’s face stiffened as she stood by the sofa, stammering, “Ah… Yes.”