Chapter 335

"So, Xue-jie is at Lin-jie's house in Tuanjiehu?" Wei Ming repeated.

"Yes."

Wei Ming pulled Biaozi further away, to the second-floor stair landing: "How did she end up there?"

"It's not the first time—before, they used to come and go together at Tuanjiehu all the time." Biaozi finally decided to confess to Ming-ge; how could this be gossip? This was a warning.

Even if Ming-ge had to die, he deserved to die knowing the truth.

Hearing this, Wei Ming's heart was smothered by shadow—had singing together made them close friends? Could his secret still be hidden?

"Ming-ge, there's something else I need to confess," Biaozi said, head down.

"Go on."

"I told Xue-jie you're back—and I called out Lin-jie's name."

The dark clouds in Wei Ming's heart began to hail, just like during his 1979 college entrance exam.

"Biaozi, you're an idiot!" Wei Ming stared in disbelief—how could you say anything when you saw Xue-jie?

Biaozi: "It's not my fault—blame you. Why did you give them face masks? When I opened the door, she had one on—I didn't even recognize her as Xue-jie. I just said: 'Lin-jie, Ming-ge's back. He told me to let you know.'"

Wei Ming sighed. With those words, he had no hope left—Xue-jie definitely knew. He just didn't know if she'd confront Lin-jie.

But it was his own fault—he'd been too good to his lovers. He'd given Lin-jie and Xue-jie all these new things you couldn't even find on the mainland: face masks, body lotions.

Biaozi worried: "Ming-ge, did I mess up badly?"

Wei Ming patted Biaozi: "It's fine. Go home. I'll let you watch the video later."

"Still watching action movies?" Biaozi asked eagerly.

Wei Ming: "..."

"Xiao Ming!" Lu Xiaoyan hurried up the stairs. "Why are you two here?"

Wei Ming: "Too many people at home. Came out for some peace."

Lu Xiaoyan laughed: "Your house is so big—you still worry about crowds?"

Biaozi greeted her and went upstairs. Lu Xiaoyan said: "Good timing—I need to notify you: next month our 'King of Fairy Tales' launches. You're our literary advisor—you'll have to review the submissions."

Wei Ming was surprised: "You've already gathered enough pieces for the inaugural issue?"

"Yes," Lu Xiaoyan said. "You've got two, Xiao Zheng has two. Oh—he's started writing 'Pi Pi Lu and Lu Xi Xi' again, plans to make it longer."

That made four serialized works.

Lu Xiaoyan added: "Also, Teacher Sun Youjun translated a Russian fairy tale, 'The Little Guest from Fairyland,' and agreed to let us serialize it."

Though Sun Teacher was from Peking University's Chinese Department, he originally transferred from Yanjing's Russian Language Division—his Russian was flawless. He didn't just write fairy tales—he was also a Russian translator.

"We've also contacted another fairy tale writer, Zhu Zhixiang. He wrote 'Bajie Returns Home,' a novella—we accept novellas too. That's six now. Add some comic illustrations and we're set."

Hearing Zhu's name, Wei Ming felt a twinge of guilt, then changed the subject: "I started a comic magazine in Hong Kong. I brought two pieces over—take a look, see if you can use them. I'll bring them later."

He meant 'If History Were a Pack of Kittens' and 'Shaseng's Diary.' The first had positive historical educational value—high chance of acceptance. The second was pure comedy.

"Great!" Lu Xiaoyan said. "Too bad Ah Long went to Hong Kong—you'll have to find someone else for the illustrations."

Though they'd need another artist, Wei Ming himself designed the main characters' appearances—no one else touched that.

As they climbed upstairs into Wei Ming's home, Lu Xiaoyan remembered Wei Ming had gone to Hong Kong for fundraising, and asked about it.

Wei Ming pulled out the videotape: "Since everyone's here, let's start playing."

Biaozi and Xiao Mei moved the dining table behind the sofa. Wei Hong set up the tape recorder. Everyone ate while watching.

Meanwhile, at Tuanjiehu, Zhu Lin rode over.

"What's going on? I'm leaving for Northeast the day after tomorrow—I was going to spend time with Mom and Dad." Zhu Lin walked in, asking. Gong Ying had called her, but didn't say why.

Gong Ying: "Xiao Wei is back."

"Did you see him?" Zhu Lin asked, then added, "Or did he call here?"

Gong Ying shook her head and told her about Biaozi's visit: "I was wearing a face mask. He mistook me for you and let it slip."

Zhu Lin gasped: "Oh no!"—a feeling like catching her husband in adultery: "Does Xiao Wei know everything about us now?"

Gong Ying stared at her strangely: "Shouldn't he be the one panicking? We're the victims."

"Right," Zhu Lin calmed down, then asked the crucial question: "Did you use my face mask?!"

Gong Ying stammered.

Zhu Lin snapped: "Why are you using mine again? You're already whiter than me."

"All mine are buried at the dorm. I'll bring you some replacements later." Gong Ying had many high-end cosmetics, but dared not use them at Beijing Film Studio—like Zhao Debiao, she was a daughter of socialism.

"That's better," Zhu Lin said, satisfied.

Gong Ying continued: "He came looking for you first. Shouldn't you call him back?"

Zhu Lin: "What would I say? That you told me? Keep pretending I don't know about your relationship?"

Gong Ying sighed: "I can keep pretending, but I can't keep acting stupid. If I pretend anymore, I'll look insane."

Zhu Lin slung an arm around Gong Ying's shoulder: "Maybe he'll keep lying—say he called Lin-jie for work, that we're just friends, that Lin-jie is the one obsessed, and his heart belongs only to Xiao Xue! That little rascal's the best liar. Why don't you call him and test him?"

Gong Ying laughed at Zhu Lin, but shook her head: "I won't call. He's the one who messed up—he should call."

Then both women stared at the house phone.

Wei Ming glanced at the phone, wondering whether to call or not—when suddenly loud applause erupted in the living room.

The song just finished was 'Only by Striving Will We Win.' Several northerners hearing Minnan dialect for the first time instantly loved it—felt the song brimmed with fighting spirit.

The fundraising segment shattered their expectations. Guo He Nian won the song—and demanded Zhang Mingmin sing it again.

"Ming-ge, who is this Guo guy? He just donated five million?" Mei Wenhua asked.

Wei Ming explained the Malaysian Chinese businessman's background and business empire: "He also invested in a Shangri-La Hotel in Hangzhou—it should open in two years."

After answering that, Wei Ming looked out the window—the sun was nearly set. He decided not to contact them yet.

Though he'd lived long enough, this was his first time being a scumbag—he had no experience.

In his past life, though surrounded by women, it was always transactional or sequential—never two at once, never lusting after a Hong Kong skiff. This was new—and it was hard on this fundamentally kind, pure-hearted old boy.

Blame the era—it gave him so many good girls at once. In the future, there'd be no chance to give true feelings.

Next came 'The Great Wall Never Falls,' lifting everyone's spirits again. Several middle-aged and elderly people felt the power of Cantonese songs for the first time.

"Beautiful! So beautiful!"

"This song will be a hit on the mainland!"

"Who are these three? A group?" Xiao Hong asked.

Biaozi: "The one in the middle is the director—he made 'Heroes Born in Youth.' Didn't know he could sing too!"

Wei Ming: "Left is singer Ye Zhentang. Right is Liang Xiaolong, who played Hu Yuanjia's disciple in 'Huo Yuanjia.' This song is the drama's theme. I wrote the lyrics. The music is by Li Xiaotian—the fat guy in the host group."

Old Wei asked: "The drama must be great—too bad we can't watch it."

Indeed, mainland China hadn't imported any Hong Kong dramas yet. 'Huo Yuanjia' would be the first—but not for two more years.

Then Wei Ming introduced the winning Hu Lao and his achievements.

As song followed song, everyone's gaze at Wei Ming grew strange—these are all my son/my brother/my grandson/my nephew/my brother/my husband's brother's songs!

Most stunned was Yanzi, who barely knew Wei Ming. Now she almost understood why Zhu Lin and Gong Ying, two top actresses, were tangled with him. Such a man, such talent—who wouldn't be moved?

Though she wasn't moved, listening to these songs made her feel fetal movement—her baby kicked nonstop.

But when they played Zhang Guorong's 'Melinda' and learned Melinda was Mei Lina, she felt sorry for Lin-jie—this man still couldn't forget his first love.

Good thing I was Biaozi's first love.

Next came 'I Only Like You'—the 10-million donation stunned Long Xiaoyang into counting on her fingers: "How many tens of millions now?"

Wei Ming again explained the story behind the 10 million, leaving everyone awestruck.

Then Chen Baixiang and Chen You's songs marked the concert's low point—everyone rushed to the restroom.

What puzzled them most: why were Chen Baiqiang and Chen Baixiang so different-looking—one handsome, one ugly?

Wei Ming: "Uh—they're not brothers. Not even remotely related."

The only connection? Both were friends of Tan Yonglin.

Everyone: "Ah, that explains it."

Midway through the concert, everyone finished dinner while watching. Wei Ming told his mother to keep watching, then cleared the table.

Then Chen Peter took the stage—a rare Mandarin song with this theme. Everyone cheered again. When they learned he was from Taiwan, silence fell for a moment—they thought of banned Deng Lijun, and the taboos around listening to Taiwanese songs.

But soon they didn't care—such great songs deserved applause.

Later, Wei Lingling's bold 6-million donation surprised Old Wei and Ping'an Uncle—this girl had that kind of money?

They looked at Wei Ming, puzzled. He whispered: "Grandpa's money."

The two brothers exchanged glances—each saw in the other's eyes approval of this rival's senior: this old man? He's worth dealing with.