When She Stops Being Dramatic

Chapter 281: Chapter 111: Top Star of the 60s Song and Dance Troupe (50)

He Qingran nodded and sighed softly. "That Old He is really getting more muddled with age. He treats that woman like she’s his first wife, pouring his heart out for her and even handing over his salary book. But just look at the clothes my brother and I wear, and then look at that mother and son."

"None of them have patches, sure, but the difference in fabric is huge. He’s a manager at a clothing factory—how can he not see a simple distinction like that?"

At this, she smiled. "The squeaky wheel gets the grease, you know? My temper used to be too stubborn, just like Old He. When we clashed, it was like World War III."

"This time, I deliberately played weak. I gave him that ’daughter who craves her father’s love but is too afraid to ask’ look, and I also privately told him how anxious I was about ’marrying up.’"

"Maybe because Old He has never gotten that kind of father-daughter affection from me, he was incredibly moved. He gave me all the private savings he’s squirreled away for years and even promised to give me a hefty dowry when I get married!"

He Qingran sighed softly. "I know what he’s doing. He wants to seize this last chance to mend our relationship so that when the time comes, he can openly and justifiably rely on my in-laws for help."

"It’s a shame, really. If he’d done this a couple of years ago, he might have been able to win me over. But I’m no longer that silly little girl, desperately craving affection from anyone. He gives me money, I’ll take it. He comes to me for a favor? ’Sorry, your daughter isn’t capable enough.’ The most I’ll do is support him in his old age and arrange his funeral."

’I should probably get something for my brother, too,’ she mused. ’And I’ll help Old He out when I can. After all, you can’t hook a big fish without any bait.’

’I can’t just let that mother and son who came along later get away with everything, can I?’

After explaining all this, He Qingran smiled. "Brother Kun is taking me to a movie tonight. We’ll be back late, so I won’t come over afterward. I’ll just stay at the dorm."

Xia Zhaoyun pursed her lips and shot her a look. "By the way, how’s your script coming along?"

He Qingran nodded. "I’m starting to get a handle on it. You know how I interviewed a bunch of the factory’s model workers, the seventh and eighth-level master craftsmen, and their families to gather material for the broadcast?"

"There are a lot of stories in there to work with. I can pick out the most representative ones, exaggerate and embellish them a bit, pose a few questions, find several experts to analyze them from different angles, come up with some solutions, and then wrap it all up with a thought-provoking conclusion..."

Xia Zhaoyun chuckled. "I think you should change the format from a simple monologue. For example, you could have someone else in the studio to help you narrate a story based on real events. After that, you could have the invited experts give their commentary."

"Even if you emphasize at the start of the show that the storyteller is an actor or just a stand-in, listeners will subconsciously associate the story with that person anyway. They’ll be hooked, listening to the gossip."

"Plus, with experts there, the audience will have a much higher degree of trust in the proposed solutions."

"In other words, you could turn the segment into a sort of relationship advice talk show..."

He Qingran nodded enthusiastically. "That’s a great idea! It would save me from the monotony of broadcasting alone, where it’s hard to control the emotional tone and pacing. If I switch to a format like that, I don’t even have to think about it—I know that even if the show isn’t a massive hit, it’ll be successful enough to keep running smoothly!"

Xia Zhaoyun couldn’t help but add a word of caution. "Ranran, when you’re putting the show together, don’t be too proud to ask for help. Don’t just decide you don’t need Brother Kun’s support. If someone steals your script and your ideas, you’ll regret it forever."

He Qingran nodded. "I know. Someone with no background or connections will just get pushed around at the radio station. I definitely won’t let myself be treated unfairly."

They chatted for a little longer. The men finished up and went into the courtyard for an after-dinner cigarette. When it was getting late, Liu Mingkun called for He Qingran, and they left.

Huo Tianhao played with the children for a while until the little ones started to get sleepy. After washing up, they climbed into bed and quietly fell asleep on their own.

With the whole evening ahead of them, Huo Tianhao savored her like a grand feast, tasting each course slowly and deliberately. Only after he had kindled a fire in her as well did he pull her into a passionate embrace.

In the end, Xia Zhaoyun was wonderfully exhausted. Her body was tired, but her spirit was soaring.

She lay on his chest, tracing idle patterns on his skin. "Tianhao," she murmured, "for a moment today, I had this overwhelming urge to find my birth parents."

"When I was a little girl, I’d see other parents doting on their children. Even the Song Family couple were so good to their own son, but I was the pitiful little one that nobody cared for."

"Maybe a lot of kids like me have this obsession with their birth parents, one that’s hard to let go of."

"I really want to know who they are, and if they ever looked for me. Even if we never meet, just knowing that we’re both happy and safe, and that we’re thinking of each other... that would be enough for me."