I Became the Koi Actor After Entering the Book

**Chapter 67: Dinner**

Translator: Namizaki

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Chi Zhongqiao ended up returning to the Lu Family for dinner after all.

To him, the Lu Family felt more like his… maternal home than his own family.

Sitting in the back seat of the car, Chi Zhongqiao shuddered at the thought of the phrase “maternal home.” He wondered if he’d been brainwashed by too many melodramatic family dramas.

Lu Yuzhou, driving in the front, glanced in the rearview mirror and couldn’t help but smile. Brother Qiao had been lost in thought since getting in the car, sprawled across the back seat. Suddenly, he jolted upright, his startled reaction oddly endearing.

Though why such a startled reaction could be considered cute remained a mystery.

Chi Zhongqiao rolled over and resumed daydreaming until the car pulled up to the Lu Family Villa. He then gathered the gifts he’d brought and stepped out.

Despite his reluctance to return, he was actually the most diligent about bringing things home. Just like their own little nest, the Lu Family Villa was filled with various trinkets and treasures Chi Zhongqiao had brought back.

The Old Master had been sitting on the sofa since making the phone call, waiting for Chi Zhongqiao and Lu Yuzhou to return. He hadn’t paid the slightest attention to the television.

Lu Zhuo sat stiffly nearby, his expression grim. He had recently botched a major project, which Lu Father had personally intervened to salvage. As punishment, he’d been confined to the villa for self-reflection.

The moment Chi Zhongqiao stepped inside, he was met with Lu Zhuo’s dark, brooding expression.

He raised an eyebrow slightly, casually crumpled his guilt into a corner of his mind, and greeted with a smile, “Good evening, Grandpa Lu.” He nodded politely.

He was grateful that he and Lu Zhuo were the same age; otherwise, he’d have to call Lu Zhuo “Brother,” which would have been incredibly awkward.

As Chi Zhongqiao grew closer to Lu Yuzhou day by day, he occasionally heard Lu Yuzhou mention his past. Though Lu Yuzhou tried to avoid bringing up unpleasant topics, Lu Zhuo’s name inevitably came up. Chi Zhongqiao’s impression of Lu Zhuo had plummeted to well below negative 999.

He stacked the various boxes he was carrying under the coffee table and naturally settled down beside the Old Master.

The Old Master beamed. “Come, come, sit down!” Once Chi Zhongqiao was seated, he added, “We hired a new chef today. He’s excellent at Cantonese cuisine. Try the new flavors.”

Chi Zhongqiao nodded with a smile. “You seem particularly cheerful today, Grandpa.”

The Auntie serving tea and drinks chimed in with a laugh, “It’s not just today! The Old Master’s been going out for walks every day lately, and he always comes back beaming. He’s never been happier!”

The Old Master took a sip of tea, his eyes sparkling with pride. “Our Zhongqiao has truly brought honor to the family! I raised two worthless Grandsons, but neither of them can compare to Zhongqiao! Even those of us in our age group enjoy watching <Invisible Crime> —it’s truly captivating! Qiao Qiao’s acting is impeccable. Wherever I go, people praise Zhongqiao’s talent and say I’m blessed to have him.”

Now that the Old Master was past the age of boasting about himself, he cherished hearing his peers praise his younger relatives, especially when they showered them with extravagant praise that made him feel utterly content. He would then modestly brush off the compliments with a few humble words.

It wasn’t that Lu Yuzhou and Lu Zhuo lacked merit. In fact, both Lu Family heirs were quite capable. Lu Yuzhou was exceptionally talented, and while Lu Zhuo might not excel in business, he was far more competent than the average second-generation heir. Yet neither of these grown men possessed the thoughtfulness and attentiveness of Chi Zhongqiao. Lu Yuzhou was better, at least calling home frequently and visiting the Old Master, but he never remembered to bring back gifts for the family like Chi Zhongqiao did.

How could one boast about filial piety without tangible proof? Those watches, cufflinks, and even cars—could such material things ever match the warmth of a perfectly tailored garment?

The Old Master smiled contentedly, already planning to wear the scarf Chi Zhongqiao had given him last time when the weather cooled down. He would make sure those old geezers knew it was a gift from Zhongqiao!

Lu Zhuo, the number one bastard Grandson, gradually turned green with envy.

He had botched a project, and the Old Master had already been picking fault with him. Now that Chi Zhongqiao had arrived, Lu Zhuo was so furious he felt like vomiting blood. He couldn’t understand why the Old Master favored an outsider so much. In Chi Zhongqiao’s presence, even Lu Yuzhou had to step aside.

That’s right.

Lu Zhuo’s anger suddenly subsided. If even Lu Yuzhou couldn’t compare, why should he be upset? Lu Yuzhou was the one who should be angry.

Hearing footsteps, he eagerly looked up. As expected, the number two bastard Grandson, Lu Yuzhou, had parked his car and entered.

The Old Master, who was chatting with Chi Zhongqiao, merely glanced at Lu Yuzhou before immediately turning back to continue his conversation with Chi Zhongqiao.

Lu Yuzhou sat down beside Chi Zhongqiao without acknowledging Lu Zhuo. He smiled at the two conversing men and slowly peeled an orange from the table.

Lu Zhuo: “……”

This is infuriating. Of course, Lu Yuzhou was a shrewd man. He probably realized the Old Master’s favoritism toward Chi Zhongqiao early on and had already found ways to ingratiate himself.

Lu Zhuo sneered. Who knows? Chi Zhongqiao might already be Lu Yuzhou’s man.

How infuriating! If I’d known the Old Master liked Chi Zhongqiao so much, why would I have offended him in the first place?

Lu Zhuo gritted his teeth in resentment. He blamed himself for not realizing sooner that the Old Master would favor a “well-behaved” child like Chi Zhongqiao. Lu Yuzhou had already seized the advantage with the Old Master!

Forcing himself to suppress his dark mood, Lu Zhuo smiled and picked up where Chi Zhongqiao had left off. “I’ve been watching <Invisible Crime> lately too. It’s truly excellent. I had no idea Zhongqiao was such a talented actor.”

Still young, Lu Zhuo’s ability to maintain a composed facade couldn’t compare to that of the older generation or to Chi Zhongqiao, an actor who relied on meticulous facial control. His smile came off as awkward and forced.

Chi Zhongqiao, however, seemed oblivious, maintaining his usual expression. “I’ve honed my skills gradually since entering the industry. After all, I’ve acted in a few dramas now and started to get a feel for it.”

Before Lu Zhuo could respond, Lu Yuzhou had peeled two oranges, handing one each to the Old Master and Chi Zhongqiao. “I tried a segment. They’re quite sweet.”

The Old Master took his without a word. “Hmm, these are sweet indeed.”

Lu Zhuo, his attempt at conversation abruptly cut short, felt like he could devour someone whole.

Lu Yuzhou smiled and wiped his hands with a tissue.

Starting in the second half of this year, the fierce and sharp edges in his nature gradually softened, no longer suddenly surfacing to prick others. He even began to adopt Chi Zhongqiao’s “nothing matters” attitude.

Of course, this newfound gentleness didn’t stop him from teasing Lu Zhuo.

The two brothers always bickered whenever they met, a habit the Old Master and Chi Zhongqiao had long grown accustomed to. With a wave of his hand, the Old Master declared, “Dinner’s still a while off. Go find something to do. I’m going to watch TV.”

After finishing his tangerine, Chi Zhongqiao stood up with Lu Yuzhou. Chi Zhongqiao planned to take a nap in his room, while Lu Yuzhou simply wanted to stick close to his Brother Qiao.

Lu Zhuo hesitated, then dutifully sat down in front of the Old Master, pretending to be well-behaved. Having recently caused trouble, he wanted to curry favor with the Old Master. However, the Old Master, who had never liked him, barely acknowledged him. After two attempts at conversation, Lu Zhuo received only a couple of dismissive grunts, forcing him to shift his focus to cozying up to Chi Zhongqiao instead.

But when he turned his head, he saw Chi Zhongqiao had already gone upstairs to his room, with Lu Yuzhou following close behind. The door closed softly behind them.

Lu Zhuo’s face turned green with envy. How does Lu Yuzhou always manage to be one step ahead of me in everything?

Chi Zhongqiao settled into the beanbag chair, intending to take a nap.

Since the beanbag chair had no armrests, Lu Yuzhou pulled up a chair and sat beside him.

Chi Zhongqiao squinted at him. “Why are you so clingy? You’re going to stay in my room for hours again?” He’d become increasingly clingy at home lately, for some inexplicable reason.

Lu Yuzhou took Chi Zhongqiao’s hand. “I’ll stay here to wake you up. Your alarm never works anyway.”

Chi Zhongqiao fell silent.

He rolled over in resignation, abandoning any pretense of maintaining his image.

So what if I can’t wake up? How embarrassing could it be?

Chi Zhongqiao had been sleep-deprived recently due to promotional activities. He drifted off quickly on the comfortable beanbag chair. Lu Yuzhou tucked a blanket around him and quietly worked on his lesson plans on a tablet.

Chi Zhongqiao slept for a full hour until the Auntie knocked on the door. Lu Yuzhou gently woke him.

Chi Zhongqiao sat up, propping his head in his hands for a moment to shake off the grogginess, then rose to wash his face.

As they descended the stairs, the Old Master was heading toward the dining room. He waved at them. “Come down for dinner!”

Chi Zhongqiao smiled at him.

The new chef’s Cantonese cuisine was indeed excellent. Chi Zhongqiao particularly enjoyed the flavors, especially the baked lobster, which he helped himself to several times.

After dinner, Lu Yuzhou went to chat with the chef about professional matters, while Chi Zhongqiao accompanied the Old Master for a leisurely stroll in the park to aid digestion.

The park was nearly deserted as Chi Zhongqiao and the Old Master ambled slowly along the gravel path.

The Old Master, with his hands clasped behind his back, asked, “Zhongqiao, are you settling in well living with Yuzhou?”

Chi Zhongqiao’s heart jolted. He forced himself to answer, “…Yes, I’m used to it.”

Had the Old Master noticed something? Of course, how could they hide it? He wasn’t easily fooled. Even if Lu Yuzhou hadn’t given anything away, had Chi Zhongqiao himself truly shown no excessive intimacy?

His palms grew clammy. He exhaled slowly, suppressing the emotions that threatened to surge to his face.

The Old Master continued, “Lu Zhuo and Yuzhou are always bickering. They can’t even exchange three civil words when they meet. When they were younger, they used to put on a show for me, but now that they’re grown and have their own wings, they don’t even bother pretending anymore.”

Chi Zhongqiao couldn’t discern the Old Master’s true intentions and simply murmured in response.

The Old Master spoke slowly, “Lu Zhuo has his own parents to worry about him. I won’t concern myself with his future. But Yuzhou… I’m getting old. How many more years do I have left to be there for him?”

Chi Zhongqiao’s hand, tucked in his pocket, slowly clenched into a fist. He remained silent. By now, he understood the Old Master’s unspoken message, but he didn’t know how to respond.

What will he ask next? Chi Zhongqiao wondered. If he’s being gentle, he might ask if Yuzhou has a girl he likes at school. But if he’s being blunt…?

Chi Zhongqiao’s gaze drifted into the distance, but his mind raced, desperately searching for a way out of this situation, a way to buy himself a little time.

The Old Master sighed. “You’ll need to keep a close eye on him in the future.”

Chi Zhongqiao froze, caught off guard. What does that mean? Does the Old Master already know about their relationship? And… is this tacit approval?

The Old Master gently patted his hand, his eyes softening. “To Elders, children remain children, no matter how old they get. The other day, a friend of mine complained that he’d wasted his money raising his Grandson. Why? Because the boy insisted on studying art, and my friend refused, scolding him for being foolish.”

Chi Zhongqiao was stunned by the Old Master’s rambling, nonsensical train of thought, too bewildered to move.

The Old Master continued, “If you ask me, a good child who loves painting is still a good child. Whether they enjoy taking tests or conducting experiments, they’re still good children. It’s true that art students often face prejudice, but does that make them bad kids? People shouldn’t burden themselves too much. Sometimes, when Elders refuse to compromise, it’s because they lack understanding.”

Chi Zhongqiao finally understood what the Old Master had been circling around. His eyes stung slightly as he nodded, his voice a little hoarse. “En, I understand Grandpa.”

Sometimes, he wondered what the Old Master’s reaction would be if he ever discovered his relationship with Lu Yuzhou. But he always stopped the thought halfway through—he didn’t dare imagine it.

Little did he know, the Old Master had known all along.

The Old Master’s gaze softened with affection. “You know, you’re even more resilient than my two Grandsons. But the human heart isn’t made of iron. Don’t keep everything bottled up inside. Grandpa’s here for you.”

He patted Chi Zhongqiao reassuringly again. “Go on now, good boy. I’ll take another stroll.”

Chi Zhongqiao couldn’t possibly leave the Old Master to walk alone. He immediately shook his head. “I’ll stay with you.”

The Old Master pointed to a streetlight ahead. “Chen Han is waiting for me up there. You go on. I have some business to discuss with him.”

Chen Han was the Old Master’s representative at the headquarters. They likely needed to discuss company matters. Chi Zhongqiao didn’t insist further. He accompanied the Old Master to Chen Han before leaving.

Only after Chi Zhongqiao had left did Chen Han step forward to support the Old Master. “You told Young Master Chi?”

The Old Master was in high spirits, nodding with a smile. “I did.”

Chen Han chuckled. “You really dote on Young Master Chi.”

“Do you think I favor him too?” the Old Master asked. Before Chen Han could answer, he continued, “If he were my biological Grandson, Yuzhou would have to step aside. I wouldn’t be able to treat them equally.”

Chen Han asked curiously, “Why?”

Does Young Master Chi have a better business sense than Young Master Lu?

The Old Master replied, “This child may seem indifferent to everything, but he understands things more clearly than anyone else. Wise people aren’t rare, but those who can maintain their composure even when they understand the truth are truly exceptional. The internet is in an uproar, yet have you ever seen him upset? Others are tossed about by raging storms, but he remains unshaken. Besides, he can keep Yuzhou in check. Look how long Yuzhou has been with him—even his temper has improved.”

What was Lu Yuzhou like before? If anyone provoked him, he’d retaliate with double the force, refusing to suffer even the slightest loss. Even his own Grandfather couldn’t control him. After the college entrance exams, things seemed to improve, but when he took over the company, he became even more ruthless than before.

The Old Master often regretted his overly strict upbringing of Lu Yuzhou. Driven by the urgent desire to mold him into someone capable of shouldering the family’s legacy, he had deprived Lu Yuzhou of the opportunity to learn gentleness at the optimal time.

But from the moment the Old Master sensed a shift in Chi Zhongqiao and Lu Yuzhou’s relationship, Lu Yuzhou’s sharp edges gradually softened.

This prickly hedgehog is actually willing to shed his quills?

A miracle akin to red rain falling from the sky.

The Old Master paused, then continued, “I didn’t raise Zhongqiao, but I’ll shamelessly claim to have three Grandsons. Yuzhou is too impulsive, and Lu Zhuo is too arrogant. Zhongqiao is the only one I truly trust.”

Zaki~ English is not my first language, but I’ll try to get the translations as close as possible to the Author’s work. If you see any grammatical errors or mistakes in the translation, please feel free to drop them in the comments section so I can correct them immediately. Thank you and Happy Reading 🙂