Singer

Chapter 58 - Starlight Arena

Translator: Lynn

When considering why Big Brother Jian had initially resisted marriage, a substantial part of the reason was his concern for his underage brother. Similar to many single parents who are hesitant to remarry, Jian Bin worried that entering a new marriage would introduce additional family members and potentially cause discomfort to his younger brother. It was only after Jiang Xinya unexpectedly became pregnant that the pressure of her father-in-law’s expectations made holding a wedding inevitable, prompting Jian Bin to reconsider his stance. Upon their return home as a married couple, Jian Jie insisted on moving out to live on his own, a decision that left Jian Bin constantly burdened with guilt. But now, taunted by his younger brother’s jabs about getting on the train first and paying the fare later, Brother Jian’s patience was wearing thin, an impending storm brewing within him.

At that very moment, Jiang Xinya arrived from the kindergarten with little Jiayue, diffusing the tension that had been building up. She greeted Jian Jie with a warm smile and inquired, “Weren’t you planning to bring Mr. Long along for dinner? Why haven’t we seen him?”

“Brother Chen is in the kitchen cooking,” Jian Jie responded.

“You can’t let the guests cook for themselves,” Jiang Xinya reproached Jian Bin, swiftly changing her shoes and heading to the kitchen to assist.

Brother Jian, feeling wronged, glared at Jian Jie with a somber expression. Jian Jie, in turn, played along, refraining from clarifying for his elder brother and instead chuckling from the sidelines.

“Hmph, I’ve been taken advantage of for nothing. I’m your own brother, yet you treat an outsider better than me,” Brother Jian grumbled, his longstanding discontent now surfacing.

In the living room, while playfully interacting with Xiao Jiayue, Jian Jie also poked fun at his brother: “Brother, why are you still dwelling on this? If you feel that you’re at a loss, just consider Brother Chen your younger brother from now on. You’ve got two younger brothers now; it’s only fair to even things out.”

Brother Jian snorted, his irritation palpable: He had no interest in accepting the younger brother who had been gained for free!

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Jiang Xinya and Long Zichen engaged in a cheerful conversation. Witnessing Long Zichen’s culinary prowess, she realized he was quite adept in the kitchen, giving them common ground for discussion. Long Zichen, resolute in not allowing Jiang Xinya to wrest his spatula from him, had her focus on washing the water spinach and peppers while he busily fried chicken wings and chicken parts. As they worked, their dialogue invariably circled back to the two Jane siblings in the living room, providing ample conversational material.

Jiang Xinya grinned and remarked, “I’ve never seen Xiao Jie defy his brother like this. Xiao Jie, you’re daring to go against your brother for the sake of Xiaochen.”

Upon hearing Jiang Xinya’s words, Long Zichen’s heart leaped with joy. He extolled Jian Jie with a sweetness akin to tasting honey, while subtly praising Jiang Xinya: “I never anticipated it either. Thanks to Sister Xinya’s assistance, Xiaojie and his brother were able to reconcile so quickly. It’s all thanks to your agreement. In the future, I promise to treat Xiaojie well and spare him any suffering. Sister Xinya, rest assured.”

“You radiate care in every way,” Jiang Xinya reciprocated the smile. “Seeing the two of you living together so harmoniously and considerately, it’s evident you’re leading a contented life. Xiaojie’s brother can feel at ease.”

“Absolutely, we’re doing well,” Long Zichen affirmed earnestly.

As Jian Jie and his brother engaged in conversation for about 20 to 30 minutes in the living room, the meal was prepared, and Jian Jie went to assist in serving it. The family gathered around the dining table, where Jiang Xinya praised Long Zichen, playfully saying, “I hardly did anything for this meal; Xiaochen did all the cooking. Just look at those fried chicken wings—golden and crisp, even better than mine.”

Long Zichen modestly feigned shyness, replying, “I haven’t tasted it yet, Sister Xinya. Please give it a try. If you enjoy it, Xiaojie and I will return next time, and I’ll cook it once more.”

Observing his brother’s lingering protests, Jian Jie remained quiet at the table until he decided to intervene, picking up a chopstick to place some egg and beef in his brother’s bowl. “You like beef the most, so I got it for you.”

Despite the dish being prepared by the guy named Long, the gesture from his younger brother prompted Brother Jian to eat it out of respect. Seeing that his brother still remembered his preferences, Brother Jian felt a surge of pride. After a few bites, finding the taste agreeable, Jian Bin’s attitude toward Long Zichen seemed to have shifted. After a moment’s thought, Jian Bin inquired, “So, Mr. Long, does your family know about your relationship?”

Jian Jie’s brother initiated the conversation with him directly! Long Zichen was flattered, promptly responding, “My father passed away early, and it’s just my mother at home. She’s been aware for quite a while now, and she and Xiaojie have met. She has no objections to our relationship.”

“I see. When will you invite your mother to join us for a meal?” Jian Jie almost choked on his food, utterly taken aback. “Brother, why would you want to meet my mom? You can eat, but don’t drag my mom into this. It’s unrelated to her.”

“You brat, do I seem like the type to stir up trouble?” Jian Bin was taken aback by his own kid’s suspicion. “I merely want everyone to get acquainted. After all, we’ll be family in the future, and they’ll likely visit during the New Year holidays. It’s not as complicated as you think!”

“My apologies, brother. You’re absolutely right. It’s all my fault,” Jian Jie quickly praised his brother, evoking laughter from everyone around the table. Long Zichen was nearly overflowing with joy. The word “family” held a profound beauty—it was official, they were now a family.

After their dinner with Jian Jie’s family, they returned to their home. The house was regularly cleaned, so despite being unoccupied for more than ten days, it remained impeccably tidy. On the way home, Long Zichen was brimming with excitement. The moment they stepped into the house, he wrapped his arms around Jian Jie and exclaimed joyfully, “Your brother even acknowledged us as a family, Xiaojie. You can’t escape now! You’re stuck with me!”

“Where would I go?” Jian Jie chuckled.

Long Zichen exaggerated his laughter, then nuzzled his head into Jian Jie’s neck and playfully teased, “No matter where you go, you won’t escape my grasp, my little beauty. Just follow me obediently!” He tugged Jian Jie along, bouncing around the living room, spinning in happiness. A somewhat resigned Jian Jie followed along, wearing a helpless expression.

☆☆☆

Lately, Director Long had been in an unusually good mood, evident to anyone with a discerning eye in the Xinghuo company. He hadn’t cursed anyone for an entire week. If he wasn’t seen constantly by Jian Jie’s side, many would question if Director Long had undergone a personality transformation.

Even Yuan Chao noticed this change: “Oh, Dachen, you seem different after your trip abroad. You’re positively glowing, obviously basking in the glow of love. Tell me, did you and Xiaojie become an item?” Yuan Chao probed with curiosity.

“Don’t be so nosy, come on. Let’s think about how you’re going to conquer Ye Jing from your family!” Long Zichen raised his head and boasted about his success with Jian Jie, sidestepping any discussion about his engagement with Yuan Chao. He was eager to shift the topic.

Currently, Jian Jie was trying on stage costumes in the fitting room. This period had been incredibly hectic for everyone, with long hours of overtime, all to complete his new album set to release on June 30th. The music video for the lead track had already been filmed, and now preparations were underway for the intensive promotional period that lay ahead.

Emerging from the fitting room in a shiny coat, Jian Jie spotted Long Zichen chatting with Sister Ke, the dressmaker, who was seated there. Long Zichen’s comment on his current appearance made him burst into laughter, “With this outfit, I look like a cowboy from a nightclub.”

“Well, this is for ‘Starlight Arena,’ right?” Jian Jie justified, “Sister Ke said I should dress more glamorously.” He felt a bit awkward as this style was unfamiliar, and he rarely sported it. “Starlight Arena” was a popular music variety show that featured singing duels. Every week, several singers were invited to compete, with guest judges and fans voting to determine each episode’s winner. Jian Jie’s company had chosen the first show of his new album for this program due to its high ratings potential. While becoming the main challenger wasn’t crucial, the primary aim was to generate effective publicity.

Sister Ke chimed in with a smile, “Don’t mind him. The stage for the show is immense, and it will look spectacular once the lights are on. The dancers behind you will also be wearing the same color, which will instantly create a harmonious atmosphere on stage.”

“If I was wrong, forgive me.” Long Zichen pleaded, swiftly transitioning to showering Jian Jie with endless praise, “Honestly, our Xiaojie looks great in anything. He could even wear a newspaper and still outshine those folks. And that Baiyijia’s so-called ‘best newcomer’ with his alternative appearance, sharp tongue, and monkey-like cheeks—how dare he compare himself to Xiaojie? Xiaojie, turn around and show him who’s boss!”

The said newcomer from Baiyi Records was Jiang Hanfei, who debuted alongside Jian Jie. While their musical styles and presentation were quite similar, Jian Jie’s sales and reputation overshadowed Jiang Hanfei’s. The two once shared a stage, during which Jian Jie outperformed Jiang Hanfei in a live performance. Thanks to media influence, fans of the two artists seemed to harbor deep-seated animosity from that point forward, readily attacking each other whenever an opportunity arose. In reality, their encounters were fairly polite, devoid of actual enmity. Jiang Hanfei hosted the previous episode of “Starlight Arena,” and with Jian Jie’s upcoming participation confirmed, their fans once again engaged in heated online debates. Long Zichen had recently come across some unsavory content online, claiming that Jian Jie’s record sales rested solely on his looks, suggesting his songwriting and singing were subpar compared to Jiang Hanfei’s. In response, Long Zichen had sought out Jian Jie, determined to confront this issue. Since he had the real deal right in his hands, why not have Xiaojie put that guy in his place?

Unaware of Long Zichen’s agitation, Jian Jie responded with a nod, somewhat bewildered, “I’ll do my best.”

However, such programs weren’t only about popularity and singing ability. The TV station also depended on Baiyi’s superstar power to boost ratings, ultimately awarding the championship to Jiang Hanfei. Jian Jie didn’t overthink it; it was just a show, and Jiang Hanfei’s vocal prowess was undeniable. To make it up to Jian Jie, “Starlight Arena” arranged for two other Spark singers to participate in the next few episodes. Long Zichen, though, was infuriated, ranting and raving, even swearing that no artist from their company would ever appear on that TV station again. Since other artists in the company rarely made it onto such high-rated shows, Jian Jie was urged to pacify Long Zichen swiftly and keep him from further wreaking havoc.

Despite this incident, Jian Jie’s new album was unaffected and officially released on the 30th. The title track, “Alien,” had an energetic and lively melody coupled with playful lyrics, making it instantly catchy for listeners. It quickly soared to the top of major music charts. In just a week, the new album and pre-sales had garnered 600,000 copies in sales, leaving the company’s executives grinning ear to ear. However, due to his promotional commitments, Jian Jie hadn’t been in Anping City for an entire month, causing Long Zichen, who remained alone in their empty home, to feel particularly resentful.

Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.

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