Chapter 118
"Husband, is the chip that Young Master Zhao's company is making going to lose money?"
As soon as the others left, Qi Cheng asked curiously.
Bai Zongyin said, "Last year, Jiang Qifeng kept going abroad to buy back a certain technology. The chip project Young Master Zhao took on was supposed to be the exclusive patent for that technology, and it should have been very profitable. Unfortunately…"
"Unfortunately, our company's artificial intelligence came out, and this kind of chip is no longer needed at all?" Qi Cheng continued.
Bai Zongyin smiled. "Chengcheng is really smart."
"Husband, the tone you're using sounds like you're praising Fanfan." Smart Chengcheng was picky and felt that being grouped together with his little goose meant the little goose was getting undeserved credit.
Bai Zongyin pretended to think seriously for a moment. "Chengcheng is still the smartest."
That's more like it! Qi Cheng looked proud.
He was certainly much smarter than one-year-old Fanfan!
After that, they didn't bring up the topic again. Just like with the Jiang Group shares they had sold off, and this chip contract they let go at a low price, they had also given a warning—the choice was the Zhao family's to make. They had done what needed to be done.
Especially since his husband said the money from selling the shares had already been earned back through this year's dividends from Jiang Group stock—but Zhao Zhuo had converted his dividends into that chip contract for his youngest son.
None of it had anything to do with them anymore.
The New Year arrived once again. Fanfan put on new clothes—a bright red button-front jacket with two rows of fluffy rabbit fur trim across the chest, and a tiger-head hat crocheted by Auntie Zheng on his head. He looked adorably goofy, and Fanfan absolutely loved it.
He tugged at his daddy to take photos.
Qi Cheng said, "You're so vain," while heading upstairs. "Wait for me, I'm changing too!" Then he came back down in a bright red hoodie to match. Seeing his little goose, he said, "We should get matching parent-child outfits sometime."
Fanfan didn't know what parent-child outfits meant, but his big eyes looked at his daddy, then at himself. His little hands touched the fuzzy trim on his chest, he showed his little teeth and babbled, "Mmm yah."
"Mine doesn't have any fuzz." His dad could now understand him perfectly.
Fanfan nodded his head, his chubby face looking a bit disappointed.
Uncle Quan said, "I'll ask around and see if they can make adult sizes. Fanfan wants to match Daddy, right?"
The festive red outfit had been bought by Uncle Quan for Fanfan.
Fanfan nodded. "Yesh."
Qi Cheng pinched his little goose's cheek and teased him, "Are you a silly goose or what!"
Fanfan's round eyes sparkled brightly as he looked at his daddy, shook his head—definitely not a goose.
Bai Zongyin didn't work during the New Year—it was a rare holiday. The family had a reunion dinner together. Lu Yang hadn't come over this year. Qi Cheng had invited him several times, but Lu Yang said he was spending it with friends. Qi Cheng initially thought the guy was just making excuses so he wouldn't intrude on their family time.
What friends could Xiao Lu possibly have!
His college roommates had all gone home for the holidays. Now that he was making videos, he didn't need to take on part-time jobs during winter break. His only destination during time off was the studio—nowhere else.
"Real friends? Don't be shy or awkward about it." It was New Year's—Lu Yang would be so lonely by himself.
Lu Yang: "Really. We already made plans."
Qi Cheng could tell from Lu Yang's tone that he wasn't lying. It was a bit surprising, but then he quickly remembered—that time when Lu Yang was being followed, it seemed like someone was pursuing him—
"Hehehehe, got it. Have fun!" Qi Cheng said with a grin, his voice carrying that 'I know what's up' and 'I totally get it' best-brother tone.
New Year's Day was Lu Yang's birthday. The online store opened for business that day, mainly selling merch—for now, only Lu Yang's postcard photo sets. There were individual cards and limited-edition boxed sets. As for future products, that would depend on whether they could come up with their own designs.
Single cards were six yuan each, with free shipping on three. The boxed set contained a curated selection of sixteen photos featuring looks from throughout the year, priced at eighty-eight yuan with free shipping. They could gradually add more items later, but Qi Cheng figured that probably wouldn't happen—the costumes and props were all bought online ready-made, and there was no way the studio could afford to hire another designer.
Since New Year's Day was Lu Yang's birthday, Qi Cheng also gave an 88% discount.
The sales were surprisingly good—they sold out immediately. Qi Cheng hadn't expected such great results. They had previously agreed to celebrate Lu Yang's birthday together, so Lu Yang came over on the afternoon of New Year's Day. They ordered a cake, and Fanfan gave Uncle Xiao Lu a ribbon he thought was pretty.
Qi Cheng took one look—it was the same ribbon he'd brought back from the island.
He burst out laughing, pinched his little goose's soft, chubby cheeks, and said, "Good Fanfan! Our Fanfan will tie it on for Uncle Xiao Lu himself."
Fanfan didn't know how to tie it. His little hands waved about as he tried earnestly to fasten the gift onto Uncle Xiao Lu. Lu Yang sat on the sofa, bent over, watching Fanfan.
Even though Fanfan couldn't get it tied properly at all and was just looping it around randomly, Lu Yang was completely biased—he praised, "Fanfan's doing it right. That's exactly how you do it. Perfect."
His dad teased, "Perfect? You've been looping those two chubby little fingers around it for ages and still haven't gotten it in the right spot."
Fanfan's round eyes looked at his daddy, and he let out a little "hmph." Qi Cheng pinched his little goose's cheek. "Hmphing at Daddy? I can hmph too."
The father and son started an utterly pointless and childish hmphing contest.
Of course, Qi Cheng won. Fanfan looked at him with big pitiful eyes, and his dad scooped him up, gave him a kiss, and ruffled his head full of soft hair. The poor pitiful Fanfan immediately perked up, showing his little white teeth in a smile at his daddy.
Today's photo: devoted father and filial son.
The New Year was lively, and then it snowed heavily on the tenth day of the lunar month, right when people had gone back to work. Seeing the snowy weather, Qi Cheng thought of hot springs. But Fanfan was too young, and the stalking incident from last time still left him wary—even though they had bodyguards, Qi Cheng didn't want to go running around.
So he sent a message to the work group chat, asking if everyone wanted to do a team-building trip to hot springs.
Lao Ke was the first to respond, asking in the group: Can we do a shoot in the snow at the hot springs?
Qi Cheng: ???
Since when was Lao Ke this enthusiastic about work?
Orange From Da Bai's Family: I wanted you all to relax as a New Year's perk. But if you want to shoot, Lao Ke, what do you have in mind?
TT: What could he possibly have in mind! Boss, snow + hot springs + Little Deer—that's a killer combination.
Zhuzhu: Lao Ke, do you want a beating? I'll help you, Lu Yang.
Lu Yang: …Wang Jiarui, say that again.
Lao Ke's real name was Wang Jiarui. When his full name was called out, Lao Ke quietly popped up and sent a red envelope: Brother Lu, please calm down. I wasn't thinking anything—TT is just making stuff up.
TT: You dare say you weren't thinking it?
Lao Ke: …
Qi Cheng eventually stepped in to mediate: "A snowy hot spring shoot really does sound nice. Let me think of a theme, or maybe do a cosplay episode? As for Little Deer—hot springs are a bit tricky, since it could come across as suggestive. We're a proper, positive-energy studio!"
Lu Yang: [OK]
Lao Ke didn't even claim the red envelope, because he sent a voice message in the group yelling: "Bro, I was wrong. I'm really wrong!"
It seemed Lu Yang had already gone from the third floor down to the first to enforce discipline in person.
The group chat: …[lighting a candle]
In the end, Qi Cheng went on Weibo to ask for opinions.
Orange from Da Bai's Family: I want to shoot a snowy hot spring theme. The architecture will likely be traditional Chinese style, so I'm asking what kind of look you'd all like to see? If your suggestion is chosen, I'll send a signed postcard [flower]
When Qi Cheng checked that evening, the top comment with the most likes was: Please please please can I see my beloved Little Deer? I haven't seen her all New Year—I miss my wife so much.
???
Is this Lao Ke's alt account?
Qi Cheng clicked into the profile—unfortunately, it wasn't Lao Ke's alt. Otherwise, he could have enjoyed some drama and gossip.
Well… might as well ask Xiao Lu first.
Lu Yang had no problem with it. If the first time cross-dressing had been a bit embarrassing—though on the surface he had been the ultimate picture of calm and cool—by now he was completely used to it. However, for events, Lu Yang never took offline gigs that required him to play female roles.
Mainly because he was afraid he'd end up hitting someone.
When Little Deer appeared, even a hardcore otaku like Lao Ke couldn't forget her. If it came to the real world, with Lu Yang's personality, if any guy gave Little Deer a lecherous look, tried to cop a feel, or showed any lovesick, drooling expression, he'd immediately turn into "Brother Lu" and teach them a lesson.
That wouldn't be an offline event—that would be a trip to jail.
This time, following Zhuzhu and TT's suggestions, they went with a JK-style (japanese schoolgirl uniform style). Zhuzhu also said, "We could actually do a Tomie-style horror delinquent aesthetic. If it's too innocent and pure, it might come off a bit suggestive."
Since it was in a hot spring pool, after all.
Lu Yang thought that sounded good.
Qi Cheng didn't get involved and let the studio handle it themselves. The hot spring courtyard that Zhao Zhuo had given them had been sitting empty all year; they'd never used it once. This time, instead of booking a hotel, he just sent everyone to stay there.
All expenses paid for by Boss Orange!
Because they'd made money selling postcards! The studio had actually been making a small profit—since Lu Yang was getting more and more gigs with better pay. Qi Cheng did the math—of course, not counting the money spent on costumes.
Just the initial Ming-style hanfu series alone had cost over 400,000 yuan. After deducting Lao Ke's salary, the assistants' pay for location shoots, and the makeup artists' fees, they were making about one to two thousand yuan a month?
But the postcards that sold out on New Year's Day, plus the restock afterward, finally showed Qi Cheng what real profit looked like.
For this hot spring shoot, they didn't need to rent a villa—saved. For the car, Qi Cheng swapped his convertible sports car for an SUV—bigger, seven seats, perfect for the studio—and left it there. Lu Yang had finally gotten his driver's license, so they saved on a driver too, just paying for gas. JK uniforms weren't expensive, so the costume budget was low. The rest was just food and drinks for the studio team—which didn't cost much. Saved again.
So the costs were very low.
Only Zhuzhu wailed in the group: !!! You're all going on another team trip—I'm so tempted! Boss, can I fly over on my own and join the fun?
Qi Cheng didn't mind at all. Zhuzhu's hanfu makeup looks were very distinctive, so he agreed.
Zhuzhu had been thinking about moving to Mingcheng and settling down with the studio for a while, but she'd always been reluctant to leave her friends and circles in Shanghai. She was also used to taking freelance gigs freely—taking a break whenever she felt tired, no strings attached. But over the past year, the studio's benefits had really been too good.
More importantly, the atmosphere was relaxed, the boss was easygoing and approachable, and Lu Yang was a talented guy with good ideas.
Qi Cheng didn't know what Zhuzhu was thinking yet, but after this hot spring trip, Zhuzhu became an official full-time member of the studio. Zhuzhu specialized in hanfu styling and makeup, and she was also into dolls—very much a 2D culture person.
TT was also a makeup artist, but honestly, his looks weren't as strong or distinctive as Zhuzhu's. TT had always been part-time, so after Zhuzhu joined, they'd have to let TT go—hopefully with a chance to collaborate again in the future.
"I thought you'd be too embarrassed to do that," Bai Zongyin said with some surprise after hearing about it.
Qi Cheng snuggled up to his husband and hummed, "I was a little embarrassed, but I'm running a studio—I need to have rules and structure. Even if it did feel like playing house before…"
"It was a bit like that. But as long as you're happy, Chengcheng."
Qi Cheng humphed, then grandly pulled three bright red hundred-yuan bills from his wallet, handed them to his husband, and said very matter-of-factly, "I'm making money now! This is your allowance for this month. Ask me if you need more!"
Bai Zongyin took them with a smile, cleared his throat, and said, "I never thought I'd get an allowance too. Thank you, wife."
Wife, huh.
Hehe.
Blushing puppy face.jpg
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar