Marry a female star at a bargain price

Chapter 296, Section 297: Love is a constant feeling of indebtedness
The camping trip ended after 4 p.m.

Ms. Lin Xiaoxi had taken a nap under the shade of the trees by the lake all afternoon, and was full of energy at the moment. After waking up, she was carried in Lin Xiao's arms the whole time.

The family, including the nanny, consists of seven people.

Lin Xiaoxi may be small, but her child safety seat takes up more than half of the back seat, taking up more space than an adult.

The family travels in two cars.

Fortunately, there are two people in the family who can drive: Lin Xiao and Han Xixi.

When they returned, Ms. Lin Xiaoxi clung to her father and wouldn't let go.

Lin Xiao felt honored by his daughter's affection, his face wrinkled even more, and he had an arrogant air about him being the only one worthy of respect in the world.

The mother and the nanny tried to forcibly take Ms. Lin away, but as soon as they reached out, the chubby little girl immediately pouted and started to cry.

Lin Xiao was heartbroken.

He was practically ready to yell, "Let go of that girl!!"

Ultimately, it was unsuccessful.

With one of their two drivers lost, Han Xixi, the only son, was helpless. Rolling her eyes at her silly husband and clingy daughter, she could only decide to make two trips to transport the whole family home after her rebirth as a superstar.

At first, no one thought there was anything wrong with the arrangement.

It wasn't until Han Xixi, along with Liang Tian, ​​Lin Yu, and Zhou Xiuping, were halfway there that they finally arrived.

Lin Yu suddenly said, "That's not right, how can one driver be driving two cars?"

Before anyone could react, the question had been asked.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Didn't I say my sister would make two trips?" Liang Tian said with a look of disgust.

Lin Yu was speechless and had to abandon his instinct to be concise, explaining, "Although my sister-in-law can make two trips to bring everyone home, we went in two cars. If my brother doesn't drive, the other car still won't be able to get back..."

Upon hearing this explanation, everyone on the bus suddenly understood.

Then the car erupted in laughter, and the four of them laughed so hard they were doubled over.

Such a simple thing, yet not a single person realized it at the time.

"What do we do now?" Liang Tian asked.

"Well, there's nothing we can do about it. Luckily, Auntie is still there, and she's holding Xiao Chu. Your brother-in-law can drive back now!"

Han Xixi said helplessly.

Liang Tian suppressed a laugh and said, "You've all seen how smug my brother-in-law is, acting like he owns the world with his daughter by his side. I bet he's not going to put his daughter down. So, if you ask me, sister, you should go pick them up later. Just leave the car there and pick it up tomorrow!"

Everyone was amused and agreed with the suggestion.

Xi Xi didn't mind making another trip; on the contrary, she was actually quite willing to go back to pick up her husband and daughter.

Although this extra trip seems pointless.

But she thoroughly enjoys the time the family of three spends together and doesn't want to waste a single minute.

However, she was a little embarrassed by the idea and didn't dare to say it out loud, so she could only agree with Liang Tian with an embarrassed look on her face.

Then, she pursed her lips, secretly delighted with immense sweetness.

At this moment, Zhou Xiuping suddenly said, "In the end, it's still because none of us can drive. We can only rely on Xiaoxiao and Xixi... It just so happens that Lin Yu has finished his college entrance exams and has nothing better to do. He can go to driving school, enroll in a driving school, and get his driver's license. Then the whole family will have someone who can drive when we go out!"

"Yeah, sure~" Xixi said.

Lin Yu was somewhat taken aback by the suggestion.

He's always been indifferent to everything, but he's been prone to motion sickness since childhood, so he's somewhat afraid of driving.

I was a little timid and didn't respond.

Liang Tian then exclaimed happily, "My parents are urging me to go back and take my driving test. Since Lin Yu is also learning... I might as well learn here too, so we can keep each other company!"

Upon hearing this, both Han Xixi and Zhou Xiuping, the two "outsiders," were somewhat surprised.

Zhou Xiuping sat in the passenger seat. The two women exchanged a glance, and everything was understood without words.

Lin Yu's eyes flickered in the back seat, but he didn't reply.

Han Xixi thought her brother-in-law was unwilling, so she quickly came to his rescue, saying, "Tian Tian, ​​the driving school in Jingzhou is definitely better than here. Your aunt is urging you to go back, probably because she has someone she knows there? Are you sure you don't want to go back?"

Liang Tian didn't understand her cousin's meaning and said seriously, "No matter how good the conditions are, can they be as beautiful as Mashan County with its clear waters and fresh air? Besides, the driver's license test in Jingzhou and Nanzhou is the same, so it doesn't matter where you take the test, right?"

Liang Tian spoke somewhat anxiously, seemingly afraid that her cousin would disagree, and nudged Lin Yu's arm for support.

Lin Yu, like a switch being flipped, immediately activated the program: "Yes, yes..."

Liang Tian was very dissatisfied with his dull reaction. She rolled her eyes and said, "Look at how stupid he is. I reckon he wouldn't be able to learn to drive by himself. With me here, I can help him out. Consider this a gift from the older brother to the younger brother!"

These words sounded generous and righteous, but the girl in the rearview mirror inexplicably blushed.

Xi Xi saw through it but didn't say anything.

She exchanged a glance with her mother-in-law, Zhou Xiuping, and the two understood each other without saying a word.

"Alright then, I'll call my aunt tonight and tell her about it..."

"Yay! Thank you, sis!"

Liang Tian jumped up excitedly, almost hitting the roof of the car.

Finally, he patted Lin Yu on the shoulder triumphantly: "Little brother, if you can't learn something, be sure to humbly ask me for help. Don't worry, my coaching fee is very cheap, just the price of a cup of milk tea!!"

Lin Yu was somewhat speechless, but only slightly.

What he cherishes most is a sense of radiance and comfort, like floating on clouds and resting on the morning glow; it's the ease and secret joy of being a child who forgot his homework and whose roll call ended just in time for the student in front of him.

"Oh, okay~"

Lin Yu responded calmly.

……

I got back to my building.

From afar, Xixi saw her nanny van parked in a public parking space in the community, with her agent Chen Jiajia sitting in the passenger seat.

Jiajia saw her at the same time and quickly got out of the car to come over, looking excited and overjoyed.

"Hey, where's my brother-in-law?"

Chen Jiajia opened the door and went straight to Lin Xiao.

This left Xixi feeling utterly bewildered: Wait, whose agent are you? Don't I, a big star, have any dignity?
"He's still in the park... Why are you looking for him?" Xixi asked, glancing sideways.

"Of course I need to see him because it's something very important!"

Jiajia asked mysteriously, "Sister, are you going back to pick them up? I'll go with you!"

Although Xixi was curious, she had no choice but to obey.

Fortunately, Jiajia is here, so they can drive both cars back together, and Lin Xiao won't have to be separated from his daughter.

The only downside was that she couldn't come back in the same car as her husband and daughter.

This little change made Xixi a little disappointed, but she was too shy to show it—otherwise, Jiajia would definitely make fun of her for half a year, since this die-hard CP fan had long since left the fandom and become their number one hater.

Xixi dropped off the people in the car and then took Jiajia to the campsite.

Along the way, she repeatedly asked Jiajia what was going on, but the little girl kept it a secret and wouldn't say, yet she couldn't hide the look of smugness on her face.

Xi Xi's appetite was whetted, but she was too lazy to ask any further questions.

We soon arrived at the lake again.

It was not yet five o'clock, and the early summer sun was high in the sky. The afternoon sun and the blazing sun had not yet set, and dusk and the evening glow were still on standby.

Lin Xiao was holding the chubby little girl, playing a "lift her up high" game on the grass.

From afar, Xixi saw him tossing his daughter into the air and catching her in his hands, having a great time playing like that.

Lin Xiaoxi laughed heartily.

Lin Xiao was even happier than his daughter, his laughter almost startling the lake monster out of the water.

Xixi was almost in tears.

It wasn't just happiness I felt, but genuine joy for Comrade Lin Xiao—after months of relentless hard work, he had finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel and won a smile from his daughter.

What a joy!

Han Xixi was so pleased she almost applauded her husband.

Compared to her comforting words, Chen Jiajia, standing to the side, had her brows furrowed deeply, looking utterly disappointed.

She approached with that expression on her face.

A crowd of onlookers had gathered around the open space where the father and daughter were playing, snapping photos of Mayor Lin, who seemed oblivious to his surroundings and completely absorbed in the moment.

Lin Xiao, however, didn't care at all and threw his daughter around like a discus.

Chen Jiajia was even more heartbroken.

"This level of attention, this approachability, this atmosphere... if this were made into a variety show and uploaded online, it would absolutely go viral and become a sensation. Don't even bother talking about it for an appearance fee of at least eight figures!!"

Agent Chen felt a pang of loss, realizing he had lost 100 million.

No one realized that she, who used to make a living by following celebrities, gossiping, and shipping couples, had lost all interest in anything since becoming a manager. Any heartwarming or dramatic scene triggered her subconscious reaction to either "How do I monetize this buzz?" or "How do I handle this crisis?" or "How do I turn this attention into commercial value?"

Indeed: the best way to ruin a hobby is to turn it into a job!
Agent Chen approached the two money-making "forests" with a serious expression.

"Jiajia's here!"

Lin Xiao greeted him with a hearty smile.

"Brother-in-law, let's talk in private!" Chen Jiajia said.

"???"

Lin Xiao frowned: What's with this sudden change in attitude towards the martial arts world?

He was tired from playing, so he got into the car with his daughter in his arms, and Jiajia drove. Han Xixi drove another car, with the nanny leading the way.

"Brother-in-law, do you remember that variety show I told you about last time?" Jiajia asked as soon as she got into the car.

"We remember, don't we?"

The eight characters consisted of four replies to Chen Jiajia and four jokes to tease his daughter.

As for the tone...

Naturally, I'm taking care of the four-month-old baby; I'm incredibly clingy.

Chen Jiajia, who was listening from the front, got goosebumps.

Jiajia's inner thoughts: I'll endure it!
"Brother-in-law, you said last time that frequently taking leave to record variety shows would affect your normal work!"

Chen Jiajia remained steadfast in her career and earnestly said, "I've communicated your situation to the 'Rebirth' program team. Their director was very sincere in inviting you and Sister Xixi, and even though you've already declined, the director still sincerely showed his sincerity."

"In order to persuade you and Sister Xixi to come out of retirement, the director said that the filming location for this season could be your Star Town - in fact, they had already chosen the filming location and had already decorated and built it."

"But to accommodate your work schedule, the production team said they can choose a house in Xingguang Town and redesign and renovate it. That way, you can focus on filming the variety show and handle your work during breaks, without affecting either aspect!"

Chen Jiajia became more and more excited as she spoke. Before Lin Xiao could respond, she quickly added, "As for the higher-ups approving your participation in variety shows as a side business, don't worry. After all, the popularity of 'Rebirth' is undeniable, definitely S+ level. Once the show airs, the traffic and attention it will bring will be terrifying."

"Although Mashan County is located in a remote mountainous area, its scenery of green mountains and clear waters is quite beautiful; it just lacks proper marketing and promotion. With the boost from this variety show, it's like getting free advertising for the county, which will surely boost its tourism industry."

"This is a risk-free and highly profitable business. If I were a county leader, I would jump up and applaud in support. There would be absolutely no reason to oppose it."

Chen Jiajia spoke excitedly, swallowing hard.

Then she added, "As for you, brother-in-law, I know you don't care about money or fame. You're someone who's detached from vulgar interests. No matter how high the commercial offer from the production team is, it won't sway you."

"But think about it, once you and Sister Xixi take on this variety show, the show's popularity combined with your own will be like adding fuel to the fire, and the impact of this popularity on the development of Star Town will be terrifying."

"In this way, the local economy will develop rapidly in a short period of time, and the livelihoods of the local people will have more choices and be greatly improved. This is definitely a good thing that benefits the local area. Fame and fortune may not move you, but the smiles of the local people can always move Mayor Lin, right?"

Chen Jiajia talked for so long that she was panting heavily, but her face was flushed with excitement.

Lin Xiao sat in the back seat, holding his daughter and playing finger games, but his mind was already drawn to Jiajia's patient guidance.

have to say.

Jiajia's words were reasonable, insightful, and resonated deeply with him.

He really listened to what he was told.

"Jiajia, what do your parents do?" Lin Xiao suddenly asked.

"what?!"

Chen Jiajia was completely bewildered and almost missed the car in front of her.

She couldn't understand why the topic was jumping so fast; weren't they talking about recording a variety show?
"My mom is a high school Chinese teacher and the head teacher of the top class. My dad is a lawyer and owns his own law firm..."

Jiajia replied truthfully, "Brother, what's wrong?"

Lin Xiao nodded in deep agreement.

Sure enough, my parents both make a living with their silver tongues. That makes sense!

No wonder Chen Jiajia is so talkative, her little mouth keeps chattering!

The key is that their actions are precise and hit the nail on the head. With this kind of eloquence and insight, they can succeed no matter what they do!

Lin Xiao had previously thought that it was somewhat hasty and reckless for his wife to appoint her assistant, who was a year younger than him, as her manager.

In retrospect, my worries were completely unnecessary.

The driver in front, apart from being a bit young, has all the qualities of a top-notch agent.

"Brother-in-law, stop talking nonsense!"

Jiajia, being impatient, couldn't hold back and raised her voice, shouting, "Just give me a straight answer, are you going to take this variety show or not? If you take it, I'll talk to the director and I'll definitely negotiate the highest possible pay for you and Sister Xixi, no less than the other two couples!"

"If you don't accept... then I'll just drop the subject and think of other ways. I'll find a way to monetize your popularity and online buzz!"

Lin Xiao was both amused and exasperated.

"No! If I don't answer, shouldn't you give up completely? Why are you trying to find other ways?"

"Give up? Are you kidding me!"

Chen Jiajia looked at her with a surprised expression, as if asking if she wanted to hear what she was saying, and exclaimed, "Brother, you have absolutely no idea how popular your family of three is right now, do you?"
"Let's not talk about Sister Xixi, she's been famous for almost two years now. I'll just talk about you—this month, you've been on the trending topics three times by yourself: once you were spotted eating noodles at a small restaurant in Xingguang Town, and once you were criticized for neglecting your family when Sister Xixi was taking care of the child alone."

"Another time was even more outrageous. Someone took a picture of you squatting on the edge of a field eating watermelon with your trousers rolled up, and it was posted online, which sparked a heated argument among netizens. Those who supported you said you were down-to-earth, that you were clearly a genuine rural resident who mingled with the people, while those who criticized you questioned whether you had paid for the watermelon, whether you were oppressing the people, or taking advantage of the villagers... The argument was fierce!"

Chen Jiajia spoke with an air of pride and excitement.

Lin Xiao frowned as he listened.

He had no idea about this. He was busy enough with work, so he didn't have time to pay attention to whether he was trending on social media.

My family should know.

But people have long since gone from being curious to being numb to the fact that the couple is trending on social media, and they don't care about it at all, so naturally they don't talk about it intentionally.

So Lin Xiao had no idea that he had simply picked up a melon from a kind-hearted villager while traveling to the countryside one day, and then squatted down on the edge of the field to eat it, which inadvertently sparked a major discussion about whether it was right or wrong for civil servants in the new era to get along with the masses.

This butterfly effect... is really quite novel!

Chen Jiajia was still excitedly explaining: "Just this one photo went straight to second place on the trending search list. Bro, now you know how terrifying your popularity is, right? This is the level that would make people so jealous of even top-tier celebrities that they'd be secretly plotting against you!"
"With your level of fame, if I don't monetize it in a day, I won't be able to eat or sleep. My heart will be pounding like oil! So, bro, please have pity on me and seriously consider recording this variety show. Don't force me to kneel down and beg you!!!"

Jiajia spoke with a straight face.

Lin Xiao burst into laughter upon hearing this.

"Kneeling down would be too formal; we're all real relatives... I think this variety show is worth accepting!"

Lin Xiaodao said.

Jiajia was about to continue persuading when she heard this and was immediately stunned.

"Brother...are you serious?"

"real!"

"This...is it really that sudden?" Jiajia couldn't believe it; it felt like a windfall.

Lin Xiao replied, "It's not sudden. You've analyzed the pros and cons clearly from the perspectives of leadership, the masses, economic development, the production team, and myself. I must admit that your analysis of my part is very insightful."

"Since there are so many benefits to taking on this variety show, I have absolutely no reason to refuse. However..."

The conversation took an abrupt turn, causing Jiajia's heart, which had just settled down, to leap into her throat again.

"But what?"

“However, my attitude only represents myself, but this show requires both Xixi and me to record it, so I still need to ask for her opinion!” Lin Xiao said.

"Hey, I thought it was something else!"

Chen Jiajia was relieved. "Sister Xixi will definitely agree!"

Lin Xiao was taken aback.

"why?"

"Because you agreed! My sister is obsessed with her husband now. I know her well. As long as you agree to it and it helps your career, she'll give it her all!"

Jiajia spoke with a tone of disappointment and frustration.

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiao did not feel smug at all; instead, he frowned.

Love is always feeling indebted.

He always felt that his wife had made a great sacrifice by giving up a promising career in the entertainment industry and staying with him in this remote mountain village with their child.

He was completely unwilling to let go, and took his wife's sacrifices and accommodations as a source of pride and self-satisfaction, believing that she was captivated by his own charm.

He only felt indebted.

"Don't tell her about this, I'll talk to her..."

Lin Xiao held his daughter Xiao Chu's two chubby little hands, looked into her big, watery eyes, and said softly.

Chen Jiajia sensed the change in tone in the back row and was somewhat puzzled.

But he still nodded.

"okay!"

(End of this chapter)