The younger generation, starting from where the wind blows...

Chapter 143 The truth comes out: I am Xu Hongdou's...

Looking into Ma Siyi's sincere eyes, all the words Chen Rui wanted to say were stuck in his throat.

Gu Alian picked up the plastic bag and knew immediately that it contained money.

"Xiao Rui, what's going on?"

She questioned him sternly.

Twenty thousand yuan is nothing to the Chen family.

Gu Alian wasn't angry about the money; she was angry that she had been kept in the dark from beginning to end.

Chen Bo was unaware of this matter, but at this moment he took the initiative to cover for his son.

"The money was given to Xiao Rui by me. It wasn't a lot of money, and it was a loan to a classmate, so I didn't tell him."

Regardless of whether what Ma Siyi said was true or false, she proactively pushed the money in front of Chen Bo.

"Uncle Chen, please count it; the 20,000 yuan is all here."

Since Chen Bo had already spoken, he could only accept the money on Chen Rui's behalf.

"Siyi, Lao Shao has told me about your family's situation. Uncle Chen doesn't mean anything by it, he just wants to ask where you got the 20,000 yuan."

“I signed with an online influencer agency and plan to become an online singer in the future. This money is an advance on my salary from my boss.”

Ma Siyi spoke the truth.

"Is it really an advance on salary, with no other conditions?" Chen Bo asked again.

Ma Siyi nodded vigorously.

Seeing that Chen Bo still seemed somewhat skeptical, Xia Fenghua stepped in to explain for Ma Siyi:
"Uncle Chen, didn't you ask me if I knew Old Boys? Actually, you should ask Siyi, because she and Old Boys are signed with the same influencer agency."

This time, not only Chen Bo was very surprised, but Chen Rui and Gu Alian were also taken aback.

Xia Fenghua hadn't finished speaking.

"Uncle Chen, I know you're worried that Siyi was forced to make some unfair deal with the company in order to pay back the 20,000 yuan as soon as possible. Actually, no. Siyi's boss is a freshman at Yanjing Business School. The influencer agency that Siyi signed with Old Boys is just one of his many campus entrepreneurial projects."

Chen Bo originally just wanted to show concern for Ma Siyi on behalf of his son, but things took an unexpectedly outrageous turn.
The mastermind behind the online sensation of "Old Boys" is actually an 18-year-old college student?

Not only did Chen Bo not believe it, but Chen Rui also found it hard to believe.

Chen Rui boasts that he is the best among his peers in terms of academic performance, appearance, and family background.

Even Xie Wanghe, who was always considered Chen Rui's strongest rival in high school, was far less well-off than Chen Rui.

This is also why Chen Rui was willing to go to the Archaeology Department of Honghuai Normal University, a less popular major at a second-tier university, to wait "devotedly" for Ma Siyi.

Once Ma Siyi learns about everything Chen Rui has done, it's hard for her not to be moved.

If it were a boy from an ordinary family, with average college entrance exam scores and average looks, he would have also gone to Honghuai Normal College for Ma Siyi.

He can only move himself at best; he can never move Ma Siyi.

Similarly, if Ma Siyi were to meet a guy who far surpasses Chen Rui in every way, then everything Chen Rui did would become a joke.

Just as Chen Bo and Chen Rui were about to question the matter together, Gu Alian's voice suddenly rang out.

"Xia, is the manager of the agency that signed Old Boys and lent money to Siyi the tall guy standing behind the photographer over there?"

Xia Fenghua and Ma Siyi were both taken aback.

"Aunt Gu, how did you know?"

Xia Fenghua asked in a trembling voice.

Gu Alian did not answer the question.

Because she could tell from her "aura".

The boy standing behind the photographer had a unique aura that set him apart from the people around him.

Gu Alian had only ever seen a similar aura in those spirited and successful entrepreneurs.

Even entrepreneurs at that level would treat her, a district head, with casual indifference.

To say you don't care is too arrogant.

But the fact is that an official of Gu Alian's rank is indeed not enough in the eyes of entrepreneurs of that level.

Yang Muye's aura wasn't as strong as the business tycoons Gu Alian had met, but the confidence, composure, and ease he exuded from his very bones were exactly the same.

This also prevented Gu Alian from doubting the authenticity of Yang Muye's identity just because of his age, unlike her husband and son.

Gu Alian even thought Xia Fenghua was too conservative.

Or perhaps Xia Fenghua's understanding of Yang Muye was only a partial glimpse, lacking a complete picture.

Just then, the Plastic Brothers and the Old Boys walked over together.

The cameraman's lens followed closely behind.

I just didn't see Yang Muye.

As the group approached, Zhang Kai pointed at Xia Fenghua's table, turned around, and shouted into the camera:

"There's a table here eating Yangzhou fried rice!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Xu Kaiyang ran over.

Before the camera lens could follow, Xu Kaiyang greeted Xia Fenghua and Ma Siyi.

They had met before when they were rehearsing at a bar.

After that, Xu Kaiyang's gaze immediately fell on Chen Rui and his family of three.

"Xia, who are these three?"

“These are my high school classmates’ parents. They’re here in Yanjing for tourism.”

Xia Fenghua reacted quickly enough and didn't let anything slip.

Xu Kaiyang immediately shook hands with Chen Rui and enthusiastically explained that they were filming a video and hoped to interview the five people.

The interview was simple: to get an opinion on whether the Yangzhou fried rice was delicious.

Xu Kaiyang came early mainly to confirm whether Chen Rui and his parents were willing to appear on camera.

Chen Rui glanced at his parents, hesitating whether or not to agree.

Chen Bo asked curiously, "Did you have a script for this video? I mean, can I freely comment on whether this Yangzhou fried rice is delicious or not?"

Without hesitation, Xu Kaiyang replied, "Uncle, you can rest assured, we don't have a script when we film videos; it's all about authenticity."

Chen Bo nodded, deciding to believe Xu Kaiyang's words for the time being.

Gu Alian then spoke up: "I won't go on camera; you can interview the father and son."

Xu Kaiyang didn't force him and immediately waved to Zhang Kai and the camera lens behind him.

Chen Xiaozheng held up his camera, and the lens followed Zhang Kai as he walked over.

Xu Kaiyang walked in front of the camera and explained that he had found three students from other schools who had come "by word of mouth" to try Yangzhou fried rice, as well as a parent.

The camera lens swept across the faces of Xia Fenghua, Ma Siyi, Chen Rui, and Chen Bo one by one.

All four of them politely raised their hands and smiled as they waved to the camera.

"Let's start with this foreign friend. Whose idea was it to eat Yangzhou fried rice?"

As Xu Kaiyang's voice rang out, the camera focused on Ma Siyi.

Ma Siyi pointed to Xia Fenghua beside her and said, "She's treating us today, I'm just here to freeload."

Xu Kaiyang and Zhang Kai both pretended to be very shocked.

"My goodness, this foreign friend speaks Mandarin even better than I do!"

"And you can't hear any foreign accent at all, it's like they started practicing in the womb."

After the two finished their dramatic explanations, Ma Siyi helplessly explained to the camera that she was of mixed race, not a foreigner.

To cover up their "awkwardness," Xu Kaiyang and Zhang Kai immediately directed the camera to point at Xia Fenghua.

"Why did you choose to treat your friend to Yangzhou fried rice?"

"Can I tell the truth?" "Of course, speak freely, say whatever you want."

That's what you said.

Xia Fenghua glanced at the camera:
"The truth is that I originally wanted to treat everyone to braised pork knuckle rice, but we were too late and couldn't get any even after queuing up."

Xu Kaiyang and Zhang Kaiqi were both stunned.

Standing behind the camera, Chen Xiaozheng immediately thought of Stephen Chow's classic line.

Surprised or not?

Unhappy?
These days, at Yang Muye's request, Chen Xiaozheng has been collecting famous scenes from various movies and TV dramas.

Now, whenever I encounter a corresponding scene during filming, the corresponding famous scene from a movie or TV series will automatically pop into my mind.

After regaining his senses, Xu Kaiyang could only manage an awkward smile at the camera:

"This student has a good sense of humor."

Zhang Kai immediately tried to cover it up:
"But I must say you have a really good eye. You didn't get to eat the braised pork trotter rice, but you chose Yangzhou fried rice, which is just as delicious. I see you've already had a couple of bites. How does it taste?"

"pretty good."

Xia Fenghua nodded.

Xu Kaiyang and Zhang Kai clapped their hands excitedly; these were the words they had been waiting for.

The camera then focused on Ma Siyi.

“Il saporeè fantastico.”

A foreign language was spoken by Ma Siyi.

Xu Kaiyang and Zhang Kai were both stunned.

I was just about to ask Ma Siyi, since she said she was Chinese, why is she using foreign languages?

Ma Siyi then explained, "This is Italian for 'delicious,' and that's the only phrase I know."

The interview was a huge success.

When it was Chen Rui's turn to be interviewed, Chen Bo noticed that his son seemed a little distracted, so he took the initiative to put his arm around Chen Rui's shoulder, and the father and son appeared on camera together.

The interview wasn't as successful as those with Xia Fenghua and Ma Siyi, but Chen Bo's initiative in mentioning that he came from the Huaiyang region and the affirmation from the locals gave the interviews a bit of a highlight.

At least it won't be cut out in post-production because it's too boring.

As soon as Zhang Kai and Xu Kaiyang arrived, Xu Hongdou noticed Xia Fenghua and her group's table.

Knowing that Old Boys and Plastic Brothers only interview people who eat Yangzhou fried rice, I didn't pay much attention.

As she was eating her braised pork trotter rice with her head down, she looked up and noticed that Xu Hongmi and her father Xu Jianguo across from her had both stopped eating and were looking up at her back.

At first, Xu Hongdou didn't pay much attention, until a familiar voice rang out behind her.

"Xu Hongdou, I thought you didn't like following trends. So, how's the braised pork trotter rice?"

Yang Muyi, carrying a plate of Yangzhou fried rice, appeared behind Xu Hongdou without her noticing.

Seeing that there was an empty seat next to her, Liu Guiqin warmly invited Yang Muye to sit next to her.

Yang Muyi didn't stand on ceremony and immediately sat down.

"Xu Hongdou, aren't you going to introduce her to me?"

Xu Hongdou raised her head in an annoyed manner.

Haven't you seen them all?

Do I need to introduce myself?
Seeing that Xu Hongdou was so ungrateful, Yang Muye stopped pretending and took the initiative to greet Liu Guiqin and Xu Jianguo.

"Hello, Auntie and Uncle!"

"Oh, young man, you still remember us?" Liu Guiqin said happily.

"Of course I remember. Including now, we've met three times already."

After Yang Muye finished speaking, his gaze fell on Xu Hongmi.

Before Yang Muyi could even try to establish a rapport, Xu Hongdou preemptively introduced, "This is my sister, Xu Hongmi. According to you, this is the second time you've met."

Just as Yang Muyi was about to greet her, Xu Hongmi suddenly said, "You're the one who tipped off Xu Hongdou, right?"

"Yes, it's me."

Yang Muye readily admitted it.

Xu Hongmi took a serious look at Yang Muyi... at the plate of Yangzhou fried rice in front of him.

"Are you guys so short of extras for your videos that even you, the boss, have to step in yourself?"

"Sister Hongmi, don't misunderstand. This plate of Yangzhou fried rice was a free gift from the restaurant owner. Our principle when filming these kinds of restaurant review videos is that we absolutely don't eat for free, and the viewers must be able to see the payment. In order to avoid faking it, I, who am not on camera, have to bear the burden of the owner's hospitality."

Yang Muye explained.

Xu Hongdou immediately retorted without hesitation: "If you're going to freeload, just say so. Why make it sound so sophisticated? Are all bosses this shameless these days?"

Xu Hongmi looked curiously at Yang Muye, who remained unmoved.

"You're not angry at Xu Hongdou for saying that to you?"

Yang Muye shrugged: "She's right. I do have a thick skin. As a boss, I can't get angry just because someone tells the truth, can I?"

Xu Hongmi immediately corrected her: "I didn't say Xu Hongdou was wrong, but I was saying that you wouldn't be angry if she criticized you like that?"

Hearing this, Xu Hongdou finally couldn't hold back anymore.

"Xu Hongmi, is it really necessary for you to keep arguing like this?"

Xu Hongmi immediately retorted:

“I think it’s quite interesting.”

At this moment, Yang Muye's voice rang out.

"Sister Hongmi, do you and Xu Hongdou always bicker like this?"

Xu Hongmi nodded and said:

"Yes, we've been arguing like this since we were little."

"Aren't you angry when Xu Hongdou criticizes you?"

"Of course I'm not angry. Whoever loses the argument should be angry—"

Xu Hongmi paused abruptly at this point.

She looked at Yang Muye and asked seriously, "Don't tell me that's what you were going to answer me just now?"

Yang Muye shrugged again: "Isn't this a case of great minds thinking alike?"

Now it was Xu Hongdou's turn to be unhappy.

"Hey, you two are really treating me like I don't exist, aren't you? And where do you get the confidence to think I'll always be the one who loses this argument?"

Xu Hongmi ignored Xu Hongdou's protest and continued to ask Yang Muye:

"What exactly is your relationship with Xu Hongdou? Don't come up with such lies as classmates or ordinary friends; I definitely don't believe them."

"Sister Hongmi truly has a keen eye!"

Yang Muyi offered his hand to Xu Hongmi, but Xu Hongmi ignored him completely.

"Didn't Xu Hongdou tell you? Flattery won't work on me."

Even so, Yang Muyi still showed no intention of withdrawing his hand.

"Sister Hongmi, please don't misunderstand. I just want to formally introduce myself to you. My name is Yang Muye, the boss of Xingchen Dahai MCN."

Xu Hongmi remained unmoved.

“Xu Hongdou has already told me all this, you don’t need to brag about it again.”

Yang Muye smiled and shook his head, saying:
"Didn't Xu Hongdou tell you? She's already signed with Starry Sea. Besides being classmates and ordinary friends, I should now be considered her...boss!"

(End of this chapter)