I Dominate the Entertainment Industry Through Top-Tier Star-Making - Chapter 16

“Am I really your biological son?”

“—A-Lan is here?”

From a distance, a warm, gentle voice, tinged with surprise, approached.

Tap, tap, tap.

A beautiful woman wearing an apron and fluffy rabbit fur slippers rushed out of the kitchen.

“Aunt Mo.” You A-Lan immediately dropped all her defenses and displayed the softest smile.

“Ah, good, good! So glad you’re here.” Shu Mo grabbed You A-Lan’s arm, smiling as she nodded. “You’ve become even more beautiful, though you’ve lost a bit of weight. I made a lot of your favorite dishes today; you must eat more and gain some weight, understand?”

After saying this, she linked her arm with You A-Lan’s and cheerfully chatted as they headed inside, while her biological son, Cheng Yi, was completely ignored, treated as if he were invisible.

“…” Sigh.

Cheng Yi shook his head with a bitter smile and decided to take his time.

However, things didn’t go as planned. After searching for a long time, he couldn’t find his slippers and had to open the shoe cabinet. He nearly emptied the entire cabinet before finally digging out a wrinkled pair squeezed into the corner.

No need to think; it was his mother who stuffed them in so deeply on purpose.

He cast his gaze toward the two laughing like mother and daughter in the distance, feeling a soft sense of helplessness.

The love that A-Lan was missing would be made up for by us.

“Still chatting? The food’s burning.”

Cheng Li Feng came down the stairs, his usually serious face unusually gentle. He nodded at A-Lan and turned back to Shu Mo, saying, “The child’s here, and look at how happy you are. If the food burns, I won’t be able to find a chef to help you.”

The Mid-Autumn Festival, a day for reunion.

Like Cheng Yi, the Cheng family also upheld this tradition, allowing all but essential staff to go home for the holiday.

So the family chef was absent, and there was no one to salvage the situation. Among the four of them, only Shu Mo could handle the cooking; the others were kitchen novices.

“Do you need to say that? I already calculated the time.” Facing her husband, Shu Mo revealed her childish side. “If you can’t cook, just behave yourself and listen.”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Cheng Li Feng obediently nodded, completely lacking the decisive demeanor he showed in business dealings.

Seeing her husband’s attitude, Shu Mo let out a satisfied “hum” and gracefully walked back into the kitchen to continue cooking.

In Shu Mo, the innocence of youth and the tenderness of motherhood combined in a remarkable way, a perfect blend of seemingly contradictory traits.

Aside from her inherent personality, it was the warm family atmosphere that spoiled her like this.

Cheng Li Feng was the chief culprit.

“Dad.” Cheng Yi followed him into the kitchen.

“Mm.”

Compared to Shu Mo, Cheng Li Feng’s love for his son was slightly more pronounced. He acknowledged Cheng Yi with a nod.

But the fatherly affection faded the next moment.

Cheng Yi began to express his dissatisfaction slowly: “Dad, did you let Mom buy random things again? Just look at all the extra stuff in the house. I accidentally bumped into one, and it turned out to be a children’s prank toy?”

So childish.

“If she likes it, then buy it for her. What’s wrong with that?” Cheng Li Feng didn’t see anything wrong with it. “Besides, we’re both retired now. You rarely come here, so how could it bother you?”

Cheng Yi felt a throbbing in his temples. Aside from feeling a headache, he had no way to respond.

That was true, but his wife always took the opportunity to bring home various little toys to annoy their son when he returned, making it impossible for anyone to get a good night’s sleep. Was that normal?

Wait, today can’t be…?

Cheng Yi’s probing gaze turned toward his father, Cheng Li Feng, who quickly signaled him with a slight frown, a pursed lip, and a shake of his head, followed by a light cough.

Cheng Yi understood and breathed a sigh of relief. It was a good thing they hadn’t gotten those annoying toys.

Soon, after a busy afternoon in the kitchen, Shu Mo completed her tasks. Cheng Li Feng took it upon himself to finish the remaining duties, which involved serving the dishes.

“Come on, A-Lan, try Auntie’s cooking! I even learned a new dish from a famous chef just for you; you have to give me your thoughts,” Shu Mo said enthusiastically as she rose to serve the food.

Even though Cheng Yi sat directly across from her, Shu Mo’s attention was entirely focused on A-Lan, who sat to Cheng Yi’s right.

“Does Aunt Mo’s cooking even need mentioning?” A-Lan joked, casting a quick glance at Cheng Yi, who was feigning gloom. She eagerly accepted Shu Mo’s “gift” and took a large bite.

“How is it?” Shu Mo asked, her fingers clasped tightly in front of her, nervous and hopeful.

Time had only added a few charming wrinkles to her face, leaving no other signs of aging.

It was hard for anyone, under the intense gaze of such a mature beauty, to say anything negative.

But A-Lan spoke from her heart.

“Delicious!”

“Well, that’s good! Eat more!”

As if waiting for those words, Shu Mo’s smile grew even wider, and her enthusiasm rose even higher.

This was evident from the small mountain of food gradually piling up in A-Lan’s bowl.

As for Cheng Yi, he had long accepted the reality. He quietly helped himself to the food, leaving the spotlight to the two women.

And Cheng Li Feng?

Well, my wife’s cooking is truly delicious.

After everyone had eaten their fill, this joyful gathering finally came to a close. Following dinner, A-Lan and Cheng Yi sat on the sofa discussing their recent work situations.

Meanwhile, Shu Mo took the opportunity to prepare fruit for the two children, pulling Cheng Li Feng aside in the kitchen for a discreet conversation.

“When do you think our son will finally get it?”

No one knows their child better than a mother. Even if Cheng Yi didn’t understand, Shu Mo could discern the nuances of his behavior.

Moreover, she had made a promise years ago with A-Lan’s mother, her best friend Qiu Weiyu, that if they had a son and a daughter, they would become in-laws, ensuring they understood each other’s backgrounds and could rest easy.

In fact, just as they wished, the children were not only of opposite genders but had grown up close to one another, a rare friendship that continued to this day.

Wait, today won’t it be…?

As soon as Cheng Yi looked over with a questioning expression, he received a signal from his father, Cheng Lifeng.

Cheng Lifeng frowned, pursed his lips, shook his head, and finally cleared his throat.

Cheng Yi understood and breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that he hadn’t pulled any tricks.

Soon, Shu Mo, who had been busy in the kitchen all afternoon, finished her preparations. Cheng Lifeng took over the remaining task of serving the dishes.

“Come on, A’lan, try Auntie’s cooking. This time, Auntie even learned a new dish from a famous chef. Please give Auntie your feedback.” Shu Mo said enthusiastically as she stood up to serve the food.

Even though Cheng Yi was sitting directly across from Shu Mo, she seemed oblivious to her son.

All her attention was focused on Cheng Yi’s right side—You Aolan.

“Do I really need to comment on Aunt Mo’s cooking skills?” You Aolan asked, glancing at Cheng Yi, who was feigning gloom, with amusement. She quickly accepted Shu Mo’s “love” and took a big bite.

“How is it?” Shu Mo clasped her hands nervously in front of her chest, filled with anticipation.

Time had only added a few charming wrinkles to her face, leaving no room for any other changes.

Anyone being scrutinized like this by a mature beauty would feel too embarrassed to say anything negative.

However, You Aolan was sincere.

“Delicious!”

“That’s great! Eat more!”

As if she had been waiting for those words, Shu Mo’s smile widened, and her enthusiasm grew even more.

This was evident from the small mountain of food that was gradually piling up in You Aolan’s bowl.

As for Cheng Yi, he had long since accepted the reality. He quietly served himself food, leaving the spotlight to the two women.

And what about Cheng Lifeng?

Well, the food my wife cooks is truly delicious.

After finishing their meal, the cheerful atmosphere finally came to a close. Following dinner, You Aolan and Cheng Yi sat on the sofa discussing their recent work situations.

Meanwhile, Shu Mo took the opportunity of preparing fruit for the two children after dinner to pull Cheng Lifeng into the kitchen for a private conversation.

“Tell me, when will our son come to his senses?”

No one knows a son better than his mother. Even if Cheng Yi himself didn’t understand, Shu Mo could already grasp the key points from his son’s behavior.

Moreover, she had made a pact with You Aolan’s mother, her best friend Qiu Weiyu, that if they had a boy and a girl, they would become in-laws. This way, they would know each other well and feel at ease.

In fact, it turned out just as they had hoped. Not only were the children they had both of opposite sexes, but the two little ones had been close to each other since childhood. What was even more remarkable was that their friendship had endured to this day.

Shu Mo had long regarded You Aolan as her own daughter.

“I guess it’s difficult.” Cheng Lifeng had just grabbed a grape and was about to put it in his mouth when his beloved wife playfully slapped his hand away.

Shu Mo shot him a glare. “It’s for the children! Why are you grabbing snacks?”

Cheng Lifeng coughed twice, feeling aggrieved yet unwilling to relent. He quietly wrapped his arms around his wife’s waist to comfort her.

But his expression remained that of a strict father. “You know, our son has been clueless since he was young. I would be very lucky if he could even tolerate the opposite sex being three meters away from him.

Do you remember when Mr. Wang and Mr. Zhou visited with their children? The girls said they fell in love with Cheng Yi at first sight and hoped to be introduced to him. But our son wasn’t interested at all. He was so annoyed that he spent half a month living in the office just to get some peace and quiet.

If he were half as good as I was back then, you’d be running around with your grandchildren now.”

Back then, although Cheng Lifeng and Shu Mo had a marriage of convenience, they both couldn’t stand the wealthy families that treated love as a game. They were very self-disciplined and agreed that even if they couldn’t support each other after marriage, they would respect one another and maintain each other’s dignity.

No one expected that a willful and spoiled daughter and a decisive and ruthless young master—considered an ill-matched couple—would actually fall in love after getting married.

What’s even more interesting is that You Yunting and Cheng Lifeng, who grew up together, ended up with wives who also became close friends.

Since their ancestors’ time, the fates of the You and Cheng families have been intertwined.

“Alas, am I not worried about my son?”

A’lan is such a wonderful girl; she has no shortage of admirers. It would be great if she could make our son feel a sense of urgency.

The worst situation would be if they were drawn to each other but didn’t understand their feelings, wasting their time in vain.

That’s what Shu Mo feared.

“I think it’s rare for them to maintain this kind of relationship, even without a breakthrough. Sometimes, friendship lasts longer than love.”

“Do you still want grandchildren?” Shu Mo frowned upon hearing this. Why would she prefer friendship over love?

She wished she could grab them both and interrogate them one by one. If they liked each other, they should just be together—quick and easy.

In Shu Mo’s mind, there was no option for “dislike.”

“By the way, isn’t A’lan planning to enter the entertainment industry? Once she does, her attention will be incomparable to what it is now. She is so outstanding that she will inevitably attract many people sooner or later.”

Knowing that his words had piqued his wife’s interest, Cheng Lifeng took the initiative and pinched Shu Mo’s waist.

“Go on.” Shu Mo could already picture her son’s unhappy expression at that time, which excited her and made her ignore Cheng Lifeng’s little gestures.

“Then A’lan’s focus in life will definitely shift, and Cheng Yi won’t be the only person of the opposite sex around her. Tell me, if he encounters a situation he can’t understand or control, will he suppress his feelings, become jealous, or explode with emotion?”

Men understand men best.

When life becomes stable, he will take it for granted, believing the relationship won’t change, thus ignoring how much he needs her.

However, when a rival appears, his hunting and possessive instincts will surface, and only then can he truly hear the voice of his heart.

“That makes sense,” Shu Mo nodded thoughtfully, a mischievous smile creeping onto her face. “I’ll just sit back and watch how uncomfortable Xiao Yi becomes.”

The couple exchanged knowing smiles.

While Cheng Yi was still chatting, he suddenly shivered, thinking it was just a sign that he was catching a cold. He had no idea that his parents were secretly plotting to witness his awakening and a melodramatic pursuit of love in the late-night drama that was about to unfold.

“If what you say is true, then this music program is indeed the best choice,” Cheng Yi offered his opinion. “Just let me know if you need anything.”

“Sure, I won’t hold back.” At this point, You Aolan calculated the time; tomorrow was Lin Su Yan’s day for the preliminary auditions.

She wondered how well he was preparing.

“By the way, Cheng Yi.”

“Yes?”

You Aolan hesitated for a moment, biting her lip. “I sent a message to Shu Tong today.”

She wished him a happy Mid-Autumn Festival and didn’t elaborate further.

However, unlike her previous life, where her emails went unanswered, Shu Tong had responded this time with a lengthy message. He shared heartfelt thoughts he’d never voiced before over the years—his regrets, his confusion, his vulnerabilities, and his… pleas.

He missed home.

Cheng Yi noticed the sudden vulnerability in her expression. Everyone said Shu Tong was the difficult one, but hadn’t Aolan faced her own challenges?

Back then, such a heavy burden had rested on her young shoulders. Who truly understood her pain?

All the unspoken words turned into a sigh as Cheng Yi placed his hand gently on You Aolan’s shoulder, reassuring her like he did when they were kids, giving her a few light pats.

“It’s okay, it’s okay.”