"Dad, can we speak in Mandarin?"
Qi Hao has been away mixing in the outside world for ten years, and it wasn't easy for him to lose the accent. He doesn't want to be influenced again just after a few days back.
Speaking with a Jinmen accent outside, especially when delivering lines, makes people lose track of the scene.
Others think he's doing a comedic skit.
"Hey, do I have to accommodate you?"
The old man was very displeased, and every time he saw this brat, his blood pressure shot up.
"Dad..." Qi Hao first let Ao Bai out, then pulled out the mobile phone, in fact, he pulled out two.
One was a Nokia 3210, the other a Nokia E90.
"Is this for me? Why waste money on this." Although he voiced criticism, the old man's mouth couldn't help but curl upwards.
The Nokia 3210 is for you.
The Nokia E90 is for Mom.
The rebellion that hasn't completely faded with age roared wildly for Qi Hao to challenge his dad a bit.
Qi Hao has been rebellious since he was young.
The type you had to drag, and would retreat when hit.
When he was fifteen or sixteen, he took the green train to the capital to mix in the entertainment industry, partly because he suddenly had a system, but mainly because he often quarreled with his father.
However, the system task now requires him to "sincerely" apologize to his father.
If he didn't want the task to fail, he must hold back today.
Take a step back, and you'll see a sea of freedom.
"Dad, I was immature before..."
"You're still not very mature now."
The old man finally spoke Mandarin; he's an elementary school teacher, not yet retired, so speaking Mandarin isn't a problem.
At most, he occasionally had a bit of an accent.
"..." Qi Hao continued to endure, pretending not to hear the old man's sarcasm, and went on, "Back then I was impulsive and rebelliously chose to chase my dreams."
"What's this, getting all sentimental today?"
Mr. Qi felt uncomfortable, "Don't be like this, I'm not used to it; I prefer your defiant attitude."
Your rebellion is like a cold; it only gets better when the time is right.
Could today be the time for a full recovery?
Back then, Mr. Qi couldn't stop Qi Hao, and with his tacit approval, Mrs. Qi unshackled this kid.
He thought the so-called dream come true just meant waking up.
He figured Qi Hao might give up after trying it out.
Unexpectedly, this jerk actually gained a foothold in the entertainment industry.
What else could he do?
Of course, forgive him.
Both Mr. Qi and Mrs. Qi were teachers, teaching and nurturing for a lifetime, yet they stumbled when it came to their own son.
They're not stubbornly old-fashioned; they've learned to accept things early on.
Whether it was for college or whatever, it was all to ensure their son would be successful.
The family downstairs, whose son is about the same age as Qi Hao,
managed to go through college smoothly and even found a decent job.
But he couldn't adapt to society, so he quit after less than two years and now lies around at home on his parents' dime.
Spends all day thinking about becoming a big shot writing web novels.
Compared to him, their own son was truly successful.
"I'm just trying to sincerely have a conversation..." Qi Hao placed the Nokia 3210 into his dad's hand and continued emotionally, "After growing up, I finally understood how tough it was for you, Dad."
"Hehe~" The old man pursed his lips, unwrapping the phone packaging, "This phone..."
"Cough cough, actually I wanted to buy a gift to apologize to you a long time ago, but I was too concerned with pride back then, so I bought the phone but never gave it to you. I finally mustered the courage now," Qi Hao quickly explained.
The old man examined the phone, then looked at the instructions, and sighed, "This is a phone from the year 2000."
This kid...
Wanted to reconcile with him years ago?
"Yes, I kept it around, taking it out to look at now and then."
Seeing that the old man hadn't erupted, Qi Hao finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Given his bad temper and the fact that his dad wasn't entirely clueless about digital gadgets, he could only use this method to bluff him.
"There's no need to take it so seriously..."
Mr. Qi rubbed the brand new Nokia 3210, not really sure where all his anger had gone.
As father and son were talking, the door was opened.
In came Qi Hao's mother and cousin.
"Mom, Shanshan, I'm back, and I got gifts for you," Qi Hao quickly took out... two more phones.
One Nokia N95 and one iPhone.
Qi Hao has always been generous to his family, buying all sorts of things whenever he comes back.
From clothing and home appliances to various daily necessities.
If the old man weren't so stubborn, he would have even bought them a house.
"Brother, why did you buy another phone? Mine's only been used for a year."
Qi Hao's cousin, Hu Shan, is currently attending college not far from home, less than three kilometers away.
Jinmen might not have much else, but it's certainly got lots of universities.
"Electronic products are updated quickly; using one for a year is about right. I bought each of you a phone, well, two for Dad..."
Qi Hao had already confirmed with the system.
The system acknowledged that he "bought a new phone" and "sincerely apologized," meaning the task completion conditions were met.
Since he completed the task, Qi Hao started being playful again.
"Hmph!"
Originally thinking the gift was just for himself, it turned out everyone got one, which made this heavy sense of filial piety suddenly seem less flavorful.
However, Mr. Qi still carefully put away the Nokia 3210.
It might not be very functional, but it would make a nice decorative piece just sitting there.
"Wow, Brother, you brought Ao Bai as well. Bye-bye~" Hu Shan excitedly greeted Ao Bai, loving the fluffy little thing.
"Yes, be careful when you open the door, don't let it run out."
"When are you leaving this time?" Mrs. Qi put on an apron and hurried to the kitchen to make food. Her son often skips breakfast, so by now he surely must be hungry.
"I have a film starting in mid-February, but it's okay to go a few days late."
In this project, "Chinese Paladin 3," Qi Hao had the biggest star power, so naturally his treatment was also the best, and these were basically all in the contract terms.
Old Tian, having been in the business for so many years, could handle it easily.
"Work should be approached with a working attitude. What's that about it's okay to be a few days late? Look at what you filmed, that 'Waiting Alone' was really over the top... what are you all looking at me for, so what if I went to watch it..."
Mr. Qi's voice gradually lowered; seeing his son's movie made him feel embarrassed.
He usually sneaks around to watch it.
"Uncle, your stiff lips are even harder to manage than an AK!"
Hu Shan spoke bluntly.
"Nonsense, his movie supposedly only made two million at the box office, causing the producer a big loss. If he doesn't act properly, he won't find a job sooner or later."
No matter how well Qi Hao was doing, in his father's eyes, life was always full of crises.
He felt he needed to give him some guidance as a dad.
"Dad, don't worry, I'm a boss myself now."
Qi Hao hadn't discussed starting his own studio with his family. He kept his family separate from work.
Moreover, an amateur shouldn't meddle in professional affairs.
Lots of studios go downhill because they stuffed too many unprofessional relatives and friends inside.
"Being a boss yourself? Can't you just settle down steadily for a few years? How old are you, already wanting to be a boss yourself..."
The old man immediately got worked up.
Mrs. Qi sighed, calling Hu Shan to help in the kitchen.
Long since gotten used to it.
When the father and son meet, if they don't argue a bit, they probably wouldn't be able to eat.
The house had only two rooms, so Qi Hao couldn't sleep in the same room as his cousin, which meant the father and son continued their bickering as they soaked their feet.
"You're not too young anymore, you should be finding a partner."
"I have plenty of partners, dozens of them, lined up from our doorstep all the way to the banks of the Hai River watching old men dive."
"You rascal, can't you ever just speak properly."
"Alright, alright, I'll definitely pay attention and find someone suitable to bring home for you to see."
"You guys are all actors, don't pretend to be in love while acting."
"Dad, have you been watching too many movies?"
"It's your movies that are too melodrama-ok."
"Dad, if I really find a partner, can we bring them to this shabby house to meet you?"
"Hey, what is this, thinking only of rich, not poor?"
"How can that be called thinking only of rich, not poor? You look at the corridor, all dark, and there are people cooking by the hallway. I have to look for a parking spot for ages."
Qi Hao took the opportunity to complain about the living conditions at home.
He's been thinking of convincing his parents to move to a modern community, maybe even to live on the other side in the capital.
We can't stay here anymore, I'm a shareholder in Penguin after all.