Chapter Sixty: The Game of Life Is Truly Too Difficult! (Please add to your favorites, please vote for recommendations!)

Hearing Chen Antang personally volunteer, Madam Wu Ming finally felt her dissatisfaction ease a little. At least this brat knows how to read the room.

Despite her son’s initiative, Wu Ming’s expression remained impassive as she slowly raised her tea and glanced at Chen Antang out of the corner of her eye.

“Oh? Then tell me, show your mother what skills you’ve picked up all these years out there.”

“Ahem,” Chen Antang smiled faintly at his mother’s Empress Dowager-like pride, knowing he’d finally done something right on his return home. This flattery had hit the mark. Bullseye.

Clearing his throat, Chen Antang asked about all the achievements Li Shixin had made in his acting career so far.

When he heard that Li Shixin had, in just over ten days at the Chengdu branch, played a bit part in “End of the Forbidden City,” survived the Liu Xin set incident, acted in Director Jiao Chendong’s new film, and even earned over a hundred thousand genuine views on Bilibili, Chen Antang became unsettled.

“Old man, at this point, let’s just be honest, okay?”

Hey, damn!

Li Shixin squinted at Chen Antang’s obvious “keep exaggerating, old man” expression and cursed inwardly. So the kid still didn’t believe him.

Taking out his phone, Li Shixin opened Weibo and Bilibili and handed it to Chen Antang.

Holding Li Shixin’s old phone, Chen Antang’s eyes widened at the content displayed. He was stunned.

Damn, the old man is impressive!

He’s just entered the entertainment world and already has a bit of popularity! Though his activities are scattered and don’t follow a conventional artist’s path, if these scattered fans were consolidated, he’d already qualify as a minor internet celebrity!

“Old man, does that mean you’re really acting in Director Jiao Chendong’s new film?” Chen Antang asked, chewing his words after staring at the phone for half a minute.

“Add another plate of pork skin to this table!” Li Shixin ignored him, grinning as he called out to a passing waiter.

“Wait, wait, I believe you, I was wrong!” During the meal, Chen Antang hadn’t dared to let his rear settle on the chair; now he hurriedly grabbed Li Shixin.

Settling back into his seat, Chen Antang pondered and began to sketch out a preliminary development plan for Li Shixin.

Based on Li Shixin’s current circumstances, Chen Antang believed the best approach was to specialize in a single direction. He felt it was a pity that Li Shixin hadn’t stuck with his “Wandering Master” persona on Bilibili, which had explosive potential. If Li Shixin hadn’t gone to the audition and continued building that persona, he could have ridden the current internet wave to greater fame.

But now that Li Shixin had taken on a new role, that persona couldn’t be maintained, and a golden opportunity had been wasted.

Li Shixin, however, didn’t mind. Given the unusually robust film industry of this world, he felt that if he wanted a long career, he had to focus on acting. The rest could only serve as a supplement.

However, Chen Antang’s plan to consolidate Li Shixin’s current fans, starting with Weibo, to expand his influence was quite professional—and happened to align with Li Shixin’s own ideas.

The two discussed matters that, evidently, Madam Wu Ming didn’t fully understand.

Seeing Li Shixin nod repeatedly while her son spoke, Wu Ming guessed that her son had some talents after all and said, “Antang, since you’re a manager, and Uncle Shixin hasn’t signed any contracts yet, why not be his agent?”

!!!

In her eyes, the twinkle was barely concealed—she almost openly said, “Son, hurry and give your mother a chance to find you a stepfather!”

“Ahem,” Chen Antang felt a pang of sourness in his heart.

“Mom, I’m an independent manager now. I’ve got two actors and two singers under my wing. I don’t have that much time or energy. Besides…” Chen Antang looked at Li Shixin with some bitterness, “With Uncle Li’s health, from a professional standpoint, I can’t sign him…”

It’s true! If I go out of my way to pull strings and resources for the old man, and he passes away before the deal’s settled, I’d have to take his place myself!

“Antang, how can you say that?” Wu Ming was displeased, glancing at Li Shixin’s expression as she scolded her son, “Isn’t he just fine now?”

“No need to get upset, little sister. My situation is what it is, the boy’s only speaking the truth,” Li Shixin waved his hand at Wu Ming.

At last, the old man understands reality!

Chen Antang’s expression softened, and his impression of the old man improved. Though he was a bit scheming and full of tricks, at least he was self-aware and didn’t cause trouble for others. He’s a decent old man.

“Uncle Li, though I can’t sign you, since we’ve met, if you ever need anything in the industry, feel free to call me. Within my abilities, I’ll do my best.”

With that, Chen Antang took out a card case and handed a business card to Li Shixin.

“Heh,”

Li Shixin accepted the card, saw the title “Senior Manager,” and smiled gently. He patted Chen Antang’s shoulder kindly and said, “To care for an old man on his last legs like me, with such kindness and honesty, and a thriving career—Wu, you’ve raised a fine son!”

“Ah,” Wu Ming shook her head with a wry smile, “He’s still not much.”

“Don’t say that,” Li Shixin chuckled, “Compared to the beast in my family waiting for me to die in the hospital, the difference is heaven and earth.”

As he spoke, Li Shixin looked deeply at Chen Antang.

“If I had a son like this, I could die with my eyes closed.”

Hmm?

Wu Ming saw the sorrow on Li Shixin’s face, then glanced at her son chewing on a piece of pork skin with a look of disdain.

Her eyes lit up!

“Brother Shixin, don’t say ‘if’! Antang’s father passed away early, and he’s always regretted not being able to fulfill his filial duties. Isn’t this a perfect coincidence? Why not let Antang recognize you as his godfather, and our families can be close from now on!”

!!!∑(ﾟДﾟ；)

Plop.

Hearing this, the piece of pork skin in Chen Antang’s mouth dropped into his soup bowl, splashing broth onto his pristine shirt.

“Isn’t this a bit much?”

Li Shixin’s face reddened, bashfully glancing at Wu Ming.

But Wu Ming was delighted, shoving her tea cup straight into her stunned son’s hands: “What’s wrong with it? No time like the present! Since everyone’s here, let the brothers and sisters of the Fan Club bear witness! Antang, hurry, serve tea to your godfather!”

“Alright! Let’s not stand on ceremony. Forget the tea, we’ll skip the formalities—Antang, I accept you as my godson!”

Li Shixin’s bashfulness disappeared in an instant. Before Chen Antang could react, he grabbed his hand.

Seeing Chen Antang completely short-circuited, Li Shixin patted his head, pulled five hundred yuan from his pocket, slipped it into the red envelope on the tea tray, and pressed it into Chen Antang’s hand.

“Antang, this is our first meeting as grandfather and grandson—your godfather didn’t prepare much. Just a token, don’t refuse! Come on, say ‘godfather’!”

“Yes, yes, Antang, hurry up!” Wu Ming nodded like a pecking chick, urging him.

Just then, Chen Boshi, who had disappeared earlier, bounced back into the room.

“Chen Boshi, where have you been?”

“Grandma, I just went to the restroom.”

“I wondered why you were gone so long. Come, recognize your god-grandpa!”

Plop.

Seeing Li Shixin’s kindly face turned toward her, Chen Boshi dropped the wet wipe she was holding.

!!!∑(ﾟДﾟ；)

Heavens above!

This time it’s really the end!

Not only has the teammate joined the enemy,

But in the time it takes for a bathroom break, the enemy has demolished all three towers and stormed the high ground?!

It’s too difficult,

Brother, it’s just too hard!

In an instant, tears welled up in Chen Boshi’s eyes.

This game called life is just too hard!