Chapter 008: Sister Li, I've Agreed on Your Behalf

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Reading is impossible while riding, especially on a bus. Liu Jing learned this lesson well, resting his head on Aunt Liu’s lap. The fullness of his breakfast was matched only by the intensity of his recent vomiting, even last night’s roast duck was expelled. His naturally fair face appeared even paler.

"Hehe, one shouldn’t work too hard. Balance is key—that’s the way of both literature and martial arts," his aunt teased with a smirk, still annoyed after being tricked by the child earlier that morning.

Aunt Liu shot her a glare. “Do you even look like an aunt? You’re more childish than Xixi.”

“Come here, poor child, let Auntie hold you,” she chuckled, picking up Liu Jing and eyeing him with surprise. “Sis, isn’t Muto pretty thin? Are you guys mistreating him?”

“Get lost…” Aunt Liu snapped irritably.

Liu Jing trained daily in standing meditation and martial arts, so although his appetite was considerable, his energy was equally expended.

Unfazed, the aunt hummed a tune and hailed a cab.

The two sisters were close, speaking casually.

“Liu Jing, when you get to the filming set later, don’t run around or talk nonsense. Director Cai is strict and serious about work; he’s quite different from those folks in Hong Kong,” the aunt warned.

“Okay,” Liu Jing answered weakly, feeling as if only half his life remained.

Curious, Aunt Liu asked, “What’s so different? I thought Zhang Min was pretty easygoing.”

“The actresses from Hong Kong are okay, but the men are hard to deal with. I once wanted to work in Hong Kong and Taiwan, but they’re arrogant, looking down on mainland actors and very exclusive. Some are even perverse, bullying mainland actors,” the aunt said with a bitter smile.

“Are you really planning to quit?” Aunt Liu seized the chance to ask.

“To devote myself to family life—that’s much more comfortable than being an actress. That’s why for Muto it’s fine, but if it were Xixi, I wouldn’t recommend the entertainment world. Mainland’s not too bad, but Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, North America—each is dirtier and messier than the last. Muto’s a boy; he won’t suffer much. Let him try. Since he wants to, I’ll support him.” She suddenly laughed heartily, “It’d be so satisfying if I could make a star out of him. Sis, hand him over to me—I’ll be his agent and pave the way.”

“Don’t get any ideas. This trip is just to broaden his horizons. The old man at home still wants Muto to be a doctor,” Aunt Liu quickly warned.

“Hmph! Can’t even manage his own son, but wants to control his adopted grandson? The old man must be out of his mind,” the aunt scoffed, knowing quite a bit about their cousin’s family affairs.

“I think you’re the one out of your mind, pushing Muto into the fire knowing the mess the entertainment world is,” Aunt Liu snapped.

“He’s a boy—already feisty at three years old; he won’t be bullied,” the aunt tugged on Liu Jing’s ear, finally acting like a child herself.

“Yeah, right,” Aunt Liu said, not believing a word.

“That’s where you don’t understand. If you’re strong, many will fawn over you. Without backing, many will mess with you. Many big shots started as unknowns. Take Zhang Min, she was the boss’s mistress—who dares cross her? People like Wang Jing, Zhou Xingxing, all had to flatter her; scripts tailored just for her. And Li Jiaxin…” the aunt began to spill secrets.

“Cough, cough…” Aunt Liu interrupted. “There’s not just a three-year-old here, but a driver with sharp ears too.”

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Liu Jing was half-asleep, not paying attention at all.

A child’s energy is limited; without reading, he was getting drowsy.

When he woke again, he was surrounded by beautiful women, their fragrances mingling like orchids and musk, their voices soft and melodious, as if he had entered a realm of daughters.

He looked around, bewildered—dozens of women chatting away, not a single man in sight.

Some were plump, some slender, all graceful—stretching legs, arching backs, taking tiny steps, or chatting idly…

None of that mattered; what counted was that he had unknowingly absorbed over a thousand points of cultural and entertainment energy.

Such effortless gain—how wonderful.

“Sister Li, where is this place?” Liu Jing asked, curious. The beauties wore ancient costumes; he could almost believe he had returned to the palace in Xianyang.

“Muto, this is Aunt He Qing, who plays Xiao Qiao in the drama. She’s an actress with the Zhejiang Kunqu Opera Troupe; I know her from before,” Aunt Liu quickly introduced, glad to see a familiar face here.

“Hello, Auntie,” Liu Jing said politely, examining her closely. She was delicate, graceful, gentle and quiet—the very image of Xiao Qiao.

“Sister Li, this child is so adorable. Is he your relative?” He Qing smiled warmly, as if the sunshine brightened.

“This is my son,” Aunt Liu replied with a smile.

“I thought your first child was a daughter? Is this your second?” He Qing was surprised.

“Ha ha, we just adopted him,” Aunt Liu laughed heartily. She and He Qing had met a few times during performances and was surprised she knew about her daughter.

“Lovely child, kind mother. I can’t chat now, have to go to training. Let’s meet up tonight,” He Qing said as she pinched Liu Jing’s cheek in farewell.

No sooner had she left than the aunt arrived with two beauties.

“This is the lovely Aunt Chen Hong, a friend of mine. Muto, didn’t you like Diao Chan? She plays Diao Chan here,” the aunt introduced them on both sides. “This is my sister Liu Xiaoli, a dancer with the Jiangcheng Song and Dance Theater. This is my sister’s adopted son Liu Jing—we all call him Muto.”

“Auntie, you’re so beautiful,” Liu Jing said sweetly, eyes shining like a national treasure. Too bad she was much older—born in the wrong era.

“You’re so cute too, may I hold you?” Chen Hong’s eyes lit up; she liked children.

Silently, Liu Jing agreed.

“Of course,” Aunt Liu didn’t disappoint, handing him over to Chen Hong.

Soft, fragrant, and warm…

Liu Jing felt no romantic thoughts, only a tangle of emotions.

If he were a teenager, he would have enjoyed this attention. Now, he enjoyed it but could only rest on Chen Hong’s shoulder, admiring the other beauties, unable to do anything else.

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“Sis, this is Wang Luyao, also a dancer. She used to be with the Yangcheng Soldiers Song and Dance Troupe, now with the union at Ice City Bearing Factory,” the aunt continued introducing.

“Hello, I’m Liu Xiaoli. My home is in Ice City,” Aunt Liu smiled.

“Wow! Mine’s Ice City too. But you don’t sound like you have our accent,” Wang Luyao exclaimed.

“Ha ha, I left early. I’ve lived in Jiangcheng for a long time—studied, worked, married, and had children there,” Aunt Liu beamed, delighted to meet a fellow native.

In foreign lands with poor transportation, meeting someone from home always brought tears to one’s eyes.

So, the group naturally began chatting.

Until an elderly lady entered, instantly silencing the room, then plunging it into a flurry of activity.

Those stretching kept stretching; those bending kept bending; those walking swayed gracefully; eyebrows lifted, glances flew…

The newcomer was none other than Cai Xiaoqing, one of the directors of the “Three Kingdoms” production.

“Good morning, Director Cai, sorry to disturb you,” the aunt greeted, holding the child and preparing to leave.

“You must be Zhou Wenqiong from Zhuying Studio, right? I didn’t expect your child to be so grown,” Director Cai mused. The mainland film industry wasn’t large—only so many units and faces.

Before the aunt could explain, Director Cai’s gaze shifted to Aunt Liu.

She scrutinized her up and down, then circled around, nodding repeatedly.

Aunt Liu was at a loss, instinctively looking toward her sister.

“Director Cai, this is my sister Liu Xiaoli, a dancer with the Jiangcheng Song and Dance Theater,” the aunt quickly introduced.

“I’d like to invite you to play Sun Shangxiang. I think you’d be perfect,” Director Cai said straight to the point.

“Me?” Aunt Liu was stunned.

It was Liu Jing who responded quickly, “I think it’s good.”

“You?” Aunt Liu was amused and exasperated.

“Sis, I agreed for you,” Liu Jing said generously.