Chapter 62: I Suspect Your True Nature Is That of a Book

Two hours later, Qin Haiyu returned after signing the contract. Xu Ling parked the car and followed her inside, her plump face still bearing an expression of shocked confusion.

She looked at Yu Zhile, who was sitting on the sofa in the hall, feeding the baby who had just woken up with a bottle, and couldn’t help but ask, “Yu Zhile, what did you actually do? Oriental TV really offered a fifteen million yuan appearance fee!”

Yu Zhile replied, “I really didn’t do anything! Maybe the fee went up because Mengniu Yogurt became the title sponsor? Or perhaps it’s their way of compensating me for giving them the advertising plan?”

Her explanation suddenly made sense to Xu Ling. Otherwise, unless Oriental TV had money to burn, how could they be so foolish as to spend fifteen million to invite Qin Haiyu?

After signing the contract and returning home, Qin Haiyu was so happy she felt like floating. She slipped into slippers, came over to touch the baby’s little head, and said, “Drink up! Big gulps! No need to save formula for Mommy!”

Yu Zhile laughed, “Aren’t you afraid our daughter will end up chubbier than Xu Ling?”

“…”
That’s not how you encourage people!

Xu Ling retorted, “Just wait till my gym is ready! I’ll show you I can get slim!”

Qin Haiyu teased, “If you ever followed through once, you wouldn’t be this big now.”

Xu Ling replied helplessly, “It’s not like I want this! My body type gains weight even from drinking plain water—what can I do? I’m honestly hopeless!”

Yu Zhile said, “I think you’re fine as you are! No need to care about others’ opinions—just do what makes you happy.”

Xu Ling agreed, “Exactly! So tonight, let’s celebrate with hot pot. I’ll go to the shop and bring back the ingredients!”

“Sounds great! It’s been ages since we had hot pot!”

Yu Zhile then asked, “By the way, darling, where will Oriental TV’s New Year’s Eve gala be held?”

Qin Haiyu answered, “They must have plenty of funds this year, so it’ll be at the Cultural Center. If all eighteen thousand tickets sell, Oriental TV will turn a sure profit. The worry is if they can’t sell half—competition for New Year’s galas among TV channels is fierce.”

Yu Zhile nodded, “It’s true, New Year’s galas are competitive. How’s Oriental TV’s lineup this year?”

Qin Haiyu shook her head, “I’m not sure yet.”

Xu Ling said, “The lineup’s decent, not weak but not star-studded. The known A-listers are Peng Yan and Wu Xiaoqian. There are several popular idols, too—like Chen Yuzhong and Ye Fei from ‘I’m a Star Singer.’ And there are some youth groups with reasonable fees but good popularity, so as long as tickets aren’t outrageously expensive, most will probably sell out.”

Yu Zhile asked, “When does the gala start and end? Is it recorded or live?”

Xu Ling replied, “It’s live! Starts at eight in the evening and goes straight to midnight for the New Year!”

Qin Haiyu chimed in, “I asked the station to schedule my performance early, so I can come home for midnight!”

Yu Zhile said, “If it’s live, the sound system must be excellent, or any flaws in the singing will be obvious. The most important thing is that without lip-syncing, live broadcast really shows the true caliber of the singers.”

Qin Haiyu suddenly looked excited, “I just need to sing my best. I’m performing five songs—it feels like holding my own concert!”

Yu Zhile watched as the baby finished the bottle, then switched the nipple for her to suck, and said, “Darling, if you want a concert, I’ll help you arrange it!”

Qin Haiyu quickly answered, “No need, I was just saying—I don’t have time for a concert right now!”

Xu Ling couldn’t take any more, so after teasing the baby, she bid farewell and headed to her hot pot shop to prepare ingredients, planning to come back later for dinner together.

Once Xu Ling left, Yu Zhile asked, “Darling, do you remember what you said before you went out to sign the contract?”

“What did I say?” Qin Haiyu asked.

Yu Zhile reminded her, “You said when you get back, I can do whatever I want with you.”

Qin Haiyu feigned ignorance, “Huh? Did I? I don’t remember!”

Yu Zhile gently patted her thigh and hummed, “Is it real amnesia or fake?”

Qin Haiyu, suppressing laughter, said, “I really don’t remember!”

Yu Zhile took the baby’s little hand and lightly tapped it on his wife’s leg, saying, “Baby, look at your mom—such a grown-up but so unreliable. Don’t follow her example, okay?”

Qin Haiyu was amused by her husband’s serious act of educating their daughter not to imitate her. She took the baby in her arms and mischievously asked, “Honey, have you decided how you want me to reward you?”

Yu Zhile said, “Darling, lean over!”

Qin Haiyu leaned in, curious about what her husband wanted. After hearing him whisper, she exclaimed, “That again?!”

Yu Zhile coughed, “Don’t like it? Should I pick something else?”

Seeing her husband’s slightly embarrassed expression, Qin Haiyu giggled, “No need to change—you like it, that’s all that matters. I’ll do whatever you say!”

“Hehe, you’re the best, darling!”

Yu Zhile kissed her deeply, then gave the baby a kiss as well, lest the little one feel jealous.

…

In the evening, Xu Ling brought plenty of ingredients from her shop for the hot pot.

Once inside, she told Qin Haiyu, “Even Mango TV contacted me just now—they want you for their New Year’s Eve gala too! Looks like your comeback is really making waves!”

Qin Haiyu asked curiously, “How much were they offering for my appearance?”

Xu Ling shrugged, “How should I know? You said you wouldn’t accept any out-of-town gigs, so except for Oriental TV, I’ve turned down all other invitations. Who knows what fees they would have offered!”

“Well, alright…”

Qin Haiyu said, “No way any other station would offer as much as Oriental TV! The others would probably pay three or four million at most.”

Xu Ling said, “Three or four million is already a lot! I’ve turned down a bunch of offers for just a few hundred thousand recently!”

Qin Haiyu nodded, “Yes, just reject them all! For now, I’m still not taking any gigs, commercial performances, or endorsements.”

“Got it!”

Xu Ling was happy to have a relaxed job—after all, her assistant-manager role was part-time, and neither she nor Qin Haiyu depended on it for a living, so they didn’t take it too seriously.

After the hot pot dinner, Xu Ling rested a bit and then went home.

Late at night, after finally coaxing the baby to sleep, Yu Zhile jumped into bed and gazed lovingly at Qin Haiyu, saying, “Darling, I suspect your true nature is a book.”

Qin Haiyu asked curiously, “A book? Why?”

Yu Zhile whispered in her ear, “Because the more I read, the more I want to sleep!”

Qin Haiyu: “…”