Chapter 46 Approaching Science: Who is really in charge...?
Ji Zhi Qiu made a grand entrance, striking a pose with a sense of self-satisfaction, waiting for praise and compliments, but all he received in response was deathly silence.
He couldn't stay immersed any longer, and when he opened his eyes, he saw three little figures in front of him looking up, their lips slightly parted, staring blankly at his... hair.
Ji Zhi Qiu shook her head, trying to show herself from all angles, "Why are you all reacting like this? Is it not good?"
Ji Zishen was the first to come to his senses. He pursed his lips, trying to find a tactful way to put it, "Dad, why did you suddenly dye your hair? Is it because of the live stream?"
When the season changed, Zhi Qiu was stunned. He immediately composed himself and even seemed a little at a loss. "How did you know? Don't worry, everyone. We still have savings at home. We can get through this six-month period without any problems."
Ji Zishen continued to stare intently at Ji Zhiqi's hair, "We're not worried, it's just..."
Before he could finish speaking, Ji Yanyan rushed over and clung to Ji Zhiqi's leg, saying in a tearful voice, "Daddy, you're sad, and Yanyan is sad too. We'll be very obedient and sensible, and we'll help you. Please don't be like this."
Ji Zhi Qiu's heart almost melted upon hearing this, and she affectionately patted Ji Yan Yan's head, "I know you three are the best, the cutest and most considerate babies in the world."
Ji Yanyan looked up with teary eyes, sniffed, and said, "Daddy, don't go crazy. I want my good daddy."
Ji Zhi Qiu: ? ? ? Who's gone mad?!
Ji Yanyan spoke incoherently, constantly sobbing, unable to utter a complete sentence, only wiping his snot and tears on his pants. Ji Zhiqi could only look at his two eldest sons, wanting an answer.
Ji Zishen couldn't bear to speak, so Ji Sicheng took over the task, his voice hoarse as he said, "Have you been wronged and are you getting stuck in a rut? If you can't continue broadcasting as the Evil Orange Head, then become him in real life..."
He couldn't continue, because he saw Ji Zhi Qiu's lips twitching uncontrollably, her expression becoming increasingly distorted.
"Why would you all think that?!" Ji Zhi Qiu ran her hand through her hair. "I don't want to have an orange haircut in real life. This isn't orange; it's the color of dawn!"
Ji Zhi Qiu didn't know how to explain, and anxiously paced around in circles for a while. Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she took out her phone.
"Use a flashlight to illuminate my path." Ji Zhi Qiu struck another pose, making her hair even more voluminous.
The clean ends of the hair are clearly defined, becoming translucent in the light. The rich color gradually fades, like the spreading dawn, carrying vigorous vitality and overflowing hope.
Ji Yanyan was stunned, tears streaming down her face. "So beautiful."
Ji Zishen and Ji Sicheng nodded in agreement, their eyes glued to each other.
Ji Zhi Qiu realized that immersing herself in negative emotions would only worsen her condition, so she wanted to make a small change to pull herself out of the swamp that was getting deeper and deeper.
His hair had grown quite long, and getting a haircut was considered a good omen for a fresh start, so he immediately went to the barbershop.
The hairdresser was top-notch at selling membership cards, and Ji Zhi Qiu was flattered by his words. She resisted the temptation of getting a membership card, but on a whim, she agreed to dye her hair the color of dawn, which symbolizes hope.
After the hair was dyed, everyone in the hair salon was amazed; they hadn't expected the results to be so good.
The barber shop owner immediately decided to give him a free service and print out his photo to put at the entrance for advertising. Other customers also praised him one after another. Ji Zhi Qiu was quite certain that he was not narcissistic, but when he looked at himself in the mirror, his heart skipped a beat and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up.
On the way back, this hair color attracted 100% attention. Ji Zhi Qiu was a little embarrassed by the stares and had to put on a hat, still thinking happily that he would receive a flood of compliments when he got home.
I never expected to make such a blunder when I got home. I didn't say a single word of praise and was even wrongly accused of being "crazy".
Ji Zhi Qiu had never suffered such humiliation in her life. "Is it not good-looking? Can't my face pull off this hair color?"
"So handsome!" Ji Yanyan was a little obsessed with looks and was completely captivated. Her eyes were full of her father, and she rubbed against him like a kitten, wanting to snuggle into his arms. "He looks like the people on TV, except they are red."
Ji Yanyan has an exceptional ability to learn and imitate; she turned around and struck a pose.
Ji Zhi Qiu admired it intently for three seconds, then couldn't help but remind her, "If you feel itchy, go take a shower."
"..." Ji Yanyan stomped her feet anxiously, "It's not that my body is itchy, it's just that they're doing this."
While making faces and pouting, his body twitched and trembled. Ji Zhi Qiu studied him carefully for a long time and finally understood that Ji Yan Yan was probably imitating a wink, a flying kiss, and a hip thrust.
He sighed and rubbed his forehead, "Don't look at or learn these things indiscriminately. These are not things you should be exposed to at your age. Promise me, never do this in front of others."
Ji Yanyan was a little unconvinced, "But he's very handsome, Dad, aren't you too?"
“I just dyed my hair,” Ji Zhi Qiu argued. “I’m not an idol.”
For Ji Yanyan, who was obsessed with good looks, it made no difference. He was very happy that the person from TV appeared at home and then affectionately stuck to him, smearing his saliva on Ji Zhi Qiu's face.
"..." He suddenly felt a mix of emotions.
Given this trait, his eldest son could easily be abducted by a good-looking woman when he grows up.
Ji Yanyan is still young and it's not appropriate for her to talk about this, so Ji Zhi Qiu comforted himself and suppressed the thought.
Before, Ji Zhi Qiu was full of youthful energy, clean and refreshing. After dyeing his hair this color, he became even more radiant and flamboyant, full of vitality and vigor. It was hard to look away once you saw him.
Ji Zishen's eyes lit up, and he said, "We all know you can't do live streaming for the time being."
Ji Zhi Qiu didn't realize this was a setup and thought the three children were genuinely worried. Just as she was about to comfort them, Ji Zi Shen changed the subject, "But the expenses over the past six months have been huge, and we can't open the skylight at home, so I've found you another job."
Ji Zhi Qiu was completely dumbfounded.
The son helps his father find a job; this is the opposite of what's expected.
"What kind of job did you find for me?" Ji Zhi Qiu asked, still skeptical.
Ji Zishen had already prepared the materials and handed them to Ji Zhiqi.
"It's a brand new variety show with a top-notch producer, so the quality is guaranteed. The promotional momentum is strong and it already has its own buzz. Even though our pay as an ordinary family can't compare to other guests, it's still more than enough."
Ji Zhi Qiu was dumbfounded. "Isn't this the variety show I saw on TV before? We can get on it?!"
This variety show not only had its own hype, but it was also a hit before it even aired. It was the first variety show to focus on parent-child relationships, and the celebrity guests it invited were also highly topical. Ji Zhi Qiu was intrigued after seeing it and waited for the show to start, but he didn't expect that he had just gone out to get his hair dyed and would be going to record it as soon as he got back.
His mind was a jumbled mess as he tried to sort out his thoughts. "Have we officially received an invitation? Why were we invited? Has the producer contacted us? Has the contract been finalized? What are the recording requirements? What are we supposed to do?"
Ji Zishen answered fluently, raising his chin slightly. He thought that Ji Zhiqi would be overjoyed to have helped solve such a big problem, but he did not expect that Ji Zhiqi would just frown, look at the contract hesitantly, and shake his head repeatedly.
"This is a great opportunity. There's no difference between streaming on a live streaming platform and streaming on a variety show. Dad, why are you hesitating?"
Ji Zhi Qiu had unspeakable suffering.
He chose to be a streamer who doesn't show his face because he didn't want to be disturbed too much in his real life. He wanted to create a harmonious and stable environment for the three minor villains to grow up in, which would be more conducive to them forming good values.
If he goes on variety shows now, all his previous efforts will have been in vain.
This was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him, and he really wanted to make money, but for him, the most important thing was still his three children at home.
Ji Zhi Qiu waved to them, looking at them with concern in her eyes, "Have you thought about it? After you go on variety shows, people will see you, recognize you, and greet you when you walk by. We can't control the recording time and content. Every move you make will be seen by everyone. Can you accept all of this?"
The three little figures fell silent, each with a different expression.
Ji Yanyan blinked her clear eyes, then suddenly puffed out her chest and said with a smug look, "I'm so cute and amazing, everyone will definitely like me. I'm the sun, and everyone in the world should like me!"
Ji Zhi Qiu: "..."
That's true, Long Aotian doesn't have this problem.
He then looked at Ji Sicheng, who had clearly given it a lot of thought. “It is indeed very troublesome, but everything has two sides. We need to consider the cost-effectiveness. I think this is a good choice.”
He glanced at Ji Zhi Qiu, then quickly looked away, saying awkwardly, "Don't worry, I'll protect you."
Ji Zhi Qiu's heart skipped a beat as he suddenly realized a detail he had overlooked for a long time.
The minor villain's dictionary only contains destruction and harm, yet now he's willing to protect him.
Ji Sicheng has changed; he is no longer the person he had worried about before.
Before Ji Zhi Qiu could gather his thoughts, Ji Zi Shen interrupted, "You can also create a persona in variety shows. Although it's despicable, it's actually the most popular thing. There's no way around it. Everyone says they don't want it, but their actions tell a different story. I've already tailored a persona for everyone. So what if we act for 24 hours? It's very simple."
"Tailor-made?!" Ji Sicheng immediately exploded: "Then why did you create this idiot persona for me?!"
Ji Zhi Qiu, having been led astray, asked curiously, "Then what about my character?"
"A father who worked eight jobs a day, was laid off and is now unemployed at home, suffering from chronic illnesses."
Ji Yanyan, who was jumping around, also came over and asked, "What about me?"
"You are disabled."
An eerie silence fell over the living room. Meeting the deadpan stares of the three people, Ji Zishen said calmly, "I am a naughty, thieving, and deceitful bad kid. I will take the blame for everyone's anger and criticism. This way, the topic will become more popular."
"..." Never mind, you haven't let yourself off the hook either.
The family of four all possess completely opposite attributes. Ji Zhi Qiu thought about the bloodshed that would ensue after the show started airing and gasped, "It shouldn't have to go this far, right?"
“This is the best choice I came up with through big data analysis and model simulation.” Ji Zishen’s gaze moved up two inches and landed on Ji Zhiqi’s hair color. “But it is obviously not now.”
****
This was indeed a rare opportunity, and the facts overturned Ji Zhi Qiu's concerns. In addition, the program team offered so much that Ji Zhi Qiu only hesitated for one day before immediately surrendering.
Ji Zishen instructed him to go directly to the company to sign the contract without any preparation. Ji Zhiqi was initially a little apprehensive, after all, his persona was completely different from the one Ji Zishen had fabricated on his own initiative. When the producer saw him, he also looked at him with a questioning expression, frequently glancing at the emails he had received earlier. But for some reason, his eyes became brighter and brighter, and he signed the contract as quickly as possible, as if...
It's like I'm afraid he'll change his mind.
Ji Zhi Qiu couldn't understand the reason at all. He had specifically consulted a lawyer about the contract beforehand, and there were no traps or hidden clauses. The terms were also relatively lenient, so he was sure he wouldn't repeat the same mistake, which put his mind at ease.
Peace returned to the home, and every night when Ji Zhi Qiu closed her eyes, she could hear the sound of money being deposited into her account, and she could even laugh out loud in her dreams.
Those past events are over, and in Ji Zhi Qiu's mind, it seems like a long time has passed. But the platform just keeps walking into the line of fire and even tries to shit on his head.
The manager who had previously signed him contacted him privately, saying that if he wanted to start broadcasting, he had to renew his contract for another five years. The conditions were extremely harsh and were simply an unequal treaty. He was also required to publicly apologize for his previous broadcasts.
Ji Zhi Qiu didn't bother to read it carefully. He sneered and blocked her directly. He issued a statement on all platforms with a tough attitude, restoring the whole story in detail without any subjective speculation, just the facts, leaving it to the public to judge.
Although he wasn't a big name as a streamer, he had just been selected as one of the newest streamers of the year and had made a few memorable moments. In addition, the suspension of his live stream due to the previous contract review was already quite abrupt. As soon as the statement was released, it caused a huge uproar, with the comment section instantly surging to 99+ comments, with all sorts of opinions.
He has parted ways with the platform, and Ji Zhi Qiu no longer cares about these things, but he is very reluctant to part with his fans.
[Evil orange head, are we never going to see you again?]
[After seeing the statement, my mind went blank for a long time. I suddenly felt like crying. I didn't miss a single live stream. Maybe I'm being sentimental, but I truly feel like I'm part of your family. Without you, I feel incredibly empty.]
[Evil Orange Head, I was just joking before, I didn't really mean to criticize or dislike you. Actually, I like you a lot. I registered on this platform because of you, and you're the only streamer I follow.]
I've typed so much, but never mind. I wish you happiness every day and a bright future. Even if we never see each other again, I will always support you.
As Ji Zhi Qiu recalled the scenes from before, her nose suddenly felt a little sore.
His live streams kept everyone company, and everyone in return gave their precious time and heartfelt support to him.
Due to the confidentiality agreement in the contract, Ji Zhi Qiu couldn't directly say that he went to record a variety show, so he just picked one reply.
[Evil Orange Head: Things change, we'll definitely meet again someday.]
...
He didn't just need to say goodbye to them; there was another person who was extremely special to him, and he hadn't figured out how to face him yet. The next second, a message notification popped up on his phone.
[Yu Nian: Do you need my help?]
[Yu Nian: I've always been here.]
Rather than asking for the reasons, he received comfort and unconditional support first.
[Let another leaf grow: I'm fine.]
[Let it grow another leaf: I can't go into details, but I got a better opportunity, so I guess you could say it was a blessing in disguise.]
[Let another leaf grow: Believe me, I've never let myself suffer injustice in my life.]
[Yu Nian: I believe in you]
[Yu Nian: You give me the feeling that no matter what environment you're in, you can make yourself live a good life.]
[Yu Nian: Your wishes will all come true.]
When faced with malice, Ji Zhi Qiu remained calm and composed, but when he suddenly received so much goodwill, he felt somewhat overwhelmed and didn't know how to respond.
The atmosphere became somewhat oppressive again. Not wanting Yu Nian to worry about him any longer, he casually started a conversation to lighten the mood.
[Let another leaf grow: I do have one more wish.]
[Let another leaf grow: Look at my name.]
[Yu Nian: What does that mean?]
[Grow another leaf: I'm wearing an orange-hair filter, and everyone jokes that I only have one leaf on my head, which makes me a little worried that I'll go bald, so I wished for more leaves to grow... Wait, something's not right.]
[Yu Nian: What's wrong?]
[Grow another leaf: Leaves are green, and having too many green things on top of your head makes it look like you're wearing a green hat!]
At this point, Ji Zhi Qiu paused in her typing, suddenly thinking of the past. Although they hadn't officially registered their marriage, he was still considered her ex-husband.
If her ex-husband had a "white moonlight" (a term for a woman who is unattainable love), then he was also cheated on.
With this in mind, he sent the message with mixed feelings.
[Let it grow another leaf: It doesn't matter, so what if it's green? It's not like I've never been cuckolded before.]
[Let another leaf grow: Hahahaha]
After sending the message, it seemed to disappear into thin air, and there was no reply for a full five minutes. Ji Zhi Qiu scratched his head awkwardly, wondering what had gotten into him that made him want to talk about this.
Just as he was about to change the subject, another message popped up.
[Yu Nian: I think so too... but I'm not sure.]
Ji Zhi Qiu, who was originally sprawled on the sofa, suddenly sat up straight upon seeing the message, her eyes lighting up as she entered a state of excited anticipation.
[Grow another leaf: How can you be unsure? Explain in more detail, and I'll help you analyze it.]
[Yu Nian: Before our marriage, I discovered he was meeting with someone else. I thought about it all night and decided to confront him and let him choose for himself.]
[Yu Nian: Looking back now, I think I pushed him too hard.]
[Yu Nian: He probably felt I was angry and couldn't face me, so he had no choice but to leave.]
[Yu Nian: This actually went against his true wishes, and I regret it somewhat; I shouldn't have done it.]
Ji Zhi Qiu remained silent for a long time after reading this passage. Although he recognized each word individually, he couldn't understand it when put together.
Let another leaf grow: I'll help you straighten it.
He cheated on you before you got married, but you didn't get angry and let him choose for himself. Now you're the one reflecting on your actions. You probably actually wanted him to stay, didn't you...?
He suddenly couldn't bear to send the message.
Isn't this just being a mistress for love...?
How much love must there be? Just stay in the same place and wait for the other person to turn back.
Seeing that he hadn't responded for a long time, new information came.
[Yu Nian: Although I haven't known him for long, I know he's a good person and wouldn't do such a thing. There might be some misunderstanding.]
[Grow another leaf: I can only say your filter is too strong.]
[Let it grow a little longer: Anyway, it's been a long time since then. You're such a good catch, keep looking, maybe you can find someone more suitable.]
[Yu Nian: Unable to find.]
Ji Zhi Qiu was completely convinced.
Although he knew almost nothing about Yu Nian, the image Yu Nian left him with was always that of a mature, steady, gentle and refined person. He never expected that such a person would have such a deeply rooted romantic mind.
Being obsessed with love is a kind of illness!
Ji Zhi Qiu felt that as a friend, he had an obligation to persuade him to take the medicine and gradually recover.
[Yu Nian: Looking back on that scene now, it was probably just a one-sided struggle. I should have stepped forward and taken the initiative to help him solve the problem.]
[Yu Nian: And I'm now certain that he may have suffered the same thing; he was let down, and he's not doing well either.]
[Let another leaf grow: Wow, bad guys get their comeuppance, that's so satisfying! Aren't you excited?!]
[Yu Nian: I'm not excited; I feel I have a responsibility.]
Ji Zhi Qiu was just about to join him in denouncing the scumbag for half an hour to vent his anger, but after seeing those three words, he silently held his head in his hands.
This is no longer just being love-struck; it's about stealing the cuckold's hat and putting it on one's own head.
Sigh, it's hopeless, just bury it.
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