Chapter 139 The Great Flood

"Why are you so stubborn!" Huang Guokun was about to explode with frustration at Huang Guolun. "Who says public figures have to live such a restricted life? You can live however you want; who’s stopping you? Just ignore what others think of you, and that’s that!"

"Forget it. Stop giving me these terrible ideas. I’m fine working behind the scenes; I have no intention of stepping into the spotlight. And don’t you dare drag Bai Yao into this. She’s still a student. Don’t go stirring up trouble and ruining her future."

"You! Sigh! We really have nothing in common! It’s bizarre—you have the chance to be famous, yet you refuse. You’re truly an oddity!"

"You’re the odd one, refusing to live a normal life and insisting on making everything so complicated. By the way, Dad called me today. He asked me to bring you along to the North Suburbs for lunch tomorrow. He said there’s something he needs to discuss with us. He sounded quite serious."

"I know, Dad called me too. But I really can’t find the time tomorrow. You know how it is—the company is in the final sprint of promoting the new film. There’s a mountain of work every day; I can't get away. Tell Mom, Dad, and the grandparents I’m sorry on my behalf. I’ll go visit them once this busy period is over."

Knowing Huang Guokun was genuinely swamped, Huang Guolun didn't press the issue. "Alright, then. You focus on your work. I’ll tell our parents."

He added a note of concern: "Take care of yourself. Don't just work yourself to the bone. Look at how thin you’ve become. Remember to eat properly; your health is your most valuable asset."

"I know, stop nagging me. If there’s actually something serious going on, call me and let me know. I’ll drop by your place in a few days. I need to see you in person to talk some sense into you. With the musical talent you have, it’s a crime not to make a splash in the music industry!"

Huang Guolun was amused by his brother’s frustration. "You’re the one committing a crime. Stop scheming for me and get some sleep instead. I’m driving, so I’m hanging up. Talk later, and remember to sleep early."

Ending the call, Huang Guolun removed his Bluetooth headset and said to Bai Yao, "My older brother watched our livestream tonight. He thinks we sang well and is insisting that we form a duo and enter the entertainment industry. Haha."

Bai Yao nodded with a faint smile, musing, "I heard him, but it seems you’re not interested in entering the industry at all?"

"It’s not just a lack of interest; I’m deeply resistant to it. I’m not someone who enjoys living under the spotlight. I’m quite happy doing things behind the scenes, but the thought of being in the public eye? I really can’t stand it."

Bai Yao had a sudden realization. "No wonder you wore sunglasses the whole time tonight. You didn't want to be recognized."

"Exactly. I just didn't want people to know who I was." Huang Guolun paused, then turned to ask her, "You didn't think I wore them just to look cool, did you?"

"Hehe." Bai Yao let out a mischievous laugh, effectively admitting it.

"It seems you still don't know me well enough. In a small circle, like at school, showing off a bit is fine. But to show off on the world stage—like on the internet—I have no desire for that. The consequences are too severe, and I don’t want to lead such a complicated life."

"I understand," Bai Yao replied.

Huang Guolun then turned the tables on her. "What about you? Do you enjoy the life under the spotlight? Like being a singer, for instance?"

Bai Yao thought about it seriously. "I’ve never really thought about it before, but I don’t think I’d be too resistant to that kind of life. I only care about what the people who matter to me think. As for everyone else? I don't really care. They can think what they want, but I’ll continue living my 'abnormal life' regardless."

Huang Guolun laughed. "Your mental fortitude is truly impressive."

Bai Yao replied modestly, "It’s probably more like 'ignorance is bliss.' There’s so much I don’t understand yet; maybe once I do, I’ll feel differently."

"Well, you’re still a student, so you shouldn't make any rash decisions. Regardless of how my brother tries to sweet-talk you in the future, stand your ground and don’t be easily swayed. My personal advice is to wait until you’re in university before considering your future career. For now, don't worry about those distractions. Focus your energy on your studies. No matter what you do, it shouldn't interfere with your education. That’s your primary task right now, and you must remember that."

Bai Yao accepted the advice humbly. "Yes, Teacher. Don't worry, I’ll remember what you said. I won’t let anything get in the way of my studies."

Huang Guolun nodded with satisfaction, trusting her word. He added, "Get a good night's sleep. We’re heading to the North Suburbs tomorrow. My grandmother called me today and insisted I bring you along for lunch. Taozi misses you too."

Bai Yao’s brow furrowed slightly, looking troubled.

Seeing her silence, Huang Guolun asked, "What is it? Do you have other plans tomorrow?"

Bai Yao hadn't had plans before, but after earning so much money tonight, she did. She wanted to visit the suburban cemetery to find a suitable "big house" for her grandfather, to lay him to rest properly so he wouldn't have to suffer in the crematorium’s columbarium. If Zhao Jing transferred the money in time, she wanted to take care of it tomorrow. Even if the money didn't arrive, she wanted to go scout locations so she could finalize it as soon as the funds were available.

The matter felt urgent, so she had to decline. "I do have something to take care of tomorrow. I need to go quite far away."

"Far away? Where to? Do you need a ride?"

Bai Yao didn't want to trouble him. "No, no need. You go to the North Suburbs to pick up Taozi; I’ll manage on my own."

"Alright. You’ve been working hard; you should relax tomorrow. Go have fun, and let me know if you need anything."

"Yes, thank you, Teacher."

Bai Yao was grateful that he didn't press for details. If he had, she wouldn't have known how to explain that she was looking for a burial plot for her grandfather.

That night, they returned to Zixing Mansion. Once home, they didn't chat much or practice singing; they both washed up and went to sleep.

Early the next morning, after buying breakfast for Huang Guolun, Bai Yao left to visit the cemetery. Huang Guolun woke up late and felt a warmth in his heart when he saw the breakfast and the note she had left. After eating, he set off immediately, driving straight to the North Suburbs.

By 10:30, he had reached the villa. There were no guests today; it was just the family enjoying their time together. Carrying the supplements he had bought for his elders, Huang Guolun walked into the traditional Chinese-style hall. He saw young Huang Tao wearing his favorite watermelon-patterned outfit, sitting in Great-Grandmother Zhou’s lap, eating an ice cream cone while vividly telling a story to his great-grandparents.

Seeing Huang Guolun, Huang Tao greeted him with a grin but made no move to rush into his father’s arms. Instead, he took a big, deliberate bite of his ice cream, as if asserting his dominance in the villa.

After greeting the elders, Huang Guolun sat down to catch his breath and stared at his son. "Have you been naughty again? Why are you avoiding me?"

Huang Tao straightened his chubby back and retorted, "Who’s avoiding you? With Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma backing me up, why would I need to avoid you?"

Great-Grandmother Zhou laughed. "Don't provoke your father, or he’ll take you back to the city to discipline you. Go on, finish telling your great-grandparents the story of the Great Flood."

Huang Tao took the hint and stopped bickering. He licked his ice cream and continued, "Great-Grandpa, Great-Grandma, let’s continue. This happened a very, very long time ago. The Earth was hit by a massive flood, and all the animals were about to drown. A very powerful person appeared and built a huge ship to take his friends and the animals on board, so they wouldn't go extinct."

Huang Guolun asked with a smile, "Since when did you start reading the Bible? Isn't that the story of Noah’s Ark?"

Huang Tao replied solemnly, "It’s not Noah’s Ark. It’s the story of the Great Flood."

"Did you make this up yourself?" Huang Guolun asked.

"I saw it on TV," Taozi said.

Huang Guolun was about to ask more, but Great-Grandmother Zhou waved him off. "Don't interrupt; let the child finish."

Huang Guolun smiled and nodded, listening intently.

Huang Tao finished his ice cream, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and continued: "The ship was huge, but it couldn't fit everyone. So, the man had to sacrifice some animals to keep the rest safe. He thought, 'Livestock are necessary for human survival,' so all the cows, sheep, pigs, dogs, and chickens stayed. For the others, to be fair, he decided they had to tell a joke. If they could make the humans and livestock laugh, they could stay on the ship."

"First up was the dinosaur. It told the funniest joke it knew, and everyone was rolling on the floor laughing—except for the pig, who didn't react at all. So, the dinosaur had to jump into the sea, and that’s why they went extinct."

"Next was the Qilin. It told its funniest joke, and everyone was laughing hysterically again. But the pig remained unmoved. The Qilin had to jump into the sea, and it went extinct too."

"Finally, it was the silent elephant’s turn. It didn't know how to tell jokes at all. While it was standing there stuttering, the pig suddenly started laughing loudly: 'Hahaha! Hahaha!'"

"The whole crowd was shocked. The dog next to the pig asked, 'Hey! The elephant hasn't even started yet, what are you laughing at?'"

"The pig replied, laughing hysterically, 'Hehehe... that... that joke the dinosaur told... was just so funny! Hehehehe!'"