Celebrity Neighbor: My girlfriend is a big star?
Chapter 195 - 176. On the understanding of an old father to his own son (Subscribe! Vote monthly!)_2

Chapter 195: 176. On the understanding of an old father to his own son (Subscribe! Vote monthly!)_2

He turned to look at the middle-aged man beside him, whose temples were streaked with gray, yet his hair was combed impeccably, a smile spreading across his face.

Dad was still dressed in a suit and leather shoes just like before, every inch a successful businessman.

Ah, of course, his own dad was indeed a successful businessman.

"I haven’t said anything yet, and you’re already jumping to conclusions?"

"I know exactly what’s on your mind, Xin’an. I can tell you what you want to know, but this time you didn’t bring a girlfriend home, so ultimately, I win our bet."

After Liu Zhengjiang saw Liu Xin’an settle into his seat, he slowly started the car.

The drive back from the airport would take some time, but he drove at an even pace, and besides, he had things to discuss with Xin’an.

"So you won, let it be. But can you truly guarantee that I won’t be able to find it after you transfer it?"

"Threatening me, are you? Can’t you act more mature? You’re all grown up and still threatening people like a child with all sorts of nonsense."

"But hiding private savings from mom wasn’t right in the first place."

"That was for buying your mom a gift, and besides, when you were in high school you and Chenglu smashed all the classroom windows, and wasn’t it me who paid to settle that for you?"

Despite his careful dressing, Liu Zhengjiang was not a stern man.

People from Jin City just couldn’t be too serious, and what his dad liked to do most at home was to listen to a whole afternoon of DeYun Club’s sketch comedy.

Xin’an could recite those sketches by heart; he really didn’t understand why his dad could still find them so funny every time.

Seems like for this year’s company annual meeting, they invited people from DeYun Club to perform again...

"At least I did have a girlfriend. Let’s both take a step back; I won’t expose your private savings, and you don’t fuss about me not bringing a girlfriend home. At least having a girlfriend is a fact, right!"

"Trying to pull a fast one, huh... And about the video with your girlfriend I saw, what’s with that? Why doesn’t she want to show her face?"

"Uh... let’s not talk about that for now."

"Oh?"

In a coincidental turn, a red light forced Liu Zhengjiang to stop the car; he turned to look at his son, curiosity shining in the handsome eyes Xin’an had inherited: "Seems like your girlfriend is a person with quite a few secrets."

Great, his dad had taken the bait!

"But if you think you can use these so-called secrets to exchange for secrets about your mom, you’re really underestimating me, Liu Xin’an."

"...Fair enough, you got me there."

Xin’an conceded; he certainly couldn’t outsmart his old man when it came to cunning.

The man had been a high-level executive for many years, weathering all types of storms.

Setting a trap for him was like a dung beetle digging its way out—suicidal.

The green light turned on, and Liu Zhengjiang pressed the accelerator again.

After the car had been cruising steadily for a while, his unhurried voice rose again: "Tell me about your girlfriend, what’s her situation? If you’re honest enough, maybe I’ll be generous for once and reveal what you want to know."

"Back in eighth grade, you used this same excuse to swindle my New Year’s money and even bought cigarettes with it, then threatened me not to tell mom."

"Ahem, kid, why do you still remember something that happened so long ago?"

Liu Zhengjiang’s face turned red, the unruffled demeanor he carried a moment ago instantly vanished, replaced by the angry look of a middle-aged man throwing a tantrum.

"If you wouldn’t have others know, do not yourself do, that’s what you taught me."

"Tsk, fine, tell me, what’s the situation?"

"...I’m dating a celebrity."

Liu Zhengjiang’s hands tightened on the steering wheel, his just-calmed expression now marked by astonishment.

"A celebrity?"

Xin’an nodded, adjusted his sitting posture, and continued: "She’s an idol from a girl group, do you know about those?"

"How would I know about that stuff, does she act in TV dramas?"

"Ah? No, she hasn’t acted in TV dramas."

"Singing then?"

"Hmm... sort of."

"Sort of? There’s a ’sort of’ when it comes to that?"

Liu Zhengjiang laughed; this kid surely knew he was clueless and was bamboozling him.

""Singing and dancing, not the kind of band activity, it’s normal if you don’t know about it. It’s a trend that only caught on recently."

"Alright, then since he’s an artist, about his private life..."

"It’s clean, Dad. It’s already 2021, can’t you be a little less old-fashioned?"

"Nonsense, I’m just worried about you being deceived by someone."

"There’s no deception, she’s a very good person."

"Alright, if you think there’s no problem, that’s fine, I won’t say anything."

Liu Zhengjiang naturally didn’t hold any special prejudice against artists in the entertainment industry.

As one of the people responsible for shaping Liu Xin’an’s values on his path to growth, Xin’an was very similar to him in many respects.

As a successful corporate executive, Liu Zhengjiang was more than aware of the filth in the entertainment industry, but individual cases do not represent the whole, and similarly, the whole cannot define individuals.

He would not label someone as "filthy and unclean" just because they come from the entertainment industry.

This thought itself was mistaken.

It wasn’t any different from regional discrimination.

He trusted his son’s judgment. A woman who had won Xin’an’s approval must have her unique qualities.

As an old father, he wouldn’t interfere too much in his son’s love life.

Besides, if he judged people based on stereotypes... he wouldn’t have reached his current position.

Of course, if his son really made a mistake this time and was treated unfairly, one shouldn’t underestimate the power of an old father.

He also had business dealings in Korea. To add a little trouble with just a few words was no more than a little effort for him.

"When you get back, if it’s convenient, start a video call, and let me and your mom take a look at her."

"I’ll have to ask her about that, she’s the shy type."

"...Shyness in the entertainment industry must make it hard to survive, right?"

"Facing fans and facing your boyfriend’s parents, those are two completely different concepts, alright? And back in the day... Alright, you never met my mom’s family."

Liu Zhengjiang’s tightly pursed lips slightly lifted into a smile; seeing his son at a disadvantage cheered him up.

"So Dad, I’ve told you about my girlfriend’s situation, about mom’s matter..."

"We’ll talk about that later."

"I knew it." Liu Xin’an wasn’t upset, just resignedly spreading his hands.

After all, he had come back this time prepared to introduce Bae Juhyun to his parents; saying it now or in the evening didn’t make a difference, so he didn’t have any high hopes.

However, Liu Zhengjiang glanced at him with a smile on his face.

After all, he was Xin’an’s old man.

The changes in his son on the stage of that Top 100 Awards ceremony were evident even to Li Chenglu, let alone to him as the father.

Having a girlfriend had made Xin’an grow a lot. At least he wasn’t always stuck in his broadcasting room like before, slacking off by streaming all day.

He wouldn’t force Xin’an to take over his job. He was just a corporate executive, and the company couldn’t be considered his property.

The money he had earned was more than enough. He didn’t want Xin’an to follow in his footsteps, being so busy that sometimes he couldn’t accompany his wife and children.

Since the child was willing to become a game broadcaster, then he would support him.

Moreover, Xin’an had made quite a bit of money over the years.

The Mercedes they were using now was purchased by Xin’an for him.

He cherished it greatly.

"After dinner tonight, I will tell you everything you want to know."

As they were about to park the car in the garage, Liu Zhengjiang spoke with an undisturbed tone, saying something that made Xin’an doubt his own ears.

Xin’an was stunned. He turned off his phone screen, temporarily ending the casual chat with Bae Juhyun, and looked at the man beside him in surprise.

"Dad?"

"Didn’t hear me? If you didn’t, then never mind."

"Don’t be like that! Dad! My dear father!"

Liu Xin’an’s eyes widened, displaying an incredibly excited side that not even Bae Juhyun had seen."