I’m Afraid I’m Now a Salted Fish Chapter 21

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Chapter 21: Due to an Unexpected Turn of Events

　　Chi Song: “…”
　　Wow, it really does have to do with him.
　　But, when Chi Song turned on the recording, he became dumbfounded. 
　　This recording lasted just over a minute and there was some background noise, but both parties’ voices were still very clear. And, the male voice undoubtedly belonged to Bai Shaoding.
　　Why was Chi Song so sure?
　　Because the other main lead in the recording was Chi Song’s photographer, the French girl.

　　After being dazed for a few seconds, he finally reacted.
　　… Their film studio had actually been surrounded by squatting paparazzi dressed as staff.

　　In the audio recording, Bai Shaoding took the initiative to say, “Beauty, won’t you come and take pictures of me?”
　　The French girl expressed with her slightly stiff Chinese, “Hello. My work with Chi is not yet completed. My partner will help you complete your photo-shoot.”
　　Bai Shaoding said, “He’s boring. You’re still the better one. I feel happy just looking at you.”
　　The girl became a little annoyed and took a few steps back when she heard his voice. “OK, OK, please don’t come any closer.”
　　Bai Shaoding said, “Aren’t you foreigners all really open when you play around? How about it? Are you coming or not?”
　　The girl directly spit out a sentence in French before turning around and leaving.

　　Even though Chi Song couldn’t speak more than three lines of French, after having been immersed in a French language environment for a long time, he could still understand a line or two of curses. 
　　If he heard correctly, that French girl had first given her respects to Bai Shaoding’s parents before blunting calling his size into question.

　　Recently, if the internet wasn’t full of small battles where every family’s little star’s fans tore into each other, it was full of an unending stream of new shows being released and clashing with this, flattering with that. Just when everyone began to feel bored, big news came out, and the melon seed-eating audience members naturally flocked over one by one.
　　Not long after, the label “hot” following “The audio recording of Bai Shaoding’s hook-up” on the hot search list was replaced by a purple “exploding” label.
　　Bai Shaoding had originally been flamboyant and bossy, which offended many media companies and those of his same profession. Now, a chance came to dirty his name and throw rocks at him while he was down. What’s not to like?

　　The comments below had blown up. Some people didn’t believe it, some firmly shed themselves of their fan status, and some called into question the authenticity of the recording.

　　Chi Song used his side account to get on Weibo.
　　Sure enough, one of his latest Weibo posts had been occupied by Bai Shaoding’s fans and distrustful fans there to watch the excitement.
　　“Song Song, you’re the “Chi” mentioned in the recording, right? Didn’t you have your photo-shoot for “Stylish” with him? Did Bai Shaoding really hook-up with someone? Excitedly asking for hot news!”
　　“Seeking the truth!”
　　“I’m begging you, Chi Song. You must know something? Stand up and seek justice for our family’s Ding Ding, okay? [crying loudly][crying loudly][crying loudly]”
　　“Chi Song, be honest. It’s you who was buying the hot searches to frame my family’s Ding Ding, right? You’re afraid of him getting in your way, right? You’re so f*cking despicable!”

　　Chi Song’s Weibo comment had become a live broadcast platform for drama, so after symbolically looking through a few lines, he exited Weibo.

　　Zhou Yaming’s call also arrived. “Chi Song? What’s going on?”
　　He told the entire story to Zhou Yaming. After she finished listening, she muttered to herself before saying, “You haven’t been on your main account yet, right? … If you haven’t, that’s good. Don’t say anything and don’t reply to any private messages or comments. The public relations department is currently following up and will take action at the appropriate time.”
　　Chi Song was stunned. “Huh?”
　　… Public relations department?
　　This incident had nothing to do with him. Other than the fact that he was mentioned in the background during the dialogue between the two people, he was just a passerby.
　　But, he still responded obediently before hanging up. Then, he continued to refresh the comments under the news.
　　Who knew that the direction in which the comment area was developing suddenly changed within the time it took to make a phone call.

　　“It’s definitely that woman who seduced Bai Shaoding!”
　　“Foreign girls really are open and unrestrained. Did Ding Ding say anything wrong?”
　　“I’m just a passerby, neither a fan nor a hater. But this audio recording doesn’t have an opening nor an end. Who knows whether it’s been edited or not? I stand on Bai Shaoding’s side. We can’t let Internet trolls destroy such an outstanding, hard-working, and creative singer.”
　　“Let’s back up a few steps. Even if it is real, aren’t hook-ups normal in this day and age? Is he harming you in any way? Are we actually still in the Great Qing Dynasty?”

　　Chi Song: “…”
　　… They were really fast at controlling the comments.
　　Controlling comments was one of the common methods that public relations used. Whenever celebrities made the news, some fans would control the direction of the comments below it, bumping comments of praise, support, and whitewashing to the top, so as to give the true passerbys there just for the drama the illusion of “supported by tens of thousands.”
　　But these kinds of comments that were obviously mocking and humiliating the girl, dragging her reputation through the mud, were really just too disgusting.

　　This kind of show made Chi Song a bit nauseous.

　　It wasn’t until he returned home and saw Handsome Song shaking her head and waving her tail as she walked up to greet him that Chi Song felt a bit better.
　　Song Zhihuai wore an apron as he brought out an especially fragrant corn and pork chop soup onto the table. He looked up and saw Chi Song, who was carrying the keys, and said naturally, “You’re back? Go wash your hands and come eat.”

　　The sweet fragrance of the food led Chi Song back down to earth.
　　He walked forward and stood on his tiptoes to kiss Song Zhihuai.
　　Song Zhihuai also wasn’t shy. He embraced him with both arms, wrapping them around Ch Song’s waist, and lifted him up to the same level as him before kissing him face to face for a good while.
　　Chi Song’s palms pressed gently against Song Zhihuai’s arm muscles. The tight muscle lines felt particularly good. He endured for a long time, but still couldn’t hold back in the end and pinched them several times.
　　Song Zhihuai’s hard efforts had just been pinched broken by Chi Song. He laughed aloud while holding him. “Don’t move, it’s rather itchy.”
　　Though he said that, he still hugged Chi Song, not letting his feet touch the ground.
　　Chi Song blushed a little. “Ah, put me down.”
　　Even though there weren’t any other people in the house, there was still Handsome Song, who was tilting her head while peeping at the two people’s lovey-dovey show.
　　Song Zhihuai said, “Beg me.”
　　Chi Song struggled for a few moments before saying honestly, “I’m begging you.”
　　Chi Song’s pitiful little gaze quickly melted Song Zhihuai’s heart. He put him down and his eyebrows subconsciously carried a smile. He cupped Chi Song’s face and looked it over again and again. “How come you’re this obedient?”
　　Chi Song said, “I’m afraid of spraining your waist.”
　　Song Zhihuai: “…”
　　Chi Song spoke his meaningful and heartfelt words. “You’re also not young anymore, Zhihuai. You’re already thirty. You should take it a bit easier.”
　　Song Zhihuai: “…”
　　After Chi Song exhorted him again and again, he planned to go wash his hands. Who knew that after he had just taken a step, Song Zhihuai hooked his waist tightly from behind with one arm and his other hand overbearingly pressed down on his hair, coughing loudly twice.
　　When Chi Song felt the scorching body temperature close at hand, he suddenly did not dare to move.
　　He pressed against Chi Song’s ear and whispered breathily, “Just you wait tonight.”
　　Chi Song felt very wronged. “I- I’m very tired. What are you trying to do?”
　　Song Zhihuai bit his ear roughly. “I want to discuss a business worth tens of billions of dollars with you.”
　　After saying that, he let go of Chi Song and pushed him forward. “Go, wash your hands. Let’s eat.”
　　Chi Song lowered his head. After taking two steps forward, he turned around, as if he had made up his resolve.
　　He whispered in an extremely small voice, “Can we discuss now?”
　　Song Zhihuai was startled.
　　Chi Song looked up, his face flushed. His eyes were shining like stars, and his pleasant-sounding Wu dialect seemed to hold an irresistible attraction. “… Can we?”

　　… This couldn’t be blamed on Chi Song. Who asked Chi Song to go along with Song Zhihuai’s overbearing and unreasonable behavior?

　　Song Zhihuai didn’t say a word. He just took a few steps forward, lifted Chi Song over his shoulders, and entered the room with large strides. Then, he threw Chi Song onto the bed.
　　We can. The wife has spoken, so why can’t we?
　　Besides, Song Zhihuai couldn’t control himself either after having not eaten meat for a week.

　　Chi Song pushed at Song Zhihuai’s shoulders while panting, “Take off your glasses.”
　　Song Zhihuai said, “I won’t. If I take them off, I won’t be able to see your face clearly.”
　　As he said so, he took off Chi Song’s clothes.
　　Then, he frowned. “Chi Song, what’s this on your back?”
　　Chi Song laid sideways on the bed and said, “I was in a photoshoot for a magazine today. Be careful, in case the color smears off on the bed. It’s not easy to wash off.”
　　Song Zhihuai looked earnestly at the poem and read in English, “I would that we were, my beloved, white birds on the foam of the sea!: The meteors have not yet burned out, but we have already become weary of their shine… “The White Birds” by William Butler Yeats?”
　　Chi Song was taken aback. “You’ve also read Yeats’ works?”
　　Song Zhihuai said, “I have.”
　　Chi Song was shocked. He remembered that Song Zhihuai clearly went into a business administration major and had even said before that he didn’t know a thing about liberal arts.
　　Song Zhihuai saw through Chi Song’s thoughts and gently pinched his nose. He said, “I took it from your bookshelf. Do you like him very much?”
　　Chi Song was surprised. “… How did you know?”
　　Song Zhihuai said, “You flipped through his poem anthology and plays the most. They’ve all already started to become worn. I took the opportunity to flip through these books, wanting to find a common conversation topic with you.”

　　Chi Song stopped talking. He reached out to hug Song Zhihuai’s shoulders, and kissed him heavily.
　　He didn’t even bring up the matter about Song Zhihuai wearing glasses.

　　Outside the room, Handsome Song listened to the faint sounds coming from the bedroom. She shook her head, jumped on the table, and rather aloofly sneakily drank several mouthfuls of pork chop soup.

　　In order to prove his “can”, Song Zhihuai really did his best this time.
　　When Chi Song got up from the bed, his legs became soft and he almost fell down to the ground.
　　Song Zhihuai had carried him over his shoulder into the room, and he also carried him over his shoulder out of the room. Then, he worked hard without complaint, heating up the half-cold pork chop soup.

　　Chi Song supported his lower back as he sipped the soup. As he did so, he easily gossiped with Song Zhihuai about the current hot news of Bai Shaoding’s hook-up on Weibo.
　　Song Zhihuai also knew about this. “I’ve seen it. This is simply the retribution for his own wrongdoings.”
　　Chi Song couldn’t help but want to gossip. “Zhihuai, who’s behind Bai Shaoding?”
　　Song Zhihuai said a person’s name. Chi Song was surprised. “Huh???”
　　The image of a rich fifty-year-old female president appeared before him. Chi Song had seen her at a charity event some time ago.
　　Song Zhihuai said, “She likes Bai Shaoding a lot, but she has an obsession about cleanliness.”
　　With just these few words, Chi Song could already imagine Bai Shaoding’s future situation and how pressured he must be right now.

　　Chi Song felt a little soft hearted.
　　While he was in a daze, Song Zhihuai glanced at him and said, “Chi Song, get ready. This issue of “Stylish” may now have an opening. If Bai Shaoding doesn’t work out, you will have to go on.”
　　Chi Song was holding a spoon and currently chewing corn like a little hamster. When he heard Song Zhihuai’s words, he couldn’t help but look up. “Huh?”

　　… Wasn’t the person on this time’s cover page already decided? How was it possible to substitute him in at the last moment?
　　Even if Bai Shaoding’s gold backer was angry, worst comes to worst, she would just not back him anymore. She wouldn’t cut off relations so resolutely and obviously, right?

　　Song Zhihuai watched his cheeks move again and again. It was really interesting to watch. He simply stretched out a hand to pinch Chi Song’s cheeks. “You didn’t know about this?”
　　Chi Song was shocked. “… What?”
　　Song Zhihuai said, “That French professional photographer girl has a boyfriend.”
　　Chi Song nodded. “I know. He’s even from the same school as me. He can be considered to be my senior.”
　　Song Zhihuai smiled and asked in reply, “Then did you know that he is the chief photographer and artistic director of “Stylish”?”
　　Chi Song: “…”

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Translator’s Note: This chapter started and ended with the same line O.O And on a happy note, it said that my site has reached 100 likes? So… yay! And sorry for the super, super late update. Okay, so announcement! Due to school and sports, I will not have enough time to translate 2 chapters a week anymore. I will be downgrading the number of updates a week to 1 chapter a week… I think I’ll just update Wednesday from now on? This may change after the golf season ends, but I’m not sure. Thank you all for your understanding!

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