My Youth Began With Him

With her slightly curly long hair draping on her pillow, she was leaning on the headboard and having a video-chat on her cellphone.

“Mom, you and Dad must ignore the stories those gossiping reporters made up. I’m fine… It’s just a small injury. The company is very good to me. Look, they sent me to the hospital immediately after the show. I was eliminated but I might win some sympathy from the audience. I still have a chance next week… Haha. Don’t worry. I’ll work hard and won’t give it up. I heard it’s snowing in Jing City. You guys must buy new coats. The old ones are not warm.”

“Yao, what do you want to eat? I’ll mail some to you.”

“I want to eat your dumplings, but they’d go bad if you mailed them. So, I plan to ask my boss for a leave to see you guys after the contest no matter if I get to the next round or be eliminated. Mom, you must make dumplings for me.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll wait for you. Your dad is worried about you and wants to buy an airplane ticket to see you.”

The show had wanted to invite Han Yueyao’s parents to the backstage and watch their daughter perform in the contest; they’d put on a show of family love to the audience.

But at the last moment, Han Yueyao declined because she didn’t want to hype herself and entertain the audience with her parents.

Her parents must feel bad when they saw on the TV that their daughter got injured and eliminated.

In the hospital, she video-chatted with her parents to ease their worry.

“Don’t worry about me. Our boss is very nice and he’s very good to me.”

Ending the conversation, Han Yueyao glanced at Su Yu and smiled.

“Fortunately, I didn’t badmouth you, or you’d overhear it.”

“You… Are you in pain?”

He had wanted to give her a good tongue-lashing, but after he saw how warmly she spoke with her parents on the video-chat, he just couldn’t bring himself to do it.

He couldn’t even joke with her, so he sounded very serious.

“Of course I’m in pain. It hurts so much. Haha… I’m sorry, President Su. I embarrassed our Imperial Star. I just fell; it was so humiliating.”

“It wasn’t humiliating. You did your best. Fortunately, you were delivered here in time, or your foot might become crippled. Did you know that?”

“But I’m fine now. I’m fortunate.” Han Yueyao smiled.

“You mustn’t do such things again in the future. Listen, the contest is not important. My Imperial Star has many ways to promote a performer. Other than the dance show, many other shows invite our performers. So don’t risk your health for it.”

“President Su, your seriousness gave me the illusion that you’re a very gentle and very good boss.”

“Bullshit,” Su Yu said in a huff and sat down before her bed. Picking up a knife and an apple, he began to peel it disinterestedly.

“Tell me how you injured your foot,” with his head lowered, Su Yu peeled the apple and asked casually.

“Huh? It’s nothing, I just got careless and fell.”

“How did you fall?” Su Yu asked.

“I slipped in the washroom…”

“Tell me the truth, or I’ll ask your agent and assistant. I will go and get the surveillance video. So, Han Yueyao, you just tell me the truth.”