Entertainment from Divorce

The morning sun, already scorching, streamed into the living room through the gaps in the curtains, casting long, thin patches of light on the floor.

Tan Yue got up early, washed up, and went into the kitchen. Chen's mother was wearing an apron and frying eggs. The frying pan made a sizzling sound, and the aroma filled the whole space.

"Mom, you rest, I'll do it." Tan Yue walked over and took the spatula, skillfully flipping the pot over. "Are Dad and my parents done cleaning up?"

"Everything's packed. Your dad's chatting with you in the living room, and your mom and An Nuan are checking Xin Xin's luggage, making sure nothing's been forgotten." Chen's mother wiped her hands and smiled at him.

"Don't you have to go to the company today? Did you take the day off specifically to drive them?"

"Yes, it's Friday today. I put aside the urgent matters at hand, took them to the airport, and then went back to the company." Tan Yue put the fried eggs on a plate and cooked a few bowls of millet porridge.

"Where's Tzuyu? Still not up?"

“She didn’t sleep well last night, so I let her get some more sleep. I’ll have something to eat later and then take you to the door,” Chen’s mother said, picking up her bowl of porridge and walking towards the dining room.

“Your parents had a great time in Beijing this time, especially Xin Xin, who kept saying she didn’t want to go back.”

Tan Yue nodded, her heart filled with warmth.

For the past two weeks, the house has been bustling with activity. Chen's parents, mother, and An Nuan have taken Tan Xin on various trips. Chen Ziyu has also been in a good mood with her family, and her pregnancy symptoms have lessened considerably.

Now that they are going back to Jishui, their home will return to its former tranquility, though they will inevitably feel a little reluctant to leave.

Not long after, Chen Ziyu walked out of the bedroom yawning, wearing loose pajamas, her eyes still a little sleepy.

"You're awake? Go wash up and get ready for dinner." Tan Yue walked over and gently supported her arm.

Inside the restaurant, the family sat around the table, the atmosphere warm yet tinged with a touch of reluctance.

Tan Xin held the millet porridge, sipping it slowly, occasionally glancing up at Tan Yue with a look full of longing.

"Uncle, when can I come to Beijing again? I want to go to the Old Summer Palace again; I didn't get to see it all last time."

"When winter vacation comes, your uncle will pick you up and take you to see all the tourist attractions in Beijing." Tan Yue ruffled her hair.

"When you get back, study hard and don't always think about playing. If anything happens, call your uncle."

"Yes! I understand!" Tan Xin nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling.

An Nuan sat to the side, looking at Tan Xin tenderly, and said to Tan Yue, "Xiao Yue, thank you and Ziyu for taking care of us for so long this time."

"Sister-in-law, you're being too polite. We're all family." Tan Yue said sincerely, "If you encounter any difficulties after you go back, don't be shy to speak up. Ziyu and I will help you."

Li Yulan put down her chopsticks, took Chen Ziyu's hand, and carefully instructed her: "Ziyu, after we go back, you must take good care of yourself, don't overwork yourself, eat on time, and have your prenatal check-ups on time."

"Tell Tan Yue immediately if you feel unwell."

“If your mother needs to go back to Hangzhou, or if Tan Yue is too busy, just give us a call. Your father and I can come to Beijing to take care of you anytime.”

"Mom, don't worry, I'll take good care of myself and the baby," Chen Ziyu replied with a smile. "Tan Yue is very good to me, and my mom is taking good care of me too. You can go back and relax, don't worry about me."

Chen's mother chimed in, "Yes, my dear in-law, Ziyu, you can go back without worry. If there's an emergency at my catering company that I need to go back to handle, I'll call you again, and I'll trouble you to come and lend a hand then."

“It’s no trouble at all, it’s all what we should do,” Li Yulan said with a smile. “We’re all doing this for the children. As long as Ziyu and the baby are okay, that’s more important than anything else.”

The family ate and chatted, and before they knew it, it was time to leave.

Tan Yue got up to pack his luggage, and Tan Zhaohe and Chen's father also helped to carry several suitcases downstairs.

Chen Ziyu stood at the door, looking at them with reluctance: "Dad, Mom, sister-in-law, Xinxin, have a safe journey, let me know when you get to Jishui."

"Okay, go back now, don't stand at the door in the wind." Li Yulan waved her hand.

Tan Yue then drove his parents, An Nuan, and Tan Xin to the airport.

The car drove smoothly on the airport expressway, and the scenery outside the window rushed past.

Tan Xin leaned on An Nuan's shoulder, looked out the window, and muttered softly, "I really don't want to go back. The capital is too much fun."

Li Yulan said with a smile, "If you get first place in your grade next time, Uncle will bring you here, okay?"

"Okay! I will definitely try my best!" Tan Xin immediately sat up straight, her eyes firm.

Tan Yue looked at this scene in the rearview mirror, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.

An Nuan has had a tough time raising her child alone all these years, but her parents have always treated her and her child like family. Tan Xin had a great time during her trip to Beijing.

"Dad, Mom, don't overwork yourselves when you get back. Go out for walks and exercise more," Tan Yue instructed. "You don't need to take care of the yard all the time. Rest when you're tired."

"I understand, you don't need to worry about us," Tan Zhaohe replied. "You can focus on your work in Beijing and take good care of Ziyu, then we'll be at ease."

“Sister-in-law, if it’s inconvenient to pick up and drop off Xin Xin after school starts, just tell my parents and ask them to help look after her.”

"No need to trouble yourself, I live close to the school, so it's very convenient for me to pick her up and drop her off," An Nuan said with a smile. "Thank you so much for making Xin Xin have such a happy summer vacation."

"We're all family, no need to be so polite." Tan Yue smiled, gently pressed the accelerator, and the car sped up.

More than forty minutes later, the car arrived at Terminal 3 of Beijing Capital International Airport.

Tan Yue parked the car in the parking lot and helped everyone carry their luggage before the group walked into the terminal.

Checking in and dropping off luggage proceeded smoothly and efficiently.

With half an hour left before boarding, the family sat on chairs in the waiting area and gave each other a final reminder.

"Xiao Yue, the early stages of Ziyu's pregnancy are crucial. Spend more time with her and don't always be busy with work." Li Yulan looked at her son, her eyes full of concern.

"No matter how important company matters are, they are not as important as the health of my family."

"I know, Mom. I'll manage to balance work and life." Tan Yue nodded. "Take good care of yourselves after you go back, and call us when you have time."

"Xin Xin, when you get back, listen to your mother, study hard, and don't be naughty." Tan Yue rubbed Tan Xin's head.

"I understand, Uncle!" Tan Xin nodded vigorously, took out a handmade little rabbit pendant from her pocket, and handed it to Tan Yue. "Uncle, this is for you and Auntie. I wish the baby a healthy growth."

"Thank you, Xin Xin, Uncle really likes it." Tan Yue took the pendant, feeling warm inside. "I'll tell you first when the baby is born."

The boarding announcement came over the loudspeaker, and Li Yulan and the others got up to prepare to board the plane.

"We're leaving now. Go back safely on your way." Li Yulan waved, her eyes a little moist. "Dad, Mom, have a safe trip!" Tan Yue also waved, watching them walk into the boarding gate until their figures disappeared into the crowd before turning away.

Stepping out of the terminal, the sunlight was even more dazzling. Tan Yue raised his hand to shield his eyes from the sun, feeling a little empty inside, but mostly filled with anticipation for the future.

He took out his phone and sent a message to Chen Ziyu: "Mom and Dad have already boarded the plane. I'm going back to the company to handle some work now. I'll come home early tonight to be with you."

Soon, Chen Ziyu replied to the message: "Okay, be careful on the road, don't overwork yourself, and remember to eat on time."

Tan Yue put away his phone and drove to the company.

When I got back to the company, it was already past 11 a.m.

Upon entering the office, Chen Ye had already tidied up the pile of documents, placing them neatly in several stacks on the left side of his desk.

"Mr. Tan, you're back." Chen Ye walked in carrying a cup of freshly brewed green tea. "These are some documents from this morning."

"Okay, I understand." Tan Yue took the teacup, took a sip, and relieved the fatigue of the journey. "Put these documents here, I'll deal with them slowly. Call me anytime if there's anything urgent."

"Yes, Mr. Tan." Chen Ye nodded and turned to leave the office.

Tan Yue sat behind his desk and began processing documents.

First, there was the supplementary agreement for the copyright renewal from the Overseas Cooperation Department. After Interstellar won the Palme d'Or at Cannes, television stations in many countries and regions overseas requested renewal and were willing to increase the copyright fee.

Tan Yue carefully reviewed the terms of the agreement, confirming details such as the copyright period, broadcast scope, and payment methods to ensure that the company's interests were not harmed.

By the time I finished processing these documents, it was already past 1 p.m.

Tan Yue got up and stretched his stiff body, walked to the window and stretched a bit, looking down at the bustling street below, thinking about the progress of the "Three-Body Problem" project.

He picked up his phone and called Qian Tao.

"Mr. Qian, how's the storyboard for 'The Three-Body Problem' progressing?"

"President Tan, we are working overtime to complete the storyboard design for the first two episodes and are discussing the scene presentation of the Red Coast Base in the third episode."

Qian Tao's voice carried a hint of excitement.

"Your script is brilliant, especially the setting of the Red Coast Base, which is scientifically rigorous yet full of mystery. We were captivated when designing the storyboard."

"That's good. We must ensure the quality of the storyboard, especially the presentation of science fiction scenes. We should try to reproduce the descriptions in the script as accurately as possible, while also considering the feasibility of actual filming."

Tan Yue continued, "If you encounter any difficulties, such as scene design or camera angles, feel free to tell me."

“Okay, Mr. Tan, we will keep that in mind,” Qian Tao replied.

"By the way, Mr. Tan, when we were designing the storyboards for the Three-Body game scenes, there were some parts where we were unsure of your ideas. For example, what kind of cinematic language would you like to use to present the scene where the three planets orbit the three stars?"

Tan Yue thought for a moment and said, "I hope to use a grand vision."

"Understood, Mr. Tan. We will design according to your requirements," Qian Tao said.

After hanging up the phone, Tan Yue felt a little hungry, so she got up and went to the company cafeteria for lunch.

The restaurant wasn't crowded. He ordered a stir-fried vegetable dish, a steamed fish dish, and a bowl of rice. After eating a few bites, he returned to his office to continue working on documents.

The afternoon was still busy.

Meanwhile, in the TV drama department's office area, the lights were on, and Qian Tao was leading his team in discussing the storyboard script for "The Three-Body Problem".

The desk was covered with scripts, sketches, and various reference materials, while concept art of the Red Coast Base and Three-Body game scenes hung on the wall.

"I think the radar antenna at the Red Coast Base should be shot from a low angle to highlight its grandeur and also to convey the mysterious atmosphere of the Red Coast Base," said a young storyboard designer, holding a paintbrush and sketching on paper.

“I agree, but we also need to pay attention to the use of light. The Red Coast Base is located in a remote mountainous area. The nighttime scenes can use moonlight and the base’s lights to create an atmosphere that highlights Ye Wenjie’s loneliness on duty alone,” another designer added.

Qian Tao sat in the middle, listening carefully to everyone's discussion, and occasionally offering his own opinions.

“Director Qian is right. We can first film the actual radar antenna, and then use special effects to magnify it and create a magnificent visual effect,” a senior designer said.

Everyone nodded in agreement and continued their discussion.

Qian Tao looked at the script of "The Three-Body Problem" in his hand, filled with admiration.

As the director of the TV drama department, he has read countless scripts, but none of them have ever integrated obscure scientific concepts into a wonderful storyline like "The Three-Body Problem," making it both rigorous and imaginative.

He could hardly imagine how Tan Yue managed to not only understand film and management, but also have a thorough knowledge of astronomy, physics and other fields.

Looking at the team members' passionate expressions, Qian Tao felt full of confidence.

He believes that under President Tan's leadership and with the joint efforts of the team, "The Three-Body Problem" will definitely become a phenomenal science fiction TV series, opening a new chapter in Chinese science fiction dramas.

By evening, Tan Yue had finally finished dealing with all the piled-up documents.

He stretched and rubbed his sore shoulders, feeling much more relaxed.

Tan Yue tidied his desk, picked up his coat, and turned to leave the office.

Tan Yue drove home, feeling a sense of fulfillment.

The car quickly arrived at the entrance of the residential area. Tan Yue got out of the car and walked into the residential area. From afar, he could see the warm light shining from the windows of his home.

He quickened his pace, pushed open the door, and a delicious aroma of food wafted out.

Chen Ziyu was sitting on the sofa reading a parenting book, while her mother was busy in the kitchen, and her father was sitting at the dining table reading a newspaper.

"I'm back," Tan Yue greeted with a smile.

"You're back? Go wash your hands and eat, the food's getting cold." Chen Ziyu got up and walked over to him, taking his coat from him. "You must have been working on a lot of documents today, right? You look exhausted."

"It's alright, there were just a lot of documents piling up these past few days, but they're all taken care of now." Tan Yue ruffled her hair. "Dad, are you comfortable staying indoors today?"

"It's a good day. Your mom kept me company all day, chatting and watching TV for a while. It was nice," Mr. Chen said with a smile, putting down his newspaper. "Come and eat."

The family sat around the dining table, enjoying a happy dinner. (End of Chapter)