HuaYu: Starting with Photography to Navigate the Entertainment Industry

"Okay, I'll come pick you up!"

As Xu Lang spoke, he picked up a coat and was about to leave.

Seeing this, Wu Guilan asked curiously:

"We've already eaten, where are you going?"

"I'm going to pick up a friend."

As Xu Lan spoke, she then addressed her stunned parents:

"Please add another set of chopsticks and a bowl, I'll be right back."

"Hey kid, why didn't you tell us beforehand that someone was coming?"

"Besides, who are they, coming over on New Year's Eve?"

However, watching Xu Lang run out quickly, the two could only remain speechless.

Startled for a moment, Wu Guilan had an idea and nudged Xu Jianguo with her hand.

"Old Xu, do you think it could be our daughter-in-law?"

"Daughter-in-law? She's already here for the New Year? That's so fast!"

As the two were talking, the door creaked open, and Xu Lang led Yang Ying in.

"Well..."

Upon seeing Yang Ying, Wu Guilan and Xu Jianguo were immediately stunned.

Xu Jianguo, in particular, was pouring wine without realizing that his glass was already full and he was still pouring more into it.

"Isn't this...the Barbie from TV?"

Wu Guilan was the first to react, rubbing her eyes and saying in disbelief.

"It really is her, it really is Barbie!"

Xu Jianguo recognized him too, and his hand holding the wine bottle became excited.

Seeing the two of them like this, Xu Lang couldn't help but chuckle, ruffled Yang Ying's hair, and said:

"You're really famous; even my parents know you."

"Of course!"

Yang Ying smiled smugly at Xu Lang, and then a glint of light flashed in her eyes as she looked at Xu Lang's parents.

She smiled sweetly, quickly stepped forward, bowed to the two of them, and said:

"Uncle, Aunt, hello! I really have nowhere to spend the New Year, so I can only come to my boss's house for a meal. I'm sorry to trouble you!"

"No trouble at all, no trouble at all!"

Looking at the smiling Yang Ying, not only Xu Jianguo, but even Wu Guilan's heart melted. She quickly stepped forward, took Yang Ying's hand, and said warmly,

"It's good that you came. Is it cold outside? Come on, have a seat."

Yang Ying is beautiful, loves to laugh, and is good at coaxing people, plus she has the aura of a celebrity.

Before long, Xu Jianguo and Wu Guilan were coaxed into smiling faces by Yang Ying.

"Xu Lang, how can you be so oblivious? Hurry up and give Barbie some chopsticks!"

"Xu Lang, Barbie doesn't drink alcohol, get her some juice."

Yang Ying became the group's darling, while Xu Lang was criticized for being constantly on the run.

Watching Xu Lang bustling around taking care of her, Yang Ying would occasionally give him a smug smile, making Xu Lang's heart itch with envy. He secretly hardened his heart.

"You little punk, just wait until nobody's around, and I'll teach you a lesson!"

All night long, Wu Guilan and Xu Jianguo doted on Yang Ying, showering her with concern and asking her all sorts of questions, leaving Xu Lang speechless.

After finishing her meal, Wu Guilan looked at Yang Ying with a gleam in her eyes.

For no other reason than that there are four of us now!

"No more being short one player for mahjong!"

Chengdu is a city where mahjong is very popular, and Xu Jianguo and Wu Guilan play it regularly.

Unfortunately, Xu Lang was home alone, so they couldn't even play mahjong, which frustrated her greatly, and she kept blaming Old Xu.

"If I'd known, I would have had another one!"

"Well..."

Because you want to get a winning hand in mahjong, you'll have another one?

I've never heard of that reason before.

But now things are much better, Yang Ying is here, that's just the right amount of work!

After dinner, the four of them watched the Spring Festival Gala while setting up a table and playing mahjong.

"bump!"

"I won! A clean sweep! Time to pay up!"

Looking at the three people with excited faces, Xu Lang couldn't help but feel a little dazed.

"Is this harmonious?"

Then look at Yang Ying. This little girl is deliberately trying to fool her parents. She's got quite a few tricks up her sleeve.

Around 11:30, more people started setting off firecrackers outside, and the sound of the television could no longer be heard.

Xu Lang pushed aside the mahjong tiles, grabbed Yang Ying, and ran outside.

"Let's go, off to set off fireworks!"

Downstairs, the air was filled with the smell of sulfur.

Xu Lang took a deep breath and couldn't help but exclaim:

"I haven't smelled this scent in so long, I've missed it so much!"

In my previous life, I forgot from which year it started, but for no apparent reason, we were no longer allowed to set off firecrackers.

It's Chinese New Year, but there's no festive atmosphere at all; it's so boring.

Xu Lang, on the other hand, grew up playing with firecrackers and has a special fondness for setting them off during the Lunar New Year.

Now, smelling the sulfurous odor in the air again, hearing the sounds of firecrackers filling his ears, and seeing the smiling faces of the adults and children next door setting off firecrackers, Xu Lang felt genuinely happy.

"Thump... Bang!"

Firecrackers boomed through the night sky, and thunderclaps illuminated the entire night.

Yang Ying, meanwhile, held up a long-tube firework, firing it into the sky while laughing uncontrollably.

"That's not enough? Watch me!"

Xu Lang picked up a bundle, tied them together, and lit the fuses one by one.

"Whoosh...whoosh whoosh whoosh!"

Seeing the fireworks shooting out like machine guns, the children around suddenly lost interest in their own fireworks and all crowded around Xu Lang.

"Haha, how about this artificial Gatling gun?"

"Brother Lang, I want one too! I want one too!"

Yang Ying, along with several neighborhood children, chased after Xu Lang in a chaotic frenzy.

"Clang clang clang!"

The clock struck twelve.

Xu Lang shouted into the night sky:

Happy Chinese New Year!

Then, the already arranged red earth lamps were lit.

"Crackling and popping!"

The crisp, dense sound of firecrackers instantly filled the entire night sky.

Yang Ying covered her ears, leaned against Xu Lang, and laughed happily.

Wu Guilan and Xu Jianguo, who were not far away, looked at the two of them and couldn't help but feel worried.

Wu Guilan nudged Xu Jianguo with her elbow and said:

"We only have two rooms, how are we going to sleep?"

"Well..."

That is indeed a problem!

Xu Jianguo knew his son's character, of course, and guessed that the two must have developed some kind of special relationship.

but. . .

Even if they have a special relationship, as parents, they can't force the two of them into one room when arranging accommodation!

"At worst, my son will sleep with me, and you can sleep with Barbie."

Xu Jianguo thought for a moment and then instructed Wu Guilan.

"Then, you can subtly ask Barbie what's really going on between her and Xu Lang."

"Well, that's the only way!"

It was almost 12:15.

Fewer and fewer people set off firecrackers, and the sound of firecrackers became quieter.

Xu Lang had a great time and playfully ran back home with Yang Ying.

Seeing that Xu Jianguo and Wu Guilan had almost finished packing, Xu Lang said to them:

"Dad, Mom, you're tired, go to sleep first, don't worry about us."

"Well..."

Wu Guilan and Xu Jianguo exchanged a glance, and then said:

"Um... I was worried that Ba wouldn't sleep well, you..."

Before she could finish speaking, Yang Ying's eyes darted around, and she said politely:

"Auntie, don't worry about me. I'll be fine with Lang Ge. I'm used to sleeping here."

"what?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Guilan and Xu Jianguo were immediately shocked.

"Is this Barbie really that daring?"

This kind of thing, even if it were to be said, should have been Xu Lang saying it. Now, Barbie actually said it directly, which surprised the two of them.

"What's the relationship between these two?!"

Xu Jianguo looked at Xu Lang, feeling both curiosity and a hidden sense of pride.

"No wonder he's my son; even a big star is chasing after our house!"