He looked back at the journey that had brought him here.It was four years since he started out in the entertainment industry, perhaps more?
During these past four years, he had gained a lot of fame and won a lot of awards. He was an unknown broadcast major graduate of Media College who had reached the top of the Chinese entertainment industry before slowly making his way toward the summit of Asia. Right now, he was just a step away from standing at the top of Asia. This was the pinnacle of his career thus far in his journey. In the process, he had gained love, a family, and also a baby that was going to be born in a few months. He was going to be a father. This was supposed to be the most prosperous, most exuberant, and most glorious time of his life.
But to have him throw everything away now?
His work?
His wife?
His child?
This was such a difficult choice.
Zhang Ye had never had it easy all these years. He had fought his way to where he was and made many difficult decisions along the way as well. But it was different this time. This decision was too difficult to rashly make. It was so urgent that Zhang Ye was not even mentally prepared for it.
But at heart, he already had an answer.
However, he felt that he could not make this decision alone. If he did that, it would be very unfair to a lot of people.
…
Later that afternoon.
At Old Wu"s parents" courtyard house.
Zhang Ye had driven over here. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he heard his parents" chattering, and the house in the north wing filled with laughter. He didn"t know when his parents had arrived.
He pushed the door open and entered the house.
His mother looked over. "You"re here?"
Zhang Ye smiled. "When did you two arrive?"
His father smiled and said, "We just got here. We came to visit Zeqing."
"Little Ye, quickly have a seat. What tea would you like to drink?" Li Qinqin welcomed him warmly.
His mother harrumphed, "Don"t bother. Let him get the drink himself. This brat doesn"t care about his family anymore and hasn"t been back for two days. How incorrigible!"
Li Qinqin said gently, "Little Ye must be busy with work, so let"s be a little more understanding."
His mother said, "He doesn"t look like he"s busy to me, but I think those people working at Lotte Mart have been kept rather busy by him."
Wu Changhe smacked his lips and said, "Little Ye, why have you been so unlucky recently? You can even fall into a well twice. You have to watch where you"re going. Oh yes, do you know that something has happened in your fan club? Why is the leader of your fan club a world-famous hacker? It shouldn"t affect you, right?"
Zhang Ye smiled and said, "It won"t."
Li Qinqin said, "That"s good."
Everyone chatted.
Zhang Ye also sat down and conversed.
However, Wu Zeqing did not say a word. The moment she took a look at Zhang Ye when he came into the house, she remained silent all the way until now with only a smile on her face.
Not long after.
Li Qinqin stood up. "It"s almost time for lunch. Everyone, stay and eat."
His mother said, "I"ll help you out."
Finally, Wu Zeqing spoke up with a smile on her face. "I"ll head back into the room for a talk with Little Ye then."
Wu Changhe said, "Go ahead."
Zhang Ye quickly went to help her up. "Be careful."
Wu Zeqing smiled. "I"m being very careful, don"t worry."
Stepping over the threshold, the two of them returned to the room in the west wing.
When they went inside, Wu Zeqing stopped smiling and looked at Zhang Ye. "What happened?"
Zhang Ye was taken aback. He thought that he didn"t look too different from usual since his parents and Old Wu"s parents did not detect anything about him. But Old Wu was just too smart. Be it her IQ or EQ, not even a hundred Zhang Yes were a match for her. Zhang Ye did not even need to say a thing and she already knew that something had happened.
Zhang Ye smiled bitterly. "Indeed, something has happened."
Wu Zeqing asked, "Is it very serious?"
Zhang Ye acknowledged, "Yes."
He told Old Wu everything that had happened. From the time he beat up Lee Anson after the Spring Festival Gala to him being attached to the Internet Surveillance Bureau and then to the matters that came to light today. In fact, Zhang Ye knew that there was another choice he could take and that was to shut his mouth over the matter. Now that the Difficulty Adjustment Die"s increased difficulty of 5× effect was over, even if the evidence had pointed to a department in the Internet Surveillance Bureau, the main suspect that everyone had in mind was still Fan Yingyun. It was the same for the Korean side, as well as for the Chinese side. If Zhang Ye kept quiet, the person that would have to take the rap for this matter would definitely be Fan Yingyun.
This would have been the best choice for him.
But it was never an option for Zhang Ye right from the start.
However, Zhang Ye still mentioned it to Old Wu. He thought that Old Wu would have some hesitation at first, but she didn"t.
The first thing she said after she heard everything was, "There"s no reason for others to take responsibility for our affairs." After a moment of silence, she said, "I understand."
Zhang Ye wanted to speak. "But—"
Wu Zeqing said, "You"ve already come to a decision, so there"s no need to ask me."
Zhang Ye said, "How can that do? This is an important matter."
Wu Zeqing said, "Will you still be around?"
Zhang Ye was taken aback. "It won"t kill me."
Old Wu smiled. "As long as you can survive, it"s no big deal. Do what you feel is right, I will support your decision."
"But for the next few years—" Zhang Ye did not know how to put it.
Old Wu placed her hand on his. "You don"t have to worry about the rest. I"m at home."
Zhang Ye hesitated. "Old Wu, I"m sor—"
"Don"t apologize," interrupted Wu Zeqing. "My husband has an indomitable spirit. He won"t do anything shameful, nor will he bow down and apologize to others."
But the more she put it that way, the more Zhang Ye felt guilty. If Zhang Ye was alone without any commitments, he could do whatever he wanted and handle whatever major incidents that came his way. But it was different now. He was no longer by himself. He had a wife and a child, so he couldn"t help but feel that he owed his family. As a husband, as a child, or as a parent, he felt that he was too incompetent.
Wu Zeqing asked, "When are you leaving?"
Zhang Ye said, "I want to finish up the concert first. I"ve promised so many people that I"ll do this, so there has to be a proper conclusion."
Wu Zeqing nodded. "Alright."
"I won"t be going anywhere in the following days and staying at home to accompany you." Zhang Ye said.
But Wu Zeqing smiled and said, "There"s no need. You still have a lot of issues to deal with for the concert, and there"s a lot of other preparations to make before you leave. Concentrate on doing that."
Zhang Ye said, "Should I tell our parents?"
Wu Zeqing gave it some thought before saying, "Don"t tell them yet. I"ll let them know when it"s a suitable time."
Zhang Ye nodded but still had a hesitant look on his face.
"You can"t bear to leave?" Old Wu asked.
Zhang Ye smiled bitterly and crouched down, lightly hugging Old Wu"s belly. "I can bear to leave everything except for my parents and the two of you."
Wu Zeqing smiled and said, "It"s not like we"ll run off."
Zhang Ye said, "You"re such a good wife. How can I not be afraid of losing you?"
Wu Zeqing consoled, "You were thinking of leaving the entertainment circle in two months to take a few years off anyway. The only difference is that you"re bidding farewell in another way, that"s all. You"ve been truly tired out over the years, so take the opportunity to rest for a few years. When you come back after that, it"s only a matter of having to start from scratch again."
Zhang Ye said, "Alright."
The decision was made.
Although it was a very difficult decision for the couple.
All of a sudden, Wu Zeqing said, "Little Ye, how about a song?"
Zhang Ye said, "A song?"
Wu Zeqing smiled and said, "I just felt like hearing you sing."
Zhang Ye also smiled. "Sure."
There was a guitar on the bed.
Zhang Ye picked it up and quickly tuned it. Plucking the strings without playing, he closed his eyes and felt a complex swirl of emotions. Countless images flashed through his mind.
His career.
His awards.
His wife.
His child.
Today, he had to give up on all of the most important things in a man"s life.
What sort of feeling was this?
Even Zhang Ye himself could probably not describe it.
He was tightly clasping a woman"s hand.
Zhang Ye looked to the side and smiled. It was a smile that suddenly had a bit more charm.
He strummed the guitar.
In the kitchen.
His mother"s and Li Qinqin"s ears p.r.i.c.ked up.
"Who"s playing the guitar?"
"It"s probably Little Ye."
"Why is he suddenly singing?"
"Hur hur, he"s probably rehearsing for the concert."
In the west wing.
A song slowly played.
"All of yesterday"s glory
"has turned into a distant mem"ry.
"I"ve toiled and labored for half of my life.
"Tonight, I again enter the struggle stormy.
"I cannot just go with the flow,
"for the sake of my loved ones.
"I must stand firm no matter how hard or tough it grows,
"all for the sake of those hopeful eyes aglow.
"As long as there"s faith, the dream lasts!
"There"s still love between Heaven and Earth.
"Look beyond the ups and downs in life!
"All it takes is to start over again!"