As the car merged onto the airport expressway, the winter sky of Nancheng was a dull gray, but the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year was already palpable along both sides of the road.
Red lanterns hung from the lampposts, and electronic screens at the entrances of shopping malls scrolled through Spring Festival promotional ads.
After driving for a while, Jiang Kaiwen couldn't help but speak up again.
“Seriously, how are you planning to explain things to the family tonight?”
“Second Grandaunt is getting on in years, and she dotes on you the most. She always worries that you don't have parents out there to look after you, and that you have no one to turn to when things go wrong.”
“And Eldest Aunt, she truly believes that acting is an unstable career.”
Jiang Kaiwen paused.
“A few days ago, she watched 《Manhunt》. When she saw the look in your eyes as Shen Xu sitting in the interrogation room, she was so spooked she barely slept half the night.”
Jiang Yue rubbed his temples.
“I was just playing a villain, not actually becoming a criminal.”
“We all know that,” Jiang Kaiwen sighed, “but the elders don't think that way. They believe that for you to act like that, you must have pushed yourself to the absolute limit out there.”
The interior of the car fell silent for a few seconds. Jiang Yue turned his head to look out the window.
He hadn't intended to keep it a secret from his family on purpose.
It was just that things had happened one after another over the past six months, from stepping in at the last minute for 《Manhunt》, to the audition for 《The Grand Game》, and then to 《The Hidden Sentry》 and 《Sharp Blade》.
Thinking about it now, it was only natural for the elders to worry.
After all, in their eyes, Jiang Yue had always been the golden child with excellent grades and a sharp mind, the kind of kid who was destined to join a major corporation or a research institute.
Yet he had suddenly run off to act, even playing a gloomy villain. Anyone would have second thoughts.
“We'll just let nature take its course,” Jiang Yue said. “I'll wish Second Grandaunt a happy birthday first. Whatever she asks, I'll answer honestly.”
Jiang Kaiwen glanced at him.
“Third Brother, are you planning to lay all your cards on the table?”
“Yeah, there's no need to hide it from family.”
Two hours later, the car drove into the old town district of Nancheng.
Unlike the dense high-rises of Donghai City, this area was mostly lined with self-built multi-story houses.
Every household had Spring Festival couplets pasted on their doors and lanterns hanging from their windows.
Several cars were already parked in front of the Jiang family's small western-style building.
Even before getting out of the car, Jiang Yue could hear the lively sounds coming from the courtyard.
The thudding of knives on chopping boards, the chatter of the elders, and the laughter of children chasing each other around all blended together, carrying a familiar, heartwarming atmosphere of daily life.
Just as Jiang Yue pushed open the car door and stepped out, Eldest Aunt emerged from the courtyard gate holding a basin half-filled with water from washing vegetables.
The moment she looked up and spotted Jiang Yue, her eyes lit up. She casually set the stainless steel basin down on the steps and turned to shout into the main hall.
“Grandma! Come out and look!”
“Our Yueyue is back!”
“Oh my goodness, look how much weight he's lost in his face! How much must he have suffered playing those wretched villains out there? Look what it's done to our boy!”
Standing by the car, Jiang Yue's lips twitched slightly.
Beside him, Jiang Kaiwen's shoulders shook as he desperately tried to hold back his laughter.
“Third Brother, welcome home.”
Eldest Aunt's shout had been full of vigor.
Within seconds, a crowd of seven or eight people swarmed out of the building.
Second Grandaunt walked at the very front, wearing a dark red padded jacket embroidered with the character for good fortune, her silver hair neatly combed.
Eldest Uncle supported her from the side, telling her to take it slow.
But the moment the old lady saw Jiang Yue, her eyes welled up with tears.
“Yueyue, come here quickly and let Grandma look at you.”
She shook off Eldest Uncle's hand and hurried forward.
Jiang Yue quickly stepped forward to support her arms with both hands.
“Second Grandaunt, please take it slow.”
The old lady couldn't care less about taking it slow.
She first felt Jiang Yue's shoulders, then his arms, her brow furrowing tighter and tighter.
“Why are your arms so stiff and hard?”
“And your face isn't as round as before.”
“Did the crew not even give you enough to eat?”
As she spoke, tears began to pool in her eyes.
Jiang Yue's heart softened.
He had prepared a lot of explanations, but seeing the old lady like this, he swallowed his words.
Eldest Uncle stood nearby without saying a word.
He had worked in the security department in his early years and knew a bit of martial arts. With just a glance at Jiang Yue's straight spine and solid stance, he could tell the boy's steps were incredibly stable and his physique was lean and fit, far from the malnutrition the old lady suspected.
However, Eldest Uncle kept quiet because Eldest Aunt had already emerged from the kitchen carrying a clay pot.
“Don't just stand out here freezing in the yard!”
Eldest Aunt's voice boomed. “The wind is strong outside. Let's talk indoors!”
Jiang Yue was practically ushered into the main hall, surrounded by a crowd of elders.
An eight-deity table was set up in the main hall.
On the table lay melon seeds, peanuts, candies, and several plates of cold appetizers.
Stacked against the wall were cases of alcohol and beverages prepared for tomorrow's birthday banquet.
Eldest Aunt set the clay pot down on the table with a thud and lifted the lid. Steam billowed out instantly, and the rich aroma of chicken soup quickly filled the entire room.
“Yueyue, have two bowls first.”
Eldest Aunt picked up a large blue-and-white porcelain bowl, her movements swift and practiced.
“This is a free-range chicken your Eldest Uncle drove all the way to the countryside to buy the day before yesterday. It's been simmering on the stove for four hours.”
“No matter how busy you are out there, you can't ruin your health.”
Before Jiang Yue could say a word, he was pushed down into an armchair.
A large bowl of chicken soup was placed in front of him.
The broth was a rich golden color, with two large chicken drumsticks resting on top.
Nearby, the younger cousins—Jiang Kaiwen, Zhou Siqian, and Zhou Qiqi—were squeezed against the doorframe.
Each of them was holding back laughter, winking and making faces at Jiang Yue.
Looking at the drumsticks piled high in the bowl, Jiang Yue thought to himself that after finishing this, he would definitely have to work out a lot harder once he got back to Donghai City.
But then he looked at Second Grandaunt's red-rimmed eyes and Eldest Aunt's expectant gaze.
Jiang Yue didn't hesitate.
He took the chopsticks Eldest Uncle handed him, picked up a piece of chicken, and took a bite.
The chicken was incredibly tender. As the hot broth traveled down his throat, his stomach quickly warmed up.
Over the past few months, he had eaten far too many boxed meals on set.
A few days ago, while filming 《Sharp Blade》, in order to rush the schedule so everyone could go home for the New Year, he had often rolled around in muddy water before casually munching on a few pieces of bread or crackers.
Swallowing this taste of home, a deep, comforting warmth washed over his chest.
“Is it good?”
Second Grandaunt sat beside him, taking his hand. “Eat slowly, there's more in the pot.”
Jiang Yue nodded.
“It's delicious.”
Only then was Eldest Aunt satisfied.
“I knew you needed some nourishment. Look how thin you were in that show, and your face looked so terrifying.”
Zhou Qiqi muttered softly from the doorway.
“That was just makeup and styling.”
Eldest Aunt swept a sharp glare over.
Zhou Qiqi shut her mouth instantly.
Jiang Kaiwen lowered his head, pretending to look at his phone.
Jiang Yue drank a few mouthfuls of soup and finished half of a drumstick.
The tense atmosphere in the main hall finally began to ease.
But he knew the real questions hadn't even started yet, and indeed, they were about to.
Second Grandaunt held his hand, remaining silent for a moment before she finally spoke up.
“Yueyue, Grandma wants to ask you something.”
Second Grandaunt stared into Jiang Yue's eyes. “You studied computer science in college. I heard from your Eldest Uncle that it's a profession where you sit in an air-conditioned office and make quite a bit of money. Why did you suddenly run off to act?”
Once the old lady asked this, the entire main hall fell silent.
Eldest Aunt, who was washing vegetables, dried her hands, and Second Uncle, who was smoking, stubbed out his cigarette.
Everyone's eyes fell on Jiang Yue.
He had excelled in his studies since childhood, particularly in the sciences, and anyone in the Jiang family would sing his praises whenever his name came up.
In the minds of the elders, a child like him was destined to become an engineer or work in a stable institution.
As for acting?
That was far too distant a concept for the Jiang family.
What was more, Eldest Aunt had used her tablet to show Second Grandaunt 《Manhunt》 a few days ago.
The elderly lady couldn't help but feel that playing such a character must have caused immense psychological stress, and that he had surely suffered all kinds of grievances out there.
Jiang Yue swallowed the chicken in his mouth and set down his bowl and chopsticks.
He pulled out a tissue, wiped his mouth, and scanned the people in the room.
Second Grandaunt, Eldest Aunt, Eldest Uncle, Second Uncle, and his cousins crowding around the door.
Ever since his grandparents passed away, these people had always treated him as their own child.
Jiang Yue placed the tissue on the edge of the table, his voice softening.
“I really should explain this to all of you.”
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