Chapter 10

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

“Daddy will be free in the future.” Song Qianming hugged Youhuan and kissed her forehead. “Youhuan, are you happy staying with Daddy?”

“Yes.” Youhuan smiled sweetly, her large eyes expressing her complete faith in him.

“Did Youhuan have fun in kindergarten today?”

“It was lots of fun! All the teachers are nice to Youhuan.”

“Did you make any friends today?”

“I think so… Everyone is willing to play with me.”

“That’s good.” Song Qianming was relieved. He was afraid that his daughter would be bullied in kindergarten.

“Daddy, does that mean you’re out of a job?”

“I guess so. Daddy still has lots to learn before he can find another job. Daddy will need to find someone to take care of you when he returns to work. Daddy may not be able to come home as soon as he’d like.”

“I can go home myself and wait for Daddy to come home.”

“No, you can’t.” Song Qianming wagged his finger. “The world is full of bad people. You’re still a child; you can’t travel home alone.”

“But I don’t want strangers in our home!” It was Youhuan’s first time expressing her feelings, and Song Qianming could not help but be surprised by her outburst.

“Hmm… We’ll find someone to pick you up, and they can return when Daddy comes home. That’ll mean only the two of us will remain in the house. What do you think?” Song Qianming asked, hoping to encourage Youhuan to discuss the topic with him.

Children were quite sensitive to the emotions of adults. Youhuan did not want to trouble her father too much, appreciating that he was willing to hear her out. Perhaps this was the beginning of a bond between father and daughter!

“Don’t worry, Daddy. I’ll be good.”

Song Qianming gently corrected her, “I said I would always be there for you. Youhuan, you can do whatever you want. You don’t need to force yourself into doing anything you don’t like.”

Youhuan threw herself into her father’s arms, choking back tears. “Daddy is the best. No one is as good to Youhuan as Daddy is.”

Song Qianming wrapped his arms around his daughter, hugging her tightly. “I’m very grateful that the heavens have blessed me with such a good daughter. My only regret is that I was not there when you were born.”

“It’s okay. It’ll be alright as long as I have Daddy.”

“Daddy will always be here for you; never doubt that.”

A newly made father and his daughter spoke to each other, their hearts connecting across time and space. One was a prince of a foreign land steeped in the ancient past, and the other was a young girl who had not even lived more than four years. Their love for each other was unmatched. The two laughed, a beautiful sound that echoed with their bond.

After tucking his daughter to sleep, Song Qianming immersed himself in his studies. The world was still unfamiliar to him. Two days was barely enough to scratch the surface. Who would have thought the naughty prince of the past would one day march into the arms of learning, the rigor of study the Grand Tutor tried to instill in him? There was much to do.

If he wanted to become a superstar in the future, he needed to understand the common sense of his new reality. Otherwise, wouldn’t he fumble in the dark, making mistakes left and right?

Having spent some time in this new world, Song Qianming realized how magical and sophisticated the internet was. Through the internet, one could learn just about anything. However, it was a double-edged sword. The internet could also magnify one’s actions, blowing things out of proportion. Learning how to manage it was one of Song Qianming’s top priorities.

Perhaps it was a testament to his talent, but he effortlessly learned more about the modern world, quickly absorbing information regarding the sciences, English, drama, etc.

“I knew nothing could stump this young master!” Song Qianming closed his eyes in satisfaction, readying himself for the new day.

A month passed in the blink of an eye. Even though he had not managed to find a job, that was not to say he was idle. If he were not escorting his daughter to and from kindergarten, he would be studying or out on the streets, experiencing the wonders of this new world.

A month was enough for him to familiarize himself with Youhuan and his new life. Song Qianming was confident his comeback would proceed without a hitch.

As far as he could gather, the entertainment industry was very realistic. No project would want a middle-aged man if he did not possess absolute fame or status. The younger you were, the more potential you possessed in the eyes of the industry. Therefore, Song Qianming knew he had to capture the eyes of his audience as soon as possible.

Before going job hunting, he first visited a housekeeping agency. They had six people to recommend, and Song Qianming reluctantly selected one of them to pick up Youhuan after kindergarten.

His first request to that aunty was to ensure Youhuan’s safety and that she had enough to eat when she returned from kindergarten. His second request was for her to keep things private and not to spread the word that she was working for him. Those were his two and only requests.

It was a simple job, but he still offered the kindly woman a salary 20% higher than the market price. His offer caused quite a stir, with several hoping he would pick them instead.

Song Qianming lamented how troublesome it was to hire one person. He had had no such trouble in his previous life, where more than a hundred servants were under his direct employ, each with a specific job scope. If only things were as simple as that. All these new concerns were rather troubling in his mind.

Still, the wonders of the internet had shown him a new breed of equality that was very different from his past life. As long as he had money, he could live a life as good as his previous one. It seemed he needed to work harder.

His current apartment was small, and he did not even have a personal chef. Neither did he have a butler, driver, bodyguards, or maids. All of which he would need to arrange for in the future.

Once his home arrangements were made regarding Youhuan, Song Qianming stepped out of the house. He was not going to a film studio to try his luck or go door to door, hoping a company would employ him. Instead, he headed straight for College Town.

The original body’s owner graduated from Sea City Academy of Drama and was one of the most outstanding talents in the school. His professors valued him highly. However, the original body’s owner had been young and insensible, too eager for success. For this reason, Tao Kang managed to trick him into signing a contract even before graduating.

If he wanted to get a role now, the best way to do so was to ask his professors for help. Fortunately, the original body’s owner habitually recorded his classes. Otherwise, Song Qianming would not have known who to turn to for help.

Since it was summer break, there were no lectures taking place. Song Qianming made a beeline for the theater, knowing his teacher would likely be there as she was still a prominent actor in the industry.

“Song Qianming?” He Enmin said, a questioning lilt to her words. She had just stepped out of the theater after filming, and the first thing she saw was her silly student waiting by the doors.

“Professor,” Song Qianming humbly greeted. Despite waiting a long time, he did not greet her with impatience but with politeness. There was no shame in greeting people at the level of the Grand Tutor or the old Prime Minister with humility. It certainly did not harm his reputation by treating his former teacher with respect, prince or not.

The Grand Tutor never cared about his identity as a prince of the Lan dynasty. If he did not complete his studies, he would be punished. Even if his royal brother stepped in, nothing would change. Such was the impartiality of an educator. Thus, while he was a prince, he was also a student, and his interactions with the Grand Tutor taught Song Qianming the importance of respect.

“When did you arrive? Why didn’t you say you were going to visit?”

“I’m sorry.” Song Qianming smiled shyly. “I didn’t want to disturb you.”

“You are…” Seeing him like this, He Enmin sighed helplessly. “Come in. You’re an artiste now; you must be more mindful of the paparazzi.”

“Who would pay attention to someone like me?” Song Qianming deliberately painted himself in a pitiful light.

Professor He huffed, “I told you to be careful. Have you learned your lesson?”