Chapter 71: Uncle Gao’s Dilemma

That evening, Lin Chuan brought Lin Yiyang along with Yuan Ye to the Imperial Grand Hotel. As soon as they stepped out of the taxi, a tall, handsome middle-aged man approached them with a welcoming smile. He grasped Lin Chuan’s hand warmly and said, “Chuan, it’s wonderful you could make it. Come on, I’ve already reserved a room inside.”

This man was the dashing uncle Lin Chuan had met on the day of the finals, a longtime friend of the old master. Lin Chuan smiled, “Uncle Gao, you’re too kind.”

“It’s nothing, just a meal…” After exchanging a few more words, the group headed into the hotel together.

Earlier that day, as Lin Chuan and Yuan Ye discussed the matchmaking show “If You’re the One,” Yuan Ye received a call—it was Uncle Gao inviting them to dinner. Yuan Ye hesitated briefly before answering and then informed Lin Chuan of the invitation.

If it had been anyone else, Lin Chuan would have refused without a second thought. But Uncle Gao was different; as the old master’s friend, he had traveled a long way to cheer Lin Chuan on during the finals—such kindness could not be ignored.

Led by a hotel attendant, they entered a spacious and luxurious private room that had been reserved for them. After a few instructions, only Lin Chuan and his companions remained.

“Uncle Gao, I heard you’re returning to the capital?” Lin Chuan asked with a smile once they were seated.

Uncle Gao paused, then nodded, “Yes, I leave the day after tomorrow. There are some matters in the capital that need my attention.”

“Ha, then I should be the one treating you tonight. After all, you’re our elder—it would be a proper send-off.” Lin Chuan said heartily.

He was no longer the man he once was. Though not fabulously wealthy, he had some money now. Winning “A Song to Fame” brought him a substantial reward from the production team, and combined with the fee for the theme song of “Noble Families of Loyalty,” his net worth had surpassed a million. A meal like this was hardly a burden.

Yet Uncle Gao shook his head vigorously, saying, “No, no, I said I’d treat, and I’ll treat.”

Lin Chuan was about to argue further, but Yuan Ye interjected, “It doesn’t matter who treats—there’ll be plenty of chances in the future, right, Uncle Gao?”

To Lin Chuan, this seemed ordinary; he smiled and said nothing more. But Uncle Gao glanced at Yuan Ye, a subtle, meaningful smile appearing on his face.

Soon, the waiter arrived with an array of dishes, filling the table completely.

Lin Yiyang had been quiet since entering. When the aroma of the food reached him, his stomach growled audibly.

“Yiyang, hungry? Here, have a prawn…” Uncle Gao smiled, picked up a prawn with his chopsticks, and placed it on Lin Yiyang’s plate.

Lin Yiyang stared at the prawn and swallowed hard, then looked at Lin Chuan for approval. Since childhood, if Lin Chuan didn’t nod, the boy wouldn’t touch any food, no matter how hungry he was. This habit wasn’t taught by Lin Chuan, but had been established before he even started preschool.

This made Lin Chuan deeply gratified. His son’s obedience and maturity filled him with pride. With a gentle smile, Lin Chuan peeled the prawn and said, “Go ahead.”

“Thank you, Grandpa Gao.” The boy beamed, picked up the prawn, and before eating it, flashed a toothy grin at Uncle Gao.

Uncle Gao’s face blossomed with joy. Nearing fifty, he had devoted himself entirely to his career. Yet as he grew older, seeing his peers stroll through the park with grandchildren stirred something in his heart—it was impossible not to feel a pang. Especially after meeting Lin Yiyang, who, though only five, was far more sensible and polite than other children. Uncle Gao found himself genuinely fond of him.

Seeing the boy devour the prawn, Uncle Gao happily placed a piece of meat on his plate, saying, “Take your time, don’t choke. All of this is yours—no one will compete with you.”

The boy seemed truly famished. Smiling, he grabbed the meat and ate with gusto, not even bothering with chopsticks.

Watching this, the three men, including Lin Chuan, all laughed. Lin Yiyang glanced left and right, utterly unaware of what they found so amusing.

“Yiyang, are you happy at kindergarten? How are the teachers and other children?” Uncle Gao placed more food on his plate.

“I’m happy. Sister Yue treats me well, and so do the other kids.” Lin Yiyang swallowed his food and replied politely.

“Would you like to switch to another kindergarten?”

Lin Yiyang paused, then looked to his father, as if waiting for him to answer. Lin Chuan felt a spark of curiosity—Uncle Gao seemed to be hinting at something.

But Lin Chuan didn’t press the issue. He smiled and said to his son, “Grandpa is asking you—would you like to change kindergartens?”

“I…” The boy lowered his head, thinking for a moment. “Will Lele and Dandan go with me?”

“Haha…”

Lin Chuan and Uncle Gao burst into laughter.

And so, the four of them—three adults and one child—ate and chatted in the private room, the atmosphere relaxed and harmonious, especially thanks to Lin Yiyang, who brought laughter to them without realizing it.

Halfway through the meal, Uncle Gao lifted his glass, drained it, and took a deep breath. “Chuan, I’ve heard several record companies want to sign you. What are your plans?”

Lin Chuan set down his glass, puzzled by the question, but replied with a smile, “I haven’t decided yet. I’ll wait and see.”

“Good, good…” Uncle Gao seemed relieved, nodding repeatedly without elaborating.

Lin Chuan raised an eyebrow, finding Uncle Gao’s behavior increasingly odd.

At that moment, Yuan Ye grinned mysteriously. “Chuan, do you know what Uncle Gao does in the capital?”

“Oh, I actually don’t know.” Lin Chuan replied calmly.

“Well, you’re in the same business. The old master told me that Uncle Gao was once very ambitious and idealistic. After leaving our TV station, he went to the capital and founded a talent agency…” Yuan Ye shook his head as he recounted Uncle Gao’s story.

Lin Chuan listened quietly.

Uncle Gao’s real name was Gao Mingyuan. He was forty-eight, with a daughter who had just graduated from university, and a harmonious family life. But his career hadn’t been as smooth, especially in recent years. His agency survived mainly by booking small commercial performances. Recently, even his few remaining artists had jumped ship to another company, leaving Gao Mingyuan in distress.

The company had just received several bookings, urgently needing performers. If he couldn’t send anyone, he’d have to pay hefty penalties—something the company could barely afford.

Gao Mingyuan didn’t give up. He reached out to industry contacts, hoping to borrow a few artists to weather the crisis. But it was as if everyone had conspired against him—some found excuses to refuse, others simply avoided him.

With time slipping by and no progress, Gao Mingyuan grew despondent, spending his days drinking away his worries.

Then, one day, he caught an episode of “A Song to Fame” on TV. When he saw that young man in his twenties, handsome with a scruffy beard, his eyes lit up. If he could sign this talent, not only would he solve the immediate problem, but with some nurturing and promotion, he might become a star. This young man had real potential.

So, Gao began investigating him—name, age, location, family background. Once he found no issues, he decided to personally approach him.

Then he discovered that Lin Chuan was distantly related to his longtime friend, which delighted him. It would make things much easier. Despite lingering resentment from the old master about Gao’s departure from the TV station, their friendship remained strong—a few apologies would suffice.

So, while the old master outwardly refused, he had Yuan Ye privately contact Gao Mingyuan and bring him to Lin Chuan. Whether things would work out depended on Gao’s character.

After hearing all this, Lin Chuan didn’t immediately respond; instead, he glanced at his son.

“Chuan… your fame is too great now, so I didn’t tell you beforehand. You don’t mind, do you?” Gao Mingyuan asked, uneasy at Lin Chuan’s neutral expression.

Yuan Ye ate quietly, not offering any help.

After a moment, Lin Chuan smiled, “Uncle Gao, you needn’t worry. As you know, I have to care for Yiyang. Some companies have approached me, but precisely because of that, I haven’t agreed to anything…”

“You can be absolutely assured. You’ll have plenty of free time—apart from necessary performances, I won’t burden you. If you’re willing, we can start with a short-term contract. I can arrange a place for you to live in the capital, and Yiyang’s kindergarten won’t be an issue.”

Uncle Gao’s sincerity and terms were excellent. If Lin Chuan didn’t sign soon, other companies would keep pestering him. So why not…

Lin Chuan and Yuan Ye exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.

(Phew! Got home late tonight—finished this chapter at three in the morning...)