Sunday arrived quickly, and the travel plans were already in place. Zhong Yong would drive us to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, where my private jet awaited. The drive would take about an hour and a half to two hours, after which we would board the jet and fly to Shenzhen. Upon arrival, Grandma’s drivers would be waiting to take us to the Tang ancestral home. The journey would be draining for Junyan, but there was no way around it.
Dad and Jing Fu had left on Saturday, and I assumed they had already arrived in Shenzhen, where the Tang ancestral home and Grandma and Grandpa’s residence were located.
“How’s my outfit? Do I look well-behaved and down-to-earth?” a voice interrupted my thoughts as I checked the last item in my travel bag. It was, of course, Jun Jie. I was slightly surprised—he had dyed his hair black again and was wearing suit pants, a white shirt, a woolen sweater, and sneakers.
On anyone else, this outfit might have looked shabby, but Jun Jie was born to be a movie star. His bearing and stature complemented his style. He had been well-fed as a child, so he was tall with milky, rosy skin. Standing there, he looked like a model student—unless you knew his mischievous side.
“Remove that earring, and we’re good,” I commented, pointing to the black stud in his left ear.
“Damn! This is my signature style! What will I tell my fans if I’m accidentally photographed without it?” Jun Jie grumbled, but he still removed the earring.
“Think carefully about how to approach Grandma. You know how she is—she wants you to leave the entertainment industry and join the family business. Don’t bring up your career around her,” I advised.
Jun Jie fell silent for a moment. “Ge, you know I don’t want to be part of the family affairs. I’m a dedicated actor and musician. I have over 100 million fans globally, and I’m good at what I do. The Tang family business is yours. You’re the one who brought it to where it is today. From high school, your dedication to business has always been undeniable. That’s not me,” he replied.
“It’s not about the family business being mine or not. We’re family. If you ever need anything, I’ll provide it for you. I understand where you’re coming from, but Grandma doesn’t. She…” I trailed off, hesitant to continue. Many people looked at the prosperous life of our family and assumed it was all rainbows and sunshine, but that wasn’t the case.
The Tang family was large, with several branches supported by the main family. I was part of the main family, but those branches often whispered in Grandma’s ear, claiming I was cold to my younger brother and had pushed him out of the family business to take full control. Grandma wasn’t easily fooled—she saw through their intentions—but she still chose to believe some of their words. Coupled with her prejudice against my mother’s background, she much preferred Jun Jie to take charge of the family. I didn’t harbor any resentment toward that. Some things were better left as they were. What was the point of worrying about things beyond my control? Besides, it was better for Jun Jie to remain naive about such dirty matters.
“I understand everything. Let’s go,” Jun Jie suddenly said, walking out of the house without looking back. I picked up my laptop bag and followed him. At 24, what could he possibly understand? He hadn’t seen the real world or the scheming nature of people.
An hour into the journey, Junyan was fast asleep, strapped into his seat beside Madam Po. The car was a four-seater, so Jun Jie and I sat parallel to them. Jun Jie wore a face mask and headphones and seemed to be asleep as well. We were close to the airport, so I had to wake him up.
“Are we there?” Jun Jie asked in a groggy voice, clearly having dozed off.
“Almost. Just a minute to the airport. Prepare yourself—I don’t want any disturbances if your identity is revealed,” I said.
“Alright,” Jun Jie replied, searching for his hat and sunglasses. With his face mask and changed hair color, his appearance was well-hidden. However, his bearing couldn’t be disguised. All members of the Tang family were taught etiquette—keeping a straight back, walking with focus, and maintaining eye contact when speaking. When Jun Jie had entered the entertainment industry, clips of him circulated for over a year simply because of his bearing and attention to the press. The press loved him. Of course, I supported his every move by investing in his movies, but he stopped me from acquiring roles for him and kept his background a secret from everyone.
When we arrived at the airport, we didn’t have to go through the lengthy procedures of check-in or security lines. One of the biggest advantages of a private jet was the streamlined boarding process. We only needed to arrive 20-30 minutes before departure, which was incredibly convenient with Junyan accompanying us.
Aunt Po carried the sleeping Junyan tenderly and followed behind us as we took a separate route to the jet.
“Welcome, Da Shao Ye, Er Shao Ye. This way, please,” a man and woman dressed in tailored suits greeted us. They were part of the flight crew. Although I didn't like being addressed with such honorifics, I simply let it be, most of these people couldn't adhere to my instructions concerning the mode of address, they always refered to me as elder young master this and that. But in this year, 2025, I didn't think it was necessary to keep using such outdated terms of address.
We followed them and boarded the plane. Junyan was gently laid on the bed in one of the plane’s rooms, with Aunt Po staying to watch over him.
The plane took off. looking at the blue sky outside, my thoughts wondered, I knew this family meeting wouldn’t be simple. Whatever Grandma needed to discuss with me—something she couldn’t say over the phone or through her messengers—had to be important. However, I also had my own issue to raise. This would set my plan into motion.
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