Chapter Three: A Celebrity Family

After setting his worries aside, the old man tidied up the meal box once Li Hao had finished eating. He advised Li Hao to rest well before leaving. Compared to his sensible grandson, he felt that his son—who was currently in a state of deep emotional despair—needed his companionship and comfort far more. A faint sense told him that perhaps he had been caring for his son and grandson in reverse.

Once the elderly man departed, Li Hao retrieved the tablet from beneath his pillow and resumed his exploration of this world.

Having gained a rough understanding of history, Li Hao shifted his attention to current events. Naturally, the news of the celebrity singer Xiao Siqi and his family being involved in a car accident on their way back to Beijing soon caught his eye.

He vaguely recalled that the old man had mentioned the names Siqi and Zilin earlier, and the doctor had addressed the old man as Xiao Lao. That meant his son—his so-called “stepfather”—must be Xiao Siqi. Since they had also been in a car accident, it seemed this news was about his own family.

“Could it really be such a coincidence?” Li Hao clicked on the news link. After reading the report, he gained a fairly comprehensive understanding of the events before and after the accident. Following the links on the page, he also found personal encyclopedia entries for the main figures, Xiao Siqi and Chen Zilin, complete with photos confirming they were indeed his new parents.

Xiao Siqi was a singer, songwriter, arranger, and producer—a true musical polymath. Five years ago, he debuted with a semi-eponymous album, "Look to the Virtuous and Aspire." He composed all ten songs on the platinum-selling album and wrote lyrics for four of them, earning him the title of “musical prodigy.” That same year, he won Best New Artist at the Golden Melody Awards, with two of his songs making the year’s top ten charts. He rose to fame spectacularly, basking in the spotlight.

However, his second album, released the following year, saw a noticeable decline in sales compared to the first. His third album, released two years later, fared even worse, with sales continuing to slide. It had now been over two years since that third album, with no news of a new release.

In contrast to his faltering career, Xiao Siqi’s love life had been quite smooth. After the first album’s success, he met Chen Zilin, a rising model with great potential, at an event. The two were instantly drawn to one another, quickly entering a relationship and marrying a year later.

Both young and newly famous—one a singer, the other a model—they navigated the seductive yet treacherous entertainment industry together. Initially, their relationship faced skepticism, especially during the year they dated when Xiao Siqi’s second album flopped but Chen Zilin’s modeling career steadily rose. Many expected the disparity to cause a rift, but instead, the public was surprised by their marriage announcement.

Their marriage remained stable. Though gossip media occasionally circulated rumors about one or the other, both insisted on their mutual trust, and such rumors were eventually proven baseless fabrications by unscrupulous tabloids.

A year after their wedding, they welcomed a child, further cementing their bond. By then, Chen Zilin had become a top-tier model. Despite the impact on her career, she resolutely chose to have the baby. She never quit modeling altogether but took a break around childbirth to rest. Motherhood seemed to add a maternal radiance to her presence. Her charm deepened, complemented by well-maintained skin and a toned figure regained through diligent exercise. After returning to work, her career entered a new phase; while she took on fewer assignments, the caliber of the brands she represented rose, signaling a rise in industry status.

While the public assumed Chen Zilin would focus solely on her modeling career and leave the child to her declining husband, she surprised everyone by investing in and co-founding a modeling agency. Though she continued modeling, her workload gradually decreased as she took on more administrative and teaching roles—clear signs of a career transition in preparation for family life.

Xiao Siqi, despite his often childlike demeanor, was far from irresponsible. Facing his wife’s actions, he was not indifferent. Both having tasted youthful fame—especially Xiao Siqi, who had experienced a meteoric rise—their family’s financial situation was quite comfortable by entertainment industry standards. This was one reason they resisted the industry’s temptations, but it was not because Xiao Siqi merely enjoyed staying home while his wife sacrificed for the family. Though stubborn about only singing the songs he wrote himself, when inspiration failed, he too began transitioning his career. Behind the scenes, he excelled at arranging and recording, earning respect and friendship from collaborators. While creative blocks brought frustration, the quality of his work and the trust he earned alleviated much negativity, preventing it from seeping into family life. As their child grew, their family bonds only strengthened.

In their heyday, they never staged a breakup drama. Now, with a child and both transitioning from the spotlight to behind-the-scenes roles, they remained in the industry’s whirlpool but distanced from the glare and dazzling temptations. Even skeptics began to believe this young celebrity couple’s love story would endure.

Why could these two somewhat childish individuals display such selflessness and maturity in balancing family and career at these critical moments? Beyond their own willingness to sacrifice and care for each other, Xiao Siqi’s father played a significant role. The current balance they’d found between career and family was hardly something two people in their twenties could achieve alone. Behind them stood an exceptional mentor: Xiao Siqi’s father, Xiao Chengru.

Xiao Chengru was an actor—not just any actor, but one praised for both virtue and artistry. With nearly forty years in the profession, his ethics, attitude, and skills were widely respected. He was also a well-known enthusiast and scholar of traditional Chinese culture, with notable accomplishments in calligraphy, painting, and sculpture. His demeanor was refined and scholarly, truly a treasure to have in the family.

Xiao Chengru’s wife, also a cultured woman fond of traditional studies, sadly passed away when Xiao Siqi was ten. Since then, Xiao Chengru raised Xiao Siqi alone, nurturing him into success.

As a child growing up in a single-parent home, Xiao Siqi held deep affection and respect for his father. Yet, Chen Zilin seemed to respect Xiao Chengru even more.

Chen Zilin had lost both parents early and was raised by her grandmother until she turned eighteen, only to lose her grandmother then as well. She lacked familial love but respected Xiao Chengru not for that reason alone.

Chen Zilin attended a prestigious fashion academy’s modeling program, with expensive tuition. Without family support, she worked hard to pay her own way. A beautiful, intelligent young woman with a stunning figure, she learned to navigate the world shrewdly, developing a worldly charm out of necessity.

When she nervously met Xiao Chengru with Xiao Siqi for the first time, she found the elder did not judge her profession. Over time, he recognized and praised the purity and kindness beneath her worldly exterior, inspiring genuine admiration in her.

This young couple, willing to sacrifice for family, formed the core strength; the wise and experienced elder provided steadfast support; their adorable child was the glue. Together, they seemed to embody happiness itself. Perhaps even the heavens envied their joy, for a tragic accident claimed a vital family member, leaving their happiness incomplete, imperfect.

Of course, no media report could capture the family’s story so fully and intimately. Li Hao pieced together news and data from the internet to form a complete picture. Learning all this, he couldn’t help but marvel at his fortune. This was truly a wonderful family, and their misfortune was deeply poignant.

From this moment on, Li Hao resolved to fully embrace his identity as the third-generation member of this family—nicknamed Bayi, formally Xiao Yao—and to dedicate himself to contributing to their future happiness.