Chapter 108: Forming a Group to See the Idol

The call came from an unfamiliar number, registered in Modu. Modu is one of Daqin’s key centers for economy, transportation, technology, industry, finance, conventions, and shipping. Last year, the city ranked first in Daqin for total economic output and second in all of Asia. Its prosperity could only be rivaled nationwide by the Imperial Capital and the Special Administrative Region.

Yandu, often called the Imperial Capital, was well known.

Su Tong felt puzzled. A call from Modu—could it be another spam call?

He took a sip of water. The phone rang for over ten seconds without hanging up, so Su Tong picked up.

“Hello,” he answered casually, expecting an automated voice from an insurance company or something similar. Instead, a cheerful human voice came through.

“Hello, may I speak to Nian Nu Jiao...”

Ah, not a sales call after all. Su Tong quickly sat up straight.

After a brief conversation, he finally understood the caller’s identity.

“Then let’s meet tomorrow at three in the afternoon,” Su Tong said. The call was from the editor-in-chief of Diandian, who was coming to sign a platinum author contract with him the next day.

Just after finishing the call with the editor, another call came in—from Dongtian.

“Gege, do you have some free time these days?” Dongtian giggled.

Dongtian and the other administrators had put in so much effort that Su Tong felt grateful. He was eager to pay them their due, refusing to be cold to them despite his usual indifference. Smiling, he replied, “Yes, Dongtian. Are you coming to Haibin City for a visit? I’ll show you around—the Silver Beach, Discovery Kingdom—it’s a lot of fun.”

“Hehe, Gege, that’s what you said,” Dongtian said proudly, having caught Su Tong in his own promise.

Su Tong was surprised—Dongtian was really coming to Haibin City.

His holiday was about to get busy: recording several new songs, teaching Xiaoyu piano, helping Xiaoxiao and Xiaoyu with homework, writing songs for Linyin, and spending time with them all...

“Of course. It’d be even better if more people come; we can all have a great time together,” Su Tong said generously, determined to prioritize Dongtian no matter how busy he was.

“Hehe, Gege, you said that yourself,” Dongtian laughed again.

What?

Su Tong paused. Could it be they were really bringing a whole group?

“Absolutely. If you don’t have plans yet, how many of you are there? I can help book hotels,” Su Tong offered enthusiastically.

Only then did Dongtian cheerfully say, “Gege, there are six of us, all from different parts of the country—some even from Yangcheng.”

After listening to Dongtian for a while, Su Tong realized that this trip to Haibin City was organized by a girl named Wen Peiyan.

She had only invited a few close friends within the core alliance. Besides herself, five others were willing to come.

But the condition was that Su Tong had to have time to meet them; only then would they make the trip.

Tickets during the National Day holiday were very expensive—just a bit cheaper than the Lunar New Year period. Judging by this, the fans coming must be either wealthy or from affluent families. Su Tong decided he had to at least have a meal with them and spend half a day or a full day playing together.

However, among the six, Dongtian was not included; without her, they wouldn’t come.

“Dongtian, why don’t you bring a few people from the Mars group? I’ll cover travel expenses. Come and have fun together,” Su Tong suggested.

“Maybe next time, not now... I’ll tell them to book tickets and hotels. When they arrive, you can have a meal with them and take them around for half a day. Don’t waste too much of your own time. I’ve already explained it to them; they understand,” Dongtian replied with a smile.

Shortly after finishing the call with Dongtian, Su Tong’s phone rang again.

Sigh, what’s with all these calls today? But after a quick glance, Su Tong immediately answered.

“Is this Gege?” An excited little girl’s voice came through.

Su Tong smiled, “It’s Linyang Fairy, right? I saw your number—it’s from Yangcheng.”

Linyang Fairy was Wen Peiyan herself, a second-year high school girl who had studied abroad. Dongtian had previously introduced the group coming over but didn’t know their real identities or professions—only their stage nicknames.

Because Wen Peiyan was still in high school, her voice was very youthful. Su Tong doubted her age, and upon asking, was taken aback—she was a typical second-generation rich kid, though it was unclear whether she was a glamorous rich beauty; her personality was very strong-willed.

“Your family doesn’t mind you traveling so far on your own?” Su Tong asked.

Wen Peiyan was nonchalant. “They don’t. I study well, complete other tasks they assign, so they let me go wherever I want. They even support me exploring around.”

Alright then, happy families are all alike; unhappy families each suffer in their own way. Su Tong couldn’t agree with Wen Peiyan’s parents’ way of raising their child, but he understood. He had never been abroad, so he didn’t know the mindset of foreigners.

“You’re coming alone? I’ll pick you up,” Su Tong said, though he wasn’t sure who would actually pick up whom. He didn’t know the routes or how to read maps; he could only take a taxi and hope the driver wouldn’t deceive him.

“Really?” Wen Peiyan exclaimed joyfully. “Gege, you’re so kind!”

After hanging up with Wen Peiyan, Su Tong received two more calls from fans who had already booked their tickets.

Knowing Su Tong was in the Jinzhou District, they decided to stay in the same hotel in the Development Zone. Jinshitan and Discovery Kingdom were both in that area. They didn’t plan to go to the main part of Haibin City, just spending a day or two in the Development Zone before returning.

That night, Su Tong’s father came home late—likely out drinking again.

He barged into Xiaoyu and Xiaoxiao’s rooms, slamming the doors and waking Su Tong.

The old Su Tong had suffered from neurasthenia, caused by his drunken father’s late-night hysterical shouting every few days, which kept waking him up. After a few months, his nerves were damaged, and he became a light sleeper, easily disturbed by the slightest noise.

Xiaoyu and Xiaoxiao were somewhat affected too, their sleep not as deep as other children’s.

Now, with Su Tong’s constitution and brain having been transformed, his neurasthenia symptoms had vanished, but his alertness had increased.

He woke as soon as his father smashed the other door, then put on his shoes.

He predicted his drunken father would give up on that door and come to his.

Sure enough, after a while of smashing the other door without response, his father came to Su Tong’s room.

At the first bang, Su Tong opened the door.

He glanced back at Xiaoyu and Xiaoxiao, who had also been awakened by the noise.

“It’s alright. Cover your ears and lie down,” Su Tong told the sisters.

His drunken father reeked of alcohol, his small green eyes full of mocking light, with a sinister smile curling at the corners of his mouth—so twisted it made Su Tong want to beat the man until he was unrecognizable.

“You pretty boy, think you’re something, hitting on rich women everywhere. We raised you all these years for nothing, never gave your old man a penny, and made me slave away at the construction site. Meanwhile, you’re out every day with a different woman, you’re a scoundrel! I’ll let the whole world know...” His father grabbed Su Tong’s shirt by the chest.

His father’s mind was beyond normal human comprehension—a devil’s world unknown to humans.

Su Tong no longer bothered reasoning with him as he had years ago, trying to explain human society and morals. Closing the door behind him, Su Tong grabbed the hand clutching his shirt.

Applying slight pressure, Su Tong soon realized his drunken father’s strength had increased and his pain nerves had altered; he didn’t seem to feel pain and refused to let go.

Su Tong didn’t dare squeeze too hard for fear of breaking his father’s wrist. Instead, he pulled both of his father’s arms, dragging him toward the yard.

“You little bastard, kept by rich women, huh? Your strength’s even bigger now...” His father struggled, kicking at Su Tong and even trying to headbutt him.

Su Tong said nothing, his expression cold as he let his father rage, activating his divine body to withstand the attacks without feeling any pain.

Without much effort, Su Tong dragged his father to the yard. The washing machine was there, but the large basin for hand-washing clothes remained, filled halfway with water.

Splashing sounds followed.

As usual, Su Tong pressed his father’s head into the basin. His father struggled desperately like an injured wild wolf, howling in pain.

Su Tong’s gaze was icy and indifferent.