Second Take On Romance - The A-List Actor Wants Me-Chapter 313 : (Extra) Shang Ruohai and Feng Jieyun’s Side Story (1)
Chapter 313: Chapter 313 : (Extra) Shang Ruohai and Feng Jieyun’s Side Story (1)
Shang Ruohai was but nine years old when his mother unveiled the harsh realities of his parentage and family circumstances.
The father, whom he thought left them when he was but an ignorant child, was the CEO of CNC Studio, a leading entertainment company that produced countless celebrities under its mighty wings.
He had an elder half-brother, whose mother was responsible for driving him and his mother out of the Shang house.
And Shang Xiaoyi did nothing about it.
He bought his second wife and his second son a house to live in, and paid for their living expenses.
In return, Shang Ruohai’s mother agreed to raise Shang Ruohai single-handedly, never demanding anything else from Shang Xiaoyi, be it as a husband or as a father.
After the truth came out, Shang Xiaoyi began showing up from time to time.
At first, Shang Ruohai secretly rejoiced in the thought that maybe his father was finally ready to become a father. His father.
But then he found out that that was not the case at all.
When Shang Ruohai finished elementary school and enrolled into a private academy reserved only for children from distinguished families, he found about his elder half-brother.
Shang Ruohan was famous in his circle.
Or better said, notorious.
Raised in a gilded cage of opulence, the boy developed a sense of entitlement that bordered on arrogance.
He lacked the discipline and self-restraint necessary to navigate the complexities of life.
He was deeply rooted in the belief that his father’s empire was his birthright. It thus led to a complacent attitude, as he saw no need to strive or sacrifice anything to get said inheritance.
Shang Xiaoyi intended to leverage Shang Ruohai as a perceived threat to spur Shang Ruohan into action, hoping to ignite a competitive spirit within his eldest son.
And what about Shang Ruohai?
He was never to cross Shang family residence’s threshold, and was meant to resume a life irrelevant to the Shang family once he served his purpose.
Initially, Shang Ruohai, who was too young to understand what this meant, did not voice a word of complaint.
But when Shang Ruohan kept finding ways to bully him throughout his school life, a profound question began to gnaw at Shang Ruohai’s mind.
"I am also my father’s son. Why can’t I inherit the company instead?" He voiced this question at breakfast one Sunday morning.
Shang Ruohai’s mother widened her eyes in shock as she stared at her son afterward.
"What makes you think this way?"
Shang Ruohai pressed his lips together in indignation.
"I am the top-scoring student in my year. I am also captain of the hockey team, and I serve as the vice president on the board of student council in my first year. I won a lot of awards in many regional competitions. My teachers praise me continuously.
He, on the other hand..."
Truly, there was no need going into details about Shang Ruohan’s achievements, or lack thereof.
Even Shang Ruohai’s mother did not need him to elaborate further.
"Ruohai, Mom already explained to you everything," she said with a soft sigh. "You are only the second son. Your status is, unfortunately, far beneath Shang Ruohan’s."
"Is status everything?" Shang Ruohai challenged, but his mother readily answered, "Yes."
Shang Ruohai folded his arms before his chest and sulked.
"Even if I can never inherit the company, I refuse to be a tool used to motivate him."
His mother smiled.
Although she was pushing forty years old, she was still a beautiful woman who could make any man stop in their tracks with one look.
And Shang Ruohai, luckily, inherited his mother’s beautiful features.
"If that’s the case, why don’t you try making a name for yourself?"
Shang Ruohai raised his head and gave his mother a quizzical look.
"What do you mean, Mom?"
His mom let out a soft giggle in response.
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She rose to her feet and walked out of the kitchen. Once she returned, she had a pamphlet in her hands.
"What’s this?"
Shang Ruohai squinted at the pamphlet.
"A talent show?"
"No, no. This is an annual talent recruitment competition organized by the leading entertainment companies across the land. I also started my career this way. I won third place in the acting competition and then a scout approached me."
Shang Ruohai scanned the pamphlet from top to bottom. The words "Begin your dream career now!" were sprawled across the colorful piece of paper. Underneath stood the date, time, and location of the competition.
The sponsor entertainment companies’ logos were listed at the bottom, featuring CNC Studio’s as well.
"So... Mom wants me to join this competition?"
His mother nodded.
"Well, Ruohai, Mom saw your performance during last year’s school drama. You were not bad at all. So why not?"
"..."
Shang Ruohai furrowed his brows.
He could be persuaded into pursuing any line of career, but he had always thought that he would one day be a white collar worker and not exactly a celebrity.
It just seemed surreal, at this point.
"Hmm, I will think about it."
"It’s in a week," his mother grinned at him. "If you are interested, Mom can give you some pointers so you can stand out during the competition."
Shang Ruohai took the pamphlet with him to school and looked at it again during lunch at the rooftop.
He was so immersed in his own thoughts that he did not notice Shang Ruohan’s arrival in time.
"What are you looking at?" The bully asked when he and his followers were close enough to throw shades upon Shang Ruohai.
Shang Ruohai quickly stuffed the pamphlet away, but it was too late.
Shang Ruohan already saw it.
"Seize him!" He cried out ecstatically.
Upon hearing the command, his followers quickly launched into action.
They dragged Shang Ruohai to his feet and dismantled the latter’s futile effort to free himself.
"Let me go!" Shang Ruohai shouted. "What are you doing???"
One of Shang Ruohan’s followers wrenched the crumpled pamphlet out of Shang Ruohai’s fist and put it in into Shang Ruohan’s extended hand.
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