Superstars of Tomorrow
chapter-418-30041322

Chapter 418: A New Year, A Change In Fortunes

While Little Bear was constructing his new pets, Danke was being reprimanded by his father.

Inter-planetary Fund Director General Meche Assis’s face had turned a shade paler when he heard that Little Bear had met Fang Zhao today and that they had even spoken for a long time.

After hearing Danke recount the conversation between Little Bear and Fang Zhao, Meche Assis knew right away that Fang Zhao had already discovered something wrong with Little Bear.

Disregarding the frightened Danke, Meche Assis returned to his own office and made a call to report this situation to his superior.

The person on the other end of the call was silent for some time before replying, “Got it.”

Although his superior never said the matter would be looked into, the Director General could rest a little easier. With how things looked, it wouldn’t cause any major problem for the time being. However, a reprimand was still on order.

Thus, Danke spent an hour being reprimanded by his father.

However, who was Danke? He acted meekly and listened to his father’s reprimands obediently. But, when he got back, he flipped through those few Huangzhou entertainment reporters’ contact numbers and vented his grievances onto each of them.

Those few Huangzhou reporters felt even more wronged from the verbal abuse. They really hadn’t received any news. Upon hearing Danke say that they would be put on his blacklist, those few reporters panicked. Danke’s father was the Inter-planetary Fund Director General. He was also considered part of the higher class aristocratic young generation in Huangzhou. They had always been able to glean some useful information from him every once in awhile. They had always expended quite some effort to stay in his good books. Otherwise, Danke would have just ignored them. Now, they couldn’t accept just being blacklisted like this.

You want to find Fang Zhao’s whereabouts? Then wouldn’t all that we need to do is find him?!

Knowing there was a limit to their own abilities, a few entertainment reporters even contacted a few collaborative partners from other continents.

Yanzhou.

Wang Tie was browsing through his bank account and wondering what to invest on using his money. He was rather astonished when he received a call from a Huangzhou cooperative partner.

Wang Tie was in rather good spirits after viewing his bank account and answered the call in a rather relaxed manner. “Which big star is your target this time?”

“Fang Zhao,” the other end replied.

“No!”

Wang Tie simply didn’t wait for the other party to continue speaking and immediately disconnected the call.

Fang Zhao hadn’t shown up at Yanzhou’s New Year celebration events a short while back and there wasn’t any accurate news concerning Fang Zhao online. Many people online had looked into and asked Wang Tie for answers, but Wang Tie had played dead. Besides having suffered at Fang Zhao’s hand before, Wang Tie had also obtained information that Fang Zhao was on Whale Island. At that time, he hadn’t even dared dig for more information. Why would he put himself in a disadvantageous situation now?

“But…” Wang Tie rubbed his chin. With people from Huangzhou contacting him, could it be that Fang Zhao was coming to Yanzhou?

Wang Tie decided that he wouldn’t step outdoors in the next week!

The truth was just as Wang Tie had surmised. Fang Zhao had applied for two days of leave to return back to Yanzhou to handle some matters. He visited Yanzhou’s Fiery Bird branch to discuss some stuff and returned to Silver Wing Media for work related matters.

Fang Zhao was still signed to Silver Wing Media under a composer contact. He still had to discuss with the company regarding his HuangArt Advanced Studies and other issues related to his graduation.

This time, Fang Zhao kept a low profile on his return. There were only a few people on Silver Wing’s side who knew that Fang Zhao had returned to the company.

After company matters were settled, Fang Zhao went to call upon the few industry insiders he was close to in Yanzhou. When it got dark and night fell, Fang Zhao returned to his Yanzhou Qi’an city residence.

When he saw the outside sign “Ferocious beasts inside, please keep away unless invited!”, Fang Zhao was in a complex state of mind.

He kept feeling that the effectiveness of this warning wasn’t enough. It seemed like nothing more than a joke.

Curly Hair wouldn’t just bite. If he was worked up, he might even swallow a person whole!

However, he only had two days of leave and wouldn’t be spending too much time at home. He would be heading to Yanbei City to visit the two Old Fangs tomorrow and returning back to Huangzhou the day after. The sign would be left as it was temporarily. He could change it later. Curly Hair also wouldn’t be left here, so it would probably be fine.

Speaking of Curly Hair, Fang Zhao thought about that Little Bear again.

Little Bear had been very afraid of Curly Hair. Why was that so? Was it because he was afraid of dogs, or was he scared of Curly Hair’s mysterious powers?

These were things Fang Zhao couldn’t figure out for the time being.

After mulling over this for a bit, Fang Zhao contacted the two elders in Yanbei City. He hadn’t been able to return during Memorial Day, so he definitely would visit them during this short break.

At the retirement home for former officials in Yanbei.

Great-grandfather Fang twirled walnuts in one hand while holding a chess piece in the other. He was currently playing chess with a few of the other old fogeys in the retirement center.

Great-grandfather’s communications device rang. He frowned and squinted at it. Seeing that the call was from his own wife, he grumbled, “Why is she calling me at this time and disrupting my train of thought?”

Although he was complaining, Great-grandfather Fang’s speed at answering wasn’t slow. He knew that his wife calling him at this time would surely mean it was something important.

“Hello, what is it? I am playing chess… WHAT? Little Zhao called?!”

Great-grandfather was so surprised he nearly fell off the chair. He was grinning with delight.

Some words were said on the other end, and Great-grandfather Fang nodded his head. “Right, right! We should go over. Don’t let Little Fang come. He is also tired!”

Upon ending the call, Great-grandfather Fang was no longer in any mood to continue playing. He tossed his chess piece aside. “I’m not playing anymore. My family’s Little Zhao returned to Yanzhou today. He said that he wanted to visit us two oldies, but we rejected him. This kid has too many responsibilities and doesn’t take enough vacations. He really is too busy running all over the place. We will be heading straight to Qi’an City tomorrow morning. The weather has been nice recently, and walking about more will also be good.”

Great-grandfather Fang’s spirits had been stirred up, and his face was glowing with vigor upon finding out that Fang Zhao had returned to Yanzhou. How would he still be in the mood to hang around with the old fogeys of the retirement center? Was playing chess or seeing his own great-grandchild more important? Furthermore, it was his favorite great-grandson. He had been hoping for so long. Finally, Fang Zhao had returned!

“That child has such a heavy school workload. He even appeared to have lost weight the last time we had a video call. I have to go over and look after him properly.”

Actually, Great-grandfather Fang had already discussed with Great-grandmother Fang when Fang Zhao had been kept in quarantine on Whale Island. The conclusion they had come to was——

This child Fang Zhao’s luck wasn’t good. In the New Year, they would have to get rid of his ill-fortune!

And in the two elder’s opinion, there was only one sacred place to seek blessings, rid ill-fortune and change one’s luck — Qi’an City’s Yanzhou Cemetery for Martyrs!

Thus, on the second day, Fang Zhao was helplessly brought by the two elders to Yanzhou Cemetery for Martyrs to pray for blessings.

Upon arriving at Qi’an City, the two elders didn’t go anywhere else. After a simple meal, they dragged Fang Zhao to the cemetery.

Memorial Day had already passed and the place’s popularity from ‘Founding Era’ had waned considerably. However, there were still many people coming to the cemetery to pay their respects in the period just before and after Memorial Day. There were still groups of people coming to pay their respects whenever they were free.

Since it was currently the working hours, the interior of the cemetery didn’t have too many people.

To seek blessings, Great-grandfather Fang brought Fang Zhao to the graves area.

“You weren’t able to come during the Memorial Day period, so you have to make up for it now!” Great-grandfather Fang pulled Fang Zhao along and said, “Also, your great-grandmother and I reckon that your luck is a little poor. Take a look at yourself! You were still locked up for quarantine during your advanced studies period.”

Great-grandfather Fang lowered his voice when entering the core cemetery area. Speaking too loudly here was disrespectful to the martyrs.

The two elders looked solemnly at each and every grave and bowed.

After bowing, Great-grandfather Fang dragged Fang Zhao over to “Martyr Fang Zhao’s” grave.

“Quick quick quick! Come over and pay your respects. You have to be sincere!”

Fang Zhao: “….”

Sighing in his heart, Fang Zhao put on a solemn expression and bowed before his own grave.

“Bow a few more times! The more the better!” Great-grandfather Fang urged softly.

“I don’t think there is such a need?” Fang Zhao replied.

“What do you know?! An old friend of mine from Muzhou told me that a Muzhou Su family child once kowtowed so many times that his forehead turned red before this great person. After that, his fortunes changed when he returned!”

Great-grandfather had originally wanted to make Fang Zhao kowtow like that child from Muzhou. But, he loved Fang Zhao dearly. Seeing that Fang Zhao was unwilling, Great-grandfather Fang didn’t force him.

“You must be sincere about it deep down!” Great-grandfather Fang said. “This way, this great person can bless and watch over you!”

Fang Zhao: “….”

The two elders stood there watching him closely, so Fang Zhao still bowed many more times until Great-grandfather Fang was satisfied.

After Fang Zhao moved aside, Great-grandfather Fang carefully approached “Martyr Fang Zhao’s” grave as though he wanted to have a private word. He whispered to the grave, “Old master, this is Little Fang. I have come again! Beside me is my family’s Little Zhao. I have told you about him before. He is a worshipper of yours. He portrayed you very well in ‘Founding Era’! There is a whole lot of praise online, and he even won an award! Great master, you must definitely watch over and bless my family’s Little Zhao! Ah… This child, he loves music and is gifted at composing. It can even treat illnesses. Of course, while in his pursuit of art, he hasn’t forgotten to contribute to society. He is also very hardworking too. Many people say that I am biased, but how can I not be when my Great-grandson is like this?! Anyone in my position would be biased! If you are here, great sir, you would surely have the same thoughts as me, right?”

Fang Zhao, standing just beside: “…”

After Great-grandfather Fang finally finished all that he wanted to say, the three of them exited the core cemetery area. Great-grandfather Fang even explained to Fang Zhao, “I know that there aren’t any ghosts in this world. When people die, it is just that. However, Little Zhao, you have to remember that what is buried here is faith and belief. These are mystical things. So mystical that it can change your fate in an instant.”

As Great-grandfather Fang pulled Fang Zhao along and left the cemetery, he told Fang Zhao some stories about the two elders’ time in military service. They hadn’t experienced the cruelty of the Period of Destruction, but they had many thrilling and frightening stories from their era.

Great-grandfather Fang took a look back in the direction of the graves when they got out of the cemetery and muttered, “So many people come to pay their respects every day. I wonder if that great old master heard my words.”

Fang Zhao: “…” Sigh.