The Supporting Male Characters Who Died Alone All Those Years Later

“Of course not. Our family is harmonious and loving; we don’t need any mediation.” He Dongchen said with a smile, serving Lin Xiumei a helping of vegetables, then turning to serve He Juan a portion of meat, his face full of sincerity. “Mom, you’ve worked hard. Have some more meat to replenish your strength.”

Lin Xiumei looked at the vegetables in her bowl and suddenly found them tasteless. Am I only worthy of eating vegetables?

He Sijia, who had started to learn to read expressions, immediately served Lin Xiumei some meat, smiling slightly and appearing considerate and understanding.

Just as Lin Xiumei was about to smile, she heard He Dongchen’s surprised voice, “Mrs. Lin, aren’t you controlling your diet? Eating too much meat might not be good for you.”

As soon as the words were out, Lin Xiumei’s expression went blank. He Sijia, anxious, quickly lowered her head and composed herself.

He Zhenglan, sitting at the head of the table, watched everything with a sense of helplessness. She shot a stern look at the troublemaker He Dongchen and said, “Family matters should not be aired publicly. It’s good that you didn’t agree.”

Who would deliberately want their family on a show? What was their intention? He Zhenglan was filled with doubts and began to sift through the list of competitors.

After dinner, He Zhenglan specifically called He Dongchen to the study, repeatedly instructing him, “Our He family is quite prominent. We absolutely must not appear on that show and be criticized.”

He Dongchen sat in the mahogany armchair, nonchalant, playing with two ornamental walnuts in his hands. Hearing He Zhenglan’s words, he sneered, “As if agreeing to the show would make you all willingly participate.”

He Zhenglan fell silent.

Indeed, even if He Dongchen agreed to the show, who could force them to appear on it?

He Zhenglan felt disoriented, unable to see the situation clearly, and still needed He Dongchen to remind him.

With a crack, one of the walnuts in He Dongchen’s hand split in half.

He Zhenglan snapped back to reality, but before he could speak, He Dongchen spoke with a mocking tone, “The saying ‘family matters should not be aired publicly,’ I’ll send that back to you.”

He placed the two broken walnuts on the table and leisurely left the study.

He Zhenglan frowned at the sight. Just then, the phone rang.

After a moment of hushed conversation, He Zhenglan looked at the walnuts shattered into pieces on the table and sighed deeply.

***

The next day, He Zhenglan suddenly announced at the dinner table that he would be appearing on the mediation show.

Everyone was stunned, while He Dongchen internally thought, as expected, with a look of disdain in his eyes.

“Zhenglan, why the sudden change of heart?” Lin Xiumei was confused. Her husband had come out of the study last night in silence, smelling of smoke, and now suddenly wanted to go on some mediation show. Wasn’t this just making a fool of ourselves?

Seeing her husband’s silence, Lin Xiumei turned her gaze to their son, with a questioning tone, “Do you really want to go?”

He Dongchen replied, “Don’t put words in my mouth. I think our current life is good and doesn’t need mediation.”

Why was that?

The atmosphere grew tense and awkward.

He Sijia suddenly felt uneasy, wondering if it was related to what Sima Yongqing had said the other day.

He Zhenglan glanced at He Sijia, who had slightly changed expression, thought about the conditions proposed by that man, closed his eyes, and made a firm decision. “The show will go on. Everyone has to go.”

He Dongchen was the first to agree. “Alright.”

After all, it wouldn’t be him who would suffer.

As the head of the family, He Zhenglan’s decision was final, and even Lin Xiumei’s opposition was futile.

He Juan had no say in the matter at all. Anxious and unsettled, she felt that the bit of weight she had just gained was quickly disappearing.

Distracted, He Juan made several mistakes while cooking, causing Lin Xiumei to frown repeatedly.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” He Juan waved her hands nervously, her furrowed brows and already worried face looking even more pitiful.

“Mom, don’t nitpick. It’s still edible, isn’t it?” He Sijia, feeling heartbroken, took the overly salted vegetables and placed them on her own plate, eating quickly with her head down. The saltiness made her tear up.

He Juan, distressed, quickly fetched water to help her calm down. “It’s all my fault. I’ve made things difficult for you.”

“It’s not your fault. I ate too quickly.”

The mother and daughter comforted each other, looking like two pitiable souls.

Lin Xiumei watched this scene with growing frustration and could no longer bear it. “What are you doing? It’s just a dish. Can’t I say a few words? You’re acting like I’m forcing you to your deaths!”

“And you, He Juan, stop with the miserable look! Who are you trying to impress with your pitiful expression?”

He Juan was startled and quickly wiped away her tears, repeatedly apologizing.

He Sijia comforted her.

He Zhenglan watched his wife’s aggressive behavior and frowned slightly.

He Dongchen smirked inwardly. People instinctively sympathize with the weak. When someone who has a grievance doesn’t relent, they’re seen as aggressive, and even being right turns into being unreasonable.

It was like when a poor person accidentally scratches a rich person’s bag. If the poor person cries and begs for forgiveness, claiming they have no money for compensation, the rich person appears aggressive, bullying the poor person.

Onlookers might say, ‘You’re so rich already, why bother quibbling? Just consider it an act of charity.’

Even though the rich person has lost property, they have to force themselves to appear magnanimous, or else they become seen as petty and calculating.

Similarly, in the original story, He Sijia ran around trying to earn forgiveness from the original owner. The world didn’t see the hardships faced by the original owner; they only saw He Sijia’s warm expressions and the original owner’s cold demeanor, instinctively thinking the original owner was petty and overly critical.

Lin Xiumei had once lightly remarked, ‘The matter has passed. Why not try to let go and forgive?’

A knife doesn’t hurt unless it’s stabbed into oneself.

He Dongchen slightly curled his lips and slowly said, “Mrs. Lin, please don’t be so aggressive. It’s just a small matter, and look at how frightened my Mom is.”

Lin Xiumei incredulously pointed at herself, her usually graceful expression cracking. “I’m being aggressive?”

He Dongchen nodded, speaking slowly, “My Mom is so pitiable. Please don’t be so petty. If you don’t like it, just order another spread of food. You can have whatever you want.”

“This is my home!” Lin Xiumei couldn’t help raising her voice.

He Dongchen continued to nod. “I understand, I understand. But a few days ago, He Sijia was playing the piano loudly and disturbing my sleep. When I complained, you let me go outside for a walk. This is my home, and I still went out.”

Lin Xiumei was rendered speechless and, after a moment, let out a frustrated laugh. “You’re doing this on purpose! You’re deliberately trying to upset me!”

He Dongchen shrugged his shoulders. “Isn’t it fair? You are distressed over your daughter whom you raised, while I’m favoring the mother I have relied on for more than a decade.”

Then, he suddenly exclaimed, “Ah,” touched his chin, and said to the stern-faced He Zhenglan, “No matter how you calculate it, my Mom and He Sijia are the ones who gained. He Guo is probably laughing his head off in the underworld.”

He Zhenglan’s face darkened, his right hand gripping the chopsticks with knuckles turning white as he seemed to be struggling to control his emotions.

He Dongchen added with meaningful emphasis, “Just look at this, turning red and flustered even before the show starts. Imagine how it will be on stage with a crowd of people pointing fingers and making comments.”

Smack!

He Zhenglan slammed the chopsticks heavily on the table, stood up, and left. Halfway down the stairs, he turned back to address everyone. “The recording is in 2 days. Everyone must attend.”

“No problem, I’ll definitely be there!” He Dongchen was the first to respond, his expression relaxed.

He Zhenglan glanced at his smirking son, lowered his eyes to hide his guilt, and then turned decisively to leave.

***

2 days later, He Dongchen finished his classes early and took the subway to the television station.

On the way, He Zhenglan made several calls to urge him and even sent a driver to pick him up.

He Dongchen said, “Don’t worry, I won’t run away.”

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line before the voice responded cryptically, “Do you want to study abroad? It might be good to take a break and see the world.”

“No, I worked hard to get into college. How could I leave without finishing it?”

Beep beep beep, the call was abruptly ended.

He Dongchen chuckled lightly.

See, He Zhenglan had known all along what consequences would come from appearing on this show. Only a substantial benefit could make someone like He Zhenglan, who always preached about keeping family secrets, change his mind and agree to go on the program.

For the sake of profit, he could watch his own son foolishly jump into a pit and stand on stage to be criticized by everyone.

The alert sound rang, signaling the subway’s arrival.

He Dongchen put away his phone, followed the crowd out of the station, and gazed at the grandiose television station building before stepping inside.

He Zhenglan had arranged for his secretary to wait for him in the lobby. Upon seeing him, the secretary immediately relaxed, greeted him warmly, and led him through.

The two of them entered the elevator, with He Dongchen following behind. Just as the doors were about to close, a slightly anxious voice called out, “Wait!”

He Dongchen pressed the open button to help.

A young woman squeezed into the elevator, gasping for breath, and thanked He Dongchen, “Thank you.”

“It’s nothing,” He Dongchen replied. Noticing her work badge and her somewhat youthful face, he hesitated and asked, “Are you a staff member here?”

Zheng Dongdong glanced at her work badge and smiled, “Yes, I’m here for an internship. Mostly running errands and doing miscellaneous tasks.”

He Dongchen nodded.

Zheng Dongdong looked at the tall and slender He Dongchen, briefly dazzled by his handsome profile, and blurted out, “So, what about you?”

“Recording a show,” He Dongchen replied tersely.

“You’re the unlucky…” Zheng Dongdong suddenly fell silent, her expression turning strange, as if she wanted to say something but held back.

Ding dong, the elevator arrived.

He Dongchen, who had initially wanted to speak, politely nodded at Zheng Dongdong under the secretary’s gaze and stepped out of the elevator.

Zheng Dongdong watched the elevator doors close and sighed deeply, saying nothing.

Meanwhile, He Dongchen arrived at the recording hall. As soon as he entered, the dazzling lights momentarily blinded him. He frowned slightly, adjusted to the brightness, and saw that the entire recording hall was set up. The audience seats were filled with spectators who, having had their phones collected, were idly chatting and whispering.

In the audience, He Dongchen spotted He Sijia’s good friend, Sima Peiting, and the low-key Sima Yongqing.

Although their seats were inconspicuous, they had a particularly good view.

“Dongchen, you’re here. Go backstage and get ready,” Lin Xiumei said, dressed in an elegant qipao with a refined makeup, as she pulled He Dongchen toward the interior.

He Dongchen took one last glance at Sima Yongqing before turning to leave.

Sima Yongqing, sensing something, cast a look but only saw a tall, slender figure with a straight back. He frowned slightly, his eyes darkening. This He Dongchen, who stirred up trouble in the He family, had even managed to see through the people he sent out. He’s a troublemaker.

Beside him, Sima Peiting, looking worried, asked, “Is Sijia really okay?”

“Everything is arranged. There’s no problem,” Sima Yongqing replied with a calm demeanor.

Hearing that, Sima Peiting felt relieved and clung to her uncle’s arm, coquettishly saying, “Uncle, you’re the best.”

Even her good friend was being so well taken care of, with arrangements made and personal attendance.

Sima Yongqing smiled but remained silent, thinking to himself, foolish niece.

***

In the backstage makeup room, He Sijia was being attended to by two makeup artists, dressed in a white dress that looked soft and harmless.

He Juan sat on a stool in cheap clothes, looking anxious and frowning deeply.

He Zhenglan closed his eyes to rest, his brows tightly furrowed, and he carried a faint smell of cigarettes.

“Do you need makeup?” a staff member asked, interrupting He Dongchen’s observation.

“No, thank you,” He Dongchen replied, shaking his head.

The staff member left in disappointment. It was a pity not to be able to put makeup on such a handsome young man.

The program was set to start recording at 3 o’clock, and there were 10 minutes left.

He Dongchen sat alone on the sofa, waiting and communicating with the system.

“Record the entire process. I want the most complete video.”

[Got it, no problem!] the system assured confidently.

This program was pre-recorded, so even if He Dongchen performed well on stage, the final broadcast might be something entirely different after editing.