“The studio is currently empty,” the director stated, having regained composure. “Paint there.”
Li Xiangfu shook his head, insisting, “I need a larger space.” The venue was soon arranged to reopen, transformed into a decorated stage.
Li Xiangfu didn’t immediately head to the stage. Instead, he glanced at his watch and remarked, “Wait a moment; the merchant you arranged will have five minutes to deliver the items.” This situation was akin to the enemy taking time to reload in front of him.
Qin Jin was present, but the director refrained from expressing anger.
The merchant arrived ten minutes later than the agreed time, irking the director.
After leaving the items, the merchant hastily departed. On the floor lay a specially customized scroll by Li Xiangfu, over ten meters long, accompanied by five enormous porcelain bowls.
After measuring the distance, he placed the porcelain bowls on the left and right edges of the cloth. He opened the small black bag, and with a clattering sound, dense paint spilled onto the ground. The bottom of the bag revealed a piece of specially cut red cloth. He proceeded to pour the paint into the bowls and securely tied the red cloth around his waist.
Director: “What are you—”
Li Xiangfu raised his chin slightly, connected a Bluetooth speaker, and struck a classic bullfighting pose. When his arms and body were parallel, the loud and high-pitched sound of the trumpet resonated from the speaker throughout the surroundings.
At this point, it was evident to everyone that he intended to dance and paint simultaneously.
In Li Xiangfu’s heart, the most exquisite dance was classical. However, controlling the strength with water sleeves proved challenging, and switching colors was tricky. Tango and tap dance had the right rhythm but he ultimately opted for bullfighting. He had dabbled in it during college, and his experience with dance in another world provided a solid foundation. Swirling his skirt would create a captivating stage effect.
The song’s introduction wasn’t excessively fast; it alternated between the trumpet and a single syllable ‘ah’. Coupled with his fair skin under the lights, it resembled something out of a haunted house adventure.
The director quietly unscrewed a thermos cup.
He didn’t utter a word, just sipped tea to calm his astonishment.
“Tu tu tu tu tu tu—” the rhythm suddenly changed, and Li Xiangfu transformed into a butterfly, moving with remarkable grace. At certain points, he dipped his dancing shoes in ink and danced on the long blank cloth.
“Ah—” an ethereal singing voice emerged, and Li Xiangfu raised his head, revealing his elegant neck. The overall style of the song was melancholic, akin to a white swan awaiting its fate.
Assistant director: “This song has been edited.”
“I can tell,” the director’s face turned pale.
Both the music and dance were intricately choreographed.
Drawing from traditional bullfighting, completing the painting was challenging, and the latter half leaned towards modern dance.
His long legs executed flexible rotations and jumps, seamlessly switching between different dye vats.
The assistant director, still in awe, took a sip of water to steady himself. “Will his legs… get tangled?”
There were moments when the speed was so rapid that only afterimages remained.
However, the performer remained remarkably steady. He spun on his toes multiple times, and the red cloth, dipped in ink, created ripples on the ground.
Assistant Director: “…”
You could definitely have a spot in the Olympics.
Qin Jin stood at the forefront, his expression hidden from view. Meanwhile, Li Xiangfu’s performance was reaching its conclusion. His graceful neck was raised high once again, and he vigorously shook his skirt.
The fabric danced in the wind and, upon descent, conveniently draped over Qin Jin’s head.
To facilitate painting, the cloth had been specially cut into sizable pieces. The director and others watched from close quarters. Qin Jin, standing at the forefront, endured a completely unforeseen mishap.
Assistant Director: “…”
Man, I won’t let anyone off the hook.
The song concluded crisply and neatly, and Li Xiangfu bowed and saluted the vacant seat in front of him.
He leaned over and felt instant resistance. Glancing at Qin Jin from the corner of his eye, he was taken aback. He tugged, and a few hairs on the other person’s head stood up due to static electricity.
“…”
The assistant director lightened the atmosphere and humorously said, “I guess this song should be called ‘The Minister Under the Skirt’.”
Li Xiangfu: “…”
You certainly have a way with words.
Fortunately, the dye had only soaked into the skirt and was nearly dry in the end. Nevertheless, a curved diagonal mark remained on the back of the head.
“Sorry,” Li Xiangfu apologized, contemplating a solution.
Qin Jin was taller than him, and when he lowered his head, he cast a shadow: “Returning kindness with resentment?”
Li Xiangfu pondered for a moment and proactively suggested, “Perhaps a sauna would help?”
Qin Jin didn’t immediately respond.
The director and assistant director were no longer focused on them. They wandered around, admiring the performance, hands behind their backs, exclaiming, “Amazing!”
To be honest, Li Xiangfu had just started his performance, and he didn’t feel much.
As a director, he had witnessed a wide array of talents, even watching a similar video of a foreign performer some time ago. However, what he’d seen previously had a common feature: the final products were often intricate and colorful but somewhat messy comics.
They looked good and garnered applause, yet they didn’t possess that “wow” factor.
Li Xiangfu’s finished work had a clear and transparent quality.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
He had only painted a single flower, a bloom at its peak and not at all shy. The colors of the petals and leaves were delicate, a soft and warm yellow, forming a sharp contrast with the artist’s red attire.
Qtfc tf ibbxfv eq, atf vlgfmabg’r fsfr tjv mtjcufv mbwqifafis. Ktlr kjr j uejgjcaff bo ubbv gjalcur!
“Szmfiifca.”
Ol Wljcuoe rwlifv ufcais: “Pr la ageis?”
Glgfmabg: “Ktlr lr atf olgra alwf P’nf rffc remt j ecldef qfgobgwjcmf.”
“…”
“Gbc’a wlrecvfgrajcv; P’w qgjlrlcu sbe,” atf vlgfmabg mbcnfsfv tlr rlcmfgf atbeutar. “Ktf olgra tjio tjv jc ffglf, rbei-gfnlnlcu dejilas, jcv atf mgbrrfv ifur lc atf wlvvif gfrfwyifv xcbaafv ybkr. Dea atf olcji qgbvema lr jc bgmtlv lc jc fwqas njiifs.”
Li Xiangfu emphasized, “It’s the Xiga cactus flower.” He spoke with deliberate intent to gauge Qin Jin’s expression.
However, if understanding Qin Jin’s thoughts were that simple, he wouldn’t be Qin Jin.
Standing at the edge of the canvas, Qin Jin scrutinized the work calmly, examining every detail from petals to branches.
It was precisely at this moment that Li Xiangfu caught a tiny, extremely subtle change.
Oblivious to the subtle testing and pretense between them, the director grinned widely, exposing his front teeth: “Do we need to arrange the performance materials? Considering the stage effect, these are a bit too rough and might go wrong on the main stage.”
Li Xiangfu nodded: “I’ll compile a list of the specific materials needed and send it over.”
“As soon as possible,” the director urged. “The program is scheduled for recording on Sunday. We’ll need multiple sets, including for rehearsals.”
…
Gao Xun was in disagreement. They both went upstairs and waited in the lounge, where they had a clear view of people passing by through the glass windows.
After an hour of waiting, the boss arrived.
Meanwhile, Li Xiangfu was delayed due to jointly signing the contract, so he came down a little later.
Gao Xun opened the door and stepped out, momentarily taken aback when he saw Qin Jin.
The blend of goose yellow and light green on the back of Qin Jin’s head was particularly striking.
“There was a mishap,” Li Xiangfu swiftly explained. “I searched for nearby barber shops on my phone, and one of them had pretty good reviews.” Even though he wasn’t privy to the backstory, Gao Xun provided some context: “The boss has a habit of going to a specific barber, but you need to make an appointment in advance.”
Li Xiangfu asked the crucial question: “How much does a session cost?”
Gao Xun replied, “A massage session is less than tens of thousands.”
“…”
Li Xiangfu fell silent. The balance remaining in his card had been depleted after purchasing the performance. There wasn’t much left for other expenses.
As a cool breeze swept in through the door, Li Xiangfu’s long hair billowed, and Gao Xun’s hair was tousled by the wind. Only Qin Jin, who stood against the wind, was the least affected, as he was smeared with paint.
Li Xiangfu felt a twinge of guilt. “Apart from dancing, I have various other skills.”
Qin Jin’s narrowed eyes questioned, “Oh?”
It was at this moment that Li Xiangfu noticed, for the first time, that the person in front of him had a pair of captivating eyes.
“Wash your hair,” Li Xiangfu said to make his point. “It’s a perfect fit for running a barber shop.” Subconsciously, he thought that Qin Jin wouldn’t care or might respond with indifference or sarcasm.
Surprisingly, Qin Jin actually nodded and said in a composed manner, “I’ll trouble you.”
“…”
The car entered an ordinary neighborhood.
“We have a meeting at four in the afternoon,” Gao Xun reminded, not specifying if it was for Qin Jin or Li Xiangfu.
Observing the surroundings, Li Xiangfu was a bit surprised. “It’s different from what I imagined.”
He hadn’t expected Qin Jin’s residence to be so humble.
“This is a place to stay,” Gao Xun explained, sensing someone’s thoughts when they got out of the car. “The boss uses it during the year-end busy period. It’s conveniently close to the company.”
“…”
Sitting in the car, going through the meeting materials needed for the afternoon.
Approaching the unit’s door, Li Xiangfu glanced back. He had to admit that Gao Xun might be an inattentive boyfriend, but he had no choice at work.
Since it was just a temporary residence, he opted to buy a model house directly.
The layout of the bathroom was impractical—the faucet and the pool wall were too close. It wouldn’t be suitable to lean in and wash one’s head directly.
Li Xiangfu found the showerhead and placed a small stool for Qin Jin to sit on.
The image of an adult man sitting on a tiny stool was quite amusing.
Li Xiangfu tried not to laugh. “Lower your head and lean forward.”
Qin Jin cooperated very well.
The warm fingertips massaged the skin on the back of the neck, revealing a small pimple.
Li Xiangfu was surprised. “Is the water too cold?”
“It’s okay,” Qin Jin reassured. “Please continue.”
The shampoo in his palm formed a rich lather, and his fingers gently moved through the black hair. Neither of them made eye contact. They couldn’t see each other’s faces.
Li Xiangfu lowered his eyes, contemplating another matter.
It was indeed strange for a company manager to invite him to his house just to wash his hair.
As his fingertips inadvertently scratched the outline behind the ear, some white foam remained. Li Xiangfu pursed his lips. While reaching for the conditioner, his elbow accidentally knocked into the face wash. Qin Jin, even though he was tilting his head downward, seemed to sense it. Intuitively, he immediately reached out and caught it firmly.
Li Xiangfu narrowed his eyes. With such a sensitive reaction, there was no reason why he couldn’t dodge the moment the red cloth came near. The foam was completely washed away.
Spotting a hairdryer in the half-open cabinet above the sink, Li Xiangfu thought of providing a one-time service in this home.
Qin Jin raised his head, his hair wet, and his eyes red and bloodshot from lack of rest. At a glance, he resembled a fragile little creature.
Li Xiangfu’s heart stirred, and he asked a bold question: “Have we met before?”
Qin Jin raised his eyelids and looked at the reflection in the mirror upon hearing this, seemingly not paying much attention to the question. “The circle is quite large; perhaps we crossed paths at an event.”
After a pause, he added, “Maybe it was during the parent-teacher meeting.”
“Parent-teacher meeting?”
“You attended the same high school as my brother when you were in China.”
In this city, there were hundreds of high schools, and only about a dozen were well-known, of various types.
The high school Li Xiangfu attended was a prestigious private school with excellent teaching quality. Every year, half of the graduates secured spots in top universities. Families of wealth and influence in the city sought to enroll their children there.
Now, the conversation shifted to Qin Jin’s younger brother. Li Xiangfu instinctively asked, “What’s his name?” Qin
Jin fell silent for a moment. “Qin Jiayu.”
There was a sudden pang in Li Xiangfu’s mind, and he couldn’t remain steady.
Qin Jin quickly steadied him. “Are you having a headache?”
Li Xiangfu replied, “It’s just the usual issue.”
Qin Jin stood up and unplugged the hairdryer. “Go rest on the sofa for a while.”
Li Xiangfu once again experienced Qin Jin’s authoritative demeanor. Even when expressing concern, his words sounded more like commands.
Qin Jin had an appointment at four o’clock, so he left the key, indicating that Li Xiangfu could rest there for a while.
Li Xiangfu wasn’t one to use other people’s courtesy as a stepping stone. After expressing gratitude to the TV station once more, he left with Qin Jin.
—
After Mr. Li returned, the mansion became a bit livelier.
However, it may not be so welcoming to Li Xiangfu.
“Shasha mentioned you were out looking for a job.”
Initially feeling a bit uncomfortable hearing the old man refer to the system this way, Li Xiangfu nodded, acknowledging that was indeed the case.
Mr. Li glanced at him sideways. “Have you found one?”
Li Xiangfu replied, “More or less.”
Just as he was about to share that society can be harsh, advising against over-ambition and naivety in youth, he hesitated and swallowed his words: “What kind of job?”
“Acting.”
” …”
The word ‘nonsense’ was on the tip of his tongue, but in the end, he refrained from reprimanding him.
Over the years, Mr. Li had learned from dealing with his children that patience was key. The more you talk, the easier it is to trigger rebellious attitudes. It’s more effective to let them stir up trouble and offer reminders at the right moment.
After confirming that the conversation had concluded, Li Xiangfu went into his room and immediately began refining his dance steps. Today’s performance had exposed numerous flaws.
Li Shasha was fiddling with a Rubik’s Cube nearby, watching him spin and leap with his eyes closed, offering astute feedback: “The dance lacks soul and a focal point.” He emphasized the importance of a focal point in conveying the essence of the dance.
“I’m aware,” Li Xiangfu responded. He had already considered this aspect. Most individuals attempting a similar talent show faced a dilemma. They couldn’t achieve excellence in both aspects.
Dancing and painting simultaneously fragmented the dance to align with the painting movements, making it hard to produce a seamless piece. The performance-type projects’ highlights were fresh paintings that lacked a lasting impression.
If it weren’t for the need to accumulate popularity quickly, he wouldn’t have taken on this thankless task.
Li Shasha stood on his tiptoes on the table, tilting his head as he asked, “Even if you perform, the applause will fade after half a day. There are still gatherings waiting for you to attend. Even if you wear a mask during the show, your identity will be exposed.”
Li Xiangfu remained composed and assured him he had devised a strategy to handle it.
After a pause, he added, “As for the issue of poor arrangement, we can compensate with skill.”
He sketched a few drawings to illustrate where he planned to rearrange the performance: “From the first paint vat to the third paint vat, I plan to incorporate strong rotations and mid-air cross kicks. After landing, I’ll execute a self-created challenging move, emphasizing the rough beauty. While moving left and right, I’ll transition into an upright turn with one leg and then connect to a squat and a 360° spin…”
“…”
After describing it for five minutes, using dozens of technical terms, Li Shasha’s expression gradually shifted from confusion to numbness.
The audience would applaud and cheer for a difficult action, and if you performed ten, their hearts would race.
Yet, for Li Xiangfu, this was a piece of cake. Nuzun Kingdom required men to excel in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, dance, and embroidery. When everyone mastered these, standing out required uniqueness. Back then, under systematic training, he danced on rooftops in the summer, engaged in figure skating on ice in the winter, and sang on special drums in the spring and autumn… Once you achieved the certification title, these skills became ingrained in you. Unless you consciously avoided them, you’d excel. There was no possibility of failure.
…
Li Huaichen and Li Xichun hardly finished their work today. They couldn’t recall the last time the family gathered for a meal.
In the evening, Aunt Zhang prepared a lavish dinner. During the meal, Mr. Li expressed his frustration that his second son hadn’t contacted the family in half a month and didn’t think to return for a meal with his elders.
Li Xichun remained unfazed, stating, “You’re not the first to discover An Qing’s temperament.” The TV was on, and Aunt Zhang sat there, an avid fan of “The Master Comes from the Folk,” never missing a replay.
Guests on the show were performing skits, and Aunt Zhang couldn’t help but burst into laughter multiple times.
Li Xiangfu, looking over at the television, suddenly announced, “I was selected to participate in this show.”
Aunt Zhang’s laughter came to a screeching halt.
Li Huaichen put down his chopsticks, and Li Xichun nearly choked on a fish bone. Mr. Li’s eyes widened slightly, and they all turned to face him simultaneously.
Li Xichun managed to clear the fish bone and said, “Next time, please refrain from making jokes during dinner.”
Everyone returned to eating with their chopsticks.
“It’s true,” Li Shasha chimed in. “Dad has signed a contract with the program team. He’ll be recording tomorrow, and you can see him on TV next Wednesday.”
“…”
“What’s his talent?” Li Xichun’s expression shifted slightly. “Playing the guqin?”
Li Xiangfu replied, “Extreme painting.” He then inquired about her opinion. “What do you think?”
Li Xichun suggested, “Wear a mask during the performance.”
Li Xiangfu was baffled.
Li Xichun elaborated, “At least it’ll help conceal your identity.”
Li Xiangfu frowned, but eventually conceded, “I’ve prepared a mask for the stage.”
“Then there’s no issue.” Mr. Li, who had remained silent throughout, spoke up, signaling everyone to continue their meal.
Gradually, the atmosphere returned to normal as they strolled through the courtyard after dinner. Li Shasha said to Li Xiangfu, “Dad, you’re going to amaze everyone, I guarantee it.”
“…”
It didn’t sound like a compliment.
…
On Sunday, Li Xiangfu attended the program recording as scheduled. On Wednesday, the night of the broadcast, he was asked to meet with the assistant director.
The format of “Masters from the Folk” allowed each guest only one chance to perform on stage. A master would be selected in each episode, and at the end of the month, all these masters would be arranged together. The audience would then vote to determine the ultimate master.
The assistant director had a keen eye and believed Li Xiangfu could become a major hit, so he planned to introduce him as the mysterious guest in the next episode as a warm-up performance.
Li Xiangfu wasn’t certain if the program would achieve the desired impact and decided to wait until the trending topics emerged the next day before making a decision. If the response was lackluster, he could add more. Once the popularity was sufficient, he would seize the opportunity and directly submit his resume for participation in the gathering activities.
The Li family.
While most of the comments were mocking and disapproving, aside from the elusive Li Anqing, the rest of the family, including Aunt Zhang, gathered in front of the TV promptly to watch the program.
Li Xiangfu was the second-to-last performer.
With a bronze fang mask and a specially tailored red dress, he had an enigmatic and peculiar appearance.
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a dress but a piece of flowing red fabric tied around the waist. Li Xiangfu had a slender waist, so it didn’t look out of place.
The music had been edited to a faster tempo, and Li Xiangfu began with a challenging move without any hesitation.
His dance incorporated the connecting movements of a side flip and a split, instantly forming two vibrant lines on the canvas beneath his feet.
But this was just the beginning.
The subsequent dance resembled the pre-show movements he had described to Li Shasha in the room that day.
“Oh!” The camera captured the audience covering their mouths in astonishment.
“Oh my god!” Even Aunt Zhang exclaimed when she saw the legs, almost tangled in the spin.
As the dance reached its most thrilling climax, Li Xiangfu spun one leg like a spinning top, and the composition of the flower stamens beneath his toes was completed.
The television audience was in awe, and outside the TV, the Li family’s gasps could be heard. It coincided with the moment when Li Xiang floated mid-air with his head held high, making the daring leap from one paint vat to another. Sitting on the floor, Li Shasha endured the mental torment coming from three different directions. He clapped his hands and recited with a blank expression: “The apes on both sides of the Taiwan Strait can’t stop crying, and the boat has passed the Ten Thousand Mountains.”
The author’s notes:
Li Xiangfu: Hold your head high, take off, take a leap… gracefully display my extraordinary skills.
Li Family: Su Xin Jiuxin Pill.
Li Shasha: Visual pollution, mental pollution, spiritual pollution… Remembering my childhood, which needs half a lifetime to heal.
This story is captivating. One of the few that tell what happens when the transmigrated comes back. Thank you translator
The translation is getting better. The story however still remains confusing, I don’t know if it’s going to be a murder mystery novel or a face slapping one or even a fluffy happy go lucky story. However I do know I’m excited to find out
Glad to hear that! The genre… hehehehe just know you can’t apply the same logic to Li family 😂
Going for the big shock and awe….pfft! Thanks for the update 🤣❤️🤣❤️
Poor abused system eheheheheh
Thank you for the chapter 💖
Okay, so Li Shasha is a little girl, a granddaughter with all the ‘her’ and ‘she’ references.
Nono, system is a grandson. Thanks for pointing it out, I might’ve missed them! I’ll fix them soon, sorry 😅
Spotted ‘Lee Sang-bo’ in replace of Li xiangfu a few times in this chapter 😅 are you perhaps interested in picking up an editor for this story, translator-san? Might save you the time rechecking once you posted the chapters 😄
I’m still considering it. My… working time isn’t really consistent. I feel bad for my editor if I have one 😅
I dont understand his peformance. Is he using the clothes to simultaneously spin around and paint?
He’s painting with his hand, while dancing