Chapter 7 Sunday Live
Ling Xi, who was praised for being "smart," didn't know his Weibo had been followed by An Ruifeng. The reason was very simple. After he posted the last Weibo with pictures, all the devices that could connect to the Internet were confiscated by Wu Youpeng... In order to avoid future troubles, even the landline line at home was cut by Wu Youpeng because of a previous incident. In order to satisfy his evil intentions, the Internet addicted teenager Ling Xi had tried to use the telephone line to dial up the Internet.
Computers, TVs, mobile phones, ipads...all electronic products that could be in line with modern life had been confiscated. Ling Xi had sunk into the deep hell of drafts guarded by a guitar, a piano, a blank notebook and a pen.
When he debuted eight years ago, he had been titled as the "Creative tender grass" singer. Now the “tender grass” was no longer true, but he was still "Creative". Writing the end-credits song for "Jian Jue Tianxia" was regarded by Wu Youpeng as a good opportunity for his comeback. He urged Ling Xi again and again to firmly grasp this chance, and write the song with the creative zeal that grabbed Grammys.
However, Ling Xi was a contestant from the “throw off the reins[1]” faction. He couldn’t write a single word when he was not inspired. He sat muddled at home for a week. Every time Wu Youpeng delivered food to him, he was in a daze in front of the piano. It was originally a lively little turnip head[2], but in just a few days, it had turned into a dehydrated vegetable packaged in instant noodles.
Half a month later, Wu Youpeng kicked the door open and roused Ling Xi who held a guitar putting on an act.
"Get ready. You have an announcement to make on Saturday." Wu Youpeng scolded: "You have such a dispirited and listless appearance now-a-days. People who don't know any better will think your agent has abused you."
Ling Xi scratched his messy hair: "Saturday? What date?" He didn't have a calendar at home, and the phone that showed the date had been taken away.
"The day after tomorrow. I'll pick you up at ten in the morning."
"So rushed?" He stretched out: "What show?"
“Sunday Live.”
Hearing this, Ling Xi, who was stretching out his lazy ass, fell straight down the sofa. He scrambled back onto the couch, his mouth unable to close in surprise. {Sunday Live} was a variety talk show introduced from the Bald Eagle Country[3]. Generally, talk shows had a regular host, but every episode of {Sunday Live} would invite a different celebrity to host the program. The production would often have the star host appear in a few dramatic spoof scenes along with the cast members of the program group. On the one hand they roasted[4] themselves; on the other hand, they roasted hot topics. Moreover, in the gap between sitcoms, singers were invited to perform for the audience.
This weekly presentation had been aired for more than ten years in the Bald Eagle Country, and had only been introduced in the Panda Country[5] in the last two years. Every Friday, the creative team wrote the program script which was concurrent with the hot topics of the week. On Saturday morning, the show was recorded directly in the studio and broadcasted on Sunday afternoon. Owing to the content of the show that was very time-sensitive in addition to the very popular stars on the show who dared to roast themselves, this show had quickly become a variety show upstart. The stars of the next quarter were lined up one quarter in advance, and every artist was proud to be on this show.
And Ling Xi, an 18th tier little singer, had never been on the other party's invitation list.
"This opportunity was really unexpected. Originally, the xx band which has become popular recently was responsible for performing in this episode. But yesterday they had a car accident when they went out to record the MV, and everyone was injured. The singers contacted by the team to save the show don’t have a free slot in their schedule. Unexpectedly, they ended up calling me...Ling Xi, have you had a reversal of fortune recently? How did you get so lucky?"
"Well, that’s because Wu-ge has a wide network of contacts. It has helped me get so many good jobs!" Ling Xi waved his hand: "Come on, let’s eat skewers!"
Ling Xi couldn't write songs these days, and had no appetite for food. This time, a big pie fell from the sky and his stomach became "alive". Other singers had many taboos in order to protect their throats, but Ling Xi was the exception. He could eat spicy food, have cold drinks, and not get acne the next day.
Wu Youpeng had a good dinner with him. The two people were dead drunk at the food stall that night to celebrate the impending meteoric success in their careers they were about to achieve.
※ ※ ※
"Nervous?" Early Saturday morning, Wu Youpeng drove Ling Xi to the studio building. In recent years, Ling Xi's popularity had been tepid, and the number of announcements was far less than other artists. It was a stroke of great fortune for Ling Xi to be called in to fill up the vacancy in the {Sunday Live} show, and be able to give a singing performance.
Because he was so happy, when he walked into the elevator from the underground garage, he kept humming the song he was going to perform. This time he decided to sing the title track from his new album "Zero" released six months ago. In fact, his creativity was excellent, but he couldn’t find the opportunity to become popular. Maybe this show would be his lucky break?
While Ling Xi was busy daydreaming about a bright future, the elevator slowly went up to the first floor. The elevator door opened, and an acquaintance he did not expect to see appeared in front of him.
"...Ling Xi?" An Ruifeng looked at Ling Xi and his agent who were standing in the elevator with a slightly surprised look. "It's such a coincidence, you guys are also here to record a show?"
An Ruifeng looked as handsome as ever. Ling Xi was too lazy to describe his hair, his clothes, his temperament and his walking posture, because when he stood in front of Ling Xi, Ling Xi was so entranced that he couldn’t pay attention to those trifles.
Wu Youpeng, who was behind Ling Xi, spoke very politely: "Yes, Ling Xi was lucky and got the opportunity to sing in this week’s episode of {Sunday Live}. He has been working in seclusion at home, but now that he is going to perform in the show, I'll take him out for a stroll."
On hearing that Ling Xi had come to record {Sunday Live}, An Ruifeng and Xu Zhiqiang beside him had an indescribable complex expression on their faces. Xu Zhiqiang said: "What a coincidence. Ruifeng also came to participate in that show." Then they walked into the elevator. No matter where An Ruifeng went, he was followed by the mighty group of his assistant, stylist, and bodyguard. They crowded into the elevator, squeezing Ling Xi and An Ruifeng together.
Ling Xi was squeezed so much that he was about to stick to An Ruifeng's body. The rich fragrance of men's cologne on the other’s body surrounded Ling Xi, like a pair of invisible hands hugging him. Comparing himself with this big star with high face value and many fans, Ling Xi inevitably felt a little frustrated: "I guess you are the star host of this episode, right? I didn't expect you to be on the talk show."
"Yes, I was surprised when I got the invitation. I didn’t expect this kind of show would find me.” An Ruifeng didn’t discuss this matter in depth, and quickly changed the subject: “Since our last meeting in N City, we haven’t met each other for more than half a month, have we?"
"It's been so long...I have been locked at home every day. Oppressor Wu said that if I can’t write a song, I am not permitted to go out. At present I don't have the concept of a date at all." He turned his head to look at An Ruifeng's profile, and asked with concern: "Shifu[6], you have become thinner than before in the past half a month. How much do you weigh now?"
An Ruifeng said a number and joked: "Oppressor Xu only lets me eat cucumbers and tomatoes everyday."
For performing artists, ridiculing their agents was definitely the absolute magic weapon to form close relationships. An Ruifeng and Ling Xi shared a common language, and narrated the evil deeds of their agent to each other. The two agents stood behind them, listened to their grumbles, glanced at each other, and shrugged helplessly.
The elevator stopped on the 13th floor, and An Ruifeng stepped out. When the staff saw him coming, they enthusiastically led him to the exclusive VIP dressing room. As for Ling Xi who was following him...with his coffee seat, he could only share one room with other people.
"See you later!" Ling Xi waved his hand at An Ruifeng happily. He had a guitar on his back, with the word “Zero” written in large letters on the case--This was his English name[7] and it was also the name of the song he would sing this time. "Listen to my song seriously in a while!"
An Ruifeng nodded, "Then...see you in a while." He turned and walked a few steps. When he looked back, Ling Xi and Wu Youpeng had disappeared at the corner of the corridor.
※※※
When An Ruifeng walked into the exclusive dressing room under the guidance of the staff, there was already a camera pointed in his direction. An Ruifeng greeted the camera crew very politely, and then quickly walked to the vanity table and sat down. The special stylist walked over and applied makeup on his face. His handsome face was gradually transformed with the help of cosmetics, and this entire process was recorded by the camera.
This show did not have any rehearsal, and no NG.
The performances of An Ruifeng and Ling Xi captured by the cameras would be faithfully presented in the show.
A staff member, followed by the cameraman, asked An Ruifeng: "A moment ago when Ling Xi left, I watched you turn and look in his direction. Are you soft-hearted?"
An Ruifeng said helplessly, “It should be said that when I saw him in the elevator, I was already soft-hearted."
"Oh! It seems that Ruifeng's relationship with Ling Xi is as good as the rumors on the Internet." The staff member said with a smile, "We all have seen the photos posted by Ling Xi on Weibo. It's real eye candy!"
An Ruifeng smiled: "The fans are amusing themselves, don’t take it seriously.... But Ling Xi and I really hit it off. If...if I had known earlier that he was the next target of this evil prank, I would have never agreed to your director’s invitation unless he doubled my appearance fee."
Immediately, the dressing room was filled with laughter. Xu Zhiqiang, who was standing outside the camera range, frowned slightly. He knew what An Ruifeng said was true--not the phrase "double appearance fee"; rather if An Ruifeng knew in advance that the target of this mission was Ling Xi, he really wouldn't have accepted this job.
Ling Xi and his agent did not know that what they won was not the jackpot called {Sunday Live} at all, but the recently popular Internet spoof segment {Scare☆Surprise}.
{Scare☆Surprise} was an online variety show launched by xx video network. The show was just like its name. Every episode had a large number of extras carry out street spoof activities, such as ghosts suddenly appearing in the corridors, a boat being driven on the road, ghost babies left on the side of the road, and so on... There were several controversial episodes of this program, but the more controversy, the more hits(clicks).
In several recent audience surveys, everyone said that they had seen enough common people who were spoofed and wanted to see "spoofed artists", so the program team spent a lot of money to invite An Ruifeng to spoof an artist. The specific method was to ask the other party to participate in {Sunday Live}, and then during the performance, An Ruifeng would be dressed in a strange costume, appearing behind the other party to startle him.
When he accepted the job, the director told An Ruifeng that the artist who would be spoofed "although he can't reveal his specific name, he will be a friend of An Ruifeng". For this reason, An Ruifeng had specially greeted all the stars in his circle who had a good relationship with him in advance.
...But he never expected that Ling Xi had been invited.
An Ruifeng thought of Ling Xi’s happy appearance when he had waved goodbye to him earlier, and sighed silently in his heart.
--Ling Xi truly wanted to give a singing performance on {Sunday Live}. He looked forward to this battle as a chance to become famous, and even cheered for it. However, his hard work could only become the source of laughter for the audience of {Scare☆Surprise}.
"Okay, it's done!" The special stylist who had worked on An Ruifeng's face for an hour asked him to stand up, and several staff members gathered around to help him put on the heavy special effects costume. After spending another half an hour fixing the props on his body, everyone dispersed, and the dressed An Ruifeng appeared in front of the camera unconcealed.
In the mirror, a red through and through giant spicy crayfish bared fangs and brandished claws, exposing a malevolent smiling expression at everyone.
※※※
In the dressing room in the other direction Ling Xi sneezed loudly, and the guitar in his hand played the wrong sound.
Wu Youpeng made a fuss: "Why did you sneeze suddenly? Did you catch a cold? Come on, drink some hot water. Don't suddenly drop the ball while performing."
"I am fine," Ling Xi rubbed his nose: "It's just that suddenly I want to eat crayfish, so I was absent-minded for a moment."
Footnotes:
[1] Acting freely and irresponsibly.
[2] Mildly derogatory term for a foolish person.
[3] America.
[4] Slang for ridiculed.
[5] China.
[6] Master. Ling Xi and An Ruifeng will be apprentice and master in the drama, remember?
[7] Stage name. For example, Xiao Zhan from “The Untamed” is also called Sean Xiao.
Chapter 7 Sunday Live
Ling Xi, who was praised for being "smart," didn't know his Weibo had been followed by An Ruifeng. The reason was very simple. After he posted the last Weibo with pictures, all the devices that could connect to the Internet were confiscated by Wu Youpeng... In order to avoid future troubles, even the landline line at home was cut by Wu Youpeng because of a previous incident. In order to satisfy his evil intentions, the Internet addicted teenager Ling Xi had tried to use the telephone line to dial up the Internet.
Computers, TVs, mobile phones, ipads...all electronic products that could be in line with modern life had been confiscated. Ling Xi had sunk into the deep hell of drafts guarded by a guitar, a piano, a blank notebook and a pen.
When he debuted eight years ago, he had been titled as the "Creative tender grass" singer. Now the “tender grass” was no longer true, but he was still "Creative". Writing the end-credits song for "Jian Jue Tianxia" was regarded by Wu Youpeng as a good opportunity for his comeback. He urged Ling Xi again and again to firmly grasp this chance, and write the song with the creative zeal that grabbed Grammys.
However, Ling Xi was a contestant from the “throw off the reins[1]” faction. He couldn’t write a single word when he was not inspired. He sat muddled at home for a week. Every time Wu Youpeng delivered food to him, he was in a daze in front of the piano. It was originally a lively little turnip head[2], but in just a few days, it had turned into a dehydrated vegetable packaged in instant noodles.
Half a month later, Wu Youpeng kicked the door open and roused Ling Xi who held a guitar putting on an act.
"Get ready. You have an announcement to make on Saturday." Wu Youpeng scolded: "You have such a dispirited and listless appearance now-a-days. People who don't know any better will think your agent has abused you."
Ling Xi scratched his messy hair: "Saturday? What date?" He didn't have a calendar at home, and the phone that showed the date had been taken away.
"The day after tomorrow. I'll pick you up at ten in the morning."
"So rushed?" He stretched out: "What show?"
“Sunday Live.”
Hearing this, Ling Xi, who was stretching out his lazy ass, fell straight down the sofa. He scrambled back onto the couch, his mouth unable to close in surprise. {Sunday Live} was a variety talk show introduced from the Bald Eagle Country[3]. Generally, talk shows had a regular host, but every episode of {Sunday Live} would invite a different celebrity to host the program. The production would often have the star host appear in a few dramatic spoof scenes along with the cast members of the program group. On the one hand they roasted[4] themselves; on the other hand, they roasted hot topics. Moreover, in the gap between sitcoms, singers were invited to perform for the audience.
This weekly presentation had been aired for more than ten years in the Bald Eagle Country, and had only been introduced in the Panda Country[5] in the last two years. Every Friday, the creative team wrote the program script which was concurrent with the hot topics of the week. On Saturday morning, the show was recorded directly in the studio and broadcasted on Sunday afternoon. Owing to the content of the show that was very time-sensitive in addition to the very popular stars on the show who dared to roast themselves, this show had quickly become a variety show upstart. The stars of the next quarter were lined up one quarter in advance, and every artist was proud to be on this show.
And Ling Xi, an 18th tier little singer, had never been on the other party's invitation list.
"This opportunity was really unexpected. Originally, the xx band which has become popular recently was responsible for performing in this episode. But yesterday they had a car accident when they went out to record the MV, and everyone was injured. The singers contacted by the team to save the show don’t have a free slot in their schedule. Unexpectedly, they ended up calling me...Ling Xi, have you had a reversal of fortune recently? How did you get so lucky?"
"Well, that’s because Wu-ge has a wide network of contacts. It has helped me get so many good jobs!" Ling Xi waved his hand: "Come on, let’s eat skewers!"
Ling Xi couldn't write songs these days, and had no appetite for food. This time, a big pie fell from the sky and his stomach became "alive". Other singers had many taboos in order to protect their throats, but Ling Xi was the exception. He could eat spicy food, have cold drinks, and not get acne the next day.
Wu Youpeng had a good dinner with him. The two people were dead drunk at the food stall that night to celebrate the impending meteoric success in their careers they were about to achieve.
※ ※ ※
"Nervous?" Early Saturday morning, Wu Youpeng drove Ling Xi to the studio building. In recent years, Ling Xi's popularity had been tepid, and the number of announcements was far less than other artists. It was a stroke of great fortune for Ling Xi to be called in to fill up the vacancy in the {Sunday Live} show, and be able to give a singing performance.
Because he was so happy, when he walked into the elevator from the underground garage, he kept humming the song he was going to perform. This time he decided to sing the title track from his new album "Zero" released six months ago. In fact, his creativity was excellent, but he couldn’t find the opportunity to become popular. Maybe this show would be his lucky break?
While Ling Xi was busy daydreaming about a bright future, the elevator slowly went up to the first floor. The elevator door opened, and an acquaintance he did not expect to see appeared in front of him.
"...Ling Xi?" An Ruifeng looked at Ling Xi and his agent who were standing in the elevator with a slightly surprised look. "It's such a coincidence, you guys are also here to record a show?"
An Ruifeng looked as handsome as ever. Ling Xi was too lazy to describe his hair, his clothes, his temperament and his walking posture, because when he stood in front of Ling Xi, Ling Xi was so entranced that he couldn’t pay attention to those trifles.
Wu Youpeng, who was behind Ling Xi, spoke very politely: "Yes, Ling Xi was lucky and got the opportunity to sing in this week’s episode of {Sunday Live}. He has been working in seclusion at home, but now that he is going to perform in the show, I'll take him out for a stroll."
On hearing that Ling Xi had come to record {Sunday Live}, An Ruifeng and Xu Zhiqiang beside him had an indescribable complex expression on their faces. Xu Zhiqiang said: "What a coincidence. Ruifeng also came to participate in that show." Then they walked into the elevator. No matter where An Ruifeng went, he was followed by the mighty group of his assistant, stylist, and bodyguard. They crowded into the elevator, squeezing Ling Xi and An Ruifeng together.
Ling Xi was squeezed so much that he was about to stick to An Ruifeng's body. The rich fragrance of men's cologne on the other’s body surrounded Ling Xi, like a pair of invisible hands hugging him. Comparing himself with this big star with high face value and many fans, Ling Xi inevitably felt a little frustrated: "I guess you are the star host of this episode, right? I didn't expect you to be on the talk show."
"Yes, I was surprised when I got the invitation. I didn’t expect this kind of show would find me.” An Ruifeng didn’t discuss this matter in depth, and quickly changed the subject: “Since our last meeting in N City, we haven’t met each other for more than half a month, have we?"
"It's been so long...I have been locked at home every day. Oppressor Wu said that if I can’t write a song, I am not permitted to go out. At present I don't have the concept of a date at all." He turned his head to look at An Ruifeng's profile, and asked with concern: "Shifu[6], you have become thinner than before in the past half a month. How much do you weigh now?"
An Ruifeng said a number and joked: "Oppressor Xu only lets me eat cucumbers and tomatoes everyday."
For performing artists, ridiculing their agents was definitely the absolute magic weapon to form close relationships. An Ruifeng and Ling Xi shared a common language, and narrated the evil deeds of their agent to each other. The two agents stood behind them, listened to their grumbles, glanced at each other, and shrugged helplessly.
The elevator stopped on the 13th floor, and An Ruifeng stepped out. When the staff saw him coming, they enthusiastically led him to the exclusive VIP dressing room. As for Ling Xi who was following him...with his coffee seat, he could only share one room with other people.
"See you later!" Ling Xi waved his hand at An Ruifeng happily. He had a guitar on his back, with the word “Zero” written in large letters on the case--This was his English name[7] and it was also the name of the song he would sing this time. "Listen to my song seriously in a while!"
An Ruifeng nodded, "Then...see you in a while." He turned and walked a few steps. When he looked back, Ling Xi and Wu Youpeng had disappeared at the corner of the corridor.
※※※
When An Ruifeng walked into the exclusive dressing room under the guidance of the staff, there was already a camera pointed in his direction. An Ruifeng greeted the camera crew very politely, and then quickly walked to the vanity table and sat down. The special stylist walked over and applied makeup on his face. His handsome face was gradually transformed with the help of cosmetics, and this entire process was recorded by the camera.
This show did not have any rehearsal, and no NG.
The performances of An Ruifeng and Ling Xi captured by the cameras would be faithfully presented in the show.
A staff member, followed by the cameraman, asked An Ruifeng: "A moment ago when Ling Xi left, I watched you turn and look in his direction. Are you soft-hearted?"
An Ruifeng said helplessly, “It should be said that when I saw him in the elevator, I was already soft-hearted."
"Oh! It seems that Ruifeng's relationship with Ling Xi is as good as the rumors on the Internet." The staff member said with a smile, "We all have seen the photos posted by Ling Xi on Weibo. It's real eye candy!"
An Ruifeng smiled: "The fans are amusing themselves, don’t take it seriously.... But Ling Xi and I really hit it off. If...if I had known earlier that he was the next target of this evil prank, I would have never agreed to your director’s invitation unless he doubled my appearance fee."
Immediately, the dressing room was filled with laughter. Xu Zhiqiang, who was standing outside the camera range, frowned slightly. He knew what An Ruifeng said was true--not the phrase "double appearance fee"; rather if An Ruifeng knew in advance that the target of this mission was Ling Xi, he really wouldn't have accepted this job.
Ling Xi and his agent did not know that what they won was not the jackpot called {Sunday Live} at all, but the recently popular Internet spoof segment {Scare☆Surprise}.
{Scare☆Surprise} was an online variety show launched by xx video network. The show was just like its name. Every episode had a large number of extras carry out street spoof activities, such as ghosts suddenly appearing in the corridors, a boat being driven on the road, ghost babies left on the side of the road, and so on... There were several controversial episodes of this program, but the more controversy, the more hits(clicks).
In several recent audience surveys, everyone said that they had seen enough common people who were spoofed and wanted to see "spoofed artists", so the program team spent a lot of money to invite An Ruifeng to spoof an artist. The specific method was to ask the other party to participate in {Sunday Live}, and then during the performance, An Ruifeng would be dressed in a strange costume, appearing behind the other party to startle him.
When he accepted the job, the director told An Ruifeng that the artist who would be spoofed "although he can't reveal his specific name, he will be a friend of An Ruifeng". For this reason, An Ruifeng had specially greeted all the stars in his circle who had a good relationship with him in advance.
...But he never expected that Ling Xi had been invited.
An Ruifeng thought of Ling Xi’s happy appearance when he had waved goodbye to him earlier, and sighed silently in his heart.
--Ling Xi truly wanted to give a singing performance on {Sunday Live}. He looked forward to this battle as a chance to become famous, and even cheered for it. However, his hard work could only become the source of laughter for the audience of {Scare☆Surprise}.
"Okay, it's done!" The special stylist who had worked on An Ruifeng's face for an hour asked him to stand up, and several staff members gathered around to help him put on the heavy special effects costume. After spending another half an hour fixing the props on his body, everyone dispersed, and the dressed An Ruifeng appeared in front of the camera unconcealed.
In the mirror, a red through and through giant spicy crayfish bared fangs and brandished claws, exposing a malevolent smiling expression at everyone.
※※※
In the dressing room in the other direction Ling Xi sneezed loudly, and the guitar in his hand played the wrong sound.
Wu Youpeng made a fuss: "Why did you sneeze suddenly? Did you catch a cold? Come on, drink some hot water. Don't suddenly drop the ball while performing."
"I am fine," Ling Xi rubbed his nose: "It's just that suddenly I want to eat crayfish, so I was absent-minded for a moment."
Footnotes:
[1] Acting freely and irresponsibly.
[2] Mildly derogatory term for a foolish person.
[3] America.
[4] Slang for ridiculed.
[5] China.
[6] Master. Ling Xi and An Ruifeng will be apprentice and master in the drama, remember?
[7] Stage name. For example, Xiao Zhan from “The Untamed” is also called Sean Xiao.
