Reborn as a comedic artist

"System settlement in progress...!"

Hidden Quest: The Dust Has Settled (Completed - Reward: 800 Art Points)

[Host: Cheng Ming]

Art Value: 1500

Current Skill:

[Auditory Skills: Piano (Professional), Guitar (Professional), Vocal (Amateur), Percussion (Amateur)]

[Visual Arts: Photography (Professional), Painting (Professional)]

[Taste: Cooking (Beginner)]

[Physical Skills: Dance (Beginner), Acting (Professional)]

[Lifestyle/Other: Fishing (Beginner), Video Editing (Amateur)]

[Special Note: Skill levels are divided into Beginner, Amateur, Professional, Expert, World, Master, and Legendary.]

[System Shop: Now Open]

[Next mission refresh countdown: 126 hours, 43 minutes, and 27 seconds]

Just as the team successfully formed, were enjoying good food and drinks, and were getting a little tipsy!

The video edited by Wang Shuo continues to generate buzz.

The internet never sleeps.

Especially in this era of scarce entertainment and strangely empty racetracks.

A video that combines all the elements of a viral hit, such as "handsome guy," "beautiful girl," "plot twist," "antics," and "pure love," is like a depth charge, creating a huge wave in the fishpond late at night.

Video Title: "A Prodigal Son's Return Is More Precious Than Gold? Why the Tears in the Cafeteria? Unveiling the Bitter Tears Behind the Abstract Photographer!"

Published 23 hours ago.

Views: 255.6 million.

Likes: 38.2 million.

Coin-operated: 6.8.

Collections: 5.8.

Shared 4.6 times.

At the same time, there were 2300+ viewers online.

..........

In the early morning, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains that weren't fully drawn.

"Two million five hundred thousand?!"

The next day, Cheng Ming was woken up by Wang Shuo and instantly became more awake. He sat up straight, the blanket slipped off, revealing his lean upper body.

He scratched his messy hair in a daze, his throat dry from last night's hangover.

"What time is it... Don't netizens ever sleep?"

"They're not just not sleeping, they're practically cultivating immortality! We're famous! Absolutely famous....!"

The bloodshot eyes on Wang Shuo's big face couldn't hide his excitement.

His fingers flew across the screen, spittle flying everywhere:

The comment section already has 8,000 replies, and the private messages received are over 999.

It was all requests for cooperation, contact information, and even inquiries about whether you were single. Someone even asked for the contact information of those three suckers… oh no, those three teammates!

Cheng Ming took the phone, rubbed his eyes, and opened the video.

It has to be said that although Wang Shuo, this fat guy, seems unreliable most of the time, he does have some talent when it comes to editing. His control of the pacing of this video is simply a perfect grasp of the essence of marketing accounts.

The video begins with an extremely depressing black and white filter.

The background music was a cello solo that made you want to commit suicide; it was so mournful and desolate.

In the shot, Cheng Ming's pitiful face occupied half of the screen.

That was his highlight moment in the cafeteria, with melancholy eyes, tears in the corners of his eyes, and slightly trembling eyelashes; every frame exuded a strong sense of "brokenness".

That dejected air of his was enough to break the hearts of any young girl watching on screen.

...............

Then, the scene changes.

The camera focused on Lin Yiyi and her two companions.

Wang Shuo deliberately added a slow-motion close-up of Lin Yiyi's tear-streaked face, and even added the "Panda Sister" emoji effect next to it in an extremely unkind way, instantly turning that originally pitiful face into something incredibly funny.

At the bottom of the screen, the subtitles were even more outrageous—[Target locked: Brave Heart (background music)].

As Cheng Ming uttered the words, "A gambling father, a sick mother, a young sister, a broken home..." the video's pace instantly quickened.

The originally somber background music abruptly stopped, seamlessly switching to a highly satirical DJ version of "A Hero in Troubled Times".

"I roam freely, commanding respect from all, admired by all..."

The footage started to be edited in a bizarre and distorted way.

Lin Yiyi's action of taking out her phone to scan the QR code was parodied three times.

The phone screen's brightness was particularly glaring under the black-and-white filter, accompanied by the caption: "[ATM starting up...beep! Good Samaritan card issued...!]"

Zhao Yufeng's action of taking out cash was accompanied by glittering gold special effects.

The stack of red bills looked especially tempting in slow motion, accompanied by the caption: [Rich woman's attack! Another sucker added!]

Although Gu Xiao didn't pay, Wang Shuo captured the moment when she pushed up her glasses, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

And it was interpreted with extreme malice as: [Intelligence is regaining its footing (failed version)...System reconnecting...]

The video ends with a freeze-frame of Cheng Ming's amused and smug smile as he takes the money and leaves, and the trio watching his departing figure with emotion.

The screen went black, and only one line of large text slowly appeared:

Since ancient times, deep affection has been fleeting, while clever tactics have won hearts. — A tribute to every artist who puts their heart and soul into their performances in life.

The barrage of comments was so dense that the screen was completely obscured; it was all just colorful text flying by.

[Hahahaha! Holy crap! I'm totally impressed...!]

[Simply amazing! How did this guy manage a triple kill in one go?! His acting skills are incredible, I suggest you investigate, it doesn't seem like acting...!]

[You call this a photographer? With looks and acting skills like that, those expressionless pretty boys in the Chinese entertainment industry should take a beating! The way he shed those tears, I almost believed it!]

[This is hilarious! Who's that girl crying the most? She's so cute! Is this the legendary "brainstem deficiency beauty"? She doesn't look very bright.]

[Upstairs, that's Lin Yiyi from the Sichuan Conservatory of Music! I never expected Sister Panda to be so gullible in private, I love her! I want a dozen of these silly girls!]

Is this the legendary case of high-level hunters often appearing in the form of prey?

Am I the only one feeling sorry for that rich woman who handed over 500 yuan in cash? She really gave it to me! She didn't hesitate at all!

[This isn't a scam; it's a vivid lesson in social practice for these three girls. The school should award them an "Outstanding Teacher" prize.]

[This scumbag... Can you give me his contact information? I want to learn some skills.]

……

"Godfather, it's gone up! It's gone up again! This number of followers is skyrocketing! At this rate, we'll be million-follower internet celebrities before we graduate. When we do a gig, that'll be tons of Won...

Cheng Ming had just washed his face, water droplets still clinging to the ends of his hair. He casually grabbed a towel and dried his neck, his expression calm.

"Don't just focus on the data. Control the trend in the comments section. Don't let the fire spread too far to Lin Yiyi and the others. Take it slow and steady. After all, they're not like us; they're only sophomores and have to worry about school and family..."

"Don't worry, godfather, you'll be fine with my job..."

"Bang--!"

A loud bang, like a thunderclap from a clear sky.

The already flimsy wooden dormitory door was pushed open from the outside.

Wang Shuo was so startled that his hand trembled, almost dropping his phone. He sprang up from his chair, his fat jiggling wildly.

"Holy crap! Who are these heroes now... uh?"

There was a person standing at the door.

Against the light of the corridor, the figure appeared exceptionally tall and... menacing.

The newcomer was a man in his mid-twenties, wearing a minimalist black sports vest. The tight fabric accentuated his full and imposing bust.

He wore denim shorts, and his two long legs had firm and smooth muscle lines, giving off a tough vibe.

She was wearing slippers that were clearly a size too big, her hair was casually draped over her shoulders, and a few strands of hair were stuck to her slender neck with sweat.

Despite his plain face, his heroic features were undeniable, but at this moment, a fierce fire called "wanting to kill" burned in his beautiful almond-shaped eyes.

It was Huang Yuxi, Cheng Ming's counselor and a member of the Media Research Institute.

"Director Huang...?"

Wang Shuo swallowed hard and instinctively shrank back.

Although he usually treated Cheng Ming like a brother, in front of Huang Yuxi, this "Northeast tigress," his physique was nothing more than a puffy punching bag.

Huang Yuxi completely ignored Wang Shuo, her sharp eyes scanning the dormitory room.

Finally, the focus was fixed on Cheng Ming, who looked completely innocent.

Her chest heaved violently, clearly from running all the way here. Her breathing was rapid, and her black vest tightened and loosened with each breath, making one dizzy just looking at her.

"Cheng Ming...!"

That shout had a unique, penetrating quality characteristic of Northeast China.

.................