Reborn as a comedic artist

The executive meeting just ended!

On the other end, Cheng Ming's phone rang.

Cheng Ming picked up his phone and saw that the caller ID showed "Old Wang".

As if he had expected it, he answered the phone.

"Hello, teacher."

"Cheng Ming, are you awake yet?"

On the other end of the phone, Old Wang's voice sounded excited, yet also a little nervous: "You'd better get ready quickly. The principal wants to see you in person at 10 a.m. tomorrow to hear your work report."

"What? Principal? What are you reporting...?" Cheng Ming was stunned.

"Report on your 'Shuyin IP' project! The principal saw your video and was very interested...!"

Old Wang's voice rose eight octaves: "This is a golden opportunity! If you seize it, not only you, but our department will be unchallenged at Sichuan Conservatory of Music from now on...!"

The saying "a father's status rises with his son's" applies even to mentor Lao Wang...

After hanging up the phone, Cheng Ming stood there, his mind racing.

See the principal?

This was much faster than he had expected.

I thought it would take at least half my strength, but I didn't expect it would only take one punch.

Cheng Ming pondered, thinking about a plan to deal with Zhao Zhiqiang, whose importance was nowhere near that of Lao Wang.

Reporting based solely on a piece of Shu music art and a draft plan is clearly insufficient.

While Stephen Chow's works may seem somewhat inferior, they appear rather thin as a formal work report.

It seems necessary to pull out my second piece, a work that can showcase my professional skills and artistic pursuits, thus bridging the gap between reputation and opportunity.

Cheng Ming immediately took out his phone and dialed Huang Yuxi's number.

"Beep...beep..."

The phone rang for ages before it was finally answered.

"Feed..."

A woman's voice, so weak it seemed she might die at any moment, came through the phone.

"Director Huang? Help! There's work to be done!" Cheng Ming said quickly.

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, followed by a painful groan.

"Live...live my ass...don't even talk about living...I don't even have the strength to die right now...If you really want to, don't bother me for now...if you need anything, burn some paper money for me...!"

After saying that, the phone was hung up.

Huang Yuxi was clearly misled by Cheng Ming (male beauty) and also competed with Zhao Yufeng for his affections (drinking contest). Now she looks so haggard. From today onwards, she needs to quit drinking (rest and recuperate).

Cheng Ming held up his phone, his face darkening.

It seems we can't count on that.

He turned to look at the fat man who was still half-lying on the bed, scrolling through data and grinning foolishly.

He walked over, took a deep breath, and then kicked Wang Shuo's fat buttocks.

"Holy crap!"

Wang Shuo suddenly jumped out of bed.

"Godfather, what are you doing? Don't you know I'm injured? Are you trying to murder your own father?!"

"Don't act like nobody's not hurt. Stop lying there, something big is about to happen...!"

Cheng Ming briefly explained his meeting with the principal.

Wang Shuo's dejected look vanished without a trace, and the fat on his face tightened up.

"Meet...meet the principal? My goodness, our influence has grown that much...?"

"Naturally, so we must finish filming the second video today..."

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

Dark as ink.

The dazzling lights of Chengdu appeared at the edge of the horizon.

A viewing platform halfway up a mountain.

Aside from the sound of the wind, all that could be heard was the crisp sound of mosquitoes hitting the headlight cover of the electric vehicle.

"Godfather, there are so many mosquitoes here, I feel like I'm going to be sucked dry..."

While scratching the lump on his stomach, Wang Shuo tugged at the tight-fitting bodysuit he was wearing.

This is still his flashy and stylish "Brother Long's style" outfit.

"Don't move."

Old Li was squatting on the ground, adjusting the angle of his Sony mirrorless camera.

To create that cinematic feel, he crammed one leg of the tripod into a crevice in the rock, posing in a twisted yoga posture.

When Huang Yuxi was recovering from her injury, Cheng Ming naturally asked this classmate with whom he had a good relationship to come and help out temporarily.

"Not enough light, Fatty, move that lousy car's headlight a little further to the left..."

Cheng Ming leaned against the electric scooter, a half-eaten, unlit Tashan cigarette dangling from his mouth.

His "battle-damaged makeup" looked particularly grotesque under the dim car lights—red medicine was dripping down his forehead, mixed with coal dust, making him look even more disheveled than when he was beaten yesterday.

That secondhand Yadea, which made noise everywhere except for the horn, became the central prop of the entire event.

"Action!"

With a low shout from Lao Li, Wang Shuo, who was still scratching his itch, shuddered.

In the footage, Cheng Ming's eyes changed.

One second he was somewhat quirky and abstract, the next he was the down-on-his-luck, crippled Little Ma from the underworld...

He gazed at the distant lights, his lips twitching slightly—a bittersweet expression of wanting to laugh but being unable to.

"I never imagined Chengdu's night view was so beautiful... It's so sad that something so beautiful is suddenly gone...!"

Cheng Ming's voice was still as deep and sexy as ever, with a grainy quality.

Wang Shuo took a deep breath.

He looked at Cheng Ming, and for a moment, he even forgot that he was acting.

The longing and disappointment in Cheng Ming's eyes were so real, so real, that it made his heart clench.

"Brother Shuo, let's film one more time! After this one, we'll leave Chengdu in style!"

"Xiao Ming...!"

Wang Shuo responded in a low voice...

..........

People of similar kind come together; things of a kind group together!

"Click!"

Old Li was clearly a stubborn man. He suddenly looked up, speechless: "Fatty...! What's wrong with you...? You're Brother Hao...! You want to retire and lead your brothers down the right path, not beg him for money...!"

Your helplessness should carry a profound weight, like someone who has seen it all, a feeling of wanting to lend a helping hand to a brother but being powerless to do so. Again...!

Wang Shuo plopped down on a rock, grabbed a bottle of mineral water, and gulped it down. "Old Li, that's enough. I got beaten up yesterday, I'm hungover, it's so hot, and after climbing for half a day, my head is still buzzing..."

"Brother Shuo, I understand, but hang in there a little longer... After all, this video is crucial for our livelihood tomorrow. It's a pivotal moment; if we film it well, we'll really be on our toes..."

Cheng Ming suddenly spoke. He didn't turn around, still staring at the lights, but his tone was somewhat unquestionable...

He turned around and straightened the collar of his worn-out Zhongshan suit.

"No need to say anything more, let's give it our all..."

Wang Shuo took a deep breath and readjusted his posture.

He closed his eyes, recalling the hardships of the construction site, the humiliation of last night's fight, the aimless four years he spent at school, and the ordeal of Brother Hao in A Better Tomorrow...

When I opened my eyes again, the grinning fat man was gone.

Instead, there's a weathered-looking older brother, weary of the conflicts of the martial world. The genius has returned to the scene...

"Xiao Ming...!"

Cheng Ming suddenly turned his head.

The dim beam of the car headlights shone on his profile, his eyes were slightly red, and a kind of obsessive fanaticism flickered in his eyes, like a fire about to start a wildfire...

"We've made it through four years of university, and this is just a small setback... Do you think we'd be afraid...?"

Wang Shuo closed his eyes in anguish, his voice trembling, "Don't force me anymore. I really don't want to film anymore. The past is the past...!"

"It's not over yet!"

Cheng Ming roared.

The roar echoed across the empty mountaintop, startling even the birds in the treetops into flight.

He struggled to stand up, bracing himself against the electric scooter, his "lame" leg dragging on the gravel, making a screeching sound.

Immediately afterwards, he seemed to lose his balance and slumped back down.

With a "bang," it was the dull thud of flesh hitting the ground.

Wang Shuo's eyelids twitched violently.

Cheng Ming really took that fall; he didn't hold back at all.

"I haven't fallen yet... I haven't lost yet...!"

Cheng Ming was panting heavily, his finger trembling as he pointed to the brilliant lights.

That resentment, that anger, that stubbornness that wanted to tear a hole in the sky, was like a knife, stabbing deeply into Wang Shuo's heart.

Wang Shuo suddenly stood up and grabbed Cheng Ming by the collar.

At this moment, no acting skills are needed.

He was genuinely heartbroken, and also genuinely furious.

Spittle flying, Wang Shuo exploded: "What's the point of letting you film it ten more times, or even a hundred more times? Even if you actually succeed, so what...!"

He released his grip, took two steps back dejectedly, and pointed at the old camera mounted on the back of the electric scooter, his fingers trembling:

"I've already lost my beloved camera, I don't want to lose you as a friend too... Xiaoming, please wake up...?"

.........