Chapter Seven: My Proud Smile

The sun had risen high.

Xu Ming awoke from a deep sleep.

Perhaps he had exhausted himself mentally the day before, for he had slept soundly through the night.

As soon as he opened his phone, calls flooded in, and messages piled up explosively.

He had even set his phone to silent mode to avoid disturbance.

Ignoring the incoming calls, the first thing he did was call his master.

“Hello, Master, what’s going on? My phone suddenly blew up with calls. I didn’t dare answer any of them,” Xu Ming feigned ignorance.

“You kid has become famous! Last night, the whole country got to know you. The calls started coming to me this morning. I thought they wanted to book a commercial performance with me, but before long, they said they wanted you instead. Looks like I’m just a freebie,” Uncle Benshan said with a hint of pride.

The words carried a trace of joy; it was rare to have a protégé rise so quickly.

Even he, as the master, found the speed of Xu Ming’s sudden fame somewhat unbelievable.

“Really? No kidding, right, Master? I didn’t answer any calls — the first one I made was to you. So what should I do now?” Xu Ming asked cautiously.

He knew exactly what to do.

But in front of his master, he couldn't show it outright. After all, his wings were not yet fully grown.

“Here’s what you do: wait at the hotel. I’ll send someone to pick you up. Remember, don’t agree to any promises. Just wait for the company’s arrangements,” Uncle Benshan instructed.

He had half expected his protégé to become arrogant like Xiao Shenyang after such a sudden rise, but hearing that Xu Ming’s first call upon waking was to him reassured him greatly.

This kid was sensible, sparing him the need for more discipline.

“Got it,” Xu Ming replied.

He hung up, then called his family to let them know he was safe.

After some thought, he called Xiao Shenyang.

“Brother Shenyang, sorry, but I might not be able to make the commercial performance. Master told me to follow his arrangements entirely.”

“No worries. With your current status, the money you were offered before is definitely not enough,” Xiao Shenyang’s voice sounded casual. “Congratulations, little brother. You blew up on the Spring Festival Gala — the papers are full of you and Yadan.”

“Heh, just lucky. It’s all thanks to Master’s good training. I won’t keep you now; we’ll talk later,” Xu Ming said, careful not to reveal too much.

Although he trusted Xiao Shenyang’s character, just in case he had become cunning and was recording, he kept his tone guarded.

On the other end, Xiao Shenyang put down the phone. He didn’t harbor the nasty thoughts Xu Ming suspected; he hadn’t even considered recording, but his expression was sour.

In his view, that opportunity should have been his.

He was only one step away — just one step — from being the one to explode with fame.

Who was to blame?

The Spring Festival Gala review panel? He didn’t have the courage for that.

His master? He must be deluded.

Xu Ming? That guy still remembered to call him back after getting famous; he owed everything to Xu Ming.

Xiao Shenyang rubbed his face. He had a secret nobody knew: last night he dreamed that he was the one on stage wearing a kilt, becoming wildly popular, pride swelling his nostrils.

But upon waking, reality hit — the overnight sensation was not him, but Xu Ming.

*Ding!*

[Message from Xu Ming: Brother Shenyang, I’ve been working on a song specially for you called “My Name Is Xiao Shenyang.” I’ll send you the lyrics and score later.]

Xiao Shenyang read the message and slapped himself twice.

“Little brother, you’re too kind to me. How could I possibly be jealous of you? You’re too good.”

...

Meanwhile,

Xu Ming put down his phone, feeling he had done all he could.

Having taken the chance that belonged to someone else, this song was his way of making amends.

On second thought, maybe Xiao Shenyang preferred a simple, quiet life.

Not everyone could bear the pressure of sudden fame overnight.

He would rather shoulder that burden alone, sparing no part of it for others.

Besides, the glory of instant fame wasn’t as joyful as imagined, because such joy was beyond imagination.

“I smile proudly, oh so proudly~”

Humming a tune, Xu Ming took off his clothes and headed to the bathroom to freshen up.

When he met the person his master had sent to pick him up,

he was already dressed in a fully covered suit, his face hidden behind huge sunglasses.

This exaggerated outfit shouted one thing:

Come and take my picture!

*Click! Click! Click!*

Outside the hotel, flashes from cameras lit up the night.

Xu Ming’s appearance shattered countless film rolls.

“Xu Ming, over here! We’re from Sohu.com. What special feelings do you have about your overnight rise?”

“We’re from Phoenix TV. We heard that ‘No Money Worries’ was created just fifteen days before the Spring Festival Gala live broadcast. Is that true?”

“Xu Ming, you first starred in ‘Loser Gentlemen,’ and now you play an effeminate role. Isn’t that just for show? Do you think you’re setting a good example for teenagers?”

The first two microphones brought to him were met with a calm expression, but when the third question was hurled, he was almost cursing under his breath.

What did he have to do with being a role model for teenagers? Those questions belonged to Aoi Sora and Ai Iijima.

He glanced closely at the logo on the third reporter’s microphone — Weekly Magazine.

That explained everything. This unscrupulous media outlet had no boundaries.

They had previously fabricated the “Bawang Shampoo Cancer Scandal,” nearly bankrupting the brand. By the time the company won their appeal, public attention had shifted elsewhere. Truly shameless.

He hadn’t expected that, focused on Hong Kong’s entertainment circle, they would come to interview him.

Clearly, he was shining brilliantly.

“Sorry, I’m not quite sure what’s going on yet. Thank you all for your love and attention. I’ll work hard to repay you with more works. If you have questions, please ask my master. Don’t ask me — I know nothing,” Xu Ming said, waving awkwardly at the camera like a fledgling chick.

He then followed the person sent by his master into a nearby business van.

In no time, they arrived at the Spring Festival Gala production team.

Though only one night had passed, Xu Ming felt like he was revisiting familiar grounds.

Everyone he passed wore dazzling smiles and radiated endless goodwill.

He finally understood what Huang Bo had once said: after becoming famous, everyone around you is good.

It was like a monkey climbing a tree — looking up all you see is behinds, looking down all you see are smiling faces.

Pushing open the rehearsal room door, the applause reached him before he even appeared.

“Come, let’s give a big round of applause to our two stars from last night’s skit,” Uncle Benshan said with a smile.

Xu Ming and Yadan stood in the center, both feeling somewhat out of place.

The former half-played the part, the latter fully aware that he was merely a supporting role.

Though both acted in “No Money Worries” and had roughly equal screen time, only one had exploded nationwide, and that was Xu Ming.