Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
How could Hong Dali miss something like that? His eyes lit up like a light bulb. “New setup! Okay! I will be there tomorrow!”
“Oh, I will go back first…” As she spoke, Lin Chuyin turned around and left without looking at anyone else.
The classmates shouted, “Big Bro Dali is mighty and powerful! That’s the Blood Consort! Blood Consort! She actually invited Big Bro Dali on her own accord!”
Tang Muxin put her finger on her lips and asked curiously, “Sister Chuyin is a little weird today. She has never taken the initiative to invite anyone to her laboratory. Dali, you… Dali?”
It was no wonder Tang Muxin was shocked. One could see the stars of happiness in Hong Dali’s eyes. He was drooling. “Haha… new setup… Hahahaha… It must be pretty amazing… Hahaha…”
Tang Muxin pinched Hong Dali’s ears. “Hong Dali! Do you have to be so happy!”
Hong Dali shook his head hard. “Happy! Of course, I’m happy! Why would I not be happy? I have to be happy. Who else would be happy if not me?!”
“Who cares about you!” Tang Muxin turned her head away angrily but suddenly exclaimed. “Dali, Liu Mingxin is walking over. And there’s someone with him whom we have never seen before.”
Hong Dali looked over. “Eh? Old Liu is here too?” He chuckled as he welcomed them. “Old Liu, you are actually here? Haha. Who is this big brother? He must be someone to be able to walk alongside you!”
Liu Mingxin was graceful as usual and smiled kindly as he spoke, “Hehe, happy coming of age ceremony. Congratulations on becoming eighteen. Speaking of which, your speech was really…” Liu Mingxin didn’t know how to continue to praise Hong Dali. He held his breath for two seconds, then and finally said, “It was really special.”
Hong Dali was embarrassed. “Haha, that, that is…” He then looked toward Liang Yifeng, who was standing beside. “This big brother… you look so handsome and chic. Why don’t you introduce yourself, hehe.”
To call him “handsome and chic” on their first meeting, Liang Yifeng was slightly self-satisfied. He quickly introduced himself, “Hello, hello. I’m Liang Yifeng. I came uninvited today. Haha. I like reciting poetry and am okay with singing too. Of course, it would be better with beautiful ladies. Haha, hahaha.”
Okay at singing and with beautiful ladies, but reciting poetry was the main point?
Hong Dali was surprised as he asked, “You… you like to recite poetry? That’s pretty rare. What kind of poetry do you like to recite?” This Liang Yifeng looked like he came from southern Guangdong. There was a slight Cantonese slang when he spoke.
It seemed like Liang Yifeng really enjoyed reciting poetry. “Shall I recite a section for you? Yes yes, the poetry that I’m reciting is ‘Overnight at Master’s Mountain Lodge When Ding Failed to Arrive.’ Listen carefully!”
Hong Dali understood there and then what it meant by as easy as crushing weeds and smashing rotten wood, simply unstoppable.
Liang Yifeng’s recitation was cadenced and rich in feelings, and his voice had its ups and downs. Sometimes, he cast flirtatious looks; sometimes, he stretched his neck and looked around. Sometimes, he even set his eyes far away as though he was admiring the scenery.
That sorrowful expression, superb acting, expression, and actions complemented each other. Raising his head and pursing his lips at times, the surrounding audience had only praises for him!
In actual fact, his recital was just his hobby. But he had forgotten one thing—he was surrounded by the nouveau riche. With their phones and internet speed…
Just as he finished the recital, those unreliable nouveau riche classmates around Hong Dali had shared it on the internet. His distressed expression, and the different tones of his voice, it was simply amazing. It would be effortless for him to join All-Stars. Hong Dali was already rolling on the floor laughing and managed just one sentence. “Your recital is so stupendous. Does your family know?”
Liang Yifeng looked contented when he finished reciting. “That’s a must. I have practiced this for years!” The feeling he got from people looking at him was as though he had just rolled on the bed with a girl he liked 1 . “I have special recitation skills. For example, in the early part of the poem, I pretended to look around the scenery, with the corresponding action. In the last sentence of the poem ‘Playing lute under a wayside vine,’ because this poem depicts the author waiting for a friend, so I needed to continue to look around. Aye, it’s a pity that in this time and era, people are too impetuous and exaggerated. Everyone is defeated by money, attracted by women. Fewer and fewer people are in contact with poetry, which has deep meaning and connotation. It’s the great misfortune of the people of the Heavenly State. The great misfortune!!”
Hong Dali agreed fully and nodded as he said, “In the world of literature, you are indeed very expressive and creative, Old Liang. I think that with your skill, a show with you in it is sure to be popular!”
Liang Yifeng was shocked. “A show? A TV show? To think I will be suitable for TV shows?”
Hong Dali smacked his thigh and said, “Of course! I even thought of the name of the show! It will be ‘Old Liang Recites Poetry’! We’ll get a table, place a cup of tea on it, you can hold a fan and recite poetry for the TV viewers. Then you can explain the meaning behind the poetry, and the goodness of it. All others aside, Old Liang, just with your looks and appearance, your sorrowful expression, you living in poetry… I’m sure that will attract more people to enjoy the charm of ancient poetry recitation. You will definitely be popular!”
Hong Dali continued with his glib tongue, “Think about it, the young people are not in much contact with ancient poetry. They cannot understand the feelings and meaning of it. You can encourage them to come in contact with it. This is a good deed that will benefit them for generations to come. Not anyone could do that!”
Tang Muxin was almost rolling on the ground laughing when Hong Dali finished speaking. This Hong Dali was really mischievous.
Liu Mingxin burst out in laughter as well. “Haha, I think that works! Old Liang, you’ve traveled the world and have come in contact with everything. Not just ‘Old Liang Recites Poetry,’ I think you can produce a show called ‘Old Liang and the World.’ Just with your knowledge and exposure, you are sure to be popular!”
Hong Dali decisively concluded for Liang Yifeng. “Yes, yes, yes! Old Liang, allow me to say something. Think about it, students these days sit in their classrooms all day. What can they learn? Nothing, right? If you go on TV, parents are sure to allow their kids to watch you. At that time, the viewership ratings will definitely go up. Old Liang, you will be popular! I can pull some strings with Tianjing Satellite TV and introduce you to some people. How is that?”
While Hong Dali and Liu Mingxin chimed each other’s thoughts, Liang Yifeng was a little light-headed. He had enjoyed poetry from a young age and had depended on it to chase after girls. If he were to go on a TV show and became popular, wouldn’t he have the chance to meet some stars? With his family background, it would be a piece of cake to be surrounded with the ladies!
He instantly smacked his thigh. “Deal. I’ll do it!”
With his mind made up, Liang Yifeng turned around to leave. “I have to go back and do some preparations. Poetry is our country’s treasure. I can’t mess it up. Aye, as a new-age man with ideals and aspirations, I have to do my best…”
After he walked a few meters away, he smacked his head. “Damn, I was distracted. I was intending to challenge him properly. Who knew I got distracted before I even initiated anything? This can’t do, I need to go back. All things aside, I want to see who has better luck with women!”
There was a priority in everything. He must not forget his purpose for coming.
As he was turning around, Liu Mingxin stopped him and pointed toward Hong Dali. “Don’t bother competing. Take a look first.”
Liang Yifeng turned his head to look. “Look at what— What?!”
It was such a coincidence. Just as Hong Dali was done settling everything on hand, Li Nianwei came to see him. She smiled as she waved to him from far. “Young Master, I finally have some free time. Your speech was really funny.”
Seeing Li Nianwei approaching him, Hong Dali need not to worry about his pillow. “Sister Nianwei! I’m tired! Quick, come here!”
In an amazing stroke of luck, he tripped over one of the waiters in his hurry. Liang Yifeng stood afar dumbfounded as he saw Hong Dali stagger. Li Nianwei got anxious and stepped forward to hold Hong Dali. Puu. As Hong Dali’s landed on Li Nianwei’s pushed up bosom…
Watching the scene in front of him, Liang Yifeng’s eyes almost popped out. His jaw dropped, forming an ‘O’ shape. “Oh man, how is that possible?!” He felt cold air rush from the soles of his feet to the tip of his head.
That was blatant cheating!
Liu Mingxin shrugged his shoulders helplessly. “See it now? You’re courting death if you’re trying to compete with Dali. I’ve known him for quite a while now. I try to avoid any direct confrontation with him and will be glad if he doesn’t look for me.”
Liang Yifeng had not come to his senses. He mumbled, “I… I saw it… Okay… I’ll heed your advice this time…”
As they spoke, a young man’s voice came from behind. “Hey, isn’t this Liu Mingxin and Liang Yifeng? You two actually came?”
Liu Mingxin turned his head to see a man dressed in clothes which brands he could not identify. But they must cost a lot. He was smiling and had a red birthmark in the middle of his forehead. Looking like Erlang Shen with his third seeing eye, he smiled as he said, “I was wondering who it was. It turns out to be brother Mu Zixiao. Hehe. I heard you came to the capital city. Why didn’t you look for me?”
Mu Zixiao laughed. “Haha, that can be easily arranged. East’s Mingxin, West’s Zixiao, South’s Yifeng, North’s Dali, it seems everyone is here today. That’s really rare. Old Liang, why are you here? I thought you would be in bed with some female star.”
Liang Yifeng laughed and said, “I came to take a look as I was curious. I didn’t think it would be a rewarding day, haha. Oh yes, Zixiao, shouldn’t you be training in Modo? What made you come all the way here? Don’t tell me, is it because of Hong Dali?”
