Chapter Fifty-Nine: A New Level of Ugliness

Chapter Fifty-Nine: A New Level of Ugly

Still exploring, preparing to brew something.

Zhang Le’s answer made everyone pause for a moment, then they understood and laughed. The show had just begun—how could anyone have any real feelings yet?

“Still exploring, preparing to brew something! I bet once the show airs, this phrase will become a catchphrase for countless people,” He Jun chuckled. “Xiao Meng, do you have any dreams?”

“Still exploring, preparing to brew something!” Xie Meng was taken aback, but quickly caught on and said, “Xiao Wei, what do you want to do later?”

“Still exploring, preparing to brew something.” Wei Hai smiled. “Sometimes I really admire Zhang Le. A few simple words from him can be so striking—sometimes profound, sometimes laughable, but always cool. Who knows, maybe soon the internet will be full of ‘Zhang Le quotes.’ Which one do you all like best?”

“Don’t fall for me, I’m just a legend!” Xie Meng struck a pose for the camera.

“Why did you give up treatment?” Wei Hai pointed at Xie Meng, his face serious.

“You city folks really know how to have fun!” He Jun continued, then turned to Yang Xin’er. “Xin’er, which of Zhang Le’s quotes do you like best?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Yang Xin’er laughed. “Everyone on earth knows.”

“How come I don’t know? Am I an alien?” Wei Hai asked, puzzled.

“Everyone on earth knows. Is that the one you like?” Xie Meng asked.

“Silly! Think about it, their relationship makes it clear.” He Jun looked at them in disdain. “The audience knows. Come on, everyone, help them out! I’ll count to three—one, two, three!”

“I love you!”

The audience replied in unison.

“Really?” Wei Hai still looked at Yang Xin’er, unconvinced.

“No!” Yang Xin’er laughed.

“I told you it was ‘Everyone on earth knows,’” Xie Meng said confidently.

“No, it’s not!” Yang Xin’er shook her head, smiling. “Looks like not everyone on earth knows.”

“So which is it?” He Jun asked.

“It’s ‘Don’t worry, I’m here!’” Yang Xin’er glanced at Zhang Le. “He said it to me, unintentionally, while filming a show.”

Everyone knew this was something Zhang Le had said during the recording of “With You Along the Way.”

“Who would have thought the most touching thing for a girl isn’t ‘I love you,’ but ‘Don’t worry, I’m here!’” He Jun sighed. “Anyone trying to win a girl’s heart, take note.”

“In fact, Zhang Le has many memorable sayings, and his talent will naturally shine in his first film. Many lines in it are classics,” He Jun continued. “Let’s take a look at the trailer for his movie.”

As He Jun finished speaking, everyone turned to the big screen. It was known that the show would play the trailer of Zhang Le’s film, but he hadn’t expected He Jun to link it so seamlessly. The script hadn’t called for it.

Top hosts like He Jun often improvise rather than stick strictly to the script, which adds much to the show. He Jun’s hosting skills were among the best in the country. Even without a script, he could handle things perfectly.

The trailer played was different from the one Zhang Le had released online; it was newly edited.

The trailer began with a scene Zhang Le had added to the original.

“To spar with Daddy is endless fun!”

Xie Xiaomeng’s Hong Kong-accented Mandarin rang out, followed by his dad beating him in the bathroom. Bao Shihong watched gleefully and commented, “These days, if you don’t rely on your dad, you end up tricking him instead!”

“Copycat! Even gallstones from the Jade Emperor aren’t worth millions.” Stone appeared, with the real estate boss’s words in the background. Then Jack entered, having his belongings stolen by some petty thieves, and blurted out, “I’m gonna burst a lung!”

Next, Dao Ge and his two companions unlocked the rooftop. Dao Ge solemnly declared, “My career is on the rise.”

After a few shots of the jewel heist, Jack slid from the rooftop straight for the gem. Blackie crawled through the sewer, chaos ensued, and Bao Shihong looked up and shouted in a raspy voice, “Public bathrooms! Come and go as you please!”

The final scene showed Yang Xin’er by the river with the jewel. Bao Shihong smiled and said, “It’s fake!”

“‘Crazy Stone,’ quietly releasing on February 2nd!”

“February 2nd—‘quietly’ releasing! Everyone says ‘spectacular release,’ how did you come up with ‘quiet’? Can you even keep it quiet?” Xie Meng laughed.

“It’s just a low-budget comedy, so there’s no money for grand publicity. Even if I wanted to make a splash, I couldn’t,” Zhang Le replied with a smile.

“I heard you didn’t write a theme song for this film?” He Jun asked, smiling.

“That’s right,” Zhang Le nodded.

“Why? Isn’t a theme song great for promoting your film? The theme song you wrote for ‘Waiting to Return,’ ‘Fleeting Fireworks,’ added so much to the movie!” Wei Hai asked, puzzled.

And this was a question many had.

“As a director, I prefer fans to focus on my directing talent, not my musical skills,” Zhang Le smiled. “I’m afraid if the song is too good, it will overshadow my work as a director.”

“That’s a pity,” Xie Meng said. She loved Zhang Le’s songs. As for his movies, she wasn’t familiar enough to say she liked them.

“So, when the film comes out, I hope you’ll all support it,” Yang Xin’er said with a smile.

“Don’t worry. Someone will book out the whole theater. Right, Xiao Meng?” Wei Hai looked at Xie Meng.

“Book out the theater? No problem.” Xie Meng patted her chest, then turned to Zhang Le. “But there’s a catch.”

“What catch? I’ll persuade him to agree,” Wei Hai promised.

“I love Zhang Le’s songs, but this film doesn’t have a theme song. If he sings a few lines and reaches a new level of ugly with it, I’ll book ten—no, twenty screenings.” Xie Meng grinned at Wei Hai. “Hurry up and persuade him.”

Wei Hai’s expression changed, then he asked uncertainly, “Are you sure you want me to talk him into singing ‘I’m Ugly’?”

“Is there a problem? If you back out, how can you call yourself a real man?” Xie Meng scoffed.

“I am a real man,” Wei Hai pretended to be cornered, then turned to Zhang Le. “I really want to hear how you, a handsome guy like me, could sing ugliness to new heights. Please, I want to see your movie at her booked screenings. Don’t be shy.”

“You’re sure?” Zhang Le asked, smiling.

“Can I not be sure?” Wei Hai hesitated. He knew Zhang Le could improvise—his “Song of the Pig” had been created on the spot, and now whenever it’s mentioned, everyone laughs at Lin Xiaofan. Was he about to make a fool of himself?

“No way!” Xie Meng said. “Mr. He, you must be fair!”

“Actually, I want to hear it too. Xiao Wei, just put up with it,” He Jun laughed. “But no recycling old tunes!”

“All right! For the sake of the show, I’ll sacrifice myself,” Wei Hai looked heroic for a moment, then turned to the audience. “Remember to up the prize money for me. Best if you deduct it from those two.”

“Are you ready?” Xie Meng, for once, ignored Wei Hai and looked to Zhang Le.

“I’ll sing a few simple lines,” Zhang Le smiled. “Purely for entertainment, don’t try this at home!”

“Ugly freak, dare you not turn on the light. The love you seek lurks in a stage shrouded in darkness. Ugly freak, in this ambiguous age, your existence is like an accident...”