Chapter Thirty-Seven: Taking the Stage at the Mid-Autumn Gala

Jiang Yun smiled.

Shen Cheng said, “Cousin, where have you been making money lately? When are you planning to buy a house? Do you have a girlfriend yet?”

Jiang Yun was taken aback for a moment, but seeing the air of swagger about Shen Cheng, he understood that this cousin was intent on showing off in front of him.

“I’ve been in the capital lately, not doing much,” Jiang Yun replied.

“Cousin, no offense, but you’ve been out of school for almost two years and still haven’t bought a house or a car. Look at me, I bought a car right after graduating!” Shen Cheng jingled his car keys and pressed the button; a Mercedes-Benz parked on the street responded with a beep.

Jiang Yun was speechless. Just a Mercedes? Just you wait—by the end of the year, I’ll have one too, and not just that, I’ll buy a house as well.

“Oh right, Auntie,” Shen Cheng said, turning to his aunt. “I bought you a mink coat.” He pulled a mink coat from his suitcase.

Shen Hua looked at Shen Cheng whose manner reeked of a nouveau riche, and let out an awkward laugh. “What a coincidence! Jiang Yun just got me one too!”

She took the coat and exclaimed, “Hey, look at that—this is exactly the same as the one Jiang Yun bought me.”

“No way, mine’s from LV. Auntie, take out the one Jiang Yun got you and let’s compare.” Shen Cheng was insistent.

Shen Hua hesitated, worried the coat Jiang Yun bought might be a knockoff and she didn’t want to embarrass him.

But Shen Cheng, quick as ever, spotted the coat on the table and picked it up.

“Auntie, I can tell you for sure, the one Jiang Yun got is a high-quality fake,” Shen Cheng announced.

Jiang Yun was at a loss for words, inwardly cursing. Damn it! Mine’s an authentic LV mink, the certificate is still in my backpack.

But he didn’t say anything aloud, curious to see how long Shen Cheng would keep up his act.

Shen Hua forced a dry laugh. She wasn’t embarrassed—she just thought Shen Cheng was meddling way too much.

Whether the mink coat her son bought was real or fake, she was happy. Why was Shen Cheng making such a fuss?

“Auntie’s husband, bring out the wine and cigarettes Jiang Yun brought, let me see,” Shen Cheng continued.

Jiang Jun hesitated.

Just then, Jiang Yun’s phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Yes, I’m in Jiangnan right now.”

“What? … All right, I’ll send you my location.”

After hanging up, Jiang Yun sent over his location.

“Cousin Jiang Yun, who was that?” Shen Cheng shifted focus, dropping the issue of the wine and cigarettes.

“Work stuff,” Jiang Yun replied.

Shen Hua frowned. “What, you have to go out again?”

“Yeah, I’ll step out for a while and be back tonight.”

“What time?” Jiang Jun asked, frowning as well.

“Around nine-thirty, I should be home.”

“That late?” Shen Hua said.

“Maybe not. Might be back around eight or nine,” Jiang Yun amended.

After a while, a Jaguar pulled up in front of the store.

The Jaguar honked.

“Mom, I’m leaving now. I’ll be back tonight!” Jiang Yun called.

Shen Cheng stared in shock as Jiang Yun got into the car and drove off.

“Auntie, what does Cousin Jiang Yun do?”

“I have no idea,” Shen Hua replied, shaking her head.

“Well, I… I’ll be off too,” Shen Cheng muttered, heading to his car, suddenly finding his Mercedes a lot less appealing.

He watched as the Jaguar disappeared down the road.

Seated inside, Jiang Yun asked, “Why so sudden? Isn’t the program list for the Mid-Autumn Gala finalized two months in advance?”

The driver replied, “Mr. Jiang, I’m not sure either. They say the director personally decided to invite you at the last minute.”

“What am I supposed to perform?” Jiang Yun asked.

“I’m not quite sure. You’ll find out when you get there,” the driver answered.

Soon, they arrived at the television studio.

“Ah, Mr. Jiang, you’re finally here. Let me introduce myself: I’m Zhu Wen, director of Jiangnan Television,” the man greeted him.

“Director Zhu, nice to meet you,” Jiang Yun said politely.

“I believe you already know why we invited you,” Zhu Wen said.

Jiang Yun nodded. “I’m afraid I’m not clear on the details.”

“We’d like to invite you to perform two acts,” Zhu Wen explained.

“Two?” Jiang Yun was surprised.

“One is the opening act, and the other is the grand finale. The original performer for the finale couldn’t make it due to unforeseen circumstances.”

Couldn’t make it? Jiang Yun thought to himself, but said aloud, “But I haven’t rehearsed.”

“That’s our oversight, but we trust your professionalism. And we’re offering a five-million appearance fee.”

“Five million? All right,” Jiang Yun agreed. He had no reason to refuse the money, but at the same time, he wouldn’t risk ruining the reputation he’d worked so hard to build.

Without rehearsal, what if he made mistakes on stage? What if the audience didn’t buy a shoddy performance? The Mid-Autumn Gala would be broadcast live on TV and online, with no chance for editing.

“The first act will be a comedic dialogue with Mr. Yue Yun.”

A prompt sounded in Jiang Yun’s mind: “Ding! Host, a hidden mission has been issued: host a comic performance. Complete it to be rewarded with mastery of martial arts.”

Jiang Yun was startled. Even the system wanted him to perform a comic dialogue. No problem—he had the system’s help, and comic dialogues were no challenge for him.

He nodded to Zhu Wen.

“The second act will be singing a new song,” Zhu Wen continued.

Jiang Yun agreed. He had plenty of songs to choose from.

“But…”

“But what?” Jiang Yun asked, puzzled.

“It should be a song fitting for the Mid-Autumn Festival.”

Jiang Yun frowned. That did limit his options. Using his logical clarity, he quickly narrowed it down to two suitable songs and nodded.

“All right, since we still have time, why don’t you and Mr. Yue Yun rehearse your lines?” Zhu Wen suggested.

Jiang Yun went to Yue Yun’s dressing room.

“Jiang Yun, the brilliant talent!” Yue Yun spread his arms wide, offering a hug.

“Mr. Yue Yun,” Jiang Yun responded with equal courtesy.

“Jiang Yun, such a prodigy!”

“Mr. Yue Yun, a master among masters!”

The two embraced, as if they’d been lifelong friends meeting after a long separation.

They only had half an hour and wasted no time, immediately running through the script. Jiang Yun, using his skill for logical clarity, scanned the lines at lightning speed, memorizing everything with a single glance.

Before long, both were able to perform the dialogue fluently.

On stage, the male and female hosts were already opening the show.

“In this golden October, the autumn air is crisp and clear!”

“It’s the Mid-Autumn Festival once again.”

“Today, wanderers return home.”

“Today, families gather together again.”

The male host’s voice carried warmth and emotion. “Welcome, everyone, to the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala presented by Jiangnan TV!”

“Mingming, have you noticed that fewer and fewer people are coming home for the Mid-Autumn Festival these days?” the male host asked.

“Xiao Yang, I have noticed,” Mingming replied.

“And why is that?”

“It’s probably because life’s pace keeps getting faster and faster.”

The two hosts went back and forth in perfect harmony.

“Now, let’s enjoy our first performance: the song ‘Full Moon and Blossoms.’”

“The spring breeze blows and blows, right into my heart,” a lovely female voice sang, accompanied by the gentle strumming of a zither. The voice floated along with the music.

Missing you keeps my heart pounding, unable to sleep.

Why is it, oh why,

You don’t see the meaning in the falling flowers,

And I can only gaze at the bright moon outside the window.

…

When the duet ended, the hosts returned to the stage.

“That song, ‘Full Moon and Blossoms,’ swept us into a dreamlike night of reunion and beauty.”

“Indeed. And now, let’s welcome our next performers—Mr. Jiang Yun and Mr. Yue Yun—who will bring us a comic dialogue!”

“‘Learning to Sing!’” Mingming and Xiao Yang announced in unison.