Chapter 124: Recognized

Chen Nuo had been working here for a week, and he could be said to have heard the name "Forest Comedy Troupe" until his ears were calloused.

The leader of this troupe shared the same surname as him, Chen, and his name was Senlin. He was once Team Leader Su's apprentice.

A few years ago, he suddenly resigned to go out on his own, but as a result, he developed better and better, instead leaving the Mingming Comedy Troupe with almost no room for survival.

Especially before the New Year, Chen Senlin poached the two main pillars of the Mingming Comedy Troupe, the clown Guo Peng and the Flower Fairy Zhou Jinxuan, instantly pushing the Mingming Comedy Troupe to the edge of life and death.

This was a thorn in Team Leader Su's heart, which he would take out and talk about from time to time.

But the Forest Comedy Troupe wasn't even on the same level as their grassroots team.

They were strong and well-equipped, with a total of seven or eight troupe members. Nowadays, they could be considered to have monopolized the comedy performance market in LF City, leaving Su Mingming and the others to survive in the cracks.

Now, it seemed Chen Senlin didn't even want to give them the cracks.

Huo Xiaosi said indignantly: "They did it on purpose, specifically to target us!"

Chen Nuo looked at Team Leader Su, and seeing his face covered with dark clouds, he hurried to the side.

Team Leader Su coughed and said: "Now is a critical moment, everyone come up with ideas to see if there is any way. Their stage is right opposite ours, and they want to fight us. When they take all the limelight, we can only go to the towns to eat the bones others don't want! Are you willing?"

Huo Xiaosi said loudly: "Not willing!"

Not willing didn't seem to have any way either.

This morning, when Zhao Liying went up to sing, the popularity didn't gather. Because she was singing "Fable," while Zhou Jinxuan on the opposite street was singing "Qingzang Plateau," which wasn't even on the same level.

That side was hot and lively, with applause and cheers, while this side only had parents with children, pointing at the Flower Fairy.

When the opening act didn't succeed, it was even more embarrassing when the clown went on stage.

After the morning performance, Optimus Prime summoned the three team members together, his face very serious, "The merchant is very dissatisfied with the promotional effect. If it's still like this in the afternoon, we're done for."

The giraffe said indignantly: "Chen Senlin and the others are too much. We sing, they sing too; we perform clown acts, they immediately perform clown acts too; even our trump card program, Optimus Prime vs. Giraffe, they have to imitate, creating some 'Megatron vs. Big Black Bear.' Team Leader Su, if you ask me, let's just fight them directly!"

"Fight what fight? How do you fight? Go over and fight? We aren't as skilled as others, so we can only admit it!" Team Leader Su said sternly.

Xiao Zhao said very shamefully: "Team Leader Su, it's all my fault. I was singing, and I don't know what happened, but I followed the tune over there."

Su Mingming shook his head and said: "Can't blame you, Zhou Jinxuan was originally trained in bel canto, you definitely couldn't out-sing her. Xiao Zhao, of all the people in this show today, you aren't the one I'm most dissatisfied with."

He turned his head to look at the clown: "Xiao Wang, don't you have anything to say?"

The clown lowered his head and said: "I also made a mistake."

"What do you mean you also made a mistake!" Su Mingming said with great pain, "After you went up, even the last few audience members ran away, causing the host to almost not be able to gather five people when going on stage to draw prizes. Xiao Wang, Xiao Wang, what do you want me to say? Have you really been a clown before? I've been holding this sentence for a long time, why do I feel like you're playing with me?"

I don't know why, but it was clearly a very serious and sad occasion, but Zhao Liying suddenly felt it was very funny. She pinched her hand hard to keep from laughing out loud.

After criticizing the clown, Su Mingming softened a bit and said: "Forget it, forget it. Keep working hard in the future."

"Alright, everyone cheer up. Now let's start brainstorming to see how to gather popularity in the afternoon, we can't be suppressed by Chen Senlin and the others like this anymore. Xiaosi, you speak first, do you have any ideas?"

The giraffe scratched his big belly and said: "Team Leader Su, it looks like we can only use the ultimate move. Why don't you ride me?"

Optimus Prime sighed, "If there's really no other way, we can only bring out this reserved program."

Optimus Prime riding a giraffe sounded very funny, and it really looked funny too.

The sturdy Optimus Prime rode on the fat giraffe, galloping across the stage, causing the audience below to roar with laughter. Relying on this, they snatched quite a bit of popularity back from the other side's Megatron vs. Black Bear.

Relying on this program, the afternoon stage finally wasn't as bleak as the morning.

However, the moment the giraffe took off his doll suit after coming down, in this cold winter of February, a burst of heat rose from his whole body.

His forehead was covered with dense sweat, and his vest was soaked front and back. Both knees and palms were worn out, seeping with scarlet blood.

Zhao Liying on the side couldn't help but exclaim: "Brother Xiaosi, are you okay?"

Huo Xiaosi kept sucking in air, clearly in great pain, "It's okay, sigh, Team Leader Su, did you also gain weight during the New Year?"

Su Mingming took off the Optimus Prime clothes and said a bit embarrassedly: "Maybe gained a few pounds, sorry, Xiaosi, I'll give you an extra 20 yuan today, go back and find some iodine to wipe it."

Swapping being covered in cuts and bruises for 20 yuan in the end, Huo Xiaosi was quite satisfied. He chuckled and said: "That's fine, thank you, Team Leader."

Su Mingming looked at Huo Xiaosi's wound again, "Xiaosi can't do it tomorrow, then what should we do?"

He looked at Xiao Zhao and said: "Xiao Zhao, do you have any special skills? Do you have any personal talents?"

Zhao Liying's face turned red, and she said stammeringly: "Team Leader Su, I only know how to sing, I don't know anything else."

Su Mingming took a deep breath and finally looked at the clown: "How about you, Xiao Wang, do you have any ideas?"

Since it had come to this, Chen Nuo had to say: "I think the Flower Fairy's clothes don't match Xiao Zhao, I suggest, why don't we try changing the style?"

Chen Nuo wasn't a professional entertainment industry planner, and he didn't know how to do publicity.

After discarding his own option, he could only focus on the future big star Zhao Liying.

He felt that Zhao Liying wearing a Flower Fairy outfit was cute, and it was very girlish, but compared to the person wearing a Snow White outfit and singing "Qingzang Plateau," it was really too lacking in personality.

It would be better to wear some traditional Chinese costumes.

If he could let Lu Zhen, Hua Qiangu, or Chu Qiao—any of the three, whoever—show their faces on the streets of Langfang in 2006 to cheer for their work, he thought that even Zhao Liying shouldn't have any objections.

By then, singing two songs like "Far Away," "Blue and White Porcelain," or "Romance in the Rain" might be able to compete with Snow White?

Of course, he didn't say it in such detail when he spoke, only saying that from the perspective of a makeup enthusiast, he thought Xiao Zhao's face shape was round but not lacking in delicacy, and she had a widow's peak on both sides of her forehead, which was full of classical style. If she combed her hair into a bun and wore a long dress, it should look very good.

Su Mingming felt that although the clown he recruited was a waste in terms of performance, he still had a hand in makeup and styling.

Since the clown said so, he believed it seven-tenths in his heart and turned to ask: "Xiao Zhao, what do you think?"

Zhao Liying was both hesitant and moved on the side.

Being moved was because she, like Su Mingming, felt that the clown's eye for things should be good. Hesitating was because, even if she listened to the clown and changed into ancient costumes, could it really have an effect?

Zhao Liying hesitated and said: "Team Leader Su... what do you think?"

Su Mingming sighed deeply, intending to treat a dead horse as a living horse: "Fine, anyway there's no other way."

That night.

In a three-star hotel in LF City.

Chen Senlin let out a satisfied gasp, rolled off Zhou Jinxuan, and lay on the bed contentedly, feeling his limbs go limp, and couldn't help but curse "slut" under his breath.

Zhou Jinxuan also cursed "beast" in her heart almost at the same time.

Chen Senlin propped himself up, leaned against the bed, handed over his finger, and said: "Yours."

Zhou Jinxuan cursed again in her heart, gave Chen Senlin a seductive look, and put Chen Senlin's fingertip into her mouth.

Chen Senlin chuckled: "Have you ever done this to my master?"

Zhou Jinxuan's face stiffened, and she forced a smile: "Brother Senlin, don't joke. How is that possible?"

Chen Senlin said disdainfully: "How is it impossible? Is he, Su Mingming, really a saint? His wife has been gone for so many years, and he's been a monk every day? Tricking ghosts? You really haven't been slept by him? Why don't I believe it."

Zhou Jinxuan whispered: "Brother Senlin, I really haven't. Team Leader Su isn't that kind of person, he doesn't like these things."

Chen Senlin's face turned cold, "He isn't that kind of person?"

Chen Senlin didn't actually hate Su Mingming; he just looked down on the energy in the other party. He was clearly so poor that he couldn't even open the pot, yet he still had to talk about principles. He didn't even know how to utilize the women under his hands, so what kind of leader was he?

Like him, utilizing the psychology of young girls wanting to be stars, first dragging them into the water. Then letting them drag those responsible persons or marketing managers into the water, and just walking step by step like this. In just a few years, there were more and more partners, and the scope of business was getting larger and larger.

However, this was also his luck; who told Su Mingming not to have a capable cousin?

Zhou Jinxuan immediately knew she had said the wrong thing, hurried over, rubbed her body against Chen Senlin's arm, and accompanied with a smile: "Brother Senlin, I was talking nonsense. Just now I was dizzy from you, didn't even know what I was saying, don't be angry."

Chen Senlin sneered: "Su Mingming is a good person, why don't you continue following him? Oh, you're 26, if you don't seize the opportunity now, your life will be over, right?"

Zhou Jinxuan wasn't angry either, and said in a sweet voice: "Yes, Brother Senlin, only you can help me now, I will definitely listen to you, don't be angry with me, okay?" Saying that, her head probed down again.

Ten minutes later, Chen Senlin's anger subsided. She hurried to take advantage of the other party's satisfied appearance and asked: "Brother Senlin, what time is your cousin coming tomorrow?"

Chen Senlin said lazily: "Past 11 o'clock."

Zhou Jinxuan said sweetly: "Brother Senlin, when you go to meet him, take me with you, okay?"

Chen Senlin laughed, and said lightly: "My cousin said he just wanted to chat with me, and told me not to bring outsiders." Zhou Jinxuan hurried to say: "Brother Senlin, as long as you take me, I will definitely not talk nonsense. By then, you two chat, how can it be done without someone to serve tea and water, right?"

Chen Senlin sneered: "Why should I give you this opportunity?"

Zhou Jinxuan cursed Chen Senlin's eighteen generations of ancestors in her stomach, but squeezed out a pitiful smile on her face: "Brother Senlin, just for the sake of me being so obedient, okay?"

Chen Senlin suddenly laughed, turned his gaze around Zhou Jinxuan's face, and said: "It's not impossible... it's just that, in two days, I want to invite Wang Yuanyong from Langfang Department Store to dinner. He is Su Mingming's old connection. As long as this line is cut, Su Mingming and the others will have to roll out of LF City. If you agree to accompany Wang Yuanyong well by then, I will take you to see my cousin tomorrow."

Zhou Jinxuan was torn.

Of course she understood what Chen Senlin meant.

But she had always thought highly of herself. Although she had slept with many men, it was because those men could help her, so she felt it was worth it.

But Chen Senlin's implication now was actually wanting her to sleep with a manager of a small Langfang department store, which was absolutely an unacceptable thing for her who wanted to be a big star.

Chen Senlin saw the hesitation in Zhou Jinxuan's eyes, sneered in his heart, and said lightly: "Then you consider it. However, if you miss this village, there won't be this shop. I won't force you, you consider it clearly yourself."

Zhou Jinxuan was stunned for a long time, finally gritted her teeth, and nodded: "Brother Senlin, I'll listen to you."

Chen Senlin's face immediately showed a warm smile, and said: "That's right. To tell you the truth, you only need to help me with such a small favor to be able to go drink tea and chat with the assistant director of 'Perhaps Love.' Guess how many people are waiting for this opportunity?"

"Xuan, I won't hide it from you either. Although my cousin didn't say it, he must be preparing a new film for which director again. I agreed to let you go, all for the sake of our old friendship. Maybe you'll get a role because of this."

Fuck your old friendship, isn't it still wanting me to play with others? Zhou Jinxuan squeezed out a smile: "Thank you, Brother Senlin."

Chen Senlin chuckled twice, came twice, and was a bit tired, preparing to turn off the light and sleep, but suddenly remembered something, and said lightly: "By the way, you still have to sing well on stage tomorrow, don't be compared, you know?"

Zhou Jinxuan smiled sweetly: "Don't worry, Brother Senlin, I heard that girl today, her pitch isn't accurate, I won't let you down."

Chen Senlin said: "Fine, after you finish singing, go change your clothes, just in time to accompany my cousin."

Zhou Jinxuan's mood was both nervous and excited. It had been so many years, and it seemed this was the step closest to her dream coming true.

She nodded seriously: "Okay, Brother Senlin."

The next day, Zhou Jinxuan really put her heart into it, getting up at eight o'clock to warm up her voice, and was scolded by Chen Senlin who was still sleeping.

Then, she arrived at the scene at 10 o'clock to prepare.

At this time, the clown Guo Peng had also arrived. Seeing her come, he immediately ran over and asked with a full face of smiles: "Xuanxuan, have you had breakfast? I bought you a bun."

Zhou Jinxuan felt very uncomfortable looking at that clown face, endured the annoyance in her heart, and said coldly: "I've eaten, you eat it yourself."

Guo Peng laughed: "Xuanxuan, when we talked on the phone last night, what did you say at the end? I didn't hear clearly at the time and you hung up, and later you didn't reply to my text. What did you say then?"

I said fuck your mother! Idiot.

Speaking of this, Zhou Jinxuan was even angrier.

When this person sent the text yesterday, it happened to be seen by Chen Senlin, who told her to call him.

Her brain was in a daze, she didn't know what she said at all, and finally almost couldn't hold back from screaming, so she hurried to hang up the phone.

She didn't expect this person to mention this matter, he was really stupid.

But no matter what, Guo Peng also jumped to Chen Senlin's side with her, so she couldn't turn her face and deny him so quickly, so she could only prevaricate: "I was asleep at the time, didn't hear it. By the way, has anyone from Su Lao's side come?"

Guo Peng said again: "Not yet. Sigh, Su Lao is really quite pitiful. I guess it won't be long before the troupe disbands. Speaking of which, the comedy performance industry in our Langfang was all pioneered by Su Lao, and now it's fallen to such a state... I really feel a bit sorry for Su Lao."

Zhou Jinxuan thought very clearly and was very disdainful of Guo Peng's kind of womanly benevolence, saying lightly: "In this society now, either you eat others, or others eat you, what's there to be sorry about? If we had kept mixing with Su Team Leader, I guess the end wouldn't have been much better. Alright, I'm preparing to open the show."

At 10:30, Zhou Jinxuan stepped onto the stage on time, the opening song was still her best "Qingzang Plateau."

When singing, she still felt very good, intoxicated in her own sound waves, forgetting herself.

After singing a song, Zhou Jinxuan suddenly found that there weren't as many audience members below the stage as she had imagined. At the same time, she also heard some melodies; it seemed that the street opposite had also opened the show.

At this time, she couldn't care about thinking carefully, and followed up by singing the next two songs, "The Day It Brightened" and "Sky Road." When the host went on stage, Zhou Jinxuan knew that something must have happened, because the audience below her stage was actually much less than she had imagined.

She hurried off the stage and asked Guo Peng: "What exactly is going on?"

Guo Peng said: "Don't know, as soon as that side opened, our audience went over there, and look, there are more and more people over there."

Zhou Jinxuan looked up and saw that, sure enough, the stage over there was surrounded by a large circle of people, and the popularity was much more prosperous than her side.

"You watch here, I'll go over and take a look."

After Zhou Jinxuan said that, she carried her Snow White dress and walked quickly to the opposite street. On the way, the singing also became clear; it was actually a duet of "Far Away."

For a professional like Zhou Jinxuan, she could tell the male voice immediately; it was Su Lao's voice. The vocal line was thick, and the pitch was not bad, just like she said before, if Su Lao lost some weight and shaved his beard, maybe he could occasionally open the show.

However, compared to a professional, it was still far off.

And the female voice was singing the part of Fei Yuqing's "Far Away," and the pitch was almost running far away, which made Zhou Jinxuan want to laugh when she heard it.

But the problem was, with just these two, why were they snatching her audience?

Just after crossing the road, Zhou Jinxuan hadn't walked to the front yet. She didn't have a particularly deep feeling.

She just saw a clue.

That girl was wearing a pink and white wide-sleeved deep robe, so thin that it seemed as if she was just wearing a layer of clouds.

In this weather of the twelfth lunar month, following the cold mist and cold wind that hadn't dissipated in the morning, she seemed to be unaware of the cold or heat.

Following Zhou Jinxuan squeezing into the crowd, her eyes automatically ignored Su Lao who was singing in the corner. Like the audience at the scene, her eyes only had that one girl.

In this cold, pale, and gray city, she was like a flower blooming in winter, the only warm color.

The light robe she wore was particularly eye-catching under the gray sky, and the skirt swayed gently with her steps, as if it were a flowing rainbow light.

Her hair was simply tied up, fixed only with a wooden hairpin, and a few strands of hair danced with the wind, brushing her pure face, her white cheeks slightly flushed due to the cold.

She didn't wear particularly gorgeous makeup, and in Zhou Jinxuan's eyes, she couldn't even distinguish which part of her face she had decorated.

But she must have worn it.

Otherwise, how could the red morning glow be shattered on her face?

How could the green distant mountains become her eyebrows?

Also, Zhou Jinxuan didn't believe that any woman's lips would be as moist and pink as lotus petals stained with morning dew.

At this moment, Zhou Jinxuan understood why so many people were crowded here.

Huo Xiaosi at this time was patting the clown's shoulder hard behind the stage, dancing with excitement, "Wang Xiang, Wang Xiang, didn't expect you to have this hand. What kind of clown are you, you should just change careers."

Su Mingming was grinning so much that his back teeth were exposed on the side.

Chen Nuo actually didn't expect it either.

However, staring at Zhao Liying on stage for a long time, he had to admit that it seemed to look quite good.

The clothes on Zhao Liying were bought by Team Leader Su when he was playing a bit part in "Palace of Desire." It was said to be the princess dress worn by Zhou Xun.

He bought it and prepared to make it a souvenir.

As a result, this outfit, worn by Zhao Liying this morning, was just the right size, and the soft and luxurious style was quite consistent with her temperament.

So Chen Nuo gave Zhao Liying some pointers, following the Korean-style nude makeup style of later generations.

Although it almost missed the time to go on stage, the effect was unexpectedly good.

In "Palace of Desire," the Princess Taiping played by Zhou Xun met Xue Shao at the lantern festival. At that moment, Princess Taiping was like an elf jumping into people's eyes, thus opening Zhou Xun's life of becoming famous.

Zhao Liying was wearing Zhou Xun's clothes at this moment; I don't know if there was any meaning in it.

Although in his opinion, it was just ordinary, maybe it was just the level of a million-follower internet celebrity on TikTok in later generations.

But in 2006, in the eyes of these LF citizens, she seemed to be a phantom that appeared suddenly in this lonely and cold time after the New Year.

She jumped into their daily secular scenery, looking so different and out of place.

You could tell just by listening to what they said.

No one cared how she sang, they were all saying she looked like someone who walked out of the TV.

Chen Nuo suddenly had a big headache at this time. Zhao Liying had set the pitch so high, what should he do if the gap was too big when he went on stage later?

Would Su Mingming swallow him?

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 125 =====