LOI Chapter 61 — Professional Skills

At the end of each year, inexplicable rankings would emerge – popularity indexes, trending celebrities, most beloved couples, and so on. Rong Ke had topped almost all of these lists.

Despite spending most of his time either on set or at home, hardly making public appearances, he remained firmly in the public eye, garnering more attention than some celebrities who actively sought the spotlight.

Rong Ke ultimately decided against the chocolate endorsement. It wasn’t because he found another way to make money; rather, he changed his mindset. He figured there were ways to raise a son whether rich or poor. As long as the kid wasn’t starving, everything would be fine.

The director of “Patchwork Family” formally invited Rong Ke to reprise his role as Sha Ya in the second season, but Rong Ke politely declined.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Lin called to criticize him. “Do you know how annoying you are?”

Rong Ke was puzzled. “What did I do?”

“You’re like that kid in class who never studies but always gets top marks,” Zhou Lin grumbled. “I’m way more career-driven than you. How come I’m not as famous?”

“Uh,” Rong Ke glanced at Yan Zhi, who was massaging him, and said, “Maybe you should find a CP to settle down with.”

Zhou Lin hissed, “You’ve got a point.”

Rong Ke didn’t turn down all work offers. Before the year’s end, he accepted one last job – participating in a streaming platform’s New Year’s Eve gala.

In recent years, the streaming platform’s New Year’s Eve galas had become increasingly impressive, even surpassing major TV networks in viewership. With deep pockets, they managed to book the year’s hottest celebrities and create innovative, unconventional programs. It was gradually becoming seen as a warm-up to the Spring Festival Gala.

Rong Ke’s segment involved singing the “Patchwork Family” ending theme with Zhou Lin and Xin Ran. Since none of them were professional singers, the performance’s highlight lay in its stage design. The trio would engage in a fight scene mid-song, and Rong Ke had been rehearsing with them for this part recently.

Yan Zhi was also busy. He would frequently meet with Jiang Hua to discuss various issues related to “Express.”

Even on the night of the New Year’s Eve gala, he arrived fashionably late, twenty minutes after the livestream had started, and discreetly took a seat beside Rong Ke.

“How was dinner?” Rong Ke asked, leaning close to Yan Zhi’s ear and covering his mouth.

A virtual idol was dancing on stage, with the audience waving glow sticks as cameras occasionally captured their reactions.

“Some industry veterans showed up today. They said you haven’t been tested in the film market yet, so it’s unclear how much box office draw you have. They suggested ‘Express’ avoid peak release periods to prevent becoming collateral damage for other films.”

Rong Ke nodded. “Express” was his first starring role in a movie, and his box office appeal was an unknown quantity for everyone involved.

He asked, “What does Director Jiang think?”

“I suggested he submit the film to the Sand Harbor Film Festival first,” Yan Zhi said. “From approval to release in the mainland, it would take at least until the second half of the year. Sending it to Sand Harbor means we won’t have to wait as long. A limited preview screening can help build word-of-mouth, and if we manage to win an award, it could boost our mainland screenings.”

As Yan Zhi eloquently outlined his plans, Rong Ke couldn’t help but sigh. “You really do love what you do, don’t you?”

He could actually empathize with Zhou Lin’s feelings, because Yan Zhi was that student everyone envied in class. You’d think he was just good-looking, but then you’d discover his artistic talent. You’d assume he only excelled in arts, but then you’d find out he had excellent grades too.

How could such a person exist?

Oh right, it’s his husband. Never mind then.

“Of course,” Yan Zhi said. “If I didn’t love you, I wouldn’t fuck you. It’s the same principle”

Just then, the camera panned over, and the large screen above the stage captured the two of them whispering to each other. Rong Ke broke out in a cold sweat.

He maintained a smile but hissed through gritted teeth, “Shut up.”

Yan Zhi grinned and waved at the camera.

An hour into the gala, staff members called Rong Ke and his two co-stars backstage to prepare.

The “Patchwork Family” segment was anticipated to be the night’s first highlight, and it certainly delivered. When the trio emerged from the rising platform, the venue erupted in deafening screams. The audience seats were a sea of frantically waving glow sticks.

Although none of them were particularly skilled singers, the pre-recorded backing track was loud enough to compensate, resulting in a decent vocal performance.

Midway through, as the fight scene began, Rong Ke donned Sha Ya’s iconic sunglasses, driving the atmosphere to new heights.

The streaming platform’s deep pockets showed in the incredibly realistic stage effects. When Xin Ran used her wind blade to sever Rong Ke’s arm, a 3D projected wind blade first flew at Rong Ke, followed by a mid-air appearance of Sha Ya’s torso and the severed arm effect.

The venue fell silent, leaving only the sound of the three protagonists’ breathing.

The audience watched intently as the severed arm and Rong Ke’s image on the big screen moved. Rong Ke twisted his neck and rolled his shoulders. As the special effect of the severed arm disappeared, he suddenly raised the arm that should have been cut off, indicating Sha Ya’s super-regeneration was complete.

—Had the streaming platform’s stage effects not been up to par, this performance would have looked completely ridiculous.

The audience erupted in screams once more, but the fight wasn’t over yet.

Xin Ran gradually lost ground, while Zhou Lin’s psychic control ability was difficult to portray with special effects, so he could only rely on the other actors’ performances.

Sha Ya grabbed the boss’s neck. One squeeze, and the boss’s body would go limp.

He resisted the boss’s mental control, struggling to exert force while his hand refused to obey. But as they remained deadlocked, Sha Ya’s eyes suddenly cleared. The boss had given up using his psychic power.

“Kill me,” Zhou Lin looked at Rong Ke mournfully, reciting his line from the drama.

“Heh.” With no resistance left, Rong Ke withdrew his hand. “How boring.”

The iconic scene from the drama was recreated, and the screams in the arena nearly tore the roof off.

Qin Sui, who was seated diagonally behind Yan Zhi, clapped enthusiastically and shouted, “That’s my Rong-ge for you! Born to be Sha Ya!!”

After the performance, Rong Ke and Xin Ran returned to their seats, but Zhou Lin didn’t come back. He had another performance coming up – a traditional Chinese duo dance with Qin Sui.

Qin Sui was a straightforward young man. When he said he’d livestream, he did. The day after Zhou Lin won Best Actor, Qin Sui dressed up in ancient-style women’s clothing. With false eyelashes and lipstick, his delicate appearance sent the livestream’s viewership soaring.

But the moment he opened his mouth, everything went sideways. Viewers flooded the comments, begging him to be quiet. Zhou Lin even called personally, promising to treat him to a Michelin-starred meal averaging 5000 yuan per person if he stayed silent for five minutes.

Qin Sui’s fans scoffed: “Impossible. Our boy won’t be bought so easily.”

But Qin Sui replied, “You said it yourself.”

And then he shut up for five minutes.

Their CP super topic exploded. This happened recently, so the award show producers thought to invite them for a duo dance.

When this news broke, even Qin Sui’s fans thought it impossible. Their silly son was obviously uncoordinated. How could he dance?

Qin Sui’s assistant leaked: The show offered a price they couldn’t refuse.

At first, Rong Ke also thought the producers were dreaming. But as he watched the two ancient-style beauties move in perfect harmony on stage, he couldn’t help but admit—

Money really can make the impossible happen.

After the program, both changed back into suits and returned to their seats.

Rong Ke couldn’t help but tease Zhou Lin, “Your professional skills are really impressive.”

“Of course,” Zhou Lin said. “If you had my drive, you’d be an international star by now.”

“What skills?” Qin Sui chimed in from behind. “The teacher said to hold the ribbon when turning. You forgot again, and that ribbon almost flew into my mouth.”

“How old are you, Qin Sui?” Zhou Lin turned back to say. “Stop calling him teacher,’ will you? You sound like a grade-schooler.”

“You’re the grade-schooler! Your whole family’s grade-schoolers!” Qin Sui exploded, rattling off, “It takes ten tries to learn one move. And you were an idol?”

Rong Ke asked in surprise, “You were an idol?”

“I was just a trainee for a year,” Zhou Lin explained, then said to Qin Sui, “You’re so obsessed with my past. Are you secretly in love with me?”

Qin Sui immediately looked shocked. “Are you crazy, or am I?”

Just then, the camera panned over. Rong Ke quickly elbowed Zhou Lin, reminding him, “Smile.”

The two instantly switched on their professional smiles.

Yan Zhi, on the other side, couldn’t stop laughing. “Are all you actors this good at acting?”

With the camera still on them, Rong Ke smiled and said, “Have you forgotten you’re half an actor yourself?”

“I never act,” Yan Zhi said, draping an arm over Rong Ke’s shoulder and planting a kiss on his cheek. “I’m always genuine.”

The big screen captured Rong Ke’s dumbfounded expression, and the screams in the venue nearly drowned out the host’s scripted words.

Rong Ke wanted to punch someone. Once the camera moved away, he pinched Yan Zhi’s thigh and said, “Can’t you behave for once?”

“Xiongdi, you’re something else,” Zhou Lin said, giving a thumbs up. “Although my professional skills are decent, I can’t match your fan service abilities.”

“That’s enough from you too,” Rong Ke said. “Stop provoking Qin Sui, or the gossip accounts will say you two don’t get along.”

“They won’t,” Zhou Lin said lazily, leaning back in his chair. “I’m just teasing him.”

Halfway through the gala, related hot topics frequently appeared on Weibo.

The recreation of the “Patchwork Family” scene and the duo dance by Zhou and Qin were already trending, but even Yan Zhi’s impulsive kiss on Rong Ke’s cheek was high on the entertainment charts.

Rong Ke could only comfort himself. This was just how his husband was. What could he do?

He opened his work group chat, intending to send everyone New Year’s red envelopes, when suddenly Luo Fei sent a few messages:

[Boss, we received a very strange email in our work inbox]

[Email screenshot]

[This person claims to be your mother]

Rong Ke froze, feeling all the blood in his body rush to his head in an instant.