Xu Chunliang gave him a slight smile, and Xudong smiled along too. As soon as he smiled, he forgot to sing, his mind went blank, and he didn’t even know where he was. Standing on stage holding the microphone with a silly grin on his face, he didn’t move his mouth at all, yet the music and singing kept playing.
Now everyone realized this guy was lip-syncing. Xu Chunliang gently kicked Sheng Chaohui and whispered, "He’s lip-syncing!"
Sheng Chaohui imdiately understood and pointed at Xudong on stage, saying, "We spent so much money to invite you here, and you’re lip-syncing?"
Sheng Chaohui was representing Enheng Pharmaceutical today, and as soon as he spoke, the employees from Enheng Pharmaceutical participating in the recording all started to protest. In fact, everyone noticed, but due to the program’s effect, they didn’t say anything. Now that the boss spoke up, everyone took the opportunity to vent their dissatisfaction. Luckily, it wasn’t a concert; otherwise, water bottles would have been thrown at Xudong.
Although Xudong had dozens of fans, his general popularity was still lacking. Seeing this scene, the director quickly asked the host, Su Qing, to step in and calm things down.
Before Su Qing could take the stage, Xudong, humiliated by the jeering audience, embarrassingly fled off stage. The few fans he had lost even more due to the lip-syncing.
Sheng Chaohui believed Xudong’s mishap today had sothing to do with Xu Chunliang. It must have been him ddling behind the scenes, and you should never offend Xu Chunliang, or there would be dire consequences. He had experience in this.
Xudong didn’t even return to his seat but left in embarrassnt with his assistant.
Su Qing hurriedly took the stage. With her strong control skills, she quickly salvaged the awkward situation with a few words. The director, after so backstage discussions, decided to bring forward an acrobatic act called "Fancy Knife Throwing."
Most people had seen such performances, usually involving a male and female perforr. The woman would stand in front of a wooden board while the man threw knives. Typically, they are long-trained partners with a strong rapport.
This pair of perforrs managed to add so flair to the traditional act. First, the female assistant stood in front of the door panel and then held up a large white sheet of paper, covering her upper body.
The acrobat, holding a bunch of knives, threw them from two ters away. With each gasp from the audience, knife after knife pierced through the white paper and embedded into the backdrop.
It must be said that this performance thod was particularly novel and thrilling because the layer of paper added an elent of suspense. The acrobat couldn’t see the assistant’s body, relying on experience and intuition to throw knives, built on the premise of being very familiar with the assistant’s body—a case of practice makes perfect.
After throwing nine knives, the assistant with a graceful figure tore the paper away and walked out unscathed. The audience erupted in thunderous applause, their emotions successfully stirred.
Now, the acrobat wanted to invite a passionate spectator from the audience to participate. If it were magic, the response would have been enthusiastic, but this was knife throwing, and it wasn’t you throwing the knife; you were the target.
Among so many audience mbers, not a single one raised a hand. After all, no one was foolish. People make mistakes, and horses stumble. What if the acrobat made a mistake? A knife to the body could an injury at best or death at worst.
The acrobat suggested letting the caraman decide. Wherever the cara focused on, that person would be selected. As the cara panned back and forth, everyone nervously watched the big screen. When it finally stopped, Xu Chunliang’s mischievous grin appeared on the big screen.
Su Qing didn’t expect such a coincidence. Could Xu Chunliang’s luck be any stranger? How did it happen to pick him?
The acrobat loudly announced, "Now, please welco No. 09 to the stage!"
Only then did Xu Chunliang realize it was him on the screen. He quickly reined in his mischievous grin, trying to look serious. But without realizing it, his expression slipped, and even he found his grin sleazy.
The applause in the venue was extrely enthusiastic. As long as it wasn’t you, you’d be happy to watch the show. However, everyone knew that it was rely to liven up the atmosphere. Even if you went up, they probably wouldn’t really throw the knives, just gesturing a bit to scare and entertain you before letting you co down.
Xu Chunliang also found it quite coincidental. He rembered he was sitting in Sheng Chaohui’s seat, so it must have been pre-arranged for this guy to get up and interact. By a twist of fate, it ended up being him.
Sheng Chaohui shrugged, aning it had nothing to do with him. The TV station had inford him of this interactive segnt, but Sheng Chaohui felt a bit uneasy seeing his nesis Xu Chunliang today. He had been focused on him and Xudong’s issue and had forgotten about it. Now, with so many spectators, it was hard to change participants.
Su Qing was quite surprised to see Xu Chunliang co up. According to the original program, it should have been Sheng Chaohui, and she even had a prepared introduction. Seeing Xu Chunliang was in Sheng Chaohui’s seat, she understood it was definitely a mistake, but given the situation, they could only roll with it and skip the introduction. After all, that script was ant for Sheng Chaohui.
After Xu Chunliang ca on stage, the acrobat warmly shook his hand and exchanged a few pleasantries. He asked Xu Chunliang to introduce himself. Originally, this was Sheng Chaohui’s ti to promote Enheng Pharmaceutical, but Xu Chunliang certainly wouldn’t promote for him; instead, he decided to speak for Changxing Hospital.
Zhao Feiyang muttered in the audience, thinking wasn’t this kind of opportunity ant for Changxing Hospital’s top person? Could Xu Chunliang have secretly paid off the TV station?
The acrobat then handed Xu Chunliang over to the female assistant. She led him to the front of the board, signaled for him to stand properly, then waved her hands in front of him and produced a big apple to place on his head. Honestly, performances like this are a di a dozen, and even the perforrs know it. Thus, they included audience interaction to make it more interesting.
The audience knew what would happen next, each wearing a broad smile, completely unperturbed as long as they weren’t the target.
In the audience, Pei Lin nudged Zhao Feiyang with her elbow and said, "That perforr wouldn’t really shoot the apple with knives, would they?"
Zhao Feiyang nonchalantly replied, "Are you nervous?"
Pei Lin caught the underlying aning and gave him a sideways glance, saying, "Are you done being jealous?" But inside, she was a bit happy; jealousy ant he cared.
Zhao Feiyang didn’t care at all; he was deliberately saying this for Pei Lin to hear, wanting her to think he cared. His mindset had beco increasingly odd, and Pei Lin’s presence in his mind was growing fainter. He even had a strange thought: even if Pei Lin did have sothing with Xu Chunliang, it wouldn’t matter. It would just give him a reason to let go.
The acrobat ca over and asked Xu Chunliang if he was nervous. Xu Chunliang shook his head. With his ntal resilience, he’s seen every dangerous situation. He didn’t believe this knife thrower would dare actually injure him in front of everyone.
Xu Chunliang gestured for him to go ahead.
The acrobat picked up a flying knife and stood two ters away from Xu Chunliang, smiling: "You mustn’t get nervous, and definitely don’t move. If it hits you because you move, don’t bla ."
Xu Chunliang nodded: "I think you’re the one who’s nervous, just get on with it."
The music started playing, and the drumbeat made the atmosphere extrely tense, causing the audience to beco nervous as well. The previous two perforrs had undergone long training and were highly coordinated. Xu Chunliang had no stage performance experience, and if he moved out of fear when the acrobat threw the knife, it would be a tragedy.
Su Qing knew the routine of this kind of performance; the acrobat inviting audience mbers up was just for the stage effect, and he wouldn’t really throw the knife.
Sure enough, the acrobat’s first throw was a feint. He acted as if he threw the knife, but while he made the gesture, the knife was still in his hand. Generally, the audience mber who ca up would get a huge scare, and nine tis out of ten, they’d crouch down or even scream in panic.
But Xu Chunliang didn’t move at all, smilingly looking at that acrobat, leaving the acrobat a bit dumbfounded. It wasn’t supposed to be like this; you should be scared. Once you’re scared, the audience laughs, the stage effect is achieved, and I shake your hand to show my gratitude, then let you go down.
He waved his hand again, and the knife flew out, but this ti it still didn’t head towards Xu Chunliang; instead, it was flung backward, sticking into the big round board.
Xu Chunliang, as steady as a rock, yawned: "Are you going to shoot or not? I’m almost falling asleep."
The audience erupted in laughter, admiring Xu Chunliang’s courage while also feeling embarrassed for the acrobat. Encountering such an uncooperative person made the performance difficult to continue.
The acrobat had never encountered such a situation before; this guy was fearlessly bold.
Xu Chunliang pointed at the apple on top of his head, indicating that the Flying Knife Master should hurry and perform.
The acrobat, spurred on by this guy, stepped back and prepared to throw for real.
In fact, shooting the apple on Xu Chunliang’s head was relatively safe, because even if Xu Chunliang got scared, he could only crouch down, not jump up, which is a normal human response to avoid danger.
The acrobat had so skills too, managing to hit the target within three ters as long as it didn’t move. However, he had never really shot a guest on stage during interaction, not because of lacking skill, but fearing the guest couldn’t handle it ntally.
He aid at the apple on Xu Chunliang’s head and suddenly shot out a knife.
The audience gasped in shock, Pei Lin covered her mouth in fear, and Zhao Feiyang stole a glance at her reaction, furrowing his brows. Why so nervous?
The flying knife precisely hit the apple, splitting it in half.
The acrobat breathed a sigh of relief; this guy was impressive, not moving an inch. This level of courage is not ordinary, and the applause thundered, not only for the Flying Knife Master’s superb skill but also for Xu Chunliang’s extraordinary courage.
The acrobat went over to Xu Chunliang to express his gratitude and to invite Xu Chunliang off the stage.
But Xu Chunliang had no intention of going down imdiately. He pointed to the flying knife in his hand, indicating he wanted to switch places with him.
The acrobat suddenly got a headache. Why did he invite such a difficult guest today, daring to suggest he beco the target while Xu Chunliang throws the knife?
Xu Chunliang said with a smile: "Are you scared?"
The acrobat whispered: "Don’t ss around, we’re professionally trained."
Xu Chunliang said: "I’m professionally trained too."
Su Qing, the host, ca over to smooth things over: "Thanks to our guest Mr. Xu Chunliang for his enthusiastic assistance in the performance. Let’s give them another round of applause for their wonderful show!"
Everyone clapped together.
Today, Xu Chunliang was filled with a desire to perform and actively asked Su Qing for the microphone. Su Qing smiled: "It seems Mr. Xu has sothing to share with everyone." She thought Xu Chunliang wanted to take the opportunity to promote their hospital.
But Xu Chunliang had no such intentions. Into the microphone, he said: "Our performance is only halfway done. I discussed it with this teacher earlier, and we’re going to switch places. He will be the target, and I will throw. Do you all want to see it?"
"Yes, we want to see it!" The audience shouted like a landslide; for those watching, they aren’t afraid of the situation escalating.
The acrobat cursed inwardly. What kind of audience are these? I’m a professional, he’s just a regular audience mber. I can hit accurately, but how could he have the skill?
You really want to see a stage tragedy, especially during the New Year, it’s not auspicious.
Su Qing handed the microphone to the acrobat, thinking it was all for stage effect, and at worst, the director could cut it later: "Teacher Yang, are you willing?"
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