Li Yifeng watched Su He's humble demeanor and suddenly felt a bit uncertain - was it a little or a lot?
The next segment was a calligraphy competition between the Ace Family and the Night Wanderers, with each team sending out one member to write the four characters "Night Wanderers" for comparison.
Before the competition, they could communicate internally and decide who to send.
Song Yi declined outright, while Yu Qing also declined, leaving the opportunity.
The program crew then brought over paper and brush. Li Yifeng looked at Su He: "You go first!"
Su He didn't stand on ceremony, swiftly brushing a few strokes. As the brush danced like a dragon and snake, the four characters emerged vividly on the paper.
"Night Wanderers"
Their colors, their forms, the thickness and thinness, the concealments and revelations - everything had infinite variations, like black and white mist, elusive and profound.
"Wonderful!" Yu Qing couldn't help exclaiming, immediately deciding to use these four characters as the TV series' title.
Calligraphy distinguishes the good from the bad, the high from the low. What Su He wrote was not simply characters, but a realm - he had perfectly infused the spirit of the TV series, reflecting its theme in perfect harmony.
It was fortunate that I stepped back wisely... Li Yifeng looked at the characters on the table and smiled: "Su He's calligraphy can completely defeat the Ace Family team, so I won't embarrass myself further."
At this moment, Shen Teng from the Ace Family snuck over and exclaimed in surprise: "Just announce the winner quickly, is there still a need to compare?"
The Night Wanderers team won another round. Seeing how well Su He had written, the host asked him to leave a calligraphic masterpiece for the program crew.
Li Yifeng ground the ink for Su He. After some reluctance, Su He took up the brush and wrote:
"A noble person is cautious when alone, not deceiving even in private quarters
Cultivating with self-discipline, the contained chapters can be steadfast
A great man stands between heaven and earth
Nurturing the vast and upright air of heaven and earth
Carrying out bright and unvarnished deeds
Overcoming oneself, being cautious when alone, guarding the heart, clarifying one's nature
Using the heart that overcomes others to overcome oneself
Using the heart that accommodates oneself to accommodate others"
When Su He finished, thunderous applause erupted in the venue. Even Li Yifeng couldn't help but sigh: "Flowing like drifting clouds and smoke, each brushstroke profound, using calligraphy to illuminate people and provoke deep thought."
When he looked up at Su He again, Li Yifeng suddenly realized that there had never been a gap between them - it was only his inner jealousy playing tricks.
A food delivery man with outstanding acting skills, making him uncomfortable. But should Su He have to defer to him?
Everyone has their own strengths. Su He is good at acting, singing, and calligraphy, but not necessarily dancing. Li Yifeng suddenly felt enlightened. He had already reached the peak, so why bother competing with a newcomer still climbing the mountain?
Next up was a dance segment by him.
"Su He, can you dance?" Li Yifeng, having cast aside his prejudice, now regarded Su He as a friend.
"A little bit..."
Su He could sense the change in Li Yifeng's attitude and smiled in response.
Having already witnessed Su He's humility, Li Yifeng smiled wryly: "I've heard that food delivery guys are capable of everything except delivering food - everything else, they're professionals..."
"Well, you can't really say that. I'm pretty slick at food delivery too..."
The conversation couldn't continue further, as it was Li Yifeng's turn to perform on stage. Su He sat in the guest seating area.
"Director, when will you pay me the money?" Su He whispered in Yu Qing's ear.
Yu Qing rolled his eyes and said wordlessly: "I'll have accounting transfer it to you later... I mean, it's just three thousand yuan, are you really that concerned?"
"How late is 'later'?" Su He didn't expect Yu Qing to use his go-to phrase - later, next time... with no actual 'later' in sight, just forgotten.
"I'll have accounting transfer the money now, okay?" Yu Qing glared at Su He.
Su He glared back at Yu Qing and said: "Then do it, what are you waiting for?"
On stage, Li Yifeng's dance was equally explosive, met with waves of cheers from the audience. As expected of an idol star, devilishly handsome.
Su He felt a bit antsy too, having just received dance skills as a system reward, but with no opportunity to perform on stage. Li Yifeng seemed to have turned over a new leaf, no longer confrontational towards him - what a pity.
As the program recording neared its end, Su He had few chances to appear, given his relatively minor role and lack of screen time, which was normal.
After receiving the three thousand yuan transfer, Su He changed his clothes backstage and rode his electric scooter out of the TV studio.
It was already 10 PM. Su He planned to head straight home to rest.
A McLaren slowly approached from behind, and Li Yifeng greeted Su He from the driver's seat: "Su He, let's meet again in Kunyang..."
Su He nodded and smiled: "Brother Feng, see you in Kunyang..."
As the McLaren drove off, Li Yifeng said to his manager Deng Shu: "Delete the negative reviews about the food delivery guy. A great man carries out bright and unvarnished deeds. Su He is my friend."
Deng Shu looked at Li Yifeng's profile in disbelief. After a long while, she sighed and smiled wryly: "Who would have thought I'd apply the intrigues of the entertainment industry to a food delivery guy doing bit roles... Su He is really talented, I'll try to approach him again and see if I can sign him..."
"From today onwards, he's no longer just a food delivery guy doing bit roles... As I said, he and I are friends. Between friends, there's no need to tie things to personal interests."
"He's quite an interesting person..."
When Su He returned to the hotel, Ma Mingzhe and the others hadn't come back yet. He had just finished showering when Dong Yong came in.
"Su He, what was up with you today? You only delivered around thirty orders, causing me to lose a bet with the others. Did you and Ma Mingzhe collude or something?"
"What was the bet?"
"A bet on whether you could break yesterday's record or not. Little did we know you'd only do that few orders today..."
"What was the stake?"
"Washing socks for a month..."
"Go ahead and let me help wash them... Next time there's a bet, I'll help you..."
Dong Yong went to wash socks, while Su He lay on the bed playing with his phone. The Night Wanderers crew had already set off for Kunyang Province. Yu Qing had booked Su He's flight for three days later. Once preparations were ready there, Su He could join them and start filming.
Around midnight, Ma Mingzhe and Pan Zhigang returned together, carrying roasted chicken and a case of beer.
"Come on, let's have a few..."
Ma Mingzhe's expression was not good. Pan Zhigang nudged Su He and Dong Yong, whispering: "Brother Ma's wife came looking for him again today..."
Dong Yong rolled off the bed, grinning: "Come on, let's drink!"
This time, Ma Mingzhe had truly run out of money. His wife caused a huge scene, berating him as a useless coward unable to even produce one thousand yuan.
Ma Mingzhe didn't say a word, taking the only three hundred yuan he had left and putting it in his daughter's hand.
It was Pan Zhigang who had paid for the roasted chicken and beer.
Sometimes Su He really admired Ma Mingzhe's wife, chasing him all the way from Jinnan City to the capital, though he didn't know what for.
Ma Mingzhe took out a bottle of baijiu from the bedside cabinet, downing half the bottle in one gulp, before finally saying: "When we first got together, I was eighteen. Back then, I held her hand and promised to give her happiness. But after we married and had kids, I never even held her hand again..."
"I don't blame her, I'm just a scumbag... You guys, don't be like me in the future..."
Dong Yong snatched the baijiu from Ma Mingzhe, pouring himself a glass and laughing: "Brother Ma, our life now isn't too bad. We may be poor, but at least we won't starve..."
Ma Mingzhe glared at Dong Yong: "Wait until you have a wife and kids, then you'll know what being poor means!"
"Come on, come on, enough talking, let's drink... Cheers!"