Literary Master: Starting with Refusing to Be a Child Star

Chapter 36: The Three Children Gather at "A Discourse on Young China"

"Xiao Liu, the newspaper is in dire need of young intellectuals right now. Do you know why I sent you with me to cover this elementary school performance?"

"Does this mean I should follow you, Brother Ze, and learn through practice?"

Brother Ze was a two-meter-tall, bearded, burly man. He said in an annoyed tone:

"It's about new media. You're asked to try a deep integration of media reporting and the internet. This time, you're responsible for posting exclusive media reports on Weibo."

Exclusive Insight?

What unique things could a primary school possibly have? There's no room for making things up on the spot. But Xiao Liu only dared to think about it; he certainly wouldn't dare to say it.

Upon arriving at the scene, they set up their cameras, aiming them at the empty stage.

The performance hadn't started yet, and Brother Ze was sitting in the corner drinking water when he saw a very photogenic young man walk by.

Three girls skipped and hopped around him, but the boy seemed quite used to it.

"Take more pictures of him later, I've already blanched him. Good looks are definitely an advantage everywhere."

The kids going backstage now definitely have performances to do, so Brother Ze sensed an opportunity for the cameras to shine.

Xiao Liu agreed, saying, "Damn, I haven't found any downsides to being good-looking so far."

Luo Jinnian was unaware that he was being watched by two reporters, as he was already preoccupied with dealing with Teacher Fei and Gu Yanxi, who had reverted to his short hair.

Sister Qingning followed behind without saying a word.

"Brother Jin Nian, are you nervous right now?"

Fei Yuxi originally thought the young man would act nonchalant, but to her surprise, Luo Jinnian nodded in agreement.

Copying a work verbatim and spreading its influence in another world is very different from copying a work in a live performance. In short, the latter will really test his personal abilities.

Recently, he has devoted almost all his free time to practicing "Ode to Young China".

Dressed in short suits and skirts, the two hosts, a man and a woman, officially kicked off the performance.

(Male): Respected leaders and distinguished guests

(Woman): Dear comrades and friends

(Together): Good evening, everyone!

(Male): The golden autumn brings refreshing breezes and the sweet fragrance of osmanthus blossoms. In this season of harvest, we celebrate the birthday of our great motherland—

The first performance was a group dance, "Peacock Spreading its Tail," which the school had been rehearsing for a long time. A group of girls in the same costumes and props moved rhythmically as a whole, which was pleasing to the eye and a good start.

Their performance in the following shows was just average.

How boring! I knew it would be like this. Xiao Liu was almost falling asleep while taking notes in his notebook. Besides his work in new media, he couldn't slack off on his regular writing duties.

The so-called "entrusting important tasks to newcomers" is nothing more than giving them the most exhausting work.

"How many shows are there now? Does that boy even have a show to perform?"

Xiao Liu didn't expect his boss to care so much about that boy, but he also knew that there was really nothing to be afraid of in this small school.

As soon as he finished speaking, the young man, dressed in Hanfu, stepped onto the stage.

The two reporters' eyes lit up, but little did they know that something even more amazing was yet to come.

The opening wasn't just the boy's voice, but a chorus of children.

"If the youth are wise, the nation is wise; if the youth are wealthy, the nation is wealthy."

"When the youth are strong, the nation is strong; when the youth are independent, the nation is independent..."

Listening to the simple yet poetic lyrics, reporter Xiao Liu hurriedly took notes in his notebook. It was a song he had never heard before, and a strange feeling stirred within him.

The boy's voice suddenly rose in pitch, like a long-accumulated river finally bursting through its dam:

"The rising sun shines brightly, its light is boundless!"

As Xiao Liu was writing, his pen stopped.

He looked up and saw that Brother Ze had stood up at some point, with the camera steadily on his shoulder, the lens locked on the boy on the stage. His stubble-covered face was unusually free of its usual nonchalance.

"When the river breaks out, it pours out into the ocean!"

A dragon rises from the abyss, its scales and claws flashing!

The young tiger roared in the valley, and all the beasts trembled in fear!

Xiao Liu had completely forgotten to take notes. His mouth was agape, his gaze fixed on the boy on the stage, his mind buzzing.

He graduated with a degree in Chinese literature, and he knew all too well the weight of these lyrics—this was not an ordinary campus song, but a piece of parallel prose, a piece of parallel prose written with passion.

How could text of this caliber appear in a primary school performance? He didn't have time to think about it, because the performance on stage had already entered its most exciting part.

"The eagle tests its wings, stirring up dust and wind!"

A rare flower in its first bloom, resplendent and magnificent!

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Luo Jinnian's forehead, but his movements did not falter in the slightest. Every gesture, every pause, was the result of repeated practice over the past few days.

He thought of his sister who had always been by his side, Yu Xi and Uncle Qin who had repeatedly helped him, and the middle-aged woman imprisoned in jail.

At this moment, he is no longer simply "copying" a classic from another world, but interpreting the text with his own voice and his own understanding.

Suddenly, he realized that all the skills had become less important.

The warmth rising from the chests of the children singing with him at that moment was real and intense.

Luo Jinnian took a deep breath and, together with the children, sang the last verse with all his might:

"Throughout the ages, across the vast wilderness!"

The future is vast, and the days ahead are long!

How beautiful is my young China, as timeless as the heavens!

How magnificent are the youth of China, their spirit boundless as long as their nation's!

Immediately afterwards, several leaders in the audience stood up abruptly and clapped their hands together heavily. Thunderous applause filled the hall; the performance was truly breathtaking.

Little Fatty secretly thought to himself that Brother Luo had really pulled off a big stunt; his reputation would soon spread throughout the school.

I really shouldn't have learned to play the drums, sigh.

Brother Ze's hands, which were holding the camera, were trembling slightly. He cursed in a voice only he could hear, "Damn it, who is this kid?"

By the end, he still couldn't confirm the song's origin. He might not know about other popular songs, but how could a veteran reporter like him not have heard of such a high-quality revolutionary song?

Luo Jinnian and the children bowed in farewell.

click-

Brother Ze's professional skills came into play, and his camera lens keenly captured the boy's rosy eyes.

I felt pity for her; she was innocent yet powerful.

Reporter Xiao Liu clicked his tongue twice and said jokingly, "The newspaper's front page headline for tomorrow is secured."

Unexpectedly, Brother Ze not only did not refute, but also silently admired the photos he had just taken.

"After the performance, we'll go backstage and interview that boy directly."

"I think the newspaper not only has a headline, but also an exclusive report that you want to post on Weibo."

Little Fatty was lamenting that Luo Jinnian would never lack female companions again, but he was completely wrong—Luo-ge is actually lacking in female companions now.

Luo Jinnian had barely stepped down and hadn't even said anything when Teacher Fei clung to him like a koala.

Gu Yanxi found it amusing, especially when she caught a glimpse of several boys whose eyes never left them. So, for fun, she stepped forward and put her arm around one of the boys.

This tomboy has always had this quirky personality; he always wants to try something fun.

"Aren't you hot? You don't mind that I'm sweaty."

In the past, Luo Jinnian could have enjoyed this, but he had just finished performing and his back was covered in sweat, so it was really not appropriate to hug someone.

Gu Yanxi's hand reacted as if she had been electrocuted, and she jumped away quickly for the sake of the show.

Fei Yuxi was different; she focused all her energy on the boy. Although the boy was a little sweaty, the lemon scent on him overpowered everything else.

"Brother Jin Nian, your performance just now was amazing! It was so much better than our usual rehearsals."

Fei Yuxi, as always, kept praising and exaggerating.

Watching other younger sisters hug their younger brothers from behind, Chu Qingning simply looked at her brother's face and asked softly and cautiously, "Brother, are you tired?"

"Of course I'm tired," Luo Jinnian said, looking completely bewildered as Qingning Sister turned around and hugged Teacher Fei in her arms.

It doesn't matter who hugs her, and Sister Qingning has the same lemon scent as Brother Jinnian, since they both use the same shower gel at home.

Teacher Xiaofei didn't resist, and the two girls walked away.

The sudden emptiness of the venue made Luo Jinnian feel a little uncomfortable.

Gu Yanxi, with his short hair, couldn't help but burst into laughter at the spectacle. "Now there aren't any girls around you who would come up to let him hug you."

After listening to his deskmate's words, and perhaps also feeling relaxed after just finishing a big battle, Luo Jinnian took her hand.

To his surprise, his deskmate, in an overly cooperative manner, threw herself into his arms, her voice barely audible yet carrying the force of a thunderbolt: "This is the winner's reward... Damn."

Just when Luo Jinnian was speechless, a weathered man appeared like a ghost.

It was their homeroom teacher. His eyes, fixed on the two of them, remained unmoved for a long time, his throat dry and his voice calm.