Chapter 59: The Hermit
The Huailin film and television base was built in the suburbs. Aside from production crews filming there, almost nobody came to this place, so getting a taxi was not easy.
Pu Tong had already prepared himself to be overcharged.
But in the end, he could not even find an opportunity to spend extra money…
“A place this remote… would anyone even accept an online ride request?”
He tried sending out a ride request just to test it.
Unexpectedly, someone accepted almost instantly.
When he looked at the license plate, he realized it was the same car he had taken when he arrived.
And so, Pu Tong once again got into the familiar taxi.
“Good thing you didn’t leave. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t have been able to get back!”
“I was thinking of going back into the city to pick up another passenger. I drove around this place several times, but who would’ve thought there wouldn’t even be a single person in this deserted area? I was about to leave when I finally received your order…”
The driver was very talkative. While driving, he started casually chatting.
He especially liked giving advice to young people sitting in his car!
“Running to production crews every day isn’t the right thing to do. Young people should focus on studying!”
“You’re absolutely right!”
Pu Tong strongly agreed with his words.
“Knowing it isn’t enough. Let me ask you, how are your studies?”
“Not bad…”
Not bad?
He didn’t believe it!
The driver immediately showed a satisfied smile.
It seemed this young man cared about his pride and was too embarrassed to admit the truth.
“Young people. Even if your studies aren’t good, it’s not the end of the world. Finding another path isn’t bad either. Earlier, didn’t you go to the film base? How did it go?”
“Everything was settled…”
Settled?
He didn’t believe that either.
He had only gone inside for such a short time, and everything was already settled?
This young man must really care about his image.
He was even forcing himself to act confident.
“It’s okay. Young people can easily rise up if they encounter the right opportunities. Don’t be too anxious!”
Pu Tong was about to continue chatting with him, but the ringtone from his pocket interrupted him.
It was his father calling…
“Hello, Dad. What’s wrong?”
“Pu Tong, there’s something I need to discuss with you.”
Although it was his father’s phone number, the voice on the other end belonged to Producer Xue.
“Go ahead.”
“Earlier, Mu Nan came to me and said she wants to sing a female version of the song, interpreting it from the female lead’s perspective. I wanted to ask for your opinion as the songwriter.”
They had only reached an agreement about cooperation earlier.
Because the production crew’s equipment was limited, recording the song would naturally have to happen at another time.
If there were any requirements regarding the singer, they needed to discuss them beforehand.
A female lead perspective?
The song “Eternal” indeed had two versions in the original story.
Only one word was changed.
People often said:
Alan’s version represented Hua Qiangu.
Xu Song’s version represented Bai Zihua.
That was exactly the meaning behind it.
“No problem. I’ll finish arranging the music and send you a copy. Let her record it first.”
After spending so much time as an unknown musician in his previous life, Pu Tong still understood music theory and composition techniques.
Two versions.
Not only would they recreate the classic from his previous life, but they would also perfectly match this current drama.
It was killing two birds with one stone.
After hanging up the phone, Pu Tong noticed that the driver was secretly looking at him.
“This kid is making things up without even thinking…”
That was the driver’s first impression.
He was talking about arranging music?
He didn’t believe it.
This young man cared too much about his pride.
Was he even pretending to take phone calls just to make himself look impressive?
Pu Tong’s phone volume was not loud, so while sitting in the front seat, the driver could not hear the voice from the other side.
“Young man, you have to keep your feet on the ground!”
“The uncle is right!”
“Back when I was your age…”
Before the driver could finish his life advice, Pu Tong’s phone rang again.
This time, it was his homeroom teacher, Zhang Binyan.
“Hello, teacher. Is something wrong?”
Earlier, he had seen Zhang Binyan at the production site.
The teacher had been standing alone in a corner with a dark expression, looking extremely unhappy.
After all, watching his students happily acting as extras in a drama was something he found difficult to accept.
“I just want to ask about something.”
Zhang Binyan’s voice was serious.
Even through the phone, Pu Tong felt slightly nervous.
Was this the legendary pressure students felt from their homeroom teacher?
“I heard you singing earlier. Combined with what happened last time, it seems you really do have talent for music.”
“I want to ask you… do you plan to enter the entertainment industry in the future?”
“No, teacher. I’ll only treat singing as a hobby. Studying is still my priority…”
“If you really wanted to enter the entertainment industry, I wouldn’t say anything.”
“You can continue being a high school student, and I will still be your teacher.”
“Actually, as teachers, we shouldn’t interfere too much with our students’ choices.”
Zhang Binyan paused for a moment before continuing:
“But since you said this yourself, I hope you can become someone who truly practices what they say.”
“If you enter the entertainment industry, then don’t complain that the entertainment industry is complicated.”
“If you want to focus on studying, then study properly.”
“Don’t use studying as an excuse while secretly entering the entertainment industry and doing those things. Don’t act like you want both sides while pretending to be noble!”
Zhang Binyan’s tone was very serious.
It was completely the tone of someone scolding a student.
It was not that he wanted to interfere unnecessarily.
It was just that watching this student’s life had made him feel uncomfortable.
Every time the program aired, things became extremely lively.
He was afraid that this kid would become arrogant because of his sudden popularity…
“Teacher, I promise I’ll study hard!”
“Remember what you said today.”
“To be honest, when you said you wouldn’t participate in the voluntary filming last time, I actually looked at you differently…”
Zhang Binyan smiled.
“I never expected you to pull something like this!”
For the first time, Pu Tong heard a feeling of disappointment mixed with concern in Zhang Binyan’s words.
The original Pu Tong had been a troublemaker in the past.
Because of that, he had also received a lot of criticism from his homeroom teacher.
Passing notes during class would result in punishment.
Failing vocabulary dictation would even lead to harsh discipline.
Because of this, the original Pu Tong had developed a strong dislike toward this teacher.
Even after inheriting the original owner’s memories, Pu Tong had always felt some resistance toward Zhang Binyan.
But now…
He suddenly seemed to understand this person.
Strict love was the hardest kind of love to give.
But it was also the most important.
People naturally liked hearing pleasant words.
However, accurate and strict criticism was much rarer.
It was precisely because he was strict, because he took everything seriously, and because he truly cared about responsibility…
That he did not want his students to walk down the wrong path.
“You kid, studying hard is good, but you also can’t fall into an early relationship!”
“If I see you being unclear with Wan… with any female classmate, you just wait and see!”
What a foolish father-like fan.
How could he possibly do something like that?
Pu Tong hung up the phone and discovered that the driver was secretly looking at him again.
This kid was becoming more and more unbelievable…
Study hard?
He didn’t believe it.
How could someone casually say something like that?
Earlier he was talking about composing music.
Now he was talking about studying.
Even if someone wanted to exaggerate things because of pride, there should still be a limit.
Young people being too concerned about their image was not a good thing.
The driver decided he needed to give this kid some proper advice.
“You’re composing music one moment and studying the next. Aren’t you exhausted?”
“It’s okay.”
“After this, I’ll put my heart completely into studying.”
“As for singing, I’ll just follow my feelings.”
Pu Tong stretched his stiff neck and looked out at the scenery outside the window.
“Then you really are a hidden cultivator—a hermit!”
The driver joked.
This young man really knew how to exaggerate…
A hermit?
When Pu Tong heard this word, his eyes suddenly lit up.
That was it.
He wanted to become a “hermit.”
A mysterious expert who stayed away from worldly affairs.
From now on, he only needed to focus on studying and occasionally demonstrate his understanding of music.
Without being disturbed by the outside world, he could study even better.
As for fans and popularity…
They could just wait and listen to his songs.
“Uncle, thank you so much!”
“It’s good that young people are willing to listen to advice.”
The driver was slightly confused.
He hadn’t even started giving advice yet.
Until Pu Tong got out of the car, he still couldn’t understand what this prideful young man meant.
How could there be someone who cared so much about his image and casually made up stories?
After a busy day, the driver returned home.
The first thing he did was start bragging about this experience.
He talked about how he had helped a confused young man overcome his difficulties.
His middle-school daughter interrupted him.
“Boring.”
“Don’t disturb me while I’m watching TV!”
“What’s so interesting about that?”
“I’m watching a variety show. I just started the first episode.”
“There’s a guy named Pu Tong. He’s really handsome!”
The driver casually glanced at the screen.
Then he froze completely.
“What the heck?!”
“This kid!”
“He’s the one who rode in my taxi today!”
His daughter stared at him.
Pu Tong rode in your car?
She didn’t believe it.
Her father really cared too much about his pride.
Was he even making up things like this now?
How could Pu Tong possibly have taken his taxi?
Wait…
This kid had actually appeared on television?
Could it be…
Could it be that everything he said in the taxi was not bragging?
It was all true?
“He really did ride in my car!”
“Not just once—twice!”
Twice?
His daughter still didn’t believe him.
Her father was becoming more and more ridiculous.
Having one accidental encounter with Pu Tong while driving a taxi was already possible.
But twice?
That was simply impossible!
How could someone be so obsessed with showing off and making up stories?
(End of Chapter)
✨ Love this novel?
Visit my Patreon for fast access and advanced chapters! patreon.com/BbingTranslations Thank you for your support.❤️
Comments
Post a Comment