The Legendary Road of Star Shadows Duo

Ling Yichen, a modern movie star, unexpectedly transmigrates to the ancient entertainment industry after an accident. Reborn, he is determined to rewrite his destiny.

In a theater troupe, he ...

Chapter 20: Variety Show Debut, A Test of Teamwork

As Ling Yichen and Jun Mozhan's popularity in the ancient entertainment industry continues to rise, they receive an invitation to a popular variety show, marking their variety show debut. This program is known for its various fun games and interactive segments, aiming to test the chemistry and adaptability of the guests. Ling Yichen and Jun Mozhan, this highly anticipated duo, naturally become the focus of viewers' expectations.

On the day of the recording, the venue was packed with audience members, and cheers erupted continuously. Ling Yichen and Jun Moran appeared on stage wearing similar yet distinctive outfits, instantly igniting the atmosphere.

The host warmly welcomed them: "Young Master Ling, Young Master Jun, your presence greatly enhances our program. Today, we have prepared a series of exciting segments to test your teamwork, and we believe the audience is eager to see your performance."

The first segment was "Pictionary," but unlike the usual game, this time they had to guess a series of words related to ancient culture based on one person's drawing and the other's guess. Jun Mo Ran was the first to pick up his brush, and the first word he drew was "Guzheng" (a type of zither). After a moment's thought, Jun Mo Ran began to sketch the basic outline of a Guzheng on the drawing board. His brushstrokes were delicate and fluid, and in a few strokes, he drew the body and strings of the Guzheng. Ling Yi Chen looked at the drawing board and quickly guessed the answer: "Guzheng!" The audience gasped in amazement and applauded their perfect teamwork.

Next, Ling Yichen drew the term "ink wash painting." Although his painting skills were not as good as Jun Moran's, he used his understanding of ink wash painting to depict the outline of a landscape with simple lines and colors. Jun Moran stared at it for a moment, then confidently said, "Ink wash painting!" Their excellent performance made this segment go very smoothly, and the audience was impressed by their tacit understanding.

The next segment was "Scene Reenactment." The host set up a scene of an ancient court banquet, requiring Ling Yichen and Jun Moran to play a minister and a court musician, respectively, and to perform an impromptu show at the banquet, showcasing the characteristics of their respective roles while also interacting well with each other.

Ling Yichen, playing a minister, strode confidently into the "banquet" area. After bowing deeply to the "emperor," he began exchanging pleasantries with the other "ministers." Jun Mo Ran, holding a replica of an ancient musical instrument, sat elegantly to the side, playing a melodious tune. While conversing with others, Ling Yichen frequently glanced at Jun Mo Ran, his eyes revealing admiration and appreciation. Jun Mo Ran, in turn, adjusted his playing rhythm according to Ling Yichen's actions and words. During the performance, Ling Yichen suddenly suggested that Jun Mo Ran perform a solo. Jun Mo Ran readily agreed, standing up and walking to the center of the stage, immersing himself completely in his performance. Ling Yichen listened quietly, a look of rapture on his face. Their impromptu performance vividly recreated the scene of an ancient court banquet, winning rounds of applause from the audience and high praise from the host.

However, the most challenging segment was the "Timacy Quiz." The host prepared a series of questions about their preferences, lifestyles, and experiences during the filming of "Dawn of the Mountains and Rivers," and asked them to write down their answers simultaneously. If their answers matched, they would score points.

The first question was: "Which scene did the other person like the most while filming 'Dawn of the Mountains and Rivers'?" Ling Yichen and Jun Moran exchanged a smile, then lowered their heads and wrote down their answers. When they revealed their answers at the same time, they both wrote, "The scene where Chu Xiao and Ye Lin share life and death on the battlefield." The audience cheered, and the host smiled and said, "It seems you two are very familiar with each other's performances in the drama."

Next, the host asked, "What's the other person's favorite food?" This question was a little difficult, because although they had been together in the opera troupe for a long time, they usually discussed performance-related matters more often. Ling Yichen frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and then wrote, "Jun Mozhan seems to have a special fondness for osmanthus cake," while Jun Mozhan wrote, "Ling Yichen likes to eat a unique kind of roasted meat, but I'm not sure of the specific name." Although the answers weren't exactly the same, they showed that they had some understanding of each other's preferences.

During this segment, another question sparked a lively discussion among the audience. The host asked, "If you had the chance to travel somewhere, where would you want to go?" Ling Yichen wrote, "Jun Mo Ran might want to go to the water towns of Jiangnan to experience its tranquility and poetry," while Jun Mo Ran wrote, "Ling Yichen might want to go to the vast desert beyond the Great Wall to appreciate its unique scenery." Their completely different answers drew laughter from the audience. Ling Yichen said somewhat embarrassedly, "It seems I don't know Brother Jun well enough." Jun Mo Ran responded with a smile, "Yichen's thoughts always surprise me; that's part of his charm."

Despite a few minor mishaps in the "Teamwork Q&A" segment, their overall performance was still commendable. In the following "Cooperative Challenge" segment, they needed to work together to complete a highly challenging acrobatic performance—a double aerial trapeze. This performance not only required excellent physical fitness and balance, but also a high degree of trust and seamless teamwork between them.

Ling Yichen and Jun Mozhan stood on opposite sides of the stage. After securing their safety ropes, they took a deep breath, exchanged glances, and encouraged each other. The performance began. Ling Yichen used the ropes to swing through the air first, then accurately reached out his hand to Jun Mozhan. Jun Mozhan grabbed his hand without hesitation, and the two completed a beautiful spin in mid-air. Then, Jun Mozhan gave a powerful swing, sending Ling Yichen tracing a graceful arc through the air before landing steadily on the opposite platform. Their movements were fluid and thrilling, and the audience held their breath, watching their performance with bated breath. When they successfully completed the final move and landed safely, the entire audience erupted in thunderous applause and cheers.

As the recording of the show drew to a close, the host remarked, "Young Master Ling and Young Master Jun, your performances on the show today have truly broadened our horizons. Your chemistry is evident not only in your acting but also in your understanding and trust in each other. I believe that through this variety show debut, you will gain even more fans."

After thanking the hosts and audience, Ling Yichen and Jun Mozhan left the stage. This variety show debut was a completely new experience for them, and an opportunity to showcase their multifaceted personalities. Although they encountered challenges in some segments, they also discovered new points of chemistry and areas for further understanding. They know that this chemistry and mutual understanding will be of great importance to them in their future careers, both on stage and in life, and they will continue to move forward hand in hand, exploring more unknown territories and bringing more excitement and surprises to the ancient entertainment industry.