When Lan He spoke, aside from those in the know, no one could tell what he meant. Most people just thought he was casually giving an example.
So, the audience simply clapped and expressed their desire to see the big boss.
Hu 79: “โฆ”
She never expected that in the end, the competition would fall on her, and she couldnโt help but wail, “Why is he implying something about me! No, why am I only a small villain?”
Song Futan: “โฆDonโt take it personally.”
“I will take it personally! And why didnโt the audience choose me?” Hu 79 crawled out, ready to roll on the ground, but since this wasnโt Lan Heโs place and it wasnโt as clean as she liked it, she held back and just stood there crying.
Why was she just a small villain? It was bad enough to imply something about her, but she couldnโt even be a major villain.
Amid the audienceโs calls for a twisted big villain, Hu 79 rushed forward, shouting, “I choose me!!!!”
Song Futan: “โฆ”
He sighed as he dragged the frantic fox spirit back, only to be glared at, as if he were some kind of evil stepfather.
The insane villain that Lan He had described was naturally Hu Si. Lan He had interacted with Hu Si several times and deeply felt how different her madness was compared to humans and other spirits.
Even though he couldnโt empathize with Hu Si through his soul-binding whipโbecause Hu Si being crazy was just her normal state, so there wouldnโt be much fluctuation, and even when captured, she was still gigglingโLan He had observed enough to get a strong sense of it.
You donโt often see someone this crazy in everyday life. Through this learning experience, Lan He had a solid grasp on how to portray a character like this. Art does come from life, after all.
Next, during his scene with Wang Lu, Lan He tried to channel some of Hu Siโs energy.
Everyone watched in anticipation. They thought Lan He must be confident if he said something like that, but they didnโt expect that in just one short scene, he would completely and flawlessly create yet another distinct and vividly different villain from Zhang Xunchun!
In the same storyline, Zhang Xunchunโs gaze was frightening, vicious, and somewhat gloomy, while the version Lan He now portrayed was insane and reckless. From his tone of voice to his movements, everything was vastly different. The latterโs actions were sometimes even a bit perverse, like licking the back of his hand with the tip of his tongue.
Both were villainous, but the difference between the twoโฆ even just from looking at their eyes, you wouldnโt mistake one for the other!
The audience couldnโt help but discuss: “That was incredible. I feel like these two characters have their own backstories. Even though theyโre similar, it seems like theyโve lived entirely different lives…”
The audience in the front row added, “I accidentally made eye contact just now, and it scared me so much I leaned back.”
Even the director who had initially made the request was impressed. After Lan He finished, he couldnโt help but clap, “With that performance, people will think we coordinated this and that you were prepared. It was so rich and full.”
Even if it had been pre-planned, the performance was still outstanding. The richness of the portrayal, bordering on extreme, was perfectly suited to the characterโs madness, which only further captivated the audience, making them feel like it was meant to be that way.
Lan He smiled.
Another mentor joined in the fun, “Hey, Iโve got an idea. Can you deliver the same lines, but with a third type of personality?”
More? Was he becoming a villain specialist?
Lan He didnโt refuse. Using the same lines, he gave it another go.
While imitating Hu Si earlier, he had only focused on the key points. This time, he adopted more of Hu 79โs traits.
So when he spoke the same lines, the sense of age and the emotions conveyed were entirely different, leaning more towards a youthful impulsiveness, and it wasnโt that of a grand villainโjust the kind of small villain he had mentioned.
Hu 79, still being held by Song Futan, shed complicated tearsโฆ
Song Futan: “โฆ”
Xiao Yuqian, now offstage watching, couldnโt help but applaud, turning to the camera to say, “I really hope to collaborate with Lan He in the future. Heโs a fantastic actor.”
This was sincere. *Chase* was directed by Liu Chunyang, a film that naturally garnered a lot of attention. But Zhang Xunchunโs character being so popular was thanks to Lan Heโs talent. Now, he had demonstrated even more depth and subtlety in his acting. Xiao Yuqian felt that his own performance had been enhanced by Lan Heโs excellence. And most importantly, Lan He was just a guest actor. So, why not heap praise on him? Itโs not like he had to compliment Wang Lu.
Wang Lu and the other actors, of course, also showered Lan He with praise, even extending their rivalry by inviting him out for a late-night snack after the recording.
But how could Lan He agree? No matter who he accepted, it would be a mistake, so he quickly claimed he had other plans.
“Haha, I get it. Youโve got a new show coming out, right? Busy lately?” Xiao Yuqian said, understandingly, giving Lan He a friendly pat on the shoulder. “Letโs hang out another time, then. Hopefully, weโll have the chance to work together.”
Lan He thanked everyone profusely, and the group left the studio more or less at the same time. As they exited the TV station building, they spotted a monk accompanied by the station leaders.
Wang Lu immediately recognized him, “Master Sikong from Juehui Templeโฆ”
He was essentially the second-in-command of Juehui Temple, a key figure being groomed for leadership. Due to his youth and status, he had even gone viral online for a time. But in certain circles, he was better known for his personal abilities and was highly trusted. Since Master Budong rarely left the temple, having Sikong in attendance was already a big deal.
For Lan He, the most unforgettable memory was when he saw Sikong being beaten with a stick by Master Budong at Juehui Templeโฆ
But Lan He knew that in his current identity, he didnโt know Sikong, so he simply looked on with curiosity.
Master Sikong glanced over in their direction and then suddenly walked straight toward Lan He.
Lan He was startled and quickly checked that Hu 79 was still hiding well. Did Master Sikong recognize the tightly wrapped Song Futan and come to greet him?
To his surprise, Master Sikong approached him directly and made a respectful gesture of greeting with his palms together.
Everyone: “!!”
In everyoneโs mind, Master Sikong was one of the most esteemed figures in the capital, second only to Master Budong. If Master Budong was considered a top-tier expert, then his disciple Sikong would certainly rank among the top experts, far surpassing other monks at the temple.
So what did it mean for him to greet Lan He?
More than one person recalled a previous incident where Daoist Master Jiang He of the Taoist tradition had also greeted Lan He. At the time, it was rumored to be a misunderstanding, and no one knew what really happened. But now, with even a Buddhist monk showing him respect, people started to wonder if the previous event hadnโt been a misunderstanding after all. What kind of connections did Lan He actually have?
Sure enough, the station leader hesitantly asked, “Master Sikong, do you know this gentlemanโฆ?”
“Amitabha,” Sikong calmly replied, “I just wanted to ask for an autograph.”
Everyone: “โฆโฆโฆโฆ”
No way, even the monk had watched *Chase* or *Records of Beijing Times*?!
Lan He thought to himself that Master Budong surely hadnโt exposed his alter ego, so he responded awkwardly, “Oh, is that so? Where would you like me to sign?”
Someone immediately provided pen and paper, and Lan He wrote a brief note before signing his name.
Because it was Master Sikong, the act of asking for an autograph didnโt diminish his image as a monk at all. In fact, it made people reflect on their own narrow-mindednessโwhy shouldnโt a monk admire an actor?
After receiving the autograph, Master Sikong politely expressed his thanks, his eyes briefly meeting with the well-wrapped assistant behind Lan He. A vague sense of familiarity passed through his mind, but he couldnโt quite recall why.
The others, unaware of the deeper connections, were simply envious. Those who didnโt believe in such things thought it was no big dealโif even a monk admired Lan He, it was fantastic. Those who did believe were going crazy: this was Master Sikong! Wasting his admiration on someone like Lan He, who was known for being a skeptic, seemed like a shame!
For instance, Wang Lu, who usually believed in these things, watched Master Sikongโs retreating figure and thought to himself that if it were him, he would definitely take this opportunity to build a good relationship with Master Sikong. Then, whether it was for a blessing or securing a spot to burn the first incense, heโd have an inside track.
But Lan He? Lan He just dumbly signed the autograph and leftโฆ!
“Sigh!” Wang Lu sighed, thinking, some people really are blessed with dumb luck.
…
Lan Heโs reason for declining the others’ invitations wasnโt entirely fabricated. Although he had no more work that evening, he and Song Futan were planning to check on the progress of the construction at Zhenwu Bridge.
Lan He would leave his body, while Song Futan maintained his human form.
Lan He floated a little higher than Song Futan, with a chain linking them, making him feel like he was holding onto a helium balloon. It was strangely adorable.
When they arrived, they found Master Budong living in one of the temporary housing units on the construction site.
As for the project itself, Lan He had no idea how they managed to pull it off. This wasnโt the suburbs; it was prime real estate in the city center, where they were creating a parkโฆ and building a man-made lake with a bridge over it.
The entire approval process had been shockingly fast, and the plans, supposedly rushed, included details like inscriptions to be carved under the bridge. Lan He glanced at the blueprints. It looked like a major design, but since Master Budong had overseen it, there was no doubt it would turn out perfectly.
At that moment, the workers were already digging the foundation, while Master Budong intermittently chanted sutras, taking breaks from time to time.
When he saw them approaching, Master Budongโs wrinkled face broke into a smile, and with his all-seeing eyes, he looked them over, “Has impermanence gained something?”
“Iโve gained a chain, and itโs an old relic from a famous ghost,” Lan He replied. The chain was the soul-binding whip given to him by Granny Wang San, and if Old Bai saw it, heโd be mad with jealousy.
Song Futan added, “The Sacred Mother of Miaogan Mountain taught me the art of splitting characters into symbols.”
โGranny Wang San was referred to by that title on the other side, though everyone still preferred to call her Granny Wang San; it felt more intimate.
Master Budong paused for a moment before smiling, “Combining Buddhism and Taoism, combining both is also good.”
“Oh, by the way, Master, I ran into Sikong today. He even asked for my autograph. You didnโt expose my cover, did you?” Lan He asked.
Master Budong knew what “cover” meant and replied, “Of course not, my young friend. I havenโt revealed your identity. Iโve been here chanting sutras the whole time.”
Master Budong was also puzzled by the incident. Could it be that some monk at Juehui Temple was secretly a fan of Lan Heโs shows? Although the monks did watch films, they usually booked out theaters to watch more educational, mainstream films. Could they have somehow watched a pirated version?
The mystery was soon solved when Sikong himself arrived.
Lan He carefully observed Sikong, who acted completely normal upon seeing him, showing no signs of recognition and likely just assuming he was one of Song Futanโs ghost friends.
Master Budong asked Sikong, “Did you ask Lan He for an autograph?”
Sikong was surprised but quickly nodded honestly, “Yes. Recently, I heard from a junior brother that Master had a picture of Lan He. I thought it might be related to your meditation on modern peopleโs thoughtsโฆ so I wanted to reflect on it as well.”
Master Budong: “???”
Sikong gently reminded, “Do you not remember? The signed photo of Zhang Xunchun, Shidi said he saw you treasure it…”
Master Budong: “…”
Lan He and Song Futan: “…”
…Oh no, they finally remembered! Lan He struggled to hold back his laughter. It was that signed photo he casually gave to Master Budong when his identity was exposed. Little did he know that the monks at the temple had seen it.
However, no one thought that someone like Master Budong, with his level of enlightenment, would be a fan. Instead, they assumed he was meditating on it, and Sikong decided to imitate him.
Master Budong, now irritated, shouted, “I kept that photo because it was a gift from a friend, and heโs quite handsome! Meditation? What exactly are you meditating on?!”
Sikong: “โฆโฆโฆโฆโฆ”
Lan He: “…”
…Was Master Budong always this blunt?!
Lan He could already imagine seeing #MasterBudongIsAHepingPigeon trending on social media one day.
Moreover, Master Budong seemed a bit angry about Sikongโs behavior. He stood up aggressively, and just as Lan He thought, *Good thing I gave him the staff,* Master Budong immediately punched Sikong.
The highly respected and dignified Sikong, revered by thousands, was now running away, covering his head.
Lan He: “…”
Song Futan remained calm, as if this was a common occurrence.
Inside the construction siteโs temporary housing, Master Budong chased Sikong around. Despite his age, Master Budongโs agility was remarkableโhe even managed to throw in a flying kick every now and then. As he hit, he demanded, “Iโm asking you! What kind of meditation were you practicing?!”
After running for a few laps, Sikong finally gasped out an answer with a hint of tears, “Though I was wrong, formlessness is the essence! I have realized the truth on my own, why must I share it with you?”
Only then did Master Budong stop and laugh, “Good!”
Lan He watched them argue, wide-eyed, finally understanding why Song Futan never became a monk. This tough monk school… no, *the Linji sect* seemed more like a dojo where the monks were all martial artists!
Sikong barely escaped further punishment and muttered, “Just like that, with a lucky break, the signature was worth it. I should follow Lan Heโs Weibo later!”
Lan He: “…You have a Weibo?!”
Sikong looked at the spirit in front of him and smiled faintly, “Without the internet, how else can I communicate with monks across the world? You messengers of death need to catch up with the times.”
Lan He: “…”
You should probably focus on improving your martial arts skills firstโฆ
—
The incident where Lan He met Sikong at the TV station was caught on camera, and soon a video of Sikong bowing to Lan He circulated online, sparking yet another round of heated discussion.
Topic: After seeing behind-the-scenes footage of *Legend*, why did Sikong bow to Lan He? Whatโs their relationship?
Content: As the title says.
1L: Clearly, Lan He must have helped Sikong with childcare!
2L: ? Sikong is a monk.
3L: Hahahaha, you guys are too much. But Lan He really does seem like the kind of blogger who would help mom fans out in the comments. Reliable!
4L: Seeing this thread, I thought I time-traveled. Why are we back here again? So, whatโs the deal? Both Daoist Master Jiang He and Master Sikong have bowed to Lan He!
5L: Wasnโt Lan He the one who drew a pigโs head and claimed not to believe in superstition? Whatโs the real story here?
6L: Couldnโt Sikong just be a fan? Why canโt there be featherless pigeons among Heping Pigeons?
7L: By the way, did anyone notice that Lan He finally has an assistant? A guy in blackโฆ
Previously, when Daoist Master Jiang He had bowed to Lan He, it had left the internet puzzled. Just as that incident faded from memory, now there was Master Sikong. The online community was utterly baffled.
Eventually, a self-proclaimed insider from the religious community jumped in, mysteriously commenting, “Itโs all a misunderstanding. Even if I told you, you wouldnโt believe it. But rest assured, Lan He has no religious connections. I can guarantee thatโheโs not tied to any belief system. In fact, he doesnโt believe in anything at all.”
This little episode was quickly brushed aside as people moved on to bigger news.
โApparently, several actors who were eyeing Director Songโs new project nearly got into a fight on *Legend*. Rumor had it that during the episode Lan He participated in, Xiao Yuqian and Wang Lu had an argument, solidifying the gossip.
Even the previews were intense, and audience members at the live recording hinted that the atmosphere was electric, with incredible performances on the way.
As the episodeโs air date approached, the public eagerly anticipated a showdown, ready with popcorn to watch the drama unfold.
ใThey really went at it, hhh, you could totally feel the tension between them!ใ
ใKeep tearing it up, make it even louder.jpgใ
ใI love it. I donโt like overly polite exchanges; this is much more exciting!ใ
ใRubbing my hands together, is Director Song really not going to pick someone live? Looking at all these actors vying for his role, might as well place some bets. If the lead comes from this group, who would it be?ใ
ใFirst, letโs eliminate the wrong answer: Lan He. First round of elimination, no challenge at all.jpgใ
ใHahahaha, but Lan He actually did well! Heโs my favorite Chun Gege (Brother Xunchun). Director Song, canโt you consider taking him for the ride? _(:ะท)โ )_ใ
Having seen *Chase*, Lan Heโs first performance was impressive but expected, and most viewers just thought, “Our Chun Gegeโs live performance is as solid as ever.”
However, things quickly shifted when the show aired Lan Heโs response to the mentor’s request to perform other types of characters.
In just a few minutes, the clip aired, and the focus of the live discussion quickly shifted from Wang Lu and Xiao Yuqianโs battle to Lan He.
ใ??? Wow, this Zhang Xunchun 2.0 is amazing! Itโs like two completely different people, so unhinged!ใ
ใTotally explosiveโฆ Itโs different from Zhang Xunchun, but just as brilliant. Did he consider this interpretation while developing the character?ใ
ใIf I could act like this, I would! So powerful!ใ
ใI declare Lan He the winner, best of the night.ใ
ใI admit, I used to think Zhang Xunchun had the advantage of a strong character setup, but now Iโm fully convinced. Lan He is amazing. That second version gave me chills, and I got goosebumps all over.ใ
ใThree villains, each totally distinctโฆ I declare this a masterclass!ใ
Many viewers who initially tuned in to watch the actor rivalry ended up being drawn in by Lan Heโs triple villain performance. It was such a showstopper that even Lily, the artist famous for web comics, posted a drawing of Lan Heโs three distinct personalities standing together, praising his acting. She even mentioned how the more she observed Lan Heโs features, the more familiar he seemed.
Fans: *Thatโs because youโve turned into a fan. I often feel like Iโve met him in a past life too.* [Heart]
…
Even though Lan He wasnโt in competition for Director Songโs film, that wasnโt a problemโthere were plenty of other directors. Even if Xuang Guang didnโt appreciate him, other big directors surely would. Netizens began tagging Director Liu Chunyang frantically, urging him to cast Lan He in more projects.
*Chase* had just finished airing, and Liu Chunyang responded with a casual, [picks nose] *Iโd love to, but give me some time.* He then helped promote his friend Wang Maoโs upcoming show, *Qing Meng Ji He* (Geometry of Dreams), saying it was airing soon and everyone should check it out.
People quickly remembered that it was Wang Mao who had cast Lan He in the first place, leading to the breakthrough that earned him acclaim. Wang Mao had even adjusted the filming schedule just to accommodate Lan He.
Fans immediately switched their focus. *Thatโs right! Wang Maoโs been hyping up “Chun Gege” in *Qing Meng Ji He*, and apparently, he plays a villain there too.*
So, everyone eagerly waited for the show to air.
But after watching the trailer and reading the character descriptions, Lan Heโs role appeared to be the heroineโs doting older brotherโฆ a far cry from a villain.
As the trailerโs views skyrocketed, Wang Mao, the winner of the Xiao Yuqian vs. Wang Lu rivalry, gleefully remarked, “Just wait for the full episodes. It gets even better.”
Meanwhile, fans were still engrossed in Lan Heโs villain performances: *Oh, got it! Another plot twist is coming!*
Lan He: “โฆโฆโฆโฆโฆ”
Seeing this, Lan He was speechless. These word games! Should he call Wang Mao and Liu Chunyang best friends for a reason?
*Qing Meng Ji He* was a sweet, romantic idol drama. In it, Lan He was a sister-loving, overprotective older brother who constantly disrupted the lead couple but never succeeded. Calling him a villain wasnโt entirely wrongโฆ even Melonhead (another character) could act villainously in some situations.
Soon after, *Qing Meng Ji He* premiered, airing three episodes in a row.
The audience reacted:
ใIโm confused. Itโs good, but didnโt they say Lan He was the big boss? Why is his character so cute? Heโs even a little funny. After laughing, something feels off. Did Wang Mao trick us? The brother is so good to the heroine.ใ
ใYou idiot, of course thereโs a twist later. Donโt you remember Zhang Xunchun? The cuter he is now, the more terrifying the dark turn will be later. Iโm already worried for the lead couple. They seem perfect for each other, but now Iโm scared thereโs a huge plot brewing behind the scenes!ใ
ใOh my god, my heart is racing! I canโt wait to see what happens!ใ
ใLet me try analyzing how the brother might set up his planโฆใ
Authorโs Note:
Lan He: Sorry, but youโre overthinking it. Iโm just a basic Melonhead-type characterโฆ
Ooof he’s going through that phase of the actor being forced to stick to a role or only shown in one light to a very prominent role they did.