The Daily Life Of A Cyberpunk Magician

Chapter 89 - 90 A Friend Who Plays Magic
Chapter 89: Chapter 90 A Friend Who Plays MagicJiang Shu was worried that there might still be disciples of the mechanical group at large, concerned that they could regroup and continue to target his associates, but that hadn’t happened.

In fact, putting aside his paranoia and thinking objectively, there were at most three or four members of the mechanical group left, possibly even only one or two. They lacked both manpower and equipment, and executing another abduction near Zone D would be a case of wishful thinking.

Tuesday passed by quickly, and by seven in the evening, Jiang Shu, dressed in a suit, was already waiting backstage.

He didn’t have an agent, so he had brought Su Xiaoou along as his temporary agent and magic assistant.

They were sitting in what seemed to be a dressing room, with each seat equipped with a large mirror in front.

”It’s seven o’clock, when are you going on stage?” Su Xiaoou asked.

Jiang Shu checked his memo, ”The show starts at seven thirty, and as a special guest, I won’t be on until eight thirty.”

”Oh,” Su Xiaoou nodded, ”Then we have over an hour to wait? That’s kind of boring.”

”If you’re bored, practice your techniques.” Jiang Shu took a deck of cards out of his pocket and tossed it to her.

”Hey, hey, hey, that’s not necessary.” Su Xiaoou recoiled; she had been playing cards so much recently that her head ached. All she could think about was the different ways of performing the Double Lift, how to deal seconds, deal bottoms, false shuffles, and false cuts...

Just then, a group of people laughing and talking burst into the backstage and casually picked a spot far from Jiang Shu.

”They are other guests for today’s show,” Su Xiaoou whispered to Jiang Shu. These were faces usually seen only on the screen.

”I know.” Jiang Shu nodded, seeing Li Yuntang in the crowd, though she seemed detached from the small conversing group and responded tepidly to others.

They were two men and three women, apparently the lead actors of an upcoming new movie, using the variety show to stir up some buzz and boost box office sales.

Soon after, her make-up team and agent walked in, began working on Li Yuntang’s stage makeup, and reminded her of some stage-related precautions. Li Yuntang responded indifferently, though she listened and replied seriously only when her make-up artist spoke.

Jiang Shu didn’t have a make-up artist, so he could only watch. He realized that everyone else had a make-up team, and he had brought only a temporary agent.

At a TV station with a permanent variety show, there should be a special wardrobe and makeup department, but Jiang Shu wasn’t sure if because he had joined last minute, he hadn’t seen any make-up artist approach him.

Or perhaps...

Everyone assumed he had a make-up artist since they all had one?

Jiang Shu began to ponder the reasons, but this line of thought was bound to be fruitless, as he was too lazy to ask; he felt fine as he was.

His looks were striking, a natural beauty of a man, beyond dispute.

”What’s going on with you?” A pleasant female voice came from beside Jiang Shu, ”Doesn’t the theater have make-up artists? Why didn’t you bring one?”

Jiang Shu turned to look; it was Li Yuntang. She had already finished her light stage makeup.

Li Yuntang today wore a long-sleeved, round-necked evening gown in glossy silver, exceptionally elegant with a simple design that slimmed her waist, beautiful and stylish.

Unlike her youthful and vibrant athletic attire last time, today’s Li Yuntang was particularly graceful.

Unlike with others, Li Yuntang spoke to him as though they were old acquaintances, though they had only met once, and that was on stage.

”I forgot, it’s my first time, no experience,” Jiang Shu shrugged nonchalantly, he was here primarily to freeload on the substantial audience this place drew, not to make a spectacle of himself.

No, definitely not to make a spectacle.

The program was being broadcast live, involved significant investment, and always featured very topical guests. Due to its live nature, there were often little mishaps, thus drawing high viewership.

Li Yuntang sat next to him, and speaking to the make-up artist who followed her, she said, ”Sister Qiu, help him with his makeup.”

”Okay,” Sister Qiu nodded and then went back to get her makeup bag, her movement catching the attention of others backstage.

They all glanced curiously over at Jiang Shu.

Li Yuntang... sitting next to that man?

And she even lent out her own personal make-up artist?

This kind of thing isn’t common.

That man... is the magician invited by Li Yuntang, right?

A group of people had varied expressions, but none of them made any other move, just watching from a distance.

”I’m Qiu Wanying, hello, Mr. Jiang,” the make-up artist Qiu Wanying stood behind him, looking at Jiang Shu in the mirror.

”Hello,” Jiang Shu replied with a smile, ”Thank you.”

”No problem, what kind of makeup do you want?” Qiu Wanying continued to ask.

”I don’t really understand makeup, so just do as you see fit, nothing too extravagant,” Jiang Shu answered.

”Okay,” Qiu Wanying agreed.

”Jiang Shu, are you going to perform magic tonight too?” At this moment, Li Yuntang suddenly asked.

”Of course,” Jiang Shu replied with a mysterious smile, ”This time it’s a big stage.”

”Then I’ll look forward to it,” Li Yuntang also smiled slightly, then she asked, ”Are you interested in taking on film and TV roles?”

”Acting in movies, TV dramas?” Jiang Shu paused, then burst into laughter, ”Forget it, I don’t have that talent.”

”Your performance ability is quite good,” Li Yuntang complimented, ”Much better than many current popular actors.”

”Thank you, but I still prefer the life of the theatre,” Jiang Shu shook his head, gracefully declining.

Three days of fishing, two days of drying the nets, one day teaching apprentices, one day flirting with girls, and a week just passed by—wasn’t this more relaxed than the so-called Screen System?

”It’s okay,” Li Yuntang instead smiled, her expression becoming even softer. She greatly appreciated Jiang Shu’s persistence because she knew best, the current Screen System...

Hehe.

Once she gradually took power in a few years, she was definitely going to straighten things out.

But honestly, she indeed entertained the idea of getting Jiang Shu to act in a film.

Magic was quite suitable as a movie theme, very popular and prestigious, and moreover, his performance ability was indeed good.

Ten minutes later, Jiang Shu, seeing his own reflection in the mirror, couldn’t help but slightly curve the corners of his mouth.

He didn’t understand makeup, but he could tell that this Sister Qiu’s makeup skills were really high.

The reflection was unmistakably still him, but just handsomer than before, with more angular facial features and more heroic brows.

”Your foundation is good; if you fix it up a bit, you could even make a living off your looks,” Qiu Wanying, having completed her task, teased.

”I prefer the natural look,” Jiang Shu responded. His talent didn’t allow him to rely on his looks to make a living.

”Miss Li, it’s time to go on stage.” At that moment, the backstage door opened, and a man who looked like the show director spoke to them, ”Mr. Jiang Shu, someone will remind you later. Be backstage by 8:20 and don’t wander off.”

”Understood,” Jiang Shu nodded.

”Mm,” Li Yuntang stood up and followed the other crew members through the passage onto the stage.

On the way, another young girl in the crew, dressed very attractively, asked Li Yuntang, ”Sister Tang, that man is...”

”A friend who plays with magic,” Li Yuntang replied lightly, ”Not interested in the screen.”

The young girl slightly lowered her head, then asked no more.