Xia Huanao mused on the changing times, while the taxi driver in front chuckled, "Young man, why so contemplative? As we say, life is about moving forward. Even if the sky falls, taller people will hold it up."
Xia Huanao smiled after hearing this, "That's what they say, but what if I'm the one who poked a hole in the sky?"
The taxi driver paused, "Then you'll just have to pray for your own good fortune."
The two continued their chat, which eventually turned to the Pokémon Grand Prix. "Young man, have you signed up for the Pokémon Grand Prix? My son has too, in the under-twenty category. Perhaps you might even meet."
Xia Huanao shook his head, "We won't meet. I haven't signed up."
He was telling the truth. He had signed up for the twenty-five category, half willingly, half reluctantly. No matter what, he wouldn't run into the driver's son. But what Xia Huanao didn't realize was that this statement would soon be known across the entire Minglong country.
The taxi driver Xia Huanao was in was actually a very famous actor in Minglong country. He was filming a variety show, and a small camera was mounted in front of the car. Xia Huanao's every move was being broadcast live.
Xia Huanao's popularity was not much less than the driver's. As soon as some netizens recognized the passenger as Xia Huanao, the show's ratings instantly surged by several percentage points, almost convincing the production team to invite Xia Huanao as a regular guest.
"Why didn't Boss Xia sign up for the competition?"
"What do you think? Do you think Boss Xia would find it fun to bully children?"
"That's what you say, but it's not very nice to describe those young people like that, is it?"
The taxi continued on the road towards the airport, and Xia Huanao kept chatting with the driver.
"Young man, why didn't you sign up?"
The actor had already heard from his earpiece who was in the back seat, and the direction of the conversation naturally shifted.
"Why do I have to sign up? Is it mandatory? I don't think so. Our Pokémon League wouldn't be that inhumane, would it?"
Xia Huanao began to subtly criticize, not wanting to continue this topic. The director also knew that Xia Huanao's verbal skills were not inferior to his battle prowess. If this continued, Xia Huanao could derail the entire show, so he quickly changed the subject.
"Student, I heard that celebrities are also participating in this Grand Prix. Do you know the child star Yi Mengbi? He's also signed up for the under-twenty category."
Xia Huanao blinked, "Sorry, I don't know much about the entertainment industry. The only people I truly know in the entertainment industry are Yu Linglong and that, that person, what's his name? Why can't I remember?"
If Jin Fangsu knew Xia Huanao had forgotten him, he wouldn't know how he'd feel. But Xia Huanao, as a top-tier conversation killer, could stir up a storm online with every sentence.
Yu Linglong's fans felt complicated hearing Xia Huanao's words, while Jin Fangsu's fans were a bit angry, "How could you? Fang Su was a guest at your Rose Cup, how can you not even remember his name?"
As for Yi Mengbi's fans, they were in an uproar:
"What is this? And Honorary Chairman of the Grand Festival, he doesn't even know our Mengbi brother."
"Yeah, have the last ten years been lived for nothing?"
"Our brother at least signed up for the Grand Prix, he doesn't even dare to register."
"Exactly. And bullying children, isn't that just something he made up? Was it also just bragging about defeating a Heavenly King?"
The car continued to drive. The director had to change the topic again, as Yi Mengbi's fans were ready to blow up the show. They couldn't continue with this topic. So, they shifted the conversation to the driver himself.
"Then have you heard of Hu Tan?"
The driver was quite nervous when he asked this question, as it was now about himself. Xia Huanao searched his mind for the name Hu Tan, then took out his phone, "Wait a moment, let me check."
The viewers watching the live broadcast were amused, especially Hu Tan's fans, "This is hilarious. He asks if he knows him, and then he has to look it up."
"I wonder what Hu Tan is thinking right now?"
Xia Huanao didn't search for long before slapping his thigh, "Oh, oh, Hu Tan who played the dashing detective Xiao Qian? I thought the name sounded familiar."
Hearing Xia Huanao say this, Hu Tan finally felt a bit relieved. Although he wasn't recited by heart, hearing his name was still a good thing. But Xia Huanao was about to unleash his conversation-ending skill, "I heard my mom really liked watching Uncle Hu Tan's 'Dashing Detective Xiao Qian' when she was young. She was such a fan."
Hu Tan felt very pleased. That drama was filmed over twenty years ago, and the lead was his old colleague, Crow Leader. It was also through that drama that he entered the public eye. "Is that so? Hu Tan was quite handsome back then, but handsome people always attract jealousy."
"I think you're right, Uncle. My dad didn't really like this dashing detective. Although, when I was young, he always wanted to train me in that direction."
Hu Tan, driving in the front, felt a sense of pride. In his youth, he was adored by countless young girls, which naturally offended countless young girls' husbands. However, hearing that Xia Huanao was to be trained in his direction, he couldn't suppress his curiosity, "In what direction? How did the training go?"
Xia Huanao covered his head, "How should I put it? The main focus was on being handsome, which I learned..."
Hu Tan felt even more pleased. Did you hear that? The main focus was on being handsome.
Yes, the main focus was handsome, but what about the secondary focus? What was the secondary focus?
Xia Huanao delivered the final blow, "But in terms of being seductive, flirtatious, and cheap, I still haven't learned anything. It's a real shame."
Hu Tan slammed on the brakes, almost sending Xia Huanao crashing into the windshield. Xia Huanao held onto the car seat, covering his head, "Master, what was that? Why did you brake so suddenly? Did we hit someone?"
"Oh, it's nothing. A little Rattata ran across the road, so I braked suddenly."
"I see. Let's continue."
The car resumed its journey. Hu Tan, in the front, said to Xia Huanao for the sake of his image, "Let me tell you, that's the persona of the dashing detective Xiao Qian. You can't take it seriously."
Xia Huanao nodded, "I know, it's just a TV show, it can't be taken seriously."
Xia Huanao and Hu Tan's conversation had the audience in stitches.
"I can't stop laughing. Old Hu thought he was so handsome, but he didn't realize that handsomeness had three secondary aspects."
"Yeah, seductive, flirtatious, and cheap. These three words perfectly describe that 'Dashing Detective Xiao Qian' back then."
"But Boss Xia really dares to speak. He is handsome, but in these three aspects, compared to Xiao Qian, honestly, he's surpassed him. What position does he have to say he hasn't learned anything at all?"
"Honestly, I kind of want to see Xia Huanao and Old Hu make a few episodes of 'Dashing Detective Xiao Qian' together. The effect would be amazing."
"No, no, don't do that. Having two irresponsible detectives would be a disaster. Which criminal could withstand that?"
...
After a few more minutes of bumpy ride, the car finally arrived outside the airport. Xia Huanao skillfully placed a bill on the dashboard, "Thanks, Uncle. I had a very enjoyable chat."
Looking at the bill in his hand, Hu Tan didn't know whether to cry or laugh.
Xia Huanao boarded the plane back to Jinghai City to give Shen Yu some intensive training. Meanwhile, online, the variety show had become a hit. Countless people rewatched the scene of Xia Huanao getting into the car after the live broadcast ended.
After several hours of flight, Xia Huanao returned to Jinghai City and took another taxi. Coincidentally, this taxi also had a camera.
Of course, these two cameras did not belong to the same company. The two cameras belonged to two variety shows from Linglong City Television and Jinghai City Television, which had identical names except for the city. However, since Xia Huanao rarely paid attention to such things, his usual entertainment time was spent playing games, so he was completely unaware of this.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Xia Huanao stared intently at the driver, "You look very familiar. Never mind, I'm seeing everyone as familiar lately."
Of course, he looked familiar. This driver was Jin Fangsu, the model, occasional actor, and singer whom Xia Huanao had claimed not to know just a few hours ago.
"Oh no, Boss Xia is going to torment Jin Fangsu again. Hurry, shield with comments." /
"No need. Haven't you heard where Boss Xia is going? This place isn't too far from the airport, it'll only take a few minutes. He won't be able to get it all out of his system."
This was the style of Xia Huanao's fans, their words sounding just like Xia Huanao. What do they mean by "get it all out of his system"? It means it'll definitely be heartbreaking, but because there isn't enough time, the heartbreak won't be completely thorough.
Jin Fangsu, while driving, looked at Xia Huanao, "Young man, you're very handsome. You'd be very suitable for the Grand Festival, wouldn't you? My sister started participating in the Grand Festival because she liked Jin Fangsu."
Xia Huanao slapped his thigh, "That's right! I knew it. I only know two people in the entertainment industry, one is Yu Linglong, and the other is Jin Fangsu."
Hearing this, Jin Fangsu finally felt much more comforted. Even if he didn't watch the show that morning, his agent would have told him. Now that he knew Xia Huanao was still thinking of him, he felt very gratified.
Jin Fangsu decided to praise Xia Huanao a little, "Really, I'm not good at lying, but I think you're as handsome as Jin Fangsu. The kind of handsome that can charm even men."
Upon hearing this, Xia Huanao quickly opened the car door, "Stop the car!"
Jin Fangsu, not knowing why, stopped the car, "What's wrong? We're not there yet."
Xia Huanao nimbly got out and moved to the back seat, "I suspect you have bad intentions towards me, so I'm going to sit in the back. I'll state this beforehand: I have no interest in men, and I won't allow men to have any interest in me. Alright, hurry up and drive."
Hearing Xia Huanao say this, Jin Fangsu's face turned ashen. He had only wanted to say that Xia Huanao was as handsome as himself, but he was given such a label. How could he live like this?
The facts ruthlessly proved the audience wrong. For Xia Huanao, a single blow was enough to kill the heart.