Chapter 18: The Fallen Child Star (18) Part 1

Unlike Yao Rong, who was making smooth progress, Xu Weiheng encountered some trouble.

The show’s budget was twenty yuan, which was enough for Xu Weiheng to buy a large bundle of colorful braiding cords. However, the problem was that he had never learned how to braid a bracelet.

With the live broadcast in progress and guests prohibited from using their phones, Xu Weiheng couldn’t learn through video tutorials. Fortunately, he had anticipated this issue. When purchasing the braiding cords, he asked the shop owner if she could provide him with an instruction guide. He thought that by following the steps, he should be able to successfully create the bracelet.

The shop owner was accommodating and quickly obliged. Xu Weiheng lowered his head and carefully read the four steps outlined in the guide. Whether it was about untying or connecting, he could easily understand it all.

Xu Weiheng let out a slight sigh of relief and turned to leave the market.

[Wait, is Xu Weiheng really leaving? Did he actually understand it?]

[I think he did; that sigh of relief was too obvious.]

[Haha, I get it! Eyes say: I understand. Hands say: No, you don’t.]

[Looking closely, the guide only teaches how to tie a simple knot, but doesn’t explain how to make a button knot once it’s long enough. How will Xu help his mom wear it?]

The comments section suddenly buzzed with excitement.

Some people explained various knotting techniques for braiding bracelets, while many others secretly anticipated Xu Weiheng’s failure. It wasn’t that they disliked him; they simply wanted to see some drama unfold.

Instead of returning to the guesthouse immediately, Xu Weiheng found a quiet, shaded spot near a flower bed and began attempting to follow the instructions.

After one minute, Xu Weiheng was still full of enthusiasm.

After five minutes, he felt he could try again.

After ten minutes, he stared at the diagram, questioning his life choices.

Which step in the middle had he missed?

This guide was far too simplistic!

[Haha, that confused expression is priceless!]

[Just checked the stream next door. Confirmed: Xu Weiheng definitely didn’t inherit his mom’s handcrafting skills.]

After another attempt, Xu Weiheng finally gave up in frustration. Alone, he realized he had absolutely no way to prepare the gift within the specified time.

It seemed he had underestimated the complexity of the task.

Xu Weiheng spent a few seconds coming to terms with reality, sighed, gathered his things, and jogged back to the market. He approached the shop owner from earlier and asked if she could teach him how to braid a bracelet.

“The simplest kind will do.”

“I’ll work for you all afternoon as payment, whether it’s heavy lifting or odd jobs. Please, shop owner, help me out.”

The shop owner agreed readily.

Her small store wasn’t very large. A large portion of the area was dedicated to selling clothes, while a smaller section sold accessories.

Xu Weiheng helped the shop owner carry in two boxes of goods, which completed the heavy work he needed to do. The remaining tasks mainly involved helping the shop owner attract and assist customers.

The shop owner asked with concern, “Can you handle it?”

Like most experienced business owners, she had developed a keen eye. After a brief interaction, she could already tell that Xu Weiheng was shy and not very talkative.

In fact, her store’s business was average, leaving her with plenty of free time to teach him. The few braiding methods she knew were all learned from the internet, so there was no need to keep them secret.

But this young man seemed to have a strong sense of self-esteem and probably wouldn’t want to owe anyone a favor. So when Xu Weiheng offered labor as payment, the shop owner went along with it and readily accepted his request.

“I can do it!” Xu Weiheng nodded vigorously.

After the shop owner turned away, he couldn’t help but touch his burning ear lobes with his fingertips. Even though he had been in the entertainment industry for so long, he still blushed easily when communicating with others.

Taking a deep breath, Xu Weiheng began to imitate the shop owner, joining her in calling out to attract customers.

At first, he was a bit reserved, but his clean and youthful appearance, exuding an especially obedient and boyish charm, attracted considerable attention to the store even when he just stood there quietly.

A few regular customers joked, “Shop owner, where did you find such a good-looking young employee?”

The live chat also joined in the teasing, mimicking the regulars’ tone.

[Shop owner, this little employee has brought in so much business for you. You better teach him how to braid bracelets properly later~]

[This little employee is really shy, isn’t he? Why do his ears turn red after just a couple of compliments?]

However, there were also some unfriendly comments mixed in.

[Is Xu Weiheng mute? Can’t he respond when others talk to him?]

[Sure enough, some people use his underage status as an excuse. Being underage doesn’t equal being impolite!]

[Exactly, don’t always use young age as an excuse. If we’re talking about age, Xu Yiyuan is even younger than him, but he’s confident and articulate. Every time these two are on screen together, the contrast is indeed brutal.]

But as time passed, the mocking voices in the live stream gradually diminished until they fell silent.

Xu Weiheng indeed wasn’t good at saying flattering words, lacked a silver tongue, and even appeared somewhat awkward in his responses to certain situations. However, this didn’t mean he couldn’t perform well in his current task.

He was sincerely examining each customer, using the aesthetic sense he had cultivated over two years in the entertainment industry to match outfits for each of them.

The clothes he selected not only highlighted the customers’ advantages but also concealed their flaws. With the addition of a few small accessories, the entire outfit immediately became more stylish.

This effort, though perhaps clumsy and lacking in variety show effect, was truly the best he could do.

Undeniably, his attitude was genuinely sincere.

And sincerity can touch people’s hearts.

Unless they were Xu Weiheng’s anti-fans, it was difficult to continue criticizing after sensing his earnestness.

Compared to the live stream audience, the customers served by Xu Weiheng had a more direct experience of this sincerity.

And their response to this sincerity was fully reflected in their purchasing power.

Customers who entered the store left with at least one shopping bag, if not more.

Some even bought three or four sets of clothes at once.

“Alright, this afternoon’s business is equivalent to two or three days’ worth of normal sales. It’s time for us to close up shop,” the shop owner said.

Xu Weiheng had just seen off the last customer when he heard the shop owner’s voice. He looked down at his watch, only then realizing that three full hours had passed since he arrived at the store.

During these three hours, he hadn’t stopped attending to customers once.

The shop owner handed Xu Weiheng a can of Wangzai milk: “You must be thirsty after talking so much. Have a drink before we start the lesson.”

Xu Weiheng was momentarily stunned before reaching out to accept it.

“Oh, wait a second,” the shop owner rummaged around and found a large straw, probably left over from when she had milk tea before. “You celebrities are probably more particular about these things, here you go.”

The shop owner wasn’t completely out of touch with the world; she did have some impression of Xu Weiheng. Besides, Xu Weiheng had been followed by a cameraman the whole time, so even those who didn’t recognize him could guess he was filming a show.

Xu Weiheng’s lips curved slightly as he accepted the straw and opened the can: “I’m not particular, but I am used to drinking with a straw. Thank you.”

He quickly finished the drink, composed himself, and began learning from the shop owner.

Due to time constraints, the shop owner didn’t teach Xu Weiheng any complex braiding techniques.

However, she brought out a small box of beads for Xu Weiheng to use freely.

“They’re not worth much, but they’ll make it look nicer. Feel free to use any you like.”

With the shop owner demonstrating beside him, Xu Weiheng quickly got the hang of it.

One teaching earnestly, one learning earnestly, in less than half an hour, Xu Weiheng had completed the bracelet.

The shop owner took out a bright red, exquisite jewelry box and handed it to Xu Weiheng: “Put it in here. This bracelet is for your mom, so it should be packaged nicely.”

Xu Weiheng was overjoyed and thanked her profusely: “Thank you so much, shop owner!”

After placing the completed bracelet in the box, Xu Weiheng helped the shop owner close the shutters, and they each left the store.

When Xu Weiheng returned home, he found Yao Rong still in the courtyard, meticulously carving a spaceship. Curious about her latest creation, he quietly approached but was swiftly pulled back by the vigilant cameraman.

Accepting defeat, Xu Weiheng raised his hands in surrender.

After turning on the courtyard lights, he checked the kitchen, confirming that dinner preparations hadn’t begun.

He asked the cameraman following him into the kitchen, “What ingredients did you prepare for dinner?”

The cameraman pointed to a freezer in the corner.

Xu Weiheng rubbed his hands together, ready to show off his cooking skills once again.

…

When the lights came on, Yao Rong finally realised that Xu Weiheng had returned home.

While the spaceship’s exterior was easily carved, the real challenge lay in depicting its interior within a walnut-sized piece of wood. Even for someone of Yao Rong’s skill, this task demanded her utmost concentration.

She cleverly chose to leave the top half of the spaceship partially open, preserving its external structure while revealing the intricate interior. Using a clean brush, she meticulously dusted off the powder from her fingertips and gently swept away the remaining sawdust from the wood.

As Yao Rong completed her cleaning, the camera captured every exquisite detail of the spaceship – the cockpit, seats, control sticks, oxygen tanks, and more. It was evident that such precision required not just skill, but also a deep understanding of spacecrafts.

The live stream exploded with comments:

[I’ve been watching intently for five hours, and I can confirm this is 100% her own work. It’s incredible! I have to shout it out: AMAZING!!!]

[Where are those who doubted Xu Weiheng’s mom’s abilities now? Weren’t they quite vocal earlier]

[Is this what you call ‘only a high school education’?]

[You try it if you can. I’m ready to kneel and sing ‘Conquered’. Honestly, with this level of craftsmanship, the show should feel honored to have her.]

[+1, the show is lucky to have her.]

[Excuse me, but does Ms. Yao plan to sell similar pieces? I’m willing to offer a satisfactory price.]

This comment was accompanied by a virtual spaceship gift in the live stream, though Yao Rong remained oblivious to the online reactions.

As she displayed the sculpture from every angle, the assistant director seized the opportunity to ask, “Ms. Yao, why did you choose this particular sculpture as a gift?”

“Because Weiheng will like it,” she replied simply.

Catching onto her words, the director probed further, “You only reunited with Xu Weiheng two months ago after a long separation. Do you really feel you know him well enough now?”

Yao Rong responded with a firm yet calm retort, “Generally speaking, the person who knows you best in this world is your mother. If you’re skeptical, Director, you can always ask your own.”

The assistant director was left speechless.

After wrapping the spaceship in silk, Yao Rong stood to stretch and pack away her tools. Just as she prepared to head to the kitchen, Xu Weiheng emerged with a plate of pickled fish. ‘Perfect timing’, he said, ‘dinner’s ready’.

Yao Rong nodded and began setting the table. Within minutes, all dishes were served.

The assistant director, hoping for a touching moment, suggested they exchange gifts before eating. However, both Yao Rong and Xu Weiheng remained surprisingly composed throughout the exchange. Yao Rong placed the silk-wrapped sculpture in Xu Weiheng’s hands, while he presented her with a gift he had been hiding behind his back.

Upon opening the box, Yao Rong found a black woven rope bracelet that softly reflected the light. With a gentle smile, she asked, “Help me put it on.”

After fastening the bracelet, Xu Weiheng smiled, picked up his chopsticks, and simply said, “Let’s eat.”

The assistant director was taken aback. 

Wait… that’s it?

Where was the emotional scene he had anticipated? This mother-son duo defied expectations, but the steadily rising viewership suggested they might become the show’s dark horse.

…