Reborn as a comedic artist

"Xiao Ming! You're awesome...!"

Wang Shuo's massive body squeezed its way out of the crowd of onlookers.

His handsome features trembled slightly with excitement, and his gaze was as if he were looking at a living god of wealth.

I was completely stunned when I saw it from the side.

You dare to treat such a beautiful girl like that? Aren't you afraid her suitors will tear you apart...?

Cheng Ming calmly straightened his collar, which Lin Xiaoxiao had almost ruffled, and said in a nonchalant tone:

"Da Shuo, this is what art is all about. True art always comes with risks..."

"I think you're just getting beaten up along the way."

Wang Shuo pursed his lips and raised the camera in his hand:

"But I recorded the whole thing just now, not missing a single second."

This would definitely go viral if posted on Bilibili. I've even thought of a title: "Shocking! Handsome photographer makes beautiful woman cry in public!"

"The vision is too narrow."

Cheng Ming patted Wang Shuo's broad shoulder, shook his head, and gave him an expression that said the boy was hopeless.

"This kind of headline has a strong marketing vibe; it's too low-end."

The title should be "About the fact that I could easily make a living off my looks, but I insist on relying on my talent..."

But let me remind you, joke around all you want, but don't joke about lawyer's letters..."

"Heh, you call that talent?"

If that's talent, then my problem is minor; after all, you're the one who took the unflattering photos...!"

Wang Shuo chuckled, a hint of lewdness creeping into his otherwise upright face.

.................................

Back in the senior photography department dormitories at Sichuan Conservatory of Music, the moment I pushed open the door...

A familiar scent, a mixture of the smell of aged sweat and the aroma of pickled cabbage and beef noodles, wafts over you.

It was graduation season for seniors, and the building was mostly empty.

In a six-person dormitory room,

Only Cheng Ming, whose home was in the province upstairs, and Wang Shuo, whose home was in Shandong Province, which was quite far away, remained there.

Although Chengdu cannot compare to Beijing, Shanghai, Hualien and Penghu,

But even in one of the few cities like this, the landlords had no surplus grain.

Anyone with connections would want to live in this godforsaken place without a private bathroom.

The air conditioner remote was stolen long ago by the dorm next door, who always uses the word "borrow" instead of "take." The room is stuffy, like a freshly baked steamer.

"It's so hot, it's killing me!"

As soon as Wang Shuo entered the room, he ripped off his soaking wet T-shirt and tossed it onto the back of the chair, revealing his fair, fatty skin.

He skillfully turned on the creaking floor fan and blew it vigorously at his handsome but oily face.

He then eagerly plopped down in front of the computer, pulled out the camera's memory card, and inserted it into the card reader.

"Xiao Ming, you rest for a bit. I'll go review the memorials now and cut out your amazing skills from today."

I have a feeling that if this video gets posted, our account with only zombie fans will definitely come back to life!

Cheng Ming ignored the man's witty remarks.

He casually hung his black baseball cap on the iron railing at the head of the bed, kicked off his shoes, climbed onto the bed, and sprawled out in a "spread-eagle" position on the hard bed covered with a straw mat.

The bamboo mat was slightly cool, which relieved the summer heat a little.

He closed his eyes, and his consciousness instantly sank.

"System, process the transaction."

In his mind, the mechanical voice that only he could hear rang out precisely on time.

"Congratulations, host, on completing the beginner's quest! Settlement in progress..."

"I have acquired Photography (Professional Level) and Painting (Professional Level) skills. All artistic skills from my previous life have been inherited."

With a slight thought, the pale blue, semi-transparent panel that only he could see appeared on his retina.

[Host: Cheng Ming]

Art Value: 100

Current Skill:

[Auditory Skills: Piano (Professional), Guitar (Professional), Vocal (Amateur), Percussion (Amateur)]

[Visual Arts: Photography (Professional), Painting (Professional)]

[Taste: Cooking (Beginner)]

[Physical Skills: Dance (Beginner), Acting (Beginner)]

[Lifestyle/Other: Fishing (Beginner), Video Editing (Amateur)]

[Special Note: Skill levels are divided into Beginner, Amateur, Professional, Expert, World, Master, and Legendary.]

[System Shop: Now Open]

[Next mission refresh countdown: 142 hours, 59 minutes, and 36 seconds]

Cheng Ming's gaze lingered on the "Photography (Professional)" section for two seconds, and he let out a soft sigh.

Professional level?

interesting.

Just now in Taikoo Li, with the original owner's amateurish skills, he managed to turn a beautiful young woman into a mythical beast from the Classic of Mountains and Seas.

The system reward has arrived, and I've instantly reached the professional level. If I were to try and bid again...

Taking a blurry picture of something ugly is just a matter of poor technique.

But when ugliness is captured in high definition, with texture, and striking straight to the soul, that's art; extremes always lead to their opposites.

Cheng Ming's gaze swept over the painting skill that had been obtained from the "gift pack".

Professional-level painting...

It seems that in the future, besides being a magician of light and shadow, I can also work part-time as a charismatic artist.

As for music, if the system requires it, it can also be sacrificed, but it's Cheng Ming's beloved yet hated white moonlight... so it'll cost extra...!

..........................

"Holy crap! Lao Cheng! Lao Cheng! Come look at this footage!"

Wang Shuo was shouting and yelling on the other end of the line, banging away on his keyboard as if he were playing a frenzied symphony:

"When you tell her, 'Your looks are no longer up to par,' the girl's expression is priceless!"

From confusion to shock to murderous intent, the layers of emotion are so rich...!

"Keep it low-key... that's the tension of art, the most instinctive human reaction when faced with cruel truths," Cheng Ming replied casually, turning over.

"Art my ass! Tension my ass...!"

Wang Shuo laughed hysterically as he edited the video, his laughter so loud it shook the water bottles on the table.

"I'll add a black and white filter to your photos, then take a close-up of her nostrils, and add the background music of 'Erquan Yingyue' (Moon Reflected in the Second Spring). It'll be amazing, absolutely amazing!"

If that girl sees this video, she'll probably climb over the internet cable and strangle you.

"She should thank me; I'm the one who made a lasting impression on the internet..."

Soon, only the frantic clicking of the mouse and Wang Shuo's occasional bursts of pig-like laughter filled the dormitory.

The cicadas outside the window were chirping desperately, and the afterglow of the setting sun shone through the gaps in the curtains onto the concrete floor.

Time slipped by quietly, and darkness fell.

One by one, the streetlights on campus lit up, casting a dim yellow glow over the campus that was about to bid farewell to yet another batch of students.

Cheng Ming took a nap and was dreaming that he was standing in the Vienna Golden Hall, holding a scallion, directing a group of square-dancing aunties to dance to "The Most Dazzling Ethnic Style".

The audience below the stage was full of Beethoven and Mozart, who were applauding him wildly.....

suddenly!

I felt the bed shake violently, like an 8-magnitude earthquake.

"Xiao Ming! Xiao Ming! Wake up! Don't sleep!"

Wang Shuo's voice was so excited it sounded like someone had stepped on his tail, even cracking slightly. His large face was so close that his spittle was about to spray onto Cheng Ming's face.

"It's blown up! Absolutely blown up! Our account is trending!!!"

.........................................