My Artist Is Reborn

Chapter 98 – Taoist temple

After the audition, Chu Mei Bo and Song Yimian went back to Zhongjing first. Chu Mei Bo needed to go back to class and record the next episode of “Travel with History”, while Song Yimian went back to his crew while taking his time to prepare Chu Mei Bo lessons.

Song Yimian also figured out that his acting skills were not good enough to repay Shen Huai, so he decided to work hard in other areas and at least help Sister Mei get into college first.

Song Yimian got on the plane full of fighting spirit.

Shen Huai and Ye Cang saw them off, but instead of going back, they drove to the countryside around Dongjiang city.

Since New Year, Shen Huai had been very busy, and he realized that he had neglected Ye Cang. Even if Ye Cang didn’t say anything, he felt a little guilty.

So, when Ye Cang proposed to go on a trip for a few days after Chu Mei Bo’s audition was over, he agreed.

Ye Cang integrated all kinds of strategies and suggestions from netizens, and finally chose Songjing town near Qinglang River. Songjing town was a historic town developed in recent years. The waterway stretching out from Qinglang River was woven into a network all over the ancient town. The walls were whitewashed and the trees gave shade. In addition to the beautiful scenery, there was also a long-standing taoist temple, which was covered with flowers in full bloom.

Because it was a working day, there were not many tourists.

Shen Huai changed from a suit to casual clothes, replacing his golden glasses with half frame ones, and put down the neat hair he always kept in place with hair gel. With this he looked young, just like a college student who just graduated.

Ye Cang was dressed in the same style as him. On his nose, he wore a pair of black frame glasses that covered most of his face. The lower half of his face was covered by a mask. If you didn’t look closely, you could hardly see him.

Both of them walked leisurely in the old town with backpacks on their backs.

Although both of them had changed clothes, they were still very conspicuous in the crowd. From time to time, little girls stopped to look at them secretly and took photos of their backs with their mobile phones.

Shen Huai had no choice but to whisper to Ye Cang, “Are you really alright like this? With being recognized?”

Ye Cang put his hand on his shoulder and said carelessly, “Don’t worry! Absolutely not worried!”

As soon as he spoke, he saw the young ladies who had secretly photographed them hesitantly come forward. Blushing, they asked, “Can we take a picture with you?”

Ye Cang couldn’t agree, of course. It was a pity that they were rejected, but the little girls didn’t insist and even enthusiastically recommended them a delicious restaurant.

Shen Huai thanked them and was ready to leave with Ye Cang.

Before parting, the little girl whispered, “You look like my idol. His name is Ye Cang. Do you know him?”

Ye Cang: “...”

Shen Huai almost laughed aloud, but it would expose them, so he hurriedly pulled Ye Cang away.

Fortunately, after that, there were no more sharp eyed young ladys. However, Ye Cang still thought about it and didn’t let it go when they went to the dining place.

“I used to dress like this and go out and even went to a friend’s concert like this, but no one found out.”

Shen Huai poured tea for him and said with a smile, “At that time, photography was not so developed as it is now. Your fans only saw you on stage, but now it’s different. Fans have too many ways to see all aspects of you. Compared with before, it’s now more difficult to hide your identity.”

In fact, Ye Cang hadn’t thought about it, but he just put on a fake front in front of Shen Huai. Having his face slapped in a flash, was really too tragic.

Shen Huai didn’t poke on it either, just laughed and changed the subject.

This restaurant was the one Ye Cang had written in his strategy notes. It was also the place that was recommended by the little sister who saw through Ye Cang earlier.

Because this happened in the morning, Ye Cang was too scared, and in the afternoon, they did not hang out in the town, but took a ride to the taoist temple.

This taoist temple, called Fenghua Temple, had existed for more than 200 years. It was built on the top of Fenghua Mountain’s peak. The architecture of the taoist temple had simple charm, with ancient trees towering near the temple, and it was very quiet.

This taoist temple was not too big. The tour could be completed in half an hour without visiting other places.

But walking inside made people feel peaceful, so they didn’t rush down the mountain, but sat aside on a stone chair resting.

Beside the stone chair was a table with a sign tube and a pair of water bamboo cups on it, as well as a cloth with faces and hands painted on it.

An old man in a taoist robe was sitting on a reclining chair behind the table. Seeing Ye Cang and Shen Huai sit down, he quickly got up. “Do you want to have some rest or do you want to have a divination reading?”

The two of them were stupefied for a moment, before realizing that this chair was especially designed for people who came for divination.

In the past, Shen Huai and Ye Cang didn’t believe in these things, but now they were a little bit more believing. Anyway, they were also idle, so Shen Huai said, “Please, give me a divination reading.”

The taoist priest patted his beard happily, and handed the signet to Shen Huai. “Meditate on what you want to divine in your heart, and then shake the signet.”

Shen Huai did as he was told, and a signature fell on the ground. He picked it up and handed it to the taoist priest.

The taoist priest took the signet and then took out the presbyopic glasses from below the table and put them on slowly. Then he took out a book and turned its pages according to the signature’s number.

Shen Huai, Ye Cang: “...”

The taoist priest’s face was almost buried in the book. After reading it for a long time, he looked up at Shen Huai in bewilderment. After it happened several times, Shen Huai couldn’t help but ask, “Priest, is it a bad divination?”

“Well...” The old taoist priest took the divination and didn’t seem to know how to open his mouth. “This gentleman looks very good. The heaven is full and the pavilion is round and it is the life of extreme wealth. But the divination is strange, and it’s full of ghosts...”

He thought for a moment and asked, “What did you just ask, sir?”

Shen Huai: “Career.”

The taoist priest felt even stranger. After reading it several times, he asked cautiously, “Is your career related in any way to white things?”

White things referred to the funeral related industry.

Shen Huai shook his head. “I’m an agent.”

“Impossible...” The taoist priest held the sign tightly and whispered, “It’s impossible for you to sign in ghosts...”

Shen Huai and Ye Cang: “...”

The old taoist really couldn’t figure out the divination, and was too embarrassed to accept money. But Shen Huai understood that the old taoist priest was very powerful, so he paid the money briskly.

The taoist priest didn’t want to collect money for nothing, so he took out a talisman from the table and gave it to Shen Huai.

Although the amulet looked crude and dirty, considering that it was given by this taoist priest, Shen Huai put it on his body solemnly.

At this time, Ye Cang also became curious. “Priest, can you give me a divination reading too?”

The taoist priest just lost his face and was ready to find it again, so he nodded and asked Ye Cang to extend his hand.

He held the presbyopia glasses almost pressing them to his palm. After watching it for a while, he raised his head shakily, his whole person looking devastated. “I have never read such a strange palm in my life!”

He scratched his hair and the originally neat scarf on his head became crooked, revealing the gray hair below.

Shen Huai thought that he was a bit pitiful and it would be hard to tell the truth. So he could only pull Ye Cang to leave, but was stopped by the old taoist priest.

He looked at Ye Cang with a serious gaze. “It may be that you are not good at learning. In my opinion, you shouldn’t be alive up to this year. I don’t know if you have gone through any adventures, but now that you’ve survived the calamity, you should cherish it and do more good deeds. Don’t waste this opportunity.”

Ye Cang was stunned by his words. He didn’t know what the old priest saw, but he just nodded to show that he understood.

The old taoist eased his expression and then he thought of something. “By the way, what did you just want to ask?”

Ye Cang: “About marriage.”

The old priest: “...”

The old taoist swept his face and then looked at Shen Huai face again. Inexplicably, he felt a bit choked and said angrily, “The taoist way is natural, do whatever you like!”

Then they were driven down the mountain.

–

After going down the mountain, they were still talking about the things the old taoist said. It was needless to say that they cherished their lives. As for doing more good deeds, Ye Cang had devoted 10% of his profit to the development of original music since the release of his first album.

He asked Shen Huai uncertainly, “Am I doing good deeds?”

Shen Huai: “...”

Ye Cang sighed. “I’d better take some money and donate it to schools like Mr. Guo.”

Since Du Yuping became Guo Wenyuan, he saw all the garbage things Guo Wenyuan had done before and there was nothing he could do about it, so he simply donated all that money to a school.

As soon as Shen Huai was about to say something, he was interrupted by a group of students coming their way. These students were all holding drawing boards and small stools. It seemed that some students from the university’s Art Department had come out here to sketch.

The two men got out of the way and let the students pass first.

These students were chattering and brimming with the energy of youth.

When they were all far away, a very fat girl hurried up. There seemed to be a water stain on her clothes, which didn’t seem to have been wrung dry.

She ran so fast that the picture folder on her back suddenly spread out and all the papers inside flew out.

The girl hurriedly stopped to pick them up, and Ye Cang and Shen Huai also stopped to help. Fortunately, there was no wind at this time, and the ground was dry, so they quickly picked up all the drawings and Shen Huai handed them to the girl.

The girl’s voice was like a mosquito’s. “Thank you!” But she didn’t even look up.

Shen Huai took out a bag of paper towels from his bag and handed it to her, motioning to the hem of her dress. “Wipe it.”

The girl took a paper towel and looked even more flustered. She was about to run with her picture folder but unexpectedly, she didn’t pay attention to a stone on the ground and almost fell down. Ye Cang saw this and hurriedly helped her.

“Are you alright?”

The girl shook her head, but she didn’t look as nervous as before. She raised her head wanting to apologize to Ye Cang but at the moment she saw his face her whole face turned pale. She pushed him away and ran away with her picture folder.

Ye Cang was confused. “Even if you don’t want to thank me, you don’t have to push me.”

Ye Cang hadn’t noticed her expression, but Shen Huai had. Today, in the taoist temple, the old priest’s words still made him a bit concerned.

At this moment, seeing the girl’s strange reaction, he couldn’t help thinking about it.

However, Shen Huai didn’t immediately tell Ye Cang about these things. He decided to investigate them first and then talk about them.