Free Web NovelChapter 312: Chapter 312: Why Is This Outfit So Comical?
"Tch, tch!" Shen Yibin came downstairs and circled Hah’Er, clicking his tongue in amazement. Hah’Er and Xia Shixuan looked on, completely bewildered.
"Boss, what are you doing? Hah’Er eats and sleeps with you every single day. Do you really have to stare at him like that?" Xia Shixuan asked, rolling her eyes.
"I finally understand why Hah’Er is so popular," Shen Yibin said with feeling, pointing to the dark circles around Hah’Er’s eyes. "See? He was born wearing sunglasses. He was absolutely prepared to be a star from day one!"
Xia Shixuan and the others were speechless. ’Who even says something like that? Egg has dark circles around its eyes too, so how come it’s not a star? Oh, wait, that’s not quite right. It was the star of Baiyun Street’s square dancing scene back in the day. In the hearts of those aunties, it was far more popular than any of the pretty-boy idols who are all the rage right now.’
’Fine. When I have a kid, I’ll just draw dark circles around his eyes the moment he’s born. If he doesn’t become a star, I’m coming to you for compensation!’ Xia Shixuan and the others had no retort.
"Let’s get some rest early today. Don’t worry about waking up for exercise tomorrow, either. You’ll have your hands full starting the day after tomorrow." It was only ten o’clock, but Shen Yibin was already ushering Hah’Er and Maphario off to bed. They were officially joining the film crew soon, and it was essential for them to be well-rested and conserve their energy for the next two days.
So, the next day they slept all the way until ten. They got up at a leisurely pace, went for a few slow laps around the park, and then returned to the shop. Maphario immediately went to tend to its farm. The sunflowers, cinerarias, and China asters were all about to bloom, and the foliage of the eggplants, tomatoes, corn, peanuts, and watermelons was growing more lush by the day. Perhaps by next month, they would get to taste the fruits and vegetables personally grown by Maphario.
After it finished watering and fertilizing, Maphario dragged over Shen Yibin’s old phone and began playing music for the plants. Shen Yibin had already arranged the playlist so that as Maphario circled the farm, each type of plant could hear its favorite tunes. Bathed in music, the plants grew with even more vigor.
While Maphario was busy downstairs, Shen Yibin was prepping Hah’Er with the script from Director Kong. "Hah’Er, when we start filming, don’t be scared. Just do whatever I tell you to do. C’mon, let me explain. You’re going to be playing a panda from the Kunlun Immortal Realm..."
Hah’Er was lying on the sofa, cradling a steamer basket of shrimp and bamboo shoot dumplings—a recipe Shen Yibin had learned from Chef Ah Qing. It munched away, nodding from time to time, though it was impossible to tell if it actually understood a thing.
’Ah, whatever. I’ve read this to you so many times, you should have it memorized by now. Besides, you didn’t have any stage fright during the auditions or the promotional shoot, so I doubt this will be a problem.’ Shen Yibin shook his head, put away the script, and got up to make lunch.
After lunch, they spent a comfortable afternoon in the shop. As evening approached, Shen Yibin took Hah’Er and Maphario to the park to play. During dinner, he even gave Hah’Er two bowls of beer. As soon as the panda finished its meal, it flopped onto the sofa and started snoring. A good night’s sleep was definitely guaranteed.
The next morning, Shen Yibin woke up before their driver even called. He washed up, made breakfast, and got Hah’Er and the others out of bed. After they ate, Maphario immediately got busy on the farm. That little creature and Hah’Er were polar opposites—one was impossibly lazy, while the other couldn’t stand being idle.
This made Shen Yibin look over at Hah’Er again and again. ’Sigh, when are you going to be as hardworking as your godson?’ But Hah’Er just stared blankly back at Shen Yibin, as if to say, ’Why would you want me to be hardworking?’ ’Huh, I guess that’s a fair point. Farming is Maphario’s hobby; I can’t really compare Hah’Er to it. Besides, Hah’Er is my pet, not a shop employee. Why the heck should it have to work?’
’Besides, Hah’Er doesn’t just freeload. Every evening, it helps feed the other pets and takes them out to play. It’s thanks to its help that the spirits of all the pets in the shop have been improving. That’s all Hah’Er’s doing.’
’Fine, you’re all useful. I’m the only freeloader in this shop,’ Shen Yibin thought, turning his head away. Just then, the car sent to pick them up arrived. Shen Yibin looked at Maphario and asked, "Are you staying here to work in the shop today, or are you coming out with us?"
It had been in such a hurry to get back to the farm the other day, so Shen Yibin wasn’t sure if it would be willing to leave again. Maphario poked its head out from behind a tomato plant, blinked its little eyes, looked at Shen Yibin, then at Hah’Er. Without a second thought, it dropped the watering can in its paws, scurried over, and settled comfortably into Hah’Er’s pocket. It still preferred to be with Hah’Er.
When they arrived on location, the film crew was already busy with preparations. Director Kong spotted Shen Yibin and hurried over to greet him. After a few brief pleasantries, he laid out the day’s tasks. "Bin, first, take Hah’Er to makeup and get him into costume. We’re going to start by filming Hah’Er’s scenes in the Kunlun Immortal Realm."
So, this Shilin Hot Spring was serving as the set for the Kunlun Immortal Realm. Of course, things like palaces, immortal birds, and mythical beasts would be added as embellishments during post-production.
"Alright." Shen Yibin was also quite curious what Hah’Er would look like in full costume. ’How different could a panda from the Kunlun Immortal Realm be from a regular one?’
He led Hah’Er into the dressing room, gave it a few instructions, and it obediently sat in a chair for the makeup artist. Meanwhile, Shen Yibin sat on the sofa outside, bored, cracking sunflower seeds with Maphario as they waited for Hah’Er to emerge.
The wait stretched on for over an hour. Just as the two of them finished the last of their sunflower seeds, Hah’Er finally emerged, makeup done and costume on.
Hah’Er emerged wearing a Phoenix Wing Purple Gold Crown on its head, the Golden Armor on its body, and Lotus Silk Cloud-Stepping Shoes on its feet. It strode out the door with the gait of a dragon and the pace of a tiger, leaving Shen Yibin and the others completely stunned.
"So, what do you think? This is the look we designed for Hah’Er in the Kunlun Immortal Realm," Director Kong said, nodding with satisfaction.
*Pfft!* Shen Yibin couldn’t hold back a laugh. On the slender frame of the Monkey King, this outfit looked heroic and dashing. But on the chubby, roly-poly, squat little Hah’Er, it was nothing but comical!
"SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK!" Maphario went even further, rolling around on the table. It seemed to be thoroughly amused by Hah’Er’s getup as well.
’What a shame,’ Shen Yibin thought. ’If Director Kong hadn’t strictly forbidden leaking anything from the set during filming, I’d totally take a picture of this and post it online. Everyone would absolutely lose their minds laughing, wouldn’t they?’
