Lin Chudong handed Deng Siqing two glass cups, one large and one small. Cups and coins are very common items in everyday life, so the audience below the stage immediately became interested upon seeing them.
In the past, when watching magic shows, they would use things like hats, or the grand illusion of making someone disappear. There were many professional magic props on large stages.
Those things looked like they were specifically for the magic industry, so even if some strange things appeared, people didn't find it odd.
But this close-up magic was different. It used the most common things in life: coins and glass cups, things that were as ordinary as could be.
What tricks could this thing possibly pull off?
Deng Siqing checked them over. "No problem, just ordinary cups from our home."
Lin Chudong took the cups back, all under the lens of the camera.
A black cloth was placed on the table to make it easier for everyone to see.
"First, we place the small cup on the table, and then cover it with the large cup!"
Lin Chudong placed the two cups, one large and one small, on the table, creating an enclosed space.
"Under these circumstances, is it possible to get this Coin Through Cup into the cup?"
Deng Siqing's eyes widened. "Into the small cup inside? Of course not!"
Lin Chudong smiled slightly. "It's impossible, right? What I'm going to do next, simply put, is to make this coin Instant Teleportation into this cup."
"This is quite difficult, so, everyone, if I succeed, I don't ask for much from the audience, just five seconds of applause!"
Deng Siqing said, "Of course, not just five seconds, I'll give you ten seconds of applause! This sounds incredible."
Lin Chudong aimed at the camera, placing the signed Coin Through Cup in his palm.
Then, he clenched his fist, holding the Coin Through Cup in his palm and rotating his fist one hundred and eighty degrees.
He pointed at the two objects on the table, "Coin Through Cup, glass cup."
"Everyone, don't blink."
"Now, it's time to witness a miracle!"
Lin Chudong's hand exerted a little force, slowly rotating. Then, he abruptly stopped.
Clink! A Coin Through Cup dropped directly into the completely sealed cup!
Immediately, applause and cheers erupted from the audience.
Lin Chudong took out the coin, held it up to the camera, and showed it clearly to the audience.
"Everyone, the one and only coin in the world, thank you all. Five seconds of applause. Five, four…"
Deng Siqing looked astonished. "This is simply unbelievable! You scared me!"
Lin Chudong handed the coin to Deng Siqing. "Sister Deng, keep this coin as a souvenir."
Lin Chudong set the cup down and said,
"The magic trick we just saw is called Instant Teleportation."
"Moving something into the glass is actually not the most difficult part."
"Next, I'm going to do something that's absolutely impossible to transfer."
Subsequently, Lin Chudong took out a box of Eggs and placed it in front of the camera.
"These are ordinary Eggs."
"I just bought these Eggs from the supermarket. First, please, the host, select one."
Deng Siqing chose an Egg.
Lin Chudong said, "Now, please, the host, break this Egg."
"Confirm that this is an ordinary Egg."
Deng Siqing broke the Egg and put it into a small, transparent dish.
Lin Chudong praised, "Very skilled. Sister Deng is truly a good wife and mother."
"You can see that this is a very ordinary egg. Next, please choose another one, Sister Deng, and this time, don't break it."
Deng Siqing was stunned. Big Fei's magic trick seemed different from the rehearsal?
During the rehearsal, Deng Siqing was first asked to take the Ring, and then the Eggs. This time, he hadn't even mentioned the Ring yet, and they were already on the Eggs.
Deng Siqing put the microphone aside and asked in a low voice.
"What about the Ring?"
Lin Chudong pointed at the egg carton. "Please, the host, choose another egg."
Deng Siqing nodded and chose an egg.
Then, Lin Chudong covered the egg with a glass.
"Alright, I won't touch this egg."
"Next, I need to borrow something personal from the host."
Deng Siqing was taken aback, "Me? What do you need?"
Lin Chudong pointed at her hand, "The Ring."
Deng Siqing immediately shielded her hand, "Are you kidding? My Ring is very expensive, and you want to trade it for one yuan?"
The audience below burst into laughter; Sister Deng was really adorable.
Lin Chudong smiled, "Don't worry, I'll definitely return it to you."
Having received the Ring, he showed it off and said.
"Let me explain what I'm going to do first."
"Next, I'm going to put this Ring inside the Eggs in this glass!"
The audience immediately gasped.
It truly was unbelievable.
Even though everyone knew magic tricks were fake, it was still shocking to see such a performance.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is much more difficult than before. If I succeed, I won't ask for much."
"Just half an hour of applause!"
The audience burst into laughter; wouldn't clapping for half an hour exhaust them?
"Just kidding, ten seconds of applause is enough."
"Please watch closely."
"Ring, Eggs."
"Don't blink."
"Now, it's time to witness a miracle!"
Lin Chudong gently pinched the Ring with both hands, then slowly rotated his hands. The Ring was concealed in his palm, but his hands remained in front of the audience.
After a few turns, Lin Chudong spread his hands to show that the Ring had disappeared, and his hands were empty! Applause erupted from the audience.
Deng Siqing also widened her eyes, "Where's my Ring! It's just gone like that? I should have made you give me an IOU just now!"
Deng Siqing's performance was also quite good. That broken Ring was given to her by Lin Chudong backstage. She actually wanted to keep it as a memento.
Lin Chudong said, "Everyone, if it worked, then the Ring should now be in the Eggs."
"Please, Sister Deng, help us crack the Eggs. Don't blink, everyone!"
Deng Siqing cracked the Eggs and placed them on a plate. The camera clearly showed a Ring next to the yolks.
Lin Chudong picked it up with tweezers, and the audience immediately erupted in applause! "Ten, nine…"
Such a wonderful magic trick immediately won over the audience.
Qiu Chengdong nodded in satisfaction. The effect was good.
Although it was just a recording, the camera already showed that the effect was great. The audience applauded and cheered, making it the most enthusiastically applauded act of the evening.
Qiu Chengdong said into the intercom, "Great job, Da Fei. Keep it up, everyone else."
A hint of joy played on Qiu Chengdong's face. Although the Lantern Festival Gala couldn't compare to the Spring Festival Gala, having a few classic acts go viral would add a lot to his resume.
Not to mention, this magic trick, the Spring Festival Gala didn't have it, right?
At the Spring Festival Gala, Da Fei only did a rubber band trick, it was so simple, and it only lasted less than a minute.
But this time, it went on for a full ten minutes, and the audience enjoyed it.
Lin Chudong got off stage, and Deng Siqing took the Ring back and put it on.
Lin Chudong said, "Sister Deng, that's a fake one, just throw it away."
Deng Siqing said, "No, I like it."
Lin Chudong smiled wryly, "If you like it, I'll give you a pretty one later. This is a prop, it doesn't really suit your status!"
Deng Siqing's face showed a hint of anticipation.
"When?"
"...I'll buy it for you after we finish recording the program."
"Okay."
Deng Siqing's cheeks flushed.
The Lantern Festival Gala went very smoothly, and Liang Yin and the others were sitting in the lounge.
Lin Chudong said, "You guys can leave if you want. I still need to watch the last performance, otherwise, I won't feel at ease."
Liang Yin said, "It's okay, we'll wait with you."
"Yeah, alright. Teacher Zhao is the finale. Actually, Teacher Zhao's performance skills are quite strong, but Mao Feifei is just so-so."
Lin Chudong wasn't very satisfied with that program. Mao Feifei had too much of an idol image. Although he was quite handsome, since it was a comedy, it was annoying when he kept putting on airs. He was kind of dragging Teacher Zhao down.
Even on the Spring Festival Gala, his performance would have been just average if it weren't for Lin Chudong's guidance.
But fortunately, Teacher Zhao performed perfectly, so he just needed to perform adequately.
Lin Chudong was resting when the door suddenly opened.
Mao Feifei walked in with a woman and said.
"Teacher Dafei, this is my wife, Chen Ya."
Chen Ya smiled slightly at Lin Chudong, "Hello, Teacher Dafei."
Lin Chudong was also polite, "Hello, sister-in-law. Here to visit the set?"
Mao Feifei said, "Dafei, something happened with Bai Guixiang. Suddenly, her throat hurt, and she can't speak. We have to replace her this time. Teacher Dafei, quickly rehearse a few times with my wife."
Lin Chudong frowned, "Bai Guixiang can't speak? When did this happen?"
"Just now, when you were performing the magic. Maybe she ate something that didn't agree with her."
Lin Chudong felt that this was a bit strange. How could it be such a coincidence? He had spoken to Bai Guixiang when he finished singing, so why couldn't she speak now? Lin Chudong left the rest area and walked towards the public makeup area.
Mao Feifei and Chen Ya's faces darkened, and they quickly followed.
Liang Yin and the others also followed, seeing Dafei's angry expression, it seemed something was wrong.
Arriving at the makeup area, Lin Chudong saw Bai Guixiang sitting alone, wiping away tears.
Seeing Lin Chudong approach, she quickly wiped her face and turned her head away.
"Sister Bai, what's wrong? Can't speak?"
Bai Guixiang nodded, glanced at Mao Feifei and his wife, her eyes still red-rimmed.
Lin Chudong said, "I know a bit of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Let me take a look."
With that, he began to take Bai Guixiang's pulse.
"Sister Bai, open your mouth, let me see your throat."
After examining her, Lin Chudong's expression turned serious.
"Sister Bai, is someone threatening you, preventing you from speaking?"
As the words fell, Mao Feifei immediately became displeased.
"Da Fei, what do you mean by that? Who could threaten her?"
Lin Chudong said, "Sister Bai's body has no problems, and her throat is also healthy. How could she suddenly become unable to speak?"
Mao Feifei was a little exasperated, "You ask me? Who can understand her own body's problems?"
"Then I'm asking Sister Bai, why are you interrupting?"
"You..."
The two's arguing attracted Qiu Chengdong.
Director Qiu walked over, his brow furrowed.
"What's going on?"
Mao Feifei said, "Director Qiu, Bai Guixiang can't speak. I said to let my wife save the show, and let Dafei rehearse it, but Dafei wasn't happy."
Qiu Chengdong glanced at Bai Guixiang, his brow furrowing even deeper.
Lin Chudong said, "Sister Bai, don't be afraid, I've got your back. This program is your chance to make a name for yourself. If you're afraid of losing your job, I'll sign you. You can come work for my company later."
Bai Guixiang and Mao Feifei were in the same drama troupe. Mao Feifei was more influential than her, so naturally had more say in the unit.
If he had opinions about her, she would inevitably be given a hard time in the future, and Bai Guixiang would be even more miserable in the unit.
Bai Guixiang gritted her teeth, lowered her head, and still didn't dare to speak.
Zhao Jinrong walked over, frowned when she saw the scene before her.
As an experienced artist, she'd seen it all before. She'd already seen through this little trick.
"Xiao Mao, there will be plenty of opportunities to perform. Guixiang has been waiting for this chance for quite a while. Don't make things difficult for her."
Mao Feifei said, "Teacher Zhao, I'm not making things difficult for anyone. It's her own health problem. Why are you all pointing fingers at me?"
Liang Yin whispered, "Da Fei, what's going on? Didn't she say she couldn't speak?"
Lin Chudong leaned in close to Liang Yin's ear and said, "It must be Mao Feifei preventing her from speaking, using this as an excuse to get his wife on stage. He told me about it once before, but I refused."
Liang Yin frowned, thinking, how could the drama troupe be so dark?
Liang Yin was also getting angry, and said to Bai Guixiang.
"Sister Bai, our company has already established a film and television department. You've seen Beginning, right? We made it. If you're interested, you can come to our company. The benefits are much better than the drama troupe."
Bai Guixiang didn't have a permanent position in the drama troupe, and she didn't know when she'd get a formal position.
Hearing Liang Yin say this, Bai Guixiang gritted her teeth.
"Director Liang, Da Fei, you really want me?"
As soon as Bai Guixiang spoke, Mao Feifei's expression immediately became ugly.
Her speaking out was tantamount to admitting that Mao Feifei had threatened her, wasn't it?
"Bai Guixiang, just speak if you can. Why are you pretending your voice is bad? You're making me look like I'm in a lose-lose situation!"
Lin Chudong said, "Sister Bai, your acting is good, and you work hard. I admire you. After we finish recording the show, I'll show you the benefits and treatment our company offers."
"You still have to go on the show later, otherwise the effect will be greatly diminished."
Bai Guixiang nodded, suddenly feeling much better.
Chen Ya snorted coldly, "What program needs her to perform? To put it bluntly, with her looks, she wouldn't even rank in our unit."
"Using her would greatly diminish the effect? Are you related to her?"
Mao Feifei said, "Da Fei, since my wife is already here, let's use my wife. In terms of status, she's also better than her and has a fan base. Let's decide on that."
Lin Chudong frowned, "What do you mean 'decided'? Am I the director, or are you?"
-----------------------
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