Chapter 32

 Chapter 32: Opening of "You in My Eyes"

As the curtains fell on "Undercover Trainees," the entire Science Hall was engulfed in applause and cheers from the audience.

"This sketch is so interesting! The comedy styles in all three segments are different, but they share a common theme: satire of today's talent shows."

"Who's playing Zhao Haoyan? They shouldn't cast him as a fool next time; it's just too perfect!"

"It's high-energy from start to finish, full of twists; I can't stop watching!"

"The script was written by Lu Zhixing? Besides songwriting, he can also write sketches? He's so talented!"

"When will the video be available? I'm going to rewatch it on the video streaming site!"

"By the way, today happens to be the semi-finals of 'University Talent Show,' and it seems like there are many scenes similar to this sketch. Is this a prophecy?"

"What prophecy? Aren't all talent shows like this? This is more like a case of 'the one who handles it well is better than the one who does it well!'"

The audience was enthusiastically discussing, and even after the sketch ended, the excitement in the venue remained undiminished.

Next was a typical singing competition, and the student who took the stage gave a rather average performance. However, the audience's reaction was fervent, nearly overwhelming him.

Were the audience in the audience always this passionate?

He didn't know that this was actually the aftermath of the previous program, which had left a positive impression on the entire event and naturally fostered a "love for all things" attitude toward the following performances.

Many students who had initially stood up to leave found themselves returning to their seats.

Not leaving!

They had initially thought that the only exciting part of the Game Design Institute's performance was Lu Zhixing's song, but now they realized that Lu Zhixing had also participated in the rehearsals for other programs?

"Undercover Trainees" was a huge surprise from Lu Zhixing to all the audience!

So, are there any more surprises to come?

Everyone was eagerly looking forward to it.

……

Liu Bo, Zhao Haoyan, and Lv Yixiao arrived backstage. Their nervousness hadn't yet subsided, and after taking a few sips of bottled water, they eagerly asked others, "How did we do? Did it go well? No major mishaps, right?"

Zhang Yiyang immediately gave them a thumbs up, saying, "It's not just 'went well,' it was perfect! I knew there was a reason why Lu Xiaodi asked the three of you to perform. This script was tailor-made for you; you played your roles perfectly!"

[Tl Note: Xiaodi Means younger brother.]

He scrolled through his phone and said, "Look at the popular posts on the school's intranet: 'Please don't let Zhao Haoyan play a fool anymore; it's too convincing. I once thought he was genuinely foolish!'

"And this one, 'Lv Yixiao's portrayal of the cunning yet foolish villain is so interesting. Sometimes he comes off as wicked and terrifying, and sometimes he's naturally foolish. How does he seamlessly switch between the two? He's a hidden acting genius!'"

Zhao Haoyan, while wiping off the makeup from his face with a wet towel, reacted belatedly, "Wait a minute, why do I feel like my reputation took a hit?"

Liu Bo was excited, "Really? What are they saying about me? Did they mention that I acted well and looked handsome?"

Zhang Yiyang checked the school intranet forum, "Oh, I found it! Well, no one mentioned your looks, but your name is making waves! They even think 'Liu Boer' isn't your real name; they assume you chose it on purpose!"

Liu Bo's expression froze, "Huh? What about the rest? Did no one say I acted well and looked handsome?"

Zhang Yiyang shook his head, "No, they really didn't."

Liu Bo looked thunderstruck, "What happened to the priority of mate selection...?"

Zhang Yiyang laughed, patting his shoulder, "Still thinking about your mate selection priority? Don't dwell on it; you guys are on fire! I have a feeling that when this sketch gets uploaded online, you might even go viral!"

"This time, it's all thanks to Lu Xiaodi; otherwise, I really wouldn't know how to organize this freshmen welcome event. But enough about that, I should get ready to go on stage."

Saying that, Zhang Yiyang got up to prepare. He had to play the role of the bumbling father in "You in My Eyes." Though the lines were minimal, most of the time, he needed to stand there like a wooden post, he still had to be on stage.

Liu Bo looked around, "Hmm, where's Lu-ge?"

……

At this moment, Lu Zhixing had taken his reserved seat in the audience, prepared to watch the upcoming performances as a regular spectator.

In his view, his role as a campus superstar was rapidly progressing, and he could see that it was close to being full.

The approval of the audience at the venue and online for the programs was contributing to his progress.

"Undercover Trainees" was a satire, exposing the dark side of talent shows and illustrating the drawbacks of fan economies, perfectly aligning with the keyword "loathe."

Lu Zhixing hadn't personally acted in the sketch but had handed it over to more suitable cast members, showing his humility, in line with the keyword "humble and modest."

So, the seemingly contradictory character traits were skillfully balanced by him. After this evening event, his role as a "Campus Superstar" was nearly complete.

Next, Lu Zhixing planned to use these points to try and acquire a few life skills. Afterward, he would contact Qian Ziqiang, the courier from Jingxi Express, and work a few jobs to complete the role of a "Working Man."

After finishing these three roles, he would finally be able to receive the special reward for "Life Role-Playing Game" and start reaping the benefits, gathering a wealth of materials!

Of course, for now, he didn't need to think about all that. He sat in the audience, patiently waiting for the opening of "You in My Eyes," ready to enjoy this unique stage play from the perspective of a spectator.

……

After a lively dance performance by Yan Wei and the girls, the electrifying atmosphere at the evening event gradually began to subside.

The audience in the auditorium checked the time and were surprised to find that there was still over an hour left until the scheduled end of the event.

"Why is there still more than an hour left? What's the program coming up next?"

"Wait a minute, wasn't 'Undercover Trainees' supposed to be the grand finale? Why was it performed earlier?"

"Could there be a more significant act after this? It can't be!"

"I looked at the program list, and it seems like after the big final choir performance, there's only one program left, called 'You in My Eyes.'"

"Huh, is it another language-based program? A language program that lasts over an hour? That's unusual!"

"Is this moving a stage play onto the evening event?"

"Judging by the name, is it one of those forced emotional sketches? I can't stand that. If it's true, I'm leaving now."

In the midst of the audience's discussions, the projection screen on the stage displayed the name of the final program: "You in My Eyes."

And in the "Playwright" column, the three words "Lu Zhi Xing" once again caught the attention of the entire audience.

"Lu Zhi Xing again?"

"Wow, both language-based programs have scripts written by him? This is extraordinary! Is he a genius or what?"

"I initially thought it was a filler program, but now I have to pay attention!"

Some audience members who had been considering leaving earlier, now quieted down.

The stage curtain didn't immediately rise; instead, it served as a projection screen, displaying a pre-recorded video.

Professor He Cheng, sitting in the audience, suddenly became more focused, as the visuals were more reminiscent of a video game, with a unique cartoon style.

The audience gazed at the projection screen as if watching the opening of a video game on a big screen.

A figure resembling an angel curiously looked in the direction of the audience and said, "Oh, hello there, stranger.

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. As you can see, I am an angel.

"I just met your mother, and she truly is a kind, devout, and beautiful person. Unfortunately, before she can enter Heaven, I need to confirm a few things with you.

"Only after getting the exact answers can I determine if she is truly worthy of entering Heaven.

"Now, I understand that you are currently in a dream, just a pure consciousness without a speaking mouth or a physical body. But that's alright; I will guide your consciousness to enter a shared memory with your mother.

"You need to reveal to me in this memory the precious moments and deep emotions you shared with your mother.

"Are you ready? If you are, please look at my hand; we are about to... begin."

The angel raised a hand, conveniently appearing in the center of the projection screen. The audience in the auditorium all instinctively turned their attention to it. Shortly after, they saw the stage curtain slowly rise, naturally transitioning to the next scene.

On the stage appeared a set resembling the interior of an old-style unit building. In the living room, there were various children's toys, old books, simple fences, and more.

However, the stage setup was not in the third-person perspective but rather closer to the first-person perspective, meaning that objects near the audience seats were more prominent, while those farther away appeared smaller. This created a "close-up, distant-small" perspective effect, giving the audience the illusion that they were in the room.

Moreover, the holographic projections occasionally made large toys and picture books appear in front of the audience, as if a baby were playing with them.

At this moment, the angel's voice, serving as the narrator, chimed in, "Oh, these are your childhood memories. From what we can see in the scenes, you were born into a typical family in a machinery factory residential area. Your father was a worker, and your mother was a teacher in the factory area. From a young age, you were very well-behaved."

...

In the audience, Professor He Cheng watched intently. However, he wasn't just following the plot; he was also scrutinizing the stage design and other details to analyze what was real and what was illusion.

"Hmm? Among these set pieces, some are real, while others are projected with holography? Are there pre-arranged projection images on the stage backdrop too?

"This integration is incredibly natural; it's making the most out of the projectors here in the Science Hall, isn't it?"

The laymen enjoyed the spectacle, while the experts scrutinized the techniques. As a skilled game designer, Professor He Cheng could certainly see many intricate details.

Just in this opening scene, there was much to analyze.

There were three types of stage designs: real props, holographic projections, and conventional projections. Because some highly realistic resources were used, the holographic projections had a convincing effect that made them difficult to distinguish.

The earlier scenes on the backdrop were in a cartoon style, symbolizing the abstract image of encountering an angel in a dream. The materials on the stage were in a realistic style, symbolizing the character's genuine memories.

What made this approach unique was the near-first-person perspective in which the story was presented. Looking from the audience seats, it felt like watching a massive first-person perspective screen. Although there were actors on the stage, they only moved within the appropriate distances to maintain the perspective relationship.

Furthermore, the main character was in a dream, unable to speak, and had no physical form, only a pure consciousness.

The audience could only obtain the plot through two channels: the images appearing on the backdrop and stage, and the narration of the angel, which served as an explanatory element.

As such, the audience was naturally immersed in the story.