Chapter 172
#Xie Mi’s Exquisite Painting Skills#
#Xie Mi Paints a Turtle on Xiao Jingxi’s Face#
#Xie Mi’s Hidden Talents Revealed#
After Xie Mi confirmed her painting skills with just a few strokes, the news went viral and immediately hit trending searches, causing a small shock across the internet.
[Cockroach in White Stockings]: What? Xie Mi can paint?!!
[Excited Monkey Head Mushroom]: We agreed to stay ordinary, how did you evolve on your own!! @Xie Mi
[Super Brain]: The key is this girl is really tight-lipped. She has such an amazing skill but didn’t show any hint of it. If it were another celebrity, they’d have flaunted it hundreds of times on day one.
[Priceless Heart]: Talented yet humble, I stan.
[Sad GG Explode]: What’s Xiao Jingxi even pretending? He doesn’t actually know, right?
[No Apprentices]: Our Emperor Xiao successfully invited hate this time.
Xiao Jingxi not only earned criticism but almost lost face completely.
Because trending alongside #Xie Mi’s Exquisite Painting Skills# was a photo of Xiao Jingxi with a turtle painted on his face.
Netizens even made it into a sticker, captioned: “I’ve been good, please let me go.”
The repost count soared to 200,000, successfully going viral.
[Innocent Rooster]: Xiao Jingxi’s really behaving now.
…
Xiao Jingxi was taken away by his assistant to wash his face.
After this incident, many people looked at Xie Mi with a hint of awe—not only for her hidden painting skills but also for her power.
Yes, power.
With a wave of her hand, she could leave Xiao Jingxi isolated. Not only did the guests obey her, but she even had influence within the production team!
Even Xiao Jingxi’s personal assistant had just pretended to leave to take a call from Second Aunt, ignoring Xiao Jingxi’s pleas.
This show was completely under Xie Mi’s control.
The puppet director, Niu Bi, let out a sharp squeal.
…
After washing his face, the “obedient” Xiao Jingxi returned, and the gift-unwrapping continued.
Qiu Chengye received Yu Jinzhe’s gift: a hand-crafted ceramic doll—but a three-headed, six-armed version.
Yu Jinzhe received Xu Shuangrong’s gift: a delicate hand-embroidered piece. On closer inspection, there was a drop of dried blood—probably from a finger prick—matching the bandage on Xu Shuangrong’s index finger.
Before Xu Shuangrong could say, “I’m fine,” Yu Jinzhe handed the embroidery to the staff.
Xu Shuangrong: “?”
Xu Shuangrong received Xiao Jingxi’s gift: a pictorial collection of all the roles he had played so far in films and TV shows.
Her lips twitched ever so slightly, but she cradled the book like a treasure.
Xiao Jingxi: “…”
Liu Woxing received Shen Zhuoqing’s gift—the smallest package.
Inside was a single hand-drawn voucher, reading: “Wish Redemption Voucher.”
“This is…?” Liu Woxing asked, puzzled.
Shen Zhuoqing calmly explained that the voucher could be redeemed for a fully-funded, custom-designed global trip by a professional team.
Liu Woxing smiled and expressed her thanks.
The long-awaited final gift arrived.
Because it was the largest, no one dared choose it, and it eventually ended up with the loser of rock-paper-scissors: Lai Bingxuan—Qiu Chengye’s gift.
Even unwrapping it was torturous: layer after layer, thick foam boards and padding inside.
Finally, it was fully unwrapped, revealing the true gift:
A huge bronze statue—only the upper half of Qiu Chengye’s body.
Lai Bingxuan: “?”
Qiu Chengye smiled confidently: “Consider yourself lucky—you got my gift. I rushed it overnight, and since there wasn’t enough time, it’s only a half-body statue. But it’s still imposing. Place it at home…”
Xie Mi: “It can ward off evil.”
Qiu Chengye: “?”
Lai Bingxuan somehow found a hammer and, with all her strength, smashed the statue over.
Qiu Chengye: “?!!”
Predictably, the two ended up fighting again.
The gift-unwrapping segment ended. Some were satisfied with their gifts, others not.
The most satisfied, Xie Mi and Shen Zhuoqing, gathered together to discuss.
“What a coincidence… how did you end up with my gift?” Xie Mi marveled.
Shen Zhuoqing only smiled quietly, fingertips brushing over the painting, eyes soft and full of affection.
It wasn’t a coincidence.
He had simply smelled the scent of paint from the gift and accurately targeted it.
…
After the reading and gift-exchange segments, the final highlight of the closing party arrived:
The performance segment.
The production team built a heart-shaped stage full of pink bubbles. After placing eight chairs in front, the guests took the stage in turn to perform.
It was the perfect chance to showcase themselves.
For most of the show, everyone had only casually interacted, never fully demonstrating their talents.
Under Director Niu’s passionate hosting, Liu Woxing was the first to perform.
She played a piece on the guzheng, melodious and captivating.
The audience applauded enthusiastically, and the live chat was full of praise.
A strong start.
Next, Xu Shuangrong performed ballet; Xiao Jingxi reenacted a classic movie scene; Qiu Chengye sang off-key; Lai Bingxuan performed a money-throwing act.
Yu Jinzhe conducted a fun chemistry experiment on stage using several test tubes.
Only two performers remained.
Xie Mi and Shen Zhuoqing stood up simultaneously.
“We want to perform together—can we go on stage together?” Xie Mi asked politely.
Director Niu’s eyes immediately lit up.
A co-op performance? How perfect! He eagerly agreed.
Xie Mi and Shen Zhuoqing strode onto the stage confidently—one beating the drums, the other playing the suona. They performed a funeral march, sending themselves off in style.
The audience all instinctively winced, covering their ears, wishing they could shout, “Stop, Master!”
They really felt like they were being sent off.
[No way, I was just dozing off and got startled!]
[Wearing headphones in class to watch the live stream, the suona pierced right through—teacher heard it too, yay!]
[Eardrums are bleeding, but whatever, let’s enjoy!]
[Haoting!]
[This is what music is all about!]
…
After Xie Mi and Shen Zhuoqing’s performance, everyone instinctively raised their voices a few decibels—they were partially deafened.
Numbed Director Niu, holding his cue cards, stepped to the stage center to announce the final segment of the closing party:
“Next is the highly anticipated invitation segment.
“Each person may choose someone to invite for a private post-show date.
“There are two invitation forms: anonymous or public.
“Those choosing anonymous should write the invitee’s name on a card and place it in the anonymous box; those choosing public must go on stage and invite the person directly!”
