That same evening, Mala attended a lavish banquet organized for him by local celebrities. Liu Sicheng, a provincial film critic and vice chairman of the China Film Association, delivered a brilliant welcome speech. He was dressed in a rather classical formal suit, with a bow tie around his neck made of a local specialty fur, making him look quite distinctive. He had a receding hairline, and his round, broad forehead gleamed brilliantly under the magnificent lights. The glasses perched on the bridge of his nose looked exceptionally small, and his overall appearance easily brought to mind Copernicus's beard and Einstein's unkempt hair. At a glance, his look proclaimed him to be an unconventional master of the arts. His speech was equally unique, providing a wonderful opening for the successful banquet.
"Friends:
Centuries ago, a great crowd of figures pulled God down from the high heavens. From then on, people began to change their devotion from God to a belief in science. But today, whether you believe it or not, God seems eager to manifest His divine will once again by sending us Mala. Believe it or not, you must all admit—unless you close your eyes and deceive yourselves by saying, 'This is impossible. Such a thing doesn't exist at all!' or 'This is just an extraordinary prop, a practical joke'—that, no matter what, all of this is real. Our Mr. Mala has indeed lost his legs and gained an incredible tail, a mythical tail, a fairy-tale tail. If you don't believe it, you can feel him; there is body warmth upon it, and the river of life flows beneath. I hear that the living environment provided by the organs inside far surpasses that of the legs we carry, which is precisely why our Mr. Mala is so radiant, clever, capable, and full of energy."
A burst of laughter rippled through the audience.
"From the past until now, people have always thought of this as a joke, but here I want to correct that view. If there is truly a God, then God has sent a gift to humanity. We ought to treat Mr. Mala just as we accept God and science. God would not simply give him a tail without attaching any other meaning to it, just as He would not give us a pair of hands merely for eating. His body, paired with his genius performance abilities, makes the entire world marvel in admiration. Everyone who has seen his performance is utterly captivated by him. Were it not for the fear of causing him trouble, everyone present here would likely be eager to rush up and give him a warm embrace. I can see your excited inner thoughts through each of your burning, eager eyes. Now, let us welcome our Mr. Mala with warm applause!"
As Mr. Liu finished speaking, the entire room immediately erupted into enthusiastic applause. Amidst the clapping, a pair of glass automatic doors slowly slid open, and Mala dragged his long tail into the banquet hall. Everyone's eyes instantly lit up. He wore a linen outfit with his long hair streaming down his back, his two eyes flashing brightly as he looked at everyone present with an expression of curiosity. This sight caused the crowd to exclaim in unison: "Will!" It turned out this was the very outfit Will the Sea Man wore when he was discovered on the beach by Kesley, and it was one of the most brilliant and touching segments in the play.
Moved by the scene, a pretty young woman in the hall immediately walked over to Mala. With an expression that was simultaneously curious and slightly apprehensive, she looked him over and asked in a soft, gentle voice, "Did you come from the sea?"
Mala nodded.
"Can you understand what I'm saying?"
Mala nodded again.
The entire gathering held their breath as they watched the two of them perform. This was precisely the most wondrous plot point in the play. Performing like this in public got everyone extremely excited, making their hearts itch as if scratched by a kitten. It was that wonderful feeling of two lovers meeting for the very first time.
"You have a body like a dragon, yet an upper body just like ours! Are you our own kind, or are you our ancestors? Are we truly the descendants of the dragon?"
This part had been slightly altered, but it fit the Chinese cultural background even better. It seemed this was a very talented woman.
"I heard that humans evolved from creatures in the sea?" she asked cautiously. "Yet some say we evolved from monkeys in the trees. Nowadays, it seems neither of those theories is reliable."
Mala remained silent in the face of the young woman's cautious questions. Both of them were playing their parts very earnestly. "You can't speak, can you?"Copying the scene from the movie, the young woman approached Mala both cautiously and tenderly. She performed with such complete dedication that everyone present could not help feeling a sense of regret: why wasn't she cast as the female lead in the film? She was even more stunning and moving than Kesley in the original production, and her eyes were infinitely more charming. In short, her appearance was beyond reproach, and her manners were impeccably refined and graceful. The two of them right there truly looked like a match made in heaven.
"May I touch you? This isn't offensive to you, is it? ... You won't hurt me, right?"
Mala brought his lower body closer to her, and the young woman cautiously and timidly reached out to touch him. Afterward, she exclaimed in wonder, "It feels wonderful! So smooth!" Mala reached out to stroke her face as well, but she dodged away. When Mala gently pulled her closer and tried to kiss her lips, she smiled and said, "No, that's crossing the line. You can kiss here instead," pressing her forehead against his. This differed from the kiss in the original version, yet it highlighted all the more the reserved grace of an oriental woman, as well as this woman's intelligence, tact, and dignity. Mala grew immensely fond of her from the bottom of his heart.
Throughout the entire process, someone in the crowd used a camera to capture this exquisite scene as a precious keepsake.
As the brilliant performance came to an end, warm applause erupted throughout the room. Mala happily took the hand of the young woman before him and said, "Only now do I realize that my play isn't the best in the world; it has one major flaw."
The woman also smiled and replied, "It is my greatest honor to witness Mr. Mala's extraordinary acting talent today! My name is Bai Yufan."
Mala said excitedly, "If the two of us acted together, directors would have a much easier time—they wouldn't even need rehearsals."
Hearing this, Bai Yufan burst into a happy laugh, genuinely thrilled to her core.
Just then, a somewhat bloated middle-aged man of about fifty approached with a full-faced smile, striking a practiced social pose. Fiddling with the wine glass in his hand, he praised them both: "The performance by the two of you was simply magnificent! It is utterly breathtaking and soul-stirring! And this lovely young lady here is one of our newly rising stars!" With that, he reached out as if to put his arm around Bai Yufan's waist in an intimate gesture.
Bai Yufan nimbly sidestepped his hand and leaned closer to Mala. Then she smiled playfully and said, "You flatter me, Boss An. This dim little star of mine is perhaps only visible during a crisp autumn sky; how could I ever dare to compare myself with Mr. Mala and rival his brilliance?"
Boss An laughed heartily upon hearing this. "Miss Bai is far too modest. You are naturally gifted with beauty and radiant charm, and even standing beside a mega-star like Mr. Mala, your splendor remains undiminished."
Bai Yufan smiled. "That's only because I'm basking in his reflected glory." She then hastily turned to Mala and said, "This is the renowned Anderson, Boss An—he's a film producer, an investor, and owns multiple media companies. By now, his achievements are truly bountiful and prosperous! I even used to be an extra under his banner. Boss An certainly has high standards!"
Then she turned back to Boss An with a smile and asked, "Coming over in such a rush today, are you trying to cash in on our god of wealth here?"
Boss An smiled somewhat sheepishly. "You girl... I'm getting more and more scared of you." His expression as he spoke was quite unnatural.
With a hint of sarcasm, Bai Yufan smiled and said, "I'm not going to eat your god of wealth, what is there to be afraid of? Please go ahead, Boss An." With that, she walked away.
Mala was long accustomed to such bantering exchanges and thought little of this kind of social playacting. Yet hearing such flippant remarks from Bai Yufan made him feel somewhat uneasy. Recalling her captivating expression just a moment ago—her beautiful, sparkling eyes—it made one imagine that perhaps all the loveliness in the world had melted into that pair of pupils at that very instant. Yet her smiling face right now could only be described as alluring yet untouchable. He watched her retreating figure; it was just as captivating as her face, but for some reason, Mala fell into deep thought, almost forgetting about Anderson beside him.
"Mr. Mala?" Boss An interrupted his reverie. "She's very pretty, isn't she?"
Mala gave a faint smile. As Anderson spoke, his eyes darted fixedly and rovingly over the young woman's retreating back. Then he sneered, "This woman is formidable, not someone to be trifled with... But let's get down to business. Might I trouble Mr. Mala to step aside with me for a private word?"
Mala spread his hands and smiled. "Very well. The performance is over, and I happen to need a change of clothes. Please wait a moment, Mr. Anderson." With that, he stepped out of the crowd to change his attire.
In the second-floor lounge, Mala and Boss An each ordered a cup of coffee. Mala had changed into a formal evening suit and removed his wig; his jet-black hair was combed back, making him look completely radiant and spirited. He deliberately chose a long bench to sit on—or rather, to lounge across.After the two of them sat down, Boss Anderson said respectfully, "It is truly a stroke of extreme good fortune to share a table and drinks with Mr. Mala! And if I could also work alongside you in the same boat, that would be one of life's greatest joys."
Mala gave a smile. "It seems Miss Bai was right after all?"
Anderson let out a hearty laugh. "That's why I say that woman is formidable."
Sensing the tension between them, Mala changed the subject with a smile, "Let's talk about women another day."
Anderson threw his head back and roared with laughter. "Good, good! It seems Mr. Mala is a man of propriety. It must have been difficult for you to navigate the entertainment industry for all these years. Very well, let's talk business. For half my life, Anderson has dedicated myself to film and television art media, and I suppose I've achieved a modest success. But that is only here on Chinese soil. To this day, very few of my films have made it abroad, and that is a constant source of regret for me. So I make bold to ask—if I could sign a contract with a world-class film star like yourself, I believe my achievements would reach new heights. At that time, I certainly would not treat Mr. Mala unfairly. I wonder if Mr. Mala would be willing?"
Mala said thoughtfully, "I appreciate Mr. Anderson thinking so highly of me, but I wonder if I can really play such a significant role."
Anderson patted Mala's hand and laughed, "True talent is hard to come by!"
Mala replied with a troubled look, "However, upon returning to this country, I have no intention of resuming my old profession."
Startled, Anderson asked, "The star-studded path that others dream of—are you really willing to just give it up, Mr. Mala? Could it be that you wish to retire at the height of your success to preserve your pristine reputation? You must know that this path is unlike any other; you will quickly fade from the public eye. Some people go to any lengths—creating all sorts of news just to maintain their allure and ensure they remain in the spotlight. Mr. Mala, you are blessed with unique advantages in this regard. If you don't utilize them, could you have other plans?"
Realizing that this Mr. Anderson was indeed a shrewd operator, Mala gave a noncommittal reply, "Oh, I've just returned to the country, and to be honest, I haven't really figured out my future path. I've unworthily made a few films and managed by sheer luck to win everyone's approval. But I am different from others. Given my appearance, it is very difficult to make any fresh breakthroughs in my early films. Even if I were to shoot them, I would inevitably fall into old conventions. I will take Mr. Anderson's proposal to heart. Someday, if there is a good script and I need to return to my old trade, I will certainly place myself under your banner and offer my utmost loyalty."
Delighted, Anderson exclaimed, "Mr. Mala, your reverence for art is truly admirable! Then it's settled. One day, I will surely craft a script that captures your heart. You mustn't refuse me when that time comes, understood?"
Mala replied with practiced politeness, "Certainly, certainly."
As Anderson looked at Mala, he muttered inwardly to himself, "Who would have thought—he's a slippery eel!"
When they reappeared in the banquet hall, guests were already gathered in small groups of two or three, raising their champagne glasses, sipping leisurely, and chatting away. Mala's return once more gave them a common focal point. First came toasts congratulating Mala on his triumphant return, after which Anderson introduced him to several industry insiders, placing special emphasis on his own key subordinates, likely to showcase his strength. Mala could see that Anderson had indeed gone to considerable trouble for him. He exchanged greetings and polite pleasantries with each of them, though they amounted to little more than flattery.
At that moment, Liu Sicheng approached. Like a fighting cock ruffling its feathers, Anderson instantly perged up, looking over with utter disdain. "Teacher Liu! Long time no see. I suppose you've published plenty of your bizarre theories again? Your articles always catch me by surprise, utterly beyond comprehension."
Liu Sicheng let out a cold laugh. "A critic must have a discerning eye to accomplish anything. At least it's better than churning out the same old cliches and parroting others. Ha—"
Unconvinced, Anderson gave a hearty laugh. "Compared to Teacher Liu, I am a crude man. But I live by one simple rule: input equals output, and that is success."
Liu Sicheng smiled. "Compared to Boss Anderson, I certainly draw the short straw. I eat grass and produce milk. But Boss Anderson—you ingest people and regurgitate money. You truly manage to profit in both wealth and fame! Ha—"
Anderson remained unbothered, laughing, "I happen to like that description." With a final chuckle, he excused himself on the grounds of having matters to attend to.
Triumphant as a victorious goose, Liu Sicheng held his head high as he watched Anderson walk away. Then, with a disdainful tone, he said to Mala, "Boss Anderson must have pointed out a golden avenue for my younger brother, eh?"
Mala made no secret of it. "Boss Anderson wants to sign a contract with me."
Liu Sicheng turned back to look at Mala, speaking in a deep, earnest tone, "I look upon my brother here with the utmost admiration."
Mala replied offhandedly, "It's clear that Boss Anderson is quite a figure. Cooperating with him wouldn't be a bad idea."
Liu Sicheng looked at him in surprise.
Mala gave a cunning smile, swished his large tail to draw a circle on the floor, and continued, "I am not yet at the point where I can command the wind and summon the rain. That's why I didn't flatly refuse Boss Anderson."
Liu Sicheng pulled Mala aside and lowered his voice. "My brother means...?"
Mala struck a pose, smiled at Liu Sicheng, and asked, "Professor Liu, besides acting, do I look like a future film investor?"
Liu Sicheng froze for a long moment before answering, "You could! But that Anderson is an old fox; I'm afraid cooperating with him won't be easy."
Mala smiled. "I happen to be a dragon!"
Liu Sicheng burst out laughing. "Such ambition! Such daring!" With that, he happily introduced Mala to many more industry insiders. Afterwards, Mala shared his general plans for after his return to China, which largely won Liu Sicheng's approval and a promise of his full support for Mala's development.
Mala wandered around the banquet for quite some time without catching another glimpse of Bai Yufan; she hadn't even appeared during the dancing. *Could she have left already?* Mala wondered to himself. Suddenly, everything felt utterly dull and insipid. Unable to help himself, he slipped away from the crowd and strolled alone toward the garden. Lost in thought, he wandered down a narrow path where the trees grew dense and the lights were dim.
Suddenly, a raspy female shriek pierced the grove—she was clearly terrified out of her wits.
Mala immediately called out, "Who's there?... What's wrong?... What happened?"
A woman carefully stepped out into the light, her face burning red. "I'm sorry! I was making a fuss over nothing."
The person was none other than Bai Yufan, the very woman Mala had been searching for.
Realizing he had startled her, Mala blamed it on his unsightly physique.
Bai Yufan smiled. "You needn't be upset, Mr. Mala. After all, it brought you good luck."
Mala gave a bitter laugh. "True enough. That's why I often ask myself: do I have anything else to offer besides this bizarre and novel appearance?"
Bai Yufan studied Mala for a long moment before sighing, "I never expected you to be such a serious person! For someone as fortunate as you to constantly reflect on yourself like this is truly rare." Then she pointed behind a tree with a smile, "There's a large, clean boulder over there. Let's go sit."
"Alright!" Mala agreed.
They walked over to the boulder in the grove. Without waiting for Bai Yufan, Mala hoisted himself up high onto the rock. Seeing his agile movements, Bai Yufan couldn't help but laugh aloud. Then, before she could consent, Mala leaned back down, hooked his hands around her slender waist, and effortlessly lifted her up to sit beside him.
Bai Yufan laughed excitedly, "Ah... you're so strong!"
"I eat a lot every day," Mala joked.
Smiling with curiosity, Bai Yufan reached out and gently touched Mala's body. "Do you have to feed it?"
Mala chuckled. "It's big enough—sometimes I don't even recognize myself. Now that I'm surrounded by flatterers everywhere, I recognize myself even less."
Bai Yufan pouted. "You're scolding me!"
Mala hurriedly said, "Oh... no, you're wonderful! I like you."
As he spoke, Mala blushed deeply with embarrassment, then awkwardly turned his head away, refusing to look at the girl beside him—looking for all the world like a shy, overgrown boy.
Bai Yufan smiled softly. "Why?"
Mala laughed, "When you act mischievous, you're just like a younger sister of mine. You also bear a striking resemblance to a female teacher I had in middle school. She was exceptionally kind to me! She was my art teacher because I had a talent for drawing. During this trip to America, I studied painting in my spare time as well, learning classical painting from a Miss Lehmann in the US. She's ancient, yet still a maiden lady. Aside from teaching me some painting techniques, she would show me some of the rare treasures in her collection and critique them. Those paintings were acquired either by trading her own work for them or by buying them at auctions. She's very wealthy and lives a peaceful life. She's quite famous, but she doesn't collect her own paintings. In her own words, she's hurrying to sell off all that junk while she can still fetch a good price for it..."
As Mala rambled on, Bai Yufan sat beside him, listening and smiling. Suddenly, Mala stopped talking, realizing he had been rambling on too much.
After waiting in vain for him to continue, Bai Yufan smiled and asked, "How come you stopped?"
Mala flicked his tail. "I'll stop. I'm getting off track. I was supposed to be complimenting you."
Bai Yufan let out a soft *hmph* and smiled. "Then tell me about that younger sister of yours. Is she... very likable?"
Seemingly energized, Mala chuckled, "Yes! But she has a bit of a fierce temper, and I'm a bit afraid of her. If only she were as nice as you!"
Bai Yufan burst into giggles. "Even you have someone you're afraid of!"
Mala laughed, "I met her father first and took refuge in their house for a few days. At first, she was furious and dead set on driving me out. After two days of calling her 'little sister,' her anger subsided, and she turned out to be wonderful. In the blink of an eye, three years have passed. When I caught a glimpse of her from afar at the airport today, she had blossomed and grown even prettier! But because of the crowd, we got separated. She came to the airport specifically to pick me up, so I've definitely gone and provoked her now. I'm trying to figure out how to face her and smooth things over. I'll introduce you two sometime."
Bai Yufan merely smiled. "Alright."
In the distance, watching Mala and Bai Yufan chatting happily together, Liu Sicheng couldn't help but wear a satisfied smile.
Boss Anderson walked up, took in the scene, and sneered, "Teacher Liu certainly has his ways! With such a seamless, traceless arrangement, you've gone and captured a major prize."
Liu Sicheng turned back to look at Anderson, smiling triumphantly. "This is what they call birds of a feather flocking together. A flattering dog isn't necessarily useful to everyone."
Anderson scoffed, "Isn't it just a honey trap? Don't make it sound so pure and refined!"
With that, both men let out cold huffs and walked away in opposite directions.