12l: So how much money does James Scott actually owe, that he has to sacrifice his own reputation just to play along like this? This isn’t even some cross-industry collaboration with a big celebrity—there’s absolutely no benefit to this, only harm. Samuel Parker is also an artist under Pineapple, how could he act like this? I’m speechless.

13l: Is our Mr. Scott’s spotless artistic career really going to be tainted like this?

14l: Did Henry Carter agree to this show? With how shrewd her team is, how could she let her son take on this kind of program! So many people are looking forward to Samuel Parker’s next appearance—if she just brought her son to join a reality show, that would be so much better.

15l: I saw someone say Samuel Parker is going to perform at Pineapple’s gala, and I honestly thought it would be him singing with Henry Carter... Actually, I really like their collaboration of "Why Bother with the West Chamber," no matter what others say.

16l: Just a small question—did you guys notice that the Guanshan Band’s act is right before the crosstalk? That means Samuel Parker is going to run into Edward Bolton. I wonder what that scene will be like... I’m really curious.

17l: ...This arrangement is definitely intentional, right?

18l: Henry Carter must have put a spell on James Scott. Look at the news—someone asked James Scott why he’s collaborating with Samuel Parker, and he said everyone will understand after the performance. He also said Samuel Parker is very talented.

19l: Talented in what way? Can he play the piano or the sanxian?

20l: I don’t know about the sanxian, but his piano skills are average at best. And... doing crosstalk, does Samuel Parker really have any self-awareness?

21l: I don’t care, I don’t care, I don’t care—even if my baby is just doing crosstalk on TV, I’m still going to watch him qaq

...

The program that Samuel Parker and James Scott are going to perform at the gala has indeed sparked heated discussion online, with all kinds of opinions. But everyone just assumed Samuel Parker was doing a cross-over performance—who would have thought this would be his crosstalk debut.

And besides, Samuel Parker isn’t even a big star. This is his first public appearance since debuting with Pineapple’s show, and he actually chose to cross over into crosstalk—what a shocker.

To outsiders, this might be good for ratings and buzz, but it’s definitely not good for Samuel Parker’s own reputation. Not that he has much of a reputation to begin with, but isn’t this just making things worse?

Knowing there are tigers on the mountain, yet still heading straight for them. Knowing you’re not cut out for it, but insisting on doing crosstalk.

What they don’t know is, this whole program was actually set up by William Thompson, who took the initiative to pull strings at the TV station and make the suggestion. Honestly, with Samuel Parker’s current status, giving him a solo act wouldn’t really carry enough weight. The TV station actually preferred for him to collaborate with Henry Carter.

But then William Thompson brought in James Scott, and that changed everything.

James Scott and John Cooper are a legendary duo in the eyes of the audience, performing at the Spring Festival Gala year after year, with huge national recognition. James Scott is also the protégé of Old Master Scott. With him collaborating with Samuel Parker, both the weight and the buzz are off the charts.

The TV station couldn’t bear to turn down this proposal!

William Thompson and Henry Carter agreed to let Samuel Parker do crosstalk, but with William Thompson’s way of thinking, if you’re going to do crosstalk, you have to do it with a bang.

And we have to thank teachers Cooper and Scott as well, who graciously agreed to William Thompson’s suggestion—John Cooper even lent out his own good partner.

...

On the other side, Samuel Parker also learned about some of the reactions through TV, newspapers, and other media, so he had a good sense of things.

For this gala, he and James Scott discussed and prepared a script—a traditional crosstalk piece, an old routine, slightly modified to better fit the gala’s theme.

And then there’s the stage performance. For crosstalk performers, the usual attire is a long gown. Of course, Samuel Parker didn’t have one here. James Scott’s long gowns are all custom-made by an old tailor, entirely handmade, and each one takes at least three to five days to make.

James Scott took Samuel Parker to the old tailor, and the two of them had matching dark teal long gowns made—solid color, cut from a single piece of fabric, so there were no seams on the shoulders, and they were tailored to fit perfectly.

Samuel Parker loved it so much he couldn’t put it down, folding his own gown neatly before putting it away.

James Scott smiled and said, “You probably can’t find such a skilled craftsman to make a long gown overseas. This must be your first long gown, right? You fold it pretty well—did your master teach you that?”

“Yes.” When Samuel Parker said this, he was actually recalling his real master.

When he was learning the craft as a child, not every crosstalk performer wore a long gown. The long gown as formal performance attire was a rule that gradually developed later on.

Back then, crosstalk performers didn’t have high status, and many couldn’t afford to be particular about such things. You could say that having a long gown for performances was a real mark of respectability. Samuel Parker didn’t get his first long gown until several years after he finished his apprenticeship.

It’s nothing like now, when life is so much better. This gown’s material is excellent, and the tailor is an old hand, specializing in long gowns.

James Scott added, “By the way, last time I had you submit your information to the Quyi Association, but it’ll still be a while before we get the official result.”

Samuel Parker didn’t really understand these organizations, so he just nodded in confusion.