I became a movie star at the age of three; Dilraba and I are childhood sweethearts.

At this moment, he was just a mischievous guy who wanted his best buddy to call him "godfather".

Three hours passed quickly.

The program's timer emitted a piercing sound.

Xiao Chen straightened up, planted the shovel in the ground, and let out a long sigh of relief.

Fine beads of sweat clung to his forehead, and bathed in sunlight, he exuded a wild and pure beauty.

Jay Chou collapsed onto the edge of the field, panting heavily, his palms rubbed raw.

Lin Junjie wasn't in much better shape; his shirt was soaked with sweat, and he held his back, unable to speak for a long time.

The production crew quickly came up to take inventory.

"Xiao Chen, forty trees!"

"Jay Chou, thirty-four trees!"

"Lin Junjie, thirty-one trees!"

Once the results were announced, the fields fell into a deathly silence.

Anita Mui was laughing so hard she could barely stand up straight.

"Men really do need some motivation; the three of them planted over a hundred trees together."

She walked over and looked at the two faces that had begun to question the meaning of life.

Dilraba blinked and counted on her fingers.

"So... you have to call him both Brother Jielun and Brother Junjie..."

She didn't dare say the word aloud, her little face turning red.

Xiao Chen slowly unscrewed a bottle of water and took a sip.

He looked at his two friends, raised an eyebrow, and said nothing.

That kind of silent pressure is even more unbearable than directly urging someone.

Jay Chou glanced at the camera in the distance, then at Xiao Chen's "I knew this would happen" expression.

His face turned bright red, as if he had just drunk two ounces of strong liquor.

"A bet's a bet, a loss's a loss..."

He gritted his teeth, his voice barely audible, like a mosquito's buzz.

Xiao Chen brought his hand to his ear and made an exaggerated gesture.

"Speak louder, the signal is bad in the mountains."

Jay Chou closed his eyes and decided to go all out.

"Godfather!"

As soon as those two words were uttered, all the staff present couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Lin Junjie, standing to the side, couldn't dodge either. He sighed and lowered his head resignedly.

"Godfather".

Xiao Chen burst into a hearty laugh, a laugh that came from the bottom of his heart.

"Hey! My good sons, I'll write you two good songs later."

His matter-of-fact expression instantly turned the awkward atmosphere into something comical.

Leslie Cheung pointed at Xiao Chen and shook his head helplessly.

"You're so mean! Aren't you afraid they'll make up for it at their concert later?"

Xiao Chen patted his chest, his tone extremely confident.

"What's there to be afraid of? At worst, I'll go on stage as a guest and let them rest for a few more minutes."

Everyone laughed as they packed up their tools and headed back.

Back at the Mushroom House, my stomach had already started growling uncontrollably.

Xiao Chen didn't rest; he went straight into the kitchen and started preparing.

There's still more than half a basin of braised pork sauce left from last night. The rich aroma of the sauce has become even more enticing after a night of settling.

He skillfully boiled water and cooked the noodles, which tumbled in the pot with even width.

The noodles are scooped out, the soup is served, a generous layer of braised pork topping is poured over them, and finally, a handful of bright green scallions are sprinkled on top.

"Dinner's ready!"

Xiao Chen called out, and his voice echoed in the courtyard.

Although Jay Chou and Lin Junjie still felt a bit "humiliated", they acted faster than anyone else when they smelled the fragrance.

"It smells so good..."

Lin Junjie didn't care about his image and slurped up the noodles.

The savory and delicious braising sauce coating the chewy noodles instantly soothes the fatigue after a long day.

Jay Chou gave a thumbs-up while eating.

"Master, if you stop acting, you can definitely make a fortune by opening a noodle shop."

Xiao Chen sat on the threshold with a bowl in his hand, the setting sun shining on his face, which was a work of art.

"That won't do, Sister Hua will definitely fight me to the death."

Everyone laughed when Wang Jinhua was mentioned.

She was a godmother figure in the domestic entertainment industry, an iron lady who treated Xiao Chen like her own son.

The success of Shiba Culture today is inseparable from this "mother and son" duo.

"Sister Mei, are you ready for our community service activity at the school this afternoon?"

Xiao Chen looked at Mei Yanfang.

Mui Yim-fong nodded, her eyes revealing affection.

"It's all prepared. I checked all the kids' favorite stationery and sports equipment last night."

Looking at Xiao Chen, she felt that this child had not only reached the pinnacle of his career, but also preserved his pure and innocent heart exceptionally well.

In this superficial industry, there are very few people like him who are both composed and childlike.

"If Mom saw you planting trees here, she'd probably be heartbroken."

Jay Chou suddenly blurted out that the "Mom" he was referring to was Yeh Hui-mei.

Xiao Chen and Zhou Jielun have such a good relationship that Ye Huimei often sends clothes to Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen smiled but didn't reply. He simply finished the noodle soup in his bowl.

That sense of satisfaction was even more real than when I won an Oscar.

"Let's go, it's time to set off."

He stood up, still the same spirited young man.

The mushroom house behind me looked exceptionally tranquil in the sunlight.

This is the life he longs for.

There are friends, rivals, love, and a heart that is always boiling with passion.

The group walked out of the courtyard and headed towards the primary school deep in the village.

Everyone had a smile on their face, even the two Heavenly Kings who had just been forced to call him "godfather".

On this April afternoon, all fame and fortune seemed to have faded away.

Only a few like-minded people remained, walking on the path filled with the fragrance of earth.

Xiao Chen walked at the front, the sunlight stretching his shadow long.

That was the best of times, a time that belonged to movie stars and to the boy next door.

The mountain breeze, carrying the fresh scent of earth, tingled and numbed on my face.

Xiao Chen walked at the very front, his steps very steady.

This winding dirt road is like an old film reel, recording the mottled years of this small village.

He was accompanied by Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui, two music industry giants who looked like parents on a spring outing, their eyes full of relaxation.

Jay Chou and Lin Junjie lagged behind, exchanging casual banter, their conversation still revolving around the earlier mention of "godfather."

Jay Chou put his hands in his pockets and kicked a pebble away with his toe.

"Master, this path feels so comfortable to walk on, much better than a treadmill."

Xiao Chen turned around, and sunlight swept across his profile, which looked as if kissed by God.

"That's right, the earth's energy nourishes people. Walk around more often, so you won't always complain of back pain when you go back to Taipei."

His tone was light and cheerful, with a carefree sense of humor.

The group laughed and joked, and before they knew it, they had reached the boundary of the village school.

The school gate consists of two weathered cement pillars covered with unknown vines.

Dilraba was skipping and hopping around picking foxtail grass when she saw the school gate and her mouth opened into an "O" shape.

"Brother Xiao Chen, is this... the school?"

Her eyes were filled with disbelief, and her voice was so weak it sounded like she was talking to herself.

Xiao Chen stopped and his gaze swept over the dilapidated courtyard.