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

The scene before my eyes was indeed quite eye-catching.

Three mud-brick houses, with gaps in the black tiles on the roof letting in light.

The yard wasn't paved with cement; it was all uneven yellow mud. In the very center stood a sharpened wooden pole, with a red flag waving in the wind.

"Yes, the schools here."

Xiao Chen suppressed his smile, slowed his speech, and a hint of seriousness flashed in his eyes that was not easily noticed by others.

Leslie Cheung pushed up his sunglasses, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the cuffs of his shirt.

"This place is even more desolate than the sets built in our movies."

Anita Mui remained silent. She had witnessed the splendor of the world, but rarely felt this powerlessness in the face of poverty.

The guests crossed the simple threshold, where several children were running wildly on the playground.

Some children wore ill-fitting, oversized shirts with shiny, worn cuffs, and had rosy cheeks on their faces.

The principal was a dark-skinned old man wearing a faded Zhongshan suit, who quickly came to greet us.

"Mr. Xiao, and all you big stars, we've been waiting for you!"

The old principal rubbed his hands nervously, chalk dust still lingering between his fingers.

Xiao Chen stepped forward and naturally grasped the old principal's hand with just the right amount of force.

"You're too kind. We're here to trouble you."

That face of an award-winning actor, capable of making the world scream, now wore the humility of a junior neighbor.

The old headmaster led them into the building, pointing to the only two classrooms and sighing.

"There's no other way, we don't have enough teachers, just me and Xiao Wang."

"The older students mentor the younger ones, cramming all the students from first to sixth grade together, teaching as many as we can."

Inside the classroom, the dilapidated wooden desks were uneven, and the children's clear and curious eyes all turned towards them.

They clearly don't know what an Oscar-winning actor is, nor do they understand what a Grammy Award is.

They just thought that the group of people who came in looked really clean, especially the older brother in the lead, who looked like someone from a painting.

Dilraba felt a lump in her throat and quickly lowered her head, frantically rummaging through her bag for stationery.

Xiao Chen murmured to himself, these words were for Sister Mei, and also for himself.

"Even for literacy education, there needs to be a decent place."

Just then, the school bell rang. It was a rusty piece of iron, and the principal was banging it loudly with a small hammer.

The children cheered and rushed to the playground, surrounding the celebrities, but not daring to get too close.

Xiao Chen magically pulled a deflated ball out of his bag.

"Anyone good at soccer? Want to practice with me?"

He controlled the ball with one hand, and with a gentle flick of his toe, the ball obediently danced on the instep of his foot.

"I'll do it!"

A bold, dark-skinned young man jumped out, his eyes gleaming with a defiant light.

Jay Chou and Lin Junjie also got interested and took off their coats and threw them aside.

Lin Junjie chuckled and had already taken a defensive stance.

"Xiao Chen, is your technique any good? Don't embarrass yourself in front of the kids."

Without wasting a word, Xiao Chen made a stylish turn, his movements incredibly fast.

He ran across the grass, his shoes kicking up fresh mud, his movements as agile as a cheetah.

A feint, a nutmeg, and finally a textbook chip shot.

The ball went perfectly into the "goal" made of two stones.

The children were so excited their faces turned red, and they clapped wildly.

"Wow! Brother is amazing!"

Leslie Cheung stood under the shade of a tree, looking at Xiao Chen, who was drenched in sweat, with admiration in his eyes.

"This kid can make a name for himself no matter what he does."

The playground was filled with laughter and chatter all afternoon, and dust danced freely in the setting sun.

As they parted, several little girls clung to Xiao Chen's clothes, timidly reluctant to let go.

Xiao Chen crouched down, looking directly into those innocent eyes, his tone exceptionally gentle.

"Beyond the mountains are tall buildings, the sea, and airplanes that can fly."

"Study hard, and when you grow up, go and see the world for yourselves."

The children nodded as if they understood, and the setting sun softened Xiao Chen's silhouette.

Back at the school gate, Xiao Chen took out a check from his bag, which he had prepared long ago.

"Principal, this 100 million is a small token of my appreciation. Please use it to repair the classrooms and buy some new desks and chairs."

The old principal's hand trembled, and he almost dropped the thin piece of paper. His eyes instantly reddened.

"This...this is too much, Mr. Xiao, you are truly a great benefactor..."

Anita Mui also stepped forward and handed over a card.

"I don't have as much wealth as Ah Chen, so I'll use this 30 to buy some winter clothes for the children."

Leslie Cheung, Jay Chou, and JJ Lin also followed suit, each donating 30 yuan.

Dilraba counted her wallet and awkwardly clutched the hem of her clothes.

"I...I only have 3, I'll donate that to the school too."

Xiao Chen patted her head, his eyes full of doting affection.

"The thought is what counts. Keep your little bit of savings to buy milk tea."

The donations from everyone coalesced into a warm current, diluting the sadness of parting.

In fact, they all knew that no matter how much they donated, the external environment of this remote mountain village could not be changed instantly.

But the seed has been planted nonetheless.

As we walked back to the Mushroom House, the sky was dyed a vibrant orange-red by the sunset.

Everyone walked slowly, seemingly digesting the profound emotions they had felt that afternoon.

"Ah Chen, remember to call me if there are any charity projects in the future."

For the first time ever, Leslie Cheung took the initiative to bring up matters outside of his career.

Xiao Chen nodded, stopped joking, and gazed intently at the distant mountains.

By the time we got back to the courtyard, it was already getting dark.

The day's work of chopping firewood and planting trees had taken a lot of energy, and everyone's stomachs started to rumble.

"Production crew, come out and greet the guests!"

Xiao Chen shouted into the camera, his tone returning to its usual languidness.

Director Xi Xi peeked out from behind the monitor with a mischievous grin.

"Teacher Xiao, want to eat? Same as always, exchange your hard-earned money."

Xiao Chen pointed to the pile of chopped firewood in the yard, raising his chin slightly.

"Is it too much to trade that pile of firewood for a barbecue grill and fresh beef?"

The production team knew they were in the wrong, since Xiao Chen's charitable act today had significantly elevated the program's message.

Not long after, a brand new stainless steel barbecue grill was carried into the yard.

The charcoal fire quickly rose, its bright red flames dancing in the twilight.

Jay Chou volunteered to brush on the oil, while Lin Junjie helped skewer the meat.

"Xiao Chen, are my beef cut evenly?"

Xiao Chen glanced at it and pursed his lips.

"Don't call me by my name, call me Godfather. If you cut it too thick and it's undercooked, I won't be responsible if you get diarrhea."

Lin Junjie continued adjusting with a pitiful expression, which made Dilraba giggle.

Xiao Chen rolled up his sleeves, took the spice jar, and skillfully sprinkled it over the fire.

"Sizzle—"

The oil dripped onto the charcoal fire, igniting a rich aroma of meat that instantly filled the entire courtyard.