I Thought This Was a Slice of Life

"Is that so..."

Shuya felt a little disappointed, though it was actually within reason.

If experts were truly as common as stray dogs, he would have encountered one long ago.

"Then how did Grandpa find them?"

"Heaven knows. In any case, I've never seen them myself."

Inoue Hikoo shrugged. Having finished showing the files to Shuya and satisfied his craving to show off to his genius son, he wanted to go back to work.

But before leaving, he said to Shuya, "I actually think you have a real talent for martial arts, Shu-chan. I've seen your growth rate recently; perhaps this is what those Great Hua martial arts novels call a martial arts prodigy?"

"Could it be?"

Hearing him say that, Shuya also felt it made some sense.

Could it be... that this was his true transmigrator's perk?!

After Shuya's worldview was reshaped, he was met with the opportunity to face a martial arts expert just one day later.

Aoki Shin had just mentioned the matter, and it was realized immediately.

Jackie Chan had brought his people over to sign the contract.

Aoki Shin notified the lead actors to come to the television station to meet Jackie Chan.

It wasn't just Shuya and Mai who had scenes with Jackie Chan.

The character Jackie Chan was playing also had interactions with the adult female lead, so the actual female lead would be coming as well.

Shuya arrived at the television station early.

When he arrived, Aoki Shin was already there.

When Shuya saw him, he was actually pacing back and forth nervously, showing none of the poise expected of a major television station producer.

"Uncle Aoki, is it really necessary?"

Aoki Shin shot Shuya a sideways glance. "What do you know? Big Brother is special."

Fine, it seemed he was a true fanboy.

On the other hand, Horiuchi Susumu, who was standing to the side, was much calmer.

Shuya was speechless.

He had looked up information yesterday and knew that Jackie Chan's popularity in the Japan Administrative District was terrifying, so Aoki Shin's behavior wasn't strange.

What was stranger was the female lead sitting nearby, trembling uncontrollably.

She could barely keep her legs together.

Shuya shook his head and stared blankly into space, thinking about the matter of qigong.

Now that all sorts of evidence indicated its existence, Shuya felt he had to do something.

Since this world possessed such extraordinary power, Shuya figured no transmigrator would let it go.

Even if it wasn't as powerful as he had imagined.

Shuya was completely focused on these thoughts and had no interest in talking to anyone.

It wasn't until Mai-chan arrived that he spoke with her to pass the time.

The two chatted for a while before everyone heard Aoki Shin exclaim, "What, are you serious?!"

"Y-yes, I am!"

A Staff Member whom Shuya hadn't seen much before was speaking to him nervously; he apologized repeatedly before scurrying away quickly.

"What happened?"

Seeing the panicked expression on Aoki Shin's face, Shuya curiously stepped forward to ask.

"...Just got the news. The interpreter we hired for today got into a car accident and is in the hospital."

Aoki Shin clutched his forehead.

"Didn't Mr. Jackie bring an interpreter?"

"No. After all, we invited them; we wouldn't make them hire their own interpreter."

Aoki Shin said gloomily, "What rotten luck. It's very hard to find an interpreter on such short notice."

This world was different from his previous life.

Not to mention the transportation issues of this era, the fundamental problem was that people from Great Hua didn't really like to go abroad for studies or work.

Interpreters existed, but finding one on short notice was difficult; they had to be booked in advance.

"I recall Mr. Jackie has collaborated on quite a few English films with the administrative districts in Europe and America, so his English should be decent... hmm, never mind, pretend I didn't say anything."

Shuya never overestimated the English proficiency of the Japan Administrative District.

It was truly abysmal.

Aoki Shin's face turned pale. Jackie Chan was almost here, and he had managed to make such a massive blunder.

He felt like crawling into a hole and never coming out.

He could only frantically send people around the station to find help, but no one understood Great Hua Language.

There were people who could speak English, but they were either out on assignment or busy filming, and no one had the time to come and assist him.

"It's over, it's all over."

Aoki Shin looked ashen.

Shuya watched from the sidelines with cold eyes.

He didn't rush forward to resolve the situation immediately; if it truly became impossible, only then would he reveal that he understood Great Hua Language and step up to translate.

This was Shuya's strategy of keeping a low profile. He had been planning to reveal his unusual traits bit by bit, letting everyone in the Japan Administrative District grow accustomed to his differences, carefully cultivating the image of a genius.

In his plan, revealing that he could speak Great Hua Language was supposed to happen a year or two down the line.

But if it really came to it, doing it early wouldn't be the end of the world.

Anyway, by now, everyone in the Japan Administrative District was basically used to Shuya's eccentricities; he was just being cautious out of habit.

Time passed mercilessly until a Staff Member came to inform Aoki Shin that Jackie Chan had arrived.

Aoki Shin forced a smile and, leading his actors and the Staff Members, went out to greet him.

Shuya blended into the crowd, watching this awkward scene unfold.

Jackie Chan hadn't come alone; he brought several muscular men over six feet tall with him.

Jackie Chan himself was quite tall, with a rugged and handsome appearance. While his muscles weren't as developed as those of the men accompanying him, one could still vaguely discern a lean, powerful physique through his clothes, which actually fit the public's aesthetic standards perfectly.

Perhaps it was because Shuya was biased, but when Jackie Chan walked in, his presence instantly filled the entire space, as if something intangible was drifting around him.

Shuya didn't dare ask anyone if they felt it; based on his experience with martial arts novels, he speculated that even if he spoke in a whisper, a master like Jackie Chan would likely be able to hear him.

He observed from the shadows.

Aoki Shin braced himself and stepped forward, while the director, Horiuchi Susumu, wore an expression that screamed, "I have no status, I'm just a background character, don't look at me," hiding behind him and turning a blind eye to his desperate pleas for help.

Aoki Shin was drenched in cold sweat.

Jackie Chan was unaware of the situation and, with a bright, sunny smile, said in English, "Hello, very nice to meet you, I am Jackie Chan."

He reached out his hand.

Aoki Shin nervously wiped his palm before gripping his hand firmly.

"He-he-hello!"

He stammered in English; it seemed that no matter how bad his English was, he could at least manage a greeting.

But he fell apart immediately after.

Aoki Shin waved his hands frantically in a state of extreme nervousness: "Sor, sorry? The, the, trans... tran what was it? The interpreter? He, he...??? Yes, the, car! The, car, come? Boom!"

He made a gesture for a car, then exaggeratedly acted out an explosion.

Shuya pinched his thigh, desperately trying to hold back his laughter.

But Jackie Chan was a world-class star who had seen it all; he maintained a polite smile and said, "Don't be nervous, calm down. Hmm, do you understand? Calm~ down."

He slowed his speech significantly, enunciating every single word.

Unfortunately, Aoki Shin was already in a state of total panic and didn't take it in.

Jackie Chan's attitude was excellent, but the people behind him were a different story; they were clearly men of action who valued muscle over brains.

Muscle Man A said to the person next to him: "What the hell is he saying? Is this guy crazy?"

Muscle Man B shrugged and said: "Who the hell knows? His English is so bad, who could possibly understand him!"

Muscle Man C said: "Hey, is he saying the translator got into a car accident? And that's why he's apologizing?"

Muscle Man A exclaimed: "You can understand that? Come to think of it, Liangzai, you seem to watch Japanese films all the time, why don't you go up and help the boss!"

Muscle Man C, who was Liangzai, was pushed forward by his companions. Liangzai's face changed drastically, but there was no escaping now.

"Liangzai, you also understand Japanese?"

Jackie Chan asked curiously.

"I, I know a few phrases."

Liangzai's face was written with guilt.

Aoki Shin was overjoyed, assuming he understood Japanese, and said quickly: "Sir, do you understand Japanese? That is truly wonderful!"

"I am so sorry, the translator we prepared was hit by a car!"

"By the way, what should I call you, sir?"

"..."

Liangzai wanted to speak but hesitated, then hesitated again.

Finally, he managed to squeeze out three words:

"Yamete?"

Dead silence.

The scene turned cold.

It wasn't just on Aoki Shin's side; the same went for Jackie Chan's side.

Muscle Man AB's face twitched, having already realized what kind of Japanese films Liangzai had been watching.

Seeing the atmosphere stiffen, Liangzai spoke tentatively and nervously:

"I, iku?"

"Dame?"

"Ha, hayaku?!"

"Ki..."

Liangzai didn't get the chance to finish.

"Ahem, sorry."

Jackie Chan pulled the cold-sweating Liangzai back without changing his expression.