I Returned to the Village to Paint Its Walls and Made It an Internet-Famous Destination

A legend in the art world: A genius painter, clueless about social etiquette, reported his boss's “stolen vintage wine” to the police at a dinner using his “emotional intelligence,” then fled back to his village overnight, determined to lie flat until he died.

That's right, yours truly, Zhou Xi.

On my first day back, the village's rumor mill had this to say: “Xiwazi's a lost cause. What a waste of a college education.”

Me: Whatever. I'll show you what I can do.

I turned around and painted a gateway to the capital on a village girl's wall, setting the internet ablaze.

Villagers: Holy crap, a god!

On my tenth day back, the primary school next door asked, “Master, please paint something for us!”

Me: Sure. I whitewashed a wall. Done.

School administrators: ??? That's it?

Then viewers took thirty steps back and started livestreaming. The white wall turned into an ocean, and the livestream chat exploded!

Me: Just the basics. Don't make a fuss.

Later, the comedy troupe I coached in a spoof of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" became a hit. So did the “Rural F4” imitating F4. I even turned Auntie Wang from the village entrance into “Madam Wang”...

All I want is to lie flat! Why does everyone keep forcing me to show off? Looking at the “Hellscape” in the scenic area, which scared a fugitive into turning himself in, I fell into deep thought.

Should I turn the dry well east of the village into a viral photo spot next, or...