After The Vicious Cannon Fodder Was Reborn

Chapter 296: Extra 3: Graduation Ceremony & Speech

Beijing Film's graduation ceremony was scheduled for the last Tuesday in June. As one of Beijing Film's outstanding graduates, Tao Mu would speak on behalf of all the graduates at the graduation ceremony. In the eyes of Liu Yao, Meng Qi, old Mr. Song and others, regardless of Tao Mu's status in society, this was probably the most honorable thing for a student.

As Tao Mu's family members, Liu Yao, Meng Qi and old Mr. Song got up early in the morning. After carefully putting on their custom-made suit, they dawdled in front of the mirror for a few extra minutes. Seeing that the clock on the wall had reached six o'clock, they went into the kitchen and put the freshly cooked mini wontons into the thermos container, grabbed the bag of wedding candy that had been prepared long ago from the coffee table, and the family of three strolled downstairs, taking a leisurely walk in their way to the gated community next door. Neighbors in the neighborhood who got up in the morning to exercise or walk the dog saw the neat family of three, took a whiff of the delicious scent and greeted with a smile: "..It smells so good! Mr. Song's craftsmanship is indeed good. Sending breakfast to Mr. Tao and Mr. Li again?"

Old Mr. Song responded with a smile: "My grandson is graduating today and the morning will be busy, so he definitely doesn't have time to eat."

"It's not as simple as graduating." The neighbors who read the news every day said with a smile, "Mr. Tao and Mr. Li are going to get their marriage certificates this afternoon, right? Don't forget to let us know when the wedding will be held."

"We will definitely remember." The smiles on Liu Yao and Meng Qi's faces couldn't be restrained even if they wanted to, and took out boxes of wedding candies and handed them to the neighbors around them.

Tao Mu and Li Xiaoheng live in a high-end community very close to the central CBD. It was less than half an hour's walk from Li Xiaoheng's company headquarters. Other than being affected by smog and sandstorms and the air quality being a bit poor, there were no other problems. Tao Mu and Li Xiaoheng moved here for the convenience of commuting to and from getting off work (of course it was more convenient to work overtime). Of course, most of the other residents in the community thought the same. So much so that when old Mr. Song and Liu Yao and Meng Qi first moved here, they would encounter the cover characters of financial magazines or financial weekly every time they took a walk. And most of these bosses were clients of Xiaoheng Capital or . This often meeting at work and encountering each other frequently after work had Liu Yao and Meng Qi secretly wondering whether Li Xiaoheng moved here to create an atmosphere for working overtime.

After distributing wedding candies one by one, the family of three slowly entered the elevator of the building. When they entered the apartment, Tao Mu and Li Xiaoheng had already woken up. The room was full of people, makeup artists, stylists, the BulletScreen production team carrying cameras for live streaming, and two reporters from FlyNews Entertainment.

In the past two years, Tao Mu had repeatedly produced classic works with good box office sales, reputation and ratings as an actor and producer, and more and more people became fans of Tao Mu and followed Tao Mu. These people were no longer satisfied with watching Tao Mu's performance through the screen, and looked forward to meeting Tao Mu in reality. However, in order to take care of the work of and several other companies, Tao Mu had no time to hold a fan meeting. As the CEO of , and several other companies, Tao Mu usually did not accept commercial jobs or endorsements. Even the most ordinary fans couldn't be satisfied, and even on every birthday it was just a live stream on the Internet. As things went on like this, the expectations accumulated by the fans were getting thicker and thicker.

So this time, when the Beijing Film Academy had just announced the time for this years graduation ceremony on its official account. The Ceramics who have been looking forward to it for a long time could no longer hold back, and they all ran to Tao Mus FlyNews to leave pitiful messages, asking him to take this opportunity to organize a celebrity fan meetingit was fine even if it was not a formal celebrity fan meeting, they just wanted to witness Tao Mu's graduation ceremony and the process of Tao Mu and Li Xiaoheng going to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get their marriage certificates.

Having liked their idol for so long, fans also hope to have a ritual-filled witnessing process. While witnessing their idol's happy life, they could also commemorate their four-year love for their idol.

As we all know, many star-chasing fans were not long-term fans. The most common in the entertainment circle were fickle fans who climbed walls in three months. But Tao Mu's fans were exceptions. Almost most of them were diehard fans who have followed Tao Mu since he first entered school and founded . This was of course because Tao Mu's actual achievements were impressive enough, , BulletScreen.com and Litao.com were too easy to use, and the financial analysis report given by Xiaoheng Capital was too accurate as well as in combination with other factors. But putting aside these things, four years of support and companionship were enough to prove something.

So this time, even Tao Mu who had a "stone heart" could not refuse the fans' request. After thinking about it again and again, he still satisfied the wishes of the fans. In addition to agreeing that Tao Mu's fan club could organize some Ceramics to stand outside Beijing Film and the Civil Affairs Bureau to witness Tao Mu's graduation and certificate collection (as long as the actions of the fans do not affect the normal work of the school and the Civil Affairs Bureau), Tao Mu also promised to let FlyNews Entertainment follow the whole process on this day, and directly broadcast the whole process on BulletScreen.com. Making sure that fans who could not come to Beijing due to work or other reasons could also witness the process of him receiving his graduation certificate and marriage certificate with their own eyes.

When Grandpa Song and Yao Dad and Xiao Qi Dad entered the door carrying mini wontons, Tao Mu had just finished styling, and was absolutely starving. His eyes lit up when he saw the thermos container in the old man's hand, and looked very much like a little wolfhound just out of the nest.

"Yo, our Xiao Mu is really getting more and more handsome." Liu Yao and Meng Qi looked at Tao Mu, who was sitting in front of the dressing table and letting the stylist tidy him up, and praised with a smile: "I can guarantee that you will be the best looking cub at the graduation ceremony of Beijing Film today."

Old Mr. Song handed the thermos container to Li Xiaoheng, and couldn't help but agree: "Of course my grandson is the most handsome. Anyone who is not convinced can stand forward and do a comparison."

Tao Mu smiled and echoed, "I don't dare to say anything else, but your grandson is definitely the most handsome cook, the best at cooking among actors, and the best at acting among producers."

Li Xiaoheng poured the mini wontons in the thermos into a bowl and handed them to Tao Mu. The mini wontons stuffed with fresh meat were steaming hot. There were a few slices of coriander, seaweed and dried shrimp floating in the soup. A fresh and fragrant scent instantly permeated the room. All of a sudden, there were loud belly growling sounds one after another. The people holding up the lighting panel, the camera crew members and stylists all flushedthey got up too early in the morning and didn't even have time to eat breakfast.

Old Mr. Song chuckled, and said, "Fortunately, I made a lot. You all have some to eat and fill your bellies. Let Xiao Mu treat you to dinner later."

The eyes of the several employees lit up, and looked expectantly at Li Xiaohengor rather, the thermos container in his hand.

The corners of Li Xiaoheng's mouth ticked up imperceptibly. He filled a bowl of mini wontons for himself, and said to everyone, "Go to the kitchen and get the bowls and chopsticks. Everyone can go ahead and serve yourselves."

"Yeah!" The group of employees put down their work and rushed to the kitchen.

Ten minutes later, the group of people who had eaten to their content put down the bowls and chopsticks with satisfaction, which were almost cleaner than if they had been washed with dish detergent, and praised in unison: "Mr. Song's craftsmanship is awesome."

"So awesome!"

"Two thumbs up."

"Our CEO Tao is so lucky to have a grandfather like you!"

Old Mr. Song smiled as he looked at this group of stinky boys who seemed to have honey in their mouths, and he was so happy that he couldn't help grinning from ear to ear.

Due to the morning rush hour, when Tao Mu took his family in the nanny car, it took an hour and a half before they arrived at Beijing Film at a leisurely pace. It was already eight forty-five at this time. The graduation ceremony started at nine o'clock. Both sides of the school were already crowded with reporters and fansnot only Tao Mu's fans, but also fans of other students. They all held banners celebrating their idol's successful graduation, as well as support items such as posters and light boards. The gate was bustling with activity, and there were actually many small vendors who were attracted over after hearing the news and were now hawking their wares, adding to the noise.

Tao Mu spotted Qin Miaoru, Gou Rixin, Da Map, Xiao Pang, Feng Yuan and the group of children from the orphanage who were right in the middle of Ceramics. Even Dean Tao was there. Immediately, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He got out of the car and walked up to the fans: "Why are you here?"

A burst of excited and high-pitched screams came from the crowd in an instant. The Ceramics who came into contact with their idol at close range were going crazy, and subconsciously surged forward. Fortunately, Tao Mu's bodyguards and school security rushed out in time to maintain order, and the small leaders of the fan club tried their best to also cooperate, managing to prevent any accidents from happening.

The excited Ceramics calmed down a little, and immediately shouted: "CEO Tao, please sign an autograph for us?"

"And take a group photo!"

"And a hug!"

The crowd suddenly shouted one after the other in disorder. Seeing the popularity of their childhood friend/the boy who grew up under her watch, Dean Tao and the others were very pleased and said: "The children in the orphanage all want to see your graduation ceremony with their own eyes. I didn't want to cause you trouble, so I simply contacted your fan club, and everyone came here to wait for you. Its also quite meaningful.

In fact, Tao Mu had sent an invitation to Dean Tao when the time for the graduation ceremony was just set. He wanted Dean Tao to accompany him to the graduation ceremony in the name of his family member. At that time, Dean Tao refused. Saying that the work of the orphanage was too busy, and she couldn't get away for a while. Tao Mu was actually very disappointed. But he didn't expect that Dean Tao had secretly kept a card up her sleeve. On the surface, she rejected Tao Mu's invitation, but secretly she actually planned with the children in the orphanage and the clCeramics from Tao Mu's fan club to come to show Tao Mu support.

Da Mao and Xiao Pang laughed and said: "Tao Mu, you don't know, we are now the top management of your Beijing fan club! Brother Fansite Admin, get it?"

Da Mao held up the camera he had clutched in his hand, and said with a smile: "Don't worry, I will definitely take handsome pictures of you today! My photography skills are very good now! I'm no worse than you."

Qin Miaoru rolled her eyes at Da Mao, and said huffily, "Brother Fansite Admin, as if, they are called Sister Fansite Admin. Stupid Da Mao, you stole my position!"

Qin Miaoru, the self-proclaimed Sister Fansite Admin, patted Gou Rixin who was standing on the side. Gou Rixin was carrying the latest video camera of a certain international brand on his shoulders, and his posture was even more professional than the reporters waiting beside him.

Feng Yuan, who had grown into a 1.9-meter-tall boy, blushed and said succinctly, "I'm also a Ceramic."

The little stutterer in the past had turned into an aloof male god, but his stuttering nature would immediately be exposed when he was excited: "Brother Mu, I wish you, a, a happy graduation."

Tao Mu rubbed Feng Yuan's cropped head with a happy expression. He looked at everyone with some emotion. Unexpectedly, everyone was so supportive and came to his graduation ceremony.

Just as he was about to say something, Qin Miaoru interrupted Tao Mu impatiently: "Oh my god, it's almost nine o'clock. Don't say anything, go in quickly. The graduation ceremony is about to begin."

Tao Mu had no choice but to swallow his emotions back into his stomach, and said quickly: "When the graduation ceremony is over, there will be two hours to take pictures, and you guys can come in then."

Then, Tao Mu supported Dean Tao's arm, insisting that the elderly Dean Tao be a family member and follow him into the school.

When Tao Mu's family rushed to the auditorium where the graduation ceremony was held, they saw the members of the Li family and the principal of Beijing Film standing together greeting each other, as well as many school leaders and other students' parents surrounding them.

Seeing Tao Mu's family enter the door, Father Li and Mother Li, who had been paying attention to the movement at the door, looked over immediately. Old Mr. Li harrumphed, and asked childishly, "Why did you only come now? We've been here for an hour."

Everyone in the Li family also attached great importance to the graduation ceremony of their own son-in-law, especially as in the afternoon they would be going to get their marriage certificates. So they all got up early in the morning, and came to the school auditorium before eight o'clock. Unexpectedly, after waiting for almost an hour, the two brats Tao Mu and Li Xiaoheng arrived fashionably late. It really exemplified the saying "the emperor is not anxious but his eunuch are".

Tao Mu and Li Xiaoheng walked over with smiles, and explained, "Make-up and styling took some time."

Old Mr. Li took a serious look at Tao Mu, and commented with a stern face: "You are already handsome without makeup! If you put on makeup, you will be so handsome, and it would be too conspicuous when you take your graduation photos. What will other graduates do then?

Tao Mu: ".."

Li Xiaoheng: ".."

The group of melon-eaters eavesdropping around them: ".."

Probably because they didn't expect old Mr. Li to praise his family member with such sincerity, the other people standing aside almost didn't laugh out loud. The principal of Beijing Film coughed twice, managed to suppress his smile, and then said solemnly: "The ceremony will begin soon. Everyone should return to their seats."

Everyone sat down under the guidance of the master of ceremonies. According to the college degree, Tao Mu sat with his three roommates, and next to them were students from Class 1 of the 2008 Department of Performance.

"The outstanding graduate is here!" Wen Bao started joking as soon as he saw Tao Mu, and raised a hand into a fist in front of Tao Mu, pretending to interview: "Mr. Outstanding Graduate, please express your thoughts, as the graduate representing so many students in the 2008 class to speak the graduation speech on stage, how does it feel"

Before he could finish speaking, Du Kang pushed him away: "Look at what kind of question you are asking? You don't have the slightest sense of entertainment at all."

Du Kang was full of disdain for Wen Bao, so he seized the right to interview and asked Tao Mu, "May I ask Mr. Tao, what do you think of the practice of receiving your graduation certificate with one hand and your marriage certificate with the other on the day of graduation?"

The news that Tao Mu and Li Xiaoheng "will receive their marriage certificates on the day of graduation" had already been spread on the Internet a few years ago. Hearing Du Kang's question, the students present immediately heckled and whistled quietly.

Tao Mu's face was a little hot, and he pretended to be serious and said: "Don't make trouble, don't make trouble, the graduation ceremony has begun."

The group of students looked at Tao Mu slyly. On the podium, the host had announced the commencement of the graduation ceremony. At the beginning, everyone stood up and sang the national anthem, followed by the principal's speech, followed by the awarding of graduation certificates, speeches by the leaders and commendation of outstanding papers and outstanding graduates.

As the representative of outstanding graduates, Tao Mu would deliver a graduation speech at this time. When he walked to the podium under the eyes of everyone, he looked around at the school leaders, classmates and his most valued family members sitting under the stage. Li Xiaoheng held a bouquet of roses he had somehow gotten from nowhere in his arms, as if he was ready to go on stage to show his affection after he spoke. His Yao Dad, Xiao Qi Dad, Grandpa Song, Dean Tao, and the elders of the Li family all looked at him with smiles, and kept giving him thumbs up with both hands.

Looking at the familiar faces in the audience that were full of expectations and blessings, Tao Mu felt a sudden thrill of excitement in his heart. He put aside the speech he had prepared long ago, and began sincerely: "..I grew up in an orphanage."

Li Xiaoheng, who was sitting under the stage, looked over in surprise. He had seen Tao Mu's original speech. But the beginning of the speech was not written in this way. The principal of Beijing Film and several other school leaders were also a little surprised. As the school leaders, of course they also read Tao Mu's speech in advance. However, Tao Mu's speech at this time did not conform to the content of the speech draft, and it was obvious that Tao Mu had changed his speech at the last moment.

"Many people think that the fate of an orphan who has no biological parents to protect them since childhood is bad. But I am very fortunate that my luck is quite good." Tao Mu looked at the family members in the audience and said softly: "Since I was young, I have met too many good people. They all stretched out their hands without hesitation when I was at my most difficult in life. It was because of their dedication and care that I have come step by step to where I am today."

"Thanks to Dean Tao, she provided me my first home. Although the condition of the orphanage was not good at that time, it was indeed the first place to shelter me from wind and rain in this life. Dean Tao taught me by word and deed, and taught me to be grateful. Taught me to know that no matter what kind of predicament a person was in, he must maintain kind thoughts. To know how to cherish people who treat you well. Only by learning to cherish, can you have more and more things in your life. Thanks to my Yao Dad, Xiao Qi Dad and Grandpa Song, they gave me a second home. They also let me know the true kinship of real family members, and that in fact, there is no need to be obsessed with blood relationship. I am very grateful for your appearance in my life, so that I, Tao Mu, could also feel the love of two fathers and a grandpa. I would also like to thank Beijing Film, this school is my third home and the cradle where my career started. Here I have been cultivated and encouraged by many teachers, as well as receiving the support of my classmates. The reason I, Tao Mu, could achieve what I have today is all thanks to the teaching and support of the school."

"The last person I want to thank is our family's Mr. Li."

When Tao Mu said this, there was a burst of tacit laughter from the audience. Tao Mu's smile became more gentle and warm: "Your existence proves to me that a person's life is very long, but in such a long road, there is someone who can support you as you walk on it. How blessed I am."

Li Xiaoheng's expression was calm, with a domineering CEO expression on his face, but the hands holding the bouquet of roses betrayed his excited heart.

"Finally, what I want to talk about is the definition of success." Tao Mu paused, and looked at all the students sitting in the audience: "Many people think that to be an actor, one must be famous, popular, and to be an A-list superstar is considered success. But the definition of success is not so superficial. We are still young, and there will be many opportunities in the future. So dont limit your eyes to one work or one role. Try to pay attention to everyone around you, you must work hard to maintain your connection with everyone who is worthy of your cherishment around you. Us Chinese people place importance on people as the foundation. Only with people will there be hope. I take myself as an example. I, Tao Mu, could achieve today's achievements because I have encountered many people in my life who were willing to help. I also cherish them very much, and I have grasped onto every person who was kind to me."

"Perhaps many people think that my greatest achievement is the creation of FlyNews.com, BulletScreen.com, and etc, but in my opinion, the most correct thing I, Tao Mu, had done in my life was to grasp onto my family with two hands."

"I hope that every student here can be like me and meet many good people who show kindness towards you and are willing to help you at critical moments. I also hope that all students can grasp every opportunity of kindness."

"I think that if I, Tao Mu, can manage to be considered a successful person in everyone's eyes, then this is my success. I also wish all the graduates a great future with brilliant prospects."