Chapter 2: The First Job

At three o’clock in the afternoon, Li Lekang drove the Honda he had bought for eight thousand yuan to the bar. The previous owner’s life was miserable: both parents dead upon arrival, bank balance fluctuating between double and triple digits, forced to drop out of college halfway through due to unpaid tuition, scraping by as a waiter and still getting exploited by the bosses.

But that was all in the past now. Li Lekang glanced up at the sign for Black Jack—the bar was sizeable, and though it was still daylight and there were no customers yet, the décor and furnishings inside revealed a significant investment.

After stating his purpose, he was led to the corridor backstage. He wasn’t the only one here for the interview; upon inquiry, he learned that everyone was a magician, all vying for the job because the pay was substantial.

Li Lekang sat quietly, waiting. Those who went in before him emerged looking dejected and disappointed—it didn’t bode well. When his name was finally called, he stood, straightened his clothes, and stepped into the room.

The interviewer was a white woman, her hair in a neat bun, glasses and a professional outfit that highlighted her composure. She looked him over and said, "No need for pleasantries. Please perform your best magic trick."

"I need a cup," Li Lekang replied.

He went to the corner, grabbed a ceramic cup from beside the coffee machine, filled it to the brim with steaming coffee, and sat down before her.

Judy watched him impassively, but in the next second her expression changed dramatically.

Li Lekang flipped the cup mouth down, covering his other hand. The scalding coffee did not produce the anticipated grimace or agony; when he turned the cup upright, it was completely empty.

He then showed both hands—no props. Placing the coffee cup on his left palm, he raised his right hand high and brought it down in a swift slap.

Smack!

His hands pressed together—the coffee cup had vanished.

Judy immediately inspected his hands up and down, even looked under the table. There was nowhere to hide anything. Had the cup just disappeared into thin air?

"Where did it go?" she asked.

Li Lekang nodded toward her bag. "Take a look inside your purse."

Skeptical, she unzipped her LV bag—which had been sitting beside her, untouched—only to pull out the very same coffee cup, utterly astonished.

"How did you do that?" she demanded.

"That’s a magician’s highest secret," he replied.

Li Lekang took the cup, placed it on the table, covered it with one hand, and coffee began to pour, filling the cup once more. He lifted it, saluted her with a smile, and took a sip.

Judy felt her worldview had been upended. Still unwilling to accept it, she pressed him, "Is this real? How—how could this be possible?"

"Normally, I’d tell the audience it’s magic," Li Lekang said, his smile full of confidence. The implication was clear: this was a masterful illusion.

Judy could find no grounds to refuse him, leaving only one question: "The performance is about ten minutes, two segments. How much do you expect to be paid?"

This stumped Li Lekang. As a newcomer to the industry, he’d never bothered to learn what his peers earned, instinctively believing it was up to the employer to offer, and him to accept.

But Judy didn’t play by the rules. She felt his skills far surpassed all other candidates—she had never seen such uncanny magic—and couldn’t guess his price.

Neither knew what the other was thinking. After a brief silence, Li Lekang ventured, "Five hundred dollars?"

"OK!"

Li Lekang thought he’d aimed too low.

He didn’t realize that as he spoke, he’d prepared himself for rejection, expecting the price to be slashed—he’d have accepted even two hundred and fifty. A hero brought low by a lack of funds; next month’s rent was still unresolved.

Actually, the fee was a bit high for Judy, but the performance was so astounding that magicians of this caliber were usually famous, charging thousands or more. She felt it was worth trying for one night, to see the audience’s reaction—and if it went well, they could continue working together.

She explained the terms: the pay would be settled nightly, with further collaboration depending on the bar’s needs.

Li Lekang assured her he could start that evening.

It was a mutually beneficial deal; they signed and shook hands without hesitation.

Judy instructed her assistant, "No more interviews. We’ve found our magician."

Li Lekang left, elated and confident.

With such skill, how could he ever go hungry?

Earlier, he’d nearly been frightened out of his wits by the spirit’s words—so cautious he almost sabotaged himself!

He drove home, stopping by the supermarket for groceries. Tonight’s instant noodles would feature two eggs and a piece of steak, and he’d drink his yogurt straight from the bottle—no licking the lid, a little indulgence.

Back at his apartment, he found the place small, a classic three or four-story row house divided into rooms for rent, inhabited by a mixed crowd: Hollywood dreamers, small-town artists, young hustlers hoping to make it big, and more.

Its only redeeming feature was its proximity to Hollywood—the world of glamorous stars seemed within reach, though reality often left them battered and bruised. There were plenty of beautiful, talented people, but most remained stuck in mediocrity.

Li Lekang ate his luxurious noodles, devouring beef, and watched TV—singing and dancing competitions aired every year. He envied the lucky few.

But it had nothing to do with him for now. First, he’d earn some quick money, then figure out how to become a superstar magician. He would never work for someone else again—opportunities had to be seized.

As he ate and pondered, he had no concrete plan.

Seeing it was still early, he practiced the magic tricks he’d perform that night, repeating them until smooth and effortless, then showered, changed clothes, and prepared for work, energized.

American nightlife wasn’t as vibrant or varied as back home; it mainly revolved around bars and nightclubs. Wandering the streets late at night was unheard of—you might get robbed by a gang if you weren’t careful.

Most shops closed early; the homeless began to roam, some even stopping cars at intersections for money. It was hard to believe this was the country’s second largest city.

Things improved only on Sunset Boulevard, a wealthy district with good security, plenty of police patrols, and where the well-off could safely go out and spend.

Li Lekang parked his car, entered through the employee entrance, and headed to the break room. Along the way, he saw Judy, the capable woman busy preparing for the evening, coordinating bands and singers.

She also gave him instructions: "You’ll go on after their performances. Try to keep it to ten minutes—if the audience responds enthusiastically, feel free to improvise."

"Will extra time earn extra pay?" Li Lekang asked.

Judy regarded him with surprise, then laughed. "You must be quite confident in yourself. Yes, if your performance is spectacular."

"OK, I’ll do my best!"