Prologue

For all the boys that have taught me.

This is The Naughty Prince.

Even though Kevin Tsai^[1] has been naughty, he is still a disciplined person—

And the only discipline that he follows, is called love.

Even though Kevin Tsai is naughty himself, he has trained many pets—

The most obedient one is the one with a little bell on its neck, called lonely.

Kevin Tsai mostly sleeps on his stomach.

Because he remembers that angels have wings on their backs, and devils got tails on their backs.

So sleeping on one’s stomach is more comfortable for everyone.

Kevin Tsai believes that life should be treated the same way as a refrigerator—

Filled to be emptied, not to be kept.

And that writing, should be treated the same way as kissing—

When it is happening, everyone is captivated by it, but later, there is mostly shame, with occasional joyfulness, and that’s fine.

Believe in love, believe in justice, believe in civilization, believe that the universe is worth it.

Weakness in the presence of desire, and weakness in the face of evil.

Liking others more than myself.

From the end of the last century, I began to take part in public events.

Such as hosting some shows.

Writing some things, speaking a few words.

Comforting or hurting a few others.

But regardless of what happened,

I was certain that I wasn’t important,

I was certain that I wasn’t important,

I was absolutely certain that I wasn’t important.

Kevin Tsai likes civilization, but isn’t interested in museums.

I also like Puccini’s opera, but I wished that the singers were better looking.

Kevin Tsai likes good looking people.

If they are good looking but dumb, then I wish to only see them, but not to know them.

If they are good looking and smart, then I still wish to only see them, but not to know them ….

Uh, it’s better not to know too many people.

Kevin Tsai was born in Taipei, and when he was born, the world was already given Fellini’s “Nights of Cabiria”^[2] and Truffaut’s “Les Quatre Cents Coups”.^[3]

That’s quite intimidating.

One of the most decent schools Kevin Tsai has attended was the School of Theater, Film and Television at University of California, Los Angeles.

Kevin Tsai believes that the not so decent schools are pretty good to use for falling in love, but terrible to study in.

Kevin Tsai often thinks of many people, then smiles.

Yes, you’ve all taught me things, and this is how I turned out.

Should I thank you guys? Or smile a wry smile?

C’est la vie—boys, boys, boys, boys, boys, and ourselves, or, girls, girls, girls, girls, girls, and ourselves.

I’m giving each one of you a number, this way your faces won’t become gradually blurred and forgotten.

By doing this, am I planning to always remember you guys, or perhaps preparing to forget all of you, one by one?

I’m not sure either.

Perhaps there will be other boys that will come along and teach me.

 

Prologue: Holy Angels Edition

Do you guys remember the fallen feathers?

Last time when I published “Things That Those Boys Taught Me”, a total of 33 boys appeared in the book, all illustrated by Sunny Face.

And now with the publication of “Things That Those Boys Taught Me • Holy Angels Edition”, aside from the 33 boys from last time, there are 18 additional boys, bringing the total up to 51. The illustrations are done by Cola King.

They were all angels once.

Mine, or other people’s.

Full of unlimited potential, or, broken later on.

It’s either this, or that.

But they were all angels once.

I now, once again place their lost feathers onto your hands.