Entertainment Industry: I am a top-tier movie star

Chapter 86 Mango's Invitation

The filming of "Like a Flowing River" proceeded smoothly in the light rain of early winter in Jiangnan.

The small county town where the film crew was stationed seemed to have stepped back in time. The old-style buildings, the faded slogans, and the extras dressed in period costumes all contributed to the social landscape of the early 1980s.

Chen Nianbei completely immersed himself in the role. After several days of filming, he had gotten used to the faded blue work clothes with worn cuffs. He had shaved his hair shorter, deliberately tanned his skin a shade darker, and walked with a slightly hunched back, carrying the posture of someone who had worked hard and observed carefully for a long time.

The first major scene depicts Yang Xun's early days selling steamed buns at a stall outside the factory.

The scene is set on a dusty path outside the side gate of the fictional "Jinzhou Factory".

The sky was just beginning to lighten, and the morning mist had not yet dissipated.

Chen Nianbei pedaled a dilapidated tricycle with a tall steamer on it, carefully covered with an old cotton quilt to keep it warm.

He parked the car, quickly unloaded the equipment, spread out a plastic sheet, and lifted the steamer. Steam billowed up, mingling with the aroma of noodles.

Director Kong Sheng sat behind the monitor, his gaze sharp.

"Action!"

Chen Nianbei looked around, his eyes showing the wariness of a newcomer and a hint of timidity as he tried to ingratiate himself with the environment. He cleared his throat, as if he wanted to shout, but the first sound didn't come out; it was a bit dry.

He licked his slightly chapped lips, then spoke again, his voice rising, with a deliberately drawn-out, somewhat stiff enthusiasm: "Steamed buns—freshly steamed big white steamed buns—still warm!"

That shout, with its tone, rhythm, and the way it tried to sound experienced yet couldn't hide its awkwardness, instantly grabbed everyone's attention.

This isn't memorizing lines; this is a vivid portrayal of a young street vendor who's just starting out and is still a bit hesitant to make a living.

Soon, workers coming off their night shift arrived in twos and threes.

Chen Nianbei immediately put on a smiling face and leaned forward slightly: "Master, two, please? All you can eat! Look at this noodle dish, it's so lively!"

He lifted a corner of the quilt, quickly fanned the steam with his hand, and showed the steamed bun. His fingers were a little red from the cold and nervousness.

When he received the crumpled bills, he quickly counted them, his fingers deftly and with a sense of cherishing the money. While giving change, he kept saying, "Thank you, come back when you've finished eating."

At that moment, a market administrator wearing an old uniform and a red armband strolled over, his face unfriendly.

Chen Nianbei's smile froze instantly, a flicker of panic crossing his eyes, but he quickly replaced it with an even more ingratiating, even somewhat humble, smile: "Good morning, boss! Have you eaten? Want a couple to try? They're fresh out of the pot!"

He instinctively reached out to offer a cigarette, but his hand touched the empty pack, and he stopped awkwardly, his smile becoming even more ingratiating, his back hunched even lower.

The manager waved his hand impatiently, pointed at his stall, and said a few words about collecting management fees and not being allowed to set up stalls haphazardly.

Chen Nianbei's facial muscles twitched slightly, and he struggled to maintain a smile. He nodded and bowed, agreeing, "Yes, yes, I'll pay attention right away," while frantically tidying up, trying to make the stall look more "compliant."

His movements were large and frantic, but his hands were steady and quick as he packed his things, showing the survival instinct of a lowly person under pressure.

When negotiating with the administrator, his eyes conveyed pure obsequiousness and fear:

But as the manager turned to leave, and he continued fiddling with the steamer, a fleeting look of resentment and humiliation flashed across his lowered eyelids, quickly suppressed by an even stronger, fierce determination to "make something of himself."

"Cut!"

Kong Sheng called for a halt, staring at the monitor replay, remaining silent for a long while. The scene was completely quiet.

Then, he picked up the walkie-talkie: "This one's done. Nianbei, you're in great form, keep it up, get ready for the next one."

The staff around him secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and looked at Chen Nianbei with more admiration.

This scene lacks intense conflict and dialogue, relying entirely on details and atmosphere to vividly portray Yang Xun's early life and psychological state.

Another scene shows Yang Xun trying his hand at sales for the first time, going to a small collectively owned factory to sell work gloves.

Chen Nianbei changed into a cheap suit that was slightly oversized and had droopy shoulders. He combed his hair meticulously with water, but it only made him look more dowdy and deliberate.

He was carrying an old, artificial leather briefcase, lingering at the factory office entrance, taking deep breaths, and practicing a smile on his face.

Upon entering the office and facing the section chief, who was dressed in a Zhongshan suit and had a cold expression, Chen Nianbei immediately got into character. He first respectfully offered a cigarette, and when it was refused, he wasn't embarrassed. He smiled and asked the section chief to take it back, and then began to introduce the products.

He spoke quickly and urgently, yet tried to appear organized, occasionally throwing out a few newly learned, still somewhat unfamiliar "professional terms," ​​such as "abrasion resistance coefficient" and "fitting the hand shape."

His body language was extremely expressive: he would lean forward and gesture with his hands while speaking;

When the section chief raised questions, his eyes blinked rapidly, his brain raced as he searched for an explanation, and his fingers unconsciously fiddled with the strap of his briefcase.

When he mentioned the price advantage, he lowered his voice, leaned closer, and his eyes flashed with a shrewd, slightly sneaky glint that said, "You know what I mean."

Throughout the entire process, a smile remained on his face, but the curve of that smile and the warmth of his eyes subtly adjusted according to the other person's reaction, vividly portraying the humility, eagerness, cunning, and helplessness of an ordinary person in the face of power and opportunity.

The veteran actor who acted opposite him later told Kong Sheng, "This kid is incredibly convincing in his roles, his emotions are spot-on, and his reactions are quick. Once he gets into character, I don't even need to act; he naturally brings out the right 'stance'."

There's also a night scene where Yang Xun and several partners who also run small businesses are drinking in a dimly lit, greasy little restaurant.

After a few cups of cheap liquor, the initial caution and boasting faded, and the conversation turned to their respective hardships and frustrations.

When it was Chen Nianbei's turn, he initially laughed it off, saying, "It's alright, passable." But someone's words struck a nerve, and the smile on his face slowly froze. His eyes began to glaze over as he stared at the murky liquid in his glass.

He didn't immediately erupt or burst into tears, but remained silent for a few seconds, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

Then, he picked up the glass and drank it all in one gulp. The strong liquor made him cough a few times, and his eyes instantly turned red.

He wiped his mouth, his voice hoarse, tinged with alcohol and long-suppressed emotions: "—Who says it isn't? Having to read people's faces, putting on a smile—sometimes when I think about it, it's fucking...!"

He paused, not uttering the word, but simply shook his head, poured himself another glass, and forced a smile that was more like a grimace. "—Fine, let's drink! Sooner or later—sooner or later we'll be able to stand tall!"

This emotional progression and restrained outburst powerfully portrays Yang Xun's deep-seated humiliation, resentment, struggle, and the undying flame of hope.

Kong Sheng, behind the monitor, clapped lightly after shouting "Cut".

Kong Sheng walked over to Chen Nianbei, who was warming up her frozen hands and feet, and handed her a cup of hot water: "How are you feeling? Feeling grounded?" That's quite a strong response.

Chen Nianbei took the water glass, covered it with both hands, exhaled a puff of white breath, and smiled, a smile tinged with simplicity: "Uncle Kong, I feel—he's quite grounded. This person lives a very concrete life, calculating and struggling every day, but also pushing forward every day. His acting is genuine."

"That's right, it's not a lie."

Kong Sheng nodded, his gaze deep. "Remember this feeling. Yang Xun will get rich, become arrogant, fall down, and get back up—but his roots are in this Yang Xun who sold steamed buns at the factory gate and had to read people's faces. Once that root is firmly planted, no matter how he grows later, he won't go astray."

Chen Nianbei nodded solemnly. A cold wind swept across the film set, stirring up dust.

He gripped the warm cup in his hand, his gaze fixed on the set still being set up in the distance, representing Yang Xun's first small shop in the future.

Filming is still ongoing.

Every day, Chen Nianbei used countless subtle glances, gestures, and tones to meticulously construct the flesh and blood and soul of "Yang Xun."

This process stripped away the glamour of the Golden Rooster Awards, distanced itself from the noise of variety shows, and even temporarily set aside the entanglements of romance and scandals, leaving only the purest cultivation that belongs to the actors.

He knew that after filming this movie, "Yang Xun" would become another completely different and significant role in his acting career.

At this moment, all he needs to do is calm his mind and completely hand over this soul, which is struggling in the cracks of the times and shining with vigorous vitality, to the camera.

In late December 2015, filming of "Like a Flowing River" was in progress when Yang Xun experienced his first business setback.

A crucial stage of struggling to get back up from the mud.

The atmosphere on set was like the gloomy winter weather in Jiangnan, carrying a heavy sense of the era's solemnity.

Chen Nianbei almost completely locked herself into the role of "Yang Xun". After finishing work each day, she rarely had any entertainment. She would either repeatedly watch the playback to ponder the details of her performance or continue to study the script and materials. Even her contact with Nazha and Reba became rare and brief because she was so focused on her role.

At this moment of intense focus and near-isolation, agent Lao Zhao arrived in the county where the film crew was located, carrying an invitation that seemed out of place on set and shimmered with the glamour of entertainment stars.

"Hunan TV's New Year's Eve Gala?"

Chen Nianbei had just finished a night shoot, his face still showing the fatigue and dust from playing Yang Xun, his old cotton-padded jacket stained with mud, sitting in the simple rest shed, holding a hot water cup in his hand, somewhat dazed.

"Yes! A formal, top-tier invitation! And it's a solo performance!"

Old Zhao couldn't hide his excitement, rubbing his hands together. "Nianbei, this is one of the most important galas of the year, with top-notch ratings and attention!"

The popularity of "The Disguiser" is still at its peak, the afterglow of the Golden Rooster Award for Best Supporting Actor is still strong, the first season of "Go Fighting!" has just ended and audiences are thriving, plus the long-tail effect of "Nirvana in Fire"—

Hunan TV is giving you a major push as the most promising and representative rising star of the year! This is a rare opportunity!

Chen Nianbei frowned, her first reaction was resistance.

He is currently in the most repressed and immersive phase of "Yang Xun," and his psychological rhythm and external state are far removed from the glamorous New Year's Eve gala stage.

He could even sense that once he left this environment, the "core" he had painstakingly built up—the core of being a small person from the 1980s—might loosen.

"Brother Zhao, you can see my situation right now. The filming schedule is tight, and Director Kong has extremely high demands. I—"

He pointed to his dusty clothes and the dark, gloomy night view outside the shed, which belonged to another era.

Old Zhao understood his concerns, but his attitude was firm: "Nianbei, I understand. But this opportunity really can't be missed. This is not just about exposure, but also an official confirmation of your current market position and public influence!"

Countless people would kill for an invitation like this, especially a solo performance opportunity. I've already had a preliminary discussion with the production manager and can coordinate two days off; I can go and come back quickly.

Flights, rehearsals, costumes, makeup—I will arrange the entire schedule as tightly as possible to minimize any impact on your shooting condition.

Seeing that Chen Nianbei was still hesitating, Old Zhao lowered his voice: "Shouldn't we also consult with Director Kong?"

Chen Nianbei sighed, knowing that Old Zhao was right.

As an artist, there are certain platforms and opportunities that cannot be easily turned down.

He stood up: "I'm going to find Uncle Kong."

In the director's dressing room, Kong Sheng was looking at the storyboard for the next day's shoot.

After listening to Chen Nianbei's report, he took off his glasses, rubbed his temples, and remained silent for a moment.

"Mango TV's New Year's Eve Gala—well, it's definitely a chance to get some exposure."

Kong Sheng's voice was devoid of emotion. "Being an actor sometimes requires you to switch quickly between these two or even multiple states. That's a skill, and it's also a responsibility."

He looked at Chen Nianbei: "Go ahead. I'll have the coordinator make as many adjustments to your scenes as possible over the next two days. However..."

He emphasized, "I want you to remember that the New Year's Eve gala is a job, a task you must complete in the entertainment industry."

"After you complete your mission, come back to me immediately and completely, back to Yang Xun! I don't want to see you return from Changsha with even a trace of the star power you had on stage. Understand?"

"Understood, Uncle Kong." Chen Nianbei straightened up and solemnly replied.

Kong Sheng's words were like a reassuring pill, and also drew a clear line between them.

Over the next two days, Chen Nianbei experienced a rapid "time-space switch".

The day before, he was still Yang Xun, the self-employed individual who haggled over every penny of profit in the cold winter and forced to put on a smiling face in front of state-owned factory cadres.

The next day, he was already sitting in first class on a flight to Changsha, with Lao Zhao and his assistant Xiao Wu busy confirming the process beside him, holding the lyrics and arrangement notes for "When the Wind Rises".

Upon arriving in Changsha, the airport was still teeming with people waiting to greet passengers and filled with blinding flashes of light.

The shouts of "Mingtai!" "Prince Jing!" "Brother Nianbei!" were deafening, echoing the cries from the TV series "Like a Flowing River."

The quiet and simple atmosphere on set created a stark contrast.

Chen Nianbei quickly put on sunglasses and walked briskly with his head down under the escort of security, but in his mind he forced himself to detach himself from the fact that this was just part of the work process.

They headed straight to the rehearsal venue. The backstage area of ​​Hunan TV's New Year's Eve Gala was brightly lit and bustling with activity. Celebrities and staff members moved about in droves, and the air was filled with the scent of makeup, hairspray, and a mix of tension and excitement.

Chen Nianbei met with the director and music director of the gala and had a brief rehearsal of the stage and music.

He was dressed simply in rehearsal clothes, but his upright posture and focused attitude still drew the attention of many staff members backstage, who whispered among themselves, "That's Chen Nianbei," "The most popular this year," "The one from the Golden Rooster Awards" —

On New Year's Eve, December 31, 2015, the Changsha International Convention and Exhibition Center was the center of attention.

Chen Nianbei's program was scheduled for the middle of prime time.

When he slowly appeared on the rising platform wearing a tailor-made suit with dark embroidery, the entire audience erupted in a deafening roar of screams.

The stage lights were dazzling, and a classic scene from "Nirvana in Fire" featuring Prince Jing, Xiao Jingdan, was playing on the big screen. This scene intertwined with his handsome and dashing modern look, creating a strong collision of time and space and a superposition of charm.

The music prelude begins with the distant yet powerful "When the Wind Rises".

Chen Nianbei gripped the microphone, his gaze sweeping across the vast sea of ​​lights below the stage. He took a deep breath and began, "The winds of change have swept through countless seasons—"

His voice, transmitted through top-of-the-line speakers, was clear and magnetic. Although he was not a professional singer, his strength lay in his genuine emotions and profound understanding of the songs.

When he sings, his eyes are firm, his posture is calm, and he occasionally interacts with the audience by waving, which can trigger a new wave of cheers.

During the climax, he tilted his head slightly, and the light fell on his well-defined profile. The solitary courage belonging to "Prince Jing" and the forbearance belonging to "Mingtai" seemed to subtly merge at this moment, and were conveyed to millions of viewers through his singing.

"The Wind Rises in the Long Forest —"

As the last line was sung, the lingering sound echoed. Applause, screams, and cheers nearly lifted the roof off the stadium.

He bowed in thanks, smiled politely, and then, guided by the host, said a few words of New Year's greetings before gracefully leaving the stage.

The entire process was smooth and seamless, showcasing the stage presence and control that a popular artist should possess.

On the live stream's chat and social media, discussions about his performance instantly flooded the screen: "Chen Nianbei can actually sing pretty well! Most importantly, his stage presence is amazing!"

"His Highness Prince Jing has time-traveled to celebrate the New Year! His outfit is absolutely stunning!"

"From 'Nirvana in Fire' to the New Year's Eve stage, this collaboration made me cry!"

"He seems so composed; he doesn't seem like a newly popular upstart at all."

"Passersby commented that the performance was indeed visually appealing, and the songs were well-chosen."

As soon as the performance ended, without even having time to attend the backstage celebration, Chen Nianbei, under the cover of Lao Zhao and his assistant, quickly left through a special passage and headed straight for the airport.

He didn't even have time to change out of his performance costume; he just put on a long down jacket in the car to cover himself up.

At midnight, while Changsha was immersed in the New Year's Eve celebrations, he was already on a flight back to Zhejiang.

The cabin was dimly lit and quiet. Chen Nianbei removed her contact lenses and put on an eye mask, but she couldn't fall asleep.

The music and screams from the stage still seemed to echo in my ears, and the strong fragrance from backstage still lingered in my nostrils.

But he forced himself to recall the script for "Like a Flowing River," to recall the scene Yang Xun was about to face—the one where his goods were seized and he was on the verge of bankruptcy—and to recall the unextinguished flame in the character's eyes amidst despair.

He repeatedly recited a few lines from Yang Xun's script, his fingers unconsciously mimicking the action of counting change on the handrail.

A few hours later, just as dawn was breaking, Chen Nianbei had returned to the guesthouse where the crew of "Like a Flowing River" was staying.

He didn't rest and went straight to the dressing room. The costume designer handed him a familiar set of old work clothes, stained with mud and sweat, which he silently changed into.

The makeup artist carefully reapplied dark skin to him, creating fine wrinkles and a rough texture that better suited the character's long-term toil.

When he stepped out of the room again and headed towards the film set into the biting morning wind, the radiant star Chen Nianbei who had graced the New Year's Eve stage had vanished.

Instead, Yang Xun stood with his back slightly hunched, his eyes filled with weariness, calculation, and a hint of unyielding spirit.

Director Kong Sheng was checking the camera positions when he saw him approaching. He looked him up and down, and Zi Guang's gaze lingered for a moment on his eyes, which had become "cloudy" and "down-to-earth" again. He nodded almost imperceptibly, said nothing, just patted him on the shoulder, and then picked up the walkie-talkie: "All departments, get ready. We'll start filming in ten minutes. Nian Bei, go and rehearse your positions to get a feel for the action."

Chen Nianbei responded and walked towards the familiar, dusty "factory area".

In the distance, the outlines of the old factory buildings were faintly visible in the morning mist.

He put his hands into the pockets of his old cotton-padded jacket, feeling the texture of the coarse cloth rubbing against his skin, and gently exhaled a puff of white breath.

A night of starlight, a journey of a thousand miles. The glamour of the stage has receded like the tide, but the deeper and more enduring battle belonging to "Yang Xun" continues on the first morning of 2016.