The Hidden Song of Silent Dreams Chapter 1

In mid-January, Yuzhou Film and Television City suddenly became deserted.

The end of the year puts the pause button on this ancient city that lies beneath a siege of modernization.

The palace is solemn, the garden is silent, and even the gargoyles on the roofs of the antique buildings are immersed in monotonous silence, looking up to the sky in a desolate manner.

New Year approached.

This year has been a bit tough for extras in the film and television studio.

It’s a cold winter in the industry, with few projects and even fewer start-ups. Everyone is scrambling for work, but even if they try, they can’t get it. Yet they still have to eat every day.

Many people changed their livelihoods, or took up other part-time jobs. Those who wanted to stay and could stay are still here, and those who couldn't stay just left.

The nearby commercial street has not had a good time in the past six months. The number of customers has decreased, and there have been health and fire inspections. Many stores have been forced to temporarily close for renovations, which has dealt a heavy blow to the business. The bosses are tightening their belts with bitter looks on their faces.

What else can I do? Just hang in there.

Aunt Zhang’s porridge shop also runs a porridge shop, but what she cooks is not the cold winter of the film and television industry, but her signature scallop millet porridge.

The golden millet is boiled into a fresh, tender and glutinous color, and the slow-cooked seasoning of scallops and dried shrimps gives off a stimulating porridge aroma.

A small bowl costs eight yuan, a pot costs seventy-eight yuan, and a plate of homemade pickled vegetables will be given for free with a purchase of thirty yuan or more. The business is booming and has received rave reviews.

It was already one in the morning. After the last table of customers left the restaurant, Noah Jian pushed the door open and hung up the closing sign. Zhang Niannian swiftly held the dishes in one hand and the rag in the other.

Behind the cashier counter facing the glass door, Jian Lai was counting the day's bills.

The pillar of the family was a little displeased with his junior high school sister who just had winter vacation. He looked over while counting the bills and said, "It's one o'clock, can't you go upstairs to sleep? Why is a junior high school student staying up late?"

Zhang Niannian is 12 years old, 1.6 meters tall, with a long neck. Upon hearing this, she tossed her ponytail, carried the dishes to the kitchen, and gave her brother a noble and cold look: "I like to carry dishes, I like to wipe the table!"

Jane came to do the math, the calculator clicking loudly: "Wipe, you wipe, don't look for a job after you graduate from college, come back and wipe the tables."

Zhang Niannian was not afraid of him: "Humph! Come back if you want!"

It was late at night, and the glass windows separated the thick darkness outside from the warm light inside.

Noah Jian stomped his feet at the door, put his hands in the front pockets of his gray sweatshirt, and turned in with his shoulder against the glass door.

He had grown tremendously in the past six months, from 1.70 meters to 1.80 meters. Two weeks ago, he glanced at Jane with a slightly downward gaze, and since then, he had become the tallest person in the family.

Of course, being tall means not only being tall, but also having a big appetite.

Eat six or more meals a day.

Pigs may not eat as much as he does, but they will not just eat without growing meat.

While Boss Jian was settling the bill, he glanced around and his sight stopped at Noah Jian's large-size gray sweatshirt which cost 68.8 yuan. The sleeves, front and neckline were all empty, and it was as if there was only a skeleton underneath the clothes, which was an eyesore no matter how he looked at it.

Jane came: "Eat, eat, eat. Eat again when you are hungry."

Noah Jian came over with his hands in his pockets and stood next to the cashier: "I'm not hungry today, so I'm not going to eat."

Jian Lai: "If you don't want to eat, can I still force you to eat by pressing your head?" He raised his hand: "Don't just stand there, go to work."

Noah Jian: "Okay, boss."

Zhang Niannian's sarcastic voice came from the kitchen, with a bit of drama: "Second brother, the boss is so fierce, we won't be deducted from our wages, right? I wanted to take the money and go back to my hometown for the New Year. Oh oh oh."

Jian Lai snorted coldly and turned over a page of the account book.

Noah Jian responded skillfully: "No, our boss is a good man, and the salary will definitely be paid!"

The calculator kept going "reset to zero, reset to zero", and Jian Lai rolled his eyes at her with practiced eyes: "You good people, I won't pay you a dime!"

Noah Jian smiled and went behind the cashier counter.

The tables had been cleared. He took out the plastic box for disposable chopsticks and filled the chopstick buckets on each table with chopsticks.

Jian came and hadn't finished settling the bill yet. Without even looking up, he said, "We'll have to hire someone after the New Year."

Noah Jian: "Recruit a few."

Jian Lai: "About two. Many people left the film and television city, and I don't know if we can recruit new ones after the New Year."

The bill was half settled when Jian Lai went to the kitchen to see the porridge that was being stewed. After Noah Jian finished refilling the chopsticks and put the storage box back, he started to refill the napkins in the tissue box.

Zhang Niannian came out from the kitchen with a mop in her hand.

These are the things that need to be done after closing every day. There is no limit on who does them, but they must be done.

Noah Jian would help whenever he was free, just like Zhang Niannian, who had just had her winter vacation, also served dishes and wiped tables in the store.

As a family, we support each other and are inseparable.

Therefore, this winter, which was a bit difficult for many people, did not affect this small porridge shop in the corner. The aroma of the slow-cooked porridge and the warm light in the room lingered around the three busy brothers and sisters.

A quarter of an hour later, the door was locked and the lights went out.

The three of them yawned as they walked up the wooden stairs leading to the second floor.

"Go to bed early." Jian Lai: "Don't check your phone, don't stay up late."

Going up the stairs, there is a spacious space with rooms on the north and south sides.

When Zhang's mother was still alive, Zhang Niannian slept in one room with her mother, and the two brothers slept in another room. After Zhang's mother passed away, Zhang Niannian still slept in the original room, and the brothers' original large bedroom was installed with particle board to separate it into two bedrooms.

It is called a bedroom, but in fact it is a place for sleeping, with a bed, a wardrobe and a desk.

Outsiders would definitely think it looks shabby, but Noah Jian himself didn't care.

He never looks at other things, nor does he care about too many things. His heart and eyes are filled with only this family, and he just wants to make more money.

Unfortunately, it’s not easy to make money as an extra. This whole year has been a cold winter.

The sound of slippers and a girl humming a song could be heard outside the door. Noah Jian sat on the edge of the bed, checking his phone, leaning against the headboard and waiting for his sister to go wash up first.

There are more than a dozen WeChat groups of extras on my mobile phone, but there are few messages. Those who are active are not discussing which crew is recruiting, but instead are cheering each other up in the hope of getting through this winter.

Someone replied: It’s difficult.

He said he plans to visit other cities after the New Year, and won't come back if there is work, and he doesn't have to be an extra.

There was a sigh and a feeling of depression.

Noah Jian's eyes swept across the news without lingering for long, nor did he feel much.

He was used to the coming and going of people in Yuzhou.

He just thought that if things really didn't work out, he could always do something else part-time, or simply come back to the porridge shop, where he could use his hands and feet to work and wouldn't starve to death.

But he is different from most of the extras.

He has other opportunities, if that can be called an "opportunity"---

Amid the flashing messages in the WeChat group, a private dialog box popped up in his WeChat:

【Don't you want to consider it? 】

[Such a good opportunity, no one else would refuse it. ]

[Even if you don’t do it for yourself, you should at least think about your family. ]

Noah Jian saw the message and deleted it directly.

Before I could block him, the other party popped up again:

[Five figures a month, can you earn that much in a year as an extra? ]

Idiot.

Noah Jian's gaze fell on the "Ma" and "?" that were full of mockery and intimidation, and he blocked them without hesitation.

The third one in half a year.

There was a knock on the door, and Jane came: "You wash first, I'll go downstairs to the toilet."

Noah Jian put down his phone: "Okay."

The storefront at home was originally just a self-built townhouse in the urban village. Before the store was opened, the toilet and bathroom were separated downstairs and upstairs. After the film and television city expanded and the road was built to their place, the downstairs was used to open a store for business and the upstairs was used for their own living. There was not much money for renovation and the bathroom was never renovated.

Jian Lai came downstairs, and Noah Jian took his clothes to wash.

The bathroom mirror was covered with a layer of wet vapor, and Noah Jian raised his hand to wipe it.

His vague outline was reflected on the blurry mirror.

Noah Jian just turned eighteen this year.

At the end of puberty, his bones, height, and appearance were all changing.

There was a lot of rain this winter and few scenes were filmed, so he became whiter. After the childishness of a teenager and the baby fat on his face fell off, his jawline became clearer and the direction of his cheek bones became smoother.

In just half a year, his appearance had undergone subtle changes, a qualitative leap.

Noah Jian didn't know why such changes happened in such a short period of time, but when he looked in the mirror and saw himself now, he knew very well that becoming more beautiful might not always be a good thing.

Because there are always people who hint to him, directly or indirectly, that his looks can be monetized in the short term.

This time, in order to achieve the goal, it was said more explicitly.

Noah Jian and himself in the mirror pouted at the same time.

Only a fool would agree to this.

If he doesn't have money, can't he make it himself?

After washing up and returning to the room, Noah Jian prepared to go to bed. He planned to take a walk around the film and television city tomorrow to see if there were any crews recruiting extras after the New Year, and then go back to the store to help out in the afternoon.

Just after I went to bed, a message came in: Hello, I am Luo Hong, we met a year ago. I have an audition opportunity here, you are quite suitable, I hope you are still in the film and television city, come for an interview when you are free.

Noah Jian didn't see the message until the next day.

Luo Hong?

He was putting on his clothes and recalling, and then he remembered who it was.

A year ago, he was an extra in a drama crew in the Qin Palace, playing the role of a little servant boy beside a supporting actor. Luo Hong was the executive director of the crew at that time. Maybe he had a new project in his hands and was looking for actors. Luo Hong thought he was suitable, so he left his WeChat and said he would contact him for an audition if necessary.

After that, there was no further communication after leaving WeChat. Noah Jian was not surprised and thought that Luo Hong's project also failed in the cold winter. He quickly forgot about this matter and Director Luo.

Audition?

He put on his clothes and replied to Luo Hong, knowing the route well.

Noah Jian: Hello, Director Luo.

Noah Jian: When will the audition take place? Are there any requirements for the role?

Luo Hong replied an hour later with a voice message: "On the sixth floor of Guangyuan Building, no requirements, come when you are free."

When he heard that there were no requirements, Noah Jian’s first reaction was that he was a liar.

In the film and television city, there are many film and television companies that claim they need actors, and there are also many producers and assistant directors who claim they can recommend people for roles. They hit it off with inexperienced extras who are in urgent need of work. One is cheating and the other is being cheated. Their tricks are comparable to those of a factory assembly line, and there is no technical content at all - they are cheating ordinary people, both men and women, who dream of becoming famous.

The first step to defraud people is to lower the threshold, not have any requirements, and trick those who are eager to turn their lives around.

If Luo Hong was not indeed a director who could make films, Noah Jian would have classified him as a liar.

Noah Jian replied to him: Time?

Luo Hong replied quickly this time, still in voice: "Tomorrow? Today is fine too. I'll be here these days, there's someone on the sixth floor, you can come over anytime."

Noah Jian took out the order for Guangyuan Building from the takeaway thermal box: Okay, I'll come over now.

Jane came out of the kitchen to deliver the meal.

Noah Jian: "Let me do it, boss."

Jian Lai: "Of course you come, my boss is your boss." Then he scolded him: "Put on your windproof clothes! It's windy today!"

The windproof suit that Jian bought was from Bee. It was yellow all over, and it looked very much like the Meituan guy’s style.

Actually, they are almost the same, they are all delivering food.

Noah Jian put on a windproof suit and got on the electric scooter for delivering meals. He placed the porridge in the thermal box behind him and set off.

It took a quarter of an hour to drive to Guangyuan Building.

He parked the car downstairs in the building. The order did not have a specific floor address, with a note: call me when you arrive.

She dialed the number of the person who ordered the food. After a few rings, a young woman answered the phone.

Noah Jian's voice was muffled behind the mask of his windproof suit: "The food you ordered has arrived."

Young woman: "Wait a minute."

Noah Jian stood there waiting. While waiting, he looked up at the sixth floor of the building, wondering what role he would be interviewing for today.

I hope there are more shots and some lines, but of course no lines is also OK, as long as I can make money.

When I looked away, I saw a girl coming down the stairs.

The girl wore light makeup, looked young and fashionable, and was wearing a knee-length dress even in the freezing weather.

She was a little aggressive, her high heels tapping, she looked at Noah Jian and raised her hand slightly, as if to take something.

Noah Jian turned around, took out the meal from the incubator, and said skillfully: "I wish you a pleasant meal. Please give me five stars."

The girl raised her delicate hand and twitched her lips. Perhaps because she was in a bad mood, she smiled with a fake smile: "Okay, thank you."

She turned back to the building, locked the bike, took off her windproof jacket, and stuffed it into the storage box under the seat of the electric scooter.

With his experience as an extra, the leading role has nothing to do with him, and he never gets to play the supporting actor role. The roles he can audition for are all even more insignificant than ordinary people. At best, he can shoot for a week and get some extra pay.

So there is no need to dress up specially for his interview, let alone put on makeup. You can just go for the interview normally, have a chat for a few minutes, and if it works out, it's fine. If not, forget it.

Noah Jian walked into the building and reached the elevator, where he happened to meet a young girl who had just picked up her meal.

The girl was carrying a yellow packaging bag from his porridge shop, her face looked colder than the temperature today. She didn't pay attention to Noah Jian. She walked in when the elevator arrived and pressed the floor button.

Noah Jian didn't pay attention to her. When he was about to press the button, he found that the sixth floor was lit.

He withdrew his hand.

The two stood on each side, and the enclosed space was silent.

"Ding---" Arrived at the sixth floor.

The young girl was still the first to go out and turned right as soon as she got out.

Noah Jian followed him out, not sure whether to go left or right. He saw a piece of paper on the wall facing the elevator. On the paper was written "cg interview" with a right-turning arrow below.

Noah Jian stepped to the right.

To the right is a short hallway with a glass door at the end.

There was no one at the front desk. Noah Jian knocked on the door, but no one answered. He waited and knocked twice before someone opened the door.

The person who opened the door was a middle-aged man wearing glasses. He didn't know Noah Jian, and Noah Jian didn't know him either.

There seemed to be something worthy of special attention in the house. The man glanced outside the door, but didn't look closely. He turned back to look inside the house and asked with two minds at the same time: "Who are you looking for?"

Noah Jian looked at the other person's profile and said politely, "Director Luo Hongluo notified me to come for an interview."

The man was still staring into the house: "Oh, Director Luo called you. He's here. Please come in." Then he opened the door.

Noah Jian walked in and raised his eyes to see the young girl who went upstairs with him. In front of everyone present, she took out porridge from Aunt Zhang's porridge bag, opened the lid, raised her hand and splashed it on the face of a man in front of the window. After splashing, she threw the empty bowl back into the bag, threw the bag to the ground, and sneered: "It's really eye-opening. You are even more evil than the rumors say."

Noah Jian: ...