Opportunity
In the evening, the sky is full of colorful clouds.
The outline of the old factory area was coated with a thick golden red color, and the air was filled with the unique smell of rusty iron and mud and dust in the industrial area.
Ni Chaofan had finished his scenes for the day, and the reshoots took more than an hour. Now he had changed back into casual clothes, looking extremely relaxed, as he walked side by side with Xiangyang towards the black car parked at the factory exit.
Song Ye, the director of the film "The Cruel History of Monga", and Huang Yufen, the female assistant director, led Jin Cang and followed behind respectfully to see him off.
The driver had opened the back door, but Ni Chaofan did not get in immediately. He turned around, his eyes fell on Jin Cang, and waved at him.
Jin Cang's heart skipped a beat. He quickly stepped forward and stood in front of the movie emperor, showing him great respect.
"I have a rough idea in mind," Ni Chaofan looked at Jin Cang with a scrutinizing look in his eyes. "I'm about to start a new drama with Singapore, and I'm still in need of a son, but I haven't been able to find the right person."
Jin Cang's head suddenly "boomed" as if fireworks exploded inside.
Playing Ni Chaofan's son? Is that what you mean?
He was unable to react for a moment. The huge surprise made him a little dizzy. He subconsciously opened his eyes and looked at Xiangyang who was standing next to Ni Chaofan.
Xiang Yang met his twinkling, slightly silly puppy eyes and smiled gently, "Are you stupid? Why are you looking at me? Hurry up and thank Teacher Ni."
Jin Cang seemed to have just woken up from a dream. He took a deep breath, straightened his already tall frame, and bowed ninety degrees to Ni Chaofan. His voice was raised with excitement, but it was unusually loud: "Thank you, Teacher Ni! I... I will definitely work hard!"
Ni Chaofan nodded with satisfaction. "Young actors, diction is very important. Some children in Taiwan these days are paying less and less attention to pronunciation. They just keep saying 'yes, yes, yes' all the time..."
"I will try my best!" Jin Cang recited rapidly like beans pouring out of a bamboo tube: "Eight hundred standard-bearers rushed to the north slope, and the artillerymen ran side by side to the north. The artillerymen were afraid of bumping into the standard-bearers, and the standard-bearers were afraid of bumping into the artillerymen's guns!" He finished it in one breath, his cheeks flushed red.
Ni Chaofan was stunned at first, then he burst into laughter: "Hahahaha! Funny, this kid!"
Xiangyang, who was standing by, heard it for the first time and couldn't help laughing out loud.
At this time, Deputy Director Huang walked quickly to Song Ye and whispered a few words in his ear.
The expression on Song Ye's face suddenly changed, and immediately blossomed into a flower, from the initial smile to surprise, then to sudden realization, and finally filled with overly enthusiastic flattery.
He strode forward, tightly grasped Xiang Yang's hands with both of his own, and shouted in a voice as high as a horror movie, "Oh! I was so blind! It turns out it's Master Xiang who's here! My apologies!"
Ni Chaofan glanced at Song Ye, his tone as straightforward as ever. He said sarcastically, "That's enough, Director Song. You're shooting a gangster movie, not a costume drama. And you're acting like a young master, don't you find it corny?"
He rolled his eyes rudely, turned around and ducked into the car.
Xiangyang maintained a polite smile when Song Ye held his hand, and pulled his hand back unnoticeably. He only nodded slightly to Song Ye's enthusiasm without responding much.
He had no intention of showing off his background as the famous director, his father, Xiang Yaozu. He simply turned his head and looked at Jin Cang calmly, saying in a gentle voice, "Can you do it alone? How are you going to get home later?"
Jin Cang nodded vigorously, smiling brightly: "Sure! Brother Xiang, the crew has a car, we can go together after work."
Xiangyang nodded to him with relief and got into Ni Chaofan's car.
The black car slowly drove away, raising a cloud of dust, and soon disappeared at the end of the road where dusk was gradually falling.
The smile on Song Ye's face froze for a moment, then he turned to Jin Cang and warmly stretched out his arm, wanting to put it on his shoulder. However, Jin Cang was so much taller than him that the action seemed a little funny, so he had to give up and patted him on the back a few times: "Good job, kid, you are a real person who doesn't show your face. You only know important people!"
Jin Cang tilted his shoulder to the side after being tapped by him. Not understanding what he meant, he muttered softly, "Big shot? I...I don't know..."
He really hadn't thought about these things, his mind was still full of the "son" that Ni Chaofan had just mentioned.
"Are you still playing dumb?" Song Ye waved his hand, seemingly in a very good mood, "Let's go! Hurry up and finish the last scene! Everyone, get ready, Hu Yi is dead!!"
He was full of fighting spirit, and no one knew what he was excited about. He took the lead and walked quickly towards the depths of the set.
Jin Cang followed the director in a daze, his steps a little unsteady. He looked back at the road from Sanchong to Taipei city, the direction Xiang Yang left, still immersed in the good news and the encouraging look in Xiang Yang's eyes before he left.
In the darkness not far away, Mai Dong watched Ni Chaofan's undisguised admiration for Jin Cang, listened to Song Ye's words "all the people he knows are big shots", and recalled Xiang Yang's unconscious intimacy and tenderness towards Jin Cang by the wall of the rest area earlier. The depressed mood in his heart became more and more turbulent.
He walked silently to the side of Assistant Director Huang who was looking down at the shooting schedule.
"Sister Fen," Mai Dong's voice was a little dry, "Can I ask you something? We came here together this morning, and at school... my grades have always been better than Jin Cang's.
The crew was short of someone today, so why... did they choose him and not me?"
Assistant Director Huang looked up at the pale-faced young man in front of him, surprised for a moment before he spoke carefully, "It's just a minor role with one line, and you're so jealous?"
Mai Dong pursed his lips and whispered, "I feel a little... unwilling."
Assistant Director Huang sighed, his tone reflecting the familiar reality and helplessness of the workplace. "Well... well, someone happened to be out sick, and the Best Actor, while watching the replay, pointed at the screen and said, 'That's a pretty good death!'... That's just how it is in this industry. To get ahead, oftentimes, hard work isn't enough. It all comes down to luck and having someone to help you. It's the same for big or small roles, really."
She patted Maidong on the shoulder and said earnestly: "Relax, there are plenty of opportunities." After that, she hurried away.
When people are in the world, this is all she can do to enlighten them.
Maidong stood there alone, his hands hanging at his sides unconsciously clenched.
Deputy Director Huang's words were like a key, opening a dark door in his heart.
"Luck... a noble person..." He chewed on these words over and over again, his face changing from gloomy to happy.
Night had already fallen, and time on the set always seemed particularly tiring.
More than an hour passed and today's filming was finally completed.
The old factory area, which had been noisy all day, finally quieted down. The crew members packed up their equipment and prepared to call it a day in twos and threes.
Those who had no means of transportation boarded a nine-seater minibus parked at the factory exit.
Jin Cang removed his makeup in the makeshift lounge and changed back into his T-shirt and jeans. A long day's fatigue had left him feeling a bit drained, but his heart was still burning with excitement. He slung his backpack over his shoulder and left the lounge. He was surprised to see Mai Dong still standing outside, waiting for him under the dim light.
"Adong?" Jin Cang was a little surprised. "Why are you still here? I thought you left a long time ago."
Mai Dong raised his head, his face expressionless, and said in a calm voice, "Waiting for you. Let's go, I'll take you home."
"Huh?" Jin Cang scratched his hair. "It takes at least half an hour to ride a motorcycle back to Taipei. It's already dark. Why are you waiting for me? I'm so sorry."
Maidong's half-old 50CC motorcycle was parked next to the lounge.
Without saying anything, he walked to the car and patted the back seat.
"You think my car is too shabby and no longer good enough for you?"
Maidong's tone was full of sarcastic provocation, which was very different from his usual self.
"What are you talking about!"
Jin Cang smiled and punched his arm, then walked forward and stretched out his hand skillfully: "Here, give me the key, I'll ride it."
Maidong handed him the key as he was told.
Jin Cang opened the seat and took out two helmets from the storage box. He put one on himself and handed the other to Mai Dong.
The two of them worked in perfect harmony, and it was obvious that riding a bike together was a common occurrence for them.
Jin Cang was born tall and strong, with a well-developed body, straight and strong. In comparison, Mai Dong, who was not short, looked smaller when sitting behind him.
The motorcycle started up, the hum of the engine piercing the silence of the city's outskirts. Ah Cang rode steadily, leaving the factory area that had held his great surprise and life-changing moment today, and rode towards the distant lights of Taipei City.
The night wind is a little cool, blowing on the face, making people feel refreshed.
After riding for about ten minutes, Maidong, who had been silent all the time, suddenly stretched out his arms and gently hugged Jin Cang's waist from behind.
Jin Cang paused slightly, but didn't think much about it. He just thought that he was tired from sitting in the back seat, or it was a little cold in the wind at night.
He freed one hand and gently patted the back of Maidong's hand, which was wrapped around his waist. He said in a relaxed tone, "What's wrong? Are you sleepy? Or cold? We'll be downtown in a few minutes."
Mai Dong didn't answer, but just gently pressed his cheek against Jin Cang's broad back, and held his arms tighter.
The climaxes in the play are one after another, and life and death are at stake; outside the play, there are human relationships and undercurrents.
Which one, for Jin Cang at this moment, is more complex and unpredictable? Perhaps, both are equally treacherous and profound, requiring him to explore and experience step by step, even more cautiously.
The night is getting dark, and the road ahead is still long. Ah Cang, come on! Fighting!
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