Chapter 9: Eyes That See Through the Depths of the Soul

The film "Love Ferris Wheel" was greenlit about a year ago…

It was a work painstakingly put together by An Xiaoshi, a celebrated directing-program prodigy from Yanying, and Zhang Jingya.

From greenlighting to casting, from investment to officially forming the crew, everything was handled by the two of them personally. Moreover, the two seemed to have some background. Before the film had even started shooting, at the mere greenlighting stage, those senior brothers in the circle who were doing fairly well for themselves all rushed to the news media to lavish praise on the film and their junior sisters An Xiaoshi and Zhang Jingya, and voluntarily came over to take on various casting and set-running duties for "Love Ferris Wheel." For a time, it stirred up quite a wave of influence among the Yanying student body.

Mm, at least…

In the first half of '03, Chen Jianfeng could hear stories about "Love Ferris Wheel" almost every day at school.

……

The midday sunlight fell on Chen Jianfeng's face.

Chen Jianfeng looked up at the "Love Ferris Wheel" signboard at the entrance.

For some reason, that signboard seemed a little glaring, stinging his eyes so he couldn't keep them open.

But…

He didn't seem as excited as he'd imagined.

Half a month ago, for the sake of a role in "Love Ferris Wheel," he had practically run to the production crew every single day, tirelessly handing in his résumé to the "Love Ferris Wheel" crew over and over, introducing himself again and again.

"Just wait a little longer, I've already spoken up for you, but there are too many people vying for the role. Director An and Director Zhang are swamped. Here's the thing—come help me move some table props over here tomorrow first… Keep working here for a while, keep showing your face around here, and I'll keep pushing for you. A role will come your way sooner or later…"

Because of that one sentence.

From the earliest props and set dressing, to hauling things, to running errands, to moving tables and chairs.

He had been in that crew, huffing and puffing away for free for nearly half a month, sucking up to anyone who looked like they had a shred of authority.

He had no idea how many times he'd heard: "I've already fought for you," "There's still a bit of work here," "Don't worry, I see all the help you've given, I won't treat you unfairly."

Half a month later…

When the crew was nearly set up, he waited eagerly for word on his résumé, only to receive one cold line: 【Sorry, you don't currently meet the requirements】.

Yet the expressions of those crew staff were furrowed brows.

"We did push, and we did speak up, but they don't fancy you—what am I supposed to do about it?"

"Wait, how can that count as free labor? That argument of yours doesn't hold water. Everything was voluntary on your part. All I said was that the crew had some work to do—I never told you to come do it, did I?"

"Right, you ran off to do the work on your own, nobody forced you? What's that got to do with us? The boxed meals and the cigarettes—you bought those yourself… Did we force you?"

"……"

……

Today's sunlight was very warm.

Coming back from his memories, Chen Jianfeng clearly made out the big characters of the "Love Ferris Wheel" crew.

He lowered his head and followed behind Zhou Yang.

It left a bitter taste in his heart.

Today, he had once again come to this familiar place.

Only this time, he was no longer that wretched odd-job hand, but had been brought in by Zhou Yang in the capacity of an "actor."

……

"This is a good actor!"

In an unfamiliar office.

Chen Jianfeng and Shen Longgang had barely settled into their chairs when they heard Zhou Yang suddenly utter that one line.

Chen Jianfeng, who had been keeping his head down, sensed the sudden brief silence and instinctively raised his head.

Only to find that everyone was following Zhou Yang's gaze and looking at him.

Including the two directors, An Xiaoshi and Zhang Jingya.

That feeling of being watched left Chen Jianfeng, who had always been on the fringes, suddenly at a loss.

"He's the lead of my new film!"

After Zhou Yang earnestly added that line, his gaze drifted back to An Xiaoshi and Zhang Jingya, and he seemed to look out the window with a touch of emotion.

"These past days, I've been looking for actors, and I've interviewed goodness knows how many fresh Yanying graduates…"

"But, I was very disappointed…"

"All I saw was mediocre acting, and, line delivery utterly devoid of any feeling…"

"They're like flowers blooming in a greenhouse—bright, fragrant, but not unique, and without any soul…"

"……"

"I had originally assumed that most graduates were like this, until one evening, I came across a weary figure returning from afar…"

"In him, I saw a possibility!"

Zhou Yang's voice paused for a beat. He took a gentle sip of the brewed coffee, savored its rich aroma, and said lightly: "Coffee without sugar is bitter… just like some unknown actors. Their looks, amid the handsome men and beautiful women of Yanying, aren't all that remarkable, but they are always there, in corners no one sees, like coffee beans, constantly undergoing all manner of grinding and refining—only then do they give off their own unique fragrance…"

"……"

In the office, amid the slanting light and shadows cast by the blinds, Zhou Yang raised a hand to push his gold-rimmed glasses up the bridge of his nose, and unhurriedly narrated a story with "Chen Jianfeng" as its protagonist.

He told of how, after experiencing disappointment after disappointment at the gates of Yanying, he had finally, on that one evening at sunset, caught sight of Chen Jianfeng walking over in silence.

He recounted how, at first, he hadn't given it much thought and had merely asked Chen Jianfeng to come over and read some lines with no expectation, when suddenly he felt a shockwave of awe surging from the depths of his soul…

He told of how he had witnessed Chen Jianfeng's astonishing acting, which had given him goosebumps…

……

Zhou Yang's voice wasn't particularly loud, but within it, there seemed to be a strange, almost magical quality, as if in an instant it had pulled everyone into that story.

In the story, Chen Jianfeng—in just a few minutes—went from a worker at the very bottom, to a lofty tycoon, to a soldier guarding the frontier, to a destitute vagrant. The role-switching was utterly masterful, on par with an Oscar-winning actor, the acting piercing straight to the soul…

In the story, Chen Jianfeng's line delivery was extraordinary—one sentence, and a whole character came alive, drawing sighs of admiration, a lingering aftertaste!

……

Chen Jianfeng stared blankly at Zhou Yang, his mind a complete blank.

Wait!

Is this about him?

After hearing this story, An Xiaoshi and Zhang Jingya were stunned.

They looked at Chen Jianfeng, finding it hard to believe.

This big guy, sitting somewhat stiffly and looking a bit dull, is he really that powerful?

If he really is that powerful, why hasn't anyone in the academy heard of such a figure?

"Hello! My name is An Xiaoshi, the director of 'Love Ferris Wheel'."

Just then, An Xiaoshi stood up first, shook hands seriously with Chen Jianfeng, and introduced herself solemnly.

Chen Jianfeng's mind was still blank; he stood up on instinct: "My name is Chen Jianfeng, I am a... actor..."

His peripheral vision turned to Zhou Yang, who saw Zhou Yang's deep eyes filled with encouragement and trust.

Vaguely, somehow, he seemed to gain some strength, making him say the two words "actor" with firm conviction.

"Hello, I am Zhang Jingya, the assistant director of 'Love Ferris Wheel'..."

Zhang Jingya also walked over and shook hands with Chen Jianfeng.

"Hello!"

After shaking hands again, Chen Jianfeng's heart trembled slightly.

This was the first time he had been formally seen by a director!

After the handshake, An Xiaoshi and Zhang Jingya exchanged a glance, but their eyes held a hint of doubt.

Is it really that magical?

The current Chen Jianfeng looks utterly ordinary, with none of that movie king's aura?

Afterwards, they walked to one side and whispered to each other, glancing at Chen Jianfeng from time to time...

Meanwhile, Zhou Yang casually poured a cup of coffee and handed it to Shen Long and Chen Jianfeng respectively.

"The stage is set for you."

Just as Chen Jianfeng dazedly accepted the coffee, he suddenly heard a very faint voice.

He shuddered all over.

Afterwards, he looked at Zhou Yang in disbelief.

Yet he saw Zhou Yang still smiling, as if he had not spoken a word, as though the previous sentence was just an illusion.

After about a few minutes, Chen Jianfeng saw Zhang Jingya stand up and walk over with the script for 'Love Ferris Wheel'.

"Mr. Chen, are you interested in trying out the lines for this role?"

Under the lights.

Chen Jianfeng's heart trembled slightly.

He stared blankly at the script.

This was, within half a month...

The first time he had truly received a script.

A moment later!

This is my stage!

He took a deep breath!

Then nodded, taking the script!

"How long do these lines need?"

Zhang Jingya looked at Chen Jianfeng and asked instinctively.

Chen Jianfeng still did not answer.

He only glanced at the distance, where Zhou Yang was leaning by the window drinking coffee.

Zhou Yang's gaze met his, and in his deep eyes was an unprecedented trust and encouragement.

Chen Jianfeng stood up, flipped through the lines once, and finally looked up at Zhang Jingya with dignity: "Give me ten minutes!"

"Ten minutes, and you can memorize all these lines?"

"Yes."

When she saw Chen Jianfeng nod seriously, Zhang Jingya was somewhat shocked!

An Xiaoshi, standing nearby, heard this and instinctively stood up, looked at the script lines in her hand, and wore an expression of disbelief.

Shen Long, beside Chen Jianfeng, was even more stunned!

The office suddenly fell into a brief silence.

Everyone stared blankly at Chen Jianfeng, who was seriously flipping through the script lines.

Only Zhou Yang, holding his coffee, drank while looking out the window, his expression calm and unruffled.

Time passed bit by bit.

When Zhou Yang silently placed his coffee cup on the table, Chen Jianfeng also put down the script.

Afterwards...

He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them, and saw Zhou Yang nod.

He took a deep breath!

Yes!

This is!

My stage!

Under the lights, before everyone's gaze, he seemed to have become a different person, immersed in the role, reciting the lines from "Love Ferris Wheel" to the empty air.

In the office.

Under everyone's watchful eyes.

Sometimes erupting in hysteria.

Sometimes gazing with deep affection.

Sometimes weeping with heart-wrenching sorrow!

Scene after scene, line after line belonging to that supporting character, under Chen Jianfeng's explosive emotions, were acted with such profound depth that it drew everyone's attention.

When Chen Jianfeng finished his performance...

Silence fell over the scene.

Zhang Jingya looked down at the script, shocked to discover that among the lines for hundreds of different scenes, not a single one was wrong.

An Xiaoshi stood stunned.

She looked at the script, looked at Chen Jianfeng, and finally turned her gaze to Zhou Yang.

But she saw Zhou Yang merely push his glasses up slightly, leaning against the window, offering a faint smile.

A gentle breeze brushed through Zhou Yang's hair as he looked at Chen Jianfeng with seriousness.

"In this world, every ordinary person can shine!"

"It's just that they need a pair of eyes..."

"And I, by chance, possess the eyes that can see into the depths of a person's soul!"