Rebirth of Chinese Entertainment, the Diary of a 95 Flower

Before arriving at the dressing room, Jiang Yang had already discussed the content of the performance with Zhang Ruonan: "When the time comes, you will go to a noodle shop to eat noodles. You will sit in a seat the whole time. You don't need to act. You just need to remember the lines I teach you."

Done.

Jiang Yang entered the dressing room.

Zhang Ruonan followed her inside and looked around.

On the left is the temporary dressing room for artists, which has a circular LED mirror.

On the prop table are the wig that Huang Bo will wear in the program segment and Zhang Yixin's student ID prop.

There was also Taiwanese pear cake brought by Luo Zhixiang.

The area on the right is for extras.

Jiang Yang sat in front of the dressing table, found an A4 sheet of paper, and wrote down his lines.

Cosmetic supplies are at hand.

There are notice boards in the public area that list the activity times of the MC guests for different time periods.

The corner snack box contained a bucket of Master Kong braised beef noodles and a case of iced tea.

She went to the makeup mirror, looked at the lines Jiang Yang had written, and read them aloud silently.

After reading it all, something felt off.

The text contains a list of possible conversations between Huang Bo and her, with clearly written responses.

Sitting in the makeup chair with her knees together, she had the nervousness of a newcomer: "Boss, what is the relationship between the character I'm going to play and Huang Bo?"

"It has nothing to do with Huang Bo."

Jiang Yang began applying makeup to Zhang Ruonan: "You are playing an elderly woman who is nearly seventy years old, with an injured hand, and who does not recognize Huang Bo."

"Then why do these lines look like..."

"He just looks a lot like Huang Bo's deceased mother."

Hear the words.

Zhang Ruonan's eyes flickered, understanding Jiang Yang's meaning.

She pursed her lips.

nodded.

She listened as Jiang Yang explained the performance techniques to her, while watching him apply her makeup.

At the same time, I had some concerns.

They already understood what they were going to perform next.

The prerequisite is that after she finishes her makeup, she really looks like Huang Bo's mother.

When Jiang Yang touched Zhang Ruonan's face to apply makeup, Zhang Ruonan unconsciously held her breath.

Physiological stiffness.

Wipe Zhang Ruonan's face with an alcohol swab.

It removes oil and enhances the adhesion of adhesives.

Apply a layer of liquid latex to the forehead, corners of the eyes, and corners of the mouth, and blow-dry with a hairdryer on the cool setting until it is half dry.

Use a toothpick to create wrinkles on the still-wet latex.

Pinch the skin between your thumb and forefinger and press it with a sponge to create natural wrinkles.

It mimics the feeling of loose skin.

I've developed nasolabial folds, crow's feet, and neck wrinkles.

Zhang Ruonan glanced at her aging reflection in the mirror, then suddenly blinked, her voice rising at the end: "Boss, you even know how to do makeup?"

"Understand a little."

"Hundreds of millions!"

Zhang Ruonan fell silent, increasingly feeling that Jiang Yang was unfathomable.

Recalling what Tian Xiwei said to me last night about things on set, "You can always trust Jiang Yang."

I feel that the value of this statement is constantly increasing.

Looking at herself in the mirror, she still lacked confidence, biting her lip: "Boss, I'm afraid my acting won't be convincing, and what if Teacher Huang Bo notices my flaws..."

The words are not finished yet.

Jiang Yang suddenly stopped brushing, understanding Zhang Ruonan's feelings.

In her first acting role, she acted alongside Huang Bo.

Moreover, Zhang Ruonan was alone; he wouldn't be by her side. She was indeed nervous, more so than Yang Chaoyue had been.

So we need to encourage them: "Look up at me."

When Zhang Ruonan raised her face, Jiang Yang said in a gentle tone, "What you're worried about isn't whether it looks like her or not, but whether it's a good match for her."

Zhang Ruonan's heart skipped a beat.

That really touched my heart.

Indeed, I always felt that I didn't deserve to have scenes with Huang Bo in my first acting role, even in a variety show.

They knew perfectly well that this was an opportunity that countless people could only dream of.

I really want to be confident, but it's so hard for me.

Zhang Ruonan's eyes reddened slightly: "I... I'm just a newcomer."

Jiang Yang dipped his brush in dark brown paint and continued applying makeup to Zhang Ruonan: "Yang Chaoyue's first time acting, he can recite his lines like rap."

Pause.

Jiang Yang applied age spots to her cheekbones: "When Tian Xiwei auditioned, she was so nervous that she bumped into the door frame with the same hand and foot."

Zhang Ruonan said softly, "But they are all very capable now."

Jiang Yang suddenly pinched Zhang Ruonan's chin, adjusting the angle to make it easier to apply makeup: "Because they understand that fear is also part of talent."

"If I mess up..."

"Then smash it!"

Jiang Yang picked up the wig and put it on Zhang Ruonan's head: "Huang Bo used to sing in bars and got beer bottles smashed on him. Now, he's a movie star."

Zhang Ruonan pursed her lips and remained silent.

I understand that my boss has been encouraging me.

I have always been affirming myself.

Her eyes glistened with tears.

After explaining the performance in detail to Zhang Ruonan, Jiang Yang concluded by saying, "The old lady you're playing, why does she eat noodles even though her hands are injured and trembling? The key point is not to act 'old,' but to act 'stubborn.'"

Zhang Ruonan carefully considered Jiang Yang's words.

The brain is overloaded by too much information received at once.

The phone vibrates.

I received a message on WeChat from my mother: [“Ruonan, why aren’t you back yet? Doesn’t your boss reimburse your plane ticket?”]
"Mom, I'm filming now. This is an opportunity for me."
[“Why are you filming? You’re not cut out to be an actor, don’t waste your time. Your cousin has gotten a job at a private company and earns 6 a month. Her mother just came to visit. Nan Nan, you need to work harder.”]
As she looked at the message, Zhang Ruonan's gaze gradually lost focus.

After I went to university, my mother said similar things to me many times.

The first time I said it, I felt very inspired.

Because of the ideas I was taught from a young age that relying on others is unreliable, relying on your mother is unreliable, and relying on yourself is the best option.

One must be self-reliant and strive for self-improvement.

But once at the dinner table, when the same topic came up, my mother subconsciously said to my younger brother, "You still have your mother. From now on, everything in the house will be yours."

There was also what he said to himself and his two younger sisters: "With a younger brother, the three of you sisters will have a companion."

"If my younger brother had been born first, you wouldn't exist."

From that moment on, I realized that my brother and I held different places in my parents' hearts.

When I was little, my sister and I drank the cheapest milk powder.

After my younger brother was born, my mother told me to go to the store to buy him milk powder, and to make sure to buy the most expensive one, because we couldn't skimp on money for his health.

During my junior high school years, I didn't have any sweaters to wear in the winter. I really liked a turtleneck sweater that cost 45 yuan at a market stall. It felt very comfortable to the touch. My mother tried to bargain with the vendor but couldn't get it down to the expected 30 yuan, so she wouldn't buy it for me. I held back my tears and went home saying I was tired from shopping.

When I got home, I saw my mother taking my younger brother to the mall and amusement park. When they came back, my mother bought my brother a jade Guanyin pendant worth 1000 yuan and showed it off to the whole family.

She doesn't blame her younger brother.

Because his younger brother is innocent and has a blood relationship with him.

I also hope my younger brother will have a happy life.

But I'll always feel unbalanced inside.

What I don't understand is why my mother, who is also a woman, still favors boys over girls.

After a few minutes of no reply, Mom sent another WeChat message: [“Nannan, are you angry with Mom? Do you think Mom shouldn’t have saved up all that money for your brother’s dowry?”]
Zhang Ruonan did not reply.

Mom's words came again: ["Your younger brother is still small, you should be considerate of him and not hold grudges against him. Your brother will be the one to support the family in the future. Once you get married, you'll belong to another family. It wasn't easy for Mom to raise you."]
Zhang Ruonan pursed her lips.

no reply.

Then a third message came: ["My classmate, you know Aunt Wang, remember? You met her when you were little. Her daughter now earns 7,000 a month. Nan Nan, you should learn from her. I hope you can be that successful someday. Your current salary of 5,000 a month is really not enough. You need to work harder."]
Zhang Ruonan typed a reply: [“Mom, do you know anyone who earns 100,000 yuan a year?”]
Mom replied: ["Yes."]
Zhang Ruonan typed: ["What about those who earn 500,000 a year?"]
My mom messaged me: [“Yes, there are.”]
Zhang Ruonan sent another message: ["Do you know anyone who earns a million a year?"]
Mom replied: ["I know him, but very little, that's a million!"]
Zhang Ruonan bit her lip: ["Why aren't you the one who earns a million? Is it because you don't work hard enough?"]
The message is sent.

Zhang Ruonan's chest heaved irregularly.

This was the first time he had ever talked back to his mother like this.

Several minutes later, Mom's message came through: ["Nannan, you've really changed. You're unrecognizable. I'm urging you to work hard because it's for your own good. I'm your mother, would I ever harm you?"]
Zhang Ruonan did not reply.

Silently turn off the phone screen.

Soothe your mood.

It won't affect my work performance going forward.

Back in my own home, I feel suffocated by being constantly taken advantage of.

On my first day in Shanghai, I actually felt more comfortable.

I looked up and was instantly stunned.

My skin has aged, my eyelids have drooped, and the corners of my mouth have turned down naturally.

When you blink, you can see the eye bag wax attached to your lower eyelids tremble slightly.

When you look down, you can see that the wrinkles on the back of your neck change in depth depending on the light.

"This, is this me? Boss, your makeup skills are amazing..." (End of Chapter)