Chapter 12: Working Two Jobs... No, Three!
After a brief conversation, Shen Yan agreed to the arrangement...
The job wasn’t complicated.
He just needed to play a segment on the violin when required for the filming, and help correct Wen Zhang’s posture.
Wen Zhang needed to mimic violin playing...
He was too popular and had no time for desk work, so he had to rely on imagination to portray Nie Er!
Playing the violin required skill...
For someone completely clueless, it was difficult to look even remotely convincing by imagination alone...
As for truly learning it?
Haha, it takes at least half a year to get started...
Most enthusiasts who try the violin give up within two weeks at most—the sound is terrible, like slaughtering a chicken...
Shen Yan was now correcting Wen Zhang: “Brother Zhang... playing the violin isn’t just about pulling the strings. Your left hand plucks the strings, your right hand pulls the bow... yes, just like this posture!”
“Like this?”
“Yes!”
Wen Zhang tried to play once, but the screeching noise made him stop immediately. He asked Shen Yan, puzzled, “Why does it sound so awful when I play?”
“The key is intonation. The violin is different from most instruments. On a piano, as long as you press the right key, the sound is correct. On a guitar or pipa, you have frets—press the right fret, and the note is accurate. The violin’s fingerboard is just a flat, black surface, so you have to find the correct pitch yourself. If you’re even slightly off, the intonation is wrong.
After you figure out the intonation, you’ll find controlling the bow with your right hand is even harder. The tone quality depends entirely on the right hand, and different points where the bow touches the string require varying pressure from different parts of the hand... That’s why most violin learners are children; it’s all about building that early foundation!”
“Why is that?”
“The most crucial part of playing the violin is hitting accurate notes, which depends on a naturally trained ear. The ear listens, sends feedback to the brain, and the brain adjusts whether the pitch should be higher or lower. The best time for developing this pitch judgment is generally before the age of nine...”
“...Can I lower it a bit? The violin is digging into my chin and it hurts!”
“No!” Shen Yan shook his head. “You can try, but I advise against it. Lowering it makes you look really awkward and unappealing...”
“Don’t you think this reversed grip feels kind of unnatural?”
Shen Yan thought seriously for a moment, then said, “I think it’s just for show...”
“For show?”
“Art is all about showing off...”
Upon hearing this, Wen Zhang nodded thoughtfully. “Makes sense...”
“Alright then, Brother Zhang, I’m heading back now...”
“Wait,” Wen Zhang stopped him. “Is there any way to make it less painful?”
“...You could stick a ring of soft padding around the violin, or use a violin made of soft plastic. Since you’re not actually playing any sound, it’s just a prop...”
“Won’t that deform the instrument?”
“...No, it won’t...”
...
Reviewing the situation:
He had to keep working as a background actor, continue his ghostwriting career, and on top of that, had taken on Wen Zhang’s commission...
In other words, juggling three jobs at once!
He had 13,000 yuan on him—enough to buy a laptop and a few sets of clothes.
As for expenses, food and accommodation were provided by the crew...
If he kept his nose clean, he wouldn’t have to spend money.
“Keeping his nose clean” meaning no shady business...
Normally, Shen Yan, in his twenties, should be full of youthful lust...
But he currently had no interest in that—his focus was on making money!
As for rescuing women trapped in import-export trade...
Honestly, he was quite averse to that idea.
However, he could go to get his feet massaged...
In his previous life, he quite enjoyed foot massages...
How to put it...
Foot massages help build a man’s courage, so he wouldn’t be timid when interacting with women. It lets you experience what it feels like when a woman takes the initiative...
It also helps you stop stammering when you speak, prevents blushing when you see a beauty, and gives you the confidence to meet a woman’s gaze directly.
You have to understand, good looks are just the threshold for meeting them. When you’re confident and skilled enough to gesture smoothly and say, “Let’s go for another session,” congratulations—you’ve transformed. Though each visit might cost two or three hundred yuan, the inner growth is priceless.
Oh, and right now, he was at the foot spa with Zhang Wuchou!
A proper foot massage parlor...
The so-called “Daoist art”—foot massage is a Dao, and the techniques are the law!
The autumn breeze knows my intention, gentle yet deep; love stirs with the chime, but when the chime stops, the feeling lingers...
Of course, Shen Yan was literally just getting his feet rubbed, while Zhang Wuchou asked for two extra sessions...
Afterwards, Zhang Wuchou shared his experience: “Usually, two extra sessions are enough to reach perfect harmony...”
Shen Yan waved him off: “...I’m just here for a foot massage!”
“Men don’t go to places like this just for foot massages. Listen, don’t be shy... if you like someone, order more sessions. Two not enough? Three. Three not enough? Four... I once ordered six straight. The woman couldn’t take it and suggested we skip ahead to the next step!”
Hearing this, Shen Yan paused in mid-motion... It could go that far?
Zhang Wuchou glanced at him and suddenly asked, “...Can you get your writing published?”
“...You mean a physical book?”
“Yeah!”
“That’s a bit difficult...” Shen Yan explained, “Right now, web novels make money mostly through subscriptions and adaptations. There used to be royalties...”
“Publishing?”
“Yes, mainly in traditional Chinese editions. Early on, mainland Chinese web novel writers earned most from traditional Chinese publications in Taiwan...”
...
“And now?”
“Not anymore... with piracy rampant, who buys the official copies? Besides, the publisher pays at most ten yuan per thousand characters...”
“So... how much can you make a month?”
“I haven’t launched my work yet. It’s still in free update phase... should be launched in about a month!”
“...Then keep writing. I’m going to sleep!”
“Okay.”
Shen Yan replied, glancing at the cigarette he was smoking—a white-pack Zhongnanhai. Tomorrow he’d buy two cartons for him...
Then he put on his headphones...
After all, someone had just introduced him to a job...
...
The drama “National Anthem” was a commissioned project, funded and produced by the television station, with all behind-the-scenes staff strictly fulfilling their roles.
He had heard that the show already had a set premiere date!
Every day, there were hordes of people coming to inspect progress...
But Shen Yan had no interaction with any of them.
Since joining the crew, he hadn’t even met Cui Weidong more than a few times...
—He had gotten in through connections, so he had to keep a low profile!
Also, in the crew, anyone with a position tended to have a bad temper.
Especially the assistant director.
The assistant director had to convey the director’s orders and organize the entire crew for filming. The daily workload was tightly scheduled, filming had to proceed without slack...
Not even time to pee!
In such an environment, everyone’s temper was rough.
Shen Yan usually avoided these people...
As for Wen Zhang...
Anyway, before every scene he filmed, Shen Yan would play him a piece of music.
Wen Zhang was quite generous—he always brought some snacks from his car for Shen Yan...
Well, they were spicy strips he endorsed!
Still, that was something!
Not to say he was overly polite, but at least he respected Shen Yan...
Honestly, after a few days of contact, it was hard for Shen Yan to imagine Wen Zhang as an actor known for his temper.