Nine-thirty in the evening.
A three-star hotel near the film studio.
Neon lights flickered inside the hotel. Third Brother led Li Mu straight into the lobby, where they went to the front desk to check in.
"I've got matters to attend to, so I won't go up with you. I'll show you around the crew tomorrow morning," Third Brother said with a friendly smile.
Li Mu gave a sensible nod. "Go ahead and take care of your business. If I need anything, I can just ask the front desk."
Third Brother chuckled, patted Li Mu on the shoulder, and turned to walk out of the hotel lobby.
Li Mu watched him leave with a grateful expression, waiting until his figure vanished from sight before turning toward his room.
His room number was 503.
Li Mu took the elevator and quickly arrived at the door.
He unlocked it with his room key.
The interior furnishings made Li Mu let out a silent sigh of appreciation—this truly was a major production crew.
There was a clean, tidy king-size bed, a bathtub for soaking, and solid wood flooring. Looking out from the window, the entire landscape of the film studio was laid out below in panoramic view.
Li Mu smiled as he ran a tub of hot water, then relaxed on the sofa and called his mom.
"Mom, I've arrived at Second Uncle's production crew." As soon as the call connected, Li Mu spoke in a relaxed tone to let her know he was safe.
Li Mu's mother said with a smile, "Good. Your second uncle is a wonderful person. Just work hard under him there; who knows, maybe the Li family will even produce a movie star one of these days."
Li Mu chuckled and started chatting idly. "Did you know Second Uncle's stage name is Jiang Wen?"
"Oh, him," Li Mu's mother complained. "Who knows what goes through his mind, insisting on giving himself the stage name 'Jiang Wen'. His original name, Jiang Xiaojun, sounds so much better. Xiaojun, Xiaojun, it rolls right off the tongue. That new name of his sounds awful."
Li Mu burst out laughing.
He couldn't help himself whenever he thought about Jiang Wen's real name being Xiaojun.
It wasn't really all that different from names like Xiaohong or Xiaoming.
It had a sort of childish cuteness to it.
"What are you laughing at?" Li Mu's mother asked on the other end.
"Nothing... just thought of something funny," Li Mu replied, holding back his laughter. "Anyway, Mom, I'll hang up for now since I have to start work tomorrow."
"All right, make sure you dress warmly over there."
"Yeah, bye."
"Bye."
"Love you, Mom."
Li Mu spoke the final words softly and hung up the phone with lingering reluctance.
He stripped off his clothes and blissfully stepped into the bathtub to soak.
...
The next morning.
Li Mu woke up at the crack of dawn. After quickly dressing and washing up, he headed toward the crew's work area. Because today was his first day on the job, he arrived at the set half an hour early.
According to the crew manual, the floor staff office wasn't in the main building, but rather crammed under a hastily erected canvas tent.
When Li Mu walked in, he found the place a bit chaotic.
Everyone was there: props crew, lighting technicians, camera operators, makeup artists, and background actors ranging from major extras to bit players.
As Li Mu stepped inside, he immediately drew a wave of gazes.
It was because his clothes were far too clean.
*Great, another greenhorn,* these people instantly judged in their hearts.
Feeling self-conscious under their stares, Li Mu smiled at a female makeup artist and asked, "Hello, Sister. My name is Li Mu, and I'm the new floor staff member for the crew. Could you tell me where my workstation is?"
"Workstation?!" The female makeup artist chuckled. She pointed to an empty patch of ground. "Right there, find an open spot and sit wherever you like."
Well, how about that.
Li Mu gave an awkward laugh and scratched his head. At that moment, Wang Hao—the man who had picked him up yesterday—walked in.
He was still wearing the same greasy black down jacket from yesterday, holding two steamed buns in his left hand and carrying a large jug of bottled water in his right.
As he walked, he took massive bites out of the buns in his hand.
His mouth was covered in oil.
He spotted Li Mu right away and asked in surprise, "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, Third Brother assigned me to be floor staff," Li Mu replied.
"Floor staff?" Wang Hao's eyes lit up as he hurriedly swallowed the mouthful of bun. "Must be your lucky day, kid. I happen to be short-handed over there, so from now on you'll work under Brother Hao, and Brother Hao will watch your back."
*Are you sure you can watch my back?*
Li Mu looked Wang Hao up and down with utter disbelief written all over his face.
Wang Hao grew annoyed. "Don't you go looking down on people, kid. Ask around—in this whole Capital area, who dares not give Brother Hao some respect?"
The surrounding people chuckled and shook their heads, returning to whatever they were busy with.
Listening to him shoot his mouth off, Li Mu couldn't help but chuckle.
This guy had quite a bit of Ah Q's spiritual victory about him.
While the two were talking, Third Brother walked in through the tent entrance, flanked by several underlings. Everyone inside the tent instantly stopped what they were doing, stood up from their seats, and greeted Third Brother.
"Morning, Third Brother."
"Looking sharp today, Third Brother."
"Third Brother, I still have time this month. If you've got any other projects, just say the word."
Shedding their previous indifference, these people squeezed up to Third Brother with flattering smiles to curry favor.
Standing right in front of Li Mu, Wang Hao swallowed the rest of his bun in one gulp, wiped his mouth, and then rushed into the crowd to greet Third Brother.
Third Brother gave a slight nod to acknowledge their greetings.
Then he strode forward, to the astonishment of everyone present, and stopped right in front of Li Mu. "Why did you come all the way out here?"
"Doesn't the manual say this is where the floor staff work?" Li Mu replied.
"Oh, that's for the regular staff. You're my assistant; your office is in that building with me." Third Brother slapped his forehead and explained with a somewhat sheepish smile.
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone—including Wang Hao—swiveled their heads to stare straight at Li Mu.
This greenhorn was Third Brother's assistant?
This guy actually had connections like that?
For the bottom-tier crew members like them, touching base with core figures like directors and producers was completely out of the question. Therefore, a major shot-caller like Third Brother was practically a god in their eyes.
Even Third Brother's assistant was a big shot to them.
Li Mu politely declined Third Brother's offer and pointed with a smile to an empty patch of ground inside the tent. "I think working here is pretty good—lots of people and a lively atmosphere. See that empty spot over there? Just find me a table, and I'll work right there."
Third Brother frowned and thought for a moment, then pointed at Wang Hao and ordered, "Haozi, go get Assistant Li a table. From now on, you answer to him. Whatever he says goes, understand?"
"Huh? Me?" Wang Hao pointed at himself in bewilderment.
"If not you, me?"
"Ah, yes, yes, right away."
Wang Hao immediately led his underlings to carry a table over and set it down in the open space Li Mu had pointed out.
At that moment, Third Brother straightened his expression and barked forcefully at the crew members inside the tent: "We're starting shooting soon, so shape up! Whoever embarrasses me, Ma San, I'll smash their rice bowl!"
"Understood!" everyone in the tent chorused in unison.
Afterward, Third Brother gave Li Mu a few reminders about matters concerning the crew and left with his entourage.
The tent fell silent for a brief moment.
Then, those people swarmed Li Mu like madmen, desperate to curry favor.
"Brother Li, put in a good word for me with Third Brother and transfer me to the main building too!"
"Brother Li, I bought an extra apple today, have it."
"Brother Li, this yogurt is for you."
"Brother Li..."
Before long, Li Mu's chest was piled high with a stack of snacks and fruit.
Li Mu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. *They really treat me like a beggar, don't they?*
Well, then again... the flattery sure tasted sweet.
"Move aside, move aside, Assistant Li has work to do! Back to your posts, all of you!" Wang Hao waved his arms and drove away those monsters and demons with an excited expression, escorting Li Mu back to his desk.
The surrounding people stomped their feet in annoyance and turned away.
Wang Hao blew on his sleeve, wiped down the stool with it, and fawned ingratiatingly, "Boss, take a seat. If you need anything from now on, just ask me."
Li Mu looked at Wang Hao with a bizarre expression and teased playfully, "I actually liked your rebellious look better. How about you go back to acting like that right now?"