Fringe artists in the entertainment industry

Chapter 105 103. The city is a polyhedron

The world will always give you a surprise when you least expect it. Chen Li'an did not expect that his behavior of painting in the square would become a hot topic after it was published in the newspaper.

During the National Art Exhibition, the artistic atmosphere in Beijing was much stronger than before, and the actions of Chen Li'an and Bai Qing easily triggered discussions.

In the past, Beijing artists often presented themselves with a negative image, and various incomprehensible performance arts always distorted the public's perception of art. Chen Li'an and Bai Qingliang played a role in promoting some positive images.

It's a small amount of fame, but I don't know if there is anyone behind it. Chen Li'an still remembers Director Wang's words to support young artists.

Maybe this is a good opportunity. After all, the Old Summer Palace Painters Village will be rectified and banned after the new year. At this time, it is necessary to show support for art.

This is a good thing for Chen Li'an. Some people in the circle are already asking when his new works will be exhibited, and they can't wait to see how shocking the works glimpsed in the newspaper will be.

Bai Qing looked at Chen Li'an who looked gloomy and comforted in a low voice: "It's not a bad thing to be famous. The higher-ups intend to support you, so it's not a bad thing."

Chen Li'an threw the cigarette butt in his hand into the ashes next to the stove and said with a wry smile: "It's good to be famous, but Director Yang insists that I hold an exhibition, but in Ji Fa's plan, we have to go to Europe first to hold an exhibition. OK."

Bai Qing also looked at the news in the newspaper with some helplessness, wondering why he and Chen Li'an were painting in the square suddenly became popular! Isn't it just a combination of photos and oil paintings?

It’s not really a new art.

"Forget it, I'll say no to Director Yang first." Chen Li'an was quite helpless. Favors are inevitable. When Director Yang helped him hold a film exhibition at the art museum, he owed a favor to him.

But there is really no way to repay the favor now, otherwise Ji Fa's efforts in Europe will be in vain, and the domestic artistic influence will still be smaller.

Now that Chen Li'an has signed a contract, he must consider the manager's ideas and interests and cannot be willful.

However, the joy of the Spring Festival soon blew away Chen Li'an's depression. He was very happy to set off firecrackers with a group of half-year-old children.

It's simpler to play with children. You don't need to consider the exchange of favors. You only need to provide them with firecrackers and toffee for a day. When you are tired of playing, you can go home to eat. When you want to play, you can go out and have a decisive battle. You are very happy.

The joyful atmosphere of the Spring Festival made Chen Li'an calm down a lot. On the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, he and Bai Qing got on a plane and flew to Shencheng.

Chen Li'an, who had been to Xiangjiang once, passed the customs with familiarity, and then met Zhang Guorong, who had been waiting for him for a long time.

"Wow, I feel like I've gained a lot of weight after not seeing each other for a few days." Chen Lian said looking at Zhang Guorong who was wearing sunglasses and leaning against the car door.

Leslie Cheung took off his sunglasses and glanced at Bai Qing next to Chen Li'an, then hit Chen Li'an angrily and said, "You're the one who's gained weight!"

After finishing speaking, Zhang Guorong smiled and said to Bo Qing: "You must be Bo Qing. Nice to meet you."

Bai Qing smiled and nodded and said, "Thank you for coming to pick us up."

"You're welcome, we're all friends." Zhang Guorong said with a smile, then opened the car door and said, "Let's go, get in the car."

This time Chen Li'an did not stay at Zhang Guorong's house, but chose a hotel. After all, he was taking Bai Qing with him, so it was not easy to stay at Zhang Guorong's place.

However, Zhang Guorong did not intend to let Chen Li'an go so easily. He finally studied mahjong skills in Xiangjiang. How could he not take revenge!

"Let's play mahjong tonight, all night long!" Zhang Guorong drove the car with one hand, and the wind blowing in from the gap in the car window made his hair fly freely, as if he was filming a movie.

Chen Li'an looked at Zhang Guorong, who had an aura that rivaled that of the God of Gamblers, and couldn't help but curl his lips. If your poker skills were the same as your appearance, you wouldn't have lost so miserably!

But when he went to play mahjong at night, Chen Li'an was still a little excited. This thing was very strange, and he really enjoyed the feeling of touching the cards.

Bai Qing saw Chen Li'an's thoughts and said proactively: "You go and do your own thing. I'll take a rest in the hotel and take a look at the night view of Xiangjiang to find the feeling you mentioned."

"Okay, but don't go to some places, it's not safe." Chen Li'an reminded.

Zhang Guorong also took the initiative and said: "Yes, some places are still unsafe. I will find you a driver to take you there later."

"This is the best." Chen Li'an said immediately, then turned to look at Bai Qing and said, "There are some places waiting for me to come back with you tomorrow. You can just wander around tonight."

"Well, I understand, he's not a child." Bai Qing said calmly.

Chen Li'an thought about it. How could a person who could persist in painting alone in Songzhuang for so long be a child?

After Chen Li'an settled Bo Qing in the afternoon, he left with Zhang Guorong.

On the way to Mong Kok, Leslie Cheung couldn't help but scolded: "You come as soon as you come and you bring a confidante with you, what do you want Zu Xian to think!"

"Art partners, don't be so sensitive." Chen Li'an looked at the direction he was going in and it seemed that something was wrong. He frowned and asked, "Where are we going? Isn't it to Mong Kok?"

Chen Li'an traveled around Xiangjiang last time and was very familiar with the route. He could tell at a glance that this was not the direction to Mong Kok.

"Go pick up Zu Xian. Her afternoon flight will arrive soon." Zhang Guorong was still a little angry after explaining, and then cursed: "My artistic partner, you have the nerve to say that."

Chen Li'an pursed his lips but did not retort. The old father-in-law Zhang Guorong was a bit untouchable, so it was better to pretend to be good.

"Don't think it's okay to pretend to be a good boy. If you make Zu Xian sad, I won't let you go." Zhang Guorong scolded angrily.

"I know, brother."

"."

Zhang Guorong glanced at the well-behaved Chen Li'an, sighed, forget it, after all, he is just a child, so I won't scold him.

The plan is working! No need to listen to Zhang Guorong's nagging, Chen Li'an couldn't help but smile.

At Xiangjiang Airport, Chen Li'an watched Wang Zuxian walking out of the aisle with long legs. Just as he was about to go up to greet her, Leslie Cheung walked over first and smiled like an old father.

Chen Li'an stood there with his hands folded and did not fight Zhang Guorong. He had already seen the direction of the story.

Wang Zuxian on the other side saw Chen Li'an and Zhang Guorong at a glance, ran over with the box in hand, and then shouted: "Brother, thank you for coming to pick me up."

Then he jumped over Zhang Guorong and rushed towards Chen Li'an, and threw his box to Zhang Guorong.

Zhang Guorong watched Wang Zuxian pass over him and throw himself into Chen Li'an's arms. His whole body felt bad. The cold wind blowing from the huge vents of the airport made him feel a little desolate and unworthy of this world.

There is no love in this society. On the way back, Leslie Cheung, who was full of resentment, did not even talk to Chen Li'an or Wang Zuxian.

Wang Zuxian sat behind and hugged Chen Li'an's arm excitedly and said, "I've been waiting for you for a long time. How long will you stay here this time?"

"One week or two weeks is not a lot of time." Chen Li'an glanced at the angry Leslie Cheung and whispered in Wang Zuxian's ear: "Brother is angry, so you can calm him down."

Wang Zuxian turned her head and glanced at Zhang Guorong, then leaned forward and said to him: "Brother, I brought you a gift from Wanwan."

As soon as he heard that there was a gift, Leslie Cheung's expression immediately became lively. He glanced at Wang Zuxian through the rearview mirror and then said proudly: "I don't want to be the same as others."

"It's different." Wang Zuxian immediately said with a smile: "I only brought gifts to you."

Upon hearing that he only brought gifts for himself, Leslie Cheung immediately became visibly happy.

Chen Li'an asked Wang Zuxian in a low voice from behind: "Don't I have a gift? I even brought you a gift."

Wang Zuxian turned around and blinked at Chen Li'an, then turned to Zhang Guorong and said: "Brother, can you not play mahjong tonight? I'm a little tired from flying."

Zhang Guorong raised his eyebrows and was about to say no, when Wang Zuxian said coquettishly: "Brother, let's fight tomorrow. I'm really tired today."

"Forget it, I still don't know what you are thinking." Zhang Guorong was a little helpless, then looked at Chen Li'an in the rearview mirror and said, "I'll let you go today, and I'll show you some of my new tricks tomorrow!"

"No problem, just prepare the money!" Chen Li'an said nonchalantly.

"Hmph, don't lose all the money in your account to me then."

"It depends on your ability."

The two of them bickered all the way until the car stopped in front of Wang Zuxian's house, and then each childishly said something cruel.

At the entrance of Wang Zuxian's villa, Chen Li'an watched Leslie Cheung's car disappear around the corner and couldn't help but said: "Why is he like a child?"

Wang Zuxian couldn't help but smile and said: "Same for you!"

"I was originally a child. I'm only twenty-one years old. Oh, it's already twenty-two during the Chinese New Year, but I'm still a child." Chen Li'an took Wang Zuxian's hand and said.

"Yes, yes, kid, why don't you go home with your sister? There is delicious food at my sister's house." Wang Zuxian followed Chen Li'an's words and said.

"Are there any long, thin, white and straight bamboo shoots to eat?"

"Yes, there are also black ones. Do you want to come?"

"Must come!"

More than an hour later, Chen Lian came out of the bathroom wiping his wet hair. Looking at Wang Zuxian's luxuriously decorated villa, he always felt that it was not as beautiful as Zhang Guorong's villa.

Hmm. Maybe it’s because there are too few artworks. Many of the decorative items in Zhang Guorong’s home are artworks he bought. He has very good taste and can become an art connoisseur.

Maybe it would be good to drag Zhang Guorong to open a gallery or art collection in Hong Kong in the future.

A strange idea came to Chen Li'an's mind, and he felt that this was much better than being an actor.

At least I don't have to make those very controversial movies, and I can avoid being hurt twice.

After resting at Wang Zuxian's house for a night, Chen Li'an rushed back to the hotel early the next morning. He didn't have much time in Xiangjiang this time and had to complete his work as soon as possible.

In the hotel lobby, Chen Li'an saw Bai Qing sitting alone on the sofa reading a magazine. The artist's temperament on his body was incompatible with the magnificent hotel.

In the impetuous social atmosphere of Xiangjiang, Bai Qing's image and temperament are very eye-catching. Before Chen Li'an walked over, he saw someone approaching him to strike up a conversation.

"Hello, miss, can I meet you?" A man in a suit and ties with a well-oiled hair said sitting opposite Bai Qing.

Bai Qing raised his head and glanced at the oily man, then noticed Chen Li'an behind him, and said calmly: "You should get to know my friend first."

Listening to Bai Qing's Mandarin, the greasy-headed man frowned, then turned around to see the tall and handsome Chen Li'an standing behind him, coughed and said embarrassedly: "I'm sorry, I was rude. .”

After saying that, the greasy-headed man walked away in despair. Chen Li'an looked at his running figure and turned to look at Bai Qing. She didn't care about the word boyfriend she just said, and just asked: "You didn't encounter any harassment when you went out yesterday, did you?" ?”

"No, I just walked around and went to see Victoria Harbor. It's very beautiful and prosperous here. It's not as exaggerated as you said." Bai Qing put down the magazine in his hand and picked up the camera he brought from the room. Said to Chen Li'an: "Where are you going today? Do you have any plans?"

Chen Li'an shook his head and said: "Don't worry, I will take you to see the public housing in Xiangjiang first to see what real life in Xiangjiang is like. This will help you better understand my creative ideas."

"Well, I'm quite curious too. The Xiangjiang I saw yesterday is so different from the one in your photo that I'm a little doubtful whether it's real." Bai Qing hung the camera around his neck and said.

The two of them left the hotel and went straight to the largest public housing building in Hong Kong.

When the tall, dusty and dense public housing building appeared in front of him, Bai Qingcai raised his camera in a daze and took a photo at the door of the building.

"This place gives me a very strange feeling." Bai Qing put down the camera in his hand, looked at Chen Li'an and said, "It's like a rural area in the city, just like the dilapidated and old villages around the capital. There are many villages in the capital where outsiders gather. , they have their own culture and rules, which are incompatible with the whole city."

"You are right, this is Xiangjiang's urban village." Chen Li'an looked up at the dozens of stories tall buildings and said: "Although they live in the buildings, they are actually no different from those villages in the capital. They are a group of A group that is incompatible with the prosperous Xiangjiang."

Bai Qing was silent for a while and said: "A marginalized group?"

"Of course not. The main body of Xiangjiang is them, but the appearance is not them." Chen Li'an explained, then pulled Bai Qing and said: "I will take you in and you will know. Follow me."

"Um."

The moment he walked into the building, the warm sunshine disappeared, and a cold feeling immediately swept through Bai Qing's body.

Looking up at the vent above his head, Bai Qing shook his head in amusement, and then followed Chen Li'an deep into the interior of the public housing building, as if exploring the body of a monster.

Half an hour later, Chen Li'an and Bo Qing came out, but Bo Qing was very silent. She originally thought that Chen Li'an's photo was a bit exaggerated, but she didn't expect that it was more beautified.

This was during the Chinese New Year, and the public housing was very lively. Every household had posted Spring Festival couplets, but Bai Qing didn't see much joy.

There was a hint of embarrassment and sadness in the smiles on many people's faces, which made Bai Qing wonder why this was the case.

Chen Li'an felt the sunshine, stretched lazily and said: "For many people, the New Year is not a happy event because it means a large amount of expenditure."

Bai Qing was silent for a while and recalled what he had experienced. Festivals were indeed not something to be happy about. During the Mid-Autumn Festival alone, he could not afford moon cakes and could only add a poached egg to the water.

When she was very young, she would be very happy during the Spring Festival, but her parents would have a sad look on their faces. The year was coming and they had to pay back the money. They had to think of ways to buy new year's goods and buy new clothes for the family, but there were not so many. Where's the money?

Bai Qing sighed, feeling heavy in his heart. Would a developed city like Xiangjiang have such troubles?

Chen Li'an smiled and held Bai Qing's hand and said, "Life is beautiful in general. Troubles are not all, but you have to open your eyes to discover those beautiful things."

Bai Qing was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at Chen Li'an and asked, "Is this the theme of your other half?"

"Yes, you have to face their embarrassment and see their beauty." Chen Li'an pointed to the lively streets in the distance and said: "There you will see their hope for life."

Bai Qing nodded confusedly, not quite understanding what Chen Li'an meant.

Many streets in Xiangjiang are very lively and filled with all kinds of little happiness.

Office workers who have just received their salary will buy beef offal or fish balls to fill their bellies when they get off work. The fragrant food and rich soup will make them feel happy.

Children who go to school for a day will gather in twos and threes to play football in the small park after class, enjoying a free and happy time.

There is a lot of happiness and joy hidden here that is not easy to detect. Maybe there is a person in the crowd who has just been promoted and received a salary increase, or there may be a happy person who has just found his partner.

It takes effort to discover the beauty behind numbness and fatigue. Chen Li'an and Bai Qing walked on the street without saying a word, scanning everyone like two robots.

Bai Qing slowly discovered that he had really seen many beautiful things that he had not noticed before. A young man wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase walked a few steps with excitement and couldn't help but punched. He was obviously dating for a long time. Happy things.

A girl in fashionable clothes is holding a mirror and applying lipstick. The smile and expectation on her face are particularly moving.

Bai Qing turned his head and looked at Chen Li'an, who was leaning on the railing and taking pictures with a camera, and felt an indescribable feeling in his heart.

After seeing the bustling night view of Hong Kong last night, I felt that the cramped public housing in Chen Li'an's photo was exaggerated. After arriving at the public housing today, I felt that the prosperity and happiness of Hong Kong were false. But he didn't expect that in Chen Li'an's eyes, they were integrated, like a polyhedron, with each side having a different color and could not be seen alone.

Contradictory and three-dimensional. Every city is a colorful cube. Bai Qing followed Chen Li's example and sat on the railing to watch every passerby, and a smile slowly appeared on his face.

While you still have some enthusiasm, spread out the remaining heat, and everyone can support it, even if you click on it and add it to your collection.