After lunch.
Chen Feng stood alone in the shade outside the restaurant, waiting for his wages to be settled.
For a background extra, wages are settled daily.
His scene was already filmed.
So, 150 yuan in hand.
He had enough for three days' worth of food.
He opened his attribute panel to check.
Host: Chen Feng
Profession: Actor
Level: 1 (2/30)
Activated character templates: Addict, Chef.
Personal skills: None
Inventory: None
This is great!
For the system he was bound to, the best way to improve was to be an extra.
As long as he could experience different roles, it was fine.
Or, once he gained a little fame, he could be a featured extra or a foreground actor, and then, at a higher level, a special guest actor.
That would be enough!
There was no need to become a real actor.
Whether filming a movie or a TV series, the time spent was too long.
There was absolutely no need.
As long as he had simply experienced a few roles, Chen Feng would actually have the ability to improve his life, or even live a very good life.
For example, this Chef role.
The buff given by the system was too exaggerated; whether it was the Eight Cuisines or national banquet specialties, he could even make the lost Manchu Han Imperial Feast.
What more could he ask for?
Closing the attribute panel, Chen Feng stretched vigorously.
Suddenly, footsteps came from behind him.
“Hello.”
Chen Feng turned around.
It was Qu Dan.
She was still wearing her costume from the play, and her makeup was on. She walked over slowly with her hands behind her back, smiling as she greeted him, “Alone?”
Chen Feng's expression was calm.
“Yeah.”
Qu Dan walked closer and asked with a smile, “What a coincidence, I didn't expect them to find you to be an extra. When I saw you this morning, you startled me.”
Chen Feng blinked, “How come I didn't see you jump?”
“Hehe, you are so humorous.”
Qu Dan's eyes narrowed as she smiled.
At first glance, she did look quite pure and sweet, with a rustic, innocent feel.
But on closer inspection.
Her eyes were full of a greasy feeling.
She was too good at disguising herself.
If he hadn't seen her cold and dismissive expression when she first arrived this morning, he might have actually believed she was coming to say hello.
But she definitely wasn't.
Chen Feng looked away, not wanting to see her, and casually said, “Something wrong?”
“Oh, nothing.”
Qu Dan stood beside him, adjusting her costume, and casually said, “Honestly, I also watched the video of your performance at the ‘What is an Actor’ audition yesterday, and it really startled me.”
“Is that so?”
Chen Feng replied absently.
“Really, it was too scary.”
Qu Dan turned to look at Chen Feng, smiling charmingly, and said, “Was that state really something you acted? I'm a little suspicious.”
Chen Feng: “...”
Damn it!
This woman?
So what's the subtext of your suspicion? Are you saying I'm an Addict?
Is this woman intentionally trying to disgust him?
Chen Feng frowned and said indifferently, “Actually, when I saw you here, I was also startled.”
“Ah?”
Qu Dan was taken aback and asked in confusion, “Why? Do you know this crew?”
“No.”
Chen Feng shrugged, “I just think your acting doesn't suit the female lead of this drama. You're so lucky, how did you get the female lead? I'm also a little suspicious.”
Qu Dan: “...”
That originally sweet face instantly turned green.
Her eyebrows twitched.
She knew the implication of Chen Feng's words; he was sarcastically suggesting that she got the female lead role by going through the director's ‘back door’.
This was not uncommon.
It was too common for actresses to sleep with directors for roles, even Boss Yang had publicly admitted it.
It's just that many actresses like to pretend to be pure while doing it.
Qu Dan was one of those people.
Because the image she usually projected was that of a young, innocent girl.
If she wasn't trying to uphold a facade, why would she deliberately create a pure, innocent persona?
If you were a bit more seductive, a bit more worldly, maybe you'd even be more appealing.
Chen Feng turned and left.
He ignored Qu Dan, who had a grim expression and was gritting her teeth.
Anyway, he was just an extra.
Only acting as a background for three days.
Why bother?
He entered the small restaurant and found the casting assistant director.
Soon, he received his wages for the day.
As he was leaving, the casting assistant director pulled him aside, patted him on the shoulder, and said with a smile, “Xiao Chen, the director has temporarily changed some of your scenes for tomorrow.”
“Ah?”
Chen Feng was startled.
“Haha, we've added some scenes for you, and a few lines of dialogue. Didn't you say you could make the Eight Cuisines, national banquet specialties, and the Manchu Han Imperial Feast? Is that what you said?”
Chen Feng nodded, not saying a word.
The casting assistant director chuckled softly, “In the national banquet menu, there's a dish called Squirrel Mandarin Fish, do you know it?”
“I know.”
Chen Feng nodded again.
“Good.”
The casting assistant director breathed a sigh of relief, “The scene we're adding for you tomorrow is to make this Squirrel Mandarin Fish. How about it? Is it difficult?”
Chen Feng blinked, “This dish… it takes quite a bit of time. I…”
“More money.”
The casting assistant director directly held out a hand, “1500 for one day. We'll pay you at the special guest actor rate. How about it? Is that okay?”
Chen Feng smiled, “Then there's no problem.”
“No problem?”
The casting assistant director also smiled and said, “But there are still requirements. Your main job is an extra. You have to say your lines well. We've added lines for you tomorrow, a total of nine sentences.”
“OK.”
Chen Feng was concise, nodding to indicate no problem.
The casting assistant director directly reached out, “Perform well tomorrow. Honestly, your Chef demeanor has made me unable to distinguish whether you are an Actor or a Chef. Alright, go back. Tomorrow at 10:30 AM, be on time.”
“OK, goodbye.”
Chen Feng turned and left directly.
Outside.
In the distance, under the shade of a tree.
Qu Dan was talking to the director.
Her emotions seemed a bit agitated.
He vaguely heard Qu Dan questioning, “Director, do you really believe he can act like that? Many people online say that's a real drug addiction withdrawal symptom. We don't even know what his past experience is. And you… you even added scenes for him? Director…”
That last “Director” was called out in such a nauseatingly sweet way.
It was confirmed.
If she hadn't slept with the director, Chen Feng would twist his head off and kick it like a ball.
Alas!
The entertainment industry is a cesspool.
No one is clean.
Chen Feng never considered himself a clean person either.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have tried to get into the entertainment industry.
Time to go!
Chen Feng swaggered away from the filming set and took a taxi directly home.
...
The next day.
Eleven o'clock in the morning.
The small restaurant filming location.
Chen Feng was ready.
Indeed, scenes were added.
Nine lines of dialogue.
And this time, there was a separate camera focused on him, and he could even show his face on screen.
This kind of opportunity was very rare for a low-level Actor who had just graduated a little over a year ago and had been working as an extra.
Especially.
Today, he also had to make a national banquet dish.
Squirrel Mandarin Fish.
In the back kitchen.
Chen Feng's national Chef demeanor emerged.
With a loud “Action” from the script supervisor, Chen Feng's iron ladle immediately started moving.