Chapter 13: Knowing Your Place

Early in the morning, Shen Yan arrived at Wen Zhang’s dressing room and chatted with a few staff members before Wen Zhang walked in.

Shen Yan immediately greeted him, "Brother Wen!"

Wen Zhang was holding a bottle of milk. Seeing Shen Yan, he nodded and said, "Little Shen... coming so early... have you eaten?"

"Yes, I have!"

"Here, have some milk... this is Milk Duke 6, from Australia!"

Shen Yan’s eyes lit up as he took the milk.

"Guess how much this bottle costs?"

"I… have no idea… it must be expensive, right?"

"Two hundred and eighty yuan a bottle!"

"Damn!" Shen Yan exclaimed in surprise. "Why is milk so expensive? Do Australian cows eat gold?"

Wen Zhang paused for a moment, uncertain, and said, "…there must be a reason why it’s expensive…"

Shen Yan wanted to ask what that reason was, but decided against it. Instead, he drank the milk in one go and changed the subject, "So… what do you want to listen to today?"

"Anything… how does this taste?"

"The milk flavor is very rich!"

While speaking, Shen Yan took out his violin and was about to play “Moonlight Serenade,” when Wen Zhang suddenly asked, "Hey, do you know what autism is?"

"Yes… it’s autism spectrum disorder. They get lost in their own world and automatically block out external information…"

"Have you ever studied it?"

"No… Most adult autistic patients are usually kept at home because taking them out can cause trouble or disturbances. Their families fear being ridiculed, losing face, and don’t have the energy to care for them… So, normal people rarely encounter them!" Shen Yan couldn’t help but ask, "Brother Wen, why are you interested in this?"

"…I’m auditioning for a role… the character is autistic!"

"Good luck with that…"

"…Play me a piece suitable for autism!"

Suitable for autism?

Shen Yan thought for a moment. "The soundtrack from Rain Man, 'Leaving Wallbrook On the Road'…"

"Alright!"

The Rain Man soundtrack was Hans Zimmer’s first Oscar nomination for Best Original Score.

Hans Zimmer…

A legendary composer with countless masterpieces, perhaps best known for his scores for The Lion King and Pirates of the Caribbean, and he later supported most of Nolan’s films…

The most surprising was that he also composed the score for Kung Fu Panda!

Kung Fu Panda’s music was rich with Chinese elements…

Back to "Leaving Wallbrook On the Road," its melody blends Eastern gentleness with Western passion, flowing gracefully and energetically before settling into warmth…

As Shen Yan played, the door opened and a woman walked in. "Xiao Wen, is there any food?"

Wen Zhang turned his head. "There’s a little left…"

"Then I won’t be polite!" She grabbed the half-finished bottle of milk from Wen Zhang and drank it down.

Such unrestrained boldness, truly a free spirit!

Oh, that woman was Bian Xiaoxiao!

---

"You really know how to enjoy yourself, and you even have someone pulling violin strings just for you!"

"…He’s my violin teacher…"

"…Teacher?"

Bian Xiaoxiao glanced at Shen Yan. "So young?"

Wen Zhang quickly said, "Come on, show our Teacher Bian a piece!"

"Then I’ll play 'Csárdás'!"

No way around it, these folks rarely heard violin music. Even if Shen Yan played something like Bach’s Chaconne in G minor or a grand nocturne, they might not appreciate it…

Csárdás is perfect for showing off… Its full name is "Csárdás Dance," a globally popular violin piece that most people have heard…

Csárdás is the pinnacle of amateur violin music, demanding skilled bowing and beautiful tone…

For Shen Yan, it wasn’t difficult—perfect for impressing others!

By the way, among violin pieces, Bach’s compositions sound simple but are actually extremely challenging…

Shen Yan finished and Wen Zhang smiled, "Not bad, right?"

Bian Xiaoxiao stared at his face. "Really good…"

"…What’s wrong? Interested?"

"…Is that okay? Does the young guy have a girlfriend?"

Shen Yan was momentarily stunned, then shook his head, "…No!"

Bian Xiaoxiao asked, "How old are you?"

"Twenty-one…"

"So young…"

Shen Yan smiled shyly, looking a little unsure.

It was clear she didn’t understand the perks of an age-gap relationship.

Older brothers may have money but might not spend it on you; younger brothers have energy and will definitely put it to use for you!

Well, at this stage, most female celebrities dream of marrying into wealth or finding a rich heir…

Rich heirs… usually middle-aged!

His situation only fueled Bian Xiaoxiao’s playful teasing…

Shen Yan felt a little overwhelmed and glanced at Wen Zhang.

"Stop messing with him…" Wen Zhang helped him out, gesturing toward the door, "You should go out first!"

"Okay, Brother Wen!"

Shen Yan smiled at Bian Xiaoxiao, waved to a few staff members in the dressing room, and turned to leave…

Bian Xiaoxiao was reluctant to let go and nudged Wen Zhang, "How do you know that little guy?"

"He’s an extra on set… and he plays the violin…"

"An extra?"

"Yeah!"

"I thought he was your junior student!"

"You're overthinking. He’s just an extra. Let’s not talk about him… Why didn’t you eat breakfast?"

"Don’t mention it…"

…

---

Shen Yan was very aware that he was a peripheral figure in the entertainment world!

He kept his distance from Bian Xiaoxiao; after all, the stabbing incident had a huge impact…

What happened in 2012 was still being discussed online more than a decade later!

Most importantly, he never intended to make a career in showbiz.

He treated Wen Zhang well because Wen Zhang paid him—he had already signed a three-month contract, earning twenty thousand yuan per month!

That was definitely a high salary…

Bian Xiaoxiao? Better to forget it!

Shen Yan never wanted to live off others…

In his past life, he had lived off someone else for a month…

Unbearable to recall!

Many people say things like: “My ideal partner is a rich woman who will one day come riding on a rainbow cloud to support me!”

If you’re really supported…

You’ll understand that being supported is not a life of effortless luxury.

There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Professional athletes live on their youth…

New-era rich women often defy norms, growing stronger with age, tough yet graceful, at the forefront of evolution, reigning at the top of the food chain.

If you want to take on delicate porcelain work, you need to show you have diamond-level skills.

Moreover… rich women aren’t always domineering or like Saeko Matsushita; you have to know there are countless “Feng Jie” types in the world…

And they come in endless varieties.

After a month, Shen Yan took the initiative to leave!

Also… he sensed Wen Zhang might have some feelings for Bian Xiaoxiao…

In life, a sense of propriety is crucial…

You’ve got to know your place!

…

Back at the extras’ gathering spot, Zhang Wuchou saw him and said, "Want a cigarette?"

"…Thanks, but I don’t smoke!"

"…Why don’t you smoke?"

Shen Yan shook his head. "Smoking is bad for health… and if you start, you have to quit later… too much trouble…"

"Fine, suit yourself!" Zhang Wuchou put the cigarettes away and casually asked, "…Does your role have lines today?"

"Don’t know… probably not. I had lines the day before yesterday…"

"Did you show your face?"

"Definitely. I had several lines!"

Zhang Wuchou said, "Then… no future. At most, you’ll be background extras from now on… You showed your face and had lines; if they gave you more screen time with lines, it’d be a continuity error!"

Shen Yan hesitated, then asked, "I remember that in The World’s Number One, an extra played seven or eight roles…"

"This is a mission drama, different from regular series!"