Chasing Tides

Ning Lan squatted at the west gate of the labor market, took a bite of a half-cold pancake fruit, and took out an ID card and two red notes, which were his last possessions in his pocket with the other hand.

Calculating, the cheapest Tongzilou hotel in the surrounding area will cost 61 nights, and no matter what, he will have to eat two sets of pancakes and drink a bottle of water a day. That is to say, within three days, he must find a job and a place to live.

In the beginning of spring, the weather in the north was still very cold, and the snow did not stop until the morning. Someone stepped on a winding path at the entrance of the labor market. A dirty little puddle.

Ning Lan was squatting next to one of the puddles, and a gust of cold wind blew in. He took a few breaths of warm air into his palms, and then rubbed them vigorously.Most of the people who come in and out of this so-called labor market are black intermediaries or migrant workers who don’t understand anything when they come to the city for the first time.

If it weren't for the fact that he didn't have a dime left from the salary he just paid at the end of the year, and he had to hide and hide, not daring to show his face in the old job he had worked for for several years, he wouldn't have been reduced to the point where he had to go to the construction site to move bricks.

He has been squatting here for almost a whole morning, and there is no contractor who is willing to use him. The reason is probably that he has thin legs and arms, and he looks weak.

After drinking all the water in the bottle, Ning Lan swallowed the last bite of pancake with difficulty, her esophagus was about to burn, and she cursed fiercely: "Damn..."

Huang Youyou stood up, took empty bottles and plastic bags and threw them into the trash can, and only when he walked up to him did he feel like he was mentally retarded, surrounded by rubbish, and he still wanted to contribute to the environmental protection of the capital?

Just as he was about to turn around after dropping the things in his hands, a soda can rolled to his feet, hit the side of his feet and bounced away.Turning his head, he saw a big red car parked on the side of the road with the windows open. The female driver, who was not good at shooting, took off her sunglasses and said with a smile, "I'm sorry, little brother, I didn't throw it right."

Ning Lan was in a very upset mood. Out of her professional habits developed over the years, she still smiled back. She bent down to pick up the soda can and threw it into the trash can. People who are in a hurry, by the way, think about whether they should try squatting at the east gate in the afternoon.

In this dusty urban-rural junction, the sound of high heels stepping on the ground seems very out of place.

"Little brother, are you looking for a job?"

Ning Lan raised her head, and the female driver just now looked at him with a half-smile.

In a matter of seconds, he swept the whole body of this woman in her thirties, and then responded quickly with a bright smile: "Yes, young lady, do you want to introduce me to a job?"

Zhang Fan took Ning Lan to the planning office on the 26th floor of the Starlight Entertainment Building, and directly took out a contract from the office drawer and put it in front of him: "Let's have a look, and sign at the end if you agree."

On the way here, Zhang Fan had already asked Ning Lan's basic information, including height, weight, age, birthplace, educational background, constellation, and even shoe size. Ning Lan hadn't quite figured out why he was asked to come here until now, and the contract was full of details. Yes, he felt dizzy just looking at it.

Seeing him in a daze, Zhang Fan took the contract and used a marker brush to circle the key points: "A three-year contract, salary will be paid from the beginning of employment, basic salary plus bonus, bonus includes various public income such as albums, commercial performances, programs, etc. You can earn more if you are capable, and the company will never hinder your development."

"How much is the basic salary?" This is the question that Ning Lan is most concerned about now.

Zhang Fan said a figure, which was twice the basic salary of Ning Lan's previous work in the hotel.

He turned directly to the last page and wrote his name in the signature column.

Zhang Fan was a little surprised: "Don't look anymore?"

Ning Lan threw away the pen and stretched her waist: "Don't look, sister, you don't look like a charlatan. Besides, I'm a pauper, what can I lie to?"

Zhang Fan: "Aren't you afraid that what I signed for you is a contract of prostitution?"

Ning Lan said: "In a society ruled by law, if there are really those underground deals, you wouldn't bring me to this place surrounded by windows... Besides, isn't it written in the contract how many other teammates I have? Someone is with me, I'm afraid of shit."

Zhang Fan was amused by him, he didn't expect to find such a wonderful person by accident.

"Take out your ID card." Zhang Fan reached out to him.

Ning Lan took out the card and put it on the table. Zhang Fan took a look and raised his eyebrows, "Isn't this only 18 years old? Why did you say you were 23 in the car just now?"

Ning Lan was taken aback, he almost forgot about it.

"It's really 23, there is a problem with the ID card." He explained.

Zhang Fan waved his hand: "It doesn't matter, I will say that I am 18 years old when I go out in the future."

Ning Lan agreed, anyway, it is the uncle who gave the money, as long as the money is enough, it is OK for him to pretend to be 8 years old.

After signing the contract, Zhang Fan reached out to him: "Hello, my name is Zhang Fan, and I will be your manager from today on."

Ning Lan smiled and stretched out her hand to shake back: "Please take care of me."

Zhang Fan took him to the company restaurant for dinner at noon, and Ning Lan found that all the employees in this company were well-dressed, comparable to the guests who went in and out of star-rated hotels.

Then he looked down at himself, he was wearing a torn padded jacket that he had worn for two years, and he was wearing a pair of washed-white jeans. If it was torn on the knees, it would still be fashionable, but if it was torn at the bottom of the trousers, it would look so shabby and shabby.Ning Lan thought that when she got paid, she would have to buy decent clothes first. After all, she also relied on her appearance for a living, so she shouldn't look too ugly when she went out.

After the meal, Zhang Fan led him to an empty room with a whole mirror wall, and said, "You will study hard here for the next half a month. When the dancer comes over, learn the movements as soon as possible. What about the lyrics?" It’s relatively simple, and you won’t be asked to sing for real, just align your mouth when you’re on stage.”

Ning Lan nodded confusedly and agreed. Shortly after Zhang Fan left, the dance teacher came over. She was a girl in her early twenties, and she introduced herself as Xu Mingrui.

"Mr. Xu, can I ask a question?" Ning Lan grinned as she was pressed against her leg.

Xu Rui looked at the gentle girl, but her hands were strong, and she didn't relax at all while pressing on his shoulder: "Ask."

Ning Lan was panting: "Your company, oh no, our company... finds a backup dancer... don't go to the theater troupe, dance school, etc., but catch them on the street?"

Xu Rui looked at him suspiciously: "Did you catch it from the street?"

Ning Lan: "Ang."

Xu Rui patted his waist and thighs to keep him in his posture: "Well, no wonder, I don't have any foundation at all. Even if you want to be a backup dancer on your terms, the company won't accept you."

Ning Lan: "What?"

Teacher Xu tapped the looming dimples on his face with his finger: "But as an idol, it's okay to tidy up."

Love... beans?

Ning Lan was stunned.

Hearing Ning Lan yelling on the phone, Zhang Fan couldn't help laughing: "Don't be nervous, just go on stage and sing and dance. Whether you can become a real star depends on your own good fortune."

Ning Lan couldn't even hold her phone steady: "Then when will I be on TV?"

"Why, are you afraid of being wanted if you do something bad?"

Ning Lan licked her lips and said with a guilty conscience, "No, just... make mental preparations."

"Next month, FocusShow Music Festival, debut show, don't be afraid, you are not fighting alone."

Ning Lan remembered: "Where are my teammates?"

Zhang Fan: "I'll see you later."

During the break in the afternoon, Xu Rui told Ning Lan that the boy group he was going to join was called AOW, and the debut lineup consisted of seven members.

Ning Lan flipped through the debut announcement on Weibo, hey hey straight music, aren't these seven gourd babies.

There are currently three members of the group that have been made public. Ning Lan hastily swept over them.These children can't all be of the same age as him, can they?

"That is to say, if it wasn't for that kid's death, it wouldn't be my turn at all?"

After listening to Teacher Xu's words, Ning Lan had a clear understanding of why she joined the group.

AOW has formed an army as early as the second half of last year, and the debut single has been recorded, and it will be released in the next year.Unexpectedly, a year later, one of the members named Feng Qiu was restless in his hometown. He went to the street to fight and was caught in the bureau, and even appeared on the local TV station. He was born as a talent show singer and has a certain reputation. In addition, his external image is a cute and innocent cute boy. Once the video of a crowd fighting came out, he set up a horse and went to Antarctica. Fans and passers-by turned black in anger. Entertainment.

"Well, it can be said like this." Xu Rui said, "The debut time cannot be changed, so the company has to find another newcomer. After picking and choosing, they have not found the right one. Everyone thought that the seven-member group was going to be changed to six members, and you just appeared out of nowhere. gone."

Ning Lan had an inexplicable feeling of being ordered in danger, and also felt that the company was too sloppy, so she wasn't afraid to catch a bad guy at random?

Xu Rui smiled and patted him on the shoulder: "Sister Zhang Fan is famous for her good eyesight. Does V-wish know that every member is personally selected by her. When she first debuted, no one was optimistic about it. Idol, business Ability is secondary, and can be trained the day after tomorrow, but the traits that poke people's cuteness are innate."

V-wish is a girl group that is popular in Asia today.

"Besides, the second she knew your name, she sent someone to investigate in various systems. If there is any black history, she will definitely leave you halfway without looking back."

Ning Lan laughed, but a layer of goosebumps appeared in her heart.He has been struggling in society since graduating from high school, and he considers himself rich in social experience, but no matter how good he is, he can't dance in such a completely unfamiliar field. Same end.

It's not easy to get such a glamorous job, and... I heard that being a celebrity comes very quickly.

He really needs money.