Chapter 18
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When parents were still around, everyone seemed to get along a little better. But once the parents left…
On the evening of September 6, the final day of reporting, all four roommates had gathered in the dorm. Logically, it should have been easier for the three Northeasterners to bond, with just one guy from Beijing, but things didn’t turn out that way.
Lin Hao and Niu Qingfeng got along well, while Qin Hao remained a bit reserved and couldn’t fully open up. Liu Ye, on the other hand, stuck to himself and followed his parents’ lead.
That night, Liu Ye’s mom quietly explained things to him. It turned out Liu Ye had not only applied to the Central Academy of Drama but also the Beijing Film Academy. During his exam at the latter, according to Liu Ye, his performance was overshadowed by a classmate skilled at flattering teachers, which made him feel incredibly frustrated.
He’d kept it to himself at the time, but by the time he arrived at the Central Academy, he couldn’t hide his irritation when he heard Lin Hao making polite remarks. His family had tried to calm him down, but Liu Ye’s stubborn nature couldn’t easily be swayed by a few words of advice from his parents.
In a way, Lin Hao found himself unintentionally caught up in all this.
Listening to Liu Ye’s mom, Lin Hao gathered that Liu Ye wasn’t prepared but was determined to audition, even sneaking off with his mother to do it without telling his dad—a clear sign of his all-or-nothing approach.
Lin Hao, however, wasn’t in the mood to actively smooth things over:
“I get that you’re young, but this has nothing to do with me. If it’s about saving face or anything else, this really isn’t my fault.”
If we were friends, it’d be okay to let things slide. But we’re not close?
Then let me teach you a lesson.
…
Lin Hao’s inner “old soul” tended to come out as a teacherly instinct to correct others. It could be seen as a flaw; maybe people become like this as they get older.
He really didn’t like to see others take a wrong turn.
So that first night, with undercurrents brewing between Lin Hao and Liu Ye, the dorm atmosphere felt a bit strange. Fortunately, some guys from the neighboring dorm dropped by to chat, breaking the tension with laughter and light conversation.
The next morning, all the classmates gathered in a classroom before the opening ceremony. Lin Hao took charge of notifying the boys, while Zhang Ziyi handled the girls.
The boys arrived earlier and were already chatting excitedly when the girls walked in. Many guys’ eyes lit up—not only were some of the girls beautiful, but they’d clearly put some effort into their appearance.
“Lin Hao!”
Standing at the door, Zhang Ziyi looked around, unsure if she was in the right place, then spotted Lin Hao in the back row and called to him enthusiastically. If they’d known each other better, the guys might’ve joked around.
“Over here!” Lin Hao waved, and Zhang Ziyi brought the girls over. As a typical Beijing native, once she got familiar with people, she became quite outgoing. She immediately started complaining about their dorm conditions—the girls were in an eight-person dorm, and the contrast with the guys’ setup wasn’t lost on her. Seeking sympathy, she turned to Hu Jing, who nodded in agreement.
Lin Hao, who also knew Mei Ting, found himself appearing as though he was close with all the girls. Many of the boys, mostly 18-year-olds, felt a twinge of jealousy, but it was understandable. People tend to stick to familiar faces in a new environment.
That’s all there was to it—nothing more.
…
The jealousy didn’t last long because Teacher Chang arrived, introduced herself, and led everyone to the opening ceremony, which was pretty standard, if not a bit old-fashioned.
Afterward, they returned to the classroom for a class meeting.
First, everyone introduced themselves in order from left to right, front to back.
The first to go was Dang Hao, who was particularly enthusiastic, eager to share anecdotes from his life. He’d been the most sociable the previous night, going around to every dorm, and today he went all out in his introduction, making everyone laugh and lightening the atmosphere. Afterward, everyone took turns introducing themselves.
Lin Hao kept his introduction brief. He wasn’t overly enthusiastic but not aloof either, choosing to let everyone get to know him over time.
When it was the girls’ turn, they all looked stunning, sparking murmurs among the boys. Lin Hao overheard that, to his surprise, the guys seemed more interested in Zhang Tong and Zeng Li than Hu Jing, whom he personally thought was the prettiest. Maybe Hu Jing’s slightly exotic look wasn’t to everyone’s taste, but it appealed to his own sense of beauty.
In any case, this was just a first meeting, and they moved quickly through the itinerary because they had to attend a military training orientation in the afternoon, and everything had to be wrapped up in the morning. They quickly moved on to electing class monitors.
…
The Class of ‘96 monitor selection was amusing in Lin Hao’s eyes, more like appointing messengers. They chose a male monitor for the boys and a female monitor for the girls to help manage each group.
Having learned from past experiences, Lin Hao, who knew how demanding the curriculum at the Central Academy could be, was quick to decline when the girls nominated him, fearing the role might interfere with his studies.
The boys elected Niu Qingfeng, who was mature, handsome, and a little older, while Zhang Tong, the second in the art exam rankings and beautiful, was chosen as the girls’ monitor.
But just as everyone started congratulating them, Teacher Chang delivered a bombshell: “Starting tomorrow, we’ll begin military training, and on the second weekend, you’ll have a performance showcase. Everyone must participate. Prepare a program of your choice, as long as it’s positive. Register it with me by next Friday at the latest.”
The class erupted with groans.
Lin Hao was already dreading the four-week military training required in the ‘90s, and now he had to prepare a talent performance in the middle of it? Was he supposed to randomly play a flute?
Teacher Chang, unfazed by their reaction, went on to share advice she thought was most important: explaining what college life should look like.
…
“First, congratulations on being accepted into the Central Academy’s Acting Department,” she began, instantly straightening many spines in the room.
Among a thousand applicants, only 19 had been selected—a rigorous process, on par with getting into a top university like Beijing University for aspiring artists.
“But this is just the first hurdle,” she continued, shifting to a more serious tone. “If you think getting into college means you’re set, think again. After military training, you’ll face a challenging curriculum. If you don’t keep up, you’ll fall behind.”
This sobered up the room as she added, “Each year, several students are dismissed for poor grades, and it’s not uncommon.”
The reality hit hard for some, particularly for students like Zhang Ziyi, who had been admitted with a scholarship and had little academic background. She’d trained as a dancer and was unfamiliar with acting.
The Central Academy was known for being wary of students with dance or opera backgrounds, as they often lacked skills in other areas. With mixed emotions, many began to realize they’d need to work hard just to get through the first year.
After laying down the rules, Teacher Chang sweetened things a bit by painting a picture of the beautiful experiences college could offer. And so, this initial class meeting ended with a balanced mix of caution and hope.