Chapter 7

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If other celebrities give off a sense of dissonance between the past and present when he sees them, then encountering He Jiong earlier, or Zhao Wei now, doesn’t give her that feeling.

Because Zhao Wei’s face, well, it’s the face of Little Swallow. Even though it still carries a youthful aura, the big eyes, double eyelids, and slightly puffed under-eyes make it unmistakably Zhao Wei.

She’s one of those people who haven’t changed much over the decades. At most, she’s a bit rounder, which could also just mean she has a youthful, full-of-collagen look.

Both girls were followed by their parents, and after running up to join the queue, they beckoned their parents over. Noticing two people staring at her, before Lin Hao could speak, Hu Jing took the initiative:

“Um… are you Bai Xiaoxue?”

Bai Xiaoxue? Lin Hao was puzzled, wondering if Hu Jing had mistaken someone or if he himself was confused. No, he definitely wasn’t wrong.

“It’s me, but you can also remember my real name. Hey, classmate, my name is Zhao Wei.” Zhao Wei waved her hand, feeling a bit smug.

Everyone was there for the exam, but she was already the lead actress of a TV series, one that aired in early 1995. Compared to half the candidates there, she was brimming with confidence.

“I thought I’d come early, but it turns out, not many people are in line.” After saying this and seeing Hu Jing nod in agreement, she sighed.

“Yeah, but I think it’s fine. There’s no need to push to the front. Being in front doesn’t guarantee you’ll get in first.” Lin Hao replied, finally realizing Bai Xiaoxue was a character Zhao Wei had played. Oh, so she was already acting in TV dramas back then.

Impressive.

“But I’ve heard that the teachers are in a better mood earlier on and give more favorable evaluations.” A voice came from behind, and the two turned to see Zhang Ziyi standing behind Zhao Wei.

…

To be fair, you couldn’t blame Lin Hao for not noticing.

Zhang Ziyi’s face was recognizable at this point, but her aura was very plain. She was beautiful, but not stunningly so. If not for the youthful vibe in her voice, he might not have paid her much attention.

What a coincidence that these two appeared one after the other.

He recalled that Zhao Wei later went to Beijing Film Academy, and from this cohort, these two were probably the most famous. It really was a lucky encounter.

“No worries.” Despite the storm brewing inside, Lin Hao outwardly stayed calm and reassured, “It doesn’t really matter; teachers are professionals. External factors like this won’t influence them much.”

“Exactly, that’s what I said,” Zhang’s mother chimed in, agreeing enthusiastically.

“But…”

“Don’t worry so much. I think we all have a good shot!” Zhao Wei remained optimistic. With her lively personality, Zhang Ziyi, who wasn’t particularly shy either, soon joined in the laughter and chatter.

Compared to the anxious atmosphere surrounding other candidates, their group felt distinctly cheerful. Meanwhile, Hu Jing silently watched Lin Hao chatting with two pretty girls, wondering if he was really the kind of person her senior had mentioned.

She couldn’t help but feel a bit unjustly treated and nervous.

Perhaps it was because the presence of these two confident beauties, one already a star, made the pressure feel overwhelming.

If Lin Hao had known her thoughts, he would have protested his innocence: If I were really like that, would the seniors even entrust you to me?

…

Hu Jing was number 858, Lin Hao 859, Zhao Wei 860, and Zhang Ziyi 861. They collected their numbers in order, estimating they’d have to wait until the afternoon for their turn.

Lin Hao had suggested coming back in the afternoon, but Hu Jing refused, saying they might call numbers faster than expected. Lin Hao figured, judging by the current pace with only about a thousand people ahead, they didn’t need to worry.

But he understood her feelings. After all, she seemed visibly anxious for some reason. So, he decided to accommodate her.

Zhang and Zhao, being more at ease, planned to come back later. One was a local from Beijing, the other already had acting experience. Meanwhile, Lin Hao was left to roam aimlessly around the school with Hu Jing.

There were others wandering around too, though most looked nervous. After all, who willingly walks around a campus in the cold if they don’t have to? But many waiting for their numbers to be called seemed a bit tense, likely feeling anxious as well.

Lin Hao thought of it like the college entrance exams, which made it easier to understand. He even saw some people reciting scripts and others doing stretches to prepare.

It didn’t help that the longer they wandered, the more nervous Hu Jing seemed to get. Lin Hao suggested taking a break and warming up somewhere, and this time she reluctantly agreed, though she kept looking back.

…

After about a ten-minute walk, they arrived at a shop. It seemed Lin Hao intended to eat again.

Indeed, Lin Hao sat down, ordered a pot of tea, some snacks, dried fruits, and peanuts. The view from the second floor was great, the room warm, and the scenery from the window quite pleasant, making for a nice break.

Hu Jing, however, wasn’t as relaxed as Lin Hao. She took out her script from her bag, rehearsing her lines. Every now and then, she glanced at Lin Hao.

Having gotten used to her little gestures, Lin Hao had figured out in their short time together that ignoring her was the best way to interact. It was only then that Hu Jing would go about her business.

But this time, he misjudged. She was still uneasy.

Though the place wasn’t crowded, Hu Jing’s looks drew attention. Wherever she went, she stood out. Of course, seeing a tall guy next to her deterred anyone from approaching.

They spent time like this until midday, and then returned to the school.

The numbers had only reached the early 400s.

With that, they comfortably went for lunch, having a hot pot meal. Lin Hao casually made an excuse for taking her out to eat, though he hadn’t been particularly thoughtful. He just found Hu Jing naturally beautiful, without needing makeup. To be honest, in his eyes, she was even more attractive than Zhang Ziyi or Zhao Wei.

But her personality… that was a different matter.

Lin Hao wasn’t the type to suffer unnecessarily, so he didn’t have any deeper intentions. Nor did he plan to compromise his comfort. He just figured he’d avoid babysitting duties in the future.

…

After lunch, Hu Jing was adamant about not staying in the restaurant. So they returned to the school, finding the numbers hadn’t even reached 500 yet. They waited in the hallway like everyone else, occasionally running through her skit.

Looks, after all, can’t be ignored. Hu Jing was eye-catching, and male eyes kept drifting her way. Lin Hao, meanwhile, stood out too.

At a time when Aaron Kwok’s hairstyle was all the rage, his thick hair was parted in the middle. But Lin Hao, tall and striking, had opted for a simple buzz cut, not wanting the hassle of maintaining hair. His unique style made him highly noticeable.

In a crowd of pretty boys, he stood out.

So the pair remained the center of attention, which made Hu Jing want to move elsewhere. Trying to be a gentleman, Lin Hao agreed to take her somewhere else after using the bathroom.