SEC Chapter 583 The Surprise of Beijing Film Academy Students and Faculty
Chapter 583 The Surprise of Beijing Film Academy Students and Faculty
……
……
December 6st, early morning.
The Capital Film Academy was shrouded in a thin morning mist, and the early winter wind already carried a hint of chill.
Students on the Beijing Film Academy campus have already begun their day's activities.
Some people, bundled up in thick down jackets, hunched their shoulders and hurried towards the cafeteria; others, holding hot coffee, stood by the roadside chatting with classmates, their breath condensing into puffs of white vapor in the air…
It's a very peculiar atmosphere—
Outside is the cruel, fiercely competitive entertainment industry where you can be eliminated at any time, while here is a relatively quiet, protected ivory tower where you can dream for a few days.
Everyone knows that these days are numbered, but they still try to act as if nothing is wrong, laughing and making a fuss as they please.
"Hey, is this Zhang Jingyi?"
A girl with a ponytail nudged her companion with her elbow and tilted her chin forward, noticing the dark figure ahead.
Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for a few people around her to hear.
"I've seen her play Zhao Erxi; she's very cute."
"What's so cute about her? She looks pretty ordinary, she's not even wearing makeup, and she's not pretty at all. What's so attractive about her?"
Another girl pursed her lips, her gaze carrying a critical, scrutinizing, and condescending air.
Her makeup was exquisite, with curled eyelashes and glossy lip gloss that shimmered in the morning sunlight.
In contrast,
The figure in the black down-filled school uniform in front looked almost too plain.
"I'm so envious. What kind of luck did she have to be able to sit next to Junior Brother Gu Qing?"
"Junior brother? You've been putting on an act all along. If you really entered the entertainment industry, wouldn't you be kneeling and calling him Brother Gu?"
"If you can protect me, I'll call you Father Gu!"
Several people burst into laughter.
Zhang Jingyi, wearing a black down-filled school uniform, had her hands, gloved with fur, tucked into the pockets of her black down jacket. Her plain face, without makeup, was slightly flushed in the morning breeze.
She had a high nose bridge, with her prominent nasal bone burying into the collar of her dress, revealing only a pair of downcast eyes and a small section of her fair forehead.
She walked silently toward the classroom alone.
As a minor celebrity within the Beijing Film Academy, Zhang Jingyi is often greeted by students on the street when she goes to the rehearsal room.
"Hi, Jingyi, good morning."
A young man in a camel-colored coat walked by, smiled at her, and revealed a set of neat white teeth.
"Good morning."
Zhang Jingyi hurriedly pulled her hand out of her pocket, bowed slightly, and even showed a hint of respect.
She dared not put on airs at all.
Because on one occasion, she neglected to respond to a stranger's greeting due to the large crowd.
That night,
People on the Beijing Film Academy's campus forum and in some class groups have complained about her:
"Pretentious," "Acting like a big shot," "They're not even famous yet, what are they pretending for?"
Those words, each one uttered, pierced her heart like needles.
Some people say she "thinks she's someone special."
Some people say, "Isn't it just that he's lucky to be sitting next to Gu Qing?"
Some people say, "With this kind of quality, she'll never become famous."
This was a significant blow and a lesson for Zhang Jingyi.
As an ordinary freshman in this year's college, her mentality is not strong enough to ignore all public opinion.
She was only eighteen years old, had just left home, and had just entered university.
Between feeling wronged and being angry, she chose—anger stemming from feeling wronged.
I dare not lash out, dare not argue back, but I can't stop feeling frustrated and angry.
Remember this lesson,
then,
She always perks up and responds immediately to anyone who greets her.
Regardless of whether you know them or not, regardless of who the other person is, and regardless of what you were doing at the time.
Zhang Jingyi would stop, smile, and earnestly reply with "Good morning" or "Hello".
"Junior Sister Jingyi, do you have any news about Gu Qing?"
When will he return to Beijing Film Academy? Will he come to class?
"I heard his new movie is about to be released. Will he come to our school to promote it?"
But after Zhang Jingyi responded, she was bombarded with the same questions that left her speechless.
"Good heavens, how am I supposed to know anything about Gu Qing every day?"
Zhang Jingyi inwardly felt dejected.
"What am I to him in your eyes?"
"Girlfriend? I'd love to!"
But she could only think about it in her heart.
"I'm sorry, fellow senior brothers and sisters, I'm not quite sure either."
Amidst disappointed and skeptical gazes, Zhang Jingyi forced herself to finish the task, then hurriedly pulled her collar up higher, buried her face deeper, and walked quickly toward the rehearsal room with her head down.
"pat-"
Entering the warm rehearsal room, we were shut out from the biting cold outside.
The radiators emitted warm air, and the floor was made of wood, which had a slight springiness when stepped on.
A thin layer of condensation clung to the window, blurring the view outside.
But Zhang Jingyi's heart, instead of relaxing, became even more tense.
In the rehearsal room,
There were about ten students, both boys and girls, chatting and laughing.
Some people were stretching their legs against the mirror, some were chatting on the ground, some were playing games on their phones, and a man and a woman were flirting and pushing each other in a corner, their laughter ambiguous.
Upon hearing the door open, everyone instinctively looked over and discovered that it was Zhang Jingyi who had entered.
An enthusiastic male student's eyes lit up, and he was about to greet them when he noticed the indifferent expression on the person next to him, so he immediately shut up awkwardly.
The once cheerful rehearsal room suddenly became very quiet.
She lowered her head and put the shoes she had taken off into the shoe cabinet, her movements very light and slow, as if afraid of making a sound that would attract attention.
Pulling open the collar of the down jacket, I took it off, revealing a brown sweater underneath.
She carefully folded the clothes neatly, then consciously moved to a spot away from the crowd.
The warm wooden floor provided heating. Zhang Jingyi sat quietly to one side, leaning against the wall with her knees bent, and silently scrolled through her phone.
He curled up into a ball, like a snail hiding in its shell.
Zhang Jingyi had become accustomed to this treatment.
Ever since I publicly tagged those who spread rumors and slandered me in the group last time.
Her public image has plummeted.
Those girls thought, "I was just joking, why are you taking it so seriously?"
"She played the second female lead in a movie, and she's now a big star. She's different from us now."
When these sarcastic remarks reached Zhang Jingyi's ears, she almost laughed in anger.
You guys watch stand-up comedy too, right?
Language or the art of offense?
Why is it that you can't stand it when I offend you?!
If you're jealous, just say so! Why hide it? It's disgusting!
Zhang Jingyi had a strong and resounding argument in her mind, but she didn't have the courage to confront these people directly.
Continued, humiliating anger.
As for the male students, those who cared about public opinion dared not get close to her.
Those who disregard public opinion, however, harbor other ulterior motives.
Even senior students from other years pursued her relentlessly, hoping to "talk to the school beauty" or "flirt with an internet celebrity."
Having been explicitly rejected by Zhang Jingyi in public, those people were naturally furious and embarrassed.
Although they are all adults and are considered college students by outsiders, they are still a group of adults.
In terms of academic quality, without exception, they all belong to the category of "those who slipped through the net of nine-year compulsory education".
Few people can get into a proper high school or a good university; it's already good enough if they can pass their academic subjects.
They're either playful or troublesome, living a full-on nightlife, and all aiming to become big stars overnight. You can imagine the personal qualities of both men and women in such cases.
Compared to these people, Zhang Jingyi is one of the very few high achievers.
She was admitted with a college entrance examination score of 480, which was 165 points higher than the cutoff score for the performance major at Beijing Film Academy last year.
To put it bluntly,
At Beijing Film Academy, she was considered an academic superstar with excellent grades and conduct!
He excels in academic subjects and is among the top students in his major. He is never late or leaves early, and never misses a class.
Zhang Jingyi is quite wronged.
It stands to reason,
No one who gets into the Beijing Film Academy's acting department is ugly, regardless of gender.
Compared to ordinary people, they are all at least a 6 or 7 out of 10 level, but that's about it.
To be truly stunningly handsome, or breathtakingly beautiful like an angel, is a rare find at the Beijing Film Academy, appearing only once every fifteen years.
Why fifteen years?
Because Liu Tianxian enrolled fifteen years ago, and Gu Qing enrolled fifteen years later.
These two individuals are widely recognized by the faculty, students, and netizens of the Beijing Film Academy as having the "highest level of attractiveness."
Zhang Jingyi admits that she was greatly influenced by Gu Qing, who had been her deskmate for three months since she first enrolled in school.
Gu Qing is beautiful, gentle, outstanding, witty, humorous, and composed, giving those around her a strong sense of security... She has amazed everyone over the past eighteen years.
This isn't entirely Zhang Jingyi's reason for rejecting those sleazy men who were pursuing her!
At most, it'll account for... well... 20%!
She wears her school uniform every day, and goes to and from class with either light makeup or no makeup, quietly pursuing her studies.
The men who pursued her were all slicked-back hair and wore even heavier perfume and makeup than she did.
He looks down on people with arrogance and disdain. In class, he talks about luxury cars and brand names all day long, and says that millions or tens of millions are "no big deal".
Zhang Jingyi was also puzzled.
If you were all this rich, spending tens of millions at will, why would you bother finding a talent agency?
Why can't I just open my own?
She still remembers the time she was filming with Gu Qing:
"Wow, what? A cup of milk tea costs 40 yuan? That's so expensive!"
Gu Qing's stunned expression at the prices in the capital and her strange accent still make her chuckle when she thinks about it.
It stands to reason,
Gu Qing earns hundreds of millions in salary for a single film and is a well-known star in the entertainment industry.
But every time she comes to class, she wears the same school uniform as her, so easygoing and natural, and she never talks about "millions in minutes" in that tone.
Compared to the boys around her who take their parents' money for granted, it would be strange if Zhang Jingyi could appreciate them.
This is human nature, and it has nothing to do with men or women.
Subconsciously, she felt inferior to her classmates.
Her family was not poor; few ordinary families could afford the tuition fees for an arts school.
But they weren't exactly prominent; their parents were music teachers in the area, and they were considered middle class.
Compared to most of my classmates, I don't have a prestigious background or endless money; I have to rely on myself for every step of the way.
Zhang Jingyi naturally felt more favorably towards and closer to Gu Qing's demeanor.
Plus,
She herself is not bad.
She was the school beauty, scored high marks to get into Beijing Film Academy, and consistently ranked at the top of her class.
It's like how a talented scholar from a poor family in ancient times, who struggled to pass the imperial examinations, naturally harbors a sense of rejection towards classmates who lack ability but are arrogant.
None of the men who pursued her could compare to her in any way.
Why should I like you?
Because you're ugly?
Just because your face is whiter than mine?
Do you think your perfume is stronger than mine?
So, while Zhang Jingyi felt bad about being ostracized and isolated by her classmates, it also fueled her competitive spirit.
"Gu Qing once said that only mediocre people worry about things. He's so popular and outstanding, yet he still gets criticized. Isn't it normal for me to be envied?"
She comforted herself in this way.
Zhang Jingyi moved a little further inside, turned on her phone's camera, and took a picture of her slender, fair fingers making a "V" sign.
Then, she accessed Adou's account.
"Class is starting~ Today is a script rehearsal class. I hope I don't get scolded by the teacher. I'm so nervous."
After editing and attaching the photos, Zhang Jingyi began today's update.
The caption included a hands-clasped emoji and a nervous little yellow face.
Her account's follower count, including some fake followers bought by the company, has now officially surpassed the million mark, reaching 1.1 million.
Each video receives an average of around 200,000 likes.
This is already a very high number for a freshman who hasn't officially debuted yet and only has one supporting role.
In the comments section,
"Baby Erxi, your fingers are so beautiful!!"
"Yi-chan, good luck in class! When is your new drama coming out? Will you be working with Gu Qing again in your second drama?"
"Don't worry, don't worry. You're so cute, your teacher definitely won't have the heart to scold you."
As soon as the video was posted, a few comments appeared, offering praise and encouragement.
Zhang Jingyi unconsciously covered her mouth and smiled.
These lovely and kind fans healed her.
Zhang Jingyi really wanted to reply to every comment, but remembering the company's rule that she could only reply to one comment for every three videos posted, she had to give up.
The company euphemistically stated that she should be down-to-earth, take an approachable route to solidify her fan base, but not be overly enthusiastic, and should reduce videos showing her face to maintain a sense of mystery.
The purpose is to avoid being targeted and slandered by rivals after debuting.
But Zhang Jingyi wasn't stupid. She felt that the company was more afraid that she would quit or become a "web celebrity" because she couldn't stand the loneliness.
after all,
An account with a million followers can easily earn a considerable income over a year by simply accepting a few advertisements.
The career path that "Master Zhou" set for her was that of a "female Qingyi" (a type of female role in Peking Opera), taking the route of a "leading female role" (a type of female role in Peking Opera).
I will work hard to improve my basic skills and study diligently until graduation, so that I can take over her job in the future.
This road is too difficult to travel.
For most students at Beijing Film Academy, spending four years at school learning the basics is unacceptable.
Many students disappear by their sophomore year, going out to take on acting roles, work on film sets, appear on variety shows, or become internet celebrities.
The entertainment industry changes and evolves so quickly, and so does society. Who would want to slow down?
With her millions of followers, she could easily make a fortune as an internet celebrity over the years.
But Zhang Jingyi felt that the company was overthinking things.
If she really wanted to be an internet celebrity, she wouldn't have worked so hard to get into the Beijing Film Academy.
It used to be all about making big money and becoming a big star!
Now, she has another goal.
"Someday in the future, I will hold my head high and face Gu Qing with my head held high!"
Zhang Jingyi firmly believes she can do it.
The bell rang precisely on time to signal the start of class.
Zhang Songwen arrived right on time and pushed open the door to enter.
He was wearing a dark cotton coat, a scarf casually draped around his neck, and a well-worn lesson plan clutched in his hand.
His face wore that usual, gentle, and warm smile, like that of a kind and approachable elder.
"Good morning, Teacher Zhang."
Zhang Jingyi quickly put down her phone and respectfully stood up to greet them.
"Xiao Zhang, have a seat."
Zhang Songwen smiled kindly at her and reached out to press down, indicating that she didn't need to be so reserved.
Good morning, Teacher Zhang.
As for the surrounding classmates, they lazily greeted her without even moving from their seats. They glanced at Zhang Jingyi with a hint of disdain in their eyes and muttered to themselves.
"Fawning."
……
Are there any students who haven't arrived yet?
Zhang Songwen looked around; his voice wasn't loud, but it was very clear.
"Some of Teacher Zhang, Xu Jie, and Wang Yu are sleeping in the dormitory; they probably just woke up."
A boy lazily raised his hand to report, his tone full of indifference.
"Alright, then tell them not to come to this class."
Zhang Songwen nodded, his voice calm.
Once the class officially began, his smile vanished.
The change was so fast that it caught everyone off guard—one second he was a kind neighbor, the next second his entire aura had changed.
The teacher's composure and serious demeanor instantly came into play.
The oppressive feeling that surged in was like a huge boulder pressing down, making the originally lazy students shudder and immediately adjust their crooked postures.
"On a film set, the people who have this right are big stars, big artists, and big directors."
Zhang Songwen remained calm, his gaze sweeping over the faces of each student.
"It seems that Xu and Wang are very confident that they will become very popular in the future. I look forward to the day when they come to Beijing Film Academy and prove me wrong."
The classroom was extremely quiet; even breathing was deliberately suppressed.
Sensing the silence of the classroom, Zhang Songwen's eye muscles relaxed, and his usually stern demeanor transformed back into that of a gentle middle-aged man.
"Alright, students, before we begin today's rehearsal, I have some news to share with you."
He paused, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Your classmate Gu Qing... called me."
"what?!"
"Teacher Songwen, is it true? You're not lying to us?"
"Does Brother Gu (the younger brother) really still remember us?"
Everyone was surprised and overjoyed.
"Gu Qing?"
Zhang Jingyi, who had been standing obediently, widened her eyes and stared at Zhang Songwen with her mouth slightly open upon hearing this.
"Look at what you're saying! Wasn't he from the class of 17? Wasn't he your classmate?"
Zhang Songwen, with his hands behind his back, said with a smile:
"I won't keep you in suspense any longer. Your classmate Gu Qing has a new movie coming out on December 15th, and he said he'd like to invite everyone to go to the cinema to watch it."
He's treating us, and he even said he has a surprise for you in the movie.
"I checked the time that day, and it seems to be Friday afternoon. Are you guys going? Or are you planning to rest in the dorm?"
"Go! You absolutely have to go! Who wants to stay in the dorm!"
"If Brother Gu is treating, I'll crawl through fire and water to go!"
"Teacher Zhang, did Gu Qing really prepare a surprise for us in the drama? No way? Ahhh!! I can't wait!!"
The male students cheered, and the female students screamed.
The classroom atmosphere suddenly became lively, like a pot of water boiling vigorously.
Some people jumped up, some clapped and cheered.
Some of the female students were already discussing what clothes they should wear that day.
Zhang Jingyi didn't say anything, but she felt the radiator on the floor was a bit hot. The heat rose from the soles of her feet, down her calves, knees, and thighs, spreading all the way to her whole body, and her skin under her sweater was almost sweating.
The chill of winter brought by the capital has been completely dispelled.
What is this surprise?
Just as she was lost in thought,
"Xiao Zhang, come here for a second. Your classmate Gu Qing asked me to pass on a message to you."
Zhang Songwen smiled broadly, grinned, and suddenly waved.
In an instant,
Countless burning, jealous gazes, capable of piercing to death, surged towards them.
Zhang Jingyi was a little dazed; the feeling of being hit by a surprise had already overwhelmed her.
She couldn't even remember how she got there; she only remembered that her legs were moving, as if being pulled by something, as she walked step by step toward the podium.
"Xiao Zhang and Xiao Gu said that on the 17th, they will come to the capital to hold a premiere."
Zhang Songwen covered his mouth with his hand and whispered with a gossipy smile.
"By the way, there's a girl named Zhou Ye in the second-year performing arts department. You two are very close?"
Xiao Gu said, "Take him to ask when you have some free time. If you both want to see it, he'll reserve two tickets for you."
"Teacher Zhang... I... I want to go."
Zhang Jingyi felt like she couldn't even finish a sentence.
Her voice was trembling, even her eyelashes were shaking.
I was sweating a lot, and the stray hairs on my forehead were wet and stuck to my forehead. My breathing became shallow and rapid.
Why does this room feel hotter and hotter?!
Gu Qing specially prepared tickets to the premiere for her.
Zhang Jingyi's joy was beyond words.
"Well, let's go."
Zhang Songwen looked at Zhang Jingyi, who had turned around stiffly and was about to walk back in a daze, and then seemed to remember something and called her back.
"Xiao Zhang, wait a minute."
"Teacher Zhang, what's wrong?"
Zhang Jingyi turned around and felt a chill run down her spine—why is my back so cold?
"He said...did you receive the thing he sent you?"
Zhang Songwen's smile deepened with curiosity.
What exactly did Xiao Gu prepare to be so captivating?
Zhang Songwen welcomes campus romances.
Young people should date.
of course,
For example, one of his former colleagues, who was a teacher, dating a female student, was not allowed.
"Received... Received it."
Zhang Jingyi's heart was pounding in her throat, her blood was rushing to her head, her pretty face flushed even more, and she nodded vigorously.
……
...(End of this chapter)