Video Editor

July 7, 1997, the first day of the National College Entrance Examination.

The entrance to Xihongshi No.1 Middle School was packed with people.

Parents who came to see their children off to the exam surrounded the school gate, some holding banners, some carrying mung bean soup, and some repeatedly telling their children "don't be nervous," "read the questions carefully," and "check your work after you finish."

Ma Dongmei's mother had the loudest voice. Standing in the crowd, she shouted, "Dongmei! Don't fall asleep! Mom will make you some pork ribs after the exam!"

"..." Ma Dongmei blushed with embarrassment and rushed inside without looking back.

Yuan Hua's father, the district head, drove his son to school in a Santana. When he got out of the car, he patted Yuan Hua on the shoulder and said, "Son, make our Yuan family proud."

"Don't worry! I will definitely get into Tsinghua University." Yuan Hua nodded, looking confident.

"Haha, good! That's ambitious."

Qiuya walked there by herself. Her home was close to the school, and she memorized English words as she walked.

Da Chun was being pulled inside by his mother, who was dragging him by the ear. As they walked, he muttered, "Mom, stop pulling me, I can walk by myself..."

Zhang Yang squeezed into the crowd, looking around, and would glance at any pretty girl he saw.

Charlotte did not attend the college entrance examination.

Because he no longer needs to take the college entrance examination.

The entertainment industry is truly a treasure trove; even a rural auntie who sings Errenzhuan (a traditional folk art form) can be praised to such an extreme degree.

This shows just how lucrative it is to work in the entertainment industry, which is why many people are willing to fight tooth and nail to have their children follow in their footsteps and keep their families in the industry to enjoy high salaries.

In fact, this is a distorted phenomenon in the Chinese entertainment industry, with multiple factors contributing to its high actor salaries.

Therefore, at this point, Charlotte believed that she had embarked on a smooth road and naturally no longer needed to walk the path that she was not good at in the first place.

Su Ning followed the crowd inside, found her examination room, and calmly sat down.

A tense atmosphere permeated the examination room.

Some people were flipping through the last pages of the book, some were taking deep breaths, and some were pretending to be asleep on the table.

Suning did nothing; he just sat quietly.

The test papers are distributed, and the questions are answered.

Chinese, Mathematics, English, and Science.

Four exams, two and a half days.

For others, this is a life-or-death juncture.

For Suning, this is just a formality.

A late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator possesses powerful divine sense, photographic memory, and logical thinking abilities far exceeding those of ordinary people.

I can memorize the knowledge points in those high school textbooks after reading them once, and understand them all after thinking about them once.

Even if they wanted to cheat, it would be an easy task.

In the Chinese composition, Su Ning wrote "On the Joy of Reading," citing classical texts and displaying brilliant literary talent.

After finishing writing, I glanced at the candidate next to me and found that the person was biting their pen and staring blankly.

Su Ning solved the last big math problem using three different methods, and after checking it, there were no mistakes.

The person next to him was still calculating the first step on the draft paper.

In English listening comprehension, I can hear every word clearly, and I can see the answers to reading comprehension questions at a glance.

The person next to me was still in a daze after finishing the listening test; it was obvious they hadn't understood it.

To him, the physics formulas, chemical equations, and biological knowledge points in the science section were as simple as one plus one equals two.

The person next to me was sweating profusely, and his eraser was worn out from all the scrubbing.

After finishing the last exam, I walked out of the exam hall, the sunlight blinding me.

Su Ning stood at the school gate, watching the candidates who were either happy or sad, but her heart was unmoved.

Some people were laughing and jumping, saying they did well on the exam.

Some people ran out crying, saying it was all over. Some parents chased after them asking if it was difficult, while others pulled their children aside and said it was okay.

However, for Suning, the college entrance examination is just a task.

The task is complete, that's all.

However, Suning's parents couldn't remain calm. Fortunately, the college entrance examination was over, and it didn't matter what they asked now.

"Suning, how about Mom makes you braised pork ribs tonight?"

"Great! Mom, your braised pork ribs are the best."

"Hmph! Just like your father, all smooth talk."

"hey-hey……"

……

In late July, the results of the college entrance examination were released.

A large crowd had gathered in front of the bulletin board at Xihongshi No. 1 Middle School.

Some people squeezed in, then squeezed out again, their expressions varied.

Some people were copying down the cut-off scores in their notebooks, while others were calling home to report good news or bad.

Holy crap! A perfect score!

This shout drew everyone's attention.

"Who? Who got a perfect score?"

"Su Ning! Su Ning from Class Two!"

"Holy crap, who is this guy? I've never heard of him before?"

"He transferred here, and he's always been quiet. I never expected him to be so amazing!"

"Teacher Wang is awesome this time! First, he produced a big star named Xia Luo, and now he has produced a top scorer in the college entrance examination."

"Yes! This time, Teacher Wang received a ton of gifts from others."

The news caused a sensation throughout the school.

School leaders personally visited the family to express their condolences. Holding Su Ning's mother's hand, they said, "Sister, you've raised a wonderful son! He's the top scorer in the province, a perfect score! The first one since the founding of Xihong City No. 1 Middle School!"

A reporter arrived with a camera and shoved the microphone in front of Su Ning: "Su Ning, you got a perfect score. Do you have any study tips to share?"

Su Ning thought for a moment, "I don't have any special tips, just listen attentively in class and do the exercises diligently after class."

The reporter pressed on, asking, "So how do you usually study? How many hours do you study each day?"

Suning said, "It's not much, just a normal routine."

The reporter persisted: "So, is there anything you'd like to say to your juniors?"

Suning said, "Study hard and make progress every day."

The reporter was speechless.

When the neighbors saw Su Ning's mother, they all gave her a thumbs up: "Sister, your child is amazing! A perfect score! The top scorer in the province! He'll definitely get into Tsinghua or Peking University!"

Su Ning's mother couldn't stop smiling and told everyone she met, "My son Xiao Ning has been smart since he was little. I knew he would definitely get into a good university!"

Charlotte was recording a song in the recording studio when she heard the news.

He was stunned for a moment, then took off his headphones. "Su Ning? He got a perfect score?"

Zhang Yang nodded in agreement: "That's right! He's the only top scorer in the entire province. I heard that Tsinghua and Peking Universities have sent people to poach him, offering a whole host of conditions."

Charlotte remained silent for a moment.

That quiet, seemingly ordinary transfer student was actually the top scorer in the college entrance examination?
Thinking back to dinner that night, to the sachet that Sister Na mentioned later, and to Suning's always calm face.

"Luo'er, what are you thinking about?" Zhang Yang asked.

Charlotte shook her head. "It's nothing."

He continued recording songs, but he always felt something was off.

Suning is no ordinary person.

……

That night, Su Ning lay in bed, thinking about which college to apply to next.

Tsinghua or Peking University? That is the question.

Su's mother has been asking her several times today: "Xiao Ning, is Tsinghua University better or Peking University? Which one do you prefer? Why don't we go and take a look at both?"

Suning did not respond.

It's not that he didn't want to go to Tsinghua or Peking University, it's just that he felt...

Just then, the system's voice rang in my mind.

【ding dong】

[The host takes the college entrance examination and achieves a perfect score, completing the mission.] [Mission Reward: 1% of the host's memory is restored.]

[Current host memory restored to 6%]

Suning was taken aback.

My memory has returned a little.

He quickly closed his eyes, trying to feel the newly arriving fragments.

It's still that same space, still that celestial palace on the sea of ​​clouds, still those blurry figures.

But this time, Suning saw even more.

Those people seemed to be his former family members and disciples.

They were listening to his sermon; some were sitting, some were standing, and some were kneeling, each with a different expression.

They were bowing to themselves with great respect.

They were smiling at me, their eyes filled with affection.

Then the scene shifts, and the figures disappear one by one, until only he remains.

The vast hall was empty, the sea of ​​clouds was desolate, and the heavenly palace was lonely.

Su Ning opened her eyes and sighed softly.

Where did those people go?
Why am I here?
Before Su Ning could think about it further, the system's voice rang out again.

[Side Quest Released]

[Applying for the Directing Department, Class of 1997, Beijing Film Academy]

[Mission Rewards: 1. 1% memory recovery; 2. The Complete Guide to Exorcism Techniques by Uncle Nine from "Mr. Vampire"]

Suning was stunned.

Beijing Film Academy?

Directing Department?
How could a top scorer in the college entrance exam apply to an art school?
This isn't... isn't this fucking insane?
"System," Su Ning questioned inwardly, barely containing his anger, "Are you kidding me? Has the hell your brain gotten waterlogged again?"

[No mistake]

"I got a perfect score, the top scorer in the national college entrance examination. I can easily choose from Tsinghua and Peking University, and even Harvard and MIT are eager to recruit me. And you fucking want me to apply to an art school?"

【Yes】

"For art schools, a score of 200-300 in the academic subjects is enough. What's the point of me getting so many points?"

The host can choose not to perform side quests.

[Side quests are not mandatory; the host can decide whether to complete them.]

“…” Su Ning fell silent.

Looking at the task reward, Su Ning still gave in, much to his chagrin.

Memory recovery rate: 1%.

And also... The complete guide to Uncle Nine's exorcism techniques from "Mr. Vampire".

Uncle Nine's exorcism technique.

I recalled that night and the ghostly aura I saw on Sister Na.

Thinking back to the exorcism talisman I drew, although it was effective, it was only the most basic Taoist technique.

Although I have cleared away those ghostly auras, who knows what I might encounter in the future?
This world is clearly not a simple entertainment world; it may actually contain all sorts of strange and unusual things.

If I could really obtain Uncle Nine's exorcism technique, and combine it with my own cultivation as a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, then I wouldn't have to resort to such rudimentary methods when encountering similar situations in the future.

Moreover, you can show off by changing the feng shui, which can make people prosperous. Just thinking about it makes me excited.

Moreover... 1% of my memory has been restored.

That 1% of memory might hold the answer I've always wanted to know.

About that space-time world, about those who disappeared, about his own past.

Su Ning sighed, "Fine! You're still the best."

……

The next day, Su Ning's mother was cooking in the kitchen when Su Ning went over and said, "Mom, I've decided which school to apply to."

Su's mother turned around, her face full of anticipation, oil still dripping from the spatula in her hand. "Tsinghua or Peking University?"

Suning paused for a moment, then said, "Beijing Film Academy."

The spatula fell to the ground, splattering oil everywhere. "What?"

"Beijing Film Academy, Directing Department." Su Ning lowered her head, suppressing her humiliation.

Su's mother stood there, speechless for a long time.

Then she rushed over and touched Su Ning's forehead, "You don't have a fever... Xiao Ning, have you gone stupid from studying?"

Su Ning was both amused and exasperated. "Mom, I'm not stupid. I just want to study directing."

"Director? You got a perfect score, the top scorer in the province, and you want to study directing?" Su's mother's voice changed, rising eight octaves. "Do you even know what the academic score is for art schools? Two or three hundred points is enough! With such a high score, going to that kind of school is a waste, isn't it? How can our family be so disgraced?"

Suning had anticipated this outcome.

He took a deep breath and began to make up a story: "Mom, this is what I'm thinking. Tsinghua and Peking University are good, but too many people come out of those schools. Directors are different; there are only a handful in the whole country, so they're rare talents. Besides, I've loved watching movies since I was little, and I want to make my own movies for ordinary people. I want to send those money-grabbing trash directors to eat shit."

As Su's mother listened, her expression shifted from anger to confusion, and then from confusion to hesitation.

The main reason is that Su Ning has always been very opinionated since he was a child, and his parents seem to have never changed his mind.

"But... that would be such a pity..."

"Mom, don't worry, I know what I'm doing. I know what I'm doing. I want to become a top master like Cameron."

Su's mother looked at Su Ning with a complicated expression. Seeing her son's serious eyes, she suddenly didn't know what to say.

This child has always been very determined; once he's made up his mind, nothing can change it.

When I was little, I insisted on learning to draw, and no one could stop me.

He insisted on transferring schools during junior high, and no one could persuade him otherwise.

just now……

"You...why don't you think about it again?"

"No need to think about it anymore, this is it."

"..."

……

When the news spread, the entire city of Xihong exploded.

"Have you heard? The top scorer in the national college entrance examination who got a perfect score actually applied to the Beijing Film Academy!"

"What? Film school? Isn't that for art students?"

"Yeah! He got a perfect score, going to a school like that? He must be crazy!"

"What a pity, what a real pity... Why not go to Tsinghua or Peking University to study directing? Isn't that just wasting your life?"

"It's their choice, what's it to you?"

"Is that guy trying to hook up with a female celebrity?"

"Hehe, yeah! It's the easiest thing for a director to have sex with female celebrities."

When the neighbors saw Su Ning's mother, they were too embarrassed to ask her anything.

Su's mother didn't say anything, but her expression wasn't very good.

Charlotte was resting in the recording studio when she heard the news.

He paused for a moment, then laughed. "Interesting."

Zhang Yang leaned closer: "Luo'er, what are you laughing at?"

Charlotte shook her head. "It's nothing. I just think this person is really interesting."

He got a perfect score on the college entrance exam and then applied to the film academy.

Most people really wouldn't do something like that.

Unless... Su Ning is no ordinary person at all.

Charlotte snapped out of her thoughts and continued recording the song.

He has no right to interfere in other people's business now.

Charlotte just needs to live her own life well.

Especially Qiuya, who has recently started to soften her stance; naturally, a second life should be more fulfilling.

...(End of this chapter)