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In early September 1997, the start of the school year arrived.

Xihongshi Railway Station was packed with people.

The platform was packed with people, parents everywhere sending their children off to university.

Some carried large and small bags, their snakeskin bags bulging with blankets, mattresses, washbasins, and lunchboxes, as if they wanted to move their entire home there.

Some held their children's hands, giving them countless instructions and reminders, saying again and again, "Call me when you get there," "Let me know if you don't have enough money," and "Take care of yourself." As they spoke, their own eyes welled up with tears.

Some secretly wiped away tears, afraid that their children would see, and turned away, their shoulders trembling.

The announcement played repeatedly over and over again, a gentle yet mechanical female voice: "Train K54 bound for Beijing is about to arrive at the station. Passengers, please proceed to platform 3 for ticket inspection and boarding..."

Suning stood alone on the platform, pulling a suitcase.

A boy next to them was surrounded by his parents.

The mother was straightening the boy's collar, turning it over and over, afraid of making any wrinkles.

The father was stuffing money into the boy's hand, one bill at a time, while muttering, "A poor family on a rich road."

The boy looked impatient, saying "Okay, okay, I know" while his eyes were red, and he secretly wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

Su Ning glanced at it and then looked away.

His mother didn't come.

My father didn't come either.

They were originally going to come.

Just a few days ago, Su's mother was saying, "Xiao Ning, let Mom go to Beijing with you! I'm worried about you going alone. It's such a long train ride, and you'll have to find your school after you get off. What if you get lost?"

"Need not!"

Su's mother then said, "Then have your dad take two days off to take you to school. He's worked in the factory for so many years, taking two days off shouldn't be a problem for him."

"Need not…"

Later, they stopped talking about it, after all, they were just being polite.

And there were some things I didn't know what to say.

Admissions officers from Tsinghua and Peking Universities have come several times, offering a whole host of conditions…

Tuition is free, scholarships are awarded, students can choose any major, and there's a guarantee of postgraduate studies and studying abroad.

As long as Suning changes his college application, everything is negotiable.

Su's mother was tempted, and Su's father also advised Su Ning to think it over. All the relatives in the family came to persuade her.

But Suning just wouldn't change its mind, so I said, "I'll go to Beijing Film Academy."

Su Ning has lost count of how many times he has said this.

Su's mother was so angry that she didn't speak to Su Ning for several days.

I no longer ask Suning what to eat when I cook, and I don't call Suning to eat. The atmosphere at home instantly becomes so cold it feels like it could freeze.

Su's father smoked all night, and the ashtray was piled high with cigarette butts, making the room too choking to enter.

The next morning, Su's father, with red eyes and an unshaven beard, said to Su Ning, "Su Ning, now that you're all grown up, make your own decisions! Just don't regret it later."

"Dad, I know what I'm good for! So what if I got into Tsinghua or Peking University? I still have to work, earn money, and make a living, right?"

"Alright! Stop spouting your nonsensical theories, or I'll really lose control and want to beat you up."

"..."

Then, Su's father really stopped caring.

It's not that we don't care, it's that we don't know how to manage it.

A top scorer in the college entrance exam, instead of going to Tsinghua or Peking University, insisted on going to some damn film academy.

If word gets out, the neighbors will laugh at us.

People will ask, "Your son has such good grades, why did he go to that kind of school?"

How should I answer? Should I say the child wants to be a director? But is being a director even a respectable profession for his mother?
When did the entertainment industry become popular? Wasn't it due to the massive influx of capital in later generations?

In the stubborn mindset of ordinary people, those working in the entertainment industry are still considered to be of low social standing.

Su's mother felt ashamed.

Su's father also felt ashamed.

So, they simply decided not to send it.

Out of sight, out of mind.

……

The train is here.

The green train, rumbling and carrying the smell of coal smoke, slowly pulled up to the platform.

The train doors opened, and passengers scrambled to board, carrying large and small bags, shouting and yelling, creating chaos.

Suning picked up his suitcase and got into the car.

Find a seat, put your luggage away, and sit down.

The window seat offers a perfect view of the platform.

Across from me sat a middle-aged couple, also dropping their child off at school.

The woman was clearly a mother; her eyes were red, and she was holding the hand of a girl next to her, giving her instructions.

The girl was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with her hair in a ponytail, wearing new clothes, and keeping her head down without saying a word.

"Eat well when you get to school, and don't be picky about food. If you don't like the food in the cafeteria, buy some outside. Don't try to save money."

"It's getting cold, wear more clothes so you don't catch a cold. Autumn in Beijing is cool, and there's a big temperature difference between day and night, so remember to wear more clothes."

“If you don’t have enough money, call home. Don’t be stingy. Although our family isn’t rich, we can still afford to send you to university.”

The girl nodded, her eyes reddening.

Su Ning looked out the window without saying anything.

On the platform, people were still waving goodbye.

Someone chased after the train for a few steps, shouting something, before being stopped by station staff.

Some people stood still, watching the train go further and further away.

The train started moving.

The Xihong City platform slowly receded, getting further and further away, until it finally disappeared from sight.

Suning didn't say much along the way.

The girl across from us was going to Beijing to study at a teachers' college, and her parents excitedly chatted with her the whole way there.

We talked about how the old hen at home laid a few eggs, and how the old village party secretary got a new motorcycle.

The conversation started with how expensive and unpalatable the boxed meals on the train were, and then shifted to whether Beijing winters are very cold.

The conversation started with how well my daughter was doing at school, and then moved on to whether she could stay in Beijing to work after graduation.

Suning listened, nodding occasionally.

The woman suddenly asked Su Ning, "Young man, are you going to Beijing alone? Where are your family?"

Suning said, "I was busy and couldn't come."

The woman sighed, "Poor thing, going out all alone at such a young age. You'll have to take care of yourself over there, make sure you don't go hungry or get cold."

“…” Su Ning smiled but did not explain.

……

More than ten hours later, the train arrived at Beijing Station.

Beijing Railway Station is huge, more than ten times larger than Xihongshi Railway Station.

People everywhere, cars everywhere, tall buildings everywhere.

The exit was crowded with people. People were holding up signs to pick up passengers, people were shouting to attract customers, and scalpers were swarming around asking if you wanted a ticket.

Suning pulled her suitcase and walked out of the station.

In Beijing, the autumn wind is a bit chilly.

The sky was overcast, and the sun was not visible.

There was an indescribable smell in the air, a mixture of coal smoke, gasoline, and the aroma of various foods.

Suning hailed a taxi on the roadside and headed straight for the Beijing Film Academy.

The taxi driver was an elderly man from Beijing, speaking with a thick Beijing accent, and very talkative. "Young man, going to the Beijing Film Academy? Are you a teacher or a student there?"

"student."

"A student? A freshman, right? Checking in today?"

"Correct."

"Great! Getting into the Beijing Film Academy isn't easy. My daughter wanted to try too, but she didn't get in. What about you? What are you studying?"

"director."

"Director?" The old man glanced at him in the rearview mirror. "You'd better study hard so you can make blockbusters and bring glory to the Chinese people in the future."

Suning smiled.

……

After driving for more than half an hour, the car stopped at an inconspicuous doorway.

The six large characters "Beijing Film Academy" are written on the sign at the entrance, in black on a white background, quite simple.

The school gate isn't large, but it has a unique charm, with an indescribable artistic atmosphere.

The entrance was already crowded with people, all of them new students who had come to register.

Some families came together, with the father carrying luggage, the mother holding the child's hand, the grandfather holding the suitcase, and the grandmother carrying snacks. It was quite a lively scene.

Some were in twos and threes, chattering away, discussing dormitory conditions, guessing about classmates' backgrounds, and looking forward to university life.

Suning stood alone in the crowd, looking somewhat out of place.

"Excuse me, which department are you in?" A senior male student wearing a red armband walked over.

He was thin, wore glasses, and looked like a student council member.

"Directing Department".

"Directing major?" The boy paused for a moment, then looked him up and down. "Okay, come with me!"

Next came the paperwork, collecting belongings, and finding a dormitory.

By the time the whole process was completed, it was already dark.

……

Suning's dormitory is on the fourth floor, a four-person room.

It's not big, but it's fairly clean.

Four beds, four desks, four cabinets, and the window seat offers a view of the playground below.

When he arrived, there were already two people inside.

A fat man was lying on the bed eating instant noodles, braised beef flavor, and the aroma filled the whole room.

Seeing Su Ning enter, the fat man grinned, revealing two front teeth. "Hey, new here? My name is Liu Wei, from Shandong, majoring in photography. What's your name?"

"Suning".

"Suning? That's a nice name, it sounds impressive." The fat man asked while slurping his noodles, "Where are you from?"

Xihong City.

"Xihong City?" Liu Wei scratched his head. "Never heard of it. Where is it?"

"Liaoning".

Another tall, thin man was packing his luggage, folding his clothes one by one and putting them into the closet.

He looked up at Su Ning, nodded, and said, "My name is Chen Kai, I'm from Anhui, and I also studied directing."

Suning nodded.

"Su Ning, do you know how many people the directing department recruited this year?" Chen Kai asked.

"I don't know." Su Ning put down her luggage. "I didn't ask."

Liu Wei became interested, put down his instant noodles, and sat up. "Your directing department is awesome! I heard it's the hardest to get into. What were your scores on the general education exams?"

"Uh?" Su Ning thought for a moment, then didn't know how to answer.

Liu Wei suddenly realized that this question was too offensive, after all, most of the people who came here were academically weak. "Did you just barely pass the cutoff score?"

"No! It seems to be over seven hundred."

"Over 700? What's the maximum score for the college entrance exam in Liaoning?"

"Seven hundred and fifty."

"Pfft..." Liu Wei's mouth dropped open, and he spat out his instant noodle soup. "Holy crap! Over 700 points? Why aren't you going to Tsinghua or Peking University? What are you doing here?"

Chen Kai was also stunned, and the way he looked at Su Ning changed.

Suning didn't explain, she just smiled and said, "I like it."

Liu Wei scratched his head, wanting to say something but then swallowed it back.

He quickly tidied up his belongings and trash, then sat on the bed in a daze, looking at Su Ning as if she were a monster.

It was already dark outside the window; the stars were nowhere to be seen in the Beijing night sky.

In the distance, there are brightly lit high-rise buildings, and nearby, there are crowds of people coming and going. You can faintly hear car horns and people talking.

……

In mid-September 1997, the freshmen at Beijing Film Academy had just adapted to university life.

After half a month, everyone got to know each other.

They knew almost everything: which department students lived in which building, which cafeteria had the best food, which professors gave interesting lectures, and which students came from well-connected families.

Suning's daily routine is very simple: attending classes, finishing classes, eating, and sleeping.

My life revolves around three points: dormitory, canteen, and classroom.

Unlike other classmates who were eager to meet people and build connections, he didn't try to find opportunities or cultivate relationships like some others.

I listen attentively in class, read quietly after class, chat with Liu Wei and Chen Kai occasionally, and then continue reading.

As for their fourth roommate not showing up, it's clear that the reputation of Beijing Film Academy doesn't necessarily attract everyone.

That day, Liu Wei looked at Su Ning with a sullen face and said, "Su Ning, why do you act like an old cadre? You're only eighteen or nineteen years old, but you act like someone who's seventy or eighty years old every day."

Suning smiled but offered no explanation.

That afternoon, Su Ning was reading a book in his dormitory, "An Introduction to Film Art," a rather thick book.

Liu Wei suddenly rushed in, slamming the door against the wall with a loud bang.

"Holy crap! Suning! Come out here!"

Su Ning didn't even look up. "What's wrong?"

"Sister Na! Sister Fei! They've come to our school!" "..." Su Ning's hand paused for a moment.

"It looks like they're looking for someone! The area downstairs is in an uproar! Lots of people are gathered around!"

Liu Wei blushed with excitement, gesturing wildly, "Let's go, let's go down and see! I've never seen a real person before!"

Su Ning put down the book and stood up.

He knew he couldn't escape it.

……

The entrance to the Beijing Film Academy was already crowded with people.

The students were packed in layers, completely blocking the entrance.

Some people held notebooks wanting autographs, some held cameras wanting to take pictures, some tiptoed to squeeze in, and some climbed onto the flower bed next to them.

The chatter and excited screams mingled together.

"Sister Na! Sister Na, look this way!"

"Sister Faye! I'm your fan! I've liked you for over ten years!"

"Ahhh! It really is them! I never dreamed I'd see them at school!"

In the center of the crowd stood two women.

With short hair, sunglasses, and a leather jacket, exuding a powerful aura, it was none other than Na Jie.

Sister Na stood there, talking to the people around her in a loud voice, and her laughter was particularly hearty.

The other woman, with long hair, a cool and aloof demeanor, dressed in a simple white shirt and jeans, with an expressionless face, was none other than Sister Fei.

Fei leaned lazily against the wall, holding a glass of water, quietly watching the crowd, as if it had nothing to do with her.

Na-jie is talking to a teacher.

The teacher was in his forties, wore glasses, and had a flattered expression on his face.

"I'm looking for a freshman in the directing department named Su Ning. Could you please ask him if he's here?"

The teacher looked bewildered. "Su Ning? From the directing department?"

"Yes, they just enrolled this year."

The teacher turned to the students watching, "Does anyone know where Su Ning from the directing department is?"

A commotion broke out in the crowd.

Who is Suning?

"Never heard of it..."

"Directing major? Do we have someone like that in our department? I've never seen them before."

"He seems to be a rather low-key guy, decent-looking, and not very talkative."

Just then, a voice came from behind the crowd, "Sister Na."

The sound wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

The crowd automatically parted to make way.

Su Ning walked out from behind, her expression calm and unreadable.

Today he was dressed in a very ordinary white T-shirt and jeans, his face calm, a stark contrast to the excited students around him.

When Na-jie saw Su-ning, her eyes lit up immediately. "Su-ning! I've finally found you!"

Then, she strode over and grabbed Su Ning's hand.

The way he acted was as if he were seeing his own younger brother. "You kid, you got a perfect score but didn't go to Tsinghua or Peking University. You came here instead, and I've been looking for you everywhere! I asked around for a long time before I found out you came to Beijing Film Academy."

The students watching were in an uproar.

"Perfect score? Tsinghua or Peking University?"

"Who is this guy? The top scorer in the college entrance exam?"

"A top-scoring student coming to Beijing Film Academy? Are you kidding me?"

"That low-key guy from the directing department? Holy crap, he's got real talent!"

Fei Jie stood to the side, also looking at Su Ning with a face full of curiosity.

At first glance, he looks like an ordinary college student, clean-cut and quiet, the kind of person you wouldn't notice in a crowd.

But after looking at it a few more times, I realized something was wrong.

Those eyes were so calm.

Being surrounded by so many people and having two divas visit you would make anyone nervous and excited.

But Suning stood there, completely unfazed, as if he were standing in his own living room.

That calmness wasn't feigned; it came from within.

"Interesting," Fei thought to herself.

At this moment, Sister Na held onto Su Ning's hand tightly, saying, "Come on, I'll treat you to dinner today. I haven't properly thanked you for what you did last time. I have to treat you to a good meal today. Order whatever you want."

Looking at the dense crowd around him, Su Ning nodded, not wanting to cause any unnecessary trouble, "Okay."

The three people walked out, and the crowd automatically parted to make way for them.

Once they were out of sight, the crowd erupted in a roar.

"Holy crap! Who's that guy?"

"Sister Na invited him to dinner? Who is he?"

"A top scorer in the college entrance exam? Really? Which top scorer would come to the Beijing Film Academy?"

"Directing major? Our department? How come I had no idea?"

"All you do is play video games all day, what do you know?"

Liu Wei stood in the crowd, his mouth agape, wide enough to fit an egg.

Chen Kai was stunned; his glasses almost fell off.

They shared a dorm room with Su Ning and usually thought he was just a bit quiet and not very talkative, nothing special.

They chat occasionally, but it's always just a casual conversation.

Who would have thought that Suning actually knew Sister Na?
"Chen Kai," Liu Wei nudged Chen Kai, his voice trembling, "What kind of monster lives in our dorm?"

"I don't know either." Chen Kai shook his head, unable to answer.

……

In a private room at a restaurant near the school.

The environment is nice, quiet and elegant, with several calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls and several potted plants on the windowsill.

The lighting is soft and makes people feel very comfortable.

Sister Na ordered a table full of dishes: braised pork, sweet and sour pork, steamed sea bass, braised prawns, stir-fried potatoes, eggplant, green peppers, and scrambled eggs with tomatoes.

They insisted that Suning eat more, saying, "Suning, you're too thin. You need to eat more. You're a young man, you're still growing, you can't be underweight."

Sister Fei sat beside her, holding a cup of tea, watching quietly.

She didn't say much, but her eyes were constantly observing Su Ning, making it impossible to associate Su Ning with a reclusive master.

Sister Na took a sip of her drink and began to get down to business, "Xiao Su, I came here today specifically to thank you for the sachet you gave me."

“…” Su Ning looked at Sister Na calmly.

"I had someone check that sachet. If it weren't for you, I might..."

Na-jie didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was already quite clear.

His eyes were a little red, and he picked up his wine glass and took a big gulp.

Su Ning shook her head, "It was nothing, Sister Na, don't worry about it."

"Just a small favor?" Sister Na laughed. "That wasn't just a small favor. The White Dragon King said it was something that could save lives. He said you're a very capable person and told me I must thank you properly."

Suning did not respond.

Suddenly, Sister Fei spoke up, "Su Ning, can I ask you a question?"

Su Ning looked at her and said, "Sister Fei, what do you want to say?"

"Who exactly are you?"

The private room fell silent for a moment.

Na Jie also looked at Su Ning, waiting for his answer.

The air seemed to freeze.

Su Ning was silent for a few seconds, then smiled, "I'm just an ordinary student. I'm from Xihong City, majoring in directing at Beijing Film Academy, and I just enrolled this year."

Fei looked at Su Ning, trying to glean something from his expression.

But that face was too calm; you couldn't tell anything from it. "Where's the sachet? Where did you get it?"

"I made it myself."

"You can draw talismans?"

Su Ning shook her head, "No! I only learned a little bit from the elders back home."

Fei stared at him for a long time, then suddenly laughed, "Fine, if you don't want to tell me, then forget it."

Then she picked up her teacup and raised it to Su Ning, saying, "No matter what, you helped Na Zi, so you're my friend. If you need anything in Beijing in the future, you can come to me. I have some connections in the entertainment industry."

Su Ning nodded. "Thank you, Sister Fei."

The three of them ate and chatted, and the atmosphere gradually relaxed.

Na-jie had drunk a bit too much and talked to Su-ning for a long time.

All the gossip in the entertainment industry, who's dating whom, who's fallen out with whom, who recently released a new album.

What are some interesting stories about recording songs? How many times did each song take? Which producer was the strictest? Which recording studio had the best equipment?

All her worries, her management company urging her to release a new song, the media constantly scrutinizing her private life, and her fans having too high expectations and putting her under too much pressure.

Suning listened, occasionally nodding and occasionally asking a question.

Those words sounded like casual conversation, but Su Ning's eyes were constantly observing.

Suning saw both Na Jie's expression and Fei Jie's reaction.

As Fei watched from the side, she felt more and more that this young man was no ordinary person.

Be neither arrogant nor humble, neither hasty nor impatient; say what needs to be said, and refrain from saying a single extra word that shouldn't be said.

He was only seventeen or eighteen years old, but his composure, calmness, and insight were stronger than many thirty-year-olds.

This kind of composure doesn't seem like that of a student who just graduated from high school.

After dinner, Sister Na insisted on taking Suning back to school.

She drank a bit too much today; she was walking unsteadily and her speech was a little slurred.

Suning quickly said no, since Na Jie herself had already had too much to drink.

Faye said, "I'll take you! You should go back and rest. You have a gig tomorrow."

Sister Na thought for a moment, nodded, and took Su Ning's hand, saying again, "Su Ning, if you need anything, just come to me. Don't be shy. In Beijing, I'll protect you."

“Okay! I will definitely help if needed.” Su Ning nodded.

……

Fei drove Suning back to Beijing Film Academy.

Neither of them spoke on the way.

The car drove through the night, and the night view of Beijing flashed past the window.

Neon lights flashed, cars streamed by, and the air was filled with the hustle and bustle of people.

The city is more lively at night than during the day.

As they approached the school, Sister Fei suddenly spoke up, "Su Ning, I know you're not simple. But I won't ask any more questions."

“…” Su Ning looked at Sister Fei.

But Sister Fei continued, talking to herself, "Everyone has secrets they don't want to talk about. I understand."

"But there's one thing I need to tell you—Na Zi is a sincere person. She truly considers you a friend, so don't let her down. These days, true friends are rare."

Suning nodded. "I know."

The car was parked in front of the Beijing Film Academy.

Suning got out of the car and waved to Sister Fei, "Thank you, Sister Fei."

Sister Fei nodded and drove away.

The red taillights disappeared into the night.

……

Suning turned and walked into the school gate.

Several students were still standing at the door, their eyes filled with curiosity and gossip when they saw him return.

Someone tried to come closer to ask, but was pulled back by the people next to him. They whispered among themselves, their eyes following him.

Suning ignored them and went straight back to his dormitory.

Pushing open the dormitory door, Liu Wei and Chen Kai were both there.

Upon seeing Su Ning, Liu Wei jumped up like a spring, "Su Ning! You're finally back! Tell me! What's your relationship with Sister Na and Sister Fei?"

Chen Kai also looked at Su Ning, waiting for an answer.

Their eyes were wide open, full of curiosity.

Su Ning walked to her bedside and sat down. "It's nothing. We just know each other."

"Know them?" Liu Wei didn't believe it, his voice rising eight octaves. "Two divas came to you personally just to 'know' you? Who are you kidding? Those are Faye Wong and Faye Wong! Are they ordinary people?"

"It's really just a casual acquaintance." Su Ning didn't explain, but went to wash up instead.

Liu Wei wanted to press for more information, but Chen Kai stopped him, saying, "Alright, if he doesn't want to talk about it, then so be it. He has his own privacy."

Liu Wei reluctantly shut his mouth, but his eyes kept darting towards Su Ning.

The way they looked at me was like I was an alien.

The dormitory fell silent.

Outside the window, Beijing's night scene is brightly lit.

After washing up, Su Ning lay on her bed with her eyes closed, thinking about what had just happened.

Sister Na is here, and Sister Fei is here too.

This news will probably spread very quickly.

It seems there won't be any peace and quiet at school from now on.

...(End of this chapter)