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【ding dong】

[The host has completed the side quest of applying to the 97 directing class of the Beijing Film Academy]

[Task Rewards: 1. Memory recovery 1%, currently 7% recovered; 2. The Complete Guide to Uncle Nine's Exorcism Techniques]

When the system notification sounded in his mind, Su Ning was sitting on his bed in the dormitory, lost in thought.

Outside the window, it was a rare sunny day in Beijing's autumn. The dormitory was also very quiet. Liu Wei had gone to the library, Chen Kai had gone to pick up girls, and he was all alone.

The next second, a flood of information rushed into my mind.

The information wasn't text or images, but something more direct...

It's like a room that was originally empty suddenly being filled with furniture.

The various exquisite methods of Maoshan Taoist magic, those fancy exorcism techniques, and Uncle Nine's complete sets of talismans, incantations, hand gestures, and footwork...

Everything was etched into my mind, crystal clear and perfectly clear.

Suning closed his eyes and quietly felt it.

"The Complete Guide to Exorcising Ghosts by Uncle Nine"—the name sounds a bit corny, but the content is truly hardcore.

First are talismans.

Various talismans, from basic exorcism talismans, house protection talismans, and calming talismans, to advanced thunder talismans, fire talismans, and evil-dispelling talismans, and even the legendary Five Thunder Orthodox Dharma Talisman and Celestial Master Demon Suppression Talisman.

He remembered the drawing method, usage, and taboos of each talisman very clearly.

What kind of paper to use, what kind of ink to use, when to paint, how to paint, and how to use it after it's finished—everything is crystal clear.

Then comes the incantation.

Exorcism spell, evil spirit suppression spell, curse to dispel evil spirits, purification spell, mind purification spell, mouth purification spell, spell to purify heaven and earth...

They vary in length and function.

Some need to be recited aloud, some only need to be recited silently, some are combined with hand gestures, and some are combined with footwork.

The pronunciation of those incantations was very difficult, but now I can pronounce them as fluently as if I were speaking my native language.

Next comes the hand gestures.

Various hand gestures, some for exorcising ghosts, some for suppressing evil spirits, some for summoning gods, and some for inviting generals.

With a flick of the fingers, one can draw upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and connect the realms of yin and yang.

Those hand gestures are incredibly complex; an average person might not be able to learn even one after several years of study. But now, just by thinking about them, your fingers can automatically assume the correct posture.

There's also footwork.

Stepping the Dipper, Yu Step, Seven Star Step, Eight Trigrams Step.

Every step, from where to place it, in what order, and at what rhythm, has its own significance.

By following these steps, one can gather energy, exorcise evil spirits, break formations, and seal demons.

Finally, there are some more mysterious things.

The art of observing qi allows one to see things that ordinary people cannot...

Ghostly aura, demonic aura, malevolent aura, spiritual aura.

Having the third eye allows one to directly see the true forms of ghosts and monsters.

There are also methods for making ritual implements, such as how to consecrate a peach wood sword, how to weave a copper coin sword, how to use a Bagua mirror, and how to read a compass.

Su Ning opened his eyes and let out a long breath. "That's it, I've really become a Taoist priest now. If I can't make it in the entertainment industry in the future, maybe I can consider becoming a Yin-Yang broker."

Suning isn't afraid of anything strange.

After all, with his late-stage Nascent Soul cultivation, he was practically invincible in this world.

Let alone ordinary ghosts and monsters, even if a thousand-year-old demon comes, Suning is not afraid.

The fact that the system suddenly rewarded them with these things indicates that those things do indeed exist in this world.

Things that ordinary people can't see, but which truly exist.

We really need to be more careful in the future, and we must not let ourselves be taken advantage of.

However, I have a more practical problem now.

That's what it means to suddenly become famous.

Ever since Na Jie and Fei Jie came to the school to see him, he's become incredibly popular on the Beijing Film Academy campus. After all, Na Jie and Fei Jie are the most sought-after singers.

At first, it was just a small discussion among classmates, but then it spread to other departments, and eventually the whole school knew about it.

After all, the Beijing Film Academy is a place of fame and fortune, so it's natural for them to envy the connections and resources of someone like Suning.

Soon, people were talking about it everywhere—in the cafeteria, on the playground, and in the library.

"That freshman in the directing department, I heard, was the top scorer in the college entrance exam, a perfect score!"

"Sister Na came to see him personally; their relationship is extraordinary! She's a diva! Is she an ordinary person?"

"I heard Faye Wong is here too! Two divas! Do you know what that means?"

"Yes! From now on, Su Ning will definitely be a number one figure in the entertainment industry."

The rumors became increasingly outrageous as they spread.

Some people even say that Suning is a rich second-generation, the kind whose family owns a mine.

Some say he is a mysterious figure with an unfathomable background.

There are also rumors that Suning might be the illegitimate son of some bigwig, otherwise how could he have gotten two divas to come looking for him personally?

Suning naturally couldn't be bothered to explain to these vulgar people.

What's there to explain? Are you suggesting I'm just an ordinary person who happened to save a singer?

That would be even harder to explain.

Why were you able to save Sister Na? What makes you think you can save Sister Na? How could a high school student like you understand these things?
New problems will only arise later, and the more you explain, the more complicated it becomes.

I'd better not say anything more.

In the days that followed, Suning continued with his classes, meals, and sleep as usual.

The teacher called on Su Ning, he answered, his classmates greeted him and he nodded, that was all.

However, Liu Wei kept nagging Su Ning, "Su Ning, you're a big celebrity at school now! Do you know how many people are asking about you? Those girls from the performing arts department are always subtly asking me about you! Yesterday, that girl named Lin Tingting asked me what you like to eat. Today, Hai Ping, a girl from the performing arts department in our year, came over specifically to ask me if you have a girlfriend. Tomorrow, I bet there will be more people asking these weird questions."

Su Ning didn't even look up, continuing to read her book. "So what did you say?"

"Hehe..." Liu Wei suddenly grinned mischievously, then leaned closer and lowered his voice, "Of course I said you're single, and I even complimented you on your good character, your studies, and your looks. How about that, pretty generous, right? Want to treat Chen Kai and me to a big meal?"

Su Ning looked up and glanced at Liu Wei.

The look in his eyes wasn't fierce at all, but Liu Wei felt a chill run down his spine. "Just kidding, just kidding, I didn't tell you the truth. Really, I'm very tight-lipped."

Su Ning looked away and continued reading. "Okay! Let's go out for a meal together sometime."

Liu Wei breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself: This person looks gentle and mild-mannered, so why are his eyes so frightening?

……

That noon, Suning went to the cafeteria for lunch.

The cafeteria at Beijing Film Academy is small, and it was packed with people at lunchtime.

Long queues formed in front of the food windows, the air filled with the aroma of food and the laughter of students.

After getting his food, Suning took a plate of braised beef, a plate of scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and two ounces of rice, and sat down in a corner seat.

Just as Su Ning was about to eat, a figure suddenly appeared in front of her. "Excuse me, is this seat taken?"

The voice is very pleasant, clear and crisp, with a hint of sweetness.

Suning raised his head.

A face came into view.

Pretty.

very beautiful.

She has an oval face and big, bright eyes that look like two pools of clear water.

Her skin was so fair it glowed, not the kind of fair that comes from makeup, but a naturally beautiful fair complexion.

She has two shallow dimples when she smiles, which are sweet and make people feel good.

She was wearing a white dress, clean and simple, without any unnecessary decorations.

Her long hair was draped over her shoulders, black and shiny, gleaming in the sunlight.

Standing there, she looks like a painting, bathed in soft light.

The boys at the surrounding tables all turned to look at them.

Some chopsticks were suspended in mid-air, some mouths were open and forgot to close, and some were glancing around while eating, pretending to be casual.

Su Ning paused for a moment, then recognized him.

Yan Ruyu.

She was in the 1996 acting class and was classmates with Zhao Yanzi, who was filming "Princess Pearl".

The most beautiful girl at Beijing Film Academy is quite famous. It's said that she filmed commercials and appeared on magazine covers during high school, and was already somewhat well-known in the industry.

After being admitted to the Beijing Film Academy, she became incredibly popular, with suitors lining up from the school gate to the cafeteria and back again.

"No one's here, please sit down."

Then, Yan Ruyu sat down opposite Suning and placed her plate down.

She ordered very simple food, after all, she wanted to maintain her figure: just a stir-fried vegetable dish, a bowl of rice, and a small bowl of soup.

Unlike girls who only eat fruit to maintain their figure, she eats a fairly normal diet.

After setting the plates down, Yan Ruyu looked up and stared at Su Ning.

His gaze was undisguised; he stared straight at her, as if studying some interesting rare animal.

Su Ning felt a little uncomfortable under Yan Ruyu's gaze. If he hadn't already scanned her with his divine sense and knew that Yan Ruyu was definitely a natural beauty, he would have started to worry that she might be a gold digger.

He put down his chopsticks, looked up, and asked, "Senior Sister Yan, is there something you need when you look at me like that?"

Yan Ruyu smiled, her dimples deepening. "Junior, you must be Su Ning?"

Su Ning nodded. "Yes, I am Su Ning from the 1997 Directing Department."

"You know me?"

“Of course,” Su Ning said. “You’re the most beautiful girl at Beijing Film Academy. I’ve heard of you before I even came here. You’re from the 1996 acting class, and you were classmates with Zhao Yanzi. You’ve done commercials and appeared in magazines since high school. The line of men who are after you could stretch from here to the Summer Palace.”

This isn't flattery; it's the truth.

Yan Ruyu laughed even harder after hearing this, "Hehe, junior, you really know how to talk."

"You know what? You're a big celebrity at our school now. So many people want to meet you. My roommate talks about you all the time, saying you're handsome, have good grades, and even know Sister Na and Sister Fei."

Su Ning smiled and said, "I'm just an ordinary student. I was lucky to get a high score, and I was lucky to know Sister Na."

"An ordinary student?" Yan Ruyu raised an eyebrow, her expression both playful and cute. "An ordinary student that Sister Na and Sister Fei would personally come to find? I'm not stupid, I'm not that easy to fool."

“…” Su Ning did not respond.

Yan Ruyu looked at Su Ning, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

This guy is interesting.

Anyone else would have been overjoyed to be stared at like that by Yan Ruyu.

Even if they're not overjoyed, they'll still shyly avoid eye contact.

But Suning acted as if nothing had happened, eating and drinking as usual, without any reaction whatsoever.

That composure, that calmness, didn't seem feigned.

"Junior, can we exchange phone numbers?"

The boys at the surrounding tables were all eavesdropping, but at that moment they all stopped eating.

The air nearby seemed to freeze.

Some people gaped, some stared wide-eyed, and some didn't even notice when the braised pork on their chopsticks fell into the soup.

Suning was also taken aback.

Did they proactively ask me for their number?

Is it that direct?
The school beauty actively sought out a freshman's number? This doesn't seem like part of the script.
“Okay.” Su Ning didn’t hesitate at all and took her phone out of her pocket.

The latest Nokia phone, silver, was considered a pretty good phone for its time.

Yan Ruyu took the phone, her slender fingers tapping a few keys on the keyboard to save her number.

After saving, Yan Ruyu returned the phone to Su Ning. "Alright. You can contact me if you need anything. You can also contact me if you don't need anything. I really enjoy making new friends."

Then Yan Ruyu stood up, picked up her plate, and winked at Su Ning.

That one blink was so electrifying that several boys around him almost lost their balance.

"Goodbye, junior."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Her white skirt swayed gently, and her long, black hair shimmered in the sunlight before she quickly disappeared into the crowd.

Suning looked down at his phone.

A new name appeared in my contacts: Yan Ruyu.

He smiled, put his phone away, and continued eating.

The boys at the surrounding tables were practically piercing Su Ning with envious stares.

Someone muttered under their breath, "Why? I've been pursuing her for a whole year, and she hasn't even given me a second glance..."

The person next to him sighed, "Hmph! They're celebrities, who do you think you are? Do you think you can get Sister Na and Sister Fei to come looking for you?"

"That's true..."

"So don't feel resentful. We're not on the same level as them."

Liu Wei suddenly appeared out of nowhere and plopped down next to Suning, his face full of excitement.

He had been hiding at the next table, watching the whole thing unfold, and now his face was flushed with excitement. "Holy crap! Su Ning! You know Yan Ruyu, the school beauty?"

Su Ning shook her head. "We just met."

"She asked for your number right after we met?" Liu Wei's eyes widened, almost popping out of their sockets. "And she asked for it on her own initiative?"

"Ah."

"Huh? Aren't you excited at all?"

"It's alright! It was just a few words, no need to get so worked up!"

"..." Liu Wei was immediately silenced by Suning's Versailles.

He stared at Su Ning for a long time, his expression very complicated.

There was envy, jealousy, admiration, and something else I couldn't quite put my finger on.

After a moment, Liu Wei patted Su Ning on the shoulder and said, "Brother, you're really awesome. If you ever become successful, don't forget to help me out. If you become rich and powerful, don't forget me."

Su Ning ignored Liu Wei and continued eating. "Don't worry! Directors don't lack women, the only problem is that you don't have enough assets."

"Hehe, we're definitely kindred spirits! Now I finally understand why you gave up Tsinghua and Peking University to come to Beijing Film Academy."

Shh! True friends are those who see through things but don't say it out loud.

Despite Suning's calm demeanor, he was actually quite puzzled.

Yan Ruyu, the most beautiful girl at Beijing Film Academy, was a prominent figure in the class of '96. The men who pursued her could line up from here to the Summer Palace.

What kind of guy hasn't Yan Ruyu seen?

What kind of suitors haven't I encountered?
Why would someone proactively ask a freshman for their phone number?

Things don't seem to be that simple.

Suning kept this question in mind, but remained outwardly calm.

After dinner, I went back to the dormitory with Liu Wei.

All the way there, Liu Wei kept muttering, "Su Ning, do you think Yan Ruyu has a crush on you? She definitely does. Otherwise, why would she ask for your number? You don't know, last time a rich second-generation guy was pursuing her, driving a Mercedes to school, and she didn't even acknowledge him. But you, you just come here and..."

"Don't overthink it! Maybe it's because of Sister Na and Sister Fei. After all, all the students at Beijing Film Academy are shrewd." Su Ning interrupted Liu Wei.

"That's possible." Liu Wei nodded in agreement.

Back in the dormitory, Chen Kai was already back, sitting at his desk reading a book.

Seeing them come in, he looked up and greeted them, "You're back? Is the cafeteria crowded?"

"A lot." Liu Wei plopped down on the bed. "But it was worth it. You know who we ran into today?"

"Who?"

"Yan Ruyu, a sophomore, proactively asked Su Ning for his number!"

"Really?" Chen Kai was stunned for a moment and looked at Su Ning.

Suning nodded. "Mm."

Chen Kai was silent for a few seconds, then pushed up his glasses and said, "Impressive."

Liu Wei leaned closer and whispered, "Chen Kai, do you think Yan Ruyu has feelings for Su Ning?"

Chen Kai thought for a moment, "Not necessarily. There might be other reasons."

"what reason?"

Chen Kai shook his head. "I don't know. But Yan Ruyu is not a simple person. She's not the kind of girl who does things casually."

Su Ning nodded to himself.

Chen Kai is right.

There must be a reason why Yan Ruyu took the initiative to come to him.

As for the reason, we'll find out sooner or later.

...(End of this chapter)