How can you ascend to heaven when you are a star?

Chapter 312 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon?

When Zhang Wen arrived at the training center, it was already 10 a.m.

Fortunately, the parents of the students who called to inquire last night did not come, otherwise they would have been turned away again.

"This is the temporary registration office of our Xingxiang Art Examination Training Center. Before the new teaching building is put into use, you will work here and receive students and parents who come to inquire and register." Zhang Wen introduced the job to Xu Zining while showing her around.

There's really nothing to transfer, because including the bathroom, there are only four rooms in total, which is quite obvious.

"Boss, is this where you taught the top student in the Beijing Film Academy's acting program?" Xu Zining asked curiously, her heart filled with surprise.

How could anyone dare to study at such a small and dilapidated art exam training school? What were those students thinking? And what were their parents thinking?

If it were her, she definitely wouldn't. Even if the tuition was low, she wouldn't enroll. After all, only a large-scale organization can afford to hire good teachers.

Zhang Wen immediately guessed what the other person was thinking, so he said, "A mountain is not famous for its height, but for the immortals dwelling there; water is not sacred for its depth, but for the dragons residing within. Haven't you heard this saying before? You're not some fish that slipped through the net of nine years of compulsory education, are you?"

Xu Zining's face flushed red instantly, and she hurriedly explained, "Boss, I'm not someone who slipped through the net. I graduated from a legitimate university with a bachelor's degree. Give me your email address, and I'll send you my electronic resume right now."

Zhang Wen waved his hand and said, "No need. I chose you mainly because of your work experience. You worked as a receptionist at an art exam training institution for three years. I believe in your abilities."

"Thank you, boss, thank you, boss." Xu Zining breathed a sigh of relief. She had almost lost her job again, and had unknowingly experienced another major ups and downs in her life.

“From now on, you’ll be all alone here. There’s Wi-Fi, you can play games, and watch shows. As long as it doesn’t interfere with your work, you can do whatever you want,” Zhang Wen said.

When he's not here, the employees will definitely slack off, no doubt about it, but the fact that he said those words shows that he cares about his employees.

You can't just let the other person sit there blankly when no one is around, can you? That would be a bit inhumane.

Xu Zining was secretly delighted after hearing this. A job where you can do whatever you want is just too comfortable.

However, he didn't show it on his face at all. Instead, he said in a serious tone, "Boss, please rest assured, I will work hard and live up to your expectations."

Zhang Wen smiled and said nothing more.

He didn't have high expectations for the receptionist; he just wanted her to greet parents and students when they came to inquire, and he didn't expect her to recruit students for the training center.

Just then, the sound of a door opening came from downstairs, and a couple in their forties came up to the second floor shortly afterward.

"Is this the registration area for Xingxiang Art Examination Training Center?" the middle-aged woman asked.

"Yes." Zhang Wen recognized the voice as the one from the phone call last night, so he quickly stepped forward and said warmly, "You must be the parent who made an appointment to come for a consultation today? Welcome, welcome, I'm Principal Zhang Wen."

"Hello, Principal Zhang." The woman nodded.

The middle-aged man beside her was curiously looking around, but his brows were slightly furrowed and there was a hint of disdain in his eyes.

Zhang Wen was very familiar with this look; he had seen it countless times and was already used to it.

In the past, when faced with parents like this, he would immediately recite "The Humble Abode" to beautify the environment and try to glorify it. But now he doesn't need to. The new teaching building is under renovation, and he has more confidence now.

"Parents, the three main features of Xingxiang Art Examination Training Center are performance, vocal music, and dance. I wonder which one you would like to know more about? Let me introduce it to you in detail." Zhang Wen said as he invited the two parents into his office.

The newly hired receptionist was very perceptive; she quickly took out two bottles of mineral water from the side and placed them in front of the parents.

"Were those two classrooms over there when I walked down the hallway?" the male parent asked.

"No, our teaching building is under renovation, so we've temporarily moved our offices here." After saying this, Zhang Wen took out his phone from his pocket and showed the two parents the photos he had taken when he left. "This is the teaching building of our Xingxiang Art Examination Training Center. It has three floors and an area of ​​more than 2,600 square meters."

When the male parent saw the photo, his slightly furrowed brows finally relaxed.

Although it's just the exterior, such a large teaching building must be of high quality, and the interior must be just as impressive.

"I heard that the top-scoring candidate in the performance major at Beijing Film Academy this year came from here?" the female parent asked. She had heard this from other parents, which is why she decided to come and see for herself.

She had already taken her child to see several schools, and each one claimed to have strong teaching staff, which made her hesitant and unable to make a decision.

"Yes."

Based on the principle that a picture is worth a thousand words, Zhang Wen once again retrieved the photos from his phone.

This is a group photo of him with eight trainees, taken on the last day of the special training course.

"The student you mentioned who ranked first in the Beijing Film Academy's acting program is this one. Her name is Han Zhixue, and the girl standing next to her is Qiao Shuxin, who ranked third in the acting program this year..."

"The female student in white is second in the acting program at Huaxi Drama, and the male student standing behind her is third in the acting program at Huaxi Drama..."

Zhang Wen then introduced all eight trainees.

In his view, the students' art exam results are the best advertisement for the art exam training center.

The two parents looked at the photo very carefully. Although they didn't recognize the person in the photo, they believed it to be true because the principal had mentioned the person's name. After all, it wasn't hard to find out the rankings for the performance department of Beijing Film Academy.

So after listening, both of them were filled with surprise.

“My child wants to study acting at Beijing Film Academy. She takes acting classes every winter and summer vacation. Next year is the entrance exam for arts, so we’re preparing for a final push.” The female parent finally revealed her family’s situation, which is also a sign of trust.

"Parents, if your children want to study acting, then you've come to the right place. All of our instructors come from top entertainment companies and teach the trainees they've signed. Their professional skills are beyond question, and they are fundamentally different from those teachers who only know how to talk the talk," Zhang Wen said eloquently.

The two parents' eyes lit up immediately.

I've visited several art exam training centers before, and when they introduced their teachers, they all used the same sales pitch: "They have many years of teaching experience and have cultivated many outstanding students."

In comparison, the claim that the acting teacher works at an entertainment company is much more appealing.

"Principal Zhang, what types of classes do you offer here, and how much do they cost?" the female parent asked.

Zhang Wen immediately took out two payment slips from the drawer and explained them in great detail to Xu Zining, the receptionist next to him, as an example.

"We have four classes in total: weekend classes, advanced classes, full-course classes, and special training classes."

"Weekend classes, as the name suggests, are held on weekends and teach basic things, which are suitable for children who are just getting started with acting."

"The advanced class is designed for children with some basic performance skills, and mainly provides professional guidance on their performance abilities."

"The full-course program includes one class every evening. It provides comprehensive and targeted guidance to children based on the content of the art exam. In addition to acting classes, there are also classes on diction, talent, and analysis of works, etc."

"As for the final intensive training class, it will start a week before the art exam. The teaching content will be kept secret for the time being, and applicants will need to pass an interview to enter the intensive training class."

"The full-course program promises a 50% refund if you fail the entrance exams for Huaxi, Beijing Film Academy, or Shanghai Film Academy, and a full refund if you fail the entrance exams for other film and television schools."

"The special training program promises a full refund if you fail the entrance exams for Peking University, Beijing Film Academy, or Shanghai Film Academy."

The two parents looked at the fee slip in their hands while listening attentively to the explanation.

The teaching content of each performance class is not much different from that of other art exam training institutions, and the fees are at a moderate level.

What's truly remarkable is their commitment to the full-course and intensive training programs, something other art exam preparation institutions don't offer; it's truly commendable.

Upon hearing that a refund was possible, Xu Zining was stunned into silence.

Can I get a refund if I fail my art exam?
What is this operation?
In the past, training schools that didn't offer refunds eventually closed down. Wouldn't offering refunds mean they'd close down even sooner?
Is this new boss crazy? He actually vomits up the meat he's already eaten?

and many more.

Could this person be a scammer?
Using refunds as a pretext, after receiving enough tuition fees, they simply pack up and run away?
Isn't that what many gym owners do?

"Principal, thank you for your introduction. We'll go back and discuss it with our child," the female parent said, already leaning towards the art exam training center called Xingxiang.

Besides the fact that the instructor came from an entertainment company, the promise of a refund also put her at ease.

"You're welcome, it's all for the children," Zhang Wen said with a smile.

As they were talking, two more people appeared outside the office door, one older and one younger. The older woman was a middle-aged woman in her early forties, and the younger woman was a teenage girl wearing a blue and white school uniform.

"Excuse me, this is Xingxiang Art Examination Training Center. Are you here to inquire about art examination training?" Xu Zining immediately stepped forward to ask.

I thought to myself: It's time for me to show off in front of the boss.

"Yes."

The middle-aged woman nodded, and upon seeing Zhang Wen sitting in the office, she immediately went inside.

"Yes, it's you. We met yesterday at Jia Hua Art Examination Training Center, and I even added you on WeChat. It's noon now, so I brought my child here for a detailed consultation. If my child is satisfied, he/she will take classes here from now on. By the way, my child studies vocal music."

Zhang Wen recognized the woman; he had indeed seen her at Jia Hua Art Examination Training Center last night. He hadn't expected her to bring her child so soon; she must be in a real hurry.

"I remember you. Welcome to my consultation. Please have a seat." Zhang Wen pointed to the stool next to him, then looked at the girl and asked, "How many years have you been studying vocal music?"

"Three years for vocal training, eight years for piano," the girl said expressionlessly, seemingly uninterested in the place.

"What's your target university?" Zhang Wen continued, glancing at the girl's skill panel.

Ren Jiaqi, Skills: Piano 40 points, Vocal Performance 37 points, Acting 15 points...

Hmm, not bad.

“Huaxia Conservatory of Music and Shanghai Conservatory of Music,” the girl replied.

“Speaking of vocal music, I’m also somewhat of an expert. You’ve come to the right place by coming to Xingxiang,” Zhang Wen said with a smile.

The two parents looked at each other. Why did those words sound so familiar?

Oh, right, Principal Zhang just mentioned... if you want to apply for the performing arts major, then you've come to the right place.

The girl kept her head down, her eyes fixed on the ground, offering no response as if she hadn't heard anything.

She was doing well studying at Jia Hua, so I don't understand why my mom wanted to switch her to another training school, especially since the environment here doesn't look like a training school at all.

She didn't even see a single musical instrument.

Can this be called an expert?
boast!

Looking at the girl, Zhang Wen remained calm and composed, saying, "Why do I say I'm only half an expert? Because I write songs for some singers in my spare time."

"Write songs for singers? You?" The girl looked up, suspiciously sizing up the person in front of her, her face practically screaming disbelief.

“Yes, it’s me.” Zhang Wen nodded.

"Tell me which songs you've written for which singers," the girl asked.

“I wrote ‘Human World’ for Tang Yi, ‘New Life’ for Jiang Li, and also for Bai Lu… but I haven’t released any songs yet, so this has to be kept secret,” Zhang Wen said.

"What? You wrote the songs 'Human World' and 'New Life'?" the girl suddenly exclaimed, startling everyone else in the office.

Of course, not all of these people were scared by the girl; some were also scared by Zhang Wen's words.

It's worth noting that the two most popular songs in the first half of this year were Tang Yi's "Human World" and Jiang Li's "New Life," and the fact that these two songs were written by this young man in front of me is truly astonishing.

“How could this be fake?” Zhang Wen replied with a smile.

The girl seemed to remember something then, and asked in surprise, "You, your name is Zhang Wen?"

"Genuine, no doubt about it." Zhang Wen said, taking out a business card and handing it over.

The girl took it and looked at it, her eyes widening immediately, almost popping out of their sockets.

Zhang Wen picked up his phone and, while the girl remained in a daze, initiated a video call with Tang Yi.

The call was connected very quickly.

"Tang Yi, where are you?" Zhang Wen asked.

Upon hearing this, the others all looked over and indeed saw a woman in her early twenties on the screen. Yes, it was indeed Tang Yi.

The girl clenched her fists tightly, trembling with excitement.

I never expected to have such an unexpected gain here today.

You know, the song "Human World" was played on the school radio yesterday, and many students sang along, creating a very enthusiastic atmosphere.

"Teacher Zhang, I'm eating at the company cafeteria," Tang Yi said.

How's the album preparation going?

"It's almost done; it should be finished in July."

"Don't rush, slow and steady wins the race. If you need any help, just let me know."

"Thank you, Teacher Zhang."

Zhang Wen chatted briefly for a few more minutes before ending the call.

He put his phone aside and looked at the girl opposite him. "Do you believe me now?"

The girl was startled and finally came to her senses.

She took two steps forward, stood in front of the desk, and suddenly bowed deeply.

"Teacher, please accept me as your student!"

"???"

The parents around were completely dumbfounded when they saw this.

Isn't this a training course? Can't you just pay to attend? Why are you saying 'please accept this'?
This scene looks a bit like an apprenticeship ceremony, doesn't it?
……

(End of this chapter)