Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 117, Section 116: You are my god!

In early March 1997, the spring chill was still in the air, but the artistic atmosphere across China was gradually warming up as the entrance examinations for several major art colleges were launched one after another.

The recruitment booths of renowned film and television institutions such as Beijing Film Academy, Central Academy of Drama, and Shanghai Theatre Academy, which serve as cradles for Chinese film and television talent, were already packed with people. Young people from all over the country gathered here with dreams of becoming actors, stars, or behind-the-scenes talents. The air was filled with tension, anticipation, and the unique smell of face cream mixed with anxious sweat.

……

March 5th, Wednesday.

The entrance exams for the Beijing Film Academy's Management Department and Acting Department were held on the same day.

The Beijing Film Studio and the Beijing Film Academy are just across the street from each other.

There was absolutely no need to drive. Wang Sheng led Li Xiaoran, who could not hide her nervousness, into the familiar campus north of Jimen Bridge.

Compared to the countless young men and women on campus, accompanied by their parents or alone, their faces filled with youthful innocence and longing, Wang Sheng and Li Xiaoran's pairing stood out.

Wang Sheng was dressed in a well-fitting dark casual suit, exuding a calm and composed demeanor, with an indescribable depth in his eyes. He didn't look like a test taker, but rather like a young leader who had come to inspect the work.

Li Xiaoran wore a simple and elegant beige coat and light makeup, trying her best to look like an ordinary test taker. However, her radiant beauty and the maturity in her eyes that seemed beyond her years still made her stand out in the crowd.

"Don't be nervous, just perform normally."

Wang Sheng said calmly, "Remember what I told you, the core of acting is 'truth', to sincerely express the emotions of the character as you understand them."

Li Xiaoran took a deep breath and nodded vigorously: "Yeah! I know! You too, don't be too... um, just don't lecture the examiners like Director Han and the others do during the management department interview."

She made a small joke in an attempt to ease her tension.

Wang Sheng chuckled and patted her on the shoulder: "Let's go."

The two walked side by side toward the registration confirmation point.

……

The exam venues for the Management Department and the Performing Arts Department are not in the same building; they need to be separated at the intersection.

Just as Wang Sheng and Li Xiaoran stopped in front of the sign to confirm the direction of their respective examination rooms, a slightly noisy murmur came from the side.

Several young candidates, who were also waiting for confirmation or to familiarize themselves with the environment, would occasionally glance at Wang Sheng, their eyes filled with curiosity and inquiry.

"That guy has such a strong presence... Is he also here to audition for the acting department? Doesn't seem like it."

"That woman next to him is so pretty, isn't she Li Xiaoran? I've seen her in commercials!"

"Which Li Xiaoran? The one with the 'veil kiss'? Wow, it really is her! She's even prettier in person than on TV!"

"Who's that guy? Her manager? He looks way too young..."

These whispers were not deliberately kept quiet, and Wang Sheng and Li Xiaoran could hear them clearly.

Li Xiaoran looked proud, while Wang Sheng seemed not to hear her, his gaze calmly sweeping over the group of young faces.

Among this group of people are several faces that will gradually become familiar to the public over the next decade or so:

A tall, aloof girl, Hai Qing, from Nanjing, had applied to the Beijing Film Academy's acting department and also participated in the Central Academy of Drama's preliminary exam. She was standing quietly to the side, but her gaze was involuntarily drawn to Wang Sheng. She felt an indescribable sense of pressure and...familiarity about this young man.

Beside him stood a boy with a bright smile and a slight Tianjin accent, Huang Haibo. He was focused on acting and excitedly discussing the upcoming exam with his companion. A little further away, a girl with delicate features and a slightly shy demeanor, Chen Hao, came from Qingdao. Everything in Beijing was new and exciting to her, and she was also secretly observing the uniquely charismatic Wang Sheng.

There's also Yan Kuan, with his handsome face and already star-like appearance; Tong Dawei, with his honest smile and tall stature; and Yang Rong, with her quiet temperament and determined gaze... These future top students of the 97 acting classes at the Central Academy of Drama, Beijing Film Academy, and Shanghai Theatre Academy are all ordinary candidates with dreams at this moment. In order to increase their chances of admission, most of them have applied for exams at more than one institution.

As one of the top universities, Beijing Film Academy is naturally a highly competitive destination for them.

Besides the acting department, you can also see some candidates applying for other majors such as directing, literature, and cinematography, each with their own understanding and aspirations for film.

Wang Sheng and Li Xiaoran had confirmed their direction and were preparing to split up when a middle-aged man wearing a Beijing Film Academy administrative uniform with an "Examination Affairs" badge pinned to his chest jogged out of the teaching building. His gaze locked onto Wang Sheng precisely, and his face instantly lit up with a warm, even somewhat respectful, smile.
"Mr. Wang! You've arrived! Why didn't you call ahead? Director Sun specifically instructed me to wait for you here!"

The address of "General Manager Wang" and the unusually respectful attitude of the examination staff were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly causing a greater commotion among the surrounding candidates.

All eyes immediately focused on Wang Sheng.

Wang Sheng frowned slightly, seemingly dissatisfied with the high-profile welcome, but his tone remained calm: "Teacher Li, no need to trouble yourself. I'm just an ordinary candidate. Just follow the procedure."

"That won't do! Director Sun said that your time is precious, so all procedures will be simplified. I'll take you directly to the examination room lounge, and the interview order has already been arranged for you—first!"

Li, the examination administrator, lowered his voice, but the surrounding candidates could still vaguely hear keywords such as "first" and "rest room".

Should the examination staff personally greet you, arrange your waiting room, and make you the first interviewee?!

This kind of treatment is something that even some children with connections might not get, let alone ordinary candidates!

The way everyone looked at Wang Sheng changed completely, from curiosity to shock and disbelief.

Just who is this young man?
Did the director of the Beijing Film Academy personally take care of it?
The examination staff referred to him as "General Manager"?
Hai Qing's mouth gaped slightly as she thought to herself: This person... his entourage is a bit too much, isn't it? Could he be the son of some super-rich man? But he doesn't look like the typical spoiled brat.

Huang Haibo nudged his companion and whispered, "My goodness, what's this guy's background? Does he own the Beijing Film Academy?"

Chen Hao blinked her big eyes, feeling more nervous than taking an exam.

Yan Kuan and Tong Dawei exchanged a glance, both seeing the same confusion in each other's eyes.

Just then, a boy with a distinct Beijing accent in the crowd seemed to recognize Wang Sheng and, in a tone that was a mix of boasting and revealing, said to his stunned companions:

"Wow! No wonder he looks so familiar! That's Wang Sheng! The CEO of Shengying Media! The 'National Head of Children of Film Studios'! Didn't you read the newspaper? He's the 19-year-old winner of the Youth Science and Technology Innovation Award!"

"What? He's Wang Sheng? The one who made the outrageously expensive wedding movie, directed 'Harmony Brings Prosperity,' and has thousands of people under his command?"

"My God! It really is him! I saw his picture in the China Youth Daily! I didn't expect him to be so young!"

"No wonder...no wonder he's treated like this! He's a powerful figure at the Beijing Film Studio now, someone who's on friendly terms with Director Han Sanping!"

"So he's the heir of the Beijing Film Studio..."

"Chief of the Heir Apparent," "Heir of Beijing Film Studio," "General Manager Wang of Shengying Media"... one after another, titles that sounded like江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) or carried connotations of power were thrown out, like drops of water thrown into a pot of oil, instantly igniting the scene.

All the examinees, including Hai Qing, Huang Haibo, Chen Hao, Yan Kuan, Tong Dawei, Yang Rong, and others, stared in disbelief at the young man who remained calm despite being surrounded by examination staff.

It turns out that the legendary, powerful figure who stirred up the Beijing film industry, wielded enormous resources, and was hailed by the media as the dream builder of "China's Film Capital," had suddenly appeared beside them, taking the art exams together?!

Hai Qing felt her heart pounding wildly, her mind went blank, and only one thought echoed frantically: "Wang Sheng... he's actually Wang Sheng! My God, this isn't just a test taker... this is simply... a god!"

(End of this chapter)