Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 128, Section 127: The Gemini's First Encounter

After checking in, Fan Xiaopang followed Li Tingting out of the slightly old but clean and tidy gate of the Beijing Film Studio Guesthouse.

The spring sunshine shone on her, warm and comforting, but it couldn't dispel the slight throbbing pain in her heart caused by the loss of her three hundred yuan deposit.

That was almost one-sixth of all her "belongings".

"It's okay, Fan Xiaopang," she told herself, clenching her fist tightly. "Compared to this opportunity, what is three hundred yuan? I'll definitely earn it back in the future, ten times, a hundred times!"

Li Tingting seemed to notice something was off about her and smiled gently: "Little Fatty, the factory guesthouse is simple, but it's safe and convenient, and it's close to the training room and the company. Just settle in and relax. I'll contact your parents about the contract as soon as possible."

"Thank you, Sister Li. I'm sorry to have troubled you." Fan Xiaopang quickly composed himself and put on a well-behaved smile.

After parting ways with Li Tingting, Fan Xiaopang did not immediately return to his small room at the guesthouse.

She needed to go to that large courtyard in Beitaipingzhuang to retrieve her few simple belongings.

More importantly, she needed to make a phone call home.

Finding a familiar public phone booth, inserting a coin, and listening to the busy tone, Fan Xiaopang's heart couldn't help but beat faster.

The call connected, and my mother's familiar yet worried voice came through.

"Hello? Mom, it's me, Little Fatty."

Fan Xiaopang took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound calm and excited: "Mom, I have great news for you! I've met a benefactor! It's that incredibly powerful Wang Sheng from the Beijing Film Studio, President Wang! He's agreed to sign me!"

The mother on the other end of the phone was clearly stunned by the news, her voice rising sharply: "What? Sign you? Sign what? Little Fatty, don't get scammed! Beijing is such a place..."

"Mom! It's true!"

Fan Xiaopang quickly interrupted his mother's doubts and explained in a fast-paced voice, "It's Shengying Media, the company mentioned in the newspaper! President Wang talked to me personally. He wants me to be a trainee first. The company will provide food and accommodation and train me. Once I get into university, I'll sign a formal contract! Mom, this is a golden opportunity! Others would kill to get in!"

She omitted the thrilling process of posing as a customer to sneak in, and temporarily suppressed her slight worries about the ten-year contract, presenting only the most glamorous and hopeful side to her mother.

She needs her family's support, especially her mother's prompt arrival in Beijing to sign the crucial trainee contract on behalf of her parents.

"Training? Room and board included? And you still have to take the college entrance exam?"

The mother's voice was filled with disbelief and immense joy: "Oh my! I knew my daughter was destined for good fortune after surviving such a calamity!"

A few years ago, Fan Xiaopang was in a rather serious car accident.

At the time, Fan Xiaopang was sitting on the back of his father's motorcycle when a jeep hit him and dragged him under the vehicle for about 18 meters, causing him to bleed from his scalp and suffer abrasions all over his body, but fortunately, his face was not injured at all.

"Hey, are you sure it's reliable?" Mrs. Fan asked again, still not entirely convinced.

"Absolutely reliable! Mom, you didn't see how grand the Beijing Film Studio is, how powerful Shengying Media is! It's all in the newspapers! Mom, please ask for leave from your work and come to Beijing as soon as possible, okay? Sister Li said that a parent has to come to sign the contract." Fan Xiaopang said in a coquettish and pleading tone.

"Okay, okay! I'll go ask for leave right away and buy the earliest train ticket!"

The mother's voice was also very happy: "Little Fatty, take good care of yourself over there, listen to your superiors, don't be willful, and study hard! Mom will go and prepare right away!"

After hanging up the phone, Fan Xiaopang let out a long sigh of relief, feeling as if the heavy pressure on his shoulders had lessened a little.

Back in the small south-facing room with a monthly rent of three hundred, Grandma Wu was somewhat surprised to see her return with her luggage: "Young lady, you're leaving after only a few days?"

Fan Xiaopang's face lit up with a bright smile, tinged with pride: "Grandma Wu, I've found a job! It's a company inside the Beijing Film Studio. They've arranged a dormitory for me, so I'll be living at the factory from now on! Thank you for taking care of me these past few days!"

Grandma Wu was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Oh my, that's wonderful news! Congratulations, young lady! I knew you had a knack for it, you were destined for great things! Keep up the good work!"

After quickly packing the large suitcase that had accompanied her on her long journey, Fan Xiaopang took one last look at the small house where she had briefly settled and which had witnessed her initial confusion and struggles. Without any lingering feelings, she neatly locked the door and returned the key to Grandma Wu.

Dragging my suitcase, I walked down the streets of Beitaipingzhuang again, but the feeling was completely different from when I came.

With light steps and a straight back, it was as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

When she passed by the gate of Beijing Film Studio again, it was afternoon, and the crowd of people waiting for work was still gathered there, only less crowded than in the morning.

Fan Xiaopang's appearance immediately attracted a lot of attention.

"Huh? That girl... isn't she the one who's been getting her period a lot these past few days?"

"Why is she dragging a suitcase into the Beijing Film Studio?"

"Could it be... that she really hit the jackpot?"

Whispers reached her ears; those who had once mocked and looked down on her were now filled with astonishment, doubt, and even a hint of barely perceptible envy. Fan Xiaopang kept her eyes straight ahead, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl upwards slightly, a surge of triumphant joy welling up within her.

"Hmph, what are you looking at? You'll only look up to me, Fatty Fan, even more from now on!"

Without pausing, she walked with her head held high, dragging her suitcase, and under the complex gazes of those onlookers, once again through the door of the Beijing Film Studio that had once been tightly shut to her.

This time, she walked in with her head held high.

……

Around 4 p.m., a black Santana sedan smoothly stopped in front of the main building of Beijing Film Studio.

The car door opened, and Gao Yuanyuan, wearing a blue and white school uniform and carrying a schoolbag, jumped off the car.

She had just finished a day of classes and was picked up by a company car to go back to the factory for her daily training.

After nearly half a year of systematic training and improved nutrition, Gao Yuanyuan has grown into a more beautiful and charming young woman. The immaturity in her eyes has gradually faded, and she has gained a graceful and elegant demeanor.

She knew the route from school to Beijing Film Studio so well that she couldn't be more familiar with it.

They walked into the main building with ease and went to the training room on the east side of the first floor, which was specially set up for trainees.

The training room is spacious and bright, with wooden floors, floor-to-ceiling mirrors on the walls, and complete with barre and sound equipment.

Gao Yuanyuan put down her schoolbag and was about to change into her practice clothes when she saw Li Tingting leading a strange girl in.

The girl looked younger than him, dressed in clothes that were slightly mature but couldn't hide her youthful energy. She had fair skin and a strikingly beautiful face, especially her big, bright eyes, which were lively yet held a stubborn, unyielding spirit.

Gao Yuanyuan's heart tightened for no apparent reason.

"Yuanyuan, come here for a second," Li Tingting called out to her with a smile.

Gao Yuanyuan walked over, her gaze involuntarily falling on the unfamiliar girl.

"Yuanyuan, let me introduce you. This is Fan Xiaopang, a new trainee signed by the company. He's from Qingdao and is two years younger than you." Li Tingting said gently, then turned to Fan Xiaopang: "Xiaopang, this is Gao Yuanyuan. She arrived a few months earlier than you. From now on, you'll be teammates. Get along well and help each other."

Fan Xiaopang immediately flashed a bright, even somewhat innocent smile, stepped forward, and affectionately took Gao Yuanyuan's hand, calling out in a clear voice, "Sister Yuanyuan! You're so beautiful! My name is Fan Xiaopang, you can just call me Xiaopang! Please take care of me in the future!"

Her palms were warm, and her smile was incredibly infectious, as if she were radiating sunshine.

Gao Yuanyuan was caught off guard by her enthusiasm, but managed a forced smile: "Hello, Little Fatty. Welcome."

She said "welcome" but inwardly alarm bells were ringing.

This new girl is so beautiful!

"Sister Yuanyuan, I'm new here and don't know anything. If I do anything wrong during training, you must teach me!" Fan Xiaopang still smiled innocently, his tone full of admiration and dependence: "Sister Li said we should try to get into Beijing Film Academy together next year, that's great! We can work hard together!"

Looking into Fan Xiaopang's clear, bright eyes, Gao Yuanyuan's guard lowered slightly.

Maybe I'm overthinking it?

After all, she was just a fifteen-year-old girl.

“Okay, let’s work together.” Gao Yuanyuan nodded, her smile becoming more natural. “You can familiarize yourself with the environment first. I’ll go change my clothes. The teacher should be here soon.”

"Okay, Sister Yuanyuan!" Fan Xiaopang replied obediently, watching Gao Yuanyuan walk towards the changing room.

As Gao Yuanyuan's figure disappeared through the doorway, Fan Xiaopang's smile faded slightly, and a barely perceptible glint flashed in his eyes.

She looked around the professional training room, touched the cool barre, and felt everything about it.

“Gao Yuanyuan…trainee…”

She muttered to herself, "Looks like the competition has already begun. But it's okay, I, Fan Xiaopang, have never been afraid of competition."

She took a deep breath, put on her sweet and harmless smile again, walked to the full-length mirror, and began to carefully examine herself in the mirror, adjusting her posture and expression.

She knew that on this brand-new stage, in addition to hard training, how to get along with people, especially how to get along with this seemingly gentle but actually sensitive "senior" Gao Yuanyuan, would be another lesson she needed to carefully study.

Her adventures in Beijing, after a series of twists and turns, finally turned a new page in an unexpected way.

Within the high walls of the Beijing Film Studio, two delicate seedlings, each harboring their own dreams, met.

(End of this chapter)