Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 87, Section 86: Want to Become a Big Star? (Revised)
Some people are just born to be the protagonist.

Li Tingting sighed inwardly.

Time and the camera seem to have a special fondness for certain faces, and Gao Yuanyuan is clearly one of them.

Li Tingting nodded slightly: "You must be Gao Yuanyuan? Please stand up so I can take a look."

Gao Yuanyuan pointed to herself, her face filled with astonishment and confusion, and the blush on her cheeks quickly spread to her ears.

Li Tingting nodded slightly again, confirming her question.

In an instant, a complex mix of emotions—envy, curiosity, and even a barely perceptible hint of jealousy—was projected from all around.

Gao Yuanyuan felt her heart pounding like a drum, and her blood rushing to her head, making her feel dizzy.

After her female classmate gently nudged her, she snapped out of her daze and hurriedly, almost using both hands and feet, stood up from her seat.

The hem of her school uniform skirt swayed slightly with her movements, outlining the girl's youthful and beautiful figure.

"What's your name?" Li Tingting's voice carried a reassuring power, though that power was negligible to Gao Yuanyuan at that moment.

"Gao...Gao Yuanyuan." Her voice carried a hint of nervousness, like a wind chime swaying in the breeze.

"Gao Yuanyuan".

Li Tingting repeated it, and the name seemed to carry a special meaning when he said it.

She then asked, "Can you sing?"

This question helped Gao Yuanyuan regain her composure a little. She nodded quickly, her voice more firm than before: "I know a little."

"Sing a couple of lines, anything is fine." Li Tingting's tone was casual, like a friendly chat, trying to ease her pressure.

Gao Yuanyuan took a deep breath, trying to calm her wildly beating heart.

She knew she wasn't a top singer, but at this point, she was ready to go all out.

She closed her eyes, cleared her mind, and softly began to sing a verse from the then-popular song, "The Shy Rose Quietly Blooms."

Her voice was clear and sweet, with a girlish charm. Although her breath was slightly unsteady due to nervousness, her pitch was good and her emotions were genuine, echoing softly in the quiet classroom.

After the song ended, a few scattered, well-meaning claps rang out in the classroom, mainly from the school leaders.

Li Tingting nodded, her face revealing little emotion, and simply said, "Hmm, good tone. You're the one. Practice singing well."

Without much commentary or lengthy explanation, it was decided so casually.

Gao Yuanyuan stood there, stunned, her mind blank with overwhelming surprise and bewilderment.

It wasn't until Li Tingting turned around and prepared to leave the classroom surrounded by a group of leaders that she realized she had actually been selected!
The artist management staff member who accompanied Li Tingting quickly walked up to Gao Yuanyuan, a professional and friendly smile on his face, and handed her a cassette tape in a manila envelope: "Gao Yuanyuan, this is the accompaniment and demo for 'The Chinese.' Take it back and familiarize yourself with it. Report to the entrance of Beijing Film Studio at 7:00 AM this Saturday. Someone will pick you up. Don't be late."

Gao Yuanyuan took the still-warm cassette tape with both hands, as if it were a priceless treasure, and nodded vigorously: "Thank you, sister! I will definitely be there on time!"

……

The noise in the classroom only erupted completely when Li Tingting and the others disappeared at the end of the corridor.

The students immediately surrounded Gao Yuanyuan, bombarding her with questions, their voices filled with envy.

Surrounded by people, Gao Yuanyuan's face was burning hot, but her heart was as sweet as if it had been filled with honey. The dizzying feeling of being suddenly favored by the god of fate lingered for a long time.

She gripped the cassette tape tightly in her hand, as if she held the key to a whole new world.

……

Saturday came quickly.

Around six o'clock in the morning, Gao Yuanyuan got up, carefully washed and dressed, put on her favorite floral dress, and looked at herself in the mirror again and again, feeling both expectant and nervous.

Following the address, she took two buses and finally arrived at the entrance of the Beijing Film Studio in Beitaipingzhuang before 7 o'clock.

The imposing factory gate, the armed guards, and the fashionable people coming and going, some carrying equipment, all made Gao Yuanyuan feel both curious and a little timid.

After she gave her name, she was quickly led inside by the staff waiting at the door.

We were taken to the iconic auditorium of the Beijing Film Studio, where many students from other schools had already gathered, along with busy staff and cameras and lighting equipment that had been set up.

The director in charge of on-site command was surnamed Zhang, who had a loud voice and was efficient in his work.

He briefly explained the requirements and discipline, then directed everyone to stand in the pre-arranged formation and begin rehearsals.

The melody of "The Chinese" is magnificent and powerful, which places high demands on the chorus.

Most of the students lacked professional background, making the rehearsal process quite challenging.

She practiced positioning, harmonizing notes, and adjusting her expressions again and again... Gao Yuanyuan studied very diligently. Her innate musicality and concentration allowed her to quickly grasp the essentials. Even Director Zhang couldn't help but glance at her a few more times and nodded in approval.

It wasn't until noon that the filming barely met the director's requirements.

Everyone was exhausted, but also excited about completing the task. The staff invited everyone to have lunch at the Beijing Film Studio's staff canteen.

The canteen was spacious and bright, and the food smelled delicious. For these students, being able to eat in the film studio's canteen was a novel experience in itself.

Gao Yuanyuan sat with several female friends she had just met, eating and quietly discussing her morning's experiences.

Just then, a familiar figure walked over—it was Li Tingting, the one who had chosen her that day.

Li Tingting was dressed in a well-fitting business suit today, with her usual friendly smile. She walked straight to Gao Yuanyuan and asked gently, "Gao Yuanyuan, how was the filming? Are you tired?"

Gao Yuanyuan quickly put down her chopsticks and stood up: "Hello, Sister Li! I'm fine, not tired."

"Sit down and talk, sit down and talk," Li Tingting gestured for her to relax, then pulled up a chair and sat down herself, chatting casually: "What do you think of the Beijing Film Studio?"

“It’s very big, very… impressive,” Gao Yuanyuan answered honestly.

Li Tingting smiled, then changed the subject, her gaze becoming more serious, and lowered her voice to make sure only the two of them could hear: "Yuanyuan, let me ask you a question. Do you want to be a big star? Like in TV shows and movies, where many people know you and like you."

This question was like a stone thrown into Gao Yuanyuan's heart, stirring up huge waves.

Become a star?
For a sixteen-year-old girl in a vocational high school specializing in arts, this was a distant yet alluring dream.

She hesitated for a moment, but her deep longing for that glamorous world made her blush and nod gently, her voice barely audible: "...I want to."

Li Tingting didn't seem surprised by the answer; her smile deepened, revealing a knowing insight into people's hearts.

She leaned forward slightly, her tone becoming more sincere: "That's good..."

Li Tingting briefly introduced to Gao Yuanyuan how amazing Shengying Media was and who its founder was.

When Gao Yuanyuan heard the name "Wang Sheng", her heart skipped a beat.

Eh?etc!

A chorus of "The Chinese"? Wang Sheng?

Gao Yuanyuan's eyes lit up, and she asked, "Is the Wang Sheng you mentioned, Mr. Wang, the creator of the song 'Chinese People'?"

"Yes."

Li Tingting said enticingly, "Want to meet President Wang? As long as you become an artist under our company, you can see him every day."

"Um……"

Gao Yuanyuan hurriedly said, "No, I wanted to ask what to do?"

"Haha, don't be nervous, don't be nervous."

Seeing Gao Yuanyuan's somewhat bewildered expression, Li Tingting considerately asked, "How old are you this year? When is your birthday?"

"I... will turn seventeen on the fifth of next month," Gao Yuanyuan answered honestly.

"Seventeen years old...that means you're not an adult yet." Li Tingting pondered for a moment before explaining, "In that case, the contract will need to be signed in two phases. The first phase is a one-year 'trainee contract.' During this year, the company will provide you with basic training in vocals, physical fitness, and performance, which will serve as an observation and development period."

This year, you are still a student, focusing on your studies. Training will be conducted during your spare time. This contract will automatically terminate once you turn eighteen.

She paused, looked into Gao Yuanyuan's eyes, and said clearly, "If you are willing to continue down this path and the company recognizes your progress, then we will sign a five-year formal artist management contract. During these five years, the company will do its best to plan your career and provide opportunities for performances, album releases, and more."

"So, that means it adds up to six years?" Gao Yuanyuan tried hard to understand this complicated information.

"That's one way to understand it, but the first year is a practice period, which is relatively relaxed and focuses on training and adaptation. The next five years are the real professional collaboration period."

Li Tingting patiently explained, her tone gentle but clear: "This is a common model for training newcomers in the industry. It gives young people opportunities while also protecting the company's interests. President Wang thinks highly of you; this is an opportunity that many people would kill for."

The amount of information was overwhelming, and Gao Yuanyuan felt her head buzzing.

A contract? Six years? A celebrity? Mr. Wang's approval?

All of this happened so fast and so suddenly that she was completely at a loss.

She was just a girl from an 'ordinary family', and she didn't dare to make such a big decision on her own.

Seeing her flustered look, Li Tingting patted her shoulder and comforted her, "Don't panic, there's no rush for you to make a decision right away. Go back and discuss it with your parents, explain the situation to them. If they agree, and you really want to give it a try, come to the Beijing Film Studio next Saturday at the same time, and we'll discuss the details of the contract, okay?"

Gao Yuanyuan felt like she had been granted a pardon and quickly nodded, "Okay, thank you, Sister Li! I will definitely discuss it with my parents when I get back."

"Yes, that's right." Li Tingting stood up, her smile still warm. "Eat well, and be careful on your way back this afternoon. Remember, I'll be waiting for your news next Saturday."

After saying that, Li Tingting turned and left the cafeteria, leaving Gao Yuanyuan alone staring blankly at her food plate.

The noisy sounds in the cafeteria seemed to have faded away, leaving only the bombshell news and the young director's profound gaze echoing repeatedly in her mind.

A path that seemed to lead to starlight unfolded beneath her feet without warning, just before her seventeenth birthday.

At the end of the road stood a man named Li Tingting.

(End of this chapter)