Huayu 2002, I'm going to dominate the music scene!

Looking at Song Mo's face, Gao Yuanyuan couldn't help but ask, "Why didn't you continue your studies?"

Song Mo shrugged: "Because I'm poor."

When he transmigrated, this unlucky guy had already dropped out of school for over a year.

Of course, he couldn't possibly go back to his textbooks. He's a graduate of the Central Conservatory of Music; going back to high school? He'd be crazy.

Besides, educational background discrimination isn't that serious these days.

At most, he'll be called illiterate by the rival fans.

What kind of stain is illiteracy on a celebrity?

It's common knowledge that celebrities are generally uncultured.

Looking at his carefree demeanor, Gao Yuanyuan felt a little sorry for him.

In her opinion, if Song Mo weren't poor, he should be at university right now, attending classes with his classmates, spending time in the library, and dating.

Instead of singing in bars and living in damp, moldy basements.

Both her parents were highly educated. Her father graduated from Tsinghua University and worked in electronics at the Ministry of Aerospace, and her mother also worked in radio at the Ministry of Aerospace.

But she herself was a poor student. She only attended a junior college and only recently transferred to a four-year university, where she obtained a bachelor's degree in economics and management.

Song Mo didn't want to talk about these things, so she changed the subject and asked, "By the way, how come you have so much free time? Aren't celebrities usually very busy?"

"What kind of celebrity am I?" Gao Yuanyuan picked up her glass, took a sip, and her smile faded slightly. "Besides, whether I'm busy or not... it's not that big of a deal."

She put down her cup and didn't say anything more.

Song Mo hadn't expected that his words would make her a little unhappy, and he was just about to say something.

Gao Yuanyuan looked at Song Mo and suddenly said, "Do you know what? My childhood dream was to be a clerk in a big company."

Song Mo raised an eyebrow: "A clerk?"

"Yes." She nodded. "It's the kind of job where you work nine to five, sitting in an office every day. Unlike my parents, who are so busy they're never home, and I never see them during the Lunar New Year. I just need to work hard every day, and after get off work I can go home, read books, listen to music, and not have to think about anything."

As she spoke, she laughed at herself: "Isn't that pretty pathetic?"

Song Mo chuckled and asked softly, "And then?"

"And then..." Gao Yuanyuan shrugged, "And then it just turned out like this, filming movies, acting, being pushed around. I don't even know if I like it or not, I just keep going like this."

After she finished speaking, she picked up her cup and took a big gulp.

Song Mo was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly said, "Do you know what I wanted to do when I was little?"

Gao Yuanyuan looked at him: "What?"

"I want to be a scientist," Song Mo said seriously.

Gao Yuanyuan was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Really?"

"Really." Song Mo nodded. "It was written in elementary school as an essay called 'My Ideal,' to become a scientist and contribute to the modernization of our motherland."

Gao Yuanyuan laughed so hard her shoulders shook.

Song Mo laughed too, "Isn't it a bit fake? But it was real back then. And my ideals now are very down-to-earth and very real."

"What are your ideals?"

"As long as I have money." Song Mo shrugged. "The simpler things are, the happier I am. Everyone says you can't imagine the happiness of the rich. I want to try it."

Gao Yuanyuan laughed until tears almost came out. She never expected that someone could make this somewhat mundane ideal sound so fresh and refined.

"Oh, right," Song Mo suddenly remembered something, "Your dream of becoming a clerk still has a chance. When I have money, I'll open a big company and hire you as my secretary at a high salary, just to serve me tea and water."

Gao Yuanyuan glared at him, embarrassed and annoyed: "You wish!"

The two were laughing together when suddenly Gao Yuanyuan's phone, which was on the table, vibrated.

She paused for a moment, then quickly opened her phone, only to see the word "Mom" flashing on the screen.

She glanced at the time and realized it was already 10:30.

"Hello, Mom..." she answered, her voice very low.

She responded with "uh-huh" after hearing something said on the other end of the phone, but glanced at Song Mo with a slightly embarrassed look.

Song Mo picked up his glass, pretending to drink, without looking at her.

"I understand, I'll be right back," she said, and hung up the phone.

The two exchanged a glance.

Gao Yuanyuan opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know what to say.

"Should we go?" Song Mo asked.

She nodded, and the two of them stood up at the same time.

Gao Yuanyuan picked up her bag, took two steps outside, then stopped. She turned back to look at Song Mo, a bright smile blooming on her face: "Song Mo, are we friends now?"

"Of course." Song Mo nodded.

"Well then, my friend, it's my turn to say this now. We'll definitely meet again." After saying that, Gao Yuanyuan slung her bag over her shoulder, waved goodbye to Song Mo with a carefree attitude, and left.

Watching her departing figure, Song Mo muttered a couple of words about friends, realizing that this girl was actually quite cute.

Back at his booth, he was about to have another drink before heading home when he noticed a note on the table. Opening it, he saw a name and a phone number written on it.

When was this left behind?

He glanced at the long string of numbers and suddenly realized a real problem: he didn't even have a cell phone.

He really can't afford this thing.

A used Nokia phone would cost at least 500 yuan. All the money he'd saved up over the past month by scrimping and saving had gone to headphones and copyright registration fees; he had no spare money left to buy a phone.

Never mind, we'll talk about it later.

When Gao Yuanyuan returned to her rented apartment, she opened the door and saw her mother bending over, tidying up the magazines on the coffee table.

"Mom, why are you here again? Now that you're retired, go out and have some fun with Dad." She changed her shoes and slumped weakly onto the sofa.

Without even looking up, Gao's mother said, "If I hadn't come, who knows what a mess this house would be in. You're a grown woman, and you can't even tidy up your own place?"

Gao Yuanyuan rubbed her forehead, a little helpless: "I've only been in this house for a few days, is it really necessary to clean it up? Besides, the housekeeper will be here in a couple of days."

Mothers all over the world are probably the same; they always feel that their children will never be able to take good care of them.

After Gao's mother finished stacking the last magazine, she straightened up and suddenly her nose twitched.

Her expression immediately changed. "You went to the bar again?"

Gao Yuanyuan's heart skipped a beat, but she didn't reply.

Gao's mother sat down opposite her, her face not looking too good: "Yuanyuan, how many times have I told you not to meet with those people?"

Before Gao Yuanyuan could speak, her mother continued, "Those people are all bad news. You're a public figure now, so you need to be careful about your image. If someone takes pictures of you again, who knows what they'll write? What happened last time... it was so ugly."

Gao Yuanyuan bit her lip and remained silent for a long while.

Then she looked up, her eyes a little red: "Mom, I really have nothing to do with that person. Why don't you all believe me? Someone like him, would I be after his baldness or his ugliness?"

Gao's mother paused for a moment, then looked at the tears welling up in her eyes and softened her tone.

"Alright, alright, that's not what Mom meant." She sighed and sat down next to Gao Yuanyuan. "Mom was just worried about you. Your dad and I didn't approve of you becoming a model back then. This industry is too complicated and not suitable for you."

Gao Yuanyuan sniffed but didn't say anything.

Looking at her, Gao's mother said with heartache in her eyes, "We've raised you with a lot of freedom since you were little, but you have to remember that you have a way out. Although our family isn't very wealthy, we can still support you."

A warm feeling welled up in Gao Yuanyuan's heart, but she didn't give in. "Now that I'm in, I'll keep going."

There are four people in her family. Her parents and brother are all graduates of prestigious universities, but she herself is not academically inclined.

She still remembers the disappointed look in her parents' eyes on the day her college entrance exam results were released.

She also wanted to be the kind of child that would make her parents proud.

So no matter how difficult this path is, she has to keep going.

Looking at her stubborn face, Gao's mother suddenly didn't know what to say.

After a while, she sighed and stood up: "Alright, go to sleep early. I packed some food for you in the fridge, just heat it up and eat it tomorrow."