Back to 17, My Brother is the Cult Leader

Fang Yuan spent two days considering whether to choose the Central Academy of Drama or the Beijing Film Academy.

He was staying in a hotel, alone, with his phone turned off.

In his previous life, he worked as a screenwriter for over ten years, a career he entered later in life without formal training.

He learned many basic things while working on the job.

It's exhausting to supplement my diet, and it's not systematic.

The advantage of the Central Academy of Drama is its solid foundation.

Two years of foundational courses to build a solid foundation.

That's exactly what he's missing.

The advantage of Nortel is that it offers a lot of practical experience and is close to the industry.

But he has no shortage of practical experience.

He wrote so many scripts in his past life, he had enough practical experience.

What he lacks is theory, a system, and the foundations he has never truly learned.

There is another reason.

The Central Academy of Drama provided single dorm rooms with computers and telephones.

Beijing Film Academy cannot provide single dorm rooms.

He needs a quiet place to write.

During his four years of university, he couldn't possibly write screenplays in a six-person dorm room.

Fang Yuan thought about it for a long time.

On the third day, he called Teacher Zhang from the Central Academy of Drama.

"Teacher Zhang, I've made up my mind. I'm going to the Central Academy of Drama."

Teacher Zhang laughed on the other end of the phone: "Okay. Welcome."

"You should let other students have the tuition waiver."

I just need a single room and a computer and phone.

"Okay. I'll report it to the school. Don't worry, I'll keep my promises."

Fang Yuan hung up the phone and then called Professor Chen from the Beijing Film Academy.

"Professor Chen, I've decided to go to the Central Academy of Drama. I'm sorry!"

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone.

"I see," Teacher Chen said with a hint of regret.

"Fang Yuan, your grades are indeed very good, and we really hope you can come."

"Thank you, Professor Chen. I've thought about it for a long time, and the teaching philosophy of the Central Academy of Drama suits me better."

"What about graduate school? If you don't want to apply to the Central Academy of Drama for graduate school, you could consider coming to the Beijing Film Academy."

Fang Yuan thought for a moment and said, "I'll consider it."

"Okay. We'll wait for you."

Fang Yuan hung up the phone and placed it on the table.

The matter is settled.

He leaned back in his chair, looking out the window at the sky.

July in Beijing is hot.

He remembered many things.

He failed to get into university in his past life, but in this life he is the top student in two schools.

Central Academy of Drama! Department of Dramatic Literature.

He's going to study seriously for four years.

Make up for all the lessons I missed in my past life.

Fang Yuan stood up, packed his things, and prepared to return to Qingdao.

Before leaving, he made a phone call to Huang Xiaoming.

"It's settled. Central Academy of Drama."

Huang Xiaoming said on the other end of the phone, "Central Academy of Drama? Aren't you coming to Beijing Film Academy?"

"I'm not going."

Why?

"The drama department at the Central Academy of Drama is better."

"Okay," Huang Xiaoming said, "Anyway, we're both in Beijing, not far apart."

"Um."

Fang Yuan hung up the phone, picked up his bag, and went out the door.

The sun in Beijing is very strong.

He walked through the alley, his shadow trailing behind him.

Passing by a newsstand, he bought a copy of the Beijing Evening News and tucked it under his arm.

Fang Yuan had only been back in Qingdao from Beijing for a few days when the phone rang again at home.

"Fang Yuan? I am Li Minghao."

Fang Yuan was taken aback.

Li Minghao is an editor at Mengya magazine. He previously worked on "Flying Colors" and "Eighteen-Year-Old Sky".

"Hello, Teacher Li."

"Didn't I tell you? Call him Brother Li!"

"Brother Li!"

"Congratulations! I heard you did well on the exam? You got first place in both your professional and general knowledge scores?"

"The news spread so fast?"

Li Minghao smiled:

"I asked Lao Jiang."

I'm calling to congratulate you and also to ask if you've finalized your school choice.

"It's settled. Central Academy of Drama."

"The Central Academy of Drama is good. Its Department of Dramatic Literature is the best in the country."

Li Minghao paused for a moment, then said, "There's a third thing."

"Please speak."

"I told you about the publication of 'Eighteen-Year-Old Sky' before, do you remember?"

"Remember."

"There are no problems with the publisher. The royalties are the same as for 'Flying Colors,' with an initial print run of 50,000 copies."

I'll send you the contract. Take a look, and if there are no problems, sign it.

"Flying Colors" has been on the market for more than half a year, and its sales have exceeded 20 copies.

Fang Yuan calculated that the manuscript fees and royalties from these novels had already amounted to more than 300,000 yuan.

"Okay. Send me the contract so I can take a look."

"There's one more thing," Li Minghao said, his tone becoming more serious.

"Someone from Shanghai Film Studio contacted me before, wanting to talk to you about the adaptation of 'Eighteen-Year-Old Sky'."

Last time, because of your college entrance exam, it was delayed until now, but I think the timing is right.

The collected volume is also going to be released, and there will be a synergy, which will benefit both the publication and viewership ratings.

What do you think?

Fang Yuan held the microphone but didn't speak.

"They've read the novel and think it's suitable for adaptation into a TV series. They'd like to ask for your opinion."

"Adapted into a TV series?"

"Yes. There's a producer at the Shanghai Film Studio named Zhou Mingyuan."

He'd like to speak with you in person. Is that convenient for you?

Fang Yuan thought for a moment and said, "I'm in Qingdao right now, and school hasn't started yet."

"And what about after school starts?"

"School starts in early September. After I arrive in Beijing, I tell them to come find me at the Central Academy of Drama."

Li Minghao said, "Okay. I'll tell them."

Fang Yuan, you should seriously consider this matter.

Shanghai Film Studio is a large studio; cooperation would be beneficial for your future development.

"I understand. Thank you, Teacher Li."

After hanging up the phone, Fang Yuan sat on the sofa and went over the conversation.

There's not much to say about the publishing process.

Once the contract arrives, just read it once and sign it.

Adaptations should be approached with caution.

Shanghai Film Studio is one of the largest film studios in China.

It would certainly be an opportunity to cooperate with them.

However, he hasn't enrolled in school yet, so his understanding of the industry is still insufficient.

Fang Yuan decided not to rush.

After the start of the school year, we'll have someone from the Shanghai Film Studio come to the school to discuss things.

We'll hear what they have to say then and decide on the next step.

A few days later, the contract arrived.

Fang Yuan read through it; the terms were all standard and there were no problems.

He signed it and sent it back.

In mid-August, Fang Yuan packed his bags and prepared to go to Beijing.

The school has already made arrangements for accommodation.

I arrived at school early mainly to handle matters related to the studio.

The school was incredibly surprised when they heard about his application, which was quite rare at the time.

However, the leaders of the Central Academy of Drama reacted quickly and readily agreed to assist him in obtaining the relevant qualifications.

Huang Xiaoming had already gone home.

Many of his classmates went to work on film sets during the holidays to learn from others; the school arranged many opportunities for them.

He didn't want to fall too far behind his classmates.

Fang Jianguo helped him carry his bag and took him to the train station.

He now travels much less frequently and spends most of his time in the station dispatch room.

"When you get to Beijing, study hard," Fang Jianguo said.

"Um."

"Call me if you don't have enough money."

"Um."

The train is here.

I boarded the bus with my bag, found a seat, and leaned out the window.

Fang Jianguo stood on the platform and waved to him.

Fang Yuan also waved his hand.

Watching my father stand on the platform, getting smaller and smaller until he became a dot and disappeared at the end of the tracks.

Central Academy of Drama, a new life is about to begin.