Chapter Twenty: Four Years! Youth Is a Poisonous Draught

"Good day, teachers. My name is Gao Yuanyuan..."

Gao Yuanyuan admitted to herself that she might have spoken a bit too loudly to Ma Xun earlier. Now, standing in the classroom, she was confronted by a group of unfamiliar teachers. She was still just a student, and she felt as stiff as a corpse from nerves. Thankfully, her self-introduction was over, even if it had been a bit stumbling. Her heart was racing!

Although she had known from the start that becoming an actress wouldn't be easy, she wasn't even close to being an actress yet, and she was already feeling overwhelmed. But regardless, she was here now. She decided to let them decide her fate. Gao Yuanyuan had essentially given up on trying to control the situation.

Meanwhile, the CCTV teachers in the room began to deliberate.

"Hmm, this girl is quite pretty."
"She’s certainly bright-eyed and spirited, and she has a local accent, too."
"You can tell she’s never acted before; she’s quite nervous."
"What does she study?"
"Secretarial work."
"What kind of major is that? Oh, vocational high school, I see."
"Yes, I’m not very good at my studies, I’m sorry."
"Nothing to be sorry about. Being a bit slow is fine."

*Is that how you talk to people?* Gao Yuanyuan maintained a smile with great effort. They weren't wrong, though. Plus, these were teachers from CCTV; their academic credentials must be incredibly high. As a vocational student, she hardly dared to breathe too loudly. However...

"She has a good personality."
"Indeed. How about... let’s see her in a school uniform?"

A school uniform? That was easy. Gao Yuanyuan took off her outer jacket to reveal her uniform underneath. She had actually been clever enough to plan for this. Ma Xun had told her that these teachers had only offered her this opportunity after seeing her student ID, so she had worn her uniform underneath just in case. She might not be good at her studies, but she wasn't stupid.

Once she transformed into the "high school student Gao Yuanyuan," the teachers' eyes lit up.

"That works!"
"She’s a real high schooler; the vibe is great."
"Who is she going to play?"

Things had progressed to this point already? Gao Yuanyuan was no longer nervous, and the smile on her face became even more radiant.

***

The small courtyard was not large. To the west, there stood a persimmon tree, with a stone table placed underneath it. Ma Xun led Hao Lei into the yard, and they sat down across from each other. Her suitcase was left to the side.

Ma Xun’s opening line was quite peculiar: "What are you holding onto?"

Hao Lei hadn't expected to hear a Northeast dialect from him. Although the accents across the three-and-a-half provinces of the Northeast weren't identical, the phrase felt incredibly intimate to her. In a normal conversation, Hao Lei would have replied, "I'm not holding onto anything." This answer was universally applicable—whether one was angry, calm, bantering, or joking. After saying it, a girl might even burrow into a boy's arms—perhaps with a playful punch thrown in for good measure. In the Northeast, that would already be considered off-the-charts sweet.

But instead, Hao Lei replied, "You know perfectly well in your heart."

Ma Xun smiled helplessly at this answer. "You underestimate me. Do you think Gao Yuanyuan is going to steal your lead role?"

"Isn't she?" When Hao Lei said this, her voice was filled with a sense of righteous indignation.

This only made Ma Xun feel more helpless. "If I told you that I never recommended Gao Yuanyuan to the production team, and I never had the intention of making her the lead, would you believe me?"

Hao Lei was completely stunned. This was not at all what she had expected.

"I don't believe you!" Her response was clearly unreasonable, but for some reason, Ma Xun found himself having a sudden surge of patience.

"Why?"

"Don't think I don't know about the shady dealings you people have!" Hao Lei’s pretty face was still flushed with anger.

Ma Xun’s smile deepened. "And what kind of shady dealings do we have?"

"You know, that kind of thing! Don't think I don't understand!" Hao Lei’s face turned red, though it was unclear if it was from shyness or fury.

Ma Xun remained unbothered and countered with a question: "The kind of thing you're talking about... you mean 'hidden rules,' right?"

She hadn't expected him to be so bold as to say it out loud. Hao Lei could only nod; she couldn't bring herself to call him "shameless," especially since she had previously told him, "I want to be your person." Still, her heart was full of resentment.

Ma Xun asked again, "How old are you, really? Do you truly understand the entertainment industry? You speak of these 'hidden rules,' but do you even know how they work?"

"How would I know?" Of course she didn't know, though she had certainly heard of them. "It's just... it's just..." She wanted to say "trading one's body for a role," but the words wouldn't come out.

Ma Xun spoke slowly and deliberately. "If I were to explain the details to you, would you want to hear them?"

Details? He actually knew about such shameless things? Ma Xun didn't give Hao Lei a chance to choose; he continued on his own.

"Here on the mainland, there are many variations, but in the end, it’s all the same. Over in Hong Kong, there is a fixed model. They collectively call it a 'dinner party.' Simply put, it involves inviting a few actresses to attend a dinner hosted by a powerful figure. During the meal, everyone eats and drinks, and everything seems normal. But after the dinner ends, you have a choice: you can stay, or you can leave."

He used the word "you" at the end. Hao Lei was a smart girl; she understood instantly. But she wanted to verify it.

"And what about those who choose to stay?"

"They have chosen to become the person of that powerful figure."

"And what about those who leave? Won't they face retaliation?"

"Retaliation? Why? If they choose to leave, they simply haven't chosen the powerful figure. Everything stays as it was before; nothing changes."

So that was what the "hidden rules" were! Hao Lei had heard many dark rumors about the entertainment industry, but she never expected that this thing, reviled by so many, wasn't about bullying or coercion, but rather a mutual agreement. Her moral compass was somewhat shaken, but she immediately thought of a key question.

"Why are you telling me this?"

Ma Xun looked serious. "How old are you! Do you really understand this world? The entertainment industry is chaotic, but there are no fools in it. A big boss supports a star because that star is their person. Do you understand now?"

Hao Lei understood, and for a moment, she was speechless.

Ma Xun continued, "Now that I've told you how the world really works, think about it."

Hao Lei fully grasped Ma Xun's meaning. She even understood part of the subtext. "You're not interested in me?"

This question made Ma Xun smile helplessly. "You are a smart girl."

But was that a compliment?

Hao Lei didn't speak. Ma Xun opened his mouth again. "Regarding the lead role, I can only say that I haven't done anything to influence your chances. The decision for the role rests entirely with the teachers from CCTV."

Hao Lei no longer had any doubts about his words.

"What's with the suitcase?"

"I, I..."

"If you don't have a place to stay, there is another room in this courtyard. I haven't tidied it up yet, and the furniture is a bit old, but the previous owner was quite clean."

"..."

"There's a small shop at the entrance of the alley. Go buy a lock. You should be on your guard against me."

"..."

"Little sister, I'm not exactly a gentleman. It's dangerous for you to be out on your own like this. Don't do this again in the future."

Ma Xun didn't let Hao Lei respond. After saying this, he returned to his own room. Hao Lei sat under the persimmon tree for a long time before she finally stood up. She had probably made up her mind.

***

The moon climbed into the branches. The television was playing the news. Ma Xun sat on the sofa, and he couldn't help but think of Hao Lei. He really hadn't expected her to show up like that.

As for what she had said... Ma Xun had never intended to promote Hao Lei from the very beginning. The reason was simple: he remembered that Hao Lei was a girl with a very strong personality, and she was very smart. In other words, she would be very difficult to control.

As for Gao Yuanyuan... she was beautiful, but also a bit naive. As a newcomer in the world of capital, Ma Xun was still in the novice stage. In fact, he was mostly faking it. Promoting Gao Yuanyuan was the wise choice. As for Hao Lei, he would just let it be.

The reason Ma Xun had told her about the inner workings of Hong Kong dinner parties was to help her realize the reality so that they could each go their separate ways. As for the lead role, Ma Xun truly felt that Hao Lei was more suitable. He couldn't help but think back to his youth when he first watched this drama. Ma Xun admitted that he had truly thought of Hao Lei as a campus goddess. In terms of looks, Hao Lei and Gao Yuanyuan were evenly matched. In terms of figure, Hao Lei was clearly more endowed. He couldn't help but recall that later film... *ahem*, better not to think about that.

At that moment, the door creaked. Hao Lei walked in. Ma Xun was startled and couldn't help but ask, "You didn't eat? Then..."

The campus goddess walked straight up to him. Then, she began to undo the buttons of her clothes.

"..." Ma Xun didn't know what to say.

There was a rustling sound as her clothes slipped to the floor. The anticipation was intense, but the reality was sudden. Ma Xun felt his heart rate accelerating. "You should think about this carefully..."

Before he could finish, Hao Lei interrupted him. "Four years."

Did she mean until she graduated university? Ma Xun understood that she had made her decision.

"No regrets?"

This question was, in truth, Ma Xun trying to give her—and himself—one last chance. But Hao Lei kissed him lightly. It was incredibly inexperienced, yet it was enough to stir the heart of any man. Youth was, after all, the most tempting poison.

Ma Xun chose to open his mouth and consume it.