Chapter 135: The Speed of Progress

"How could you authorize Song Linxin without even telling me?!" Zhou Ping'an interrogated Lu Yan He in a fit of rage, his booming voice nearly shattering the phone.

Lu Yan He said calmly, "This is a song I wrote and composed myself. The copyright is in my own hands. I don't need the company's consent to authorize someone else to cover it."

Zhou Ping'an: "I'm still your manager, at the very least!"

"Then why haven't you told me until now that Director Luo Yuzhong had his eye on me and wanted me to star in *The Golden Era*?" Lu Yan He asked.

On the other end, Zhou Ping'an seemed to have had something stuffed into his mouth; he couldn't make a sound.

"Brother Ping'an, I still call you 'brother' now because I hope you'll know when to stop. Since we've already signed the termination agreement, you're still deliberately obstructing my acting behind my back and ruining the opportunities I fought for myself. What makes you think I'll still listen to you obediently?"

Lu Yan He sneered.

"There are less than nine months left until my contract with the company ends. I hope that in the time remaining, if there is any work for me, you will handle it normally. Otherwise, since I have nothing to lose, I will always be the one with nothing to fear."

For the first time, Zhou Ping'an realized he couldn't out-talk Lu Yan He.

The more furious he became, the less he was able to respond.

"Lu Yan He, who do you think you are? I—"

"Brother Ping'an, I'll emphasize this one more time. I know we have completely fallen out, and after the contract ends, we should even be in a state of never seeing each other again. But for now, I haven't terminated the contract yet, and you are still my manager in name," Lu Yan He said. "If you don't want me to have a good chat with the various media outlets about how you've treated me these past few years and how you forced me to terminate the contract, then just do the work you're supposed to do."

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Why wouldn't I?" Lu Yan He asked back, earnest and innocent. "Brother Ping'an, can you tell me what reason I have not to dare?"

At this moment, after nearly two months of endurance, Lu Yan He truly struck back for the first time. Without any careful deliberation, relying solely on that bit of spirit, he threatened Zhou Ping'an in the coldest tone possible.

Only after these words actually came out of his mouth did Lu Yan He realize that saying some things out loud was much more satisfying than bottling them up inside.

But only by saying it now would Zhou Ping'an be truly threatened.

He didn't know how much rage Zhou Ping'an would be in after hanging up, but who told him to insist on making him sign the termination agreement first?

In Zhou Ping'an's hands, it was a guarantee to ensure Lu Yan He's departure, but in Lu Yan He's hands, wasn't it also evidence of Zhou Ping'an forcing Lu Yan He to terminate the contract?

If Lu Yan He were just a small, ignored artist, this matter wouldn't stir up any waves.

But now, Lu Yan He happened to have a bit of fame and popularity, plus a livestream room with an average daily viewership of around two thousand.

Yes, a month later, the average daily viewership of Lu Yan He's livestream room had reached the two-thousand mark.

It had doubled.

This was almost entirely due to people coming for his reputation—following Lu Yan He's study livestream to study.

Lu Yan He himself was shocked; he hadn't expected this study livestream to become "widely renowned" as he kept broadcasting.

Even Li Pengfei said, "Old Lu, your state lately looks completely different from before. Even your little gaze has become spirited and high-spirited."

Lu Yan He was left between laughter and tears by his words.

Lu Yan He's mood was indeed quite good.

Then, at the beginning of November, the third monthly exam arrived.

Lu Yan He performed steadily, improving to 194th in the grade. The margin of improvement had shrunk, which was the result of his own deliberate control. If the improvement in grades was still that large in the first half, it wouldn't be reasonable. He emphasized the effect of "accumulating strength," which was also more acceptable to everyone.

Li Pengfei also made a small improvement, reaching 329th in the grade.

Lin Yu, who had taken first place in the grade last time, fell to third this time. The grade fluctuation was within the normal range. Liu Qin only told her that such fluctuations were normal; at this stage, the key was to stabilize performance and stabilize mentality.

The one who didn't stabilize their mentality was Xu Zijun.

This top student, who had consistently remained in the top twenty of the grade, suffered a Waterloo this time, dropping to 62nd in the grade.

The whole class was shocked.

Even Liu Qin found it strange. She had thought Xu Zijun's performance in the last monthly exam would be affected, after all, so many things had happened. As a result, Xu Zijun's performance last time was rock steady, ranking 19th in the grade, without being affected at all. Liu Qin had thought Xu Zijun had stabilized, but she didn't expect such a big regression this time.

Everyone was afraid to talk to Xu Zijun.

After seeing her grades, Xu Zijun's face turned pale in an instant, and she returned to her seat in silence, never raising her head again.

Exams are always like this; some people improve, and some people regress. While Xu Zijun suffered a Waterloo, Chu Saiying, contrary to his usual state, broke into the top thirty of the grade, taking 29th place, the first time he had achieved this ranking.

It was just that his improvement didn't make people feel very welcoming.

Xu Zijun regressed significantly, while he improved significantly. Even if this was all a matter of mentality, people's sensibilities are always biased.

Liu Qin said to Lu Yan He in private, "Keep working hard. If you maintain this, you have a great hope of getting into a first-tier university."

Lu Yan He nodded.

In reality, according to his own estimation of his true level, he had already reached around the 10th place in the grade.

His three subjects of Chinese, Math, and English were all at the top level in the entire grade, especially Math; as long as the last small question of the final big problem wasn't too perverted, a perfect score was possible.

Where he was lacking was still the three subjects of the Liberal Arts Comprehensive.

This made him somewhat regret not switching from Liberal Arts to Science at the beginning, just to avoid raising suspicion.

When he first transmigrated, he wasn't familiar with anything and was as cautious as a dog.

After all, the split between Liberal Arts and Science happened in the second year of high school; switching to Science in the third year was too inexplicable.

Lu Yan He carefully analyzed his three subjects; in fact, the places where he lost points were still due to a shaky foundation.

There was no help for it; counting it all up, it had only been two months. Being able to reach this level was already the result of him giving his all.

There were still eight months left, and he believed he could catch up.

There are tricks to learning; if you haven't found the tricks, you can only put in the hard work.

Lu Yan He basically spent all his time during evening self-study on the three Liberal Arts subjects, using a large amount of time to make up for his foundation.

Then, he also started searching for online classes. Many masters online would record videos to explain some key knowledge points. Thanks to this era, as long as you want to learn, there are many convenient conditions.

After the audience in the livestream room learned from the students of their No. 13 Middle School that Lu Yan He had broken into the top two hundred of the grade, they were all shocked by Lu Yan He's speed of progress.

Three exams, from over five hundredth in the grade to the top two hundred, this was really a bit exaggerated.

This made Lu Yan He suddenly think of a movie. When he was in the second year of high school, the head teacher played a Japanese movie in their class during two evening self-study sessions, called *Flying Colors*.

This movie was about a Japanese high school girl who took one year to get into Keio University. Lu Yan He was a student who believed that learning depended on day-to-day accumulation at the time, and he wasn't interested in such inspirational stories, also feeling that this was completely a movie-style fictional youth inspiration.

Until the movie finished, their head teacher told them that this was adapted from a true story.

"Human potential is infinite. Never feel that it is too late. As long as you are willing to start."

These were the words their head teacher said at the time, and Lu Yan He still remembered them vividly to this day.

Rather than saying that the movie had a great impact on Lu Yan He, it was better to say it was the head teacher's words.

Lu Yan He believed he could do it. He could learn Chinese, Math, and English well, so why couldn't he learn Politics, History, and Geography well?

And in November, the independent recruitment of major universities also started one after another.

Lu Yan He didn't need to participate, but the atmosphere in the class was affected by it.

Every week, classmates would ask for leave to leave and participate in the preliminary exams for independent recruitment, followed by secondary exams, and even tertiary exams.

Some passed the preliminary exams, and some were eliminated in the preliminary exams. Different results brought about an atmosphere called cruelty.

Everyone felt in advance the atmosphere that would come after the college entrance exam results were released next June.

Zheng Meiqi had the recommendation qualifications for independent recruitment from two universities, but in the end, she was eliminated one after another. When she came to school, her eyes were swollen, and she probably cried all night.

Lin Yu passed the preliminary exam for the independent recruitment of Qinghe University, and the secondary exam was at the end of December. She was also eliminated in the preliminary exam for the other university.

Instead, it was Chen Yi, who applied for Fudan and Ren Shi, both of which passed the preliminary exams.

The two universities Chen Qin applied for were the last to hold preliminary exams. When he returned from the preliminary exams, it was already the end of November, and he was wearing a thick down jacket.

"The North is really too cold, it's already snowing," he said.

Chen Qin applied for Qinghe and Ren Shi, but as a result, he was eliminated by Qinghe, and passed the preliminary exam for Ren Shi.

Everyone's situation was different, and everyone's life destiny was quietly changing.

Lu Yan He stood on the sidelines, but inexplicably felt a sense of time pushing him from behind.

He didn't know when it started, but time suddenly began to become very fast.

Too many things happened in September, which made October and November seem unremarkable.

However, being unremarkable is the normal state of life for a third-year high school student.

On the other hand, Li Zhibai and Yan Liang's work pace had become busy.

Yan Liang had to participate in the art exam, and was still being arranged by Zhou Ping'an for two commercial performances a week.

By November, all kinds of year-end activities arrived, promotions, company commercial performances, celebration activities, and so on.

It was very rare for Lu Yan He to meet them.

Then, just at this time, Qiu Ling came again with a silk banner.

This time, Lu Yan He hadn't received any news in advance.

Qiu Ling said, "More than two months ago, a very vicious case occurred in our city. Due to confidentiality regulations, I can't tell you the specific situation, but because of the USB drive you sent, we were able to solve this case and catch the relevant suspects. Without the USB drive you sent, we wouldn't have known that such a vicious incident had occurred in our city. Therefore, this is the second 'Righteous Act' silk banner issued to you on behalf of our municipal bureau."

Lu Yan He once again, under the representation of teachers and classmates, accepted the second silk banner of his life in a daze.

Principal Song's mouth was split wide with a smile.

Another 'Righteous Act' silk banner! This was not only Lu Yan He's honor, but also the honor of No. 13 Middle School! It was because No. 13 Middle School students were well-trained!

Lu Yan He's second 'Righteous Act' silk banner was officially reported, and he was once again on the social news.

Lu Yan He was very surprised; this time, no one had notified his management company.

After the silk banner awarding ceremony ended, he asked Qiu Ling in a low voice, and Qiu Ling said, "Notify what? It's a company that's going to terminate the contract anyway."

Lu Yan He immediately reacted; this was Qiu Ling deliberately not notifying them after hearing about his situation with Zhou Ping'an last time.

"Thank you, Sister Qiu Ling," Lu Yan He said.

Qiu Ling laughed.

"I was just chatting with your head teacher; you've made great progress lately," Qiu Ling said.

"Hmm, it's alright," Lu Yan He nodded. "Anyway, I've already used all my strength to study."

Qiu Ling: "You should work this hard. If you do well, you'll be the one to benefit."

This time the bureau chief didn't come; it was just Qiu Ling as the police representative.

In the evening, after Lu Yan He finished evening self-study and was preparing to return to the dormitory, he ran into Zhou Ping'an at the school gate.

He seemed to be standing at the school gate specifically waiting for him.

It was quite cold that day, and the wind was blowing fiercely.

He didn't know how long he had been standing here alone.

Lu Yan He looked at him with some surprise.

"Let's talk," he said.

Lu Yan He walked over.

"It's windy outside, let's talk in my car, and I'll drop you off on the way," he said.

Lu Yan He nodded and followed Zhou Ping'an into the car.

It was very rare for Lu Yan He to sit in Zhou Ping'an's car again.

Given the relationship between the two of them, he thought he would never be able to sit in it again.

The heater was on in the car.

Zhou Ping'an opened a window to avoid the car being stuffy.

"We had some unpleasantness before, I know," Zhou Ping'an began.

Lu Yan He thought to himself, it was more than just some unpleasantness.

He listened silently without responding.

"I admit, to you, I'm not a good manager, but I haven't really harmed you much, you have to admit that, right?"

Lu Yan He: "..."

If it meant not drugging him and sending him to someone's bed, or setting him up and tricking him into owing millions or tens of millions in debt, then that was true.

However, what was the point of saying this now?

Zhou Ping'an said, "I actually don't have any other thoughts. You've guessed it yourself; someone wants you to leave the entertainment industry, so they reached into our company. I don't know who it is, and I'm just following orders from above, so I blocked many of your opportunities. That's a fact."

"In these two months, you've fought for yourself, become famous, been named and praised by the authorities, and today you got another silk banner, although I don't know what it was for," Zhou Ping'an said with a self-deprecating laugh. "To be honest, if it weren't for the unpleasantness in the past, with the ability and quality you've shown now, I would definitely manage you well and push you to the position of a first-tier star."

Lu Yan He thought, I don't believe you when you say that now.

He roughly guessed that Zhou Ping'an came to find him today, partly because of the harsh words and threats he had given him before, and partly because of the second silk banner today. He was once again officially commended, which gilded him with another layer of gold. If he jumped out to accuse Zhou Ping'an at this time, Zhou Ping'an would definitely become the target of public condemnation.

"Brother Ping'an, it's too late to say these things now. Our termination agreement has already been signed," Lu Yan He said with a light chuckle.

Zhou Ping'an looked silently at Lu Yan He sitting in the passenger seat through the rearview mirror.

In just a few short months, this teenager had become someone he could hardly recognize.

The night was blurred, and the light and shadow of the street lamps constantly changed as the car drove, switching between the boundary of light and dark.

"During the time before you terminate the contract, I will help you take on a few jobs," Zhou Ping'an said. "Consider it compensation for how I treated you before."

Lu Yan He perked up a bit when he heard this.

The main topic had finally arrived.

Zhou Ping'an said, "First, I contacted the crew of *The Golden Era* today. As long as they are still willing to sign you, I will help you negotiate the acting contract and will no longer require those additional conditions."

He didn't know that Lu Yan He had already settled this matter privately.

But being able to sign the contract earlier would avoid long nights and many dreams, so Lu Yan He certainly wouldn't refuse.

"Second, before you terminate the contract with the company, I will help you take on two more plays, within the fifth billing," Zhou Ping'an said. "I know you want to stay in the entertainment industry, but after you terminate the contract, based on my understanding, someone will definitely stop you from returning to the entertainment industry. These two plays will allow you to transition through this period."

This condition was not bad.

Lu Yan He silently checked it off in his heart.

"Third, if you are willing, I can also help you take on a few commercial collaborations so you can earn some money, so that after you terminate the contract, you will have money to go to college without having to take out a loan."

To be fair, Zhou Ping'an still understood Lu Yan He very well and knew what Lu Yan He cared about.

The conditions he proposed were exactly what Lu Yan He was most concerned about and cared about the most right now.

He seemed to have insight into what Lu Yan He was thinking.

Lu Yan He said, "So Brother Ping'an has always known what I wanted."

Zhou Ping'an couldn't help but frown.

He had already taken a big step back; why was this kid still so thorny in his speech?

However, he still had to hold back his anger and coax him first.

Now Lu Yan He's golden body was built too righteously, with two 'Righteous Act' silk banners on him, an eighteen-year-old boy who was red and righteous. If he didn't coax him and calm him down, and he really exploded, the first person to be pushed out to take the blame would be him, Zhou Ping'an.

Zhou Ping'an never held out hope that Vice President Ma would help him.

By then, the one with nothing to lose would become him, Zhou Ping'an.

Therefore, Zhou Ping'an rushed to the gate of No. 13 Middle School today, waiting for Lu Yan He, just to say these things to him.

Lu Yan He knew he would agree to Zhou Ping'an.

He said he had nothing to lose, but in reality, unless it was a last resort, he wouldn't do such a thing of killing a thousand enemies and losing eight hundred himself.

But agreeing so easily would be a waste of such an opportunity.

"During the time before the college entrance exam, any work opportunity I come into contact with, as long as I want to take it, you must help me take it," Lu Yan He said.

Zhou Ping'an really didn't expect Lu Yan He to negotiate conditions with him directly.

He wasn't even satisfied with the conditions he proposed and wanted to negotiate other conditions.

"You know, I can't do too much. I can't let that person who wants you to leave the entertainment industry notice that we haven't made any moves."

"I understand. You don't have to worry so much. My focus is still on the college entrance exam, and I'm not that popular, so there won't be that many jobs coming to me."

Lu Yan He made every sentence sound light and breezy, as if this conversation was all within his expectations.

His posture was one of "I know very well that you would definitely come to find me to say these things."

This posture of his really bluffed Zhou Ping'an.

Getting off Zhou Ping'an's car, Lu Yan He walked into the residential area with a calm face, turned into the building, and couldn't help but clench his fist and wave it hard.

He sincerely felt that he really had some talent for acting.

Yan Liang and Li Zhibai were not there.

The house was dark.

Lu Yan He went straight into his room and opened his laptop.

Around 11:30, the two of them came back together, again in a state of being as tired as dead dogs.

Lu Yan He was organizing his geography notes. Hearing the movement outside, he knew they were back, so he told the people in the livestream room that he was going to end the stream, closed the livestream software, and walked out of the room.

"Why do you two look like you've been drained?" Lu Yan He saw them occupying each end of the sofa as soon as they came back, slumped on it, and said with a smile.

Li Zhibai: "Tired."

Yan Liang also said: "Really so tired."

Lu Yan He asked: "Are there any announcements tomorrow?"

"Yes," Li Zhibai said irritably, "Zhou Ping'an is not human."

Yan Liang said: "I also have to go to class, sigh."

Lu Yan He poured them each a glass of water.

"If you're tired, rest early," he said.

"I can't sleep yet. Damn, I have to have a video meeting with someone in half an hour," Li Zhibai said with a irritable face. "The evil Zhou Ping'an."

Lu Yan He couldn't help but laugh.

"Then I'll sleep first," he yawned.

Li Zhibai and Yan Liang raised their heads in surprise, looked at him, and asked in unison: "You're sleeping so early?"

Actually, it was already almost twelve o'clock, so it was impossible to say "sleeping so early," but Lu Yan He usually studied until around one in the morning before sleeping, making today seem exceptionally early.

Lu Yan He said: "I've slept too little these two days, I need to make up for it."

Yan Liang nodded and said: "It's not that you've slept too little these two days, you've slept too little these past two months. I feel like you're about to become an immortal."

"It's not that exaggerated, is it?"

"Ask Li Zhibai."

As a result, no one answered.

The two of them turned their heads and found that Li Zhibai, this guy, had already fallen asleep on the sofa.

"Damn, he fell asleep just like that," Yan Liang said.

"Looks like he's really tired," Lu Yan He asked. "Then what will he do when he has a meeting later?"

"It's okay, let him sleep for twenty minutes first, I'll call him later," Yan Liang said.

Lu Yan He nodded, "Then I'll go to sleep first."

"Hmm."

Lu Yan He went to wash his face and brush his teeth, and went to sleep when he returned to his room.

This sleep was finally enough for six hours. When washing his face, he forgot to adjust it to the hot water mode, and the cold water stimulated him to wake up.

After washing up, Lu Yan He prepared to go out.

Yan Liang came out of the room yawning. Seeing Lu Yan He was about to go out, he waved his hand.

"Bye-bye."

"Bye-bye."

Lu Yan He walked into the cold air, facing the chill of early winter.

"Old Lu!" Yan Liang suddenly chased down.

Lu Yan He turned his head in surprise, "What's wrong?"

Yan Liang ran in front of him and said: "I forgot to tell you last night, that legendary manager, Chen Ziyan, she is going to hold an open interview at the company at the end of this month, but interested people must submit an application form first. I guess Zhou Ping'an didn't tell you this news. Don't miss it, the deadline is this Saturday." ===== CHAPTER 136 =====