Chapter 32

“I’m heading back first.”

He Chen made no effort to stop Ruan Liuzheng from attending evening self-study; he greeted her and left first.

The college entrance exam is the pivotal battlefield of life, the gate to becoming a dragon.

Pushing hard in senior three is the right choice.

If he hadn’t had a cheat, and especially not this kind of cheat, he’d surely be grinding through this year too.

Ruan Liuzheng waved him off, signaling him to leave quickly.

If he stayed any longer, who knew what conflicts might arise when Teacher Li returned?

Though she agreed He Chen’s rebuttal was reasonable and well-founded, she also knew his behavior still gave off an annoying, confrontational vibe.

The key is, as a good student, her heart wasn’t strong enough to endure constant shocks like this.

Amidst the gaze of everyone, He Chen left Class 2 of Grade 3, walked to the staircase, paused, then turned toward Class 13 of Grade 3.

It was a liberal arts class.

Lin Miaomiao’s class.

“He Chen, you came to find me!” The moment he arrived, Lin Miaomiao, who had been “voluntarily” attending evening self-study and staring blankly around her seat, spotted him at once and ran out cheering.

“Yeah.” He Chen smiled. “I don’t attend evening self-study, so when it ends, you walk back with Ruan Liuzheng—keep her company.”

“Sure thing, count on me!” Lin Miaomiao slapped her tablet and agreed at once, then added enviously: “You’re so lucky—Auntie Ruan never controls you, she supports whatever you do. I wish I could sleep early and exercise too.”

“Just stick to evening self-study and stop dreaming up nonsense, or Aunt Wang will personally help you exercise.” He Chen teased, then took his leave.

Lin Miaomiao watched He Chen go, ready to vent to her best friend Deng Xiaoqi—only to see Deng Xiaoqi grab her bag, call out, “Miaomiao, I’m off to class,” and hurry out of the classroom before she could say a word.

Deng Xiaoqi was an arts candidate; her academic subjects were easy to pass, but her major required paid external tutoring, so she could legitimately skip evening self-study.

“He Chen.” Deng Xiaoqi ignored her friend’s envy, lengthened her stride, and quickly caught up to He Chen, then slowed down.

“You don’t attend evening self-study?”

“Yeah, my schedule clashes.” He Chen explained briefly.

“I see.” Deng Xiaoqi was asking a question she already knew the answer to; seeing him pause to respond, she studied him closely and asked the one question she most wanted to know: “He Chen, with your qualifications, why not take the arts exam?”

That guy can just walk into Beijing Film Academy with his face—you’re even more qualified!”

“I don’t care what you think—I care what I think!” He Chen laughed. “I have zero interest in becoming an actor or celebrity.”

Besides, the entertainment industry is already a cesspool—do you really think my temperament would survive in there? What kind of scene would that be?”

If they found out you were the one who suggested I go in, it wouldn’t be good for you at all.”

“…“ Deng Xiaoqi had no reply.

He Chen’s personality was now common knowledge. Even Li Tie, despite his flaws, was still a teacher with some principles and moral boundaries—and yet he was completely shut down by He Chen. If He Chen entered the entertainment industry, the scene would be too chaotic to watch.

The entertainment industry is the spotlight’s center. With He Chen’s looks and temperament, he’d be trending daily—no need for any works, just his mouth alone could make him a superstar.

But it would also make him enemies of most people.

If they knew it was her who sparked his desire to become a star, she’d be completely blacklisted from the industry.

“I was just joking,” He Chen sighed. “The real reason is, the arts exam is a track for rich kids—we poor kids can’t afford it.”

Aunt Ruan is a professor at a top university with decent income, but supporting two kids in private high schools is still a strain.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have rented a place outside the GaoKao housing complex Shuxiang Yayuan where Qiao Yingzi and Huang Zhitao live.

A small two-bedroom there costs 15,000 yuan per month.

In He Chen’s neighborhood, just one street away, rent is half that—which is why Lin Miaomiao’s family and Qian Sanyi’s family chose this area.

Lin Miaomiao’s family is poor; Qian Sanyi’s family is poor because his mother refuses to take money from her cheating husband and chooses to raise him alone.

The arts exam’s academic score cutoff is low—anyone not an idiot can pass—but the major requires external tutoring, and one lesson costs what a poor family might earn in half a month—how can they afford it?

“You’re so talented, you could just pick it up casually—if you don’t want a tutor, I can help you with your major lessons…” Deng Xiaoqi stared at He Chen’s face, impulsively forgetting the future hatred she’d face from the entire entertainment industry—she only wanted to connect with him now.

“You still don’t get it…” He Chen looked at her enthusiasm and shook his head, unsure whether to be even more blunt.

“Then tell me! I want to hear!” Deng Xiaoqi, being an arts student, had sharp observational skills; she pleaded sweetly.

“It’s not just about spending money on major lessons,” He Chen, seeing her persistence, decided to speak plainly.

“The key is the future path! Rich kids treat art as a stepping stone—whether they enter entertainment to party and make big money, or get a bachelor’s degree and have their family arrange a smooth transition into a better position, it’s all effortless.”

But for poor kids, even if their families tighten their belts to send a good-looking child to art school, if they’re unprepared, it’ll only bring more pain.”

“Because once they’ve seen the glittering, decadent world, they won’t want a plain life—and without capital, faced with coercion and temptation, what other choice do they have but to sell their bodies and dignity?”

“Since ancient times, beautiful women have short lives—but that’s an objective fact, not a matter of personal will.”

“Why do powerful families consider acting a lowly profession and oppose their children appearing in public? Because they fear exposure, fear being targeted by bad people.”

“In Dream of the Red Chamber, the fallen noble Liu Xianglian fell for an actress performing on stage—and got targeted by Xue Pan. That’s a classic example.”

“There’s nothing new under the sun.”

“Look at all of you preparing for the arts exam—you know your own family conditions best. Wang Yidi in Class 2? Her father’s the CEO of a listed company.”

“Which one of you comes from a poor family?”

“Forget entertainment—haven’t you noticed even the school’s music teachers are mostly rich people who don’t care about their fixed salaries?”

“The arts exam fits rich second-generation kids perfectly.”

“The path of art isn’t for anyone else—it’s designed for rich second-generation kids.”

“Art student, art body—rich people perform art, poor people know what it means.”

“It’s not absolute—but it’s the overwhelming pattern across countless cases.”

Deng Xiaoqi’s face grew uneasy.

Not only because He Chen’s blunt truths undermined her dream, but because his mention of her family struck deep, exposing the dark, unspeakable truths behind her glittering dream.

Fortunately, He Chen didn’t press further, and someone nearby interjected: “What nonsense! Clearly, someone’s just jealous of the rich!”

Both turned to see Ji Yangyang with hands in his pockets, sneering at He Chen, as if he’d just uncovered the truth.