Chapter 28: Traveling to Beijing (Please Follow, Thank You for Your Support!)

Entered training in February.

After filming began, they shot for nearly five more months; by the time Li Luo returned home, autumn was crisp and clear.

He just missed this year’s college entrance exam.

But delaying it until next year isn’t bad—gives more time to prepare.

Aside from his own parents,

no one in his family knew about the acting job.

As for promotional news about The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, the remote small county in 2000 was simply out of touch with the times; even if occasional acquaintances noticed, they instinctively assumed they’d mistaken someone else.

The production still had some scenes left to shoot.

Add in post-production, promotion, and scheduling, and the drama wouldn’t air until at least February or March next year.

So Li Luo wasn’t worried at all about being recognized.

Even when it aired, he wasn’t afraid—there’s always a dimensional wall between a real person and their TV image.

As long as he didn’t go around blabbing about it, anyone who saw him would just think he looked familiar, maybe say, “Hey, you look just like that guy!”

After returning home,

he immediately threw himself into reviewing.

Even with memories from this life, he’d still taken a year off school; if he didn’t pick up his books, he’d easily fail.

Fortunately, the reborn Li Luo had sharp hearing and keen eyesight.

His mind was exceptionally agile.

Starting from first-year high school material and working backward, he quickly got back into rhythm.

During a phone call with Xu Qing, after discussing this issue, his mindset relaxed instantly—the admission score for Beijing Film Academy’s Acting Department hadn’t exceeded 300 points yet.

With a little preparation, hitting that score was fairly easy.

The real challenge was the BFA arts exam.

That one stage would filter out countless candidates, but for the current Li Luo, the arts exam felt unusually easy.

The skills he’d already acquired weren’t just for show.

His status as a repeat student

was quickly settled.

He successfully registered as an arts candidate.

Time slipped by, and soon it was early 2001; with Xu Qing’s help, he successfully registered for the BFA entrance exam.

All was ready, just waiting for the right wind.

February 20th.

Slinging his backpack over his shoulder, Li Luo tightened his black down jacket and strode out of Beijing Capital Airport.

Outside,

he let out a loud sneeze.

Gazing at the gray, hazy sky, he rubbed his slightly itchy nose from the dry air, then pulled out his phone and dialed; after one buzz, the call was answered instantly: “Xiao Luo, did you land yet?”

“Yeah.”

Li Luo glanced around and gave his location.

Following the voice on the phone, he walked outward, turned a corner, and spotted a black off-road beast parked under the shade of trees.

Its body was boxy, sharply angular.

Exuding a rugged aura.

Inside sat a person wearing a fisherman’s hat—the familiar outfit made him recognize Xu Qing at a glance.

He hadn’t expected such a delicate-looking woman

to actually like driving such a rugged vehicle.

The car’s logo was simple: just a large three-pointed star.

Undoubtedly an old-model Mercedes G-Class.

Of course, by today’s standards, it was definitely the latest version.

While he was examining the car’s exterior, Xu Qing suppressed the urge to get out, waving her arms excitedly and quickly honking the horn.

Months apart, she’d been waiting with bated breath.

Not only had she counted the days on her fingers, she’d arrived early today.

The horn jolted her back to reality.

Li Luo waved and smiled, striding over.

“Qing-jie.”

Stepping onto the footrest, he slid into the passenger seat: “Why are you dressed like this?”

“Thud~”

The door shut smoothly.

“This isn’t on set,” Xu Qing mumbled through her hat and face covering. “You have no idea how annoying the paparazzi are—The Smiling, Proud Wanderer’s about to air; we can’t afford to be careless.”

The cabin was warmly heated; she wore only a thin T-shirt on top.

A perfect curve traced down from her collarbone, her long legs tightly hugged by denim jeans, extending into black leather knee-high boots.

Her slender figure looked strikingly sharp.

Before she could say more, Li Luo leaned over and swiftly pulled off her face covering.

Months of intense studying at home, not even a hint of romance.

First things first—quench the thirst.

Inside the Mercedes, two goldfish twisted and tangled together, chasing each other playfully.

They were having a blast.

“Mmm~”

After a long while, Xu Qing squirmed, her voice muffled with pleading: “Xiao Luo, stop—it’s outside, someone might see!”

“Mm.”

Holding her delicate chin, Li Luo reluctantly let go.

His burning gaze made the Beijing girl feel delightfully flattered—she was very pleased with her charm and his reaction.

“I missed you!”

As her breathing steadied, she reached out to touch his handsome face, murmuring:

This troublemaker had left her tossing and turning countless nights.

Her gaze dropped lower.

She spotted one lone peak.

She swallowed hard, her breath turning ragged again.

“Same here.”

Pinching her cheek, Li Luo quickly shifted focus, pulling his seatbelt across his body: “I never thought you’d drive a car like this.”

In his mind, Xu Qing should’ve preferred a gentler coupe.

How to describe her?

So sweet, so dainty.

Driving such a rugged off-roader felt wildly out of character.

“Don’t you think the visibility’s great?”

Xu Qing flashed her white teeth, tapping the steering wheel proudly. “Besides, this car looks so cool. Oh, I just bought this Mercedes G500 not long ago.”

“You got your driver’s license, right?”

“Yep.”

Li Luo answered casually, still examining the interior.

This was a million-yuan luxury car.

He’d never had much chance to encounter one.

To his future self, the interior looked retro—but also brand-new, with an oddly surreal freshness.

“Good.”

Xu Qing smiled, flicking the key: “This car’s yours now.”

“What do you mean?”

Hearing this, Li Luo frowned.

His expression darkened.

Though not particularly comfortable, this car was undeniably luxurious—any man would love it.

But he didn’t want to accept her wealth this way.

It made him look like a gold-digger.

Even if he did eat off her,

he’d do it with pride!

“That’s not what I meant!” Xu Qing panicked, waving her hands as she saw his face stiffen. “I just thought this car’s so cool—you’d probably like it.”

“And having a car in Beijing makes transportation easier.”

“Don’t be mad, okay?”

She pouted and shook Li Luo’s arm: “Hailing a taxi in Jingcheng is so hard—next time you miss me, just drive over~~~”

Though she was in her early thirties, when she pouted she acted like a young girl.

And it didn’t feel odd at all.

The dual charm of mature woman and young girl was fully unleashed.

Xu Qing was afraid Li Luo might feel uncomfortable; after all, their economic conditions were vastly different, and she didn’t want to create any psychological pressure for him.

“Alright.”

Li Luo nodded reluctantly: “But I’m doing this for you.”

“Just this once—never do this again!”

“Got it~”

Xu Qing rewarded him with a sweet kiss: “Where to next?”

“First, let’s circle the Monument.” He’d never been to Jingcheng in either life, so he had to see it—he rubbed his stomach: “Then, hot pot mutton—and then!!!”

He smirked, his gaze sinking deep into her cleavage.

Xu Qing took a deep breath and slammed the accelerator.

The Mercedes G500 roared to life and sped toward Chang’an Street.