Chapter 32

February 25, 2001.

Winter was nearing its end, but the cold wind still whistled.

The entrance to the Beijing Film Academy ushered in a long-lost bustle; young men and women in down jackets lined up densely outside, and although white mist puffed from their mouths, it didn't affect their excited mood in the slightest.

Face after face of youthful innocence looked toward the campus full of anticipation.

At this time.

It really had the feeling of a gathering of handsome men and beautiful women.

Everyone was looking forward to it, hoping that in a few months, they could officially step into this art college as students.

The Beijing Film Academy school exam had always attracted attention.

Many news media had also come to the scene, some to interview, some to take photos and record; perhaps someone they captured on film would be a rising star in a few years.

"Look over there."

The little guy with glasses wearing a Sohu website vest patted his colleague: "That kid is not bad, worth taking a photo of."

The photographer turned the lens and clicked the shutter.

A guy with a very creamy look appeared in the lens, very handsome.

Just as he moved the camera.

His hand stopped moving.

He saw an even more handsome figure suddenly dash into the lens; the jawline was sharp and angular, the bridge of the nose was straight, and combined with that extremely novel hairstyle, the person's features appeared very three-dimensional.

The overall temperament was exceptionally sharp, like a blade drawn from its sheath.

The degree of handsomeness.

Instantly crushed the creamy little guy from before.

"Click."

The photographer found a perfect profile and pressed the shutter heavily.

Glancing at the guy holding the camera not far away, Li Luo walked forward slowly, patiently waiting to enter the exam hall.

Although he had full confidence.

To leave a good impression on the examiners, he had specifically found a hairstylist to get an American-style forward-spike, making himself look even more handsome and fresh.

"Sorry."

His body was bumped, and an apology followed immediately.

"It's okay."

Turning his head while swinging the materials in his hand, Li Luo's expression was slightly surprised.

The guy apologizing repeatedly was none other than Jia Naiming; combined with the Bian Xiaoxiao and Wang Luodan he had just seen, he couldn't help but shake his head and smile bitterly—it seemed he had plunged headfirst into the "Stab-in-the-Back" nest.

The so-called "Stab-in-the-Back" incident.

Was when Bian Xiaoxiao was collaborating on a drama with Yin Datian and suddenly bombarded him online, claiming she had been beaten and had her hair pulled.

Undoubtedly, the nature of this was extremely vile.

Before the complete surveillance video was released, Yin Datian was subjected to public condemnation, including many who interacted with him daily and called him brother—this was the origin of the "Stab-in-the-Back Cult."

Afterward, it was proven.

That the two had a verbal altercation, and an enraged Yin Datian had pushed the other party.

Although the incident was clarified.

He never recovered from it.

Now Li Luo finally understood; among these "Stab-in-the-Back Cult" members, some must have been fishing in troubled waters, taking the opportunity to step on him.

Others had hot heads and rushed to speak out in a muddle.

Who could have imagined that they would be thoroughly pitted by a crying classmate.

Anyway, in Li Luo's view, that woman's conduct was even more disgusting; no wonder she played Su Meng so vividly in the drama *Under the Zhengyang Gate*—the person herself was just an empty shell.

Amidst a flurry of random thoughts.

Li Luo lined up and walked into the campus, beginning his Beijing Film Academy preliminary exam.

Inside the small auditorium.

Densely packed students waiting for the exam sat on chairs, most of them staring straight at the stage, trying to increase the psychological pressure on their competitors.

Several examiners sat in front.

They waved the pens in their hands from time to time, marking one score after another.

In a light and casual manner.

They changed the trajectory of individual destinies.

"Next."

Yawning, the examiner wearing glasses waved his arm.

"Hello, teachers."

Li Luo walked out of the queue with a confident stride, his voice resonant: "I am candidate number 27, 1.78 meters tall, from the Gui region..."

Here, it was absolutely forbidden to state one's name.

Just a simple self-introduction was enough.

His Mandarin was already good, and after the reinforcement of the line attribute, no accent could be heard at all.

His articulation was not only clear but also sounded sonorous and powerful.

Below the stage were several expressionless examiners; Huo Xuan, who had eaten with him a few days ago, sat right in the middle, and at this moment, he possessed a unique sense of authority.

Yu Feihong nodded calmly.

A smile flashed across the corners of her mouth.

After listening to the self-introduction, Huo Xuan tapped the table with his fingers: "Next is the three-minute line assessment; novels, prose, or fables are all fine. Please, candidate number 27, get ready."

Seeing this, the other examiners' expressions also became focused.

Everyone knew that when Professor Huo became interested, he would have such a subconscious gesture.

In fact.

Huo Xuan was indeed very interested.

He was very curious about what had made Zhang Zhizhong decide to let this young man named Li Luo play Lin Pingzhi.

Yu Feihong sat even more upright.

Staring fixedly at the stage.

In her heart, a trace of unconvincement flashed inexplicably.

"Okay."

After pondering for a moment, Li Luo plucked a segment from the story of *Laughing in the Wind* and blurted it out.

He had put months of heart and blood into it, so he couldn't be more familiar with it.

As the story began, everyone's attention on the scene was slowly drawn in; he didn't have the impassioned fervor of the previous candidates, but his unhurried tone was inexplicably attractive.

With the blessing of entry-level line delivery skills, Li Luo fired on all cylinders.

Good line ability is very important.

In a film or television drama, there are always individual actors whose speech is particularly ear-catching, clear, comfortable, and highly infectious.

This is the embodiment of line delivery skills.

And some actors speak unclearly; if there were no subtitles, one wouldn't know what kind of ghosts they were talking about.

Three minutes later, his voice stopped abruptly.

"What happened next?"

One of the examiners who hadn't read *Laughing in the Wind* couldn't help but ask: "Did Linghu Chong die?"

"Uh."

Li Luo was stunned, not knowing how to answer.

"Boom~"

The next moment, the whole room erupted in laughter.

"Quiet, quiet."

Huo Xuan stood up, scanned the room with a straight face, and turned back.

When the laughter subsided, he looked at the stage with satisfaction: "Very good, candidate number 27, you may step down."

Countless gazes of envy and jealousy pierced toward the center of the stage.

Jia Naiming was full of envy and anticipation; in the fifth position to his left, Bian Xiaoxiao bit her nails, not knowing what she was thinking.

In a corner not far away, Huang Shengyi tapped the armrest with her fingers.

Her eyes were shining brightly.

So far, the best evaluation from the examiners' mouths had only been "not bad."

"Thank you, teachers."

Amidst dozens of scorching gazes, Li Luo bowed and walked off the stage with ease.

Acting: taken easily.

Physical form: the clean and crisp long fist made Yu Feihong's jaw drop.

Vocal music: a song called *Xiao Fang* made all the candidates and judges collectively breathe a sigh of relief.

When singing "Thank you for the love you gave me," Li Luo almost cracked his voice, which made everyone present unable to hold back their laughter; Huo Xuan couldn't help but sigh in his heart—finally, there was something this kid wasn't good at.

However, seeing Li Luo walk off the stage with a calm expression.

He couldn't help but give a higher score.

This kid has a thick enough skin.

That's a good quality.