Chapter 34: Over the Addiction

"So that's how it is. I just thought I bought these books for nothing. Since you say so, I'll have to study them well."

After Zeng Li finished speaking, she asked Wu Yuchen, "Hey, which stop are you getting off at?"

Wu Yuchen looked around blankly, putting on a surprised expression, as if he had just realized he was on the bus:

"Oh? Why did I get on? I was supposed to go to the Central Academy of Drama!"

"Ah? I thought you had just finished seeing your friend and were heading back!"

Zeng Li looked at Wu Yuchen's stunned expression and covered her mouth to laugh.

Then she said to Wu Yuchen, "If you have something to do, get off at the next stop quickly~"

Wu Yuchen nodded, remained silent for a few seconds, and suddenly asked Zeng Li:

"Hey, do you usually eat lunch?"

When Zeng Li heard this, her beautiful eyes flickered. Her heart stirred as she thought of something, so she smiled directly and said:

"That's a question. If you have any ideas, just say them directly!"

Wu Yuchen lowered his head slightly, meeting her eyes:

"Actually, I really want to treat you to a meal."

A smile curled at the corners of Zeng Li's mouth: "That's not hard to achieve~"

A smile appeared on Wu Yuchen's face, and just as he was about to say something, an old man on the bus seat next to them poked his head over, widened his eyes, and interrupted: "Hey, I say, you two, want to get over the addiction too?"

*Over the Addiction* was a romantic TV series starring Wang Zhiwen and Jiang Shan the year before last. It became a huge hit as soon as it aired, and Wang Zhiwen became the dream lover of countless young and middle-aged women because of it. Especially in Beijing, it could be said that no one hadn't watched this show.

The old man had heard clearly that the dialogue between these two young people was exactly the lines used by the male and female leads in *Over the Addiction* when they hooked up on the bus, not a single word off.

Wu Yuchen couldn't help but glare at the meddlesome old man, then looked at Zeng Li, only to see that her expression was also a bit awkward.

Then the two of them looked at each other with a tacit understanding and couldn't help but laugh together.

Just then, the bus stopped, the door opened, and Wu Yuchen said to the old man:

"Old man, I wish you can get over the addiction in your dreams too!"

"Hey, this kid! I thank you!"

The old man watched Wu Yuchen get off the bus with Zeng Li, his mouth still muttering relentlessly.

At a small restaurant by the road, Zeng Li asked Wu Yuchen with a smile:

"I say, are you usually quite glib?"

"I'm only glib to those who are glib to me." Wu Yuchen said, pouring a glass of water for Zeng Li.

Zeng Li pursed her lips and smiled when she heard this, took the water Wu Yuchen handed her, and asked:

"Wu Yuchen, what's the difference between your Tao Jingying Academy and the Central Academy of Drama? How about I apply to your school and try?"

Wu Yuchen's eyes lit up, and he immediately said with enthusiastic laughter: "Welcome, welcome~"

"In terms of teaching, the Central Academy of Drama is stricter, and there is a bottom-tier elimination system for freshmen. It also tends to train stage play and drama actors."

"The Tao Jingying Academy is relatively relaxed and encourages students to go out and find opportunities to struggle on their own. Those who come out of the acting department generally tend to go for the small screen, which is filming TV series."

"Actually, in terms of exam content, they are about the same. You can apply to both and have a double insurance. When the time comes, you can choose whichever you get into."

"I don't have that much ability. I'll be satisfied if I can get into one!"

"I heard people say before that the Central Academy of Drama is not very willing to recruit students from opera schools."

Zeng Li sighed, resting her chin on her hand.

"Oh my, I didn't expect you to know quite a lot! Don't worry, I have inside information here."

"What inside information?" Zeng Li asked curiously.

Wu Yuchen originally wanted to tease her, but seeing Zeng Li's serious expression, he didn't keep her in suspense:

"This year, Teacher Chang Li is in charge of admissions at the Central Academy of Drama. She plans to break the precedent of the Central Academy of Drama not recruiting opera and dance actors, especially female actors. With your conditions, she will definitely like you!"

Wu Yuchen remembered very clearly that the eight beauties of the Central Academy of Drama's Class of '96 were exactly half dance and half opera.

"Really?"

"Why would I lie to you?"

When Zeng Li heard this, she beamed with joy, picked up her water, and said:

"This news is too useful. I'll toast you with tea instead of wine!"

"Hey, hey, this isn't tea either. Are you trying to dismiss me with a glass of water?"

"Then what do you want?"

"At least treat me to a bottle of soda!"

Zeng Li covered her mouth and laughed out loud, then called the waiter to bring two bottles of soda, opened them, and toasted with Wu Yuchen.

After a glass of soda, Zeng Li felt that she had become much closer to the other person, so she began to enter a happy chatting mode.

After graduating from elementary school, Zeng Li was selected by the provincial Peking Opera troupe and came to Beijing to study at the Chinese Academy of Opera, majoring in the role of a virtuous woman. After graduating this year, she was assigned back to her hometown Peking Opera troupe, only to find that the troupe had completely declined. Everyone spent their time playing cards, mahjong, or drinking tea, earning three or four hundred yuan a month. Staying in such an environment for a few months made her feel that there was no hope for the future.

Later, she heard news about the Central Academy of Drama and felt it was an opportunity to improve herself, so she directly asked for leave from her unit and returned to Beijing to understand the situation. The news Wu Yuchen just gave her undoubtedly helped her make up her mind to go back, resign, and take the university entrance exam.

"Ah? You have to go back tomorrow? So urgent?"

Wu Yuchen was greatly disappointed when he heard this. He had been thinking about using the opportunity to tutor Zeng Li for the acting exam to get closer and deepen their relationship!

A fair lady is a gentleman's quest.

Isn't it a pity not to find such a perfect girl with no scandals to be a girlfriend?

As for whether Zeng Li is photogenic?

That has nothing to do with him. He's looking for a girlfriend for himself, not for those outsiders to look at. Whether she's photogenic or not has no impact at all!

Since Wu Yuchen was reincarnated, he had only seen one Jiang Qinqin who could rival Zeng Li in beauty, but that girl had a cold face whenever she saw him, so it was clearly a no-go, and he didn't want to chase her like a simp.

Meeting Zeng Li today, isn't this a fate sent from heaven?

But he didn't expect her to go back to her hometown tomorrow...

"I don't want to be so rushed either, but there's no way around it. The journey back and forth takes several days."

"Tonight I have to go eat with a sister who studied opera with me. She reacted much faster than me. She resigned and came directly to Beijing after staying back for a week. I'll go to her place to find out more."

Wu Yuchen's heart stirred. Could this be Yuan Quan?

Yuan Quan had participated in some competitions and won rankings before attending the Central Academy of Drama.

However, thinking that he couldn't shamelessly follow her to dinner, he felt a bit listless and didn't ask more.

Wu Yuchen sighed: "Alright, with your foundation, you definitely don't need to worry about physique and talent. After you go back, practice your recitation well and prepare a skit. There shouldn't be any problems."

Zeng Li nodded when she heard this, was silent for a moment, and asked: "Wu Yuchen, do you have a phone?"

"That's a must!"

Wu Yuchen asked the waiter for a pen and wrote a string of phone numbers on the new book Zeng Li had just bought.

"The first one is the public phone in our dormitory building. You can call it if you have anything at home."

"The second one is my pager number. Contact me directly when you return to Beijing."

The pager was a gift from his uncle after Wu Yuchen got into university. It wasn't a high-end Motorola Chinese-character display pager worth thousands, but a Casio NP180 digital pager, worth 800 yuan.

Even so, Wu Yuchen remembered how happy he was when he received this gift for the first time in his past life.

Zeng Li held the book up, looked at the two strings of numbers on it, and a bright smile appeared in her beautiful eyes. ===== CHAPTER 35 =====