Huayu: I really am a genuine top star.

Chapter 5: The Vibrant Aura of Youth [Please add to your favorites and read on!]

"Acting Department, Beijing Film Academy..."

He muttered to himself, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes, "The water is deep enough, there are plenty of fish. Whether we can stir up some trouble in this pool and grab some profits along the way... depends on our next move."

"The first step is to establish a firm foothold and solidify your image. The second step is to gather intelligence and figure out the channels. The third step is to look for opportunities; making money is the priority."

He took out his phone and glanced at the empty WeChat Wallet and bank card balance notifications. His newly risen ambitions were instantly doused with the cold water of reality.

"Alas, the task ahead is arduous and the road is long."

He sighed, but the signature, self-deprecating, and calculating smile at the corner of his mouth never disappeared.

As night deepened, the September night in Beijing still carried the warmth of the daytime.

In dormitory 512, the sounds of Jingyang practicing his lines, Yang Yi's steady snoring, Dai Xiao's tapping on the keyboard, and Shen Li tossing and turning, her mind constantly rehearsing various "campus survival and development plans" could be heard.

The first day of university life slowly came to a close amidst the chaos, novelty, hormones, and a touch of anxiety. But Shen Li knew that the real "show" was just beginning tomorrow.

The next morning, Shen Li was awakened by a strange noise.

It wasn't an alarm clock, nor was it birdsong, but rather... a deliberately lowered, bubbly recitation?

"...Oh, my Juliet! Your eyes are brighter than the stars, your breath sweeter than the roses..."

Shen Li peeked out from the top bunk, still half asleep, and looked down... Good heavens!

Jingyang was wearing a silk bathrobe (yes, a bathrobe!), standing in the small open space in the middle of the dormitory, facing the window, one hand on his chest and the other outstretched, his expression one of deep affection and heartbreak.

The morning light shone through the gaps in the curtains onto his face, creating a stunning interplay of light and shadow; anyone who didn't know better would think they were shooting a poster for an art film.

Yang Yi sat on the bed, hugging the blanket, looking completely bewildered. He had just been woken up and hadn't figured out what was going on yet.

Dai Xiao's bed curtains were drawn, and a clear, grumpy snort came from inside, followed by even louder keyboard clapping... She was probably posting on the forum: "On the N ways my dramatic roommate disturbs the peace in the morning."

"Young Master Jing," Shen Li cleared her throat, trying to make her voice sound inquisitive, "you... you're confessing your love to the windowpane? Did it accept?"

Jing Yang froze, slowly withdrew his hand, turned around, his face showing no embarrassment, but rather a touch of artist's arrogance:

"What do you know? This is called morning practice! The day's work begins in the morning. Every muscle, every emotion of an actor must be awakened in the early morning! What's wrong with the windowpane? It's the embodiment of Romeo in my heart right now!"

As she spoke, she straightened the collar of her bathrobe.

Shen Li suppressed a laugh and nodded repeatedly: "I've learned a lot, Romeo's incarnation... is quite brilliant. Um, Young Master Jing, you can continue your incarnation. I'll go wash my face first and see if I can incarnate into some breakfast."

He quickly climbed out of bed, slipped on his slippers, and headed towards the washroom.

Thinking to himself: This Jingyang, with such an inflated sense of self-importance, is quite a "talent."

However, such people often have a wide range of information channels (love to show off) and are easily swayed (are easily fooled), so they might come in handy in the future.

As soon as she entered the water room, half of Shen Li's drowsiness vanished instantly.

There were already people in the washroom, and... the scene was quite "refreshing".

Standing in front of the sink by the window was a guy from the next dorm, shirtless, applying toner to his face in front of the mirror.

This guy's physique...tsk, Shen Li could tell at a glance that he was definitely not a performing arts student, but most likely a sports student staying on this floor.

Those pectoral muscles, those abdominal muscles, those muscular arms—each muscle clearly defined, with smooth lines, like a sculpture, gleaming with a healthy glow in the morning sunlight.

Water droplets rolled down his tanned skin, tracing the defined lines of his muscles, and finally disappeared into the edge of his low-rise sweatpants...

Shen Li subconsciously looked down at her fairly well-proportioned but definitely not "muscular" figure, and two lines of tears silently streamed down her face:

The difference is huge! The Beijing Film Academy doesn't just recruit people based on looks, it recruits people based on body shape too, right?

The PE student saw Shen Li in the mirror, grinned, and revealed a set of white teeth:

"Good morning, bro! New here? I'm a martial arts major from the sports academy, and I'm temporarily staying next door to you."

"Good morning!" Shen Li quickly snapped out of her daze, forcing a smile. "Acting Department, Shen Li. Dude, your physique... is pretty good!" Her tone was genuinely envious.

"Hey, just practicing randomly!"

The PE student was very generous; he wiped the water off his face again.

"Your acting students are really something, each one of you is beautiful and well-proportioned. By the way, my name is Xiong Rui, Xiong as in bear, and Rui as in sharp."

The two chatted briefly, and while brushing her teeth, Shen Li continued to "admire" this free bodybuilding demonstration out of the corner of her eye, making another mental note:

There's a muscular guy next door, his fighting ability is unknown, and he seems to have a generous personality. He could be developed into a potential "bodyguard" or "manual laborer" (if there's a need for bricklaying or similar jobs in the future).

After washing up and returning to the dormitory, Jingyang had already changed into a flashy printed shirt and was scratching his hair in front of a small mirror.

Yang Yi was clumsily folding the quilt.

Dai Xiao finally drew back the curtain, and he was already sitting in front of the computer, the cold light of code reflecting off his glasses.

"Comrades," Shen Li shook the water droplets off her hands, "wasn't this morning's orientation for new students? Which classroom was it again?"

"The Great Auditorium!"

Jing Yang didn't turn his head, continuing to perfect his hairstyle.

"I heard there will be outstanding senior students sharing their experiences, and various clubs will be recruiting. It's a great opportunity to show off! Shen Li, Yang Yi, you two should dress up a bit, don't embarrass our 512 class!"

Shen Li and Yang Yi exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness in each other's eyes.

Shen Li was alright; she changed into a clean T-shirt and jeans, looking neat and tidy. Yang Yi, on the other hand, was more practical, wearing the slightly wrinkled plaid shirt he wore yesterday.

The three of them went out and passed by the next door. The door was open, and Xiong Rui was doing push-ups in a vest. The sight of his bulging muscles once again shocked Shen Li's retina.

When Xiong Rui saw them, he even freed one hand to wave.

The journey to the auditorium was a mix of "heart-stopping moments" and "springtime beauty." The September morning was pleasantly warm, and many girls were dressed lightly.

Some people go for a morning run wearing tight-fitting sports vests and yoga pants. Their undulating curves and firm waists and hips move rhythmically with their running, exuding health and vitality.

Some women wore oversized T-shirts and played the "no pants" game, their two white, straight, and slender legs dazzling the eyes;

There were also women wearing tank tops and hot pants, hurrying by with books in their arms; their snow-white shoulders, slender waists, and round, perky buttocks exuded a vibrant youthful energy in the morning light.