Chapter 27: When parents love their children, they plan for them with foresight.

"Director Zhang Yimou?"

After a long moment, Su Wanyu looked at Chen Jin and finally asked. Her tone was completely different from usual; she even used an honorific when addressing Zhang Yimou. This was actually quite normal. To an average person, a world-renowned director like Zhang—who had directed the 2008 Olympics—was someone they would likely never cross paths with in their entire lifetime. Even if people like Chen Jin, or even his harshest critics, might call him "Old Mouzi" in private, the moment they met him in person, a respectful "Hello, Director Zhang" was the bare minimum. The internet was one thing, reality was another; people were masters at switching between the two.

"I suppose... he is!"

Chen Jin was still playing it cool, but Su Wanyu truly couldn't believe it. In fact, she felt as though the entire day had been like a dream. Ever since Chen Jin walked out of the Central Academy of Drama examination hall, she felt her son had become a stranger. Reba taking the initiative to chat with him, his extraordinary performance in the exam, the phone call from Chang Jihong, and now the assistant director to Zhang Yimou calling to ask her son to meet him? It was surreal. It was all too surreal. Just over half a month ago, she had been furious because Chen Jin scored only 293 points on his final exams, terrified he wouldn't even get into a vocational college. Now, it felt like... he already had a job lined up? After all, isn't the point of going to college to get a job? Meeting Zhang Yimou now was essentially like going for an interview. Su Wanyu didn't have the grand ambitions of other mothers who dreamed of their sons serving the country in scientific research or national defense—with 293 points, what more could you ask for? Just make money! If he could support himself in the future without draining his parents' savings, she would be grateful enough.

"Son, is... is this really happening?" Su Wanyu asked, still unable to process it.

Chen Jin was quite open about it. "Mom, it's just a meeting. It doesn't mean I'll be cast. Auditions are very tedious."

In the "future autobiographical film," there were many scenes of his future self auditioning. Even for short web dramas, he would have to audition once or twice, let alone for major prime-time productions. Of course, this was also because he wasn't famous; for many people like him, there were dozens of others vying for a single role. The film and television industry, driven by capital, was quite distorted. Even the top-tier actors didn't always have much of a choice. A role might look like it was tailor-made for them, but you would never know how much they had to sacrifice in private to get it—even the A-listers. Unless you reached a certain level of status, like Shen Teng or Wu Jing, you possessed very little autonomy. You still had to answer to others; otherwise, you remained the fish while others held the knife. He recalled that the lead actor of *Under the Hawthorn Tree* had auditioned over ten times before being selected. Chen Jin had been reviewing news clips from the future film recently, grateful for his habit of constantly checking his phone.

"Alright then!" Su Wanyu said. "But if you do get cast, will that mean you'll be famous?"

Su Wanyu didn't know the entertainment industry, but Chen Jin had learned about it through the future film. He nodded. "Well, yes, but... it's just fame."

"Does it mean... you have to give something up?"

Su Wanyu’s gaze made Chen Jin shudder. Parents always understood the harshness of society better than their children. Chen Jin quickly waved his hands. "Mom, don't overthink it. Your son isn't that kind of person!"

"But what if someone wants... you know..."

"Then I'll just say no!"

"Can't you just stay out of that circle?" Su Wanyu asked, exasperated. In this society, did anything ever come for free without a price?

"Mom!" Chen Jin’s expression turned unusually serious. "If I had chosen to take the normal college entrance exam, at best, I'd get into an ordinary undergraduate school. A 211 university would be a stretch for me. But if I get into the Central Academy of Drama or the Beijing Film Academy and focus on being a decent actor, I can actually support myself."

In this circle, both men and women often had to pay a price to get ahead, but it was generally easier for a male actor to keep himself clean than for a female actor, though the risks still existed. Without background or connections, a female actor really had to strip away her dignity. For an ordinary male actor, simply acting and taking on roles could actually provide a decent income. Chen Jin was being honest, but his main motivation was the system; he wanted to test the waters in this industry.

"Fine, then don't think too much about it! Just focus on getting into a good school. Do you have confidence in the Central Academy of Drama and the Beijing Film Academy?" Without realizing it, Su Wanyu’s mindset had shifted from strong opposition to gradual acceptance.

"I do! Let's wait for the results tomorrow!"

"Yes, I hope my son gets in!" Su Wanyu reached out and ruffled Chen Jin's hair. At that moment, she felt that her son had matured significantly over these past few days.

...

After the lights were out, Su Wanyu tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Her mind was filled with images of her son being caught up in various unspoken rules. A parent's love for their child is deep and long-term. Even though Chen Jin said he would just refuse, Su Wanyu couldn't stop worrying, because when the time actually came, it might no longer be his choice to make.

"Son, are you asleep?"

"No." Chen Jin was still reviewing his "future autobiographical film." He looked at it almost every night before bed, trying to uncover new details.

"Tomorrow afternoon, I'll go with you to see Director Zhang!"

"Okay!" Chen Jin understood her worry. "Mom, get some sleep. Don't worry, your son is different from the others!"

"Do you have three heads and six arms?" Su Wanyu retorted.

"No, that's Nezha. Your son isn't that powerful!"

"Then what makes you so different?"

"I'm just different! Come on, Mom, go to sleep. I haven't even been accepted into school yet; I'm still a long way from that circle!"

"A long way? Talent agencies and film producers are already knocking on our door!"

"So what? If I don't agree, they can't kidnap me, can they?"

"You never know!"

"..."

The mother and son bickered until they drifted off to sleep. When Chen Jin woke up the next morning, he found his mother already bustling about. Glancing at his phone, Su Wanyu gave a start, scrambled up to get dressed, and tossed a pillow at Chen Jin. "Get up! Do you still want to get into the Beijing Film Academy? The results are almost out!"

"Mmm..." Chen Jin didn't react. He hadn't realized his mother could be such a chatterbox late at night. She had practically hypnotized him.

"Get up!" Su Wanyu shook the quilt. Chen Jin had no doubt she would rip it off the next second. He was only wearing boxers, and he shivered as the air conditioner's breeze hit him.

"Hurry up!"

"I'm... I'm getting up!" Chen Jin groaned, letting out a yawn and stretching, kicking the blanket away but still reluctant to leave the bed. Winter had just passed, and it was hard to part with his mattress. But eventually, he couldn't withstand the "Mother Empress's" chanting and wandered into the bathroom with his hair standing up like a rooster's crest. He brushed his teeth in a daze; three minutes later, he stumbled out, yawning repeatedly. Su Wanyu, on the other hand, was full of energy—the spirit of a teacher was truly different.

The two grabbed a quick bite downstairs and headed toward the nearby Beijing Film Academy. To make it easier for him to take the arts exam, Su Wanyu had booked a hotel right near the school.