novelraw Chapter 2 Hot Pot
Chapter 2 Hot Pot
Yang Zi was chatting with Li Chun, a student from the class of 09.
This girl's performance at the Beijing Film Academy's 60th anniversary celebration last year left a deep impression on Zhang Yimou, who was returning to the school. She was then selected to film "The Flowers of War," which can be considered her entry into the entertainment industry.
However, what impressed Lin Yu the most was that after Ma Di married her, he went from being a "man who cares about his reputation" to being a "man who has to pay off his mortgage."
It must be said that marriage has a huge impact on a man.
Yang Zi spotted Lin Yu from afar and waved to him: "Junior, over here!"
Then, lowering his voice, he whispered in Li Chun's ear, "Senior, it's him, the super handsome junior I told you about."
Li Chun followed Yang Zi's gaze and her eyes lit up.
Lin Yu quickened her pace and walked up to the two women, greeting them politely, "Hello, senior sisters."
"Don't call me 'senior sister,' that's too formal!" Yang Zi said casually. "From now on, call me Sister Zi. I'll protect you at the Beijing Film Academy. This is your Sister Li Chun, from the class of 09. She was selected by Director Zhang to star in a movie last year. She's a real 'Zhang Yimou girl,' you know."
It has to be said that Yang Zi's outgoing personality makes her a great friend.
"Don't listen to your sister Zi's nonsense, she only played a minor supporting role." Li Chun was quite modest. "Hello, junior, I'm Li Chun."
"Sister Li Chun is too modest. It's already quite an achievement to be chosen by Director Zhang," Lin Yu politely complimented.
Mutual flattery is an important part of interpersonal communication. When others are modest, you should also offer a few words of praise; this is basic etiquette.
"Alright, alright, stop with the formalities," Yang Zi interrupted the two. "We've been busy all day, we're starving. Let's go to Piaoxiang Hot Pot, Zhang Yishan has reserved a table there."
Seeing Yang Zi's impatient look, the two of them said no more and followed her out of the school gate, heading towards the Beijing Film Studio.
The fragrant hot pot outside the Beijing Film Studio is indeed one of the special features of the area around the studio.
It's said that Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige were frequent customers of this shop back in the day, but whether this is true or not is unknown. Anyway, that's what the owner advertises it to be, and there are a few blurry old photos hanging on the wall, so it's hard to tell if they're the real people.
The distance between the Beijing Film Academy and the Beijing Film Studio isn't far; it's only about a ten-minute walk. Along the way, Yang Zi chattered excitedly to Lin Yu, telling him about the surrounding area—which restaurants were good, which shops were cheap, and which internet cafes had a good environment.
We arrived shortly after walking.
From afar, I could see Zhang Yishan standing at the door waiting.
At this time, he had hardly changed from when he starred in "Home with Kids," looking exactly like a larger version of Liu Xing.
It's no wonder Yang Zi and Zhang Yishan get along so well; their personalities are remarkably similar. Seeing Lin Yu and his group approaching, he bypassed Yang Zi and enthusiastically walked towards Lin Yu.
"This must be the handsome junior Yang Zi was talking about. It's a pleasure to meet you." Zhang Yishan said, extending his hand with a bright smile. "Zhang Yishan, from the 10 class of Beijing Film Academy. I've heard so much about you! Sister Zi raved about you on QQ."
Zhang Yishan's enthusiasm surprised Lin Yu. After all, unlike Li Chun, he had already participated in Director Zhang's big production, and his entry into the entertainment industry was practically a done deal.
He was just a freshman at Beijing Film Academy, and there were only one or two people like him who could make it big each year.
Zhang Yishan didn't think too much about it. He was just killing time anyway, so being enthusiastic wouldn't hurt, and he could make some good connections. Even if Lin Yu didn't make it big, he could still gain a good reputation for being a good classmate.
Of course, the most important thing is that I can get a free hot pot meal from Yang Zi. This deal is incredibly worthwhile.
Lin Yu quickly grasped Zhang Yishan's outstretched hand: "Senior, you're too kind. I grew up watching your TV dramas."
Zhang Yishan was even happier to hear this: "Calling me senior is too formal. From now on, call me Brother Yishan. I'll protect you at Beijing Film Academy."
Sure enough, you can't make two kinds of people out of one show; even their talking points are the same.
"Then thank you in advance, Brother Yishan." Lin Yu said with a bright smile. "Sister Zi had been looking after me before, and it's such an honor to have both of you taking care of me so soon after I arrived."
"Hey, it's nothing. If you ever need anything from Beijing Film Academy, just mention my name, it'll do." Zhang Yishan looked at Lin Yu, who was acting like a little fanboy, and felt a bit smug.
"Alright, stop joking around. Chun-jie and I are starving." Yang Zi had been sitting at the door all day and hadn't even had a chance to eat much at noon. She was so hungry that her stomach was practically sticking to her back.
Yang Zi originally didn't want to get involved in the orientation, but when the teacher told her that she could see the handsome guys among the new students in advance and get a head start, she impulsively signed up.
In short, I deeply regret it.
Thankfully, she managed to catch Lin Yu today, otherwise the orientation these past few days would have made her miserable for months.
The four of them chatted and laughed as they went up to the private room on the second floor. The copper pot in the room was already burning. The dishes were basically all served. The mutton was thinly sliced and neatly arranged, along with various vegetables and bean products, filling the table to the brim.
It was still quite hot in Yanjing in early September, and the air conditioning in the private room was quite strong. Eating hot pot with a few bottles of ice-cold beer at this time was indeed a rare treat.
Zhang Yishan gestured for everyone to sit down, expertly opened a beer, and poured a glass for each person: "Come on, welcome Lin Yu to the Beijing Film Academy family! Let's have a drink!"
After a few bottles of wine, Zhang Yishan and Lin Yu became acquainted, and their conversation gradually opened up, covering topics such as school rumors and gossip on set, leaving Lin Yu bewildered.
Yang Zi and Li Chun leaned against each other, whispering to each other, and occasionally glancing at Lin Yu, making Lin Yu a little nervous.
Seeing this, Zhang Yishan teased Lin Yu in a low voice, nudging him with his elbow: "You're something else, kid. My 'goddess' has fallen for you at first sight. Look at Sister Zi's eyes, she practically wants to devour you."
Taking advantage of his drunken state, Lin Yu feigned shyness and said, "Brother Yishan is joking. Sister Zi is just happy to help her junior."
It's not that Lin Yu is some naive and inexperienced young man. His family is strict with him in this life, but he has seen and experienced things in his previous life.
The main reason is these two. One of them was married in the future and had a happy married life. Lin Yu is not the kind of person who can't resist beautiful women and doesn't have such a perverted fetish.
The other one is clearly more suited to be friends. With Lin Yu's looks and circumstances, if they actually get together, she'll be the one who benefits.
The meal was enjoyed by both host and guests. By the time they came out, it was already getting dark.
After a few drinks, Lin Yu and Zhang Yishan became good buddies, walking ahead with their arms around each other's shoulders, chatting about everything under the sun.
Yang Zi and Li Chun followed closely behind, afraid that these two "drunkards" would fall headfirst into the roadside bushes.
They walked all the way to the dormitory building before saying goodbye. Zhang Yishan patted Lin Yu on the shoulder: "Brother, keep in touch sometime, let's chat on QQ."
"Alright, Brother Yishan." Lin Yu waved his hand.
Yang Zi waved and said, "See you tomorrow, junior. Feel free to contact me anytime if you need anything."
Lin Yu climbed back to his dormitory on the sixth floor. He opened the door to find it still dark; the other occupants hadn't arrived yet.
It seems they're all waiting to come tomorrow. Tomorrow is the last day for new students to enroll, and at schools like the Beijing Film Academy, media reporters are usually waiting at the school gate on the last day of enrollment.
Major entertainment media outlets will send people to take photos of the new students and see if there are any potential stars.
For new students, this is a way to gain exposure, not to mention the already famous Little Yellow Duck will be there tomorrow, so you can imagine how lively it will be.
After washing up, Lin Yu sat back down in his chair. It was too early to go to sleep at this time.
I pulled my laptop out of my bag, plugged it in, and while no one was around to bother me, I mentally reviewed the movies and TV series I had watched in my past life, noting down the general plots of the ones that caught my eye in a document for later use.
After typing for a while, Lin Yu stopped, rested his chin on his hand, and fell into deep thought.
"What should we shoot for our first film?"