Reborn in the Chinese Entertainment Industry: My Childhood Sweetheart is Boss Yang

June 7th, the day of the National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao).

Gu Heng stood at Yang Mi's door, carrying two bags of soy milk.

A moment later, Ms. Yang Chunling's booming voice, comparable to a radio broadcast, came from inside the security door.

"Exam admission ticket! Pencil! Did you bring your medicated oil? Don't drink too much water, going to the bathroom halfway through the exam will be a huge hassle..."

The door opened.

Yang Mi walked out with her schoolbag on her back and a look of utter despair on her face. She turned back and shouted into the door, "I brought it! Mom, you've said it eight hundred times!"

The girl looked up and saw Gu Heng, and her previously downcast face instantly brightened.

She hopped down the steps in a few steps, creating a refreshing breeze.

"Let's go, let's go, hurry up!"

Yang Mi grabbed Gu Heng's sleeve and ran towards the alley entrance, as if a raging flood was behind her.

Gu Heng handed the hot soy milk to Yang Mi and then took her backpack, which actually didn't contain many books.

The neighbors in the alley greeted each other with smiles, mostly saying things like "Good luck on your college entrance exam."

Yang Mi, biting her straw, suddenly turned her head to look at Gu Heng: "Gu Heng, aren't you nervous?"

"What are you nervous about?" Gu Heng asked calmly. "Are you nervous because the test is too easy? Will handing in my paper early affect your mindset?"

"Tch, what a show-off." Yang Mi rolled her eyes, but her tense shoulders did relax.

The two were taking the exam in different locations.

Before parting, Gu Heng raised his hand and flicked her forehead.

"Go on, bring the points back."

For Gu Heng, the two-day exam was just a formality.

Compared to the tragic feeling of "if not now, when?" before being reborn, it's a far cry from the previous situation.

This time, he was more like a max-level character returning to the starting village to stomp on newbies.

The Chinese composition was decent, but the last math problem had three tricky parts.

It requires a little more brainpower, but only involves adding a couple more steps to the calculation.

The bell rang to signal the end of the last English exam.

"Stand up, stop answering the questions."

As the proctor collected the exam papers, Gu Heng looked at the candidates around him who were either wailing or laughing wildly, and remained calm.

This chapter of youth has finally been turned.

Next, it's time to change the map.

……

The day after the exam, Donglaishun.

"Come on, let's celebrate our two academic geniuses escaping this hell!"

Huang Xiaoming smiled and raised his glass. He had just returned to Beijing after filming "Talented Women and Handsome Men," and he looked tanned and more robust.

Sitting opposite him was Liu Yifei, wearing a simple light pink shirt. Even though the place was filled with the smell of fireworks, it couldn't hide her ethereal beauty.

"Congratulations Gu Heng, congratulations Mimi." Liu Yifei smiled serenely, her voice soft.

Gu Heng and Yang Mi also raised their glasses.

The four people in the hot pot group raised their glasses and clinked them together.

"Brother Xiaoming, I heard that's a modern drama you're in. How come you're so tanned, like you've been mining coal?"

Yang Mi picked up a piece of mutton with her chopsticks and complained without holding back.

"Hey, don't even mention it. We were filming winter scenes in the middle of summer, and we had to run around outdoors."

Huang Xiaoming shook his head, then turned his gaze to Gu Heng.

"I heard from Teacher Cui that with your academic scores, you don't even need to consider the art exam score; you're guaranteed to get into a top university? Is that true?"

"I was lucky, I guessed right." Gu Heng picked up the blanched tofu skin and put it into Yang Mi's bowl with practiced ease.

"Then I really should call you junior brothers and sisters from now on."

Liu Yifei watched the interaction between the two with a hint of envy in her eyes.

The four of them chatted and laughed, and naturally the conversation turned to work.

"Gu Heng, I heard you mentioned making a movie last time, how's it going?" Huang Xiaoming was quite curious about Gu Heng's "Crazy Stone".

As someone from the Beijing Film Academy, he naturally knew that "Stone" had approached China Film Group for publicity and distribution, and that China Film Group had invested in the film.

"Preparations are almost complete. Ning Hao is a bit stubborn and is still working on the script details. Filming is expected to start next month."

Gu Heng put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and looked at the two of them: "This play is a dark comedy with multiple storylines, it's quite interesting. How about it, you two big stars, are you interested in making a cameo appearance? It won't take long, just a day or two."

"I'll go!" Yang Mi was the first to raise her hand. "I want to play that...that guy again?"

"You don't have any roles, you can only play a minor character at most." Gu Heng smiled and pressed her hand down.

Huang Xiaoming readily agreed: "Sure, as long as my schedule works out, I'm available anytime. Forget about the payment; talking about money would hurt our relationship."

Gu Heng smiled and nodded, then looked at Liu Yifei: "Where's Xixi?"

Liu Yifei hesitated for a moment, her eyes darting away, "I...I need to ask my mother. Besides, I might have to get busy with something else soon."

"What are you busy with? Have you taken on another role recently?" Yang Mi asked curiously.

Liu Yifei pursed her lips and said softly, "My mother talked to Sony Music about me. I'm thinking of... developing my career in Japan for a while and releasing an album."

As soon as she finished speaking, the others all looked at her.

Yang Mi's eyes widened: "Go to Japan? To sing?"

In this era, developing one's career in Japan and South Korea is indeed a trend, but as everyone here knows, Liu Yifei's current base in the domestic film and television industry is extremely stable.

Gu Heng frowned slightly.

Sony.

In her previous life, after Liu Yifei signed with Sony, although she had good resources, her development path was always awkward.

They didn't capitalize on the momentum domestically, and it didn't make much of a splash internationally either; they were simply penny-wise and pound-foolish.

"Do you want to go?" Gu Heng stared into Liu Yifei's eyes and asked directly.

Liu Yifei paused for a moment, avoiding Gu Heng's sharp gaze, and murmured softly, "My mother said that this is an international platform that will allow me to go further in the future. And... I also really like singing."

"Liking to sing and being a professional singer are two different things." Gu Heng tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

"Sissi, we're friends, so I'll be frank with you."

"Sony is an international company, and they will definitely push you towards internationalization," Gu Heng said slowly. "But the problem is that the international market has limited acceptance of Chinese actors. You might find yourself in a very awkward situation: domestic audiences might think you're too international, but the international market might not necessarily accept you."

Liu Yifei bit her lower lip, somewhat unconvinced: "But Mom said that's Sony, the company that produces records for Beyoncé..."

"That's Sony from the US, not Sony from Japan."

Gu Heng didn't give her a chance to catch her breath and continued, "More importantly, your foundation now lies in acting. 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils' put you in this position, and if 'The Return of the Condor Heroes' is a success, you will be the undisputed top-tier actress in China."

"At this critical juncture, you go to Japan to sing songs and disappear from the domestic audience's view for a year. Do you know what that means?"

Huang Xiaoming realized what was happening and chimed in, "It means you'll be handing over the empire you've worked so hard to build."

"Bingo." Gu Heng snapped his fingers.

Even the usually carefree Yang Mi stopped eating and looked at Liu Yifei with some concern.

Liu Yifei's face was a little pale, and her fingers were tightly gripping the hem of her clothes.

No one had ever said these words to her. In her world, her mother's arrangements were absolutely correct, and the people around her would only say how amazing she was, how she was an international superstar.

"But...the contract is already being negotiated..." Liu Yifei's voice trembled slightly, clearly indicating some hesitation.

"As long as it's not signed, there's still time."

Gu Heng picked up his chopsticks again, took a piece of frozen tofu and put it into the pot, his tone returning to its usual calm.

"Of course, I'm just offering advice as a friend. The path you choose is yours."

In fact, he knew in his heart that with Liu Xiaoli's strong personality, this matter would probably not fall through so easily.

But the seed has already been planted, and it will eventually take root and sprout.

What if?

There was a moment of silence in the private room.

Huang Xiaoming smoothed things over, saying, "Hey, Gu Heng, you're too serious. You scared Qianqian. But on the other hand, I also think Qianqian has more talent in acting. As for singing... it's okay for fun."

Liu Yifei took a deep breath and looked up at Gu Heng.

"Thank you, Gu Heng. I'll go back... and think it over carefully."

As the hot pot meal came to an end, everyone was preoccupied with their own thoughts.

Before leaving, Gu Heng mentioned it casually.

"Oh, right."

"That movie 'Crazy Stone,' there's a bumbling thief character on a motorcycle. I think it would be perfect for you, Xiaoming, to break out of your image. Do you want to give it a try?"

Huang Xiaoming stumbled as he reached the door.

"Gu Heng, you son of a bitch! I just finished playing Xiao Jian, and you want me to play a stupid thief?"

"Keep dreaming! I want to play a handsome guy!"