Huayu: This top star doesn't play by the rules.

At 11 a.m. the day before the exam, Chen Chao arrived at the hotel downstairs on time with a portable suitcase. Ji Ran was already waiting there, carrying two KFCs.

"Good afternoon, Professor Chen Chao." After handing one of the KFC meals to Chen Chao, Ji Ran took the suitcase from him. "It contains a New Orleans roasted chicken burger and a flavored latte. You can fill your stomach on the way."

"Thanks, Brother Ji Ran, but how did you know I liked Orleans Burger?" Chen Chao raised an eyebrow and asked curiously as he took the KFC.

"Last time in Sister Liying's RV, I saw you eat several, so I remembered them." Ji Ran explained with a smile as she pulled Chen Chao's suitcase forward. "The car is over here, let's go."

After getting into the car on his way to the airport, Chen Chao quickly finished his meal at Orleans Castle, then picked up his coffee and started looking at the review materials he had gotten from his good friend Chen Zheyuan.

Although his memory is now far superior to that of ordinary people, and he can basically remember the contents of the textbook after reading it once, their performing arts department has not only academic exams, but also oral exams and performances, which he still needs to prepare for.

.........

The two-hour flight passed in the blink of an eye. As the plane slowly landed on the ground, Chen Chao closed his review materials and looked at the familiar airport, feeling a sense of emotion.

It has been almost two months since he last came back to Shenzhen. The last time he came back was to cancel his leave and then take another leave to film "Princess Agents".

The taxi slowly pulled up in front of Shenzhen University. Chen Chao got out of the car. The afternoon sun shone through the branches of the camphor trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

The familiar school gate, the familiar tree-lined path, and the students coming and going, full of youthful energy—everything was exactly the same as when he left, yet something seemed different.

"Mr. Chen Chao, I'll go check into the hotel first and put my luggage away. If anything happens, please feel free to contact me." Ji Ran said with a smile after helping Chen Chao take his suitcase out of the trunk.

"Okay, Brother Ji Ran." Reaching out to pull his suitcase, Chen Chao said with a smile, "You should go back to the hotel and rest first. You must be tired after traveling for several hours. I'll take you out for some Cantonese cuisine tonight."

"Alright, I'm looking forward to your Cantonese feast." Ji Ran, who was indeed feeling a bit tired, didn't refuse, but simply nodded and agreed.

After watching Ji Ran leave by car, Chen Chao put on the hat and glasses he had prepared beforehand, then pulled his suitcase into the campus. In order not to attract too much attention and disrupt the normal order of the school, he deliberately chose to enter through a side gate where there were fewer people.

However, Chen Chao underestimated his current popularity. As soon as he stepped onto the tree-lined path, several girls from different schools secretly took out their phones to take pictures of him and whispered among themselves.

"Isn't that Chen Chao? He looks just like him!"

"It's him! It's him! Look at that hat and glasses, and that build, it's definitely Chen Chao!"

"Oh my god! I actually ran into Chen Chao at school! Is he back to take his final exams?"

"Hurry and get an autograph! You'll miss your chance!"

Before Chen Chao could react, the girls mustered their courage and approached, their faces flushed with excitement. "Hello, Chen Chao! We're your fans, could you please sign your autograph?"

Seeing that he had been recognized, Chen Chao could only stop and give a gentle smile, "Of course."

Reaching out to take the notebook and pen from the girl, Chen Chao quickly signed his name and thoughtfully added a blessing for "academic progress".

"Thank you, Chen Chao! You must keep up the good work! We will always support you!" the girls said excitedly.

"Thank you." Chen Chao smiled. "Class is about to start, you should hurry to your classrooms so you won't be late."

After saying goodbye to a few fans who recognized him, Chen Chao quickened his pace toward his dormitory. Along the way, he encountered many classmates who recognized him, and he patiently fulfilled their requests, signing autographs and taking photos with them.

After finally reaching the dormitory building, Chen Chao breathed a sigh of relief, pulled his suitcase, and quickly went upstairs. Their dormitory was on the third floor, room 302. As soon as he reached the door, he heard familiar game sounds and Chen Zheyuan's shouts coming from inside.

"Holy crap! Don't hit me! Don't hit me! Help me! Help me!"

"Can you please stop delivering?! If you keep doing that, we'll lose!"

"I don't want to either! The enemy jungler keeps ganking me!"

Shaking his head somewhat helplessly, Chen Chao reached out and knocked on the door.

"Who is it? The door's unlocked, come in!" Chen Zheyuan's voice came from inside after Chen Chao knocked. He sounded impatient, clearly annoyed by the game.

Pushing open the door and walking in, Chen Chao glanced around. The dormitory was pretty much the same as the one he had seen last time; it wasn't exactly tidy, but it wasn't messy either.

Meanwhile, his good friend Chen Zheyuan was sitting in front of the computer playing games. His hair was a bit messy, he was shirtless, his eyes were fixed on the screen, and his fingers were typing rapidly on the keyboard.

Hearing the noise, Chen Zheyuan said without turning his head, "Bring me a bottle of Coke, ice cold, thanks."

After placing the suitcase in the corner, Chen Chao walked behind him and gently patted his shoulder. "You don't even call me godfather, yet you expect me to buy things for you."

The familiar voice made Chen Zheyuan abruptly stop. He stiffly turned his head and saw Chen Chao standing behind him. His eyes widened instantly, and his mouth gaped open.

"Holy crap! Chen Chao?!" Chen Zheyuan jumped up from his chair, nearly overturning the computer. "Why are you back?! Weren't you filming in Hengdian?!"

"Come back and take the final exams." Chen Chao said with a smile, his arms crossed.

"Wow, you're a big star now! I see you online every day, and I've watched 'Exchange of Lives' hundreds of times!" Chen Zheyuan clicked his tongue in surprise as he looked Chen Chao up and down.

As if suddenly remembering something, he leaned closer to Chen Chao and asked with a gossipy look, "Tell me, what was it like working with Zhao Liying? Is she pretty? And Lin Gengxin, is he as 'dog' as the internet says?"

"Everything is fine. Sister Liying is a very nice person and takes good care of me. Brother Gengxin is also very interesting." Chen Chao pulled out his chair and answered simply.

His gaze swept over his computer desk, which was still as clean and tidy as when he left, without any dust or anything. It seemed that Chen Zheyuan had tidied it up for him before.