Chapter 103: Supernova

Chapter 103: *Supernova*

Lu Guifan, who had been shelling Jiang Ruotang's pistachios, spoke leisurely: "I thought you'd say that with a company this strong, there's no need to pimp out employees to please anyone."

Jiang Ruotang turned his face. "Oh, right!"

Lu Guifan chuckled and fed him a pistachio.

That single remark completely won over Ling Song.

"Alright, if the terms work, I'm willing."

Ling Song’s expression grew resolute. Rather than wavering in uncertainty, it was better to burn his boats.

No matter how chaotic the entertainment industry was, surely there had to be some decent corners.

"Then we’ll wait for Ms. Chen to discuss the specific terms with you tomorrow." Jiang Ruotang grinned, popping all the shelled pistachios into his mouth with a look of utter satisfaction.

Ling Song, however, was puzzled. "Ms. Chen? Which Ms. Chen?"

"Chen Qian."

Ling Song blinked. "The eldest daughter of the Chen family from Chicheng Pictures... is coming to talk terms with me personally?"

"Mhm." Jiang Ruotang patted his shoulder. "It means she values you. When I mentioned you to her earlier, she seemed intent on personally taking you on."

After discussing a few more details, it was nearly time for the crew’s lunch break, so Jiang Ruotang left, dragging Lu Guifan along.

Yesterday, due to the crowd and the heat, Jiang Ruotang hadn’t had much fun. Now, he was busy hitting up different sets for photos, while Lu Guifan carried the backpack, held the parasol, and acted as his photographer.

Jiang Ruotang played emperor several times, gleefully bestowing titles upon Lu Guifan—Chief Grand Secretary, Regent, Prime Minister, and even Chief Eunuch.

Lu Guifan laughed. "The first few sound great—powerful enough to influence the court and keep the emperor in check. But that last one... I worry it might cramp your style."

Jiang Ruotang waved a hand. "No worries, my harem's empty. Steward Lu can keep his little boat ready to serve me."

Unable to resist, Lu Guifan pinched Jiang Ruotang’s cheek.

"Don’t pinch—don’t just pinch randomly! What if my face ends up uneven?"

The moment they left the set, Cheng Man, the female lead of *Drunken Immortal Terrace*, began debating releasing photos of Ling Song "bullying" her on set. After all, in her eyes, her real mission as the drama’s lead was to make trouble for Ling Song, as ordered by President Han.

But to her utter shock, a big shot arrived on set—Chen Qian, the daughter of Chicheng Pictures’ chairman.

This left Cheng Man baffled. As far as she knew, Chicheng Pictures hadn’t invested in this drama.

Yet there Chen Qian was, dressed in a designer outfit, sporting stylish shades, making an impressive entrance while delivering supplies the crew needed but hadn’t yet procured.

Jiang Huaiyuan didn’t halt filming to entertain her, keeping the set running as usual.

Just as Cheng Man thought Jiang Huaiyuan was being rude by not giving Ms. Chen any face, Zhao Yunshu personally came over and got along famously with Chen Qian, their laughter ringing out frequently.

This left everyone wondering—what was Chen Qian really here for? Was Chicheng Pictures planning to invest in *Drunken Immortal Terrace*?

Chicheng’s promotional power was unmatched. If they joined, the promo blitz would elevate the drama’s industry standing by several tiers.

If that were the case, Cheng Man hesitated. Initially, she’d thought her paycheck was all that mattered, regardless of how the drama performed.

But now, she might actually blow up. Should she really sabotage Ling Song? If the audience turned against her, the ratings would suffer, and she’d gain nothing.

During a break, Zhao Yunshu called Ling Song over to greet Chen Qian. They exchanged few words, but with a slight tilt of Chen Qian’s head, Ling Song suddenly gained a personal assistant and a dedicated makeup artist.

The assistant handled Ling Song’s affairs with professionalism, while the makeup artist quickly learned the crew’s styling preferences and adapted in no time.

Most impressively, the makeup artist’s skills were top-tier. A mere five-minute touch-up made Ling Song’s features pop on camera, taking his looks to new heights. Even the assistant director talked about reshooting close-ups of him.

Cheng Man and her agent were stunned.

"What’s going on? Did Ms. Chen come just to spoil Ling Song?"

Uncertain of the situation, they no longer dared to target Ling Song.

By the time Jiang Ruotang and Lu Guifan returned to Sheng City and had already started driver's ed for a week, the entertainment industry was rocked by news—Hongtian Borui’s Qi family, alongside several industry bigwigs, had founded a new company: Stellar Media.

Just a glance at its public shareholders made it clear the company was well-connected. Everyone eagerly anticipated Stellar signing A-list stars or top idols, but their first recruit turned out to be an obscure extra—Ling Song.

Everyone wondered: What was so special about him?

After signing Ling Song, Chen Qian spared no expense promoting him, compiling clips of every minor role he’d ever played—villains, cannon-fodder side characters, soldiers with one line before dying...

Netizens suddenly realized: *Hey, this actor’s done everything? And he kills every role, even in background shots—his emotions and details are always on point.*

Not to mention his close-ups. No matter how plain or bad the makeup, Ling Song’s good looks shone through, sparking fervent discussions. Nostalgia for his past roles resurfaced.

[*I remember Ling Song! He played the female lead’s brother in a school drama and got pretty popular! So handsome, with such a clean, warm smile!*]

[*He was my dream big brother in middle school!*]

[*This guy played a eunuch for a fallen emperor once—I told my wife he was amazing and had a bright future, but then he disappeared for years!*]

[*Wow, he can play anything, even extras with such dedication!*]

[*A hidden gem! Stellar actually found him—my respect for this company just doubled!*]

...

At this point, *Drunken Immortal Terrace* hadn’t even wrapped, but Chen Qian’s promotion of Ling Song inadvertently drew attention to the drama as well.

As the female lead, Cheng Man was immensely relieved she hadn’t released those hit pieces. Otherwise, she’d be getting dragged, facing Chen Qian’s wrath, and a ruined chance of ever working with a big player like Stellar.

Even her acting improved noticeably. The crew observed that scenes between the leads wrapped quicker, often in just one or two tries, speeding up production significantly.

Jiang Huaiyuan crossed his arms. "See? With strict guidance, Cheng Man’s acting can improve rapidly."

Zhao Yunshu, visiting the set, rubbed her temples. "Or maybe it’s because she knows the show's hype is thanks to Ling Song, and she doesn’t want to miss her big break?"

For some, joy; for others, fury.

From the moment Han Ming saw the news of Ling Song’s signing, his face fell.

Even the slight clink of a coffee cup from his trembling secretary made his glare pin her in place.

Once she fled, Han Ming couldn’t hold back—he called his ally, Qin Zhanchao.

"What’s Stellar playing at? The whole industry knows signing Ling Song means opposing Cefeng Pictures, yet they made him their first recruit? Are they deliberately humiliating me? Is this the Qi family’s or the Chen family’s doing?"

Qin Zhanchao replied, "I’m not familiar with Qi Yanfeng or Chen Qian, but my family’s always advocated maintaining good relations with them, not making enemies. Their agency is clearly building their own talent pool. Choosing Ling Song was probably just because he looks great in *Drunken Immortal Terrace* and Jiang Huaiyuan praised him—they’re securing a future star. Besides, it’s been years. Who’d have thought you’d still hold a grudge?"

Han Ming’s expression was stony, but his aura radiated menace. He’d thought his suppression was pushing Ling Song to the brink, that soon he’d have no choice but to yield. Never had he imagined Stellar would hand him a golden ticket, rendering all his efforts futile.

His assistant came in to deliver some documents and could only console him, "Boss, you know Ling Song's personality—stubborn as a mule and arrogant as they come. Sure, he's got good looks, but do you really think Juxing won’t make him attend drinking parties? Won’t force him to act in trashy scripts? Won’t make him entertain big shots? Sooner or later, he’ll flip the table outright."

Hearing this, Han Ming's expression eased considerably.

He snorted coldly, "Whether it's Qi Yanfeng or Chen Qian, neither is easy to deal with. And then there’s Mu Xianqing—when has he ever been without a lover? Ling Song thinks he’s found a new backer, but how does he know it’s not an even darker and deeper quagmire?"

Yet the so-called "darker and deeper quagmire" had already secured him several quality supporting roles in well-received dramas—and, crucially, gave Ling Song the freedom to choose.

After listening to his assistant’s briefing, Ling Song realized the company genuinely had his best interests at heart. The scripts offered might not always feature large roles, but they were story-driven with layered characters.

"These... I can choose for myself?" Ling Song asked skeptically, glancing at his assistant.

The assistant nodded vigorously. "Of course! Some of these roles overlap in schedule. President Chen said it’s up to you to decide which one you prefer."

Ling Song pressed further, "These roles... they’re all significant. Did President Chen mention anything about me having to drink with investors or producers?"

The assistant shook his head again, grinning. "President Chen said you’re an actor—your job is to act. Do well, and you’ll make money for the shareholders. Drinking and negotiating deals are handled by professionals."

Though Ling Song had braced himself for another pitfall, his heart softened at the assistant’s words.

Suddenly, he realized all of this likely traced back to Jiang Ruotang.

Without hesitation, he took out his phone, tapped Jiang Ruotang’s profile, and sent a short but earnest voice message:

[Thank you, President Jiang.]

The assistant couldn’t help but wonder—who was this "President Jiang"?

At that moment, Jiang Ruotang and Lu Guifan were at the driving school’s training ground, ready for their lesson.

Despite enrolling in VIP lessons, their car only had the two of them as students.

When the instructor drove over and greeted them, he joked about teaching two such good-looking guys and told them to get in.

Lu Guifan took the driver’s seat first, while Jiang Ruotang, without thinking, settled into the passenger seat and properly buckled up.

Excited at the prospect of watching Lu Guifan drive up close, Jiang Ruotang felt a small thrill.

The instructor leaned against the window, looking down at him with amusement. "Handsome guy, are you here to teach him how to drive?"

Only then did Jiang Ruotang realize—the passenger seat was the instructor’s spot!

Embarrassed, he quickly unbuckled and hurried to the backseat.

Lu Guifang glanced up at the rearview mirror, catching Jiang Ruotang’s flustered expression, and couldn’t help but smile.

He’d have to get his license soon—then Jiang Ruotang could rightfully sit in his passenger seat.

In their past lives, Jiang Ruotang might have dismissed Lu Guifan as all theory and no practice.

But now, he’d witnessed Lu Guifan’s practical skills—whether it was coding, video editing, or driving, he picked things up astonishingly fast and executed them smoothly, earning the instructor’s praise.

When it was Jiang Ruotang’s turn, confident in his driving skills, he took the wheel, gripping the same steering wheel Lu Guifan had held moments before. Yet avoiding obstacles was harder than expected.

"Turn it all the way! ALL THE WAY! I said ALL THE WAY!"

The instructor’s yelling nearly ruptured Jiang Ruotang’s eardrums. Wasn’t he already turning hard?

"You want me to kill what?"

"Just kill me already!" The instructor covered his eyes in despair.

With one forceful tug, Jiang Ruotang accidentally tore the steering wheel cover right off.

The instructor stared at him before finally muttering, "You seem gentle, but you’ve got strength."

Jiang Ruotang swallowed. "I’ll pay for that..."

"Keep it as a souvenir."

Who’d want *that* as a keepsake?!

After an exhausting afternoon, Jiang Ruotang slumped outside the driving school like a deflated eggplant—exhausted and drained, resembling an extra waiting for their set meal.

Lu Guifan bought an ice cream from a nearby store and crouched beside him, offering it.

"You’ll definitely get your license."

Jiang Ruotang paused at the reassurance. Of course he’d get it—in his past life, he’d driven like a pro, dodging paparazzi and speeding to events. But the way Lu Guifan said it made it sound like he doubted Jiang Ruotang could pass.

Taking a bite of ice cream, Jiang Ruotang quickly let it go.

He wasn’t anyone’s lackey anymore, racing against time. If anyone had to hurry now, it’d be his boyfriend’s job, right?

Patting Lu Guifan’s shoulder meaningfully, Jiang Ruotang declared, "I believe in you. You’ll be the next Drift King of Akina Pass."

"…Huh?" Lu Guifan blinked, baffled.

Where even is Akina Pass?

Thankfully, both got their licenses the day before leaving for university. On the drive home, their heads bent together as they discussed which car to buy.

Xiao Gao, at the wheel, sighed. "I might be out of a job soon."

After much deliberation, they settled on an SUV—three rows of seats, perfect for driving friends home after parties or hauling bulky items.

Jiang Ruotang’s ulterior motive? SUVs had ample legroom. With Lu Guifan’s long legs, they’d need the space, right?

He chuckled to himself, but Lu Guifan’s gaze flicked over.

"What’re you thinking now?"

"Car performance," Jiang Ruotang said flatly.

Lu Guifan chuckled softly, as if to say, *Sure you were.*

"You just got your licenses and you’re buying an SUV? You sure you can handle it?" Xiao Gao worried.

Lu Guifan grinned. "Xiao Gao, since you’re here, why not let me drive for a bit? You can supervise."

Xiao Gao agreed readily. "Sure, I’ll pull over and switch."

To everyone’s surprise, Lu Guifan handled the car flawlessly—none of the typical rookie mistakes like narrow field of vision or jerky braking. Smooth as silk, he navigated all the way to Jiang Ruotang’s doorstep, even aced a reverse park.

Xiao Gao patted his chest in relief. "I trust you two now."

Jiang Ruotang grumbled. "Xiao Gao, you haven’t even seen me drive yet. How can you be so sure?"

Xiao Gao shrugged. "When you’re together, no question Lu Guifan’s the driver. If he’s this good, you’d likely just doze off in the passenger seat."

Jiang Ruotang thought to himself, *Should I thank you for Lu Guifan too?*

Since they were leaving for the capital the next day, Jiang Ruotang and Zhao Zhangfeng had already packed most of their luggage and placed it by the entrance, ready to roll out tomorrow. The rest of their belongings were packed and would be shipped directly to the university, to be collected after registration.

*Drunken Immortal Terrace* hadn’t wrapped filming yet, and as the director, Jiang Huaiyuan couldn’t take leave to see them off. He could only video call Jiang Ruotang, crying as he said that his son was going to university—and to the capital too—yet he couldn’t be there to send him off.

Jiang Huaiyuan’s eyes were shiny from crying, and the assistant director beside him handed him tissues while offering comfort. In the background of the call, Ling Song could be seen looking utterly baffled—what could possibly turn the devilish director Jiang Huaiyuan into a crying mess?

Feeling emotional, Jiang Ruotang felt a surge of reluctance and began tearing up as well.

After all, in his past life, Jiang Huaiyuan never got to see Jiang Ruotang take the college entrance exams.

Finally, Zhao Yunshu couldn't take it anymore. She took Jiang Ruotang’s phone and said to Jiang Huaiyuan, “I’m the one sending the kids off, so stop worrying for nothing. Once the drama wraps, I’ll take you to the capital for a few days—I'll make sure our son gets tired of you!”

Jiang Ruotang, who had just wiped his tears, couldn't help laughing at Zhao Yunshu’s words.

And just like that, Jiang Huaiyuan’s tears stopped just like that.

Even though he was leaving the home he’d lived in for many years, Jiang Ruotang slept soundly that night.

His life was about to bid farewell to his teenage years and step into a new, broader world.

There were still so many unknowns, so many interesting things waiting for him to experience and explore.

By the afternoon of the next day, they had arrived in the capital. Though Sheng City was also a major metropolis with an economic scale rivaling the capital, when it came to cultural atmosphere and historical significance, the capital was still the best.

Jiang Huaiyuan had many friends in the capital, and one of them had sent a car to pick them up from the airport.

Thus, Jiang Ruotang and Lu Guifan sat in the second row, while Zhao Zhangfeng took the last row alone. Recalling his previous visit for trials, Zhao Zhangfeng had found the blend of history and modernity fascinating, but after staying for over a month, he was no longer surprised by it.

Jiang Ruotang had been here many times in his past life, and Lu Guifan had also visited during the finals of the Olympiad.

They weren’t particularly awed by the sights, but the entrances to famous restaurants and shopping streets caught their attention, getting them chatting excitedly.

Zhao Yunshu found it amusing. “These kids haven’t even seen their dorm yet, and they’re already planning where to eat together! No wonder they say teenage boys are bottomless pits!”

After some discussion, they decided to get Jiang Ruotang registered first, so their first destination was the Central Academy of Fine Arts.

The campus buildings were older than Zhao Zhangfeng had imagined, with many red-brick walls covered in ivy, full of artistic vibes.

Lush greenery filled the campus, dotted with sculptures and works by renowned alumni, making Zhao Zhangfeng stop and admire them.

“Jiang Ruotang, do you think your sculpture will stand here one day, like an honorary alumnus or something?”

“I’d rather not. These sculptures aren’t that great,” Jiang Ruotang shook his head.

Lu Guifan, behind them, chuckled softly—between honorary alumni and aesthetics, Jiang Ruotang chose the latter.

With his family and Lu Guifan accompanying him, Jiang Ruotang completed the registration, collected his class materials and schedule, and then headed to the dormitory.

As they carried his belongings upstairs, Zhao Zhangfeng remarked, “Just warning you—these dorms are tiny, like tiny train cabins crammed together.”

“No way it's that bad, right?” Jiang Ruotang thought Zhao Zhangfeng must be exaggerating.

Lu Guifan said calmly, “Cramped is okay.”

“Yeah, I’m just happy to be studying here.”

As soon as Jiang Ruotang finished speaking, Lu Guifan leaned in and whispered in his ear, “In a few days, I’ll get the apartment. Once I get the keys, I’ll bring them to you.”

That way, Jiang Ruotang would have a spacious living space—and be with Lu Guifan. Just thinking about it excited him. Really… whether the dorm was cramped or not didn’t matter at all!

The dorm was on the fifth floor, and thankfully, there was an elevator—otherwise, hauling all that stuff would have left them sweating buckets.

Out of the elevator, Jiang Ruotang followed the room numbers until he found his dorm. Just as he was about to unlock the door, he faintly heard people talking inside.

“Did you hear? There’s someone really impressive in our year—the champion of Fu Chunshi’s ‘New Wave’ competition! He won such a big competition before even starting university, without being mentored by any master!”

“Hah, well, get this—his dad’s a famous director! Just think about it—he's got way better connections than us.”

“Cui He… come on, that's not fair to say, is it? Directing and fine arts are totally different. Could he really get Fu Chunshi himself to give feedback?”

Jiang Ruotang hadn’t expected to become what they were talking about among his new roommates.

But he understood. Getting into the Central Academy of Fine Arts was just the first step—this path would continuously keep filtering people out. Some would realize even before graduating that they wouldn’t make it in art. So someone like him, who had a head start, was bound to make people jealous.

Zhao Zhangfeng, noticing Jiang Ruotang standing there thinking, stepped forward and turned the doorknob for him.

“What are you waiting for? Just open the door already!”

The dorm instantly fell silent. The three roommates, mid-conversation, stared in surprise at Zhao Zhangfeng as he entered—he was intimidating.

The guy had grown even taller over the summer, almost six and a half feet, with a lean, muscular frame. Compared to the three art students in the dorm, it looked ridiculous—like an adult standing among elementary schoolers.

Zhao Zhangfeng grinned brightly. “What's up! My brother’s assigned to this dorm. We’re here to drop him off and help him unpack!”

The three quickly greeted them, introducing themselves and making small talk.

Since it was a boys’ dorm, Zhao Yunshu only peeked inside to check the conditions before stepping back out. She had to admit—Zhao Zhangfeng’s analogy wasn’t wrong. It really did feel like a sleeper compartment.

Though it was a four-person room, the space under the beds was packed tight. The desks, wardrobes, and bookshelves were crammed in tight—once seated, there was barely room to turn around. The central aisle was narrow, about eighty centimeters wide. At least there was a small balcony, so the lighting wasn’t too bad.

Once Zhao Zhangfeng and Lu Guifan entered, the dorm felt even more cramped.

From their stuff, these kids seemed pretty well-off. Zhao Yunshu guessed that once they adjusted to their coursework, they would likely move out.

Lu Guifan patted Jiang Ruotang’s shoulder, signaling him to organize the lower bunk’s wardrobe while he took the bedding to the upper bunk to set it up.

Zhao Zhangfeng nudged Jiang Ruotang and whispered, “Don’t leave all the talking to me. Introduce yourself to your roommates too.”

Jiang Ruotang smiled politely. “Hi everyone, I’m Jiang Ruotang, from Sheng City.”

One of the roommates frowned, the name sounding familiar, then pulled out his phone to search.

“Ah… oh…”

“Nice to meet you… Is the guy making the bed up there also your brother?”

Jiang Ruotang was about to answer, thinking, *If I say ‘boyfriend’ now and they take issue with it, I can always move out. But if Zhao Zhangfeng makes a scene, things will get awkward.*

Fortunately, Zhao Zhangfeng cut in first. “Oh, him? He’s our buddy! Also, he’s a Provincial Zhuangyuan!”

“Provincial Zhuangyuan?”

All three roommates looked up at Lu Guifan with newfound admiration.

“Provincial Zhuangyuan… so you’re… from Capital University of Science and Technology?”

After all, the Capital University of Science and Technology was known as a "top-scorer magnet."

Before Lu Guifan could respond, Zhao Zhangfeng started boasting again: "Exactly! He already holds several patents. Even research teams across the ocean rely on him to solve problems they can't crack!"

Their admiration seemed to grow.

In other places, someone might have questioned whether Zhao Zhangfeng was exaggerating for his friend.

But this was the capital, a hub of talent and the gathering place for provincial top scorers. Yet, a provincial top scorer who already held patents was truly a rarity.

Lu Guifan swiftly made the bed and glanced at Zhao Zhangfeng with amusement. "Did you forget you're also from the Capital University of Science and Technology?"

"I can't compare to you—I got in as an athletic scholarship student!"

One of the roommates, Ding Bing, exclaimed in surprise, "Getting into the Capital University of Science and Technology on an athletic admission? You must be an Olympic-level athlete! What's your sport?"

By his voice, Jiang Ruotang recognized Ding Bing as the one who had spoken impartially during their earlier conversation.

"B-basketball..." Zhao Zhangfeng awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

Ding Bing leaned in. "No wonder you're so tall! Your arms and legs are so long! If you got into the Capital University of Science and Technology, you’ll probably go pro in basketball!"

"Th-thanks..."

Zhao Zhangfeng suddenly remembered this was Jiang Ruotang's dorm—how could he have almost forgotten to show Jiang Ruotang in a good light?

"My brother’s impressive too! He participated in Fu Chunshi’s art exhibition competition and won the Newcomer Award!"

Bringing up that award only made Jiang Ruotang cringe for his future roommates.

The one who had been checking his phone suddenly looked up. "So... you're Jiang Huaiyuan’s son? Director Jiang?"

His tone revealed it was clearly Cui He—the one who had doubted Jiang Ruotang’s achievements were due to his father’s connections.

"Yes," Jiang Ruotang nodded slightly.

They exchanged awkward glances, unsure if Jiang Ruotang had overheard their earlier conversation.

Jiang Ruotang couldn’t be bothered to clarify. Before people got to know each other, there were always assumptions, speculations, and judgments.

"And he even had a piece nominated for the Asia New Star Awards!"

Jiang Ruotang tugged at Zhao Zhangfeng—did this guy not know the meaning of "modesty"?

Cui He raised his chin. "Oh, nominated, huh?"

His tone wasn’t praise—it was more like sarcasm.

"Thousands of works get nominated, right? It’s a competition across all of Asia."

Meaning it wasn’t anything special.

Ding Bing quickly interjected, "Being nominated is still impressive! Unlike me—I didn’t even qualify."

Cui He adopted a patronizing tone. "He must’ve had heavy investment in training since childhood. The time and connections invested are beyond what ordinary people like us could imagine."

Lu Guifan, who was standing on a chair tucking in Jiang Ruotang’s pillowcase, frowned. He never cared about others’ opinions of himself, but when it came to Jiang Ruotang, he was sensitive.

"That’s not necessarily true. From what I know, Director Jiang has always been busy with filming and gave Ruotang a lot of independence. Fu Chunshi praised Ruotang’s ability to convey genuine emotion in his work—unconstrained by academic formalism, with a style of his own."

Hearing Lu Guifan’s words, Jiang Ruotang’s heart warmed.

Zhao Zhangfeng also sensed Cui He’s insincerity and, unsettled by it, doubled down on praising "his brother," raving about Jiang Ruotang’s achievements—how his works were exhibited in Europe, how collectors admired them—as if they were his own achievements.

The three roommates were stunned.

Ding Bing, being straightforward, felt lucky to have such a talented roommate.

Lv An listened as if hearing a story, waiting for Zhao Zhangfeng’s next chapter.

As for Cui He, he offered half-hearted praise and smiled at Jiang Ruotang. "Well, Jiang the Great, since we’re roommates, you’ll have to pull us up with you, right?"

The sincerity of that praise was questionable.

Just then, the dorm door was knocked. A man wearing glasses and a polo shirt stood outside, smiling at them. "Oh, looks lively in here! Is everyone moved in?"

Cui He immediately stood up and walked over with a smile. "Director Zhang! All four of us are here! Are you inspecting the freshmen dorms? How diligent of you!"

His tone was the kind leaders loved.

Director Zhang nodded with a smile. "Which one of you is Jiang Ruotang?"

Taken by surprise, Jiang Ruotang was slow to react.

"Uh... that’s me."

Director Zhang stepped forward and shook his hands. "Jiang Ruotang, congratulations!"

"Congratulations? For what?"

Getting into the Central Academy of Fine Arts? But everyone in the dorm did.

"For the Asia New Star Awards, of course! I heard international jurors raved about your *Back View*! You won the Newcomer Award—a credit to the nation!"

Jiang Ruotang was even more confused.

"Me? Newcomer? Since when?"

"You didn’t know? We’ve been following the awards’ official website—the results went live this morning. Didn’t they notify you?"

Jiang Ruotang checked his phone. There was a message from Teacher Liang at the studio, breaking the news.

There was also a congratulatory text from Mu Xianqing.

But he’d been on a flight and missed all the notifications.

"Is this real?" Jiang Ruotang still doubted. He never imagined he’d win—he’d only participated for participation’s sake.

Lu Guifan was also checking the results. The Chinese site took forever to load, but once it did, front and center was *Back View*—a painting of Lu Guifan’s own back.

"It’s true," Lu Guifan confirmed.

Director Zhang approached Jiang Ruotang. "The school would like to discuss displaying your painting in our gallery once it’s repatriated. It’s a point of pride for our school. I’m also here to invite you to a dedicated session—we’ll safeguard your interests and the painting’s safety."

Jiang Ruotang nodded dazedly.