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At the entrance of the Yuming Tea Garden, Chen Jianhao clapped Lu Chen on the shoulder and sighed, "I really can't figure you out more and more."
Lu Chen offered a wry smile and replied, "Jianhao, I'm still the same person; I haven't changed."
Chen Jianhao shook his head, chuckling.
He understood that while Lu Chen projected humility and politeness, there was a deep-seated pride within him.
Even during his time as a waiter at Daylily, Lu Chen's pride remained hidden but unyielding, never dulled by life's challenges. He had always worked hard and persevered quietly.
Now that Lu Chen was showcasing his extraordinary talent, that long-buried pride was surfacing naturally.
But this pride wasn't mere arrogance; it was a profound confidence.
It was this confidence that empowered Lu Chen to present his work to Zhang Wentian.
What Chen Jianhao found elusive was the depth of Lu Chen's character.
It was simply too profound!
In Chen Jianhao's eyes, the song "A Man Should Stand Strong" surpassed Lu Chen's earlier hits like "In Spring," "Follow the Dream of the Red Heart," and "My Old Classmate!"
After a moment of thinking, he earnestly advised, "Little Lu, remember to keep the theme song for Director Zhang's new film under wraps. Don't promote it prematurely."
"Director Zhang dislikes it when things are public before they're finalized, and he's not fond of being used for publicity."
For a newcomer like Lu Chen, who had just made his debut, getting close to Zhang Wentian could easily stir up a whirlwind of gossip, even over trivial matters.
Lu Chen's situation was anything but trivial.
Fortunately, he was an independent artist; otherwise, if his company caught wind of it, they would undoubtedly exploit the situation for publicity.
Chen Jianhao knew that hype was an integral part of the entertainment industry, but he hoped Lu Chen wouldn't be swayed by short-term gains. Building a solid relationship with Zhang Wentian was far more valuable in the long run.
With the backing of such a prominent director, Lu Chen would find it much easier to break into the film and television scene in the future!
Lu Chen smiled and replied, "I understand, Jianhao. You can count on me!"
He recognized that Chen Jianhao genuinely cared for him.
Seeing Lu Chen grasp the advice so quickly, Chen Jianhao beamed, "We can't discuss it now; once the film is wrapped, we can talk freely."
In the film industry, it's customary for major promotions and hype to kick off once a film is completed or nearing completion. By then, Lu Chen could easily ride the wave, and the investors would likely welcome it.
He suddenly shifted gears, asking, "What do you think of that girl, Qin Qing?"
"Uh..."
Lu Chen was taken aback, unsure how to respond.
'Boss, I hardly know her!'
Chen Jianhao's eyes sparkled with mischief as he half-joked, "You don't have a girlfriend, do you? If you're not aiming to be a pure idol, you should consider finding one. Don't let a good girl slip away."
Dating in the entertainment industry is a complex affair. For those on the idol path, even if they want to date, it must be kept under wraps; otherwise, exposure could lead to a significant drop in popularity or even abandonment by their agency.
Those with genuine talent have it a bit easier; fans tend to be more forgiving, especially for male singer-songwriters, who are generally more accepted.
Lu Chen had the looks to be an idol, but he clearly had no intention of taking that route.
As the champion of "Singing China," he was more than capable of thriving among the talented!
So while Chen Jianhao was joking, he wasn't entirely off the mark.
Lu Chen smiled wryly, "I'm not looking for a girlfriend right now."
Serious dating is exhausting; he simply doesn't have the time or energy for it at the moment.
If he were to take it lightly and just want to have fun...
Well, his sister would have his head!
Chen Jianhao laughed, "What I mean to say is that Qin Qing is really impressive. Since you're taking classes at Jingyin, why not try to befriend her? At your age, don't live like we do."
"Cough Cough!"
Just as he finished speaking, a light cough came from behind them.
Chen Jianhao and Lu Chen turned to see Qin Qing standing a few steps away, looking radiant.
Her expression was calm, and her gaze was cool.
This girl from Jingyin had just changed into a simple yet elegant dress, her long hair cascading down, exuding an increasingly serene aura.
Even Chen Jianhao, who usually had thick skin, felt a bit embarrassed.
He chuckled and quickly said, "Qin Qing is here; you two go ahead."
With that, he slipped away, leaving Lu Chen to face this remarkable girl alone.
Qin Qing didn't seem flustered; instead, there was a hint of aloofness in her demeanor.
She said coolly, "Let's go."
Lu Chen initially wanted to explain himself, but seeing her expression, he decided to keep it brief: "Okay."
After getting into the car, Lu Chen drove Qin Qing to the Capital City Music College.
Qin Qing sat in the passenger seat, and on the way, she suddenly said, "Uncle Chen was just joking; don't take it to heart."
Lu Chen smiled and replied, "I know; you don't need to worry about it."
He wasn't naive; he understood the implication of her words!
Qin Qing was signaling to Lu Chen that there was no possibility between them and that he shouldn't harbor any unnecessary thoughts.
The truth was, Lu Chen had no such thoughts about her at all.
This girl, who played the Chinese plucked zither exceptionally well, was stunningly beautiful. In fact, Lu Chen had never encountered anyone more beautiful than her, and her demeanor was even more captivating than her looks; calling her a goddess wouldn't be an exaggeration.
Qin Qing's family background seemed quite impressive, as evidenced by the respect shown to her by the two professors and Zhang Wentian; she was definitely not an ordinary person.
Such a girl would undoubtedly have countless admirers, exuding an air of pride and distance.
But what did that have to do with him?
People from different worlds might cross paths due to various coincidences, but ultimately, they would drift apart.
Qin Qing responded with a soft "Hmm."
Lu Chen felt a bit at a loss for words, sensing that she seemed skeptical of him.
So he candidly stated, "I don't plan to date anyone for the next few years, so you can rest easy!"
Qin Qing tilted her head and asked, "Are you upset? Or are you saying that just to pique my interest?"
Lu Chen sighed, gently steering the car to a stop at the roadside.
Qin Qing looked at him, her expression unchanged.
Lu Chen met her gaze sincerely and said, "Qin Qing, first of all, I'm not upset."
"I'm not trying to attract you with these words; we just met, and you don't know me well. I can understand."
"I'm planning to attend the university to learn, and I appreciate you accompanying me to get the audit certificate. If this has caused any misunderstanding, I apologize. I can drop you off at school and handle it myself."
After listening, Qin Qing nodded and said, "I believe you."
Lu Chen didn't know what to say: "Thank you."
Qin Qing replied, "Since I promised Professor Gao, I must accompany you to the academic affairs office. Let's go."
Lu Chen had nothing more to add and resumed driving.
He didn't notice the faint smile that had crept onto the corner of her mouth.
The journey took about ten minutes, and they encountered no traffic, arriving smoothly at Jingyin.
Jingyin, or Capital City Music College, is renowned alongside Central Music College and Northern Music College as one of the three major music institutions.
Founded in 1980, it has a history of 35 years. Although it may not be as ancient as Midrange, it has produced many famous composers, pianists, and singers over the decades, earning a respected reputation both domestically and internationally.
The college is located by Beihai, adjacent to the famous Beihai Park, boasting a prime geographical location.
Jingyin is relatively small, even smaller than several middle schools in Capital City, with a total of just over 2,000 students and faculty, which is incomparable to the tens of thousands of students in university towns.
Lu Chen had never been to Jingyin University before, but he had long heard of this prestigious music institution.
It is said that every year, over ten thousand students apply to Jingyin University, most of whom have been training since childhood in areas like piano, violin, and traditional instruments, easily surpassing someone like Lu Chen with just a flick of their fingers.
However, most of these talented individuals are ruthlessly eliminated during the application process. Many candidates' families invest everything to nurture their talents, only to be told upon arrival in Capital City that they have no hope of being admitted.
Thus, those who gain admission to Jingyin University are not ordinary; genius is a common term among them.
Even auditing a class requires effort to obtain a pass.
The environment at Jingyin University is beautiful, with lush trees on campus, several buildings nestled among the woods, and a serene lake in the center, where gentle breezes ripple the water's surface.
Since the school year hadn't started yet, the campus was quiet, with hardly any students in sight.
Lu Chen didn't have a pass for Jingyin University, but Qin Qing spoke to the guard for a moment, and they were allowed in. Following her lead, they drove directly to the office building below.
After getting out of the car, Qin Qing took Lu Chen to the academic affairs office located on the third floor.
There were people in the office, but the Director Lu, whom Lu Chen wanted to see, was not present.
Fortunately, Vice Director Chen was on duty, and after explaining his purpose, he quickly helped Lu Chen obtain the audit certificate.
The audit certificate is valid for one year and becomes void after that.
With the certificate in hand, Lu Chen could freely enter Jingyin University and attend lectures from any professor.
He could also dine in Jingyin University's cafeteria.
Vice Director Chen handed Lu Chen a class schedule, which he greatly appreciated.
After obtaining the audit certificate, the two of them went downstairs.
Lu Chen said to Qin Qing, "Thank you so much this time; I'll be on my way now."
Qin Qing nodded, "Goodbye."
As Lu Chen drove out towards the gate, he instinctively glanced in the rearview mirror.
He no longer saw the figure of the girl.
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(End of this chapter)