Chapter 581: Chapter 581

Yiyi felt like a small vendor right now, lucky that the city management wasn’t strict during this era, otherwise, haha, where would she survive?

This summer, she sold over ten thousand yuan worth of goods, and according to the ratio of the goods, she earned at least six thousand yuan.

As she entered her senior year of high school, the new semester had just begun, and she noticed something off about Lin Mu—he kept trying to ingratiate himself with Zhou Mo, his flattery was honestly a bit hard for her to watch. Eventually, she couldn’t help but ask Zhou Mo, "What’s gotten into Lin Mu?"

Zhou Mo, expressionless, looked down, "He wants me to accompany him to the art exam."

Yiyi twitched the corner of her mouth, "Has the date for the art exam been released?" Updates are released by NoveIꜰire.net

"According to previous years, the art exams are from December to early next year, probably during the winter vacation."

It wasn’t that Yiyi wanted to discourage Lin Mu, but rather, "If you go, wouldn’t his chances of getting admitted drop significantly?"

Zhou Mo twisted his eyebrows and glanced at her sideways. His shining eyes made Yiyi lose herself for a moment. Then he casually tucked a stray hair behind her ear, his indifferent voice barely concealing his pleasure, "Don’t worry, I’m not interested."

Yiyi propped her chin and blankly stared at Zhou Mo’s handsome and aloof face.

"Why not go? You’re free anyway—think of it as gaining experience. Maybe you do have the potential to be a star!"

Zhou Mo gazed intently at her, "You want me to go?"

Yiyi was startled for a moment and quickly regained her composure, "That’s not what I meant. I was thinking it’d be good for you to go to Beijing to clear your mind with him, and experiencing an art exam is also a life experience, right? Even if you don’t apply, just observing the format of the art exam seems like it wouldn’t hurt!"

Lin Mu certainly didn’t expect that, after pleading all summer without stirring a bit of interest in his buddy, under Yiyi’s few words, Zhou Mo agreed to his request. In that moment, his emotions were a complex mix, hard to describe.

But looking at Yiyi’s beautiful face, Lin Mu suddenly had a wild idea, "Yiyi, why don’t you come with us?"

Yiyi burst into laughter immediately, "Lin Mu, are you trying to make group participation for your exam? We all see how hard you’ve worked for the art exam, but do you think I look like someone who could be a star? Don’t joke."

"Yiyi, you should have more confidence. What if you pass? Doesn’t that mean you’d have another path to choose from? I’m not saying anything, but just imagine, if your college entrance exam doesn’t go well, wouldn’t you still have your calligraphy and the art exam to fall back on?"

Zhou Mo’s cold gaze swept carelessly over, and Yiyi also looked unkindly at Lin Mu, who laughed sheepishly.

"I’m just giving an example, why are you guys so fierce? Life is long, and surprises are everywhere, hehe, haha!"

Yiyi snorted, "Forget it, places like art exams are full of handsome guys and beauties. With my looks, I might even be ridiculed. I can’t afford to lose that face. I better just quietly prepare for my college entrance exam at home!"

Yiyi’s self-deprecation made Zhou Mo frown, "You could try."

Seeing Zhou Mo agreeing, Lin Mu immediately grabbed Yiyi’s arm fussily, "See! See! Zhou Mo agrees too, just go!"

A grown man using such a whining tone made her goosebumps nearly fall off. But honestly, she was indeed a bit curious about the art exam, just that—

"Will the school give me leave?"

The winter vacation for seniors was just a few days, so it wasn’t much of a holiday at all, and she would definitely need to take leave.

Zhou Mo’s words were filled with confidence, making Yiyi somewhat skeptical.

"You’re not going to promise the head teacher to oversee my studies while we’re out, are you?"

Zhou Mo shot her a knowing look, and Yiyi pouted, asking Lin Mu, "Are you only applying to Beijing Film Academy?"

"No, I’m applying to Beijing Film Academy, Central Academy of Drama, and Shanghai Drama Academy. I might go to Shanghai Drama Academy first, then when the time is arranged, we’ll meet up in Beijing."

After listening, Yiyi nodded her head, "Then if you don’t get into any of these three schools—"

"Tsk tsk tsk, Yiyi, can’t you say something nice?"

"I don’t know who was speaking the same way just now. You also said we need to plan ahead, right?"

"If I don’t get into these three, I’ll apply to Communication Studies. If not Communication Studies, then wherever I get accepted."

It seems this kid was well-prepared, which was very good.

Lin Mu was one of those kids who would make rapid progress once he put in effort. If not for wanting to pursue the art exam with his smartness, he shouldn’t lag far behind Zhou Mo, especially since he had never slacked in his studies just because he was an art exam student. Being in the top fifty of the grade, the study environment itself was already pushing him forward without needing anyone else to supervise.

Yiyi was reluctantly persuaded to accompany them. Of course, she also had a tentative agreement from the head teacher—as long as she maintained her position within the top five in the monthly exams, she was allowed to go to Beijing.

This demand was not excessive. Yiyi agreed without hesitation. In reality, she had no choice; with Zhou Mo, the Academic God, in her class, how could the class topper like her fall behind?

Moreover, Zhou Mo also supported her and Lin Mu by giving them extra help. Even Lin Mu unprecedentedly surged to the top twenty of the grade, having previously hovered around the thirtieth, boosting up so many ranks surely shocked other students in the class.

Although Yiyi was going to accompany him, an accompanist also needed to look the part, right? So, she specifically went online to check the procedures and requirements of the art exam.

She was someone with a strong sense of principle; if she decided to do something, she would do it well, aiming for the potential to get admitted for the exam.

For this, Yiyi specifically practiced classical dance. She had been an empress and imperial concubine in ancient times, naturally dabbling in dance. Although she hadn’t practiced in years, each life had its recordings that she could watch and learn from, and after a few times, her memory came back.

Next was playing the guzheng and guqin. While it wasn’t for a music-related exam, just in case, wouldn’t it be an opportunity for the teacher to see her?

Thus, Yiyi specially bought a guzheng worth several thousand yuan and practiced several classical guzheng pieces, just in case.

After New Year’s Day in 2003, Zhou Mo and Yiyi set off on the northbound train. At the end of December, Lin Mu had already completed his exam at Shanghai Drama Academy. After New Year’s Day, he then directly went to Beijing, arranging to meet them there—this also marked Yiyi’s first time going out alone with Zhou Mo.