Brian Clark got excited and eagerly said, “There are three major art schools in China: Beiying, Zhongxi, and Shangxi. Right now, the gap isn’t big, but it’ll be different in the future. Shangxi is awkward and always at the bottom, while Beiying and Zhongxi will become two great mountains. Especially Zhongxi—in another ten years or so, a guy with the surname Chu will apply for the training class. Oh, that guy is amazing, let me tell you, he’ll have students all over the world!”

“You’re so unserious, I’m not talking to you anymore.”

Andrew Brooks listened intently at first, but then it all became a mess, so she lowered her head and continued reading. But even as she read, her mind wasn’t on the book—it drifted to her boyfriend, who had told her he was preparing for the entrance exam.

That’s right, she had a boyfriend—the same Bai Erye from “The Grand Mansion Gate.”

According to some unverified rumors, the two of them were in the same drama troupe. Bai Erye was considered handsome and charming, and he was single. At the time, many people in the troupe were dating, but he wasn’t. The leader found it odd and asked him about it.

He replied, “The person I like hasn’t grown up yet.”

Oh wow, that really moved the girl!

You see, she had learned to dance since she was a child and was especially good at the move where you kick the purple-gold crown backward. After graduating from middle school, she wanted to join the ballet troupe, but failed the political screening, so she ended up in the acrobatics troupe, and later transferred to the drama troupe—she was only fourteen that year.

Bai Erye was ten years older than her, confessing his feelings to a fourteen-year-old… Listen, is this something people say?!!

But, well, a young girl’s feelings are always pure and beautiful. She was feeling sad about the possible separation, but there was always a buzzing fly chattering in her ear.

“Since they asked us to come, we must have passed the looks test. When we get there, the teacher will definitely ask questions—stuff like ‘seducing the elder,’ ‘the younger brother-in-law,’ ‘Granny Liu’s first taste of love’—just don’t get nervous, stay calm, and you’ll probably pass…”

Andrew Brooks didn’t want to respond, but couldn’t help herself and said, “I’ve read Dream of the Red Chamber!”

“Reading and understanding are different. You need to prepare deeply.”

“Understand? There are so many experts in the country who don’t dare claim they understand Dream of the Red Chamber, and you dare say you do?”

“It’s not about daring or not. Everyone has different thoughts and perspectives, so what they take away is different. As they say, the Confucian sees the Book of Changes, the Daoist sees lust, the scholar sees romance, the revolutionary sees anti-Manchu sentiment… That’s the idea.”

“I thought you didn’t like studying, so how come you’re so full of theories now?” she asked, a bit surprised.

“I was immature before, can’t I change now? At least I grew up reciting storytelling scripts, so I’ve got some knowledge in my head.”

“Oh, then tell me, what did you see in Dream of the Red Chamber?”

The girl bit the tip of her fair thumb, a hint of her usual sharpness at the corner of her mouth.

“I saw a lot…”

Brian Clark leaned back theatrically, gesturing grandly, half-serious, half-joking, “I saw past and present lives, the past and the future, and even your destinies!”

……

“Tsk tsk, can you believe Beijing doesn’t restrict odd and even license plates? Can you believe there are stray dogs everywhere? Can you believe all the girls here are as soft as water?”

That guy started chattering nonstop as soon as he left the station, saying all sorts of weird things no one could understand.

Andrew Brooks completely ignored him, fully immersed in the excitement of arriving in the capital for the first time. She’d spent over ten hours on the train and had already gotten past the exhaustion. The weather was perfect, the grandeur of the ancient capital hit her in the face, everything was vibrant, and her energy bar was instantly refilled.

The delicate girl showed her lively and energetic side. Actually, she was always pretty spirited, but her artistic image was so deeply ingrained that people often misunderstood her.

The two didn’t go far, first heading to a place near the train station called the Accommodation Referral Office to register. Back then, there were no ID cards, so you had to bring a letter of introduction from your work unit when traveling—register first, then go to the designated guesthouse.

Beijing was the strictest. During certain special periods, like before National Day, you had to get a letter of introduction to Beijing from the relevant provincial department before you could buy a train ticket. If they thought you didn’t need to go, no matter how important your business was, you couldn’t go.

The letter of introduction was just a thin piece of paper, saying: “This is to certify that our troupe member XX is going to Beijing on business. Please ask XX Guesthouse to provide accommodation, etc…”

Of course, a performing arts troupe wasn’t big enough to be affiliated with a Beijing unit, so when they traveled, they usually stayed at the Anshan Steel Beijing Office Guesthouse. But after registering, the two of them dragged themselves to the place, only to find out it was full!

Andrew Brooks was instantly dumbfounded and stammered, “Wh-what do we do now?”

“It’s fine, we can stay somewhere else.”

Brian Clark quickly reassured her and took her all over the city. Soon, they found a state-run hotel, with steps leading down underground—probably converted from an air-raid shelter.

He took one look and could tell he was experienced. Two big, bright characters floated in the air: Cheap!

They walked down the steps; the lighting was very dim, with a long cord lightbulb hanging overhead and a counter inside.

“Um, comrade!”

He called out a bit awkwardly, “Excuse me, are there any rooms available?”

“How many do you need?” A woman in a white coat looked up.

“We’d like two single rooms. Here’s our letter of introduction.”

“Oh, from Anshan, huh? The guesthouses are all full, right? That’s normal in Beijing, you’ll get used to it. Some people even make do in the bathhouse for a night! You’re lucky today, I’ve got rooms… Hey, what’s your relationship? Are you a couple? You two really look like a perfect match.”