Huayu93: From Selling Magnetic Cards to Entertainment Tycoon

Chapter 62 College Entrance Examination Scores Released, Motorola, Zhao Hongyu

On August 5th, Li Si'an was woken up early in the morning by the ringing of the telephone.

Tang Yun was still nestled under his arm, letting out a soft groan before turning over. Li Si'an gently pulled his arm out, hurried downstairs, and grabbed the microphone.

"Feed?"

"Si'an, this is your uncle," Zhou Weidong's voice came through the receiver. "You can check your scores today, you know?"

"Know."

"Check it quickly. Give me a call when you're done." Zhou Weidong paused for a moment. "I've already checked with your brother Zhou Yu; it's 642."

Li Si'an whistled. "Da Yu is aiming for Tsinghua University, huh?"

Zhou Weidong chuckled on the other end but didn't reply. "Hurry up and let me know when you're done investigating."

"Alright."

After hanging up the phone, Tang Yun peeked down the stairs, her hair a mess, rubbing her eyes. "Who was it?"

"My uncle said we can check our scores today."

Tang Yun's eyes widened instantly, all sleepiness gone. She ran downstairs and stood by the counter, her fingers twisting together. "How do I check?"

Li Si'an pulled out the slip of paper with the voice information service number written on it from under the counter—16896123.

He picked up the receiver and dialed. It rang twice, and then a synthesized female voice came through the receiver, slowly uttering each word one by one.

"Please enter your admission ticket number and press the hash key to finish."

Li Si'an handed the microphone to Tang Yun. "You go first."

Tang Yun took the receiver, her finger pausing on the button. She took a deep breath and pressed it. After pressing it, she held the receiver to her ear, her other hand gripping the telephone cord, wrapping it around her fingers in circles.

The electronic female voice read out each word one by one.

"Chinese Language - 92. Mathematics - 78. English - 81. Politics - 51. History - 45. Total Score - 347."

Tang Yun put down the microphone, let out a long breath, and smiled. "That's enough."

"Nonsense. How could I not pass my teaching?" Li Si'an reached out and ruffled her hair. "Move aside, watch me."

He picked up the receiver, dialed, and entered his exam admission ticket number. Tang Yun leaned closer, her ear pressed against his, the phone cord still wrapped around her finger.

The electronic female voice read out each word one by one.

"Chinese - 116. Math - 121. English - 118. Politics - 92. History - 81. Total Score - 528."

Tang Yun was stunned. She looked at the microphone, then at Li Si'an, her mouth agape, unable to close it for a long time.

"You—you got 528 on the test?"

Li Si'an put the microphone back, leaned against the counter, and his expression remained the same as usual, as if the score he had just received wasn't his. "Hmm."

"Five hundred and twenty-eight!" Tang Yun's voice rose. "You were second to last in elementary school, and you scored five hundred and twenty-eight on the college entrance exam?!"

"Art students aren't compared to regular test takers." Li Si'an took two bottles of Beibingyang soda from the freezer, pried open the caps, and handed one to her. "That'll be enough."

Tang Yun took the soda bottle, stared at him for a while, and then suddenly burst out laughing. "If your uncle knew, he'd be shocked."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the phone rang again.

Li Si'an grabbed the microphone. "Feed?"

"Have you checked?" Zhou Weidong's voice asked.

"I checked."

"How many?"

Five hundred and twenty-eight.

There was silence on the other end of the phone. The silence lasted for quite a while, and Li Si'an even thought the call had been disconnected.

Then Zhou Weidong's voice rang out again, but it sounded different than before, like a teacup that had been slightly shaken. "How much did you say?"

"528. Chinese 116, Math 121, English 118, Politics 92, History 81."

There was another moment of silence. Li Si'an could hear Zhou Weidong lighting a cigarette on the other end—he struck the match, took a puff, and exhaled.

"Wait here," Zhou Weidong said. "I'll have your aunt pick you up first."

A rustling sound came from the other end of the phone, followed by Ma Xiaoqin's voice. "Si'an? Your uncle said you got 528?"

"Um."

"Oh my goodness!" Ma Xiaoqin's voice was so loud that Li Si'an moved the microphone away.

"Did something possess you during your exams? You were always at the bottom of the class in elementary school, but you got a score of over 500 on the college entrance exam? Your grandpa would be overjoyed if he knew!"

Zhou Weidong took the microphone again. His voice was a little steadyer than before, but there was still an uncontrollable force in it. "Si'an, tell me the truth, did you cheat?"

"Uncle, where would I cheat? There were three teachers watching me in the exam room, and I didn't even turn my head."

Zhou Weidong was silent for a moment. "Okay. I believe you." He paused, "528, Beijing Normal University's art major, it's a sure thing."

Li Si'an did not respond.

"Your brother has 642, and you have 528." Zhou Weidong suddenly laughed on the other end of the line, a laugh tinged with emotion, "Our Zhou family is really lucky this year, our ancestral graves are emitting auspicious smoke."

Li Si'an chuckled. "That's Da Yu's 'green smoke' (referring to a powerful force), with my meager points, I can only barely get close."

"Stop being so glib. Go to your grandpa's for dinner tonight, and make him happy too."

"Alright."

When we arrived at my maternal grandfather's house in the evening, the dishes were already on the table.

Grandpa sat in the main seat, and he seemed to be in a good mood, looking very energetic, with his back ramrod straight.

Auntie served all the dishes, and the family sat down.

Grandpa picked up his wine glass, but didn't drink it first. He glanced at Li Si'an.

"Your aunt told me this afternoon that you really scored 528 on the college entrance exam?"

"Mm." Li Si'an nodded.

Grandpa put down his wine glass and leaned forward. "You were always at the bottom of the class in elementary school, how did you suddenly jump to over 500 points?"

Li Si'an laughed. "Grandpa, please don't keep bringing up those elementary school days. I'm all grown up now."

Grandpa stared at him for two seconds, nodded, and then took a sip of his wine. "Hmm, he's grown up, become more sensible, and has finally seen the light."

Zhou Weidong picked up his cup, touched the rim of his grandfather's cup, and looked smug.

"642 from Daewoo, Tsinghua University is a sure thing. I applied for the Computer Science department, because it's said to be good for finding a job after graduation."

Grandpa nodded and took another sip of wine.

Li Si'an raised her glass to Zhou Yu. "Congratulations."

Zhou Yu chuckled and clinked glasses with him. Li Si'an took a sip of the liquor; it was spicy, burning from her tongue all the way to her stomach.

In his past life, he also studied computer science, and he attended a 211 university. But Tsinghua University? He couldn't even get close to it back then.

Although we've taken different paths in life, hearing the words "Tsinghua University Computer Science Department" still makes me feel a pang of sadness.

Zhou Yu, gnawing on a rib, mumbled, "Anzi, how about I come work at your shop during summer vacation?"

Li Si'an glanced at him. "You know it's summer vacation, and the affiliated high school of Beijing Dance Academy is on holiday. You go there, and you won't even see a pretty girl."

Zhou Yu slowed his chewing of the ribs, his face filled with regret. "Then...then I'll come visit you after school starts."

"become."

July 8th, evening.

Li Si'an was squatting next to the freezer arranging soda bottles when the phone rang. He stood up and picked up the receiver.

"Feed?"

"Si'an, my uncle." Zhou Weidong's voice was filled with barely suppressed glee. "We've got news from Motorola."

Li Si'an gripped the microphone, remaining silent.

"Wang Xiaojing contacted him. The marketing director at Motorola, surnamed Zhao, Zhao Hongyu, English name Howard. Wang Xiaojing has had dinner with him a few times, so they're on good terms. She told him about your situation and that music video, and he was interested, so they arranged to meet."

"When?"

"10:00 AM on the 12th. Motorola BJ Headquarters, Jianguomenwai Street, Motorola Building."

Li Si'an's heart skipped a beat. The 12th. Today is the 8th, four more days. Zhang Yibai's post-production team said it would take seven to ten days, and starting from the 3rd when filming wrapped, the earliest would be the 10th, and the latest the 13th.

The date, the 12th, was perfectly timed.

"Si'an, let me tell you something," Zhou Weidong's voice turned serious, "they agreed to meet out of respect for Wang Xiaojing. Whether you can reach an agreement depends on you."

You absolutely have to bring your music video with you. If you don't have anything to show people, just talking won't get you anywhere; they'll forget about you as soon as they turn around.

"I know. Zhang Yibai is urging us to release the film; it should be ready before the 12th."

"Okay. Take these next couple of days to prepare, and rehearse what you're going to say in your mind. It's a big company, and you're just an eighteen-year-old kid. Don't be unable to speak properly when you meet them."

"Don't worry."

After hanging up the phone, Tang Yun peeked down from upstairs. "Who was that?"

"Uncle, we've made an appointment with Motorola to meet on the 12th."

Tang Yun's eyes lit up, and she ran downstairs. "Really?"

"Yes. The Marketing Director's surname is Zhao."

Tang Yun leaned against him and poked his arm with her finger. "Nervous?"

"What's there to be nervous about?" Li Si'an leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling. "The film is right there. If he likes it, we'll talk; if not, forget it."

Tang Yun tilted her head and glanced at him, but didn't call him out. She reached into the freezer, grabbed a bottle of cola, pried open the cap, and handed it to him.

Li Si'an took it and drank a sip; the coolness shot from her throat all the way to her stomach.

Four days – the film, the script, the state of mind – all need to be prepared.

Outside the window, the cicadas in Zizhuyuan Park were still chirping, their voices hoarse and desperate. August in Beijing was unbearably hot.