The Secret Realm of Time, His and Her Life Through the Changes

After the filming ended, the four of them sat together on the school's grass to rest.

Cheng Zhi took out four bottles of chilled soda from his motorcycle's storage compartment, handed them to everyone one by one, and excitedly announced, "I have some good news to announce to everyone."

"You young master, you're only saying this now? You're really patient," Xue Jiang teased.

"I was just worried about affecting my mood during filming." Although Cheng Zhi was young, he was very thoughtful.

"What good news? I guess it has nothing to do with me." Zhou Yanruo's tone revealed a hint of dejection. She guessed that the news was probably related to the end-of-month tests last week. Because of her ankle injury, she was unable to participate in the dance and physical education tests at the end of last month, and she didn't know how the school would evaluate her performance. She might be eliminated this time.

"This news is about you, and it's definitely good news. You'll be surprised." Cheng Zhi smiled broadly, his deep, European-style eyes curving into crescent moons.

"Good news related to Yan Ruo? Then hurry up and tell us." Wang Jie couldn't help but interject, his eyes full of anticipation.

Jian Zheng glanced at the impatient Wang Jie and said with a smile, "Just tell me already, someone can't wait any longer, so stop keeping me in suspense."

“My information is that Xue Jiang, Zhou Yanruo, and I all passed the test last week. However, we shouldn’t announce this to the public yet; the official announcement will be made next Monday,” Cheng Zhi said.

"How is that possible? I didn't take the tests for my dance and physical education classes," Zhou Yanruo said incredulously.

“My dad was drinking with the training program’s investors yesterday, and I specifically asked him to find out more,” Cheng Zhi explained.

"It's certain that you and Xue Jiang passed the test, but are you sure I was among those who passed?" Zhou Yanruo still couldn't believe it.

“Absolutely true! How could my dad mishear? The three of us are in the same performance group, there’s definitely no problem,” Cheng Zhi said confidently.

"My dad told me this when he came back from drinking. It was Uncle Fang, the investor in the training program," Cheng Zhi said smugly. "Originally, I wanted my dad to put in a good word for Zhou Yanruo with the investor, saying she couldn't participate in the test this time because she was injured, not because of her ability. But guess what the investor said?"

"What did you say?"

"Wang Jie, you've been talking a lot today," Jian Zheng teased.

Wang Jie glared at Jian Zheng, then stopped talking, embarrassed.

“Hehe, the investor said Zhou Yanruo has acting talent and her vocal exam results are also very good. Although she couldn’t participate in the dance and physical fitness tests due to injury, that’s understandable. We can arrange a make-up exam next month,” Cheng Zhi continued.

"Here's the important part: he also specifically mentioned that a good actor shouldn't be overlooked," Cheng Zhi added.

"That's wonderful! I'm about to cry!" Zhou Yanruo jumped up excitedly, her voice trembling slightly.

Wang Jie jumped up and said, "This is indeed good news, and it's worth celebrating! It's my treat today, so everyone can tell me what they want to eat!"

Jian Zheng, sitting next to Wang Jie, was startled by his sudden jump and teased, "What are you doing? You startled me. The test was passed, so are you treating?"

"Don't spoil the mood. What's wrong with you today? Why are you always going against me? Aren't you happy for Zhou Yanruo? Don't you want to congratulate her?" Wang Jie retorted.

"Of course I'm happy, and of course I want to congratulate you. But my congratulations might not be as meaningful as someone else's," Jian Zheng said with a mischievous grin.

"Stop arguing, it's my treat today! Let's go to my family's Cuixuan Restaurant for some fresh lake delicacies, and let my dad pay," Cheng Zhi said generously.

"It's great to have a rich and powerful dad. I can have another delicious meal today," Xue Jiang said.

“If you want it, you can have it too,” Cheng Zhi suddenly said seriously, his playful tone replaced by a serious expression.

"Little brat, you're overthinking it." Xue Jiang's eyes flickered slightly as she deliberately downplayed the issue. "Today's celebration is all thanks to Zhou Yanruo. If it weren't for the surprise she brought by passing the test, we wouldn't have this celebration, would we?"

"And another thing, today our debut film, 'The Gone, Yet to Come,' officially begins filming, which is also a great event worth celebrating."

“And another thing,” Wang Jie nudged Jian Zheng, “you tell everyone.”

For the first time ever, Jian Zheng became coy: "I have nothing to say."

"Tch, it's rare to see someone who's embarrassed. Let me tell everyone for you that Jian Zheng has received an offer of admission to the 'Hong Kong Island Talent Admission Scheme.' Isn't that something to celebrate?"

"You're amazing! I didn't expect you to be so talented. It seems you weren't just bragging when you said you had real ability," Zhou Yanruo said happily.

"Ahem, I got it last week, nothing special, nothing worth mentioning," Jian Zheng said casually.

“How can it be nothing to mention? You didn’t say that before. Now that you’ve passed the exam, you’re acting all high and mighty.” Zhou Yanruo raised her eyebrows and teased Jian Zheng.

"I've heard of this. The Hong Kong Island Quality Migrant Admission Scheme is quite prestigious, and it's really not easy to get in." Xue Jiang honestly expressed her admiration. "It must have been really difficult for Jian Zheng to pass the exam. He must have put in a lot of effort. Wow, that's impressive!"

"Is it true that if you pass this exam, you can directly obtain Hong Kong citizenship?" Cheng Zhi was quite realistic for his young age. "But Hong Kong citizenship is useless anyway, since the handover has happened, everyone is the same. Wang Jie is awesome, he went straight to America."

"So what? When we go to Hollywood, won't we be Xue Jiang?" Zhou Yanru pouted, unconvinced.

"Haha, great! You've got ambition. I'll be on Wall Street, and you'll be in Hollywood. Then we'll conquer the world together," Wang Jie said with a hearty laugh.

Xue Jiang: "Let's think about how to get to Hancheng first."

Cheng Zhi: "I'm definitely going to Seoul, and I'm sure I'll make it to Hollywood too. You have to have dreams to pursue them, what if they come true?"

The group of people were chatting happily, but Jian Zheng sat there alone, looking dejected and listless, unusually silent.

Jian Zheng doesn't actually have high expectations for himself; all his efforts come from his mother's expectations of him.

He grew up in a compound, and the most common topics he heard at the dinner table were so-and-so's child getting first place in the grade, so-and-so's child getting into the city's top school, or so-and-so's child winning first prize in some competition, and so on. Every time the conversation ended, the topic would always fall on him: "Look at you, Xiao Zheng, you have to make your mother proud. Your mother has never fallen behind anyone."

Jian Zheng disagreed, because he knew that even if he didn't work hard, his mother would solve everything for him.

Take now, for example. After graduation, his mother could easily arrange for him to become a manager in a state-owned enterprise, or a civil servant in some bureau or institute. Then, he could just coast along, accumulate seniority, and live a predictable, stable life.

But this time, when he learned about the 'Hong Kong Island Quality Migrant Admission Scheme', he really wanted to pave his own path through his own efforts.

However, everything remains the same.

From the moment his mother gave him the acceptance letter, Jian Zheng knew that his efforts were in vain again, and his mother had taken care of everything for him once more.

"Sigh..." Jian Zheng couldn't help but feel frustrated.

"Why are you still sighing and being so sentimental? Aren't you leaving at the end of the year?" Wang Jie nudged Jian Zheng with his elbow.

Jian Zheng gave a wry smile.

“Let’s go, I’m hungry. Let’s continue our chat at the restaurant,” Xue Jiang said to Cheng Zhi.

"I'm starving, let's go." Cheng Zhi was the first to stand up.

Jian Zheng was still in a daze when Wang Jie pulled him up. "You're not even an outstanding talent yet, what are you pretending to be so profound for? Let's go."