After Being Dumped by the Film Empress, My Acting Skills Soared - Chapter 81

Chapter 81

After breakfast, Jiang Yan finally informed Shao Niannian of their destination: the National Film Academy.

During their previous filming, Professor Chen had invited both of them to visit the campus and give a guest lecture to the junior students. Since Jiang Yan had business to attend to in Beijing and the variety show allowed for self-arranged schedules, she accepted Professor Chen’s invitation and brought Shao Niannian back to their alma mater.

On the surface, it was a response to Professor Chen’s hospitality; underneath, Jiang Yan had her own private motives. Beijing was the root of the Jiang family. Although the various branches had their own genealogies, the main registry in Beijing recorded everyone, including married daughters. Jiang Yan didn’t care much for these traditions, but Madam Jiang was different. Without giving Jiang Yan a choice, she had pushed her toward Beijing.

Since she had to see her family anyway… bringing an extra person along to “mooch” a meal wouldn’t hurt.

With this in mind, Jiang Yan had brought Shao Niannian from the coast to the capital. She hadn’t told Niannian the full truth because she felt guilty—she feared that such a sudden move might offend her or cause unpleasantness.

Yet, even before she could explain the family situation, Jiang Yan realized she had somehow offended Niannian already. From the hotel car ride to the moment Professor Chen led them through the school gates, the two of them hadn’t made eye contact once. Had it not been for the risk of being scolded for “showing attitude” on a variety show, Jiang Yan was certain Niannian wouldn’t have said a single word to her.

Fortunately, Jiang Yan was a veteran of the workplace and highly skilled at reading the room. In the classroom, she cooperated perfectly with Niannian, maintaining a professional distance while interacting with students and even cracking jokes to ease the tension.

This managed to soften Niannian’s expression—but only slightly. In Jiang Yan’s eyes, the improvement was smaller than the gap between her fingernails.

What a temper, Jiang Yan thought. She wondered who had spoiled her so much. Back on the movie set, Niannian was a polite junior who addressed her with honorifics. Now… Tsk.

After interacting with the students, Professor Chen took them to the alumni exhibition hall, which featured award lists and posters of various student activities from every graduating class.

“If I remember correctly, it should be over here,” Professor Chen said, walking naturally toward a display board. After a quick scan, he confirmed, “Yes, this is the award poster for your year, Jiang Yan. Honestly, your class’s production of The Great River Flows East—which you adapted, directed, and performed yourselves—was truly remarkable.”

“We used to say your year was the strongest we’d ever seen, both in terms of innovation and self-discipline. We predicted back then that you would be the ‘New Wave’ of this industry after graduation.”

In fact, Jiang Yan’s classmates were now spread across film, theater, and variety shows. Their impact was subtle in the first year or two, but by the fifth year, their talent exploded like a supernova, triggering chain reactions throughout the industry. Young waves swept through the entertainment circle, fracturing old patterns. Production quality and attention to detail improved significantly, as did the basic standards for actors.

Jiang Yan smiled. “The teachers helped us a lot back then, staying up late with us to revise the script to make it work for a stage play.”

“If the students aren’t diligent, it doesn’t matter if the teacher follows them with a whip,” Professor Chen waved it off, clearly not one for flattery.

Shao Niannian, who had been silent, suddenly pointed at a photo on the poster. Tilting her chin slightly toward Jiang Yan, she said, “I went to see this show.”

Not only had she seen it, but Niannian still had a blurry official recording of the competition at home. The video quality and audio were poor, but she had burned it onto a disc and watched it whenever the mood struck her.

The “baby-faced” version of Jiang Yan was incredibly beautiful. And more importantly, the beautiful person behind the TV screen couldn’t accidentally leak Niannian’s private Weibo to the public.

“You saw it?” Jiang Yan looked at her in shock. “You were only fifteen then. Didn’t you have classes?”

“…”

Niannian replied, “I took a leave of absence.”

Her brow furrowed slightly as she glanced at Jiang Yan. “I happened to be in Beijing then to find a traditional painting master for autumn training. That teacher was so hard to book; you practically had to pray to the gods just to get a slot…”

Niannian rambled through a long explanation, circling around just to tell Jiang Yan one thing: “I didn’t have so much free time that I’d fly from the coast just to see a stranger.”

Jiang Yan froze. Her mind raced for a moment before she said, “But I remember that before I performed this play, we had already worked together on The Famous Courtesan of Jinling.”

“Doesn’t that count as knowing me? What exactly do you have to do to count as an acquaintance?”

Niannian grit her teeth. “…”

It’s my own fault for speaking. Why did she give her an inch? Now she was taking a mile.

Niannian’s expression shifted instantly back to cold silence. But to Jiang Yan, she looked like a helpless kitten—clearly hating her to the extreme and wanting to deliver a scratch, yet forced to keep her claws tucked into her soft paws, pawing frantically at a glass window.

Fierce in appearance, but zero lethality.

Amused, Jiang Yan let out a tiny “Hmph.”

The small sound was picked up by her lapel mic and amplified. The slightly mocking hum reached Niannian’s ears.

Unsurprisingly, Jiang Yan received two cold eye-rolls in return.

Jiang Yan: “…”

Surely not! I can’t be blamed for every little sound!

If Niannian tripped and fell in the school later today, would she blame that on her too?