"My God, she actually wants to collaborate with Lu Rinyao?"

Over at the Crow Sea Drama Academy, a high-pitched laughter suddenly echoes within a small alley near the parking lot.

"Do you even know your worth? You're just an audit student who got in via the back door!"

A woman with curly hair, who seems to be the leader, tears up the survey form disdainfully, eyeing the silent girl in front of her, Meng Yaoguang. Her sharp nails jab repeatedly at the girl's shoulder, "Speak out, who's bed did you climb into to get in here? You're just an audit student, yet you manage to blend in so well with us full-time students."

"Well? Are you mute now?"

Moving her hand forcefully on Meng Yaoguang's shoulder, with the final shove causing the girl to stagger uncontrollably till she almost falls to the ground.

Laughter fills the air again, accompanied by malicious speculation. The curly-haired girl fiercely grabs Meng Yaoguang's head, slamming it against a wall, "Can't even stand up straight? Seems like you've paid quite a price for your audit student status."

Blood trickles down from Meng's cheeks, pooling on the ground. Silent through it all, Meng Yaoguang abruptly lifts her head to look at the curly-haired girl.

Her soft, messy fringe parts to reveal calm eyes.

Despite being the weaker party, she radiates an untouchable aura.

The smile on the curly-haired girl's face rigidifies, bit by bit.

"What are you looking at?"

Stared at by those depthless eyes, a jolt of terror strikes within the curly-haired girl. Accompanied by unbearable jealousy, fear, and embarrassment impel her to slap Meng Yaoguang, "Keep staring, and I'll blind you!"

The echoing of a crisp slap follows. Meng Yaoguang's face swells red, her hair falling and hiding her beaten face. From above, she portrays a crestfallen image.

A surge of satisfaction overcomes the curly-haired girl, "Whores ought to look like whores. Just look at what low-life you are, yet you dare to yearn for the Film Emperor Lu."

As she spoke, she watched Meng YaoGuang with envious eyes, her face stunning enough to take anyone's breath away. She maliciously instigated her followers from behind, "Just a seductress, who knows how many she has served. Yet, she has the nerve to act high and mighty in front of us."

"Tempting my boyfriend, are you?"

"Girls, make sure to ruin her face for me. I want to see how she tempts men without it!"

The hand that just slapped Meng YaoGuang was set to strike again, but this time it was unsuccessful.

Her hand was caught, and the alley suddenly fell into eerie silence.

Meng YaoGuang wiped the blood off the corner of her mouth without expressing any emotions. Her grip on the wrist tightened until a distorted scream was heard.

"Bitch! Let me go!"

"Who are you calling a bitch?"

Meng YaoGuang slowly stood up, her refined beautiful face contrasting her sharp words, "Questioning who's bed I crawled into? So, want me to introduce you to some customers?"

"Unfortunately, you old hags probably couldn't even pay someone to take you."

"Also, how can you be so sure I seduced your boyfriend, instead of your boyfriend shamelessly trying to stick to me?"

She easily twisted the flailing wrist and shoved her away forcefully.

The narrow alleyway was soon filled with sporadic screams and curse words, the chaotic noise forcing the people who had just left the parking lot to stop in their path.

There were two men, one taller than the other. The taller one wore a black long coat, slender and upright, even with a hat and mask, his strong aura was unmistakable. The shorter one was a bit chubby, his face also masked, but his eyes showed a sincere expression.

The shorter man stared in the direction of the alley, speaking with a hint of surprise, "Hmm, seems like we've stumbled upon a bully scene, should we intervene?"

"Go check it out." A deep voice came from underneath the mask.

The two quickly walked up to the entrance of the alley, a scene of rubble from a battlefield met their eyes.

There were total of five girls, four of whom had already fallen to the ground, only one of them wearing a black hoodie with messy long hair flowing behind her was squatting in front of a girl with a curly wave-like hairstyle. She was grabbing the latter by the collar, her voice calm, "Let me slap you ten times, or let me scratch your face, you choose?"

The short man, also known as Assistant Wang, widened his eyes slightly, silently exclaimed, "One against four? Quite arrogant."

His words had just fallen when the curly wave girl made her choice through tears, "Sl...slap!"

Meng Yao Guang nodded. She stared at the tear-streaked face, raising her arm like she was looking at a piece of dead meat, and swung it down—

This time, however, her hand was the one being stopped.

The other party held her wrist firmly, easily restraining it.

Meng Yao Guang turned her head, catching a pair of profound eyes hidden under a hat.

"Classmate, school isn't a place for violence." The low voice came from under the black mask.

Meng Yao Guang's face showed an expression for the first time. She laughed, a chill to the bone.

"Nosey."

She tugged hard at her wrist, but couldn't shake loose.

"Let go!"

Seeing the man standing there aloof, Meng Yao Guang, expressionless, stood up and kicked him hard in the leg. A clear mark was left on the man's trousers.

The sound of Wang Assistant gasping sharply echoed nearby.

Surprisingly, the person who got kicked let out a hiss, then calmly pinned her against the wall.

"Help her up first."

Only when the four constantly sobbing girls timidly stood up, Meng Yao Guang finally stopped struggling.

Quietly watching the four girls who were limping away while supporting each other, Meng Yao Guang said in a deep voice: "Let go. I won't fight back."

"That's more like it."

The man evaluated in a leisurely manner, not seeming concerned that she would suddenly lash out. He then let go of his grip.

Meng Yao Guang bent over to pick up her backpack.

However, at this moment, the soon to be distant Wavelet suddenly sobbed as she turned to glare at her, menacingly saying: "You wait for me, Meng Yao Guang!"

The hand that had been picking up the backpack hesitated, and Meng Yao Guang pulled out the thick book called "Performance and Art" from inside. Under the watchful and unexpected eyes of the two men, she harshly threw it at the figure who had not yet drifted too far.

It hit squarely on the back of the head.

"Ahhh!!!"

With a shrill scream, Wavelet fell to the ground. She quickly was helped up by her companions and fled the alley crying.

Meng Yao Guang watched their backs until they completely disappeared, but there was no satisfaction or joy on her face as a victor.

She simply walked forward a few steps, slowly picked her book up, stuffed it back in her bag, and took one last glance behind her.

This glance was cold, like a snowy night.

She then picked up her bag and left, leaving two men in face masks sitting silently across from each other.

"The drama school is truly something, even bullying has a cinematic feel. That look sent a shiver down my spine."

The assistant, Wang, walked up to the man and sighed as he stared at the alleyway, "Such a waste! This good-looking trash who bullies their peers has so much charisma. If he gets into the industry, it'll be another disaster."

The man didn't respond.

He looked down and picked up a shredded piece of paper at his feet. Leaning in to take a look, Wang was shocked and exclaimed, "Wow, isn't this bad girl your fan?"

On the shredded corner was written a few survey questions.

The question, "Who is your most desired actor to work with?" had "Lu Linyao" written clearly in the corresponding box, and the name of the person who filled the form, was the curly-haired girl who just screamed, Meng Yaoguang.

"No wonder you're the Movie Emperor, Lu. You run into fans wherever you go."

Ignoring Wang's teasing, Lu Linyao crumpled the piece of paper up, and on his way out of the alley, he tossed it into a trash can.

"Hurry up! Five minutes left before the first class starts, we can't be late!"

Wang's urging faded as they moved away from the alley, and the place fell silent again.

On the other side, Meng Yaoguang walked into the classroom, chose a seat in the very back corner, took out her "Performance and Art" book that she just used to hit someone, and put it on her desk. She then put up her hoodie and laid her head on the table, starting her daily nap.

Footsteps approached the podium, then a familiar deep voice rang out, "Hello students, your teacher, Mr. Zhu, has taken maternity leave. Starting today, I'll be taking over 'Performance and Art'."

Meng Yaoguang lifted her head from her arm, in the blurry light, she saw a tall man on the stage take off his hat and mask revealing a smile.

"I am your substitute teacher, Lu Linyao."

The lights seemed to be blazing in that instant. In the midst of the shocked silence, Meng Yaoguang felt as if she was dreaming.