Chapter 1: No Regrets for Choices Made
place for activity and exchangeXue Yiyang and Liu Rui's expressions turned gloomy. Liu Rui leaned over to Xue Yiyang's ear, whispering, "We absolutely cannot lose."Xue Yiyang did not respond; he only...Chapter 1: No Regrets for Choices Made
2004, Beijing.
In a bar near the Film Academy, many male and female students collectively raised their mugs of draught beer to celebrate the success of a recent scene play performance at the grand theater.
The attendees included not only the third- and fourth-year students from various departments of Beijing Film Academy who participated in the scene play but also friends from all over China who came to celebrate.
This small-scale drama, organized by the Performance Department of Beijing Film Academy as an external event, sparked quite a bit of buzz. It was performed three times officially, and this performance at the grand theater was arguably the largest one. The next performance would be at the Communication University of China (CUC) campus, after which it would be the final show.
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However, regardless of how things turned out, for these students who might leave Beijing Film Academy next year, this memory is undoubtedly unforgettable. Although many future stars signed contracts with film companies upon enrollment and made their debut in movies, most people graduated without such opportunities. Many would get lost in a society as chaotic as a dye vat.
For instance, after clinking glasses, two fashionably dressed girls openly discussed the matter. One pretty girl said that her boyfriend asked her not to enter the film and TV industry after graduation but instead join his company directly. He promised to divorce his wife, whom he had no emotional bond with, once she joined him, while this man bought her a Volkswagen Beetle car. She was conflicted about what to do next. Another girl from Central Academy of Drama (CAD) advised her not to act impulsively because these men sought physical pleasure and lacked genuine emotions; they would become indifferent once their initial passion waned. Then the girl started talking about her boyfriend, describing how he showed her different aspects of life.
Similar discussions were common. As a third-year student at Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT), Li Lumei knew that these girls' conversations somewhat represented their reluctance to accept reality. They all knew why this scene play had been performed three times after coordination by the academy: it was mainly due to Chen Lingshan, who won an award for new talent in film and television art last year in Shanghai. If not for her, the performance's popularity would have been much lower. Therefore, these girls discussed other aspects because they felt不甘弱於人 (unwilling to be inferior) despite knowing their abilities did not match Chen Lingshan’s.
Someone mentioned that since Chen Lingshan had won a first prize in last year's new talent competition for film and television art in Shanghai, she would always have this qualification. Future opportunities would definitely come her way.
As Chen Lingshan's close childhood friend, Li Lumei, in the midst of conversation, shared some details about Chen's growth from a young age. She said that when Chen was at school, she had been known as a class beauty or even a campus beauty. Many people believed that she would eventually make her way in the entertainment industry, and now it proved true. Everyone then started teasing Chen Lingshan, who was the core of the current drama production team.
Chen Lingshan shook her head humbly and then secretly warned Li Lumei not to reveal any private matters when drunk. As the atmosphere at the dining table became increasingly intense, someone mentioned a certain person from the Central Academy of Drama: "You guys know, right Her forty-year-old boyfriend is no ordinary person; he’s a shareholder in a certain group company..." Someone else spoke about some lucky acquaintances within their circle who had become relatively well-known due to opportunities or whose families' businesses have expanded to South Korea. They also mentioned how fortunate it was to have such good opportunities.
Li Lumei不甘示弱道，“要說同學的話，我們以前的高中同學也有一個，在那期間去了一次國外交流，後來好像和美國社交網絡有了聯絡和約定...最後他在上海創立了中國臉譜。”
Some people were surprised. Others were skeptical; if you said you were classmates with a rising star from Beijing Film Academy or the Central Academy of Drama, some might believe it. If you claimed your boyfriend was an executive in a certain group company, some would also believe it. But saying that one of your classmates is connected to an international conglomerate and has even founded a corresponding company—only Ma Yun’s and Robin Li's fellow students from Hangzhou and Tsinghua University would find it believable. Some people were confused as to what exactly they were talking about.
Only after speaking did Li Lumei realize she might have overstepped her bounds; she looked at Chen Lingshan, who was gracefully sipping drinks with others while occasionally glancing at Li Lumei and glaring daggers at her. Li Lumei stuck out her tongue, remembering that Lingshan had previously issued an ultimatum to never mention him or the matter again.
That evening, they stepped outside alone for some fresh air, leaving behind the noisy bar. On a bench by the roadside, Li Lumei said, "The performance tonight was great; next time at Beijing Broadcast Academy, I hope you'll still invite me... It's a bit chilly, there’s a little store over there where I can get us two cups of coffee."
Li Lumei watched from the convenience store window as Chen Lingshan appeared listless by the bench. She then walked with her long legs to a nearby newsstand and seemed to see an obscure headline, leading her to buy a copy of Financial Morning Report, which she would never usually purchase. As she returned to the bench, her pace slowed until she stopped.
Li Lumei, puzzled, crossed the street with two steaming cups of coffee in hand and approached Chen Lingshan, who was sitting dazedly on the bench, a newspaper open beside her. It was an edition that had flipped to its fourth page. The first thing Li Lumei noticed wasn’t the small print but a colorful photograph. Due to age and rephotographing, the colors in the picture were somewhat faded.
The photo initially showed a graffiti-covered wall with the English name of “Facebook” written on it.
Taking up half of the image were three men: two foreigners and one Asian person.
Mark Zuckerberg is wearing a North Face jacket, an American brand commonly found on the streets. He sits on the ground with his hands supporting him while looking directly at the camera. Dustin Moskovitz leans against an IKEA wooden desk to the far right of the picture. A computer running DOS window data streams lies on the table next to him. In between them is a young man sitting in a leather chair, wearing a white shirt and facing the camera with an unprepared but sunny smile.
The ground and surroundings are cluttered with various items such as keyboards, papers, slippers, suggesting that this picture was taken casually.
Li Lumei's mouth drops open when she looks at the caption below the photo. There is a line of text there.
"This photograph was taken in 2002 and has been kept by Facebook employees until now, hanging in a window display at Facebook's headquarters building. This photo depicts the three founding members of Facebook during their early days when they moved from an apartment to their newly renovated office space. From left to right are Mark Zuckerberg, Su Can, and Dustin Moskovitz. At that time, no one knew that two years later, Su Can, as a founder, would be betrayed and sold out. We choose to believe that the time captured in this 2002 photo froze and immortalized their eternal dreams."
“It is known that the founder Su Can has returned to China. Whether he will sign the equity agreement proposed by US Facebook or sue Facebook, whether Facebook will face a prolonged international lawsuit - these are all hot topics of recent discussion...”
The sound of coffee cups dropping.
Li Lumei’s two cups of coffee fell to the ground in the next moment, splashing water that soaked her and Chen Lingshan's short boots and black stockings.
Driving Chen Lingshan's Bordeaux red Mini car towards the airport, Li Lumei said, "Dad, did you manage to book a ticket for me as I asked... Don’t ask why I’m so urgent... Just tell me if it’s possible to go directly to the airport and collect it now... Yes..."
While driving, Li Lumei glanced sideways at Chen Lingshan. In fact, Chen Lingshan was very fortunate; after being admitted to Beijing Film Academy, her father moved to Beijing with his previous connections and relatives’ assistance, securing contracts for military hospital medical equipment. Combined with his background in foreign trade, he is now thriving. Chen Lingshan is a typical example of the results of raising girls with wealth. Unlike many other female students who might choose a man older than their fathers for material security, she can do what she wants without pursuing economic benefits, and that alone is remarkable.
Li Lumei finally sighed, "First of all, it's uncertain whether you can find him in Shanghai. Furthermore... What grounds would you have to seek him out You were the one who wanted to let go completely back then, deleting all contact methods and forbidding us from mentioning anything related to him... Now what do I do If I lose face and ask friends in Shanghai for information about where he is hiding right now. The most important thing is... What kind of person is he now Even if you find him, it won’t help at all. Whether or not you can see him, let alone assist him..."
The car eventually pulled over to the side of the road.
After a pause, the 'door' opened. Chen Lingshan got out and ran forward; her skirt fluttered behind her as she ran. Her black-stockinged legs were entwined in the night air, weaving through the cars parked on the roadside, passing by steaming food stalls, crossing shops and quick-service restaurants, moving past the shadows cast by streetlights. Finally, she could run no more and sat down beside a flower bed.
Liu Lumei, breathing heavily, silently joined her side. She looked up at Chen Lingshan whose eyes were red-rimmed, and said, "Do you remember what I told you about running barefoot in the small city of Xiahai"
Liu Lumei nodded.
"Back then, even a few steps was enough to see Su Can riding his bicycle down the road. But now in Beijing, no matter how hard I run from dusk till dawn, I still couldn't reach Capital Airport... You're right; I have no position to do so... Not even flying to Shanghai and standing before him to muster the courage to say 'Hey, don't be sad, you’re great' is within my ability. Even more so, I'm not sure if it was a mistake back then when I hesitated and enrolled in Beijing Film Academy instead of going straight to Shanghai."
"In the past, my family always emphasized that every step forward is hard-won and must be firmly grasped once attained. How many people see their dreams come true versus those who remain obscure and mediocre I have to choose the former; even if it means giving up some things along the way, they are worth it. Even though I cherish them deeply or am unwilling to let go of them and people, life always requires choices. At least looking back years later, perhaps there will be occasional regrets but not that the decision made was wrong."
Her tears finally spilled over, "But now I'm afraid... I don't know if it was a mistake to hesitate and not apply for film school or go straight to Shanghai... Before, I told him that I would rather sit behind on his bicycle. But now, I can’t find Capital Airport nor the bicycle."
First update.
Continuing with the next chapter.lize society and affect price levels.With these words from Su Can, Old Xu glanced at him with a smile and said, "Dafeng Construction Group going public and pursuing diversified industries is my vision...