The filming for the campus drama wrapped up quickly. Three days later, it was time for the arts examination.
Starlight Academy was nestled in the quietest western suburbs of S City, its campus encompassing the entire mountain range.
Clusters of white buildings stood scattered amidst the emerald green, like stars strewn across the landscape.
Su Qianqian stood before the school gate and took a deep breath.
Gu Chengyu's car had just departed. She clutched her exam admission ticket tightly, while Fang Qing's RV still waited outside the main gate.
"Qianqian!" Qin Yuwei came running out and hugged her.
"You're finally here! Come on, I'll take you to the exam hall!"
The examination was set in the performance department's theater stage.
Three examiners sat in the front row. The woman in the center was particularly striking—it was the film queen Qin Mo, one of the most famous graduates of Starlight's Performance Department.
She wore a simple black turtleneck, her demeanor cool and aloof.
On the left was an elderly gentleman with a full head of silver hair, wearing glasses and smiling amiably.
On the right was a placard for the vocal music examiner, but the seat was empty.
Qin Yuwei bounced over and sat down. "The vocal music teacher is on leave, so I'm substituting today!"
Qin Mo gave her a faint glance. "Be serious."
Qin Yuwei immediately sat up straight, secretly winking at Su Qianqian.
The silver-haired gentleman spoke first. "You are Su Qianqian, correct? We've seen your segment from the courtesan play. It was quite good."
"But Starlight tests comprehensive ability. Although the performance portion is already assessed, you must still pass vocal music, lines, and physical expression."
Su Qianqian nodded. "Understood."
The first item was vocal music.
Qin Yuwei said, "Just sing any familiar song."
Su Qianqian thought for a moment and sang a simple folk song.
Her voice was clear, sweet, and pure. Though her technique was a bit raw, it was unexpectedly moving.
Qin Yuwei clapped excitedly. "Beautiful! Your breath control is just a little unsteady. I'll teach you later!"
Qin Mo looked down, writing something on the score sheet.
The second item was lines.
The silver-haired gentleman handed her a piece of paper. "This monologue. Three minutes to prepare."
Su Qianqian quickly scanned it and soon immersed herself in the character. Her voice was sorrowful, vividly portraying the girl's fear and struggle.
After speaking the final line, the old gentleman below adjusted his glasses. "The emotion was full, but the rhythm and cadence of your delivery need improvement. Requires more work."
The third item was physical expression.
Qin Mo stood up personally. "Impromptu dance. I will play a piece of music."
The music was a mournful guzheng melody.
It reminded Su Qianqian of the fire in which Lin Wan met her death. How could that be presented in the form of dance?
She moved with the music, pacing and spinning, her waist supple, every glance carrying a sense of tragic, resolute beauty.
As the music ended, she stopped, breathing slightly heavily.
Qin Mo was silent for a long time. The movements themselves weren't difficult, but combined, they evoked an inexplicable sadness.
Finally, she said simply, "Who choreographed this?"
"I thought of it myself..." Su Qianqian replied obediently.
Qin Mo nodded. She closed the score sheet. "Su Qianqian."
Su Qianqian stood at attention nervously.
"Your courtesan play was excellent, but today's performance surprised me even more."
Qin Mo's gaze was piercing. "No technique, all instinct. That is the most rare and what I value most."
She paused. "Welcome to the Starlight Academy Performance Department."
Su Qianqian's eyes instantly grew a little moist. "Thank you, teacher!"
Qin Yuwei rushed over and hugged her. "That's wonderful! We'll be classmates from now on!"
The silver-haired gentleman chuckled. "I'm Old Li. I'll be teaching you vocal projection and line delivery in the future."
Su Qianqian bowed deeply to each of them in thanks.
As she walked out of the examination hall, sunlight spilled over the plane trees lining the campus avenue.
She took out her phone and immediately dialed Gu Chengyu's number.
Her voice held an inexplicable tremble of emotion, yet was filled with joy, "A-Yu, I got in!"
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line before his voice, laced with a smile, came through, "Mhm, let's celebrate when you get home."
She nodded emphatically.
Su Qianqian stepped beyond the school gates, the grand entrance of Stellar River Academy slowly closing behind her.
And the vast sea of stars that belonged to her was only just beginning.
