Do Awards Earn You Extra Credits?

The two of them did not go far and ate at the restaurant downstairs from the hotel.

Xiao Ming was not particularly picky about food, so he left it entirely up to Qu An.

The weather was hot, and Qu An ordered dishes that were less likely to cause internal heat, but they all tasted quite good.

"You did well in that drama before." After spending half a day together, Qu An had realized that Xiao Ming was not very good at talking to people, so he naturally took on the role of starting conversations.

If Xiao Ming had really been the one acting in that drama, he might have continued the conversation along those lines. But unfortunately, he had not.

Xiao Ming now felt like someone who had copied the answers of the person next to him during an exam, gotten a high score, and then been praised by the teacher—ashamed and wishing he could disappear into the ground.

He gave an awkward laugh, said it was alright, then picked up the orange juice beside him and took a sip in an attempt to ease the embarrassment.

Being around Qu An was quite comfortable. He understood boundaries and knew how to start conversations, but Xiao Ming's mind kept wandering. Qu An noticed it too, set down the chopsticks in his hand, and asked directly, "Is something bothering you?"

Xiao Ming blanked out for a moment. Looking at the handsome face across from him, his thoughts drifted back to when he had looked up Qu An's information at the hotel.

His mother had also been a famous actress before retiring from the industry. He had debuted at the age of five in his first drama, then acted in quite a few more over the years. Now a third-year acting student at Jingcheng Film Academy, he had already won his first Best Actor award for a film.

"Is it true that winning awards online can earn you extra credits and comprehensive evaluation points? Does your school give a lot?"

Qu An had assumed the other man wanted resources or connections and had already decided to pass him off to his agent later. When he heard that question, he almost could not take back the words at his lips. His polite smile froze on his face, though only for an instant, before he quickly returned to normal.

"Yes. National-level awards add two credits and ten comprehensive evaluation points."

"Only two credits? Then it's the same as mine," Xiao Ming muttered quietly.

Because of his major and school, he had participated in quite a few business competitions and won several national-level awards. But compared to something as widely known as a Best Actor award, it somehow felt different. He had thought it would be worth a few more points.

"Then your scholarship for this academic year should be secure too." Qu An's grades every year were also something netizens loved discussing. Although he was constantly acting, he had not neglected his studies. He had received school scholarships in both his first and second years, even if they were not particularly high.

For some reason, Qu An felt that Xiao Ming sounded especially like his grandmother. His father's family had been in business for generations, while his grandmother had come from a scholarly family, so she had always held expectations for his studies.

"What are your plans afterward? Do you need me to make some introductions for you?"

"I'm planning to visit a few nearby cities during summer break. It's not often that I get to come here, and school starts again afterward." He had said he would become a slacker, so naturally the first step was... to have fun! Xiao Ming had never properly had fun before. Studying had already taken up so much of his energy and time. Now that he wanted to take it easy, he naturally wanted to travel more while he was still young.

You only lived once. He could not let it go to waste.

"Fourth year?" Qu An vaguely remembered that Xiao Ming was a year older than him.

"No, first year of graduate school. Something happened last year, so I deferred my enrollment for a year."

Although Qu An had not looked into it specifically, his agent had roughly explained the backgrounds of several guests before the program began recording. Xiao Ming had entered the public eye after acting in a drama last year. It seemed to have been his first drama, and then he had become popular. "That's impressive."

It was not just polite small talk. After getting into graduate school, he had deferred for a year to enter the entertainment industry, yet achieved some success in only a year.

"Are you from the Capital Academy of Drama?"

Qu An did not know much about Xiao Ming, but he did know that the other man had become famous overnight through his acting. He just did not know which school he attended. At the very least, he had never heard of someone like him at his own school.

"Ah... I'm from Jingcheng University, next to the Capital Academy of Drama. But I'm just a very ordinary student." Xiao Ming's words sounded a little boastful, but that was genuinely how he saw himself.

Still, he realized that was not quite the right way to put it and added, "There are lots of amazing people at our school. I'm not very noticeable."

Qu An truly had not expected the conversation to go in that direction, but he grew curious about why the other man had entered the entertainment industry.

Someone who could get into one of the country's top two universities and make it into graduate school would never be short of work after graduating.

"Then do you still plan to act in the future?"

Xiao Ming hurriedly waved his hands. He felt that acting would only bring trouble to others, and besides, he had never wanted to enter the entertainment industry in the first place.

"I don't have that intention. Acting before was all an accident." He had wanted to say that he had no talent for acting, but then remembered that "Xiao Ming" had honed his skills for years and become famous overnight. Saying more would only make him sound like he was showing off.

Unable to figure out how to explain it, his face turned red from holding it in.

After spending so many years in the entertainment industry, Qu An's ability to judge people had improved alongside his acting. With someone like Xiao Ming, he could tell what kind of personality he had after only a few exchanges.

Smart, but poor at socializing, with an innocent naivety that he himself did not seem aware of. That kind of person was easily deceived, but also easily won others' affection.

Qu An did not make things difficult for him. He smiled gently and said, "Alright. If you need anything, you can contact me," then naturally changed the subject.

By the end of the meal, the two had grown somewhat closer. Xiao Ming had a favorable impression of someone as handsome and kind-natured as Qu An. One of the senior students in his advisor's studio was also that type. Even though Qu An was a year younger than him, Xiao Ming still felt as if he were being taken care of.

Xiao Ming's plan was to explore the city that afternoon, then take the high-speed rail that night to another tourist city famous for its scenery. His train ticket and hotel were already booked. All that remained was to leave.

But he had not expected the two people who had said goodbye that morning to meet again that afternoon.

Following an online guide, Xiao Ming first went to a famous park. Its blend of Chinese and Western architecture, combined with local characteristics, was uniquely charming.

Looking at the beautiful scenery through his phone, Xiao Ming boarded a ferry.

There were more people on the boat than he had expected, but Xiao Ming had booked his ticket online the day before, so he did not have to wait in the long line.

Still, the number of people waiting made him feel that the trip would probably be worthwhile, though he had no idea why they were all women.

After the boat had been moving for a while, the girls around him began screaming and pulled out all kinds of cameras and phones.

"Qu An!"

"He looks so handsome in that outfit."

"Will there be a scene where he goes into the water? I want to see his abs. Hehehe."

"You're really daring to imagine that, hahaha. But probably not around here. I heard there's another scene over by the beach."

The beach?

That was where he had originally planned to go. But why would Qu An be here?

Before Xiao Ming could think further, one of the girls beside him answered the question. "Good thing Anbao's endorsement shoot this time happens to be in the same place as Full Speed Ahead! Otherwise, he'd have to switch schedules again and work himself to death."

Anbao?

It took Xiao Ming a moment to realize that it was the fans' nickname for Qu An. He found it rather cute and smiled.

Such a grown man was being called something like a child. He wondered if Qu An knew about it.

"Exactly."

"I heard from some sisters who went to the recording site this morning that that newcomer, Xiao Ming, has been constantly trying to get into our Anbao's shots."

Xiao Ming had not expected that casually overhearing a conversation would lead him straight into gossip about himself.

Feeling that he should not keep listening, he tried to leave. The people beside him probably had not expected him to be right there, so they said more and more, eventually starting to complain about other celebrities who always tried to ride others' popularity.

The boat Qu An was on drew closer and closer to theirs. Xiao Ming could see the man on the other boat in a white suit. Unlike the understated makeup he wore on Full Speed Ahead!, his makeup for the endorsement was exquisite, making him exceptionally handsome.

Over there, Qu An was fully absorbed in filming. Only after hearing someone call, "Cut," did he stop to rest and touch up his makeup. When he looked up, he saw Xiao Ming on the open yacht across from him.

Xiao Ming was not wearing a mask, and with his above-average height, he stood out like a crane among the girls.

Everyone around him was focused on Qu An, so no one noticed Xiao Ming nearby.

Because the girls wanted a clearer view of Qu An, they crowded together in a jostling mass. Xiao Ming, caught among them, looked utterly helpless.

The moment Qu An saw him, he instinctively smiled.

He looked quite smart while playing games. Why did he seem so adorably foolish now?

"Ahhh! Qu An smiled at us!"

"Our Anbao is so sweet to us, sob sob sob."

The crowd beside him chattered noisily, making Xiao Ming's ears ache. He finally managed to squeeze free and took a deep breath.

He had seriously underestimated Qu An's popularity. He had assumed that since Qu An was not an idol and had always acted, he would not have so many fanatical fans. But Qu An's popularity did not lose out to those traffic stars at all.

Still, it made sense. He was handsome, talented, and skilled. Capable people were always liked.

Qu An still had to continue filming, and the girls on Xiao Ming's boat were apparently going to make another round. Xiao Ming did not plan to continue with them. He had come to have fun, while Qu An was working.

He had originally been hesitating over whether to go to the beach. Judging from what those girls had said, Qu An would be filming there later, so it would probably be crowded too.

But there was more than one stretch of coast. Xiao Ming checked the map and headed in the other direction.

Since most people had gone to watch the celebrity, this stretch of beach was quiet instead.

Xiao Ming did not know what to do by himself. After thinking about it for a while, he sat by the sea and waited for the sunset.

With his legs soaking in the pleasantly cool seawater and the occasional refreshing sea breeze passing by, Xiao Ming seemed to truly understand what complete relaxation felt like for the first time.

Scenes of countless days and nights spent bent over his studies flashed through his mind. He felt an inexplicable sense of nostalgia, but even more than that, the relief of having set down a heavy burden.

From now on, he would live for his own happiness.

But at that moment, Xiao Ming also began thinking about what he would do next. He had not had many hobbies while studying, but for now, traveling probably counted as one.