Chapter 61

Shen Zhenghui was certainly unwilling to discuss his resume in detail with someone he had just met, so he just smiled and said, "Let's watch the play." He added, "I'm not a professional."

Zheng Chao seemed to fully understand Shen Zhenghui's attitude, and after a brief laugh, he quieted down. However, Tao Jingjing, who was sitting next to him, seemed very uneasy, wanting to talk to Shen Zhenghui but feeling a bit embarrassed.

The play went smoothly, and when it ended, the teachers on stage took turns to comment. Aizawa Tomoaki received the most praise, perhaps because he was the only foreigner in the group, and the flattering words flowed like water. However, the teachers' comments were still on point, and the students listened to their instructions one by one, making Shen Zhenghui feel that the money he spent on this training course was not wasted.

Tao Jingjing insisted on staying, and Zheng Chao accompanied her, sitting next to Shen Zhenghui, making jokes and chatting. Shen Zhenghui didn't dislike people like Zheng Chao, but he thought Tao Jingjing was a bit too talkative and probably wouldn't achieve much in the future. As for Zheng Chao, Shen Zhenghui glanced at him and, from his limited memory of the entertainment industry, traced his future growth path, thinking that building a good relationship with him might be useful in the future. So he smiled and occasionally chatted with Zheng Chao.

Tao Jingjing's expression looked extremely conflicted.

Finally, the teacher announced the end of the class. Aizawa Tomoaki said goodbye to a few classmates and bounced off the stage, walking straight to Shen Zhenghui. He waved his hand, breaking away from the Japanese custom, and said, "Shen, did you wait long?" She smiled, her happiness genuine.

Shen Zhenghui stood up and clapped, "You did great."

"Thank you, but I'm afraid you'll have to wait a bit longer. I need to change my clothes," Aizawa Tomoaki said.

"Go ahead," Shen Zhenghui nodded, "I don't mind waiting a bit."

"Hehe, this was like a midterm exam! I was so nervous before, but seeing you on stage made me feel better."

"I didn't notice. The teachers' comments suggested your previous performance was also good!"

"Yes, I learned a lot. I'll go change my clothes now. By the way, Shen, how long can you stay in Beijing?"

"Not long, I have to go back in a week. The TV drama is about to start shooting, and we're all waiting for you!"

Aizawa Tomoaki resumed the Japanese custom and bowed deeply. Tao Jingjing wanted to step forward to say something but was held back by Zheng Chao pulling her sleeve.

Shen Zhenghui continued to wait for Aizawa Tomoaki.

Zheng Chao smiled and leaned in, "Are you a director? Are you still shooting TV dramas? Can I ask what TV drama it is?"

"Japanese drama, just to make a living," Shen Zhenghui shrugged, "If there's a chance in the future, we might be able to collaborate."

Zheng Chao smiled, and Tao Jingjing, gathering her courage, stepped forward and said, "Mr. Shen, can you give me your contact information?"

"Ah, I don't plan to develop in China in the near future," Shen Zhenghui said seriously, "So I'm really sorry."

Tao Jingjing, being young, couldn't bring herself to chat without restraint, and her face turned a bit red.

"Let's do this," Shen Zhenghui said, "Meeting is a kind of fate. If you don't mind, can you tell me your names?" He took out a small notebook and pretended to be serious about writing it down.

Tao Jingjing finally had a way out.

"I'm Zheng Chao, Zheng from Zhengzhou, and Chao from super," Zheng Chao introduced himself first, "I'm from the 1998 acting class." He watched as Shen Zhenghui wrote down his name and information in the small notebook. "If you need to contact me, just call the school, and the teachers will find us. Even after graduation, our contact information will be left with the school, so you don't have to worry about not being able to find us."

Shen Zhenghui nodded, "Your school does a good job with this!"

Tao Jingjing also stepped forward and gave her information, specifically mentioning her birth year and month. She was from the 1997 class and was just twenty years old. Shen Zhenghui recorded it meticulously.

"Alright, Shen," Aizawa Tomoaki, now in casual clothes, walked over. She was wearing a black tight-fitting elastic pants, a white open-collar shirt, and a green spring coat, looking both youthful and mature. Women do grow, and in this industry, their fashion sense improves significantly. Japanese women are naturally talented in this aspect.

"Are these two your friends?"

"Just met, aren't they your classmates?"

Zheng Chao and Tao Jingjing greeted Aizawa Tomoaki politely, with Tao Jingjing directly praising her performance, using somewhat flattering words.

Shen Zhenghui watched all this calmly, and Aizawa Tomoaki, like a typical Japanese person, thanked them politely.

"Why don't we find a place to eat? You know the area better, so you decide," Shen Zhenghui said to Aizawa Tomoaki, who nodded.

"I know a nice little restaurant, I often go there," Aizawa Tomoaki responded with a smile.

Tao Jingjing was about to say something but was interrupted by Zheng Chao, "Right, it's already this late, we need to have dinner too. We won't disturb you two." He pulled the reluctant Tao Jingjing and said goodbye, leaving the small theater. Shen Zhenghui watched them leave with a smile.

"Mr. Shen is quite popular!" Aizawa Tomoaki said with a smile.

"Yes," Shen Zhenghui nodded, "So you need to perform well today."

Aizawa Tomoaki blushed and covered her mouth, "Mr. Shen is so mean!"

Shen Zhenghui smirked and raised his arm, and Aizawa Tomoaki, understanding, linked her arm with his. They walked out together.

"It seems you are very popular at school!"

"Probably because I'm a foreigner, so I get special attention," Aizawa Tomoaki said casually, "At first, President Fukuda assigned a manager to take care of me, but now I feel I can live in Beijing without any problems."

"That's good." Although Shen Zhenghui found it strange that Fukuda seemed to be overly concerned about Aizawa Tomoaki.

"I think about working with Mr. Shen on many more films in the future, and I realize I still have a lot to learn," Aizawa Tomoaki said.

"I think you're already very good. I'm not a professional either."

"But in Japan, I didn't feel that way. Now, after the teachers' systematic lectures, I feel like a beginner."

"Acting can be honed through practice!" Shen Zhenghui said.

"But..."

"Alright, alright, I finally got a chance to see you, so don't keep talking about teachers and classmates. I might get jealous," Shen Zhenghui said, "Tell me where we're going to eat? Which way should we go?"

"This way, it's not far from the school, and I often go there with classmates." As she said this, Aizawa Tomoaki stuck out her tongue under Shen Zhenghui's gaze.

"Male classmates?"

"Mostly female classmates, sometimes male classmates too," Aizawa Tomoaki covered her mouth, "I told them I have a boyfriend, but they don't believe me."

Shen Zhenghui rubbed his nose, "I wouldn't believe it either," he said, "Your boyfriend lets you come to Beijing alone to study acting?"

Aizawa Tomoaki chuckled.

At that moment, a few people caught up from behind, and one of the girls patted Aizawa Tomoaki's shoulder, "Tomoaki, why are you walking so fast?" Then her eyes fell on Shen Zhenghui, "Is this your friend?"

"My boss," Aizawa Tomoaki introduced briefly. Two more boys and two more girls, all in their twenties, came up from behind. The two boys looked at Shen Zhenghui with hostile eyes.

"Japanese?" the girl who caught up first asked with a smile, turning to Aizawa Tomoaki, "Can you translate for me? I'm Xie Ting, I'm Tomoaki's classmate."

The two pairs of boys and girls also came up, and Shen Zhenghui smiled and extended his hand to Xie Ting, "Hello, Shen Yu." This name was useful.

"Oh? Chinese?" Xie Ting was a bit surprised as she shook hands.

One of the girls who followed opened her mouth wide, looking at Shen Zhenghui, "You, you're the one who acted with Tomoaki in that movie, right?"

This exclamation drew the attention of the five people present, and Shen Zhenghui received the most enthusiastic gaze.

"I've seen that movie, I'm really sorry," Shen Zhenghui bowed to the girl who recognized him, "I didn't act well, I apologize."

"No, you acted very well," the girl said seriously, "Where did you learn acting? In Japan?"

The two boys were speechless, standing there in a daze, while another girl came up and put her arm around the girl who recognized Shen Zhenghui.

"Really, really, your last fight scene was amazing. Can you sign for me?"

None of them had anything to write on, and it wouldn't be appropriate for Shen Zhenghui to sign on his own notebook and tear it out, so he smiled, "Next time, I finally got a chance to see Tomoaki, and I plan to have dinner with her first."

"Let's go together!" Xie Ting invited enthusiastically, "More people, more fun. Tomoaki, shall we go to our usual place?"

"No need, I've booked a table at the International Hotel."

"Hey, the International Hotel? Can we join you? Tomoaki?" Xie Ting looked at Aizawa Tomoaki with pleading eyes.

Aizawa Tomoaki smiled, "Next time."

The two of them subtly changed their plans and prepared to call a taxi to the International Hotel.

Watching their backs, one of the boys leaned close to Xie Ting, "Clearly, they don't want you to be a third wheel!"

"Be more discerning," the other boy added. Both of them sounded jealous.

The two girls, however, chattered more, "Sister Ting, do you think they have that kind of relationship?"

Xie Ting squinted her eyes, "I think so, eight out of ten," she rubbed her chin, "Tomoaki's luck is really good, to meet someone like him."

"What kind of person?"

"Didn't you see his abs in the movie? So sexy."

"Abs, I have them too!"

Xie Ting hummed, "Why don't I have such good luck?"