Weekend, 8 o'clock at night.

  Li Qian held a small mirror in his hand and was making all sorts of expressions in front of it.

  This is not clowning around, it's a one-man show.

  Some people say that acting is 70% in the face, this statement may not be entirely correct, but facial expressions play an extremely important role in a person's overall performance.

  Li Qian has a handsome face, that's for sure, but... it's the same old story, whether someone looks handsome or pretty has nothing to do with their acting skills.

  Even if you play a vase, you need vase-level acting skills.

  He knew that although he had been in the entertainment industry for many years, his acting skills were not necessarily top-notch. Unlike music, where all he needed was a guitar to feel confident, even though he hadn't achieved much success with it in his previous life, and wasn't as good at it as he was in the entertainment industry, music was his true calling, so he didn't lack confidence.

  But if he wants to be an actor, especially a good one, he knows that there are still many lessons for him to learn.

  Although he hasn't received a single day of systematic performance training in his past two lives, after messing around in the circle for many years and coming into contact with nearly a thousand actors, he has still accumulated some of his own skills and methods through osmosis. Although his approach is a bit unorthodox, it doesn't matter as long as it works.

  And it was the countless brilliant characters and scenes in his mind that were his true and best teachers.

  Tom Hanks' simplicity, Gary Oldman's neurosis, Morgan Freeman's ease, Marlon Brando's sharpness, Al Pacino's steadiness, Johnny Depp's weird charm, Tony Leung's melancholy eyes, Ge You's plainness, Jet Li's domineering smile... Of course, there is also Robert De Niro...

  It is said that "70% of acting skills are in the face", and there's another half sentence, which goes "70% in the face, 60% in the eyes".

  Li Qian has a pair of beautiful eyes, this is also unquestionable.

  Perhaps in Li Qian's eyes before, there was only youth and naivety, but after more than a decade had passed, when the weight of over thirty years had settled into those eyes, they remained black and shiny, yet began to be unfathomably deep.

  Joy, anger, sorrow, delight.

  Bitter smile, lost smile, furious laughter, faint smile, smile, sly smile, holding belly laugh, disappointed smile, joyful smile, vicissitudes of life smile, gentle smile, sacred smile, enchanting smile...

  Boiling with rage, a bone-piercing fury, angry yet smiling, indignation mixed with embarrassment...

  Melancholy, sorrow, loneliness, tears of grief, silent sobs, a smiling face with tears...

  Serious face, solemn and stern, contemplative, calm...

  …………

  In front of the mirror, Li Qian kept changing his expression, especially paying attention to his eyes.

  He gave his most natural smile.

  Cool, clean and warm.

  Then there was a flirtatious smile.

  The corners of his mouth were slightly raised, smiling without showing his teeth, his eyes were bright and deep, with a hint of laughter hidden inside, yet there was also a hint of inexplicable melancholy.

  Okay... I'm exhausted.

  People who have not experienced training suddenly start using a large amount of facial muscles, and after a short period of time, their face will feel like it is about to cramp.

  Staring at one's own eyes for a long time can also make the eyeballs feel abnormally sour and want to shed tears.

  …………

  Li Qian rubbed his eyes and patted his face, just about to put down the mirror when suddenly there was a knock at the door. Then, Li's dad pushed open the door and came in, his first glance falling on the mirror held high in his hand.

  It was originally a face with a hint of smile, but after being stunned for a moment, it quickly revealed an extremely complex expression.

  Speechless shock, faint indignation.

  Incomprehensible? Disdainful? Regrettable? Disappointing?

  Mr. Li pointed at the mirror in his hand and said: "You're a boy!"

  Li Qian smiled and said, "Boys also need to look in the mirror!"

  Dad Li was speechless.

  The good mood vanished instantly.

  After a pause, he said: "This time's monthly exam results are not bad, 533 points, ranked 26th."

  "Ah? So you know now?" Li Qian hastily put down the mirror and stood up, "Did you call Old Zhou to ask?"

  Mr. Li said displeased: "Stop calling him Old Zhou, call him Teacher Zhou!"

  Li Qian shrugged and pouted in frustration.

  After finishing speaking, Li Dad turned around and was about to leave. He hesitated for a moment, looked back at his son, then at the mirror on the bed, and finally at the guitar next to the mirror. With a puzzled expression, he said: "Doing well once doesn't count for anything, don't forget our agreement is the final exam!"

  He paused for a moment, then said: "And I'll repeat it to you again, as your father, my opinion is still the same. Liking music is fine, but making music your future career... you'll end up falling flat on your face!"

  …………

  Before the first class in the morning, the classroom was exceptionally lively.

  As with every monthly exam in the past, on Monday morning, the score sheets of each class were posted on a corner of the blackboard.

  Seeing herself still ranking first in the class, Wang Jinglu's face showed no joy, but when she saw Li Qian's name appearing at 26th place, her fists clenched tightly.

  First place, Wang Jinglu, 659 points.

  Twenty-sixth place, Li Qian, 533 points.

  This result is roughly consistent with Wang Jinglu's estimate, with some minor deviations.

  Wang Jinglu scored 9 points more than expected, and Li Qian scored 7 points less than expected.

  However, this achievement was still enough to satisfy Wang Jinglu.

  From 4:33 to 5:33, a whole hundred minutes!

  Li Qian actually improved by 100 points in just one month!

  Although he was a bit flippant when making the promise, that's not important. What matters is that he really did it!

  …………

  Li Qian arrived at the classroom on time, but as soon as he entered, he was shocked by the commotion in the room. He thought to himself, "Wow, this is too lively! It seems that exams are indeed a magic trick? Everyone actually cares so much about their ranking!"

  At this time, it seemed like a spiritual connection, originally after finishing the ranking and scores, Wang Jinglu had returned to her seat and was chatting with her deskmate about this exam, but suddenly turned around and looked towards the back door of the classroom.

  Li Qian soon felt her gaze and couldn't help but wink at her.

  Wang Jinglu also gave him a faint smile, with a hint of shyness amidst her excitement. Then, she quickly turned back to discuss with several classmates.

  Li Qian put the guitar case back in the northwest corner of the classroom, just fitting it between the last row of storage cabinets and the north wall, and had just sat down at his seat when he was discovered immediately.

  "Whoa, brothers, Li Qian is here!"

  "A hundred points in a month, isn't that against the heavens? Can you spare some room for your brothers to survive?"

  "I was wondering why you haven't been playing basketball lately, turns out you've been secretly studying instead. What happened to 'basketball is life'? You traitor! But... how did you do it? Can you share some experience with your brothers?"

  …………

  There were four classes in the morning, and the first class was Lao Zhou's.

  As usual, as the head teacher, Old Zhou didn't rush to explain this math test paper, but first analyzed the trend of grades in the class - those who made progress should be praised, and those who fell back should be encouraged!

  Li Qian was commended.

  After two math classes, there were two English classes.

  Li Qian's English score has made significant progress in this exam.

  He was once again praised.

  This afternoon's first class was Russian, and Teacher Liang first praised several students who had made significant progress in their studies. Then, he changed the subject, his finger tapping on the lectern a few times, saying: "But there are still some students, for example... I'm talking about you, Li Qian! Ah, yes, it's you, don't turn your head! I heard that your overall score has made great progress this time! This is worth praising! However, all your other subjects have improved quickly, but what about Russian? Русский, что－делать?"

  Li Qian lowered his head in shame.

  In the next two Chinese lessons, in the first lesson, after Teacher Qi Jie had explained all the questions except for the composition, she walked to Li Qian's side and intentionally knocked on his desk. With a smile, she said softly: "You're doing great, but don't be proud of yourself, keep working hard! By the way, your composition teacher has left some comments, I'll give them to you later!"

  By the second class, Li Qian understood why his composition had been kept back.

  After reading several model essays, his composition was miraculously sent over by students from other classes. Then, Teacher Qi Jie showcased it to all the classmates in class - full marks!

  The whole room was in an uproar!

  …………

  Li Qian felt very tired and exhausted.

  Being praised is also tiring, this is true.

  Finally, today's classes have all ended, but Li Qian still has an extra task to complete, which is: to copy his composition three times.

  One is for Teacher Qi Jie to archive.

  Every Chinese teacher has their own "Student Composition Book", which is a collection of the best compositions from students they have taught over the years, with each piece serving as a model for future students.

  Because good, worth keeping compositions are not so common, but need to be accumulated by teachers' year after year of teaching experience, so, without exaggeration, just looking at a Chinese teacher's "Student Composition Book" thickness can clearly know his years of teaching!

  For example, Li Dad's "Student Composition Book" is a thick stack!

  The second copy is to be submitted to the Chinese teaching and research group of No. 13 Middle School, which also serves as a record.

  Every one or two years, the school would publish a book called "Excellent Composition Selection" at its own expense, which was distributed among all teachers and students in the school. The content of this book was naturally a collection of student compositions.

  As for the third one, okay, although Li's father hasn't spoken yet, he knows that he can't escape!

  …………

  After putting away his things, Li Qian was about to wait for his classmates to leave before going to get his guitar case, but the classroom was still in an uproar. Suddenly, he heard someone calling out his name from the corridor.

  Li Qian was about to get up and leave when Liu Qiang rushed into the classroom in big strides, followed by several good buddies.

  Liu Qiang panted heavily and pointed outside with a look of indignation, saying: "Quickly, Li Qian, quickly, come out and take a look!"

  Before he knew it, Li Qian had already been pulled out of the classroom by him.

  He leaned on the railing and looked down along Liu Qiang's fingers.

  There, in the midst of the crowded after-school throng in front of the building, a sleek blue sports car was parked.

  Take a closer look at the logo, it seems to be Lamborghini?

  A handsome young man stood in front of the car door, and a girl wearing a school uniform stood opposite him.

  That is... Wang Jinglu.