Chapter Four: Enrollment (Part Two)

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Entertainment Around Us—No Pop-up Windows
Story begins: September 2004
Recommended song: Daniel Boone – Beautiful Sunday
Declaration: This is a work of pure fiction. Any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental!

“What’s your name? Aren’t you going to introduce yourself?” Jiang Yihan finally managed to stop laughing, and it was as if time had rewound to when the three of them would roam the streets or the school, laughing and horsing around without a care, their days carefree and content. The thought alone made his smile even brighter.

“Huh? Me?” The girl was still in a daze, not quite back to earth. “Oh, my name is Jin Xiaoxi. I’m a first-year student in the Film and Television Department.”

“Hello, I’m Jiang Yihan, a first-year student in the Journalism Department. This is my sister, Jiang Ziyi. She’s just enrolled in the Central University Affiliated High School—though it doesn’t actually exist, so please allow me this fictional touch. She hasn’t checked in yet, she came here with me first.” Glancing at Li Ran, who was once again putting on his cool, unsmiling façade, Jiang Yihan nudged him in the stomach with his elbow. “This cool guy is Li Ran, and the one next to him is his junior, I think she’s studying Chinese.” He turned his head toward Yin Yuner. “So, you and this ice block—what department are you in?”

“Huh? Why are you asking me?” Caught off guard, Yin Yuner was obviously unprepared for the sudden question.

“He’s playing it cool, needs to maintain his image, so he can’t speak. That’s why I’m asking you.” Jiang Ziyi glanced at her brother, a mischievous “I know you well” smile on her face, then looked at Li Ran. “Am I right, Uncle Li Ran? Haha.”

“You brat, always teasing me. Let’s see if I don’t teach you a lesson.” Li Ran shot a look at Jiang Ziyi, but decided against threatening a girl and instead turned to Jiang Yihan, raising his fist in a mock threat.

“Haha, I was just stating facts, don’t get angry! There are people watching, remember your image!” Jiang Yihan played along, raising his hand as if to shield himself. “Alright, alright, just tell us—which department are you in? I still don’t know, you know. Hmph, we haven’t been in touch for so long, who knows where you’ve been hanging out.”

“You say that, but I already apologized, didn’t I?” Li Ran was exasperated. “Fine, I’m in the Agent Management Department now—yes, forgive me, I made this up for the sake of the plot. Yin Yuner is studying Chinese.”

“I thought you were interested in management? Why didn’t you go for something like that? Why the Agent Management Department?” Jiang Yihan was puzzled by this answer and, forgetting about the newly acquainted girl beside him, began chatting animatedly with Li Ran again. Jin Xiaoxi, though exasperated, resigned herself and followed along as they headed to the registration desk.

“It’s nothing, really. Just blame a certain lazy cat.” Li Ran slung an arm around Jiang Yihan’s shoulders. “When I was about to choose my major, you said the entertainment industry is lucrative and maybe I should give it a try. It made sense to me, but I had no interest in being a star, so I thought I’d try being an agent. Besides, agent management and business management have a lot in common. So, are you still interested in the entertainment world?”

“Ugh, you idiot, that was just childish talk back then. I thought the entertainment industry was fun and paid well, but now, come on, don’t you know? The entertainment world is even darker than the underworld and exhausting—we can’t afford to play that game. Besides, after my parents divorced, my dad disappeared, who knows where he went. I heard he even remarried. My mom’s been raising the two of us for ten years now. I don’t have the luxury to ‘play around.’” Jiang Yihan gave his friend a hard smack on the back of the head for making such a hasty decision about his future.

“Still no news about your dad?” Li Ran rubbed his aching head, his tone a bit hesitant.

“Li Ran, you know it’s always just been our mother at home. Primary and middle school were compulsory education, so the costs weren’t high and she managed on her own,” Jiang Ziyi chimed in. “Now that we’re in college, and especially studying abroad, the expenses are piling up.”

“Then why come to Korea?” Yin Yuner had finally recovered from her earlier shock about Li Ran and, perhaps growing accustomed to surprises, couldn’t help but ask.

“Heh, that’s a story in itself. As for what kind of story…” Jiang Yihan flashed an innocent smile, shrugged, and pulled Li Ran and Jiang Ziyi away with him.

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It was obvious there were things best not discussed with strangers—or even ordinary friends. Yin Yuner and Jin Xiaoxi exchanged a glance, quickly figuring it out, and fell in step behind the others.

The group of five finally arrived at the freshman registration inquiry desk. A row of tables was lined up, each manned by a senior, and people were coming up to ask about registration. The very first table had a small queue, but it moved quickly, and soon it was Jiang Yihan and Jin Xiaoxi’s turn.

“Hello, senior, I’m a first-year in the Journalism Department here to register.” Jiang Yihan, ever the diplomat, pulled Jin Xiaoxi forward. “And this is a first-year in the Film and Television Department. Could you tell us where we should register?”

The person sitting at the desk was a stunning beauty, dressed in a bright red coat. She raised her head at the sound of their voices, revealing large, sparkling eyes framed by long lashes—so long and curled, you could see them even from a distance. Her skin was flawless, pale and dewy with a hint of pink—whether from makeup or natural beauty, it was hard to tell. She beamed at them with a radiant smile. “You must be new arrivals today. Hello! I’m Li Yimei, a third-year in the Film and Television Department. The Journalism registration is straight ahead, all the way to the end. Film and Television registration is right here with me.” So she was a senior from the Film and Television Department—no wonder, with her looks, so many aspiring stars must be drawn to this place.

“He’s an international student from China,” Li Ran, still maintaining his aloof persona, interjected out of nowhere—a seemingly random comment, perhaps with some hidden meaning.

“Oh, you’re an international student? Then you need to report directly to your department’s professor. If you need directions to the Journalism Department, I can help,” Li Yimei, the beautiful senior, replied, her gaze fixed on the absurdly handsome freshman before her.

“No need, my friend knows the way. Thank you for your help, senior.” Jiang Yihan smiled and, after saying goodbye to the beautiful senior and Jin Xiaoxi, turned to leave with the others.

Li Yimei was momentarily dazed by Jiang Yihan’s smile, only snapping out of it when she realized they were already walking away. Not at all satisfied with his casual attitude, she muttered to herself, “Hmph, to think he didn’t even spare a glance for a beauty like me. We’re bound to meet again. Just wait.”

Jin Xiaoxi, left behind to register with the Film and Television Department, couldn’t help but frown at the senior’s expression and then looked thoughtfully after Jiang Yihan and the others as they walked away.

After wandering about for nearly twenty minutes, the four finally reached the Journalism Department. Suddenly, a voice called out behind them, “Ouch!”

They all turned to see a man in his fifties who had tripped and fallen, scattering his documents everywhere.

Seeing the man fall, Jiang Yihan handed his bag to Li Ran and rushed over to help.

“Still the same as ever, always the good Samaritan,” Li Ran remarked, watching his friend. Jiang Yihan had never changed—always warm, always eager to help, even strangers, always with that harmless, friendly smile. He wasn’t naive, but his actions bordered on foolishness. Li Ran exchanged a glance with Jiang Ziyi, both sharing a simple understanding: “That’s Jiang Yihan for you—what can you do?”

“All set, sir? Is anything missing?” After picking up all the documents, Jiang Yihan handed the man’s things back to him, neatly organized.

“Yes, yes. Thank you, everything’s here.” The man accepted his documents and began to size up the warm-hearted young man before him. “What’s your name? It’s rare to meet someone as helpful as you these days.”

“Helping others is just the right thing to do, isn’t it?” Jiang Yihan replied, flashing the man a radiant smile before turning to rejoin his friends as they continued toward the Journalism Department’s faculty office.

“A fine young man, indeed,” the man mused, clearly won over by Jiang Yihan’s smile.

“Excuse me, is anyone here?” Jiang Yihan knocked on the office door, but only the sound of his knocking echoed down the hallway. It seemed no one was inside. Just as the four were wondering what to do, the man who had fallen earlier appeared at the office door as well. When their eyes met again, everyone laughed.

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“Are you here to register?” the man asked, taking out a key as he prepared to open the door.

“Yes, I’m a first-year in Journalism, here to register. These are my friends, they’re just showing me the way,” Jiang Yihan replied politely.

The man glanced at him again. “Oh, so you’re an international student? Here to register, right? Judging by your looks, you’re from China?”

Jiang Yihan scratched his head. “Yeah, I’m an undergraduate from China.”

“Your Korean is quite good,” the man said as they entered the office. He introduced himself, “I’m the head of the Journalism Department and also teach the major courses. My name is Professor Shin Sungkyun.”

“So you’re the one we were looking for!” Jiang Yihan laughed. “What a coincidence. I picked up some Korean by listening to songs and watching dramas at home, and before coming here I did some intensive study. It’s nothing special, but I can manage everyday conversations.”

They all found seats as Professor Shin settled behind his desk. Jiang Yihan sat down across from him. “Professor Shin, what procedures do I need to complete for registration?”

“Not much. Just sign in, collect your student ID and campus card, then we’ll have a chat,” Professor Shin said, pulling out the sign-in sheet, the student ID, and the campus card, handing them to Jiang Yihan. As he finished, he began leafing through Jiang Yihan’s file. “You’ve already passed Level 6 in Korean? Impressive—the training clearly paid off. IELTS score of 8, college entrance score of 680. Excellent. With credentials like yours, tell me, why did you choose Korea for your studies?”

“Because Korea has a rich tradition…” Jiang Yihan began repeating what he’d said in previous interviews, but Professor Shin interrupted him before he could finish.

“There’s no need for those stock answers with me. Just tell me the truth,” Professor Shin said, looking up from the documents and smiling at Jiang Yihan.

After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Yihan, reassured by the professor’s smile, decided to be candid. “Honestly, the first reason is financial—if I had to study abroad, Europe and America are too expensive for my family, but Korea is much more affordable. Second, in Asia, Japan and Korea both have strong journalism programs. I have no intention of going to Japan, so Korea was the natural choice. Third, for personal reasons—one of my best friends is here, and having someone to rely on in a foreign country is always a comfort.”

“Aren’t you worried that being so frank might give me a bad impression of you?” Professor Shin’s expression darkened slightly at Jiang Yihan’s forthrightness.

Jiang Yihan simply smiled, calm and unflustered, meeting the professor’s gaze—perhaps understanding, perhaps not, but ultimately unconcerned.

For a moment, they looked at each other. Perhaps it was the good first impression, or perhaps the professor was simply open-minded, but Professor Shin broke into a smile. “Yes, sometimes honesty can be hurtful. But you’re right—your answers are practical and fit your circumstances. I understand.” The professor stood up and walked over to Jiang Yihan. “Just work hard here.”

They shook hands—the registration was complete!