Chapter 1: Xing(Star) City Key High School

“Beep–beep–” After two waiting tones, the score inquiry call connected.

“Please enter your exam candidate number and press the pound key to end.”

Shen Jia Yan’s hand trembled slightly as she prepared to input her candidate number. She entered it digit by digit slowly, then waited quietly for the automated voice on the other end to announce her middle school entrance exam results.

In the summer afternoon, the sunlight blazed fiercely, and waves of heat permeated the air, as if even the wind had been baked hot.

A breeze carrying the heat wafted through the window into the room, making Shen Jia Yan shiver.

“Math 105 points, Chinese 130 points, English 129 points…” From the moment she heard the math score of 105, Shen Jia Yan felt dazed. That wasn’t her usual level.

“Total score 724 points.” She hung up the phone.

Shen Jia Yan’s mind went blank. She pursed her lips tightly, her thoughts echoing endlessly with “Math 105 points, total score 724 points.”

Jiang Jing, Shen Jia Yan’s mother, watched her hang up without saying a word and prompted, “Yan Yan, what’s wrong? How many points?”

Shen Jia Yan snapped back to reality. “Ah–how many points? Um, total score 724 points.”

“724 points? Based on last year’s admission cutoff of 710, you should be able to get into the key high school smoothly. Not bad,” Shen Yan, Shen Jia Yan’s father, analyzed calmly.

How could math be 105 points? That’s so much lower than my usual scores, and I didn’t think the questions were that hard after the exam. Shen Jia Yan stared blankly ahead, her mind still stuck on the math score.

Jiang Jing waved her hand in front of Shen Jia Yan’s dazed eyes and teased, “I think this score is pretty good for you too, but Yan Yan, why do you look dissatisfied? You’re not the type to have super high standards for yourself.”

Shen Jia Yan indeed wasn’t.

Both Shen Yan and Jiang Jing were leaders in the education department. They had excelled academically since their school days and were now top performers in the field.

But just because parents excelled in education didn’t mean their child would be exceptionally outstanding in studies.

Shen Jia Yan was very smart, but she loved to play and had extremely poor self-discipline, which kept her grades from being top-tier. In her class, she could only rank in the upper-middle range.

“I’m quite satisfied, just surprised that math was so much lower than usual.”

Mentioning the math score still left Shen Jia Yan a bit dejected.

Shen Yan suggested, “No worries, the overall score is good. Effort is what matters. Let’s go out for a nice meal to celebrate.”

Star City Key High School was the best high school in Star City and had some fame nationwide. It was the dream school for all junior high students, including Shen Jia Yan.

Three days later, the cutoff scores were announced: Star City Key High School’s admission line for regular students—725 points.

It was a twist of fate, just one point short.

The regret of missing by one point often outweighed that of missing by ten or even dozens of points.

But a miss was a miss, whether by one point or a fraction of one.

Shen Jia Yan gradually shifted from the regret and helplessness of learning the cutoff to accepting it calmly.

She knew deep down that over her three years of junior high, she hadn’t given her all. This result was what she deserved.

She just didn’t know how to face her parents, who had been full of anticipation just days ago.

Unexpectedly, neither Shen Yan nor Jiang Jing blamed her or uttered a single word of criticism.

Although Shen Jia Yan’s score didn’t meet the regular admission standard for Star City Key High School, that standard applied only to regular students. The school also admitted another type—self-funded students.

Of course, self-funded students had their own cutoff.

The self-funded cutoff was 589 points.

Shen Jia Yan’s score far exceeded it, but she didn’t want to enter as a self-funded student.

That night, a gentle breeze blew, carrying the lingering warmth of the day.

Shen Jia Yan sat with her parents, discussing which school to choose.

She forced a slight smile and said softly, “Dad, Mom, I don’t want to go to the key high school. Self-funded spots cost extra money, and if I go to any other high school, I can still get into the Experimental Class and rank in the top few.”

Jiang Jing frowned. “No, you could get into the Experimental Class at other schools, but the learning atmosphere would be much worse. The teachers and students at the key high school are far superior to those at others.”

Shen Yan agreed. “The learning atmosphere is crucial. Different teachers and classmates affect your attitude toward studying. The key high school just moved to a new campus, with an environment far better than others. To cultivate more outstanding students, all equipment and resources are top-notch. Your mom and I want you to experience that atmosphere and environment. We don’t want you to have regrets from not attending the key high school.”

Shen Jia Yan wanted to go too, but failing to get in on regular admission wounded her pride, making her unwilling to settle for second best. Her guilt toward her parents also made her reluctant to let them pay extra.

“But going to the key high school means paying extra,” Shen Jia Yan emphasized.

“Money isn’t your concern. Our family can afford it. Just focus on doing what you need to do,” Jiang Jing said firmly.

Shen Yan and Jiang Jing’s patient persuasion softened Shen Jia Yan’s resolve. She wanted to say okay, to enter as a self-funded student, but her vanity held her back. She pretended to hesitate: “Alright, we’ll decide when filling out the school choices tomorrow.”

Hearing Shen Jia Yan’s ambiguous response, Shen Yan and Jiang Jing weren’t reassured. They decided to call her homeroom teacher, Teacher Liu, to discuss and hope the teacher could advise her on the choice.

In the midsummer campus, full of vitality, sunlight filtered through green leaves onto the grass, casting dappled shadows. The playground had fewer students rushing to classrooms and more groups of soon-to-graduate students chatting about scores and preferred schools.

With time to spare, the school and teachers didn’t rush them back, letting classmates exchange freely.

Perhaps because junior high was ending, many wouldn’t meet again soon.

Just as Shen Jia Yan was about to discuss with another classmate, Teacher Liu approached, patted her shoulder, and said softly, “Shen Jia Yan, come here for a moment.”

Puzzled, she followed mechanically.

When Shen Jia Yan was young, Jiang Jing had worked at her school.

Though she never taught her directly, she communicated with the teachers: no favoritism toward Shen Jia Yan, and ideally, be stricter than with others. This made Shen Jia Yan respectful—and somewhat fearful—of teachers, avoiding initiative in talking to them.

Shen Jia Yan followed Teacher Liu stiffly to a shady tree and stopped. The teacher turned and said, “I heard you want to choose City No.2 High School?”

Shen Jia Yan froze, then realized Jiang Jing must have called. She smiled awkwardly and replied politely, “Teacher, I’ve thought about it. Since I didn’t meet the regular admission cutoff for the key high school, going to No.2 would let me into the Experimental Class—a good option.”

Teacher Liu frowned slightly, her face taking on that familiar earnest expression. “Jia Yan, I understand your thinking, and you have a point. But you have the ability to get into the key high school regularly—you were just one point short. Once there, you’ll have plenty of opportunities. The new campus has better environment, facilities, and teachers. Many can’t even get in as self-funded. I hope you make a choice you won’t regret.”

After her parents’ persuasion the day before, Shen Jia Yan had already wavered. Teacher Liu’s words today solidified her decision to go to the key high school.

She had considered “better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big one,” but passing up the chance to experience the city’s best high school’s atmosphere and environment might be a lifelong regret.

So, key high school it was.

Most classmates finished discussing and returned to the classroom in groups to fill out their choice forms.

The teacher distributed the forms, explained precautions, and everyone started filling them.

Teacher Liu watched her students bent over their forms, from the first in the front row to the last in the back. She wanted to memorize each one.

Over three years of daily companionship, she had witnessed their transformation from innocent kids to awkward teens. She treasured these Class 7 memories…

Teacher Liu stepped down from the podium, passing rows of focused students.

When she reached Shen Jia Yan, she paused, glanced down, and her brows lifted slightly. A pleased smile curved her lips.

Shen Jia Yan’s first choice: Star City Key High School.

Admitted as wished.

The summer vacation between junior and senior high wasn’t exciting—most parents enrolled their kids in preview classes.

This vacation, the incoming high schoolers crammed classes madly, adapting early to high school life.

Shen Yan and Jiang Jing had rarely let Shen Jia Yan take extra classes when she was young. They could tutor her themselves, and her grades were decent enough.

But now, with high school approaching and many parents signing up kids, they felt anxious, worried she’d fall behind at the start. High school led to the college entrance exam, life’s pivotal stage, so they decided to enroll her in a preview class.

From the class’s start, Shen Jia Yan ended her vacation fun early.

She’d thought this would be her first homework-free summer to enjoy, but reality hit hard.

The daily early outs and late returns crushed her playful spirit.

She thought helplessly that she hadn’t yet experienced the key high school’s beautiful campus or advanced facilities, but had first felt its “intense” learning atmosphere.

The preview class ended three days before school started.