A girl named Su Nian was innocent and intelligent, with just a touch of foolish charm. She carried many dreams in her heart—dreams she longed to fulfill. Tomorrow, she would be joining her dream high school: Nanshi Experimental High School, the top-ranked institution in all of Nanshi.
Su Nian's father had recently been transferred to the city, and with his low-income job, it wasn't easy for the family. But Su Nian, with her exceptional academic performance, had scored among the top 1% in the city's entrance exam. Thanks to her results, she earned a merit-based tuition exemption through the school's academic support program. It was her intelligence and dedication that made it possible to enroll in a school that every teenager in the city dreamed of attending.
She wasn't from a wealthy family, but she was determined to be the first to break the cycle. Her dream was not just about success, but about becoming someone admirable—someone with values, principles, and purpose. But life rarely goes as planned, and fate always has its own story to tell.
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December 1, 2000
Su Nian was woken by the familiar sound of her mother's voice calling from the kitchen.
> "Nian, wake up! It's time for school. It's your first day!"
Still half asleep, Su Nian didn't respond. A second later, the blanket was yanked off her body, and she sat up with a jolt. It took her a moment to remember—
Today was her first day of high school.
The excitement buzzed through her nerves as she leapt out of bed and hurried through her morning routine, brushing her hair and changing into her neatly ironed uniform. Her hands trembled with excitement and nervousness. She glanced at the mirror.
"I can do this," she whispered to herself.
Her schoolbag, packed the night before, was waiting by the door. Her father gave her a small smile and handed her a lunchbox. Her mother adjusted her collar, her eyes filled with pride.
"Study well," her father said. "You've made it here with your own effort. Don't let anything shake your confidence."
Nodding silently, Su Nian stepped out into the morning chill. Her journey was beginning—not just to school, but toward the future she dreamed of.
She stepped out of the house and rushed to get on the bus.
The bus was crowded with neatly dressed students, many chatting with their friends, laughing or scrolling through their phones. Su Nian clutched the strap of her bag tightly, her eyes fixed outside the window as the city passed by.
After a few minutes, she reached the school, and when she stepped out of the bus, her eyes glazed as she saw a very prestigious school building in front of her.
It looked grand—like something out of a dream. Tall white pillars held up the entrance, and the golden letters of "Nanshi Experimental High School" gleamed in the winter sun.
She was mesmerized. Every student was wearing expensive clothes. They were well dressed, so Su Nian felt a bit nervous and left out upon seeing her torn shoes and clothes. But she gathered her courage and told herself that she could do it.
Then she entered the building and knocked on the door. She politely entered the room. The teacher said, "Introduce yourself to the classroom."
Su Nian: "Hello, my name is Su Nian. You can call me Nian."
Whispers rustled across the room. A few students barely glanced at her, others were already judging.
After the introduction, she went to find her seat, but no one agreed to sit with her because everyone was from rich families, and she was from a low-income family. So everyone refused her.
She sat in a window seat alone.
After the lunch break, all of her classmates were gossiping about her looks.
Some girls were saying, "Look at her! How did she get into this school? Look at her torn shoes. She is so poor."
They were laughing at her.
The girls behind the gossip had names—Chen Yuqi, the leader of the group, was known for her designer handbags and sharp tongue. Beside her, Fang Yueran and Mei Jiaqi echoed her laughter like loyal shadows.
Su Nian was in a bad mood, but she didn't care about them and said to herself,
"Su Nian, you can do it, you can do it. You have endured sleepless nights, worked hard to get a scholarship to get into this school. You can't lose hope."
After that, she looked into the sky through her classroom window and said, "All the things that happen, happen for a reason."
The clouds outside were gentle and slow-moving. Somewhere in the distance, a bird flew alone. It felt like her—small, quiet, unnoticed—but still soaring.
As the day went on, Su Nian quietly observed her classmates. Their laughter echoed through the halls, and their confidence filled every corner. She felt like a stranger in a world that didn't belong to her. Still, she reminded herself why she was there.
During the next class, the teacher handed out textbooks. As she reached Su Nian, she smiled kindly. "Welcome to Nanshi Experimental," she said gently. That small gesture was enough to give Su Nian a flicker of hope.
While the day felt long and exhausting, Su Nian clutched her notebook tightly, writing down every word in class. She knew knowledge was her strength, and that would be her way forward.
What she didn't know was that this very path would lead her to friendships, rivalries, and challenges that she never expected.