The classroom buzzed with more energy than usual. The teacher had only just left, but the students weren't thinking of homework. Instead, the talk was all about universities, future, dreams, and ambitions.
"Of course it has to be Huaqing University," one boy said with a smug grin, tossing his pen onto the desk. "Half the country's celebrities graduated from there. If I make it in, I'll be one step away from stardom."
"Yeah right," another laughed. "Like you'll pass their literature exam. Do you even know how competitive that place is?"
"Doesn't matter," the first shrugged. "Connections are everything. Without them, you're doomed."
The laughter spread, growing bolder.
Lin Ruoyi, lounging elegantly in her seat with her chin resting on her hand, chose that moment to speak. "Naturally, I'll be applying there. My father's been close with their dean for years. Once I'm admitted, I'll show them what true talent looks like."
Her voice was crisp and clear, carrying across the entire room.
Huang Ling immediately chimed in, twirling her pen between her fingers with a smirk. "Me too. Once we're both there, it'll be like the golden duo of Huaqing."
A ripple of agreement and admiration circled them, but not everyone was convinced. Near the back, a boy muttered just loud enough for others to catch:
"But isn't Huang Ling… kind of dumb? How's she supposed to pass?"
The laughter quieted. Someone quickly cut in, "Her father's a high post elite. She doesn't need brains. She has connections. That's more than enough."
The words struck deep, slicing sharper than intended. Several students fell quiet, their gazes slipping to the floor, including An Ran.
She sat still, clutching her pen. The laughter and chatter around her blurred into one suffocating hum.
So if you don't have connections… if your parents can't open doors for you… then all you can do is work harder? Twice as hard?
Her chest tightened, but she forced her pen against the page, as though writing would carve the thought into stone. Fine then. I'll work harder. Twice as hard. I'll earn my place myself.
The whispers continued.
"What about Xiao Yuxi? She's definitely going too, right?"
Heads turned toward the girl with bronzed skin and perfectly curled hair. Xiao Yuxi leaned back in her chair, smirking faintly, though her fingers dug tightly into her desk. She didn't answer immediately.
"She has to go," one girl said dreamily. "With her looks? She'll be the next top actress. Just imagine, seeing her on TV in a few years. When she's famous, I'll brag I sat in the same classroom."
"Exactly. She'll make it no matter what. Connections or not."
Xiao Yuxi's smirk didn't falter, but An Ran caught the flicker in her eyes, something sharp, defensive, almost hollow.
"Of course she will," a boy in the back said quickly, eager to please. "With her looks, Xiao Yuxi's destined for the stage. She'll be a top actress one day, just imagine seeing her on billboards. When she's famous, I'll brag that I sat in the same classroom."
Another chimed in, "Exactly! She doesn't even need to study. Her beauty alone will open doors. When she's walking red carpets, I'll be her number one fan."
The words floated around like confetti, showering Xiao Yuxi in shallow admiration. She tilted her chin and brushed a curl away from her face, lips tugging into a faint smirk. But her hand lingered too long at the edge of her desk, fingers pressing down until her knuckles turned white.
Then, like a crack in the performance, new whispers slithered through the air.
"We don't even know if she's really rich," a girl muttered from the side, voice laced with disdain. "She's always hanging onto Lin Ruoyi's coattails. Without her, would anyone even look at Xiao Yuxi?"
"No one actually likes her," another said with a low laugh. "She's just loud and tries too hard. A top actress? Please."
Someone else snorted. "And as a black woman? In the Chinese entertainment industry? Let's be honest. When has that ever worked out?"
The laughter grew sharper.
"Yeah," a boy added cruelly. "Top black actress? Let's see if she can even get her foot in the door before dreaming about stardom."
Xiao Yuxi's smirk froze, and for the briefest moment, her eyes flickered, dark, wounded, defiant all at once. She didn't snap back, didn't defend herself. Instead, she leaned back further in her chair, crossing her arms, as if their words rolled right off her.
But An Ran, watching from her quiet corner, saw the truth. The mockery clung to Xiao Yuxi like smoke, and behind the armor of arrogance was the same loneliness An Ran knew all too well.
Across the room, Lin Ruoyi let out a laugh. "Oh please. Huaqing doesn't admit people for their pretty faces. Let's see who actually passes the entrance exam."
An Ran lowered her head. Her chest burned with the words she couldn't say aloud. She had dreamed of Huaqing long before today. But compared to them, her voice felt too small.
Still, inside her heart, she whispered to herself: I'll go. No matter what it takes.
The thought lingered as the bell rang. Books shuffled, chairs scraped, the day's lessons scattered away like dust. But An Ran's mind didn't follow. Instead, it clung to one quiet resolution.
I'll start at the library. If I use every spare moment, maybe… maybe I can catch up.
Her gaze flickered toward the window, where a familiar figure sat in the back corner, head lowered, eyes hidden beneath messy ash-brown hair. Qin Mo Ran.
Her lips pressed together. He was gloomy, detached, always apart from the rest. But if she invited him to the library… maybe he'd accept? Maybe they could study together. Maybe they could even be friends, if he wanted.
The idea felt fragile, almost foolish. Still, for the first time in a long while, An Ran's heart stirred with a strange, quiet courage.