A few days after the Gaokao results were released, people across the internet were constantly posting photos of their admission notices and the enrollment gifts they received.
[Fish from the Arctic Ocean: The Hua University grand gift pack! Don't you guys feel envious?]
The attached photo showed a gift box printed with the Hua University logo. Inside was a custom fountain pen and notebook, along with a campus card and a set of four copper bookmarks, each bearing a unique logo.
[Gaokao Victory!: The officials said we can't show our test permits or admission letters, so let me just post a sneak peek of the enrollment gift.]
The photo showed a custom cloth bag from Nan University containing a cup, a set of postcards, a keychain, and a campus card.
[My Fate Is Mine to Decide: All your enrollment gifts are so weak!]
This photo showed the gift from Shi Universitya thick stack of manuals. They were titled: "Shi University Admission Notice," "New Student Survival Guide," "Academic Handbook," "Student Financial Aid Policy," "Campus Safety Guide," "100 Rules of Shi University," "Electronic Account User Manual"...
The previous comments were full of envy, but the Shi University post was filled with "Hahahaha."
[Blossoming on a Lost Path: Hahaha, Shi University is killing me. A hundred manuals for new students.]
[Gurgle: You don't get it. Proper universities send out booklets. I'm not 'proper,' I want to go to an 'improper' school. Hahahaha.]
[Shi University Senior: This year's gift has two more manuals than mine. So jealous.]
[My Heart is Like Stone: I just finished looking at the mascot plushies from Jing University, and then I see this... What even is this stuff??]
Amidst the sea of laughter, one specific photo caught the attention of many.
[A Passing Cloud Talisman: Haishi Taoist Academy Enrollment Box.]
The photo was exactly the six-piece set Xuxu had received. This triggered a wave of secondary comments, with everyone asking what kind of weird school the Taoist Academy was. It was the first time anyone had seen a school give out Bagua compasses and talismans. Wasn't that blatant superstition?
[Rhino Niu-Niu: Can someone give us a briefing on the Haishi Taoist Academy?]
[Jing University Cutie: I don't know about the Haishi one, but I've heard of the Jing Taoist Academy. Supposedly it's a closed-campus teaching style, and outsiders aren't allowed in.]
[Peach Blossoms at Night: This kind of school is probably similar to a Buddhist academy, right?]
[Whatever: I'm curious. What kind of person actually goes to a school like that?]
The news about the Haishi Taoist Academy didn't cause a massive stir online, mainly because the school was practically non-existent on the web. Some even claimed the so-called 'six-piece set' was just a staged stunt for attention.
Those doubts lasted until the official Haishi city account suddenly released a poster for the City Image Ambassadors, pushing the netizens' curiosity to a new height.
The city ambassadorship was a government-led project sponsored by the Jianghai Group to showcase the city's image. Eight outstanding student representatives had been selected from seven high schools in Haishi to represent the city's eight districts. This group included both Jiang Xuxu and Lu Xuexi.
It was hard to tell if the Haishi government was doing it on purpose, but the poster included each student's Gaokao score and the prestigious university they had ultimately chosen.
As the Gaokao top scorer, Xuxuwith her refined, beautiful appearance and proud resultssuccessfully took the center position. The moment anyone saw the poster, they were immediately drawn to her in the middle. Right beneath her name was the bright title: "Haishi Gaokao Top Scorer."
However, when everyone excitedly looked down to see which elite university this beautiful genius had chosen, they saw the following label:
[Haishi Taoist Academy].
Netizens' first reaction was to be stunned. Their second reaction was to be completely bewildered.
So, what exactly was the Haishi Taoist Academy? Why would the top scorer give up century-old prestigious schools like Jing University or Hua University for that??
It was... incomprehensible.
Netizens weren't the only ones who didn't understand; the guests invited to the Jiang family's Teacher-Thanking Banquet didn't get it either. To celebrate Xuxu becoming the city's top scorer and the other Jiang children entering famous universities, the family had organized a grand banquet, inviting socialites and celebrities from all circles. The event was as lively as a large-scale formal gala.
Coincidentally, the party took place on the same night the city government released the poster.
"Xuexi, what is going on with that Jiang Xuxu? Her grades are so good, so why did she pick such a school?"
An elite young lady who was close to Lu Xuexi immediately sought her out for gossip the moment she entered the venue. Clearly, the poster released during the day had peaked everyone's curiosity.
As one of the representatives of the night, Xuexi was already dissatisfied because her spotlight had been stolen by Xuxu's ambassadorship and the banquet itself. When her friend asked about Xuxu, her mood soured even further.
"Well, she has a personal interest in things like metaphysics and feng shui. The family tried to persuade her, but she refused to listen, so we just have to let her be," Xuexi said. Though she was impatient inside, she still maintained her gentle and elegant facade, her tone laced with a hint of helplessness.
The person next to her couldn't help but wonder. "She's the eldest daughter of the Jiang family. Why does she like that stuff? Even if she likes it, choosing a Taoist academy is going too far. Doesn't she care about the family's reputation?"
Xuexi noticed the disdain in the other person's voice. She offered a faint smile but didn't join in on the mockery. She simply said, "Don't be like that. I heard the school is actually okay. After graduation, they even provide job placements in Taoist temples..."
As soon as she said that, several people around them burst out laughing.
"So she's going to be a Taoist nun immediately after graduation! That's too funny."
One of them was even bolder. Under the pretense of offering congratulations, she walked right up to Xuxu and asked directly, "Miss Jiang, I heard that the academy you chose provides job placements in temples. Are you really planning to become a Taoist nun after you graduate?"
Her voice wasn't lowered at all, and everyone nearby heard her clearly. Xuxu, who had been numbly enduring the gaze of the family elders, twitched her ears as if she had suddenly found a bit of energy.
She turned her head and looked at the speaker. Her almond eyes swept over the woman's face. Xuxu tilted her head slightly and asked, "And you are?"
"Yin Jiabao. We met at your homecoming dinner last time."
Although she intended to mock her in front of everyone, Yin Jiabao still maintained the poise expected of a socialite.
Xuxu looked at Jiabao and nodded slowly.
"Being a nun isn't quite it. But if you need it, I can read your fortune for you."
Jiabao simply couldn't stand how all the elders were praising Xuxu lately, especially over the last few days when her parents wouldn't stop comparing her to Xuxu. That was why she had intentionally tried to embarrass her in front of the adults. She hadn't expected Xuxu to actually play along. She immediately laughed.
"Ha! You haven't even started school yet and you already know how to tell fortunes? Alright then, read mine."
Xuxu looked at her and gave a small smile.
"You've been cheated by your boyfriend."
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