Recalling how everyone in the villa had fallen silent the moment he spoke, Song Enya nodded.
“I know. Though I’m reluctant to admit it, you’re the young master—your words carry more weight than mine.”
“What do you mean, ‘reluctant to admit it’? What’s there to be reluctant about?” Han Shixu retorted irritably.
“Just consider me someone who resents the wealthy.”
After saying this, Song Enya glanced toward the door and urged, “You should go now. It won’t look good if someone sees you.”
Han Shixu wanted to say he wasn’t afraid, but remembering there were many outsiders present tonight, he had no choice but to leave.
Before going, however, he asked one more question, “Are you busy every day?”
“Very busy. Between work and studying.”
“There’s no rush to repay the money. I’m not short on funds.”
“I know. I’ll manage it properly. Now hurry up and go.”
Han Shixu still had more to say, but seeing her focus entirely on the dessert, he swallowed his words.
In the cramped cubicle, a faint white light glowed. The eighteen-year-old girl hunched over a small table, reading a book while savoring a dessert she had never tasted before.
The Han family’s banquet ended at ten o’clock, and that night, Song Enya enjoyed a rare, restful sleep.
Little did she know her wish would come true the very next day.
…
Ring ring—
“Hello?”
“Yes, this is Song Enya.”
Whatever was said on the other end made Song Enya, who had been wiping a table, freeze in place. “What? Di’an International…?”
As she listened to the voice on the phone, her mind flooded with the words she had overheard in the private room that day: “I heard it’s filled with nobles and aristocrats—the best school in the entire empire.”
The best aristocratic school in the entire empire…
“Hello? Are you still there? We saw in your records that your grades are exceptionally outstanding, fully meeting the admission criteria. So if you’re willing, you can transfer this semester…”
Song Enya felt her heart pounding violently, each thump shaking her chest with intense force.
Yet the next moment, as if jolted back to reality, she asked with difficulty, “How much is the tuition?”
The person on the other end seemed to chuckle.
“Our school only admits the most academically exceptional students from across the empire. Tuition is fully waived, so you’ll only need to cover daily expenses. If you’re willing, you can come to the school to complete the procedures over the next two days.”
Long after the call ended, Song Enya remained in a daze.
It wasn’t until the private room door was pushed open that she snapped back to reality. “Sis, why haven’t you finished cleaning? The guests will be here soon.”
Song Enya turned and shoved the rag into her bewildered colleague’s hands, swiftly removing her work uniform as she did so.
“Sorry, something’s come up. I might need to take the day off.”
Before finishing her sentence, she grabbed her jacket and rushed out.
…
“You’re going to Di’an International?”
Song Zhenxian’s face instantly turned pale.
How could she have forgotten? The best school in the empire was Di’an International!
“No! I don’t agree with you attending that school!”
Song Enya’s smile vanished immediately. “And your reason?”
She couldn’t understand why her sister would refuse.
Was it about money?
But tuition was fully waived.
Could it still be that damned sense of inferiority?
Song Enya stared back with reddened eyes, like the calm before a storm.
Song Zhenxian dared not meet her gaze, turning his body sideways to face the wall instead. “Di’an International isn’t a place for ordinary families like ours. I won’t agree to it.”
“Where else can I go if you don’t agree!?”
Song Enya’s voice suddenly rose, sharp and piercing. “You’re always like this, always! In your mind, we should just live in this miserable state!”
“Listen to me, Mom will find you another school, okay?” Song Zhenxian anxiously reached for his daughter’s hand, only to have it coldly pulled away.
Song Enya sniffled, tears streaming down her face. She wiped them with the back of her hand, but they only flowed faster.
“You can’t give me anything! And now you want to ruin my own efforts! Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to work and study at the same time? Do you know how much I’ve struggled just to keep my grades up!?”
Song Enya seemed to have made up her mind. She wiped her tears and declared, “This is the reward I deserve. Whether you agree or not, I’m going.”
“I don’t need your money. You’ve never given me anything anyway.”
The narrow door closed again, leaving only dimness in the small room.
Song Zhenxian leaned weakly against the wall, weeping.
Song Enya, who had run out, had no intention of going to work.
She wiped the tear stains from her face and expressionlessly kicked a pebble on the roadside.
The scenery around the Han family villa area was particularly beautiful—jade-paved paths, exquisite flowers and plants, even a simple bench was exceptionally luxurious.
Two women in fur coats hurried past on the road. Song Enya slowly moved aside to let them pass.
“Hey, what extracurricular classes did you sign your Zhongming up for? I’m just worried that if my child doesn’t learn now, they’ll be laughed at when they grow up and won’t fit in.”
“Of course you have to sign up. Isn’t your child already ten? Mine started at nine—equestrian, piano, golf… they all have to learn. Otherwise, they won’t get into Di’an International for high school later.”
“Really? I thought you could just pay a few million to get in?”
“Oh, it’s different now. Haven’t you seen how many wealthy people from Shengjing and Tianfeng have moved here in the past two years? They all want to send their kids to Di’an International. The spots for Zhongdu locals have been squeezed quite a bit. If you don’t push your child to work hard now, it’ll be tough to get those extra points for the entrance exams later.”
“Why are they all sending their kids to Zhongdu? Our own children here can’t even get into schools. It’s so frustrating.”
“Yeah, and the school also recruits a batch of top students from across the empire, which takes up even more spots. If it weren’t for the fact that Di’an International’s regular students only come from Zhongdu, Shengjing, and Tianfeng, the competition would be even fiercer. I heard many people from Qingcheng are planning to move their household registrations here.”
“That’s terrifying. I’d better sign up for everything then. I don’t want my child to be laughed at later.”
“Let me recommend an equestrian class to you. It’s only two million per semester, and the teaching is excellent.”
“Really? Then send it to me quickly…”
Song Enya glanced back at the two women as they walked away, murmuring to herself, “The competition is so fierce. It’s clearly a rare opportunity. Only someone as foolish as her would refuse it…”
She let out a long sigh, then turned and continued walking.
She had nowhere else to go, so she sat on a park bench, lost in thought, or stared at the shimmering surface of the lake.
She stayed there the entire day until the sun set behind the mountains, the crowds began to flow again, and various luxury cars drove in from outside.
Han Shixu, just out of school, spotted her sitting alone on a bench from afar in the car.
“You can go back first, I’ll return on my own later.”
The driver replied “Alright” and drove away.