Li Yunlan was quite earnest as she advised her son, "Don't worry about work. We'll keep an eye on Zhang Wanqing. If needed, we can have her stay with us."

Zhou Xiaocheng thought for a moment. "Do what you think is best. Just don't overwhelm her with enthusiasm."

Zhou Liyun couldn't hold back. "Xiaocheng, you're not getting any younger. It's about time you start thinking about settling down. You'll be thirty in a couple of years. Most people your age already have kids in school."

Li Yunlan nodded in agreement. "She's right, you know. You should really give it some thought."

Xiaocheng smiled lightly. "There's no hurry."

Not wanting to push further and risk upsetting him, Li Yunlan changed the subject. "Xiaoxiao, are you all set for school tomorrow? Do you need anything else?"

Lin Xiaoxiao nodded. "I'm all prepared. Since I'm not boarding, I don't need to bring too much."

With the start of the autumn semester, the campus was bustling with new students, especially the class of '78. The entrance was crowded with simply dressed freshmen carrying their belongings, their faces filled with eager anticipation.

Xiaoxiao, along with Zhang Wanqing and Meng Xiaona, had been assigned to welcome the new students at the main gate. After summer break, Xiaoxiao noticed that Xiaona seemed even more arrogant and dismissive than before. Frowning at the sight of a student wearing patched clothes and shoes so worn that his toes showed, Xiaona muttered under her breath, "Why even come to school like this? He smells."

Zhang Wanqing shot her a sharp look. "You were just lucky with where you were born. What gives you the right to look down on others? If you're so superior, why eat? The rice you eat was grown by people like him."

Xiaona glared back, rolling her eyes. "I wasn't talking to you, Zhang Wanqing. Why do you always have to interfere? Trying to show off how noble you are? Then why aren't you working in some remote area yourself?"

Wanqing sneered. "I've actually been to those places. And someone like you could use some re-education too—maybe then you'd stop acting like a capitalist princess."

Xiaona stammered, too flustered to retort. Accusations like that weren't something to take lightly. Not wanting to argue further, she turned to Xiaoxiao, hoping to find an ally.

"How was your summer?" she asked. "Mine was quite meaningful. My father introduced me to an overseas Chinese couple. They really helped me with my English. The wife actually applied to teach English here, but she postponed because her child fell ill."

She studied Xiaoxiao's face closely, hesitating before holding back what she really wanted to say—that Xiaoxiao looked strikingly like the woman, especially in profile. Fortunately, she'd had the presence of mind to ask the woman whether she had any relatives still in China. The answer was no, which put her mind at ease. Otherwise, she might have wondered if they were related.

Xiaoxiao showed little interest in the couple. "That's nice. It must be very helpful for your English."

Xiaona sighed. "It's a shame she isn't teaching here. I could've learned so much more from her.

She lived abroad for over twenty years—her English is flawless, and she's so refined. Her husband is a true gentleman too. Life overseas must be like paradise."

Her eyes shone with yearning for a world beyond.

Xiaoxiao, however, held no particular fondness for foreigners. Still, she knew many people were fascinated by the outside world, believing it to be full of wealth, sophistication, and polite, well-mannered people. It was no wonder so many were desperate to go abroad.

"The moon isn't necessarily brighter overseas," she said gently. "We should keep a broader perspective."

Xiaona dismissed her with a wave. "You just don't get it. People over there eat steak every day. Look at us—we're so behind. You should really catch up with the times."

Xiaoxiao smiled faintly. "I don't have such big dreams. I'm content as I am."

Xiaona almost felt sorry for her. Here was a bright, pretty girl who'd married some older man just to study in Beijing—wasting her youth and talent instead of striving for something better.

As they were talking, a young man carrying a suitcase and a washbasin approached. "Excuse me, is this the registration for the class of '78 clinical medicine?"

Xiaona's eyes lit up. He looked scholarly with his black-framed glasses, clean white shirt, dark trousers, and spotless sneakers. After a morning of dealing with what she considered rustic and older students, this pleasant-looking guy was a welcome change.

Xiaoxiao was also surprised—it was Dai Xueming, a classmate from the training program she'd attended at the military hospital in Longbei City.

Dai Xueming recognized her too, though she looked different now—her hair had grown out, braided and draped over her shoulder, and she wore a delicate floral-print dress that made her resemble an elegant lily. She was even prettier than he remembered.

But he had no intention of acknowledging her. Last year, he'd also taken the college entrance exam but didn't do well. Hearing that Xiaoxiao had topped the exams and made it into Beijing's most prestigious university filled him with resentment. He'd studied relentlessly since then, squeezing in only a few hours of sleep each night, and finally made it to Beijing himself.

Running into her on the first day of school was salt on the wound. He'd borrowed money to buy this new outfit, hoping to project confidence, but one look at Xiaoxiao made him feel small again.

Seeing that Dai Xueming pretended not to know her, Xiaoxiao also turned away and quietly resumed chatting with Zhang Wanqing.

Relieved, Dai Xueming smiled at Xiaona.

"Yes, this is the place!" she said eagerly. "Let me check your admission letter and I'll take you to get registered."

She quickly filled out his details and personally guided him inside.

Zhang Wanqing stared in disbelief. "What's gotten into her? There are signs everywhere. Since when is she so helpful?"

Xiaoxiao thought about the sparkle in Xiaona's eyes. She seemed very interested in Dai Xueming.