Chapter 1: A Beginning
The school bell rang, signaling the end of the college entrance exam—and the end of Lam Tuc's boring high school years. As he walked out of the exam room and watched the other students being questioned, comforted, and fussed over by their parents, he felt a little lonely.
A little about Lam Tuc: His parents abandoned him when he was young, and he was taken in and raised by an old man. However, the old man's circumstances weren't much better than his own—he was homeless. Even so, the money the old man had managed to save was enough to put Lam Tuc through school properly.
When he was little, Lam Tuc often dreamed that his parents would come to take him home. He even thought he was the son of a wealthy family who had been sent away as a child to avoid getting involved in a battle over the inheritance, and that once everything was over, he would become a genuine rich heir. But reality was cruel. He really was just an abandoned child, probably born in the bathroom of some vocational school. He had repeatedly watched the shadows, wondering whether someone was secretly protecting him, but he never saw anyone. He had also asked the old man how he had found him, and the old man said he had happened to see him while gathering firewood in the forest. That was how he had named him Lam Tuc. From then on, Lam Tuc learned to accept reality and be content with what he had, but it had also unknowingly taken away his determination and drive.
When he started high school, he wanted to stand out and become the center of everything, so he ran for class president. During that time, his classmates constantly asked him for favors, like not checking their homework and marking them present for roll call. If he refused to help, they mocked and scolded him; if he helped, the teacher reprimanded him. After becoming the center of the class, he was constantly scrutinized over his private life and became the focus of gossip and backbiting. After only a month, he resigned as class president. From then on, he no longer wanted to be the center of anything. He preferred being a supporting character standing off to the side and watching.
Back to the story. Lam Tuc ran straight home to the cheap rental room, ignoring every camera lens and the cheerful yet slightly emotional atmosphere of those final days spent with his teachers and friends. He walked as if he wanted to leave all those boring high school years behind. Right now, he only wanted to see Grandpa and brag about how well he had done on the exam.
When he got home—or rather, to their cheap rental room—the damp surroundings were slightly moldy, and the fluorescent light flickered overhead. If the two of them weren't living there, it would have been a famous spot for a "courage challenge." Even so, the room was still cozy—at least for a homeless old man and an orphaned child.
As soon as he stepped inside, Lam Tuc called out loudly:
"Old man, I'm done with the exam! I did really well, too. I couldn't get a perfect score, but now I can confidently get into any school I want!"
The old man gently pushed the door closed, then wiped his old glasses over and over before putting them back on so he could get a good look at his adopted grandson. After fumbling around for a while, he asked Lam Tuc:
"So, have you decided which college you want to attend?"
"I... I haven't."
He was a little surprised. He had never considered going to college. He had only planned to attend vocational school and find a manual labor job with decent pay. He knew Grandpa didn't have much time left, and he also understood that working alone wouldn't be enough to cover college tuition. He had only planned to learn a trade so he could earn money to take care of Grandpa and repay him.
The old man was a little happy and immediately advised Lam Tuc:
"Why don't you attend Astral University? Tuition is waived there, and they even provide food and housing. Once you graduate, you'll be guaranteed an incredibly bright future. You might even get a job with the government."
"I know, but it's a boarding school. Students have to live on campus for five whole years. If I leave, who will take care of you?"
"You don't need to do that. I don't have much time left anyway, and I've already saved enough money for my funeral arrangements. Just apply."
"Let me think about it. There's still two weeks left, after all."
At that moment, all Lam Tuc really wanted was to make money as quickly as possible so he could repay the old man. He didn't think about his own future at all.
The two of them continued living day by day until a week later, when Lam Tuc had just returned from buying vegetables.
"Old man, I'm back—"
He froze on the spot. His heart felt as though it had been crushed. Outside the door, the midday sunlight poured down as if it wanted to burn everything to ash, in stark contrast to the scene inside the old rental room. He didn't cry. He only stood there, wondering, "Why did you have to go this far, Old man?"
After standing rooted to the spot for a long time, he noticed an envelope in the old man's hand. When he opened it, he found a small amount of money, a funeral service business card, and a small note. He unfolded the note. It read: "If I had attended Astral back then..." Now he understood a little more about Grandpa. Not being able to attend Astral University had been his greatest regret.
Lam Tuc called the funeral service using the number on the card, respecting the old man's choice. He decided that he would attend Astral University.
The scene inside the house was lonely and cold enough to make anyone think this was the end of a story. But this was actually the beginning of the beginning for Lam Tuc—the person who would be written into a special chapter of the school's history.