— I finally made it.
Lam Tuc stopped in front of Astral University's gate, pulling an old suitcase with one hand—the only thing Grandpa had been able to leave him—and holding the phone his neighbor had given him to congratulate him on getting into college with the other.
He looked away from the phone and raised his head. Towering before him was Astral University's magnificent gate, even taller than the village chief's house where he had lived. He couldn't help marveling at it. At last, he understood why this had been the greatest regret of Grandpa's life.
“Old man, let me fulfill your wish for you. Make sure you're watching closely from up there, okay?”
He murmured the words as he walked through the school gate. Suddenly, someone who looked like a security guard stopped him.
“Are you Lam Tuc? Let me see your documents for a moment so I can confirm your identity.”
Lam Tuc opened his suitcase and took out his admission letter for the man to inspect.
“All right. Welcome to Astral University. Just walk straight for about a hundred meters, then look to your left. You'll see where freshman orientation is being held. Good luck.”
“Thanks.”
“No problem. By the way, Lam Tuc, do you believe in yourself?”
Lam Tuc was startled and stopped in his tracks. He hadn't expected that to be something a security guard would ask. He lowered his head slightly, lost in thought. Although he was rather self-absorbed, the truth was that he had lost faith in himself when he was still very young. He had always believed that he could never accomplish anything on his own, and that gradually led him to develop a fondness for playing the supporting character who helped others.
After thinking for a while, he decided to ignore the security guard's question, pretending he hadn't heard anything, and continued walking as instructed. He didn't notice that right behind him, the person who looked like a security guard was quietly taking notes before pulling out his phone and calling someone.
As he walked around campus, he secretly praised the place. The flower gardens, trees, rows of buildings, and the school crest statue with the words “Astral University” beneath it had all been arranged thoughtfully, creating the school's beauty. However, the campus was rather deserted, probably because the school accepted fewer than a thousand new students each year.
Lam Tuc entered the ceremony venue, chose a seat near the exit, and sat down, relieved that he had arrived in time to pick a spot. He glanced around. Everyone here was either a rich heir or a rich kid. Even though he had carefully prepared his outfit, he still felt a little out of place.
The president's microphone check at the podium interrupted his thoughts.
“Hello, everyone. I'm Tieu Pham, president of Astral University. First, I'd like to congratulate the one thousand students who successfully got into this school. I...”
An hour later, Lam Tuc had summed up several important pieces of information. First, although everyone here came from wealthy families, they had all gotten in through their own ability. His score was pretty good too, but it couldn't compare with the top-ranked students. Two people especially impressed him: Minh Triet, who had earned a perfect score in the natural sciences track, and Nhu Yen, who had earned a perfect score in the social sciences track. Second, graduating required more than just earning a GPA and credits. Students also had to earn personal points by completing personal missions assigned by the school. Finally, all personal information, including class and dorm room, was listed on the school's app. Most importantly, each student's personal mission would be announced tonight.
After the president announced the ceremony's conclusion and said goodbye, Lam Tuc immediately walked out the door and headed toward D Dormitory. He told himself that he would live inconspicuously, graduate quietly, and leave his classmates with only the impression that, somehow, this person had once attended school with them.