On the day we submitted our college applications, the class beauty, Jiang Xiaozhi, stood at the podium in tears, saying she didn't want to part with everyone.
"Let's all apply to Peking University together. Xiaozhi wants to be everyone's little girl forever."
To my surprise, the whole class agreed.
"We'll only put down Peking University! It's either a success or a glorious failure!"
We were an ordinary class, and even our best students were barely within reach of a top-tier university. Applying only to Peking University was like throwing away our futures.
When I advised them to be sensible about their choices, her admirers tore into me:
"Do you think we're not good enough?"
"She's just jealous that we're so close. She has no sense of class pride at all."
My childhood friend, Chen Mingyu, was even colder toward me:
"Xiaozhi's godfather is the richest man in the county. Getting into Peking University is just one word from him."
"Besides, if someone like you can apply to Peking University, why can't we?"
I said nothing more.
But after we submitted our applications, our homeroom teacher begged me to change the whole class's choices to schools we could realistically get into.
My heart softened.
When the admission letters arrived, they stared in shock at the letters from various second-tier universities.
Jiang Xiaozhi pointed at me and shouted, "Shen Tingyu changed our applications! She stopped us from getting into Peking University!"
"She's jealous of us. How could our class have someone so selfish?"
My furious classmates shoved me into a river, where I drowned. My body was dragged out and fed to dogs.
My death was humiliating and absurd.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day we submitted our applications.
As everyone shouted, "We'll fight our way into Peking University together!" I only smiled.
This time, I wouldn't stop them or try to talk them out of it.
Wherever you want to apply, I'll wish you well.
