At the start, I had to choose one of four options, and I immediately picked the Brahmin from the cou

Zhao Qiang led the way. Although he knew that Li Xiao and Zheng Hao's families were wealthy, he didn't know exactly how much money they had. He could only glean some information from the limited-edition sneakers they wore in school and the latest mobile phones that were inadvertently peeked out of their backpacks.

He originally thought that even if Li Xiao and Zheng Hao's families were wealthy, they probably wouldn't be much better off than his family.

After all, if he gritted his teeth and begged his parents, he could still buy those things.

But just now in the parking lot, he saw Li Xiao get out of a Panamera and watched Zheng Hao drive an RS7 into the parking lot. Only then did he realize that he had been too easily swayed by what he saw.

Out of the corner of his eye, Zhao Qiang glanced again at Li Xiao and Zheng Hao behind him.

Li Xiao walked with a swagger, and the calm and composed demeanor on his face was nothing like that of a student who had just turned eighteen. He seemed more like the kind of important person he had met when he went to the city with his family on business. He was imposing without being angry, and even if he didn't say anything, just standing there made people not dare to breathe.

Zhao Qiang, who could usually chat with anyone, suddenly didn't know what to talk about with Li Xiao.

Talking about the future? His family has probably already paved the way for him. The college entrance exam is just a formality. Who knows, in a month or two, he might see photos of himself with the Statue of Liberty on social media.

Talking about games? That's even more nonsense. While they were still playing mobile games, people were playing a real-life version of Fast and Furious. Who cared about those virtual stars and skins on the screen?

He suddenly realized that after the college entrance examination, the group of them had completely become people from two different worlds.

Zhao Qiang's mind was in a mess, and he didn't say anything along the way, just silently leading the way.

As for Wang Xu, he was still the same nobody, closely following behind Zhao Qiang, head down, seemingly lost in thought.

When Li Xiao and his group arrived, the banquet hall was already almost full.

At the table in the very center, their homeroom teacher, Mr. Zhou, and a few high-achieving students were discussing their estimated scores. This year's college entrance examination was much more difficult than in previous years, and the last math problem was even more challenging, causing even the top students who usually ranked in the top ten of the grade in mock exams to complain bitterly.

"For the third part of this problem, I used derivatives to find the interval, but I got the calculations all messed up halfway through."

"Who isn't? I almost didn't even finish that analytical geometry problem. Teacher Zhou, this time the average score for our province is probably going to drop a lot."

Several top students surrounded Lao Zhou, their expressions a mixture of relief at having finished the exam and anxiety about their scores.

Old Zhou's full name is Zhou Dehou. He has been teaching at the No. 1 Middle School since he graduated from university, and it has been almost forty years now. He is a typical old teacher in the county town.

He was just about to say a few words of comfort when the door to the private room was pushed open.

"Old Zhou, look who's here!" Zhao Qiang shouted as soon as he entered the door.

That shout instantly drew everyone's attention in the hall.

"Hey, is this Li Xiao? He looks like a completely different person, he's so handsome." Zhang Qian, sitting to Lao Zhou's left, was the first to react. Looking at Li Xiao, who looked so different from when they were in school, she nudged the girl next to her with her elbow with a mischievous grin.

The girl looked up at Li Xiao, then quickly lowered her head again. However, her reddened earlobes revealed that she was not at peace.

Old Zhou put down his teacup and stood up, gesturing for the two men to sit at their table. "Come, come, sit here. Li Xiao, Zheng Hao, you two are finally here! If you hadn't come, Zhao Qiang's loudspeaker would have blown the roof off the place."

Li Xiao and Zheng Hao didn't refuse and sat down in the empty seats next to Lao Zhou. "There was indeed a bit of traffic on the way, so we've kept Teacher Zhou and everyone waiting."

He didn't deliberately put on airs like a rich young master, but the composure that emanated from his very being still drew frequent glances from the girls at the table. The girl who had been poked by Zhang Qian earlier didn't dare to look up at all after seeing Li Xiao sitting at the same table with them.

Although Li Xiao was good-looking before, he always had a bit of the naivety and impetuosity that is unique to high school students.

But today, the dark gray polo shirt he wore, without any logo but with an extremely well-fitting cut, perfectly accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist, and his every move exuded an indescribable composure.

His charisma is captivating, drawing you in effortlessly. Money can indeed sustain a person; this is no empty phrase. His composure and confidence are, in most cases, built on real money.

No matter how well someone tries to put on an act, the weariness of life that someone can't even afford next month's rent can't be hidden in their eyes.

Having taught for over forty years, Zhou Dehou had met countless people, but he was still amazed by Li Xiao's transformation. In less than half a month, Li Xiao seemed like a completely different person, becoming deep and steady, unlike a mere eighteen-year-old boy.

Among the students he taught, there were some from wealthy families.

A few years ago, a student's family owned a factory, and it was quite large. At the graduation banquet, the student's father donated 500,000 yuan to the school on the spot.

But the way that student sat at the table was completely different from Li Xiao in front of him. It was the kind of ostentatious display that comes from someone who has suddenly become rich, covered in all kinds of big brand logos, as if afraid that others would not know that he has money in his pocket.

But Li Xiao was different. Although they were both rich, and Li Xiao's family was even richer, he didn't show any of the arrogance of someone who had achieved early success. Instead, he exuded a sense of refinement after experiencing many trials and tribulations.

Zhou Dehou had only ever seen this feeling in those high-ranking senior leaders who came to inspect the No. 1 Middle School from the city.

"Li Xiao, where did you go for some seclusion after your exams? You look much better than when you were in school after just half a month." Zhou Dehou suppressed his surprise and looked him up and down half-jokingly.

"Teacher Zhou, please don't bring up my shortcomings. After the exams, I went on a few trips with my elders and broadened my horizons. Only then did I realize how much I enjoyed life at school. That's why, as soon as I received the invitation to the gathering today, I dragged Haozi here immediately."

Having seen the world, what kind of world could transform an eighteen-year-old so completely in just half a month?

He asked, having taught for forty years, what should be asked and what shouldn't be asked, he had his own scale in his heart.

"Come on, everyone's here, Old Zhou, how about you say a few words?"

The crowd cheered and applauded.

Old Zhou didn't refuse. He stood up with his teacup in hand, looked around, and slowly scanned each young face. Three years is neither a long nor a short time, but it's enough to leave an indelible mark on everyone's hearts.

"Three years, more than a thousand days and nights, watching you grow from clueless little kids when you first entered the school into the young men and women you are now, I feel both happy and reluctant to part with you."

The private room gradually quieted down. The boys who had been making the most noise just moments before stopped laughing, and the eyes of several girls who were easily moved to tears began to redden.

Old Zhou sighed, his tone becoming earnest and serious.

"Once you step out of the gates of our No. 1 High School, you'll have truly stepped halfway into society. The outside world is vast and complex; it's not like an exam where there's a standard answer if you make a mistake. No matter what university you get into or how high you climb in the future, Teacher Zhou only hopes two things from you: to be upright people and to work diligently and conscientiously."

Having said that, he raised his teacup and shouted, "Come on! This first cup, Teacher Zhou toasts you all with tea instead of wine, wishing you all a bright future and that you may each reach your own highest peak!"

"Cheers!"

"Respect for the Aged Week!"