Chapter 14: Dreamchase University

The summer cicadas clamored loudly in the treetops, and the air was thick and sticky like congealed honey, stifling and suffocating.

Li Yifei had just finished a public speech at school, a dark patch of sweat spreading on the back of his shirt, clinging damply to his skin.

He pushed his worn, chipped bicycle as he stepped out of the school gate. The wheels rolled over the scorching pavement, producing a dry rustling sound, as if even the ground lamented under the summer heat.

Barely a day had passed when his phone suddenly screamed sharply, shattering the drowsy silence of the afternoon.

Li Yifei pulled out his phone. The screen displayed the number of the school’s disciplinary office.

“Yifei,” his homeroom teacher’s familiar voice came through, tinged with an unusual urgency, “If you’re free now, please come back to school as soon as possible. Someone is looking for you.”

“Looking for me?” Li Yifei’s knuckles whitened slightly as he gripped the phone, a flicker of confusion crossing his heart.

He couldn’t fathom who would go directly to the school at this hour. The line went dead with only a busy signal beeping in his ear.

Rubbing his brow, he decided not to overthink it. Swinging a leg over his bike, the chain clattered sharply as the wheels surged forward, grinding over the sun-bleached road and kicking up a small cloud of dry dust.

The familiar street scenes blurred behind him as the hot wind slapped his face, yet it could not dispel the fog of uncertainty in his mind.

In the distance, he saw his homeroom teacher pacing anxiously in the narrow shadow by the guardhouse.

As soon as Li Yifei appeared around the corner of the school gate, his teacher almost jumped to greet him, the wrinkles on his face smoothing out with excitement like sails suddenly billowing in the wind.

“Ah, finally!” he grabbed Li Yifei’s arm firmly, urgency in his grip. “Come quickly! The admissions officers from Yanjing and Huaqing have been waiting for you!” He lowered his voice, each word striking like a hammer on Li Yifei’s heart. “These two schools are the very pinnacle of our nation’s elite! You’d better be fully aware of that!” He patted Li Yifei’s back heavily and pushed him inside.

Yanjing? Huaqing? Those names struck Li Yifei’s eardrums like two heavy blows.

A scorching wave shot from his feet to the crown of his head, his heartbeat pounding violently against his ribs, drowning out the cicadas’ chorus.

He instinctively quickened his pace, almost jogging behind his teacher through the quiet, spacious campus, his footsteps echoing sharply on the heated concrete.

The heavy, dark wooden door of the conference room was gently pushed open, and a cool breeze mixed with the scent of leather and paper washed over him, causing Li Yifei to squint slightly. The sight inside made him halt briefly.

Around the oval table sat Principal Jiang and several vice principals, all wearing the same warm, expectant smiles.

But what truly caught his eye were the unfamiliar faces beside the principal. One was a middle-aged woman in a neat suit and gold-rimmed glasses, sitting upright;

the other, a middle-aged man in a light-colored shirt, exuding a scholarly grace with a gentle expression. Their gazes, calm yet scrutinizing, rested squarely on Li Yifei as he entered. The invisible pressure they radiated was stronger than the chill in the room.

Li Yifei swallowed, took a deep breath, and suppressed the wild rabbit pounding in his chest. He forced a polite smile and spoke clearly in the quiet room: “Good day, professors. I am Li Yifei.”

A glimmer of satisfaction flickered in Principal Jiang’s eyes before he stood and introduced loudly, “Yifei, this is Professor Zhang from Huaqing University,” he gestured toward the woman with glasses, “and this is Professor Wang from Yanjing University.”

Li Yifei bowed slightly, showing respect. “Greetings, Professor Zhang, Professor Wang.”

Everyone took their seats. The only sound was the soft hum of the air conditioner. After a brief silence, Professor Zhang from Huaqing spoke first.

She adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses, her sharp gaze fixed on Li Yifei. “Li Yifei, I believe you already understand the purpose of our visit.” Her voice was low but every word clear and resolute. “Huaqing University has always been eager to recruit talent.

We have conducted a thorough review of your achievements,” she paused, tapping lightly on a file in front of her. “Top scorer in the science section of the national college entrance exam, double gold medalist in the national physics and mathematics competitions last year… this transcript is dazzling.”

Leaning slightly forward, her tone was compelling, “Yanjing offers you full tuition and fees waived, with a seamless combined undergraduate-to-master’s program.

Additionally,” she emphasized, “we will match you with a top-tier mentor in your field of interest, enabling you to participate directly in national key research projects. This will be an invaluable boost to your future academic pursuits.”

No sooner had Professor Zhang finished than Professor Wang of Yanjing spoke, a gentle smile playing on his lips, his voice steady as a mountain: “It’s true that Huaqing and Yanjing are often neck and neck in many respects—no need for me to elaborate on that.”

His eyes locked onto Li Yifei with a penetrating insight. “Our promise to you is a combined undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral program, with your academic direction fully respecting your personal wishes.”

He paused briefly before adding a more concrete offer. “Moreover, understanding that top talents require space for deep thought, Yanjing will provide you a single dormitory room, ensuring a quiet, independent environment where you can focus solely on your studies.”

His words were succinct but carried the profound heritage of Yanjing and sincere intention toward nurturing talent.

The olive branches extended by these two top institutions weighed heavily on Li Yifei’s heart almost simultaneously.

Huaqing’s research platform and national project mentors, Yanjing’s direct doctoral pathway and private space… each condition was like a magnet, irresistibly drawing him in.

His hands resting on his knees clenched and unclenched unconsciously, palms slightly damp. The silence in the room was so still that one could hear the faint hum of the air conditioner; all eyes were fixed on his face.

He lowered his gaze to the polished table, staring at his blurred reflection, silent for a moment. When he looked up again, the momentary turmoil had settled, leaving only clear resolve in his eyes.

He turned toward Professor Zhang, his tone sincere with a faint trace of apology: “Thank you very much, Professor Zhang and Professor Wang, for traveling such a long way. I am deeply grateful for this honor.

I also want to thank Principal Jiang and the school for their continuous support.” He took a steady breath, speaking clearly, “Both Yanjing and Huaqing are the pinnacles of academic excellence in our country, places many dream of attending.

To receive the favor of both universities is a great honor and a profound shock to me.”

His gaze shifted to Professor Zhang, the settled determination brightening: “To be honest, since middle school, a seed was planted in my heart.

I once read a book about Yanjing University, saw the shimmering waves of Weiming Lake, the silhouette of Boya Tower… I told myself I must go there, walk by the lake, and study beneath the tower.

That thought carried me through countless nights of burning the midnight oil.” He paused, his tone bearing the stubbornness of youth, “Therefore, I’m very sorry, Professor Zhang. My choice is Yanjing University.”

Professor Zhang’s smile remained gracefully poised, though a faint, fleeting hint of regret passed through her eyes.

She waved her hand lightly, her gesture embodying the magnanimity of a scholar: “No need to apologize, Yifei. Choosing is always a two-way street. The doors of Huaqing will always be open to the most outstanding students.

We look forward to your success at Yanjing and hope to see you visiting Huaqing for academic exchanges in the future.” Her blessing was sincere and generous.

Li Yifei then turned to Professor Wang, and the two engaged in a deeper discussion. From core curricula to cutting-edge interdisciplinary projects, from the library’s ancient archives to the latest laboratory equipment—nothing was left untouched.

Professor Wang patiently answered every question Li Yifei posed, his eyes full of admiration, expressing high hopes for Li Yifei’s future development at Yanjing.

As the conversation neared its end, Professor Wang solemnly pulled a deep blue envelope embossed with the Yanjing University emblem from his black briefcase.

He handed it to Li Yifei with both hands, a look of satisfaction on his face: “Yifei, this is your admission letter. Please be sure to register on time. We look forward to your arrival.”

Li Yifei reached out, his fingertips touching the smooth, resilient surface of the envelope as if sensing a faint current.

He accepted it steadily, feeling its thin weight like a thousand-pound burden—fruit borne of countless days and nights of sweat, a ticket to the lakeside he had longed for.

“Professor Wang, you can rest assured!” He straightened his back, voice firm and resonant, eyes burning with pure light. “I will not disappoint you.”

The setting sun poured molten gold, painting the west wall of the small courtyard in warm orange-red. Li Yifei pushed open the door and stepped inside, bringing the lingering heat with him.

His mother emerged from the kitchen carrying dishes, her apron dotted with grease stains. Her eyes immediately caught the striking deep blue envelope in her son’s hand, and she froze.

“Dad, Mom,” Li Yifei handed over the envelope, “This is the admission letter from Yanjing.”

His mother wiped her hands on her apron several times before cautiously taking it.

His father, Old Li, appeared from the inner room and stopped dead when he saw the deep blue in his wife’s hands.

He hurried forward in three strides, his rough hand trembling faintly as he joined his wife in gently stroking the embossed school emblem and the gilded name on the letter.

Their heads nearly touched as they greedily scanned every line of the letter, as if deciphering a long-lost treasure.

Old Li looked up, eyes red, voice thick with emotion and a hint of laughter: “Good boy… good boy! Our family… our family grave must be smoking green now!”

Seeing the mixture of ecstatic joy, pride, and disbelief on his parents’ faces, a warm current surged through Li Yifei’s heart, dispelling the last trace of exhaustion.

“Dad, Mom,” he said softly but clearly, “I plan to go to the capital in early August. I want to settle in and get familiar with the environment before the semester starts.”

The couple exchanged a glance and nodded firmly without hesitation. “Go! You should go!” His mother repeated eagerly, then nervously grabbed his arm. “Just… be careful going so far alone! Make sure your meals and lodging are arranged. Don’t be stingy with money…”

His father grunted in agreement, eyes full of concern.

Li Yifei nodded, signaling them to rest easy. He went into his small room and soon returned with a deep red bankbook in hand.

He placed it solemnly on the little dining table worn smooth by time in front of his parents.

“Dad, Mom,” he said, pointing to the bankbook—his savings from years of competition prize money—“Take this money.”

Old Li was taken aback, reflexively reaching out to refuse, “You can’t do that. This is yours…”

Li Yifei gently pressed down his father’s calloused hand, voice resolute, “Stop taking on heavy work at the construction site.

Your back and Mom’s rheumatism can’t endure this anymore.” His gaze swept over the familiar, slightly cramped room, voice steady, “We’ll use this money to buy two better parking spaces and open a small supermarket.

Being your own boss is better than working for others. You’ll be able to relax more.” He paused, looking at his parents, “When I graduate and start working, we’ll upgrade to a bigger place.”

His mother’s eyes reddened again. She turned away quickly, dabbing her eyes with the corner of her apron.

Old Li looked at his son, then at the heavy bankbook on the table, his rough hand rubbing the edge repeatedly. The room was quiet, save for the chirping of sparrows returning to their nests outside the window.

After a long moment, Old Li exhaled deeply, as if releasing a thousand-pound burden or summoning new courage.

He looked up at his son’s clear, determined eyes and nodded firmly, emitting a short, powerful sound from his throat: “Done!”

Days slipped quietly through busy hands like sand through fingers. Li Yifei began methodically preparing for his move north.

He carefully organized the old books and notes that had accompanied him through countless exams, sorting them into boxes; researched information about the northern metropolis—from transit maps to climate characteristics;

searched for every detail about Yanjing University—the four seasons of Weiming Lake, the dawn and dusk of Boya Tower, the vast library, the cutting-edge laboratories… every detail stirred his heart.

On the windowsill, the deep blue admission letter lay quietly bathed in the golden sunset.

The gilded school name shimmered subtly in the fading light, like a silent proclamation, a starting point brimming with infinite possibilities.

The wheels ground over the scorching road, raising dry dust. Li Yifei knew that at the end of this road, the institution carrying countless dreams and honors awaited quietly.

The ripples on Weiming Lake would reflect the beginning of his new journey; the chimes of Boya Tower would hear the sound of his dreams taking root. His era was only just beginning.