Chapter 1

The sky in June can change in an instant. Just a moment ago, it was clear and sunny, but now dark clouds have gathered, filling every inch of space with a heavy atmosphere. Thunder rumbled, and everything seemed to foretell the arrival of a heavy rain.

A boy, about seven or eight years old, covered in mud, ignored the younger brother who had fallen to the ground and was beating him. He pulled a beautiful little girl in a white princess dress and ran as fast as he could, shouting, "Run, run, it's going to rain soon."

The little girl, though only five or six years old, was the center of attention for many boys. The reason was simple: her beauty was extraordinary. Even these young boys, who understood little, felt an urge to protect her.

It's easy to understand the nature of children; they want to keep all the beautiful things for themselves. Because of this girl, almost all the boys on the street had been beaten by someone else.

This girl was not from a wealthy family, but she was also not from a poor one. She had a beautiful name: Shui Mengyao. She glanced at the boy lying on the ground with a hint of guilt in her eyes, then ran away with the other boy.

Today's incident was entirely because of her. When Shui Mengyao saw Guo Ming playing in the woods alone, she begged him to take her along. However, they were soon spotted by Guo Ming's older brother, Guo Kun, and that's when the incident occurred.

The boy lying on the ground was about six or seven years old. His brows were furrowed, and his face was almost contorted. He clutched his stomach and rolled on the ground. His older brother had hit him too hard, especially the last few blows, which almost made him vomit.

With a thunderous roar, a torrential rain began to pour.

Guo Ming smiled bitterly. By now, he had recovered from the pain and slowly got up, walking step by step towards his home.

Rain mixed with tears streamed down his face. No matter what, he was just a child. He didn't know why the other children in the family always bullied him. Was it because he was the youngest? Guo Ming clenched his small fists and thought, "One day, I will beat my older brother hard; he is too bad."

Guo Ming, covered in mud, returned home. A middle-aged man was pacing anxiously at the door. Seeing the figure in the rain, he rushed out. He was, of course, Guo Ming's father, Guo Zhengze. Seeing Guo Ming covered in mud, he became furious and said, "Why are you covered in mud again? Who did you fight with?"

"It wasn't me, it was my older brother," Guo Ming immediately countered.

"Your older brother?" Guo Zhengze's face changed, then he pulled his son into the house and said softly, "Ming, because of our family's rules, adults cannot interfere in children's fights, so I can't stand up for you. In the future, be more careful and try to avoid him."

"Why?" Guo Ming asked, puzzled.

Guo Zhengze said with a bitter tone. His older brother was not a reasonable person, and his older sister-in-law was even more protective. Guo Zhengze thought sadly.

"Don't worry, I will avoid my older brother until I have the strength to beat him up," Guo Ming said softly.

Guo Zhengze patted his son's head and looked into the distance.

Perhaps influenced by his older brother, Guo Ming became a fighting fanatic from then on. However, he didn't fight with the boys on his street; he fought with boys from other streets. Although he had no formal training, he learned some fighting techniques through long-term practice.

One day, eight years later, Guo Ming blew on his fists, grinned, and left. His older brother groaned in pain, his face full of agony. He stared in disbelief at the back of his younger brother, Guo Ming. Although he knew his younger brother often fought with others, he had learned formal kickboxing for years. How could he still lose to this little ruffian? He didn't realize that while kickboxing could improve his strength, he lacked practical experience, whereas Guo Ming had eight years of practical experience. The difference was obvious.

Guo Ming was now fifteen years old. He wasn't handsome, and he was the type of person who would be hard to find in a crowd. Although he was a ruffian to others, he was a good boy to his parents. He wore a clean school uniform, spotless, which was different from others. He valued cleanliness, making him stand out among ruffians.

Back at home, he chuckled and said, "Mom, what good food did you make today?"

His mother looked at her son, her face devoid of any smile, and said, "Come to the living room with me."

Guo Ming's heart skipped a beat. Was it because of the fight with his older brother? No, that couldn't be it! His speed was faster. So, what could be so serious that it required a talk?

As soon as he entered the living room, his heart skipped another beat. What was going on? Where did his father come from? He hadn't seen him earlier! This was serious.

Thinking about it, Guo Ming敏锐地察觉到了什么, and before they could ask, he immediately said softly, "Mom and Dad, I know what you want to say. Don't worry, I will study hard and try to get into a prestigious high school."

The two exchanged glances, both seeing the helplessness in each other's eyes. This kid had admitted his mistake first, making it hard to scold him.

Guo Zhengze sighed and said, "Ming, time is running out. You only have three months until the high school entrance exam. I don't expect you to get into the best high school, but at least try to get into the second high school in our county."

Guo Ming's heart also became anxious. He had always thought he could do it, but now that his parents had brought it up, he realized he didn't have much time left. Three months, if he worked hard, he might be able to get into the second high school, but he had no confidence.

Dreams are good, but reality is harsh. He often skipped classes to fight, so how could he focus on studying? To learn three years' worth of material in three months was like a dream. There were several high schools in their county, the most famous being the first high school. People often said that if you got into the first high school, you were halfway to college. However, its requirements were extremely strict. The second high school was of medium quality, but it was far behind the first high school. Still, its college admission rate was not low. Even if you didn't get into a good university, you could still get into a good junior college. The other high schools were not worth mentioning, and the chances of getting into a prestigious university were slim.

Guo Zhengze and his wife had never hoped their son would get into the first high school. That was a county-wide selection with only 500 spots, and the rest were top students from other counties. They only hoped he could get into the second high school.

Guo Ming's mother nodded and said, "The requirements for the first high school are too strict. Your older brother was in the top five in his class but still missed it by three points. We won't put too much pressure on you; just try to get into the second high school."

Guo Ming felt a bit uncomfortable. Seeing his parents grow older, their greatest wish was for him to succeed. But what had he given them in return? Looking at their hopeful eyes, he wanted to shout, "Mom and Dad, don't worry, I promise I will get into the second high school." But he couldn't say it. After countless fights, he had become more mature than his peers. He could deceive others, but not his parents. Giving them hope and then disappointment would only lead to despair, and he couldn't be that heartless.

The reason was simple: he didn't have the ability, unless a miracle happened. He had spent eight years preparing to fight his older brother. Learning was a cumulative process; he couldn't achieve it overnight. Unless he had an amazing memory and high intelligence, it was impossible.

"Ah, Shui Mengyao is in the same grade as you. I've heard about her. With her grades, she will definitely get into the first high school," Guo Zhengze said, filled with envy.

Guo Ming thought of Shui Mengyao, who was in the same class as him. Over eight years, she had grown from a shy little girl into a well-known beauty in the county's junior high school. According to Guo Ming, she was the type that could cause chaos.

Boys pursued her by the hundreds, and fights broke out daily because of her. But Shui Mengyao only focused on her studies and ignored everything else.

Although they were neighbors, Guo Ming often skipped classes, while she focused on her studies, so they spent very little time together. Honestly, Guo Ming didn't know much about her. His father said Shui Mengyao would definitely get into the first high school, but Guo Ming thought it was more than that. He didn't study much, but he occasionally paid attention to grades. Shui Mengyao was always in the top three in the school, and getting into the first high school was a certainty. She would likely be among the top ten in the county.

"Maybe we should ask Shui Mengyao to tutor Ming?" Guo Ming's mother suddenly thought of something and smiled.

"Ah!" Guo Ming exclaimed.

Guo Zhengze thought for a moment and nodded.

"If you both agree, I don't. I refuse," Guo Ming firmly shook his head.

"Why?" Guo Zhengze asked, puzzled.

"No reason, I just don't want her to tutor me because I don't need it. Mom and Dad, just watch, I will work hard and get into the second high school," Guo Ming said firmly.

The idea of Shui Mengyao tutoring him made him feel uneasy. If he didn't stop it, it might happen, and he knew his family's capabilities.

Shui Mengyao's father had developed quickly in politics and was now a deputy county magistrate. Guo Ming's father had also developed his business and was a well-known figure in the county. They had been neighbors for over ten years, so this small matter would be easily agreed upon.

Shui Mengyao was at the top of her class, and Guo Ming felt embarrassed about asking her for help. Not because of anything else, but because he had too many gaps in his knowledge. Subconsciously, he didn't want to lose face in front of her, perhaps a sign of machismo.

Seeing their son's expression, Guo Zhengze and his wife gave up.

After dinner, Guo Ming returned to his room. The room was spotless, with everything neatly arranged, creating a spacious and beautiful layout that was pleasing to the eye.

No one except his parents ever entered his room, not even his relatives. He disliked others touching his things.

At night, Guo Ming turned on the desk lamp, picked up the periodic table, and read for a few minutes before feeling inexplicably restless. He put down the book and walked to the window, looking up at the sky.

A golden full moon hung high in the sky, casting a bright light on the world. The moon, indifferent to the joys and sorrows of the world, rose at night and returned at dawn, free from human worries.

Turning back, he saw the final countdown he had written: 100 days. In 100 days, he would face the high school entrance exam, the first turning point in his life.

A sense of regret welled up in his heart. Time was truly not enough.