The Calm Before the Exam

The air was heavy with anticipation as students streamed toward the gates of the prestigious exam center, their nervous chatter filling the crisp morning air. The college entrance exams, the most important event in their academic lives, loomed ahead like a mountain they had been preparing to climb for years. Some students walked in small groups, discussing last-minute strategies, while others sat alone, clutching their textbooks or scribbling notes with furrowed brows.

Among them was Feng Ruoxi, her demeanor calm and composed as she stepped out of the sleek black car that had brought her to the exam center. Dressed in a simple yet elegant outfit, she looked every bit the image of quiet confidence. Her eyes scanned the scene around her, but she remained detached, as if none of the frantic energy of her peers could penetrate her cool exterior.