Chapter 399 - 395: The Gaokao

"You—you dare to curse me?"

Keira Quincy’s face turned ashen when she heard this.

Lily Sterling shook her head, looking innocent. "Just a word of warning from someone who’s been there."

A few of the girls mulled over Lily’s words and had a sudden realization.

Back then, Lily Sterling had landed the role of "Jade" right at the audition, only to be replaced shortly after.

Although she later had a blessing in disguise and got a leading role, not everyone was as lucky as her. Getting replaced was just that—getting replaced.

Keira Quincy also realized what she meant, but she wasn’t convinced. She forced a smug look and said, "I don’t need your warning. This role is mine!"

With that, she looked at the classmates beside her. "Tonight, we’re going out to celebrate. My treat!"

The group happily agreed and showered her with praise. Lily Sterling silently let out a breath, ignored them, and turned to leave.

The next morning, Lily, who had no classes and was enjoying the rare chance to sleep in, was shaken awake by an ecstatic Hannah Warner.

Lily forced herself to boot up, groggily looking at the phone Hannah was shoving in her face. Hannah’s shriek echoed in her ears, "Lily, I got the role! They switched to me! The production team switched to me!"

Lily was instantly wide awake. She could now clearly see the content on the phone: a message from Mr. Marshall to Hannah Warner. It basically said that Keira Quincy had gone out to party last night, had too much to drink, and fell down the stairs, fracturing her right arm.

The school had immediately reported the news to the production team, and the team instantly decided to give the role of "Mona Underwood" to the second choice, Hannah Warner!

Lily Sterling stared blankly at the message on the phone and blinked.

’I... I really didn’t curse Keira Quincy!’

’How could her celebration have actually ended in disaster?’

Hannah Warner was already beside herself with excitement, running around the dorm room in a frenzy. Finally, she ran to Lily’s bed, her eyes welling with tears of gratitude. "Lily, this is all because of you! If it weren’t for you, I never would have dared to challenge for such an important role, let alone get this incredible opportunity. I have to thank you properly!"

Lily came back to her senses and was genuinely happy for Hannah. "You earned this yourself. I just gave you a little push from behind. There’s still a month until filming starts, so you should focus on preparing to join the cast."

*

In the next two monthly exams, Renee Reid, refusing to be outdone, gave it her all trying to surpass Ethan Sterling, but she failed both times.

With Ethan Sterling’s tutoring help, Jameson Stone jumped from 101st place to 83rd, and on the last monthly exam, he actually broke into the top fifty of the grade, ranking 46th!

In the blink of an eye, it was June 7th—the day of the national college entrance exams!

"Mom, Sisters, aren’t you guys being a little over the top!"

Ethan Sterling had been waiting in the living room for a while. When he looked up, he saw his mother and two older sisters coming down the stairs, all wearing cheongsams with high slits.

Cecilia Sterling was wearing a Crescent White one. The cheongsam is the best at accentuating one’s figure, and it perfectly showcased Cecilia’s physique. She smiled and spun around at the foot of the stairs. "Do I look good, Ethan?"

Ethan’s eyes widened, but his heart was full of happiness. "You look great! You’ll definitely be the most beautiful sight outside the exam hall today!"

For Ethan Sterling’s college entrance exam, even the usually reserved Lily Sterling had put on a pale-cyan cheongsam. She kept fidgeting with the side slit, worried about exposing herself.

Jasmine Sterling, on the other hand, had often worn cheongsams over the past two months, so she was the most comfortable. She gracefully descended the stairs, came to her son, and gave him a gentle hug. "Go, Ethan! Mom and your sisters wish you a triumphant victory!"

This was the symbolism behind wearing cheongsams today.

Ethan Sterling nodded firmly, his tone confident and resolute. "Don’t worry, Mom. This little exam is in the bag!"

Just then, the BEEP BEEP of a car horn sounded from outside.

They all looked over and saw that Saul Thorne’s car had already pulled into the courtyard. He got out, casually took off his sunglasses, and smiled at the three cheongsam-clad beauties in the living room, giving them a thumbs-up!

After a final check of the admission ticket and other items to make sure nothing was forgotten, the family finally left the house.

Saul Thorne walked up to them, his gaze landing on Cecilia Sterling. He nodded with a look of deep satisfaction. "Absolutely beautiful."

"Of course!" Cecilia Sterling raised an eyebrow smugly, not forgetting to thank Saul. "Thanks for going to the trouble today."

"Thank you for your trouble, Saul!" Jasmine Sterling added.

"It’s no trouble at all, Auntie. My pleasure. Let’s get in the car!"

On the way to the exam hall, Cecilia and her younger siblings instinctively looked out the window at the road, their minds subconsciously flashing back to the day they took their own college entrance exams.

Even though it felt like a lifetime ago, Cecilia could still clearly recall her state of mind back then. On that day, she felt she had grown up, ready to fly into a wider, bluer sky.

’But I never expected that my young, ignorant self would lose so miserably because of a first love, because of one man!’

Just as the thought crossed her mind, a large hand suddenly enveloped her own.

She glanced to the side and met Saul Thorne’s handsome, smiling eyes. She heard him ask in a low voice, "Nervous?"

Cecilia shook her head. "No, just feeling a bit nostalgic. It made me think of my younger self."

Saul Thorne gently rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb. It was a silent comfort, a source of strength, because he had sensed the melancholy aura settling around her.

Cecilia’s heart softened. She looked at Saul and offered him a faint smile.

The car parked in a lot a kilometer away from the exam center. The group then walked Ethan Sterling to the entrance, and just as predicted, they became a sight that turned heads all along the way.

Three stunningly beautiful women in cheongsams sending their family’s child off to his college entrance exam—even a stranger could feel the love and energy emanating from this family.

"Ethan Sterling!"

They had just arrived outside the exam hall when someone shouted Ethan’s name. Ethan looked closely and saw it was Renee Reid!

"Renee Reid?"

He was taken aback for a moment, then quickly walked over to her. "What are you doing here?"

Renee Reid had received an early admission offer from Lorcain U, so she didn’t have to take the exam.

Cecilia and the others also walked closer. Seeing that the one greeting Ethan was a girl with bright eyes and a brilliant smile, they couldn’t help but exchange glances.

Renee Reid noticed the family of cheongsam-clad beauties and the handsome man with a righteous air about him, and she too was momentarily stunned.

But time was short, so she refocused her attention on Ethan. "I came to cheer you on! Don’t be nervous. With your grades, you could get into Lorcain U with your eyes closed!"

Ethan was very happy that Renee Reid had made a special trip to the exam hall to cheer for him.

"Thanks. Don’t worry, I’ll see you at Lorcain U!"

Renee Reid nodded. "Okay, I’m heading to Seventh Middle School now. I still have to go cheer for Jameson Stone!"

Ethan quickly said, "Then you should get going. Remember to pass on a message for me too. Tell him to do well and not let his hard work over the past few months go to waste."

"I know," Renee said, looking at Cecilia and the others. "Auntie, Sisters, you all look so beautiful today. I’m really envious."

Lily Sterling subconsciously asked, "You’re not taking the exam?"

Ethan immediately cut in to explain, "She’s our class president. She got early admission to Lorcain U!"