"I truly can't comprehend, why would such a pauper even go to college?"
"Exactly, if he has no money, he should just do manual labor, always dreaming such impractical dreams."
"..."
Inside a classroom of the sophomore class of the Economics department at North Capital University, everyone was coldly mocking Guo Yang who just walked in.
This mockery was simply because he was poor.
In the eyes of these rich and influential second-generation wealthy and officials' children, attending the same school and the same major as a pauper was absolutely disgraceful!
"Guo Yang, you didn't even pay your class fees, do you still have the nerve to come to school?"
The assistant class monitor, Dong Qishan, walked up to Guo Yang, pointing at him and scolded.
"I..."
"Everyone in our class has paid, except for you, if your family is really that poor, don't come to school, you're polluting the environment."
As soon as these words came out, all the students present burst into laughter.
Guo Yang was extremely embarrassed.
He was indeed very poor, his tuition was gathered piece by piece from relatives and friends.
After attending college, his living expenses were all maintained by his part-time job or by picking up and selling bottles. This was just enough to support himself, where would he find spare money to pay class fees?
Speaking of class fees, they were actually just money for entertainment and recreation.
Dong Qishan, relying on his family's good financial conditions, organized various activities every month under the guise of class fund collections.
Each time, it required at least five hundred yuan, which accounted for ten days of part-time wages for Guo Yang.
At first, Guo Yang could tolerate it once or twice.
But later, the class fund collected by Dong Qishan became more and more. It even reached over two thousand yuan.
That was equivalent to several months of living expenses for Guo Yang.
If he squandered it away, he would have to starve for the rest of the month.
Instead of tormenting himself like this, he'd rather not participate.
Seeing Guo Yang silent, Dong Qishan became even more pleased with himself, "Guo Yang, take my advice — better just drop out of school. And then we'll stop picking on you."
Hearing this, Guo Yang’s fists clenched tightly.
"Not convinced, huh?" Dong Qishan moved in close to Guo Yang, "As long as you pay the class fund, I won't mess with you."
Having said that, Dong Qishan laughed arrogantly.
Guo Yang glared at Dong Qishan and frowned, "The class fund is nothing but an excuse for you to ask for money from your parents. I won't skimp on what I should pay, but I definitely won't pay what I shouldn't!"
"It is an excuse, but our parents can afford it. If you're capable, go ask your parents for money as well." Dong Qishan sneered, then grabbed Guo Yang's chin, "Of course, you can also kneel down and beg me. Maybe I might show some compassion and pay for you."
The classmates in the class laughed when they saw this scene.
"Vice monitor, are you teasing Guo Yang now?"
"Deputy class leader, if Guo Yang is willing to kneel, I will give him the money."
Guo Yang bit his teeth, turned around, and walked out of the classroom.
No money, no matter how much you talk, it's all nonsense!
"What, leaving now? Isn't he interested in money anymore?"
"Idiot! Take a good look at yourself in the mirror. You dare to challenge me, you're looking for death!"
Guo Yang paused, looking back angrily at Dong Qishan but in the end, he held back and hastened his departure.
He swallowed today's humiliation, to return it twofold another day!
...
There was a constant flow of people at the school gate.
Guo Yang was sitting under a tree not far from the school gate. He had been sitting here since he left the classroom.
Dong Qishan's words deeply hurt his pride. He couldn't be poor all his life, could he?
Being poor made him introspective; he wanted to change, but how?...
While he was pondering, an Audi rushed towards him.
"Move away!"
Only then did Guo Yang come back to his senses and quickly dodge.
Bang!
Guo Yang dodged in time, only experiencing a slight brush against his arm and the car.
The scene attracted the attention of the people nearby, who started to cluster around.
"Hey, are you hurt?"
A girl got out of the car and hollered at Guo Yang.
Recognizing her, Guo Yang recognized that she was Li Shasha, the school's beauty.
Not only was she beautiful, but it was rumored that her father was the CEO of a listed company in Beijing.
Since childhood, Li Shasha had been nurtured with wealth, protected like a little princess.
Therefore, when an unexpected event occurred, she appeared utterly disoriented.
Just as Guo Yang was about to assure her that he was alright, his vision suddenly went black, and he collapsed.
"What happened to you, classmate?"
Li Shasha was almost in tears.
"Classmate, I didn't mean to hit you. Quick, someone help! Let's get him to the hospital!"
Just as Guo Yang regained consciousness and waved his hand, not yet uttering a word, a derisive snicker echoed from the side.
"Oh dear, it turns out it's this pauper."
"Shasha, you've been duped by him. He deliberately staged this scam to bluff you."
Guo Yang recognized the speaker as Dong Qishan, his old adversary.
Li Shasha frowned in confusion, but looking at Guo Yang, he did not seem to be pretending, leaving her in a quandary.
At this, her best friend, Lin Yuying, stepped out of the car, scoffed and remarked, "Turns out it's just some penniless scam artist. Truly, the world has stooped so low, people hold no regard for morality anymore."
Without further ado, she pulled out two hundred yuan from her purse and threw it in front of Guo Yang. "Here's two hundred yuan for your trouble. Now scram!"
She then proceeded to usher Li Shasha back into the car.
"Yuying, don't you think this is going too far?"
"We were in the wrong in the first place, perhaps we should..."
Li Shasha was about to suggest an apology when Lin Yuying cut her off.
"Stop!"
Guo Yang stood up, tightly clutching the two hundred yuan notes that Lin Yuying had just thrown in his face.
"I may be poor, but I don't need charity!"
"As for you two, looking all shiny and worthy, it's nothing but the influence of your affluent fathers and mothers. Without them, you two are worth nothing!"
With that, Guo Yang accurately tossed the two hundred yuan bills back at Lin Yuying's face. Turning around, he limped away.
"This..."
Li Sasha felt utterly helpless.
Guo Yang had reclined in the dorm for two days after having his wounds treated in the small clinic. He was finally starting to recover.
"Guo Yang, how are you feeling? Do you want me to take you to the hospital?" His roommate, Zhang Shan, asked with concern.
Zhang Shan had been the one taking care of Guo Yang these past few days.
Guo Yang shook his head, dismissing his concerns. He was not that precious. It was merely a minor injury that merely needed some rest after being treated.
Just then, his mother called.
"Guo Yang, are you doing alright in school? Make sure to eat well and take care of yourself."
"Your father said that he will work four more hours each day and wants you to stop working part-time and focus on your studies."
"Mom, tell dad to take care of himself. I have enough for my living expenses; I will send some money back to my sister in a few days."
His younger sister was still in school. After Guo Yang started working part-time in college, he would send money back home every month to supplement their income.
"You just take care of yourself. We can still manage your sister's tuition fees and living expenses."
"Alright, I understand."
After hanging up the phone, Guo Yang got up and looked out of the window, wanting to ease his emotions. Suddenly, a flash of light caught his attention.
As he rubbed his eyes, he looked again toward the direction of the flash, and was utterly astonished.
The girls' dorm was a hundred meters away. Unless you used a telescope, you simply couldn't see over there.
Yet, Guo Yang could see clearly without any tool.
"This..."
Guo Yang thought he must be hallucinating, so he rubbed his eyes again. But when he looked again, everything was still perfectly clear.
