Secretly cannot hide

The castle

The sun hung high in the sky, casting a golden glow over the sprawling campus of Nuwan Medical College.

The air buzzed with excitement as graduates in flowing black gowns and caps gathered with their families and friends, celebrating the culmination of years of hard work.

Zixuan Yue stood amidst the crowd, her graduation cap slightly askew, clutching her MBBS DEGREE tightly Her heart swelled with pride as she looked around at the familiar faces of her classmates, her friends, and her family.

"Zixuan, over here!" Chun Fen called, waving her arms enthusiastically.

Zixuan turned, her face lighting up as she joined her best friend for a photo.

"Say cheese!" Chun Fen's mother snapped the picture, capturing the moment forever.

As Zixuan hugged Chun Fen and Li Xiang, her other best friend, she couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia.

This was it-the end of medical school, the end of an era. She glanced around, her eyes lingering on the familiar faces of her peers. Some she would miss dearly; others, she might never see again.

Her gaze drifted to the edge of the courtyard, where a group of graduates stood laughing..

Flashback: The Move to the New Neighborhood

The moving truck rumbled to a stop, and Zixuan stepped out, her sneakers crunching against the gravel driveway. She tilted her head back, taking in the sight of her new home-a modest but charming two-story house with a small garden out front. It wasn't grand, but it was cozy, and she already felt a sense of belonging.

"Zixuan, come help with the boxes!" her mother called, struggling to balance a stack of them in her arms.

"Coming!" Zixuan hurried over, grabbing a few lighter boxes labeled

"Books" and "School Supplies." As she turned back toward the house, her gaze drifted across the street, and she froze.

There it was.

A mansion-no, a castle-stood proudly behind tall iron gates. Its stone walls were draped in ivy, and the windows glinted like jewels in the afternoon sun. A sprawling garden surrounded the property, with perfectly trimmed hedges and a fountain that sparkled in the sunlight. Zixuan's mouth fell open.

"Mom," she whispered, her voice tinged with awe. "Is that...... real?"

Her mother followed her gaze and chuckled. "That's the Jing family's estate. They're one of the wealthiest families in Yihe. Rumor has it, their son is quite the charmer." Zixuan's eyes widened. "They have a son?"

"Yes, but don't get any ideas," her mother teased, nudging her gently.

"We're here to focus on your studies, not daydream about fairy tales." Zixuan grinned, her playful side taking over. "Well, if I can't live there, maybe I'll marry their son instead.

Then I can have the castle and the prince."

Her mother laughed, shaking her head. "Dream on, sweetheart."

That evening, after the movers had left and the boxes were unpacked, Zixuan sat by her bedroom window, staring out at the castle. The lights inside were on, casting a warm glow through the windows. She wondered what it would be like to live there-to walk through those grand halls, to sit by the fountain in the garden, to meet the boy who called it home.

Her father knocked on the door, pulling her out of her thoughts.

"Zixuan, dinner's ready."

She followed him downstairs, where her mother had laid out a simple meal of stir-fried vegetables and rice.

As they ate, her parents talked about their plans for the new house-painting the walls, planting flowers in the garden, turning the spare room into a study for Zixuan.

"This is a fresh start for all of us," her father said, smiling warmly. "A chance to build a better future." Zixuan nodded, but her mind was still on the castle. She couldn't shake the feeling that her life was about to change in ways she couldn't yet imagine.

The First Day at Nuwan High School The next morning, Zixuan woke up early, her stomach fluttering with nerves. It was her first day at Nuwan High School, and she had no idea what to expect.

She dressed carefully in her new uniform, smoothing out the wrinkles and adjusting the collar. As she looked at herself in the mirror, she

took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart.

"You'll be fine," she told her reflection. "Just be yourself."

Her mother drove her to school, giving her a reassuring smile as they pulled up to the gates. "Good luck, sweetheart. I know you'll do great." Zixuan nodded, clutching her backpack tightly as she stepped out of the car. The school was even more imposing up close, with its grand architecture and bustling courtyard.

She felt like a small fish in a very big pond.

As she made her way to her classroom, she couldn't help but notice the other students. They all seemed so confident, so sure of themselves. She felt out of place in her plain uniform and simple hairstyle.

But then she saw him.

Hua Jing.

He was standing by the window, his tall frame and confident posture unmistakable. Even from a distance, he exuded an air of eifortless charm.

Zixuan's heart skipped a beat as she quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing.

"Hey, new girl!" a cheerful voice called out. Zixuan turned to see a girl with a bright smile waving at her. "I'm Chun Fen. Sit with us!"

Relieved, Zixuan made her way to the empty seat beside Chun Fen. As she sat down, she couldn't help but glance at Hua Jing again. This time, their eyes met.

For a moment, the world seemed to stop. Then Hua Jing looked away, his expression unreadable.

Zixuan's heart sank. He didn't even smile.

Present Day

Zixuan's lips curved into a wistful smile as she recalled that moment.

Back then, she had been so young, so full of dreams and fantasies. She had no idea how much her life would change after moving to this neighborhood, after starting at Nuwan High School, after meeting him.

"Zixuan, are you okay?" Li Xiang's voice pulled her back to the present.

"Yeah," Zixuan said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Just... thinking about how far we've come." Chun Fen slung an arm around her shoulders. "Don't get all sentimental on us now! This is just the beginning.

We've got our whole lives ahead of us!"

Zixuan nodded

as she stood on the brink of a new chapter,

"Zixuan!" her father called, holding up his camera. "One more photo!" She turned to face him, forcing a bright smile. As the camera clicked, she made a silent promise to herself.

No matter what the future held, she would cherish the memories of this place, of these people, of the castle that had once seemed so out of reach.

Because even if her fairy tale never came true, the journey had been worth it.