Garden of Shooting Stars-When Fate Comes Knocking

The first day I set foot in Minh Duc Academy—a school reserved for the ultra-rich—took my breath away. The gates were as grand as a palace, and a line of luxury cars stretched across the parking lot. I, just an ordinary girl with the only scholarship, felt utterly out of place in this world of extravagance. In class, everyone was whispering about a particularly special transfer student: a boy who had just returned from abroad, the son of a major corporation, handsome and arrogant. Though no one had seen him yet, the rumors were enough. The bell rang. The door opened, and a tall boy with broad shoulders and slightly tousled black hair walked in. His sharp features and deep, icy eyes instantly silenced the room. “Dao Minh Tu,” he introduced himself briefly in a low, steady voice. “I don’t like being disturbed.” That was it. No smile, no courtesy—just a few words that had every girl inside squealing silently, while I frowned. What kind of person is this? During the break, I walked down the hallway carrying a carton of milk. Distracted by chatting with my friends, I bumped into someone. The milk slipped from my hands, spilling a few drops on the floor. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to!” I bent down to pick it up, flustered. When I looked up, my heart sank. It was Minh Tu. His gaze was cold as ice, his brows slightly furrowed. “Watch where you’re going,” he said curtly. “I… I already said sorry…” I mumbled. Without another word, Minh Tu picked up the carton, placed it back in my hands, and walked away, his tall figure radiating arrogance. I stood frozen, a mix of frustration and embarrassment swirling inside me. What a conceited, infuriating person… yet why is my heart racing like this? “Hey, you just bumped into the new hotboy, right?” my best friend Linh appeared out of nowhere, eyes sparkling. “Up close, he’s insanely handsome!” I sighed, clutching the milk to my chest as if trying to hide my messy emotions. “Sure, he’s good-looking, but his attitude is awful.” Linh winked teasingly. “Then why’s your face all red?” “I… I’m blushing because I’m angry!” I protested, though the words only made me feel more flustered. The bell rang again, signaling the next class. Everyone settled into their seats, and Minh Hoang strolled in as if he owned the place, barely glancing at anyone. The teacher pointed to an empty seat by the window—right behind me. A warm, almost invisible gaze seemed to follow my back. Throughout the lesson, I tried to focus on taking notes, but the whispers in the room were impossible to ignore: “Look at him go—writing so fast…” “So cold… I bet no one dares to approach him.” “But wow, he’s genuinely handsome…” I bit my lip, pretending not to hear. But when I flipped my notebook, my pen slipped to the floor and rolled toward the back. I bent down to pick it up and unexpectedly caught sight of spotless white sneakers. A slender hand lifted the pen before me, gently placing it back on my desk without a word. My heart skipped a beat. The rest of the class passed in tense silence. Neither of us spoke, yet every small gesture made me unusually nervous. The first day of the new school year ended in a whirlwind of emotions. I wasn’t sure if this was fate or a warning of upcoming trouble. But one thing was certain: from that moment on, Duong Minh Hoang—the cold, mysterious boy who had just transferred—was bound to leave a mark on my life in ways I couldn’t even imagine. On my way home, I found myself unconsciously recalling his gaze. There was something distant yet enigmatic in his eyes that made me both irritated and… curious. I shook my head sharply, scolding myself: “Enough. Don’t think silly thoughts. He has nothing to do with you.” Yet my heart wouldn’t listen. It raced every time his image crossed my mind. I didn’t know whether to resent him or be curious, only that this school year would be far from the simple, ordinary experience I had expected. And I—a normal student among so many lively faces—had unwittingly stepped into a story that began with the icy gaze of that boy.