Shame coursed through Chan’s blood like fire, and he stood and approached the front. He felt the eyes of a thousand people on his back. His mother. Dad. Lin. Sora. And he thought of Deshi, who would be awaiting the news while he sat in class.
You’ll be a high enough green to come here, Deshi had said.
Deshi believed in him. He knew Chan better than anyone, and he was confident. For now, Chan would have to cling to that.
He stopped next to Professor Bold, who took the card from his assistant. Bold glanced at it casually, as if it were a shopping list. “Your score is . . . 636. Congratulations.”
Chan’s mouth dropped. Shock slammed through him. 636. Surely it was a mistake. He’d said 736, right? 636 was . . . yellow.
Yellow. Subpar. Mediocre. Worthless.
The pain in his ribs felt like fi
