A few years later, my brother had already established a successful career, earning a salary that left people speechless.

Mom looked at my barely passing score on the college entrance exam with disappointment, saying, "With these grades, you'll only end up doing manual labor."

I protested, "What are you saying? Just because we don't have a son at Tsinghua University, you look down on us from a second-tier university?"

"As for me, I plan to write novels. When I become famous worldwide, I'll earn even more than your son!"

"Yesterday, I wrote eight hundred words in one go based on my high school experiences!"

My mom sighed, "Writing novels? Can you make a living from that?"

"It's a dream. As long as the money I earn is enough to buy steamed buns, I'll be satisfied!"

"You were just boasting about earning more than your brother, now you're just talking big," Mom rolled her eyes.

My brother, taking a rare break from work to help me with my college choices, stepped in:

"You can do what interests you the most, little sister. Leave the money-making to me."

He smiled gently and confidently.

But his smile quickly faded.

My brother, who had always focused on top-tier universities, browsed through college guides, comparing my scores, his expression growing increasingly serious and concerned.

Finally, he put down the book in defeat, dialed a number in frustration, "Hey, friend, um, can you recommend some decent second-tier universities? Not too high on the score, good facilities, not too far from home, preferably in Beijing."

There was a long silence on the other end before a resigned voice replied, "I don't know, do such schools really exist?"

In the end, I ended up attending a private second-tier university in the provincial capital, unable to join my brother in Beijing.

Before finalizing my choice, my brother visited the school in advance. The four-person dormitory was bright and clean, with five cafeterias in different directions.

Under the shade of the campus phoenix trees, he looked at a row of milk tea shops and happily said, "Let's go with this one."