On the Day of the College Entrance Exam, I Went to the City to Watch a Concert

I stared at Tommy and said, "This concert is for charity, right? All the local media in the province will be broadcasting it?"

Tommy nodded blankly. I insisted, "You have over a hundred million followers across all platforms. You're the most popular singer in the entertainment industry right now. Can you guarantee that a lot of people will watch this concert live?"

Tommy blushed. "I can't guarantee I'm the most popular idol, but my fans are really passionate. There will definitely be a huge audience, at least eight million viewers."

After I heard that number, I touched my chest. My heart, which had been raced wildly, finally calmed down a little. As long as I waited until the exam officially started, everything would come to light.

When the official start time of the national college entrance exam arrived, a bell rang throughout the venue, followed by thunderous applause.

Cameramen turned their lenses toward the audience, selected fans to send their blessings to the test-takers.

My hands and feet trembled with nerves. Suddenly, I lunged and hugged a camera tightly, my voice shakes, "I want to speak! Film me! All the cameras, film me!"

Fans stood up and cursed me, they hurled glow sticks and banners in my direction.

I stared straight into the lens and said word by word, "I want to report something!"

The venue fell silent. Tommy frowned and brought me onstage, "Sherry, you said you want to report something, does it involve the national college entrance exam?"

I nodded solemnly, while gripped the microphone and said, "I want to report that at Brooklyn Tech High School, Exam Room 318, someone..."

A harsh electric screech rang out, it drowned my voice in static.

At the entrance, my homeroom teacher slowly led my elderly parents into the venue.

The principal stood beneath the stage, he held the ripped-out power cord and waved desperately at me and said, "Sherry, if you come back with us now, there's still time to take the next subject! Don't ruin your life over chasing a celebrity!"

Tommy interrupted with righteous fury, "This student wants to report something. No matter what happens, exposing misconduct during the national college entrance exam is every citizen's duty. Please don't interrupt her!"

But I was shaking uncontrollably as I clung to the mic on stage.

My teacher supported my parents as they leaned trustingly against him, but his eyes were locked on me. He said, "Sherry, think carefully about what you're about to say. It could have a huge impact on you."

He was using my parents to threaten me! I laughed bitterly, "I don't believe you'd dare touch my parents in front of all these people!"

Before I could finish, dozens of students in school uniforms surged into the venue.

My deskmate, Elena White, tossed a backpack onto the stage, her voice pained. "Sherry, yesterday you told me your dream was just to see Tommy's concert. I didn't think you'd really skip the national college entrance exam for it! Don't be foolish! The whole class is worried about you! Come back with us!"

All my classmates chimed in together, "Sherry, come back with us! We'll retake the year with you if we have to!"

I was stunned and asked, "You all… didn't go into the exam hall? No way, no way! You actually all skipped the exam?"

Elena's eyes were red as she reached out to me, "We voluntarily gave it up for you! You're the pride of our class. Without you, how could we focus on the test?"

I felt a chill run down my spine and collapsed onto the floor.

At the same time, Tommy opened the backpack. On top were my exercise books with my name written clearly. But beneath that, he pulled out a whole bag full of items related to him.

Every album he had released since debut, every magazine cover he had been on, all the products he endorsed, every piece of merchandise from his OSTs. Even candid photos taken at airports and outside hotels.