Vincent Li adjusted the strap of his worn out backpack as he passed through the huge gates of Jiade College. There was luxury all around him. Sleek cars parked at the curb, chauffeurs opened doors, and students stepped out wearing perfectly tailored uniforms that cost more than his uncle earned in months. He kept his head down and walked in because that was the only way he could survive here. Jiade College wasn’t just a normal school. It was a place where people were valued according to how much wealth their families owned. They treated the poor ones like trash while the rich ones got to do whatever they liked. The teachers and school board had no say. Poor students like Vincent were allowed here only to remind the rich of how high they stood. As he approached the main auditorium, his steps slowed down. There was a large donor board at the entrance. A golden platter was on the board. It was polished daily. Names of the top school donors— richest families that had donate

Vincent Li left the classroom quietly after the first class ended. He went to the old science block where students rarely went to, to wait for Leena. That was their usual spot. Vincent sat on a rusted bench beneath a ginkgo tree, exhaling slowly while he waited for her. He checked the time. Why was she taking time to come? As he waited, his thoughts drifted to the first day they had met. He had been sitting alone then too, reading a borrowed textbook. Leena had approached him with a small smile, asking if the seat beside him was taken. When he told her it wasn’t taken, she sat, and they began talking. Later, he learned her surname was Zhou. Her family owned Zhou Finance. It wasn’t among the city’s absolute elite, but they were comfortable and respected. She was, by the school’s standards, out of Vincent’s league. And yet she had never treated him that way. She listened when he spoke. She noticed when he was tired. She slipped him snacks without making it feel

Day of the graduation ceremony. Vincent Li stood in front of the mirror in his uncle’s apartment. His fingers trembled as he adjusted the bow tie at his throat. The tuxedo he was wearing was the most expensive thing he had ever owned. He saved up to three months of his allowance to buy it, so he could look good for Leena. It’s worth it, he told himself as he smoothed the fabric over his chest. Today is the last day. After today, no more maltreatment. And most importantly—today, he would stand beside Leena Zhou. He checked his phone. There were no messages from her yet. His thumb hovered, hesitating, then he locked the screen. She’ll be waiting, he thought. He needed to rush to her house fast so he won't keep her waiting too long. He hired a cab that he could barely pay for to take him there. When the cab stopped in front of her house, Vincent paid more than he should have just to avoid an argument. His wallet felt painfully light as he stepped out, straightened his ja

Six months passed quietly, but nothing about Vincent’s life was small anymore. The world did not see his rise the way it usually notices powerful people. There were no loud announcements, no glossy magazine covers, no interviews where he smiled and pretended to be humble. His growth was silent, steady and unstoppable. Within six months of taking over his uncle Gaius’ hospitals, Vincent became something no one could ignore. People didn’t know his real name. They knew him as Doctor V. The name started as a whisper. A nurse mentioned it during a night shift, voice low, eyes wide. A surgeon repeated it over coffee, shaking his head as if the words themselves sounded impossible. Patients spoke of him with trembling gratitude, as if afraid saying too much would make him disappear. Doctor V. A man who treated diseases doctors had already given up on. A man whose hands never failed. A man who appeared when hope was already dead. No one could trace his background. His rec

Vincent almost didn’t attend the ball. But here he was, dressed in a tailored black tuxedo that screamed aura and confidence. Crystal lights spilled from tall arched windows. Music floated into the night air, soft and elegant. Valets moved with practiced grace, opening doors for men and women dressed in wealth so effortless it looked natural on them. Vincent stepped out. For a brief moment, he felt eyes shift toward him—not mocking, not curious in the way they once had been, but assessing. Measuring. Good, he thought. Let them wonder. Vincent moved slowly, deliberately, allowing himself to be introduced by some his uncle’s acquaintances. Some women tilted their heads slightly, wanting to get to know him. They were all curious about him but he wasn't interested. He observed more than he spoke. This world was not new to him—but this was the first time he stood in it openly, without fear. Then he saw her. Leena stood near the center of the room, her hand looped poss