The sudden ringing of his phone startled Ethan. He glanced at the screen—his mother’s number was displayed.

“How are you doing?” she asked gently.

He and his parents had agreed that unless there was an emergency, they would only call or text on weekends, so he could learn to be more independent.

That was fine with him. He wasn’t the talkative type. And when it came to adults—especially his own parents—he was even less likely to express himself.

“I… I’m still the same as usual, Mom.”

He didn’t dare tell her about the unsettling events of the past week. As the son of a military officer, he wasn’t allowed to show weakness or fear in front of his parents.

“I heard from the landlady that there’s a dengue fever outbreak in Harmony Town. Four or five people have already died. Remember to sleep under a mosquito net and buy some insect repellent.”

“Set your alarm to wake up early so you can have breakfast at school.”

“You should practice cooking. Stop eating out for dinner—it’s not hygienic.”

“Be careful with your spending—budget wisely.”

“Choose your friends carefully. Not everyone out there is as honest as you.”

“Write down everything I’m telling you or save it in your phone, or you’ll forget.”

“Oh, and the beginning-of-year assessment is coming up soon. Study hard and do well on the test!”

His mother rattled off a string of reminders, making his head spin. All he could do was respond mechanically with, “Yes, Mom,” over and over. But truthfully, he probably wouldn’t remember half of it afterward.

“Have you gotten used to living on your own yet?”

At that question, a deep longing for home welled up inside him.

There was no place like home.

Back home, his room was bigger, and it had air conditioning. He had a younger brother in 9th grade, so he was never truly alone, even though both of them were quiet by nature. And best of all, he always got to eat hot, delicious, and clean homemade meals cooked by his mother.

“I’ve gotten used to it. It’s fine,” he lied.

If his mother noticed, she didn’t say anything. Or maybe she did notice but chose to ignore it.

“Alright then. If anything important comes up, send me a message. Goodbye.”

With that, she ended the call.

And once again, Ethan was left with regret.

Regret for choosing to attend Harmony High School.

Compared to his old high school, Harmony had far superior facilities. The school was located in the heart of a wealthy coastal town, thriving on tourism.

Spanning 5 hectares but with only 400 students, Harmony High School was remarkably spacious. Each grade had only four classes: A, B, C, and D. Within a 100-kilometer radius, it was the only high school equipped with a stadium, multipurpose sports courts, a performance stage, an indoor swimming pool, a massive library, dozens of specialized clubs, and a state-of-the-art computer lab.

Beyond its international-standard facilities, the school also boasted elite-level academics. Every single graduate went on to pass university entrance exams, and every year, the school produced dozens of award-winning students who competed in national and international competitions.

Without a full scholarship, there was no way he could have attended such a prestigious private school. Just one month’s tuition was equivalent to an entire month’s salary for his mother, who was an experienced, highly regarded teacher. And that didn’t even include all the additional fees.

His parents always told him he was lucky, but luck alone wasn’t enough. That’s why they expected even more from him. Not only did he have to maintain his flawless academic record, but he also had to win national-level Math Olympiad awards to ensure an easier path to university.

But looking back at everything that had happened at the very start of the school year, Ethan wasn’t so sure anymore.

Was getting into Harmony High School truly a stroke of luck?

Or was this the beginning of an irreversible mistake?