5. Walefare program - 3

Lian's POV

Once the exams are over and the results are announced, students move into the real dorms with the others who aren’t part of the welfare program. Those who fail, however, go back home.

That meant everything depended on this exam. My life depended on this exam.

“What are you thinking about, Lian? Are you perhaps worried about the exam? Don’t worry, exams are mostly based on what we’re most interested in. Everyone will have different exam papers according to their interests,” Eva said as we walked toward the building.

What? We’re all going to have different exam papers? And the exam will be based on our interests?

Does that mean they’re going to ask me about dance in the exam? Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps.

As we reached the building, I saw a few students standing outside, chatting, while some were inside. I glanced at them, but they just ignored me, as if I didn’t exist.

Seriously, Eva was right. Welfare program students behaved like this with each other, they didn’t even care to talk. Haha, this is really funny.

Eva and I went inside and saw a kitchen right ahead, with two chefs cooking something. We went up the stairs to the second floor.

There were no separate rooms,just many beds placed side by side. Each bed had one blanket and one pillow. Beside each bed was a small table with a water bottle on it.

Some students were already lying on the beds. Eva led me forward. The bed next to hers was empty, so I took it, and we both sat down.

“Don’t worry about food here. They serve three meals a day until the exam results are announced. I’ve been staying here for two days already,” Eva said.

“Look at that, a poor dating another poor. Eva is really funny; she doesn’t have great taste in men,” a girl snickered from the other side of the bed lines. There were two lines of beds, ours and the ones across from us.

The girl was wearing a very dark wine-colored lipstick and a crop top. She was sitting at the end, with three boys beside her, one massaging her shoulders, another massaging her legs, and the third just sitting there.

I tried to hold back my laugh at the scene, but I couldn’t. I burst out laughing so hard.

“Hahaha! Look at that antique piece!” I said to Eva, still laughing.

As I was laughing, I saw the girl who had been sitting on the bed with the boys stand up and walk toward us. Those three boys immediately followed her.

“You fuckers, how dare you laugh at me? Are you fed up with your lives? Is that why you’re getting so cocky?” she snapped.

Wait a minute. Why was she talking like this? She had called Eva and me poor too. Did she think she was rich or something?

Even if she was, then why bother coming here? She could have gotten admission directly instead of applying through the welfare program.

“Hold your horses, will you, girl?” I said calmly, though I was definitely mocking her. “If you have that much of a problem, then don’t stay here. And if you’re so rich, why bother applying through the welfare student program? You should’ve gotten direct admission, shouldn’t you?”

“W-what did you say?” she snapped, clearly furious.

“What? Didn’t you hear me?” I replied coldly. “If you’re deaf, then just leave us alone and get out of here. We didn’t come to you, you came to us on your own, with that ugly face and your three rats.”

She glared at me. But just because she was a girl didn’t mean I was going to let myself be humiliated like this.

She probably thought we wouldn’t reply to her. From the way she talked to Eva, I was sure that before I arrived, she had bullied Eva too, and poor Eva hadn’t said anything back. That must be why Eva told me no one here talks to her.

I could clearly see what kind of witch-like girls were here.

“Boys, what are you all waiting for? Teach this bastard a lesson,” she ordered.

Her three slaves immediately moved forward. Wow, just like servants obeying their master’s command.

But right now, I felt fine. After everything I had gone through these past few days, I wasn’t going to let them hurt me.

One of the three suddenly rushed forward and tried to punch my face.

I dodged it and grabbed his hand instead. I stood up quickly and kicked his leg hard, knocking him down with a single kick.

“Did you think I was weak,someone who wouldn’t fight your so-called slaves?” I said, glaring at the girl as I stepped toward her.

She stepped back in panic and tried to pull the other two boys in front of her to protect herself. But those two quickly moved away, clearly scared, even though I hadn’t hit their friend that hard.

I glanced down at the boy lying near my feet. He looked completely fine, yet he stayed there, staring at me. The moment our eyes met, he hurriedly stood up.

Soon, all three boys retreated back to their beds. With no other choice left, the girl also returned to her bed in silence.

As they left, I sat back down on the bed and looked at Eva. She was staring at me with wide eyes.

“Oh my god, Lian, you’re so cool and strong! Just looking at you, no one would ever guess how strong you actually are. You were incredible, the way you made her back off… wow. I think I’ve become your biggest fan,” she said excitedly.

I smiled. “It was nothing. It’s been a long time since I used my strength or spoke like that. I was always told to pretend to be weak, I don’t even know why,” I mumbled.

I still remembered a time when I was playing with someone and they started teasing and mocking me. Back then, my father had told me to suppress my strength and act weak. He had also warned me not to speak the truth openly.

I’ve always had a habit of saying exactly what I think in the moment, without caring whether the person in front of me would feel hurt or not.

And it’s not just something I think, my father had been telling me since childhood that I always say whatever is on my mind without worrying about the person in front of me. But that’s not true. I only speak the truth, even when it’s bitter and people don’t like it.

After that, we went to have lunch, and the whole day passed in the blink of an eye. Before I knew it, it was already the day of our exam.