The date was May 22nd, 2026. A silver BYD Tang SUV zipped along the northbound highway leading into Beijing, China's sprawling capital.
The vehicle, a blend of modernity and efficiency, was a capsule of familial dynamics, carrying within it four distinct individuals, each absorbed in their own thoughts yet bound by blood and shared history.
The patriarch of the group, an elderly man with a flowing white beard and skin etched with the tales of years gone by, broke the silence with a chuckle that seemed to fill the cabin. "Haha... Xiao Sheng, we are finally going to get you into college," he said, his voice tinged with pride and a hint of nostalgia.
In the back seat, Wang Sheng sat with a stoic expression, his brows knitted in a frown that seemed out of place on such a youthful face. "I don't want to study. Why make me study? Why can't I just not study like sister?" he protested, his voice a mix of defiance and resignation.