The previous day

"Why have you fallen short of the requisite score to gain admission into Tsinghua?" Mei Zhen's mother admonished her with a sharp tone. "All your cousins have successfully secured a place in Tsinghua, and yet you stand alone, unable to make the cut!"

Mei Zhen, frustrated by her mother's scolding, retorted in a defensive manner as she stormed out of the house, "I may have missed the mark by a few points, but I remain undaunted. I can still earn a degree from another esteemed university and secure a lucrative career in the future!"

"Mom, I'm off to my karate class now," Yi Lin informed her mother, preparing to head out.

"I've told you before, you're a girl, and you shouldn't be engaging in such dangerous sports. All the guys will be too intimidated to approach you," Yi Lin's mother nagged, expressing her concerns.