Chapter 74 – Mock Interview Day

The sky was a pale blue that morning, but the entire school felt heavy with tension. A new banner stretched across the main hall:"Mock Interview Day – Prepare for Your Future."

"Interview day? Seriously?" Yahan groaned, hugging her notebook as they walked past the hall. "I'd rather take ten math tests than answer a stranger asking me about my 'future goals.'"

"Come on, it's just practice," Zichen said, trying to sound optimistic. "You'll do fine."

"You don't understand," Yahan shot back. "What if they ask me where I see myself in ten years? I barely know what I'm eating for lunch!"

Keqing smiled but didn't reply. Her thoughts were elsewhere—on Gu Yuyan. Would he join the interviews? Or would he avoid them, like he always avoided anything that revealed too much of himself?

The morning assembly was packed. Teachers gave short speeches about the importance of self-presentation, and students were divided into groups by their chosen streams: science and humanities.

"Remember," one teacher said, "this isn't just about grades. Universities want to know who you are, and what you want to become."

Yahan whispered to Keqing, "I want to become… invisible."

"Stop it," Keqing chuckled, nudging her.

Across the hall, Yuyan was silent, his hands shoved in his pockets. Bai Andiu leaned toward him."You're joining, right?"

"I wasn't planning to," Yuyan said without looking up.

"Don't be ridiculous," Bai said. "You're better at this than you think. I'm not letting you hide in the library again."

The humanities students were herded into the lecture hall for a prep session. Tianxiue, as expected, sat at the front, her posture perfect.

"Do you think they'll ask us in English?" Zichen whispered nervously.

"If they do, you're doomed," Yuke muttered.

"Not necessarily," Tianxiue said, turning around. "The trick is to keep it simple. Just don't panic. Here—" She leaned closer to Zichen. "Say: 'I am passionate about music because it connects people across languages.'"

Zichen repeated the sentence, his accent making everyone chuckle.

"Not bad," Tianxiue encouraged.

Keqing watched Tianxiue with a mix of admiration and mild competitiveness. Tianxiue wasn't just fluent; she carried herself with confidence that Keqing wished she could borrow, even for a day.

The mock interviews were conducted in the school auditorium, with teachers and guest alumni acting as panelists. Students were called one by one.

"Lui Tianxiue, please step forward," a voice called.

Tianxiue smoothed her skirt and walked up like she was stepping onto a stage.

"Introduce yourself in English," one panelist said.

"My name is Lui Tianxiue," she began, her voice steady. "I believe that learning languages is not only about grammar or vocabulary—it is about understanding cultures. My dream is to work as an interpreter, bridging voices across the world."

The panelists nodded, impressed. When she walked back, Yahan whispered, "Well, we've just witnessed a future diplomat."

"Show-off," Yuke muttered, though even he looked impressed.

When it was Gu Yuyan's turn, he hesitated.

"You don't have to go if you don't want," Keqing whispered.

He glanced at her, and something flickered in his eyes—fear, but also determination. "No… I need to."

Bai Andiu smirked. "Finally."

Yuyan stepped onto the stage, standing under the bright lights. For a moment, he said nothing, just looked at the panelists.

"Introduce yourself," one teacher prompted.

"My name is Gu Yuyan," he said, voice calm but firm.

"And your dream?"

Yuyan paused. His father's voice echoed in his head—Top university. Engineering. Don't waste time on hobbies. But then he remembered Keqing's words: If you don't live for yourself, all of it means nothing.

"…I want to pursue architecture," he said finally. "Not because it's safe, but because it's the balance between art and structure. When I draw, I see how spaces can tell stories. I want to create spaces that… mean something."

The room was silent for a beat, then one panelist leaned forward. "That's a thoughtful answer. Have you built a portfolio?"

"Not yet," Yuyan admitted. "But I've been sketching since middle school. I plan to prepare one soon."

From the back row, Keqing felt her chest tighten—she knew how big this moment was for him.

When Yuyan stepped down, Bai Andiu clapped him on the back. "That was… surprisingly good. I didn't know you could talk like that."

"Neither did I," Yuyan muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

"See? I told you to stop hiding."

Keqing walked up shyly. "You were amazing," she said softly.

Yuyan glanced at her, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "Thanks. For… what you said before. I think it helped."

While the science students wrapped up, Keqing's group prepared for their turns.

"Lin Keqing," a voice called.

Keqing's heart pounded as she stepped forward.

"Your dream?" a panelist asked.

"I… I want to study literature," she said. "Because stories have the power to change people, even in small ways. When I write, I feel like I can understand myself better—and maybe help others feel understood too."

There was a short silence, and then a panelist smiled. "That's beautifully said."

Outside the auditorium, Yahan and Yuke were waiting for their results.

"You're too reckless," Yahan told Yuke after his interview. "Journalism? You know how competitive that is?"

"So what? I don't want to live a boring life," Yuke shot back.

"Sometimes boring is safe!"

"Safe isn't living," Yuke said. "Why can't you get that?"

Yahan froze, her lips pressed together. "I just… don't want you to regret it later," she muttered.

Yuke softened slightly. "I won't. Not if you're there."

Yahan blinked. "What does that—"

"Never mind," Yuke said quickly, cheeks slightly red.

By evening, the school corridors were buzzing with post-interview chatter.

"You nailed it," Zichen told Keqing. "I swear I almost teared up at your answer."

"Don't exaggerate," Keqing said, embarrassed.

Tianxiue came up behind them, clapping Keqing on the shoulder. "Not bad, rival. You've got more confidence than you think."

"Thanks… I guess," Keqing said, smiling.

Meanwhile, Yuyan was standing by the window, looking out at the fading sunlight. Keqing approached quietly.

"You looked… different up there," she said.

"Different?"

"Like you finally said what you've been holding in."

Yuyan didn't reply at first, but then he murmured, "Maybe it's time I stop pretending."

At home that night, Yuyan opened his laptop. The unsent email to his father still sat there, its words staring back at him.

He hovered over Send, heart racing."Not tonight," he whispered. "But soon. Very soon."

Keqing sat at her desk, writing in her diary:

"Today, I saw Gu Yuyan speak without fear. Maybe courage isn't loud—it's the quiet moment when you choose to be honest with yourself."