On the longest day of the year, the restless hormones of the young were even more intense than the scorching sun. In a few days, the Summer Ball would take place. This year was the triennial anniversary ball, making it grander and more spectacular than ever.

　　Saeed never attended the Summer Ball. On weekends, he helped out at his family's halal restaurant. Even if he didn't, his father wouldn't allow him to waste time on such events, calling it "an immoral ball, disrespectful to Muhammad."

　　Anna was indignant: "I hate watching students imitate the boring socializing of high society." In truth, Anna wanted to go, but no one had invited her. As a single person, watching others pair up and flaunt their relationships wasn't exactly enjoyable.

　　After completing her transfer procedures and passing the Oxford University PhD entrance exam, Shen Liyan officially became a graduate student at Merton College. With this small goal achieved, she worked even harder. Seeing everyone excitedly discussing the Summer Ball, she pretended to be indifferent, as if nothing outside of academics mattered to her. She recalled the freshman welcome dance at Peking University, where she had foolishly stood by the dance floor watching others dance all night. When a male student invited her, she refused, claiming she couldn't dance. Some thought she was arrogant, not realizing it was her shyness. Later, she had extinguished budding romantic feelings for the sake of her studies, sacrificing innocent campus romances for the invaluable opportunity to study abroad. Five years flew by, and now from Peking University to Oxford, the little regret from that welcome dance began to resurface. But upon learning that tickets for the ball without dinner cost £120, she quickly suppressed any thoughts related to the event. After all, she had perfected the art of self-restraint from a young age.

　　The Summer Ball at Christ Church College was the most popular, but the steep ticket prices were a significant hurdle for poor students. John, seemingly aware of Liyan's thoughts, claimed he had managed to get three tickets to the Christ Church College ball through inside connections and invited Liyan and Anna to go with him.

　　"It's too expensive, I can't—" Liyan started, but Anna pinched her arm before she could finish.

　　"John, make sure you pick us up on time for the ball," Anna said, accepting the invitation on Liyan's behalf without hesitation.

　　Accepting the invitation was easy, but figuring out what to wear to the ball was a real dilemma. The Summer Ball required women to wear formal evening gowns that reached mid-calf. Neither Anna nor Liyan had the spare cash to buy such attire. Anna wasn’t about to miss the chance to shine, so she suggested renting a gown and dragged Liyan to one of Oxford’s few high-end dress shops. The store was filled with ladies’ evening gowns, from fresh and elegant to luxurious with gold and diamonds. The dresses were available in three price tiers, with daily rental fees of £100, £150, and £200. As soon as Anna entered the store, she walked straight to the most expensive dresses without a second glance. Liyan followed closely, outwardly calm but inwardly puzzled. Anna was usually as frugal as she was; could she have been scrimping and saving all semester just to rent a high-end gown?

　　Anna graciously declined the help of a friendly sales assistant, expressing their desire to browse on their own. She busied herself sifting through dresses, pulling out ones she liked and holding them up against Liyan to check the size since they were about the same height. Finally, a champagne satin gown caught Anna’s eye. She examined the cut, measured the neckline, bust, and waist with her hands, and memorized the pleats and slits. It dawned on Liyan that Anna wasn’t there to rent a gown; she was there to study the designs and replicate one!

　　Once Anna had memorized the details, she pretended to be interested in another dress with a name tag already attached and asked the sales assistant if she could try it on. The assistant regretfully informed them that the dress had already been rented and a deposit paid. Feigning great disappointment, Anna dragged Liyan out of the shop.

　　Back at the apartment, Anna dug out an old red dress she had worn before. Relying on her memory and skilled hands, she boldly cut off the sleeves, transforming it into a strapless dress that perfectly showcased her cleavage and toned back. With her own gown sorted, she turned her attention to Liyan.

　　"Show cleavage? I’ve never even worn anything off the shoulder!" Liyan said, feeling embarrassed.

　　"Then why are you going to the ball? To watch others dance? You might as well stay home and watch TV."

　　"I'm just curious. Maybe I shouldn’t go after all," Liyan said, hesitating.

　　"You’re not just curious. You want to 'stand in the spotlight' and show another side of yourself, but you lack the courage!"

　　Liyan had never considered that Anna might be able to articulate her long-suppressed feelings. What woman doesn’t want to be the center of attention at important occasions, the object of envy? Growing up, she was always the "model child," getting into Peking University with ease, publishing papers in academic journals as an undergraduate, and winning national scholarships to study abroad. Her excellence made her classmates doubt their own worth. Predictably, her life would be a blueprint for her peers—a meticulously planned path leading to success. But after coming to the UK, the superior research environment and vibrant campus life made her once-clear life path seem dull and monotonous by comparison.

　　"You need to dress up, not just for yourself. You can’t let John down after he’s been so kind, right?" Anna encouraged her.

　　Anna, with her sharp tongue and clear insights, left Liyan with no room for argument.

　　At Oxford, there are two types of students: those like Shen Liyan, who got in through exceptional academic performance, and those like John, born with a silver spoon in their mouth.

　　Socializing is crucial in a prestigious university teeming with young elites. Connections made in such an environment can later become a network that helps an otherwise obscure individual ascend to the upper echelons of society. Ambitious students see social balls and exclusive elite societies at these institutions as tickets to transcend social classes. The idea of fair competition is a placebo for the lower and middle classes; connections and money are the real keys to high society. Savvy individuals know that hard work alone is insufficient to break into the upper crust. Getting into the upper circle requires recommendations; staying there relies on support. The earlier one is groomed by high society, the sooner they can make a name for themselves. Social resources are finite, and only the weak wait for their share.

　　Oxford also has its share of students from modest backgrounds who, after experiencing the shock of class disparity, struggle with a sense of not belonging, ultimately leading to depression and dropping out.

　　Liyan was grateful to be at Oxford for her doctorate. The graduate department had a high proportion of international students—two-thirds, in fact—from diverse backgrounds. Here, instead of trying to blend in, people respected each other's boundaries and focused on personal achievements rather than seeking validation from others.

　　Her undergraduate education in China had provided her with a solid academic foundation and a level of maturity, which meant being able to observe and accept the abnormal with a critical eye. Liyan often wondered, if she had attended Oxford as an undergrad, would she have tried to force herself into unsuitable circles to gain peer approval? Would she have succumbed to self-pity from the psychological gap, or ended up like Zhang Lingyun, isolated and unhappy? She certainly wouldn’t have been lucky enough to befriend John. John, affluent yet approachable, never flaunted his wealth in front of less privileged students—a rare quality among the rich.

　　On the day of the summer ball, Christ Church College was decorated in grand splendor. The usually serious academic achievers were dressed to the nines. The men wore black suits, white shirts, and black bow ties. The women were all dressed to impress, each more dazzling than the last. Anna, in her striking red dress, looked like a Mediterranean sunset, drawing many admiring glances. She was in her element: "The Naples Carnival is even grander than this. People dress in all sorts of costumes and parade around!"

　　Liyan, encountering such an occasion for the first time, felt a bit uneasy, and surprisingly, John was also somewhat reserved. Walking side by side with Liyan, he deliberately matched her pace. He didn’t know where to put his hands—sometimes he half-stuffed them into his pockets to look cool, other times he pulled them out to relax his fingers, and he frequently wiped his sweaty palms on his pants.

　　Anna, walking behind them, saw right through John's thoughts. Understandingly, she said, "John, you take good care of Liyan. I'm going to check out the band." With that, she disappeared into the crowd.

　　The theme of the ball was "Never Grow Up." Christ Church College had brought in a Ferris wheel, bumper cars, and a haunted house.

　　"Let’s go to the haunted house," John suggested, harboring a little scheme. He figured that when the "ghosts" appeared, Liyan would probably get scared and cling to him. At the very least, she'd hold his hand for comfort, which would surely bring them closer. During the early stages of a budding relationship, guys often take girls to horror movies. Horror movies accelerate intimacy far more effectively than convoluted love stories because physical contact stirs emotions more profoundly than a thousand sweet words.

　　"I don't want to. I'm scared," Liyan firmly refused.

　　"That's the point, it's all about the thrill," John coaxed.

　　"I don’t want to see anything bloody in the dark," Liyan replied, her tone carrying not just refusal but a hint of sadness.

　　The atmosphere suddenly became tense. John didn't press further. "Let's ride the carousel instead," he suggested.

　　---

　　John took Li Yan's hand and jogged towards the carousel. The tinkling music began to play, and the ornate carousel carried them round and round. John watched Li Yan, just a step away from him. She was dressed uniquely today, in a pale lotus-colored modified qipao that accentuated her graceful figure, the teardrop neckline exuding a subtle sensuality. But John always felt there was an invisible wall between him and Li Yan. She seemed to deliberately keep her distance from him, just like riding the carousel—appearing so close, yet actually out of reach.

　　After the summer vacation when she was twelve, Li Yan became estranged from these amusement activities. She discovered that the carousel was a place where one could temporarily forget sad memories, as time slipped by unnoticed. The English are party animals, with endless reasons to throw balls and parties. The revelry was theirs, but she had only this one night. Since she was here, she decided to let herself go for once.

　　As the champagne flowed, the atmosphere reached a crescendo, and the young people flocked to the dance floor. John and Li Yan danced several dances together, and he even turned down a few ladies' invitations. One blonde woman, after being rejected by John, glared fiercely at Li Yan, but the slightly tipsy Li Yan didn't notice her resentment at all. Tonight, Li Yan only had eyes for John, and John only had Li Yan as his dance partner. The alcohol and the envious glances from around them made Li Yan feel dizzy, her vanity greatly satisfied.

　　The alcohol ignited the repressed desires within the seemingly reserved young elites, making them more approachable. Anna successfully found a partner tonight, locking eyes with a handsome and rebellious junior.

　　Returning to the apartment in the early morning, Anna was still immersed in the excitement of meeting her handsome new boyfriend. She eagerly recounted her experiences at the ball to Li Yan, as if Li Yan hadn't attended. She rambled on about how she and Michael had fallen in love at first sight. Anna spoke quickly, and Li Yan listened quietly, occasionally chiming in. She felt neither the melancholy of the party's end nor the lingering excitement of being John's only dance partner that night. Her thoughts had already switched to study mode, pondering which historical materials to check and which articles to read the next day. She understood that the radiance at the ball was temporary. Back at the apartment, she was just another ordinary, poor international student.