Five days later.

"Yan Ran" Wu Tong called out as he looked at the handsome young man beside him who wore the blue and white uniform of Shaoyang academy. " The last to hang the name tag among us will not eat tonight."

Yan Ran looked ahead at the wall the students were to hang their name tag. It was about a hundred metres away. "Deal. You count to three." She said confidently looking ahead. Yan Ran has been running almost everyday since when she was young till she grew up. A hundred metre race is a piece of cake for her.

"One"

"Two"

"Three"

The both of them began running immediately Wu Tong finish counting to three. Halfway to the stopping point, Yan Ran held Wu Tong's neck between her arms and whispered to him "I look forward to having your food tonight" Then she continued running.

"No one can outrun the fastest runner in Shaoyang" Yan Ran praised herself as she brought out her name tag. Immediately she raised her hand to hang her tag, a guy beat her to it and hung his tag.

"Hey, can't you see I intend hanging my tag there?" Yan Ran asked feeling angry.

"Childish" The young man replied as he walked away.

"You..." Yan Ran pointed her index finger at his departing back swinging it forward and backward.

"That's alright, don't throw a tantrum " Wu Tong approached her and helped her to put down the hand she raised up.

"That's right. I can't let anyone spoil young master Yan's mood" Yan Ran Smiled showing her dimples.

"Let's go." Wu Tong led Yan Ran into Shaoyang academy.

* * * *

"I'm am professor Zhu, I will be teaching you for the four years that you would use to study in Shaoyang academy. This is the dream school of lots of young men like you but not all are privileged to study here due to their scores in the entrance exam. Shaoyang academy is a school which helps you to discover your hidden talents and also pave way for your future. If you are lucky, you maybe able to work in the court. The rules would be read to you and if you violate them, your points would be deducted. Do you understand? Professor Zhu asked the students below. He was standing on a slightly tall podium.

" Yes professor Zhu" The students chorused in unison.

Professor Zhu signalled a guard to read the scroll containing the rules guiding the school.

1. Respect your teachers.

2. Pay attention in class.

3. Do not fight.

4.Do not go out of the Academy without teachers permission.

5. Curfew is 8:00 PM.

"Is there any question?" Professor Zhu asked stroking his long beards.

"Professor Zhu, what's do you mean by points?" A student asked.

"Point is a system that has just being adopted into the school system. Everyone of you here have two hundred points every year. Every rule you break would cause five points to be deducted and punishment would be given." Professor Zhu firmly explained.

"I have a question" The same students asked.

"Go ahead" Professor Zhu replied stroking his beard.

"What would happen if all the two hundred points are used up?" He asked.

"If all the points are used up, it would lead to expulsion" Professor Zhu replied.

"I have another question " The Oliver Twist student replied.

"Hmmmm?" Professor Zhu abruptly stopped stroking his beard as his eyes dimmed a little.

"Hello everyone. I'm Dr. Meng, a teacher here. Your rooms are going to be allocated to you today. You would be staying there for the next two years." Dr. Meng informed with a stern face.

He looked at the students arranged orderly to ensure they were listening to him. He nodded his head and continued.

"In the wooden box here are balls which you are meant to pick from without replacement. The balls you pick determine your room and roommates." Dr. Meng explained.

"The ball picking session starts now." Dr. Meng said as he went back to his seat. Two servants placed a large wooden box on the stage and walked away.

"How do we know the balls to choose?" Yan Ran asked as her eyes traced the students who were picking the balls from the wooden box.

"Don't worry, you have me here. Even if you are placed in another room I can still look after you." Wu Tong patted her shoulder.

"Stop talking like I am already placed in a room different from yours." Yan Ran said adjusting her clothes.

"Alright. It's your turn." Wu Tong urged her to go ahead.

Yan Ran took a deep breath. She placed her hand in the narrow opening of the box bringing out a small ball. Studying the ball she muttered " You are my lucky number, you must make me lucky " Turning on her heels to go back to her previous position.

"Your turn. Don't disappoint me " Yan Ran whispered as she passed by Wu Tong.

Clearing his throat, he picked a small ball. When he examined his ball his handsome face looked defeated." Damn, I hate this" He dejectedly walked away.

The rest of the students followed suit till there was no box left and the large wooden box was carried away.

Dr. Meng stood up to address the students once again." There are five different colours of balls in the box. Each balls with different colours are twenty in number, having numbers of 1 to 5 on it. One each colours, they contain five one's, five two's, five three's, five four's, five five's.

" All students having the yellow balls and green balls should move to the east wing of the building. Your name tags are on your respective rooms and have already been recorded. The students with the white balls and black balls are to occupy the west wing of the building. Your name tags are also placed on the doors of your respective rooms. Dr. Meng added, " Alright.....Welcome to Shaoyang Academy.