Beyond the Net
Letters & Expectations
Beijing, China — Liang Residence
Trophies gleam. Silence cuts like a blade.
Liang Yue
(steady, holding an envelope)
Liang Yue
I’m in. Ravenwood accepted me.
Liang Jianhong
Hn. Do not think entry equals victory. Train harder than Zhen did.
Liang Zhen
Congrats, little brother. Try to keep up.
Mei Lihua
Enough. Yue—well done. I’m proud of you.
Liang Yue
I’ll make them see me.
Chen Min
BRO! RAVENWOOD?! I’m screaming. I’ll back you from the stands—also bring snacks.
Liang Yue
(tiny smile, texting)💬
Liang Yue
Don’t you dare bring sunflower seeds again.
Seoul, South Korea — Seo Penthouse
Seo Rin
(casual, tossing his phone with the acceptance email)
Seo Rin
Ravenwood said yes.
Seo Daeho
You will be number one. No excuses. After graduation—you return to the company.
Han Mirae
At least it photographs well. We’ll do a feature spread.
Seo Hana
Oppa, bring me souvenirs… or a cute rival. Preferably both.
Seo Rin
I’ll bring a trophy. Rivals can carry my bags.
Park Jinwoo
Rooming near the gym. Race you to the top court.
Seo Rin
Hope you like losing.
Bangkok, Thailand — Sutham Estate
Marble floors, carved wood, tradition heavy as the air.
Kanya Sutham
(chin up, letter in hand)
Kanya Sutham
I’ve been accepted to Ravenwood.
Prasert Sutham
Good. Remember: your behavior reflects our name.
Lalita Sutham
We’ll discuss suitable introductions and… prospects. Don’t waste your youth on courts alone.
Kanya Sutham
(inner thought, jaw tight)
Kanya Sutham
I’ll choose my future—even if I have to fight everyone for it.
Niran
See you on Ravenwood’s courts, Sutham. Try to last three sets this time.
Kanya Sutham
Bring tissues.
Shanghai, China — Lin Household
Paintings, sunlight, a house that speaks softly but judges loudly.
Lin Yuehua
(gentle smile, acceptance email open)
Lin Yuehua
I… got in. Ravenwood.
Lin Wenjie
Sports squander your discipline. But if you go—excel. Do not embarrass this family.
Fang Yaling
We’re proud of you, Hua. Be safe, be steady.
Lin Qian
Send me pics of hot rivals. I need inspiration.
Mei Ling
RIU campus looks insane. I’m transferring my program. We’re conquering this place together.
Lin Yuehua
Only if you stop live-blogging my love life.
Four letters. Four storms brewing.
Their names already echo through locker rooms and boardrooms alike.
Ravenwood awaits—
and the first serve hasn’t even been tossed.
First Steps
Ravenwood International University—
where wealth, talent, and pride converge.
For the chosen few, today isn’t just the first day of classes…
it’s the opening of a battlefield.
Ravenwood Campus – Welcome Ceremony Hall
Liang Yue
(adjusting his collar, muttering)
Liang Yue
Too many cameras… it feels like a circus.
Mei Lihua
Stand tall, Yue. You belong here.
Liang Jianhong
Remember, the world is watching.
Liang Zhen
Don’t trip on stage.
Chen Min
Trip. Please trip. It’d be hilarious.
Liang Yue
(rolling his eyes)
(His gaze flicks across the hall. A boy in a sharp suit leans lazily against the wall—Seo Rin. Their eyes almost meet, but Yue looks away first.)
Across the Hall — Seo Family
Seo Rin
(hands in pockets, smirk playing on his lips)
Seo Rin
So this is Ravenwood. Looks more like a fashion show.
Seo Daeho
This place is your stage. Don’t forget our name carries weight.
Han Mirae
Keep yourself polished. Cameras catch everything.
Seo Hana
Oppa, is it me or are half the students glaring at you already?
Seo Rin
Good. Saves me the trouble of introducing myself.
(He notices a Thai girl with sharp eyes—Aya—speaking firmly with her family. He tilts his head, curious, then looks away before she notices.)
Kanya Sutham
(bows lightly, acceptance letter folded in her clutch)
Kanya Sutham
I’ll make you proud.
Prasert Sutham
Remember where you come from.
Lalita Sutham
Choose your friends wisely.
Arthit Sutham
(clapping her shoulder)
Arthit Sutham
If anyone messes with you—knock them flat.
Kanya Sutham
(smirking faintly)
Kanya Sutham
Don’t tempt me.
(She steps forward, eyes scanning the crowd. Her gaze brushes over Yuehua—delicate, calm, standing with her family. Aya pauses… then looks away quickly.)
Lin Household at the Ceremony
Lin Yuehua
(softly, to her parents)
Lin Yuehua
I’ll do my best.
Lin Wenjie
“Best” is not enough. Strive for perfect.
Fang Yaling
Ignore him, Hua. Just… enjoy this.
Lin Qian
Find a cute rival. Drama inspires art.
(She laughs nervously, holding her books close. She doesn’t notice Aya still watching her.)
Dean Harrington
(booming voice)
Dean Harrington
Welcome, students, to Ravenwood International University!
Dean Harrington
Here, champions are forged—not just in sports, but in character.
(Applause roars. The camera pans—Yue, Rin, Aya, Yuehua—all clapping in different corners of the hall. They don’t speak, but there’s a strange sense of awareness. Threads beginning to weave.)
Outside the Hall – Farewells
Liang Yue
(hugging his mom quickly, then stiffening as his father pats his shoulder
Seo Rin
(smirking, waving his sister off)
Seo Rin
Try not to miss me too much.
Kanya Sutham
(bowing to her parents, then whispering to her brother)
Kanya Sutham
Tell them I’m fine. Always.
Lin Yuehua
(smiling faintly at her mom, then turning as her sister waves)
Lin Yuehua
I’ll send letters. Maybe even selfies.
They leave their families with promises, expectations, and heavy hearts.
Rivals in the making—
though for now, just strangers in the same storm.
But destiny doesn’t need introductions.
Orientation Day
Campus Quad – Morning Gathering
Students gather beneath towering banners. Professors, staff, and cameras fill the space.
Professor Langford
Welcome to Ravenwood! Today, you’ll learn the campus layout, receive your timetables, and—most importantly—settle into your new homes.
(Flashbulbs go off. Several students cover their faces, but the main leads remain steady—used to the spotlight.)
Student A
Is that Liang Yue? The prodigy from Shanghai?
Student B
And Seo Rin’s really here too… His family basically owns half the Korean sports industry.
Student C
Wait—Thailand’s Aya Sutham? She already won championships before coming here.
Student D
Lin Yuehua’s from Beijing… isn’t her family all scholars and artists?
(The whispers ripple—rivalry and awe mixing in the air. The four leads remain silent, each pretending not to notice, though their eyes flick toward each other briefly.)
The group is led through marble corridors, state-of-the-art gyms, libraries that feel more like palaces. A mural of past champions stretches across a wall.
Kanya Sutham
(muttering under her breath)
Kanya Sutham
So this is where the rich and talented sharpen their claws.
Lin Yuehua
(glancing sideways, smirking slightly)
Lin Yuehua
Sounds like you’re planning to use them.
(Aya’s eyes flicker to him in surprise. Their first exchange—brief, sharp, and gone before others notice.)
Professor Langford
You’ll notice overlapping classes with fellow athletes and scholars. Rivalry is encouraged—it strengthens you.
(Students flip through glossy booklets. Yue notices he shares two classes with Yuehua. Rin notices his schedule mirrors Aya’s in sport theory. Subtle glances pass—but no words.)
The students stop before a sleek high-rise with mirrored glass panels. The automatic doors slide open, revealing a lobby with marble floors, smart touch-screens for concierge services, and modern art installations.
Student A
This feels more like a five-star hotel…
Professor Langford
Each suite includes a private bedroom, living space, study, and smart assistant system. Your keycards are biometric—only you can access your dorm.
(Staff hand over silver keycards engraved with their names.)
Top Floor – Same Corridor
The elevator doors open to a minimalist corridor lined with neon edge lighting. The four leads step out together, realizing their suites are all on the same floor.
Kanya Sutham
(under her breath)
Kanya Sutham
Seriously? Of all the people to live with…
Lin Yuehua
(glancing at Aya, then quickly away)
Seo Rin
(leaning against his doorframe, smug)
Seo Rin
Well, at least it’ll be easy to keep an eye on the competition.
Liang Yue
(sliding his keycard, calm but sharp)
Liang Yue
Just don’t get too comfortable.
The tension in the hall is electric—four rivals, one floor. And none of them plan to back down.
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