Liyan Shen was unexpectedly chosen as one of Morton College’s outstanding graduates and given the honor of delivering a speech at the graduation ceremony. With so many impressive students at Morton, why had this honor fallen to her? She hesitated to accept it without careful consideration, but Professor Li urged her to focus on preparing her speech rather than overthinking it.

　　Liyan practiced her speech repeatedly in her apartment, with Anna listening intently. Anna wasn’t the least bit envious of Liyan’s spotlight opportunity. Instead, she offered numerous suggestions to enhance Liyan’s speech, helping her polish and refine her words. In terms of public speaking and emotional impact, Anna was naturally more adept. Liyan’s speech, while precise and well-structured, lacked the passionate flair that could truly captivate an audience.

　　After ten substantial revisions, the speech was finalized. Anna then informed Liyan of some important news.

　　“Go ahead,” Liyan said, setting aside her speech.

　　“I’m flying back to Italy right after the graduation ceremony. My flight is on June 12.”

　　“That’s so sudden!” Liyan was taken aback.

　　“I managed to get a discounted flight. I also need to return early to prepare for my new job. I’ll be checking out of the apartment on the 11th, so you’ll have to handle the rent on your own.”

　　“Got it. I wish you all the best.”

　　“Liyan, you must come visit me in Italy when you can,” Anna’s voice faltered.

　　Liyan felt a wave of anxiety. She remembered how, at Saeed’s graduation, the four of them had shared a farewell dinner. Saeed, usually a strict adherent to his principles and teetotaler, had drowned his sorrows in alcohol. His prestigious doctoral degree hadn’t given him an advantage in the job market. Now, Liyan was feeling a similar frustration. With Anna leaving, the burden of covering the rent on her own was daunting. Liyan realized her situation: despite being chosen as an outstanding graduate to represent Morton College, she was still very much an “outsider” in the UK.

　　The sun blazed down, casting intense rays over the earth. The sky was a brilliant, cloudless blue, and Morton College’s lawns sparkled with vibrant green, mirroring the youthful exuberance of the graduating students. Dressed in her doctoral gown, Liyan Shen stood on the podium, ready to speak on behalf of Morton College’s graduating class.

　　Congratulations on your graduation. Congratulations to us for standing at a new starting point. (Audience cheers)

　　Reflecting on five years ago, when I first arrived in the UK, it was my first time abroad. When I first came to Oxford, I couldn’t even find the entrance to our college. (Audience laughs) I was fortunate to receive help from Oxford’s senior students and quickly overcame the challenges of acclimatizing. Among those who helped me were British, Italian, and Iranian individuals. Despite our different nationalities, skin colors, and backgrounds, at this moment, we are all Oxfordians. We came to Oxford for the same goal: the pursuit of truth and knowledge.

　　Over a century ago, Charles Darwin, a British naturalist, began a grueling five-year voyage around the world to find evidence for his theory of biological evolution. After more than twenty years of research, Darwin published his monumental work, *On the Origin of Species*. In 1860, a debate at the Oxford University Natural History Museum began around *On the Origin of Species*. This historic debate transcended science, delivering a severe blow to the foundations of religious authority, shattering the chains that bound human thought, and inspiring a quest for truth. That debate in the Natural History Museum showed that truth is unrelated to authority, status, or fame.

　　If you visit the Oxford University website, you’ll never see a pop-up telling you that Oxford has produced 27 British Prime Ministers, numerous heads of state, 69 Nobel Laureates, 3 Fields Medalists, and 6 Turing Award winners. Oxford is one of the few universities that does not hold anniversary celebrations. Some say it’s because the exact founding date of Oxford is hard to trace. But in reality, Oxford’s choice to forgo anniversary celebrations is to avoid falling into the trap of blind competition and advancement. Indeed, most of us will never reach the shining achievements of those illustrious politicians, scientists, and artists, and we are unlikely to become “famous alumni” of Oxford. (Audience laughs) But if we let our talents become mere tools for personal gain or fame, Oxford would certainly not want to acknowledge us as its graduates. (Audience laughs)

　　Some might question whether, as Oxford graduates, aspiring to be a notable alumnus in Oxford’s history isn’t a goal worth pursuing. I don’t deny my desire for worldly success, but as we strive to climb higher, we must also consider whether accumulating wealth and crossing social classes is the ultimate goal in life. As we work hard to ascend material levels, should we not also elevate our intellectual and cognitive levels? Higher education is precisely one of the effective ways to enrich our intellectual dimensions and improve our understanding. It allows us to interact with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences, offering us the chance to view problems from others’ perspectives. Don’t let graduation narrow our horizons. Don’t let societal standards of success confine our thoughts. On the contrary, we should strive to continually expand them; otherwise, our lives will be trapped in a class maze with no exit.

　　While we enjoy our wonderful time at Oxford, some of Oxford’s predecessors might be working as Médecins Sans Frontières in Ebola-ravaged Congo, saving a language spoken by only three people on a remote Indonesian island, advocating for disadvantaged groups in a politically oppressive country, or battling scientific failures in the lab. I am proud of these unnamed Oxfordians. There is an old Chinese saying: ‘To accomplish oneself and help others achieve their goals.’ I firmly believe that Oxfordians should not only seek personal happiness but should also work to broaden the world’s boundaries, ensuring that everyone has a fair opportunity to widen their path in life. This is the mission of an Oxfordian!”

　　**After the ceremony, the graduates tossed their doctoral caps into the air, shedding the painful memories of sleepless nights spent writing their dissertations. They hoped their dreams would soar like their caps, but most of the caps came crashing down to the ground. Liyan picked up her cap, brushed off the grass, and happily posed for photos with Anna.**

　　When John found out Liyan hadn’t secured a job in China that met her expectations, he felt a secret thrill. After ten years of a tug-of-war with his mother, he was tired and had come to terms with reality. Since he would eventually inherit the family business, why not use this moment to leverage Liyan staying in the UK? Born into an Oxfordshire manor with four generations of family business, the Huntingtons were influential in Oxfordshire but had no reach in international cities like London. Though his family was well-off and somewhat aristocratic, they were far from the elite. They had to painstakingly manage the auction house to maintain their estate, unlike heirs of multinational companies who could spend lavishly. Even if he married, his wife couldn’t just enjoy a life of luxury. She needed to come from a good background, have ambition, and dedicate herself to the family business just like him. On top of that, she needed to meet criteria such as being well-matched in status, well-known, and speaking perfect Oxford English. It seemed like John, who appeared to be at the top of the marriage chain, actually had very limited choices.

　　During John’s student days, his parents had introduced him to local debutantes under the guise of business parties and charity dinners. Whenever John brought home a girlfriend from a different social class, his mother would do everything to break them up. Knowing his mother favored Rachel, John deliberately kept a teasing distance from her to irritate his mother. Despite his mother’s strict vigilance, John had fallen for a foreign exchange student from a distant country. With Liyan’s gentle comfort, he might endure the mundane work at the auction house. Since life couldn’t be perfect, he’d seize what he could. John approached Liyan with a bouquet, took out a ring from it, and asked, “Will you marry me?”

　　Anna led the cheers, “Say yes, say yes!”

　　“I will.” Liyan felt a sense of relief. The job struggles, breakup doubts, and worries about returning home vanished. Emotionally, she couldn’t let go of this man who had been with her for three years. Rationally, she knew she had to hold on to this lifeline. She extended her hand, and John slipped the ring onto her finger.

　　Without consulting her mother, Liyan accepted John’s proposal. It wasn’t out of fear of her mother’s reproach, but rather that her mother wouldn’t understand her difficulties. She pondered how to explain her hasty decision.

　　“Mom, I got my doctorate. I wish you could’ve been at my graduation ceremony.”

　　Lu Yun (Liyan’s mother): “You’re my pride. Even without me by your side, you’ve managed your studies and life well. You’ve always been a reliable child.”

　　“And there’s something else,” Liyan paused, “I accepted John’s proposal.”

　　“You’re marrying a British man?” Lu Yun was taken aback.

　　“I hope to get your blessing.”

　　“You’re not planning to come back?”

　　Liyan stayed silent.

　　“Is he good to you?” Lu Yun knew her daughter was avoiding the question of returning, so she changed the topic.

　　“He’s someone I can rely on.”

　　“Britain is so far away. I’m afraid you’ll suffer.”

　　“I can take care of myself. And I have John.”

　　The line fell silent. After thirty years of teaching and having educated over a thousand students, she took pride in her class's higher undergraduate success rate compared to others. Her daughter was her most outstanding student and her greatest pride. She had always pushed her daughter to be ambitious, to foster independence, and to encourage studying abroad to gain new experiences. Yet, she had neglected to teach her daughter the importance of patriotism and keeping promises. Now, her daughter had become a self-centered person who had forgotten her roots, and Lu Yun felt her educational efforts had failed.

　　It was normal for her daughter to stop sharing personal matters after the age of twelve, following a family upheaval. After marrying her current husband, her daughter had to live with a stepbrother with no blood relation, and from then on, she had been distant with the family, behaving more like an outsider and never showing her typical girlish temper. Lu Yun had thought her daughter was simply well-behaved and understanding. When dealing with rebellious students, she could command their respect simply by mentioning her daughter’s enrollment at Peking University. Her daughter had studied in the UK for four years, and she had devoted all her energy to her graduating class, never visiting her daughter in England. But did it really matter? Her daughter’s excellent academic performance was the best proof of her effective teaching methods! She reflected on where she might have gone wrong, wondering why her once obedient and understanding daughter would rather keep her feelings to herself than communicate with her.

　　"How are you and Dad? Managing a graduating class is exhausting; you should take care of yourself," Liyan said, her emotions mixed, before hanging up the phone without receiving her mother’s blessing.

　　At Heathrow Airport in London, as she bid farewell to Anna, Liyan’s eyes were red and swollen.

　　"Why are you crying? You're the lucky one. I'm actually envious of you!"

　　"Do you think I made my decision too hastily?"

　　"It’s not hasty at all; it’s just how things naturally fell into place. Are you going back to China?"

　　"Not for now."

　　"What are your plans going forward?"

　　"Everything came so suddenly, I haven’t really thought it through yet."

　　"Promise me you’ll stay in the UK. You deserve this, and you’re a perfect fit here. Marrying John means you won’t have to worry about financial issues anymore."

　　Years later, Liyan would reflect on Anna’s words and the sincere wish for her to marry John. It dawned on her that Anna had seen her as a substitute for herself staying in the UK. Especially since Liyan had won over Rachel and the unlikely chance of marrying John was, to Anna, a victory of commoners. When Anna had doubts about her future, she needed that victory to bolster her own spirits.

　　After saying goodbye to Anna, Liyan felt a void inside her. The person who understood her best had left, and her sounding board was gone. Even though she had accepted John’s proposal, marriage wasn’t just about two individuals—it involved two families. How would Mrs. Huntington feel about the marriage? Her mother also seemed disapproving of her hasty decision. The glamour of the graduation ceremony felt fleeting; Liyan felt passive, with others holding all the power.

　　That evening, John showed up at Liyan’s apartment for dinner as promised. While they ate, John began planning their wedding.

　　"I want to invite your parents to our wedding. How about we set the date for the end of August? By then, your mom’s graduating class will have finished their exams."

　　John had even thought of that; he was truly a dependable man, and Liyan felt she hadn’t made a mistake with him.

　　"We should register our marriage early and get your parents’ visa applications sorted out as soon as possible."

　　"John, where will we live after we’re married? I still don’t have a job lined up."

　　"We can stay at my place for now. I’ll be starting to manage the family business. How about you join me in managing it?"

　　Liyan was taken aback by John’s plans. "John, I want to have a job that truly belongs to me, not just—"

　　"I understand. You don’t have British citizenship yet, do you? Once we’re married, you can apply for British citizenship. After you get it, you’ll be able to pursue the job you want. For now, let’s follow this plan, okay?"

　　John spoke in a negotiating tone, but Liyan had no counter-arguments. Without British citizenship, she wouldn’t even qualify to apply for jobs. She had to accept John’s arrangements.