So what should she do now?
If nothing unexpected happened, the $50,000 would arrive soon, and then she would have many more options. After all, the first pot of gold is always the hardest to earn—but once you have money, making more money becomes much easier, especially for someone like her, with the advantage of being reborn.
However, she didn't have much time, because her school was a boarding school.
Why choose a boarding school? Well, it was related to ballet.
In her previous life, Catherine had thought ballet was beautiful, and in this life she practiced diligently as well. But little by little, she discovered that ballet was far more grueling than she had imagined—especially after switching from soft slippers to pointe shoes. And Catherine certainly didn't want to become a "thick-legged girl."
Founded in 1853, Greer Girls' School is an all-girls boarding school offering grades 7 through 12.
In the United States, middle school typically includes grades 7 through 9, which differs from China—although in the 21st century, China seems to have begun adjusting its terminology for secondary education as well.
Greer Girls' School is one of the top 100 high schools in the United States, yet it admits only a little over 100 students each year, with total enrollment consistently between 400 and 500—a very small number.
Located in Pennsylvania, just a few hours' drive from New York City, the school uses a small-class system, averaging nine students per class, with nearly 100 teachers.
Despite its small student body, the campus spans 130 acres and includes both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, an indoor gymnasium (with basketball courts), horseback riding facilities, a soccer field, and other athletic fields—creating a well-rounded learning environment. The school also features academic buildings, a lecture hall, dance studios, a library, a cafeteria, a post office, and a student health center.
The dormitory layout was excellent: two students per room, with two rooms sharing a bathroom. Roommates were chosen by the students themselves, allowing them to live with friends.
It was precisely because of these advantages that Katherine chose this school.
Summer vacation in the United States begins in May, and classes resume in September. Katherine's birthday is June 1; after that, she would officially turn twelve—or thirteen, according to the Chinese age-counting system.
According to the schedule, Harry Potter would be published on October 1. However, Katherine estimated that it would take at least two books for it to become a bestseller, as some people considered it a "slow-burn" novel.
The campus was large, but the student body was small. Overall, the learning atmosphere at Greer Girls' School was quite good.
—That was Katherine's impression after enrolling on August 31.
Unfortunately, her unlucky fate hadn't changed: she still had to return to New York on weekends for ballet classes.
"Damn capitalism,"
Katherine could only sigh in the end.
"My name is Lily—Lily Padka. I'm fourteen, in eighth grade, and I love Elvis Presley's music…"
Every year, after new students enroll, the school selects older students to pair with them, helping the newcomers adapt more quickly to school life.
Catherine was no exception. The pretty girl standing in front of her was introducing herself enthusiastically.
She was wearing a slightly fitted beige dress with floral patterns, and a large camera hung around her neck.
"This school is really beautiful,"
Catherine exclaimed, admiring the lovely surroundings.
"Catherine, that's the riding track—we have horseback riding there during P.E. class," Lily explained.
Hearing Lily's explanation, Catherine realized just how different the education she had received in her previous life was from the American education system. While some American practices were indeed unpleasant, their advantages were undeniable.
"Call me Kate."
"Okay—then you can call me Lily, Kate."
Lily smiled. This charming blonde girl didn't fit the traditional American stereotype that blondes were intellectually inferior. After all, getting into Greer Girls' School required real ability—otherwise, how could it rank among the top 100 high schools in the U.S.?
"Kate, smile!"
Catherine turned around and saw the flash of a camera.
"Photography is my favorite thing to do. I want to be a photographer in the future. Would you be interested in joining our photography club? We don't just take pictures—we also make short films."
"That sounds great, but I have ballet classes at SAS this weekend. Sorry," Catherine replied.
She had never really understood what was so interesting about photography—not even in her previous life. Although she loved visual beauty, she would never choose to look at low-resolution images if she had access to large, high-definition photos. In her view, photography was more of a tedious, repetitive job that required long hours of effort.
"That's okay. I heard you won the junior division championship in May—that's amazing!"
"Thank you."
Catherine smiled.
Her physical abilities were exceptional, and learning ballet had been easy for her. Unfortunately, her mother's standards were far too strict, which gave Catherine the false impression that she wasn't very good at ballet. Moreover, she didn't believe that beating a group of children made her invincible—after all, she had the perspective of an adult. So she didn't think much of the award.
The camera flashed a couple more times before Lily finally stopped.
Then Lily showed Catherine around the school, introducing her to the vast campus and sharing some of her photos.
"Would you like to room with me? I live alone."
"Is that okay?" Lily seemed very enthusiastic, and Catherine quite liked this "big sister."
"Of course! At our school, you're allowed to choose your own roommate. Why don't you come take a look at my dorm first?"
Lily said as she led Catherine to her room.
There were two beds in the dorm, but it looked like only one was occupied.
"This is an Elvis record—want to listen to it?" Lily said, pulling out a vinyl record.
"Elvis?"
Yes—the 1960s, apparently the peak of Elvis Presley's career while he was alive. In short, the King of Rock and Roll, a pioneer of the genre, was an idol to most people at the time. The hippie movement was only a few years away, and people would soon become even more unrestrained.
Although Catherine wasn't a big fan of rock and roll, she didn't want to spoil the mood—and she also wanted to hear the songs of the King of Rock and Roll. After all, she had never listened to the legendary Elvis before.