In July 2024, I visited a remote primary school in a small village of Guizhou, China. As a young outsider, a rare sight in this small village, I was warmly welcomed by the locals. To be honest, I didn’t hold high expectations; rather, I approached it with a sharp focus, intent on uncovering the various issues and disharmony present there. This search proved remarkably easy. The disappearance of young adults and the unchecked wildness of left-behind children were impossible to ignore. The so-called necessity for parents to rush to cities to earn money is, quite plainly, an act of cruelty toward their children. In this photo, I instinctively pressed the shutter as I passed by a classroom. At that very moment, a little girl inside noticed me, and our eyes met. Not wanting to disturb their lesson, I quickly walked away. It wasn’t until I was going through my photos later that I truly noticed the depth in her gaze.Her eyes seemed to hold a mix of curiosity and a hint of fear—perhaps fear of the unfamiliar object in my hands. This village is extremely remote and disadvantaged, and for these children, the Chinese college entrance exam (Gaokao) is the only way out. From primary school onward, they begin preparing for this grueling test, a 12-year-long journey that could shape their entire future. Of course, the girl is too young to think about such things yet, but every friend I’ve shown this photo to can’t help but sigh deeply after seeing it.