The seat next to a window with bright sunlight is Li Zhen’s regular place in a paid study room in Beijing. The white desk has a table lamp, an electrical outlet and a bookshelf. In this small world, she was preparing for the most recent national postgraduate entrance exam, which took place in late December 2023.
After graduating from university, Li worked for a short time. However, because she was not satisfied with her salary, she decided to quit and pursue postgraduate studies to increase her chances of landing a better job. Li told newspaper that she’s rented a bedroom in an apartment, but
