"I thought you weren't coming back tonight and would forget about this, so I quickly wrote this for you," Su Qinian said. It was the first time in his life that he was chasing a girl. He looked up, his eyes flickering slightly, and continued, "Fortunately, you're back tonight. If you're not satisfied, you can write one yourself. As for mine, it's just for reference."
Under the bright light, Su Qinian's ears were red as if they were bleeding, extremely noticeable.
"Pfft!"
Lin Jinran couldn't help laughing. How could he be so cute and yet so stubborn?
He was clearly afraid that she would forget about this and get scolded at the grade assembly tomorrow morning for not having anything prepared.
"What are you laughing at!" Su Qinian snapped.
"Thank you, Su Qinian," the girl said with a smile in her eyes. She accepted Su Qinian's kindness.
However, she might not necessarily read the speech at the grade assembly tomorrow morning. It was so dull and boring.
Lu Youchuan, who was alone and huddled by the trash can, was looking at the two of them longingly.
He heard that Su Qinian was going to read a self - criticism with Cheng Siyuan from Senior Two tomorrow...
The incident started when Cheng Siyuan publicly confessed her love to him and was caught on the spot by the grade director, which violated the school discipline.
Lu Youchuan slapped his thigh suddenly. "Sure enough, he's my Brother Su. His charisma is off the charts."
He laughed to himself.
The classmates around him shook their heads. "What's wrong with Lu Youchuan? The exam is coming up, and he can still laugh."
...
When the bell rang for the end of evening self - study, Lin Jinran slowly packed her things, said hello to Su Qinian, and then left.
She hardly had any acquaintances in Wannan City. From the moment she decided to come to Wannan City, she had made full preparations for her clothing, transportation, accommodation, and food.
The house was not far from the school. It only took a ten - minute walk to get there.
With a "click", the door of the rental house opened. Lin Jinran turned on the living - room light, and the whole place was in full view.
It was empty and lifeless.
Well, this house was only occupied at night.
Lin Jinran threw her schoolbag to one side and turned on the lights in the rooms one by one.
Since the accident in her childhood, she had been very afraid of the dark.
When the surroundings were plunged into darkness, it seemed as if the blood from that noon had torn through the black "plastic wrap", surging out through the gap one after another.
The scene of her mother jumping off the building reappeared in front of her eyes. She steadied herself and reminded herself where she was.
Maybe it was because she had gone to the hospital in the afternoon and talked to Duan Dongwei about her mother. That was why the tragic scene suddenly flashed before her eyes.
Lin Jinran took a shower first. When she came back, there was a new video call on her phone. It was from her step - mother, Yang Jinzhi. She probably wanted to ask how her first day at school was.
She stared at the caller ID and sneered. Hypocritical and pretentious.
She clicked to call back. The moment the video connected, Lin Jinran put on a cute smile. Her glass - like eyes were innocent, and she called out, "Auntie."
"Xiaoran, how was your first day at the new school?" Yang Jinzhi asked with a smile. She deliberately held the phone farther away to show Lin Cheng, Lin Jinran's father. "Your younger sister isn't here now, so she can't video - chat with you."
"I had a great day. I met new classmates, and they're all very nice," Lin Jinran replied obediently. "It doesn't matter that my sister isn't here. We'll have plenty of opportunities to video - chat."
"I heard that Wannan No.1 Middle School is one of the top key high schools in the country, full of top students. Your father went to a lot of trouble to get you in. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Just study hard," Yang Jinzhi said.
Went to a lot of trouble?
What, did he donate a teaching building or something?
What a big favor he claimed to have done.
As everyone knew, it was very rare for someone to get into Wannan No.1 Middle School through connections.
To get in through connections, one had to have extremely strong connections.
Basically, the school only cared about grades, not other things.
Lin Jinran really wanted to laugh. If it weren't for her good grades before, how could she have transferred to No.1 Middle School? Why not other schools in Wannan City?
There were so many schools in Wannan City, but she was able to transfer to No.1 Middle School. Was Yang Jinzhi jealous? She probably wished she could get her own daughter in too.
"Isn't it because of my grades? What, did he donate a teaching building? What a big favor. I'm so touched," Lin Jinran raised her eyebrows and sneered.
The previously pretended gentleness vanished completely.
She wanted to talk nicely, but her step - mother always managed to make her lose her temper.
"Xiaoran, you shouldn't talk like that. Your father really put in a lot of effort. He originally found someone there to take care of things..." Yang Jinzhi was secretly happy and deliberately said this, waiting for Lin Cheng to explode.
"Don't talk to her anymore," Lin Cheng roared. "I've said before that Lin Jinran is heartless. She can't see that we're doing good for her. Don't waste your time on her. You'd better spend more time on Tingnian."
"But Xiaoran is still young. It's normal for her to be naive. She'll be better when she grows up," Yang Jinzhi added fuel to the fire, trying to make the situation worse.
Sure enough, Lin Cheng was furious. He pointed at Lin Jinran on the video and said, "Still young? She's almost eighteen years old, an adult. She should be responsible for what she says and does. Being young is not an excuse. How could I have a daughter like you?"
"Yeah, how could I have a father like you?" Lin Jinran sneered. Looking at the two people on the other end of the video, she couldn't help but sneer in her heart.
It was so ridiculous.
When I was hospitalized back then, did you ever care about me?
You were probably too busy being lovey - dovey with Yang Jinzhi.
It was you who forced mother to death!
"Hey, Xiaoran, don't make your father angry anymore. Lin Cheng, calm down. Calm down. After all, she's your daughter. Talk to her nicely and slowly," Yang Jinzhi pretended to be a good - hearted person, bustling around. She patted Lin Cheng's back to help him calm down while desperately winking at Lin Jinran, asking her to say something nice.
Disgusting.
Lin Jinran thought of this word. She said expressionlessly, "I have nothing more to say to him."
"Unfilial child, simply an unfilial child..."
"Hey, let's hang up first, Xiaoran. We'll call you later," Yang Jinzhi turned to look at Lin Jinran, as if to check her reaction, and then cut off the video.
This "unique" farce was really fun.
Her step - mother was best at pretending to be a good - hearted person and had been spoiling her since childhood.
This was a reality that she suddenly realized as she grew up.
She just had to wait. Just wait a little longer.
When her mother woke up, she would take her mother away from this place of right and wrong.
Outside the window was a pitch - black night. It was as if thick, boundless ink had been heavily smeared on the sky, and there was not even a glimmer of starlight.