"He's my friend from Wannanshi. He wants to visit the imperial capital during the Chinese New Year this year. As a local, I'm just showing him around. That's all," Lin Jinran said coldly, briefly introducing him.
"Auntie, I'm Su Qinian from Wannanshi. I'm Lin Jinran's classmate," Su Qinian greeted in a timely manner. With a gentle smile, his eyes sparkled like stars.
"Since I'm here for a trip and it just so happens that Lin Jinran is from the imperial capital, I asked her to be my tour guide. I didn't think it through and invited her during the Chinese New Year. I'm really sorry."
Su Qinian had never known about Lin Jinran's family situation. He thought she just had a bad relationship with her parents.
"It's okay, it's okay," Lin Tingnian saw Su Qinian looking in her direction and quickly put on a big smile, being extremely enthusiastic.
But it seemed that Su Qinian just glanced at her casually and quickly shifted his gaze, smiling as he talked to Yang Jinzhi.
Lin Tingnian was not willing to let it go. She clenched her fists tightly and said, "You're here for a trip. If we're talking about the entire imperial capital, I'm more familiar with it than my sister. After all, my sister has been away from the imperial capital for half a year. She may have forgotten some things."
A cold and sharp look pierced over. Lin Jinran lifted her eyelids and said calmly, "I'm not amnesiac. How could I forget?"
The atmosphere suddenly changed.
"I know. I'm just afraid that it'll be too tiring for you to be a tour guide for a whole day. I can also be a tour guide," Lin Tingnian tugged at her mother's sleeve, pouted, and said aggrievedly.
Su Qinian keenly noticed that the relationship between Lin Jinran and her family was not just a little bad. Afraid that they would have a conflict if they continued talking, he stepped forward to smooth things over.
"It's okay. Don't trouble yourself. Lin Jinran being my tour guide is enough. Auntie, our turn is coming up in the queue over there. Lin Jinran and I will go there first. I'll come to visit again next time if I have the chance."
Su Qinian said goodbye to Yang Jinzhi and Lin Tingnian, then went into the temple with Lin Jinran.
There were crowds of tourists. In the blink of an eye, they disappeared from sight.
Before they left, Lin Tingnian glared at Lin Jinran's back hatefully.
Just you wait. I'll tell Dad. You'll get what's coming to you tonight.
Lin Jinran showed Su Qinian the Forbidden City, took him to visit the temple, and also went to a nearby imperial garden.
Seeing that there was still plenty of time, Lin Jinran took Su Qinian to climb a mountain by bus. She was determined not to climb the mountain on foot.
It was too tiring, and the weather was cold. With the wind blowing, she might freeze.
Finally, as twilight fell, Lin Jinran took Su Qinian to the airport. They said goodbye at the airport.
On the way back by car, Lin Jinran looked at the scenery outside the window. It was so dark that she couldn't even see her fingers.
Every step closer to the so - called "home" felt like walking on a sharp blade. One wrong step and she would fall into the abyss.
She still came back. As soon as she entered the door, a teacup was thrown in front of her.
Accompanied by Lin Cheng's angry roar: "Lin Jinran, have you really gone too far? You ran out and disappeared last night just to meet a wild man?"
Lin Jinran looked down and sneered.
The teacup that was thrown in front of her was delicate in texture and shiny in color. It was a very high - quality teacup.
Lin Cheng was willing to throw it at her.
"He's not a wild man. He's my deskmate and the top student of Wannanshi No. 1 Middle School. If nothing goes wrong, there will be a place for him in Tsinghua or Peking University this year," Lin Jinran raised her eyes, the corners of her mouth curling up in a mocking smile.
"Is a person like this still likely to have bad intentions? Dad, you're really overthinking."
Yang Jinzhi and Lin Tingnian glanced at each other awkwardly. They really didn't expect... They only knew that the guy was good - looking.
They knew nothing else.
"Since he's as good as you said, Jinran, don't have any wrong ideas. Your age is the most crucial time. The college entrance examination is important," Yang Jinzhi said earnestly.
Lin Jinran suddenly looked up and stared straight at Yang Jinzhi. Her eyes were full of shock: "He and I are just ordinary classmates and friends. Auntie, how vile your thoughts are. Do you think that when a boy and a girl are together, they must have an improper relationship?"
Right. Back then, you knew my father was married, but you still came over to be a mistress. You're not a good person at all.
You don't even know how to write the words "shame".
"Mom is just concerned about you. She's afraid that you'll make a wrong decision and go astray. Who knows what you did in Wannanshi to make such an excellent person pursue you. Sister, you should first think about whether you're worthy of him," Lin Tingnian saw that Lin Jinran had refuted Yang Jinzhi and had nothing to say in a few words. She quickly jumped out to defend her mother.
"Enough!" Lin Cheng slapped the table in the living room heavily. With a solemn face, he stared coldly at Lin Jinran. "I only ask you to behave yourself."
"I've always behaved myself. I've even brought honor to you," Lin Jinran laughed loudly. The smile on her face became deeper. "I'm the third - ranked student in Wannanshi No. 1 Middle School. I wonder if this ranking can add glory to your face."
As soon as she finished speaking, the smile on her face quickly faded, and her expression turned cold.
Her glass - like eyes were filled with thick ink. At first glance, the darkness was terrifying.
"If there's nothing else, I'll go upstairs," Lin Jinran said coldly. Without waiting for their reply, she walked straight up the stairs.
As soon as she closed the door, Lin Jinran leaned against the door and slid down along the doorknob.
The floor was cold, but it was not as cold as her heart.
Lin Jinran hugged herself with both hands and buried her head deeply.
She knew that in the past ten - odd years, her life had been almost completely different from Su Qinian's.
She envied Su Qinian for having a harmonious family. She envied that he could do whatever he wanted without any scruples. There was always a pillar called "home" to support him all the way.
But her own home was in pieces.
Every time she came back, she suffered.
Her poor academic performance before her senior year in high school was also largely related to this.
Because she never had a quiet place to study.
In the quiet room, a long sigh came out.
Early on the seventh day of the first lunar month, Lin Jinran dragged her suitcase back to Wannanshi.
Stepping on the land of Wannanshi again, she seemed to come back to life, full of vitality and freshness.
She was no longer the listless Lin Jinran.
In the evening, Lin Jinran walked into Class One's classroom with her schoolbag on her back.
Lu Youchuan was playing around with other classmates and accidentally bumped into her.
When he saw it was Lin Jinran, he said in surprise, "Sister Lin, you're back."
Xie Wanyu in the front row heard the sound and put down her unfinished winter vacation homework. When she saw Lin Jinran, she waved excitedly at her: "Xiaoranran, long time no see!"
Many classmates in the class greeted her. Lin Jinran smiled and nodded while walking down.
Standing in front of her seat, the boy who was taking a nap on the desk seemed to sense something. His eyelashes fluttered slightly, then he opened his eyes and looked up slightly. He saw the girl coming towards him against the light.
He said, "Ranran, welcome back."