Would following Lin Cheng mean ending up like her mother, lying on a cold hospital bed all day?
She didn't want that. She didn't want to be trapped in a cage, unable to break free from the chains and never gain freedom. She definitely didn't want to be a falcon that could never soar under the blue sky and white clouds.
That so - called home was a hell that devoured her.
A year ago, Dr. Duan happened to be in Wannan City. When her mother was transferred to a hospital there, she took the opportunity to prepare early for coming to study in Wannan City.
Fortunately, No. 1 High School accepted her, and her mother also started treatment with Dr. Duan's help. Everything was moving in a positive direction.
She couldn't just follow Lin Cheng away and leave her mother alone in Wannan City.
Lin Cheng stared at Lin Jinran with a gloomy face. His out - stretched finger froze in mid - air. He almost gritted his teeth and said, "Good, very good. This is my good daughter!"
"You won't accept kindness but insist on being forced. Let's see if you can still study in No. 1 High School. In the end, you'll have to obediently transfer back to the Imperial Capital!"
Lin Cheng suddenly dropped his hand and glared at Lin Jinran fiercely, as if the person standing in front of him wasn't his own daughter but a sworn enemy.
Lin Jinran casually lifted her eyelids and glanced at him, nonchalantly saying, "Really? Then come and tell me after you've managed to do it. I'll leave with you then."
She was simply trying to anger Lin Cheng and get a moment of satisfaction from her words.
Sure enough, Lin Cheng was so angry that he seemed to be on the verge of exploding. His face contorted. He glared at her one more time, then turned around and left until he completely disappeared from everyone's sight.
After he left, her friends surrounded her worriedly.
Su Qinian said in a low voice, "Lin Jinran, if you need any help, just come to me. None of us want you to go back."
Back to that place that didn't feel like a home.
A fleeting, unnamed emotion flashed across her beautiful phoenix - like eyes, like a dragonfly skimming the water, leaving only faint ripples.
"Yeah, Sister Lin, don't worry. Brother Su is no ordinary person. In Wannan City, he's almost like half the sky... Ouch! Who hit me!"
Lu Youchuan was chatting merrily when suddenly he felt a sharp pain on his head. He jumped up in pain and immediately turned around to glare. To his surprise, it was Su Qinian. Su Qinian stared at him warningly, so Lu Youchuan closed his mouth aggrievedly.
"I don't believe the school will let you go. Unless the school has water in its brain and the principal and teachers have gone crazy. They won't just give up a spot at Peking University or Tsinghua University to another school so easily." Xie Wanyu shouted impatiently, scolding the school in the process.
The homeroom teacher beside them coughed lightly. Xie Wanyu suddenly realized the homeroom teacher was there. Her face turned pale instantly. She quickly stepped back and hid behind someone.
When she looked up, she found she was hiding behind Jiang Xiubin.
Xie Wanyu: "..."
Tao Wan couldn't help but laugh to ease the atmosphere. "Xie Wanyu is right. The homeroom teacher has already made his stance clear. He won't let you go."
Zhou Ping nodded. "Lin Jinran, just focus on your studies. I'll tell the grade director about this. You're my student, and you'll always be my student. I won't allow my student to be taken away against her will."
His words were powerful, like a small stone thrown into a lake, creating ripples.
The students present suddenly felt a surge of enthusiasm boiling in their veins. They glanced at Lin Jinran and firmly stood in front of her to protect her.
Lin Jinran stared blankly at her classmates around her, her eyes slightly moist. At that moment, she was like a rising sun, full of hope for the future.
"You're the third in the province in the joint entrance exam. I'm still waiting for you, Sister Lin, to make it big and take care of us, your good - for - nothing friends." Lu Youchuan joked half - heartedly, smiling to relieve the awkwardness.
"Teacher, tell us quickly. Who are the first and second - ranked students? Are there any from our class? And, well, can you give us a little hint? It's okay if you tell me quietly." Maybe not wanting Lin Jinran to be sad for too long, a classmate tried to change the topic.
Sure enough, the topic was successfully changed.
The results of the joint entrance exam hadn't come out yet, and every student in the class was very concerned.
The homeroom teacher, Zhou Ping, coughed awkwardly to hide his uneasiness. "Actually, it's not that fast. It's only been a few days since the exam. I just made up the story about the third - in - the - province thing."
Everyone: "..."
Seeing the suspicious and questioning looks from the classmates, Zhou Ping quickly continued to explain, "But I've specifically looked at Lin Jinran's test papers. They're really good. I can't guarantee her exact ranking, but she'll definitely be in the top ten."
"I knew it. It's only been a few days since the exam. How could the results come out so quickly? Usually, it takes at least five days for the joint entrance exam results to be announced. I got excited for nothing." Lu Youchuan murmured in a low voice.
Lin Jinran couldn't help but laugh. When she first heard about the third - in - the - province ranking, she was naturally extremely shocked and happy. But the arrival of Lin Cheng had dissipated most of her joy. Later, there wasn't much left.
Now, after hearing what the homeroom teacher said, she didn't really care.
As long as she could make progress, that was enough.
Seeing the other students looking at him with grievances, the homeroom teacher simply put his hands on his hips and shouted fiercely, "What are you all still standing here for? Go to class! Look at the time. There are only a few minutes left until class starts. Hurry up and get back to the classroom!"
"Okay, okay, we'll listen to you, Teacher. Don't get angry. Class is about to start." A naughty student threw out a joking remark and then rushed into the classroom without looking back.
Taking advantage of the large crowd, he hoped the teacher wouldn't catch him.
Lin Jinran and Su Qinian glanced at each other and smiled helplessly. They walked side by side into the classroom slowly.
"Ranran, don't transfer schools, okay?" The boy's voice was like a thread fluttering aimlessly in the wind. He spoke in a low voice, with a faint sadness.
Lin Jinran's heart trembled. She took a deep breath and gave him a bright smile. "I definitely won't transfer schools. If I leave, who will compete with you for the top spot in the grade? Besides, I haven't even won it yet. How could I just leave like this?"
The girl's eyes were wide - open, black and white clearly defined.
Su Qinian smiled gently and nodded. "That's right. You haven't even won the top spot in the grade. How could you just leave?"
Although transferring schools might not be Lin Jinran's own will.
All he wanted was a promise from the girl, a promise that showed a glimpse of the future.
No matter what, he would help Lin Jinran with all his might, as long as she didn't want to leave No. 1 High School or Wannan City.