The 100 - day oath - taking activity ended an hour earlier than expected. The grade director stood on the stage, directing the students to exit in an orderly manner.
"What are you going to do later?" Amid the surging crowd, Su Qinian got a bit closer. Looking sideways, he saw a section of the girl's wrist, which seemed to be glowing brightly in the sunlight, extremely eye - catching.
His eyes darkened slightly. Suddenly, he felt his throat go dry. He calmly shifted his gaze and looked ahead.
Lin Jinran happily held the flowers in her arms. Tilting her head with a smile, she mumbled, "I'm going to have dinner with Aunt Ying later. It's a pity that it's not a half - month holiday today, or I could go straight home."
She also wanted to know what was going on between Lin Cheng and Lin Tinian. According to the information she had heard, Lin Cheng had left Wannanshi. He came in a hurry and left just as quickly.
Maybe Aunt Ying would have some news.
Aunt Ying picked up Song Langqing and Lin Jinran and took them home. It was Uncle Song who cooked. As soon as they got home, there was a table full of steaming hot dishes waiting for them.
Song Langqing changed his shoes and muttered, "Dad, we're back. I'm starving to death... Ouch!"
There was a sharp pain on the top of his head. Song Langqing immediately jumped to the side, covering his head and warily staring at his mother.
Aunt Ying raised her eyebrows and shouted fiercely, "What are you doing? Starving to death? Even a starving ghost wouldn't be in such a hurry to be reincarnated. Can't you see your dad is still cooking in the kitchen?"
Then she smiled at Lin Jinran and softened her tone, "Jinran, don't be polite. We're all family."
Lin Jinran was slightly taken aback, pursed her lips and nodded with a smile.
Song Langqing: "..."
It seemed that he was just a lonely and cold soul.
He was going to go into his shell.
He was going to draw circles to curse Lin Jinran.
He cursed that she should be liked and doted on by so many people for the rest of her life.
Uncle Song cooked five dishes and one soup, all according to Lin Jinran's taste. He had been more observant on New Year's Eve last time and noticed which dishes Lin Jinran had taken more of. So today, he mainly cooked those dishes.
Lin Jinran drank a bowl of soup contentedly, served herself some rice and looked at the dishes, picking out her favorite ones.
At the same time, she was thinking about when would be the right time to ask about Lin Cheng.
Halfway through the meal, Aunt Ying brought up the topic on her own initiative.
Aunt Ying said, "Jinran, I've confirmed with Lin Cheng. He has returned to the imperial capital. So don't worry. Just focus on preparing for the upcoming college entrance examination."
"But why did he leave suddenly?" Song Langqing asked in confusion, voicing the same question that was in Lin Jinran's mind.
Aunt Ying thought for a while and slowly said, "It is indeed a strange point. He attended a normal business dinner the day before he left, but suddenly bought a plane ticket and left the next day."
"Lin Cheng declared that day that he must make Lin Jinran transfer schools. And then he suddenly left, which damaged his own reputation. It's not his style." Uncle Song pointed out the key point.
"Could there be some conspiracy behind this?" Song Langqing raised his hand and casually guessed.
Lin Jinran looked down at the food and suddenly lost her appetite. It was indeed possible. She had always been reluctant to think in this direction. After all, Lin Cheng was her father.
"Don't talk nonsense!" Aunt Ying's face darkened and she immediately shouted.
Song Langqing was startled and sat there shivering in his seat. He knew that his mother truly wanted the best for Lin Jinran, and he was really happy about that.
But sometimes he felt that his mother might be over - caring, as if there was something he didn't know involved.
Song Langqing was very distressed. He carefully recalled what he might have missed, but he racked his brains and still couldn't figure it out.
Uncle Song saw that the atmosphere was not right and came out with a smile to smooth things over. "Why are we talking about this during the meal? Hurry up and eat. If we don't, the food will get cold."
After lunch, Aunt Ying called Lin Jinran alone into the study and asked, "Jinran, do you think there's a possibility that your father might do something to your mother?"
"But my mother is already in such a state. How could they still have the heart to harm her? Do they have any conscience at all!"
Lin Jinran couldn't help raising her voice and shouting. After shouting, she realized her gaffe. "Sorry, Aunt Ying. I couldn't hold it in."
Her glass - like eyes looked at the rows of books on the bookshelf, and a hint of sadness flashed in the depths of her eyes.
It was impossible, impossible, impossible. Her mother was already in such a state. How could Yang Jinzhi and the others still have the heart to harm her? Her mother no longer posed a threat to them. It simply didn't make any sense.
The fingers at her waist tightly clenched into her palm, and her face turned pale. Her heart seemed to have a big hole in it, and the howling wind blew straight through, making her body tremble uncontrollably.
Aunt Ying looked at Lin Jinran in such a state, sighed, and firmly held her shoulders with both hands to steady her. She said softly, "Indeed, your mother has become a vegetative state..."
At the words "vegetative state", Aunt Ying slightly lowered her eyes and continued, "She's of no use to them. Moreover, your mother has already divorced Lin Cheng. They shouldn't even think about targeting her."
"Jinran, you can rest assured. I'll take better care of your mother. I once investigated the background of the attending doctor, Duan Dongwei, and there are basically no doubts. Even so, I'll still pay more attention. You can just relax."
Aunt Ying comforted her softly.
Lin Cheng's sudden departure was indeed very suspicious.
Lin Jinran was silent for a while, didn't say a word, and just nodded.
The high - spirited and enthusiastic mood from the morning seemed to have turned into nothingness with Lin Cheng's sudden departure. All that was left in her was panic and uneasiness.
Even when she returned to the classroom, Lin Jinran still seemed to have lost her soul. Her mind was completely absent from the class. When the physics teacher called on her to answer a question, it took Lin Jinran a long time to react.
Lin Jinran looked at the multiple - choice question about electricity on the blackboard, blinked her eyes, and the white chalk words suddenly blurred. They all clustered together and she couldn't see them clearly no matter how hard she tried.
The physics teacher asked again.
Lin Jinran only felt that her mind was a complete blank. Her thoughts were in chaos, as if they had been sealed by a mysterious spell.
Suddenly, a hand under the desk grabbed hers. Agile fingers pried open her palm and gently traced an "A" on it.
It was extremely itchy.
Lin Jinran's heart skipped a beat, and she regained some of her senses.
Following Su Qinian's hint, she answered "A".
Only then did the physics teacher let her sit down.
After class, Su Qinian didn't ask many questions. Instead, he marked the key points of the teacher's lesson for her.
Lin Jinran softly responded. She had no strength left and just slumped on the desk.
She couldn't even bring herself to look at those key points now.
She was in no mood at all.
She closed her eyes to rest. In the flickering light, she seemed to see the boy looking at her, as if he was a bit worried.
He said, "Jinran, let's go out and play tonight. Let's skip self - study."