Actually, the gap between her and Su Qinian had already begun to show at this moment.
She seemed trapped in a glass cage from a year ago, watching helplessly as the people she knew and was familiar with outside stepped towards greatness step by step, while she stayed in place and lost all opportunities.
From that day on, Lin Jinran never went to Tsinghua University again. She re - entered school. Starting as a freshman at the age of twenty, she was already older than the average age. By the time she graduated, she was twenty - four.
Lin Jinran was busy for three years. First, she applied for early graduation on her own initiative, and then she minored in psychology. Doing both at the same time, by the time of graduation, she had obtained bachelor's degrees in food safety and detection as well as psychology.
Ironically, she could heal the souls of strangers, but she could never cure the scars in her own heart.
For half a month, she almost lived in a pitch - black room, seeing no glimmer of light. She wanted to touch the light, and finally one day she could touch it openly. But at this time, she was afraid of getting burned, so she sealed herself in a hard shell instead.
From morning till night, she was immersed in her studies. She even wanted to pursue a graduate degree, but Aunty Ying brought her a piece of news that made Lin Jinran collapse again.
Aunty Ying said that she had deliberately investigated back then and found some doubts. Half a month after Xiang Yanhua's death, Duan Dongwei quit his job and disappeared.
She traced this lead all the way, but completely lost track of Duan Dongwei. He seemed to have vanished into thin air.
This was very strange.
At the Rehabilitation Center Hospital in Wannan City, Duan Dongwei was a chief physician. He had a good salary and benefits, and being young, he had plenty of opportunities for promotion.
But just at this time, he quit his job and left, and was never found again.
Hearing this, Lin Jinran's blood almost froze. Those unreasonable things gradually surfaced.
Duan Dongwei came to her mother's ward for inspections at night. He asked everyone to hide the seriousness of her mother's illness, on the grounds of not wanting to affect her college entrance examination.
Combined with the fact that after the college entrance examination, Yang Jinzhi came directly to Wannan City and forced her to go back. That same day, she was sent to the so - called depression rehabilitation training center.
Lin Jinran was trembling all over and felt extremely cold. She immediately rushed home to question Yang Jinzhi. She hadn't been home for nearly three years, and the home had changed completely.
Yang Jinzhi clearly didn't take her seriously and even boasted that even if it was her doing, so what. Lin Cheng even told Lin Jinran not to dwell on this matter and let the past be the past.
Lin Jinran was on the verge of a breakdown. She tried to find the media to publicize and report, but either her requests sank without a trace or the media dared not take it.
A mayfly can hardly shake a big tree. One person's strength is too lonely.
The long - established Xiang Group in Wannan City was on the verge of collapse in the storm. She didn't dare to bet on the Xiang Group, so she didn't tell Aunty Ying and chose to bear it alone.
But how could she shake this big tree?
She thought of becoming a star. This was the most direct and effective way.
However, for all these years, she was still an unknown little star outside the 18 - tier.
...
Lin Jinran sat quietly on the sofa in the living room. Maybe it was because it was the first time she had seen Su Qinian in so many years that she felt both happy and sad.
It had been four days since she fell at the film festival. For a full four days, the outside world had been constantly speculating about her relationship with Su Qinian.
Consequently, her Weibo followers skyrocketed by more than a hundred thousand. On the contrary, her private messages exploded, all of which were scolding her.
She had already completed the task given by Sister Xian and was overjoyed. She then began to prepare for her next schedule - filming of the variety show *Crazy Crush*.
This was a completely live - broadcasted reality star dating variety show. Except for rest time, every word and deed of all the stars was always under the camera.
Netizens could choose the live - broadcast room of their favorite star to watch and post bullet comments on the screen.
If she hadn't been forced into a corner, Lin Jinran would never have signed up for a dating - type variety show on her own initiative.
There was an almost faded safety amulet on the glass table in the living room. Lin Jinran bent down to pick it up and gently stroked it, whispering softly, "Safety, safety. You only protect me, that's all."
In the days after leaving the hospital, Lin Jinran was worried that Su Qinian would suddenly burst in and grab her to question why she had left without saying goodbye.
Gradually, she found that Su Qinian didn't come looking for her. She couldn't tell if she was happy or sad, and just lived her life in peace.
As the broadcast date approached, *Crazy Crush* released a new update.
Crazy Crush V: "Spring comes slowly, and that's why spring is full of romance. Crush is defined by you. The second season of *Crazy Crush* is coming soon. All netizens, please look forward to it.
Warm reminder: There will be special guests for this program."
Before the official broadcast of the program, the program team asked the six guests to tell them their favorite flowers. The program team would make masks for each guest named after the flowers and equip them with voice changers.
It also happened to fit the current season, spring.
Lin Jinran reported pink lychee roses. Before the official broadcast, she received the prop, a mask that covered from her forehead to the bridge of her nose, dotted with pink lychee roses of different sizes. It smelled fragrant.
She put it on in front of the mirror, just revealing her eyes and lips. But those once clear and bright glass - like eyes had gradually become dull after going through hardships.
Soon it was the day of the program's premiere.
At 3 p.m., the crush bus would pick up the guests along the way and the destination was the crush cottage. The camera followed the crush bus all the way. At the same time, there were also cameras beside the six guests, and six live - broadcast rooms were opened respectively.
Countless netizens flocked in and chose the guests they were interested in to watch. Among them, the anti - fans in Lin Jinran's live - broadcast room were particularly lively.
"Here we go. Let's take a look at that green - tea actress who is even more obscure than an 18 - tier star."
"I'm dying of laughter. Just a few days ago, she was still entangled with our Teacher Su. And in a blink of an eye, she's on a dating variety show. I only admire this sister for her speed."
"Is a dating variety show something that just anyone can be on? Look at how embarrassed Lin Jinran was at the film festival. In front of all those handsome men and beautiful women, isn't she ashamed enough to want to bang her head against the wall?"
Not many people in Lin Jinran's live - broadcast room were really there for her. Most of them came for the popularity of a few days ago, thinking they could casually mock her in the live - broadcast room. But suddenly a figure barged in, and the netizens looked over curiously.
This look was no small matter. It was so captivating that their souls were almost taken away.
First, a pure white skirt fluttered gently in the wind, contrasting with the blue sky. The white was pure, and the blue was deep. The skirt was not long, only covering half of her calf. The exposed calf had a smooth line and was almost glowing white.
The camera then moved up to reveal the guest's face.
Although everyone already knew what Lin Jinran looked like, suddenly being hit by the beauty filter on the screen, their hearts couldn't help but race.