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nTranslator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

nQin Ran looked at this message for a long while, then she threw her books for Wei Zihang to hold before texting back—

nIs the person placing the order sick?

nHer price was ten times higher than the market price.

nWithout waiting for the other side to reply, she relied on her quick speed and quickly texted four more words—

nI’m not taking it.

nWei Zihang took her books and paid for them. He flipped through the books selected by Qin Ran and realized that they weren’t study materials but original copies of foreign books. They were books that were of no interest to anyone.

nHe knew that Qin Ran liked to read books. Chen Shulan’s entire study was full of her books and she especially liked reading the original text.

nWei Zihang had seen the original “Hundred Years of Solitude” and “Kite Chaser” on her bedside.

nHe put the books on the cash register. His shredded hair drooped slightly, and only his dark eyes were sharp.

nWei Zihang paid and Qin Ran didn’t fight over it with him.

nAfter returning her message, she put her phone back in her pocket and walked outside first.

nWei Zihang took the bag and walked towards her. He held the cigarette that was almost gone and was about to throw it in a trash can.

n“We’ll have dinner first?” Wei Zihang waved his hand in front of her and tilted his head with a smile.

nQin Ran shook her head. She had to go back to the dormitory and study by herself.

n“Give me one stick.” She glanced at him.

n“…” Wei Zihang knew what she was saying. He flinched back and sulked. “No, Grandma Chen will kill me.”

nQin Ran kicked him and stared at him with her good-looking bandit eyes.

nReluctantly, Wei Zihang took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, took one out and handed it to Qin Ran. Then, he passed the lighter over.

nHis lighter was the friction-type. Qin Ran’s fingers were thin and long. They looked like jade and glowed a healthy pink.

nWith a slight “click” sound, blue flames burst out.

nThe faint smoke rose, and the smell of mint it emitted wasn’t obvious. Qin Ran wore a jeans white T-shirt with a junior high school uniform hung loosely around it.

nShe appeared obedient but still had to do some disobedient things.

nHer soft and fluffy hair draped over her shoulders. The wind blew past and gently ruffled her hair.

nShe lowered her eyes and leaned casually against the wall. Smoke rose from her fingertips and she appeared lazy and casual. There was also a sort of calmness that hadn’t been in her these few days.

nHer smoking position was extremely handsome.

nWei Zihang squatted at the intersection to help her keep a lookout. He couldn’t help but glance back, frowning.

nQin Ran’s smoke was given by him. A few years ago, Qin Ran had knocked on his door, drenched in blood. He didn’t know just what she had experienced.

nHe didn’t ask her much about her affairs. He didn’t know how to comfort other people. He had learned how to smoke when he was a kid, and smoking was a psychological need for them.

nThat night, he had smoked cigarettes with Qin Ran for the whole night before she was fine.

nIt was just that Qin Ran was different from him. She didn’t smoke much, but when she was extremely vexed, she would hide in his house and smoke.

nWhen she got found out, he had been beaten by his grandmother. She just had to look at the two old grandparents with her innocent eyes and they believed that he had tricked her into smoking.

n“Smoking is not good.” Wei Zihang surveyed the street depressedly. He retracted when he saw that no one was on the street and tried to persuade her bitterly.

nNow he wished he could go back to a few years ago and strangle himself before he could give her a cigarette.

nAfter smoking half of it, Qin Ran snuffed it and threw it into the trash can.

nShe took two steps back and straightened her hair. When she heard Wei Zihang’s voice, she glanced at him lazily and chuckled lowly. “Get lost.”

n“I’ve reflected on myself many times. How could I have taken you on this crooked road?” Wei Zihang pulled his collar.

n“What’s wrong with that?” Qin Ran told Wei Zihang to pass the books to her. Her voice was faint, but her eyebrows gathered and she had a cynical smile. “I was never a good person.”

n“You are a good person.” Wei Zihang was extremely serious.

nQin Ran walked forward with the bag and waved in Wei Zihang’s direction. “That’s because you don’t understand me.”

nShe returned to her dormitory. There was no one inside, so she had a short time for late self-study. The seniors basically all returned to class after their meals.

nQin Ran placed the book on her desk.

nShe opened an iron box on her bed, took a white sleeping pill from it, and swallowed it.

nAfter taking the medicine, she didn’t go to her class immediately. Instead, she took out her black backpack, unzipped it, and took out the very heavy black cell phone.

nThe phone screen was still black.

nShe pressed the screen and turned on the power button.

nIn less than a second, the phone lit up, but it was not the main page. A map page with a red dot on it appeared, which landed in the school medical office.

n**

nAt the same time.

nIn the Lin family house.

nLin Jinxuan didn’t go out today. The family sat at the table to eat.

nLin Qi asked about Qin Ran, and when he heard that she was staying in school, Lin Qi was surprised. But he didn’t say anything and instead asked about Principal Xu.

n“Do you know President Xu?”

nNing Qing didn’t know of President Xu, but Lin Jinxuan, who had returned from the imperial capital, had news.

nNing Qing placed a spoonful of vegetables on Qin Yu’s plate. “I heard from my mother that President Xu went to Ninghai Village to help the poor three years ago.”

nEveryone at the dining table spoke about Qin Ran for several minutes.

nQin Yu’s spoon clang against the bowl.

nSeveral people looked at her, and Lin Qi was concerned. “What are you thinking about?”

n“After school at night, I thought I saw my elder sister.” Qin Yu hesitated. “She was with people from Zi High School.”

n“Zi High School?” Ning Qing’s voice rose slightly and her knuckles turned white. “Isn’t she in First Middle School?”

nQin Yu’s eyes were downcast and she squeezed the spoon in her hand. “I heard that she was fighting with them at noon, and those people came over at night. I’m a little worried about her…”

n“No need to worry!” Ning Qing said coldly. Her eyes seemed to hide a sword as she looked at Qin Yu. Then, she suppressed her anger and lowered her voice. “Study well and don’t care about your sister even if she comes to find you.”

nShe was furious.

nNing Qing couldn’t possibly finish her meal now.

nLin Qi was still eating without asking much.

nQin Ran was only his stepdaughter, and he had already been benevolent enough to be able to help her arrange for her accommodation and school.

nIf the other party was like Qin Yu, he may be a little more worried, but there was nothing about Qin Ran that deserved his attention.

nHe was too busy with his business, so how could he have the time?

n“Tidy up the third floor and make a study for Yu’er.” Lin Jinxuan didn’t care about their discussions. He was genuinely curious about Qin Ran, but it was no match for his affection towards Qin Yu.

nA genius like Lin Jinxuan whose life went smoothly rarely put anyone to heart.

nNing Qing’s expression also eased.

nShe wouldn’t be giving birth to more children, so the Lin family would still be Lin Jinxuan’s. It was important to her to obtain Lin Jinxuan’s regard.

nLin Jinxuan was indifferent to her, but he was fond of Qin Yu.

nShe could only rely on Qin Yu for her position in the Lin family.

nIt would be easy as long as they were in a good relationship.

nQin Yu smiled sweetly. “Thank you, brother.”

n“I’ll answer a phone call.” Lin Jinxuan nodded slightly. He pulled his chair and got up, then walked upstairs with his mobile phone.

nThere was a very mild and apologetic middle-aged tone on the other end of the phone. “Mr. Lin, we can’t take your order. I have already returned your deposit to your card.”

nLin Jinxuan was startled, but his startled voice was still polite. “May I know why?”

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