Chapter 328: Expressing Her Feelings
Although it was best not to meddle in other people’s private affairs, people are curious creatures and will always want to know things. Seeing Lan Ranyan’s situation with her dad, she started to want to know what had happened between them in the past. For a father-daughter relationship to become like this, among the people she knew, besides Lan Ranyan, there was only Nangong Ying’s father.
“Ranyan, it’s about time you let go of me…”
Only after Lan Ranyan had pulled her far away did Yu Linna speak. To be honest, her grip was a little painful.
Lan Ranyan let go of her hand, and only then did Yu Linna rub her own reddened hand. A person who had been trained was different; her strength was so great. It was also the first time she had seen Lan Ranyan angry, and it was at her old dad.
“I didn’t plan to be like this in front of you. I originally wanted you all to have a good vacation.”
Lan Ranyan’s tone carried a hint of annoyance. Because her father had come home, it had disrupted everything for her. She had originally just wanted to take everyone to have a good time here and leave some beautiful memories. But…
“You and your father… don’t have a good relationship?” she asked, rubbing her wrist.
Lan Ranyan was silent for a while, not knowing what to say. If she didn’t want to talk, Yu Linna would definitely not force her, but Yu Linna had seen it all just now. Even if she didn’t say anything, she could probably guess the general idea.
“My father is a very strict person. He has been like this since I was very young. He always orders me around, just like he orders others in the army. You can’t talk while eating, your posture must be upright, your quilt must be folded, and you have to do morning exercises every day. He brought the habits of the army into real life and demanded that I do the same. But I don’t think he did anything wrong. On the contrary, I think he is correct. It is because of his requirements for me that I still have this habit.”
She had no intention of hiding it anymore. Since she had seen it all, what did it matter if she knew? Besides, she did indeed need someone she could confide in, someone she could talk to.
In the dorm, Yu Linna had discovered that Lan Ranyan’s life was very regular. She never stayed up late, nor did she sleep in. She insisted on morning exercises every day, and her posture when eating was also very standard. During the new student military training, she was the best one and was named a model soldier.
These were all her family habits.
“My father has always been right, but only once, he was wrong, but he thought he was right.”
“Is it the time you just mentioned, about going to university?”
“Mmm, I was originally planning to study abroad for university. I even had a letter of recommendation, and I had passed the exams. All sorts of applications had also been approved. I originally thought I could succeed. When the gaokao results came out, I didn’t do well, at least not up to his requirements. I didn’t meet the standard for a Beijing university. He was super angry, really, the first time I saw him so angry. I told him that I wanted to go abroad for university, but he wouldn’t let me.”
Lan Ranyan recounted the past that she didn’t want to remember. It might be unimportant to her old dad, but to her, it was very important. She really wanted to go abroad, to the outside world, to a farther place. For this, she had even hired an English tutor and had made sufficient preparations.
But when the gaokao results came out, she had done poorly. Her father was very angry.
He was a traditional person and cared a lot about the gaokao. He felt that his daughter thought she could go abroad to study, so she had taken the gaokao lightly. So he didn’t allow her to go abroad and even confiscated her passport. Lan Ranyan felt he was being unreasonable, but her father felt it was only right and proper. He even asked her to repeat a year, at least to get a score that he was satisfied with.
Lan Ranyan had been very obedient for so many years, but this was the only time she had resisted. She was very angry and felt that her father was treating her like a child, arranging everything for her, and not letting her do anything. In a fit of anger, she changed her university choice and applied to Guangnan University. In short, she would go as far as she could, and she had also been successfully admitted to Guangnan University as she had wished. Although in the end her father was furious, saying that she hadn’t applied to a school close to home, Lan Ranyan ignored him, packed her luggage, and came to the university to report, not wanting to be obedient at all.
This was her first and only time resisting her father.
Anyway, Guangnan University was also a famous school, not much different from the famous schools in Beijing, just not as amazing as Tsinghua. But even so, what did it matter? She just wanted to leave here and have some peace and quiet.
“I see. It hasn’t been easy for you either.”
Yu Linna swung on the swing. Although she didn’t quite understand the way families got along, for Lan Ranyan, studying abroad was her dream. For a dream to be shattered by her family, that feeling was very bad. If Yu Linna’s dream were shattered, she would also find it hard to accept. In a sense, she also understood Lan Ranyan.
“But this is meaningless. It’s been a year. It’s useless to talk about this anymore. Everything is settled. Dreams, to put it bluntly, are just like that, meaningless.”
Lan Ranyan said with a wry smile.
How ridiculous she was. She thought she could do it. She had put in a lot of effort. She thought her family would support her. But all of this was fake. From the moment she was rejected, all her efforts had turned to foam. Choosing to go so far away for university was more about hiding, finding a place to relax for herself.
“I don’t really understand the way families get along, but is it okay to not try to make up with your family? Wouldn’t it be too sad?”
“You wouldn’t understand. This is too difficult.”
Lan Ranyan didn’t say anything more. She felt that Yu Linna wouldn’t understand. Yes, Yu Linna had been without parents since she was a child. How could she possibly understand the harm that families can do to their children? She wouldn’t understand.
Yu Linna indeed couldn’t understand. In fact, she had only seen it. Before, when she was on good terms with Nangong Ying, she would often go to her house and had seen that Nangong Ying didn’t have a good relationship with her father, but she wasn’t clear on the specifics. After all, she had no family.
The two of them silently returned to the house.
For the rest of the day, Lan Ranyan seemed listless and didn’t talk to Yu Linna. Xiao Yanhan harassed her for half a day, but she was too lazy to reply.
“She’s back to how she was yesterday.”
Xiao Yanhan whispered to Yu Linna.
Because of her father’s matter, Lan Ranyan was indeed distracted. Although she herself said it would be fine in a while, Yu Linna knew that was probably impossible.
“I feel like Ranran has something she’s not willing to say. She’s been like this ever since her dad came back. It’s worrying to see.”
After a day of playing, Lan Ranyan was still like that. Xiao Yanhan, who was usually on very good terms with her, was a little worried about her, but didn’t know how to help her. She walked with Yu Linna in the garden, talking about this matter.
“That’s right. Her problem is not easy to solve. After all, we are outsiders.”
At first, Xiao Yanhan didn’t understand what she meant. Later, Yu Linna explained to her what had happened today, including the conflict with her dad. Although it didn’t seem good to say it, her original intention was also to help Lan Ranyan. Seeing her withdrawn look, it was like seeing herself when she had been withdrawn for a period of time.
“Mmm, outsiders really shouldn’t interfere.”
Xiao Yanhan sat on the swing, swung a couple of times, and also felt troubled.
How could they possibly help Lan Ranyan? In any case, they were just guests and had no relation to this family. Even if they wanted to help, they didn’t know how.
Xiao Yanhan had always had a very good relationship with her old dad and had even tried to take her old dad as a role model to become a manga artist. They had never argued. To give Lan Ranyan advice on this aspect was completely impossible. And as for Yu Linna, it went without saying. She didn’t even have a mother or father, so she couldn’t help even more.
“Ranran has always been very strong. I thought she wouldn’t have any troubles, because she seems so reliable.”
Xiao Yanhan said with a wry smile.
A reliable person, if they showed a helpless side, then what should they do? The person they had always relied on had suddenly become the one who needed help. This contrast was too great, and would only leave people at a loss.
They were silent for a long time. No one spoke. It wasn’t dinner time yet. Lan Ranyan had probably gone for a run. They had a private treadmill at home. Fang Jiangning was probably streaming, busy at the moment.
Now was a rare time to be alone with Yu Linna.
Xiao Yanhan looked at Yu Linna, at that small face, thinking that this time was not bad either. The sun hadn’t set yet, and the garden was so beautiful, as if it were tailor-made for them.
Thinking like this, her face became hot.
“Hey, Linna.”
“Mmm?”
“Let’s not talk about Ranran’s matter first. Let’s talk about something happy.”
“What shall we talk about?”
“Um, Linna baby, do you have someone you like?”
“Huh? Right now, no…”
Phew, Xiao Yanhan breathed a sigh of relief. Her heart was about to stop beating.
No, she still wanted to know more.
“Do you have a particular type you like?”
“Not really. I think it’s mainly about whether they’re pleasing to the eye, and whether our values match. But why are you asking me, a single dog?”
“Just asking casually. Linna baby, you, if you were to date… do you think a boy is better, or a girl?”
Phew, so nervous. Xiao Yanhan’s heart was about to explode.
She also understood that this opportunity was rare. To be able to be alone with her, and in a situation where no one would disturb them, if she missed this opportunity, there would be no more. She had always wanted to confess to her, but had never had the chance. Why not take this opportunity and do it in one go?
“…Eh, well… a girl?”
Yu Linna asked tentatively.
Xiao Yanhan immediately got up from the swing and stood in front of her, startling Yu Linna.
“Um, I was joking. Haha, don’t…”
“I like you.”
“Ahaha, you’re joking too. Really, stop playing.”
“If possible, please be my girlfriend. I promise I’ll be good to you.”
“…Xiao Yanhan, you, you didn’t take the wrong medicine?”
“I’m serious, not lying to you.”
Yu Linna froze on the spot, her brain shutting down. She had a dazed look on her face, clearly not having come back to her senses. Xiao Yanhan had used all her strength to confess, her face flushed, her legs weak. She didn’t even know if this would work.
No, no, she can’t think of failure. She has to show some confidence.
Thud.
Suddenly, she heard something fall to the ground. Xiao Yanhan and Yu Linna both turned their heads towards the sound.
They saw Fang Jiangning, a dazed smile on her face, her phone fallen on the grass, her whole person turned into a black and white art style, as if she had stepped into a shuraba scene. At this moment, it was extremely awkward.
Xiao Yanhan and Yu Linna were so scared their art style changed.
“Ahaha, did I come at the wrong time…”
Fang Jiangning smiled stiffly and silently picked up her phone.
The atmosphere was extremely awkward.
