Chapter 25 : Long Time No Contact
“Damn!” Zhuo Ting slammed her laptop shut, swearing in frustration. “These idiots online only know how to praise the powerful and step on the weak. Do they even know that Lin Ran is the victim here?!”

She rolled up her sleeves, ready to storm out of the dormitory and avenge Lin Ran.

Lin Ran stopped her with a hand. “Forget it, from my experience, once the summer break passes, this whole matter will vanish.”

She patted the revision notes on the table and advised Zhuo Ting, “Hurry up and study. The exam is coming soon.”

No matter how important other things seemed, reviewing for exams was the top priority. Even in their senior year, Lin Ran was still working hard to get a scholarship.

Zhuo Ting opened her mouth to say something but then realized Lin Ran was right. There was still time; she’d confront Fu Xingjian after the exams.

But unexpectedly, from that day on, Fu Xingjian didn’t come back to school.

Some said he was ill, others said he went abroad, and some even said he returned home to inherit his family business.

In any case, after that day, Lin Ran, like the other students, saw him only briefly in the exam hall and never saw him again.

Soon, they entered their senior year.

Many students were preparing for the postgraduate exams or civil service exams, but Lin Ran had a clear goal—after graduation, she wanted to land a high-paying job at a big company.

Her grandmother’s health was deteriorating, and Lin Ran didn’t feel comfortable leaving her alone at home. She had made up her mind that after graduation, she would use her salary to send her grandmother to a nursing home in the county.

During the summer break, she had checked the prices of the nursing homes, and with a little effort to land a job at a big company, she could afford half of her salary for the fees.

Thus, as soon as they entered their senior year, Lin Ran quit her part-time tutoring job and focused entirely on finding an internship. She already had various certificates and school honors, just lacking practical experience.

Fortunately, her efforts paid off, and just before graduation, she received an offer from one of the top software companies in the country.

On the eve of graduation, the class leader organized a dinner.

Lin Ran sat with Zhuo Ting and Li Lin.

In the past few months, the three of them had been interning at different companies, leaving early and returning late, and hadn’t had a chance to get together properly.

Zhuo Ting drank a glass of beer and asked, “Ranran, have you found a place to rent yet? If not, we can share an apartment.”

Lin Ran shook her head. “I’ve already rented one, a small house in the east of the city. The price is very affordable.”

She wasn’t shy in front of Zhuo Ting and didn’t care about saving face. She told her the truth.

Zhuo Ting furrowed her brows when she heard it was a small house. How comfortable could that be?

Lin Ran seemed to sense her doubts and smiled. “It’s actually pretty good. I decorated it myself, and it feels cozy. If you don’t believe me, come visit sometime.”

“Alright.” Zhuo Ting smiled and agreed.

As they were talking, other girls at the table started lamenting.

“Ah, college is almost over, but I’ve never even held Fu Xiaocao’s hand. It’s so sad!”

“Don’t even mention holding Fu Xiaocao’s hand, I haven’t even seen him this senior year! I really want to see his handsome face! Damn, he was the reason I got up early for class!”

When this topic came up, all the female students, except for those in Lin Ran’s dorm, suddenly woke up, discussing Fu Xiaocao’s past and future enthusiastically.

In the middle of the discussion, the class leader came over with a wine glass, tapped the table twice with her fingers, and said disdainfully, “We’re all from Xida University, we should have some dignity! Fu Xingjian has already gone abroad, stop daydreaming!”

The room fell into silence.

Someone with a good memory remembered to ask Lin Ran, “Is Fu Xingjian still coming for the graduation photos?”

Huh?

Lin Ran, who had been eating quietly, froze. How did she know about that?

“We haven’t been in touch for a long time,” Lin Ran answered honestly, her expression calm and indifferent.