Chapter 14

The boy impatiently turned around to look at Lin Yilan. “Do you have anything more to say?”

Lin Yilan stood up from her chair and spoke loudly, “Please apologize to me.”

For a moment, all the eyes in the classroom converged on the two of them.

Feeling the attention, she stiffened slightly, but maintained her usual expressionless face, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on the boy opposite her.

Since the moment she crossed over after dying suddenly from overwork, she had completely let go of her previous self-restraint. In the past, she might have thought it better not to make a fuss over something like this, and would have been too lazy to argue with an idiot—so she would have let it go. But in this life, she no longer comforted herself that way. Her principle now was: if someone displeases her, she won’t let them be happy either.

After all, everyone is human; why should one idiot’s bad mood affect her?

Seeing the boy’s awkward and angry expression, Lin Yilan remained as calm as her countenance suggested.

The boy, humiliated and enraged, fired back, “What did you say? Why should I apologize to you?”

Those who had campaigned for Ji Xuecheng alongside the boy now gathered beside him.

She noticed one of them, a bespectacled young man who seemed like the leader, step forward to the boy’s side. After a brief low conversation, the young man approached Lin Yilan.

“Classmate, hello. I’m Zhang Jianlin. Look, we’ll be together for the next five years, all classmates. If there’s no major issue, how about we each give a little ground?”

Lin Yilan’s patience began to wear thin. How could she be dealing with such nonsense before the semester even started?

Moreover, she truly detested people who were clearly in the wrong yet acted high and mighty. The tone of the man before her irritated her deeply.

“Comrade Zhang, hello, I’m Lin Yilan. I can clearly tell you what just happened. As a female classmate, I cannot accept the casual dismissal you offered me after I was insulted.

“Different people having different opinions on the same matter is perfectly normal in my view. But your friend here, after failing to persuade me, flew into a rage and refused to reason with me, ‘a girl with long hair but little knowledge.’

“Do you think having short hair means you are more knowledgeable? If that’s the case, then wouldn’t it be better if everyone shaved their heads so the whole world could become wise?”

“If you still think he doesn’t need to apologize to me after that, then I can only conclude that you all look down on female classmates.”

“And besides, saying that if someone is close to the victim, the offense can be overlooked—is that acceptable? If I were to slap him now, would he forgive me just because we’ll be classmates for five years?”

Seeing their faces flush with embarrassment and anger, Lin Yilan kept her expression stern and unyielding.

What now? Who says she can’t trade barbs? They underestimated her badly.

The onlookers’ gazes flickered between the two, some whispering and pointing at the boy who had insulted Lin Yilan.

Zhang Jianlin hadn’t expected such a speech from Lin Yilan. Before this, his impression of her was simply that she looked decent and seemed quiet.

Now, he wished he could slap his past self. Quiet? What nonsense!

If he still couldn’t grasp her meaning after seeing her serious expression, then he must be blind. Besides, who else would shoot words like a machine gun with so many people watching?

Realizing Lin Yilan was not someone to be trifled with, he immediately summoned the boy to apologize.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said... that.”

Lin Yilan saw the boy’s awkward and reluctant manner and decided she didn’t need to say more.

“Alright, I got it.”

Hearing this, Zhang Jianlin raised his brow and then stepped beside the boy. “By the way, Lin, I owe you an apology too.”

Lin Yilan waved her hand dismissively, “Okay, fine. It’s nothing.”

With that, she returned to her seat, settling down while immediately sensing the scrutinizing eyes cast in her direction from all sides.

---

Truly... everyone loves to watch a spectacle.

Zhang Jianlin, aware of the stares, smiled and greeted those around him. “Everyone, please continue voting. Sorry for disturbing you earlier.”

At that moment, the temporary homeroom teacher and counselor, Mr. Wang, who had disappeared earlier, suddenly appeared from somewhere.

Looking at the gathered group, Mr. Wang asked, “What’s going on here? Has the voting finished?”

Murmurs from below came: “It’s done.”

“Mr. Wang, the voting’s finished.”

Mr. Wang glanced at Peng Junhua, who immediately went to the podium to count votes.

The counting took a bit longer than expected. Lin Yilan stood by, watching the temporary homeroom teacher and counselor on stage talking quietly. She sensed it would still take some time, so she flipped through the textbook on her desk.

About ten minutes later, she heard footsteps and looked up to see the candidates who had been waiting outside for the vote entering.

Once everyone was seated, the counselor began to announce the results.

Unexpectedly, Xiong Zhaodi was elected class president, while a boy who had originally campaigned for class president became vice president. Ji Xuecheng was appointed youth league secretary.

When she heard the mention of vice president, Lin Yilan raised an eyebrow, amused. Why hadn’t they mentioned a vice president before? Suddenly appointing one was interesting.

She glanced at Xiong Zhaodi’s expression, then at Ji Xuecheng’s, and finally at the vice president.

Each wore a distinct expression—truly, those who make it to university these days are clever people.

Although this cohort did not have as many older students as the previous one, many were non-freshmen.

Most had work experience or rich social experience and understood these matters well.

Lin Yilan looked back at the counselor on the podium, feeling bored, and lowered her head to study her textbook again.

These affairs had little to do with her; her goal was to make money.

---

University life began amid great anticipation.

Soon, the architecture students of Industrial University’s 1979 class noticed one thing: the two female classmates in their class had completely opposite personalities.

Take Xiong Zhaodi, for example. As one of the slightly older students, she was warm and helpful, doing her best as class president to solve problems and maintaining good relationships with professors. She was very enthusiastic about studying.

As for Lin Yilan, the general perception evolved from “pretty girl with a sharp tongue” to “unapproachable,” and eventually, “someone who appeared and disappeared mysteriously, keeping distant from everyone.”

Lin Yilan didn’t know what the others thought, but she knew she was busier than she expected. Although she was repeating her studies in architecture, it was a different era, and she couldn’t apply her past life’s experience to this one.

Moreover, the understanding professors had of students now was completely different from forty years later.

Thus, Lin Yilan was forced into a high-intensity study routine, spending her days attending classes and doing assignments. Occasionally, she would visit the library to read the latest architectural journals and design materials.

She felt like a spinning top, constantly whirling. But whenever she thought about resting, she would see the meal coupons given by the school and feel guilty toward the country.

After all, the nation was so poor and yet generously subsidized the university students. To waste such a rare learning opportunity would be inhumane.

Torn between these emotions, a month of university life passed.

---

One day, after the last class before the holiday was dismissed, Lin Yilan sighed deeply and rested her head on the desk.

After a five-minute break, she packed her books into her bag and glanced at her watch.

“Oh no, I’m going to be late...” she exclaimed, standing quickly and hurrying out of the classroom.

Xiong Zhaodi, who was talking with a nearby classmate, called after her, “Lin Yilan!”

Lin Yilan had no choice but to stop. “What is it, class president? Are you in a hurry? I’m a bit pressed for time now. Can we talk when I get back to the dorm tomorrow?”

Xiong Zhaodi nodded. “Alright, I’ll talk to you in the dorm then.”

Lin Yilan said okay and dashed out of the classroom.

Students strolling and chatting on campus saw a girl with braided hair, carrying a military-green shoulder bag, sprinting toward the school gate.

“Wait, wait—me!”

Seeing the bus about to leave, Lin Yilan shouted at the top of her lungs.

The bus driver and conductor were startled by the outburst.

Once aboard, she apologized embarrassedly, “Sorry to trouble you, I’m really in a hurry.”

Panting heavily, she paid the conductor.

“To Siping Middle School, please.”

The conductor efficiently handed her a ticket from the bag. “Five cents.”

Taking the ticket, Lin Yilan conscientiously moved to the back of the bus.

At this time, the bus was less crowded, unlike the last time she squeezed on, which felt like the rush-hour subway, where people were practically lifted off the ground.

When she caught a familiar scent of chicken and duck, she couldn’t help but think that people in Jing City were just like those elsewhere.

Amused by her own thought, she pulled a piece of dried orange peel from her bag and held it to her nose.

“Passengers for Siping Middle School, please get off. This is your stop!”

When her head felt like mush, she finally heard the conductor announcing the stop.

She struggled toward the rear door, determined to be the first off when the bus stopped.

“Creak—”

After the door opened, she checked for bicycles before stepping down.

Off the bus, she felt like a new person.

Pulling out the address she had noted, she asked for directions as she walked onward.

Seeing the somewhat aged apartment block ahead, Lin Yilan relaxed.

Finally, she had arrived.

“Xiao Wu, you’re here?”

Hearing the familiar voice, Lin Yilan immediately ran over.