Extra: From Milk Dumpling to Goddess Lin (2)
Memories of Junior High School:
“Do you hear the news? A stunning girl transferred to our school.”
“Tsk, I heard from others that she’s a lesbian. So disgusting.”
“No way, then let’s not hang out with her.”
On the side, Lin Hanyue put on her headphones, ignoring the constant buzzing whispers. It was her first day at B Middle School after transferring, and within just one day, she became famous in this ordinary, or even below-average, middle school.
Lin Hanyue watched the physics formulas flash across the blackboard, and a confident glow emanated from her deep, dark eyes. Junior high school physics was indeed easy, much simpler than the Olympiad classes she had attended.
Originally, A High School, a prestigious school in A City, had extended an olive branch to Lin Hanyue. However, her family moved to B City, so she had no choice but to opt for the ordinary B Middle School nearby.
As a national math competition prodigy, Lin Hanyue became the apple of every teacher’s eye on her first day at B Middle School.
But her classmates didn’t see it the same way. Lin Hanyue’s excellence clashed with their own mediocrity, making them feel like ugly ducklings in comparison.
Lin Hanyue’s hand, holding her shoulder bag, paused as she looked at a few unfriendly girls with confusion. Opening her rosy lips, she asked, “What? Do you have something to say to me?”
The leading girl was taken aback; this person was actually as good-looking as the rumors had said!
Several girls attempted to push and shove Lin Hanyue, but she effortlessly evaded them. She had learned martial arts and combat sports since childhood, so she didn’t even consider these small fries a threat.
(Originally translated on littlepandatranslations.com, let's go!)
“You… cough cough, as long as you become my girlfriend, I won’t bother you anymore.” Not only was Lin Hanyue shocked, but even the surrounding girls were dumbfounded. In just a few minutes, this cunning fox had captivated their leader’s attention.
Lin Hanyue’s lips tightened slightly, and her aura turned cold. She icily replied, “Not interested. Don’t follow me.”
With that, she walked away without looking back.
Returning to the dormitory, Lin Hanyue remained silent. She felt foolish, trusting others as friends, only for them to spread her secrets everywhere.
Ever since she entered junior high school, boys had been sending her love letters, flowers, and making confessions, but she couldn’t muster any interest in boys.
Later on, she gradually realized that she might be gay. She enjoyed being around girls and tried to befriend them, but in the end, she discovered that their intentions were not genuine.
They would bask in the vanity of having a talented and beautiful friend, while secretly harboring jealousy and undermining her. Lin Hanyue found it all very complicated, and she couldn’t even distinguish who was true and who was fake.
Five girls entered the dormitory, but only one of them got along well with Lin Hanyue. The other four automatically isolated her, leaving Lin Hanyue puzzled. She had only recently arrived, and she hadn’t offended them in any way, yet they seemed to harbor an inexplicable animosity towards her.
Two girls were talking loudly in the restroom, “Tsk, I can’t believe she’s that kind of person. If it weren’t for xx telling me, I wouldn’t have known. She actually seduced the school heartthrob, and he even dropped out because of her. And she acts all high and mighty.”
“Yeah, she’s just good at pretending!”
Lin Hanyue’s face grew colder. Were they deliberately saying it for her to hear?
On the first day of school, the school heartthrob approached Lin Hanyue and asked her to be his girlfriend. He told her that he would immediately break up with his current girlfriend to be with her.
At that moment, disgust welled up inside Lin Hanyue, and she slapped him. Little did she know that it would lead to various troubles thereafter.
Someone placed dead cockroaches and rats on her seat, while others intentionally tampered with her chair. Moreover, someone even changed her test paper to a zero score.
She endured all of this, not because she was afraid to fight back, but because she didn’t want to trouble her family.
A seemingly innocent-looking girl approached, her voice trembling with a hint of grievance, “Hanyue, don’t be angry. They just speak without thinking…”
Yet Lin Hanyue stared straight at her, making the girl feel guilty. After a brief silence, Lin Hanyue spoke, “Spreading my secrets to everyone, isn’t that interesting?”
The girl’s face instantly turned panicked, and she started to defend herself, “Hanyue, it was them who forced me. I never intended to harm you, I… I…”
The other person hesitated to speak, but Lin Hanyue’s understanding grew clearer. From the beginning, the other person had never regarded her as a friend. And why would anyone like someone like her?
“No need to say anything. From now on, it’s over.” After saying that, Lin Hanyue packed her belongings and went home.
(If you're not reading on littlepandatranslations.com, it means this has been stolen)
After returning home, Lin Hanyue faced her father, Father Lin, who had an angry expression on his face.
Lin Hanyue pretended not to see and walked past him.
“Come back here! Where are your manners? What about the task I entrusted to you?” Father Lin spoke, starting to scold her.
Lin Hanyue clenched her fists and retorted, “If I don’t want to go, then I won’t.”
Father Lin became infuriated, raising his hand and shouting, “Do you know that it’s because of your grandmother’s old connection that you have the opportunity to apprentice under Master Xiao…”
Before the sentence could be completed, Lin Hanyue impatiently interrupted, “I don’t need to rely on anyone’s connections. I can do well on my own.”
The sparks between them ignited instantly, a constant quarrel between father and daughter. They say it’s the combination of adolescence and menopause.
“I’m doing this for your own good. Master Xiao has a great reputation in both the business and political world. You also know that our Lin family isn’t as well-off as before. You should understand a thing or two.”
Lin Hanyue held back her tears, sniffing, refusing to let them fall.
Understand? Why should she understand? Throughout her life, everyone has demanded that she be obedient and understanding.
Lin Hanyue’s phoenix-like eyes were filled with anger as she gritted her teeth and said, “I don’t need you to interfere. You’ve never cared for me since I was young. I can count on one hand the number of times you’ve been there for me.”
The room’s door slammed shut with a loud “bang,” isolating their hearts, which knew little about each other but deeply cared for one another, on either side.
The next day, with red-rimmed eyes and dark circles, Lin Hanyue unwillingly found herself being driven to the Xiao residence.
“Miss, we have arrived at the Xiao residence. I will come to pick you up after school.”
Lin Hanyue nodded slightly, her indifferent gaze betraying a hint of reluctance. Hmph, she would cause trouble soon enough. She didn’t believe that old man would dare to take her as his apprentice.
As Lin Hanyue entered the Xiao residence, the vintage architecture of the villa exuded an eerie atmosphere. The weathered walls were covered in ivy, and the black and white hues sent a chill down one’s spine, emphasizing the abandonment and antiquity that permeated every corner.
Lin Hanyue pushed open the heavy old wooden door, which resounded with a thunderous noise, followed by a layer of fine dust settling down.
“Cough, cough. Does anyone really live in a place like this?” Lin Hanyue quickly grabbed a tissue and wiped her hand that had touched the door.
Coming towards her was a girl with red curly hair, followed by a panting boy who appeared to be around the same age as her.
“Jiang Luli, are you crazy? Where did you hide my assignment?” Xiao Changhe rushed over, almost grabbing the girl’s collar.
(Support me at littlepandatranslations.com)
Jiang Luli made a funny face at him and said, “Who told you to sneakily eat my snacks? You deserve to stand as punishment. I’m not telling you where your assignment went, maybe it got eaten by a dog.”
Lin Hanyue’s face stiffened. Were these two really middle school students? They were so childish. It seems that fools really do flock together.
“Hey? Are you new here, little junior sister!” Jiang Luli tried to reach out and link arms with her, but Lin Hanyue distanced herself, avoiding the contact.
“No, who said I’m your junior sister? I won’t play with idiots.”
Jiang Luli: “!!!”
Xiao Changhe: “???”
Lin Hanyue, preoccupied with her own thoughts, went to find Old Master Xiao without noticing the whispered conversation between the two.
Xiao Changhe: “That little junior sister is so arrogant~”
Jiang Luli: “But I like it!”
On a low and worn-out wicker chair lay a lazy old man. This person was Old Master Xiao, with his graying hair and deep wrinkles, his cloudy eyes reflecting the weariness of someone who has seen much of the world.
Lin Hanyue intended to get straight to the point and refuse to become his apprentice, but she heard the old master kindly ask, “I heard that you like acting. Can you perform a scene for me?”
Just as Lin Hanyue was about to say, “On what basis,” she noticed a change in his aura and gaze.
“What’s wrong? Are you afraid to act in front of me?”
“Of course not!”
“Alright then, let’s make a bet. If you lose, you’ll become my closed-door disciple. How about that?”