CHAPTER 163: CHAPTER 158: THE FEMALE SUPPORTING CHARACTER OF THE SPIRITUAL SPRING SPACE

"Is that Lian Lan?"

"The one who acted in ’Li Gu’s Investigation’?"

"She’s quite pretty."

As Lian Lan walked along the school path, she couldn’t help but lift her chin slightly upon hearing the chatter around her, her spine straightening even more. The web series she acted in had become a hit; she no longer needed to be Ye Qiu’s backdrop.

"Senior Lin." Lian Lan spotted Lin Jiayan from afar, emerging from the office building, and hurried towards him with a bounce in her step.

Now in his senior year, Lin Jiayan was interning at his family’s company and rarely appeared at school. Lian Lan had originally thought that joining the publicity department would allow her to interact with him more easily, but aside from the first dinner, Lin Jiayan had never shown up at any other events.

When Lin Jiayan heard someone calling him, he politely stood in place waiting.

"It’s you, Junior Sister Lian." Lin Jiayan’s formulaic smile conveyed a sense of politeness that also felt distant.

Ever since that outing to the farmhouse, Lin Jiayan was well aware of the little crush Lian Lan had on him, but since he had no interest, he consciously tried to keep a distance from her.

But the moment Lian Lan saw that distanced smile of his, her heart tightened; the warmth within her gradually cooled and she uncomfortably asked, "Senior Lin, how many days will you stay at school this time?"

"Is there something you need?" Lin Jiayan didn’t want to stay longer than necessary, as he had a meeting in the afternoon. He asked directly, skipping pleasantries.

Hearing his tone, which suggested a reluctance for further exchange, Lian Lan’s expression stiffened. She desperately searched for an excuse to keep the conversation going: "The school sports meet is on Friday. I was just wondering if Senior Lin would be participating?"

"We’ll see. If I have time, I’ll come back." Lin Jiayan had no intention of pursuing graduate studies and wanted to participate in his last sports meet if possible. With this in mind, he then asked, "By the way, do you know if Ye Qiu is participating in any events?"

Ye Qiu again!

Lian Lan seethed inwardly but was powerless to do anything. What was so good about Ye Qiu?

"I’m not sure, but Ye Qiu usually doesn’t participate in these activities." Lian Lan genuinely didn’t know about Ye Qiu’s recent matters. In fact, although they still shared a dormitory, it had been a long while since Lian Lan had spoken to the other three roommates.

"Oh." Lin Jiayan had asked casually, but since Lian Lan didn’t know, he saw no reason to stay any longer and made a motion to leave.

"Senior Lin." Not knowing when she might see him again, Lian Lan impulsively stepped in front of Lin Jiayan, blocking his way.

Lin Jiayan, who had maintained the politeness due a senior until now, frowned. He was slightly annoyed by Lian Lan’s persistent badgering. He had received countless confessions due to his status and looks, and normally he would reject them politely, but Lian Lan’s troublesome behavior had never failed to irritate him.

Lian Lan had mustered up her courage to speak, but at this point, she didn’t dare look at Lin Jiayan’s expression, and naturally, she had no idea how cold his gaze was on her.

"Senior Lin, have you watched ’Li Gu’s Investigation’ that I’m in? What do you think about me entering the entertainment industry?" Lian Lan rushed out with her words and only then dared to look into Lin Jiayan’s eyes, but the indifference there sent a chill through her heart.

"Junior Sister Lian, you should decide your own affairs. We don’t have any relationship, and I can’t offer you any advice. I have to go. Please let me pass," Lin Jiayan said, patience in his voice. He sidestepped Lian Lan and left without looking back.

"I..." Lian Lan’s eyes turned slightly red, unable to suppress her resentment towards heaven. Why, even after rebirth, could she still not surpass Ye Qiu?

"What’s the matter? Rejected by Lin Jiayan?" As Lian Lan was heartbroken, a man in casual suit passed by her side. His hair was neatly combed, his attire meticulous, and a faint smile graced his fair face, which easily garnered a favorable impression.

However, upon hearing this voice, Lian Lan’s body stiffened, her pupils dilating instantly as if she had encountered something tremendously horrifying.

"My name is Li Ziye. Are you alright?" The man offered her a handkerchief.

"I’m fine." Lian Lan hurriedly finished speaking and scurried away, not until she had turned two corners and realized that the man had not followed did she breath a sigh of relief.

This man was none other than her husband from her past life, Li Ziye, the nightmare of her previous existence.

Li Ziye was a rich second generation; although his family background and looks were no match for Lin Jiayan, at J University, he was also second to none and highly pursued by female students.

But Lian Lan knew that this man was adept at putting on a facade. Beneath his gentle and considerate exterior lay a beastly personality that enjoyed violence and insulting others. She had lost her child because of him, and when she wanted a divorce, she had to endure his torment before she could leave clean. Even so, that man did not let her go.

He ran her over with his car, and to this day, she could distinctly remember the agonizing pain of her shattered bones as he mocked her lying on the ground, "Didn’t you cling to me at the beginning? Now, do you really believe divorce will set you free?"

"The police won’t let you go," Lian Lan spat out blood, glaring at him with hatred.

Li Ziye just laughed heartily, as if mocking her naivety: "There are no cameras here, no witnesses, and even this car isn’t mine. You’re about to die, do you think the police can catch me?"

Lian Lan’s breath was weak; Li Ziye continued venomously, "Don’t worry, as for your greed-driven parents, I won’t let them off either."

In her past life, Lian Lan died with her eyes open, her fear of Li Ziye etched deep into her bones. Reincarnated, she had deliberately ignored him, but she hadn’t expected him to show up on his own.

After finally calming down, Lian Lan realized that in this life, she and Li Ziye hadn’t started anything; they weren’t married, and she no longer had to suffer under his control!

"Ding..." The phone rang, and upon seeing the caller ID, the breath Lian Lan had just exhaled gathered up again.

"Hello, Mom." Lian Lan answered the phone with a complex look on her face.

"You dead girl, what’s the matter with you, only picking up now." The woman’s voice on the other end scolded without any courtesy, "Speak up, you’re just like your useless father, can’t fart even with a poke."

Listening to the woman’s crude tone on the phone, Lian Lan felt impatient: "Mom, what is it?"

"Can’t I call you if there’s nothing? Haven’t you been filming? Why didn’t you tell me? If it weren’t for your cousin mentioning it, you still want to hide it from me, your mother, huh? I was wondering why you didn’t come home for summer break; what, grown up and don’t recognize your mom anymore?"

"Mom, I..."

Lian Lan wanted to explain, but the person on the other side started shouting again: "I’m not stopping you from acting. I heard that being a star makes good money. I heard your web drama is pretty popular too. Mom’s been tight on money lately; send me some."

Hearing her mother’s words, Lian Lan felt bitter in her heart.