Lin Bao's fingers danced nervously over the keypad as he dialed the same number for what felt like the hundredth time. But each time, the call was abruptly cut off before he could even utter a word. Frustration and confusion gnawed at him, and he let out a heavy sigh.
With a resigned shake of his head, he decided to try a different approach. He composed a text message, his fingers tapping out the words with a sense of urgency. 'Don't be so quick to judge without knowing the full story,' he typed. "When you're ready to listen, give me a call."
Meanwhile in the Capital University, Beijing.
The young man, barely 22 years of age, cast a weary glance at his incessantly ringing phone. With each call, he swiped the screen with a dismissive flick of his finger. Finally, the phone fell silent, and he breathed a heavy sigh of relief. But his moment of respite was short-lived, as a new message chimed through. He glanced at the screen, but his eyes were drawn to the small photograph on his bedside table. The image of a woman, his mother, stared back at him, and his heart ached with a deep sense of loss. Tears welled up in his eyes, but he blinked them away, determined to stay strong.
Lin Hao was lost in his thoughts, staring blankly at the wall in front of him when he heard a voice calling out his name, "Brother Lin Hao, professor is asking for you", It was his roommate, Lin Hao quickly wiped away the tears that had been streaming down his face and made his way to the professor's office.
As he stood outside the door, he took a deep breath and composed himself before softly knocking. The door opened, and he stepped inside, greeted by the familiar sight of his professor's cabin.
"Excuse me, Professor Gu, you called for me?" Lin Hao asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Professor Gu looked up from his desk, happy to see Lin Hao standing before him. "Lin Hao, I thought you had already left for your hometown of Qingdao city," he said, gesturing for Lin Hao to take a seat.
"Professor Gu, I express my desire to remain in the capital and utilize my vacation period for the purpose of conducting research," stated Lin Hao with a composed countenance.
Professor Gu gazed at Lin Hao with a heavy heart, his mind wandering back to the countless years he had spent in the field. As the Dean of Capital University's esteemed Computer Application School for over a decade and a half, he had encountered countless students, each with their own unique quirks and talents. But never before had he come across someone as stubborn and brilliant as Lin Hao.
"Lin Hao," he began, his voice tinged with a hint of concern. "I understand the importance of this research, and how it could benefit us both. But you must remember, my dear boy, that you are only human. Even the brightest minds need rest."
"Professor Gu, I must prioritize completing my research in a timely manner to ensure its publication at the Capital Technology Fair," Lin Hao expressed with a sense of urgency.
"Absolutely not, Lin Hao. You need to go home and take a break. There's no rush - we still have three whole months until the Fair. This month-long vacation is meant to prepare our students for the upcoming semester, not for conducting research," Professor Gu declared in a firm tone. He handed Lin Hao a plane ticket with a smile. "Don't worry, it's on me. I want to do something special for my brilliant student."
Lin Hao sat there for a moment, feeling defeated. He knew there was no point in arguing with Professor Gu. With a heavy heart, he left the office with the plane ticket in hand.
As Professor Gu watched Lin Hao's silhouette fade into the distance, a deep sigh escaped his lips. Lin Hao, a sophomore at Capital University, had been a shining star since his arrival last year. Hailing from eastern Shandong Province, he had aced his college entrance exam with a jaw-dropping score of 741 out of 750. It was clear that Lin Hao possessed a rare and brilliant mind, one that was a true asset to the university.
However, Professor Gu couldn't help but feel a twinge of concern. Lin Hao was not one to indulge in the typical college experience. He was a solitary figure, consumed by his studies and seemingly oblivious to the world around him. While his dedication was admirable, Professor Gu couldn't help but worry that Lin Hao was missing out on the joys of youth. Life was meant to be savored, after all, and there was so much more to experience beyond the confines of textbooks and lecture halls.
Lin Hao lay in his bed, staring at his phone for what felt like an eternity before finally mustering the courage to make the call. The line picked up almost immediately, and he was met with the sound of his mother's tearful voice on the other end.
"Hao, my life, why are you ignoring your mother?" she sobbed, her words laced with hurt and confusion.
"I'm coming home, Mom," he replied, his tone clipped and distant. "I'll be there for a month."
"Why are you asking, Hao? It's your home too," his mother protested, her voice shaking with emotion.
Lin Hao gritted his teeth, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. "I thought I should ask, considering we have some outsiders in the house," he said through clenched teeth.
"Hao, please, it was all a misunderstanding," Lin Lisha pleaded, her voice softening. "Chang isn't as bad as you think. She was just confused that day, and we're all confused as well."
Lin Hao's eyes narrowed. "Mom, I know everything about Yun Chang," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Yun Chun has already made us suffer for years, and now this girl...she's even worse than Yun Chun was. I asked you to stay out of it, but you never listen. You don't deserve this, Mom."
With that, he abruptly ended the call, his heart heavy with guilt and anger. He knew he had to face his family and confront the so-called sister someday but he still wanted some break.
Earlier when he looked deeper into the details of Yun Chang's life, he was struck with disbelief to discover that his own biological sister was capable of such deviousness. Her cunning nature knew no bounds, as she would stop at nothing to attain her desires. The mere thought of his mother living with this wretched creature sent shivers down his spine. For years, his mother and uncle had endured the wrath of Yun Chun, whose obstinacy and headstrong ways had nearly cost his mother her life. He couldn't bear the thought of subjecting his family to any more suffering at the hands of this vile individual.