The grandmother waiting for her granddaughter at the door
He clicked on Su Mingke's profile picture and sent a private message:
"Aren't you worried that nobles will steal your girlfriend?"
Su Mingke's tone was stubborn: "I don't believe they can keep robbing."
Winsley chuckled and teased, "Tell those female students that every girlfriend of yours has been snatched up by nobles, and you'll be invincible."
"roll!"
There wasn't much noteworthy information online anymore. Lin Xue decided to go to the bank first to activate her living expenses card and withdraw her tuition money.
After all, the tuition fee will be used to pay for transportation, food and accommodation, and all the things needed to prepare for enrollment.
The process of activating the bank card went very smoothly. He simply explained his purpose to the bank teller, who immediately understood and respectfully activated the card for Lin Xue.
Looking at the several zeros that suddenly appeared on her card, Lin Xue felt a long-lost feeling.
After coming into this world, although he was freed from the constraints of his family and gained the freedom of an orphan, poverty was the main theme of his life.
After withdrawing the money and walking down the street, Lin Xue felt that the sunlight was even brighter.
The next task is to prepare daily necessities for the elite academy.
It wasn't like I had imagined, where I would buy everything myself, take a bus to school, and carry all those bags back to my dorm. Instead, I simply selected the items I needed from Saint-Lia's official website shopping mall, added them to my cart, and submitted the order.
St. Leeds' logistics department would utilize the entire global supply chain to provide students with anything from pianos to toothpicks.
These daily necessities will be moved into the students' dormitories in advance before the students move in.
It's very convenient, and students don't have to worry about anything at all.
In previous years, there have been instances of student council members deliberately taking advantage of the school by selecting items far exceeding their personal needs.
Strangely, Saint-Lia complied with all of this and did not impose any additional bills on the students afterward.
It was so good it seemed like there was some kind of conspiracy.
Lin Xue didn't want to owe the school any favors; she simply bought the most basic daily necessities.
——
A few days after receiving her acceptance letter, Lin Xue went shopping.
All the school supplies are ready; I just need to pack my bags and move in. However, I haven't prepared food for the train journey to St. Leicester in a few days. No matter the world, things are always expensive on trains.
As soon as he stepped into the store, he came face to face with the doorman's cat.
The cat lay sprawled on the roof of the litter box, so fat it was unrecognizable, curled up in a ball, and meowed sweetly at Lin Xue before going still again.
Lin Xue paused for a moment. She acknowledged the cuteness of cats, such unpredictable and difficult-to-understand creatures, but found it hard to genuinely like them.
He walked around the cat, making sure not to step on its tail.
The elderly woman minding the shop smiled warmly: "Would you like to buy something?"
Lin Xue did not have any particular requirements regarding her appetite.
He was like a local native, with a "as long as I don't starve" attitude towards food. He bought the cheapest bread and cheese sticks to increase his satiety and protein intake, and that was his meal.
"Are you a freshman at Saint Ria?" The old lady's eyes lit up when she saw the Saint Ria bank card that Lin Xue had taken out.
"Yes."
“My granddaughter is also a student at St. Leahy.” The old lady’s face softened as she mentioned her granddaughter. “But she hasn’t come back in a long time. Sigh, why doesn’t she even call?”
“She used to love talking to me on the phone the most.”
“Saint-Lia is indeed very busy, but we can’t just disappear without a word.”
Lin Xue had no choice but to tell the old lady that her granddaughter might be dead.
The original story mentions a girl who came from an unknown small town to a bustling metropolis. She used to be a top student in school, but after arriving in St. Lean's, she became a failing student, failing every subject. In addition, she was dull and didn't know how to dress herself, so she was ostracized by her roommates in the same dormitory. On the freshman rating forum, she was labeled "negative score, get out" by the boys and ridiculed everywhere. She also inexplicably offended a "princess" among the star students, was bullied, suffered from depression, and committed suicide at school.
It is said that she also came from Manda, the sparsely populated border town where she now lives, where she and her grandmother depend on each other for survival.
The old woman is just an insignificant NPC in this novel. Her granddaughter is merely a name mentioned only briefly. But now, he is in this novel, and all the NPCs' joys and sorrows are real.
"I'll give you a discount." The old lady stuck out her tongue as she helped Lin Xue wrap the things in a plastic bag.
"If you get there and meet her, could you tell her that her grandmother misses her very much?"
"No matter how bad her grades are at St. Leeds, she will always be her grandmother's pride."
She had barely finished speaking when she realized, "Oh dear, I'm getting senile. You're a freshman, she's a sophomore, you're not even in the same building, so you probably won't see each other... Never mind, I'll just send her a few more letters."
"If she doesn't reply to me soon, I'm going to get angry!"
Lin Xue didn't know what to say, so she remained silent for a long time.
At this moment, a middle-aged man walked in. He casually picked up a cheap little item and went to the cashier to pay. He generously took out a hundred-yuan bill and slapped it on the table.
The old lady gave him his change faster than the young man, and the middle-aged man took the change and strode out the door.
The old lady deftly put the hundred banknotes into the drawer, but the banknote detection device started beeping: "Fake banknotes! Fake banknotes!"
The old woman then realized what had happened, and her face showed panic. That little thing was only worth 3 lan tak.
However, the 97 taels she found was several days' worth of her business! She still had to pay the exorbitant rent!
"This damned town is full of robbers and swindlers!" she cursed with heartache, but her tone betrayed her resignation. She'd seen far too many of these things while running a supermarket here.
"Wait for me." Lin Xue had already disappeared before she finished speaking. She supported herself on the railing with one hand, leaped over, and the whole set of movements was as smooth as flowing water.
Half a minute later, he came to the old lady with the stolen money he had recovered from the man.
The old lady stared at him blankly, as if he were a superhero: "Are you a king of soldiers?"
"I've read Eastern novels, and the top soldiers there are all as young as you!"
He used to be, but now he's just an ordinary retired passerby.
Before leaving, Lin Xue promised to send some Saint-Lia postcards to the old lady in the shop.
She said that if her granddaughter never replies to her, this might be the only memory she has left.
Perhaps the old woman already knew her granddaughter was dead. But she still waited as usual.
She left behind her granddaughter's favorite snacks, stood behind the curtain, and waited with failing eyesight for someone who resembled her granddaughter. She smiled at her and said, "Welcome back."
An old wooden chair rocked back and forth, a cat chased a ball of yarn, and an old woman with a wrinkled face stood behind the cashier, her figure gradually becoming transparent with the passing years.
——
In a few days, the school uniform measurements and new student photos will begin. Lin Xue had already booked her train ticket well in advance.
The journey from Manda to Saint-Lia was a full seven days. He prepared seven days' worth of food. In addition to the bread and cheese sticks he bought at the store near his home, he also bought oranges at a large supermarket later.
His suitcase was very light, containing only some food and a change of clothes.
From his original world to the present, he always seems to be free of burdens, moving from one place to another with almost nothing to take with him.
There were no friends' blessings, no traceable past, and no one to say goodbye to.
Lin Xue refused all the junior high school classmates who called and texted her frequently to inquire about her admission to St. Mary's and invite her to class reunions.
He has decided to leave this place completely, this cramped town that doesn't belong to him, and he doesn't need any hypocritical celebrations with ulterior motives.
The seven-day train journey was long. Lin Xue had booked a hard sleeper ticket, and as soon as she boarded the train, she enclosed herself inside a disposable bed curtain, completely isolating herself from the world, only coming out to use the toilet and eat.
Like a pupa waiting to emerge from its cocoon.
The noise from other people, the lingering smell of smoke, and all sorts of strange odors were kept outside the bed curtains.
At mealtimes, flight attendants would push small food carts around, serving meals to a very small number of passengers.
You can smell the hot aroma of curry beef, seafood soup, and mixed vegetables from time to time.
Other passengers carrying large bags of food looked on with envy at those who were willing to spend money on meals on the train: I'll compete with you rich people who are willing to spend money on train meals!
After their initial resentment, they resigned themselves to their fate, like camels, gnawing on dry, tasteless rations, chewing the bread—hard enough to kill with a sword—with a sense of heroic indignation at their impending doom.
Lin Xue's journey was extremely tedious. When she was hungry, she would nibble on bread that had been left out for a long time and was as dry and hard as tree bark; when she was thirsty, she would eat half an orange to moisten her throat and quell the raging stomach.
However, he would take a mouthful of hot water, soak the bread in the water, chew it thoroughly, and then swallow it. Otherwise, the dry bread might choke him in his esophagus and cause him to suffocate.
On the train, someone asked the passengers, "Are you a student going to St. Leicester University?"
It's a bit like some kind of scam. And revealing your St. Les ...
Lin Xue lazily rolled over, not wanting to stand out.
"Xincheng Station has arrived. Passengers, please board and alight in an orderly manner..." A clear female electronic voice announced over the loudspeaker.
Amidst the crowded and chaotic throng, like fishermen at sea, a pair of dark eyes darted about.
The train clattered along, and Lin Xue began to read a novel. He had bought it at a newsstand to avoid being bored on the train journey.
At the time, the book was on clearance sale. Shi Lan's books were all ridiculously expensive, but this one was cheaper than toilet paper. Lin Xue didn't have high expectations for novels, and since she figured she might as well read something, she bought this one.
He opened the book and began to read the first page:
This is a world where beauty can change social class.
Lin Xue, a young woman from a working-class family in the lower city, discovers she possesses a beauty that seems almost sinful.
Driven by vanity, he decided to use his good looks to climb into high society.
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