After receiving the school's bonus and the city education bureau's bonus, Lin Yan boarded the train to Shanghai. She didn't bring much, nor did she ask anyone to see her off, leaving quietly.
Upon arriving in Shanghai, she bought some more things, purchased a flight ticket to America, and then wandered around Shanghai during this era. Although Shanghai was already prosperous at this time, it still lacked the charm of the future "Magic City."
Although Father Lin and Mother Lin really wanted to accompany Lin Yan abroad, their passports hadn't been processed, and their jobs didn't allow for frequent leave. Therefore, they could only ask their friends in America to take extra care of Lin Yan and arrange her affairs there.
By the time Lin Yan set foot on American soil, Gu Ting's family was holding a celebratory banquet for his advancement. Gu Ting had also performed very well, not the top scorer, but within the top three, and had been accepted into Tsinghua University. Thus, Father Gu booked a star-rated hotel and hosted dozens of tables.
After all, Gu Ting's achievements brought considerable honor to Father Gu, and his partners looked at the couple with envy. Moreover, Gu Ting was handsome and academically gifted, a perfect picture when he stood there. Guests who came and went couldn't help but glance at him more.
Gu Ting stood at the entrance, welcoming guests with a polite smile. He knew deep down that Lin Yan wouldn't come, but he still held a sliver of hope. Many classmates had come, as this was an opportunity to connect with the Gu family, and even if not with the Gu family directly, connecting with their guests was beneficial.
Finally, as the banquet was about to begin, Gu Ting still hadn't seen the person he wished to see. He sighed inwardly, then put on a smile and walked into the hall, onto the stage that belonged to him. This banquet wasn't just a celebration of his advancement, but also an introduction to his father's business partners. This was his first time stepping into the public eye, and he couldn't afford any mistakes. As for Lin Yan, he decided to stop thinking about it!
Father Gu proudly introduced his son to his friends, unaware of Gu Ting's dejection. Mother Gu noticed it. They had already understood the reason for their son's desire to go abroad at that time and also understood the reason for his low spirits today.
But that girl had already gone abroad. Furthermore, although the girl was excellent, her family background was not prominent. If their son were with her, she wouldn't be able to provide him with any assistance. Fortunately, their son was quite obedient. Although he might be a little sad now, she believed that time would be the best healer, and he would eventually let go. Once he entered Tsinghua, there would be more excellent girls, and he would meet more suitable people. That girl would just be a passerby in his life!
With that thought, Mother Gu smiled again and accompanied the other ladies, humbly praising their children. The banquet was a great success, with guests and hosts alike enjoying themselves. However, no one knew what the protagonist truly felt in his heart!
Lin Yan once again returned to the university she was familiar with. After registering early and applying for a dormitory, she left again. She now had a starting capital, and although it wasn't a lot, it was enough to test the waters. She needed to double this capital as soon as possible. The fastest way, besides gambling, was stock trading. She planned to stay near the trading center before school started.
She found an agent to rent a house and arrange for housekeeping. Then she went to the securities center to choose a broker she liked. She focused on short-term trading. With limited funds, she bought and sold frequently, with both gains and losses, but overall, she earned much more than she lost. If she only made profits and never losses, she might not have been able to leave here safely.
"Host, your earning speed is really fast!" the system exclaimed.
"The principal is still too small, there's no way to compare with those giants. It's just a small skirmish. However, it's enough to cover my university expenses and future startup funds," Lin Yan sighed. In the past, whenever she played, she would buy in the millions and tens of millions, and sometimes even in the hundreds of millions. Of course, she was a trader then, but now she was just a small retail investor.
"Your tuition and living expenses don't need to be that high, do they? Aren't you earning enough now?"
"Far from enough! After all, this is not China. Have you heard the saying, 'Respect the clothes before the person'? Being in a place dominated by white people, if you don't want to be discriminated against, you have to be richer than them!" Lin Yan studied the stocks in front of her. "Otherwise, why do you think I'm spending a lot of money to rent a house and hire a housekeeper? It's okay to stay in a hotel, but hotels don't offer the same privacy or convenience as here."
As the start of school approached, Lin Yan finally sold all her short-term stocks and then bought some initial public offerings. Afterward, she took her newly acquired black card to a luxury goods store.
She purchased some of the latest items and ordered some classic pieces, registering as a VIP at these stores with her black card. She spent three days curating her outfits for the next few months. After leaving her address, she went on to visit some custom tailoring shops. She didn't buy extremely expensive items, but she chose pieces that were more suitable for daily wear. Once everything was sorted out, school finally began.
Tian Tian's performance in the college entrance examination was beyond her expectations. Knowing that Gu Ting was applying to universities in Beijing, she applied to universities in Beijing for all her choices. She was finally admitted to Beijing Foreign Studies University, although she was assigned to a less common language program. She was quite satisfied.
She had also heard that Lin Yan had gone abroad and attended Gu Ting's celebratory banquet. That day, she saw Gu Ting's anticipation, but Lin Yan never showed up until the very end. Seeing Gu Ting's disappointed eyes made Tian Tian feel very sad.
Although they weren't attending the same university, the thought that they were still in the same city made her heart feel sweet. Lin Yan had already gone abroad, separated by distance and time difference. She and Gu Ting were only separated by five bus stops.
She still couldn't let go of Gu Ting. Now that the college entrance examination was over, she had been admitted to a good university, and they were in the same city. She wanted to be brave and pursue the light of her heart! Lin Yan wouldn't be back for a while, and Gu Ting was currently single, so she had a chance, didn't she? She didn't want to miss this opportunity, or she would regret it for the rest of her life!
Winter snow accompanied the sound of Christmas bells, filling the streets, schools, and even their rented apartment with a festive atmosphere. Lin Yan's roommates had gone home. She sat alone by the fireplace in the living room, reading a book borrowed from the library. It was nighttime in China, and she planned to call home later in the evening.
Although the room was quiet, Lin Yan didn't feel lonely. After all, with a system constantly chattering in her mind, she wouldn't feel lonely.
"Knock, knock, knock," there was a knock at the door.
Lin Yan was curious about who would come at this hour, so she put on a shawl draped over the armrest of the sofa, walked to the door, opened it, and saw an unexpected person standing in the snow.
"Yan Yan. Merry Christmas!" A big smile made her somewhat stern face look a bit silly, but the gift box clutched tightly in her frozen red hand brought tears to Lin Yan's eyes!