Chapter 3: Higher and Farther Places
Since she had decided to follow Nangong Ying to participate in the citywide singing competition, she had to prepare first. She needed to learn the most basic singing skills. Although she didn’t think she could go to the national competition with Nangong Ying, she at least wanted to place. Even a low placement would come with prize money, which was extremely attractive to a “gold digger” like her who craved prize money.
Although pure newcomers usually fared poorly in competitions, who was Yu Linna? According to the novels, she was a transmigrator, and transmigrators definitely had a protagonist’s halo. Yu Linna firmly believed this. She could already imagine more than ten face-slapping scenarios.
After parting ways with Nangong Ying, she hummed a tune all the way home. Upon entering the apartment complex where she lived, she immediately erased the expression on her face, her expression becoming serious. She stealthily slipped into her room. As a tenant who was behind on rent, she had to be careful. If she was caught, it would be disastrous. With her current abilities, she couldn’t afford the rent at all.
“Damn it, that Yu girl dodged me again today! How outrageous, she’s been behind on rent for so long and still hasn’t paid!”
While passing by the landlady’s window, Yu Linna shivered, almost scared to death by the voice. She tiptoed past, as quickly as she could.
“Don’t be like that. She’s quite pitiful, all alone, and doesn’t even know who her parents are. She’s still a child, try to understand.”
“But I also have to eat and send my kids to school! That Yu girl is a jinx. No wonder the idiots who adopted her threw her back. Whoever takes her in will be unlucky!”
Yu Linna’s outstretched foot stopped. Hearing the landlady’s harsh words, she naturally felt uncomfortable.
These harsh words were always her pain. She, Yu Linna, was just an unwanted child. That was the fact.
“Okay, stop talking. It wouldn’t be good if those words got out and she heard them.”
“Hmph, anyway, if she doesn’t pay the rent soon, I’ll kick her out immediately!”
Yu Linna forced herself to ignore this, silently going upstairs, pretending she had never passed by here.
I will definitely get the prize money.
Yu Linna silently encouraged herself.
As long as she had money, had the prize money, she could definitely change her life. And then live her own life.
“I want to become rich.”
Only then would she not be bullied. Only then could she gain the respect of others. For this, she had to work hard.
Yu Linna opened her room door, locked it from the inside, and then tiredly sat down at her desk. Today was another tiring day.
So many years had passed, and she had grown so much. In her previous life, when she was still a boy, she had only lived to the age of ten before kicking the bucket. In this life, she had already lived longer than her previous life, and she had long gotten used to her female body. Although there was still a trace of male consciousness inside her, she should have gotten used to it after so many years.
She opened the drawer, which contained a yellowed exercise book. Judging from the quality, it was quite old. Three words were written on it: “Yu Linna.” This exercise book was the only thing she had that could confirm her name. Besides this, she had nothing.
She didn’t know how she was born, let alone what her parents looked like, whether they were alive or dead. She knew absolutely nothing. But so many years had passed without any news, so they were probably dead.
Putting the notebook away, Yu Linna used her phone to look up information. She carefully reviewed the past participation in the city competition. Since she had decided to make a career for herself in this world, she had to work hard. Anyway, she was the protagonist, so she would definitely succeed. As long as she showed her strength and forged her own path, she could become famous.
Just like Nangong Ying said, deep down, Yu Linna was someone who was not content with the status quo. She also craved success.
Suddenly, the phone rang. The contact list showed Nangong Ying’s name. She pressed the answer button.
“Hello, what’s up?”
“I’ve already registered you. Let’s start practicing tomorrow. The elimination rounds start in about a week.”
“So soon?”
“Time never waits for you. If you want to pass the competition smoothly, you have to study hard. Starting tomorrow, turn down all your part-time jobs and devote yourself entirely to the competition. I’m very strict, so please be prepared.”
“…Can I really make it through the competition?”
To be honest, Yu Linna was still quite uneasy. She had never studied music before, and to rashly participate in this kind of competition, she really didn’t know how much of a chance she had.
“Linna, you have one characteristic. Your voice is very beautiful. That’s your advantage. If you utilize that well, I think you have potential.”
Nangong Ying bit into a cookie, lying on her bed and talking on the phone.
Since she said so, then she would give it a try. It was an opportunity anyway. Yu Linna comforted herself like this. Although Yu Linna usually had a cold demeanor, she was very delicate inside.
“Then I’ll try. We’ve known each other for so long, you wouldn’t harm me, right?”
“Mm, it’s good to have that awareness. Work hard, crybaby.”
“Who’s a crybaby, hey!”
“I’m hanging up.”
The phone hung up, leaving only the beep beep beep sound. Yu Linna clenched her small fists. This time, she would use all her strength to face this competition. That’s right, her goal was simple. She wasn’t aiming for the championship, but for the prize money. As long as she had that money, with that money… she could do whatever she wanted!
“I really want to become rich!”
She rolled around on the bed, shamelessly acting cute.
Then she clenched her fists. Yes, she was fired up. At this moment, she ignited a strong fighting spirit. No matter what lay ahead, she would overcome all obstacles.
With this thought, she fell asleep peacefully, welcoming the next day.
When she woke up the next morning, it was Monday, and she had to go to school. As a senior high school student preparing for the college entrance exams, she had less than a year until the exams. Of course, right now, she wasn’t too worried about her academic performance. No matter what, her grades were always among the best. Especially her English, which was always the highest in the school. She wasn’t too worried about getting into university. She was more worried about whether she had enough money to pay the tuition fees.
As usual, dodging the landlady, Yu Linna slipped out of the apartment complex. On the way, she tied her hair ribbon and hurried along. She smoothed down her skirt. The biggest complaint about being reborn in this world was why the high school girls’ uniforms in this world were all skirts, when just two years ago, the sportswear style was “popular.”
Yu Linna was a student in the advanced class of senior high school. Although she had a cold personality (pretending), it was impossible for no one to know her name. Her frequent appearance on the ranking list showed her popularity in the school. And she was very striking, with her long golden hair being very conspicuous on campus. It was impossible for no one to notice her. Because of this golden hair, she was once ordered by the teacher to dye it black.
After entering senior high school, the corresponding pressure would also increase, that was for sure. Especially now, there were many students who were worried about their scores. At this time, whoever had high scores and performed consistently would naturally become the focus of the teachers’ cultivation. For example, Yu Linna.
“Yu Linna, come to the office after class.”
Before class, the homeroom teacher specifically called out to Yu Linna. Anyone with a bit of common sense knew what the homeroom teacher wanted to talk to her about. It was nothing more than the college entrance exams.
Yu Linna’s academic performance was usually very stable, almost never slipping up, and she was also a promising student in the principal’s eyes. If she performed consistently during the college entrance exams, she might compete with the top students in the province for rankings, because her strength was there.
But…
Besides studying, Yu Linna also had to worry about her food expenses, which would invisibly affect her life. This was also the reason why the homeroom teacher wanted to talk to her.
In the office after class, the homeroom teacher asked her to sit down and prepared tea for her. Ordinary students wouldn’t get this kind of treatment. Yu Linna was special, and there weren’t many teachers in the office. Some teachers even deliberately avoided them. It was obvious that this was the homeroom teacher’s doing.
“How are you feeling lately?”
The homeroom teacher didn’t get straight to the point, but beat around the bush. Yu Linna knew what she wanted to ask, but she just wouldn’t say it directly.
The homeroom teacher was a woman in her mid-twenties, wearing a professional suit. It was said that she graduated from Beijing and was a top student. She was very optimistic about Yu Linna’s future.
“I’m fine. I finished ten sets of practice papers during the holidays and also finished the ‘Wu San’ (a popular test prep book). I think I’m okay.”
Yu Linna carefully watched the teacher’s face. Although she was only 17 years old, when dealing with adults like this, she knew she couldn’t be careless.
“That’s good. You know, your grades are the most stable in our class, especially your English, which never falls below 120. I really hope you can get into a good university. However, you seem to be doing things unrelated to exam preparation lately.”
Here it comes. Yu Linna knew she would definitely get to this.
From the beginning, the homeroom teacher’s purpose was very clear. She was here to “catch” her.
“You have less than a year until the exams. Don’t do anything unrelated to the exams. Quit your part-time jobs too. Once you get into university, you can do whatever you want. This is for your own good.”
Yu Linna lowered her head and remained silent for a long time.
It sounds so nice, but it’s not that easy to do. Without working, without part-time jobs, she couldn’t even afford to pay her rent, let alone talk about exams. Besides, she might not even be able to afford the tuition fees for university.
If this continued, it seemed like the only option was to not go to university.
“I’ll arrange it myself.”
Of course, she wouldn’t listen to the teacher at all.
Only fools would listen.
Back in the classroom, Yu Linna sat down gloomily at her desk. In her heart, she became even more determined to win the prize money. As long as she had money, she wouldn’t have this kind of life. As long as she had money, she could do whatever she wanted.
“Yu-tongxue, what did the teacher want to talk to you about?”
After returning to her seat, the girl sitting next to her smiled and came closer, which made Yu Linna very disgusted. She didn’t like being so close to others, especially girls.
“It’s none of your business. It’s time for class.”
“I see… Okay, do you want to go for milk tea together after school in the afternoon? I know a really good milk tea shop.”
“No.”
“I’ll treat you.”
“…I’ll go.”
Not eating free food would be foolish. This was also Yu Linna’s creed.
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