I suggest you investigate; this person doesn't seem to be a first-time reborn individual.

Lin Ran followed Lin Feng, dejected, to the second floor of the hotel.

In the end, he could not escape Lin Feng's coercion and enticement, and obediently became a youth psychological counselor.

"sister in law."

Meng Jingshu smiled at him and nodded: "Aran is here."

"Brother-in-law, Brother Lin Ran." Meng Jingyu's voice was very soft, and he looked at the ground when he greeted him.

Lin Feng said, "I need to discuss something with your sister. You two go down to the lobby and see if there's anything we can help with."

Watching the two figures disappear into the distance, Meng Jingshu looked worried: "Will it be enough to let A-Ran go and talk to them? He's quite capable, but he's still just a child himself..."

"Alright, don't worry. Some things we say sound like we're lecturing, but they're more receptive to talking to people their own age."

……

Lin Ran didn't take Meng Jingyu to the lobby; instead, he led him directly out of the hotel. They found a bench by a flower bed, where he sat down and patted the side of the bench.

Meng Jingyu hesitated for a moment before sitting down.

"Want one?" Lin Ran took out a pack of cigarettes and handed it to Meng Jingyu.

Meng Jingyu quickly waved his hand, a little flustered: "Brother Lin Ran, I don't smoke."

Lin Ran stared into his eyes for a while, making sure the kid wasn't lying, before lighting a cigarette for himself, taking a deep drag, and exhaling a long plume of smoke, without rushing to speak.

Meng Jingyu didn't ask any questions, just sat quietly, her fingers unconsciously picking at the seams of her school uniform trousers.

"I heard you don't want to go to school anymore?" Lin Ran was silent for a while, not knowing how to start the conversation.

Meng Jingyu was taken aback, not expecting that his first question would be about this matter. He nodded and gave a vague "hmm".

"There has to be a reason, right? What happened? Are you having problems with your classmates? Or did you fail to win over a girl you liked?"

"No, it's just that the school's rules are too strict, and going to school is boring..."

"for example?"

Meng Jingyu's tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction: "For example, we're not allowed to turn around during self-study, but there are people checking classes who come in through the back door. Normally, if someone hears a noise behind them, who wouldn't turn around to look?"

Lin Ran nodded: "It is quite rigid. Is that why you don't want to go?"

"Not entirely..." Meng Jingyu paused, "It's just that I feel Chinese education is too tiring. Every day is just classes, homework, and exams. I think American education is much more free..."

Lin Ran sighed. Children of this age only see the surface of freedom in books, but they can't see through the iron curtain of class behind it. American-style happy education is purely a means for the elite class to control the upward mobility of the lower class.

"What you're talking about is 'happy education,' which is for most ordinary people. The real elite class plays a different game, even more rigorous than us. No elite class was created through 'happy education' that ends at 2 p.m."

Meng Jingyu pursed her lips and remained silent.

Lin Ran knew that the kid hadn't told the truth yet, so he decided to try a different approach.

"So what do you want to do now that you're not in school? Play video games? What games do you play these days?"

"I... play CrossFire," Meng Jingyu admitted softly.

"Do you have a fire qilin?"

What is a Fire Qilin?

Lin Ran suddenly remembered that the Fire Qilin hadn't been released yet, so he changed his tune: "I meant, how's your skill level?"

"It's...it's alright."

Have you ever played in team battles?...

When the conversation turned to games, Meng Jingyu became a little more talkative and talked about some things related to games. Lin Ran listened patiently, occasionally chiming in, and the atmosphere wasn't as tense as it had been at the beginning.

Feeling the timing was right, Lin Ran steered the conversation back on track: "So, the main reason is that studying is too tiring and offers no hope?"

Meng Jingyu remained silent for a long time, so long that Lin Ran thought he wouldn't speak again, before he finally whispered, "Brother Lin Ran, I just feel... my parents are too tired."

Lin Ran's heart skipped a beat; he knew they were approaching a crucial moment.

"They supported my education, working from dawn till dusk every day. My mother has a bad back, and my father's hair turned mostly white last year. I'm almost an adult, and not only can I not help them, but I also have to make them continue to work hard for several more years... It breaks my heart."

Meng Jingyu's voice grew softer and softer: "I see you, still in college, already earning money and helping your family. I'm thinking... maybe I should go out and do something sooner."

Lin Ran was a little speechless. He had a general understanding of Meng Jingyu's family situation. Her father worked in the government and her mother was a middle school teacher. Although they were not extremely wealthy, they were certainly not living in poverty.

The emotional knot here isn't a family problem, but rather an overwhelming psychological burden.

Lin Ran stubbed out his cigarette.

"First of all, I still acknowledge your filial piety," he said seriously. "But you're on the wrong path. Now that you've put down your books, what can you do? Wait for dishes or work in a factory tightening screws? You probably won't even be able to support yourself with that little money, let alone repay your parents."

Meng Jingyu looked up, her eyes somewhat confused: "But... Brother Lin Ran, I'll be eighteen soon..."

"So what? Medical students have to pursue master's and doctoral degrees, and they might not even be earning a decent living by the time they're thirty. Does that mean their education is wrong?"

"You think I make money easily, right? That's because I have access to resources, information, and connections through university. Many of the things I've done simply wouldn't have been possible without this platform. By dropping out, you're essentially destroying this platform yourself."

Lin Ran stood up: "Come on, let me show you."

He led the skeptical Meng Jingyu back to the hotel's office area and found Xu Wenbin.

"Mr. Xu, are you busy?" Lin Ran pushed open the door and winked at Xu Wenbin.

Xu Wenbin didn't quite understand Lin Ran's meaning. Seeing him lead in a teenager in a school uniform, he asked with some confusion, "Mr. Lin, what's this?"

"Hi, I have a younger brother. He's a senior in high school, quite ambitious. He doesn't want to study anymore and wants to start working and broaden his horizons as soon as possible." Lin Ran said casually, "Mr. Xu, do you have any suitable positions available? How much salary can you offer?"

Xu Wenbin was incredibly shrewd. As soon as he heard that he didn't want to go to school, he guessed Lin Ran's intention in bringing him here, and then a somewhat embarrassed smile appeared on his face.

"Well... if you haven't graduated high school, it's considered a junior high school education. In our hotel, you'd usually be a waiter or food runner. There's a six-month probation period, and the salary is around... 1,600 to 2,000. After that, it depends on your performance; you should be able to earn 2,000 to 2,500."

As Meng Jingyu listened, his eyes dimmed; the amount of money was much less than he had imagined.

Xu Wenbin glanced at Lin Ran, then reluctantly added, "But since he's President Lin's brother, if he really comes, I'll definitely take care of him. As for the salary... I'll try to get it to 2,800? That would be an exception."

Meng Jingyu did the math in her mind and realized that even if they didn't eat or drink, it wouldn't be enough to make her parents feel much more at ease over the course of a year.