It was just a love letter; I'm really no great writer!

That's so sad.

Lu Ran stared at his roasted goose leg...

Li Xingping bit her down piece by piece until only the bare bones remained, leaving her cherry-like lips glossy pink.

Not ladylike at all.

I forgave her since she was indeed not selected.

After getting rich first, Lu Ran has never hesitated to help those who are still rich to get rich.

For example, the water dispensers on the floor were old, so Lu Ran replaced them with high-end filtered direct drinking water machines. It only cost a few thousand yuan to benefit everyone, so it was worth it.

"Oh dear, I..." Li Xingping looked at the bone in her hand, "I'm so sorry, I got so excited... I'll go buy you a new one..."

"No need, I'm full." Lu Ran stood up with his plate, and the girl followed a few steps behind him.

"Are you angry?" Li Xingping bit her lip, looking timid. "I didn't mean to..."

Lu Ran thought to himself, "If you have such acting skills, why didn't you do this sooner?"

In fact, he couldn't tell whether Li Xingping was doing it on purpose, because her movements and expressions were too natural, without any sense of affectation.

However, Lu Ran did not want to get too close to her.

"I'm not blaming you. I was already full, and you're so thin, it's good for you to have some protein." Lu Ran put down his plate unhurriedly.

"I'm not thin. My fitness instructor even said I've gained weight." Li Xingping curled her lips.

Why do you want to be an actor?

"To be famous, to make big money, to be a big star!" Li Xingping said dejectedly, her steps light, "But I didn't get selected in this audition..."

"A small fire depends on luck, a big fire depends on fate." Lu Ran remained noncommittal. "Good luck."

She had such a grand and specific dream when she was only in her first year of high school, and she even put it into practice.

Even if we fail...

Regardless of how you look at it, it's quite admirable.

"What do you think was wrong with my acting?" Li Xingping asked.

She followed Lu Ran out of the cafeteria, where ginkgo and osmanthus trees lined both sides of the campus avenue.

It was midday, and groups of students walked in the sun, while in the distance, the basketball court was dotted with people.

At this time of day, Lu Ran would usually be typing in the classroom before taking a lunch break.

But he had a vague feeling that Li Xingping had something else to say to him—if Zheng Yue saw him back in the classroom, it could easily cause a misunderstanding.

He still cherishes Zheng Yue; it's rare to find a friend who is both agreeable and a true confidante.

So he walked toward the pavilion, just for a stroll: "I don't know anything about acting, but as an ordinary audience member, I think you acted very well."

"But you're the screenwriter. The entire 'Parasite' story originated from your script. Am I the ideal Do-hye in your heart?" Lee Sung-ping's eyes sparkled in the sunlight.

"No," Lu Ran said.

"...Waaah, waaaah." The girl's nose tingled, and large tears welled up in her eyes.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Lu Ran panicked.

Before the curious glances from the surrounding students, he grabbed Li Xingping and slipped into the pavilion.

Her hands were smooth and soft, with a light, silky feel.

Lu Ran pulled her to sit down before quickly letting go.

"I'm so sorry... Waaah..." Li Xingping covered her face and sobbed slowly.

Luckily, Lu Ran has rhinitis, so he found a small pack of tissues and handed it to her. "Didn't I say you acted very well? Why are you still crying? It makes people think I bullied you."

Li Xingping wiped her red and swollen eyes with a tissue, feeling her chest fill with a sour feeling.

She herself couldn't understand why she felt so wronged whenever she was in front of Lu Ran.

She usually kept her emotions hidden, was gentle and generous, and was seen as a well-behaved girl by everyone.

She portrays herself as someone who subtly exudes sophistication, remaining calm and composed, and taking things lightly.

If Class Six had a political faction, then I would be the most prestigious person behind the scenes...

She's just a chuunibyou (a person with delusions of grandeur).

Don't be fooled by the fact that she snatched Lu Ran's roast goose leg; it actually exhausted all the courage she had accumulated over sixteen years, and at this moment, she no longer knew what she was doing...

"I recommended you to the director later, and she said she would consider it, but in the end she chose another senior student." Lu Ran shrugged. "I did my best."

"...You mean Senior Qin? I know her, she's amazing." Li Xingping's heart clenched as she listened to Lu Ran's words, feeling as if she were soaking in honey.

Did he recommend me to the director?

He recommended me to the director!

"If you're not as skilled as others, then practice more and strive to do your best next time."

Lu Ran said calmly, "If you can't even handle this little setback, then you're underestimating the acting profession."

"I didn't...I..."

Li Xingping said softly but firmly, "I will try my best."

"That's right." Lu Ranxin breathed a sigh of relief.

Girls are truly amazing creatures... He was sweating profusely; thank goodness he didn't take her back to the classroom.

otherwise……

"Brother Ran!"

Suddenly, a handsome young man came running from the cobblestone path.

He wore black-rimmed square glasses and looked quite refined. He excitedly ran to the pavilion: "Brother Ran! You're here!"

I'm dizzy...

Lu Ran was convinced.

Just moments ago, Li Xingping was crying, but now she was clutching a wet wipe in her hand, her eyes red and swollen, looking utterly pitiful.

They were caught red-handed.

This boy is from the neighboring Class 7, and his name is Xiao Shengke.

It is quite famous.

Xiao Shengke, Du Fan, Zhou Fan, and Han Hongqiu are collectively known as the Four Heavenly Kings.

They were either handsome, from good families, academically excellent, or athletically gifted; in short, they were all of average appearance.

Li Xingping had many suitors, and they were among the most ardent, which made her famous.

Last semester, Lu Ran often visited Class 7 to offer his greetings and care, and he became quite familiar with Xiao Shengke.

After all, handsome guys cherish other handsome guys.

at this time.

When Li Xingping saw Xiao Shengke, her heart sank.

She used to enjoy the superiority of being pursued, but now she regrets it to the core...

If... if she were as decisive as Xia Liang, would she be able to get closer to Lu Ran?

The vanity of being the center of attention has become a boomerang of regret.

However, Xiao Shengke ignored Li Xingping and excitedly grabbed Lu Ran, exclaiming, "Brother Ran! I've been looking for you everywhere!"

Lu Ran: ?

Li Xingping was also completely confused.

"What do you want?" Lu Ran pushed his hand away calmly.

Xiao Shengke then glanced at Li Xingping.

He hesitated for a moment, then whispered in Lu Ran's ear.

"...Uh." Lu Ran was speechless. "It's okay, she knows."

Xiao Shengke took a step back, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said with a face full of fervor, "Great Umbrella Master, please teach me how to write web novels!"

Lu Ran let out an "Ah".

……

At noon, Zheng Yue went to recruit people to play a friendly football match.

A group of people had dinner together. After the meal, Zheng Yue was reading the latest update of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" when Xiao Shengke noticed her: "Hey, you too..."

The two then began to talk.

Xiao Shengke said he is currently writing an online novel and has already reached the Great Perfection of the Half-Step Contract Realm.

—Then, Zheng Yue, in order to show off, betrayed Lu Ran again…

A giant in the online literature world is right next to me?

Xiao Shengke frantically searches the world for Lu Ran.

Classrooms, cafeterias, sports fields, pavilions... When you see Lu Ran's towering figure, who can understand the sense of redemption he felt at that moment?

Xiao Shengke didn't seem to care at all when he saw Lu Ran and Li Xingping on a date alone.

What happened?

This is like carrying a knife but no umbrella on a rainy night!

What is a mere girl compared to my umbrella giant?

That year, "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" topped the monthly ticket charts, enjoying unparalleled popularity.

At that time, I thought to myself, if I become an online novelist, I must make a name for myself.

The supreme path is right before our eyes.

I have to consider whether this might be the only chance I ever have in my life—

Nowadays, only Yu Ye, who carries a knife but no umbrella, stands tall and is the most devout follower of online literature.

Restoring the glory of online literature is our inescapable duty! (Note 10)

Xiao Shengke clung to Lu Ran's leg, refusing to let go, tears streaming down his face: "Umbrella Giant~~~"

"Please, teach me how to write web novels!"

"Umbrella Giant, please, if you were here, I would do anything..."

-

Note 10: This is from Xu Xiu, a champion player of League of Legends.