After the banquet, Lin Yan returned to school and entered a period of intense revision.
With only two months left until the exams, Lu Yi had been trying to find opportunities to ask for Lin Yan's forgiveness, but she had blocked him directly.
She intended to use this chance to completely break ties with the male lead and have no further involvement with him.
Zheng Yiran also returned to her own school. Her roommates wanted to ask her about her ambiguous relationship, but seeing her low spirits, they didn't press further.
Privately, they discussed and felt it was probably over, so none of them brought it up again. Moreover, their coursework had become demanding, leaving them no energy to pay attention to anything else.
Zheng Yiran now received pocket money from both sets of parents, so she didn't need to work part-time at places like coffee shops.
This gave her more time to focus on her studies. Lin Yan also called her frequently during her free time.
Besides inquiring about her studies and well-being, she also sent her many gifts.
Although Zheng Yiran still harbored some resentment towards Lin Yan, she found it hard to be angry with such a caring older sister.
Soon, Lin Yan's exams arrived. After finishing them, she didn't rest but found an internship at a nursing home.
The nursing home was mostly populated by the elderly, and their check-ups were usually routine. This was also why she hadn't sought a position in a hospital.
She had no foundational experience, and in a hospital, she would likely be a burden. However, a nursing home was different.
Lin Yan learned to operate the examination machines and to correlate her knowledge with the data from the test results.
She then studied the prescriptions of the doctors in the nursing home. During this time, she also memorized all the traditional Chinese medicine textbooks, though she lacked practical experience.
Every day, while examining the patients in the nursing home, she would mentally diagnose them, prescribe medicine, and then compare it with the doctor's treatment.
Lin Yan's medical skills were developed discreetly; no one knew how much she had learned or her current level of proficiency.
When the results came out, Lin Yan ranked first. Bai Hao called to congratulate her and, once again, inquire if their relationship could change.
"Dr. Bai seems a little impatient?" Lin Yan asked with amusement.
Since her exams, Bai Hao's calls had been almost daily.
His sole objective was to end their doctor-patient relationship and initiate another kind of relationship.
"I have to be impatient, after all, my beloved is so sought after; I'm afraid I'll lose her if I relax even for a moment."
In recent days, his contact with Lin Yan had gradually increased, and their conversations had become more relaxed.
Although he didn't know why Lin Yan hadn't agreed to be together, he was certain that she must have some feelings for him.
"Let's wait a bit longer. What's yours won't run away," Lin Yan parried.
Let's wait a while longer. After all, the male lead hasn't given up yet. It wouldn't be good to involve anyone at this time.
Moreover, this male lead was too obsessive. Once he calmed down, she could then date Dr. Bai.
If she were to get together with Bai Hao now, Lu Yi would go mad, and one wouldn't know what he might do.
Especially since Bai Hao was just an ordinary doctor, Lin Yan couldn't risk him. She would never put Bai Hao in the spotlight until Lu Yi's safety was assured.
Bai Hao didn't understand why Lin Yan still needed him to wait, but he was willing to do so.
Lin Yan's interview was successful. Her knowledge and practical skills greatly surprised her supervisor.
Not long after the interview, she joined her supervisor's research group. Although she was initially assigned menial tasks, her capabilities soon led her to be entrusted with significant responsibilities.
Lin Yan absorbed all the experience and knowledge she could access like a sponge.
She also used her spare time to study medicine. Even if she had agreed to be with Bai Hao, she wouldn't have had time to spend with him.
However, Bai Hao was also very busy during this period, so they both had to put their romantic feelings aside and focus on their studies.
Zheng Yiran also chose to pursue postgraduate studies. However, lacking Lin Yan's memory, she opted for a specialization related to her undergraduate major.
She was studying economics. Father Lin arranged for her to intern at his company during the holidays, and Lin Yan also gave her a sum of money for investments.
This time, Zheng Yiran did not enter Lu Yi's company, nor did she remain submissive due to her father's debt issues.
Her current quality of life was more than double what it used to be, and she had much more free time to enjoy her university life.
Lin Yan no longer had Zheng Yiran working part-time but encouraged her to pursue activities related to her major.
Although Lin Yan was only half an hour older than her, she had much more life experience.
Through her interactions with Lin Yan, Zheng Yiran began to admire her more and started to learn from her.
She seemed to understand why Lu Yi liked Lin Yan, and after getting to know Lin Yan, she found herself liking this older sister more and more.
Previously, Lin Yan was the one who initiated calls, but now Zheng Yiran called Lin Yan more often.
She shared her future plans with Lin Yan and discussed her recent endeavors.
Lin Yan was also pleased with her transformation, realizing how outstanding the female lead could be once she emerged from her infatuation.
After all, as the heroine of this world and the source of her counterpart's fortune, once she struggled free from hopeless love, she would unleash her brilliance.
In the original novel, the female lead gradually became more like the original host in the later stages. The original host was frail due to illness, while the female lead grew thinner due to losing a kidney and unrequited love.
Therefore, the happy ending, though attributed to the male and female leads, was more about the female lead living as a shadow—a shadow that fulfilled the male lead's obsession with the original host!
However, the current Zheng Yiran was becoming increasingly different from Lin Yan.
Lin Yan was gentle and resilient, having overcome a terminal illness and dedicating herself to medicine. She possessed the focus and diligence of a researcher, exuding an academic aura.
Zheng Yiran, on the other hand, was flamboyant and confident. With the pampering of two sets of parents and the support of her siblings, her path was smooth sailing. With people to rely on, she forged ahead bravely.
Her flamboyant confidence attracted much attention, which also helped to erase the slight inferiority complex and timidity she had acquired from her ordinary life.
When they were together now, although their appearances were still very similar, their temperaments were worlds apart.
Their relationship, however, grew stronger. When Lin Yan was not busy, Zheng Yiran would often fly over to accompany Lin Yan shopping, picking out clothes and bags for both of them.
Father and Mother Lin were also delighted that these two sisters, separated for over a decade, had such a close relationship.
"Sister, you absolutely must come to my graduation ceremony!" Zheng Yiran's voice on the phone was filled with playful pleading.