Chapter Four: Lin Yanan

Suzhou. A girl in a floral dress and sandals approached the entrance of an upscale neighborhood, trailed by a cameraman. She was the rural heroine of this season’s “Metamorphosis”—Grandpa Lin’s granddaughter, Lin Yanan.

She cast a timid glance at the security guard standing ramrod straight at the gate. She wanted to enter but hesitated to speak. A staff member made a call, and before long, a middle-aged man in slippers and baggy shorts jogged over.

“Oh, I’m so sorry to keep you waiting. You must be Yanan, right? The heat must’ve been unbearable on your way here.”

The man was Zhou Miao’s father, Zhou Ye. Faced with his kindly smile, Lin Yanan instinctively bowed and greeted him politely. Her heart eased a little—this uncle seemed approachable enough.

Under Zhou Ye’s guidance, the group walked deeper into the neighborhood, arriving at the villa district in the back. Zhou Miao’s family was clearly well-off: a detached villa of over 500 square meters, with gardens in front and back, planted with flowers, greenery, and vegetables.

The door opened, and Zhou Miao’s mother, Hong Xue, emerged from the kitchen carrying a platter of watermelon. She wore a loose home shirt paired with linen capri pants, her hair casually tied up, a gentle smile softening her beautiful features.

“Hello, Yanan. Come in, have a seat. Have some watermelon to cool off.”

Lin Yanan politely greeted her and shrank into the corner of the living room sofa. The leather couch was so soft she felt as if she were sinking into a cloud—cushiony and comfortable.

She accepted the watermelon with restraint, nibbling it in small bites while surreptitiously taking in her surroundings. The centerpiece of the living room was a black lacquered grand piano—it looked expensive at a glance.

Overhead hung a dazzling crystal chandelier, which surely cast gorgeous light at night. On the wall opposite the sofa was a massive television, at least seven or eight times the size of the bulky set back home.

All of this felt so close, yet so far from her. She was acutely aware that this was just a television program. In a month’s time, she would return to that remote mountain village.

Sensing Lin Yanan’s reserve, Hong Xue began chatting with her, but the more she learned, the more her heart ached for this girl.

Lin Yanan had never known her parents. She was a foundling taken in by Grandpa Lin at a hospital entrance. His wife had passed away early, and they were childless; grandfather and granddaughter relied solely on each other.

She was the same age as Zhou Miao, currently attending high school in town, living on campus during the week and coming home on weekends to help her grandfather with chores. Despite her youth, her hands were already calloused.

Hong Xue knew about the “Metamorphosis” program, and understood that many of its setups could be hurtful to rural children.

After a life of hardship, they were suddenly immersed in the city—sumptuous meals, entertainment, a taste of paradise. But once they returned to their rural roots, the stark contrast became unbearable.

As countless viewers remarked: “I could endure darkness, only because I had never seen the light.”

Hong Xue understood this. She had prepared herself for Lin Yanan’s month-long stay. She asked about Lin Yanan’s academic performance.

Lin Yanan flushed with embarrassment. “I’m okay in other subjects, but my English is weak.”

“You’re at a crucial stage now. Getting into a good university will make a world of difference in your life, so you mustn’t let up. Why don’t I tutor you in English for the next month?”

Lin Yanan’s eyes lit up, but she hesitated. “Would that be alright? You must be very busy. I can study on my own.”

Hong Xue smiled, patting her head. “It’s fine—I don’t work. I have plenty of free time. Come, let me give you a tour.”

Lin Yanan followed quietly as Hong Xue introduced the household amenities. Passing the piano, she asked, “Do you like playing the piano?”

Hong Xue glanced back at the instrument and chuckled, “I can’t play. My son loves it. He started lessons at four, and now practices two to three hours daily. Neither his father nor I have any musical talent, but for some reason he’s absolutely captivated by music.”

Upstairs, Hong Xue opened a door. “This is my son’s room. He’s not home, so we can go in. Normally, he doesn’t let us in here—I can only guess what he’s up to.”

As Lin Yanan entered Zhou Miao’s room, she was immediately struck by a wall covered in figurines—shelves lined with a dazzling array of collectible toys.

The nearby bookshelves held no books, only rows of CDs, both domestic and foreign. Next to the bed sat a sky-blue guitar.

Lin Yanan pointed at it. “He can play the guitar too?”

Hong Xue looked exasperated. “Yes—he can also play the flute, harmonica, and a slew of other instruments. He’s fascinated by all things musical. If he devoted even a tenth of that passion to his studies, I wouldn’t have sent him to ‘Metamorphosis’.”

“Isn’t studying music a good thing?” Lin Yanan asked, puzzled.

“It’s not that it’s bad. It’s just that making a living from music is so difficult. His father and I want him to be more grounded—to get into a good university, study a solid subject, and have an easier time finding work.”

On the bedside table stood a photograph of Zhou Miao and his mother. In the picture, Hong Xue was clasping his head and planting a big kiss on his cheek, while Zhou Miao looked helpless and annoyed.

He was strikingly handsome—more so than any TV celebrity.

As Lin Yanan drifted into thought, she suddenly felt something soft brush against her leg and shrieked, leaping up in fright.

Startled, Hong Xue looked down and laughed. “Milk Candy, what are you doing hiding here?”

Lin Yanan looked down to see a snow-white kitten. Hong Xue scooped the little cat into her arms, stroking it affectionately. “This is our second child—Milk Candy. I gave him to Zhou Miao for his sixteenth birthday this year.”

“How adorable! May I hold him?” It was the first time Lin Yanan had seen such a cute cat—she was utterly defenseless.

She carefully took Milk Candy in her arms. The fluffy, downy softness made her want to cry—she wished she could steal the kitten away.

That evening, after Hong Xue’s exquisitely prepared dinner, she began tutoring Lin Yanan using Zhou Miao’s textbooks.

As soon as Lin Yanan opened the English book, she burst out laughing. Every illustrated figure was sporting sunglasses and slinging a guitar, exuding rockstar flair.

Hong Xue sighed, exasperated. “That rascal—always doodling in class. When he gets back, I’m going to give him a piece of my mind!”