Ren Wanxuan lowered her head, hiding the mockery in her eyes. Who would say such things in front of Chou Boqing? He was a top liberal arts student at Northern City University, preparing for his doctorate.
“Boqing!” Chou Xuezheng put down his teacup and reminded them, “Alright, come out with me.”
Chou Boqing pressed his lips together, saying nothing more.
The group followed Chou Xuezheng out.
Bai Lian sat down in the chair next to Jian Zhe, leaning slightly against the backrest, her hand resting on the table. She just lifted her chin: “You really don’t want to take the Jiang Art exam?”
“I do want to.” Jian Zhe clicked his tongue – who wouldn’t want to attend Jiang Art? But even Jian Rong might not get in.
Jian Zhe sighed: “You just heard him say, my calligraphy level has improved, I could get a good grade next year, but those ancient texts… I just can’t comprehend them…”
The objective questions were fine, but for subjective questions involving ancient texts, sometimes Jian Zhe couldn’t even understand the meaning of the passages.
“If you want to take it, that’s enough,” Bai Lian poured herself some tea, speaking lazily. “As for the rest… don’t worry about it.”
She took a small sip of tea, squinting slightly in the sunlight.
“Huh?” Jian Zhe didn’t understand, just reflexively refilled Bai Lian’s tea.
“I said,” Bai Lian lowered her head, carelessly blowing away the tea foam, “after the new year, when there’s time, come to the library with me.”
Outside. Chou Xuezheng looked at the three, his expression stern: “What are you three doing here today?”
“The Chairman asked when you’re returning.” Chou Boqing lowered his head, still very respectful towards Chou Xuezheng.
He meant the Northern City Chairman.
“I’m staying at the Xiangcheng Calligraphers Association,” Chou Xuezheng looked at them calmly, his gaze moving from Chou Boqing to Ren Wanxuan: “You two aren’t planning to return?”
Ren Wanxuan didn’t dare look at Chou Xuezheng’s face, just turned her head.
Chou Boqing was also very quiet – no one wanted to be trapped in Xiangcheng. “Grandfather, I still need to study for my doctorate at Northern City University.” What could he do in Xiangcheng?
“Forget it,” Chou Xuezheng was just asking casually; if they really returned it was unclear who would be upset. Seeing them like this, he said: “You three go back then, no need to give me New Year’s greetings this year.”
He didn’t mention the Xiangcheng Calligraphers Association again, making Ren Wanxuan and Chou Boqing both sigh in relief.
** The next day. It was Bai Lian’s first New Year in this world.
At the Xiangcheng city tower, still taking bus route 12.
The road by the water wheel had been repaired and widened by three meters. Bai Lian walked all the way to the city wall, to the same spot as last time.
She took out five incense sticks from her pocket and placed them, then separately placed one more on the other side.
This was for the “Bai Lian” who disappeared in the lake.
Bai Lian lit all six incense sticks, then took out some paper money, watching it burn completely. She sat to the side until all six incense sticks had burned out before patting her sleeves and getting up.
When she returned to Xinan Complex, it was just past ten. Ji Heng and Ji Shaojun told her to focus on her homework.
Previously when Bai Lian wasn’t doing well in their eyes, the Ji family never let anyone bother her with trivial matters. Now knowing she might get into Jiangjing University, even Shen Qing was afraid his cooking sounds would disturb her.
Bai Lian hadn’t properly celebrated New Year for two years.
This year, because of the Ji family, she had a different experience.
On New Year’s Eve, she sat in the living room watching TV with Ji Heng and others, holding three red envelopes.
There were lots of greeting messages on her phone. Opening it to see “99+” unread messages, she suddenly realized—
In just a few months, she had gotten to know so many people.
Most were classmates from Class 15. She replied to each one.
Finally, she scrolled to Jiang Fuli’s page, still showing his previous message – a picture.
He was spending the year with Jiang He, Ming Dongheng, and Chi Yundai, along with two people from the lab.
Bai Lian sent him a picture of her red envelopes.
Near midnight, Ji Heng couldn’t stay up and went to bed.
The sounds of fireworks and firecrackers were constant in the complex. After setting off fireworks, Ji Shaojun came up to watch them with Shen Qing from the balcony. Bai Lian returned to her room and received another batch of precisely timed messages.
She had just opened WeChat.
A new message popped up— [Downstairs]
The room Shen Qing prepared for Bai Lian had windows. She looked down, but smoke filled the air below.
Xiangcheng hadn’t banned fireworks yet. So many were being set off that it looked like a fairyland – she couldn’t see anything.
Downstairs.
When Bai Lian reached the first floor, Jiang Fuli was standing on the left side of the road, his figure tall and slender. He wore a white shirt, his phoenix eyes slightly narrowed, his posture casual.
The white sleeves were loosely rolled up twice, his entire demeanor giving off a “keep your distance” coldness that still made people hesitant to approach.
He was playing with a silver lighter in his hand.
His distinct knuckles pressed the metal switch, blue flames rising then disappearing.
“Come down?” Seeming to sense Bai Lian approaching, he turned his head and handed her the lighter, “Let’s set off fireworks.”
The buildings in Xinan Complex were well-spaced. Jiang Fuli placed the fireworks in the middle of the road.
Bai Lian took the lighter, crouched down to light the fireworks, “Where’s Jiang He?”
“Asleep.” Jiang Fuli had specifically waited for him to fall asleep before coming out.
Bai Lian gave him a suspicious look, then retreated to his side, looking up at the fireworks.
The fireworks were quiet for a second.
Then in the next second, they shot up high like a tree of silver flowers suddenly bursting open, like multicolored parachutes slowly falling from the sky. Before they completely disappeared, another three shooting stars rose up, fully exploding in the sky – red, orange, and yellow colors like three blooming roses.
“Holy shit, look—”
Many people opened their windows.
Some held up phones to record.
Bai Lian quietly watched the fireworks. The whole process lasted about five minutes. Finally, four fireworks exploded in the sky, slowly forming four characters—
[Happy New Year]
As Bai Lian watched these characters, something cool was placed in her right palm. “Ha…ppy New Year.”
A soft voice by her ear. She looked down to see a red tourmaline, crystal clear in her snow-white palm, stunning.
“This,” Jiang Fuli lowered his gaze, raising his hand to elegantly point at the red tourmaline in her palm, with fireworks blazing behind him, “can be threaded onto your ribbon.”
Bai Lian looked at the red tourmaline, feeling it looked familiar.
She never forgot anything she saw – this seemed to be the jewelry the Ren family wanted to bid on during their first visit to the auction house.
“Wait,” Bai Lian gripped the red tourmaline and looked at Jiang Fuli, squinting: “How much did you spend on tonight’s fireworks?”
Jiang Fuli: “…”
This wasn’t going according to his script.
If he said he spent a million, would Bai Lian ignore him for three days?
“Don’t know,” Jiang Fuli spoke casually, “Jiang Xiju sent them over.”
Far away in Jiangjing, Jiang Xiju, who was punctually offering incense at the ancestral hall at midnight, sneezed violently. He quickly knelt down – did the ancestors not like the incense he had carefully selected?
** First day of the New Year.
Bai Lian returned to Qingshui Street with Ji Heng.
They stopped to greet familiar faces, and Bai Lian’s harvest was abundant – both pockets were filled with candies and snacks.
“Happy New Year…” Ji Heng looked up at the neighbor on the left.
The person saw him and turned away.
Ji Heng stood there holding his pipe, stunned: “…?”
The elderly neighbor muttered: “It’s the New Year, don’t think about playing chess with me.”
Bai Lian didn’t know what Ji Heng had done to the neighbors before leaving.
Hearing the words “playing chess,” Ji Heng somewhat sheepishly returned to the courtyard, not daring to speak more.
Third day of the New Year.
Bai Lian was explaining word meanings to Ji Heng in the courtyard when she received a call from the Xiangcheng No.1 High School principal.
“It’s Northern City…” the Xiangcheng principal looked at the two people in his office, lowering his voice, “People from Northern City have come to our school, they’re in the office now. Do you have time to come over?”
“Northern City No.1?” Bai Lian made a pause gesture – hadn’t Lu Lingxi told them?
Ji Heng immediately got up with his pipe and hurriedly brought out his embroidery frame.
After Bai Lian finished the phone call, she turned to see Ji Heng seriously embroidering: “…”
“Grandfather, I’m going to school for a bit.” She unhurriedly put on her bluetooth earphones, saying goodbye to Ji Heng.
Ji Heng lifted his head slightly, “Mm.”
After Bai Lian left, he muttered: “Quantu, Quantum entanglement…”
“Q, U, A…” What was A again?
Ji Heng expressionlessly put down his needle.
** Xiangcheng No.1 High School. Conference room.
The principal respectfully poured tea for the two distinguished guests – the principals of Xiangcheng No.1 and Northern City No.1 were not of the same rank.
The Northern City principal sat formally, holding but not drinking his tea, just looking at the Xiangcheng principal, “Where is that student?”
Schools competed with each other. Last year when Bai Shaoke became Northern City’s top scorer and went to Jiangjing, Jiangjing directly allocated ten APP spots to Northern City No.1.
This year’s college entrance exam had revealed a student at Xiangcheng No.1 who might compete with Song Min.
Regardless of who became the top scorer, Northern City No.1 couldn’t let them stay at another school.
Of course, they didn’t think Xiangcheng No.1 could replace Northern City.
“Principal Li, don’t worry, she’ll be here soon.” The Xiangcheng principal refilled Principal Li’s tea, checking the time and estimating Bai Lian’s arrival. “I’ll go downstairs to meet her.”
Bai Lian had never been to the conference room, and he wanted to persuade her to think carefully on the way.
After he left.
Principal Li discussed quietly with Northern City No.1’s international class teacher, “We must get him to come to our school no matter what.”
They both assumed the top scorer was male.
Mainly due to preconceptions – except for Bai Shaoqi, they had never seen a female student in the top ten for science.
“100,000 yuan scholarship, if they can become top scorer, directly 800,000 yuan study fund, plus tutoring from Jiangjing teachers,” the international class teacher looked at the school environment, tapping the table, “He definitely won’t refuse.”
Northern City came prepared this time with their sincerity.
The principal and international class teacher personally came to invite, just to persuade him.
Who wouldn’t want to escape from Xiangcheng? With only an old train station, and many roads still under construction today – both visitors were quite exhausted.
Principal Li also felt the student wouldn’t refuse. Even after so long, he still wanted to marvel, “150 points in math, what kind of genius could achieve this?”
Even in IMO competitions, they hadn’t seen such talent.
“Like a bolt from the blue.” The international class teacher narrowed his eyes, gaze fixed unblinkingly on the conference room door. This person’s talent exceeded even Song Min’s, only slightly behind in comprehensive science. With better exam mentality, they might well compete with Song Min again for Northern City’s top spot.
Now they dared to imagine, but only that this person might compete with Song Min for Northern City’s top spot.
Within five minutes, voices could be heard outside.
Both unconsciously adjusted their clothes.
The door creaked open.
The Xiangcheng principal brought in a girl wearing a blue coat. Her right hand held rolled-up A4 papers, casually twirling them.
The Xiangcheng principal proudly introduced her to the two visitors: “Principal Li, this is our school’s top scorer, student Bai Lian.”
Bai Lian’s progress had been watched by all the teachers in her grade.
From her first 450 to now 692.
At the school these past two years, Principal Li only knew Bai Shaoke.
The following year he only remembered Song Min and Bai Shaoqi. As for “Bai Lian,” he might have heard the name, but why would he specifically remember such a student?
Now he was just surprised that the one who scored one point higher than Song Min was actually a female student?
Beside Principal Li, the international class teacher froze when he saw Bai Lian’s face. Bai Lian had been in the international class, and he had been very displeased when first seeing her name back then.
Seeing Bai Lian, he remembered who she was.
He knocked over his teacup, “You… Bai Lian? The Bai Lian who scored 150 in math and 692 total?”
He felt dazed – was this the same Bai Lian he had banished from the international class to the liberal arts class?
Even now he didn’t know that Bai Lian’s most terrifying subject wasn’t math, but physics that even Dean Ma was impressed by.
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