Mao Kun didn’t pay attention to these things. When Assistant Jian spoke, he just bit his cigarette and glanced at him, not commenting. If you talked about boxing champions, he might chat about that.
Lu Xiaohan knew about Bai Shaoqi, a famous wealthy second generation online who played guzheng very well. She admired Bai Shaoqi, but when Assistant Jian mentioned taking on a last disciple…
Lu Xiaohan looked at Assistant Jian with some doubt.
Last time when Dean Jian played erhu, she had mentioned Bai Shaoqi to him, how come he hadn’t mentioned this?
“Great Un… Great Uncle wants to take on a last disciple?” Jian Zhe had spent two days with Jian Zhongyou but hadn’t heard about this.
“Yes.” Assistant Jian saw these people’s reactions and didn’t want to say more, so he urged Jian Rong, “Young Master Jian Rong, we need to leave.”
No point continuing an unproductive conversation.
After Jian Rong and the other left.
Lu Xiaohan was still asking Jian Zhe about this matter. Jian Zhe scratched his head, smiling sheepishly, “Well, I don’t know my cousin’s friends either.”
“But Sister Lian,” Lu Xiaohan spoke quietly to Bai Lian, “I think your guzheng playing is also very good, just not as skilled as Bai Shaoqi. I’ve been making short videos about face-changing and traditional Chinese music lately…”
Coincidentally, Lu Xiaohan’s recent short videos had been researching erhu, pipa, and guzheng. Bai Lian’s previous “Bai Yi Xing” had plenty of emotion but lacked some proficiency.
This was normal – Bai Shaoqi had studied guzheng for over ten years, while although Bai Lian had also studied for ten years, she hadn’t touched the guzheng for over two years, so naturally she would be rusty.
Technical skills might get rusty, but emotion was her natural response.
Mao Kun’s admiration for Lu Xiaohan shot up.
He thought if it were him repeatedly mentioning someone else’s name in front of Bai Lian, she would probably just beat him up directly.
Looking at the youthful, beautiful ponytail in front, Mao Kun had a sudden thought—
Was it because of the ponytail? He considered the possibility of himself wearing a ponytail.
The group went to eat hotpot. Mao Kun updated Bai Lian about Yang Lin’s situation, “I assigned another brother to play cards downstairs from her building. Her father didn’t come back during New Year.”
“Okay.” Bai Lian estimated the timing.
** Meanwhile.
At Ji Heng’s home, Dean Jian hadn’t expected his video to go viral. Not daring to stay at the Calligraphers Association anymore, he came to Ji Heng’s place to seek refuge.
The director of Jianjing Music Academy called him helplessly, “Do you know how many reporters came to interview us, asking if we took advertising money from Xiangcheng to have you perform on stage…”
“Ah,” Dean Jian was also helpless, “I was just infected by the atmosphere here and went up to play some erhu. I’ll explain myself.”
How could he have known that no one in Xiangcheng would recognize him.
But netizens had recognized him.
He took out his phone, logged into his video account, and posted a message.
v Jian Zhongyou: [I came to Xiangcheng for tourism. If possible, I hope to find a successor as the new guzheng master [picture]]
The picture was of Xiangshan Avenue.
Xiangcheng was already trending recently. Jian Zhongyou was only famous in classical music circles, most ordinary people didn’t know him, but because of Xiangcheng’s current popularity, when people learned that the old man performing on the street was such an important figure, most curious outsiders flooded to Jian Zhongyou’s profile.
His original following of over 10 million had grown to a terrifying 20 million.
Everyone could see his new post.
This not only shocked the classical music circle, but Jian Zhongyou had created a new record.
Suddenly, the number of people wanting to visit Xiangcheng grew exponentially.
Reporters’ calls once again overwhelmed Jianjing Music Academy.
Insiders knew the weight of “new successor master,” while outsiders didn’t know but realized after netizens’ explanations that this was a leader in classical music.
At once, news about “who is the new successor master” exploded everywhere.
** Especially the Jian family members.
Jian Zhonghai received this news immediately. Originally half-believing about Bai Shaoqi, his hands suddenly trembled.
He interrupted his schedule and said to Jian Rong: “I’ll go with you to pick up Bai Shaoqi.”
At this time, Bai Shaoqi had just arrived in Xiangcheng.
The Bai family driver had brought her over, and besides this, Bai Qiming had also assigned her a bodyguard.
As soon as she arrived in Xiangcheng, she received a call from a classmate who had performed with her at Jianjing Music Academy before the New Year. That person’s voice was very excited: “Shaoqi, are you in Xiangcheng now?”
Bai Shaoqi had slept the whole way and didn’t know about Jian Zhongyou’s message, “How do you know?”
“I just know…” the girl suppressed her excitement, “Dean Jian’s new successor master is 80% likely to be you, congratulations…”
After chatting for a few sentences, Bai Shaoqi hung up the phone and saw the video recommendation. She quickly clicked in.
When she saw Jian Zhongyou’s message, she was more shocked than others.
Her childhood experience had been different from others. From a young age, her mother had educated her and Bai Shaoke to endure what others couldn’t, that only by becoming strong themselves could others see them, could others break rules for them.
Obviously, Bai Shaoke had achieved this – the Bai family had even personally invited their brother back for them.
Bai Shaoqi knew she was slightly inferior to her brother.
Until now—
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, but her eyes couldn’t hide her joy. Though not knowing exactly what Jian Zhongyou meant, she knew well netizens’ driving force – public opinion was on her side.
Originally she had opened this video account to build fame and also to follow in Jian Zhongyou’s footsteps. She knew Jian Zhongyou had always been promoting classical music.
Her videos also leaned towards Jian Zhongyou’s style, so netizens had been tagging Jian Zhongyou in every one of her videos from the beginning.
Then, Bai Qiming’s call also came.
Obviously, the Bai family was also very concerned about this.
Today Bai Qiming’s voice was gentler than ever before, “Shaoqi, if you need anything, just tell the family directly. Do you have enough money?”
On the other end of the phone.
The Bai family’s great-uncle watched Bai Qiming and couldn’t help grabbing the phone, “Shaoqi, great-uncle will send you some money right away. Also, have you thought about what to give as a discipleship gift? We’ll prepare it for you now.”
After the call.
The clan’s great-uncle pressed his palms together, saying gently: “Good, good. Qiming, Yueqing really knows how to raise children. Look at these two children, both so excellent. You and Yueqing, you should find a chance to bring Yueqing back.”
Having illegitimate children didn’t sound good, so back then the Bai family had only brought back Bai Shaoke and Bai Shaoqi.
As for their mother, they pretended not to know. Guo Yueqing was also very sensible, saying from the beginning that she didn’t need to enter the Bai family’s door, even willing to put the two children under Ji Mulan’s name.
Ji Mulan didn’t want to take this kind of insult and directly divorced.
The Bai family hadn’t taken care of Guo Yueqing, but now… these two children were each more outstanding than the other.
Bai Shaoke had entered Jianjing University, and now Bai Shaoqi was about to become Dean Jian’s disciple. At this point, as netizens stirred things up, they analyzed Dean Jian’s status—
He was on the same level as the Principal of Jianjing University.
Thinking of this, the smile on Bai Qiming’s face deepened.
The Bai family butler also offered congratulations while pouring tea for the two. As for another Bai family member in Xiangcheng, “Bai Lian,” the entire Bai family could no longer remember her.
** The next day, the eighth day of the New Year.
Xiangcheng First High’s third year students started school first.
Today happened to be Saturday. Bai Lian had gone to see Zhang Shize in prison early and thoughtfully brought him a notebook before going to school. Meeting for the first time in the new year, about half the class had arrived and most were gathered around Wen Qi.
Seeing Bai Lian enter the classroom door.
They all fearlessly started calling out.
“Sister Lian,” Wen Qi had a white towel on his right shoulder and held a cleaning cloth. When Bai Lian entered the classroom door, he very diligently helped clean her desk and chair, “Please have a seat.”
He bowed respectfully and made a “please” gesture.
Bai Lian glanced at him, then dropped her backpack on the desk.
Wen Qi threw the cloth onto an empty back desk and reached out to give Bai Lian a massage, but looking down at her snow-white shoulders, then at his own hands.
“Go copy your homework.” Bai Lian waved her hand, telling Lu Xiaohan to give the holiday homework to Wen Qi.
Because during the holiday Wen Qi kept tagging everyone in the class.
Bai Lian monopolized his homework copying source.
At the start of school, Wen Qi came to “beg forgiveness with thorns.”
“Thank you, both sisters.” Wen Qi tearfully accepted the homework book Lu Xiaohan gave him. He came so early today just to copy homework.
“Didn’t some internet celebrity come to our area recently?” Those who hadn’t finished homework went to copy it, those who had finished gathered to discuss.
“Yeah, you saw that local recommendation too, right? That guzheng piece was pretty good…”
“…”
Lu Xiaohan played a piece of background music from her video for Bai Lian, “This is ‘Gambling on Wine,’ I learned the climax part from Grandpa Jian, he helped me record it.”
She only posted one video every half month, with high quality.
She also didn’t do advertisements or promotions, occasionally livestreaming East City’s lively scenes during New Year without showing her face.
Bai Lian put on headphones and listened for a while, “Very good.”
Lu Xiaohan had only learned from Dean Jian to play this one part. She didn’t have much technique, relying entirely on emotion, but both technique and emotion were important for guzheng. For a beginner, Lu Xiaohan’s emotion was on point and her proficiency was also very high.
Of course, Ning Xiao behind glanced gloomily at Bai Lian.
If it were him and Tang Ming, Bai Lian would probably only give them a “hmph.”
“Really?” Lu Xiaohan shared her feelings with Bai Lian, “I think Bai Shaoqi plays very well, but her ‘Gambling on Wine’ is too soft…”
That’s why she had suddenly thought to learn a section from Dean Jian.
That sense of military valor could only be demonstrated by someone who had truly experienced it.
“Gambling on Wine” was too popular, Bai Shaoqi’s guzheng version had unprecedented popularity, almost forcing up newly released songs by Yan Lu.
Bai Lian hadn’t heard Bai Shaoqi’s guzheng and didn’t comment.
Today’s first class was with Lu Lingxi.
She smiled and greeted everyone, “Everyone came very early today, very good, no one is late…”
As she spoke, her expression paused slightly when she saw the empty seat behind Bai Lian.
“Only 150 days left before I send you to the exam hall, and you’ll enter society,” Lu Lingxi had the cultural activities representative prepare a countdown. She leaned on the desk, her gaze gentle, “I know you’re all good children, but at the start of the new semester, as a teacher, I hope you can stay clear-headed and ensure your own safety first, no matter when or where.”
Everyone obediently nodded.
Lu Lingxi glanced at Bai Lian and saw that she neither spoke nor nodded, just looked at her like this.
Lu Lingxi: “…??”
** Jian Family Mansion.
Bai Shaoqi stood on the second-floor balcony, briefly starting a livestream.
[Miss Shaoqi, are you… in Xiangcheng?]
[Wow, could it be true as rumored, Dean Jian really came to find you?]
“I just arrived, resting for a day.” Bai Shaoqi was very polite.
[That’s a mansion behind you, right? Looks so luxurious]
Bai Shaoqi nodded, “Staying at my brother’s friend’s place.”
[There’s a blogger called ‘One Bowl Per Meal’ who imitated your guzheng version of ‘Gambling on Wine,’ she played it terribly]
The guzheng version of this song was first popularized by Bai Shaoqi. Many people big and small imitated her playing, especially after yesterday, because of Dean Jian’s matter, many bloggers were riding her popularity.
Bai Shaoqi was very disgusted with such internet celebrities who only knew how to imitate and ride popularity, “I hope they have something of their own.”
After saying this, she lost interest and closed the livestream.
As a newly popular blogger, Bai Shaoqi would occasionally show her daily life at fans’ request.
Especially these past two days, her fans had grown very quickly, with many people from Jianjing Music Academy following her.
She went downstairs.
Downstairs, Jian Zhonghai smiled as he introduced to Ren Qian, “This is Shaoqi, Jian Rong’s friend’s sister. She was just talking to her fans.”
Ren Qian politely nodded to Bai Shaoqi.
Not paying much attention.
Jian Zhonghai smiled at Ren Qian, “This is our great uncle’s future disciple, her brother was Northern City’s top scholar last year.”
Ren Qian hurriedly stood up to greet Bai Shaoqi.
Everyone in the room was very polite to Bai Shaoqi, except for one person…
Bai Shaoqi looked at the young man sitting on the sofa nearby, who only curiously glanced at her once before looking back down at his phone. She couldn’t help but frown.
She remembered this person seemed to be Jian Rong’s cousin, apparently banished to Xiangcheng.
She ignored Jian Zhe.
“Did great uncle tell you where he is?” Assistant Jian brought tea to Bai Shaoqi, very respectfully.
“No.” Bai Shaoqi sat down and answered.
Jian Rong was young and followed Bai Shaoqi’s account, “What’s going on in your comments section?”
Previously the comments under Bai Shaoqi’s videos were all tagging Jian Zhongyou, now there seemed to be some comments about other bloggers.
Bai Shaoqi didn’t want to mention them, “Just riding the popularity.”
She opened her social media account and posted an update.
Bai Shaoqi: [Beautiful scenery [picture] [Location: Xiangcheng]]
The post included location.
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