“Hello, I’m Ren Wanxuan’s grandfather.”
Ren Qian spoke first. He stood not far away, squinting as he sized up Bailian. His dignified aura was quite oppressive.
“Bailian.” Bailian nodded at him in greeting, her tone even.
Ren Qian quietly observed her – the school uniform jacket was the same as the other students, and the hairpin in her hair was handmade.
From head to toe, even her shoes were plain and ordinary. Everything about her resonated with the shabby, impoverished Qingshui Street.
Yet she stood there in the dark night, with the long flight of steps behind her and just a single streetlamp that wasn’t even very bright. When she tranquilly turned to look at him, it was as if she was a mandala growing on a pitch black cliff.
Ren Qian returned to his senses. Full of apology, he said, “Wanxuan is spoiled by us. I’m very sorry about what happened today. She didn’t expect you would also have an White Tiger Auction House invitation. I’m hosting a banquet tonight and hope you can forgive my granddaughter.”
“No need,” Bailian smiled faintly. Under the lamplight her entire being seemed lazy and somewhat indifferent. “I accidentally helped someone and he gave me the invitation. I already sold it this afternoon.”
This matched up then. Being so close to two border regions, it wasn’t odd to run into certain people.
The secretary pondered to himself, and specially brought up Wanhe Tower. “Student Bai, our boss reserved seats at Wanhe Tower…”
Wanhe Tower was Xiangcheng’s most famous high-end private dining venue. Even a single dish cost five digits and reservations were required.
Ordinary people couldn’t even step through the doors.
“I have plans,” Bailian cut him off. “I’ll get going first.”
The secretary blankly stood in place, watching as Bailian left.
“Sir, does she not read the news or something?” The secretary turned to Ren Qian, unable to help wondering.
Anyone who took even a casual look at current events should know who Ren Qian was, right?
“There’s an extraordinary air about this girl,” Ren Qian mused. Then he instructed, “Send a nice gift to the Ji family tomorrow.”
He was extending goodwill?
The secretary was surprised, but also understood how to handle the Ji family – even if Bailian obtained the invitation by coincidence, what if she had further ties with that person in the future?
Ren Qian returned to the car. The girl in the backseat still had her head lowered looking at her phone, not raising it at all.
He helplessly said, “Wanxuan, this Bailian is different from what I imagined. She has spirit. You should have gone down to apologize to her.”
“How would I know she had one too? You’re speaking up for her?” Ren Wanxuan finally lifted her head.
Pressing her lips together as she looked at Ren Qian, she suddenly yanked the car door open and strode out.
Bang!
The car door slammed loudly shut.
“Sir?” From the driver’s seat, the secretary eyed the back, a questioning look in his eyes.
After a long silence, Ren Qian said, “Have someone tail her.”
Ren Wanxuan had been clever since she was little, even skipping two grades at school. Whether in class or at home, she was the youngest and most doted on, never suffering any grievances before. Today was the first time Ren Qian had to discipline her.
**
At the training class, after Bailian left, the head teacher only recalled the two answer sheets she turned in earlier. He handed them to Chen Zheng.
Chen Zheng was seriously analyzing today’s question when the teacher set the papers down. Glancing casually, thinking they were more practice questions, he did a double take upon seeing these were answer keys instead.
Eyes narrowing slightly, today’s question didn’t involve magnetic fields. Taking the sheets, he looked them over for a bit before pulling out his Problem Collection notebook for physics.
As expected.
It was an alternative solution for the question they had the other day!
The other training class students had already left, only Ning Xiao and Chen Zheng still sat in their original seats.
Reluctantly putting away the extra answer, Chen Zheng got up to find the head teacher from Class 8.
Seeing him approach this way, the Class 8 head teacher set his thermos down, surprised. “What’s the matter?”
“This answer sheet,” Chen Zheng unfolded the paper to show the teacher. “Where did you get it from?”
The Class 8 teacher looked at Chen Zheng without answering immediately.
He only asked, “What do you make of the new student?”
If Chen Zheng had spoken up in a timely manner at noon today, things might not have escalated with Student Ren Wanxuan.
In the entire school, only Chen Zheng could contend with Ren Wanxuan.
At the mention of Bailian, Chen Zheng hesitated briefly. He remembered why Bailian entered this training class in the first place, as well as that “85 marks”. And it was precisely because of knowing these details that at noon today, he didn’t step in to stop things.
Clearly, his understanding was still one-sided.
“I’m not familiar with her, so I won’t judge,” he replied.
“I plan to organize a study group to help each other tomorrow. Will you take in the new student?” the Class 8 teacher asked.
Chen Zheng paused slightly before answering without much further thought, “I’ll probably form a group with Ren Wanxuan.”
He had known Ren Wanxuan since they were little and paired up together since they were small. What’s more, Ren Wanxuan really was quite smart, effortless to pair up with.
Right now she had a conflict with Bailian.
Chen Zheng’s stance was an obvious refusal.
“I showed this solution to my teacher before,” the Class 8 head teacher nodded without pushing further. “It’s very similar to a Peking University Academy response. If there are more like this in the future, I’ll ask her opinion on a case by case basis and do my best to pass them to you all.”
Chen Zheng was taken aback, but ultimately nodded and politely bid the teacher goodbye.
**
Ming Dongheng still accompanied Jiang He at the bubble tea shop, only leaving after Bailian got out of school each day.
Just like always.
Only today when bidding Bailian farewell, she gave him an additional glance.
Well now. Ming Dongheng was tall and broad. His gaze was sharp when looking at others but his expression was quite blank.
He didn’t seem very bright with that dumb look on his face. Strangely enough, he truly resembled an insect in human form.
Where did that come from?
After going outside, Ming Dongheng couldn’t help rubbing his head in confusion, not understanding the meaning behind Bailian’s look at him.
Bailian sat down next to Jiang He and slowly went over today’s physics questions, finding Jiang Furong’s notebook quite handy. At least studying didn’t feel like such drudgery today.
That was physics for you – once you knew the formulas and theorems, a static diagram could automatically play out in your mind.
When Jiang Furong arrived, Bailian happened to be reciting English vocabulary words.
“Still on electromagnetism today?” Jiang Furong instantly spotted the question sheet she left on the table with a single glance.
Today’s questions were normal but not optimized.
Bailian nodded, closing her English vocabulary app. “Mm.”
Jiang Furong set his overcoat aside and picked up her homework, lazily flipping through because he could tell the answers right away. “I’ll write you another question.”
“Okay.”
Jiang Furong started neatly writing a series of beautiful numbers. His cool slender fingers sketched out a field diagram as orderly as something printed.
When he concentrated, that detached sensation he exuded lessened considerably. Buttoned all the way up in a white shirt today, the sight was rather peaceful.
Bailian quietly watched him for a while before shockingly saying, “Teacher Jiang, do you think I look like an insect?”
Jiang Furong: “…”
He set the pen down, suddenly feeling an urge to sigh.
Handing the question he finished to Bailian, he also explained today’s assigned problems on electromagnetism again.
Dinner for him and Jiang He was already laid out. As he picked up his chopsticks, he threw another look Bailian’s way.
The seats in this corner of the bubble tea shop had all been switched out to black sofas. She was sunk into the dark cushions, uniform jacket open to reveal a white t-shirt underneath. Head tilted to the side, she lazily reclined there, her complexion fair under the light.
Not resembling an insect actually. As he started unhurriedly eating, Jiang Furong pondered to himself.
Like a cat.
**
When Bailian headed back, Mao Kun was waiting for her at the street entrance.
She passed the invitation to Mao Kun.
“Who was that just now?” The person picking her up today was Ji Shaorong. He didn’t wait at the mouth of the alley and had walked a bit farther out instead.
Happening to spot Mao Kun.
“Oh him?” Bailian properly situated her backpack. Her eyes didn’t even blink. “A relative of the convenience store owner. I had something arrive that he came to deliver.”
Having grown up here when he was little, Ji Shaorong naturally knew the owner of that small shop.
It was just that recently at the Ren house, he overheard some news regarding Qingshui Street. “I heard that shop owner is dangerous, not so simple. Be careful.”
Bailian was surprised. “Is that so?”
But she felt the owner was perfectly nice!
Ji Shaorong illuminated their path with a flashlight and the two didn’t speak further.
After quite a while, Ji Shaorong was the one to break the silence. “I’m sorry Wanxuan caused so much trouble for you.”
“It’s fine,” Bailian lazily answered as she recited vocabulary words. “I’m quite tolerant towards the people of Xiangcheng.”
Ji Shaorong didn’t fully grasp Bailian’s meaning, but he continued, “I thought you two could become friends.”
Bailian was astonished. “That’s not very likely.”
“I know,” Ji Shaorong patted Bailian’s shoulder. He didn’t bring up Ren Wanxuan again. “Your grandfather’s mental state has been much better recently. Thank you.”
After walking a few steps, they saw Ji Heng waiting at the entrance to the courtyard.
Seeing Ji Heng, Bailian’s eyes lit up. “Grandfather.”
Ji Heng took one look at her gaze—
Bailian blinked. “Do you still remember the invariance of the speed of light principle, Grandfather?”
Ji Heng rather felt like why did he come out here to wait for them.
He turned around to head back inside the yard, intending to continue woodwork.
“Then I’ll explain it again tomorrow morning,” Bailian spoke up on her own.
Ji Heng: “No matter how fast I move towards it, the speed of light remains a constant 300,000 kilometers. Even if I reached light speed traveling at 300,000 kilometers, the speed of light would still be 300,000 kilometers relative to me.”
Beside him listening in, Ji Shaorong: “…”
…So what was the little stool for?
Wasn’t he worried someone would wake up earlier and earlier?
**
It was Friday today.
The last afternoon class was Chinese. Standing at the lectern, Lu Lingxi said, “There’s a monthly exam next weekend. Everyone needs to buck up. And as you all know, school anniversary celebrations are approaching. The school sponsor will be coming to observe. The school mandated each class to put on at least one performance for the cultural gala. Class officers, go back and decide what our class will perform.”
With the weekend right around the corner, everyone was rather spirited.
After school, Bailian still had training class.
The Class 8 head teacher collected yesterday’s homework and started today’s video lecture.
When it finished playing without handing out new material, he smiled and stood in front. “To facilitate learning, I’ve decided to organize study groups with 3-4 students per group. You’re free to form your own groups.”
At his words, all eyes in the training class went straight to Chen Zheng, Ren Wanxuan, and Ning Xiao.
“Zheng-ge, we’re one group?” Ren Wanxuan looked to Chen Zheng at her side.
“Naturally,” Chen Zheng nodded.
In the whole school, he only acknowledged Ren Wanxuan and Ning Xiao’s level of ability. He didn’t take the other students to heart.
With those two paired up, how could it not be a match of top elites?
In a flash, all the training class students swarmed over towards Ren Wanxuan and Chen Zheng’s area.
Forget grades. Based on background alone, they naturally had to fight over joining these two’s group!
“I’m pairing up with Zheng-ge,” Ren Wanxuan noticed Bailian didn’t have anyone approach her yet from the corner of her eyes. Only then did she look at the students surrounding her and Chen Zheng. Tilting her head, “Why don’t you all draw lots? We won’t choose and leave it purely up to luck.”
Shi Yutong still wasn’t present today, leaving two open spots in Ren Wanxuan’s group.
It quickly elicited cries of delight from the two selected by fortune.
Seeing no more chance, the rest went to find other teammates.
Even the taciturn Ning Xiao was pestered a few times, but gave no response.
Only one person was completely ignored – Bailian. Sure, Bailian was good-looking, however…
Ren Wanxuan revealed her marks that very first day, composite science score of 85. Unknown why she was even admitted. Naturally, no one wanted to team up with someone like that. Forming study groups was for the sake of raising grades.
In the end, only four students remained ungrouped in class.
“Then Ning Xiao, Bailian, Tang Ming, and Zhu Jiaran will automatically form one group,” the Class 8 teacher settled it.
Only then did he hand out today’s questions.
Zhu Jiaran’s expression was distressed.
With the study groups assigned, everyone swiftly adjusted to sit with their groups.
Bailian and Ning Xiao were already seated one in front of the other, so Tang Ming and Zhu Jiaran came over to join them.
In a sneaky move, Tang Ming successfully added Bailian on WeChat. “Classmate Bailian, feel free to come to me if you have any problems in the future.”
Slumped over the table, Zhu Jiaran watched the silent Ning Xiao who hadn’t uttered a single word and was head down working on assignments. In his uniform, Ning Xiao only briefly glanced up when they first sat down, a fleeting look from beneath long bangs.
Gloomy enough to chill your bones when he stared at people. Zhu Jiaran involuntarily shivered.
Then looking at Bailian – she casually leaned against the table, languidly propping her chin in a palm. A long strand of hair draped at her side, spilling onto the fair skin of a wrist.
After that, she casually set the practice questions off to the side.
What assistance? This was poverty alleviation aimed at Bailian ba. Zhu Jiaran drooped dejectedly.
Even if they couldn’t make it into Ren Wanxuan and Chen Zheng’s group, getting sorted into any other group in Class 8 would’ve been fine!
Why did it have to be this group that was clearly hopeless from the very start?
Glancing Bailian’s way, Tang Ming knew Zhu Jiaran through a competition they did together in the past. “Jiaran, if you have any problems in the future we can discuss them. Should we add Bailian and Ning Xiao on WeChat too?”
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