The ancestral hall door was closed.
The tightness in the housekeeper’s throat finally loosened.
He looked at Bailian, his gaze was also very complex.
Xiangcheng, the most remote place in the North, was also the city furthest from Jiangjing.
Filthy and chaotic, mixed types, the most degenerate place nationwide, it didn’t even have a bullet train station.
Bailian was pensively looking at the Bai family ancestral tablet, which only had 200 years of history.
She asked the housekeeper with mixed emotions: “Does the Baiyi Business Group still exist?”
Baiyi Business Group was one of the top ten famous traditional songs. It was also Jiangjing University’s school song. Any little elementary schooler would know it. The housekeeper thought she was making small talk, so he said: “Young miss, why take things to such extremes? When a person is born, whatever life has destined for them, that’s what they’ll get. So you see, some who are born in adversity can still turn things around. And some, even given the best conditions, can only squander what they have…”
Eldest Young Master has not had a good living environment since childhood, yet tested first place in the city exams and went to Jiangjing University. He also has an advisor professor, backed by Jiangjing families. The Bai family’s status in North City has become more and more solid. Everyone knew Eldest Young Master was a cut above.
Bai Qiming was waiting for the Bai brother and sister to bring honor to their ancestors, be admitted into Jiangjing University. Best case their names would be recorded in the family and city records.
Whereas Bailian…
“What isn’t meant to be yours will never be yours to begin with. And Second Young Miss achieved everything through her own efforts.” After speaking a while, the housekeeper felt it wasn’t worth wasting time with her and turned to leave.
He had to deliver the apprenticeship letter to Second Young Miss right away.
The housekeeper had just turned when he heard Bailian’s soft voice: “Where are you taking my belongings?”
The housekeeper froze blankly, “I…”
Before he could finish speaking, suddenly—
Bailian reached out and grabbed his collar. Her slender fair fingers applied some strength.
There was a distinct choking sensation around his neck. The housekeeper’s posture involuntarily lowered. It was like his heart was seized tight. He was forced to lift his head and meet her dark eyes!
He faintly recalled Bailian’s mother was Ji Mulan whose beauty had once astounded all of North City.
It seemed everyone, including him, felt Bailian had not inherited Bai Qiming and Ji Mulan’s good traits.
Yet now he was a little uncertain.
Bailian admired for a bit before suddenly smiling again. She tightened her grip and slowly asked: “Do you know what happened to the last person who provoked me?”
The housekeeper’s face flushed red from asphyxiation.
She released the hand choking his neck. Unhurriedly she neatened his collar, her voice gentle and soft: “See, I was only joking. What are you afraid of?”
Her actions could be considered gentle.
Yet the housekeeper was creeped out inside. Warning bells screeched madly in his mind!!
He covered his neck coughing continuously.
When he looked at Bailian again, his gaze was full of fear.
Bailian pushed the person away again. Her smile vanished abruptly.
Like boiling water suddenly turning to ice.
She calmly, unhurriedly used two fingers to lazily pick up the apprenticeship letter in his hand. Indifferently she pretended to blow away nonexistent dust on the name sticker, saying in an inscrutable tone: “Make arrangements. I’m going to Xiangcheng.”
**
Two days later, Xiangcheng.
The most remote border city domestically. Even the three-years poverty alleviation program didn’t reach here.
There was no developed transportation here. Even slightly tall buildings were rarely seen.
Bailian stood below the city wall. She lifted her hoodie hat, looking up.
The centuries old city wall’s bricks and stones had collapsed. Moss grew thickly in the shade. Rows of lackadaisical banyan trees lined the roadside. Light and shadow leaked through the gaps, dancing gently.
She carried a black backpack in one hand. At her feet were five sticks of incense, smoke curling up towards the blue sky.
Not far away a little boy squatted on the ground staring at the big waterwheel. He glanced at her twice. Seeing Bailian didn’t leave, he continued staring at the water wheel.
Her phone ringing jolted Bailian awake.
“Bailian, aren’t you here yet?” It was the original host’s auntie in Xiangcheng. Her voice could be heard treading cautiously.
Bailian grabbed her backpack swinging it onto her back, “Almost there.”
She indistinctly saw a water droplet splash down and disappear into the dirt.
Only after the five incense sticks had burned out did she tug her hoodie hat on. Then headed towards the station.
There was a moat outside Xiangcheng. It split into branches flowing into the city. Erected above the water within the city gates was a very large wooden windmill. As the water flowed, the windmill spun round slowly.
The little boy noticed her leave from the corner of his eyes. He finally shifted his steps, following her to the bus stop.
Bailian stood in the shade beneath the tree. Lowering her eyes to the little buddy not even up to her waist. Her slender fingertips leaned against her phone as she casually tapped.
Ever since taking the bus with her from the train station, this kid had followed her the entire time.
His eyes were pitch black and bright. Crew cut hair. Wearing a white dress shirt and a blue knitted vest. Black leather shoes. Clean and tidy.
Elaborate yet beautiful.
Everywhere emitted a sense of discordance with this broken down town.
“Why are you following me?”
The child simply lowered his head. Repeatedly unbuttoning then buttoning back his cuffs. Staring at the buttons he said: “Big brother gave me half a banana this morning. Half a banana, half a…”
There were no seats at this shabby bus stop. The roads did not have many vehicles, just a few passing by occasionally.
Bailian leaned lazily against the sign post, drowsily dozing off: “Don’t understand.”
“Oh. I’m waiting for my parents to come get me to take me to their world,” he stared at the red ribbon dangling from Bailian’s left hand again, “My brother knows where I am. He’s just too lazy bother with me.”
“I see,” Bailian tilted her head. Suddenly she stared at him for a bit before flicking his forehead, “Then your brother’s pretty cool.”
“Yeah.” The kid’s gaze shifted to a black car slowly coming from across the street.
Silently rebelling against her last sentence.
In the driver’s seat, the crew cut driver rested one hand on the steering wheel. Even on the harmless street, he remained vigilant.
Only after seeing the child across the street did he relax, pressing the Bluetooth headset on his ear, “Everyone retreat. Turn off infrared, don’t aim at ordinary crowds.”
In the backseat sat only one young man. Placed before him was an unlabeled laptop. His white dress shirt was neatly buttoned to the very top. Light colored eyes, pale complexion.
His fingertips casually slid across the computer screen, opening a file.
The documents in the email showed intricate number formulas.
He skimmed once. Thick lashes lowered slightly. With one hand he typed comments—
?Stop sending me junk mail?
Jiang Fuli randomly pressed two keys. A voice dialog box popped up from the bottom left corner of the computer. It was a man in a lab coat. He complained: “I’ll say, Young Master Jiang, what on earth did you do to those Researcher Country researchers?”
“Speak.” Jiang Fuli was extremely taciturn.
“F**k,” the man seemed to recall something amusing as he laughed uncontrollably, “Today they collectively reported you to Mensa International. You know I can’t reach Mensa’s threshold. I heard from Teacher, would this affect you?”
Mensa International. The world’s top intelligence organization.
Requirements to join were extremely harsh. Merely 100 global members.
Most countries didn’t even have one person who met the criteria.
Only three from the country passed assessments.
Jiang Fuli’s fingertips lazily tapped the table. His biting assessment: “Then I wish them success.”
The man on the other side let out a short laugh, “OK, I got it.”
Jiang Fuli turned off the computer screen. His gaze lazily turned outside. Light colored phoenix eyes carried innate aloofness.
The one-way glass clearly showed the outside.
The girl wore a white hoodie, bag casually hanging from her right shoulder.
Her left hand pressed against the little boy’s forehead.
Due to her actions, the red ribbon tied around her wrist was revealed. Brilliant red, about a centimeter wide. Loosely wrapped twice around the slender, fair wrist. The ribbon was dazzling red, swaying gently in the wind.
Sensing something, she casually glanced over.
A fleeting glimpse.
Jiang Fuli’s fingertips stopped on the laptop’s black cover.
The bus lumbered abruptly into the disjointed scene.
The child watched the trailing bus exhaust floating unsteadily. He really wanted to follow Bailian onto the bus but didn’t dare.
So he stood rooted in place.
The car across wasn’t in a hurry either. Just stopped there leisurely.
He repeatedly unbuttoned the buttons he had just buttoned, fidgeting close to ten minutes before finally stepping towards the other side. The rear door automatically opened for him to crawl up with hands and feet.
“Young Master Jiang He.” The crew cut driver nodded upon seeing the back.
After a while the little boy finally mumbled an “Oh”, slowly responding, “Uncle Ming.”
**
At the same time, North City Bai house.
Family conference room.
The meeting was nearing its end.
Bai Shaoqi walked in holding test papers.
An elder’s eyes lit up instantly. He immediately said: “Shaoqi’s home from school. Come in, we just finished meeting.”
Everyone else also stood to greet Bai Shaoqi.
“Senior year of high school?” The elder spoke to Bai Qiming again, “Qiming, our Bai clan fully supports you. Young Shaoqi can ask for anything she needs.”
Their Bai clan already had 200 years of history. But in these 200 years there was only one successful candidate in the imperial exam from the first generation on the clan registry. That was also where their ancestral tablets started, from this successful candidate of the imperial exam.
Ever since then, no other celebrity appeared in the Bai clan.
Until Bai Shaoke showed up!
“Thank you, grand elder. Yes, senior year,” Bai Qiming laughed then shook his head, “But competition is too intense for them this year.”
Just from the names heard that were contending for top scholar, plus Song Ming, already totaled ten people.
“How come I don’t see Bailian?” The clan’s grand elder looked towards the open great hall doors. Not seeing Bailian, he felt puzzled.
Speaking of which pot shouldn’t be brought up.
Bai Qiming instantly lost his good mood. The smile at his lips faded.
The conference room also quieted. No one else dared to speak.
“Let’s go, grand elder.” Now with Bai Shaoke, Bai Qiming was rising swiftly with success. Naturally the rest of the clan wouldn’t upset him over trivial matters. It was perfect timing since the meeting ended too. They hurriedly pulled grand elder out.
Only after leaving the conference room did someone explain to grand elder, “Bailian cheated on an exam at First High School. She might get expelled.”
Capital City First High School was one of ten top schools domestically. It wasn’t easy getting admitted for schooling. The Bai family spent great efforts getting Bailian in. Who knew she’d stir up this scandal in the end.
“I thought a talent like Ji Mulan, her offspring wouldn’t turn out too badly,” upon hearing this grand elder’s face also showed repulsion and shame. He sighed, “Oh well. A humble, lowly family still can’t present themselves properly in public after all.”
Inside the conference room.
“Very good scores,” Bai Qiming took Bai Shaoqi’s test papers. He wasn’t surprised to see full marks. After signing, he returned them to Bai Shaoqi, “Don’t take your sister to heart.”
“I know.” Bai Shaoqi nodded lightly.
She never viewed Bailian as a rival to begin with. What was there to take offense at.
Bai Qiming comforted his daughter: “Although competition is intense for your year, if you can pass Principal Jian’s interview and gain her tutelage and recommendation, it’s not impossible for you to test into Jiangjing.”
“I will work hard.”
She had an arrogant disposition. Bai Shaoqi was very ambitious. She always believed she wouldn’t be stuck in place yearning after others like Bailian.
Bai Qiming naturally believed her. He never had to worry over these two siblings since they were young. Their upbringing had been good.
He told Bai Shaoqi to go back and study.
After she left, the housekeeper came in to pour tea for Bai Qiming.
Bai Qiming picked up the teacup and took a sip. Suddenly remembering Bailian, his expression chilled: “What about her? Hasn’t she admitted her wrongs yet?”
The housekeeper knew “she” referred to Bailian.
He didn’t dare to speak.
Bai Qiming set down his teacup and picked up the intercom on the table. He coldly said into the receiver: “Tell Bailian to come see me in the conference room.”
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