Bai Lian had been in Jiangjiang for so long but hadn’t seemed to do anything. Director Chen hadn’t appeared either, reportedly still in Xiangcheng.
They didn’t know the current situation in Xiangcheng. Old Mrs. Xu and the Qi family assumed Director Chen was Bai Lian’s backing, so with his absence, their reverence for her diminished to mere politeness.
Assistant Xu’s intentions were unknown even to Butler Xu. But…
Having been with Xu En for so long, Assistant Xu’s words weren’t unreasonable. Butler Xu said softly, “Madam, the young master and others must have their own support for acting this way. Please don’t worry about it.”
“But…” Old Mrs. Xu sat dazedly on the sofa. She ultimately remained silent.
**
The next day.
Bai Lian stood at Jiangjiang University’s entrance. A few steps away, Lu Xiaohan was frantically photographing the gate. Others around were doing the same.
Bai Lian lazily shielded the sun above her head.
“Done,” Lu Xiaohan had just arrived in Jiangjiang and eagerly came to Jiangjiang University, “Let’s go, let’s enter the school.”
She took out her phone to find the appointment message. Before she could find it, she saw Bai Lian already standing behind the barrier, casually tapping a campus card against her palm, dark eyes watching her as if asking “what are you dawdling for?”
Lu Xiaohan put away her camera and followed her in.
“Where did you get a campus card?” she reached for the card in Bai Lian’s hand, “School hasn’t started, right? Even if you’re a student here, they shouldn’t have issued cards yet?”
Looking down, she saw the name on the card— Jiang Fuli.
Lu Xiaohan: “…” Oh, so it was Brother Jiang’s.
She quietly returned the card to Bai Lian, “Ah… Brother Jiang hasn’t graduated yet?”
Bai Lian led her to the library, “Don’t know.”
Lu Xiaohan: “…” She didn’t dare speak, just followed Bai Lian, filming Jiangjiang University along the way, “Shall we eat at the cafeteria for lunch?”
She wanted to make a video about Jiangjiang University.
“Sure.” Bai Lian took out her phone, sending Xu Wenyao a WeChat message to meet her at Cafeteria Four.
Cafeteria Four served dishes, and was where Lu Xiaohan wanted to film.
**
At noon, Bai Lian took Lu Xiaohan to Cafeteria Four. Lu Xiaohan followed, filming her getting food.
Bai Lian held a large tray, tapping the card against the reader, “Beep—”
Lu Xiaohan quickly filmed. The red balance showed—
999997.00
Lu Xiaohan gasped, moving her camera. Was Bai Lian planning to use this card until her next life?
First time using the cafeteria, Bai Lian: “…”
She looked away, continuing to get food, then got some for Chen Hong and Xu Wenyao too. Then found a spot to wait for them.
The three had agreed on a time; Xu Wenyao and Chen Hong arrived quickly.
Chen Hong greeted Lu Xiaohan, “Hello, junior.”
Lu Xiaohan had just turned off her camera, quickly responding, “Senior, I didn’t get into Jiangjiang University, I’m just here to learn from Sister Lian.”
Xu Wenyao and Lu Xiaohan had met several times before and exchanged greetings.
Chen Hong looked at Lu Xiaohan, seeing her fiddle with her camera, occasionally filming. He thought this was how normal people visiting Jiangjiang University should act, unlike Bai Lian.
Looking at Bai Lian, she was looking down at her phone, methodically pressing keys with one hand, quite forcefully, with a music theory book beside her.
Chen Hong felt she wanted the life of whoever was on the other end of the phone. His gaze fell on the two books beside her, “Junior, you’re studying music theory?”
“Mm,” Bai Lian unhurriedly put down her phone, raising her head leisurely, “Just casual reading.”
“Oh.” Chen Hong nodded.
He was about to say something.
A group appeared at the cafeteria entrance. Chen Hong looked up, immediately excited, “Hey, Old Xu, it’s Qi Shuyun and others!”
He waved to the people at the entrance.
Seeing Chen Hong’s reaction, Lu Xiaohan also turned to look.
Qi Shuyun glanced their way briefly without coming over. A bespectacled young man beside her walked toward Bai Lian’s group.
“Qi Jun,” Chen Hong stood up, smiling, “You’re having lunch with Qi Shuyun and others? Ask her to join us, we can discuss the model issues while we’re at it.”
“Oh right, this is Wenyao’s sister, Bai…”
Qi Jun had a stern expression. He glanced at Chen Hong, interrupting him, “No need to discuss. I’ve decided to leave the team.”
Chen Hong froze, “Now?”
“Yes,” Qi Jun’s gaze swept over Xu Wenyao, “I’m here to notify you to reform the team.”
After speaking, he left without waiting for Chen Hong and Xu Wenyao’s response.
“Is there some misunderstanding?” Chen Hong quickly stood up to follow.
The three were fixed partners, each with their strengths. The Boyuan Base summer camp was about to begin, most people had formed teams, and switching teammates last minute would not only make it hard to find replacements but also cause coordination issues.
Qi Jun ignored Chen Hong, being his usual taciturn self, “No misunderstanding.”
Then he walked straight toward Qi Shuyun’s group.
Qi Shuyun’s team were all Professor Zuo’s intended students, one even from the Boyuan class. In Xu Wenyao’s team, Chen Hong seemed to drag them down.
Qi Jun was proud and had always looked down on Chen Hong. Leaving this team was the best for him, plus… the Qi family could promise him things this team couldn’t.
“Qi Jun…” Chen Hong wanted to say more but stopped upon seeing the looks from Qi Shuyun’s group.
He sat back down irritably, looking at Xu Wenyao, “What’s wrong with Qi Jun? He won’t coordinate well with a new team either, right?”
Unable to understand.
Xu Wenyao put down his chopsticks, interrupting Chen Hong, “This has nothing to do with you. He probably just dislikes me.”
He stopped Chen Hong from continuing about Qi Jun.
“Don’t say that,” Chen Hong shrugged, “Wenyao, I know I’m the weakest link daily. Qi Jun probably wanted to get rid of me long ago. It’s just… we probably won’t get good results at this summer camp.”
Modeling required two to three people, each with their role. Chen Hong mostly handled formatting and data collection, nothing too challenging.
Bai Lian sat beside Xu Wenyao.
Listening to their conversation, occasionally glancing at them, after they finished, she put down her chopsticks, reached for her lemon water, leaned back, and asked casually: “What’s Qi Jun’s relationship with Qi Shuyun?”
“He’s Qi Shuyun’s cousin.” Chen Hong looked at Bai Lian in surprise, thinking it strange that as Xu Wenyao’s sister, she didn’t know their relationship.
Before Xu Wenyao could stop Chen Hong, he explained to Bai Lian: “He’s wanted to leave the team for a while.”
Lu Xiaohan sat aside, not daring to speak. Never having participated in modeling, she just quietly put down her camera, somewhat sympathetic: “With him gone, won’t being short one person be troublesome?”
“Of course,” Chen Hong picked up his chopsticks again, clearly dispirited, “Qi Jun gets many assignments from his professor, his grandfather is a professor too, he’s read countless papers. He’s important to us, and we probably won’t find a suitable teammate quickly.”
He had hoped to make a breakthrough at this summer camp, but now with one less teammate last minute, results would surely be affected.
Bai Lian held the transparent straw with two fingers, casually stabbing it into the lemon water, thoughtful: “The Boyuan summer camp, university students can participate?”
Chen Hong didn’t understand Bai Lian’s meaning, but nodded, “Yes, it’s not a postgraduate recommendation camp, there’s no grade restriction. I know some soon-to-be sophomores are participating too.”
Bai Lian bit the straw, opening WeChat. Jiang Fuli had just sent an ellipsis. She ignored it, only asking—
[Am I considered a Jiangda student now?]
Teacher Jiang: [Signed the agreement?]
Student Bai: [1]
Alright, alright, 111.
Teacher Jiang: [Then you are] Teacher Jiang: [Why are you asking?]
Bai Lian looked up at Xu Wenyao, tapping the straw with her finger, considering briefly: “How about I fill in as a team member?”
Chen Hong was startled, “Junior, have you participated in mathematical modeling competitions before?”
Bai Lian hadn’t participated in competitions. She shook her head, “No, but I’ve researched modeling.”
She hadn’t participated in any formal competitions. She had only researched models with He Wen and later made a quantum simulation model.
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