After practicing with a spear in the Zhang family’s backyard for over a month, Yan Lu had some footage recorded by Lu Xiaohan. Though Tang Ming wasn’t close to Yan Lu then, he knew about it.
After “Da Yong” aired, no one else could replicate Yan Lu’s meteoric rise to fame. She didn’t use a single stunt double during filming.
The production team even revealed that their martial arts instructors couldn’t teach Yan Lu anything new.
Ning Xiao never bothered looking at the university town’s forum, and Bai Lan didn’t have time for it.
But Tang Ming kept his ears and eyes open to everything, aware of the recent hot topics on the forum.
The Finance College spent time promoting today’s event. Many came specifically to see Bai Shaoqi, but there were also numerous students who admired Bai Lan.
Bai Lan now had three legendary posts on the forum.
The first was when someone accidentally photographed her arrival in Jiang City last year. The second contained two iconic photos, and the third was taken by the school newspaper in the lecture hall last week.
The program list for the joint performance between the two colleges was posted on the forum.
After seeing Bai Lan’s opening act, Tang Ming forwarded the news to Lu Xiaohan. They discussed whether the student council’s arrangement was appropriate.
—
During breakfast in the crowded cafeteria, Kong Wei was thinking about Bai Lan and barely heard Tang Ming’s words.
But she caught the words “Sister Lu” clearly: “Sister Lu?”
Tang Ming fell silent.
Fortunately, Bai Lan arrived with her tray and sat beside Kong Wei.
Kong Wei didn’t pursue the question further. Sipping her soy milk through a straw, she recalled how last time Bai Lan had given her and Yu Simin signed photos of Yan Lu. They had wondered how she obtained them.
Getting two valuable signed photos at once, plus the intimidating bodyguard in black who delivered them.
Even Yu Simin, who came from an influential family, couldn’t figure out Bai Lan’s background.
Kong Wei drank her soy milk while glancing at Bai Lan. The latter rarely spoke while eating and maintained perfect posture, as if it was coded into her genes.
Even when reading in the dorm, she maintained that elegance and nobility. She was just that kind of person, always making others feel at ease. Thinking of Tang Ming’s words earlier, Kong Wei felt reassured.
After eating, Kong Wei had to help set up the auditorium as a student council staff member.
Bai Lan needed to attend a lecture in the Tongfeng class, while Yang Lin rushed to the Biology building.
—
Shen Qing packed early and headed to Shanhai Apartments.
Ji Shaojun was busy with work and regrettably couldn’t attend the program at Jiang University.
Last year, Bai Lan hadn’t informed them about the Xiangcheng First High School anniversary celebration. This year she told them, but unfortunately, Ji Shaojun couldn’t make it.
“Take lots of photos,” Ji Shaojun said while adjusting his dark red tie on his suit, “And videos too.”
“You don’t need to tell me that.” Shen Qing was in a hurry and didn’t wait for Xiao Jie’s car, choosing to take the subway to Shanhai Apartments.
The roads would be congested at this time, making the subway a better option.
After she left, the building manager inquired about Bai Lan’s performance at the welcome party, asking, “Will Miss Bai be playing the guzheng?”
He remembered Bai Lan had learned guzheng and often studied music theory during summer break.
“No,” Ji Shaojun shook his head.
He didn’t elaborate on Bai Lan’s performance. Picking up his briefcase, he headed out.
The building manager had come today with a purpose: “Miss Mulan’s child’s full-month celebration — both the young miss and her husband will attend. You and the master haven’t met the husband yet.”
Husband? Mu Yino’s husband?
Ji Shaojun had zero interest in dealing with these matters, including the inheritance he carried. Sitting in the back seat, he began to contemplate. He didn’t consider Ren Wanxuan at all. While Bai Lan could manage some affairs, but…
Ji Shaojun thought about Shi Yu who had gone to Xiangcheng, and supposedly there was a Dean Ma…
Even Dean Jian had failed.
Ji Shaojun reluctantly dropped the idea.
There was still one option — the child born to Ji Mulan, but… that would require waiting for a very long time.
—
At four in the afternoon.
Jiang He’s school let out early, and Ming Donghen brought Ji Heng to pick him up.
The first graders filed out hand in hand like little radishes, except for Jiang He, who walked coolly with his backpack, hands in his pockets and chin held high.
Ji Heng stood to the side with his pipe, not smoking since children were around.
Seeing Jiang He, he raised his free hand, holding a bag of sugar-frosted candied hawthorns.
Ever since learning that Bai Lan liked candied hawthorns, the Ji family would buy some whenever they came across them. Today was no exception.
Ming Donghen watched their surroundings, ensuring their safety.
“Let’s go,” Ji Heng handed the candied hawthorns to Jiang He and helped carry his small backpack as they headed to the car at the intersection ahead.
They were both going to watch Bai Lan’s performance today.
Given the traffic at this hour, they decided to go directly to Jiang University’s auditorium instead of returning to Shanhai Apartments.
Lu Xiaohan had no afternoon classes and arrived early at the auditorium with Shen Qing.
She had already saved seats for Ji Heng and Jiang He.
It wasn’t five yet, but the auditorium was already packed.
Lu Xiaohan had secured seats on the left side. With a camera hanging around her neck, she stood up and waved to the two when she saw them, “Grandfather, over here!”
“It’s so lively here,” Shen Qing rarely visited Jiang University. Seeing the red banners of “Jiang University School of Finance” and “Jiang University School of Physics” hanging outside the auditorium, she naturally felt a sense of pride and grandeur.
Every passing student was a pillar of the nation.
And her niece was one of them.
The auditorium was massive, able to hold over a thousand people. The stage was at the front, with seats radiating outward.
Though the performance hadn’t started, popular music played through the speakers.
Ji Heng sat nearby with Jiang He’s backpack on his lap. Jiang He sat beside him, carefully eating his candied hawthorns in small bites.
—
Outside, Song Min and Bai Shaoqi arrived.
Bai Shaoqi wore a high-end formal dress, a purple gown that revealed her fair collarbones. Despite being born out of wedlock, her mother had taught her proper etiquette.
Madam Song admiringly looked at Bai Shaoqi and nodded, “I told you this dress suits you.”
They accompanied Madam Song inside.
Song Min had performed well in the Finance School’s student council. The council had reserved the first two center rows, with the second row for important student council members, naturally including Song Min and Bai Shaoqi.
By this time, most of the first row was filled.
The first row was reserved for leaders and investors.
There were also two reserved spots for photographers, and the reporters had already arrived, adding to the bustling atmosphere.
The Finance School’s president was discussing crowd control with Bai Shiming at the front, “There are too many people, we need to put up a banner to limit the flow.”
They both greeted Song Min and Bai Shaoqi.
Just then, the Finance School president’s phone rang. After answering, he was stunned and immediately turned to walk outside.
Shortly after, he respectfully escorted a middle-aged man in a suit inside.
Bai Shiming immediately recognized him, “Dean Feng, hello, I’m Bai Shiming from the Physics School.”
The Finance School’s student council president introduced him to Song Min and Bai Shaoqi: “This is our Finance School’s Dean Feng. Dean, these are two new students from our school.”
He didn’t introduce them further. While Song Min was popular among freshmen, that hardly warranted special mention to Dean Feng, let alone Bai Shaoqi.
In fact, he couldn’t understand why someone of Dean Feng’s status would come to a welcome party.
Dean Feng, Chairman of the Jiang City Business Association, someone specifically mentioned by President Yin — Song Min and Bai Shaoqi exchanged glances, surprised he actually came.
Both greeted him respectfully.
Dean Feng wasn’t talkative. He left the center seats empty and sat to the side, “Our school’s new students this year are quite good.”
He began chatting with a Finance School professor beside him.
In the row behind, Madam Song regretted not inviting President Yin. After Bai Shaoqi and Song Min returned, she asked, “Why did your dean come?”
“Probably not just Dean Feng,” Song Min looked at the two empty seats beside the dean and shook his head, “I just found out too.”
—
“Strange indeed,” Bai Shiming also found this peculiar. Dean Huang had asked him to reserve two seats, and now Dean Feng had arrived, “What’s so appealing about this welcome party?”
Bai Shaoqi? Bai Shiming didn’t think that was likely.
“Ah, our junior is still in class,” Ye Jingxian looked at the time on her phone, “She’s always in class with no time for rehearsal, and I haven’t even seen her performance costume.”
With deans from both schools present, plus the media invited by the Finance School.
Along the way, some students were even livestreaming for views. The Physics School’s student council felt immense pressure, especially Ye Jingxian, worried about the opening act going wrong.
It was only because Bai Lan was the Physics School’s rising star, with everyone acknowledging her abilities, that Ye Jingxian trusted her word about not needing rehearsal.
“Senior, don’t worry,” Kong Wei was now much more at ease than Ye Jingxian.
As they were talking, Bai Lan came in from backstage.
Seeing her, Ye Jingxian felt half relieved, but noticed Bai Lan wearing casual clothes, “Junior, where’s your performance costume?”
4:45.
Bai Lan checked the time on her phone, “It’s coming.”
Time was too tight now, so Ye Jingxian quickly handed Bai Lan to a backstage makeup artist, “Our junior has good skin, don’t apply heavy makeup, just add some shadows for the stage lighting.”
The makeup artist looked at Bai Lan’s face, confirming there wasn’t much that needed fixing.
While the makeup artist was applying shadows, Bai Lan’s phone lit up. Unable to move her head, she replied to the message while telling Ye Jingxian: “Senior, my clothes have arrived at the entrance, could you get them for me?”
“Your clothes are here? I’ll get them.” Ye Jingxian had never experienced such an unreliable opening act — only fifteen minutes left and she hadn’t even seen the performance costume.
She hoped nothing would go wrong today.
She went outside to get Bai Lan’s clothes.
At this time, there weren’t many people at the backstage entrance, most were in front.
When Ye Jingxian went out, she only saw two people.
One was a middle-aged man, scholarly but slightly balding — she recognized him as Dean Huang.
The other was a young man standing beside him, lounging lazily behind Dean Huang. His black casual pants made his legs look long and straight, his pristine white shirt had sleeves slightly rolled up, and his extremely sharp profile carried an aura both noble and unapproachable.
He held a bag in his hand.
He was talking casually with Dean Huang, who stood slightly behind him.
This was the first time Ye Jingxian had seen Dean Huang speak so politely to someone.
The young man’s aura was so strong that she didn’t dare step forward.
Jiang Fu checked his phone, his phoenix-like eyes lifting to see Ye Jingxian. He stepped forward and handed her the bag, his manner polite yet distant, “Hello, these are Bai Lan’s performance clothes. Please take them to her.”
Dean Huang, hands behind his back, also nodded friendly to Ye Jingxian.
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