“Young Master Jiang,” Gao Shu was surprised. Jiang Fuli rarely called her. Although they had WeChat, they seldom chatted. Most communications came through Jiang Xiji.
“It’s quite unusual.”
Jiang Fuli returned to his room. He had just spent a long time in Room 103, and his clothes carried a faint tobacco smell. He was holding his loungewear, preparing to shower.
“Did you go to the concert today?” he asked casually.
He had never shown such interest in her activities before.
Gao Shu placed her finger on her knee, thought for a moment, and said with surprise, “Wait… did she recognize me?”
She hadn’t spoken or stared too much at Bai Lian, afraid of revealing anything.
“Yes, I mentioned some things to her,” Jiang Fuli said, turning with his clothes.
“What did she say?” Gao Shu’s mind was working quickly. The welcome gift for Bai Lian couldn’t be modest. She had specially contacted a collector abroad to find a imperial green hairpin for Bai Lian.
Young Master Jiang had already vetoed others giving her hairpins. Gao Shu was truly stumped about finding a suitable gift for Bai Lian.
Fortunately, there was an auction this week. Gao Shu had already asked Secretary Xue to arrange the schedule.
“Why don’t you stop waiting and let me meet her?” Gao Shu said seriously.
Jiang Fuli opened the bathroom door, stopping in front of the mirror. “It depends on her schedule.”
“I understand,” Gao Shu smiled. After learning about Bai Lian’s existence, all her information came from Gao Yan. She didn’t dare investigate anyone close to Jiang Fuli. “Just let me know in advance when it’s convenient.”
The call ended.
Jiang Fuli placed his phone casually on the washbasin and began unbuttoning his shirt.
—
At the Gao Family Home.
Mu Youjun waited at the door for Gao Yi and Gao Jiachen to return, taking Gao Yi’s coat as he removed it.
He was speaking with Gao Jiachen beside him, “Have you had any contact with Academician Ma in the Tongfeng class?”
“As you know, Academician Ma always leaves right after class,” Gao Jiachen said quietly.
After they finished discussing research matters, Mu Youjun mentioned her encounter with Gao Shu on the road.
Gao Yi narrowed his eyes and said to Gao Jiachen: “Your aunt is back. Try to meet with her a couple of times these days. Her word carries more weight than our entire family’s.”
There was no helping it, even though Gao Yi was Jiang Fuli’s uncle.
But Jiang Fuli had long blocked his phone number.
Gao Yi used to dare to pull rank as an uncle, but now even meeting Jiang Fuli once was difficult, let alone anything else.
Except for those in Jiang Fuli’s laboratory, it was hard for ordinary people to see Young Master Jiang.
Since marrying into the Gao family, Mu Youjun had only visited the Jiang family estate once.
While Mu Youjun went to the kitchen to arrange supper for the father and son, the old butler brought up the Mu family matter.
“The Mu family’s grand uncle?” Gao Yi had never heard of such a person. He picked up his teacup, swept aside the foam, and said indifferently, “They’re inviting our Gao family?”
“You jest,” the old butler smiled. “They’re only inviting the madam.”
Gao Yi heard but didn’t take it to heart. He had barely visited the Mu family, though he might go if the Mu family patriarch emerged.
Now that the Mu family was managed by a woman, most families in Jiang Jin didn’t take them seriously.
Of course, Mu Youjun never mentioned this matter to the Gao family.
—
The next day, early morning.
Ning Xiao packed his bag and looked at the main hall, speaking softly to the memorial tablet, “Grandmother, I’m going to school.”
He lit an incense stick.
It was a quiet scene.
Until Tang Ming’s voice came from the entrance: “Scholar God, hurry up! The elevator’s here!”
Tang Ming would crash in Ning Xiao’s guest room on weekends. Ning Xiao lived alone, and several people would come back each week, either freeloading at 103 or at Ming Dongheng’s place.
In the elevator, Zhang Shize yawned at Ning Xiao and Tang Ming, “Good morning.”
Most of their breakfasts were delivered from Kangyu Tower, with Ming Dongheng setting up chopsticks in 301.
“Today’s crab roe buns taste even better than last time,” Tang Ming grabbed another with his chopsticks.
The drowsy Zhang Shize’s eyes lit up, “Your High…”
Lu Xiaohan’s eyelid twitched, signaling Tang Ming.
Tang Ming stuffed a bun into Zhang Shize’s mouth, saying casually, “There, there, just eat up.”
Lu Xiaohan picked up his chopsticks, glancing over. Zhang Shize had such a presentable face but acted like an idiot every day. He hadn’t been out long but already showed his true colors.
Why couldn’t he learn to be steady like Chi Lü?
Thinking of Chi Lü’s chef’s hat, Lu Xiaohan paused, then changed his mind – why couldn’t he learn to be elegant and mysterious like Brother Jiang…
Outside the door, Bai Lian and Jiang Fuli entered.
Lu Xiaohan’s body tensed – noble, he meant noble!
Bai Lian loved Kangyu Tower’s breakfast. Kangyu Tower was a century-old restaurant that had produced several imperial court chefs. Their weekend breakfasts were always delivered from there.
Monday through Friday, Ming Dongheng wanted to deliver to Bai Lian, and Kangyu Tower’s chefs naturally wanted to please Miss Bai.
But Bai Lian refused, preferring to eat at the school cafeteria.
After all, she still held Young Master Jiang’s meal card.
Since then, Ming Dongheng lost one daily task, which made him quite sad.
There was another food box containing crab roe buns. Ji Heng and Lance hadn’t gotten up this early, so Ming Dongheng left it for them.
“The buns are very fresh today,” Bai Lian held her chopsticks, eating two more crab roe buns today, barely touching the other dim sum.
Ming Dongheng took out his phone, making a note, telling Jiang Xiji to send two more teams to buy crabs.
It was also the perfect season for eating crabs.
These fresh items might not have even reached the Jiang family table before appearing on Bai Lian’s.
—
Several days flew by.
Lance’s medical summit ended on Tuesday. During this time, he stayed at Ji Heng’s place rather than the state guesthouse, where many people were still waiting for him.
After attending the final summit, the assistant who brought Lance to Shanhai Apartments found it surprising.
Logically, with Lance’s status, too many people in Jiang Jin wanted to meet him.
There were many people waiting for him everywhere, with numerous business tycoons hiring people to watch him daily.
But strangely, there wasn’t a single one at Shanhai Apartments. This community’s atmosphere was extremely relaxed.
The assistant brought Lance to Building Five and watched as Lance simply got out of the car wearing regular clothes, taking no precautions at all. “Teacher, please be careful of crowds.”
Lance waved dismissively, “It’s fine, don’t worry.”
The assistant watched his back, frightened, but fortunately, no one rushed out.
When he drove out of the community, two security guards stood at the gate, tall and straight.
Even the street sweepers in the community showed bulging muscles when they raised their arms. The assistant carefully looked around – there were capable people everywhere.
Then he called MTR people to sigh, “This community is truly mysterious, but it’s quiet here, and Lance can recover better.”
When Lance had free time, he would go with Ji Heng to the nearby park in the morning, carrying a chess board to “torment” Jiang University students.
There was even a legendary thread on the Jiang University forum about two old fun-lovers, saying there were two Five-in-a-Row masters in the university town park who remained undefeated against all the talented students.
Many talented students were eager to try, making that time period quite lively every morning.
In the afternoon, the two would go fishing.
They were also invited to watch Dean Jian’s small concert.
On Friday morning, Ji Heng took Lance to visit Xu Siqi at the Xu family. The two old men were even busier than Bai Lian every day.
Afternoon.
Room 103.
Near the end of the month, the building manager brought two gifts to visit Ji Heng, discussing the end-of-month ceremony matter with them.
He also brought one of the crabs that Mu Youjun had sent to Ji Heng’s place.
Very fresh, there were only two in total. The Mu family kept one, and this one was for Ji Heng.
It was as big as half a pot.
Ji Heng handed two large frozen, unsteamed boxes of buns to the building manager to give to Mu Yining, “Crab roe buns. Lance and I can’t eat too many. Take them back for Yining to try, they taste quite good.”
What delicacies didn’t the Mu family have? The building manager took the containers without asking much.
He discussed the end-of-month Mu family ceremony matter with Ji Heng.
Bai Lian and her group didn’t have a literature report this week, so they came back early. She pressed her fingerprint at 103, greeting Ji Heng first thing upon return, “Grandfather, I’m back.”
Tang Ming called out behind her, “Grandfather, I’m back too!”
Ji Heng smiled, his eyes crinkling. He went to the kitchen to get fruit for them to take upstairs, to eat while doing homework.
The building manager quickly stood up from the sofa, greeting Bai Lian: “Miss Bai, will you come next Saturday?”
To accommodate the students’ schedule, Mu Yining had moved the date to the weekend.
Bai Lian held her laptop, wearing a white coat with loose hair falling over her forehead, her expression lazy as she looked at the building manager, “Saturday?”
She was busy with studies, and Ji Heng hadn’t told her about Ji Shaojun yet. He handed the fruit to Bai Lian, explaining unhurriedly, “Just your uncle.”
He didn’t mention Ji Mulan – if he did, Bai Lian might really not want to listen.
Bai Lian thought for a moment, “Then I’ll go.”
The building manager was delighted inside – if Bai Lian went, the old master would definitely come out to look. He contained his excitement, “Your classmates are also welcome.”
Tang Ming thanked the building manager.
Bai Lian didn’t stay long, only telling Ji Heng before leaving, “Grandfather, I’ll be out late for dinner later.”
Ji Heng said “Oh,” then asked Tang Ming, “Little Tang, are you all going out to eat too?”
“Grandfather, she’s eating with Brother Jiang,” Tang Ming leaned over, raising his hand to tell Ji Heng.
Ji Heng: “…”
He lifted his pipe, and since they were talking about Jiang Fuli, “Is Little Jiang going on Saturday?”
Bai Lian was calm – Jiang Fuli had plans with his aunt tonight, “I’ll ask him later.”
“How could he not go,” Tang Ming muttered.
After the young people went upstairs, Ji Heng closed the door and filled his pipe with tobacco, lighting it. To avoid what happened last time, he told the building manager leisurely, “Little Jiang will probably go too. Have Xu En sit with your business partners, and prepare a separate table for us.”
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