“She studies liberal arts.” Ji Mulan could not help but think back to the previous unpleasant incident, where she had intended for her to study sciences.
Ji Mulan was naturally ambitious and hoped that her daughter would excel.
Ever since Bailian was young, she had forced her to learn everything.
But Bailian seemed to be naturally rebellious. The more she was forced, the more she resisted, to the point where she mingled with the wrong company, eating, drinking, and having fun while doing whatever she wanted.
Ji Mulan looked out the car window, not mentioning this matter further. “Her grades are really average. When you see her later, please be more forgiving of her.”
The man felt Ji Mulan’s change in mood.
He knew her child’s grades must be extremely poor.
But he was considerate enough not to dwell on it, only smiling reassuringly, “Grades are not everything. Every child is different, and parents must accept all of their children’s grades.”
Ji Mulan smiled without responding.
But it was more than just her grades.
She had forcibly put Bailian in the best science class, but Bailian was kicked out after less than a day of studying science.
If she was poor in her studies, then what about other areas?
She had gone through great efforts to obtain a plaque for Bailian to formally apprentice under a great zither master, hoping that she would diligently practice the zither.
But Bailian had slept through her zither lessons, angering the zither teacher to the point that she refused to return to teach at the Bai household.
She had given Bailian the best environment and tutors, but it was of no use at all. That period of time had been an utter collapse for Ji Mulan.
Ji Mulan had been outstanding since she was young, and she truly could not accept that her own daughter would be so mediocre, especially—
Compared to Bai Qiming’s two illegitimate yet outstanding children!
“After I finish up my business in Xiangcheng, I’ll bring her to Jiangjing,” the man closed his documents, comforting Ji Mulan, “I’ll find her an international private school there, everything will be fine.”
Hearing this, Ji Mulan did not respond.
Of course, neither had considered that Bailian would disagree with going to Jiangjing with them.
Not just Ji Mulan, even the man had not thought of this.
Without even arriving in Xiangcheng, they had already begun planning Bailian’s life after moving to Jiangjing.
**
On this side, Bailian hung up the phone.
She was completely unperturbed by Ji Mulan’s call.
According to the original host’s memories, she also did not have a close relationship with Ji Mulan.
“You’re quite busy later,” Bailian glanced at Jiang Fuli, seeing his cold glance at Jiang He, and could not help smiling, “Leave Jiang He here, I’ll have Xiaoming come pick him up later.”
She had Lu Xiaohan first bring Jiang He to the milk tea shop.
Lu Xiaohan fled, bringing Jiang He inside.
“Mm,” Jiang Fuli had one hand casually in his pocket, long lashes lowered, his face cold as jade.
Bailian saw that he made no move to leave, her dark eyes calmly meeting his gaze. “Anything else?”
“Not really,” Jiang Fuli spoke casually, “Just a bit thirsty.”
Huh?
Bailian raised the can of Coke Zhang Shize had given her, and felt it did not quite match his aura, “This is all I have.”
“That works too,” Jiang Fuli courteously took the can of Coke from Bailian’s hand. His cold white fingers clasped around the rim, long lashes half-lowered, “Thank you.”
Bailian watched as he took the Coke and strode off.
The noble and aloof Young Master Jiang holding a can of Coke.
All the way to the laboratory.
Most people who saw could not help but take another look at the Coke in his hand.
In the lab, only He Wenping, who often got scolded, stared a bit longer at the can of Coke on the table when he went to report to his group members.
Jiang Fuli put on his glasses, unhurriedly settling them on the bridge of his nose. Phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, calm yet aloof. “You want it?”
He Wenping quickly averted his gaze.
As if wanting to draw a clear boundary between himself and the Coke, he took three steps back. “No! Young Master Jiang, I’ve never drank Coke since I was little!”
He Wenping felt a bit like crying.
But Jiang Fuli glanced at him.
Then he slightly leaned forward and casually handed the Coke to He Wenping. Wisps of his hair lightly brushed against his cheeks. “You want it.”
This time, it was not a rhetorical question from Young Master Jiang, but a statement.
“Ah?”
He Wenping blankly accepted the Coke.
“Anything else?” Jiang Fuli retracted his gaze, the icy sight through his lenses sweeping over.
He Wenping hurriedly shook his head. Hugging the Coke, he left the office in slight bewilderment.
Only then did Jiang Fuli unhurriedly open his computer to check on the progress of the experiment.
Coke is too unhealthy.
He thought indifferently.
**
The next day.
Saturday.
Bailian woke up early and first brought her schoolbag to the library, leaving Jiang He with Ning Xiaotang and Ming.
She went to school first.
Today the school had a promotional video about Xiangcheng’s scenery that needed rehearsing.
Zhang Shize lived right by the school and yawned as he arrived at the same time as Bailian at the filming classroom.
When they arrived, the staff responsible for filming were already there. Aside from Bailian and Zhang Shize, there was also Ren Wanxuan and Chen Zhuo.
At the moment, they were filming Ren Wanxuan’s calligraphy segment.
Xiangcheng was well known for being an ancient capital, as well as the calligraphy of Bai Xiangjun left on the city walls. Liangti calligraphy and the zither were all hugely popular.
To attract investors, they naturally had to showcase Xiangcheng’s charms. The filming crew was finding the best angle for Ren Wanxuan.
Seeing Bailian and Zhang Shize enter, Ren Wanxuan and Chen Zhuo were both surprised.
Neither side had expected the other to be present.
But the staff lit up when they saw Bailian.
Today, Bailian wore a floor-length snowy white dress, with delicate embroidered orchids on the hems and cuffs. At her waist was a thin turquoise sash, loosely tied to accentuate her slender figure.
Aside from this simplest of outfits, she wore no other accessories.
The skirt lightly swayed with her steps, appearing like an ethereal ink wash painting of Xiangcheng’s misty rain.
“First High really has outstanding boys and girls,” the female staff member lowered her voice, looking at the plans and said to the person beside her, “These two who just came in are even better looking. What scenes are they filming?”
“Nothing specific, just reading some poetry from the city towers. The main thing is that they look good, you understand?”
“That’s it? Then aren’t they just background?” The female staff member asked in surprise.
“The focus isn’t on those two. The main thing is Teacher Gu’s disciple, filming his calligraphy first. Those two just need to look good, like live advertisements.”
“…I see.”
“Bai, Zhang, you’re here. Just wait for a bit over there, let’s finish filming these two classmates first,” the principal who was watching Ren Wanxuan’s calligraphy smiled and tilted his head towards Bailian and Zhang Shize, “Let them finish shooting these two students first.”
After speaking, he swiftly turned back, eyes fixed attentively on Ren Wanxuan’s calligraphy.
Bailian could learn anywhere, any time.
She nodded, found a spot to sit, and leisurely began reviewing vocabulary on her phone.
Zhang Shize boredly leaned against the wall, watching Bailian review words again. He couldn’t help but rub his nose and glance over at Ren Wanxuan and Chen Zhuo’s filming.
Ren Wanxuan was writing Liangti calligraphy over and over.
Rumors of Ren Wanxuan’s calligraphy proliferated at school.
Zhang Shize didn’t know much about calligraphy. Occasionally seeing Ren Wanxuan’s posters, he would only praise it with a “So cool.” This was his first time seeing Ren Wanxuan write large characters with a brush.
As expected, they were very bold, cursive characters.
Unrestrained, individualistic.
He watched for a bit and felt she wrote very well.
However—
Zhang Shize lazily sauntered back to Bailian’s side, lowering his voice. “But I still think your calligraphy is nicer. Hers has some indescribable feeling, not as comfortable to look at as yours.”
This, Zhang Shize was not wrong about.
Every single character of Bailian’s Guange style was uniform in size, precise and elegant. And Bailian had very strong wrist strength.
Even with the strict rules of Guange calligraphy, she managed to write in her own distinct style.
Compared to Ren Wanxuan’s much cruder Liangti calligraphy, Bailian’s Guange calligraphy was already exquisite mastery.
This past month, Class 15 had been tormented by Bailian’s calligraphy.
Especially Zhang Shize.
Because after seeing Bailian’s calligraphy, most teachers would start nitpicking the calligraphy of other students.
Bailian casually swiped through vocabulary on her phone, not even lifting her head. “Is that your excuse for writing chicken scratch?”
Zhang Shize looked up at the sky, wondering why he even tried to talk to Bailian.
He went to speak with the principal instead.
“Don’t you think Bai’s calligraphy is also very good?” Zhang Shize was quite popular at school for being handsome and participating in many activities, getting along well with the principal and teachers. “Why not let Bai give it a try too?”
The principal was standing just a few steps away from Ren Wanxuan and Chen Zhuo.
They could hear this clearly.
Ren Wanxuan’s suspended wrist stopped moving.
Bailian knows calligraphy?
She looked slightly intrigued.
The principal, however, was hearing for the first time that Bailian’s calligraphy was supposedly good. He looked at Zhang Shize in surprise. “Really? No one’s ever said that before?”
Chen Zhuo lifted his head to glance at Zhang Shize. He had seen Bailian’s calligraphy before. “Bai practices Guange calligraphy1.”
Guange calligraphy?
The deep thought vanished from Ren Wanxuan’s face, the corner of her lips quirking up. So what Bailian practiced was the Guange style, looked down upon by the calligraphy world.
Zhang Shize was still touting Bailian’s Guange calligraphy to the principal. He glanced at Ren Wanxuan’s calligraphy, “Bai’s is much better than Class 8’s. Principal, you can’t play favorites.”
Ren Wanxuan had just finished writing a character. The photographer took it and handed her a new sheet of paper to write on.
Recalling Bailian’s words that her family’s Liangti calligraphy2 was nothing special.
As expected, birds of a feather flock together.
She originally did not want to say more to Zhang Shize.
After all, he knew nothing of calligraphy, it would be futile.
But he was elevating Bailian’s calligraphy over hers just to flatter her.
She glanced at Bailian, then said, “Zhang Shize, do you know that Guange calligraphy is sneered at by the calligraphy world for having no artistry, not even qualifying to be called calligraphy? You dare compare my Liangti to her Guange? Aren’t you afraid of becoming a laughingstock?”
Zhang Shize already disliked Ren Wanxuan to begin with.
If not for Bailian’s zither skills last time, she would have made a fool of herself.
Today, he was deliberately provoking Ren Wanxuan. Hearing this, he mocked her, “Then you calligraphers need to get your eyes checked. Your calligraphy is clearly inferior to our Bai’s Guange.”
He glanced disdainfully at the large characters. With his hands in his pockets, he mouthed to Ren Wanxuan:
“Trash. You. Are. Far. Worse.”
“You—” Ren Wanxuan trembled in anger, but constrained by her upbringing, she could not say such words as Zhang Shize. “Principal, since he finds my Liangti so lacking, then find someone better and let them write instead!”
She had always been spoiled. With a snap, she tossed the brush down, appearing to want to storm off and leave everyone behind in the classroom.
- “Guange caligraphy” refers to a style of Chinese calligraphy known as “guange” or “???.” This style is characterized by its straight, upright strokes and balanced composition. ↩︎
- “Liangti calligraphy” typically refers to a style of Chinese calligraphy that involves writing characters with two brushes simultaneously. ↩︎
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