“She can play the guzheng?” Ji Mulan slammed her glass down on the table. “Are you kidding me?”
Did she not know about Bailian’s progress in her studies?
She personally watched over Bailian closely. Bailian was the first student in the Bai family to drive a teacher away. During that time, Ji Mulan almost never went out, for fear of seeing people from the Bai ancestral hall.
“She played it at the school anniversary celebration,” Ji Shaojun looked at Ji Mulan’s expression and it didn’t seem fake. “You really didn’t know?”
Ji Mulan stared at Ji Shaojun for a long time before shaking her head.
“Let’s put off the matter of going to Jiangjing for now,” Ji Shaojun’s expression relaxed a little. “Let her study science for now. At worst she can relearn liberal arts next year.”
Ji Shaojun and Ji Heng didn’t care much either way.
When Xu En heard that Bailian could play the guzheng, he started feeling surprised. He was rather sensitive about guzheng playing. “She plays very well? After only learning for a year?”
Ji Mulan looked out the window. “Mm, I didn’t expect that after learning for a year, she actually learned it.”
Really, just one year?
Xu En didn’t know much about guzheng, but the technique probably wouldn’t be that great after just one year of learning.
Ji Shaojun said she played beautifully. He probably hadn’t heard that many good performances.
Xu En was just a little regretful. “If she had talent, she should have started learning earlier. Who knows, she might have been able to enter the Chen family…”
He didn’t finish what he was saying.
No point in saying more when the other party might not understand anyway.
After the meal, the three people went downstairs. Ji Shaojun declined Xu En’s offer to drive him back and took the bus by himself.
He also took the time to call Bailian.
Xu En’s assistant came to pick them up.
“What? Madam Ji’s daughter is unwilling to transfer over?” Xu En’s assistant originally came to help Bailian transfer her school registration and household registration. But he didn’t expect to hear this news from Xu En.
He was very surprised.
How could anyone choose between Xiangcheng and Jiangjing?
Xu En nodded at his assistant.
Ji Shaojun spoke very elegantly, but his perspective was slightly lacking. Being able to develop in Jiangjing was an opportunity most people could never obtain.
He and Ji Mulan planned to marry by the end of the year. Bailian was his adopted daughter.
Raising one more person meant nothing to the Xu family. Not raising someone also made no difference to the Xu family.
What he wanted to marry was Ji Mulan, not her daughter.
So whether her daughter stayed in Xiangcheng or went to Jiangjing made no difference to him.
Could he have expected that Ji Mulan’s daughter would help him gain favor with the main house?
“Mulan,” Xu En said from the backseat with a sigh to Ji Mulan, “Your brother was right. Sometimes you have to learn to accept your child’s mediocrity.”
Hearing the conversation between the two, the assistant also roughly understood what was going on.
In front of Ji Mulan, Xu En had uttered the word “mediocre”. The girl must be extremely ordinary.
“Principal Xu,” the assistant waited until they finished talking before reporting, “I’ve confirmed that Master Chen is indeed in Xiangcheng.”
“Really?” Xu En sat up straight. “Then this matter is settled…”
Ji Mulan listened quietly to their conversation. Although she had also spent some time in Jiangjing, she was still unclear about the situation there. She also didn’t know who this Master Chen they spoke of was.
Just like this time, she also didn’t know why Xu En could be certain that Xiangcheng could develop.
She previously thought the Bai family of Beicheng was already the top wealthy household.
But the higher she went, the more she realized how tiny her perspective had been before.
**
On Bailian’s side.
Ming Dongheng went in to help Zhi Yundai cook. About three minutes later, he was kicked out with a cold face by Zhi Yundai.
“He’s a lawyer,” Jiang Fuli looked around the hall once, his light eyes and thin lips worn an aloof and indifferent expression. His introduction was neither cold nor warm. “He’s not bad at cooking.”
After coming out, Ming Dongheng made tea for Bailian and Jiang Fuli. Smelling that the tea wasn’t right, he glanced at the kitchen.
Then he stabbed Jiang Fuli in the back to Bailian. “Last month there was an economic case. He was anxious for the cake at home and felt he already had the opponent in his grasp. So he left 10 minutes early.”
Resulting in the loss of some funds.
Jiang Xijiao didn’t dare tell Jiang Fuli directly. He only had someone else report it.
Jiang Fuli blew up. He scolded everyone in the Jiang family up and down. He suspended Zhi Yundai and had him properly come to Xiangcheng to make cake.
After Ming Dongheng set the tea cups before Bailian and Jiang Fuli,
he turned around and Jiang He looked at him expressionlessly.
Ming Dongheng jumped in fright. “Young master, you’re so quiet I can’t even see you without bending down.”
Jiang He was too short.
Shorter than Bailian, let alone compared to Ming Dongheng and the others.
Jiang He could swear Jiang Fuli not only glanced at him, but also gave a cold laugh.
He silently crawled over to Bailian’s side, not looking at Jiang Fuli and Ming Dongheng.
Bailian was quietly reading her English. A message popped up at the top of her phone. It was sent by Mao Kun—
?[Image]?
Mao Kun: ?Sis, Xiaoqi and the others finished designing the logo. Take a look.?
Bailian opened it to look. This logo was very thoughtful. The overall shape was a horizontal gourd with a silver needle inserted at its waist. The tips of the needle were two small tree leaves.
The overall color scheme was light green.
New life, coming to the rescue, a silver needle.
It was a very meaningful logo.
Bailian rarely praised: ?Very good?
Mao Kun was very excited: ?Right? I didn’t know Xuechun had studied painting before!?
Mao Kun: ?And Xiaoqi too, he never studied but he’s also very capable!?
As he said this, Mao Kun became somewhat melancholy.
Everyone was so capable, yet he couldn’t make out anything.
After the meal, Ming Dongheng drove to Qingshui Street.
Bailian didn’t message Ji Heng. Today Ji Heng didn’t pick her up. Jiang Fuli got out of the car with her and walked into the alley together.
“I’m fine by myself.” Bailian looked at the pitch dark alley.
Jiang Fuli had one hand casually tucked into his coat pocket. Hearing this, he only glanced at her without speaking. The slanting shadow cast by the streetlight behind him covered half his face.
Bailian truly wasn’t afraid of this stretch.
No matter how dark, she had walked through it before.
But Ji Heng would always come here and wait for her. Now without Ji Heng and another person was accompanying her through this long, dark, seemingly endless road.
It was as if ever since coming to this world, she had never been alone.
“Have you been to the snow mountains before?” Jiang Fuli lowered his head slightly. His voice was clear and cold.
But not entirely unfeeling.
Bailian shook her head.
Jiang Fuli always moved at a quick tempo. Even walking in the lab, he brought the wind with him. But now he walked unhurriedly.
Bathed under the moonlight, even his cold, sharp features seemed to turn gentle and warm. “Over 6,000 meters high. When I used to feel down, I would stay there for a long time. The sun-drenched golden mountains, the swirling mists, it cleanses everything. I’ll take you to see it if there’s a chance.”
Ji Heng’s house was right in front of them now.
Bailian stopped and smiled lazily under the moonlight. Her snow white dress was untouched by dust. “Okay.”
She waved at him.
Signaling she had arrived.
Jiang Fuli stood in place, his posture straight. He didn’t speak, but seemed to be in a good mood.
Only when Bailian took out her key and opened the yard gate
did he turn and walk into the darkness.
The yard lights weren’t on, leaving it pitch black. Faint wisps of smoke floated in the yard.
Ji Heng sat at the stone table, quietly smoking. Hearing the yard gate open, he suddenly whipped his head around.
As Bailian locked up behind her, she looked back. “Grandpa, why didn’t you turn on the lights?”
After closing the door, she casually flicked on the yard lights.
The pitch black yard instantly lit up.
Ji Heng was still frozen in the act of holding his pipe. He looked at Bailian in astonishment, mouth opening and closing but no words coming out.
“What is it?” Bailian set her books down.
She raised an eyebrow.
“I heard from your uncle,” Ji Heng lowered his head and took another puff from his pipe. His voice was muffled. “Your mom came back to take you to Jiangjing.”
He thought she wouldn’t come back today.
“Oh,” Bailian lazily went to her room. “We had a falling out.”
Ji Heng was surprised.
He immediately stood up. “Why?”
“Because I’m not going to Jiangjing.” Bailian’s voice drifted out the window, lazy.
Although reluctant for Bailian to leave, Ji Heng knew children had to spread their wings and leave home eventually. He could get over it after a couple days. Even Ji Heng knew developing in Jiangjing would be much better than here.
“Jiangjing is actually…” He walked forward a couple steps with his pipe, about to explain to Bailian.
Bailian slowly picked up her biology book. “Grandpa, you don’t seem tired yet. Let’s discuss DNA replication. ACGT is…”
Ji Heng abruptly halted his footsteps.
He also retreated two steps back, completely unruffled. “Never mind. Jiangjing isn’t that great either.”
Clutching his pipe, he hurried back to his room.
Behind him, Bailian lazily leaned against the window, arms crossed. She raised an eyebrow.
**
Sunday.
There was a parent-teacher meeting.
The meeting started at 9 AM. Bailian went to the library first to read. Around 9:30, Ji Heng finally got off at the bus stop.
Waiting for Bailian so they could go to school together.
“This elderly gentleman is…” Chen Ju came to find Ming Dongheng. Seeing Bailian waiting at the bus stop, he waited with her.
When Ji Heng arrived…
Chen Ju was surprised.
Bailian stood up straight and casually introduced them. “My grandpa, surname Ji.”
Chen Ju hurriedly greeted, “Mr. Ji, hello. Just call me Little Chen.”
“Hello,” he should be Bailian’s friend. Ji Heng nodded. “Little Chen.”
Chen Ju grinned and offered Ji Heng a pouch of tobacco. “Try some of mine.”
Ji Heng looked at Bailian.
Bailian raised her head, speechless. “Go ahead, take it.”
“Thank you.” Ji Heng’s expression toward Chen Ju softened quite a bit.
Chen Ju’s eyes lit up. He stood in place, watching as Bailian and Ji Heng left.
He rubbed his hands and took out his phone to have someone find him some tobacco.
**
This was Ji Heng’s first parent-teacher meeting. He specially wore the changshan1 from last time, making him look refined yet dignified. He sat in Bailian’s seat.
It felt a little unfamiliar.
“Is this okay?” Ji Heng asked softly.
Students weren’t allowed in the parent-teacher meetings so Bailian stood by the aisle. She reassured Ji Heng, “It’s fine, very cool.”
“Mm.” Ji Heng finally felt at ease.
Seeing he had adapted, Bailian then walked out.
Who knew, this was her first time participating in something like this too.
When she got to the door, Bailian glanced at her deskmate’s seat.
No one had come, and it didn’t seem like anyone was here today either…
Behind her, Zhang Shize craned his neck to usher his mother in.
“37 in physics. Why did I have to come for your parent-teacher conference?” Zhang’s mother twisted his ear. “Do I not feel ashamed?”
Zhang Shize bent over in pain, loudly proclaiming his grievance. “Mom, I’ve told you it’s 39, not 37! Don’t listen to the physics teacher’s nonsense!”
“What, do those two points matter a lot to you? Getting them will let you ascend to heaven?” Zhang’s mother sneered.
Zhang Shize: “…You’re absolutely right!”
Zhang’s mother was furious about having to attend Zhang Shize’s parent-teacher conference.
Only when she saw Bailian did her expression relax a little. “Bailian, your physics…”
Zhang Shize panicked and hurriedly shoved his mom inside before slamming the door shut with a “bang”.
Clean and efficient.
“You’ll pray for me to get 50 next time, right?” He pressed his palms together towards Bailian.
Bailian: “…”
Only 50.
Dreaming so unambitiously.
Lu Lingxi brought over stacks of papers, handing out each student’s grades for the parents. She started explaining key points for high school students, including the children’s physical and mental health.
Ji Heng received Bailian’s grades and ranking.
He was somewhat surprised.
He had read up about the gaokao2 before. 750 points.
Bailian’s grades in liberal arts subjects were over 400.
It was very good, for switching from liberal arts to sciences.
Lu Lingxi spoke for a long time. Ji Heng listened very attentively, even taking notes.
By the time the parent-teacher conference ended, it was after 10 AM.
Ji Heng disliked crowds and waited until most of the classroom had left before slowly making his way downstairs. Bailian waited for him at the cake shop outside.
Wearing the unusual changshan1, he stood out in the crowd and could be spotted with a glance.
The school secretary waiting at the base of the stairs caught sight of Ji Heng immediately.
His gaze lightly swept over the grades in Ji Heng’s hand. 450.
The secretary sneered contemptuously.
Ren Qian was busy today and didn’t have time to attend Ren Wanxuan’s parent-teacher conference. Ren Jiawei had always been very busy.
And Ren Wanxuan didn’t want Ji Shaorong to come either. Almost every time it was the secretary who came.
He was at odds with the Ji family.
“Secretary.” Hearing the secretary had arrived, the principal hurried over with several other leaders to receive him.
This was only second to Ren Qian.
The secretary nodded at them slightly.
The principal naturally had business since coming to find the secretary. He smiled and got right to the point. “There was some minor friction yesterday between Student Ren and students from Class 15. Just small tussles between students. I hope Student Ren can be magnanimous and continue coming tomorrow for the shoot.”
Ren Wanxuan had already told the secretary about the matter.
He only glanced at the principal and others once before continuing to walk forward and sneering. “Principal, do you really think it was just a minor tussle?”
The principal was taken aback.
“The students of Class 8 have good living conditions and could have a small canteen because of the accumulated efforts of their parents and grandparents,” the secretary looked at the principal with a smile. “As for how other students live, that’s due to problems with their ancestors. Do you understand, Principal?”
The secretary’s words had implications.
He was just saying the other classes were jealous of Class 8’s students and deliberately targeted them?
The principal pressed his lips, not immediately replying.
“The young miss and her master,” the secretary looked at the principal indifferently. “Her master will likely help our young miss submit an entry for the Lanting Calligraphy Awards this year, I trust you’ve heard of him.”
The Lanting Awards, everyone knew of it. Its prestige was on par with the entertainment industry’s Hundred Flowers Awards2.
Everyone present was extremely shocked.
The secretary enjoyed their expressions for a moment before continuing. “Our young miss can also continue writing here.”
There was potential.
The principal and others’ eyes lit up.
“Have the people from Class 15 come apologize face to face to our young miss,” the secretary said slowly, but his tone was very forceful. “Only then will the young miss continue writing.”
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