The Glamorous Comeback of the Ousted Heiress

Xu En and Ji Mulan didn’t speak, Ji Mulan had no say in Xu Wenyao’s business, and Xu En always refrained from restraining Xu Wenyao, something that bothered the elder Mrs. Xu greatly.

The Qi Family was among those she deemed most suitable.

“Bai Lian is also taking the college entrance exam this year, isn’t she?” Elder Mrs. Xu brought up Bai Lian, looking toward Xu En, “I heard from the Qi Family that they can arrange for her to study at the affiliated middle school.”

The affiliated middle school wasn’t one you could simply attend if you wished; the Qi Family would expend a great deal of effort to get Bai Lian in.

Hearing Elder Mrs. Xu discussing this matter, Ji Mulan clasped her hands tightly, visibly excited, as she quickly turned to Xu En.

Xu En pondered for a moment, “I’ll ask Alian.”

Bai Lian didn’t have class today, so the reply came quickly. Seeing the response, Xu En wasn’t surprised, “Mom, you can tell the Qi Family not to bother.”

“She’s not coming?” Elder Mrs. Xu was very surprised.

But she wasn’t really concerned about whether Bai Lian would come or not and didn’t ask further, only watching Xu En, “There aren’t many days left until the college entrance exam, you two must take good care of Zhiyue.”

Xu Zhiyue was the hope of the elder Mrs. Xu, boasting even better grades than Xu Wenyao had at the time.

“A top three rank is assured.” The Xu butler chimed in aptly from the side.

“May the ancestors bless us,” the elder Mrs. Xu put down her cane, clasping her hands together, “aiming for a national second place.”

Ji Mulan didn’t understand much about the affiliated middle school, but her smile widened when Xu Zhiyue was mentioned, “What if she gets the top rank?”

At the mention of this, Elder Mrs. Xu gave Ji Mulan a glance, picked up her teacup, took a sip, and remained silent.

“Taking first place in the national exams isn’t so easy. The Beicheng top ranker is only around 50th nationally. A second place rank would also be unprecedented for the Xu family; our highest was when young master Wenyao ranked twelfth,” the butler explained with a smile, “This year’s top rank will definitely belong to someone from the Liang Family; the betting pools have 82% staked on them.”

Was the Beicheng top ranker really so undervalued?

And the Liang Family?

Betting pools?

What are these? Ji Mulan lowered her gaze, yet another realm she hadn’t heard of.

**

Downstairs.

With cellphone in hand, Xu Wenyao sent out a location, then waited by the sidewalk.

He was dressed in a black wool overcoat, with a white sweater underneath, a gentle complexion, tall with long legs, and a black scarf around his neck. His eyes scanned through the crowd.

He had met Bai Lian’s friends before—Ning Xiao and Tang Ming both had the air of top students; this one would likely be the same.

Soon, his sight landed on a woman in black thigh-high boots, leather pants, a tight sweater, and draped in a long cotton coat with the zipper undone. Frosted fingertips held a cigarette, wavy hair, and fiery red lips—a kind of decadently beautiful.

Despite the overt and bright beauty, she gave off a fragile vibe as if she’d shatter with a mere touch.

Beside her stood a spirited young man with red hair.

Xu Wenyao hadn’t yet connected these two with Bai Lian’s friends.

It wasn’t until the woman stopped in front of him, looked him up and down, pulled out her phone to compare and then, with a hitch of her lips, said, “You’re the friend delivering something to Miss Bai?”

Xu Wenyao glanced at her, then nodded: “Yes, Xu Wenyao.”

He extended his hand, politely intending to shake hands.

Xun Chun glanced at the seal on his bag with Jiangjing University’s logo, then at his clean hands, and smiled without raising her hand.

By her side, Hong Mao eagerly grasped Xu Wenyao’s hand, “Mr. Xu, right, hello, hello, you can just give me the sister’s stuff.”

He took the items meant for Bai Lian.

Bai Lian’s two friends were truly odd, Xu Wenyao watched the pair walk away.

“Screech—”

A red sports car stopped in front of him, Qi Shuyun stepping out from the driver’s seat, removing her sunglasses, “Xu Wenyao, are you breaking up with me over that woman just now?!”

Xu Wenyao returned to his senses, looking at Qi Shuyun, “Shuyun,”

**

Xiangcheng.

At noon, the coffee shop on the first floor of the library wasn’t very crowded.

When Ming Dongheng entered, Bai Lian was unusually lying on the table, asleep. He lightened his footsteps and stood about two meters away from the table, looking at Jiang Fulai hesitantly.

Jiang Fulai was sitting beside Bai Lian, looking down at her.

After spotting Ming Dongheng, he gently moved his chair and walked towards him.

Ming Dongheng, holding his phone, tried to lower his voice as much as possible, “Mr. Xu has arrived in Beicheng, the butler said you shouldn’t go to the research base for the next few days.”

Jiang Fulai stood by the door, his gaze fixed in the direction of Bai Lian.

From this angle, he could see her exposed profile; the coffee shop was dimly lit on the inside, and her skin was excessively pale. Her long eyelashes cast a shadow on her eyelids.

It was obvious she wasn’t sleeping peacefully, her brows were tightly furrowed.

He wondered if she also slept like this at night.

Jiang Fulai thought quietly to himself.

“What fragrance has the butler always used?” Jiang Fulai asked Ming Dongheng.

Ming Dongheng: “…?”

The topic changed so suddenly and before he could reply, Jiang Fulai had raised another new topic. Ming Dongheng looked up, bewildered, “Should I ask?”

“Yes.” Jiang Fulai straightened and returned to sit beside Bai Lian.

Ming Dongheng curiously looked at Bai Lian; this was the first time he had seen her asleep in public. Though Bai Lian seemed indifferent and careless about everything, deep down, she was extremely observant of these etiquettes.

Perhaps he had stared for too long.

Ming Dongheng felt a chilling gaze upon him and abruptly looked up, meeting Jiang Fulai’s pale but incredibly dangerous eyes. He jerked into alertness.

He quickly turned and fled the scene.

What business did he have staring at Miss Bai?

“Mr. Xiaoming,” Tang Ming happened to bring over two cups of milk tea just then, seeing Ming Dongheng in this state, he was puzzled, “Do you… do you need a doctor?”

Ming Dongheng wiped the fine sweat from his forehead, expressionless: “There’s no need.”

Tang Ming shrugged, and as he turned, he mimicked Ming Dongheng’s “There’s no need,” then muttered softly, “So cool.”

He went inside, saw that Bai Lian was still asleep, and carefully placed the two cups of milk tea beside Jiang Fulai.

Bai Lian continued to sleep. Ever since her father and brothers had died, she had hardly had a good night’s sleep. Her dreams were full of bloodstained hands crawling out of yellow sand, the faces of her father and brothers dying with their eyes open, the Bai Family army all dying in battle, alone and unsupported…

Ever since she’d met Ji Mulan, the person she dreamt about most was her mother.

She repeatedly tried to recreate these scenes in her dreams.

Ji Heng always thought she was a young person full of energy who didn’t need to sleep.

Bai Lian moved her hand slightly and slowly opened her eyes. Jiang Fulai’s slender finger was pressing on the book, and he looked down at her, his brow slightly furrowed. He spoke in a somewhat low voice, frowning, “Did my page-turning wake you?”

Her vision was blurry for only a second before becoming clear. She propped herself up on the table and sat up, casually rubbing her wrist, “No, I’m just a light sleeper.”

Her voice was as languid as ever.

Jiang Fulai, with one hand, tore the plastic wrap off the milk tea straw, thrust the straw into the cup lid, and elegantly pushed the milk tea toward Bai Lian, “Clear your head.”

**

Meanwhile.

Purest Street, in Ji Heng’s courtyard, the gate was open.

Ji Heng was drawing, and next to him, a woman in her thirties was embroidering. She was working on the hem pattern for the fifteenth class girls’ skirts—there was a large quantity to do, and Ji Heng, worried he might not meet the deadline for the kids, had specifically asked the woman from next door, Mrs. Liu.

The door was tapped gently two or three times, “Hello.”

Ji Heng looked up and saw two strangers standing at the door; he put down his pen and got up, “Who are you looking for?”

The slightly older person on the left lifted his head and smiled, “Young master, long time no see.”