003 Grandpa heads to Learn liberal arts_1

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Bai Qiming finished speaking and hung up the phone.

Since ancient times, Jiangjing has always been the capital, the economic center of Asia.

Most of the country's inherited major families are located in Jiangjing.

Centering on Jiangjing, four cities in the southeast, northwest form a clear-cut circle of power and nobility, which to this day remains a chasm that one cannot cross.

Almost everyone strives from birth to attend Jiangjing University, that emblem of status and identity.

And Xiangcheng—

A border town, inhabited by all sorts of people, swarming with international fugitives, where countless people go missing each year, and most people earn a fixed salary, their lives set in stone once they enter the city.

Naturally, Bai Qiming didn't think Bai Lian would go there.

Businessmen prioritize profit, and his love for Ji Mulan had been wearing thin day by day.

Accordingly, Bai Lian's status fell day by day.

Even ordinary families can't treat everyone equally, let alone a grand household like the Bai Family.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been unaware that Bai Lian had left the Bai Family long ago.

The servants downstairs were also restless upon receiving the call, not understanding Bai Qiming's intention, only exchanging worried glances.

Where could they find another young miss to bring back?

Shortly after, the servant who answered the phone nervously went upstairs to knock on the study door.

"Where is she?" Bai Qiming glanced at him.

The servant was on the verge of tears, "The young miss, she... she..."

Butler Bai was by the side, his voice hoarse and his expression complex as he explained, "Sir, the young miss... she set off for Xiangcheng that night."

As for the ancestral hall, she didn't even give it a glance.

The study instantly fell into a cold silence.

"Good, very good indeed!" Bai Qiming's face was as grim as water, and he said indifferently, "Since she's so determined, let her transfer her household registration out too. From now on, whether she lives or dies, whether she is honored or disgraced, it has nothing to do with the Bai Family."

Bai Lian had caused trouble before, and there were times when Bai Qiming and Ji Mulan indulged her, but now, she might be overestimating herself, truly believing that the Bai Family would go to Xiangcheng to beg her to return?

Bai Qiming's rage naturally couldn't be concealed from others.

Soon, the Grand Elder of the clan came to know of the matter.

"Forget it, don't bother, let her seek her own fortune," the Grand Elder waved his hand, not concerned as long as Bai Shaoke's name remained in the family register, "It's just a shame about that mentorship pledge, a cow chewing on a peony."

When the Bai Family first learned of Bai Shaoke's existence, the Grand Elder personally made three respectful visits to invite him back to the Bai Family, but Bai Lian's departure was of little consequence to the Bai Family.

In the hearts of Grand Elder and the others, Bai Lian was even less significant than that mentorship pledge.

**

By the time Bai Lian received the message from the Bai Family's servant, she had already arrived at her uncle's neighborhood.

She dismissed the message without a care.

Bai Lian's uncle lived in the old district of Xiangcheng, unlike the high-rise buildings in the center of Beicheng City, this neighborhood was quite rundown.

Her uncle's family lived on the fifth floor with no elevator, and the stairwell was dark and unlit.

When she knocked on the door and entered, her aunt in a skirt stood up to greet her, her eyes clearly seeking favor as she reached out to take Bai Lian's suitcase, "Alian is here, why didn't you call so I could help you with your luggage?"

Bai Lian didn't hand it over, and her aunt chuckled awkwardly, stepping back.

Bai Lian looked up, "Hello."

A face that was languid, yet strikingly distinctive.

Ji Auntie instantly felt that the shabby 100-square-meter home and the dim stairwell were utterly mismatched with her niece.

"Let's eat first, Alian. This is your grandfather; you probably haven't met him before. Your uncle is still teaching students to paint; he won't be back until the evening. Do you remember your eldest uncle..." Ji Auntie was very enthusiastic, and she introduced Bai Lian to her grandfather sitting on the couch.

Bai Lian's gaze settled on her grandfather.

Her grandfather, Ji Heng.

According to the original owner's memory, Ji Mulan had a poor relationship with the Ji Family and had only returned once in many years, standing at the door for a long time.

Ji Heng had not opened the door at that time, nor had he seen them.

This was their first meeting.

Ji Heng sat on the fabric sofa, his eyes fixed on the TV playing news, with reading glasses on his nose. His jacket, though washed and slightly faded, was embroidered with extremely delicate patterns. He sat with a straight back, holding an old smoking pipe in his hand.

After the aunt went to the kitchen and quite a while passed, Ji Heng finally spoke in a muffled voice, "Has your mother been in touch with you these past two years?"

Bai Lian looked at the exquisite embroidery on his body. She sat down on the couch with her eyes lowered and legs crossed, appearing docile and harmless, though her fingers idly twirled a red ribbon, "No."

The original owner's mother had been out of touch for two years already.

Ji Heng nodded, lowered his head to silently draw a puff from his dry pipe, and said no more.

Bai Lian obediently sat for a while, but when she saw no one paying attention to her, she casually leaned against the couch and lazily took out her phone to browse the news.

The lunch was bountiful, all to Bai Lian's liking.

"Have you transferred your school registration yet?" In the midst of silence, Ji Heng inquired.

"It's being processed; it should be transferred in a couple of days."

"Mm. When your uncle comes back, have him help you contact the teachers at Xiangcheng Middle School."

The aunt felt something was amiss.

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"School records? What school records?"

"I've transferred to Xiangcheng to attend school," Bai Lian had only eaten a few bites of white rice before she put down her chopsticks, "I've left the Bai Family."

Aunt's mind buzzed, "Left, what do you mean by left?"

Bai Lian pulled out a tissue and wiped the corner of her mouth, her tone nonchalant, "It means I was kicked out, and I need to transfer my household registration too. I can't go back anymore."

"What?!" Aunt's voice was a bit shrill, "What about your dad?"

Bai Lian looked at her with an "you tell me" expression.

She didn't see any joke on Bai Lin's face.

Aunt didn't eat much, she was distracted and didn't know what she was thinking about and couldn't resist taking out her phone to search.

She didn't know what she saw in the news, but her expression turned sour, and she didn't even wash the bowls.

Uncle Bai Lian came back quite early, and before he had a chance to greet Ji Heng, he was pulled into the room by aunt.

The soundproofing wasn't very good, and from the room came the muffled voice of aunt, "Ji Shaojun, did you already know she would be staying here and had me prepare a room for her?"

"Keep your voice down," Uncle Ji's voice was low, "Dad and Alian are outside—"

"But did you see the size of our house..."

Before long, the two came out.

"Alright," Ji Heng picked up the pipe that was set aside, knocked it on the table, making a loud noise. His wrinkled face showed no expression. He bowed his head to light it, and the smoke blurred his features, "Alian, come to my place."

Ji Shaojun looked toward his father, opened his mouth, but knew once Ji Heng decided something, no one could change his mind.

Aunt paused for a moment.

Then, smiling, she touched her hair, "Dad, why don't you stay for dinner?"

"No," Ji Heng exhaled a ring of smoke, looking over at Bai Lian, "Come back with me."

Ji Shaojun was a step behind Ji Heng, waiting for him to leave first, then he turned to his wife, "Shen Qing, listen to yourself, what did you just say? Alian just got back today, is it appropriate to say those things?"

After many years of marriage, his wife wasn't without emotional intelligence. He didn't understand why she intentionally made Ji Heng and Bai Lian hear those things.

"I made it a point to let your dad hear it. Everyone in your family acts the same. If I don't talk straight, your dad won't understand a word," Shen Qing picked up a rag, her voice tinged with sarcasm.

She was boiling with irritation.

She knew all too well the kind of person her niece was—getting into fights, drag racing, bar hopping, she didn't miss a beat.

Ji Mulan had a falling out with Ji Heng when she was eighteen, and nobody in the Ji Family knew she had married into a wealthy family. Shen Qing had secretly seen it on Ji Shaojun's phone before.

The Bai Family had never acknowledged the Ji Family as their poor relations; they hadn't visited Xiangcheng once.

She had hoped that with Bai Lian's return to Xiangcheng, there might be a chance for her to socialize with the Bai Family.

Who could have known that Bai Lian was just like Ji Mulan, falling out with her wealthy father as well.

"I'm asking you, isn't she a senior like Wanxuan? Are we going to continue supporting her if she doesn't get into university next year? One Ji Mulan, one Ji Shaorong, you won't let them lend a hand, yet you're cleaning up after her?" The more she thought about it, the more she felt wronged, she continued, "Your family always tries to act above it all, but can you eat pride? No wonder the Bai Family favors that illegitimate child."

"This isn't about pride, it's about principles," Ji Shaojun said as he opened the front door, glancing at Shen Qing before going downstairs, "And don't compare that illegitimate child with Alian."

Shen Qing stood there, her face cold, tossing the rag into the sink.

Had she said anything wrong?

Even Bai Lian's own mother abandoned her like an old shoe. She was just lucky to be born into a family with some protection. How could she compare to the highly intelligent illegitimate child of the Bai Family?

She didn't understand, what were Ji Heng and Ji Shaojun holding onto?

**

Outside.

Ji Shaojun quickly caught up to the two others, silently going to pick up Bai Lian's suitcase.

Bai Lian paused, she looked at Ji Shaojun for about ten seconds before letting go.

Ji Shaojun hoisted the suitcase.

Bai Lian watched his retreating figure for a long while before buckling her hat.

She followed behind, leisurely searching on her phone for something that interested her. A new message popped up from one of the original owner's rowdy friends, and she replied.

The original owner didn't have many friends, mostly rich kids with nothing better to do. This was the only one who had contacted her in the past couple of days.

Rowdy friend: "What's with your fiancé?"

As she spoke, she sent a screenshot.

Bai Lian clicked on the image, revealing a WeChat Moments screenshot.

[Bai Shaoqi: This is the price you pay for underestimating others (playful) [Image]]

The photo showed her distinguished fiancé sideways, holding a rag and wiping a window.

It was apparent that Bai Shaoqi was well-liked, with lots of responses, likes, and comments beneath the photo.

In Beicheng City, who wouldn't recognize Song Min, the third young master of the Song Family?

—Delightful to see, our Young Master Song has descended to the mortal realm

—Only you could do this, goddess!

—Haha, insider here: Song Min always defies fate, but doesn't he forget that Shaoqi is Bai Qiming's little sister, huh~

—Right? He must think Shaoqi is that young lady who couldn't last a day in our international class, did too poorly in sciences, and then was booted out to study liberal arts by our homeroom teacher in frustration!

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