Her Entire Court Reborn with Her in the Modern World

Chapter 180: Chapter 179: Courtiers in Fierce Competition

Xu Zhao Yu’s hand trembled, and her phone dropped to the floor.

The Mingjing Cultural Heritage Institute!

The sudden noise startled the person on the other end. "Miss Xu, are you all right?"

After a long while, Xu Zhao Yu finally recovered her senses. "I’m fine. I’m just a little surprised. Does the Mingjing Cultural Heritage Institute really have a department dedicated to handwriting authentication?"

"They do. It’s just that it has never been open to the public, though their appraisals hold legal weight," the person replied. "That’s why I said it would be incredibly difficult."

"I understand. Thank you." Xu Zhao Yu hung up the phone and let out a long breath.

It seemed she needed to re-evaluate Ming Chengli’s capabilities.

Xu Zhao Yu still didn’t take Shi Changying seriously. In her eyes, Shi Changying had plenty of personality and the reckless bravery of youth, but at the end of the day, she only had a decade or so of life experience. She wouldn’t amount to much.

**

The next day. In the dining room of the Old Xu Mansion.

"Changying did an excellent job this time," Old Sir Xu praised. "The greater the risk, the greater the opportunity. However, only those who can withstand the risks and seize the opportunities possess true ability."

Shi Changying gave a half-hearted hum of acknowledgment, continuing to focus entirely on devouring the food on her plate.

Despite his enthusiasm being met with complete indifference, Old Sir Xu didn’t mind. Instead, he announced, "I’ve decided to transfer two percent of the company’s shares to Changying."

Xu Shuangqiao was shocked to hear this. Among their generation, no one had been given any shares yet.

Shi Changying remained completely unfazed. She wolfed down her breakfast like a whirlwind, wiped her hands, slung her backpack over her shoulders, and left for school.

Xu Shuangqiao left soon after. She was preparing a new script and needed to go location scouting.

Only Old Sir Xu and Old Madam Xu were left in the massive mansion.

Old Madam Xu finally lost her composure. "Are you insane? You’re actually transferring shares to her? Even Shuangqiao and Shuyu don’t have any! What gives her the right? Don’t tell me you want her to inherit the company!"

Old Sir Xu simply replied, "She has courage. She can keep her subordinates in line."

"And another thing, did you tell Zhao Yu to leave the company yesterday?" Old Madam Xu accused. "Zhao Yu is already sensitive by nature. How could you say such a thing to her? What if you broke her heart?"

Old Sir Xu retorted, "Would you rather watch the Xu Group change hands?"

That immediately silenced Old Madam Xu.

"Zhao Yu already holds five percent of the shares. She won’t be short on annual dividends," Old Sir Xu said flatly. "She is now a member of the Meng family, and the Meng family certainly won’t let her lack for anything."

Old Madam Xu couldn’t help but wipe her tears. "Are blood ties really that important? Were all the feelings we’ve shared over the years fake? How could you change so quickly? My Zhao Yu... she is the daughter I raised by my side all these years!"

Old Sir Xu remained steadfast. "The feelings certainly aren’t fake, but I absolutely will not allow the company to fall into the hands of an outsider."

Even though the Xu family and the Meng family were related by marriage, if the Meng Group ever had the capability to swallow the Xu Group whole, they would absolutely do so without sparing a thought for their ties.

The conversation had hit a dead end. Furious, Old Madam Xu stormed back to her bedroom.

Old Sir Xu didn’t try to placate her. Instead, he headed to the company to begin preparing for the share transfer.

**

That morning. Inside the language arts department office at Jianghuai High School.

"Changying, this year’s Youth Calligraphy Competition is incredibly important," Teacher Bei said with a solemn expression. "I heard the organizers specifically sent someone to the Yunzhou division to serve as the chief judge."

Shi Changying thought for a moment before asking, "From the Mingjing Cultural Heritage Institute?"

"Exactly," Teacher Bei confirmed. "I hope you can give it your all and take first place."

Shi Changying fully agreed. "I will do my absolute best to win that prize money."

No one was going to snatch away the money that rightfully belonged to her.

Teacher Bei was rendered speechless. He wondered if there was something wrong with that motivation.

As they were talking, the office door was pushed open. It was the math teacher.

"Oh, perfect timing, Changying. You’re here." He pushed up his glasses, his tone amiable. "Your math grades have improved rapidly lately. You are very bright; both your teachers and classmates can see that."

Shi Changying gladly accepted the praise without any false modesty. Of course she was smart.

"Therefore, I hope you can push yourself to become even more exceptional," the math teacher continued. "There is an intensive training camp during the winter break in Mingjing. It lasts for seven days. Are you interested in participating?"

Shi Changying didn’t even have to think about it. "No."

Having Shaoyuan tutor her was more than enough.

The math teacher was stunned. He hadn’t even finished speaking!

"Changying, the instructors at this intensive camp are all top-tier professors from Mingjing University," the math teacher urged earnestly. "The camp covers all room and board expenses. Furthermore, if you earn the title of ’Outstanding Camper’ at the end, there’s a cash prize. If you perform exceptionally well, you might even get a chance to enter Mingjing University, and—"

Shi Changying instantly interjected, "I’ll go."

The math teacher’s voice abruptly cut off. He hadn’t finished his sentence this time either!

"Then I will put your name down for it. Make sure you let your family know," the math teacher said, resigning himself to her erratic pace. "All right, go to class."

Shi Changying clasped her hands behind her back and sauntered off leisurely.

The math teacher pondered for a long time but couldn’t figure out why she had suddenly agreed. Completely baffled, he asked Teacher Bei, "Why did she change her tune so suddenly?"

Teacher Bei drawled slowly, "Probably because it covers room and board, and there’s a cash prize."

The math teacher was left completely speechless.

After the afternoon classes ended, the students had a forty-minute dinner break. Some headed to the school cafeteria, while others ventured out to the nearby snack street.

"Oh no, no, no! We’re too late!" Lu Mi suddenly let out a tragic wail. "I just checked—Qianqiusui has been open for less than an hour, and there are already over three thousand cups queued up ahead of us! We couldn’t get through that line even if we waited a whole week! And they’ve already shut down the ordering system!"

Shi Changying, however, was unfazed. "It’s fine. We can just drink something else."

"Sigh, but Qianqiusui isn’t like other milk tea brands," Lu Mi said, thoroughly frustrated. "Yingying, let’s go check it out first. Even if we can just snag a free sample, it’ll be worth it."

Delicious food had always been the ultimate bait to lure Shi Changying away. She instantly put down her pen, abandoned her practice questions, and followed Lu Mi out.

Song Qingmu sighed dramatically. "Young Master, it seems your allure still can’t compete with milk tea."

The moment the words left his mouth, he suddenly felt a chilling draft wash over his entire body.

"How strange. The temperature dropped again." Song Qingmu pulled his jacket tighter around himself. "Young Master, are you going to the cafeteria? Or eating out?"

Shaoyuan didn’t respond, remaining seated quietly by the window.

Not minding the silence, Song Qingmu muttered to himself, "I think I’ll go check out the hype at Qianqiusui too."

Just as Lu Mi had expected, by the time they arrived at Qianqiusui, the line was already snaking down the street—even at the sample-tasting window.

Lu Mi pouted. "Yingying, let’s just go get something else."

Shi Changying nodded. Just as she was about to turn around, someone called out to her.

"Little Changying! Look over here!"

Shi Changying turned back and saw Qian Qiu standing there, hands cupped like a megaphone. She was slightly surprised. "This milk tea shop is yours?"

Lu Mi’s eyes went wide. "Yingying, you know the owner of Qianqiusui?!"

"Mixing cocktails and shaking milk tea are actually quite similar processes," Qian Qiu said with a beaming smile. "I set aside a few cups specifically for you. And this young student is your friend? Come along, you can join us too."

Shi Changying and Lu Mi followed Qian Qiu into the garden at the back of the milk tea shop. It was a secluded and beautifully tranquil spot, blooming with a wide variety of flowers, with a cozy reading nook nestled off to the side.

At a glance, Shi Changying spotted a collector’s edition of *The Great Wilderness Immortal Journey* on the bookshelf.

Qian Qiu noticed her gaze. "If you like it, little Changying, I’ll give it to you as a gift."