Ma’am You Have Been Uncovered

Cheng Mu had heard about Principal Xu from Lu Zhaoying and the rest.

But he had never seen him at the school doctor’s office before. He had seen way too many big shots in Yun Cheng recently and was a little immune to it after the initial shock. “Who are you looking for?”

Master Juan or Young Master Lu?

The Lu family and the Xu family were on neutral terms. Rather, it was the Cheng family who had more dealings with the Xus.

The door was open and Principal Xu could see Qin Ran from outside.

Principal Xu turned his gaze back to Cheng Mu. “I’m looking for Qin Ran.”

Miss Qin?

Cheng Mu was a little surprised.

“Miss Qin, Principal Xu is outside. He asked for you.” He went back in and told Qin Ran.

Qin Ran was holding onto the black bag that Yang Fei handed her. Upon hearing that, she put it down.

Qin Ran walked out, leaving Cheng Mu slightly confused.

He watched as she headed for the door.

“Young Master Xu,” he said in a hushed tone, “is Principal Xu very close to Miss Qin? What’s he looking for her for?”

Lu Zhaoying placed a bottle of medicine into the glass cabinet and turned around. “Is he taking her in as a disciple too?”

He remembered Principal Xu talking about finding a successor.

His hands slowed down in their movements.

“… Are you being serious?” Cheng Mu poured a cup of water.

Master Wei was imparting a skill, but it was different for Principal Xu. It was more than a skill. His one choice could mean huge changes for the Xu family and even for the capital.

So many people in the capital were watching. If he really chose Qin Ran for the job, the capital would be in chaos.

Lu Zhaoying classified the medicine and then placed the stock list on the table. He glanced at Cheng Juan and began thinking about the probability of it happening.

**

In the courtyard.

Qin Ran couldn’t help but give a light cough, as Principal Xu had been staring at her for far too long. The wind was pretty strong outside and she had to put her hood up. “Principal Xu, you’re looking for me?”

“Mm.” Principal Xu nodded, his eyes still on her. “I heard you had an apprenticeship banquet last night?”

“I did.” Qin Ran was a little stunned.

She hadn’t told Principal Xu about it.

Qin Ran didn’t say much about Cheng Juan and Lu Zhaoying when she found that Chen Shulan informed them about it. But Principal Xu was different.

His appearance would change the whole dynamic of the event.

Principal Xu went silent for a while. “That teacher must be Wei Lin. You rejected me the last time because you said you didn’t want to go to the capital. You’ve changed your mind now?”

Qin Ran was looking down at her shoes and did not say much.

Principal Xu did not wait for her answer as he asked again, “Do you have something against me?”

“Ah.” Qin Ran looked up and smiled. “No, why would you think this way? Give me a bit more time to think about it.”

She didn’t tell Principal Xu that Chen Shulan was the one in charge of this thing with Master Wei.

Her willingness to think about it further meant that there was still room for negotiation.

Principal Xu looked at her deeply. “Then think about it carefully.”

Qin Ran went quiet for a while before saying, “I’ll consider it.”

Principal Xu came to look for Qin Ran to talk about this successor business in the first place. She had rejected him for so many years, and this was the first time she had left room for discussion and consideration. “Alright, then. Consider it on your own.”

Whenever he thought about how she agreed to Master Wei’s request, his heart ached.

Principal Xu said a little more before walking off.

There was some progress today. But compared to Wei Lin’s achievement, this was nothing to be proud of.

Principal Xu made a phone call while walking to his car.

**

Inside the school doctor’s office.

Qin Ran returned and saw that Cheng Juan was moving her other gifts to the couch.

“Qin Ran, what did Principal Xu say?” Lu Zhaoying took a few pairs of chopsticks from the pantry.

Qin Ran squatted by the couch with her gifts but did not look up. “He’s concerned about my studies.”

“Oh.” Lu Zhaoying nodded, trying to accept that answer.

Qin Ran opened the bag that Yang Fei gave her and paused for a moment, then shut it again.

“What did Sun God give you? I want to see it!” Lu Zhaoying reached out for it, but Qin Ran’s glare got him retracting his hands.

Pan Mingyue’s belongings were in a haversack bag.

Qin Ran opened it up and saw that it was a stack of discs.

They were the video recordings of her birthdays from the age of nine to nineteen. Pan Mingyue was just like her mother—she enjoyed filming since she was a child. Each time she went out, she would take tons of photographs and videos of architecture and the like.

It was Pan Mingyue’s mother who started filming her birthday videos, but she took over when she was 16.

Qin Ran wasn’t a fan of these recordings and simply left them in Pan Mingyue’s house.

The disc for her 18th birthday was broken.

Qin Ran opened the box for her 18th birthday and saw a stack of photographs. They were photographs of Pan Mingyue from the age of seven to nineteen.

Lu Zhaoying was about to pick the photos up to have a look, but Cheng Juan glanced at him.

Lu Zhaoying dared not touch it anymore. “Qin Ran, you’re that close to Pan Mingyue?”

There was a photo of both of them right at the top. The girl with the short hair and cold expression was obviously Qin Ran.

The other girl was smiling radiantly.

Lu Zhaoying was stunned. That didn’t really look like Pan Mingyue.

Cheng Juan slowly looked away, not wanting to look at it any longer. He took the glass bottle hanging on the violin and looked at it for a while before putting it back.

Qin Ran put Pan Mingyue’s belongings back down and then grabbed Gu Xichi’s plastic bag.

“This is the gift your friend gave you, right?” The Hua Mei Supermarket bag was too eye-catching. Cheng Mu recognized it right away.

He laid the table and then looked towards her. That was the most normal-looking gift he saw that night.

Qin Ran inverted the plastic bag and a pink crystal bigger than the size of a coin rolled out. It was pure and uncut.

It rolled towards the table and reflected the light pouring in from outside.

Cheng Mu was speechless.

He was stunned as he squatted down stiffly and picked up the crystal. “Miss Qin, this is…”

Cheng Mu had seen a pink crystal before, but not this up close.

This pink crystal was too beautiful.

Lu Zhaoying looked towards it. “What?”

He didn’t see it clearly.

Qin Ran took it back expressionlessly and tossed it back into the plastic bag. “Nothing much, just a piece of glass.”

“Oh.” Cheng Mu nodded, still in confusion.

He didn’t know what to think.

Lu Zhaoying did not see it clearly and simply nodded as well. He then moved towards Qin Ran. “Qin Ran, when are we going to Devil City to watch Sun God play?”

“We might not go,” Qin Ran replied coldly as she kept all the gifts.

She remembered the report that Gu Xichi sent to her.

She then took out her cell phone and looked for the photograph, showing it to Cheng Juan. “Do you know what this is?”

Cheng Juan was leaning against the couch. He wasn’t wearing a jacket and his shirt was a little wrinkled.

He took the cell phone and had a look.

He was all laid back until he saw the contents of the report. He narrowed his eyes and straightened up, pointing at the phone screen. “Who sent you this report?”

“A friend.” Qin Ran pursed her lips. “My grandma’s report.”

“Radiation…” Cheng Juan stood up and began murmuring to himself.

He then opened the glass door and walked into his office.

**

On the other side, Master Wei had just ended a call with the National Violin Association.

They were all asking about Qin Ran.

Master Wei hadn’t announced or publicized this matter regarding Qin Ran and was preparing to do so in the capital only in the following year.

“How do you think Miss Qin knows the Cheng and Lu families?” Uncle Hai finally recovered from his shock today, but it was all still incredulous to him.

Master Wei shook his head and smiled. “I was thinking of paving the way for her. Who would’ve known that she’s practically the one doing that for me.”

He exclaimed a little at this point.

The previous night, Jiang Hui had specially thanked him for finding Qian Dui.

Uncle Hai poured a cup of water and handed it to Master Wei, who was sitting on the couch. “The Cheng, Lu, and Jiang families are all accounted for. We’re just short of the Xu and Ouyang families. The Ouyang family are easygoing people, but the Xu family are known to be a little isolated and arrogant, not too approachable…”

Uncle Hai shook his head and smiled.

Then, a knocking sound on the door was heard