Chapter 610 - Chapter 610: Ji Heng arrived in 238, a gift from the Ma Institute scholar (first update)_2
Chapter 610: Ji Heng arrived in 238, a gift from the Ma Institute scholar (first update)_2
Xiao Bingwen was truly astonished now, “An intergenerational friendship?”
Does Bai Lian play the guzheng that well?
He couldn’t resist looking toward Bai Lian, as well as the few people beside her.
**
Pu Xiaohan put down the camera and brought up the fact that Ji Heng was going to stay here for a long time, “So you’re going to be residing here frequently?”
“I’ll be living here for a while,” Ji Heng set down the pipe in his hand.
Several people sat down around the coffee table.
Xiao Bingwen sat next to Xu Nanjing, opposite to him was the director of the institute, and Jiang Fulai was also there; he felt as if sitting on pins and needles, in contrast to Pu Xiaohan and Ning Xiao’s group, who all seemed more at ease than he was.
Calling Jiang Fulai “Brother Jiang” and the institute director “Grandpa Jian”.
Even if he talked about this, it would be hard for people in the circle to believe it.
Outside the private room, the manager brought two more people in.
One blond, one redhead.
Quite a lively scene.
As soon as Pu Xiaohan looked up, she saw Mao Kun and Xiaowu, “Brother Mao, you guys are a bit late. Did Xiaoqi not come?”
She looked back but didn’t see Xiaoqi’s figure.
Xu Nanjing set down his wine glass and recognized the blond in the middle at a glance; it was the spirited youth he had briefly seen before at the intersection of Purest Street.
How could this person also be in Jiangjing?
“Ah, Hall Master Jin has arrived; he is settling in those masters,” Mao Kun, wearing slippers, greeted Bai Lian and Ji Heng casually, “Grandpa, sister.”
Mao Kun often fought over washing dishes with Director Chen.
Ji Heng had a deep impression of him; in his eyes, these were all lively juniors.
“Are you working in Jiangjing now too?” Ji Heng invited Mao Kun to sit down quickly.
The moment he arrived in Jiangjing, it was so lively, with the children’s chattering voices all around; Ji Heng’s smile was very evident.
**
When Director Chen brought his decades-old wine collection over, a group of people were already sitting together in high spirits.
His status nowadays had improved a lot, and after his return this time, being promoted to the top position in Yunxiao District wouldn’t be a problem.
Of course, Director Chen had also caught the right moment – Yunxiao District was cracking down hard this time, and there had been a thorough change from the top down. With his achievements and reporting back at this time, it was just right to take over the position at the top.
Xiao Bingwen certainly knew his father now wanted to stand by his team.
He quickly stood up and greeted Director Chen politely, “Director Chen.”
Director Chen nodded at Xiao Bingwen and after greeting Jiang Fulai, Ji Heng, Bai Lian and the others, he said to Ji Heng, “Uncle Ji, we two should really have a good drink today.”
It had indeed been a long time since they last met.
The group had a lot to talk about.
To Bai Lian’s left was Jiang He, to her right was Jiang Fulai, and next to Jiang He was Shen Qing, who was peeling shrimp for Bai Lian and Jiang He.
“They want me in charge of the branch office,” Ji Shaojun sat next to Shen Qing, telling Ji Heng about the recent developments.
Holding his wine glass, Ji Heng nodded upon hearing this, “It should indeed be yours.”
Ji Shaojun poured some wine, “They want to hold an ancestry rite.”
After taking Ji Shaojun out for a spin last time, most people in the circle were aware of Ji Shaojun’s existence.
“What rite?” Director Chen was always very keen on matters concerning Bai Lian’s family; when he heard Ji Shaojun speak, he looked up immediately.
“It’s not certain,” Ji Shaojun looked at Director Chen, “I’ll let you know when it’s confirmed.”
He spoke briefly, and the conversation shifted back to fishing.
The institute director, on the other hand, was discussing the guzheng with Bai Lian, “I think you can play ‘Desert’.”
Bai Lian held her chopsticks, her brows and eyes lazy, “I can’t practice it, I can’t evoke that kind of feeling.”
“She?” Dean Jian didn’t understand who Bai Lian was referring to with “she,” just offering a cliché, “Look at how high you set the bar for yourself, you’re really suited for our ancient zither faction, don’t you really plan to take over?”
Bai Lian remained silent.
Across from Dean Jian, Xiao Bingwen simply couldn’t hold back. Take over as the leader of the ancient zither community? How gifted must Bai Lian be?
**
As they spoke, next to Ning Xiao, Jiang Fulai also put down his chopsticks, bowed his head and asked Ning Xiao and Tang Ming in a low voice, “Have you guys signed the contract?”
The tone always conveyed a casual sense of detachment.
“Signed with the physics department,” Ning Xiao replied.
Jiang Fulai nodded slightly, his wrist resting on the glass table, his pale fingertips tapping the table absentmindedly.
The sound wasn’t loud, but it made Ning Xiao and Tang Ming feel tense.
After a long while, Jiang Fulai spoke, “You guys know about Jiang University’s Tongfeng class, right?”
Tang Ming was not very clear, but Ning Xiao, having been in the provincial team, had heard of it. Smart as he was, as soon as Jiang Fulai mentioned it, he understood the young master’s meaning.
“Jiang Brother, are you saying…”
“Yes,” Jiang Fulai stopped tapping, his voice as light as the breeze and the clouds, “I collected last year’s questions for you last night. You guys will work on them tomorrow.”
Although it was summer vacation, Tang Ming and Ning Xiao hadn’t stopped doing practice problems.
While Bai Lian was soaking up in the library in Jiangjing, the two had already climbed the overall ranking ladder in Xiangcheng.
For them, doing practice problems had become the norm.
Sijing Club was a lively place, and Xu Nanjing had wanted to invite more people to warm up the scene, but Jiang Fulai said the Ji Family didn’t like it too rowdy, so Xu Nanjing didn’t invite anyone, not even Gao Yan, only bringing her gift.
During a lull in the excitement, Xiao Bingwen quietly left and, with the manager, rolled the cake inside.
A four-layer cake.
It was adorned with delicate, lifelike thin rose petals as well.
The lights were turned off, leaving only the candlelight from the cake shining.
Bai Lian stood in front of the cake, the candlelight blurring her features as she looked at the cake, with the voices of Pu Xiaohan and Tang Ming among others in her ears.
Jiang Fulai was opposite her, silently watching her through the flame.
Since she came to Xiangcheng, met Jiang He.
Lived on Purest Street.
Then changed her household registration, staying in Class 15.
…
After coming to Xiangcheng, all these people were still around her, not one less, except for Zhang Shize. Everything felt like glimpsing flowers on horseback.
**
Meanwhile.
Downstairs.
Assistant Yun parked the car, turning to look at Ma Institute in the back seat, “Ma Institute, is this the place?”
As he asked, Assistant Yun looked at Sijing Club’s Level 9 staircase. Although he enjoyed accompanying Ma Institute in academic lectures for coffee breaks, he had never seen such a scene.
Always in Chang’an District, but with the recent turmoil in Yunxiao District, Assistant Yun had also heard about it.
Ma Institute had just finished being busy, used to leaving the research institute at eleven or twelve in the evening as a routine.
He also left the research institute early today.
“This is the place,” Ma Institute’s gaze lingered on Sijing Club’s building, then lowered to the address Jiang Fulai gave him, confirming it before telling Assistant Yun, “Wait for me here, I’ll just deliver something and be right back.”
He picked up the slightly old-fashioned black notebook and a USB drive placed beside him and got out of the car.