Chapter 220: Creating A Prodigy
When Jiang Shuxuan came down, he saw Gu Xiqiao leading Baili Bin into the house. His heart tightened unhappily when he saw this, and said, “What, you don’t have food at your house now?”
“It’s not as good as the one you have,” Baili Bin shot back, looking around the room. He ignored Jiang Shuxuan’s coldness, and spoke modestly and politely, like a spring breeze.
Uncle Tai, who had followed the two from behind, could only stay silent when he heard Baili Bin’s words. Looks like the young master was indirectly saying that his cooking was not good!
Tang Yanling had always heard of Baili Bin, but never met him in person before, so she was enthusiastic when she finally got to see his person and was very warm to him. She brought out a plate of custard buns that had just been steamed, setting it down. “Hurry and up, there’s still more where that came from!”
She then went back into the kitchen, coming out with a plate of deep fried breadsticks.
“Aunt Tang, it smells great.” Smelling such a delicious fragrance even before eating, Baili Bin hadn’t planned on dissing Uncle Tai intentionally, but it looked like it happened anyway.
The deep-fried dough sticks were crisp and yellow, while the custard buns emitted a light aroma which made people drool.
After a bite, the taste was much more delicious than its smell. It was delicious to the point that he would swallow his own tongue if he could just to savor the taste! Baili Bin busied himself eating, but made sure to look up at the older woman and said, “Aunt Tang, you’re amazing!” Generally, someone like Tang Yanling’s status wouldn’t need to step foot in the kitchen, but not only did she, she even made such delicious food.
Tan Yanling brought out another stack of deep fried breadsticks, laughing as she shook her head. “I don’t have that kind of abilities. It’s Qiao Qiao who woke up early this morning to make these. I just watched her being busy in the kitchen, steaming those buns and what not.”
This was a completely unexpected answer, and Baili Bin looked towards the direction of the kitchen. From here, he could see Gu Xiqiao who had just entered the kitchen, and Jiang Shuxuan, who followed after her.
Being such a great cook at her age, the first thing that Baili Bin felt was not surprise or admiration, but a kind of unspeakable distress. Thinking back to the report that he had read, a child from an ordinary household would know how to cook some dishes at most. With such familiar ease in the kitchen, it wasn’t a question of talent, but rather a long-term habit.
An image of a little girl standing in front of the stove with a spatula in hand came to mind, and Baili Bin’s eyes stung a little, and he lowered his head.
***
Meanwhile, in the kitchen.
“This one’s done. Hurry and take it out.” Gu Xiqiao stood behind Jiang Shuxuan, pointing to a breadstick.
Jiang Shuxuan followed her instructions and slowly picked it out, and continued to flip the others. A while later, he suddenly opened his mouth, “I have to leave for a bit tomorrow.”
The voice behind him was silent for a while, before replying, “Has something happened again?”
“There’s been a few strange happenings recently. According to Yi Bin’s investigations, a lot of regular people have been caught up in it. It seems that some kind of forces are slowly seeping into the secular world.” Jiang Shuxuan didn’t bother hiding any of the details from her, telling her everything that Yi Bin had told him.
Gu Xiqiao lowered her eyes, knowing that the matter was more complicated than it was. But she stayed silent, only letting out a long sigh.
The two were also silent during the meal. When Tang Yanling mentioned that she needed to return to N City today, Gu XIqiao became even more depressed. “Mama Tang, let me send you off.”
“I’ll be taking a flight that’ll reach in two hours, don’t worry about it.” Tang Yanling said, peeling an egg for her. “I contacted Mrs. Zhang the other day, and she’ll be over today. I’ll leave when she arrives.” She was worried about leaving Gu Xiqiao here alone, after all.
After eating, Gu Xiqiao followed Tang Yanling upstairs to help her pack.
Jiang Shuxuan and Baili Bin sat downstairs.
After the two females disappeared upstairs, Jiang Shuxuan took out a cigarette from his pocket. Lighting it, he took a deep puff from it, and smoke filled the area. The pair of cold eyes glinted within the smoke, extremely chilling.
If he had known that Tang Yanling was leaving today, he wouldn’t have planned to leave tomorrow.
“When did you start smoking?” Baili Bin sat across from him, a surprised expression on his face.
“I’ve always been smoking.” Jiang Shuxuan took another two puffs before putting it out. He leaned over and pa.s.sed a few papers in hand to Baili Bin. “These are the names of the crew for ‘Divergent Paths’. When she was on the stunt wire yesterday, someone deliberately sabotaged it. I checked the wires myself, and there was some residual chi on it.”
Cheng Zhou had moved fast, and sent him the list of names yesterday night. He had even included the names of the delivery people together with the actors and actresses.
Jiang Shuxuan had handed the list over to Yi Tiao to investigate, and all motives and evidence had pointed to Fu Xuejun.
It was as he expected, and while Jiang Shuxuan had wanted to take action with his own hands, Fu Xuejun was still Baili Wenxi’s daughter, as well as Gu Xiqiao’s relative. He endured the urge, and instead intended to send someone to give a warning to the Fu family.
Always aware of Gu Xiqiao’s actions, Baili Bin of course knew that she had recently taken up a role in a new Xianxia drama. Hearing Jiang Shuxuan’s words, he grabbed the list quickly, his eyes scanning the words on the paper. His eyes fell on the name ‘Fu Xuejun’.
“I understand.” Baili Bin stood up, holding the paper in his hands tightly. His eyes were hard and cold. “I will handle it.”
“Hm.” Jiang Shuxuan had already antic.i.p.ated Baili Bin’s answer. As he was sending the other out, he was silent for a while, before finally saying, “I’ll probably be away for a while. Help me look after her a bit.”
There were so many extra people that had joined this small community, especially the bunch of people with Baili Wenxi. Jiang Shuxuan knew with Gu Xiqiao’s att.i.tude, she wasn’t willing to trouble others if anything happened to her. She would either solve it herself, or ignore it, just like that time in N City.
He knew that she thought of herself as a burden to others. Really, doing nothing would also make others feel heartache for her.
“Of course, be careful.” Baili Bin looked at Jiang Shuxuan, patting his shoulder. Thinking about it, Baili Bin was a little happy that the other had entrusted him with the task.
But when his eyes looked at the paper in hand, the smile vanished from his face instantly. He went home, and gave a call to Baili Qu, before Fu Wei.
***
Fu Wei, who had just hung up the phone, rubbed his temples in frustration. “Dongyi, find Fu Xuejun and bring her back to me.”
This was the first time that Fu Wei had called his daughter’s name in full. Although his tone was calm, Fu Dongyi’s heart still skipped a beat in surprise. He silently nodded his acknowledgement, and went out.
When Fu Xuejun was called back by Fu Dongyi, she felt inexplicably uneasy. She shouldn’t have done anything in the recent days, right?
Well, there was one thing, but who had proof?
When she thought about it, her heart calmed instantly as she knocked on the door.
After knocking and walking in, Fu Wei was smoking, not looking at her.
“Dad?” Fu Xuejun spoke meekly.
Fu Wei raised his eyes, glancing at her but stayed silent. After a long while, he finally spoke, “I received three calls in just one morning. Would you care to guess who they were from?”
Fu Xuejun was taken aback for a moment, and she studied her father’s face, trying to gauge his feelings, but was unable to.
However, Fu Wei didn’t wait for her answer, as he continued, “The Baili family, the Fu family, and Nine Heavens.”
With every word that came out from Fu Wei’s mouth, Fu Xuejun’s heart sank deeper.
“Jun’er, you’ve always been such an obedient child. Sensible and filial since you were young, and you’ve never let your mother and I worry about you before. Why have you become like this since we came back? It’s fine with the Fu family not acknowledging you, but now even the Baili family has done the same! I had wanted to give you a place in the Trial Tower through the Baili family, but now, you’ve disappointed me.” Fu Wei looked at Fu Xuejun, his eyes conveying the disappointment that he felt towards her.
When she heard Fu Wei’s words, something snapped in Fu Xuejun’s mind as she shouted, “How did I become like this?! Isn’t it you who changed first?! I’m your daughter, dad, why are you always looking at someone else! That Gu Xiqiao hasn’t done anything, but you and mom have picked out a female lead role for her, and even invested one hundred million in her. And me, when I said I wanted to act and wanted, you just gave me a supporting role, nothing else! You don’t treat me like your daughter at all!”
Fu Wei stared at his daughter, disbelief in his eyes. He didn’t know that Fu Xuejun thought of him like that. After close to twenty years of raising her, he had given consideration towards her for every single thing in her life. Even a stone would have transformed to a living being with all the care he had given her. He didn’t expect the words from her mouth, and he suddenly felt cold. He shakingly raised his hand and made a call, asking security to take Fu Xuejun out of the room.
Only when Fu Xuejun was being dragged out by the security did she realize what she had said, and she only stood rooted to the spot, stunned.
When Fu Dongyi saw her state, he couldn’t help but shake his head. “Miss, choosing a supporting role for you was to lessen any criticism aimed towards you. Have you forgotten that the madam practised with you until the middle of the night, and got a cold in the end. As for the investment, he didn’t inject funds in ‘Divergent Paths’ at all. Miss Gu got the role herself.”
Hearing Fu Dongyi’s explanation, Fu Xuejun finally reacted, grabbing his hand. “Tell me, what should I do now?”
“Go to A University, study hard, and take over Fu Enterprise in the future.” Fu Dongyi took back his hand carefully, but still explained to her patiently. “Your counsellor has called multiple times, saying that you have been skipping cla.s.ses. If you continue to do so, you will be suspended.”
A University! Fu Xuejun’s eyes lit up, she still had her talent in business! What was so great about being an actress? With Fu Enterprise’s position in the Imperial Capital, as long as she could take over, what was she to be afraid of? She would be able to have Gu Xiqiao under her feet sooner or later!
Fu Xuejun left Fu Enterprise building immediately with the thoughts in her mind. Behind her, Fu Dongyi watched her leave, and shook his head again. He then turned and returned to Fu Wei’s office.
“Nine Heavens have terminated their contract with us.” Fu Wei sighed while looking at the doc.u.ment in his hands.
Fu Dongyi’s face changed. “Why did they do that?” Wasn’t the talks going well? Luo Wenlang had even contacted him this morning.
Fu Wei shook his head. “I don’t know.” There was no explanation for it, but he suspected in his heart that the matter should be related to Fu Xuejun. With the cancellation of the contract between Nine Heavens and Fu Enterprise, their position in the Imperial Capital would be taking a plunge. Their stocks might even fall by at least a dozen points.
“Dongyi, if you have even half of Jun’er’s talent, then Fu Enterprise would have a successor.”Fu Wei thought back to Fu Xuejun’s display just now, and couldn’t help but get a headache from it. Fu Dongyi was a steady man, but he just didn’t have the financial talent that Fu Xuejun had.
Fu Dongyi: “…” Luo Wenlang had already provoked him enough today, can you not add oil to the fire, President Fu?
***
At the airport, Yin Shaoyuan watched as Tang Yanling was pulling Gu Xiqiao along, chatting as they walked. He asked quietly, “Brother Jiang, why do I feel like I’m the adopted child? And it’s actually Qiao Qiao who is the real child!”
Jiang Shuxuan glanced at him in silence, pondering whether he should add salt to the wound or not.
After sending Tang Yanling off, the three of them stood in the airport for a while before heading back. While Jiang Shuxuan went off to get the car, Yin Shaoyuan turned to Gu Xiqiao. “There’s been something going on in the slums lately, are you going to take a look?”
Gu Xiqiao raised her head to look at the sky, and then shook her head. “Maybe another day.”
Yin Shaoyuan was playing with his phone, and then let out a sigh at her answer. There was some hidden grudge in his eyes as he looked at the girl. “Then I’ll head on back first, remember to let me know before you come.”
As soon as he left, Jiang Shuxuan’s car pulled up by her side. Gu Xiqiao stepped into the car, pulling out her phone once she was settled in.
There was a bunch of news, and it was all from Luo Wenlang.
Luo Wenlang: Uncle Mu said that the amus.e.m.e.nt park in N City hasn’t been submitting their quota report, but since it involves0 the Wu family, he hasn’t sent anyone over yet.
Luo Wenlang: Fu Dongyi has no talent in finance at all. Boss Gu, are you sure you want us to train him? He’s still from Fu Enterprise, he’ll not be appreciate this training! Also, I have no idea where to start!
For A Millenium: I’ll be in Nine Heavens tomorrow afternoon, we’ll talk about this then.
After sending this message, Gu Xiqiao turned off WeChat and stared out the window.
Obviously it was a yes, she wanted to let Fu Xuejun see everything that was initially at her fingertips burn away completely.
She had initially planned on letting her off, but then Fu Xuejun dared to dangle like this in front of her. She clearly didn’t know how stingy Gu Xiqiao was, or how she was extremely petty and could hold a grudge!
Even if Fu Dongyi didn’t have the talent, she would turn him into a prodigy.
[Beauty Qiao, look at Weibo! It’s exploding!]