University Road, a private club.
Inside a luxurious private room, six women of very different ages were sipping on tea and chatting.
Each one was decked out in jewels and designer labels.
It included the owner of Song Crystal, Song Ling.
In just two hours, the news that the Leng Family had already picked a future daughter-in-law had spread rapidly throughout the major families in Jin City, as well as among the circles of socialites.
"It’s too fast, I have a hard time believing it."
"Why would I lie to you, it’s absolutely true. I tell you, even when Mr. Lai was alive, he had announced to the public that whoever moved into Princess’s room in Bie Yuan would be the future mistress of the Leng Family. Did you know that? Even Madam Lai has never stayed in that room."
"What do you think Madam Lai sees in that Tang Xiaowan, given she’s not from a prominent family?"
"I skimmed her social media once, nothing but vulgarity."
"Li Zishen must have been bewitched by her. Those wild girls from the mountains are full of tricks, desperate to marry into wealth... What schemes wouldn’t they think up?"
The women looked at each other and nodded in agreement.
In this company, Song Ling couldn’t get a word in edgewise. In terms of family reputation and financial resources, she was the least powerful.
Moreover, since Li Zishen was her God of Wealth and absolutely not someone she could afford to offend, saying nothing seemed to be the safer approach.
Taking advantage of a trip to the restroom to touch up her makeup, she called her daughter Song Jiaqi.
"Did Lady Tang go to school today?"
"Make sure to get along with her well, our family’s future depends on her. Invite her over this weekend, I’ll cover all the expenses."
"Got it, Dad has told me several times already."
"Good, I’ll treat you to a nice dinner tonight."
Hanging up, Song Jiaqi’s face was full of worry.
Her parents’ instructions were even more challenging than becoming the top student in her grade–a virtual impossibility.
Invite her over to hang out?
Forget it, she’d rather steer clear if she could.
The incident in the bathroom inexplicably came flooding back to her mind.
"Your way of holding a knife is a bit off, be careful. It’d be a shame if you injured that pretty little face of yours."
Just thinking about Tang Xiaowan’s deft movements and her wickedly charming smile made Song Jiaqi gasp in fear.
"Oh my God, she’s like a little demon."
As she finished speaking, she saw a figure in a floral dress flash by, and Song Jiaqi hastily rubbed her eyes, timidly looking towards the distance.
From her position on the second floor, she could look down at the small garden of the Foreign Language College.
"Did she fly over there?"
That was Song Jiaqi’s first thought.
In the pavilion of the small garden, a man stood facing Tang Xiaowan, apparently giving her some instructions.
Even though the man had his back to Song Jiaqi, she was certain he was not Yishen Group’s head, Li Zishen.
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"Is that a bodyguard Li Zishen arranged to prevent Tang Xiaowan from being kidnapped?"
That was Song Jiaqi’s second thought.
A few minutes later, Tang Xiaowan left the pavilion.
Just as she entered the academic building, she saw a breathless Song Jiaqi.
She had just run down from the second floor.
"I, I think, I want to..."
Seeing Song Jiaqi stumbling over her words, Tang Xiaowan touched her nose and smiled devilishly, "What is it you want to do, challenge me to a duel, or wish to become my disciple?"
"No, it’s not that, I want to... to be friends with you, if that’s okay?"
After struggling to get the words out, Song Jiaqi’s heart raced as if she were undergoing inspection by the school officials.
"Go ask Chen Yu. As long as she’s willing to forgive you, and also your trio of sisters, we can talk."
With that, Tang Xiaowan went upstairs.