Old Master Bai continued smiling. He showed no signs of hostility and looked especially friendly instead. “Didn’t you abuse your authority to meddle in the competition, amend my granddaughter’s score, and mobilize the Security Bureau because you thought that my granddaughter was a pushover who has nobody to back her up, Elder Leng?”
…A pushover who has nobody to back her up? Qin Fang and He Yidu were rendered speechless. When they entered the meeting room earlier, they saw a surgical knife sticking out of Gu Mang’s pocket. According to Lu Yī, she had packed a box of surgical tools the night before she came to Jijing Island. They dared not imagine what would have happened to Leng Xuan had they not arrived in time.
Lu Chengzhou took the two exams from Gu Mang’s hand and a black flash drive from his own pocket before passing them to Elder Bai. “This is all the evidence.”
Elder Bai took them, then bowed at Old Master Bai. “I’ll go over to the Elders’ Association now.”
Old Master Bai nodded. Elder Bai thus turned to leave with the evidence, but as he did so, another group of people arrived. The Head Elder was leading the new group and Old Master Leng was just behind him.
“Are you heading over to the Elders’ Association, Elder Bai?” Old Master Leng smiled. “You can save the trip since the Head Elder is here now.”
The meeting room was not very big and with the new group’s arrival, it felt cramped and stuffy.
Leng Xuan felt the tension in her head dissipate at the sight of the Head Elder and Old Master Leng. “Head Elder, Grandpa.”
With his hands behind his back, the Head Elder greeted Old Master Bai, but the latter was not interested in exchanging pleasantries with him. “Since the Head Elder is here, I’d like to know how the Elders’ Association plans to settle this matter.”
“This is just a misunderstanding,” said the Head Elder, smiling.
The smile on Old Master Bai’s face slowly faded when he heard this.
The Head Elder took a few steps forward and bowed his head respectfully at Gu Mang. “Ms. Gu, why didn’t you inform us of your return?”
Everyone’s mind went blank. Leng Xuan holds a high position on Jijing Island, but even she has to treat the Head Elder with respect. But the Head Elder addressed Gu Mang as Ms. Gu…
Leng Xuan stared at the Head Elder, dumbfounded. It took her a long time before she finally returned to her senses and processed the information. The Elders’ Association holds almost the same status as Huo Zhi on Jijing Island. The two keep each other in check. Given the Head Elder’s status, he doesn’t need to address anyone as such.
Ms. Gu… A thought suddenly struck her mind, which made her clench her fists. Based on the information I read about Gu Mang, she has an eight-year-old younger brother named Gu Si. Huo Zhi went to Mingyu Island to look for the Gu family’s eight-year-old young master. Mingyu Island’s Red Flame belongs to Lu Chengzhou. Gu Mang and Gu Si are the Elders’ Association’s chosen people… Gu Mang is the granddaughter of the Bai family as well as the Gu family…
Leng Xuan did not have the authority to access information on the Gu family’s young mistress and young master, so she did not know their names. Upon recalling that Gu Mang nearly destroyed the research base long ago, her face darkened. She never imagined that the girl she despised so much would actually turn out to be a bigshot on Jijing Island.
Although Qin Fang and He Yidu had long found out about Gu Mang and Gu Si’s identities, they were still shocked to hear the Head Elder confirm it. To think we managed to meet Jijing Island’s crown princess and prince. Most importantly, Gu Si is currently based at Red Flame.
Everyone appeared stunned.
Gu Mang grabbed the back of a chair and turned it around before sitting down and looking up at the Head Elder with a smile. “This isn’t a nice place where everyone wants to come after all.”
Lu Chengzhou pulled a chair over and offered it to Old Master Bai. “Please, take a seat.”
Old Master Bai stared hard at Lu Chengzhou, but he did not refuse the seat. Lu Chengzhou then sat next to Gu Mang.
The Head Elder smiled and sat down as well. He didn’t take offense at Gu Mang’s words and instead said, “Leng Xuan did wrong this time by offending you.”
Gu Mang showed no emotions as she looked down and fiddled with her phone.
The Head Elder continued, “But the reputation of Jijing Island’s medical association and Academic Center will be destroyed if the surveillance footage and the voice recording reach the media.”
Leng Xuan smirked when she heard that. It looks like the Head Elder is here to help me, not Gu Mang. Now that the Head Elder has expressed his intention to suppress the matter, I’d like to see who dares to publish news about me.
“Let’s settle this matter in private. The Academic Center will send out a notice stating that our staff made a mistake with Capital University’s team roster, which led to you missing the training and your poor score,” said the Head Elder. “Neither Capital University nor your reputation will suffer any damage.”
It was clear that he wanted to protect Leng Xuan. Not only would he not change back Gu Mang’s score and hold Leng Xuan accountable for the things she had done, he even wanted Gu Mang to admit that the voice recording was faked.
Old Master Bai’s eyes darkened. Gu Mang stopped playing with her phone and looked up.
The Head Elder placed his hands on the conference table. “Leng Xuan will apologize to you. As compensation, the Elders’ Association will also do our best to fulfill all of your requests. That’ll be the end of this matter.”
“The end of this matter?” repeated Gu Mang with a laugh. “It’s too late.”