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Join the ServerMu Tianrui was ecstatic. With Bai Mengqi overseeing the Ability Bureau, even if only in name, the deterrent against illegal ability users would multiply exponentially.
However, Bai Mengqi did not come without her own conditions.
“But, Director Mu, I also have a condition.”
Mu Tianrui’s expression stiffened. His initial joy gradually gave way to a look of solemn concentration.
In his estimation, any condition Bai Mengqi proposed would certainly not be a trivial matter.
“Speak,” he urged. “As long as it’s something I can agree to, I won’t refuse.”
Bai Mengqi chuckled softly, then revealed her request. She was seizing this opportune moment to acquire several fragments of immortal crystals stored at the Jiangcheng Ability Bureau.
Upon learning that Bai Mengqi desired those mysterious fragments, Mu Tianrui’s expression shifted dramatically.
“You? Miss Bai, how do you know the Jiangcheng Ability Bureau possesses these fragments?”
Mu Tianrui’s demeanor immediately became wary. Those fragments, after all, represented the Ability Bureau’s greatest secret of recent years.
More than two decades ago, a sweeping meteor shower had brought countless extraterrestrial fragments to Earth. Their research had revealed that these fragments contained immense energy, and the Ability Bureau had managed to track down a portion of them.
Years of diligent study had confirmed that these fragments, when embedded within a human body or any living creature, could vastly enhance their abilities. This information was highly confidential.
Aside from a select few within the Ability Bureau, no one else knew of their existence. He couldn’t fathom how Bai Mengqi had come to know about them.
“Heh, Director Mu, how I know is not for you to ask,” Bai Mengqi replied. “My only question is whether the Ability Bureau is willing to give me these fragments.”
Bai Mengqi offered no explanation to Mu Tianrui’s query. She couldn’t very well tell him that the fragments were, in fact, her own.
Mu Tianrui found himself in a quandary. These items were undoubtedly treasures, yet their true value was still under investigation. Setting aside other considerations, their ability to enhance an ability user’s power made them priceless.
“This…” Mu Tianrui hesitated profoundly.
However, Bai Mengqi’s next words forced him to reconsider.
“Those things won’t serve much purpose in your hands. Besides, with my capabilities, I could have taken them without anyone knowing, had I truly wanted to. The reason I haven’t is my unwillingness to become an enemy of the Ability Bureau. Give them to me, and I can guarantee that after I join, I will be at the Ability Bureau’s beck and call whenever needed.”
With that declaration, Mu Tianrui had little else to say. He paced back and forth before Bai Mengqi, clearly struggling with the decision.
He didn’t ask why Bai Mengqi wanted these items, for her tone alone conveyed that she understood their origins far better than he did.
After a prolonged period of deliberation, Mu Tianrui finally made his decision.
“Alright, you can have the items, but not all at once. You may take one piece first. In the future, should we encounter trouble and require your assistance, we can offer additional fragments as payment for your intervention. How does that sound?”
This was the most cautious plan Mu Tianrui could devise. There was no inherent trust between them, as they had never cooperated before. He needed to build a relationship to ascertain if Bai Mengqi was truly trustworthy.
Bai Mengqi showed no signs of anger. Instead, she readily agreed.
“No problem at all. That’s perfectly reasonable.”
****
Thus, Bai Mengqi became a consultant for the Huaxia Ability General Bureau. A consultant held little real power; it was a leisurely position, somewhat akin to a sect’s enshrined elder in a novel.
Naturally, this identity would remain confidential within the Ability Bureau for the time being, as there was no need to make it widely known.
Bai Mengqi and Zi Yanran stayed in Haicheng for three days before boarding a plane arranged by the Ability Bureau, returning to Jiangcheng.
After all, this was their true home, and recovering from injuries was always better in familiar surroundings. The two first returned to Zi Yanran’s home.
Zi Ye and Su Xiaoshi had already prepared a lavish welcome feast, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the two women and Su Ruoxi. As a car pulled into the villa, Zi Ye and Su Xiaoshi, along with Zixuan and Ziyi, hurried out to greet them.
Bai Mengqi and the other two immediately stepped out of the car.
“Mom, Dad, we’re back!” Zi Yanran exclaimed with a smile.
Bai Mengqi’s parents nodded happily, their gaze fixed on Bai Mengqi. Ziyi and Zixuan also rushed over.
“Mama, Auntie Mengqi!” the two little ones called out affectionately.
Bai Mengqi scooped up her daughter in a warm embrace.
“Mm, you two little rascals, have you been good and listened to your grandparents during this time?” Bai Mengqi asked with a laugh.
Placing Ziyi next to Bai Mengqi, it was evident they were mother and daughter. Of course, Bai Mengqi would resemble her even more when she was older. For now, they looked more like sisters.
“We’ve all been good! Big Brother is the naughty one!” Ziyi answered earnestly.
This statement immediately displeased Zixuan.
“Nonsense! You’re far naughtier and more rambunctious than I am!”
The two little ones immediately resumed their bickering.
It was Su Ruoxi’s voice that interrupted them.
“You two little ones, you see your Great-Aunt and don’t even say hello? Am I invisible?”
The two children awkwardly chuckled, then quickly chirped a greeting to their Great-Aunt in their childish voices.
“Uncle, Auntie, I’m back,” Bai Mengqi said, stepping forward to greet Zi Ye and Su Xiaoshi.
Both parents were beaming with smiles, especially Zi Ye. While he might have preferred Bai Mengqi to still be a man in his eyes, her actions had filled him with immense satisfaction. His daughter already had descendants, so gender no longer seemed as significant.
They felt that the ‘paper window’ of secrecy had finally been broken today. Bai Mengqi and Zi Yanran had already decided not to hide it any longer.
The family entered the living room.
As for Su Ruoxi, she did not stay for dinner. Instead, she immediately took a car back to the Jiangcheng Ability Bureau to report on her mission.
Inside the living room, the family of six sat around the dining table. The atmosphere was, for a time, rather awkward, with neither side knowing who should speak first.
Finally, after Bai Mengqi and Zi Yanran exchanged glances, Zi Yanran was the one to break the silence.
“Mom, Dad, let’s not be so stiff. You’ve known about Mengqi’s identity for a long time, so why be so serious?”
Zi Yanran’s words dispersed the awkward tension.
With her prompting, Zi Ye and Su Xiaoshi could finally speak. They turned their gazes to Bai Mengqi.
“Ah, Mengqi, first and foremost, thank you for saving Yanran from that monster all those years ago. Without you, Yanran might not be alive today, or perhaps none of our family would be. Come, Uncle will toast you.”
Zi Ye raised his wine glass, his expression sincere as he thanked Bai Mengqi.
Bai Mengqi felt a touch of trepidation and quickly stood up.
“Uncle Zi, please don’t speak like that. For that matter, I am also very sorry. The incident happened so suddenly back then, and I was young. My first instinct was to escape, and I never imagined such an outrageous thing would happen afterward,” Bai Mengqi replied.
Zi Ye shook his head. “I understand. If it were me at that age, faced with such an event, I would probably also flee immediately. It just goes to show how mysterious this world is. Oh, by the way, were you truly a boy at first?”
Zi Ye asked, his curiosity piqued.
Bai Mengqi saw no need to conceal it any longer.
“Yes, it was around my third year of university. Due to an issue with my ability, I completely transformed into a woman.”
Both husband and wife nodded immediately.
“Do your parents know about this?” Zi Ye inquired.
Zi Ye had touched upon a crucial point. “Eh? This… alas! I still haven’t dared to tell them. They are just ordinary people and have no knowledge of ability users. If I were to suddenly tell them that their son became a daughter, they certainly wouldn’t be able to accept it.”
At the mention of this issue, Bai Mengqi looked deeply troubled.
Seeing that the two had been standing while talking, Su Xiaoshi interjected gently. “Alright, you two, stop standing and talking. The paper window has already been broken. We’re family, let’s not be too distant. Mengqi, please sit down.”
Su Xiaoshi gestured with a gentle expression.
Bai Mengqi and Zi Ye both offered an awkward smile, then took their seats. As for the two little ones, they watched the adults’ conversation with wide, curious eyes.
“By the way, Mengqi, what are your plans for the future? When do you intend to clarify things with your family?” Su Xiaoshi asked.
Bai Mengqi glanced at her children. After a moment of thought, she offered her reply. “I believe that as long as the timing is right, it can be anytime. I’m thinking of discussing it when I go home for the New Year this year.”
Bai Mengqi had given her answer. Originally, she had intended to keep it a secret, believing she could always revert to her male form and maintain the deception. However, recent events had changed her mind.
‘Mm, it’s better to resolve this sooner rather than later,’ she thought. ‘There will be some initial awkwardness, but after that, I’m sure they won’t mind.’ Su Xiaoshi could tell Bai Mengqi was quite worried.
Seeing that Bai Mengqi and her parents were discussing such a weighty topic, Zi Yanran couldn’t help but interrupt. “Alright, many things are useless if only spoken. We should eat first!”
However, Zi Ye did not heed his daughter’s suggestion this time. “You, girl, are too casual. Many things need to be clarified beforehand, not left for later.”
After saying this, Zi Ye looked at Bai Mengqi again. Seeing her parents’ insistence, Zi Yanran had no choice but to listen obediently.
“Mengqi, are you the only child in your family? No siblings?” Zi Ye asked.
Bai Mengqi shook her head. Her shake of the head made Zi Ye’s situation a little difficult.
“Is that so? Well, that makes things tricky. What will you do if your parents want the children to take your surname?” Zi Ye brought up another problematic issue.
Firstly, they only had one beloved daughter, and they had raised the two children all these years. Frankly, from their perspective, they did not want Zixuan and Ziyi to change their surname to Bai and for them to become merely the maternal grandparents. This was a complicated matter for any family.
Bai Mengqi and Zi Yanran, in truth, were indifferent; whose surname the children bore made no difference to them. Bai Mengqi, in particular, was even less concerned about this issue. After all, she had no idea she even had children until recently.
After some deliberation, Bai Mengqi gave her answer. “Uncle, Auntie, please don’t worry. I will persuade my parents.”
Bai Mengqi answered with a serious tone. With Bai Mengqi’s assurance, the couple finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“Haha, with your words, I’m at ease. Oh, and why are you still calling us Uncle and Auntie? Isn’t it time to change that?” Zi Ye chuckled.
Bai Mengqi then realized her form of address was incorrect, so she corrected it, as if ‘punishing herself’ twofold. “I apologize, Dad, Mom, I momentarily forgot to change my address!” Bai Mengqi quickly offered her apologies.
And so, within the Zi family, Bai Mengqi’s identity was essentially made public. There would be no more hiding in the future. Zi Ye and Su Xiaoshi even entertained the idea of holding a wedding for the two. Of course, this would only happen after Bai Mengqi had clarified things with her own family.
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