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Join the ServerWith the Immortal Crystal Shard now in hand, Bai Mengqi’s strength was poised for yet another significant advancement.
“Very well,” Bai Mengqi declared, “I eagerly await the tasks you’ll assign. When the time comes, the remaining shards will also be mine, as per my agreement with your Director-General.”
With that pronouncement, Bai Mengqi prepared to depart.
Yet, Lin Hongyu could not suppress his curiosity and posed a question.
“Miss Bai, have you been collecting these shards all along?”
Observing Lin Hongyu’s inquiry, Bai Mengqi pondered for a moment before nodding to him.
She neither confirmed nor denied collecting the shards, nor did she explicitly state her purpose for gathering them.
Lin Hongyu and his colleagues possessed a limited understanding of these shards. Their experiments had shown that an ability user could typically only embed one shard; wearing more would result in rejection.
If Bai Mengqi had indeed been collecting these shards all this time, she surely possessed more than just this one. What could she possibly need so many for?
Lin Hongyu did not press further, simply watching Bai Mengqi as she left the Ability Bureau.
****
When Yao Zi and Yao Ze next sought Bai Mengqi’s presence, she certainly wouldn’t depart immediately. Today, she still needed to greet an old classmate.
In the days to come, she anticipated spending less time at home and wished to avoid causing undue worry.
Consequently, she placed a call to Wang Lei, informing him that she had returned from a business trip and wished to treat him to dinner that evening.
Around seven or eight in the evening, Wang Lei, having just returned from work, promptly knocked on Bai Mengqi’s door.
Bai Mengqi immediately opened it.
Naturally, Wang Lei saw Bai Mengqi in her male form.
“You’re back! Is your sister-in-law home?” Wang Lei stepped inside without delay.
Bai Mengqi shook her head.
“She went back to her own family’s place. Go put your things down; we’re going out to eat. My treat,” Bai Mengqi said with a smile.
Wang Lei chuckled.
“Alright, you busy man, you’ve finally come alive! It must be great dating a rich woman, right?” Wang Lei teased, winking.
Bai Mengqi stroked her chin thoughtfully.
“That is a rather serious question, and quite complicated. However, I can tell you that the feeling you have for a partner is different from that for your friends and brothers. A partner cannot replace you all.”
Wang Lei was quite pleased with this answer.
“Now that’s a human thing to say! I used to think you’d forget all about us brothers after you got involved with a rich woman. Tonight, I absolutely have to make you pay dearly.”
Wang Lei quickly returned to his own apartment, dropped off his belongings, and changed into different clothes before coming back out.
They took a taxi to Jianghua Commercial Street in Jiangcheng.
While in the car, Wang Lei pondered for a moment before finally asking a few questions.
“Hey, old pal, there’s something I’ve been wondering if I should say or not.”
Bai Mengqi glanced at Wang Lei, then turned her gaze to the window.
“Ask away. Between us, there’s nothing that can’t be said.”
Wang Lei didn’t beat around the bush.
“Then I’ll be direct. I think you’ve been acting strangely for about a year now. More accurately, ever since we moved into the same dorm, I’ve felt you were odd. After we started looking for jobs this year, it became even stranger. I always feel like you have a secret. Not to mention before, but just in the past month, you’ve been keeping secrets from me.”
They had lived in the same dorm for several years, like brothers, so any changes in each other were difficult to conceal.
Most importantly, he found Zi Yanran’s appearance to be incredibly abrupt. No matter how fated it might seem, there shouldn’t have been absolutely no warning.
Coupled with Bai Mengqi’s month-long disappearance, it was all too strange. What could have happened?
Bai Mengqi was definitely hiding something from him. Since she had returned today, he couldn’t resist asking.
Bai Mengqi also understood that some things couldn’t be kept secret for long.
“Ah! You finally brought it up, as expected. However, I don’t intend to discuss this with you for now; it’s not the right time. Today, I simply want to treat you to dinner and also inform you that I’ll be traveling for work more frequently in the future, meaning I won’t be spending much time at home.”
Upon hearing Bai Mengqi’s words, Wang Lei lowered his head in thought for a moment, then refrained from asking further questions.
****
Soon, they arrived at a rather upscale restaurant on Jianghua Commercial Street.
“Order whatever you like. My treat,” Bai Mengqi said, pushing the menu towards Wang Lei.
Eating at such a place, Wang Lei was naturally concerned about the prices. After glancing at the menu, he became even more hesitant.
“This? Are the prices here too high? Are you sure?” Wang Lei inquired.
Bai Mengqi rolled her eyes at him.
“Just order. I’m paying no matter the cost.”
After a moment of hesitation, Wang Lei ordered a few dishes. Bai Mengqi also selected a few, and together, the total exceeded a thousand.
For Wang Lei’s current salary, this was already quite expensive.
“Old Wang, what are your plans for the future? How’s your current job situation? Last month, I noticed you were coming home almost every night; your work must be very tiring, isn’t it?” Bai Mengqi asked.
At the mention of work, Wang Lei sighed heavily.
“Alas! It’s all for survival. What can I do? I don’t have your good fortune.”
Bai Mengqi was not one to flaunt her success, but now that she possessed certain abilities, she could certainly lend a hand to her brother, helping him avoid years of detours.
She believed it was necessary to voice her thoughts, though she certainly wouldn’t force Wang Lei.
In truth, after Bai Mengqi’s ordinary life was interrupted, money had lost much of its intrinsic value, at least to her.
Setting aside Zi Yanran, the monthly salary she received from the Ability Bureau alone was enough to provide her with a substantial sum in a short period.
Furthermore, if she wished, she could acquire vast wealth through various channels within the ability user community.
Money held little practical use for her now, but its utility for those around her was immense.
“Is that so? Then I’ll be direct. Do you need a brother’s help? Given my connections, if this transaction requires it, I can find you a better job in Jiangcheng, or even across the entire Xia Kingdom,” Bai Mengqi stated earnestly.
Wang Lei’s expression froze. He hadn’t expected Bai Mengqi to suddenly utter such words.
He fell into deep thought, not perceiving Bai Mengqi’s offer as boasting, but rather unsure how to accept such assistance.
His current monthly salary was around three to four thousand. If he could earn more, it would undoubtedly be a much better situation.
However, the problem was, how would he repay this favor?
“You’re silent again. You must be thinking about how you’d repay this favor if I helped you, aren’t you?” Bai Mengqi instantly saw through Wang Lei’s thoughts.
Wang Lei smiled wryly.
“It’s unavoidable.”
“Don’t overthink it for now. Perhaps it seems like a difficult matter to you, but in Yanran’s eyes, it might just be a small thing. As for favors, whether or not they’re repaid depends on the future. If you become successful later on, you’ll naturally want to repay me. Besides, what’s the point if you live a lifetime of mediocrity?” Bai Mengqi said with a smile.
Her words resonated deeply with Wang Lei.
Indeed, to live a life of mediocrity yet still cling to pride was to suffer greatly for the sake of appearances.
“Alright, tell me first, how do you plan to help me?” Bai Mengqi’s words revealed the essence of life.
“First, tell me what you want to do,” Bai Mengqi prompted.
With the conversation having reached this point, Wang Lei no longer held anything back. If given the chance, he certainly hoped to achieve great things.
However, undertaking grand endeavors required both money and experience, neither of which Wang Lei currently possessed.
Without experience, even a large sum of money would likely be difficult to utilize effectively.
Thus, he proposed to Bai Mengqi that he desired a job that aligned with his aspirations.
His current job was completely unrelated to his university major, purely a means to earn money and support himself.
Bai Mengqi readily agreed to his request.
He asked Bai Mengqi to have Zi Yanran help him find a job that matched his professional background, with no other demands.
He possessed a clear understanding of his own limitations.
The dinner concluded amidst laughter and pleasant conversation.
****
The next morning, Bai Mengqi boarded a plane bound for Luocheng.
At the Luocheng airport, the old patriarch of the Yao family, accompanied by the current family head, was already waiting. They had prepared everything and were eagerly anticipating Bai Mengqi’s arrival.
“Second Uncle, the representatives from the other families have also sent people over, having heard that Miss Bai is visiting our Yao family today. Should we allow them to meet her, or not?” a seemingly refined elderly man, Yao Chen, the current Yao family patriarch, asked Yao Kang in a hushed tone. Though over eighty years old, Yao Chen’s robust and upright physique belied his age; he appeared far from an octogenarian.
Yao Chen was also an S-rank ability user. Ancient families like theirs possessed their own inheritances and did not belong to any specific faction.
“Let them come,” Yao Kang replied. “They’ve likely already contacted Miss Bai in private; otherwise, things wouldn’t have been so quiet lately.”
From the Yao family’s perspective, he naturally hoped they could surpass the other eight families and become the largest ability user family in Xia Kingdom, but such an aspiration was unrealistic.
As they conversed, an airplane appeared in their line of sight.
“Hey, Second Uncle, look, the plane is here!” Yao Chen exclaimed, turning his gaze to the sky upon hearing the sound.
The aircraft descended rapidly from the horizon, landing smoothly on the airport runway. After gliding for a short distance, it came to a halt.
Once the plane stopped, Bai Mengqi, still dressed in her usual casual attire, disembarked leisurely. Frankly, with her youthful and relaxed appearance, those unaware of her true identity would find it genuinely difficult to perceive her as an otherworldly master.
“She’s here,” Yao Kang said, spotting Bai Mengqi at once.
Led by Yao Zi and Yao Ze, Bai Mengqi swiftly walked towards the waiting Yao family members.
“Patriarch Grandpa, Great Grandpa, Grandpa, you’ve all come,” the two youths quickly greeted Yao Kang and the others.
Yao Chen nodded with satisfaction.
“Yes, you two have done very well during this time, and you’ve finally brought Miss Bai back to the Bai family.”
Bai Mengqi also approached the group.
Yao Kang naturally was the first to greet her.
“Haha, Miss Bai, you’ve finally arrived! This old man has truly been looking forward to your coming for ages.”
Bai Mengqi smiled faintly.
“Yes, I apologize for keeping Grandpa Yao waiting.”
Yao Kang immediately introduced his younger relatives to Bai Mengqi.
Bai Mengqi’s gaze swept across the group. Besides Yao Kang, she noticed three S-rank ability users.
For an ancient family to possess four S-rank ability users indicated incredibly formidable strength.
Yao Kang promptly led Bai Mengqi into a car, and they set off for the Yao family estate.
The Yao family residence was located within Luocheng itself, a sprawling ancient-style mansion.
They lived openly among ordinary people, and the citizens of Luocheng were entirely unaware of their true identities, knowing them only as a prominent local family, wealthy and influential in the area.
The Yao family was the most prosperous family in Luocheng, and even in the entire province, particularly in the business world, with their enterprises spread across various cities.
Members of ancient families never entered politics; this was an unspoken understanding between the various clans.
Today, the Yao family estate was already adorned with lanterns and festive decorations, even though the New Year had not yet arrived. The younger members of the Yao family were unaware of what special event was unfolding, only knowing that preparations had been ongoing for a month.
This grand preparation was undoubtedly for Bai Mengqi’s arrival, intended to demonstrate the Yao family’s sincerity.
It was, in every sense, the highest level of reception, a standard typically reserved for the head of the Xia Kingdom.
The adventure continues! If you loved this chapter, Oh No, The Girl I Possessed Has Come Knocking On my Door! is a must-read. Click here to start!
Read : Oh No, The Girl I Possessed Has Come Knocking On my Door!
