Chapter 177

Words : 1279 Updated : Oct 9th, 2025

Chen Mo acted swiftly. Ji Nian already knew that he was the mastermind behind Vengeance, and from then on, he no longer concealed the use of this hidden force from the Ji Family. Although Vengeance had been uprooted in Country O due to the Lu Family's crackdown, the organization still existed in other countries, with a dense network of potential client relationships akin to spider silk. Moreover, it was common knowledge that the Chen Family and the Ji Family had always been at odds, so this sudden collaboration caught all the onlookers off guard. Now, ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍even if it was something as unpleasant as excrement, everyone had to taste it to see how salty or bland it was. On the day of the press conference, Ji Nian was not present. After all, no matter how capable she was, she was still just an elementary school student. During lunch break, as soon as Gu Xiuyuan entered the cafeteria, he accurately spotted the black-haired, green-eyed little girl in the crowd. The corner by the window was Ji Nian's favorite spot to eat. Gu Xiuyuan's lackey, who had a keen eye, went to fetch food for him. "You're back." Seeing Shen Qingtang after a long time, Gu Xiuyuan's gaze lingered on her slightly tanned face for a while. From Ji Nian's perspective: Oh-ho~ But in reality, Gu Xiuyuan was thinking: Did she secretly train a new move? She got so tanned. "Yes, I went to visit my grandparents these past few days. I brought you a gift." Shen Qingtang flashed him a bright smile. Gu Xiuyuan felt that she seemed to have changed somehow, but he couldn't quite pinpoint what exactly was different. "Grandparents?" He asked reflexively, knowing that Shen Qingtang's family had passed away, which was why she had been adopted by Ji Tingzhou. After Ji Nian and Shen Qingtang took turns explaining, Gu Xiuyuan finally understood. He turned to Shen Qingtang and said, "Congratulations." With that, the topic ended, and Gu Xiuyuan didn't press further. If they delved deeper, he might have to ask whether Shen Qingtang planned to stay in City S or move in with her grandparents. "I saw the news." Gu Xiuyuan changed the subject. Though he didn't specify, Ji Nian knew what he was referring to. The industries the Gu Family was involved in overlapped little with the Ji Family's, so there was no business conflict between the two. Gu Xiuyuan mentioned that his father was very interested and had been closely following the press conference. Ji Nian shared some details with him, satisfying the child's curiosity. Shen Qingtang was a genuine seven-year-old girl, but having grown up in the Ji Family, the nanny who took care of her was a highly educated individual. Through osmosis, she could understand some of the discussions. The lackey, who had prepared Gu Xiuyuan's meal, placed the tray in front of him and overheard bits of their conversation. He got goosebumps. Wait... aren't we elementary school students? What are you guys talking about? Tell me, what are you talking about?? If he hadn't been sure this was the school cafeteria, he would have thought he was at home, waking up to hear adults discussing things he couldn't understand. Returning to his group of friends, he said with a dazed expression, "...Now I finally understand why Young Master Gu always hangs out with those two first-graders." The others: ??? After lunch, while Ji Nian was fetching water, she ran into He Xiang. The boy stood alone in front of the water dispenser, seemingly lost in thought. Earlier that morning, Ji Nian had checked on him to make sure he wasn't affected by what he had seen the other day, and she was relieved to see he seemed fine. After all, He Xiang had been dragged into the mess because of her. "He Xiang." She called out to him. Hearing Ji Nian's voice, He Xiang turned around. Seeing it was her, his expression softened for a moment. "Am I in your way?" Thanks to the 'generous donor,' He Xiang's meals had improved. Ji Nian wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but he seemed to have grown a bit taller. "No, but your cup is almost full." She pointed at He Xiang's water bottle. Hearing Ji Nian's reminder, He Xiang quickly turned around and fumbled to turn off the water. "The finals are coming up. Gu Xiuyuan invited us to study together at the library. Would you like to join?" At Ji Nian's invitation, He Xiang was momentarily stunned. It took him a while to realize Ji Nian was speaking to him. "Can I?" His fingers tightened around the cup, and his lips pressed together, as if he were nervous. "Of course." Noticing water on his hands, Ji Nian pulled a portable tissue from her pocket and handed him one. "Here, wipe your hands." He Xiang stared at the tissue in her hand for a long time before carefully taking it from her. But he didn't use it. Back at his seat, he placed the scented tissue on the desk, carefully smoothing out the corner that had been dampened by the water on his hands, and then stared at it in a daze. He had been feeling off all day, and He Xiang knew it. He kept feeling like he had forgotten something, especially when he met Ji Nian's dark green eyes, but he couldn't recall what it was. However, the thought of Ji Nian's invitation pulled him out of that strange state. Studying at the library... He could study with Ji Nian. This was the first time He Xiang had received an invitation from a friend. Back in his hometown, aside from studying, he had mostly helped his grandmother with chores. Going out with friends was something far removed from his life. Were he and Ji Nian friends now? A feeling of 'anticipation' rose in He Xiang's heart. It was a cloudy day, and even without the air conditioning on, the classroom didn't feel hot. Outside, a loud clap of thunder made hearts race, but for the children, who found everything exciting, it sparked lively discussions about whether it was going to rain. These voices seemed to reach He Xiang through a veil, indistinct and muffled. His heart beat faster and faster, and he grew increasingly restless. Though the other sounds were unclear, He Xiang could distinctly hear footsteps approaching from the hallway. They didn't belong to a child; they were hurried and purposeful. Slowly, his gaze shifted toward the classroom door. Standing there was He Xiang's homeroom teacher, someone he recognized. The teacher scanned the room anxiously before his eyes landed on He Xiang. He Xiang saw the teacher's mouth move, as if calling his name. He didn't know how he managed to walk out. "He Xiang, the hospital just called. Your grandmother's condition isn't looking good..." The teacher didn't finish his sentence, but his sympathetic look said it all. "I'll take you to the hospital now." When the teacher had arrived, the classroom fell silent for a moment. Everyone knew he had called He Xiang away. Ji Nian rested her chin on her hand, wondering if her potion had caused a problem. It shouldn't have; it wasn't supposed to harm children. Still, feeling responsible, Ji Nian stood up and headed for the door. Shen Qingtang, who had been chatting with other classmates, noticed Ji Nian leaving and immediately followed her.

Chapter 177

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