The Glamorous Comeback of the Ousted Heiress

It set the entire eastern part of the city ablaze.

The young people’s eyes lit up—wasn’t this “Sexy Love”?

Could their traditional instrument, the erhu, actually play that?!

There were hardly any experts in the audience; all they knew was that this erhu had a really great tune. It was lively yet carried a touch of sassiness, which didn’t seem to match the serious and stern old man at all.

In an instant, the lightly attended stage began drawing crowds, lured by the sound of the erhu.

Countless people recorded the scene, surrounding the stage so tightly that no one could pass through.

When Pu Xiaohan arrived, Director Jian was desperately looking for her help. She finally managed to pull Director Jian out of the crowd and handed him the milk tea that Bai Lian had brought for him.

The two of them snuck behind a huge blue trash can to drink their milk teas.

“Grandpa Jian, you actually know young people’s music?” Pu Xiaohan took a sip of her milk tea; she had listened to half of “Sexy Love”.

It was astounding.

She had always thought Director Jian was a serious person. She didn’t dare overstep boundaries when talking to him online, only to discover today that he possessed an interesting soul.

“It wasn’t me,” Director Jian’s eyes were opened to a new world by Bai Lian, squatting down with his milk tea, “Your classmate who sits behind you played it first on the zither. She’s better at it than me.”

That serious yet playful charm, Director Jian thought Bai Lian played it spot on.

These classical instruments didn’t always have to play classic pieces; letting more people know that even the erhu could play music from all times and places was important.

“Bai Lian?” Pu Xiaohan’s eyes twirled.

Bai Lian only practiced the instrument at home, and aside from that one school anniversary, Pu Xiaohan hadn’t heard her play since.

But it made sense—that air of refined rascality, Bai Lian captured it just right.

**

Seven o’clock in the evening.

Bai Lian and Jiang Fulai were in the eastern part of the city looking for Pu Xiaohan and Director Jian.

The tourist route was on the newly built Xiang Mountain Avenue, which connected to Xiangbei. Wallow Road, a popular tourist street, intersected with Xiang Mountain Avenue. The whole of Wallow Road was paved with bluestone slabs, and Peace Road crossed it, also laid with bluestone.

The Calligraphy Association Martial Arts Hall was right at the junction of Xiang Mountain Avenue and Wallow Road, and the shopping center on Xiang Mountain Avenue was about to open.

Pu Xiaohan and Director Jian were sitting at a roadside stall on Peace Road, waiting for their snacks to arrive.

Wallow Road was five meters wide and Peace Road was a bit narrower, so there were fewer people than on Wallow Road.

Today, Bai Lian wore a creamy white linen long dress, her long hair half-tied in a lazy style, with her dark hair draping over her shoulders. Behind her, the lights of thousands of homes blended her into the street’s ambiance.

Jiang Fulai standing next to her seemed somewhat out of place in the crowd. He was dressed in a white shirt, buttoned up to the collar, his refined features softened by the lights, reducing their usual aloofness as he calmly followed Bai Lian through the layers of people.

Pu Xiaohan didn’t expect someone like Jiang Fulai to join them for street food, so she asked the owner to prepare an extra portion.

“Did you finish looking around this afternoon?” Bai Lian sat down on the last free stool and started chatting with the two.

Jiang Fulai stood behind her, waiting.

“It was too crowded,” Pu Xiaohan told Bai Lian about how Director Jian almost didn’t make it out, “We didn’t finish looking around, and we haven’t visited the martial arts hall yet.”

As she spoke, she pondered how to persuade Bai Lian to record a video session.

God, she really wanted to see Bai Lian playing those songs on the zither.

Director Jian was very satisfied with what he had seen today. The night lights reflected in his eyes, “This place is quite nice.”

“How about we stay here tonight, to get a feel for the local customs?” The owner brought over two servings of chicken strips, thoughtfully providing four skewers. Bai Lian speared a small piece with a skewer and handed it back to Jiang Fulai.

“I thought about it, but the guesthouses here are fully booked.” Director Jian was troubled.

Bai Lian slowly took a bite and said, “Would you mind staying at the Calligraphy Association?”

**

Eight o’clock at night.

At the Xiangcheng Mansion, Jian Zhonghai and others had just finished dinner. They still hadn’t uncovered any news about Jian Zhongyou.

Ren Qian hesitated, “The hotels I checked didn’t show Director Jian checked in. Are you sure he’s in Xiangcheng?”

Jian Zhonghai held his teacup, his brows knitted in concern, only to ask Jian Rong, who was sitting on the couch, “He hasn’t replied to you?”

Ren Qian also looked over as Jian Rong opened his phone, the screen displaying the conversation with Jian Zhongyou.

Jian Rong: [Hello, Great-Uncle, I’m Jian Rong, Jian Zhonghai’s grandson.]

Jian Zhongyou: [Are you going to learn the zither?]

Jian Rong: [I’ve never learned.]

Jian Zhongyou: [.]

Jian Rong: [Are you in Xiangcheng?]

No reply came after that.

Staring at the single “.”, Jian Rong didn’t understand his great-uncle’s meaning, “He didn’t reply to me.”

Jian Zhe had finished reading in the afternoon and was called back by his father. He sat with Jian Rong listening to Jian Zhonghai speak.

When Ren Qian and Jian Zhonghai looked over, he could not help but lower his head, tapping his phone to read a novel.

Then a message from Bai Lian came through—

[Is the Calligraphy Association empty?]