Chapter 16: He Seems To Be Omnipotent

Ji Zhen Tang listened, her clear eyes staring straight at him, even the confusion in her eyes seemed very clear and innocent. In Zhong Yu Bai’s eyes, she was at most just having a little idea, which couldn’t even be called a plan. For example, the lost earphones, the obvious intentions, without the need for his brain to turn, the moment he saw them, those girlish thoughts were revealed.

Seeing her still depressed, Zhong Yu Bai eased the atmosphere and gave her the floor, asking gently, “What can you offer me?”

Upon hearing this, Ji Zhen Tang felt even more frustrated. She lowered her head, tugged at her hem, thought for a long time, and answered dejectedly with four words, “I don’t know.”

He gave a flat smile.

The implication was probably: Is that all?

Ji Zhen Tang showed a bit of backbone, stood up to leave, and said, “Well, then I won’t bother.”

Zhong Yu Bai remained unmoved, neither moving nor seeing her off.

As she stepped down the stairs, she glanced at him from the corner of her eye, hoping to catch a sign of retention.

But there was none.

Zhong Yu Bai’s mood was calm. He even closed his eyes and listened to the flute. It was so casual that he didn’t feel threatened at all.

She returned in a listless manner, sat back down, propped her chin, and threw an almond into her mouth, “Forget it, one shouldn’t be too proud. The duck that’s in hand might fly away.”

Zhong Yu Bai chuckled at her words.

Ji Zhen Tang also smiled in agreement, her voice softened, with a hint of coquetry, “If it’s really not possible, can you just make up a reason for me to feel justified?”

Zhong Yu Bai looked at her.

Ji Zhen Tang chewed the nuts like a squirrel, not bothering to hide her thoughts since they were already seen through, she looked at him openly, waiting for his response.

After a while, Zhong Yu Bai gave a reason that sounded somewhat plausible.

“You remind me of someone I knew before.”

His tone of voice, manner of speaking, and the way he looked into her eyes were always deep and serene, blending into the quiet night like moonlight on water, always making people feel neither real nor fake, unable to grasp firmly.

Just like this sentence, whether it was true or false, was indiscernible.

He lightly held the cup, but there was no water in it, so he just held it as if playing with it.

She became curious, examining his fingers, and asked, “White moonlight, someone you loved?”

He shook his head gently, reminisced for a moment, and replied, “Like you, she was also a child.”

She guessed again, “Your sister?”

Zhong Yu Bai smiled, perhaps not wanting to reveal too much of his own story to her, he casually responded, “You could say that.”

“Then I believe it,” Ji Zhen Tang smiled, “Seeing an old friend is indeed a good reason!”

He didn’t answer, his eyes slightly closed, his gaze falling on her full lips. When she smiled, the corners of her lips naturally lifted, like a flower slowly blooming.

Zhong Yu Bai looked at her intently, smiling gently.

Seemingly indulgent, seemingly indulgent.

“Boss, can I ask you another question?” Ji Zhen Tang lowered her voice.

Zhong Yu Bai looked at her, his eyes indicating, go ahead.

She continued, “When I came earlier, I saw Zhao Zong begging for something at the door, why… didn’t you want to help the Zhao family?”

Not sure if bringing this up would be crossing a line, although she had spoken carefully, after finishing, she emphasized, “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, I’m just curious.”

After a moment, Zhong Yu Bai spoke calmly and slowly, instead asking her, “As a feeder, would you be willing to spend time feeding a dead and unchanging worm?”

With this explanation, she was slightly surprised.

The prominent family, still active and thriving, such an apt and concise description, dispelled all her curiosity.

Ji Zhen Tang continued, “He said the Zhao family holds a high position in the jewelry industry.”

He chuckled lightly, “Believe only what you choose to believe.”

“…”

“The Zhao family’s influence is waning, they are on the verge of decline. I am a businessman, not a philanthropist.”

Ji Zhen Tang listened blankly.

Zhong Yu Bai asked, “Do you understand?”

She nodded somewhat understandingly, “Mm.”

He said, “Any other questions?”

“None…”

As the topic concluded, Ji Zhen Tang bit her lip, mustered her courage, and finally said, “I’d like a ticket to next month’s jewelry exhibition.”

Though it was called a jewelry exhibition, it was unlike regular ones. K Brand International was renowned, with various A-list celebrities clamoring to endorse it. The title would become the highlight of their resume, determining their celebrity status. Without a doubt, it was the social event of the elite in the industry.

Ji Zhen Tang’s request wasn’t extravagant: “If you have it, sell it to me.”

After saying that, with a hint of unease, she added, “And preferably not too expensive. My finances aren’t very abundant.”

Zhong Yu Bai smiled. He calmly said, “I don’t have a ticket, nor do I issue them.”

She asserted confidently, “But you can get in.”

After a moment, he said, “Wait in the dormitory; I’ll come to pick you up.”

His voice was deep and magnetic, resonating in her ears, as delightful as it could be!

In her mind, Ji Zhen Tang cheered silently, “Yes!” Restraining her joy on her face, she replied politely, “Alright, then I’ll buy a pretty dress in advance.”

With a courteous smile on her lips, Ji Zhen Tang restrained her excitement. Zhong Yu Bai observed her serious expression for a while, then chuckled, teasing her like a child, “Go ahead and smile if you want to. There’s no need to hold back happiness.”

She burst into laughter.

As she looked up again, Zhong Yu Bai had already risen. He took a few steps forward, then suddenly remembered something. Bending down, he took out pen and paper from the drawer of the chess table and wrote down a number.

“The contact number for the Chinese medicine clinic.”

Ji Zhen Tang responded with acknowledgment, looking at his bold handwriting. She was about to ask for the clinic’s address to visit when she had time.

However, Zhong Yu Bai said, “Tell them your surname and the medicine you need; someone will deliver it to you.”

She was slightly surprised, but Zhong Yu Bai’s tall figure smoothed away her surprise. With him standing there, one would feel at ease; he seemed truly capable of anything. Ji Zhen Tang simply nodded in response.

Besides reaching the sky and grasping the moon, everything she wanted was within reach.

As they parted ways, Ji Zhen Tang asked where he lived. Zhong Yu Bai evaded the question, simply saying, “Not here.”

Soon, Mrs. Xu came over, leading her out, and they walked through the labyrinthine garden.

As they neared the exit, Ji Zhen Tang saw Mr. Zhong reading in the study.

She slightly tilted her head, peering through the window, observing this retired professor as he placed a brush on the brush stand.

He should be Zhong Heng’s grandfather, not very old, appearing to be in his fifties.

A very “scholarly” persona.

Beyond the elegance of scholarship, she couldn’t help but think of one word: naive.

Simple-minded and naive.

Such a person seemed naturally suited for the study, unable to achieve greatness, spending every day holding a brush and writing, flipping through books to prepare lessons. Each page he turned seemed to exude the refined fragrance of a literati. Outside the intricately carved window, a tree on the verge of snapping accompanied him. In every simple sunrise and sunset, enduring night after night of thinning candles.

I wonder what fate awaits such a character when thrown into the whirlwind of a wealthy family?

Being able to walk away unscathed would probably be considered extremely fortunate.

His demeanor resembled Zhong Yu Bai’s, humble and polite, gentle as jade.

They were very much alike as father and son.

But they were also distinctly different.

What set them apart was that Zhong Yu Bai lacked naivety in his bones.

A black sedan with hazard lights flashing waited at the door, evidently arranged by Zhong Yu Bai. Ji Zhen Tang hurriedly stepped forward and got into the car.

Back at school, Ji Zhen Tang began counting down the days. Anticipation often led to heightened spirits.

However, soon, something slightly dampened her joy.

One morning during an 8 a.m. class, Lin Guixue suddenly asked her mysteriously, “You didn’t vote for Zhao Siqi last week?”

Ji Zhen Tang, still not fully awake, opened her eyes in surprise, “Huh? How did you know?”

Lin Guixue said, “Oh my god, so it was really you who didn’t vote for him?”

Startled by her tone, Ji Zhen Tang asked, “…Is something wrong?”

The previous week, at the beginning of the new semester, the teachers suddenly proposed adjustments to the class committee. If students were dissatisfied with the current class leaders, they could indicate so through voting.

If the vote passed unanimously, the class committee would remain unchanged.

Lin Guixue sighed, “Our class had only one person who didn’t vote for him. Because of this, he was called in by the counselor for questioning, and now the student union is investigating him. Do you know why they decided to redo the class committee at the beginning of the semester? It’s because someone reported his misconduct and didn’t want him to be class monitor. The homeroom teacher wanted to gauge public opinion through this investigation.”

Ji Zhen Tang was surprised and then calmly said, “Firstly, I didn’t report his misconduct. Secondly, I indeed don’t want to see someone like him as class monitor, so I didn’t vote for him. Is there a problem?”

Lin Guixue sighed again, “Mainly because, whatever grievances you hold privately, once you bring them into the open, aren’t you… aren’t you afraid?”

Ji Zhen Tang didn’t understand, “But wasn’t it an anonymous vote? How would I know he would find out?”

Lin Guixue explained, “It’s about appearances, dummy! If he wants to know, there are plenty of ways. Plus, now he probably suspects you reported him.”

She pondered for a moment and sighed, “Actually, there are quite a few people in the class who don’t like him, but not many dare to confront Zhao Siqi. What you did was indeed somewhat inappropriate.”

Ji Zhen Tang asked, “What will happen?”

“I don’t know. But his father still holds some reputation in this circle, so I’m afraid he might hold a grudge.”

“Force me to drop out of school?”

Lin Guixue’s face tightened. “Forget it, it’s already happened, don’t overthink it.”

Ji Zhen Tang pondered for a moment. “It’s just a matter of votes. If he really stoops to this level, it just shows his limited scope.”

With frustration, she muttered, “A despicable worm that won’t die.”

Lin Guixue didn’t catch it clearly. “What worm?”

Ji Zhen Tang asked, “So, how is the Youth League Committee dealing with him being the class monitor?”

“I heard it’s been handled. His father isn’t someone to mess with either; this kind of thing should be easy for him.”

“… “

“Nothing we can do. Schools are like small societies; you can see a lot from class monitor elections. It’s deep waters, many so-called investigations, elections, are just going through the motions. The meaning is, we’ve sorted this out, don’t come after us again.”

Ji Zhen Tang moved her mouth, unsure of what to say. In the end, she just let out a heavy sigh.

Zhao Siqi indeed managed to hold onto his position as class monitor.

Actually, this matter had little to do with Ji Zhen Tang. Whether he became class monitor or not didn’t affect her much, so she didn’t think much when marking her vote.

What she couldn’t understand was that there were rules beyond the rules and rights beyond rights.

Given a pen but not given real freedom.

Thinking it was just a small episode, Ji Zhen Tang didn’t dwell on it.

Soon it was time for physical education class.

Ji Zhen Tang chose volleyball; on the adjacent court, someone was practicing tennis.

Just as she finished playing two rounds and was about to take a break, a tennis ball “thudded” onto her shoulder. Ji Zhen Tang was startled and turned around to see Zhao Siqi approaching with a proud and unrestrained expression. He bent down to pick up his ball and then smirked, saying, “Sorry.”

Ji Zhen Tang felt puzzled, but since he had already apologized, she didn’t say anything more. Her shoulder hurt a bit, so she rubbed it a couple of times and ignored him.

She sat in the shade, drinking water under a tree.

Zhao Siqi didn’t leave; with his two brothers, he approached her. Leaning on the railing next to her, he suddenly said, “Hey, are you an illegitimate child?”

“… ” She looked up at him in astonishment.

Zhao Siqi asked again, “Is it true? Born out of wedlock?”

Ji Zhen Tang couldn’t help it. “Stop talking nonsense. My parents were in love.”

Zhao Siqi made a meaningful “Ah” sound and then said speculatively, “So it’s an unmarried pregnancy?”

The two boys beside him chuckled along.

“Your mom must be quite promiscuous, isn’t she? Is she a prostitute? I heard chickens are like that, only give birth, don’t raise. Hey, do you think foreign chickens are more high-end?”

Thud!

Before he finished speaking, Ji Zhen Tang’s volleyball accurately hit the boy’s face.

“Damn!” Zhao Siqi held his throbbing nose, furrowing his brows fiercely, and glared at her viciously.

Ji Zhen Tang trembled with anger all over, her blood boiling. With a fierce look of determination, she stared back and said, “You’re the one who’s a prostitute! Even if you went out to sell yourself, no one would pay!! You green bean eyes! Enoki mushroom!”

Before the boy’s fist could come down, a physical education teacher came running with a whistle blowing, “What’s going on? Stop causing trouble in class!”

The teacher grabbed Zhao Siqi’s fist, he struggled, unable to help but curse a few dirty words. The teacher forcefully held him down.

“Damn!” Zhao Siqi cursed loudly again.

“Sorry, teacher, I’m not feeling well.” Ji Zhen Tang sat down heavily in her seat, holding her chest, and spoke laboriously, “I’m not feeling very comfortable.”

The teacher hurriedly said, “Alright, alright, you take a rest, you can rest in the dormitory.”

Lin Guixue noticed the commotion and hurried over, “Are you okay? Want some water?” She handed over a bottle of mineral water.

Ji Zhen Tang lowered her head, feeling short of breath, shook her head and said, “Chest tightness, palpitations.”

“Is it serious? Should I call an ambulance?”

She said, “Panic attack, it’ll be fine later.”

“Are you really okay?”

“Used to it, I’ve experienced a lot. Symptoms of anxiety.”

While patting her shoulder, Lin Guixue anxiously watched Zhao Siqi being taken away by the teacher, asking her, “What happened, why did you quarrel?”

Ji Zhen Tang didn’t have the energy to explain so much to her, just held onto Lin Guixue’s arm weakly and said, “Stay with me for a while, my hand feels numb, I can’t move.”

“Okay okay,” Lin Guixue hastily held her hand, rubbing her fingers, “Let me massage it for you.”

When Ji Zhen Tang raised her head again, tears that couldn’t be controlled had already flowed out, dripping down like soybeans. Lin Guixue sighed as she helped wipe her tears, comforting her, “Don’t cry, don’t cry.”

The sudden turmoil left Ji Zhen Tang with no strength to continue attending class.

After her physical symptoms eased a bit, she returned to the dormitory alone. Her heartbeat calmed down, but the tears couldn’t be stopped. She walked against the wind, two streaks of tears dried diagonally on her face by the wind.

It was still class time, and the dormitory building was quiet.

As Ji Zhen Tang passed through the lobby, she caught sight of a man in a suit waiting, she didn’t think much, hastening her steps to pass by. However, the man suddenly rushed over and hurriedly stopped her, “Hello, Miss Ji.”

Ji Zhen Tang was taken aback, looking at the somewhat burly man in front of her, dressed in a suit and tie, with a spirit that didn’t quite fit into the female dormitory. Politely, he smiled and greeted her.

She couldn’t help asking, “Do we know each other?”

The man said, “You don’t know me, but I know you. Just call me Xiao Gao, I’m here to deliver something to you.”

Ji Zhen Tang followed his direction and saw almost the entire lobby of the dormitory building filled with various high-priced brand gift boxes and cartons, “These…”

Xiao Gao said, “The latest high-end designer dresses, for you to choose from.”

Ji Zhen Tang was speechless…

The latest season’s collection? High-end designer dresses? What kind of treatment was this for a female celebrity?

As she looked at those brands again, large and small, all the latest designs, she estimated that it must have taken quite an effort to gather them all.

She shook her head instinctively, “It’s too much. I’ve never worn this kind of dress before. Can I not take it?”

Xiao Gao was very accommodating, “Sure, it’s entirely up to you.” He then explained, “Originally, I was supposed to deliver it to Luotang Pavilion, but I found out that Miss Ji hasn’t been there recently, so I took the liberty to deliver it to the school, hoping you wouldn’t mind.”

Without even thinking, she said, “Of course not.”

Then, she couldn’t help but think to herself, “But is your boss worried that I might not look good wearing it to such an occasion?”

“No such intention.” Xiao Gao shook his head firmly and said, “Mr. Zhong said to give you the space to choose, and he won’t interfere with your freedom to decline. There are countless beautiful clothes, and your happiness is paramount. Everything will be according to Miss Ji’s wishes.”

Ji Zhen Tang was slightly stunned, “Did he… say that?”

Xiao Gao nodded, “Exactly.”

—”Won’t interfere with your freedom to decline.”

How fitting these words appeared at this moment, it couldn’t help but make her feel a bit emotional again. Ji Zhen Tang pinched her nose lightly, forcing a smile, and said, “Then I’ll take them all?”

Xiao Gao readily agreed, “Okay, sure!”

As he was about to lift the boxes for her, Ji Zhen Tang laughed and stopped him, “Hey, don’t, don’t, don’t. I was just kidding. You can’t even carry all these boxes.”

“I’ll help you carry them, or do you think it would be more convenient to try them on somewhere?”

She thought for a moment and came up with a compromise, “Show me the pictures, and I’ll choose from there.”

Xiao Gao took out his phone and showed her the photos. The first one he pulled up immediately caught her attention.

Maybe she didn’t particularly like it, but Ji Zhen Tang wanted to end this quickly, fearing that if she waited too long, there would be more people after class, and the scene would be too big, and she would end up on the headlines of the BBS forum.

So she casually pointed at it and said, “Let’s go with this one. The blue looks nice.”

Xiao Gao smiled confidently, “You have a good eye. The design concept of this dress is excellent, it’s like Cinderella’s spring. It means that not everyone is born a princess, but Cinderella also has her spring.”

Ji Zhen Tang was taken aback for a moment, then smiled in a shy manner.

After growing up, she didn’t believe in fairy tale endings as much anymore.

Her throat still felt a bit hoarse, she replied softly, “Perhaps.”

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