Chapter 29: His Uncle Is Zhong Yu Bai

On the way here, Ji Zhen Tang had indeed considered ending it all with this bastard. She even thought, if she couldn’t win against them, who would come to collect her body? Her dad was too busy, her mom definitely wouldn’t come all the way, so she would have to trouble her aunt in the end.

Sigh.

She felt really stupid, but even rabbits bite when they’re desperate. When people are driven to a dead end, they must rebel.

Fortunately, there was a somewhat rational Lin Guixue beside her, pressing her hand and slipping a phone into her palm.

Ji Zhen Tang’s eyes trembled, her tear ducts about to start working disobediently. She choked on her words, trying to say something but only managed a weak, “I—”

Lin Guixue stood in front of her, shielding her. She covered the phone with her handbag and handed it to her.

“I know this is your territory, but there’s no need to bully others like this,” Lin Guixue said to Zhao Siqi.

The guy gave her a sharp look. “Did I speak to you?”

Lin Guixue smiled, “What’s up? Are you playing emperor in a socialist society now? Do I have to bow and scrape to you to speak?”

Zhao Siqi clicked his tongue, but considering some goodwill, he didn’t confront her. “I’m talking to her. You’d better stay aside.”

Lin Guixue picked up the bank card. “Ten thousand yuan to buy the signature of someone else’s design. Is this what you call a prestigious family? What if we add two more zeros behind it?”

“Trying to extort money, huh, big brother? Starting big.” The guy beside Zhao Siqi, his junior still in high school, spoke.

Lin Guixue said, “Underage and already following your brother to eat, drink, gamble, and indecency? Tsk, men are dirty.”

The card was held between Zhao Siqi’s fingers and thrown diagonally towards Ji Zhen Tang.

Ji Zhen Tang quickly dodged her face, the card almost brushing her ear. In a flash, another hand caught it, and Zhong Heng firmly grasped the card, imitating Zhao Siqi’s action, flying it back without a word, sharply hitting his nose bridge.

Ji Zhen Tang looked surprised at the sudden appearance of Zhong Heng. Then, she turned to see Su Yunli, who had followed him upstairs, panting and asking if she was okay.

She shook her head, her brain working rapidly.

The process was probably that Lin Guixue first informed the dormitory group that they were in trouble, Su Yunli saw it and immediately notified Zhong Heng.

Zhao Siqi was again splashed with water and hit with a card. Suffering two humiliations in his own territory naturally made him unable to sit still. Just as he was about to fly into a rage, his younger brother pressed his shoulder down, making him fall back onto the sofa.

Zhong Heng walked up to Zhao Siqi, looked down at him coldly, and asked, “Who did you just ask to strip?”

“…” Zhao Siqi was stunned.

The young master of the Zhong family was arrogant, showing no fear. “Repeat what you said.”

Zhao Siqi shouted, “None of your damn business.”

Zhong Heng didn’t even bother to take his hands out of his pockets, kicking him in the chest with one foot: “You’re asking for death!”

Zhao Siqi was kicked and staggered back onto the sofa, caught off guard, then cursed loudly, breaking into a string of obscenities. He then stood up, sweat beading on his forehead, pointing at the other person and saying, “I’ve been tolerating you for a long time!”

Zhong Heng grabbed an unopened bottle of red wine from the table, slammed it against the edge of the table with a bang, glass shards scattered everywhere, some even landing on the nearby girls. The two scantily clad women nervously brushed off the glass fragments on their bodies while sneaking away.

The broken bottle pointed towards him. Zhong Heng said, “Get down on your knees and apologize. Otherwise, this bottle would end up around your neck today.”

“…”

Seeing his expression change, Zhong Heng smirked, “Forget about taking off your clothes; no one wants to see that.”

Zhao Siqi said, “Apologize, damn you!”

Immediately after, the glass shards from the broken bottle’s edge pressed against his neck.

Zhong Heng asked, “Are you going to kneel?”

“…”

Zhao Siqi was so angry that his throat tightened, he grabbed a champagne glass nearby and smashed it with his foot, but was immediately restrained by his younger brother.

“Brother!” his younger brother whispered cautiously, “His uncle is Zhong Yu Bai, think about Dad.”

The last five words ultimately led Zhao Siqi to swallow his pride in such a humiliating situation.

In the end, it was his younger brother who managed to smooth things over with Zhong Heng.

“Just kidding, brother,” he showed a understanding not typical of a high school student, “Sorry about that, didn’t know it was your people.”

Zhong Heng hesitated for a moment, then concluded that Zhao Siqi probably had no more tricks up his sleeve, so he tossed away whatever he was holding and walked away.

He glanced at Ji Zhen Tang and said to the three girls, “Let’s go.”

Seeing that Zhong Heng was in a difficult situation in various senses, Ji Zhen Tang hurriedly walked to the front, followed by Lin Guixue. Zhong Heng and Su Yunli walked at the back, but he raised his chin, looked at the rapidly retreating figures in front, and called out, “Hey.”

“What do you want from him?” Zhong Heng came over without any reservation, directly asking Ji Zhen Tang.

The two people beside them naturally stepped back, making space.

Ji Zhen Tang glanced at Su Yunli, seeing her deliberately avoiding, she sighed and lowered her gaze, not really wanting to look at Zhong Heng, and said softly, “This is my business, I don’t want to talk to you about it.”

There was silence for a long time, and he sighed, “Why bother.”

“Why bother?” The meaning of these words was obvious; she and Zhao Siqi had clashed more than once. She just needed someone who could support her in the long run. It was enough to bend appropriately for the sake of saving face. Why torture herself for the sake of pride?

Zhong Heng was not a sentimental person, but at this moment, he spoke to her in a gentle tone, “If you can’t take it and want to come back—”

Ji Zhen Tang suppressed the urge to vomit, gritted her teeth, and interrupted him, “Is it because I’m too unforgettable, or rejection to you is too difficult? Turning girls into your conquests and treating it as a badge of honor, does it feel that good? Your behavior doesn’t move me; it disgusts me.”

Being reprimanded suddenly, Zhong Heng was speechless.

“Thanks for the rescue,” she said, “I wish you a smooth journey abroad, quick acquisition of wealth, and swift attainment of a green card. Farewell indefinitely.”

“…”

Seeing people hasten their pace and walk away quickly, he shouted again, “Hey!”

Ji Zhen Tang didn’t look back.

Lin Guixue hurriedly caught up.

Back in the dormitory, Ji Zhen Tang threw her bag onto the table and rubbed her temples in frustration. Nothing was resolved; she almost made a mess and ended up being dragged into it.

“You even brought a knife; you’re really something, darling—what can you do with this mini pocket knife of yours?”

Lin Guixue dragged a chair over to her, jokingly said.

“The officials force the people to take actions into their own hands; what can I do?” She took out the blade and looked at it, “It’s for self-defense. For men who think with their lower body, if they really try something, I’ll slit their throats and leave them with nowhere to bury themselves.”

Ji Zhen Tang’s eyes were fierce as she made a throat-slitting motion with the blade, then smiled at Lin Guixue, “Do I look like one of those righteous heroines? Hunted by the authorities for eliminating evils, fleeing in the world of rivers and lakes, upholding justice, loved by the people.”

“…” Lin Guixue was overwhelmed by her inexplicable and circuitous train of thought, “It’s not that serious yet. What are you going to do now?”

“What am I going to do?” Ji Zhen Tang asked.

“About the plagiarism incident, do you want money or—”

Without hesitation, she replied, “I want my credit back.”

“How?” Lin Guixue asked.

“Just show the video you recorded to the teacher, would that work?”

Lin Guixue opened the video while watching the blurry footage that captured some crucial information, “If you upload it, it’ll be exposed online. Showing it to the teacher probably won’t work. He’s already got the upper hand.”

“I still have the original sketches saved; I’ll show them to the teacher together.”

“If they’re shameless enough, they could say you stole them. The problem now is that the college is supporting him; official announcements all have his name on them. What can you do? Hack the school website and change it back? Hey, don’t laugh, I actually know a computer genius.”

“Doing that is illegal, and if I conspire with him, the victim will also be guilty. By then, even if I have a reason, I won’t be able to explain it clearly. Most importantly, it doesn’t fundamentally solve the problem. A mere piece of paper is just superficial.”

Lin Guixue leaned in closer, “If you really want to strike him, you have to bypass the school. Otherwise, even if you post the video, they’ll just cover it up for him.”

Ji Zhen Tang pondered for a moment, strategizing a bit, and said, “Makes sense, let’s not rush.”

She set aside the video Lin Guixue sent and then searched through her phone, finding the original design drawings.

Lin Guixue leaned over again to admire them, “Such a beautiful hairpin; it shouldn’t be tarnished by Zhao Siqi.”

This year’s design competition gave a theme based on an image of ancient noblewomen’s wedding attire. Participants needed to design a piece of jewelry to complement this wedding dress.

Some contestants use the allure of the moon high in the sky, while others use the delicate orchids and elegant lotuses, or the exquisite and graceful purple bamboo leaves, and so on, each with its own beauty and charm.

Ji Zhen Tang chose to use a butterfly, a fiery red jade hairpin, with intense and passionate colors.

This red was not meant to accentuate the joy of weddings, but to express the unwillingness to be confined by life.

What do people think of when they hear about the marriage of a young lady from an ancient noble family? Perhaps they think of arranged marriages and feudal remnants. Perhaps they only discover what their husband looks like when they lift the red veil.

So, a butterfly that grew against the wind was designed into a tassel on the hairpin. As long as the wearer moved, the tassel would sway along with them, and the butterfly would continue to fly tirelessly, despite its weary wings and the stormy weather, always heading towards freedom, aiming to break through the shackles of society.

Even in an era oppressed by etiquette, no one wanted to be a bird in a cage.

Ji Zhen Tang didn’t have high expectations for her design. She knew that her work was never appreciated by her seniors, and her teachers often asked her for advice, urging her to tone down her “individuality,” but she remained stubborn in this regard.

People who study art tend to be aloof, and Ji Zhen Tang was no exception. She naturally thought highly of herself. Even if no one affirmed her, she would still defend her ideas.

“Oh, who was that big shot Zhao Siqi mentioned today?” Lin Guixue asked her.

Ji Zhen Tang naturally knew who she was referring to: “It’s someone—”

She struggled to find the right words, “Can I not answer that?”

Lin Guixue replied, “Wasn’t your haute couture last time from that person?”

Surprised, Ji Zhen Tang asked, “How did you know about the haute couture?”

“You left it in the dorm for a few days, I accidentally saw it stuffed in the cabinet. Did you also go to the K-brand banquet later? You wore her limited edition earrings once; they’re unavailable for purchase.” The sensitivity of girls to gossip is remarkable.

Ji Zhen Tang surrendered in defeat.

Lin Guixue raised her fist, laughing, “Gain wealth and forgetting old friends.”

Ji Zhen Tang could only smile shyly, “Don’t say that, it makes me seem like I have impure motives.”

“If it’s impure, then let it be impure. Women should consider themselves first.”

Lin Guixue maintained her attitude: “As for men, they’re useful as stepping stones for us.”

She continued, “When I was young and watched idol dramas, I envied the female protagonists who could marry successful, knowledgeable, gentle, and wealthy men. But later, my thoughts changed. Why do TV dramas always advocate for girls to marry such men, instead of encouraging us to become such people ourselves?

“There are many wonderful qualities that have never been limited by gender. But in the stories created by humans, they are all given to men.

“If one wants to stand firm, they must break through obstacles and become strong on their own, rather than always relying on the powerful.”

Ji Zhen Tang applauded with admiration, “Lin Guixue, you’re a role model.”

Taking advantage of this, she indulged in some wild thoughts, “Can I really do it? Become a very powerful person.”

As powerful as him.

Or perhaps, even more powerful than him.

“Of course you can. Regardless of what others think, I think you’re very talented. Every time there’s a design assignment, you always come up with different ideas. Those teachers might not be able to accept or understand them, so they don’t give you high scores, but that’s their limited perspective.

“No pain, no gain. I particularly like this phrase. Innovation is important in any industry or profession, but there are always people who can’t recognize it.”

Lin Guixue said, urging her to believe in herself.

“You will definitely succeed.”

Moved, Ji Zhen Tang nodded, “I will.”

Ji Zhen Tang contacted Zhong Yu Bai in advance before coming to see him.

He said he was in the office and would meet her after work.

But when he replied, Zhong Yu Bai was at an auction, bidding on a private garden in Suzhou and Hangzhou.

Dressed in a suit with a tie, exuding elegance in black, his long legs crossed lightly, hands loosely clasped on his lap, he listened to the escalating bids with slight fatigue in his eyes.

“The tie is quite unique.” Ding Jialing arrived late and pointed to Zhong Yu Bai’s navy blue tie with patterns today.

This was the first time he had used a slightly textured style, with tiny silver flashes embedded in the dark satin, adding a touch of romance to the luxury, like the universe and the starry sky. The tie’s color was deep, and it was difficult to notice the shimmering traces without close inspection. But with the dim lighting in the corner where Zhong Yu Bai sat, Ding Jialing, walking from afar, saw him as if he were wearing the Milky Way.

Zhong Yu Bai hooked his lips and casually remarked, “After days of continuous rain, I’m afraid some people won’t be able to see the stars again.”

Ding Jialing seemed to understand, “Are you meeting Miss Ji today?”

He simply replied, “This afternoon.”

Returning to the topic of the auction, Ding Jialing glanced at the auctioneer, lowered his voice, and asked in confusion, “Didn’t the teahouse say Mr. Shen funded it? Why are you spending money on it again?”

Zhong Yu Bai pondered for a moment before replying, “Better safe than sorry.”

“What do you mean? I don’t understand.”

Without rushing to explain, Zhong Yu Bai extended his slender fingers and lightly tapped on Ding Jialing’s bidding card on his leg, “Well, raise the card.”

“Ah, okay.”

Ding Jialing promptly raised his hand.

The auctioneer called out the price, and the room fell silent as the countdown began. With a bang, the hammer fell.

…

As the car pulled up to the Yang Building, Zhong Yu Bai stepped out and entered through the revolving door, into the lobby with five floors, entering this glass box shrouded in rain mist, damp and gloomy, towering high and appearing empty. Every step echoed, and the attendants at the door greeted him in unison, saying “Good afternoon, Mr. Zhong.”

He responded gently with a nod, but his eyes showed little emotion. With his hands in his trouser pockets, he strode forward.

In the dim light, a girl with a small bear backpack suddenly appeared, standing by the large floor-to-ceiling window.

Ji Zhen Tang was lost in thought, watching raindrops crawl down the glass outside, unaware of the softened footsteps behind her.

Zhong Yu Bai stood beside her, smiling gently, half-jokingly asking, “Are you in such a hurry to invite me to dance?”

Startled by his sudden appearance, Ji Zhen Tang took a step back. Then she gazed at Zhong Yu Bai, her expression gradually darkening, devoid of vitality, filled with melancholy.

Sometimes joyful, sometimes melancholic. He genuinely felt that she was suitable to be an artist, with a colorful temperament.

Zhong Yu Bai asked softly, “What’s wrong?”

She replied, “I’m feeling a bit unhappy.”

He bent down, his ear close to her lips, whispering, “Tell me about it.”

Glancing around to ensure that the assistants who had entered with him were standing obediently far away and couldn’t overhear their conversation, Ji Zhen Tang pouted with a hint of grievance, her voice trembling like a child’s, “Someone bullied me, and I want to report it.”

As she spoke, her eyes unavoidably welled up with tears.

Zhong Yu Bai lifted his hand, placing his warm palm on her cool face, holding one side of her cheek, gently wiping away her teary eyes with his fingertips. He leaned in close to her, his expression serious and solemn, his voice low as he asked, “Who?”

“It’s Zhao Siqi, again.” As she uttered the name, she raised her head to look at him and asked, “Can you do me a favor?”

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