DF Chapter 71
by VolareAfter Sheng Jia returned home from the hospital, she didn’t have any special reaction. Even though her biggest secret could be exposed at any time, she still appeared calm and composed, without the slightest nervousness.
That day, she didn’t answer R’s question, nor did she say what she would choose. She just subconsciously vented her emotional changes caused by the unexpected situation to the other party. After all, R was the only one who knew exactly what she was going to do. In fact, after saying that sentence, she calmed down.
Being anxious was useless. It was uncertain what Fu Minglang could find out. Even if she did find something out, according to Fu Minglang’s character, she wouldn’t directly reveal everything. The first person she would confront must be herself.
And in Sheng Jia’s heart, a big gamble had already been brewing.
But whether it was because Fu Minglang wanted to inquire about too much information or because she was deliberately using time to observe Sheng Jia’s reaction, in order to guess whether Sheng Jia knew about her own background or not.
This wait lasted until March, two days before the hundred-day countdown rally.
Fu Minglang didn’t say anything, just as usual, she asked Ru Ping to say hello to Sheng Jia on WeChat. As for why it wasn’t her own WeChat—that was because Sheng Jia refused to add her WeChat. Previously, it was because she had to pretend to be unfamiliar with Fu Minglang. Later, she pulled Ru Ping’s WeChat out of the blacklist, feeling that it was unnecessary. After all, Sheng Jia didn’t really like having too many people in her contact list.
The hundred-day countdown rally had a resounding name. This year’s process was no different from the past. This time, parents weren’t even specifically notified. Only some outstanding alumni were invited back to send blessings and give speeches. Fu Minglang wasn’t an alumna, but she had donated a lot of buildings to Jingjiang No. 1 High School, even though most of it belonged to Lu Jing’s profiteering. This time, she was still specially given an invitation.
Sheng Jia was also named by Lu Jing as an outstanding student representative to give a speech on stage, but she refused. Originally, this spot should have been left for Song Ji’an, who was second in line, but Song Ji’an also refused, so it went to Meng Yeran.
On the island, Meng Yeran could dress colorfully, so trendy that people almost got rheumatism, but at school, she was very well-behaved. In everyone’s heart, she was the outstanding Studying Member who did everything perfectly. And this time, she would accept mainly because Grandma Meng would also come.
Of course, this was the news that Song Ji’an brought to Sheng Jia. It started when the three of them were called by the physics teacher to deliver test papers to the second-year high school students. At that time, there was still one day left before the hundred-day countdown rally, and Meng Yeran was memorizing the speech while walking.
Song Ji’an teased with a smile, “Meng Yeran, aren’t you always so comfortable doing everything? As expected, your grandma is the only one who can control you.”
Meng Yeran glanced at her upon hearing this, and didn’t refute. Anyway, the two of them now knew what her family situation was like, so she only said profoundly, “You don’t understand, grandma’s eyes are what women fear for a lifetime, and grandma’s recognition is what women pursue for a lifetime. The old lady is coming, so of course I have to do my best to perform the best. There are still sisters in my family eyeing my position covetously, unlike you who are so relaxed.”
“Come on,” Song Ji’an exposed her, “Your cousin is twenty-three this year, her hobby is photography, and her dream is to go to the depths of the Mariana Trench to photograph strange marine creatures. Your younger cousin is only six years old this year. I saw her at the auction banquet you held at your house the year before last. She was still following behind your aunt, with only cakes and nunchucks in her eyes, saying that she wanted to be the number one martial arts star in the country in the future.”
Meng Yeran: …
She glared at Song Ji’an, retorting, “Isn’t this disguise? You don’t understand? My sister pretends to want to go to the Mariana Trench, but she’s actually expressing that she’s indifferent to fame and fortune and unwilling to fight for power. As long as I’m a little bit less hardworking, she will replace me. My younger sister is cunning at a young age, revealing a simple surface to you, making people think that she has no desire to fight for power, but in reality, she has been coveting it for a long time.”
Sheng Jia interjected, “Really?”
Meng Yeran said expressionlessly, “Of course it’s fake. If they were really like that, I would laugh in my dreams.”
Song Ji’an laughed ruthlessly, completely tearing off her last bit of pretense, “Their family originally focused on cultivating her cousin, but her cousin couldn’t withstand the old lady’s high-pressure policy. The moment she got into university, she ran away on the spot and signed up for photography major. So the old lady started to focus on cultivating Meng Yeran, who was only eleven years old at the time.”
Originally, Meng Yeran had been secretly competing with her cousin to prove that she was also excellent. When her cousin deserted at the last moment, she felt like a pie had fallen from the sky. But after being bombarded by the high-pressure policy for two years, she fully understood her cousin’s pain, but the tenacity in her bones didn’t allow her to give up, and that’s how she became like this.
Grandma Meng had picky eyes and rarely praised the younger generation. Getting a compliment from her was enough for Meng Yeran to brag about for several days. Even a small speech was enough for her to take seriously.
At least when Sheng Jia heard Meng Yeran’s wonderful speech, which even included Chinese and English, on the day of the hundred-day countdown rally, she felt that her solo performance was indeed very impressive. She didn’t see Principal Lu Jing on the stage almost grinning from ear to ear, and even many students around her secretly exclaimed. After all, in the past two and a half years, Meng Yeran had rarely shown her talent in such a high-profile way.
But looking far ahead, after Meng Yeran stepped down, all that could be seen of Grandma Meng, who was still able to see only the back of her head and half her profile, was a faint smile and a slight nod, without any sign of praise.
The smile that Meng Yeran maintained gradually collapsed when she got back to the class. Song Ji’an patted her on the shoulder, sincerely comforting her, “You performed very, very well today. If I went on stage, I definitely wouldn’t be able to perform so well.”
Meng Yeran reluctantly curled her lips as a response.
There were two or three more rounds of such speeches, mostly by outstanding student representatives and alumni from the first and second year of high school. Knowing that everyone didn’t like to listen to repetitive talk, the speeches were extremely concise, and this segment ended in just half an hour.
Sheng Jia went to the position that had been rehearsed long ago to collect the balloons for each class. The next time was relatively free. The main thing was that everyone would write their wishes on the balloons and then find a place to release them. They had a whole hour of free time.
That large handful of balloons was collected by the class president of each class, covering most of their bodies. When Sheng Jia distributed them to Song Ji’an, Song Ji’an squinted her eyes and picked a dark red one from the few remaining balloons. “Which one do you want? Shall I hold it for you first?”
Sheng Jia: “Any one will do.”
So Song Ji’an picked a uniquely colored mottled purple one, “Is this okay?”
“Okay,” Sheng Jia nodded indifferently. In fact, if Song Ji’an hadn’t helped her pick, she would have directly taken the last one after distributing them.
But Song Ji’an helped her pick, and after picking, she carefully tugged on the two strings to prevent the balloon from flying away, until the principal announced that everyone could freely discuss. She then led the balloon towards Sheng Jia, who was standing at the back.
Sheng Jia put her phone back in her pocket. She had just been replying to Ru Ping’s message.
—Ms. Fu hopes to have a meeting with you after the rally is over.
The wording of this message was more polite than the previous few times.
The warm sun overhead fell on the screen, reducing the brightness a lot. Sheng Jia gave her reply.
—I have to go to class in the afternoon. If there’s anything, you can wait and find a deserted spot in the Temple of Heaven.
This was undoubtedly very impolite. Fu Minglang probably never had a conversation about important matters at such a casual location, but this was also Sheng Jia’s test.
The phone vibrated in her pocket, obviously a new message had arrived. Sheng Jia raised her hand to take the balloon that Song Ji’an handed over, without specifically looking at it.
The two stood on the lawn of the playground. Song Ji’an handed her a marker, “What do you want to write?”
Sheng Jia hardly thought about it, and quickly wrote a sentence on it.
“Beijing-Tianjin University”
Song Ji’an read out her slightly sharp handwriting.
“Is this your ideal school?” Song Ji’an didn’t have much curiosity about this. With Sheng Jia’s current grades, she could basically choose any university in the country. Choosing the best one was the normal choice.
“It barely counts,” Sheng Jia said lightly, “This is the place that is most likely to change a person’s class destiny.”
Without any sensationalism or embellishment, her words were frank and straightforward. In fact, Sheng Jia always felt that saying anything about being in love was too hypocritical. Most high school students had a deep understanding of universities after the college entrance examination. The goal set now might be because something there attracted them, or it might be because they had hope of reaching the previous year’s score line. For Sheng Jia, she was indeed just picking the best one among the schools she could choose, without any other reason.
Song Ji’an heard this and said seriously, “But with your ability, no matter where you are, it is inevitable that you will let your destiny go the way you want.”
“Then what about you?” Sheng Jia rarely asked back, “Where do you want to go?”
Song Ji’an quickly wrote another university on the balloon – Huaisu University.
With Song Ji’an’s grades, it was more than enough for her to go there. It was usually about ten points lower than the admission score line of Beijing-Tianjin University, and it was also a very good university, but for Song Ji’an, it was a lower choice. Sheng Jia wasn’t surprised by this.
She knew almost everything about Song Ningqiu’s information published on the internet, so how could she not know that her alma mater was here.
But Song Ji’an quickly wrote another line on the back of the balloon – I wish Sheng Jia and Song Ji’an achieve their wishes.
Followed by four large exclamation marks and two smiley faces.
“Sheng Jia, there’s no need to say too many blessings when we’re so familiar,” Song Ji’an smiled brightly, “I’ll just say it bluntly, it’s a piece of cake for us to achieve this wish.”
She was rarely a little self-satisfied, like a cat whose tail was about to be turned up to the sky.
Sheng Jia pointed to her phone, which was suddenly vibrating, reminding her, “It should be Auntie Song’s call, right?”
Song Ningqiu was also on the list of guests this time. After all, Song Ji’an had donated a lot in the name of Song’s. Song Ningqiu didn’t refuse this invitation. She didn’t want to miss the rare experience in Song Ji’an’s life, but because she was away on a business trip, she might be late.
Song Ji’an clicked on the phone to take a look, and it really was. She wrapped the balloon around her wrist, and asked while replying to the message, “Do you want to go pick up my mom with me?”
Sheng Jia shook her head, “I have to go to the copy room to get some materials. Teacher Liu prepared them for everyone temporarily. They should be almost printed by now.”
Song Ji’an nodded. There were still forty-five minutes left of free time. The balloons had to wait until the subsequent ceremony to be released together. Sheng Jia stood in place, watching Song Ji’an and the dark red balloon on her wrist disappear from sight before turning and walking in the opposite direction.
She took out the phone in her pocket, and saw that Ru Ping had replied to her message ten minutes ago – Okay, you can send me the location after you decide.
Sheng Jia sent the location of the experimental building, and turned to walk towards the experimental building herself.
That was the only place in the whole school without surveillance, and Sheng Jia had the key to open it.
She quickly climbed to the top floor, where she could have a panoramic view of the entire campus. There were crowds of people in the playground. Jingjiang in March was still very cold, and breathing would bring out white mist.
She didn’t wait long before the iron door behind her creaked open, and footsteps sounded behind her.
Sheng Jia turned around and saw Ru Ping and Fu Minglang. Ru Ping quickly searched the rooftop, and after confirming that there was no fourth person, she retreated to guard the door.
Sheng Jia met Fu Minglang’s eyes. Neither of them spoke first.
Fu Minglang’s eyes revealed the sharpness that she rarely showed in front of people, like a real sword, wanting to see Sheng Jia inside and out.
After a long while, she calmly asked, “Do you know that you are Song Ningqiu’s child?”
Sheng Jia smiled at her and said the answer she had been brewing for a long time.
“I know.”