nashuaworldcup Chapter 160 Brother Zhou
Chapter 160 Brother Zhou
Soon, led by their uncle, they arrived at the waiting hall.
The interior was decorated in an extremely elegant manner, exuding a rustic atmosphere under the soft lighting.
Upon seeing the group arrive, the servants at the door immediately bowed slightly, their faces bearing respectful and gentle smiles, and said softly, "Miss Bai, the old lady has been waiting inside for quite some time. Please come in."
Bai Li remained composed, giving a slight nod in response to the servant. Then, she turned to Guan Cha with gentle eyes, her gaze carrying a hint of inquiry and discussion, and softly asked, "Wait here for me for a while? Or come together?"
Guan Cha was quick-witted and immediately understood the meaning.
The servant had only mentioned Bai Li's name, which undoubtedly indicated that the following conversation would be sensitive and private, and that it might be inconvenient for him to be present.
However, Bai Li thoughtfully gave him the right to choose; he could choose to go in with her.
Guan Cha was conflicted. Although he was reluctant to part with Bai Li, he slowly released her hand, which he had been holding tightly. He smiled brightly and said, "I'll wait for you here."
Looking at Guan Cha, Bai Li couldn't help but sigh inwardly: What an obedient child.
Actually, Bai Li originally had some bad impressions of Guan Cha.
Looking back, the scenes of his love for pranks are still vivid in my mind.
Moreover, he is skilled at disguise and scheming, always appearing innocent and harmless on the surface, but in reality, he has his own agenda.
Extremely materialistic and opportunistic, they will stop at nothing to acquire wealth.
Their behavior is also very calculating; they seem to do many things with a purpose, and they can be somewhat hypocritical.
These traits combined didn't make for a very likable personality, which at one point made Bai Li harbor some resentment towards him.
But as time went on, and she spent more and more time with Guan Cha, she gradually discovered the shining qualities in Guan Cha that were hidden by appearances.
He has clear goals and extraordinary perseverance; once he sets his sights on a goal, he will go all out to achieve it.
With Bai Li's help, he strives to improve himself, constantly learning new knowledge and skills in order to realize his ideals. Bai Li greatly admires his efforts and perseverance.
He is also good at seizing opportunities, and can always keenly capture fleeting opportunities in seemingly ordinary situations.
He could remember anything Bai Li mentioned unintentionally, and with his ability to cater to her preferences, he would cleverly take advantage of these opportunities to often bring her all sorts of unexpected surprises.
Most importantly, in the process of getting to know Guan Cha, Bai Li gradually discovered the softness in his heart.
Especially at today's banquet, Bai Li saw a completely different side of him.
At this moment, the last bit of prejudice Bai Li held against Guan Cha quietly crumbled.
In short, he was never a bad kid.
Bai Li took a deep breath, turned around and walked towards the door leading to the inner hall, thinking to herself that after this meeting with the old lady, she must find an opportunity to have a good talk with Guan Cha.
After all, Xiao Hao's upgrade still needs one more person with a favorability score of 80...
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Bai Li stepped into the inner hall.
The hall was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood, and the soft smoke rose gently, adding a touch of peace to the entire space.
The old lady sat regally in the main seat of the hall.
Just now in the hall, she was quite far from the stage where the old lady was speaking, but now that she's closer, she can see it much more clearly.
Although the old lady in front of me was over seventy years old, and the years had inevitably left their mark on her face, her eyes were still sharp, revealing a wisdom that had been tempered by the passage of time.
A woman who has taken the position of head of the household, and who is still so healthy at her age, must be quite remarkable.
"Miss Bai, please have a seat," the old lady said with a smile, her voice gentle.
Bai Li nodded slightly in thanks, sat down on a chair to the side, straightened her back, and met the old lady's gaze frankly.
You must not show weakness at this time.
"I am already aware of what happened today." The old lady narrowed her eyes slightly and spoke slowly, her tone carrying a hint of apology. "The junior was rude and caused Miss Bai to suffer."
Seeing the old lady's friendly attitude, Bai Li was wary, but she responded softly and politely, "You flatter me, madam. It was just a minor incident, and I didn't take it to heart."
The old lady leaned forward slightly, her gaze sweeping over Bai Li from head to toe, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes: "Miss Bai is so young, yet so magnanimous; such composure is truly rare."
She paused slightly, her hand gently resting on the armrest of the seat, stroking its texture absently. Her tone was tinged with emotion, and her gaze gradually drifted into the distance, as if she were lost in deep reminiscence.
"Back then, if it weren't for that crucial $30 million interest-free loan, the Lin family probably wouldn't have survived. When we were in our most difficult time, it was your predecessors who extended a helping hand. The Lin family will never forget this kindness."
Bai Li's heart stirred.
She knew that this was part of the settings that the [Identity Corrector] automatically filled in for her.
Her current identity, besides being the heir to a multinational offshore trust fund, also includes a very mysterious family background, with her ancestors having a deep connection with the Jiangyang Lin family.
All of this was already stored in her memory, so Bai Li could still maintain a calm expression on the surface, bowing slightly and responding flawlessly:
"Madam, you are too kind. I suppose that when our ancestor helped the Lin family back then, he saw the potential in the Lin family. It was just a win-win situation for everyone."
Bai Li understood that the old lady's mention of the past meant there was more to come, so she waited patiently for the old lady to continue.
The old lady sighed softly, the smile on her face gradually fading, replaced by a hint of helplessness and self-reproach. She slowly shook her head and said:
"Alas, it pains me to see how incompetent the younger generation of the Lin family is these days."
"Take Lin Yu for example. Last year, he squandered his money recklessly and ended up with a huge gambling debt. To help him pay it off, that branch of the family had no choice but to sell three tea plantations."
"After that, we put him in solitary confinement for a year, thinking that he would reflect on his mistakes and turn over a new leaf. We thought he would learn from his mistakes, but we never expected him to cause such trouble again."
The old lady's eyes were filled with disappointment:
“I originally intended to leave some assets to their lineage, hoping they could manage them well and preserve the family’s legacy. Now it seems they have truly failed me, and the assets are likely to be lost in Lin Yu’s generation.”
The old lady slightly raised her head and looked directly at Bai Li.
"I have decided to take out a portion as compensation for Miss Bai, and I hope Miss Bai will not find it offensive."
Although the old lady spoke with sincerity, Bai Li instantly became wary.
Although Bai Li has only recently come into contact with these top wealthy families, she has already gained a detailed understanding of the ins and outs of these families by using the [Information Insight Card] during her previous confrontation with the Qing Teng family.
Within wealthy families, the relationships and interests are intricately intertwined.
All wealthy families are the most cautious in their actions and the most stingy when it comes to profits, always keeping their wealth within the family.
The Lin family is large with many branches. If one branch has problems, there are other branches that can inherit the family business.
The assets of wealthy families have always circulated only within the family and would never be easily given to outsiders.
Even if Bai Li's ancestors had been kind to them, time had passed and the kindness had long since ended.
Moreover, this was her first meeting with the old lady, and before they had gotten to know each other well, such a generous compensation was simply unreasonable.
Bai Li immediately realized that something was wrong.
The old lady's sudden proposal to use her property as compensation seemed generous, but it was actually more like a test.
She was trying to figure out Bai Li's attitude towards interests, to find out what Bai Li really thought about the Lin family, and to observe Bai Li's composure when faced with temptation, to judge whether Bai Li had enough wisdom and shrewdness, and whether she was qualified to establish a deeper connection with the Lin family.
After all, in this circle, only those who are smart and know their place are worth building deeper relationships with.
Behind the old lady's seemingly gentle smile lay the Lin family's years of accumulated power struggles and calculations.
Bai Li quickly weighed the pros and cons in her mind, her brain racing as she thought of a solution.
She knew that every answer and every expression she made at that moment was crucial.
If not handled properly, not only will the opportunity to befriend the Lin family be missed, but it may also bring unexpected trouble to oneself.
So on the surface, she maintained a calm and composed demeanor, showing no sign of panic, and said with sincere and firm eyes:
“Madam, this is unacceptable. I have not come here today to demand compensation. Since Lin Yu has already been punished, let it be over.”
Bai Li knew that if she accepted the compensation, although she would gain some practical benefits, these assets were, after all, internal property of the Lin family. Holding them would not only be a hot potato, but could also cause unnecessary trouble within the Lin family and embroil her in pointless disputes.
It would be better to refuse outright, demonstrating your magnanimity and leaving a good impression on the old lady. This would be more conducive to future communication with the Lin family and might even secure some potential opportunities for resource exchange.
The old lady looked at Bai Li, her admiration growing stronger. She nodded slightly and exclaimed, "Miss Bai is indeed a woman of great wisdom and righteousness."
This clarity and open-mindedness are truly rare among the younger generation.
Her ability to handle complex situations and her insight into human relationships demonstrate that she is a capable person, and all of this highlights the excellence of her family.
The old lady couldn't help but recall the bits and pieces of her interactions with Bai Li's ancestors. Now, seeing Bai Li, the old lady was certain that she was indeed the descendant of that family. Every gesture she made carried the shadow of the family's heritage, and she had not disgraced the family's traditions.
Just as Bai Li and the old lady were having a pleasant conversation, a light footstep came from outside the hall. A servant rushed over and quickly walked to the old lady's side. He leaned down slightly and whispered something in her ear.
The old lady's gentle smile deepened, and then she gently beckoned, her tone tinged with pleasure: "It's fate, please let him in."
Not long after, a series of steady and powerful footsteps approached from afar.
Bai Li subconsciously looked up and saw a figure slowly appear in her field of vision, its figure outlined perfectly in the soft light of the hall.
The moment she saw the person's face, her pupils contracted sharply.
Depend on……
This person isn't that...
The guy surnamed Zhou who scored 97 out of 100 in looks?
Now that the distance was closer, his features were as clear as a close-up in Bai Li's eyes, making her see them even more clearly. Compared to when she watched him from afar at the banquet, she felt a greater sense of pressure from being so close.
An invisible force made her heart beat a little faster.
Bai Li never expected to meet him again here.
What is the "fate" the old lady was referring to? What is the man's background? What was the old lady's intention in inviting him in at this time?
When Zhou Chengjing saw Bai Li, he paused for half a second, but the slight change was fleeting. He quickly regained his composure, sat down on the other side of Bai Li, and greeted the old lady with a polite smile.
The old lady's gaze shifted back and forth between Bai Li and Zhou Chengjing. Seeing that they seemed to be complete strangers, a gentle smile slowly appeared on her face, and she introduced them softly:
“Miss Bai, this is Zhou Chengjing. Your two families’ ancestors had a deep connection with the Lin family. However, as time went by, their interactions gradually decreased and their relationship became more distant. It is truly a great fate that you can reunite here today. You are of similar age, so according to seniority, you should call him ‘brother’.”
After saying that, the old lady turned to look at Zhou Chengjing, her eyes filled with affection: "Chengjing, this Bai Li girl is a descendant of the Bai family. She is intelligent and magnanimous. You young people must have a lot in common. You should chat more in the future. We must not forget the friendship of our ancestors."
Bai Li: ...
Bai Li's mind went blank when she heard the old lady's introduction.
She forced herself to suppress the trembling at the corners of her mouth, her mind screaming wildly, "Just how many hidden details has the [Identity Corrector] added to her profile?!"
Her original plan was simple and clear: use the [Identity Corrector] to change her identity, create a relationship with Jiang Yanglin, resolve the crisis, and incidentally expand her film career.
But unexpectedly, this led to an unforeseen trouble!
As expected, one should not use causal tools lightly!
"Zhou Chengjing?" It was as if a lightning bolt had struck Bai Li's mind, and she suddenly remembered something.
This name...
hiss……
If I'm not mistaken, on the plane back to China that day, the favorability indicator suddenly went off. First it was Wu Hai's, and then, almost at the same moment, Zhou Chengjing's indicator also went off.
At the time, I thought it might be a coincidence and didn't pay much attention to it.
Thinking about it more carefully today.
Meow.
She was certain that Zhou Chengjing had learned about her from Wu Hai; the two of them definitely knew each other, and their relationship was quite unusual.
Could someone who knows Wuhai be a good person?
She glanced at Zhou Chengjing and saw a gentle smile on his face. Although he was very handsome, the smile made Bai Li feel uneasy.
"Brother Zhou," please, stop laughing, it's not funny.