CHAPTER 157: CHAPTER 157: LOOKING FOR TROUBLE

After leaving the Bai Family, the man headed to the vicinity of the Lin Family villa.

He tied a note to Hui Zai’s tail and let it into the villa.

Inside the villa—

A woman who appeared regal and elegant was sitting on a lounge chair reading a book.

She had a nice figure, except her lower abdomen was slightly protruding.

"Meow—"

A cat’s meow caught the woman’s attention.

She looked somewhat nervous and glanced at the lady standing not far away.

The lady immediately closed the door nearby, then opened the floor-to-ceiling window on the windowsill, picked up the grayish-blue fat cat, stood far from the woman, removed the note tied to the cat’s tail, then carried the cat back outside the floor-to-ceiling window and closed it properly.

The fat cat was a bit dissatisfied, meowed several times, and scratched the window with its paw.

But neither the lady nor the woman inside paid it any attention.

The woman seemed to dislike cats, covering her mouth and nose with the book in her hand, letting the lady read the words on the note out loud where she stood.

"Lin Yuanyang is at the Bai Family."

The woman’s eyes flickered, her expression invisible behind the book.

The lady’s expression turned somewhat unpleasant after reading: "Madam, that little bastard actually escaped the assassination and ran off to the Bai Family. If the Family Head finds out, he’ll definitely take him back. Then all we’ve done before would be wasted."

The woman’s gaze deepened, her hand touching her stomach, and her tone carried menace, "Don’t worry, he won’t appear again."

The three people eating in a private restaurant had no idea someone was thinking of them.

"Happy Birthday to You..."

Bai Xiaotang clapped and sang the birthday song, with candles in the shape of two numbers aflame, as Bai Yusen closed his eyes to make a wish.

Ji Ning had never seen a birthday celebration before, and he watched the sibling interaction with some curiosity.

When Bai Yusen blew out the candles, Bai Xiaotang presented him with a delicate square box containing a men’s wristwatch.

Bai Yusen was very pleased, immediately taking off the watch on his wrist to put on the one Bai Xiaotang gave him.

"Brother Yu Sen, I made a little program as a birthday gift for you." Lin Yuanyang chimed in timely, opening his Smart Brain to showcase the program’s effects.

It was an encrypted transmission program that could bypass Smart Brain supervision, sending files, audio, video, and pictures securely.

And after transmission, the other party would have the files erased after viewing, leaving no trace.

Very practical.

Bai Yusen sincerely thanked him, allowing Lin Yuanyang to embed the program into his Smart Brain.

Once the program was installed, Bai Yusen prepared to cut the cake and divide it among the three.

Unexpectedly, Ji Ning pulled out a sealed glass bottle from his pocket and handed it to him.

The glass bottle contained more than half a bottle of transparent liquid, looking like plain water.

Ji Ning explained briefly, "Drink it, it’s good for you!"

Bai Yusen was somewhat surprised, accepting the glass bottle and thanking him.

Bai Xiaotang recognized the origin of the glass bottle and asked in amazement, "Sister Ning, isn’t this a laboratory medicine bottle?"

Ji Ning nodded slightly.

Bai Xiaotang asked again, "What does this medicine do?"

Ji Ning focused on the cake on the table, answering casually, "Clears the mind and strengthens the body."

Bai Xiaotang didn’t think much of it, assuming it was ordinary health medication, and urged her brother Bai Yusen to be sure to drink it when back home, her tone full of trust and admiration for Ji Ning.

Instead, Bai Yusen looked pensive, eyeing the glass bottle in his hand.

The meal for the four was very pleasant.

"Where shall we go next for fun?" Bai Xiaotang inquired.

But Bai Yusen raised his wrist apologetically, "You guys go ahead. I have a meeting this afternoon."

"Can’t it be rescheduled for tomorrow?" Bai Xiaotang pouted with a little droop in her face.

Bai Yusen ruffled her hair, "I really have some things to handle. Once I’m done, I’ll go to Anhe to spend New Year’s with you."

Bai Xiaotang, although reluctant, did not insist, losing interest in playing after Bai Yusen left.

"Why don’t we head to the airport?"

They had a 5:30 PM flight from Beijing to Anhe City.

It was past 1 PM then, and it would take over two hours to reach the airport, just about the right time.

Ji Ning and Lin Yuanyang had no objections, and the three left the private room to head out.

"Yo, isn’t this the Lin Family’s sickly boy? Why aren’t you home being a good boy? Came out... for a date?"

A youthful voice suddenly rang out, and Lin Yuanyang’s expression shifted, his gaze sharp on the newcomer.

A group of four to five teenage boys wearing dark blue school uniforms, holding nothing, seemingly skipping class, approached.

Bai Xiaotang recognized the uniforms as being from a very famous private school in Beijing.

Lin Yuanyang used to be a student at this school.

Lin Yuanyang had been in poor health since childhood, often undergoing treatment in hospitals, which regular public schools couldn’t accommodate, so he attended private school from a young age.

Due to Lin Yuanyang’s S-Class spiritual power and genius intellect, despite spending half the year in the hospital, he could still skip grades and study, becoming very popular with school leaders and teachers.

Good students receive perks, naturally making them targets of envy and dislike by some.

Cao Zongming led the group, being one such person.

He wasn’t jealous of Lin Yuanyang’s good grades or teacher fondness but felt injustice on behalf of his cousin.

His cousin, named Gu Sili, belonged to the Gu Family in Beijing, one of the top four families alongside the Lin Family, with equal family status, naturally leading to comparisons in other aspects.

Gu Sili was three years older than Lin Yuanyang, not of the same age group, but Lin Yuanyang’s high IQ forced them into classmates, inevitably leading to academic performance comparisons.

Originally, Gu Sili consistently placed at the top, excelling across the grade, but once Lin Yuanyang advanced a grade, his performance overshadowed Gu Sili’s, acing every subject, stressing the academic star to a breaking point.

Gu Sili faced tremendous pressure, though he said nothing, but as his cousin, Cao Zongming understood the struggles of being perpetually second best. To make his cousin number one, he rallied a group of friends to trouble Lin Yuanyang at school, even though he rarely attended, confronting him every time he came.

They started with verbal attacks before tripping him up, eventually escalating to physical confrontations.

Lin Yuanyang had a frail physique, so Cao Zongming and others didn’t dare to seriously hurt him, merely teaching him a lesson until he couldn’t attend school due to illness.

Though juvenile, these tactics posed a considerable problem for Lin Yuanyang.

Until Lin Yuanyang had a falling out with his stepmother, left home, and transferred to a different school out of town.

Bai Xiaotang wasn’t in the same school as Lin Yuanyang but heard some rumors, and seeing these students approaching with hostility, she immediately pulled Lin Yuanyang behind her, sternly asking, "What are you doing?"

Although Bai Xiaotang was nearly 17, her baby face made her look not much older than Lin Yuanyang, so even with a stern face, she lacked intimidating presence.

Cao Zongming didn’t take her seriously, casting a disdainful glance her way, teasing, "Lin Yuanyang isn’t that young; what future do you have with him? Why not be my girlfriend instead?"

Before Bai Xiaotang could react, Ji Ning chuckled lightly.

What were kids these days thinking, trying to date before growing up fully?

They were less reliable than the brats from chaotic times...

Cao Zongming was somewhat displeased, turning around. Though Ji Ning was good-looking, her male attire made her appear masculine at first glance.

Cao Zongming assumed she was a guy, arrogantly stepping forward, his finger poking Ji Ning’s shoulder, "What’s so funny?"