FI CH56: Great Atmosphere

As soon as the words fell, the entire place was silent for a good ten seconds.

Everyone stared with wide eyes, taking a moment to process. Finally, a tide of voices erupted with a whoosh!

“…Grand-Grand President!?”

“My god, those are all authentic official seals of the Association’s headquarters!”

“Is it really President Bai Jiang himself!!”

Bai Jiang then pulled out his Tianshi ID to prove his identity.

“Holy crap… It’s really the President!!”

The unexpected reveal of his identity almost made people’s heads buzz.

Hao Niubai covered her mouth, going wild alone in the crowd, screaming silently: Ahhhhhh she knew it! She! Knew! It!! Bai Kang definitely had a hidden identity—

There were three whole big shots in this event!!

Bai Jiang was still standing at the front, holding the frame with a dignified posture, and announced loudly:

“Therefore, the first place in this event should be Mr. Lin Kun!”

The President’s special assessment, a sudden reversal of the rankings.

For a moment, everyone didn’t know which part was more shocking!

After a while, someone finally recovered from the shock and was the first to ask the biggest question:

“But wasn’t it said that the Grand President was invited to present the awards? Why… would the President be participating in the event with us?”

As the words fell, all eyes shot upwards.

Bai Jiang’s brow furrowed, and he said with a composed expression, “Regarding this point, I would also like to know…”

As he spoke, he turned his head and looked at the pale-faced Yu Yixun and the stiff-bodied masked man next to him. Holding the framed paper with all the President’s seals, he questioned, “Who was impersonating this President’s identity? And—”

“Who gave my teacher 70 points!”

He slammed the frame down on the table with a “clang!”

Yu Yixun trembled in fright.

This shocking turn of events was completely unexpected. He trembled in fear and hurriedly hid behind the staff member.

“It… it wasn’t me, I didn’t know!”

The staff member faced a barrage of angry and questioning gazes, breaking out in a sweat, unable to speak.

In the middle of the standoff, someone noticed Bai Jiang’s form of address, and they all quietly glanced at Lin Su, whispering amongst themselves:

“The President called him ‘teacher’…”

“What is Mr. Lin Kun’s identity? He looks so young.”

“But his skills are that of a master. Maybe it’s some youth-preserving technique…”

“…And his paper was framed!”

Lin Su, who heard everything clearly: …

Xuenima shook its head dotingly: [This kid, Xiao Bai, really.]

Lin Su caught it in his palm. Facing the speculative gazes around him, he remained expressionless.

…

Soon, a voice broke the stalemate.

Tang Yin finally seized the opportunity, jumping out and pointing at the two silent figures, shouting:

“What? Weren’t you going to argue with the Grand President?”

“The Grand President is right here and gave Lin Kun 100 points. Who is the other ‘President’ who graded the papers? Get them out here to argue!”

Hao Niubai also released her taunts freely. “Weren’t you certified by the Grand President? How come you don’t even recognize the Grand President? …Hey, what score did you give the Grand President? 250, huh~”

The masked man’s hand trembled, the scorebook creaking in his grip.

The others, full of momentum, pursued the matter.

“Just how much of this event is fake?”

“It’s obvious who you were trying to prop up, isn’t it? Cheaters! Don’t hide in the back without a word, come out and give us an explanation!”

Yu Yixun was hiding desperately behind the staff member, so panicked that he refused to admit anything. “I don’t know! I wasn’t the one who graded it. If the organizers couldn’t invite the President, I… what’s the use of me getting first place?”

The wave of condemnation quieted for a moment.

The crowd seemed stumped, unable to figure out what the point was of propping him up so much.

Yu Yixun breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Just then, a light and faint voice, tinged with amusement, sounded out:

“Oh, is that so?”

Lin Su was standing below, and under his delicate, translucent mask, the corner of his lips curved into a half-smile.

Yu Yixun’s heart pounded. He forced himself to calm down. “Of course it is…”

Before he could finish, he was interrupted by a “bang”!

The main hotel doors directly behind him were suddenly pushed open, and a line of people in Tianshi uniforms strode in, wearing the emblems of the Tianshi Association headquarters on their collars.

At the very front, they were restraining a middle-aged man who was struggling and shouting, “Let me go! You’re not the police, what right do you have to arrest people? Be careful or I’ll call the police—”

The somewhat similar face came into everyone’s view.

Yu Yixun’s face changed drastically, and he couldn’t help but shout, “…Dad!”

“…”

The crowd whipped their heads around in unison. “!” Huh!?

With his identity revealed, the cheating was practically confirmed on the spot.

The participants all gathered around, their gazes shifting back and forth between the flustered and embarrassed Yu Yixun and Yu Hongcai.

“Hmph, so he’s the ‘crown prince’.”

“He was cheating from the very beginning, right? Just playing us for fools!?”

“Don’t think you can get away with this without giving us an explanation!”

Yu Yixun was practically terrified by this scene. “What are you doing? Let go of my dad!”

Yu Hongcai was also struggling fiercely in their grasp, his old face flushing red and white as he shouted, “You’re just a Tianshi Association! Do you have the authority to arrest people!?”

The person holding him looked up. “President.”

Bai Jiang walked down with a calm expression and stopped in front of him. “Regarding the arrest, we have indeed overstepped our bounds. But as long as we get authorization, there shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

As he spoke, he turned his head, his gaze passing through the crowd to land on the silent He Zhenling standing to the side.

“Is it alright if we act on your behalf? President He.”

Yu Hongcai looked up in utter astonishment!

A barrage of gazes also shot over:

…Who? Who did he say Mr. He Daniao is??? The President of the Supervisory Association, He Zhenling!?

He Zhenling: “…”

Lin Su: “…”

Hao Niubai: “…!”

He Zhenling met the gazes from the front, his eyes clear and cold. Lin Su turned his head away slightly. Xuenima lay in his hand, peeking carefully. [Xiao He’s eyes are frozen for a thousand miles.]

“…Shh.”

After a moment, the figure beside him moved.

He Zhenling took off his half-mask with one hand, revealing that cold, handsome face. “Permission granted.”

Bai Jiang smiled slightly and turned his head cheerfully. “Then there’s no problem.”

A huge uproar erupted all around:

“Holy crap! It’s the president of the Supervisory Association…”

“The Supervisory Association President and the Tianshi Headquarters President are both in this event—”

“Then what is the identity of ‘Mr. Lin Kun’ who is with them?”

“He must be a big shot too…!”

Hao Niubai let out a breath of relief in pure satisfaction. Finally, everyone knows! She had been holding it in for the past two days!

At the front, Bai Jiang was exercising his right of arrest.

All related staff, including Yu Yixun, were restrained. Yu Hongcai was both shocked and scared. In his panic, he quickly argued:

“Even if we borrowed the name… our event didn’t violate any rules or laws! Is it serious enough for an arrest?”

“First of all, that’s called impersonation.”

Bai Jiang said with a smile, then added, “Secondly, the evidence of your violations of rules and laws has long been seen through by my teacher.”

He looked at Lin Su. “Right, Teacher!”

“…”

Lin Su then took out his phone, opened his photo album, and showed it to them. “From the first round, there has been cheating in every round. Using prohibited items to incite a ghost riot, bribing volunteers to manipulate scores, and illegally imprisoning participants…”

The color drained from Yu Hongcai’s face.

“In addition.”

Lin Su looked straight at him. “The female worker who fell from the building at the construction site 15 years ago—you refused to admit it was an accident and handled it as a missing person case. Her family has yet to receive any compensation. That should also be settled.”

Yu Hongcai felt a chill run down his spine from his gaze. He shivered and was rendered speechless.

A wave of realization washed over the crowd, and their indignation flared.

“So you’re that unscrupulous developer!?”

“No wonder you hid your identities and didn’t dare to show your faces. Turns out you were afraid we’d figure it out!”

Bai Jiang said, “The evidence is conclusive. Take them away.”

His subordinates replied in unison, “Yes.”

The Tianshi Association escorted the people away with a “whoosh.” At the same time, Bai Jiang was heard clapping his hands. “The people who don’t deserve to be here are gone. Next—”

“Allow me to officially present the awards to everyone!” ^▽^

The crowd was stunned for a moment, then erupted in excited shouts. “Waaahhhhhh…!!”

The test papers were re-graded, and the rankings recalculated on the spot.

Bai Jiang graded everyone’s paper, added his personal signature, and finally, under the crowd’s surging gazes, announced:

“For the written test portion, besides Teacher being 100 points, President… President He’s corrections also prove he has fully mastered the questions, so his score is also changed to 100 points.”

“I now announce that the first-place winners of this event are Teacher Lin Kun and President He!”

“Well-deserved!”

“Congratulations to Mr. Lin and President… He!”

Hao Niubai surged to Lin Su’s side. “I knew it! This first place should have been yours!”

Lin Su said cheerfully, “Of course.”

At the front, the new rankings were still being announced. Bai Jiang patted the second-place winner, Yan Guanyue, and said, “You’re not bad.”

Lin Su stepped to the side and pointed at He Zhenling with a gratified look. “Look, our son is already standing on his own two feet.”

A cold laugh came from beside him. “Heh, he just used me as a shield a moment ago.”

Lin Su: “…”

He turned his head away slightly. “Forgive him with a father’s love.”

…

An event that started as a gimmick ended with the personal arrival of the presidents.

Except for the organizers who were taken away, it was a pleasant surprise for everyone else.

The Tianshi Association stayed behind to handle the case of the female corpse.

It was too late today, so everyone rested at the hotel for one more night and would return on their own tomorrow.

Lin Su slept until 10 AM the next day.

Bright daylight filled the room.

He got up, tidied up a bit, and pushed the door open. Just as he reached the elevator, he heard a sound from the other end of the corridor.

Turning his head, he saw He Zhenling also coming out of his room.

The tall figure walked up in a few steps, his eyes low. “You can sleep this much even with full spiritual power?”

“Sleeping is a form of enjoyment.” Lin Su looked at him. “Why are you only coming out now?”

He Zhenling didn’t speak and pressed the elevator button.

“…Were you waiting for me?”

“Heh, what do you think?”

Lin Su looked at him, sighed, and walked into the elevator.

Ding! The elevator reached the first floor.

The doors opened, and they saw Bai Jiang also waiting in the lobby. He was dressed in a snow-white robe, still carrying that picture frame on his back, with a few subordinates beside him.

Bai Jiang saw him and shot up. “Brother-Teacher!”

Lin Su was surprised. “You didn’t leave either?”

“The road out of the village is rough. I’ll drive you… to the airport!”

He comforted him, “How thoughtful.”

The subordinate next to him cast a hesitant glance.

The group got into Bai Jiang’s car.

The car was spacious, and all three of them sat in the back seat.

Just as the car drove out of the village entrance, Lin Su’s pocket vibrated continuously. He took a moment to realize: Oh, there’s signal.

He opened it, and the first message that popped up was:

[Supernatural Journey Event]

Participant: He Daniao has set you as their emergency contact…

Emergency Contact Information:

[Name: Lin Kun]

[Address: Lin Family Village]

“…”

Lin Su: So detailed!

At the same time, a “heh” came from beside him.

He swiped the message away with a swoosh, pretended nothing happened, exited, and opened his WeiXin messages. He saw Black and White Impermanence had sent him a bunch:

“Hey, let’s have a party~ at your place.”

“Are you not home?”

“…”

“Um, that, you… ??”

The hesitant message stopped there.

Lin Su: “?”

Xuenima crawled over. [What are they talking about?]

“I don’t know.” He stared at the message for a few seconds, then pressed his temple and thought hard. “…But I have a feeling I forgot something.”

[If you forgot, it means it wasn’t important.]

“True.”

He simply turned off his phone and closed his eyes to rest.

Soon, the car stopped outside the airport.

Bai Jiang got out to see them off. “Is Brother-Teacher still going back to Xuncheng?”

Lin Su nodded. Bai Jiang’s eyes turned into sunny-side-up eggs again. “Aren’t you coming to the capital?”

He said, “Wait another half a year or so.”

Bai Jiang: “Oh… 0▽0“

It was about time. Lin Su said goodbye to Bai Jiang. He was about to leave with He Zhenling when a voice from behind suddenly called out to them. “…President He!”

Lin Su and He Zhenling turned their heads. “?”

Bai Jiang stood before them, hesitatingly staring at He Zhenling for a moment before finally making up his mind and saying with full force, “You’re not allowed to ‘bully’ Brother-Teacher too much!”

Lin Su: “…!”

He Zhenling: “…”

He Zhenling’s knuckles on his side flexed. He turned his head away without a word.

Lin Su also fell silent. Xuenima popped out secretly: […Why are you sweating?]

“…Shh.”

He closed his eyes. This kid, Xiao Bai, has also become impure.

After a few seconds, he heard a “mm” from beside him.

Lin Su’s eyes snapped open. He turned his head, only to meet He Zhenling’s slightly averted head. His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. He called to him, “Let’s go.”

He blinked, pursed his lips. “Oh.”

He waved to Bai Jiang, turned, and followed.

…

The only plane tickets for that day were in the afternoon.

It was already six in the evening when they landed in Xuncheng.

Kong Fu was waiting outside the airport in his car.

After getting in the car, He Zhenling closed the door and said, “Take him back first.”

“Yes, sir.”

The dim evening light fell into the car through the window.

Lin Su was replying to messages in the back seat, the screen glowing brightly. He Zhenling glanced over. “Busy schedule?”

“You’re overthinking it.”

He gave a doting glance and explained, “I took sick leave for the National Day make-up classes. The class monitor couldn’t reach me and thought I was terminally ill, so he sent me a bouquet.”

He Zhenling: “…”

Xuenima imagined: [You weren’t home. Would leaving it at the door look like paying respects at a grave?]

Lin Su gently pinched its mouth shut.

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before the car stopped in front of the apartment.

“Mr. Lin, we’re here.”

Lin Su nodded his thanks. Before pushing the door open, he paused and turned to look at He Zhenling. The other’s profile was handsome and blurry in the dim light. He felt a wave of flirtation.

“I’m going home now. Don’t you have anything to say to me?”

He Zhenling scoffed. “What should I say to you?”

He then said in a gentle voice, “Old Zhang is still here.”

Lin Su: “…”

Kong Fu: “…”

Xuenima exclaimed in amazement: [Using the enemy’s tactics to subdue the enemy.]

Lin Su snatched it away and replied shyly, “I know you’re thin-skinned. You can say it at my residence next time.”

He closed the car door and floated back home.

…

He returned to the apartment after several days.

He went upstairs and through the corridor. When he reached his door, he found it was clean.

Xuenima: [Where’s the bouquet from the class monitor?]

Lin Su thought for a moment. “Black and White Impermanence had a party. They probably brought it inside for me.”

He pushed the door open.

The lights were off inside; it was dim.

Just as Lin Su stepped into the entrance hall, he saw a faint light coming from the living room. He paused for a second, then walked through the entrance hall and went in.

The scene in the living room came into view.

Lin Su’s steps came to a screeching halt.

Bright red light shone on his face. The two large wedding lanterns were still hanging by the window. A bouquet tied with a red silk ribbon was placed in the center of the coffee table.

He was silent for a long time, as if in a dream. “…Nima, why is there a pair of dragon and phoenix candles on the windowsill?”

“Why is the wedding quilt spread on my sofa?”

“How did my living room turn into a wedding chamber?”

Xuenima: […] Don’t ask it.

After a moment, Lin Su finally came to his senses.

He took out his phone and swiped open WeiXin. Xuenima also slowly unfroze and leaned over.

[Going to settle scores with Black and White Impermanence?]

“No.”

Lin Su looked down. “While he’s not far.”

As he spoke, his fingertips moved, and he had already quickly sent a message to He Zhenling.

[Su Du Su Bu Xing]: The atmosphere is just right. Come to my residence for a gathering. [Heart]

__

Author’s Note:

Su: Come back quickly, don’t waste it. [Heart]

Big Bird He: ?

Black and White Impermanence: …Hap-happy wedding!? (cheering)

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