Chapter 418: In a Mess, Almost Lost Out

At the end of November, Song Luting’s entry into the Research Institute had caused disturbances in the laboratory. Cheng Wenru and Cheng Raohan had heard their subordinates mention it before.

As for talents like Song Luting… a few would pop up in Beijing every year, but there weren’t many who could really make waves. Most families would choose to invest and cast their nets on this rare outstanding person.

After all, some of these people really accomplished a great feat later on, but some died halfway after offending people during their work.

Having made waves in the laboratory, some people already had their eyes on Song Luting.

However, he had caused a huge wave among the research madmen of the Research Institute, and in the eyes of those with real power in Beijing, his weight wasn’t large at all. After all… he was a growing genius with almost no real power in his hands, and a few families were still watching him.

Other than Song Luting and the Research Institute, they also paid attention to the assessments of several major laboratories each year.

This year, including the physics laboratory’s assessment, Qin Ran, the newcomer who had caused a big hoo-ha, naturally garnered their attention.

Even Cheng Raohan’s subordinate had mentioned it before.

At that time, he had harbored a wait-and-see attitude… with the mentality of investing in Qin Ran in the future.

Apart from other things, Qin Ran was indeed an outstanding freshman at Beijing University other than Song Luting. At that time, even Cheng Raohan had paid attention to talks of this freshman, but she was just a youngster who had emerged, so he only ordered his men to keep an eye on her.

Upon hearing this now, he squeezed the document in his hands. “Are you saying that the freshman is Qin Ran?”

He remembered that previously, his subordinate had mentioned the surname Qin.

But he had been too busy with the Xu family’s affairs and hadn’t paid attention.

1

The temperature in the study seemed to drop, and the subordinate lowered his head. After a long while, he slowly said, “… Yes.”

“Ok, her future is open.” It was fine if Qin Ran was an ordinary person. Although her qualifications could attract his attention, it wouldn’t cause much disturbance. After all, it wasn’t easy to mix in Beijing’s circle without a background.

But now…

With her qualifications and Old Master Cheng’s attitude towards her… Within a few years, she would surely become a manager in the Research Institute.

Once mixed into the management level, it was very different from ordinary researchers.

2

Cheng Raohan clutched his tight chest, feeling like he couldn’t breathe.

Seeing that he hadn’t spoken for a long time, the subordinate looked up and was shocked to see him holding his chest. “Eldest Master, are you okay?!”

“I’m… fine.” Cheng Raohan shook his head, putting his hands on the table with his lips pursed.

1

It seemed like he had to hasten his plans.

3

**

At the same time.

On the school grounds.

Holding a halberd, Cheng Juan looked up at the eager eyes of the youngsters. He paused and seriously asked, “Are you sure you want to fight me?”

He squeezed the halberd and raised an eyebrow.

“Of course. When we went to the special training today, the First Instructor said you broke the historical record.” A group of young people nodded frantically.

Not far away were a bunch of onlookers.

“Mr. Shi, are you alright?” Someone saw his lips twitching.

1

Shi Liming: “… Yeah.”

In the circle, Cheng Juan graciously raised the halberd and looked at the group of youngsters. “Six of you…”

He looked up thoughtfully.

After a minute.

He spun the halbert and gripped it, took a few steps, and plunged it into the weapon bay of the school field.

Wherever it passed, the group of people stepped aside hastily.

“Sure enough, Third Young Master is as powerful as the rumors suggest.” Cheng Rui was standing beside Qin Ran.

Qin Ran was leaning against the weapon pile, wearing the white clock, looking thoughtfully in Cheng Juan’s direction…

She never saw him make a move…

Just now…

Inexplicably, it made her feel a little familiar, but she couldn’t pinpoint it…

6

Qin Ran pondered deeply.

“By the way, Sister Qin Ran,” Cheng Rui asked again. “Can I ask you a question…”

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“Sure.” She looked away from Cheng Juan and smiled loosely at Cheng Rui.

Cheng Rui’s eyes widened. “In 24-hours Idol, why didn’t you go to several mission posts? Like the shooting mission. I read on Beijing University’s forum that you shot 10 bullseyes in the military training. If you went to that mission, you would have gotten first place in the shooting level.”

“And that violin level, you’re obviously better than Tian Xiaoxiao.” Cheng Rui became more excited. “The drawing level as well. I’m sorry, but I even stalked your high school forum as well. Your painting on the board was really beautiful, so why didn’t you go? And that calligraphy…”

1

She enumerated a bunch of mission points.

Then, she said regretfully, “It would be nice if you participated in them all.”

Regardless of other things, she really wanted to see her shooting skills that were called God-level in the training base.

If she participated in that as well, her waves on the Internet would surely be much larger than it was now, and she would surely shoot to crazy fame…

Although she was also very famous now…

Because of this, Cheng Rui had felt regretful for a week.

Folding her cloak, Qin Ran calmly answered, “Because it wasn’t in my character setup.”

Cheng Rui glanced at her curiously. “Character setup?”

“Nothing.” Qin Ran straightened her back when Cheng Juan walked over. She coughed, turned to Cheng Rui, and repeated Cheng Wenru’s words, “Learn well.”

Cheng Juan walked over while putting on his coat. He glanced at Cheng Rui and politely asked, “Is there anything else?”

“… No.” Cheng Rui took a step back.

Nodding, Cheng Juan turned to Qin Ran, casually buttoning the top button of his shirt with his fingers before pausing and asked her, “Shall we go find the Old Master first?”

Touching her chin and thoughtfully staring at him, Qin Ran slowly nodded.

She still had to go back to her research projects.

The two returned the same way and passed through the plum garden.

At this moment, most of the Cheng family were either on the school grounds or chatting in the lobby to form connections with one another. On the way, it was rather quiet, and they didn’t bump into anyone.

1

In Old Master Cheng’s study.

Cheng Mu quickly followed Cheng Wenru to see it.

Butler Cheng carefully took out the wooden box which contained a painting that was probably carefully crafted, because Cheng Wenru had mentioned it was a “well-preserved antique.” Old Master Cheng stared at it for a long time and didn’t dare to unlock it boldly like Qin Ran.

Finally, he called the warehouse manager who was well-versed in such things.

“This is a mechanical lock.” The manager looked at it with lit-up eyes. “I’ve only seen this kind of craftsmanship in history books.”

He carefully took the box, held it in his hand, and looked at it for a long time before opening the lock.

Old Master Cheng and Cheng Wenru sat in the sitting room, staring intently at him.

Cheng Juan and Qin Ran came in.

“Ran Ran, which of your friends gave this? The manager said not many people have studied this mechanical lock craftsmanship so far. Your friend even studied it?” Cheng Wenru saw her and immediately pointed at the lock.

Upon hearing this, Qin Ran didn’t have any reaction. Lazily leaning on the study door, Cheng Juan glanced at her, his delicate eyebrows slightly raised.

1

Both Old Master Cheng and Cheng Mu averted their eyes from the mechanical lock and turned to look at her.

“… I don’t know, either.” She took a step forward to look at the wooden box. She didn’t know why Giant Crocodile had sent her something like this… It looked simple but full of history.

As soon as she finished speaking, the mechanical lock rang.

Unlike Qin Ran who roughly opened it, the manager carefully opened it and saw that the mechanical lock had been forcibly opened before. The gap was still very new, and he was heartbroken. “This mechanical lock is missing a piece. Who was this ignorant…”

2

Cheng Mu didn’t speak.

Cheng Wenru didn’t speak, either.

Lazily leaning against the door, Cheng Juan glanced at the manager and flatly said, “Look at the painting first.”

1

The wooden box was exquisite on the outside and more exquisite on the inside. It was covered with brocade, and inside was a complete picture scroll.

The manager then put down the wooden box and put on his gloves to prevent oxidation. Although he felt heartbroken by the mechanical lock, he saw that the painting in the delicate box was definitely not ordinary.

He slowly spread the picture on the long table and unfolded it.

It seemed to be a landscape painting.

“Mountains and rivers of thousands of miles?” Cheng Mu read the name while looking at the inscription in the middle.

He looked at the red seal next to it but couldn’t read the handwriting properly, nor tell whose calligraphy it was.

After reading it out, he realized that the three people in the room who knew these things best, Old Master Cheng, Cheng Wenru, and the manager, were silent. He turned and asked the manager, “Is there a problem with this painting?”

“No.” He was in a daze.

“Then, why are you…” Cheng Mu looked up.

“No.” Cheng Wenru turned to Old Master Cheng. “Dad, we… have we studied this painting before?”