Chapter 20. Bai Zhe’s plan

    A new day had arrived. Bai Zhe came to school earlier than usual because he had been contacted by Mu Si Cheng regarding how they would discuss business today. It was not long until Mu Si Cheng arrived at the meeting location.

    “How was it? Did the results come out good?” asked Bai Zhe.

    “They came out excellently. Another thing, the production team was out of ideas about a new product to be launched into the market. And my dad agreed to your offer. And about sending the premium edition samples to the wealthy to try out, my dad had already proceeded with that. He also sent the details of the product auction as well.” Mu Si Cheng looked excited. His dad had never praised him before. This was the first time his dad had praised him. It made him feel a little prouder of himself.

    “All right, next, take this,” said Bai Zhe, handing the boy a glass bottle that was filled with an emerald liquid. It made Mu Si Cheng’s eyes shine. It looked like Bai Zhe had something new to surprise him.

    “What is this?” asked Mu Si Cheng.

    “Give me your hand,” said Bai Zhe.

    Mu Si Cheng reached out his hand to the boy. Then Bai Zhe opened the bottle and dripped the green liquid onto the back of Mu Si Cheng’s hand.

    “Rub it in a circular motion so that it’s absorbed into your skin, and compare this hand with your other hand,” said Bai Zhe.

    Mu Si Cheng did as Bai Zhe told him obediently. He himself wanted to know what the properties of this green liquid were as well. After the liquid was fully absorbed into his skin, the area where the liquid had been applied slowly got brighter. Moreover, it became smooth and soft, like baby skin. Mu Si Chen looked at his hand and then at Bai Zhe’s face.

    “Th...This… Bai Zhe, this is awesome. You want me to take this to my dad to make a new cosmetic product, right?” said Mu Si Cheng.

    “Yes. I suggest one drop per one kilogram of cream. If the result happens too fast, your dad’s company will run into some difficulties. It is a product anyway, and the emphasis has to be on repeated purchases so that business can proceed smoothly. And for the ratio that I told you, it would make the cream better than any other in the market. Other brands will not be able to compare to yours,” said Bai Zhe. He tried comparing the liquid with creams from various brands, until finally, he got the right ratio.

    “What about the sharing of the profits? Is it the same?” asked Si Cheng.

    “This time, I ask for just 50%. But on the condition that your dad’s company needs to let me be the spokesmodel for this product. Just that. You can contact a person named Chen Feng. I’m under his management.” Bai Zhe told him about the condition of the sale of this cream base.

    “Chen Feng? Is it that drama producer? Bai Zhe, don’t tell me that you…” Chen Feng had never thought that his friend was working in show business.

    “Yes. He has approached me to star in the TV series that he’s about to film. I don’t have a manager right now. So, everything I do needs to be through him,” said Bai Zhe.

    “Deal. I will talk to my dad. I’ll call you if he agrees,” said Mu Si Cheng.

    They talked for a while before walking to class together. Now Bai Zhe’s plan for getting famous had proceeded continuously. His novel would be released next month, and his drama would start filming next month as well. If Mu Si Cheng’s dad agreed to the condition, people would know him through skincare product commercials as well.

    These three things would be a great boost to his reputation. For the Eater King competition which would start next week, if he passed the qualifying round, it would be the first time that he appeared in front of a camera. It would help people recognise him more.

    The money that he would receive from Mu Si Cheng's dad’s company would be enough to buy a house for his parents and make him live his daily life comfortably.

    However, it was not enough for the herbs he would use for practicing qi. The herbs he stored in his soul were rare. If he used them now, he would not be able to find them again. The only thing he could do was plant them. So, the more money he had in his hands now, the faster his training would improve.

    Homeroom

    Bai Zhe’s homeroom teacher gave the students a survey about high schools that they wanted to enter after junior high. The results would be analysed, and action would be taken in order to arrange field trips so the students could observe the environment and classes of the high schools that they were interested in. Each trip would be to a different school. Thus, the school needed a list of their students so they could summarise the data and arrange the schedule for the trips.

    “Bai Zhe, which high school do you want to attend?”

    “The Midgard High School in the capital,” answered Bai Zhe. He did not notice that the girls were intently listening to him.

    “Okay, I will go there as well. I think I have enough ability to pass the entrance exam. I might have my dad hire me a tutor for the exam,” said Mu Si Cheng. He was surprised at how he had gotten this close to Bai Zhe this fast. Before this, maybe it was because of Yi Han that he had not wanted to socialise with Bai Zhe.

    “You will go there too? Give it your all. I will study there as well,” said the head girl. Most of the conversation in the class today was about the field trips to the high schools.

    …………..

    After School

    Bai Zhe hurriedly went to the LSA training centre. While he was on the way there, he called the Li Clan to tell them about his visit.

    “Hello, this is the Li Clan. Whom would you like to speak with?” said a middle-aged woman’s voice.

    “Hello, could you please tell Mrs. Li Zhou Ma that Dr. Bai will visit her tomorrow?” Bai Zhe immediately made an appointment time. Tomorrow, he would be free until the evening, so he could finally do what he had promised Matron Li.

    “All right. Dr. Bai, is it? I will tell Matron Li,” the middle-aged woman replied.

    She had been ordered to be as polite as possible when Dr. Bai called.

    “Thank you so much. I will hang up now.” Bai Zhe hung up immediately after he said that.

    …………..

    The Li Clan’s House

    The Li Clan’s housekeeper walked along the hallway in the building to the room of the owner of the house, which was Li Zhou Ma.

    Knock, knock, knock.

    “Matron Li.” The housekeeper knocked on the door of the room that belonged to the most powerful person in this house.

    “What is it?” Li Zhou Ma’s voice came from the room.

    “Dr. Bai called. He said he would be visiting us tomorrow,” said the housekeeper.

    “All right. You go tell the cook that tomorrow we will have a reception for the Li Clan’s benefactor. The food has to be perfect,” said Li Zhou Ma.

    “All right, ma’am,” said the housekeeper before leaving for the kitchen.

    Li Zhou Ma, who was in her room, picked up her phone to call Li Feng immediately. After waiting for a moment, Li Feng picked up.

    “Li Feng, Dr. Bai will come to visit us tomorrow. All my grandchildren have to be home. No one is allowed to go anywhere, understood?” Li Zhou Ma immediately ordered.

    She planned for her great-granddaughter and Bai Zhe to get to know each other. Maybe the two would like each other to the point where they ended up together, and it would benefit the Li Clan because Bai Zhe was a person who could compound medicine using an ancient technique. If they got him as a family member, the Li Clan could possibly be as powerful as the Divine Sects. (The great-grandmother daydreamed.)

    “All right, I will take care of it.” After hearing Li Feng’s confirmation, Matron Li hung up immediately.

    Li Feng hurriedly went to his granddaughter’s medicine compounding room. His granddaughter's name was Li Mei Ying. She had been studying medicine compounding since she was young. She was the best at medical compounding in the clan.

    Knock, knock, knock.

    “Who is that? Don’t you know that I need to focus while compounding medicine? Darn it! It’s all ruined,” the voice of the selfish young girl sounded from the inside of the room.

    “This is me, your grandfather. Mei Ying, stop whining and open the door for me. I have something to talk to you about,” said Li Feng. The door was opened, and the smell of herbal medicine wafted out of the room. Li Mei Ying and Baii Gui Ying were sitting in front of a pot for boiling herbal medicine.

    “Grandfather, is everything all right? Why did you come here this suddenly? I am making medicine for great-grandmother,” asked Mei Ying. Li Feng did not answer. He walked into the room and took a seat on a chair next to Li Mei Ying.

    “Dr. Bai will come visit us tomorrow. Great-grandmother said that all the grandchildren need to stay home tomorrow. Do not go anywhere at all, understood?” said Li Feng.

    “I know, I know. He is just a normal qi doctor. You don’t have to make such a big deal about him. I heard that great-grandmother had already paid him back by protecting him from Lao Lao,” Li Mei Ying grumbled.

    “A normal qi doctor? If he were really just a normal qi doctor, he could never have cured your great-grandmother. Even you, the person who knows best about herbal medicine and qi medication in this clan, couldn’t cure her. So tomorrow, do not act this arrogant in front of him—not in the slightest. He is a doctor who is very skilled. in acupuncture, in driving away the cold from your great-grandmother’s body, which you cannot do. If you look down on a person who is not as good as you, I can ignore that. But for Dr. Bai, you should not do that, not ever. And this is proof of the difference between his level and yours.” Li Feng brought out the qi balancing medicine that Bai Zhe had given to Li Zhou Ma and handed it to Li Mei Ying to take a close look.

    “What is this? This sweet aroma? And the yang power that comes from this medicine… Is it a medicine made by the ancient medicine compounding technique?” Li Mei Ying’s eyes widened. She had never seen a medicine that had been fabricated using a medicine fabrication furnace before. Though she had tried to use the technique before, the medicine ended up as mere ashes.

    “This is the medicine that Dr. Bai used to cure your great-grandmother. He said that boiling will decrease the herbs' medical properties so that all that remains is 1 in 1,000. So, your great-grandmother’s condition barely got better,” said Li Feng.

    “It being translucent shows that it must be a high-grade medicine. I read about it in the ancient records of the Baii family. But the records from 3,000 years ago were damaged. Moreover, the important content disappeared. It means that Dr. Bai has the complete version of the medicine fabrication records,” said Baii Gui Ying.

    “It means that if I am at the house tomorrow, I will get to meet Dr. Bai, won’t I? So, I won’t go shopping with Gui Ying tomorrow,” said Li Mei Ying.

    “I won’t go shopping tomorrow as well. I want to see what Dr. Bai looks like. Maybe I will invite him to the Baii clan’s house, hehehe,” said Baii Gui Ying.

    “So, everything is set. I’m off,” said Li Feng before leaving the room.

    Li Feng went to see his other grandchild, Li Xi Yan, who was his favourite grandson. Though he was not as gifted as his older brother, Li Baii, Li Xi Yan was more diligent and patient in regard to training than his brother.

    Knock, knock, knock. Li Feng knocked on the door of Li Xi Yan’s room.

    “Yesss.” Li Xi Yan opened the door. He was topless. His body was covered with sweat because he had been rigorously practicing movements so he could be better than his older brother.

    “Xi Yan, Dr. Bai will visit us tomorrow. Your great-grandmother told you to stay in. Don’t go anywhere,” said Li Feng.

    “All right. I actually think he is an interesting person. I want to have a match with him sometime,” said Li Xi Yan. Li Feng nodded at him, before he walked to the most talented person’s room, Li Baii, who was Li Xi Yan’s older brother.

    …………..

    Li Baii’s room

    “Li Baii?” Li Feng knocked on the door. Shortly afterwards, the door was opened, revealing the boy with short blue hair and red eyes.

    “Everything all right, Grandfather?” asked Li Baii.

    “Your great-grandmother gave the order that nobody go anywhere tomorrow because an important guest will come to visit the Li Clan,” said Li Feng.

    “Is that the Dr. Bai who cured great-grandmother?” asked Li Baii.

    “Yes, he’s available tomorrow so he contacted us. He will probably come to check up on her as well,” said Li Feng.

    “All right, I will cancel the national athletics team training tomorrow,” said Li Baii. Li Feng nodded before leaving to take care of other business.

    ‘Dr. Bai? If he is really skilful, I will prostrate myself before him and call him my teacher. After that, if I get stronger, the Baii family will not look down on me if I want to date Gui Ying,’ thought Li Baii.

    Li Baii liked Gui Ying, who was older than him. The boy had found opportunities to visit Gui Ying at her family house many times, during which he was usually met with disparaging looks from the people in the Baii Clan, even their servants. That was the motivation for him to be the most talented person in the Li Clan.

    But that was not enough, because there were many clans that were more powerful than the Li Clan. Those clans had heirs who were more gifted than him. That was why the Baii family never looked at him. Gui Ying had mentioned that she had turned down an engagement that her family had arranged for her on her last visit. Though the senior members of the Baii clan had agreed with her this time, it did not mean that they would always accept her refusal.

    …………..

    The LSA training centre

    Bai Zhe had just finished his acting class and walked out of the room when he found Meng Qin Qing standing in front of the room. He sent her a smile as a greeting, but the girl frowned and walked over to him.

    “Bai Zhe, even though you are taking an acting class, how can you have work come in? Tell me, how did you get this job?” asked Meng Qing Qing.

    “What job?” asked Bai Zhe, pretending to know anything.

    “A commercial for Mu Tian’s cosmetic product. They contacted us to hire you as the spokesmodel for a new product and shoot a commercial for it. Chen Feng also sent me to be your temporary manager,” said Qing Qing.

    “Really? It’s great that you are coming with me so I will have someone to talk to,” said Bai Zhe.

    “Do your best at work, little boy,” said Meng Qing Qing, flicking the boy’s forehead.

    “If I do great, will you give me a reward?” Bai Zhe leaned toward Meng Qing Qing. It was so close that Meng Qing Qing could feel Bai Zhe’s breath. She covered her cheeks with her hands, there was a slight colour on her face.

    “Just do your best. I will have to think about the reward first,” said Meng Qing Qing. Then, she turned back and left instantly.

    Bai Zhe looked at the document about the details of the work in Meng Qing Qing’s hand and chuckled. It seemed like she had been so embarrassed that she had forgotten to give Bai Zhe the document to read.

    “Qing Qing, what about the document about my work details?” shouted Bai Zhe, which made Qing Qing pause, then turned back to thrust the document into Bai Zhe’s hands. Her heart was beating fast. The moment when Bai Zhe had helped her in the lift replayed over and over in her mind.

    “Here. I will go to the restroom first.” Meng Qing Qing swiftly gave an excuse to depart, but…

    “Qing Qing, there is no restroom in that direction,” Bai Zhe said, laughing, which made Meng Qing Qing pause again and turn in the opposite direction.

    After Meng Qing Qing left, Bai Zhe leaned on the wall, one hand over his mouth, another on his stomach. Yes, he was holding in his laughter, trying not to let out any sound. He liked Qing Qing’s bashful mannerisms. It was exactly like his Qing Er’s.

    He laughed for a while, then went back home to read the details of the work and prepared to go visit the Li Clan the next day.