Chapter 18. The Result in Offending Bai Zhe

    “Oh, Feng, has the class already been dismissed?” Auntie Jang greeted him.

    “Yes, Jang. Have Dong and Liu’s classes been dismissed?” Feng asked Auntie Jang.

    “I walked past the classes earlier. They have just ended. What’s the matter?” asked Auntie Jang.

    Feng did not say anything. He immediately got up and headed straight to the intermediate acting class and the advanced acting class.

    “Oh, Feng. What are you doing in front of my class? Are you here to invite me for a drink?” asked Dong.

    “That’s right. You haven’t bought us drinks for a long while,” said Liu.

    “Erm, I have something to consult with you two. It is something that requires your permission first,” said Feng.

    “What is it?” asked Liu. From the way Feng was acting so serious, she guessed he had had a problem in his class.

    “Tomorrow, I will record a video of my student for you. His acting is excellent. I think he should be in your classes. The only sticking point is that he is a fresh recruit sent here by Chen Feng. To immediately move him to a more advanced class, according to the rules, I need to have your permission first,” said Feng.

    “Hmm? Chen Feng recommended him? Do you have his picture?” said Dong, asking for Bai Zhe’s picture. Feng showed Dong and Liu the document that Jang had given him when she brought Bai Zhe to the class.

    “Oh my, with a drop-dead gorgeous face like that, if he is good at acting and nice, he will definitely be popular,” said Liu.

    “Hmmm? Are you talking about the new boy that I sent to the centre?” a man’s voice asked them, making the three turn to find its source. It was Chen Feng.

    “Well? Xiao Feng, Xiao Dong, Xiao Liu, are you talking about Bai Zhe, whom I’ve sent here?” asked Chen Feng.

    “Yes, Mr. Chen. We are talking about him. The acting skill of the boy you’ve recommended is higher than the basic level. So, I came here to consult with Dong and Liu. I want them to help evaluate and sign documents to transfer Bai Zhe to their classes. Because I likely can’t continue teaching him. The other students cannot keep up with him,” explained Feng.

    “Well, tomorrow, I will go observe Master Bai in your class. Xiao Dong and Xiao Liu, you two have to come as well. If Master Bai’s skill is at the level where I can use him, I will move the shooting date up. Oh, I forgot to mention. Master Bai is the adopted grandson of Xi Lua, the owner of our country’s number one real estate company. It took a very long time to bring him here. Xi Lua wouldn’t agree at first. Take good care of him. He is not just Xi Lua’s adopted grandson. You will learn about it next month, hehehe,” said Xi Lua before walking away.

    “Do you guys think I heard him right? Chen Feng called the boy Master Bai. He has never once called us ‘master’, but he calls that boy ‘master’?” said Liu.

    “Let’s just wait and see. Just be careful with how you treat him at the moment. We don’t know what he’s like. From the way that Chen Feng warned us, it means that it’s not only Xi Lua who is supporting this boy. Maybe there is more than one person, and they have enough power to humble Chen Feng,” said Feng.

    The Bai family’s apartment

    That night, Bai Zhe came back home to find that his parents had not arrived yet. He opened the refrigerator to see what was inside, then cooked something easy. He put in a detoxification medicine, which he had distilled into a liquid form, so normal people’s bodies could absorb it without having to use qi to digest it. He wanted to completely eliminate the contaminants from liquor and cigarettes in his father’s body, and the chemicals that his mother received from the metal welding and smelting jobs that she regularly did.

    “All done. Next, qi practice.” He took the qi strengthening medicine together with high-grade qi food before starting to practice his power. This time, he pulled out the qi power which he had sealed in this soul instead of absorbing the qi surrounding him because the qi was too dirty. It was a waste of his time trying to remove the pollutants. He needed to reach a higher level of qi as fast as possible so he could protect himself.

    The parents came back home not long after that. They found the food on the dining table, covered by a mesh food cover with a note that said: I’ve made you dinner. Please go ahead and eat. I’ve already eaten. The parents looked with affection at their son who was meditating. They felt that Bai Zhe had drastically changed. He looked brighter, more cheerful, and healthier.

    They took turns taking showers, then had dinner together. The food Bai Zhe made was adequate-tasting. They finished eating in a short time. After that, his dad went to brush his teeth and go to sleep. His mother washed the dishes and followed his dad to brush her teeth, then go to sleep.

    Time passed until it was past 11 p.m. Black liquid dripped out from Bai Zhe’s pores. Some of his skin started to peel off in sheets. Bai Zhe opened his eyes.

    ‘I have reached the earth qi. But…I still have to be careful. I should shower and do my homework.’ Bai Zhe got up to take a shower, then came back to do his homework. He saw that he still had some time left, so he continued writing his new novel for an hour and then went to sleep.

    …………..

    Bai Zhe got up to take a shower at 4 a.m. in the morning. After he had finished, his mother hurriedly went to the bathroom. The sound of passing stool was very loud because the medicine Bai Zhe had given her was very potent. It drove out all the pollutants at once. It took his mother about half an hour to come out of the bathroom. Then, his father spent half an hour in there. Though they had heavy bowel movements, both of them felt comfortable.

    “Feeling good today,” said Bai Zhe’s father.

    “That’s right. All the aches and pains are gone.” His mother felt the same way.

    Bai Zhe after making his parents breakfast, went back and slept until 6 a.m., before going to school.

    Midgard Junior High School

    Mu Si Cheng’s group came over to chat with Bai Zhe in a friendly manner. The girls did so as well. At this moment, Bai Zhe had turned into the focal point of the class. He thought that he had succeeded in changing himself into someone who was accepted and who could socialise. But he still had one problem.

    A hotel at the heart of the capital

    Li Zhou Ma had rented a conference room. Right now, she was waiting for someone whom she had invited to discuss a certain topic. A little before the appointment time, a man dressed as a woman entered the room with two boys. One of them was about 15 years old. The other boy, who looked older, was supporting the younger boy who was limping along.

    The younger boy flinched when he was trying to sit down. Then, he slowly sat down again. Yes. The man dressed like a woman was Lao Lao. The two boys were Yi Han and his senior.

    “Matron Li, normally you do not socialise with people in the martial arts community. What made you invite me here? And you even told me to bring Han Han with me as well,” asked Lao Lao. He could not help but be surprised because Matron Li did not really socialise with anybody. Why did she want to see him and Yi Han?

    “This has something to do with the boy named Bai Zhe. I owe him. And he is under the Lis’ protection. The conflict between him and Yi Han—let the two of them resolve it by themselves. You and I will not get involved with it. That’s the reason why I called you here today,” said Li Zhou Ma.

    “I agree. Let the children handle the matter of revenge themselves. Are you satisfied?” asked Lao Lao.

    “Mm-hmm. Another thing. From my investigation, Bai Zhe was invited by Chen Feng to work in the entertainment industry. If Yi Han wants to compete with Bai Zhe, there are many ways to do so, whether it involves education or work,” said Matron Li.

    “I don’t understand at all. Why do you have to put yourself out for him? Is your debt of gratitude to him that great?” Lao Lao rested his chin on his hands, which were interlocked in front of him, and then narrowed his eyes at Li Zhou Ma.

    “Well, he saved my life. That’s the reason why my family and I owe him. So, take good care of your student. Another thing, Bai Zhe is now the adopted grandson of Xi Lua, the owner of the number one real estate company in our country. Yi Han, remember this, though your father is powerful, his power cannot compare with that of Xi Lua’s and his friend, Meng Dong’s. Don’t do anything that gets your father in trouble, understood?” said Li Zhou Ma.

    “I…I understand, ma’am.” Yi Han clenched his fists tight. Had he really lost to Bai Zhe in every way, whether it was combat, work, or even the power that supported him? Who could accept that?

    “Remember this, Yi Han. I’m warning you. The martial arts community has its own rules. Fights, apart from the fights that are arranged by the Sun Moon Trade Association, are regarded as against the rules. Last time, Lao Lao helped you to cover it up. But if there is a next time, the punishment will be death,” said Li Zhou Ma.

    “Master, I…I am sorry.” Yi Han finally understood why his master had been that furious.

    “That’s enough discussion for today. I have to excuse myself. Lao Lao, take care of your student. I will help cover this up, too. But if people know about it, prepare to arrange your student’s funeral.” Li Zhou Ma left after she finished speaking. Lao Lao could only comfort Yi Han, who had just realised that what he had done could have led to his death. Yes, he was more scared of death than of not getting his revenge.

    As for Bai Zhe, he went to the LSA training centre again after school to study acting. But, today, other than his teacher, Feng, he met Chen Feng as well. In class, Chen Feng made him try expressing various types of emotions, which Bai Zhe could do excellently. Chen Feng was pleased and excused himself.

    After class, Feng asked him to stay in the classroom. Alice, who had noticed that Bai Zhe was still there, asked to stay and keep him company.

    “Bai Zhe, are you really a new agency recruit? Your acting is like that of as a professional actor,” said Alice.

    “It’s not that good. I’ve just met many people, so I just remember their expressions,” Bai Zhe explained.

    “But Mr. Feng is very pleased with you. I can tell that you are going to be successful at being an actor,” she said, encouraging Bai Zhe.

    “How can you be so sure? Have you been in this business for a long time?”

    “I’m a singer. But a sitcom came in, so I have to learn acting.” She explained the reason why she had to take the acting class.

    “Oh? You are a singer? When I’m free, I will buy your songs and listen to them.” Bai Zhe was interested in Alice’s job. There was no harm to having a look, right?

    Alice beamed after she heard that. She then took a paper and pen to sign her autograph and give it to Bai Zhe.

    “All right, Bai Zhe. I've discussed this with Mr. Dong and Ms. Liu. Starting tomorrow, you are going to be moved to Mr. Dong’s intermediate acting class because I don’t have anything else to teach you in this class,” said Mr. Feng.

    “Understood, sir. Thank you so much for teaching me these last two days.” Bai Zhe thanked Mr. Feng and bowed to him before leaving the room, followed by Alice.

    “Bai Zhe, do you want to grab a bite with me?” Alice issued the invitation to him while trying to walk fast so she could keep up with Bai Zhe’s pace.

    “No, I have to go home, and I have classes tomorrow,” said Bai Zhe.

    “Really? That’s too bad.” Alice was disappointed. She wanted to get to know Bai Zhe because she thought Bai Zhe would definitely be a famous celebrity in the future.

    “Qing Qing, you’re still here?” Bai Zhe paused when he saw a familiar woman still carrying around files to deliver to staff in different departments.

    “Yes. There are still documents that I have to deliver to everyone here. Are you going home?” asked Meng Qing Qing.

    “Yes, I have classes tomorrow, so I need to hurry back,” answered Bai Zhe.

    While the two were talking, Alice felt like she had been abandoned and kept out of the conversation, so she had to quickly do something.

    “Qing Qing, don’t you have to continue delivering the documents? The staff might all go home,” said Alice.

    “Oh, that’s right. Talk to you later. I’m off.” Meng Qing Qing stopped the conversation and continued her document delivery immediately.

    Though Bai Zhe kept a straight face on the outside, inside, he was displeased that Alice had interrupted his conversation with Qing Qing, lowering the chances of him meeting Qing Qing.

    ‘This wench Alice, you interrupted my conversation with Qing Qing. I’ll get you. Hehehe.’ Bai Zhe brought out a laxative that he had made. It was a different one from the one he had used with his parents. This one is in the experimental stage. Thus, it had violent diarrhoea as a side effect. Of course, he swiftly placed the medicine in a candy wrapper. Then, he took out the candy, and unwrapped it to eat it; he handed one of them to Alice, which she definitely accepted and ate immediately.

    “I’m off now, Alice.” Bai Zhe said goodbye without turning back to Alice. His face had a smile.

    Alice waved at him happily. After that, she did not come to the LSA training centre for 2 to 3 days because of severe diarrhoea, for which the doctor could not find a cause.

    One good thing about it was that her skin looked much better, so modelling jobs came in nonstop to the point her manager cancelled her sitcom shooting and focused on modelling instead. This made it so the girl never came back to the LSA training centre again.

    …………..

    Yi Han: Senior, I’ve been down on my luck recently.

    Senior: Should you go make merit? Maybe everything will get better.

    Yi Han: What kind of merit should I make?

    Senior: Giving away money…

    Yi Han: To poor people?

    Senior: No, to strippers. They are all juicy. Interested?

    Yi Han: Sure thing. When should we go?

    Lao Lao: After you make merit with me, Han Han.

    Yi Han: Nooooo. Brother, help meeee!!!