The secretary watched Ye Wanlan with caution.
Sheng Yunyi turned her head in surprise, but she did not see the girl's face, only watching her sweep past the vehicles and enter the gates of Jiangcheng No.1 Middle School.
The secretary was taken aback, "Isn't she... "
Could it be that she did not follow Zhou Hechen's car all the way here?
The secretary's frown deepened and he whispered an apology, "I'm sorry, Miss Yunyi, I was overreactive, I was afraid she would hurt you again."
"It's fine." Sheng Yunyi's voice was gentle, "Hechen said she never attended high school, how could she go to the high school section of No.1 Middle School?"
The secretary breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Maybe she wants to improve her education, but unfortunately, it's useless."
"It's still useful, a high school diploma is better than a middle school one no matter what."
"Miss Yunyi is right. I heard you were admitted to Harbor City Art University at the age of sixteen, which is admirable."
"Everyone has their own strengths," sighed Sheng Yunyi, "I can never learn the classical music that Hechen likes."
The secretary complimented, "That's not true, as long as it's you, the gentleman likes everything."
Sheng Yunyi smiled faintly, no longer speaking.
The green light came on, and the car sped away.
**
At this moment, in the counseling room of Jiangcheng No.1 Middle School.
Ye Wanlan knocked on the door and entered after getting permission.
The interior of the room was simple, just a desk, chairs, bookshelves, and a computer.
Rong Yu looked up, "Are you yesterday's appointment, Student Ye? You—"
The girl was dressed in a contemporary traditional Chinese attire, a pure white diagonal placket shirt paired with a light blue skirt illuminated by the moon. The wind caused the skirt to flutter, and its patterns shimmered as though a galaxy was in motion.
The sunlight painted a layer of gold on her cool, picturesque brows and eyes, so beautiful that it seemed to seal time itself, leaving one in prolonged silence, not daring to disturb.
It wasn't until Rong Yu received a kick from the person curled up in a soft chair that he came back to his senses.
He winced in pain and immediately returned to the moment, "Hello, Student Ye, I'm your counselor for this session. My surname is Rong. Please take a seat, and I'll take your pulse."
Ye Wanlan took her seat as instructed, raising an eyebrow, "A counselor who practices traditional Chinese medicine to take a pulse?"
Rong Yu spoke enigmatically, "I'm different, I only need the pulse diagnosis."
Pulse diagnosis, surname Rong...
Great Purity Pulse!
Ye Wanlan's eyes narrowed.
Rong Yu did not notice the subtle change in the girl's expression, but Yan Tingfeng caught it clearly.
His eyelashes lifted slightly, revealing cold eyes like the color of the moon, but his voice was gentle, "What's wrong?"
Ye Wanlan said indifferently, "I haven't heard of such a psychological therapy method, just curious."
No, she certainly knew.
In the past, the Great Purity Sect, one of the Six Great Sects of Shenzhou, with its physiognomy known throughout the world, was a force in the martial world.
The Master of Great Purity, who could divine heaven's will and peer into the human heart!
She did not recognize Rong Yu, but she was familiar with his ancestors.
"Student Ye, rest assured, I'm reliable," Rong Yu said as he started to take her pulse.
As seconds and minutes passed, his expression grew more serious until it shattered.
Something was off, how could he not read anything?
As a member of the Rong Family, bearing the orthodox lineage of the Great Purity Sect, he could read an ordinary person with ease!
"It seems that taking the pulse is of no use," Ye Wanlan leaned back in the chair, smiling faintly, "Doctor Rong can try another method."
Rong Yu went into self-retreat, "... Student Ye, please fill out a form."
Ye Wanlan sat in front of the computer and filled out a mental health assessment form.
After she finished, a cup appeared before her.
A voice fell, "Have some hot water."
Ye Wanlan looked up.
It was another person in the counseling room, who she had noticed upon entering.
His nameplate read "Assistant," but this identity did not match his demeanor or appearance at all.
His smile was warm and gentle, his gaze crystal clear. He could be described as having the grace of rosy clouds and the luster of moonlight, majestic as a jade tree standing in the wind.
However, Ye Wanlan could distinctly smell the strong scent of fresh blood on him.
This reminded her of a person from her past life.
She had an additional secret; she was someone who was reincarnated with the memories of her past life.
This life's name was also chosen by herself.
To call him an old acquaintance would also be inaccurate; when she was still Princess Yongning, they had never met, only their names had stood side by side.
Three hundred years ago, he was the youngest Martial Arts Alliance Hierarch in Jianghu—Master of Highest Heaven Tower.
Some said that one was the Crown Prince of Daning and the other became the Martial Saint, who alone ruled over their respective domains, but together they were the unbeatable pair under the heavens of Shenzhou.
Latter generations even added a legendary romance to their tale in unofficial histories, to imagine the dragon and phoenix among men from a century ago, yet they indeed did not know each other.
Her impression of the Master of Highest Heaven Tower also existed only within the rumors of the marketplaces.
But three hundred years later, the mountains and rivers were eternally silent, and even the most legendary historical figures had all turned to ashes.
Ye Wanlan looked at the man before her.
The two of them faced each other calmly, one with a composed expression, the other with a smile in his eyes.
Yet it seemed as if there was lightning flashing and thunder rumbling, and the rains were furiously pouring down.
In the end, it was Yan Tingfeng who first averted his gaze, his dark pupils rippling with an odd turbulence.
Rong Yu did not notice the abnormal tension between them as he was examining the results of the psychological test, and he couldn't help but inhale sharply, "Your situation is really serious. What are you thinking about every day?"
Ye Wanlan: "Killing, world destruction."
Rong Yu: "?"
It was in this instant that a murderous intent came surging forth, nearly becoming a tangible blade, poised to slice through one's throat.
Rong Yu felt almost unable to catch his breath.
Ye Wanlan suddenly smiled lightly: "Just a joke, Doctor Rong, I am a person of good morals and integrity."
The air flowed freely once again, and Rong Yu coughed violently, "Ye, Student Ye, that joke isn't very appropriate, you really should think less about these dark things, look at flowers, plants, trees, and animals every day, don't you think the world is beautiful?"
"I don't."
"..."
The one-hour psychological counseling session ended.
Rong Yu had a dazed look in his eyes.
He too wanted to destroy the world now.
Yan Tingfeng stood up, "I'll escort Miss Ye out."
Rong Yu was startled, a bit astonished, "Brother, you—"
He had known Yan Tingfeng for four years.
His brother was always amiable and almost never lost his temper, but he had never seen Yan Tingfeng take the initiative like this before.
Yan Tingfeng ignored Rong Yu and left the counseling room.
"No need to see me out," Ye Wanlan said in a cool tone, "Rest assured, at least for now, I won't do such things."
Upon hearing this, Yan Tingfeng blinked and laughed lightly, "It's raining, Miss Ye."
Water droplets fell, and mist enshrouded the surroundings.
In the misty light rain, the man's features seemed even more exquisite and refined, his demeanor as gentle as spring water.
He took out a hat and placed it on her head, saying gently, "Be careful on your way."
After Ye Wanlan left, the smile on Yan Tingfeng's face vanished in an instant, leaving only a bone-deep ferocity and murderous intent.
Behind him, a Hidden Guard appeared silently.
"Investigate her."
"Yes, Young Master."
**
In the afternoon, at the Lin Family Old House.
The Lin Family held a family banquet every week, and today happened to be Saturday.
In Lin Huaijin's generation, there were four people; Lin Woyu and Lin Huaijin were twins, their names derived from the phrase 'cherishing the jade and holding the precious stone'.
"Your cousin will be coming over tonight," Lin Woyu said, "Make sure not to talk out of turn, keep your mouths shut."
"Cousin?"
That one word made Lin Yue and Lin Qin, brother and sister, stop in their tracks simultaneously.
"Forgotten?" Lin Woyu added, "It's your eldest uncle's daughter, the one your third uncle brought back—"
Lin Yue sneered lightly, "Of course, I know, Mom, you should ask who in the major families of Jiangcheng doesn't know Ms. Sheng Yunyi's stand-in."
Lin Woyu slapped his shoulder, "What kind of way is that to talk!"
Lin Yue hummed softly, "I'm telling the truth."
Lin Qin asked indifferently, "What is she coming for?"
Could it be that after losing hope of clinging to the Zhou Family, she found out that she might have the chance to bring this branch back to the main Lin Family in Yunjing, and that's why she's attending the family banquet to build relationships?