Another boy burst into laughter. “They’re just being ridiculous, ignore them,” he stated matter-of-factly. “It’s not like they can go to university with brains like theirs. Let’s see if they’d be so arrogant then.”


  Yao Ran pursed her lips. “You should not say such hurtful words. Everyone has their own talents.”


  “Even those buffoons?” He snorted.

  “Forget it. Let’s just buy some books first.”


  As she spoke, she glanced in the direction where Yao Tang had gone. Her gaze had turned icy for just a few seconds, and she clenched her fists.

  “Why should we even bother with Class 20? It’s not like they can compare to us.” Yao Ran’s deskmate rolled her eyes before nudging the boy behind her. “Hey, Jiang Huai, you think you can help me get Sheng Ting’s new album? I’m planning to go to the release party, but I’m not sure if I can make it.”


  “Sure, leave it to me.” He patted his chest. “Ranran, what about you?” “Yeah, sure.”


  Yao Ran also liked Sheng Ting, his songs, and especially his dancing.

  Back in middle school, she used to fangirl over him. However, in the past two years, she couldn’t help but notice how his choreography had changed. It didn’t have the same feeling as it had used to.

  And his dancing was still very much known as the best in the industry. It was why he had so many fans, to begin with. Despite the change in choreography, that still hadn’t swayed her fondness for his music.

  After dinner, Yao Tang went to buy a box of macarons. However, just as she was about to pay for it, her phone started ringing.

  It was from an unknown number.

  She shrugged and ignored the call, and continued paying her bill.

  Just then, Meng Yang and Xiao Panghad returned with six cups of milk tea in their hands. They handed everyone a cup and glanced up at their friend. “Sis Tang, what else do you want to eat?”


  She took a sip. “I’m all good.” “Then let’s head back to school.”


  They all headed to the elevator.

  However, just as they entered, her phone rang once again. Just as she was taking it out of her pocket, a card came out with it and clattered onto the ground.

  Everyone subconsciously looked over.

  The black card glinted under the artificial lights, highlighting its golden hue. There, in the lower right corner, was the imperial seal, which seemed especially conspicuous.

  There was a strange silence in the elevator as she unhurriedly picked up the card and placed it back into her pocket. Unbothered by her friend’s disbelieving faces, she clicked the answer button.

  “Miss Yao,” a kind voice uttered from the other end of the line. “This is Qin Rui speaking.”


  “What seems to be the matter?” She leaned against the elevator, bored and unhurried.

  “There’s just something I’d like to trouble you with. Would it be convenient for you to stop over today?”


  Yao Tang pursed her lips. Since he was the one who had picked her up in the middle of the night yesterday, she might as well return the favor. “Yes.”


  “It’s just…my sister has been suffering from an illness lately. She had already seen all the medical professionals she could find, and she has taken so much medicine that even her face turns yellow…” He sighed. “But the medication is useless, and she’s growing even worse. She couldn’t even take in much food anymore.”


  “Hm, and who asked you to come and find

  me?”


  Nervousness stirred in his chest. Afraid that he’d piss her off, he quickly replied, “It’s my cousin Qin Hao. He said that western medicine might not be able to help her case, but you can. You’ve cured Old Madame Cheng of her illness, so your medical skills must be extremely

  good.”


  Yao Tang didn’t say anything.

  “Please treat my sister,” he persuaded. “Just name your price. I’ll provide it for you.”


  The elevator finally reached the first floor of the building, and the others still didn’t say a word.

  They simply walked out one after the other.

  Yao Tang tilted her head. “Fine, I’m going back to school, so you can fix up a taxi for me.”


  “Thank you.” Qin Rui could feel a burden being lifted off her shoulders. “I’ll pick you up myself. Thank you again.”


  After hanging up the phone, they all headed toward the bus stop. The atmosphere was quiet, and no one dared say what they were thinking Only upon reaching the bus stop did Meng Yang finally ask, “Sister Tang, was the key card you had dropped – was it to the Imperial Palace District?”


  Shen Huan only knew about the district by name. It was extremely famous and known to house the wealthy and powerful.

  When he heard that the card in her hand was to the District, his eyes widened.

  Xiao Pang owned a house in the Imperial Palace District, but the floor plan wasn’t as good as the others. Even then, his father had to fight tooth and nail to get the house in the area.

  The black gold card, however, was different from all the other cards. And it was said to belong to the two mysterious big shots in the Imperial Palace District who had never shown their faces before.

  The only reason they know of such a card was due to the pictures that the District had released.

  Meng Yang and Chu Yaomay not own a house in the Imperial Palace District, but given their very wealthy and influential background, they knew just enough to make out how important the District was.

  And the card that accidentally dropped out of Yao Tang’s pocket simply stunned them.

  Because of this, Meng Yang couldn’t help but ask.

  Yao Tang twirled the card between her fingertips. “Bought it somewhere – it’s a fake card,” she reasoned. “But it looks real. Don’t you think?” Fake?

  His eye twitched.

  Meng Yang burst into laughter, clutching his stomach. “Damn, fooled the rest of us, didn’t

  you?”


  He didn’t really look too closely at the card. While fake, he couldn’t help but notice how different yet familiar it looked. In fact, it appeared very similar to Mr. Cheng’s card.

  But how come Mr. Cheng’s card ended up in Yao Tang’s hands?