Chapter 415
“Dad!”
“This birthday, I decided not to let you two come. I’ll handle it myself. It’s my choice.”
“…”
The old man, Bai, glanced at his daughter and then at his son-in-law, his expression filled with disappointment.
“Am I being biased? I gave you all the money to buy a house in the capital. Xiao Tian can live on the mountain because she has the skills!”
“This…”
“Is that not enough?” Bai snorted and continued, “You want to go to the nursing home—are you going there to celebrate my birthday or to curry favor with Zheng Fa?”
“... What do you mean by ‘curry favor’? I’ve met him before!”
Ignoring his daughter’s words, Bai turned to his son-in-law. “And you, since I transferred you to the capital, how many days have you actually worked?”
“Dad?”
His son-in-law was taken aback.
“Do you think I can’t see through your thoughts?” Bai sighed. “Zheng Fa has been troubled and frowning lately. Do you think sending you up there will help him?”
“Dad, I’m your daughter. Why are you only thinking about Zheng Fa?”
“Your father is healthy and well, and you two have been more filial than before, always clamoring to go up the mountain to take care of me. Who do you think that’s for?”
Bai spoke bluntly, leaving his daughter feeling awkward.
“Who else should I think about if not him?”
His daughter and son-in-law fell silent.
“You two used to be fine, but now your thoughts are too complicated, still dreaming of promotions…” Bai shook his head. “Do you think you’re the only smart ones? You have no idea how many people want to use my birthday to get into the nursing home. I’m going down the mountain to avoid them!”
“Is it really just for Zheng Fa’s peace and quiet?”
“This is for your own good!”
After saying this, he looked at his daughter and son-in-law, knowing they weren’t listening, and shook his head, choosing not to explain further.
Meanwhile, his grandson had been playing downstairs for a while. When he returned, he cleverly sensed something was off. Avoiding his parents, he sneaked over to his grandfather and asked, “Grandpa, are you unhappy?”
Bai looked up, saw his little grandson, and smiled. “You should focus on your studies and not think like your parents, always overthinking.”
His grandson looked a bit confused.
But Bai seemed to be just lamenting, not expecting him to truly understand.
“Your parents still don’t see the bigger picture. Zheng Fa could never like their personalities…”
Upon hearing Zheng Fa’s name, the little grandson’s eyes flickered.
“You’ve heard of him? Well, your parents must have mentioned him to you.” Bai ruffled his grandson’s hair. “No matter what your parents say, they don’t understand that the world has changed. They don’t even grasp Zheng Fa’s character. If they want to curry favor, they wouldn’t even know how!”
“Just focus on studying hard and practicing martial arts. Don’t rush into anything.”
“Of course, everything will come in time.”
His grandson was even more puzzled. “What will come?”
Just as Bai was about to respond, there was a sudden knock at the door.
He opened it, and dozens of strong men and women bowed to him, shouting in unison, “Master, your disciples have come to celebrate your birthday!”
Bai smiled and waved them in, saying, “You traveled so far. I told you not to come. Why are you here?”
These were the heads of various martial arts schools from different provinces.
Officially, they were all Bai’s disciples, and they had come from all over to celebrate his birthday.
“We can’t forget the kindness of our teacher!”
“We’ve brought our respects!”
“Yes, yes, we brought gifts!”
They presented Bai with gift boxes, some containing jade and other treasures, and others filled with local specialties. With just a glance, Bai could tell their value was considerable.
With so many people already in the room, the addition of these gifts made it even more cramped.
Bai looked at the items and waved his hand. “I’m not being polite; just take these back.”
“Master! This is just a small token of our appreciation!”
“If you’re calling me Master, then you should listen to me.”
“…”
“Take the gifts back.”
In the room, his daughter and son-in-law looked a bit regretful, but at that moment, they didn’t dare say anything.
Seeing Bai’s insistence, the disciples didn’t press the issue. Instead, they spent time chatting with him, filling the house with lively conversation.
After a while, there was another knock at the door.
When Bai opened it, he was surprised: “Old Dean?”
Entering were an elderly man and a middle-aged one. The old man nodded at Bai and gestured to the middle-aged man. “Let me introduce you. This is the Vice President of Jing University.”
The middle-aged man wore a warm expression. “Professor Bai! Happy birthday!”
“Thank you!” Bai was much more polite upon seeing someone from his old workplace. He shook hands with the Vice President, who then said, “I’ve brought you a gift!”
Bai was taken aback as the Vice President pulled out a certificate from a folder.
“Jing University would like to appoint you as our Honorary President…”
“This… I don’t have the energy for that now.”
“As Honorary President, you won’t have any responsibilities to trouble you…”
The Vice President spoke earnestly.
… When did Jing University have such a position that seemed to be a favor for someone?
Bai moved his lips and glanced at the old dean, who had worked with him for many years. Seeing a hint of pleading on the old man’s face, he could only sigh and accept the appointment.
Seeing him do this, the heads of the martial arts schools exchanged glances, revealing a hint of envy toward the two from Jing University.
After these two, guests continued to arrive.
People from various backgrounds came—some from the Academy of Social Sciences, some from the military, and others from official circles.
Whether familiar or not, they all found an excuse to come and celebrate Bai’s birthday at his daughter’s home.
Some with status were offered seats.
Those without much status exchanged a few words, saw there was no room to stay, and left regretfully.
Bai’s grandson looked around at the crowded room and the gifts coming and going, and suddenly, in his innocent mind, he grasped what it meant that everything would come in time…
The room was filled with chatter, mostly Bai speaking while others listened.
Then, the door rang again.
Bai’s grandson eagerly opened the door, only to freeze in surprise.
“Who is it?” Bai asked.
“A beautiful sister and a tall brother!” his grandson shouted.
Bai stood up, and not just him, everyone in the room rose to their feet, watching as Zheng Fa and Tang Lingwu walked into the room.
As Zheng Fa entered, he shot a glance at the oblivious little boy—why was Tang Lingwu the beautiful one, while he was just the tall one?
They ignored the others in the room and walked straight up to Bai, both calling out, “Teacher, happy birthday!”
Bai was momentarily stunned, blinking as his eyes suddenly grew misty.
The title of “teacher” brought back memories of their time at Qingshui High School.
Back then, Zheng Fa and Tang Lingwu were both tutoring at Bai’s home.
There were no nursing homes, no cultivation, and no crowds—just one old man and two young students under the lamp.
Though not much time had passed, it felt like a lifetime to the three of them.
In truth, Bai wasn’t entirely happy about this birthday.
It was livelier than before.
But all these people in the room had ulterior motives; behind their smiles lay ambitions and desires. How many were genuinely happy for his birthday?
His daughter and son-in-law didn’t have that mindset either.
Now, with Zheng Fa and Tang Lingwu returning as students, simply calling him “teacher” and wearing unchanged smiles, it made Bai, who was usually cheerful, want to cry.
The others didn’t understand the emotions swirling in his heart; they only heard Zheng Fa call him “teacher” and exchanged glances, seemingly assessing the relationship among the three, especially Bai’s standing in Zheng Fa’s eyes.
Bai could feel it himself; that one word, “teacher,” made those with status regard him with even more respect.
“Why didn’t you wait for me to come back?”
Tang Lingwu looked at Zheng Fa, who smiled at Bai. “Didn’t you give me a surprise before? I thought I’d give you one too!”
Bai patted Zheng Fa on the shoulder, remaining silent.
…
After the birthday, Bai seemed to become very busy.
He was hardly seen anymore.
But Zheng Fa and the others were busy merging the energy structures in his cells with various mulberry cells, and not just mulberry cells, but all kinds of plant cells—since they couldn’t determine what kind of species the hibiscus was, they decided to broaden their approach.
The experiments progressed slowly.
Bai still didn’t show up, sneaking around as if he was preoccupied with his own matters.
Until one night.
“Professor Bai?”
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