Chapter 176: 066 casually crossed out the applicant’s name!_3
Translator: 549690339
The other side did not reply.
Nine twenty.
Qiu Xuezheng finally couldn’t hold back anymore, and he took out his cell phone to give Bai Lian a call.
The library.
When Jiang Fulai arrived, only Jiang He was sitting at his seat, flipping through a book in a sullen manner.
He simply reached out and knocked leisurely on Jiang He’s desk.
Jiang He looked up, somewhat expressionless, “Bathroom.”
Jiang Fulai withdrew his hand, his gaze always carrying a nonchalant aloofness when he looked at people.
Bai Lian had gone to the bathroom without her cell phone, which lit up on the desk.
Jiang Fulai immediately spotted Teacher Qiu’s call; he was the one who single-handedly facilitated the matter with the Xiangcheng Calligraphy Association, and he knew who Qiu Xuezheng was.
Bai Lian was supposed to attend the calligraphy association today but hadn’t gone…
Jiang Fulai glanced at the incoming call and directly cut it off.
“Why are you here?” Bai Lian, who had just finished washing her hands, came out, wiping her fingers with a paper towel in a leisurely manner, and spoke in a lowered voice.
Jiang Fulai didn’t speak, he just coolly glanced at Jiang He.
Jiang He angrily made room for him.
Jiang Fulai sat down, his hand lightly resting on the desk, and spoke indifferently, “I was driven out by the people at the institute.”
Deep in the mountains of Xiangcheng.
CRFS Dark Matter Research Institute.
He Wen was observing particle collisions, using machinery to search for the decay products of strange atoms when he suddenly sneezed and muttered, “I hope it’s not someone thinking of me…”
No reply to WeChat messages, and no answer to phone calls.
Qiu Xuezheng’s brow furrowed.
Nine twenty-five.
Director Xu didn’t dare to urge Qiu Xuezheng and couldn’t help but look towards Ren Qian for help.
Ren Qian took two steps forward and said with a smile, “Teacher Qiu, let’s go in and wait. It’s almost the auspicious time.”
“Alright,” said Qiu Xuezheng, holding his cell phone, but his frown did not relax.
As he stepped over the threshold, the receptionist came forward with the sign-in book and handed it to Qiu Xuezheng and the director of the Culture and Tourism Bureau.
“Director Xu, we’ll still need your help with the Calligraphy Association in the future,” Ren Qian said smilingly to Director Xu.
The Xiangcheng Calligraphy Association was the bridge for communication with Beicheng and Jiangjing.
Director Xu wanted to ingratiate himself with the Ren Family, and Ren Qian also wanted to get on good terms with Director Xu, a mutually beneficial relationship.
His name was further down the list; Qiu Xuezheng scanned it and saw that everyone on the first page had arrived, and almost everyone on the second page had too, except for one unchecked box.
Suddenly realizing something, Qiu Xuezheng flipped back to the first page and looked down the list of names.
Bai Lian’s name was missing.
“Why is there one person missing? Where’s Bai Lian?” Qiu Xuezheng asked the receptionist coldly.
The director of the Culture Bureau, who was looking out the door, was startled by the question, “What happened?”
He hadn’t examined it closely before and now took the sign-in sheet from Qiu Xuezheng’s hand; indeed, Bai Lian’s name wasn’t there.
Director Xu was taking care of people involved in the opening ceremony; being Xiangcheng’s chief planner for this event, he hurried out from the commotion and quietly told Qiu Xuezheng to lower his voice.
Ren Qian also faintly heard the name “Bai Lian.”
Ren Wanxuan lowered her head, sipping at her tea, masking the contempt in her eyes.
The secretary-general calmly glossed over the incident.
Ren Qian looked at Ren Wanxuan for a while, holding his teacup, and ultimately chose not to meddle too much.
“The media journalists are all here,” Director Xu glanced at the lobby, gesturing for Qiu Xuezheng to speak more quietly, then explained, “I didn’t know Bai Lian was one of yours. I was the one who crossed out the name by mistake; let’s talk about this later…”
Qiu Xuezheng suddenly knew why Bai Lian wasn’t answering the phone or responding to messages.
She was someone who had never intended to compete, who went to Jiangjing for the Xiangcheng Calligraphy Association slot only to return and have her name crossed off by some inexplicable people.
“Did she come by this morning?” Qiu Xuezheng asked just one question.
Director Xu hesitated, glanced at the secretary-general, and then nodded.
Qiu Xuezheng took a deep breath, restraining his composure, resisting the urge to smash the sign-in sheet into Director Xu’s face.
He pulled out his phone and turned to leave the place.
“Teacher Qiu, Teacher Qiu…” Director Xu was panic-stricken.
Qiu Xuezheng was the second most important figure for this opening ceremony, next only to Ren Qian. The Calligraphy Association’s future talent acquisition would largely depend on Qiu Xuezheng’s reputation.
How could he leave?
Both Ren Qian and Ren Wanxuan saw Qiu Xuezheng leave, and at this point, they could no longer pretend not to notice.
Ren Qian stepped out, “Why is Teacher Qiu leaving?”
Director Xu was also frustrated, “Director, isn’t Teacher Qiu being too frivolous? I said I accidentally crossed out a name, and if he still wants someone to come in, I could in a few days…”
“Frivolous?” The director of the Culture and Tourism Bureau interrupted, glaring at Director Xu, then verbally lashed out, “Cross out just like that? With just one stroke, you crossed off an applicant’s name, and you think you have such insight.”
