Chapter 457: Catching Shadows and Chasing Wind

The girl walked over and bowed respectfully: "Hello, Third Uncle!"

Wang Qi Zhi nodded, his expression very kind: "You've grown this big already?"

The girl smiled reservedly.

They hadn't seen each other in many years, and in truth, neither remembered the other, but Ye Anning looked too much like Wang Qi Zhi. Calculating by age, only the youngest uncle fit the description.

After exchanging greetings, Bei Qiutang looked at Ye Anning curiously: "Anning, is it really you? If I hadn't spoken to my cousin on the phone yesterday and heard you came to Guangzhou, I wouldn't have dared to recognize you."

"It's been several years since we last met!" Ye Anning smiled, "Are you here to eat with friends?"

"Yes." The girl nodded, then looked beside her, "Is this a colleague from your company?"

Ye Anning was concise: "A friend!"

"How many days are you staying this time?" The girl was very excited, "Why don't I call my cousin out and we can all hang out together?"

Ye Anning sighed: She knew she would bring up Ye Anlan.

Didn't you notice the distance I was deliberately projecting?

She forced a smile: "I have quite a few friends with me this time, and my colleagues are arriving tomorrow to attend the Poly Auction preview, so I probably won't have the time!"

"

"Oh, what a pity!"

The girl looked slightly disappointed: "Anning, let's exchange phone numbers!"

They were childhood playmates and even elementary school classmates, so their relationship was decent. Besides, they were relatives, so Ye Anning did not refuse.

After saving the phone number, Bei Qiutang glanced around the table, her gaze landing on Lin Sicheng's face.

Not knowing what she saw, her eyes brightened slightly: "Anning, let's stay in touch!"

"Okay!"

Bei Qiutang and her friends had already finished eating; after a final greeting to Wang Qi Zhi, the four of them went downstairs.

Ye Anning sat down to continue eating, but she was distracted.

About half an hour later, the group finished their meal, and Feng Sanjiang went ahead to settle the bill.

As it turned out, the clerk told him: a lady surnamed Bei had already paid.

They were only acquaintances and didn't seem very close, yet she paid a bill of several thousand without hesitation?

Feng Sanjiang held the bill, feeling quite at a loss: "Professor Wang, what do you think?"

Wang Qi Zhi looked indifferent: there was nothing to think about.

It was lucky they hadn't run into Bei Qiutang's elders, otherwise they would have had to treat them to a meal that evening, which would have cost at least several tens of thousands.

Fang Jin was curious for a moment and took a peek at the bill, then his eyes went wide: over six thousand five hundred?

That was almost two months of his salary, and for that, everyone had only eaten until they were half-full?

"Just for breakfast?" Fang Jin muttered, "Junior Brother Lin, I've learned something new today."

"You'll see something bigger another day!" Lin Sicheng smiled, "Next time we go to Beijing, I'll take you to eat a state banquet."

Fang Jin was startled: "Can we get in?"

"Of course, it's been open to the public for a long time!"

Fang Jin counted on his fingers and muttered: "A single dish of boiled cabbage in water costs two thousand, so what about the other dishes?"

Lin Sicheng ignored him and deliberately fell two steps behind.

It was easy to see that Ye Anning's spirits were not very high.

But she had been fine just before?

"Cousin Ye, are you and that Miss Bei not on good terms?" Lin Sicheng smiled, "It couldn't be that you pulled her hair when you were little, could it?"

"What are you talking about?" Ye Anning glared at him, "You know the answer, why ask?"

If we weren't on good terms, why would I exchange numbers with her?

The one who was not on good terms with Ye Anning was Bei Haitang's cousin, Ye Anlan.

Have you ever seen two sisters who started fighting before they could even walk, while they were still just learning to crawl?

Ye Anning and Ye Anlan were exactly that.

Their birthdays were only a few days apart, and they seemed like natural-born rivals; they were at odds even while still sucking on pacifiers.

As long as they were put together, within ten minutes, there would absolutely be a few red marks on their faces.

When they got a little older and could walk, it became even more uncontrollable. Every time there was a family gathering, even though there were many people and plenty of other children their age, the two of them would always spot each other immediately.

Then, it was as if a mysterious force compelled them to walk toward each other. And then, they would start fighting for some inexplicable reason.

And they weren't easily separated; even if they were, they would cry for at least an hour.

When they got older and started school, they didn't fight as much, but they started competing—competing in everything.

Competing in studies, sports, who got more certificates, and who performed better.

Even after the age of ten, when Ye Anning moved to Beijing, the two of them never stopped.

Including now, whenever Ye Anning returned to Guangzhou, Ye Anlan would bring out a pile of certificates and photos to show her.

Whenever Ye Anlan went to Beijing, even if Ye Anning wasn't there, she would insist on calling to have Ye Anlan go and look around her study.

And as luck would have it, Bei Qiutang saw Lin Sicheng?

With so many people, why didn't Ye Anning sit with her uncle, but instead sat next to a boy?

The key was that the two of them were actually sharing an oil dipping dish?

Since they were little, Bei Qiutang and Ye Anlan were as thick as thieves; it was impossible for her not to tell Ye Anlan.

With Ye Anlan's personality and that mouth of hers, it was impossible for her not to tell the family.

The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became. Ye Anning puffed out her cheeks and let out a breath: "Uncle, I went home with you the day before yesterday. I played for a day and stayed the night. I've already seen Grandpa and Second Uncle. If anyone asks me to go back again, I definitely won't go!"

Wang Qi Zhi smiled: "If your Great-Uncle calls you, you won't go either?"

Is it that I'm afraid of my great-uncle calling me?

Ye Anning shook her head like a bobblehead: "Not going back!"

Wang Qi Zhi looked at Lin Sicheng with a playful expression: "There might be a good thing in it!"

Ye Anning was categorical: "No matter how good it is, I'm not going back!"

With that troublemaker Ye Anlan around, even if it were a good thing, it would have to be discounted.

What's more, it's hard to say if someone, driven by jealousy, would intentionally embarrass Lin Sicheng—

Wang Qi Zhi felt a bit regretful: "Your dad and your mom are really something, their lips are truly sealed?"

It's been so long, and my brother-in-law hasn't even mentioned at the Ye house that he has such an awesome, truly awesome student.

It makes it so that even if I wanted to bring Lin Sicheng over for a visit, I have no excuse?

Ye Anning didn't give an inch: "You're the one with loose lips; Great-Grandfather has wanted to see Lin Sicheng for a long time, why didn't you take him?"

Wang Qi Zhi was choked into silence: If Lin Sicheng went over, would he only be seeing Grandfather?

He would be seeing the whole Wang family, dozens of people.

Dozens of people, each holding a Magnifying Glass to examine him; even if Lin Sicheng had no flaws, they would absolutely find one, and then magnify it infinitely.

"What do you know?" Wang Qi Zhi glared at her, "For me, the timing isn't right."

Ye Anning squinted: "Doesn't my dad know better than you?"

"Huh?" Wang Qi Zhi casually gave her a slap.

Ye Anning hid behind Lin Sicheng and rolled her eyes at him.

Wang Qi Zhi sighed: "It's a pity, your dad and your mom aren't here!!"

Ye Anning nodded vigorously: "What else could it be?"

Her brain is definitely sharp enough, her tongue even sharper, and she doesn't fear anyone, but her seniority isn't high enough.

If some elder made things difficult for Lin Sicheng, and she couldn't stand it and felt upset, what would she do if she wanted to argue?

She couldn't exactly curse the other party's mother, could she?

As for her uncle, he is the complete opposite extreme: Lin Sicheng is the apple of his eye; if anyone dares to be sarcastic, he dares to flip out on the spot, even if it's an elder.

If Lin Sicheng had to go again next time, wouldn't it be awkward?

Ye Anning ran over and shook Wang Qi Zhi's arm: "Let's just let it go this time, but there will be plenty of opportunities. When my dad and mom come together next time, I'll go back with you and I'll definitely help you brag enough—"

Wang Qi Zhi's old face turned red: "Who said I wanted to brag?"

If you aren't bragging, why are you taking Lin Sicheng to your house?

It's nothing more than this: next time when I come with Mom and Dad, Lin Sicheng might not necessarily come. No matter how loudly Uncle brags, it still falls a bit short.

Ye Anning giggled: "Right, right, right, Uncle never brags."

Wang Qi Zhi glared at her.

After making a scene for a while, they left the teahouse.

Thinking the others were waiting at the entrance, the three of them walked out quickly. But just as they stepped off the stairs, Ye Anning couldn't help but pause:

Several people were standing on the road, craning their necks hard, looking excited.

Seeing her, Li Zhen waved vigorously: "Assistant Ye, come quickly, it looks like they're doing a dragon dance?"

Ye Anning pricked up her ears to listen: there were drums, there was a suona, there was a suona—it really seemed like a dragon dance?

She hurried over and stood on tiptoe to peek: it should be the intersection of Longjin Road and Kangwang Road, with a colorful dragon stretched across the middle of the road.

The dragon's body was bright and colorful, its scales reflecting dazzling light. And it was extremely long; a minute had passed and it still hadn't finished passing by.

There were a great many onlookers, standing densely along the roadside. One could see police cars with flashing lights, as well as Police standing in the middle of the road maintaining order.

But being too far away, it wasn't very clear, and the sound of the drums was faint.

Ye Anning squinted: "Hey, Lin Sicheng, look, they really are doing a dragon dance, but why is this dragon in sections?"

Lin Sicheng took a look: "It's not a dragon, they should be doing a fish dance—"

"Ah?" Ye Anning was stunned, "I've seen fish dances, aren't they all done in the water or on boats?"

And you call yourself a person from Guangzhou?

Lin Sicheng pointed: "It's definitely a fish dance, also called a Fish Lantern Array parade. Believe it or not, I even know where the people doing it are from?"

Impossible.

They all came to Guangzhou together; she and her uncle had returned home, and she had even gone shopping at the mall with Li Zhen.

Including the General Manager, Lin Sicheng's two apprentices, and Fang Jin, they had all gone out. Only Lin Sicheng had stayed in the hotel for these three days and hadn't even stepped out the door.

Ye Anning squinted: "I don't believe it!"

"If you don't believe it, go ask: this is the fish lantern team from Shachong Village in Panyu, the lead fish must be surnamed Jiang!"

Hey, not only is there a town and a village, but there are even names and surnames?

Ye Anning was half-believing and half-doubting: Is it true or false?

If it were anyone else, she wouldn't believe a single word. But if it were Lin Sicheng—sometimes he really is quite divine.

"See that, Floating in the sky, that little red dot far away?"

Lin Sicheng pointed to the sky, "That's not a hot air balloon, that's the main fish of the fish array, an Ao Fish, at least ten-plus meters long. Only the Jiang Clan of Shachong in Panyu could make such a large main Ao Fish—"

"Listen to the drum music again: Seven-Star Drum plus cymbals, plus suona, playing the traditional Guangdong musical piece 'Victory Command', mixed with 'Rain Beating on Banana Leaves'—this is the unique musical piece of the Panyu Jiang Clan's Ao Fish Lantern Array—"

Ye Anning blinked her eyes, fluttering them.

The others looked strange: even though they had witnessed many of Lin Sicheng's magical aspects, they were still taken aback.

Because Lin Sicheng had never been to Guangdong, yet just by relying on one big fish and a piece of drum music, he could deduce who was performing this fish dance. He could even be precise down to the village, and even the surname?

It just felt, so magical?

Especially Ding Aqin; she was a native of Guangzhou, definitely not like Ye Anning, who had gone to Beijing when she was very young and only held the name of being from Guangzhou.

Even she only knew that this Fish Lantern Chen should have invited the fish dance troupe from Shachong, Panyu, but as for the surname or the characteristics of their heritage, she truly did not know.

While she was surprised, Lin Sicheng beckoned: "Teacher, Senior Brother, let's go over and take a look."

The two exchanged a glance: that was true as well.

Lin Sicheng had shut himself in the hotel for three days already; it was time to get some fresh air.

While thinking this to themselves, the two followed behind.

But after they had walked about halfway, Ye Anning's phone rang.

She took it out, glanced at it, and hung up directly.

Lin Sicheng had sharp eyes and saw the Annotation; it was just one character: Lan!

It rang again, she pressed it again, and after three consecutive times, the other party stopped calling.

But immediately after, another number called. This time it was no longer "Lan," but "Aunt," and there was a parenthesis behind it, with a single character marked inside: Bei.

The previous one was her cousin, so not answering was fine. But this time it was her aunt, so not answering would be unreasonable.

Even if it was very likely that Ye Anlan was using her mother's phone to call.

Ye Anning looked left and right, and a plan came to mind. She hurried forward a few steps, almost reaching the street corner, as the phone rang for the fourth time.

She answered it casually. Just then, the gong and drum troupe happened to play a fast tune: "Dong dong dong~ Guang guang~ Dong dong dong~ Wu er————"

Ye Anning pretended to be unable to hear and shouted loudly: "Fourth Aunt———— Fourth Aunt————"

How could the other party possibly hear her?

Even if she could hear, Ye Anning could not hear the sound of her voice.

She shouted for a full five seconds.

Lin Sicheng was confused: "Why didn't you answer?"

Ye Anning snorted: Ye Anlan is a gossip monger; don't think I don't know what she wants to do.

She only muttered this in her heart, but to Lin Sicheng, she bluffed: "If I answered the phone, what would I do if my uncle and aunt wanted to invite you to dinner?"

Lin Sicheng was stunned for a moment, looking at Ye Anning as if looking at someone mentally disabled.

Even if you used a bamboo pole to beat them from here, you couldn't invite me all the way to Beijing.

Even if they invited someone, it could only be the teacher.

"Don't you believe it!" Ye Anning pursed her lips, "That mouth of Ye Anlan's, she could make even dung sound fragrant; heaven knows how she's spinning this."

Lin Sicheng didn't care: No matter how she spins it, she still has to follow the basic laws; if there isn't even any Wind, how can she catch a shadow?

The phone vibrated twice more, and Ye Anning held it up: "If you don't believe me, look!"

A message was sent on it: Anning, you're at the Xiguan Flower Market, right? I'm coming to find you; don't stop answering the phone.

"Since you love to gossip, you can search slowly!"

Ye Anning stuffed the phone into her pocket: There are so many people, and Xiguan is so big?

While she was secretly thinking this, Wang Qi Zhi caught up from behind: "Your fourth uncle called and said he wants to invite me to dinner."

Ye Anning pointed her chin at Lin Sicheng, smiling very smugly: Look, I wasn't wrong, was I?

"Then you should go, Uncle!"

"I really must go; since I've come to Guangzhou, it wouldn't be right not to meet them!"

After replying, Wang Qi Zhi laughed again: "Your fourth uncle said that Ye Anqi and Ye Anlan are coming to the flower market to find you, and told you not to stop answering the phone."

Suddenly, Ye Anning couldn't smile anymore.

She didn't care; she could act shamelessly however she wanted. But Wang Qi Zhi was an elder; could he act shamelessly too?