Chapter 259: 249 Unfortunately, Miss Ying will be in charge of the assessment [4 updates]

The girl was wearing a baseball cap, white short sleeves, and dark blue jeans.

Her legs were long and straight, her skin porcelain white as jade, almost translucent.

It was the most common outfit on the street, yet she still possessed an allure that made one notice her at a glance.

The girl hadn’t worn sunglasses or a mask, and as she approached head-on, Mu Chenzhou could clearly see her.

It was a face stunning to the extreme.

Mu Chenzhou frowned.

Why was it that as soon as he returned to the Imperial Capital, Ying Zijin also came to the Imperial Capital?

The Ying Family didn’t have relatives in the area, so what was Ying Zijin doing here?

Madam Mu noticed the change in his expression, turned her head, and followed his gaze: “What’s wrong?”

She saw the girl too, but Madam Mu had long forgotten who Ying Zijin was.

She never bothered to remember unimportant people.

“I saw someone I know,” Mu Chenzhou said. “Mom, I’m going to say hello.”

After speaking, he walked forward, his manner polite, courteous yet distant: “Miss Ying, we meet again. What brings you to the Imperial Capital?”

However, the girl didn’t answer.

She didn’t even glance at him, as if she didn’t recognize him at all.

It was as if she hadn’t heard him speak, just walking past him.

Mu Chenzhou’s hand was stuck in mid-air, neither retracting it nor keeping it up, his expression momentarily awkward.

“Who’s that?” Madam Mu’s face darkened. “You greeted her. Why didn’t she respond to you?”

Even the daughters from the Nie and Xiu families hadn’t given Mu Chenzhou such treatment.

“Ying Zijin,” Mu Chenzhou sighed, slightly helpless, “She must still be angry about the auction that day.”

He really was reminding her.

If he had not spoken up in advance, the Meng Family’s tactics would have been even more ruthless.

How would Ying Zijin cope?

Unfortunately, she thought she had Fu Yunshen’s support and hence enough confidence.

Madam Mu pondered for a few seconds before realization hit: “So, it was her.”

After a pause, she spoke indifferently: “There are many good-looking people. What’s most important for you now is to pass the assessment. Once you become the true heir of the Mu family, even some families abroad will offer marriage alliances. There is no need to waste attention on a foster daughter.”

Ying Zijin’s face indeed attracted men.

Not just men, but even women would be charmed.

Madam Mu couldn’t help but remind Mu Chenzhou, fearing he would fall too deep.

As for what Ying Zijin was doing in the Imperial Capital, it had nothing to do with them.

“She won’t be the one responsible for your assessment anyway,” Madam Mu added. “We still have to stop by the Meng Family later.”

**

The Fu Family.

Old Master Fu went out after dinner.

His health had improved, so he often went out for walks.

However, he still preferred to visit Old Man Zhong to play chess.

Even though Old Man Zhong liked to block him at the door, he always enjoyed it.

Not many of their generation were left.

When Old Master Ying and Old Master Jiang were still around, they could get together for a game of mahjong.

Now, they could only play chess.

After Zhong Zhiwan went abroad, the Zhong Family felt emptier, so Old Master Fu also took the opportunity to stay there for a few days.

Old Man Zhong had already prepared the chessboard and when he saw him, he waved: “Old Man Fu, come, sit. Watch how I defeat you completely.”

Old Master Fu walked over slowly, hands behind his back: “Who will defeat whom is not yet certain.”

The two played Go.

Old Master Fu chose the black pieces. After picking up the first piece, he paused for a long time before making a move.

After a while, he spoke: “Old Man Zhong, after so many months, I can hardly believe that I’m healthy enough to be playing chess with you here.”

Old Master Fu had always known that his condition wasn’t an illness, but poison.

This poison wouldn’t kill him immediately, but it would erode his body daily, shortening his life span.

Even he hadn’t expected to last twenty years.

Old Master Fu fell silent for a moment, then chuckled: “I wonder how much longer I’ll live.”

“Get out,” grumbled Old Man Zhong, not wanting to hear it. “We shouldn’t talk about such depressing things late at night. You’re only eighty-five, you can live for at least another twenty years.”

“I’m serious,” Old Master Fu said, continuing to play. “Your health is robust, you’ll definitely outlive me. When I’m gone, please take care of Yunshen for me.”

“Who cares about your brat,” Old Man Zhong snorted, and just as he was about to say something else, his phone rang.

He perked up at the caller ID.

“Hey, Zijin is giving me a video call. Old Man Fu, come and have a look too.”

Upon hearing that name, Old Master Fu’s ears perked up.

He pretended to have been invited and sat down next to Old Master Zhong.

The girl’s voice was cool and detached, “Grandpa.”

She paused, “Is Grandpa Fu here too?”

Old Master Fu sat up straight at once, “Ah, yes, Zijin, I came to play chess with your grandfather.”

“Go away, I just wanted you to watch.” Old Master Zhong discontentedly took the phone away, “Zijin, how are things in the capital?”

He had many questions, and Ying Zijin answered them all.

“Isn’t my granddaughter amazing?” Old Master Zhong boasted while video chatting, “She’s gone to participate in an international competition called ISC, and there are only six spots for the whole of Hua Country.”

Old Master Fu nodded repeatedly, “Yes, Old Man Zhong, your granddaughter is really impressive.”

What he was thinking was: Nonsense, how could the granddaughter-in-law I have my eye on not be outstanding?

Of course, Old Master Fu still didn’t say this out loud.

Old Master Zhong, oblivious to Old Master Fu’s scheming, was extremely pleased by the flattery, “I may not be very smart, but my granddaughter is, aren’t you just jealous, Old Man Fu?”

Old Master Fu nodded again, “Jealous, very jealous.”

What he was thinking was: He wasn’t jealous at all, since she would sooner or later be his granddaughter-in-law.

“But your brat just doesn’t measure up.” Old Master Zhong gloated, “Look at him, he can’t participate in any competitions.”

Old Master Fu once again nodded, “Right, right, right.”

Still, what he was thinking was: What does it matter? As long as he can bring his granddaughter-in-law back home.

Just as Old Master Zhong was about to further deflate Old Master Fu’s ego, a voice with a low timbre that contained a laugh rang out from the phone, “Grandpa Zhong, speaking ill of others isn’t very gentlemanly behavior.”

When Old Master Zhong’s gaze returned to the screen, he nearly had another heart attack; he clutched at his chest, “How come you’re here too?!”

What’s the definition of an unwelcome ghost?

This was it!

Fu Yunshen replied lazily, “Bodyguard.”

Old Master Zhong: “…”

He decisively hung up the phone and slapped it down on the table.

Old Master Fu cracked a smile and struggled to keep from laughing.

Then, excusing himself to use the restroom, he took out his phone, scrolled through Fu Yunshen’s friend circle, liking every post, and left a comment.

[Xiao Qi, well done!]

**

Meanwhile, in the capital.

Ying Zijin raised an eyebrow and pulled back her phone, “I told you, he’s very angry with you.”

“I can explain.” Fu Yunshen’s hand moved on the steering wheel, “I really didn’t mean to take his place.”@@novelbin@@

Ying Zijin yawned, “You had me drink goji berry and red date tea this morning, acting like an old man.”

Fu Yunshen also raised an eyebrow, “A few days ago, I was a kid, and now I’m an old man?”

“Mentally, you’re a kid, but in life, you’re an old man.”

“…”

There seemed to be no way to refute that.

“This is the training camp.” Fu Yunshen parked the car, “I won’t go in, call me if you need anything.”

After a pause, he asked again, “When did you schedule to meet with the patient?”

“This weekend,” Ying Zijin unbuckled her seatbelt, “We’ll see when the time comes.”

She got out of the car without taking any luggage, just carrying a backpack.

Day-to-day items and clothes could be bought on site.

After handing Fu Yunshen a bottle of medicine, Ying Zijin finally walked into the training camp.

This training session wasn’t just for the six who were directly selected for the international contest, but six additional outstanding students were also invited.

Verdant Middle School originally intended to give another training camp spot to Ying Yuexuan, but she declined, so it fell to the first-ranked student in the Verdant Elite Class in the second year of high school.

Twelve people would be split into four groups.

Each group of three students would be led by a professor, and there would be a series of competitions.

This session of training was not long, just a month.

Because Imperial Capital University Affiliated Middle School and Verdant Middle School were the strongest, Ying Zijin and two other students were assigned to one group.

The other two students had seen Ying Zijin’s results.

Though it was only training, it also involved honor.

They were unwilling to be in the same team with someone whose grades were extremely unstable.

As soon as the two students arrived at the camp, they went to the apartment where the professors stayed.

Zuo Li was one of the four professors sent by Imperial Capital University this time, and he was on duty tonight.

One of the students hesitated before speaking up, “Professor Zuo, could we switch to a different group? Or have Ying Zijin switched out?”

Upon hearing this, Zuo Li set down his pen and looked at the two of them.