Chapter 1: Confluence of Rivers

The Municipal Building of Tianhai City, the most authoritative place in the entire city, where countless big and small decisions are finalized.

Today, in the solemn conference hall, dozens of people sat upright, watching a Blonde-Haired Maiden on stage speaking confidently.

“In summary, the Countermeasures Department is almost a shell, with only meager measures that have little to no effect.”

Most faces in the audience were unfamiliar, occasionally two familiar ones appeared, like Li Li, Xiao Su, and Luo Xing, but they all sat in the farthest corners. As for their roles…

A leader with a square face turned around and glanced back; Luo Xing nodded seriously, indicating that what the Blonde-Haired Maiden said was true without any error.

Since that day, it was already commendable to gather everyone from the original office. A few announcements were hastily issued, but not many people in Tianhai City paid attention. Occasionally, someone would leave a comment on the official website, but even they couldn’t explain clearly what “Ghosts” actually were.

As for the Four Squares Academy side, Yuan Xiaoling sent over many personnel, several large trucks, and used some device to surround the foot of the mountain. The office here tried to help by setting up a few “Landslide Ahead, No Trespassing” signs there.

You could say they didn’t help much, but they did do something after all, since they put up signs. But if you say they helped, well… sending high school students to the print shop to make signs could achieve the same level of effort.

A few days later, the first clear sighting of a Ghost occurred, and they received the notification. In the first instance… they requested the Mobile Unit under Yuan Xiaoling’s command to go to the scene and deal with the Ghost with two-stage strength.

In short, they could do nothing.

“Such situations will continue to increase, we don’t know how long it will last, but it will definitely continue. I hope that regarding the handling of Ghosts as an outsourced project, we receive full support. Including reasonable actions, which should be fully cooperated with and greenlit.”

Yuan Xiaoling spoke plainly without holding back. Several leaders listening to her words looked uneasy.

“How can she speak so directly?” someone whispered.

“Miss Yuan is still an undergraduate student, hasn’t completed her education, low academic qualifications,” the leader thought for a moment, then added another sentence, “and also an arts and physical education student.”

“You’re right, but she’s standing right in front of us making arrangements, and we must listen,” one person slowly said, “unless you guys have other solutions.”

The first speaker pondered for a moment, inspiration struck, “If Tianhai City can’t handle it, can we find reinforcements elsewhere?”

A circle of people around him immediately stared at him meaningfully. Soon he realized something and broke out in cold sweat, “I… was just joking.”

The previous leader who sought reinforcements was Dai Hengzhu.

What, are you planning to betray humanity too?

“Hey, you bunch over there, stop daydreaming and focus,” Yuan Xiaoling slapped the table with her delicate hands, “Okay, I’m done talking. Who has objections?”

The venue was eerily quiet, no one spoke.

A nearby assistant from the Municipal Office received instructions, stepped closer, and quietly said, “Miss Yuan, instead of opposing, we should ask for guidance.”

Yuan Xiaoling raised an elegant eyebrow, “Oppose or approve, what guidance? They don’t understand this stuff, what can they guide?”

…

In the end, it was unanimously approved.

After experiencing the collapse of the Chamber of Commerce, Dai Hengzhu inviting wolves into the fold and his betrayal, Tianhai City had no other choice.

…

When Yuan Xiaoling left the Municipal Building and returned to the hotel, she happened to see Bai Ling and others sitting together analyzing the previous events.

“Based on my perception at the time and subsequent reflection, the key point lies in emotion,” Wu Bian said, “when singing, there is the purest emotion.”

Luo Zou Cheng didn’t understand, “Why singing? Can’t it be anything else?”

“For example,” Wu Bian asked him, “if a girl said ‘I like you’ when you were young, what emotions do you think she felt at that moment?”

Luo Zou Cheng’s face turned red because no girl had ever confessed to him when he was young.

“Just liking, you already said liking.”

Wu Bian rolled his eyes, “Think carefully, consider her personality.”

“I still don’t get it.” Luo Zou Cheng scratched his head.

“Let me put it this way, suppose she’s a traditional girl, during confession, besides liking, she’d also feel shyness, nervousness, anticipation, unease, etc. Even if she’s a carefree girl, without shyness, she’d still feel nervous or think ‘If he dares to reject me, he’ll regret it.'”

Bai Ling silently nodded beside them.

Indeed, if she were to confess to Ningning, even with her cold and composed (?) nature, she’d have stray thoughts, like — now that I’ve confessed, to commemorate this day, let me sleep next to her tonight.

And such things.

But Luo Zou Cheng still looked bewildered, “I understand your meaning, but I don’t get what you’re trying to say.”

“I mean, there are impurities, understand? Impurities,” Wu Bian sighed, “even during confession, various reasons can cause mixed emotions, not pure.”

“Only singing is different. Singing has a special charm, hard to describe. But you should know, even virgins who’ve never been in love feel deep sorrow while singing breakup songs.”

Luo Zou Cheng finally nodded, this he could empathize with. Although no girl had confessed to him when he was young, he often went to KTV.

That’s why he opened a bar later.

“Only singing? Really?” Yuan Xiaoling walked in from outside, joining the conversation, “When I call her Minnow, her emotions are pretty pure too.”

Both Wu Bian and Luo Zou Cheng were startled.

… Do you two play around privately like this?

“Miss Yuan, um, I think…” Wu Bian whispered, “it should refer to positive emotions.”

Yuan Xiaoling innocently blinked, “That works too, look at those manga… cough, those comics, often have girls with hearts in their eyes, filled with affection, calling others Minnow, both positive and pure.”

“In that case, it might not be pure…”

Wu Bian thought, in manga, when those girls are filled with affection and call others Minnow, along with love, they probably also carry a bit of “wanting to beat them up” emotion.

But he dared not say it.

“Alright, that’s enough, knowing the general principle satisfies curiosity. We’ve failed once, next time Foundation Stone won’t use the same tactics again. So, everyone go do what you need to do.” Bai Ling stood up and pulled Yuan Xiaoling away.

Enough, if Ningning keeps talking, who knows what else will come out.

Pulling her into the bedroom, Bai Ling asked, “How did today go?”

“Not bad, said some vague things, took the opportunity to propose requirements, and they agreed.”

Yuan Xiaoling poured herself a glass of water, gulped it down, and summarized her trip: “Pretty easy.”

Bai Ling was slightly surprised, but upon reflection, it made sense. From a few months ago until now, Yuan Xiaoling’s group, counting He Shiyong, had swept through all the power in Tianhai City.

From the Chamber of Commerce, to the vanguard army of the Yun Family, to the traitor Dai Hengzhu. Now Tianhai City’s deck is empty, unable to draw cards, leaving them no choice but to accept Yuan Xiaoling’s conditions.

“With their help, things will be easier.” Bai Ling said.

Yuan Xiaoling nodded vigorously.

After the meeting, the first request she made was to search for the families mentioned in the documents. There’s no news yet, but results will surely come within a few days.

“My two roommates will arrive this afternoon, let’s go to the beach and find a restaurant to welcome them.” Yuan Xiaoling said.

Her two roommates messaged her yesterday, saying they’d arrive this afternoon and had surprises for her.

“Eat lobsters, right?” Bai Ling remembered, “I recall this matter.”

Once Yuan Xiaoling told her that through journalist videos and fragmented names, they managed to track down specific individuals, all thanks to a certain roommate far away in her hometown. To express gratitude, she planned to treat them properly when they returned.

Also, regarding junior reporter Wang Zhen, after Yun He and Dai Hengzhu died, he was released. Regardless of other things, answering that phone call while escaping the Four Squares Academy counted as a contribution, so he was given a bonus and didn’t have to sell mobile phones anymore.

Gong Tao was sent to a better sanatorium, and his son’s situation was being investigated, giving them hope for reunion as a form of repayment. However, due to modified household registration and lack of ID due to young age, it was difficult to locate him.

The “settlement” of the Four Squares Academy matters ended more or less here. Yuan Xiaoling handled these affairs for the first time, not perfectly, but as thorough as possible.

At this moment, her mobile phone rang, she glanced at it, it was “Yuan Tong”.

“Hello?”

“Hello, cousin, we’re on the train, arriving tonight. Heard that the railway in a mountain area ahead was rerouted, otherwise we’d be there this afternoon.” Yuan Tong said on the other end.

Yuan Xiaoling thought it might be the mountains near the Four Squares Academy, quite coincidental, rerouting was unavoidable.

“Take your time, no rush, I’ll treat you to dinner tonight.”

“Got it!”

At this moment, in a carriage on the outskirts of the Tianhai Mountains, Yuan Tong put down his phone and looked around at the group:

“Fellows, before departing from Chunhai City, we learned that Tianhai City is a chaotic mix of fish and dragons, with various factions fighting for power and raging wars. Cousin alone struggles in Tianhai City, the situation must be perilous, unable to hold up alone. Our journey here is to let her know she’s not alone.”

“Absolutely right, our Yuan family is united!”

“No matter who from the Yuan family it was, we would wholeheartedly… uh, no, it wouldn’t work anyway.”

Only a beautiful maiden like Cousin Xiaoling deserves it… but that’s not important, great achievers don’t bother with trivialities.

A few young members of the Yuan family gathered together, discussing the “deep waters” of Tianhai City and the potential difficulties Cousin Xiaoling might face.

Local gangs, capital oppression, mysterious strongmen, evil families…

Talking and drinking, soon Yuan Tong stood up and went to the toilet at the junction of carriages.

The train passed through mountainous terrain, and the sudden change in route caused an unexpected turn. He accidentally brushed against a girl coming from another carriage.

“Hey, you, what are you doing?” A pure-looking girl softly scolded, “Why so rude?”

Her voice was soft, but somewhat condescending.

“Sorry,” Yuan Tong instinctively said, “Did I break anything? I’ll pay the original price.”

The girl frowned, about to speak, when a man’s voice came from another carriage:

“Xin Lan, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, Yun Brother.”

She ignored Yuan Tong and returned to the neighboring carriage, sitting beside a tall man. Yuan Tong faintly heard her say:

“Just now someone accidentally bumped into me, probably because the train turned. I helped pick up what fell and told him to be careful on this road.”

“Haha, Xin Lan is always so kind.”

“No, it’s just a normal reaction…”

Yuan Tong twitched his lips and silently returned to his own carriage.

“What’s wrong, Big Brother Tong?” A cousin noticed his odd expression, “What’s going on?”

“Nothing, met a tea-drinking female.”