Chapter 116: An Invitation to the Graduation Ceremony Accepted

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Huangpu Shenqing had gone abroad, and he had not eaten lunch at the manor that day either, for he had left in a fury.

His words had plunged Shangguan Rann into deep thought. Only then did she realize that the little brother she had met all those years ago had actually been Ye Zuo. There was no need to verify it; she had seen those same eyes in Ye Zuo before. She had simply never thought to connect the two.

She could understand a man smashing a picture frame out of anger and jealousy, but she could not, no matter how hard she tried, comprehend what he had meant by, “Why do you remember him, yet forget me?”

“Miss?” Ye Xin handed her the watering can, only to find her standing there… lost in thought?

Shangguan Rann accepted the watering tool and watered the flower buds that were vying with one another to bloom. She had been at the manor for five days now. During that time, there had been no word from the man, nor any… communication.

She handed the tool back to Ye Xin and asked her to finish what remained undone, then walked toward the garden.

She sat on a cylindrical marble bench and watched the goldfish dart aimlessly about the pond, her thoughts in utter disarray.

Her gaze fell upon the arm resting on the round table. The pure blue diamond seemed to have fallen into silence, giving off not the slightest glimmer.

She gently stroked it, not knowing what she ought to do.

Since when had Shangguan Rann become such a dispirited woman—brow furrowed with worry, lost even to herself?

“Ye Xin.” She rose to her feet, knowing at last what she had to do.

“Miss?” Ye Xin dropped the tool in her hands and hurried over, bewildered.

“Let’s pack. We’re leaving for Country M now.”

“Yes.”

While Ye Xin went to prepare their things, Shangguan Rann returned a call to the prestigious university in Country M.

“Rann?”

“Grandfather Krielia, I accept your invitation to the commencement ceremony.”

“Really? Wonderful, wonderful! I’ll make the arrangements at once. If that old man Yang hears about this, he’ll be green with envy!” The old man on the other end of the line was already eighty, yet he was so delighted that he danced for joy, astonishing the students who happened to pass by—and leaving some of them thoroughly horrified.

“Grandfather Krielia, if the president finds out, I may have no choice but to decline your university’s invitation. Please keep this confidential for the time being.”

“All right, all right, I won’t tell him for now. When will you arrive? Shall I come to meet you? What does your schedule look like? How many sessions will you give? Or perhaps I should go and see them myself…”

“Grandfather Krielia, I know where your university is. There is no need for you to trouble yourself. Please wait there in peace. I’m preparing to leave now, so let’s leave it at that.”

“Wait, wait—”

Krielia watched the call end and glared, stroking his beard in indignation. “That girl…”

Krielia Skikov was a renowned professor at the famous Christian University in Country M, one of the world’s leading schools of music. When he learned that Shangguan Rann was proficient in dozens of instruments—including the piano, guzheng, pipa, violin, cello, harp, yueqin, konghou, and bamboo flute—he had eagerly tried to recruit her, only to be rejected because she wished to study finance instead.

Even so, he shamelessly and tirelessly traveled to the University of Finance in Country Y, where he discussed with her such matters as the various instruments, their place in the modern world, and the art of performance.

Yang Rongcheng was the president of the University of Finance in Country Y and Shangguan Rann’s academic mentor. He was especially fond of her, believing her to be nothing short of a genius—the most outstanding of all his students, and also the youngest ever to graduate.

The more time he spent with her, the more surprises he discovered. She possessed so many qualities worthy of emulation. Though young, her opinions always struck directly at the heart of a matter, their sharpness compelling admiration. Even students older than she were willing to follow her arrangements. This was the influence of her leadership and decision-making abilities.

At half past twelve in the afternoon, Shangguan Rann, Ye Xin, Mo Jiu, and Mo Shi arrived in Country M.

Though Mo Jiu and Mo Shi did not know why their master had left in such fury, they obeyed his orders without question. The moment they learned that Shangguan Rann was going to Country M, they agreed without a second thought.

Yet they had been unable to reach their master. Even Mo Yi’s communications had been disrupted, so they had no idea how to inform him that they had already left A City.

“Senior Pigri, why are you here?” Shangguan Rann asked in surprise when she saw a man standing at the entrance to the passageway after disembarking from the plane.

Pigri Skikov was Krielia Skikov’s son and a doctoral student at Christian University. He and Shangguan Rann had exchanged academic views privately, so she had always addressed him as her senior.

Pigri raised a warm smile. “Grandfather knew that Junior Sister was coming and asked me to wait here for you. We’ve already reserved a table. I hope you won’t refuse.”

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“I could hardly refuse an invitation from my senior. I’m only afraid of troubling Grandfather Krielia.”

“Not at all. Grandfather was overjoyed when he heard you were coming—so delighted, you would think he wanted to announce it to the entire world.”

Shangguan Rann smiled. She knew Grandfather Krielia’s temperament well. Though he appeared to be a stern old man, his nature was charmingly mercurial, and at times even she struggled to keep pace with his thoughts.

They walked along, conversing warmly, while Ye Xin followed behind them.

Mo Jiu, however, had fallen behind and was frantic with worry. “Still can’t get through?”

Mo Shi shook his head, then gave a bitter smile. “What do we do now?”

Heavens above, earth below—Master, if you don’t answer the phone soon, your wife is going to be carried off by someone else!

Mo Jiu was screaming inwardly, but his expression remained calm. “What else can we do? We’ll take things one step at a time.”

“What do you think about that man just now? Could he possibly…?”

“I think he definitely has designs on Miss Shangguan. Didn’t you see the way he looked at her? His eyes were practically glued to her. And that gentle smile of his—there’s something wrong. There’s definitely something wrong.” Mo Jiu proceeded to analyze the situation with painstaking attention to every instinct he possessed.

Mo Shi shook his head helplessly. “Let’s observe a little longer before drawing any conclusions.”

Pigri took them to a restaurant with the strongest local flavor of Country M, where they were served local cuisine as well.

Krielia had already been waiting in a private dining room for quite some time. When he caught sight of Shangguan Rann’s familiar figure, he hurried toward her. Even the frailty of his advanced age could not restrain the eagerness and delight surging through him.

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