Chapter 1181: Chapter 1178: When the Dust Settles
"Uh, Mrs. Xiao, how come it’s you? Where are Miss, and Second Miss?" Lin Tian asked strangely.
"Manxue went out, Xuanxuan is changing into her school uniform, aren’t you all going to school soon? I was afraid you’d oversleep, so I called for you while coming down. Hurry up, breakfast is ready." Mrs. Xiao replied.
After explaining clearly, Mrs. Xiao turned and left. As she went down the stairs, she let out a long breath.
Watching Mrs. Xiao’s graceful figure departing, Lin Tian always felt something was odd. Ever since she returned from the ancient battlefield, he felt this way, but couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong.
Maybe Mrs. Xiao feels guilty or grateful, or maybe I’m just overthinking it. Lin Tian scratched his head, unable to understand, and went back to wash up and change clothes.
Today is the day to fill college applications at school, one of the reasons Lin Tian agreed to become a bodyguard for the Xiao Family, wasn’t it for today? College entrance exams, choosing applications, going to university — it’s both his dream and grandfather’s wish.
After putting on his school uniform, he came to the living room, where Mrs. Xiao and Xiao Manxuan had already set up breakfast, even serving Lin Tian’s porridge. Lin Tian sighed inwardly, to be a bodyguard and receive this kind of treatment, it’s indeed a legend in the bodyguard world.
"Lin Tian, you really can sleep, sleeping for over ten hours." Xiao Manxuan smiled as she saw Lin Tian come down.
"Can’t help it. You try not sleeping for a few days and nights, not sleeping for three days and nights is not too bad." Lin Tian replied.
"Lin Tian, you’ve worked hard, eat more." Mrs. Xiao smiled.
"Thank you for your care, Mrs. Xiao." Lin Tian chuckled and ate heartily as he pleased.
Mrs. Xiao smiled slightly and said, "You’ve done so much for the Xiao family, the only thing we can do for you are these trivial things."
Lin Tian put down his chopsticks and said solemnly, "Mrs. Xiao, I don’t think it’s trivial. Even if ten billion or one hundred billion dollars were placed before me, I think Mrs. Xiao’s bowl of porridge is more important. The genuine feelings in it are priceless, incomparable to those fake things."
These words came from Lin Tian’s heart. From the people of the Yun Family and the Xiao Family, Lin Tian could feel this sincere emotion. Mrs. Xiao looked at Lin Tian with surprise, not expecting him to think this way, a smile appeared in her eyes.
"Lin Tian, your mouth is getting sweeter and sweeter. When did you learn to use sugar-coated words?" Xiao Manxuan said with a grin.
Lin Tian chuckled and said, "Second Miss hasn’t tried it, how does she know if my mouth is sweet or not."
The little girl was embarrassed, her pretty face immediately flushed red, she could only bow her head and eat vigorously, seeming to treat the food like Lin Tian, swearing to eat up this hateful "bad guy" named Lin Tian. Mrs. Xiao also bowed her head to eat breakfast, as if she hadn’t heard Lin Tian’s words.
After breakfast, driving the car, Lin Tian and Xiao Manxuan drove through those familiar roads again. During those school days, this road gave them so much joy, spreading so many of Xiao Manxuan’s bell-like laughter.
"Lin Tian, it’s been so long since we went to school together like this. I miss those peaceful days of going to school every day." Xiao Manxuan said wistfully, her gaze on Lin Tian was bright.
"When you get to university, you’ll also miss the days of university." Lin Tian said with a smile.
"Lin Tian, do you think I’ve forgotten something? Ever since I woke up, I constantly feel like I’ve forgotten something important, but can’t recall what it is." Xiao Manxuan suddenly asked.
Lin Tian was shocked internally, seriously suspicious that the seal on her memory wasn’t complete, with Second Miss having this strange feeling.
However, Lin Tian pretended to remain calm and said, "Relax, your sister has been with you these days. Hasn’t she told you everything that happened?"
The young girl blinked, not asking further questions, but still looked confused.
The car quickly arrived at the school. Walking on the school’s pathway again, Lin Tian felt a sense of relaxation, this campus, which had been peaceful for some time, was bustling again with the arrival of the third-year students, everyone was discussing the soon-to-be-released scores and applications.
Lin Tian and Xiao Manxuan entered the third-year class one classroom, familiar with the noise inside. Compared to other classes that discussed scores and applications, the third-year class one discussions were wildly varied.
The girls were talking about the dramas they watched last night, the boys were discussing where major events have occurred. Lin Tian’s arrival drew everyone’s attention.
"Brother Tian, long time no see..."
"Brother Lin, we missed you..." said some bold girls.
"Brother Tian, Brother Tian..." the loudest voice echoed, Lin Tian didn’t need to look to know it was Fatty Huang.
Lin Tian laughed and walked over, giving him a firm slap on the shoulder. Fatty gave a grimace, but Lin Tian nodded with satisfaction and said, "Good work, you’ve gotten a lot stronger."
"Haha, it’s all thanks to Brother Tian. Since Brother Tian mentioned it last time, I now insist on exercising every day. Swear to turn this fat into muscles. Fatty Huang will also become a muscle man." Fatty Huang laughed.
"I say, Fatty, the revolution hasn’t succeeded yet, comrades still need to work hard, don’t boast." Gao Le joked.
"Of course, men should do what they say." Fatty Huang patted his chest, making a thumping sound, then he suddenly had a mysterious smile and said, "Stop talking about me, in these few days, something huge happened in Xikou City, did you all know?"
"Fatty Huang, stop bluffing, you exaggerate small issues into big deals." A male classmate said in disbelief.
Fatty Huang was dissatisfied with this, raising his voice to say, "Small issue? The Bai Family went bankrupt, is that a big deal or not?"
"The Bai Family went bankrupt? How is that possible? Just a few days ago, I saw their jewelry store open just fine." a classmate questioned.
Lin Tian turned to glance at Xiao Manxuan, the little girl also looked puzzled, clearly, she didn’t know about it, and judging by other classmates’ expressions, it seemed this hasn’t been reported in the news yet.
Fatty Huang loudly continued, "My dad knows someone at the bank, the Bai Family has filed for bankruptcy and is now in bankruptcy proceedings, the bank is conducting liquidations, once the proceedings are done, it will probably be made public. Moreover, I’ve heard that after the Bai Family went bankrupt, the Xiao Family will take over the Bai Family’s company."
"You say it’s the Xiao Family?" Lin Tian asked.
"Yeah, my dad heard the Xiao Family has been involved in the liquidation process, which means the Bai Family’s company will definitely be taken over by the Xiao Family, has Brother Tian heard this too?" Fatty Huang asked.
Lin Tian shook his head, saying, "No, I only just heard it from you."
Indeed, he hadn’t heard anything regarding the Bai Family’s bankruptcy, though Bai Zhengchu’s demise was certain, hearing it suddenly now, Lin Tian sighed slightly. An army collapsed like a mountain, the dust settles — such sayings might describe the Bai Family.