Drama Queen Reborn as a Top Student!-Chapter 826 - 377: Keeping a Promise

At eight o’clock in the evening, Zirui Pavilion was enveloped in a serene tranquility, with the sound of the flowing water from the rock garden and the soothing light music increasingly highlighting the quietness of the space.

Yan Xue sat kneeling on the mat, lowering her eyes in silent contemplation.

Recently, Amos has been behaving contrary to his previous low-key style, frequently making moves in Hua Country, undeniably high-profile.

For someone of his stature, every word and action carries significance, though she has yet to grasp it fully. Perhaps being summoned tonight is a signal.

The watch’s hands pointed exactly to eight, and light footsteps came from the entrance.

Amos was always a punctual person, never making anyone wait more than a minute.

Yan Xue stood up and tidied her appearance.

The sliding door of the private room was pushed open, and a tall figure walked in.

No matter how many times she had seen him, Yan Xue was always in awe of the young man’s grace and elegance.

"Mr. Amos."

The young man nodded and smiled, "Sorry to keep you waiting."

After the pleasantries, they both sat down.

Yan Xue poured tea for the young man, "It’s been half a year since we last met. I wonder, Mr. Amos, how have you been during this period?"

Prosperous and thriving, couldn’t be better.

"Not bad," the young man shifted the topic, "Miss Yan, your charitable work is thriving. The people even erect monuments and write accounts for you. Mingling with a heartless capitalist like me, Miss Yan, you must be cautious."

Yan Xue’s reputation among the public is that of a widely renowned great benefactor, having swept away the gloom brought by her ex-husband, Xu Lang.

In contrast, Amos, despite his dominance in the marketplace, carries a foreigner’s reputation that breeds distrust, coupled with envy-fueled gossip that paints him as a ruthless capitalist.

Should outsiders witness this scene, Yan Xue’s good name might be overshadowed.

As the saying goes, association breeds resemblance: proximity to cinnabar makes one red, while proximity to ink makes one black.

Yan Xue shook her head with a wry smile, "That’s just a misunderstanding of the uninformed. Without considerable financial support, even a clever woman like me couldn’t cook without rice. Mr. Amos, you are the true kind-hearted one."

Yan Xue gazed at the young man across the table.

The dim light cast a warm glow on the young man’s face, softening his stern features. His calm eyes betrayed his innate defiance.

In the eyes of the world, this prodigy could command storms and sway fortunes, yet the imagination often paints him as reckless and extravagant. But the world is mistaken. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Their relationship, if described as cooperation, is more akin to a transaction.

He provides the money, she puts in the effort, without the need for pretext. All the accolades are hers.

She once asked whether to disclose the source of funds in the annual report to clear Amos’s name.

Amos refused; he sought no empty glory, only one condition.

The young man toyed with the porcelain cup, his lips curved in a smile that was both gentle and merciless, making Yan Xue’s heart race.

His piercing blue eyes locked onto hers, as though seeing through everything and reaching her soul.

"The time is right; you should fulfill your promise."

——

Footsteps gradually receded until swallowed by the night.

The tea in the cup had cooled, and tranquility returned to the surroundings.

Her heart beat uncontrollably fast, and Yan Xue couldn’t help but place her hand over her chest to suppress the trembling that followed.

Amos invested so much money yet sought no acclaim; it’s abnormal, either an unassuming philanthropist or someone patient with grand designs.

Intuition told her Amos was the latter.

Back then, she agreed to Amos’s condition, which he hadn’t disclosed, saying the time wasn’t right.

Her gaze fixed on the tea table opposite, where a vigorous and carefree character appeared as the water mark dried.

The forceful and casual strokes could only result from years of practice.

It was the character for Xiao.

The winds wail and the waters of Yi are cold, yet Yan Xue’s intuition told her it was the Xiao in surname Xiao.

Her heart skipped a beat.

The surname Xiao might be little known in Hua Country, but in the turbulent last dynasty, it was world-renowned.

Because of Xiao Chuo, this famed, invincible Great General.

Xiao Chuo emerged from humble origins yet triumphed repeatedly, forming an indomitable Xiao Family Army.

The Xiao family was poised to rise steadily, but later fell to the Yu family during their conflict, as Yu Guoning consolidated power through marriage alliances. Xiao Chuo decisively avoided confrontation, retreating to Yunzhou.

The Xiao family henceforth receded into seclusion, avoiding the public eye. While never reappearing, those in the know never underestimated the Xiao family.

This dormant lion, when it wakes, will stir the world once more.

Yet no one knows when this lion will awaken.

This sword hangs above the Yu family’s head. The Yu family knows, as does Yan Xue.

Her great grandfather once followed Xiao Chuo, which was why she’s more aware of the grudges between the Yu and Xiao families than outsiders. The Yu family holds deep grudges, viewing her grandfather as an eyesore due to his past service under Xiao Chuo, and would not promote him. If not for her grandfather’s foresight, he might have been overwhelmed by the Yu family’s suppression.

The Xiao family remains secluded in Yunzhou, with no traces of its descendants. To integrate into society, they all changed names and surnames, making it hard for the Yu family to act.

Yunzhou, remote with dense forests and poverty, was the focus of Yan Xue’s charitable efforts, helping the people there the most.

Yan Xue personally managed her charitable work, often visiting Yunzhou.

She was working on a project for educational support for children with the local Yunzhou officials, set to formalize next month.

She lowered her gaze; she thought she understood Amos’s intention.

But what does he really want? Yan Xue felt uneasy and dared not think further.

She rose and left the private room, stepping out of Zirui Pavilion. The cool night breeze reinvigorated her muddled thoughts.

Sitting in the car, a sudden flash of inspiration made the young man’s face eerily overlap with a girl’s face.

Clearly two different people, even of different genders, how is this possible...

Yet after all these years of navigating various circles, she’s honed those Eyes of Golden Flame, and once a question roots itself, it grows like weeds.

Yan Xue returned to the hospital room, where Yan Lu was lying on the bed playing with a tablet.

At the sound of footsteps, Yan Lu looked up from the tablet, delighted to see Yan Xue, "Aunt, you’re back."

Yan Lu pulled up a chair to sit down, "Lu Lu, where’s your friend An’an?"

"She said she was going to keep me company tonight, but something came up at school, and she couldn’t make it."

Yan Xue carefully asked, "What do you know about An’an’s parents?"

Yan Lu paused, putting down her game, and turned to Yan Xue.

She’s no clueless innocent; if her aunt asks like that, there’s definitely a reason.

"Aunt, didn’t I tell you? An’an’s father was a firefighter who died ten years ago. Her mother..."

Yan Lu thought for a moment, "An’an’s mother died of complications when An’an was three. As far as I know, her mother was from the countryside, an ordinary woman, except she was extraordinarily beautiful."

An’an’s background has been thoroughly probed on the school forum.

"Aunt, why do you ask? Does the important person you met tonight have anything to do with An’an?"

Yan Xue marveled at her perceptive mind, "Do you believe there can be two people who look exactly alike in this world?"

Yan Lu raised her eyebrow, suddenly intrigued, "Identical twins?"