The Bad Girl's Quick Transmigration System: Traveling Back and Forth

A few days later, Yaoyuefang hosted a small gathering, ostensibly to sample a newly arrived batch of pre-Qingming Longjing tea, but in reality, it was a get-together for some core members of the Zheng Group. Although Zheng Tianxiong did not attend in person, his right-hand men, the accountant Wei Kun, known as "The Calculator," and Zhang Meng, "Iron Hand," who was in charge of the family's security, were both present.

Lin Xiaoyan, Bai Jie, and Lin Xue, as the "top performers" of Yaoyuefang, were naturally the main characters of this elegant gathering.

The gathering was held at the "Lotus Fragrance Pavilion" by the water, surrounded by gauze curtains, ensuring both privacy and elegance. The water flowed gently, and the melodious sound of a zither filled the air as Lin Xiaoyan played. Today she played "Wild Geese Descending on the Sandbank," a piece of tranquil and far-reaching style, its expansive imagery seemingly transporting everyone to the vast grasslands beyond the Great Wall, temporarily forgetting the lingering drizzle of Jiangnan.

Wei Kun held his teacup, his small eyes narrowed, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, a faint smile playing on his lips. He was Zheng Tianxiong's right-hand man, in charge of the Zheng family's finances, meticulous and extremely difficult to deal with.

Zhang Meng, on the other hand, seemed somewhat out of place. He was burly, with a resolute face and a strong physique. His eyes scanned his surroundings warily, seemingly uninterested in the music and more concerned with the safety of the environment.

As the music ended, its lingering melody resonated in the air. The crowd erupted in applause.

"Miss Lin, your musical skills are superb!" Wei Kun spoke first, his voice high-pitched. "This piece has a lofty artistic conception, and listening to it is refreshing and can wash away worldly troubles. However..." He changed the subject, drawing out his words, "It's too tranquil, which seems a bit out of place. We ordinary people prefer something more lively."

These words, seemingly ordinary, actually concealed a test. Lin Xiaoyan's heart skipped a beat, but her face remained calm. She rose slightly to give a curtsy, her voice clear and cool as jade: "Mr. Wei, you flatter me. My skills are rudimentary; I can only play such subtle melodies, which I fear are unlikely to meet your standards. If you prefer a more lively atmosphere, how about asking Xuemei to perform a dance for everyone?"

Lin Xue was already prepared. Upon hearing this, she immediately stepped forward gracefully and said with a smile, "Since Mr. Wei has given the order, I will make a fool of myself."

Today she wore a light green dance costume with silver tassels tied at her waist, which swayed gracefully with her light steps. The flute music began, a lively and cheerful tune called "Treading the Song." Lin Xue's dance immediately began, spinning, leaping, bending, glancing around... Her body seemed boneless, supple yet full of power, every movement precise and beautiful, perfectly showcasing the agility and charm of a woman from Jiangnan.

The atmosphere at the table indeed became lively, and many people were mesmerized by what they saw. Zhang Meng's tense expression seemed to ease a bit, and his gaze fell on Lin Xue with a hint of appreciation.

Wei Kun maintained his ambiguous smile, twirling his goatee with his fingers, his eyes darting back and forth between Lin Xue's dance and the faces of Lin Xiaoyan and Bai Jie.

After Lin Xue finished her dance, she was covered in sweat, which drew cheers from the crowd.

"Excellent! What a lively and charming Miss Lin!" Wei Kun clapped his hands, then turned his gaze to Bai Jie, who had been sitting quietly to the side, grinding ink and laying out paper for everyone. "Miss Bai's calligraphy is unparalleled in Jinling. Today's gathering is an opportunity for us to feast our eyes on it."

Bai Jie put down the inkstone in her hand and smiled gently: "Mr. Wei, you flatter me. I've made a fool of myself."

She walked to the desk that had been prepared beforehand, paused briefly, and dipped her brush in ink. She chose running script, her strokes flowing freely and gracefully. She wrote a Tang poem: "Fine wine in a luminous cup, I long to drink, but the pipa urges me on. Do not laugh at me, drunk and lying on the battlefield; how many have returned from ancient battles?"

This poem, bold and tragic, seems somewhat out of place with her usual gentle image and the atmosphere of the gathering.

The room fell silent instantly. Wei Kun's smile faded, and his eyes sharpened: "Why did Miss Bai choose this poem?"

Bai Jie put down her pen, gently blew away the ink, and calmly replied, "Although I am just a woman, I also admire those heroes who fight on the battlefield and defend their country. This poem has a magnificent artistic conception and makes people's blood boil when they read it, so I wrote it down on a whim. If there is anything inappropriate, please forgive me, Mr. Wei."

Her answer was neither humble nor arrogant; she explained the reason and cleverly attributed her "out of step" to her admiration for the hero, which sounded reasonable.

Wei Kun stared at the poem, then looked at Bai Jie's calm and expressionless face. After a long while, he slowly said, "Miss Bai not only writes well, but also has a broad mind." His tone revealed no emotion.

Lin Xiaoyan spoke up at the opportune moment, breaking the brief silence: "Sister Bai is just like that. She reads some history books and always has some feelings of 'concern for the country and its people.' Mr. Wei, please don't take offense." Her tone carried a hint of reproach, cleverly steer the conversation toward "literary affectation," defusing the potential crisis.

Wei Kun laughed heartily, as if the previous seriousness was just an illusion: "Not at all, Miss Bai, it's truly rare to find someone with such a magnanimous heart. Come, let's drink, let's drink!"

The gathering continued, and the atmosphere returned to its superficial liveliness. However, Lin Xiaoyan and the other two understood that although they had barely passed the previous rounds of debate, Wei Kun's suspicions had likely deepened. This poem was both a risky test for Bai Jie and potentially a recipe for disaster.

After the gathering ended, all three of them breathed a sigh of relief upon returning to Tingfeng Xiaozhu.

"That was close," Lin Xue patted her chest. "Wei Kun's eyes were like knives."

"Bai Jie, why did you write that poem today?" Lin Xiaoyan asked, her tone questioning.

Bai Jie's face was somewhat pale, but her eyes were firm: "I noticed that when Wei Kun and Zhang Meng were talking about some things, they mentioned words like 'north,' 'supplies,' and 'mobilization.' Although it was very vague, I guessed it might be related to the military. I wrote that poem for two reasons: first, to see their reaction, and second... perhaps it could resonate with some of them, if there really is collusion with the military."

"And the result?" Lin Xue pressed.

“Wei Kun is very wary,” Bai Jie shook her head. “Zhang Meng was taken aback for a moment, seemingly somewhat affected, but he quickly covered it up. It didn’t have much effect; on the contrary, it might make them think we are ‘not simple.’”

Lin Xiaoyan pondered for a moment and said, "Your idea makes sense, but the risk is too great. Wei Kun is an old fox; he will pick up on any abnormality. From now on, we need to be more cautious and not take the initiative to test the waters, but patiently wait for an opportunity."

"Wait?" Lin Xue asked anxiously. "My older sister is still waiting for news."

“We’re waiting, but not passively,” Lin Xiaoyan said. “We need to take advantage of their ‘interest’ and ‘suspicion’ towards us. The more they pay attention to us, the more likely they are to reveal something to us. What we need to do is to lie in wait, observe, and wait for the best opportunity to strike, just like the most skilled hunters.”

She paused, then looked at Bai Jie: "Your calligraphy is an advantage for us. The Zheng family is fond of refined pursuits, so we can make more use of calligraphy to engage in some 'cultural exchanges' with them in the future. Perhaps we can find some clues from it."

He then looked at Lin Xue: "Your dancing and flute playing are the best weapons to get close to those young masters. Isn't Zheng Yunhao interested in you? Why not... give him a little 'opportunity', but be careful not to overdo it, keep him hooked, and get information out of him."

Lin Xue blushed: "I don't want to pretend with that playboy!"

“This is an order, Xue.” Lin Xiaoyan’s tone left no room for argument. “For the mission, for our elder sister, and for… all living beings. We have no choice.”

Lin Xue lowered her head, bit her lip, and finally nodded: "I understand."

Night fell once more, and the clamor of Yaoyuefang gradually subsided, but the lights inside Tingfeng Xiaozhu remained lit for a long time. In this place surrounded by wolves and tigers, three women, with their frail bodies, wove an invisible network of intelligence, each step as if walking on thin ice.