Transmigrating into the Genius Cannon Fodder’s Aunt

Chapter 124 – I’m Good at Predicting Things

After she left, the place immediately buzzed with whispers. Someone standing with He Wei said, “This Xia Mian dares to go head-on with Liang Mi? He Wei, I don’t think she’s like what you said.”

“I think so too,” a girl chimed in. “She’s pretty sharp—actually guessed right away that it was Fan Xiaowan pulling the strings.”

Another girl agreed, “It was kind of satisfying to see Fan Xiaowan take a hit for once. You don’t know how annoying she is—always scheming and making it so others can’t speak up. Super infuriating.”

“Well, Xia Mian was pretty straightforward. Just threw a punch and settled it.”

“From what she said, it sounds like she’s trained? Good at fighting?”

He Wei sneered, “Aren’t all kids from the countryside raised fighting? Rough and uncivilized.”

“Then how’d she have the guts to be rough here?”

“I’m starting to think maybe things aren’t what we assumed. I don’t see her as timid at all. She seems more hot-headed to me.”

He Wei scoffed coldly, “She’s just a petty person who acts big now that she’s scored lucky. See if she dares act like that in front of Young Master Ning.”

Then the acquaintance who had tried to calm them earlier said, “This all happened in public. Within five minutes, every detail will reach Young Master Ning’s ears.”

“Who knows how she’ll twist the story when she gets to him?” He Wei said impatiently. “Let’s wait and see. I don’t believe she can keep hiding her true colors from him forever.”

“Just wait to see her downfall.”

The acquaintance glanced at him, hesitated, then only shook their head and said nothing.

While some people downstairs were already starting to change their opinion of Xia Mian because of her frank personality, the crowd packed by the glass windows in the second-floor lounge all let out a collective sigh of relief.

Li Jiaze laughed, “She actually came out on top. She’s really something.”

Rong Xin asked curiously, “What did she say? I saw Liang Mi so mad she nearly jumped out of her skin.”

Ning Shaobai’s eyes sparkled with pride. “No idea. You could go ask her, but it’s probably something like, ‘I just love to see you all despising me yet still be powerless to do anything to me.'”

Everyone: “…”

Zhu Jiadong was amazed, “That savage?”

Ning Shaobai replied, “She’s really got a talent for pissing people off.”

Everyone: “…”

Why do you sound so proud about it?

Gao Qiongying said, “Isn’t she being too reckless? What if she pushed someone too far and they went after her…”

Ning Shaobai glanced at her. “She knows her limits.” Then his smile returned. “As for going after her? No one here can bully her.”

Gao Qiongying subconsciously bit her lower lip.

The Xia Mian, whom Ning Shaobai claimed no one could bully, appeared in the lounge a short while later, looking pitiful, tugging on Ning Shaobai’s hand with a frightened look. “Dr. Ning, I offended Miss Liang Mi. What should I do? She won’t try to get revenge, right?”

Ning Shaobai put his arm around her shoulder and reassured her, “It’s fine. I’ll go talk to Grandpa Rong later.”

Xia Mian immediately perked up, full of energy again. “Dr. Ning, you are the best!”

Onlookers: “…”

If the internet were more developed right now, they’d probably all collectively gag at the sour smell of dog food in the air.

Not long after, the Rong family’s housekeeper came over and said, “Xiao Xin, the drum set and Shaobai’s violin have arrived.”

Rong Xin looked over at Ning Shaobai and Xia Mian. “Want me to prep a room for you two to practice?”

Xia Mian checked the time. “Forget it, we don’t have time. Just set the drums on the stage.”

Gao Qiongying suddenly glanced at the two of them, looking thoughtful.

…

Before long, the guests were called to the main hall. Inside, aside from two front rows of sofa booths reserved for the elderly to rest, all other tables had been cleared. Only a few buffet tables with champagne and finger food were placed along the walls and around the pillars, making it easier for the younger crowd to mingle and dance later.

Old Master Rong’s children and their spouses first took the stage to offer birthday wishes. Old Master Rong chuckled and said a few words in response. Then, after two celebrities performed songs to warm up the atmosphere, it was time for the grandchildren to go on stage and perform.

Old Master Rong sat eagerly on the sofa with a few close friends, clearly more excited to watch his own grandchildren perform than any professional act.

Liang Mi was the first to perform and also served as the host. Although her eyes practically rolled into the back of her head when she saw Xia Mian again, she didn’t dare say a word, obviously having learned her lesson.

Since the performers were all family and friends, the quality of the performances varied widely. Some older kids were pretty good, and there were also younger ones, just eleven or twelve, performing for fun.

Aside from the elders like Old Master Rong, who watched with great interest, the rest of the crowd were more focused on socializing and only turned their attention to the stage when a particularly good performance came on.

Ning Shaobai and Xia Mian’s act was scheduled near the middle-end, with Gao Qiongying’s performance right after theirs. Liang Mi seemed to have taken Xia Mian’s earlier words to heart and now confronted her head-on. “I don’t really know what your skill level is. To prevent any accidents that might ruin Grandpa’s mood, I scheduled Sister Qiongying to perform right after you two.”

“In case it flops, she can help salvage the scene. That’s okay with you, right?”

Xia Mian glanced at Ning Shaobai and smiled as she gave Liang Mi an “OK” sign. “Whatever Miss Liang thinks is best.”

Not seeing any annoyance on Xia Mian’s face, Liang Mi was left even more frustrated.

Just then, Gao Qiongying, who was also waiting to go on stage, suddenly spoke up. “You’re much smarter than I thought. You two rehearsed beforehand, didn’t you? Came prepared?”

Liang Mi looked at her in confusion.

Gao Qiongying explained, “The drum set and violin were delivered together—it means they were kept in the same place.”

“If you’re doing a duet, even someone at my level or Shaobai’s would need to rehearse in advance. Yet Xia Mian seems completely confident.”

Liang Mi’s eyes widened in realization as she stared at Xia Mian. “You planned this all along!”

Xia Mian showed no sign of being flustered at being exposed. “Not at all. I’m just good at predicting things.” She winked at Liang Mi. “Isn’t that right?”

Liang Mi averted her gaze, clearly feeling guilty.

Xia Mian then turned to Gao Qiongying with a bright smile. “Actually, Miss Gao, you could afford to imagine me being even smarter.”

“Otherwise, why do you think a genius like Dr. Ning would fall for me?”

“Being smart is one of my strengths,” she sighed dramatically. “Smart enough to win over a genius! Oh my, I must be pretty close to genius level myself.”

Gao Qiongying’s expression shifted slightly, while Ning Shaobai reached out to adjust her ponytail, helpless and doting. “Don’t bully others too much.”

Xia Mian stuck out her tongue playfully. “Yes, sir.” Then she turned to Liang Mi. “Miss Liang, time to go do your intro.”

Snapping back to herself, Liang Mi stomped toward the stage in frustration. But the moment she stepped up, her face was once again all smiles.

As soon as the audience heard it was a performance by Ning Shaobai and Xia Mian, the room quickly quieted down.

Ning Shaobai rarely showed up in public like this, and now that he had such a baffling girlfriend to boot, whether out of curiosity or something else, everyone’s attention inevitably shifted toward them.

Xia Mian walked straight over to the drum set and sat down, while Ning Shaobai stood slightly in front of her, holding his violin.

They were performing a duet of Croatian Rhapsody—one of Xia Mian’s favorite pieces in her previous life.

In that previous life, Xia Mian’s generation had grown up under the relentless pressure of extracurricular classes; nearly everyone had at least one talent they could show off. Influenced by the angelic girl next door, Xia Mian had studied violin on and off for more than a decade. As for the drums, she picked them up during a summer break in high school and liked them enough to continue.

A duet of violin and drums for Croatian Rhapsody was absolutely a banger. In this era, most performances were still traditional, and there weren’t nearly as many variations and arrangements as there would be in the future. Xia Mian was confident that this duet would absolutely steal the show.

At first, she’d been a little disappointed. This piece hadn’t appeared until the 21st century in her previous life, and it likely didn’t exist yet here. But to her surprise, after she casually mentioned it, Ning Shaobai actually found it. It had just been published recently, likely due to the subtle differences between the two worlds.

Oh my, even fate is on my side, hehe!

She looked at Ning Shaobai, who nodded at her and lifted his violin.

The moment the bright, clear notes of the violin rang out, the audience was transported to a sky heavy with gloom after a great war—dust swirling in the air, crumbling ruins stretching as far as the eye could see.

The scent of gunpowder seemed to linger in the air. The barren ground, covered in gravel, carried a sense of utter desolation and despair…

Then came a faint sound from afar: distant, elusive, yet impossible to ignore.

Suddenly, rapid, intense drumming burst forth, as if striking directly at the nerves, awakening souls on the brink of collapse!

The violin’s melody shifted, turning suddenly bold and uplifting. A flurry of vibrant drumbeats followed. The audience, stunned, instinctively turned to the girl behind the drum set. She wore a soft blue-and-white lace tulle cocktail dress, yet there was a tragic beauty to her, like someone dancing amidst ruins.

She abruptly lifted her head, twirling the drumsticks in a graceful arc. Then, with a radiant smile, she struck down hard!

In that instant, it was as if the sun rose in the east. Blinding light burst forth, and wildflowers broke through the scorched earth, reaching for life.

The violin soared, impassioned and resounding, evoking tanks, artillery, and sorrowful cries.

Even so, the wildflowers, drenched in smoke and blood, still swayed in the cracks of devastation, seeking sunlight and a direction to grow.

And even if they were crushed… so what? They would grow back again…

Finally, as the war ended, the wildflowers bloomed once more under the sunlight. This time, their roots remained unbroken, their soil untouched. They covered the entire earth!

No one knew when it started, but by now, every gaze was locked on the girl on the stage. Her eyes crinkled as she smiled, shining bright like stars. She beat the drums with pure joy, and her radiant expression made the crowd feel as if they were witnessing the bloom of those vibrant wildflowers. No matter how many times those fragile beings were buried, they would always break through the soil, full of life.

At the peak of the performance, even someone as reserved as Ning Shaobai couldn’t help but glance at her. Unknowingly, his face had mirrored her dazzling smile, and his body swayed with the fervent rhythm.

Their eyes met, smiling brightly at one another—radiant, dazzling, a harmony no one else could intrude upon.

Everyone could see how happy Ning Shaobai was at the moment. No, they were both happy!

And their joy was infectious. Many couldn’t help but move along with their lively music. Even after the final drumbeat and violin note faded away, the crowd was still reluctant to let go.

“Good, good!” Old Master Rong was the first to start clapping, followed closely by his friends. Then came a thunderous wave of applause and cheers.

Xia Mian felt an overwhelming sense of exhilaration. Perhaps this was also Ning Shaobai’s first time performing with such abandon—his emotions fully unleashed, his eyes blazing as they locked onto hers, filled with joy and affection. She could see the undisguised love in his eyes, all directed toward her.

Unable to hold back, Xia Mian threw down her drumsticks and ran toward him, laughing. “Dr. Ning!”

Still holding his violin in one hand, Ning Shaobai wrapped his other arm tightly around her and planted a kiss on the top of her head.

Teases and cheers erupted from the audience below.

Only then did Ning Shaobai seem to realize what he had done, but he didn’t get flustered. He simply laughed, rubbed her head, and got ready to take their bow.

Old Master Rong asked, “What piece was that?”

Xia Mian answered with a smile, “Croatian Rhapsody. It’s a post-war composition, upbeat and full of life. I thought it would be especially fitting for you, Grandpa Rong.”

Old Master Rong’s generation had lived through the nation’s most difficult times in the aftermath of war, witnessing firsthand an era rise from desolation to prosperity. This piece deeply resonated with them.

“This is a good one!” Old Master Rong smiled as he turned to his granddaughter. “You should all learn this piece.”

Liang Mi stuck out her tongue, then glanced toward Gao Qiongying in the audience. She hesitated, paused for a moment, and then finally smiled and said, “Miss Xia was amazing on the drums. Grandpa, would you like to hear one more?”

Then she turned to the audience. “How about another piece from Miss Xia?”

The crowd immediately erupted:

“Encore!”

“Encore!”

Xia Mian looked toward Gao Qiongying.

Gao Qiongying raised an eyebrow without expression, as if to say: So what if you rehearsed? So what if it was brilliant? A fake is still a fake—sooner or later, you’ll be exposed.

Xia Mian then turned to look at Liang Mi, who quickly looked away, causing her to burst into laughter.

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