Cheng Juan finished his sentence and turned around. “It might not be counted as an apprenticeship banquet. It’s more of a takeover ceremony.”

With Master Wei, it could be considered an apprenticeship banquet. However, it wasn’t the same with Principal Xu.

“Takeover ceremony?” Old Master Cheng frowned and was slightly worried.

Qin Ran had been very busy for the past six months, and some red streaks could be seen in her eyes.

Thus, the first thing he asked Qin Ran was if she could rest now.

Cheng Wenru also lifted her head. “Will it be troublesome?”

During these past six months, she hadn’t seen Qin Ran take a break. Although she was often called a workaholic, she had never seen someone as resilient as Qin Ran.

Qin Ran took off her jacket and heard the conversation between Cheng Wenru and Old Master Cheng. “It’s just a takeover ceremony. It’s not troublesome. It won’t take too much time. We will still be busy with the experiments. The date should be on the 1st or 2nd of March.”

The specific date and time were allocated by Principal Xu.

Old Master Cheng nodded and looked at her. “Don’t tire yourself out.”

“Yes.” Before she could speak further, her phone rang. It was a call from Beijing University’s laboratory. She picked it up as she headed upstairs.

It was Brother Ye who called; he had just reached the laboratory. The semester had started at Beijing University, and the Physics laboratory was very crowded.

“Little Junior.” Brother Ye took two steps forward; he was recovering from his excitement these past few days. “Come over. Many professors and academicians are looking for you.”

Qin Ran pressed her temples. She opened the door and said, “Okay, I’ll come right over.”

She hung up the call and checked her messages. She then sent a message to Principal Xu—

[The ceremony can be simple. It doesn’t have to be too troublesome.]

Principal Xu was at the Xu family’s conference room when he received her message. He was also waiting for Qin Ran to be back before convening the Xu family’s representatives.

“I’ve gathered you all here to announce something.” Principal Xu did not reply to Qin Ran’s message. With his hands pressed against the table, he said, “I have chosen the heir for the Research Institute. We will hold the takeover ceremony on March 1st.”

This sentence was like a bomb to the Xu family.

The Xu family’s headquarters and the Research Institute were on the same level.

Principal Xu was the Xu family and Research Institute’s sole successor.

He was getting old, and the Xu family members had been looking for a successor with not much success. However, there must at least be a test for the successor, right?

He or she would have to be voted by the Xu family’s representatives, right?

And the person must at least achieve 80% of the votes to pass, right?

After all, this involved the interests of the Xu family members. How could this be decided so easily?

Would the successor’s test be conducted immediately?

“Elder Xu.” The elderly sitting on his left stood up and looked at him. He asked respectfully, “Is the successor Young Master Yaoguang?”

They couldn’t think of anyone else but him.

Hearing the elderly’s words, the Xu family’s representatives calmed down.

It was normal if it was Xu Yaoguang.

Xu Yaoguang was outstanding for his generation, and he was currently learning how to manage the Xu family. Most importantly, he was part of the Xu family.

“No, he’s not the successor.” Principal Xu stood up straight and looked at everyone in the room. “I will get the butler to make arrangements for the ceremony.”

Everyone’s expressions paled after hearing that. “Elder Xu!”

Principal Xu only came to notify them and not to seek any opinion. As the head of the Xu family and the Research Institute, everyone had to listen to him.

He left immediately after finishing what he had to say.

Butler Xu followed behind him “Elder Xu, I will begin to notify the family members.”

“Yes. Go and send the letters under my name.” Elder Xu ordered.

The two were calm, but those behind them weren’t.

They exchanged glances. “The successor is not a member of the Xu family? What is Elder Xu thinking?”

Everyone did not agree with this decision. A middle-aged man slammed his hands on the table. “No way! How can we give the Research Institute to an outsider? Will the Research Institute still belong to the Xu family then?”

For the past decades, the Xu family had shaped the Research Institute. They weren’t willing to let it go to an outsider.

But, it was difficult to change Principal Xu’s decision.

After all, Principal Xu held all the power.

“Even Young Master Xu can’t match up to his requirements? Who else could it be? And for it to be an outsider?” Those at the table were discussing while some took out their cell phones. “Does Young Master Xu know? Let me ask him.”

He took out his phone and called Xu Yaoguang.

The rest looked at him silently with a solemn expression.

The call was picked up quickly.

The representative explained the situation to Xu Yaoguang. “Young Master Xu, could you persuade Old Master to rethink his decision? You know what happened at the Research Institute, and its status has recently been raised in Continent M. How can we choose the successor so casually?”

Not to mention, they didn’t know if the outsider could manage the Research Institute well and whether they had the best interest of the Research Institute.

Xu Yaoguang paused before replying, “I understand. No one can change what Grandfather has decided.”

Casual?

Could Elder Xu be so casual? Xu Yaoguang narrowed his eyes.

He went to Yun Cheng in hopes to become the successor.

He stayed there for three years while waiting. It was impossible that Elder Xu made such a decision sloppily.

Xu Yaoguang looked out. His eyes were deep as he hung up the call.

The family members remaining in the conference hall exchanged glances. Their expressions made it clear that—

These two matters were about to blow up in Beijing.

Not only because Elder Xu had a successor, but his successor wasn’t a member of the Xu family..

Would Beijing’s pattern change soon?

Would this successor fit into the Xu family? Was he capable? Could he manage the matters at the Research Institute and the Xu family? Could they keep up to speed with the Xu family? Could they create as many opportunities as Elder Xu?

Besides these, the Xu family representatives were most curious about—

Who exactly was the successor chosen by Elder Xu?

..

The Xu family wasn’t the only one having doubts about this issue. Even Cheng Wenru was hesitant.

Cheng Juan lazed on the sofa with a cup of tea in his hands.

Qin Ran came down holding a thick folder of documents.

Cheng Juan finished his tea and looked up. “Are you going to school?”

“Yes,” Qin Ran replied lazily. She didn’t want to go, but it was inappropriate to leave Brother Ye and the rest to do the research. “I might be back late.”

Cheng Juan nodded. He stood up while Cheng Mu gave him the car keys.

The two greeted Old Master Cheng and Cheng Wenru before leaving.

Seeing them leave, Cheng Wenru sat opposite Old Master Cheng and asked Cheng Mu, “Cheng Mu, wait.”

Cheng Mu immediately stopped beside the window and looked towards her. “Eldest Lady?”

Cheng Wenru looked at him with her eyebrows raised. “Do you know what the takeover ceremony is about?”

“Takeover ceremony?” Cheng Mu didn’t overhear Cheng Juan and Qin Ran’s conversation earlier.

Cheng Wenru explained, “Ran Ran said it will be simple.”

Cheng Wenru did not think that Qin Ran’s “simple” was truly simple.

Although Cheng Mu did not say anything, Cheng Wenru could see through his expressions.

She usually could find out something.

But this time, Cheng Wenru miscalculated as even Cheng Mu did not know what was going on.

On the contrary, Old Master seemed to be lost in his thoughts..

Previously, Cheng Juan had asked if his heart was in a good condition. He thought that it might be due to Qin Ran’s 100% performance at the laboratory.

But seeing this..

Could it be due to this takeover ceremony?

His phone rang as he was deep in thought. Old Master Cheng looked at the caller ID. “The Xu family? Why are they calling me at this hour?”

His eyebrow raised.

He picked it up immediately.

They said a few sentences.

After one minute of conversation, Old Master Cheng’s back straightened and his eyes widened.

Beside him, Cheng Wenru asked, “What’s the matter?”