It goes without saying that the casual remarks of children from wealthy families are never dismissed lightly.
By the time Ji Nian realized what was happening, she was already standing on the small stage that the Gu family's servants had prepared specifically for her.
The spotlight shone down on her, and on the table in front of her were the items she had requested earlier. Beside her stood a host dressed in a mascot costume, trying to hype up the crowd.
The system asked her how she felt.
Ji Nian: *[If only this many people would listen to me talk about pulling out hemorrhoids and shaping them into bunny tails.]*
The system: *[...………]*
Gu Xiuyuan sat in the audience, in the best VIP seat. His eyes were still slightly red as he stared intently at Ji Nian on stage.
The young master was thinking that if Ji Nian could really perform the "Flame Palm," he might reluctantly forgive her.
Compared to the skeptical children around him, Gu Xiuyuan was about 80% convinced.
After all, he had personally witnessed Ji Nian casually handing him a small bottle that could attract fireflies.
That's right.
He had seen the miracle of fireflies, unlike the other kids around him.
Gu Xiuyuan felt slightly better, knowing he wasn't the only one privileged to witness the Flame Palm.
As for Shen Qingtang, she was completely convinced. Ji Nian had said Wei Yang would recover, and he did. She believed in Ji Nian 100%!
"What's that thing up there? Can she really perform the Flame Palm?"
"No way! I don't believe it!"
"There's even a bowl of water in front of her. Is she going to turn water into flames? She's definitely lying!"
The children had clearly forgotten their parents' earlier warnings and stubbornly believed that Ji Nian couldn't possibly perform the Flame Palm.
The adults had also arrived.
They weren't particularly interested in the Flame Palm, dismissing it as a child's exaggeration to gain attention.
Their main goal was to strike up a conversation with Ji Tingzhou, which is why they were here.
A few parents, upon seeing the items Ji Nian had requested, suddenly realized what she was about to do and thought to themselves, *As expected of Ji Tingzhou's child, she's already learned this much at such a young age.*
Glancing at their own children, they sighed silently.
"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! Let's direct our attention to Miss Ji Nian on stage!"
"Next up, please enjoy the performance by Miss Ji Nian—Flame Palm!!"
The host's exaggerated and cheerful voice echoed through the room.
Ji Nian's toes curled slightly.
With a calm expression, she nodded and said, "I'm starting now."
Under everyone's gaze, Ji Nian picked up a small bottle from the side and squeezed its contents into the transparent container filled with water in front of her.
Then, she dipped her small hand into the mixture and began stirring.
"This is so slow. Where's the flame? Why is she playing with water?"
"See, I knew she was bluffing."
Some of the children in the audience were growing restless.
Since it was a small stage, Ji Nian could hear every word from the audience, but the commotion didn't faze her in the slightest.
Ji Nian continued her actions methodically.
Standing next to Ji Tingzhou, Gu Jing couldn't help but admire the child's composure.
Ji Tingzhou, who had been watching Ji Nian intently, seemed to sense Gu Jing's thoughts.
"Hmm, she takes after me."
Gu Jing: *? Did I say something?*
As Ji Nian stirred, small bubbles began to rise to the surface of the water.
Seeing that the mixture was ready, Ji Nian picked up a can of gas from the right side, shook it, and then inverted it into the water, pressing down.
With a *gurgle*, the bubbles on the surface of the water suddenly expanded.
After setting the can aside, Ji Nian dipped her hand into the mixture, scooping up some foam.
By this point, the children in the audience were already fidgeting impatiently.
"Is the Flame Palm ever going to appear?"
"I'm hungry. I want to go eat something."
"What's so fun about water…"
"Ah! Look—"
Just then, a cry of astonishment rang out—
Everyone watched in awe as flames burst from Ji Nian's hands, which had just been playing with water moments ago.
The flames leaped and danced with the movement of her arms, creating a dazzling and breathtaking spectacle!
"Wow!!! It's the Flame Palm!!!"
"So cool! It's magic! Ji Nian knows magic!!"
Some of the children stared wide-eyed, unable to believe what they were seeing, as if they hadn't fully processed it yet.
Gu Xiuyuan was also excited—what little boy could resist such a cool Flame Palm?—but he maintained a calm demeanor, even nodding like an adult and commenting, "Not bad."
Shen Qingtang stood up and ran toward the stage.
"Ji Nian, you're amazing! You know magic!"
Shen Qingtang looked at Ji Nian with stars in her eyes, as if she were the most incredible five-year-old in the world.
Ji Nian tilted her chin up slightly. "It's not magic."
"It's science!"
She gestured for Shen Qingtang to extend her hand, then guided it into the water basin and had her scoop up some foam.
Shen Qingtang hesitated when she saw Ji Nian holding a lighter, taking a step back in fear.
"Don't be afraid. It won't burn you."
Ji Nian reassured her, encouraging her to relax.
Shen Qingtang took a step forward, still a bit nervous but not refusing as Ji Nian brought the lighter closer.
When the flame touched the foam in her hands, Shen Qingtang gasped in shock.
In the next moment, a large flame erupted in her palms, leaving her completely stunned.
Finally, she exhaled slowly and said, "Wow… oh."
The children who had crowded around the stage all echoed, "Wow, oh!"
"Shen Qingtang knows magic too!"
"Ji Nian taught her!"
"I want to learn magic too! Ji Nian, teach me!"
"No, I was here first. I'll give you the castle my dad bought me in the UK. Teach me first!"
"Me, me! I'll give you my airplane. Teach me magic!"
Ji Nian, utterly unimpressed: *"...I already said, it's science, not magic."*
Castles and airplanes? Her dad's laboratory was still the best!
From the edge of the crowd, Gu Xiuyuan cleared his throat.
At the sound, the other children instinctively made way for him.
After all, even in children's social circles, there was a hierarchy.
Gu Xiuyuan was clearly at the top, always surrounded by other kids.
He walked up to Ji Nian with his back straight and said, "Teach me."
"I'll take you to see my grandma."
The second part was whispered.
He couldn't let his dad find out.
Perhaps because he had always been strictly disciplined, Gu Xiuyuan followed the rules about 80% of the time. The remaining 20% was reserved for doing what he thought was right, even if it meant going behind his parents' backs.
Ji Nian's eyes lit up at the offer.
She patted Gu Xiuyuan's shoulder. "Deal."
Ji Tingzhou watched as Ji Nian effortlessly became the center of attention among the children, a flicker of emotion passing through his deep green eyes.
He was reminded of his own distant childhood.
Although he had always been a loner, for some reason, he always attracted peers. Before he knew it, he was surrounded by a group of people.
Later, they all died, died, died, died, died, died, died.
Some of the adults also began to realize what was happening.
"Isn't this the heat transfer experiment we learned in school?"
"I think we did… during chemistry class."
"She's using dish soap and water, and that's butane gas, right?"
"Mr. Ji's child is so smart. She's already learning at this level at just five years old. What a prodigy."
Ji Tingzhou humbly replied, "Yes, she is quite bright."
While the Flame Palm was fun, it wasn't something children should attempt without understanding the principles. Worried that the kids might try it on their own, Ji Nian warned, "Don't try this at home."
"It's very dangerous. Anyone who tries it secretly will turn into poop and get flushed down the toilet."
The children were terrified.
They whispered to each other, "Ji Nian cursed us! If we use magic in secret, we'll turn into poop!"
Ji Nian didn't even bother explaining that it was science anymore.
With the adults present, she was confident that these elite parents would warn their children.
After letting Gu Xiuyuan try it once, Ji Nian quickly grabbed the still-dazed child and left.
As she tossed a strand of her long hair behind her, the childish expression on Ji Nian's face faded.
She hoped the illness of the male lead's grandmother had nothing to do with her poison…
If it *was* her poison, and she found out who was using her research for their own schemes…
*[I'll beat them to death!!]*
