Yet, Lin Nineteen's heart couldn't help but sink.
Even if Huai Shi had rely accepted the letter of recomndation, there was still room for maneuvering, but now, with his resolute refusal, Lin Nineteen felt powerless.
How could he not know that he had ruined things?
In the silence, unexpectedly, Huai Shi threw out a question he hadn't anticipated. "Wood Cottage, what kind of person do you want to beco in the future?"
Lin Nineteen hesitated for a long ti but did not know how to respond.
He wanted to beco a peerless powerhouse like Grandfather, dreaming of it constantly, yet he still couldn't grasp how to achieve it. And even if he did, he didn't know... whether becoming such a person was truly good or bad. The Path of Karma for the Lin family was destined to be accompanied by slander and glory, misfortune and duty inseparable... For soone like Lin Nineteen, even with power, he would be eternally tornted. Would the approach of 'Take a Little Junior Brother' be effective through a different path, and to what extent? Besides, wouldn't being a keyboard warrior and internet troll also lead to a restless conscience?
Although he didn't want to admit it, many tis when Lin Nineteen heard the nurous rumors about Huai Shi, he felt genuine envy. He envied the person before him who did not have to commit evil deeds for power.
After a long silence, he slowly shook his head.
"I don't know."
"Then treat this as the subject for your graduation," Huai Shi said calmly as he waved his hand. "Rember to get up early tomorrow and help set up the classroom. As a student, you should have the self-awareness of a student and not idle around scrolling through Weibo."
Wood Cottage stood there, stunned and disbelieving.
"Why?"
"Isn't that why you ca here to enroll?" Huai Shi countered. "If you're having regrets, it's no big deal, since you haven't filled out the form yet."
"I don't an that, I an... Professor, didn't you already reject Grandfather's letter of recomndation?" he asked, startled, holding the two items in his hand, unable to comprehend Huai Shi's thoughts.
"I accepted you, not because of Zhujuyin's recomndation or the contract, but because your Grandfather truly wanted to entrust his great-grandson to ."
Huai Shi's expression beca complicated, and he couldn't help but shrug. "You might not believe it, but since I ca to the Ivory Tower, he was the first one who believed that I could take on the responsibility of a teacher and do this job well. As a teacher, I have to give sothing in return for the trust of a parent, don't I? Moreover—"
He paused, then looked at Little Nineteen's eyes with particular amusent. "Do you really think, without the contract, I can't control you?"
In that instant, Wood Cottage couldn't help but shiver.
Being watched by those eyes, as calm as the Abyss, he suddenly had the illusion that Grandfather himself was looking at him. Now, there was no more struggle, no more resentnt, or unwillingness in his heart. He finally resigned himself to his fate. He couldn't outplay or outfight his teacher. Having such a person as his teacher, what was there to be ashad of?
Without daring any further negligence, Lin Nineteen obediently got up and, following the customs of Dongxia, bowed his head and offered tea to his future teacher.
"So, let's get the unpleasant talk out of the way first," Huai Shi said as he picked up the tea, not rushing to drink it, looking up at the student who had seemingly dropped from the sky. "You must have an idea of what you can and cannot do. I didn't beco a Sublimator because I wanted to kill and commit evil, and I hope you are not either—if that were the case, any professor in the school could crush you without having to lift a finger. You understand that, right?"
Lin Nineteen nodded furiously.
In the Lin family, he might not be the most cunning or the most powerful, but when it cos to adapting to circumstances, he was definitely the best. In a place like the Ivory Tower, where would he find leeway to misbehave?
The Lin family's third household rule was: "Acting recklessly against the wind is not advisable."
Moreover, where would he find the courage to play any tricks in front of his current teacher?
"That will be all for today."
Huai Shi finished the tea in his cup in one gulp and smiled warmly. "Rember to rest early when you get back. After tomorrow's opening ceremony, hurry over to help with the work.
"As for what you'll learn, whether it's classical music, Military Combat, or Alchemy... it's all up to you. We have a long ti ahead of us; there's no rush."
First intimidate, then hamr them down, and after the hamring, offer a sweet reward. First, deter any improper intentions from subordinates, and then gradually establish authority over the long haul... Huai Shi thought. By the ti he processed it, he found it strange. How had he beco so proficient in this routine?
After hesitating for a mont, Lin Nineteen did not leave. Instead, he stood respectfully beside Huai Shi.
Since he had already boarded this pirate ship, he had to submit so proof of his worth, to let the teacher see his abilities.
With this in mind, Lin Nineteen said, "I have three strategies—high, middle, and low—that can help you, Teacher, successfully acquire your own classroom and officially enter the research office."
"Hmm?"
Huai Shi was astonished.
He himself was clueless, so how did Lin Nineteen co up with three strategies? Could it be that he really was the brainless type that Raven had described? Impossible.
Doubting himself and panicking slightly, Huai Shi nonetheless maintained his composure and nodded. "Let's hear the high strategy first."
Wood Cottage imdiately smiled, leaned in, and said, "Teacher, you just need to activate the fan club..."
Huai Shi waved his hand, expressionless. "Alright, you can move on to the middle strategy."
Clueless Little Nineteen still didn't know what he had done to displease the teacher. After hesitating, he said, "Teacher, you're a master of Sword Art from the Orchard Gym, with full credentials. Your skill is exceptional. Why don't I spread the word that you will challenge the various clubs at school and defeat all the students? Won't students flock to you then?"
Huai Shi rolled his eyes. "And then what? Successfully make everyone dislike ? Don't forget, every club has its advisor. Where are we? This is the Ivory Tower. Do you think you can succeed here with skills in murder and arson?"
Only a mber of the Lin family could co up with such a sche, guaranteed to harvest a wave of negative emotions whether it succeeded or failed, Huai Shi thought. Are you here to be an Executioner or a teacher? If I did this, Professor Anton, who has high hopes for , would likely be the first to look down on . As for the low strategy, I'm too lazy to even ask.
He simply waved his hand, signaling the foolish child to hurry ho and get so sleep.
Seeing that Huai Shi wasn't even asking about the low strategy, Lin Nineteen suddenly panicked. If he couldn't submit this testant to his dedication, he would lose all face. But, after thinking it over, he didn't know what else could show his sincerity and abilities.
Then suddenly, he rembered rumors he had accidentally overheard from a few targets. A thought sparked in his mind, and he blurted out, "Teacher, soone is out to get you!"
"Business as usual, no need to panic."
Huai Shi calmly continued drinking his tea, his composure frightening even to himself.
He had beco accustod to persecution...
"Let's hear it."
He looked up, gazing at Little Nineteen from the Lin family, expressionless. "Who wants to harm now?"
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