Upon hearing Shen Ruoshi’s question, Shen Herong imdiately felt cold sweat pouring out.
To be precise, it was actually unrelated to the question’s content. When Shen Ruoshi seriously raised the question, Shen Herong felt his whole being tense up, like a little white rabbit with its heart beating 200 tis a minute.
This was a question posed by Lord City Lord face-to-face. When answering, every detail mattered, and the slightest mistake could lead to a completely different trajectory for the rest of his life.
Although in Shen Herong’s understanding, Lord City Lord treated people strictly but not harshly, as could be inferred from the words of comfort he just spoke to the outer courtyard disciples, many rumors about the City Lord’s ruthless temperant were unsubstantiated. However, what Shen Herong needed now was not just the City Lord’s lack of harshness but his tolerance.
As an instructor of the Outer Courtyard, personally commanding two major defeats against the Li Family’s envoy group... perhaps those youngsters could be dealt with leniently, but he, the instructor drawing a high salary and benefits, had to bear responsibility. Resigning to take the bla was the minimum, and the rest depended on how the family planned to further pursue his responsibility. Generally, deducting annuities was the most common practice.
This was also the most unacceptable handling for Shen Herong. He had designed his life for the latter half, whether it was plastic surgery, matchmaking, or traveling around, all required substantial funds as backing. Without the hefty annuities accumulated over the years, many projects would have to be cut down or even canceled entirely.
For instance, the plastic surgery project, if he could receive the full annuities upon retirent, then Shen Herong could go to the fashion capital, Golden Jade City, hire seasoned experts to design his style, and perform the surgery himself. From then on, he would beco a fashionable man, walking in the avant-garde wave, enjoying a happy life surrounded by beauties. But if the annuities were not full, then he would have to settle for second best, go to the Pudu Zen Temple’s Sekong Courtyard in Heaven-Reaching City to remove all the scars and blemishes on his face, restoring his sunny original appearance, and walk the natural route, enjoying the continuous happy life with beauties. However, if the family deducted a significant portion of his annuities due to his poor performance, then... he would only be able to follow the principle of proximity and go to the most famous plastic surgery institution, Celestial Blade Hall, in Shen City to shape his face into standard models, following an honest man’s route, enjoying a happy life with second-hand beauties.
With annuities being so important, Shen Herong obviously paid great attention, so when Shen Ruoshi’s question ca up, he didn’t rush to answer but racked his brain to recall details related to Wang Jiu and Shen Qingming.
What could their relationship be?
If judged solely by intuition, it’s probably a relationship of both ntor and friend. Shen Qingming was affectionate yet respectful to Wang Jiu, especially when it ca to serious matters, Wang Jiu’s judgnt was often the judgnt of the Li Family. This matched his role as the team leader. On this basis, with Wang Jiu’s irritatingly handso looks, it’s normal for Shen Qingming, the little girl, to have so romantic thoughts in her heart.
But what Lord City Lord needed was obviously not this vague answer based on intuition, he had to find a way to answer more accurately and in detail.
"No rush, take your ti," Shen Ruoshi said, "I need an accurate answer."
These words put even greater pressure on Shen Herong, but under pressure, his mind turned even faster, leading him to suddenly recall a workplace truth.
When a leader asks you about sothing, you must determine if he is genuinely seeking your opinion or if he just wants you to say the answer he desires?
Shen Herong didn’t dare to turn back to look into Shen Ruoshi’s eyes, only thinking about everything Lord City Lord had done since his appearance, all seemingly with hidden aning, every stroke in every word full of hints... And determining the true intentions of Lord City Lord, it depended on his own abilities.
Imagine, a centenarian suddenly asking about the relationship between his granddaughter and a young handso man, what would his real thoughts be?
Answer: Concerned about his granddaughter’s lifelong affairs, hoping to embrace a great-grandchild within his lifeti. So, to please the elder, one should answer that Wang Jiu and Shen Qingming are living and staying together, impregnating and giving birth is imminent.
If he answered like this, Shen Herong was sure he’d have his facial carving process nailed.
Even soone as perpetually single as Shen Herong at least understands basic human relations. Which grandpa would sincerely wish for his precious granddaughter to have an intimate relationship with another man? Especially when this granddaughter isn’t even at the marriageable age, the data shows she’s not yet 15, and her physical developnt is lagging a bit compared to her actual age. For such a little girl to rush into marriage, it would practically be a cri scene.
So the answer that Shen Ruoshi wanted was almost obvious.
Thinking of this, Shen Herong gritted his teeth, deciding to stake his annuities on this rational judgnt.
He cupped his hands towards Shen Ruoshi and then answered, "Reporting to my lord, between subordinates, Wang Jiu and Shen Qingming should have a relatively pure teacher-student relationship."
Having said this, Shen Herong felt as nervous as a white mouse with his heart pounding 500 tis a minute. Whether this answer could satisfy Lord City Lord... now it was up to fate!
Shen Ruoshi didn’t imdiately respond but nodded slightly after hearing the answer, pondered for a mont, and said, "I see, a relatively pure teacher-student romantic relationship, so it hasn’t involved sexual behavior yet?"
"...???" Shen Herong felt as if he had crossed into an alternate universe, why did Lord City Lord’s words lack continuity and logic? When was there any ntion of a teacher-student romance and sexual behavior here?!
Shen Ruoshi then muttered to himself, "That makes sense, although growing up in Cyan Cloud Li Family, after all, she has Shen Family’s blood, it’s natural to hold a sense of propriety... But it can’t be left unattended, there still needs to be so action."
After saying this, Shen Ruoshi turned to Shen Herong, "Not bad, quite detailed observation."
"??" Shen Herong opened his mouth but couldn’t utter a word.
Forgive my incompetence, but I truly haven’t observed the things you ntioned!
However, the topic soon shifted away from Shen Qingming, as Shen Ruoshi glanced at Shen Herong and said.
"By the way, are you thinking of resigning?"
Shen Herong felt his heart was about to explode; the Lord City Lord’s repeated heart-stopping surprises could almost be used as a resuscitation technique...
Yet, since the City Lord asked, Shen Herong did not dare to hide anything and answered with a stiff upper lip: "Yes, I feel my capabilities are limited..."
Shen Ruoshi waved his hand: "If your abilities were unlimited, I would let you take over as the City Lord. Why settle for being an Outer Courtyard instructor? When Shen Family speaks, don’t use empty rhetoric."
Shen Herong was stunned for quite a while before speaking again: "I... upon honest reflection, have dedicatedly served in the Outer Courtyard for years. The work results aren’t bad, or rather, the results have been excellent. Shen City’s grand competitions speak for that. But with rits co rewards, and with faults co penalties. The Outer Courtyard disciples I led lost to the Li Family twice in competitions. As an instructor, I must bear the responsibility, and I am resigning without grievances."
"Is ’without grievances’ all?" Shen Ruoshi’s gaze glanced over again, sending a shiver down Shen Herong’s spine, knowing it was best not to hide anything before the Sea Overturning Realm master.
"I... in fact, considered the issue of retirent years ago." Shen Herong decided to be frank, "Having served as an instructor in the Outer Courtyard for years, seeing countless talented disciples going on to marry and start families, I... couldn’t help but be moved. However, this appearance is indeed problematic. I can’t even think about matchmaking; the female disciples of the Outer Courtyard are already terrified seeing . On the other hand, this scarred face has beco a trademark of the Outer Courtyard instructor and cannot be easily altered."
"Indeed, especially for newcors to the Outer Courtyard, strict discipline is needed, and the instructor’s dignity is crucial. However, this dignity does affect personal life."
Shen Herong said, "Thank you, Lord Xie, for your understanding. In short, I do wish to seize this opportunity to retire gracefully... hopefully, you will grant this request."
In theory, the post of Outer Courtyard instructor does not need the City Lord’s intervention for a change. The Deputy City Lord is sufficient. But if the City Lord agrees, the Deputy City Lord would naturally have no objections.
Facing Shen Herong’s request, Shen Ruoshi agreed without hesitation: "Fine, you’ve served the family for many years. Retiring gracefully is a good thing. What are your plans post-retirent?"
Shen Herong was a bit surprised by the City Lord’s detailed concern, recalling a rumor from the past. Twenty years ago, before Li Fengyun’s incident, the City Lord was a leader strict yet warm. Only after that did he rarely show warmth in front of outsiders.
So many years have passed, and the City Lord has changed.
Shen Herong felt touched and replied candidly: "First, costic surgery, to nd this face that scares children."
Shen Ruoshi nodded and asked again: "Celestial Blade Hall?"
Shen Herong’s heart trembled, thinking of the blade sculpting skills, but simply replied: "I haven’t entirely decided yet..."
"Then let it be Celestial Blade Hall." Shen Ruoshi said, "Though not as ticulous as Heaven-Reaching City and Golden Jade City in technique, Celestial Blade Hall’s craftsn have a unique aesthetic of Shen City. Even a simply processed square tofu face is much more attractive than those pointy-faced freaks from Golden Jade City and Heaven-Reaching City."
"..." The ntion of ’pointy-faced freaks’ made Shen Herong’s face nerves twitch. However, recalling the unmistakably pointy face of the Cyan Cloud City Li Family’s Patriarch, he dared not dispute the City Lord’s taste at all.
Shen Ruoshi continued: "Since you wish to retire in pursuit of personal happiness, you should tidy up and look your best, let people know that the Shen Family produces outstanding individuals."
"Yes, I will certainly not disgrace the family!"
Shen Ruoshi said: "Of course, costic surgery is a personal matter; whatever look you prefer is your choice."
This more or less liberated Shen Herong, knowing he had always dread of having a perfect pointy face—just walking down the street could trigger adolescent reactions in young girls...
However, Shen Ruoshi then said, "As long as it’s not a pointy face, pointy-faced n are up to no good."
Shen Herong truly felt like crying but could only nod tearfully at this mont.
"Yes, I will follow orders!"
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