The Wealthy Tycoon's Game of Life

Chapter 1196: Chapter 453: A Beauty’s Invitation

The main teaching building of Pinghe School is an enclosed courtyard structure, with a large atrium in the center, covered by a glass ceiling, allowing excellent lighting. Today, the sun is shining bright, and standing on the corridor of The Penthouse, the view is expansive.

Looking down at the empty teaching building, feeling the gentle breeze on his face, Zhou Wang instinctively pulled out the cigarette case from his pocket.

But then he remembered something and chuckled as he put the cigarette case back.

”Forgot that it’s supposed to be non-smoking in the school...”

”Mr. Zhou, you’re joking. It’s the weekend today, there aren’t many students around, it’s not an issue.”

Standing beside Zhou Wang, Principal Luo Yongkang of Pinghe School immediately smiled and leaned in, even taking out a lighter from his pocket to light Zhou Wang’s cigarette.

Upon hearing it was the weekend, Zhou Wang relaxed, allowing Principal Luo to help him light up the cigarette, and then offered one of the heavy-duty cigarettes to Principal Luo as well.

”Want to try our Yunan Province’s cigarettes?”

”Mr. Zhou, my health isn’t good, I’ve already quit smoking, you go ahead without worrying about me...”

Luo Yongkang quickly waved his hand, smiling bitterly while pointing to his lungs, declining Zhou Wang’s kindness.

Zhou Wang didn’t insist; he had already noticed earlier that Principal Luo likely didn’t smoke, but he was aware that Zhou Wang did, and had probably prepared the lighter intentionally.

This wasn’t surprising, given that early on in Hang City, Principal Luo had been able to find out Zhou Wang’s address in advance, and made a personal visit with two cartons of cigarettes, showing he was a very considerate person.

The brand he chose, ”Liqun Fuchun Mountain Residence,” costs two to three thousand per carton in the market, clearly showing that he had researched Zhou Wang’s lifestyle, catering to his preferences.

... As the saying goes, among those who stand out from ordinary people and reach a certain echelon, not a single one is simple.

Thin smoke wafted around as Zhou Wang tapped the transparent glass in front of him, ”Since the school’s founding, there shouldn’t have been any safety incidents, right?”

”Minor bumps and bruises are always unavoidable, but since the school’s founding, there have been no major safety incidents. You can rest assured, Mr. Zhou.”

Luo Yongkang immediately answered solemnly.

”That’s something I definitely believe.”

Zhou Wang smiled noncommittally and said lightly, ”But what I fear is under this surface tranquility, there are cracks in people’s hearts...”

Luo Yongkang’s expression tightened upon hearing the implied meaning in Zhou Wang’s words, then asked with a wry smile, ”Mr. Zhou, do you suspect that my invitation for a private talk is to exonerate Director Wang?”

The Director Wang mentioned by Principal Luo isn’t the ”Director Wang” who took Xiao An’s husband’s money, but the bona fide head of academic affairs at Pinghe School.

In the hierarchy of most primary and secondary schools, the head of academic affairs may not rank high administratively but holds real power over teaching arrangements and teacher deployments, acting as the ”right-hand man” to the principal, reputedly the top real power figure below the principal and vice principal.

The ”farce” at the academic office was, in fact, a bit embarrassing not only to Zhou Wang but also to Principal Luo.

Receiving bribes and coordinating admission quotas are things quite ordinary, happening daily at Pinghe School, where countless parents are eager to enroll their children.

Even Principal Luo Yongkang cannot entirely avoid such social interactions; it’s just that most figures don’t reach him directly.

Today’s incident was unique only because Xiao An happened to be Zhou Wang’s subordinate.

However, regardless of circumstances, the unwritten rules cannot be openly discussed; once Zhou Wang witnessed the matter, its nature changed.

Upon investigation, the other ”Director Wang” wasn’t even formally employed at the school, just a contract worker in the office, so how could he possess admission forms and use the academic office’s stamp?

Did he really have no connection to the legitimate Director Wang of the academic office?

Even though Director Wang tried hard to clear his name in the office, any sharp-eyed observer could easily see through the ruse.

Currently, ”Director Wang,” Du Huai’an, and others are detained at the school’s security office, awaiting further action, while Xiao An, with Xingxing, is following another teacher to handle admissions, and Luo Yongkang along with other senior school officials have invited Zhou Wang to the meeting room to discuss the matter.

Rectifying the atmosphere is naturally the next step; the immediate issue is how to handle the issue with Director Wang at the academic office.

At this point, two voices emerged at the school principal’s meeting: one leaned toward a verbal warning, with symbolic penalties like bonus deductions, Director Wang would lose face but suffer no actual loss.

The other was to issue a written criticism. While seemingly similar, once a formal notice was issued, it essentially meant the end of his tenure as the head of academic affairs, making it impossible for him to continue at the academic office.

This would be rather serious.

Director Wang naturally was quite anxious, but he had no real say at the principal’s meeting, so he could only plead silently with Luo Yongkang.

Zhou Wang noticed this, and before he made his statement, Principal Luo invited him for a separate conversation, while other vice principals waited in the meeting room.

”Principal Luo, if you truly believe that this Director Wang just had a momentary lapse, I certainly can give you face. After all, you are the principal, with full management authority, and I trust you have your own judgment.”