Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 588: Chapter 493: Student_2

The Professor couldn’t help but sigh. After all, she had raised her niece since she was a child; how could she not know what was on the girl’s mind? Moreover, there was Yuan Zhao, the Second fifth who had betrayed his own cousin on his very first day at the Ivory Tower...

”Are you sure you won’t apply?” she asked bluntly. ”It’s a rare opportunity—right now, he’s still a blank slate newcomer, my influence can still go a long way, but that may not be the case in the future.”

Yuan Yuan pursed her lips, hesitating, but ultimately shook her head.

In reality, she knew that even without her aunt’s help, if she were willing to apply, Huai Shi would likely agree to take her on; he didn’t mind having an additional student.

But now, it was she herself who was undecided.

She was supposed to be in Ji Xia.

The reason she had come here was because of an exchange program.

As for Yuan Zhao... that was an afterthought. Because he had gone too far with his mischief, the family simply decided to assign him a famously strict teacher for a few years, and incidentally, Yuan Yuan could supervise him at any time.

For Yuan Yuan herself, there were no plans from the family.

It was not a matter of favoring males over females or unequal treatment; rather, due to great trust in her, they gave her the utmost freedom and range of choices.

With the Yuan Family’s connections and her aunt at the Ivory Tower, any major or classroom wouldn’t be a problem, as long as she wanted it.

And that was exactly why she couldn’t become a student of Huai Shi.

Because she was the eldest daughter of the Yuan Family.

This was her last preparation time before standing on her own, the chance to grow before she truly represented the Yuan Family to face the world.

Classical music appreciation? Did the Yuan Family really need an heir who appreciated classical music? Hardly!

The more the family trusted her, the less she could betray that trust.

”I really don’t understand; with your dad’s carefree, year-round playboy demeanor, how did he raise such a staid child like you?”

Looking at her forlorn demeanor, her aunt sighed helplessly, wondering... should she just go against Second Granduncle’s wishes this time and secretly take care of this matter? But no matter how she thought about it, it seemed unlikely to work out. And later, her older sister would probably come to the Ivory Tower and take her to task... You could say the Yuan family is fine with their shared propensity for violence, but why do they have to interfere with their bright, lovely niece?

With this thought, she heaved a long sigh to the heavens.

And whenever she thought of Yuan Zhao idling around every day, it just made her blood boil. They shared the Yuan surname, but why was there such a huge difference between them?

”Speaking of which... it’s time to shovel the manure too,” she mumbled inexplicably to herself in a soft voice.

And so, Yuan Zhao’s miserable fate before the school year was decided by her with pleasure.

「Stone Marrow Pavilion, reception room.」

Uncle Fang served two cups of hot tea to the guest.

Huai Shi, on the other hand, sat on the sofa with his leg propped up, examining the young man sitting opposite him.

The fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy immediately tried to curve his lips into an innocent and pure smile, his eyes blinking admirably and respectfully.

This was the very first student who had come to Huai Shi wanting to specialize in classical music appreciation and to take him as his mentor.

The ardor for art could not be deemed insincere, and the admiration and respect for Huai Shi could not be deemed insignificant.

Add to that a wealthy and powerful family background where no fault could be found.

The only problem was this Little Nineteen of the Lin family...

——Wood Cottage.

No matter how you looked at it, there was an issue!

”To be honest, I didn’t expect the first to apply would be you...” After scrutinizing each other for a good while, Huai Shi finally broke the silence and asked, ”Tell me, why are you so set on this?”

”Oh my, look at what you’re saying, Teacher,” Little Nineteen said, aggrieved. ”Isn’t this just my love for classical music?”

”I haven’t even nodded in agreement yet, so don’t rush to call me Teacher.” Huai Shi quickly raised his hand to stop him from continuing his nonsense, his expression growing even more skeptical. ”Also, love for classical music? You?”

”Yes,” Wood Cottage said assertively. ”In the entire Lin family, no one loves classical music more than I do!”

That statement was true.

Half of the Lin family didn’t even know how to write the ”classical” in classical music, and the other half didn’t know what music was.

At least Lin Nineteen had heard ”Für Elise.”

In a way, he was indeed the most passionate about it.

Yet Huai Shi didn’t believe a single word.

He asked bluntly, ”Then tell me—what is Bach’s real name?”

”Uh...” Wood Cottage paused for a moment before tentatively asking, ”Isn’t his last name... Ba?”

”...”

After a long silence, Huai Shi couldn’t help but snort coldly. ”You don’t even know that foreign names are inverted? His last name is clearly He.”

”Oh, right!” Wood Cottage couldn’t help but smack his knee, suddenly enlightened. ”I remember now, that’s absolutely correct!”

Huai Shi: ”...”

Wood Cottage: ”...”

Huai Shi put down the teacup and sighed with heavy significance. ”Listen, Little Lin.”

”Yes!” Wood Cottage nodded frantically. ”Teacher, please speak.”

”Do you think I’m an idiot?” Huai Shi raised his hand, pointing at his own face. ”Or do you think I can’t understand even such an obvious lie and would believe your excuses? I won’t ask why you’re interested in classical music, but you must at least tell me the truth, right? Otherwise, please leave immediately. I have no particular talent for teaching. And, I can’t accept anyone from the Lin family.”

That was his biggest concern. What if this kid suddenly stabbed him in the back? If things got even more ridiculous, the knife might even be one he had provided. The thought was frightening.

”What are you saying!” Wood Cottage answered solemnly. ”Isn’t it because I admire you as a person and want to learn from your integrity?”

Are you fucking with me? Character? Integrity? Do I even have those?

Huai Shi’s expression twitched, ready to speak.

Then he saw Little Nineteen suddenly stand up and leave the sofa.

Initially, Huai Shi thought he was preparing to storm out in anger, but unexpectedly, with a THUMP, the young man fell to the ground.

”Damn it, are you trying to scam me?!” Huai Shi jumped up in fright, almost kicking Lin Nineteen out the door, only to see Little Nineteen from the Lin family lying on the ground, tears streaming down, weeping bitterly and sorrowfully.

”Teacher Huai Shi, I came to the Ivory Tower just for you; I even stopped going home. If you don’t take me in, I have nowhere else to go... Why won’t you believe my sincerity?”

Huai Shi also became indignant. ”I haven’t even started working and you show up suddenly wanting to register as a student, plus you’re lying on my carpet! How do you expect me to believe you?”

”You can rest assured. Before I left, the old master instructed me: ’Once a teacher, forever a parent.’ He told me to stay by your side and learn well.

”From now on, Little Nineteen will go through hell and high water at your command. If I do anything wrong, you can kill me on the spot, and the Lin family won’t let out a fart. It will be as if, starting today, this person never existed in the family.”

Having said that, following Dongxia’s customs, Little Nineteen knelt on the ground. Not waiting for Huai Shi to react, he performed a kowtow, his head making several loud THUDS against the floor, and held up a recommendation letter personally written by the old master with both hands, awaiting a response.

In the silence, Huai Shi stood stunned. He had been gasping in shock for fifteen minutes straight, yet his mind was still a mess.

He really couldn’t understand. —What the hell is this all about?