"You've taught a batch of excellent students."
Bai Luan chuckled upon hearing this, handed Ratio his phone back, and said:
"Rather than saying I taught them well, it's better to say they learned well."
"Is that so?"
Ratio took his phone.
"Not everyone would grant so much patience to those whose knowledge is far inferior to their own."
"Haha... In this regard, aren't you the same, Professor?"
Ratio paused, then let out a soft laugh.
"You and I truly prove that it's not about the teacher teaching well, but the student learning well."
Bai Luan waved his hands repeatedly upon hearing this and said:
"...Professor, you can say that, but don't drag me into it! I never said that, and I've never questioned you."
Sushang looked at Stelle beside her and asked:
"What have they been talking about since just now?"
Stelle shrugged and said:
"I don't even know small things like where the end of the universe is, so how could I know the answer to this?"
Sushang pondered for a moment upon hearing this. Then, her super brain informed her that the meaning of that long speech was:
I don't know either.
Maybe next time her academy teacher asks her a question, she can answer him the same way.
Hmm, I really learned something.
I knew that consulting a teacher would let me learn real things.
Right, since I ran into Yi Mu, whom Little Guizi keeps mentioning... I should ask him for some news for her.
Sushang looked up at Bai Luan and asked:
"Teacher Yi Mu, I wanted to ask, does Little Guizi still have a chance?"
"...No, what kind of easily misunderstood phrasing is that!
You should say, 'Does Little Guizi still have a chance to be your tour guide when you visit the Xianzhou Luofu?'"
"Huh?"
Sushang scratched her head and asked, looking puzzled:
"Does it need to be stated so clearly?"
"I think it's quite necessary."
To avoid the "little ears" left by Herta in my phone overhearing it and causing unnecessary trouble.
But about going to Luofu... "Is the Xianzhou holding a Martial Arts Ceremony recently?"
"Yes, yes, the news is already out! Things on the Xianzhou have been getting much livelier recently."
"Hmm... I might go sometime soon. Maybe I can help the Xianzhou film some promotional videos?"
Saying this, Bai Luan revealed a smile.
And then film some 'shenanigan' short videos under the guise of official Xianzhou authorization.
The corners of Bai Luan's mouth curled up slightly at the thought of his shenanigan videos being stamped with the official authorization mark.
Ratio glanced at Bai Luan.
As a teacher who had once taught Bai Luan, he could tell at a glance that Bai Luan was brewing mischief; this kind of smile usually signaled that Bai Luan was about to start acting up.
Ratio considered whether he should offer a reminder, but ultimately gave up.
It's none of my business.
The Xianzhou people should pray for good fortune.
"Really!? That's great! I'll tell Little Guizi about this later!"
Stelle looked at the cheering Sushang and asked:
"Then how are you going to explain your source of information to Little Guizi?"
"Uh... this..."
Stelle's question immediately stumped Sushang.
She originally didn't want Huo Huo and Guinaifen to know about her coming here to study, and she happened to run into Bai Luan on the way to her studies.
She really needed to find an excuse to explain why she met Bai Luan.
But she couldn't come up with a suitable reason quickly.
Damn it, who would have thought a character like this would spawn at the bar? And who could figure out how such a character's appearance would be reasonable?
Seeing Sushang's head about to smoke from thinking, Bai Luan smiled and said:
"That's simple. Just say you were strolling around Penacony, and I suddenly came up to talk to you.
As for the reason I spoke to you... just say I was surprised to meet a Xianzhou native on Penacony, so I came over for a chat."
"That casual? I was walking around Penacony, happened to run into you idling by the roadside, and I also happen to know Little Guizi, and finally, I asked if you wanted to go to the Xianzhou.
That explanation sounds like it has a really high coincidence level. Will Little Guizi actually believe it?"
"No."
After Sushang raised her doubts, Stelle stated decisively:
"That is indeed something Uncle would do. You raise this doubt because you don't know Uncle.
Uncle always appears in unexpected places. No matter where I go, if I mention Uncle, people always know him.
Now that I mention it..."
Stelle looked at Sushang and said seriously:
"It seems I've always been walking in Uncle's shadow."
"I just feel like..."
Sushang rubbed her cheek upon hearing this and said:
"It's quite terrifying..."
Bai Luan couldn't help but complain:
"Why does your description make me sound like a dangerous individual? You make me sound like a perverted stalker..."
"Uncle, you are not a perverted stalker."
Stelle looked at Bai Luan's face, then denied it:
"You're too handsome. That doesn't fit the profile."
"..."
The way that was said left him with a sense of powerlessness, unable to refute it even if he wanted to.
Sushang nodded and said:
"Alright, I'll tell Little Guizi that then."
Afterward, Sushang looked at Professor Ratio again and spoke:
"Well then, Teacher 'Reed of Thought', I have one more question for you before I leave."
"Oh? What question?"
"How many ways are there to write the character 'Hui' in Huixing Port?"
"..."
Ratio sighed softly, looked at Stelle, and said:
"Just for me to wet my throat, make me another drink."
"Alright."
While Stelle was mixing the drink, Ratio's phone rang.
"Excuse me, one moment, I need to take a call."
Ratio answered the phone, and words of congratulation came from the other end.
"Hello, is this Mr. Veritas Ratio? I am honored to inform you that your academic achievement has received unanimous recognition from your peers and has been selected as the 'Most Influential Research of this amber era'!"
Stelle congratulated Ratio:
"A well-deserved award."
Bai Luan put down the cup he was wiping and applauded the Professor:
"Congratulations."
"Wow, congratulations, Teacher! Will they give you a big trophy?"
Ratio let out a light chuckle:
"Heh, fleeting fame and profit, no need to worry about them."
He asked the person on the other end of the line:
"Which of my research projects was selected? 'Principles of Curved Space Engines'? 'Genetics of Dominant Genes in True Swarm'? Or 'Meme Energy Conversion Equation'?"
"None of those. It's your book, 'The Aesthetic Principles of Plaster Statues'. It is truly magnificent!"
Ratio expressionlessly hung up the phone. Bai Luan, seeing Ratio's blank expression, started to lose his composure and smile.
Ratio's gaze shifted towards Bai Luan, who was faintly struggling to hold back his laughter.
Stelle spoke up at this moment:
"I'm thinking of buying a copy to read."
This seemed to be the last straw that broke the camel's back. Ratio fell completely silent, then quietly took out his plaster head mask and put it on.
Looking at the physically expressionless plaster head, Bai Luan finally couldn't hold back anymore.
And then he was hit on the forehead by a piece of chalk thrown by Ratio.
Bai Luan rubbed his struck forehead.
Hehe... Totally worth it. (*^▽^*)