Student exchanges were one thing, but teacher discussions were equally crucial.
The meeting was held in one of Director Xie's private conference rooms.
At precisely nine o'clock, Elder Gossip, a teacher from Phoenix Ridge, was forcibly ushered into the room.
He scanned the room, filled with unfamiliar faces, each expression distant. Amidst the hushed whispers, he clearly heard the teachers discussing his remarks:
"He's just a math nerd with no other talents."
"He's nothing but a bookworm~"
Clearly, Elder Gossip's arrival was not taken seriously.
In truth, whether teachers or students, those proficient in Flying Sword Technique or Talisman arts had always looked down on teachers who specialized in mathematics or history.
They considered these subjects dry and tedious.
Elder Gossip privately referred to this phenomenon as "discrimination."
It reminded him of his own student days.
Having grown accustomed to countless rumors and gossip, he remained unfazed by the whispers about himself. Yet he couldn't help but recall the golden years of his youth...
The topic the teachers were about to discuss was naturally the sensational "Shuyuan District Gang Mystery" that had dominated headlines the previous day.
The incident had caused a massive uproar. The "Money Laundering Gang," notorious for staging accidents and scams, had long plagued the Waigong Police Force, which secured and governed one of the twenty-two districts.
Now, their sudden overnight dismantling had not only ignited a firestorm online but also spread like wildfire across the city. In an instant, everyone knew about it.
Director Xie cleared her throat. "Teachers, please settle down."
Director Xie of Ziyang High School was chairing the meeting. "Judging by your lively discussions, you're all well aware of the situation. While other gangs may attempt to exploit the chaos in the Shuyuan District, their dwindling numbers will ultimately make the area safer for our students. This meeting was urgently convened by the Centeral Scholastic Authority of 100 Academies primarily to gather your perspectives on Madam Nan's sudden name change."
Director Xie's words sparked another round of heated debate among the teachers.
Her gaze drifted to Elder Gossip, who sat calmly, patiently listening to the ongoing discussion. The gentle smile that played at the corners of his lips as he nodded occasionally made her cheeks flush involuntarily...
Some argued that changing the name was justifiable. One male teacher remarked, "Look, it might seem far-fetched, but the Fraud Gang committed heinous crimes like theft, extortion, and drug trafficking, causing immense trouble for students and faculty. Renaming the group will help us crack down on these thugs and create a better environment in Shuyuan district. It's a smart move!"
A female teacher scoffed, "What's the point? It's just changing the name without addressing the underlying issues! This morning, an old man stopped me on my way to school and started lecturing me for no reason! My Spirit Sword's battery died, forcing me to walk all the way here!"
Another female teacher exclaimed in surprise, "Teacher Wan's Spirit Sword... is actually modern technology?"
"Exactly! It's energy-efficient and powerful, making flying and wielding it effortless."
The teacher elegantly adjusted her hair and continued, "Plus, just a ten-minute charge gives you three hours of use! Five-star rating—I highly recommend it to everyone here!"
"Seriously? That's ridiculously convenient!"
"You have to tell us where you got that relic!"
"You can find them on Taobao and the Huawei official website!"
"Are they expensive?"
"Use Qiqi on Taobao! Use Huawei Wallet on the huawei.com!"
Director Xie's face darkened. We're discussing about serious matters, and you're here... advertising?! She stole a glance at Elder Gossip, her lips twitching involuntarily.
...He was just listening as usual! There was something about him that drew me in even more...
Shaking off the thought, she straightened her posture and suppressed her rising anger. "Teachers, this is an important meeting. Teacher Wan should not be... advertising during our discussion."
The director's authority still held sway. As soon as she finished speaking, the room fell silent.
If Phoenix Ridge hadn't come to their school for an exchange program, she would have smashed the table long ago!
Before Ling Xian entered No. 74 Ziyang High School, he had used his mind-reading ability to overhear local students gossiping: Director Xie always smashes the table when she's furious, to the point where the school had to establish a special safety fund to protect those damn tables!
In fact, the conference room's tables were newly purchased. Director Xie was determined not to repeat past mistakes.
Seeing the tension ease, Director Xie breathed a sigh of relief.
Thinking back to her confrontation with Zunhao yesterday, she couldn't help but pinch the bridge of her nose.
After all, not everyone possessed the influence or personal magnetism of Su Xinyi.
But Ling Xian sensed that the old man possessed a unique aura of his own.
Before the old man arrived at Ziyang, Director Xie had reviewed the sent roster for the teachers of Phoenix Ridge. He had taught at Phoenix Ridge for only four and a half years, yet his student satisfaction rate was a perfect 100%, earning him the deep respect and affection of both students and faculty. Beyond his publicly cultivated image of gentle refinement, Director Xie couldn't quite grasp the secret to his popularity.
The key lay in the old man's ability to seamlessly switch between two modes.
When interacting with students, he activated "Approachable" mode, maintaining a youthful and captivating demeanor to connect with them. But this didn't mean he lacked method...
Thus, the second mode quietly activated: "Aesthetic" mode.
What is an aesthetic youth? Someone who evokes resonance?
That wasn't far off. In this mode, he would make unpredictable moves, handle weighty matters with effortless grace, and speak with utmost precision... Seemingly meaningless at first glance, yet upon reflection, they revealed profound insights!
Ling Xian actually preferred the old man's second mode. He had gleaned many philosophical maxims from it.
So, when he gor up early that morning, he teleported on top of the school building and was already secretly observing them through "Ancestral Eye."
...
...
It was clear that after Director Xie regained some composure, the focus of the entire meeting shifted to the teacher who had specially come from another school.
The room fell into an unnatural silence, no one daring to speak.
A gentle breeze stirred through the room, causing the old man's hair to sway slightly.
Director Xie silently gasped. He found the man remarkably handsome...
The old man gazed out the open window, his eyes landing precisely on Director Xie's reflection.
Xie Anlian's cheeks flushed crimson. Why is he staring at my reflection? Does he find me... attractive? Impossible... Otherwise, why would he keep looking at me like that?
"..."
Ling Xian, observing through the Spirit Ancestor's Eye, was utterly speechless. This is a formal meeting, and you're just staring at the host's face?! Learn some manners!
Facing Director Xie Anlian, Ling Xian's feelings were complex. This was clearly another woman drawn in by love...
Wait...
Not again?
This old gentleman was the type who grew more intriguing the longer you looked at him. The more one gazed, the more captivating his face became. This was precisely what Ling Xian had described as "magnetic field" and... inner inclination.
Inner inclination, right? How could ordinary mortals comprehend the inner world of an aesthetic youth? Moreover, such inner worlds were inherently unreplicable. Su Xinyi's inner world was locked onto boys, while Elder Gossip's... was locked onto middle-aged women.
Therefore.
Approximately six minutes passed...
...
Director Xie's face flushed crimson as she stole frequent glances at the elderly man, looking every bit like an infatuated young girl.
The man continued to gaze out the window for an extended period, only intensifying her shyness. She had never been stared at so intently by a man before.
Everyone followed Director Xie's gaze. Some looked puzzled, while others noticed her flushed cheeks...
...
Fifteen minutes passed. Still, silence reigned. It was so quiet that even the rustling of leaves could be clearly heard...
...
Then...
Seventeen minutes passed.
Ling Xian: "..."
The old man's wild hair fluttered in the wind as he sensed her gaze. He asked softly, "Director Xie? What's wrong?"
Director Xie trembled at the magnetic resonance of his voice. She hadn't even asked her question yet!
Her cheeks flushed crimson, her expression resembling that of a chastised maidservant. "Ah~ uh... Teacher Xuan, I apologize..."
?!
The entire faculty was stunned!
What the hell is going on?! What did we just witness?!
That breathy "ah"... What kind of sorcery is this?!
That notoriously cold and aloof middle-aged woman, who's seen it all, just apologized?! She's blushing?! And she's wearing that lovesick expression! Holy shit, could this be love at first sight?!
The plot is getting more absurd by the minute!
Ling Xian was speechless. "..."
He could only think that Elder Gossip truly lives up to his name... He actually managed to crack the toughest nut in the room.
The Gossip Elder nodded casually.
Now was the perfect moment.
He turned his head slightly toward the open window.
A gentle breeze stirred the air, and the old man's next words sent a chill down everyone's spines.
"This wind... it's just right..."
In the conference room, goosebumps erupted across the teachers' skin.
Except for the Gossip Elder and Director Xie, who were lost in their aesthetic reverie, the other teachers—already uncomfortable with the awkward atmosphere—now felt the room spinning around them...
...