CHAPTER 374: CHAPTER 374: ALL OLD MEN ARE BAD

Old fox, just an old fox.

Ji You decided not to mince words and directly said, "Director Wang, I was just about to discuss something with you. You mentioned that the two judges you appointed weren’t able to make it today, and I was wondering if..."

Cheng Jing told Ji You that if she wanted a refund, she should negotiate with two other people behind Director Wang’s back, but Ji You knew very well that a sly fox like Director Wang would never allow her any loopholes.

He must be prepared.

So, if she had to bring it up, it must be directed to him personally.

Now, since the originally scheduled professors hadn’t arrived, wasn’t this a perfect excuse? No point in wasting it, Ji You decided to seize the moment and immediately requested Director Wang to refund part of her fee.

As soon as Ji You finished speaking, Director Wang stared at her with a strange expression.

Ji You: "???"

A few seconds later, Director Wang shook his head, sighed, and said with his hands behind his back, "So young, yet already having poor eyesight, you really need some treatment."

Ji You: "???"

Director Wang pointed at the judge’s table in the auditorium, saying, "The judges you wanted, I personally invited them here."

Ji You: "!!!"

Ji You, with wide eyes, "No... no way?"

Director Wang straightened his face and scolded, "Nonsense! Would I even resort to faking it?"

Ji You: "..."

Director Wang, with his hands behind, paced back and forth, looked around, and said, "Alright, judges, security personnel, materials, equipment... everything agreed upon in the contract, I have arranged it all; my task is also completed."

At this, Director Wang suddenly turned back, glanced at Ji You, and said, "As for the audience being so few, it’s definitely because you are not competitive enough, lack influence, and didn’t attract the audience. That can’t be blamed on the school, right?"

Ji You opened her mouth but was at a loss for words.

Director Wang glanced at her and said, "The problem with young people these days is that they are impulsive and exaggerated! When problems arise, they always search for faults in others, not knowing that most problems are their own doing."

Ji You: "..."

Ji You took a deep breath and said, "Director Wang, that remark of yours was not very kind. From my perspective, the reason young people face various issues is mainly because they are too young, have too little experience, and thus they fall into traps everywhere! In the future, the youth should strive to be independent and strong, and they must not be deceived by those experienced in the ways of Jianghu again."

Director Wang’s mouth twitched.

Good grief!

This one has some guts, daring to insinuate things about me right to my face.

Hm~

Admirable courage.

Director Wang, with a smile on his face, said, "That’s right, the youth should be self-reliant and strong, but it’s not just about that, they also need to cultivate their moral character, starting with respecting their elders."

Ji You: "..."

Ji You chuckled, saying, "Yes, yes, the Director has taught me well, I will definitely heed your teachings."

Director Wang glanced at her, knowing her words were all fluff, but didn’t mind, and said directly, "This competition has been going on for a while, its popularity isn’t great, but the necessary procedures must still be followed. I, as one of the judge-teachers, cannot neglect my duties, alright, let’s not talk much more, let’s head to the front desk."

Ji You, with a stiff smile, followed him out.

As the two appeared, the originally noisy audience suddenly paused for a moment.

Hmm?

What’s going on?

Ji You looked up and noticed that in just a few minutes, a crowd had settled down in the audience area, most likely a few hundred more people, making a total of about 1500 pure spectators now, and it looked quite decent.

Ji You felt heartily relieved.

At that moment—

On stage, an elderly figure caught Ji You’s attention, and she paused momentarily—wasn’t that Professor Ye Hong? The same persnickety old man who would find fault over the tiniest details and make Ji You revise her work whenever it wasn’t to his satisfaction.

Ji You’s face darkened in an instant.

She hadn’t expected Director Wang to actually bring this old man here; she thought it was just a joke.

Indeed—

Inside, Ji You was opposed to having Professor Ye Hong as a judge.

The reason for her refusal was that this old man was difficult to please; if things didn’t go his way, he might embarrass her publicly and she might be unable to leave the stage with dignity.

The whole venue was silent.

Professor Ye Hong, hearing footsteps, stared at the perfectly processed Snow Juice, slightly reluctant to look away but finally did, raising his head to glance towards Ji You.

Their gazes collided briefly in mid-air.

Silence.

Complete silence.

Ye Hong’s already slightly yellowish eyes were still as sharp as a knife.

Ji You, far from being daunted, also lifted her head, bravely meeting Professor Ye Hong’s gaze. In her view, she had done nothing wrong, thus there was no need for her to feel guilty.

Ye Hong’s eyes moved slightly.

This was his second encounter with the girl named Ji You. The last time after Ji You abruptly left his class, Ye Hong had been incredibly angry, filled not just with anger but also with rage.

But—

He thought this girl was arrogant, talented yet lacking moral integrity, not worthy of being nurtured.

Therefore, aside from being angry, Ye Hong didn’t feel it was any great loss.

Of course, afterwards, recalling what the girl had said that day, Ye Hong repeatedly doubted his initial judgment. How could a girl so proud at heart commit plagiarism?

But—

The evidence for the plagiarism was concrete; it was only after Ye Hong personally went with several colleagues to the authenticity verification institution and confirmed the findings that he decided to cancel Ji You’s admission notification.

In this regard, Ye Hong felt that he was maintaining the fairness of the examination, and he had done nothing wrong.

However, if it weren’t for the girl suddenly appearing in the class and making a statement, Ye Hong would never have doubted his initial judgment.

However?

Every so often, when he unintentionally recalled the girl’s departure from the class, her thin yet straight back, and those strong, emphatic words, Ye Hong couldn’t help but doubt himself...

Not only doubting the initial plagiarism verdict but also his judgment of a student’s character.

...

Of course, every time Ji You turned in her homework was another reason Ye Hong doubted himself.

In these days, Ye Hong felt conflicted. Seeing how talented Ji You was, he wanted to nurture her fully, yet he had many reservations, hence his attitude towards Ji You became increasingly confliclical.

Ji You switching to the Combat Department, Ye Hong was very angry.

Ji You turning in homework late, Ye Hong was very angry.

Ji You refusing to enter the classroom, Ye Hong was very angry.

...

In summary, towards this student, Ye Hong felt both anger and conflict, genuinely uncertain how to approach her. He felt he needed some time to think things over, but he never anticipated that under such conflicting circumstances, he would meet Ji You for the second time.