Chapter 62: Exclusive on Jinjiang 1/2

No matter how stormy it was outside, the atmosphere in the teacher’s office was very serious.

The man frowned and raised his voice. “Mr. Song, what do you think of her current grades? Transferring to the art department, is it reasonable?”

This time, Yao Xinxin didn’t shyly lower her head but stared directly at her father, her eyes sharp.

Song Fuzhi asked Yao Xinxin, “Now, the second semester of the sophomore year is about to end, halfway through high school. Do you understand what you need to study to transfer to the art department, what exams you need to take, how much effort you need to put in to get into your ideal school, the career prospects afterward, and how to achieve your ultimate goal?”

Yao Xinxin nodded. “I understand a lot. I’ve asked many teachers in the art department.”

including the guidance teacher that Song Fuzhi initially helped her find for the painting competition, who provided Yao Xinxin with a lot of information.

Yao Dad waved his hand. “This matter doesn’t need to be discussed, doesn’t need to be asked. It’s impossible for you to take this dead-end path. Now, with artificial intelligence, it can draw a great painting in seconds. Don’t you know how fast technology will develop in the future? You won’t even have graduated, and you’ll be unemployed! Still want to study art? Study Northwest Wind.”

Yao Xinxin retorted with her neck held high, “Machines can only draw elements obtained from human creations. Creating something new will always rely on ourselves. Anyway, I just want to draw. I don’t want to do something I hate for the rest of my life. Don’t arrange my life for me.”

Yao Mom was a bit angry, questioning, “When did you consult about the art college entrance exam with people outside? Asked everyone outside about such a big matter, why didn’t you discuss it with your father and me first?”

Yao Xinxin chuckled. “If I tell you, will you agree?”

Yao Dad suddenly got angry, slamming the table. “I should have removed those manga color pages from your bookshelf! Allowing you to read those idle books for so many years directly led you down the wrong path, right?”

With a loud bang, Song Fuzhi forcefully placed his cup on the table, and the office fell silent.

Song Fuzhi’s gaze was serious, and his words were direct and somewhat unpleasant, but also objective. “Yao Xinxin shouldn’t have kept it from her parents. But why did the child do this? I think both of you understand.”

The two parents fell silent.

“Yao Xinxin, go back to your classroom and take a break. I’ll talk to your parents alone.” Song Fuzhi stood up and opened the office door.

As Yao Xinxin walked out of the office, she looked up at Song Fuzhi and said, “Mr. Song, I didn’t make this decision just because I like to read manga. I truly like it, and I am mentally prepared. It’s not a sudden impulse.”

The girl’s eyes were firm, shining with determination.

“Yeah, I know.” Song Fuzhi’s tone was gentle. “Go ahead.”

After Yao Xinxin walked away, Song Fuzhi closed the office door calmly.

The wooden door swung open, the doorbell rang, and the aroma of coffee wafted in.

Luo Luli found a seat and placed her suitcase beside her.

“Does Professor Shi have something to discuss with me?” Luo Luli asked.

Shi Zhang pushed the drink menu toward Luo Luli. “Miss Luo, would you like to eat something?”

Luo Luli shook her head. “No need. I think I’ll go home myself. It seems Mr. Song will be working late tonight.”

If her husband came to pick her up in person, there was no way Song Fuzhi could leave with someone else.

As if confirming Luo Luli’s words, Shi Zhang’s phone vibrated at that moment.

He received a message from Song Fuzhi, which read: “Professor Shi, please go home first. I have to talk to a student and their parents. It might take a while, probably late into the night.”

“You see,” Luo Luli said, raising her eyebrows. “I told you.”

Luo Luli’s original intention was to convey that “your man still remembers you; how nice.” However, Shi Zhang’s expression looked even worse now.

Shi Zhang ordered from the menu, and with a polite tone, he asked, “So, were you planning to find Mr. Song…?”

Luo Luli swayed her suitcase and casually said, “I just returned from a business trip and was planning to bring him a little gift.”

“I see.” Shi Zhang’s expression softened a bit.

One was Song Fuzhi’s good friend, and the other was Song Fuzhi’s husband. The topics they discussed couldn’t be unrelated to Song Fuzhi.

At first, Luo Luli thought Shi Zhang was a rather old-fashioned academic, but since she found out he was Professor Shi, she found it hard to reconcile the “octopus” and “professor” identities into one person.

However, after chatting for a while, Luo Luli felt the mixture of flavors in Shi Zhang, appearing refined and cultured on the surface but harboring something else deep inside. He wasn’t as soft-hearted as he seemed.

In short, he had Song Fuzhi wrapped around his finger.

“Miss Luo, since we’ve coincidentally met, I’d like to ask you a question.” Shi Zhang held his coffee cup, lightly rubbing the cup’s rim with his thumb.

Luo Luli didn’t know why Shi Zhang suddenly wanted to consult her, so she answered with a single word, “Go ahead.”

Staring at the coffee for a while, Shi Zhang, as if pondering his words, took a bit too long. Just when Luo Luli wondered if Professor Shi had encountered a system crash, he tentatively asked, “Do you and Mr. Song usually watch anime together?”

This topic transition was too sudden, and Luo Luli was momentarily stunned. Subconsciously, she made a sound of “uh” and said, “We don’t have time to watch together, but we discuss it.”

Luo Luli didn’t understand why Shi Zhang suddenly asked about this, and she became somewhat guarded.

Had Shi Zhang noticed some subtle clues? Had he discovered what Song Fuzhi had taken pictures of?

Nodding slightly, Shi Zhang continued, “I’ve chatted with him before. It seems Mr. Song has liked anime for a long time. Occasionally, he wants to see anime characters come to life. But he doesn’t seem to watch much cosplay.”

Luo Luli deepened her breath, her eyes squinting.

Shi Zhang then asked, “I also want to know, how accepting is Mr. Song of cosplay?”

Luo Luli’s mouth gradually widened as she sighed internally. “Ah, yes. He used to quietly read manga. If he were to see cosplay in person, he should find it interesting.”

She noticed Shi Zhang’s eyes brightening and continued to ask her, “So, Miss Luo, in your opinion, if there were live cosplay, which character would Mr. Song most want to see?”

Luo Luli maintained a calm appearance, pinching the palm of her hand. “So, you want to…?”

“I’ve actually played a bit of cosplay before.” Shi Zhang mentioned this while glancing aside and then returned his gaze, saying, “Isn’t Mr. Song’s birthday coming up? I thought of cosplaying his favorite character as a small gift.”

“Oh… um…”

Luo Luli suddenly faltered in her words, her expression vacant, but inside, she was going crazy.

Why is it that good things never happen to me?

Seeing Luo Luli lost in thought, Shi Zhang gently reminded her, “So, Miss Luo, any suggestions?”

Luo Luli came to her senses and smiled. “Don’t call me Miss Luo. My online handle is Luo Luli, and Mr. Song has always called me that. You can call me that too.”

Shi Zhang hesitated for a moment but agreed with a smile.

“As for the character he would most like to see cosplayed—”

After overcoming the initial shock, Luo Luli quickly switched to strategist mode. This couple was really playing around, and her excitement skyrocketed.

Luo Luli thought for a moment; she wanted to say that no matter what Shi Zhang cosplayed, Song Fuzhi would love it. But she refrained from saying that. Let Song Fuzhi speak for himself about who he liked the most.

Luo Luli took out her phone, opened her chat with Song Fuzhi, and said to Shi Zhang, “Let me check what characters he finds handsome. We should be rigorous and rely on data.”

Shi Zhang asked, “Do you usually discuss which anime characters are more handsome?”

“Ah, yes,” Luo Luli shamelessly replied.

In fact, most of the content Song Fuzhi sent her was like, “Look at this European male model, so handsome! This Italian cosplayer’s muscles are great, aahh! Octopus teacher’s new work is so damn handsome!”

Luo Luli quickly remembered Song Fuzhi being mesmerized by the suit photo of Shi Zhang and even attempting a Dark Dragon that night.

Luo Luli flipped through her chat and easily recalled how Song Fuzhi had been captivated by Shi Zhang’s suit photo, wondering about his appearance without the suit and being fascinated by the tight muscles accentuated by the black belt. If Shi Zhang wore cuff garters, Song Fuzhi would be sold instantly.