He didn't confront the school head-on, knew how to use both the carrot and the stick, and played to his strengths while avoiding his weaknesses.
Such students are the ones who may bring honor to Hu Hai University in the future.
"This recording, I can choose not to hand it in."
"Thank you, Grandma Gao..." Luo Hao was overjoyed.
But Professor Gao's next sentence chilled him to the bone.
"However, you should resign from your job at Hu Hai University yourself; we don't need someone like you here."
Luo Hao opened his mouth, speechless; this job, which he had secured through his father's connections, had a promising future.
If he left Hu Hai University, he would be starting from scratch.
"Grandma Gao, you..."
"If there's any problem, have your father come talk to me. This decision is final, and it won't change. If there's nothing else, you all can leave."
Professor Gao tapped her cane on the ground. Despite her age, her presence was so commanding that no one dared utter a word.
Luo Hao collapsed onto the floor, completely distraught.
Even more distressed than Huang Teng.
Not only did he lose his iron rice bowl, but he also had to spit out all the bribes he had taken.
Although his father was a former associate dean.
But in a school where there were three to four associate deans at the same time, and his father had also retired.
And as for Professor Gao, many prominent figures were among her former students, including the current president; her words in Hu Hai University were almost tantamount to an imperial edict!
Director Ma, with a heart heavy as lead, took the devastated Luo Hao away, and one by one, the office leaders said their goodbyes and left Professor Gao.
Huang Teng, trembling, felt his future was bleak as he looked at Xu Musen, aware that he had crossed someone he shouldn't have.
"Xu, I'm sorry, I was blinded by a momentary lapse, could you not send me to jail? I'll repay all the losses little by little..."
Huang Teng almost knelt down.
Xu Musen looked at him; he had smeared Musen's name, and now he was bankrupt.
The chain of karma was settled.
Plus, his final bite back had brought Luo Hao down as well, which was a release for Musen's pent-up anger.
He chose not to fight like a cornered beast.
Musen spoke indifferently, "Let's leave the matter at that, take care of yourself."
Huang Teng felt like he had been granted a pardon, bowing repeatedly in thanks before running off.
Professor Gao nodded in approval at this scene.
It wasn't about sparing others for the sake of being lenient but about not leaving oneself with hidden dangers. In dealing with people and affairs, one should either completely remove the danger or leave some leeway and not push people to desperation. He handled this with a good sense of measure.
"Child, you were wronged today. The school will strengthen our care policies for entrepreneurial students like yourself in the future," Professor Gao said, looking at Xu Musen with a softened tone.
"I don't feel wronged, thank you, Professor Gao, for speaking on my behalf today."
Xu Musen immediately bowed in response.
Her mention of extra care was akin to dressing Xu Musen in a protective Hu Hai University jacket.
This old lady had clearly come to help him out of a difficult situation.
"Don't thank me; you should thank your friend," said Professor Gao with a meaningful tone.
Xu Musen was momentarily stunned, having assumed Professor Gao came at Bai Xin's request.
"Yes, she said you were her best friend."
Professor Gao's eyes were full of affection as she spoke with a smile.
Xu Musen's lips quivered.
"Nuannuan... An Nuannuan?"
"Yes, that girl. She came to find me in her wheelchair, under the midday sun; that's when I learned about all this."
Professor Gao spoke with a touch of sorrow; it was the first time she had ever seen such urgency in the young girl.
From the milk tea shop to where she lived was a good two to three kilometers—walking alone would take quite a while.
Pushing her wheelchair in the hot sun, who knows how long it must have taken her...
Professor Gao looked at the young man before her: "Nuannuan really cares about you."
Xu Musen stiffened for a moment; the image of that naive figure appeared in his mind.
As if in a trance, he heard An Nuannuan's voice when she first introduced herself.
"My name is An Nuannuan, a very intimate Nuannuan..."