Gu Anxi lowered her gaze. "Art depends on talent."
Effort is vital, of course, but without significant talent, one can never become a master.
However, Professor Gao highly regarded Shen Wanqing. Hearing Gu Anxi’s words, he was quite dismissive. "What’s the use of talent without hard work?"
He was implying something.
Gu Anxi remained silent.
Shen Wanqing used to live with the Gu family, so Gu Anxi knew exactly what she was capable of.
Her skills were becoming more and more polished, but— She truly lacked talent!
Professor Gao was quite angry. How dare this obstinate student look down on his beloved disciple and question Shen Wanqing’s talent! He then said to Bo Xichen quite bluntly, "I want to see Gu Anxi make progress."
Bo Xichen glanced at Gu Anxi and said gently, "Did you hear what Professor Gao said?"
Gu Anxi, standing beside him, replied, "I heard, Uncle."
Bo Xichen had every reason to suspect she called him that intentionally, but she... probably didn’t know his family’s traditions.
He looked down at her and simply smiled faintly.
Professor Gao, his throat parched from speaking, waved his hand. "Alright, Gu Anxi, you can go. And you, her uncle, you can leave too."
Just then, the landline on the table rang. He reached out and answered, "Professor Gao speaking."
The caller was Principal Wang. Professor Gao’s expression grew somewhat more composed. "Professor Bo? Which Professor Bo? Qing University doesn’t have a medical department... What? A physiology class?"
Professor Gao was about to lose his mind. This was a university, not some middle or high school for wet-nursing kids!
He refused Principal Wang outright. After all, he was currently managing all internal affairs of the university, and Principal Wang usually indulged him.
On the other end of the line, Principal Wang chuckled, his tone warm yet reserved. "Old Gao, this person... you have to accept him, whether you want to or not."
Professor Gao swore then. "What kind of ignorant hack are they trying to shove into our Qing University?"
Principal Wang sighed on the other end. "Director Lin arranged it personally. You know Director Lin, don’t you? The top leader of the entire system. Do you think you can refuse him? Does this university still want to operate? Do we still want our ranking? You understand the stakes, Old Gao."
Professor Gao was still unconvinced. "Another one relying on connections."
Whatever Principal Wang said next made Professor Gao want to curse again—the man was demanding a private office, and specifically one in the library!
"Why doesn’t he just ascend to heaven while he’s at it? Isn’t the library under renovation? How can it suddenly become his office? On what grounds?" Professor Gao was utterly indignant.
He cursed viciously again before slamming the phone down.
Still fuming, he looked up and saw Gu Anxi and Bo Xichen hadn’t left. With a scowl, he snapped, "Still here?"
Bo Xichen smiled faintly. "Professor Gao, I’ll be in your care from now on."
Professor Gao’s expression shifted from stunned, to surprised, then to utter shock as he stared fixedly at the young man surnamed Bo.
Bo Xichen lowered his ice-blue eyes. "I am the new Professor Bo."
The entire Art Department office fell deathly silent.
A dozen or so professors stared at Professor Gao. He was the one who had just called Professor Bo an ignorant hack, some good-for-nothing, and even told him to ascend to heaven... Uh oh.
Bo Xichen, however, didn’t seem to mind. He looked at Gu Anxi beside him. "Let’s go to the classroom."
Gu Anxi was also a little stunned. He’s going to be a visiting professor here? He never mentioned it.