Wu Xinhao raised his hand: "Everyone please take your seats."
The school leaders in the office each found their spots, crossing legs, sipping tea, clearing their throats as they saw fit.
As for other schools’ contact methods, business cards, enrollment brochures, and posters, they were intentionally placed in conspicuously visible locations.
The door was opened once again.
The first to come in was Luo Tingrui.
As soon as he released his presence, it immediately suppressed the entire office atmosphere.
Those leaders who were just eager and ready, one by one, all failed in their attempted takeoff.
Even Principal Wu could only tactically pick up his teacup to drink water.
In the end, the education circle still belongs to the ivory tower, and although Luo Tingrui still worked at the school, he actually no longer belonged to this circle.
Someone who could command and plan projects involving tens of thousands of people, if placed in ancient times, would have been of a general’s rank.
Luo Tingrui distributed his business cards and even took the initiative to introduce himself; finally, he kindly engaged in a conversation with Li Zhiyuan.
He remembered the kid, but he never would have thought that this child had such a strong learning aptitude.
There was no farmer’s market chaos, and everyone became very polite and civilized.
But the school leaders still presented the list of terms they had deliberated upon.
Luo Tingrui glanced over it, set it down, and said directly:
"Alright, I represent my school in agreeing."
At that moment, the leaders in the office, represented by Principal Wu, collectively felt a jolt of panic in their hearts: this is bad, we’re about to lose out!
Subsequently, everyone looked toward Li Zhiyuan, who was sitting on the couch, showing expressions of guilt and apology, all feeling as if they had let the kid down.
Wu Xinhao painfully swallowed a large mouthful of tea leaves, feeling even more bitter inside than in mouth: this is the disadvantage of inexperience!
Although the process hadn’t officially concluded, Luo Tingrui still proactively extended his hand to Li Zhiyuan: "Li Zhiyuan, welcome to join Haihe University."
Li Zhiyuan stood up and shook hands with him.
With that, the tone of this matter was set. From that very moment, Li Zhiyuan and Xue Liangliang could be considered alumni.
"Liangliang told me, you also want to go to Mountain City?"
"Then let’s go together. It will serve as an early accumulation of future work experience. Practical first, and theory often becomes easier to learn."
With this exchange, the leaders in the office felt much relieved, being shrewd, they naturally understood Luo Tingrui’s status in the school, no, in the industry, from his business card and self-introduction.
Being able to follow a teacher into the lab to participate in research in their freshman or sophomore year was already considered quite impressive, and here was Xiao Yuan who hadn’t even started school yet but could embark on a project with his mentor.
Considering the population of the mainland and the nation’s commitment to education promotion and dissemination, there was destined to be no shortage of talent or even geniuses; however, no matter how formidable a genius, without a platform for support, their future development often lags behind the slightly less talented.
Luo Tingrui left, and Li Zhiyuan returned to the classroom.
It was during the break, Tan Wenbin was explaining problems to Zhou Yunyun, while the female class president sat at her own seat.
Li Zhiyuan stopped in his tracks, not continuing into the classroom, but leaned against the hallway railing, looking at the scenery below.
He saw the flower beds where ginkgo trees were being planted.
"Do you like them?" Teacher Sun Qing’s voice came from behind.
Someone had already entered the classroom calling for "Teacher Sun."
Tan Wenbin showed hesitation on his face.
Zhou Yunyun urged: "You’re not done explaining yet, continue."
In this regard, girls were often much more generous than boys.
Tan Wenbin smiled and nodded, continuing his explanation, which he also had learned from Xiao Yuan.
Sun Qing stood beside Li Zhiyuan: "Principal Wu heard many people in the exam rooms say that you like to watch the ginkgo trees after handing in your test paper, so he planted them here."
"But I might not see them much anymore."
The young boy originally didn’t plan to come to school every day in the future, especially since he had accepted Luo Tingrui’s invitation for an early internship that very day.
Sun Qing chuckled: "Couldn’t they also be for us to watch?"
Li Zhiyuan looked towards Sun Qing.
Sun Qing continued: "Much of what we work hard for and get pleasure from isn’t for the tangible material wealth, but to add a stroke of pleasant memories worth reminiscing to our own lives."
Indeed, a language teacher.
Sun Qing reached out and gently touched Li Zhiyuan’s head.
Entering the classroom, she saw Zhou Yunyun and Tan Wenbin sitting together in the front row, their heads very close together, discussing problems.
Zhou Yunyun looked up and smiled at the teacher.
Tan Wenbin also looked at Sun Qing and saluted her.
Sun Qing said nothing, walked up to the podium, and started organizing the papers for the next lesson.
As she tidied up, the corners of the young teacher’s mouth gently curled.
Looking up again at the whole classroom.
Because of her arrival, the class was no longer rowdy, but those doing homework continued, those snacking continued, and many students laughed and talked while keeping an eye on the teacher’s gaze out of the corner of their eyes.
Sun Qing couldn’t help but feel touched inside: perhaps these kids don’t realize yet that the sunlight shining through the windows onto the blackboard walls will also become memories treasured deep in their hearts in the future.
Their hues were just like...
Sun Qing unfolded the papers, inside which was tucked a yellowed ginkgo leaf she had casually picked up when passing by the flowerbed earlier.
"So, Brother Liangliang, have you been in Nantong all this time?"
"I booked a room in a small riverside inn, where I walk by the river at night and go back to sleep during the day."