Chapter 87: Chapter 84: Successful Transfer Major
As they entered the foyer and were changing shoes, Huo Sining and her companion could hear the voice of Gan Lijun from the study. Soon after, a middle-aged woman in her forties poked her head out.
Having visited the Xie family many times, Su Qingqing was quite familiar with Gan Lijun, so she warmly took Gan Lijun’s wrist as they entered the house.
“Mentor’s wife, here I am bothering you again!”
Gan Lijun was also pleased to see Su Qingqing:
“I was wondering who it was but it’s you, girl. You didn’t go out to have fun during the holiday, so why did you come here? Your mentor isn’t back yet, shouldn’t you be taking the chance to go wild while he’s away?”
With a teasing smile, Gan Lijun said that, causing Su Qingqing to blush and stomp her foot in mock indignation, retorting, “Mentor’s wife!”
Gan Lijun chuckled and only then did she notice the unfamiliar girl standing behind Su Qingqing. Looking at Huo Sining with curiosity, she asked:
“And this young lady is…?”
Just as Su Qingqing was about to explain, Qin Shaoyou had already spoken up: “She’s Huo Sining.”
Gan Lijun was surprised to hear this and her gaze settled on Huo Sining, sizing her up as if trying to discern something significant about her.
Huo Sining had been apprehensive when she arrived, but now she let go of her unease, smiling and greeting “Director Gan” with an easy confidence, allowing Gan Lijun to assess her freely.
Seeing the girl’s composure, Gan Lijun nodded with a smile: “So you’re the Huo girl, huh? Not bad, not bad at all, quite impressive young lady.”
Huo Sining paused, startled. She knew her, from Gan Lijun’s words?
Su Qingqing, too, was taken aback and looked at Gan Lijun, asking, “Mentor’s wife, you know Huo Sining?”
Gan Lijun playfully teased her: “It’s true that I haven’t met her in person until now, but lately, your mentor has been constantly blabbering in my ear. He said he’s taken a liking to a young lady, claiming she’s more talented than you, and if he could take her as a disciple, it would ensure his legacy.”
Huo Sining more talented than her? That must be a mistake, right?
Anyone could see that Huo Sining didn’t know the first thing about antiques. If the professor took a liking to her, it was probably for her ability to hold her liquor.
To say Huo Sining had a talent for treasure appraisal was surely a joke?
Su Qingqing’s face stiffened, but when she looked up, she saw a mischievous glint in Gan Lijun’s eyes and immediately understood that Gan Lijun was deliberately teasing her.
She felt both embarrassed and annoyed, glaring at Gan Lijun: “Mentor’s wife, it’s not nice to tease people like that!”
Gan Lijun found Su Qingqing’s flushed, infuriated expression quite amusing and laughed, tapping her on the forehead:
“Alright, alright, I’ll stop teasing you. Your mentor indeed has intentions of taking this girl as a disciple, but unfortunately, her heart is not in it.”
Su Qingqing didn’t grasp what Gan Lijun meant, while Huo Sining faintly understood something and abruptly looked up at Gan Lijun.
Gan Lijun also turned her gaze towards Huo Sining, her eyes showing a hint of admiration:
“The anthias fish that Old Xie bought from your shop last time had a very nice appearance, and since I bought it, there have been no issues at all, making it the most trouble-free experience I’ve had with fishkeeping. The young girl doesn’t look old, but it’s surprising how knowledgeable she is about fishkeeping.”
As Gan Lijun said this, she paused, “However, you might have made the trip here in vain this time, I can’t help you with the transfer request. I never get involved in student transfers within the college, it’s not within my job description.”
Huo Sining didn’t expect that before she even began to explain her intent, Gan Lijun would have already guessed the purpose of her visit and also refused so bluntly. Her heart sank immediately, feeling both embarrassed and awkward, and her face turned pale.
In fact, although Gan Lijun’s husband had mentioned the name Huo Sining to her, she hadn’t paid much attention until a few days ago when she saw Huo Sining’s name on a transfer list that Qin Shaoyou gave her.
There are many people with the same name, but Gan Lijun began to suspect and couldn’t help but ask Qin Shaoyou about Huo Sining.
Qin Shaoyou hadn’t expected that his teacher would take notice of Huo Sining. He didn’t want to lie to Gan Lijun, but he was harbouring ulterior motives that he couldn’t let Gan Lijun know about, so he could only vaguely explain how he knew Huo Sining, and couldn’t help but praise her against his will in the end.
“That lass raises fish quite well. Those anthias fish of yours were raised by her. Moreover, she’s quite smart, I find her rather interesting.”
This was supposed to be a rather ordinary comment, yet it set off alarm bells for Gan Lijun.
She had been with Qin Shaoyou for many years, caring about every aspect of his academics and life. This kid was much smarter than most, yet when it came to love, he just didn’t seem to get it.
After all these years, this was the first time Gan Lijun heard Qin Shaoyou praise a girl in her presence.
Gan Lijun was a smart person, but smart people tend to think things are more complicated.
In her view, not only did Huo Sining manage to pique her husband’s interest in taking a disciple, but she also received special treatment from Qin Shaoyou, indicating that she was not a simple character.
Gan Lijun wasn’t worried about Xie Daoyuan; she was afraid that Huo Sining might be manipulative and calculating, worrying that Qin Shaoyou wouldn’t be able to see through her and be used, which was why she intended to test the girl’s depth.
But now, seeing Huo Sining’s reaction, Gan Lijun let go of her concerns.
This young girl’s gaze seemed clear and earnest, and whatever she was thinking seemed to be reflected on her face, not like someone with deep cunning or schemes.
With that in mind, Gan Lijun’s face showed a hint of an understanding smile.
“Mother…,” Su Qingqing blurted out anxiously upon hearing what Gan Lijun had said.
Gan Lijun was always gentle and easy to talk to, and Su Qingqing never expected her to refuse so bluntly this time.
Gan Lijun got the answer she was satisfied with and let her guard down regarding Huo Sining.
“Looking for me is no use, I’m not responsible for that area. Xiao Qin is the guidance counselor for the new students of the Biological Science Institute in your cohort. Whether you pass or fail your courses is his concern, I think you’d better seek him out, that would make more sense.”
Gan Lijun’s words instantly inverted the situation, and Huo Sining was stunned for a moment, taking a few seconds to grasp the implication of her words.
Somewhat skeptical yet hardly daring to believe, she looked up at Gan Lijun, and seeing her nod toward her, Huo Sining was immediately filled with great joy.
“Elder Qin… sir.” Huo Sining was about to call him Boss Qin again, but realizing it wasn’t appropriate, she corrected herself, “Have I really been accepted into the College of Biology?”
Qin Shaoyou indeed wanted to see Huo Sining put in her place, but in front of Gan Lijun and Su Qingqing, it wasn’t proper to make it too obvious, so he just smiled and pulled out a printed document from the briefcase beside him.