Taken aback, Joan stared blankly at the man who came out of the guard shack. She racked her brains in search of his countenance, but there was a glitch that simply exasperated her, for he seemed very familiar, yet she just couldn’t remember who he was.
She stood there in stunned silence for a long while before finally deciding not to greet him. After all, it would be bad if she called him by the wrong name. The man nudged the glasses on the bridge of his nose as he concealed the displeasure within him. Inwardly, however, he chided, What kind of attitude is this? Even if you’re rich, you’re still a student in this college! And even if I’m a lecturer whom you aren’t acquainted with, you should still greet me when I’m standing right in front of you, let alone when I’m your lecturer!
In the next moment, he flashed her an awkward smile. “Why did you take several days of absence? What’s more, you didn’t even indicate the reason for doing so.”
“S-Something came up at home… a-and I hadn’t the time to inform the college,” Joan stammered in reply. Huh? He knows that I took a leave of absence… Oh God, that means he’s my lecturer! Nevertheless, she was in a hurry to find Dustin, so she inwardly prayed that he would let her off posthaste.
Sometimes, the more one hoped that things would go as wished, it would simply refuse to comply and go the other way round. This was one of those times. The lecturer chattered on with her, speaking of attendance, disciplinary warning, demerit, and even turning up late for class. What on earth is this? Does he think that I, Joan Watts, am an elementary or junior high student?
To be honest, she had zero liking for the middle-aged man in front of her. Just when she was suppressing the urge to get a piece of tape and plaster his mouth that kept opening and closing, a gentle voice drifted over.
No matter whose voice it was, it would naturally sound like music to her ears at that moment. Yes! I can finally be free of this old man’s jabbering! She was so ecstatic that she almost jumped for joy.
“Mr. Yardley, how can you claim that she’s late when she has submitted a request for a leave of absence? Also, if you think that her reason for doing so doesn’t comply with the standard approval, I think you should inquire about the specific situation from the lecturer who approved the request if you want to give her demerit points. After all, if you think there’s a problem with something that’s been approved by another lecturer, the consequences… shouldn’t be borne by the student, no?”
Unexpectedly, Dustin was even more eloquent than the middle-aged man. He didn’t even need to think before he spoke, yet he successfully rendered him speechless. Nonetheless, they were colleagues who would be seeing each other every day, so he couldn’t take things too far. Stopping while he was ahead, he threw him a compliment instead.
“Well, no wonder everyone unanimously votes for you as the most popular lecturer of the year when you’re so concerned about your students!”
Hearing that, the middle-aged man chortled in delight and almost burst with pride. “Really? I’m not as popular as you are, Mr. Silverman. And in work, I merely give it my all to do the best I can…”
Upon seeing that, Joan was utterly stunned at his ignorance. Dustin merely said that to make up for having rebuked him, but he’s actually so dense to be jabbering on and on about his teaching methods!
At long last, even Dustin who was even-tempered and patient couldn’t take it anymore. Giving a soft cough, he surreptitiously interrupted his “speech,” saying, “I heard that the outstanding lecturers who have been shortlisted are to head to the conference hall on the second floor of the administrative building for a meeting. I’m afraid you might be reprimanded before all the venerated lecturers if you don’t get a move on now.”
When the man heard that, his expression changed. Hastily taking his leave from Dustin, he then trotted over to the administrative building. Before he left, he even flashed Joan a kind smile, exhibiting a drastic shift from his previous admonishment and disdain toward her. His plump body jiggled as he ran, creating a hilarious sight.
Subsequently, Dustin walked over to her. “Phew! He’s gone at last! He didn’t put you in a tight spot, did he?”
“You arrived before he could do so.” As Joan stared at the plump back, she suddenly remembered her purpose in seeking Dustin out and grabbed his sleeve at once. “Let’s forget about that. Dustin, I’m here because of a very crucial matter.”
