Headmaster Chen was an honest person, and had always been modest and prudent when conducting himself in society. In front of old man Sun Yiyuan, he felt that he should be even more modest in his manner. Actually, in Headmaster Chenâs heart, Wang Ling was indeed an excellent student. He couldnât say that, however; instead, he would speak of Wang Lingâs shortcomings and mistakes.
Then, what were Wang Lingâs shortcomings and mistakes?
Headmaster Chen pondered carefully for quite some time. Apart from the fact that Wang Ling was a little too withdrawn, which wasnât really a shortcoming⦠he really couldnât find fault with Wang Ling. In all the years since No. 60 High was founded, Headmaster Chen felt that Wang Ling was the first student with such a commonplace existence.
He got average marks in his tests and stood in the middle of the class queue. As for his ranking in all team competitions⦠it seemed that he was in the middle.
âAccording to Headmaster Chen, Student Wang Ling is introverted. Then, does he have any friends?â Old Man Sun asked.
âOf course,â answered Headmaster Chen.
Up to that point, Headmaster Chen had in fact been keeping a careful eye on every studentâs social circle. He was worried that there would be students who were unable to fit in and were thus isolated. Isolated children were more vulnerable to school violence, which wasnât necessarily physical; cold violence was also a type of school violence.
As headmaster, Headmaster Chen felt that it was his mandatory duty to put an end to school violence.
Teaching head knowledge was admittedly important, but so was nurturing the spirit. Headmaster Chen hoped that every student who graduated from No. 60 High would leave Senior Grade Three with good memories, and not psychological shadows which they might bury in their hearts for decades, before they came back to beat up or denounce teachers and say that it was never too late to take revenge.
âHaving friends proves that Wang Ling has his own special charisma.â Old Man Sun laughed as he got a clearer picture of Wang Ling in his mind.
Headmaster Chen didnât know what to say, and could only smile. âOur school used to have an entrance test which made use of the remnants of a demon kingâs primordial soul. At the beginning of the first semester, the demon king unexpectedly escaped⦠Fortunately, our teacher reacted promptly and fused the residual soul with the skeleton of a dog, turning it into a green-furred akita.â
âOh, something like this happened?â Old Man Sun was amazed.
âYes, Mr Sun. That dog is now being raised at Wang Lingâs home. Back then, a lot of the students said that they couldnât keep a dog at home, but Wang Lingâs family just happened to have a lot of space. In addition, we also felt that Wang Ling was too introverted. Getting him to help us raise the dog would also help Student Wang Ling become closer with the other studentsâ¦â said Headmaster Chen.
His intention in saying this much was clear.
He was correcting Old Man Sunâs thoughts about Wang Lingâ¦
What he was implying was that Wang Lingâs ability to make friends had less to do with his charisma than with part of the schoolâs educational policy and decision-making.
But Old Man Sun clearly didnât think that way.
After hearing the whole story, he couldnât help beaming. âWang Ling is so withdrawn, but not only can he make friends, even the dog is willing to stay at his place. That isnât easy!â
Headmaster Chen: ââ¦â
Old Man Sun: âBesides, this dog has the soul of a demon king, doesnât it?â
Headmaster Chen: âYesâ¦â
Old Man Sun: âAs a demon king, has it been behaving itself after turning into a dog?â
Headmaster Chen: âVery much so. And now that itâs familiar with Wang Ling, it listens to him. When the Shadow Stream assassins came to the school back then, Student Loopy Toad helped us kill one of them.â
âIsnât that great?â Old Man Sun said, âSince Student Wang Lingâs family is raising the dog, this is enough to prove that Wang Lingâs family upbringing is very good. Even making the demon king obedient! Donât you think thereâs something in the way that even such a fierce demon king can be reformed and do what itâs told?â
Hearing this, Headmaster Chen was instantly lost for words.
Old Man Sunâs analysis was incredibly logical and practically watertight⦠Even if Headmaster Chen wanted to refute, he couldnât! The school had just been discussing whether or not they should pay Wang Lingâs family a home visit again to see if any domestic violence was taking place. But now, hearing Old Man Sunâs words, Headmaster Chen instantly felt that it actually wasnât necessary.
This was a household that could reform even the demon king â how could it possibly use violence against Student Wang Ling? Old Man Sunâs logic was irrefutable! Moreover, even if there really was any domestic violence in the family, Loopy Toad would have long told the other students about it. Given its spiritual intelligence, how could it not have done something?
âApart from what youâve mentioned, is there anything else about Student Wang Ling?â
Old Man Sun was becoming more and more interested in Wang Ling. Headmaster Chen wiped at his sweat. He was a little reluctant to continue the conversation about Wang Ling, so he changed the topic. âAs for Student Xia Mingâ¦â
âOh, that Student Xia Ming. Iâm not interested. Isnât he just from the Ancient Divine Clan? We also have company staff from the Ancient Divine Clan, and they arenât any damn use.â Old Man Sun rubbed the top of his cane, his face as calm as an ancient well.
Many people were very envious of the innate advantage of the Ancient Divine Clanâs spirit root, but if the clan members werenât talented in their cultivation and their realms stalled for a long time, this advantage still wasnât any use; after they graduated, they still had to work for other people.
As the chairman of a large corporation, Old Man Sun had more or less seen everything, so he naturally wasnât impressed by a mere kid from the Ancient Divine Clan.
In addition, when Xia Ming first entered No. 60 High, it wasnât a key city high school, but a key district school without a particularly high ranking. In Old Man Sunâs view, for a child of the Ancient Divine Clan to study in this school meant that he wasnât particularly outstanding.
âLetâs continue talking about Student Wang Ling, Headmaster Chen.â Old Man Sun brightened when he brought up Wang Ling again.
Headmaster Chen could only change the way he talked about Wang Lingâs shortcomings. âStudent Wang Lingâs grades are always down the middle, and I wonder if his dead fish eyes are distractingâ¦â
âOh, you mean his single eyelids. I didnât especially like them too, at first, and I also wondered if I should help pay for him to get double eyelid surgery. Later, my assistant said that our Rongrong likes this sort of eyes. Now, Iâm used to them. These single eyelids look lifeless, but in fact are especially intimidating, and can give a person a sense of security!â Old Man Sun analyzed.
Headmaster Chen: âAlso, as far as I know, Wang Ling still likes snacks, like crispy noodle snacks, for exampleâ¦â
âCrispy noodle snacks.â
Old Man Sun nodded. âCrispy noodle snacks are good! Eating snacks indicates a childlike innocence. Moreover, you can collect cards from crispy noodle snacks! No doubt, Student Wang Ling collects them! This ability also proves that he has a pretty good concept of financial management â heâll be able to accumulate a fortune!â
ââ¦â
For a while, Headmaster Chen was speechless.
Old Man Sun had turned everything into praiseâ¦